Abstract:
A portable collapsible potty has a seat that is supported on two wide hinged legs fitted with lever handles to effect a simple one step deployment of the unit into ready-for-use position. When collapsed, the unit may be contained in a decorative shell that disguises the function of the potty, presenting to the world the appearance of a purse or briefcase.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   It is desirable to toilet train children as rapidly as possible, at least from the parents&#39; perspective. On the road, however, there may not be suitable toilet equipment available for the young child, that he might habituate and accustom himself to good habits in an independent and mature manner. The present invention addresses this need. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A toilet seat is supported on wide hinged legs that are inwardly foldable so that the toilet assembly can collapse into a compact, easily portable configuration for travel, or be easily and quickly put into use through a simple one step process of re-extending the legs so the toilet seat is in raised position. The base shell of the toilet in conjunction with a mating top cover may be formed to look like a purse or briefcase to spare the child embarrassment while carrying the potty. A potty should be acceptable to the child as well as easily and quickly put into operation for best training results. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the potty in raised position. 
       FIG. 2  shows the potty collapsed for carrying. 
       FIG. 3  shows the potty disguised as a briefcase. 
       FIG. 4  shows the disposable bag used with the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , potty seat  1  is held up for use on wide hinged legs  5  and  6 , which fold inward to collapse the potty chair for portability. It is shown with the legs  5  and  6  extended in  FIG. 1  and folded in  FIG. 2  to collapse the potty for transportation. By “extended” is simply meant that the leg segments  12  and  14  and the corresponding segments of the other leg lie in roughly a straight line to support the toilet seat for use. By “folded” is meant that the leg segments are roughly parallel to each other as shown in  FIG. 2  where the potty is in collapsed position. The hinged legs are pivotally connected at their bottom ends to the shell base  20  and at their top ends to the potty seat  1 , the hinge joint lying between the two pivots. The legs should be of sufficient width to prevent forwards and backwards motion (relative to a sitting child) of the potty seat when a child is seated thereon. 
   An equivalent construction to a wide hinged leg might be two hinged legs on either side of the seat, or two legs on either side connected by a crossbar. While this invention is primarily designed for use with small children for toilet training, a sturdier version for adults would be useful for such application as camping or travelling. 
   Lid  3  fits over the top of the toilet seat to disguise the function of the device in public if desired. 
   Various means can be used to stabilize the wide hinged legs when they are in raised position against side-to-side motion or folding under load. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the upper segments  12  and  13  and lower segments  14  and  15  of the wide hinged legs broaden to the inside as they near the hinge pivot points  16  and  17 , terminating in flats such as surface  18  of  FIG. 2  that are roughly perpendicular to the legs, so that when the legs are in raised position the broadened end surfaces of the hinged leg segments come together at the flats to keep the legs from folding outwards. 
   To prevent inward folding under load, the hinged legs are bowed to the outside slightly. The legs may be shaped in this manner, or the plane of the flats such as  18  could make an angle with the legs slightly more acute than 90 degrees to accomplish the same end. 
   The legs abut against raised stop portions such as  22  of the shell base to prevent side to side shifting (relative to a sitting child) of the toilet seat. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , the legs  5  and  6  of  FIG. 1  can be manipulated into their extended position so that the potty is ready for use by lifting the toilet seat  1 . Referring to  FIG. 1 , the legs can be put into their folded position by pushing in where the legs are hinged. The upper segments  12  and  13  of the hinged legs may be fitted with or molded with integral in-line lever handles  30  and  31  which may be pulled upwards and inwards to effect an easy one step raising of the potty seat from collapsed position to its in use position. These handles can also be used for carrying the potty. 
   It is especially desirable that children be not embarrassed carrying a potty about, which might hinder their enthusiasm for toilet training. Referring to  FIG. 3 , in this view, the shell base (item  20  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) is extended and made into the shape of part of a briefcase  35 , which is used in conjunction with lid  36 , made in the shape of the other section of the briefcase, to disguise the potty chair. Parts  35  and  36  could also be made to look like purse sections for girls, or simply made in a functional shape to cover the potty and disguise its function. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , a disposable bag for use with the potty comprises a bag section  40  that is attached at its neck to a flange  41  that sits on top of the seat to hold up the bag section. It is desirable for cleanliness that the flange be wide enough to substantially cover the potty seat. The bag should be waterproof and preferably contain absorbent material.