Abstract:
A toilet seat cover providing sanitary protection having side flaps and a front expansion fold. A toilet seat cover made of a paper material is oversized to cover a toilet seat. Side hand flaps extend below the toilet seat and permit easy grasping of the toilet seat by a user, especially children, in stabilizing or positioning on the toilet seat. A front expansion fold permits the toilet seat cover to accommodate different sized toilets. Adhesive material may also be placed on the bottom of the toilet seat cover to prevent slipping on a toilet seat. The toilet seat cover may be folded and packaged with a disinfectant wipe, providing a convenient package for carrying and use. The present invention is suitable for use by children and adults.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates in general to sanitary protection, and more particularly to a toilet seat cover preventing bodily contact with the toilet seat during use. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Restrooms, and in particular public restrooms, are often unsanitary and potentially unhealthy. There are many different sanitary toilet seat covers used to avoid the unsanitary and potentially unhealthy contact with a toilet seat during use. One such toilet seat cover is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,274 entitled “Sanitary Toilet Seat Cover” and issuing to McQueen on Jun. 13, 2000. Therein disclosed is a sanitary toilet seat cover that has a waterproof material affixed to a layer of porous material impregnated with an antibacterial solution. Adhesive patches are also used to temporarily affix the seat cover to a toilet seat. Another toilet seat cover is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,975,990 entitled “Disposable Splash Suppressing Toilet Seat Cover With Folded Annular And Bridging Inner Portions” issuing to Chan on Dec. 11, 1990. Therein disclosed is a splash suppressing toilet seat cover made of paper. A zigzag or fanfold portion extends across the center portion. Another sanitary toilet seat cover is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,036,623 entitled “Sanitary Toilet Shield” issuing to Hopkinson on Aug. 27, 1912. Therein disclosed is a shield or protector that has a blank or tongue-like forming member being turned or folded back under the seat sitting portion. 
     While these prior sanitary toilet seat covers have been advantageously used to prohibit contact with a toilet seat during use, they have often been of complicated structure. Also they are typically difficult to use or position on the variety of sizes of toilet seats. Additionally, many of the prior sanitary toilet seat covers have not been easily adapted to different size toilets. The prior sanitary toilet seat covers also have not been suitable in protecting children who often have to hold onto the toilet seat during use, from contact with the seats. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for an improved toilet seat cover that can easily be adjusted to different size toilet seats and that is adapted for use by children. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a protective toilet seat cover that is oversized and can easily be adjusted for different size toilet seats, as well as providing for holding the sides of the toilet without touching the toilet directly. An oversized seat portion has a front expansion fold therein and side hand flaps. Adhesive may be used on a rear portion of the toilet seat cover, permitting the front seat portion to move. In another embodiment, adhesive may be sprayed on the entire underside of the toilet seat cover. Interior flaps are formed by slits that hang downward into the toilet bowl. A hand icon or symbol may be placed on the hand flap. Decorative indicia may also be printed on the seat cover. The protective seat cover may be folded and packaged together with a disinfectant wipe for convenience of use. The toilet seat cover is easily flushable after use requiring little or no human contact with the cover or the seat after use. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide protection from contamination due to contact with a toilet seat. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a toilet seat cover that can accommodate different sized toilets. 
     It is an advantage of the present invention that small children and adults can hold onto the side of a toilet without having to directly contact the toilet. 
     It is another advantage of the present invention that the underside of the protective seat cover is coated with a light adhesive to prevent slipping and sliding once the cover is in place. 
     It is a feature of the present invention that there is a front expansion fold for expanding the front portion of the toilet seat cover. 
     It is another feature of the present invention that side flaps extend below the toilet seat permitting young children to hold the toilet on the sides without directly contacting the toilet seat. 
     These and other objects, advantages, and features will become more readily apparent in view of the following detailed description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention in place on a toilet seat. 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross section taken along line  3 — 3  in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a cross section of another embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view of another embodiment of the present invention illustrating the placement of an adhesive. 
     FIG. 6 is a plan view of yet another embodiment of the present invention illustrating enlarged side flaps. 
     FIG. 7 is a cross section taken along lines  7 — 7  in FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 8 is a cross section illustrating another embodiment of a front expansion fold. 
     FIG. 9 is a cross section illustrating another embodiment of a front expansion fold. 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a package for containing a protective toilet seat cover and a disinfecting wipe. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a protective toilet seat cover  10  placed on the seat of a toilet  12 . The oversized toilet seat cover  10  hangs over the toilet seat. Side hand flaps  14  extend substantially below the seat portion  11 . A rear flap  16  extends vertically upward. Front expansion fold  18  has excess material permitting the seat portion  11  to expand, accommodating different size toilets. A central opening has interior flaps  20  which are formed from slits  22 . The interior flaps  20  hang downward into the interior of the toilet  12 . Hand icons or symbols  24  may be placed on the seat portion  11  and the hand flaps  14 . Decorative indicia  26  may also be placed on the seat portion  11  or hand flaps  14 . The decorative indicia  26  may be of any character or shape. The decorative indicia may be particularly suited to children. Other decorative indicia may be used for adults. Adhesives may also be used to prevent sliding of the toilet seat cover  10  on the toilet  12 . 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view clearly illustrating the toilet seat cover  10 . The side hand flaps  14  extend a substantial distance laterally and downward from the seat portion  11  and extend only a portion longitudinally along the seat portion  11 . The longitudinal length of the side hand flaps  14  is less than the longitudinal length of the seat portion  11 . The hand flaps  14  permit a child, young adult, or adult to hold onto the sides of the toilet without directly touching the toilet  12 . 
     FIG. 3 is a cross section taken along line  3 — 3  in FIG.  2 . FIG. 3 illustrates the structure of the toilet seat cover. A paper material  28  has an adhesive or tacky material coating  30  thereon. The adhesive or tacky material coating  30  prevents the toilet seat cover from sliding on the toilet seat. The adhesive or tacky material coating may cover the entire underside surface of the toilet seat cover  10 , illustrated in FIG. 2, which comes in contact with the toilet seat or only a portion thereof. The adhesive may be sprayed on. The adhesive or tacky material coating  30  need not cover the entire surface of the toilet seat protector  10 , but only a portion thereof. The side hand flaps  14  are preferably not coated with the adhesive or tacky material coating  30 . The portion that are not coated with adhesive, such as the side hand flaps  14  and the front portion having the expansion fold  18 , may be used when folded over to protect the adhesive coated portions. 
     The paper material  28  may be a soft cushion constructed of a material similar to household toilet paper. The paper material  28  may be one or multiple ply paper or other fibrous material. The paper material  28  should be disposable, hypoallergenic, and biodegradable. The paper material  28  should be readily flushable. The paper material  28  may also be treated with an antibacterial agent for further germicidal protection. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of having a different construction for the toilet seat cover. A paper material  28  may have a moisture barrier layer  32  and an adhesive tacky material coating  30  placed thereon. The moisture barrier layer  32  prevents any moisture that may be on the toilet seat from soaking through to the absorbent paper material  28 . 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view of another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, a rear adhesive portion  134  of the toilet seat cover  110  has an adhesive material coated thereon and a front non-adhesive portion  136  without any adhesive material coated thereon. The adhesive is bounded within an area formed by adhesive lines  138 . The adhesive is not placed on the hand flaps  14 . The front non-adhesive portion  136  permits the expansion of the front expansion fold  18 . It should be appreciated that while the adhesive or tacky material may be coated on the surface of the seat portion  11  contacting the toilet seat, adhesive strips may also be used within the area bounded by the adhesive lines  138 . Additionally, the adhesive portion may cover any portion of the seat portion  11  so that the front non-adhesive portion  136  and the flaps  14  may be folded over protecting the rear adhesive portion  134  until ready for use. The adhesive or tacky material coating may be any releasable type adhesive or tacky material that creates relatively high friction between the toilet seat cover  110  and the toilet seat so as to prevent the toilet seat cover  110  from sliding off the toilet seat. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention having enlarged side hand flaps. In this embodiment, the toilet seat cover  210  has enlarged hand flaps  214 . The enlarged hand flaps  214  extend a substantial portion longitudinally along the toilet seat cover  210 . The extended side hand flaps, 214  may extend more than one half of the longitudinal length or depth of the entire toilet seat cover  210 . This provides increased protection, as well as permits more room to hold onto the sides of the toilet. Therefore, the extended hand flaps  214  extend a substantial longitudinal distance along the seat portion  211 . 
     FIG. 7 is a cross section taken along lines  7 — 7  in FIG.  6  and illustrates the Z-fold  40  forming a front expansion fold  18 . The Z-fold  40  of the front extension fold  18  is formed integrally within the material of the seat portion  211 . 
     FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of a front expansion fold  118 . In this embodiment, an accordion fold  140 , having multiple folded portions, is used in forming the front expansion fold  118 . 
     FIG. 9 illustrates yet another embodiment in forming a front expansion fold  218 . In this embodiment, an insert Z-fold  240  is bonded to a seat portion by adhesive  242 . 
     The front expansion fold may be made of a variety of other known different equivalent expansion structures so as to provide means for expanding so as to accommodate different size toilets. 
     FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention in which a toilet seat cover  10  is packaged together with a disinfectant wipe  48 . The toilet seat cover  10  is folded into a small size. The package  44  is sealed with a removable cover  46 . The package  44  may be formed of any suitable material such as a plastic bag or paper container. A resealable plastic bag may also be used as a package. The resealable plastic bag may have a zip-lock type seal. Disinfectant wipe  48  may be used to clean the toilet seat and area and the protective toilet seat cover  10  unfolded and placed into position on the toilet seat. 
     The present invention has many advantages and is particularly well suited for use by small children. The present invention may be used in the many situations where public restrooms are not sanitary and potentially unhealthy. Additionally, by being oversized and having a front expansion fold, the present invention fits over many commercial toilet seats and provides hand flaps for children to place their hands without directly contacting the toilet seat. The front expansion fold permits expansion of up to at least three inches or about seven centimeters to accommodate different size toilets. Additionally, colorful and child friendly designs for both boys and girls may be printed on the toilet seat cover. Designs suitable for adults may also be printed on the toilet seat cover. 
     Children can also use the toilet seat covers as part of a process of developing a consistent routine of using a toilet. The present invention therefore can reduce any apprehension a child sometimes experiences when using a toilet in unfamiliar environments. 
     While the present invention may be utilized in a variety of different dimensions, preferably the toilet seat cover measures 20.25 inches long by 26 inches wide or about 51.5 cm by 66.0 cm so as to accommodate commercial and noncommercial toilet seats. The toilet seat portion, not including the hand flaps, is approximately 20.25 inches or 51.5 cm long by 14 inches or 35.5 cm wide. The toilet seat cover, from the back of the seat to the opening in the middle of the toilet, preferably measures about 6 inches or 15 cm. The interior opening in the center of the protective toilet seat cover is preferably 10.25 inches long or about 26.0 cm. For approximately 5 inches or about 13 cm of the opening length, the width is approximately 5 inches or about 13 cm. The interior opening may then narrow down towards the front to about 1.50 inches or 4 cm wide. The center of the toilet seat cover may have six interior slits allowing the opening to fold into the interior of the toilet, further protecting from direct contact with the toilet seat. Preferably, the four slits are about 1 inch or 2.54 cm long with the two in the rear being about 1.50 inches or 4 cm long. The hand flaps may be approximately 12 inches long by 6 inches wide or 30.5 cm by 15.2 cm and begin approximately 3.5 inches or 9 cm from the back or rear and end approximately 3.25 inches or 8.3 cm from the front. 
     While the present invention has been described with respect to several embodiments, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.