Abstract:
An application for a foldable potty seat includes a planar base portion being of a shape and shape similar to a typical toilet seat and having a portal. The foldable potty seat has two wings extending outwardly from sides of the planar base portion with at least one wing score line transecting each of the wings and two folding score lines transecting the planar base portion from one side to the other side. The folding score lines enabling folding of the planar base portion for transportation and the folding score lines not transecting the portal. The wings tuck under the typical toilet seat and are held in place by standoffs that separate the typical toilet seat from the toilet bowl.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a non-provisional application related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/243,646, filed Oct. 1, 2008, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. This application is also related to U.S. Pat. D617895, issued Jun. 15, 2010. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention relates to the field of disposable portable potty seats for children and more particularly to a disposable portable potty seat for a child of either sex that positions over any existing toilet seat. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Children are often trained to use a toilet at a very young age, usually between one year and three years of age. Often, a child of such an age has a small buttock that does not match the opening on most toilet seats at home and away from home, especially while traveling. 
         [0004]    At home, often, the child has a small potty seat designed for the child&#39;s size or an adapter seat covering the adult toilet. These aides are often not available when traveling or visiting friends and relatives. These devices provide a smaller opening to comfort the child&#39;s apprehension about falling through the opening in the adult toilet seat. Such devices are generally rigid and provide a transportation challenge, especially when traveling by airline. They generally do not fit in the typical carry on luggage, though they are often needed during flight. 
         [0005]    What is needed is a child&#39;s potty seat that is portable, disposable and supports the child while sitting on a toilet 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    In one embodiment, a foldable potty seat is disclosed that includes a planar base portion. The planar base portion has a portal through which the child urinates or defecates. There is at least one folding score line in the planar base portion. The folding score line enables folding of the planar base portion for transportation. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, a method of transporting a folding potty seat is disclosed including providing a folding potty seat that has a planar base portion. The planar base portion has a portal and two wings that extend outwardly from sides of the planar base portion and have at least one wing score line transecting each of the wings. There are two folding score lines in the planar base portion. The folding score lines enable folding of the planar base portion for transportation. The method includes placing the planar base portion over the toilet seat and folding the wings of the planar base portion around the toilet seat and under the standoffs then seating a child on the planar base portion. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, a foldable potty seat is disclosed that includes a planar base portion being of a shape similar to a typical toilet seat and having a portal. The foldable potty seat also has two wings extending outwardly from sides of the planar base portion with at least one wing score line transecting each of the wings and two folding score lines transecting the planar base portion from one side to the other side. The folding score lines enabling folding of the planar base portion for transportation and the folding score lines not transecting the portal. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates a top plan view of the folding potty seat. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of a toilet and toilet seat of the prior art. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of a toilet and toilet seat of the prior art. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  illustrates a front view of the folding potty seat installed over a toilet. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  illustrates a top view of the folding potty seat installed over a toilet. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  illustrates plan views of the folding potty seat as it is being folded. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the folding potty seat in the folded configuration along cut lines  7 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a top plan view of the folding potty seat  10  is shown. The folding potty seat  10  has a planar base portion  12  that is sized to cover some or all of the typical toilet seat  60  (see  FIG. 3 ). Although it is preferred that the base portion  12  substantially cover the typical toilet seat  60 , there are many sizes of toilet seats  60  and, in some situations, the base portion  12  covers more or less of the typical toilet seat  60  and is of any shape such as oval, round, rounded, rectangular, octagonal, etc. In some embodiments, the edges and, in particular, the front edge of the base portion  12  is cushioned for added comfort (not shown). For example, a sheet of paper is wrapped over the front edge of the base portion  12  to eliminate or reduce sharp edges. 
         [0019]    The base portion  12  has a portal  26  through which the child defecates. It is desired, though not required, that the portal  26  is smaller than the opening  66  (see  FIG. 3 ) of the typical toiled seat  60  to better support the child and reduce fear of falling into the toilet  50  (see  FIG. 3 ). When the portal  26  is smaller than the opening  66 , the base portion  12  both provides comfort to the child while also shielding the child from anything left behind from previous user of the toilet seat  60  (e.g. fecal matter, germs, virus, urine). In some embodiments, the edges and, in particular, the back edge of the portal  26  is cushioned for added comfort (not shown). For example, a sheet of paper is wrapped over the back edge of the portal  26  to eliminate or reduce sharp edges. 
         [0020]    As will be shown in  FIG. 4 , wings  20  extend outward from the base portion  12  and one or more wing score lines  22  transect the wings  20  (e.g. substantially straight score line at or parallel to the intersection of the wings  20  and the base portion  12 ). As will be shown in  FIG. 4 , the wing score lines  22  form fold lines enabling folding of the wings  20  around the toilet seat  60  so that the standoffs  61  (see  FIG. 4 ) press down on the wings  20 , holding the folding potty seat  10  in place and stiffening the base portion  12  to provide additional support and structure while the child sits on folding potty seat  10 . 
         [0021]    Folding score lines  14 / 16  are provided for folding the folding potty seat  10  for distribution, transporting, etc. The folding operation is shown in  FIG. 6 . It is preferred that the score lines  14 / 16  do not intersect the portal  26  because this will reduce structural strength of the folding potty seat  10 . 
         [0022]    All score lines  14 / 16 / 22  are made in the folding potty seat  10  as known in the industry. The score lines  14 / 16 / 22  are substantially straight to enabling folding without distorting the shape or reducing the structure of the folding potty seat  10 . 
         [0023]    Preferably, the folding potty seat  10  is made from a cardboard stock that is coated with a water shield to prevent the cardboard stock from absorbing liquids and degrading when exposed to the liquids such as urine. In some embodiments, both sides of the cardboard stock are coated with the water shield while in other embodiments, only one side of the cardboard stock are coated with the water shield (the side contacting the child). Although it is anticipated that the folding potty seat  10  is made from any suitable material, cardboard is preferred due to many inherent properties of cardboard including, but not limited to, stiffness, low cost and disposability. When the folding potty seat  10  is made of cardboard, it is preferred, though not required, that the cardboard be corrugated cardboard to provide added strength while reducing weight. When the folding potty seat  10  is made of corrugated cardboard, it is preferred, though not required, that the corrugations run across the folding potty seat  10  (e.g. parallel to the folding score lines  14 / 16 ) to provide increased support strength. 
         [0024]    It is anticipated that in some embodiments the folding potty seat  10  be the natural color of the material it is made from while in other embodiments the folding potty seat  10  is painted, dyed, silkscreened, etc, to provide an appealing color, pattern, design, etc. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a side and top view of a toilet  50  and toilet seat  60  of the prior art is shown. Although there are many shapes and sizes of existing toilets  50  and toilet seats  60 , the folding potty seat  10  adapts well to a large majority of such. Typical toilets  50  have a tank  54  for holding water for flushing, though many public toilets  50  do not have such a tank  54 . The toilet seat is often interfaced to the bowl  52  of the toilet  50  by a hinge  64  that enables lifting of the seat  60 . Beneath the seat  60  located in a bottom, frontward surface of the seat  60  are typically two standoffs  62 . The standoffs  62  hold the seat  60  away from the bowl  52 , for example, to prevent pinching of a user&#39;s skin between the seat  60  and the bowl  52 . The standoffs  62  support much of the user&#39;s weight. 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the portal  66  of the toilet seat  60  is typically very large, often too large for the typical child, therefore requiring the child support themselves by placing their hands on the exterior edges of the toilet seat  60  and pushing. While this is not desirable at home, it is even less desirable in public facilities. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a front view and top view of the folding potty seat  10  installed over a toilet seat  60  is shown. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the portal  26  of the folding potty seat  10  is preferably smaller (e.g. diameter) than the typical opening  66  of many toilet seats  60 , thereby providing support to the user (child) and eliminating fear of falling onto the toilet  50 . Although it anticipated that the folding potty seat  10  is sturdy enough to support the weight of a typical child, the wings  20  fold around the toilet seat  60  and are positioned beneath the standoffs  62 . The weight of the toilet seat  60  and the child push down on the standoff  62  and the wings  20  are sandwiched between the standoff  62  and the bowl  52 , thereby holding the wings  20  tightly in place while the child sits. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , plan views of the folding potty seat  10  as it is being folded are shown. The folding potty seat  10  is folded along the folding score lines  14 / 16  and one of the wing score lines  22 . Although not required, the folding score lines  14 / 16  and one of the wing score lines  22  provide a clean fold along which the folding potty seat  10  is folded to make the folding potty seat  10  more portable for transporting during, for example, traveling, picnicking, visiting friends, etc. It is anticipated, though not required, that the folding potty seat  10  be delivered to the customer in folded form as in the last sequence of  FIG. 6  and unfolded by the customer for use. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of the folding potty seat  10  in the folded configuration along lines  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6  is shown. Note that in this configuration, the folding potty seat  10  is small enough to fit in a carrying case such as a diaper bag, etc. 
         [0030]    Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result. 
         [0031]    It is believed that the system and method as described and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.