Abstract:
The apparatus according to the present invention comprises an absorbent, disposable matting in the vicinity of the base of a toilet. An optional cut-away region conferring a shape conforming to the base may include an adhesive collar for adhering the periphery of the cut-away region to the toilet base for creating a seal therebetween and for preventing the matting from slipping. In one embodiment, the absorbent matting comprises a wetness indicator for exhibiting a detectable indication in response to being contacted with moisture. In use, the liquid absorbent disposable matting is placed around the periphery of the toilet base, where it absorbs liquid spills and exhibits a perceptible indication in response to such absorption, signaling a need to replace the matting to maintain a hygienic condition.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates in general to absorbent devices and in particular to absorbent devices for toilet-related use and for methods of using such devices.  
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     Floors, particularly the floor areas surrounding a toilet, are often subject to spills or other stray moisture resulting from a variety of causes.  
         [0003]     Existing floor coverings for the vicinity of toilets in the home are often either hard non-absorbent material such as tile, or an absorbent but non-disposable material, such as a rug or carpet. The former fails to absorb and contain spills, while the latter may contain spills but may do so without revealing the fact or degree of such absorption, leading to an unhygienic and perhaps malodorous condition.  
         [0004]     An unmet need therefore exists for a means of contending with such unwanted spills in a manner that is hygienic, that renders the undesirable spills detectable and their treatment tractable, convenient and inexpensive.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention addresses, at least in part, the long felt, but previously unmet needs described above as well as other needs. In particular, the present invention provides a toilet mat comprising matting, the matting comprising disposable absorbent material, for being placed in proximity to a base of the toilet. In another embodiment, the absorbent matting may also comprise a wetness or moisture indicator for exhibiting a detectable indication in response to being contacted with moisture associated with a bodily fluid, water from the toilet or other sources.  
         [0006]     Yet another aspect of the present invention provides a method for enabling a user to maintain the hygienic integrity of a floor area surrounding a toilet base. The method comprises the steps of: placing a disposable liquid absorbent matting, having a wetness indicator, in proximity to the toilet base, wherein the liquid absorbent matting absorbs urine spills occurring during use of the toilet and the absorption activates the wetness indicator; detecting a urine spill on the absorbent matting by observing the wetness indicator in an activated state; and; replacing the absorbent matting with an unused absorbent matting after the urine spill has been detected.  
         [0007]     An object of the present invention is to provide a disposable matting for protecting a toilet floor from urine spills.  
         [0008]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a disposable matting that visually indicates the area of urine spills on the matting and when the matting should be replaced.  
         [0009]     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a disposable matting that encourages a user to adopt the improved toilet habits. Many other objects and advantages will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in this field upon reading the following description and claims in connection with the accompanying figures. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side perspective exploded view of a disposable absorbent toilet mat, in an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates a top and front view of a disposable absorbent toilet mat including footprint indicia, in use, in an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  illustrates the use of a wetness indicator, and of footprint indicia within the disposable absorbent toilet mat, in an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  illustrates the relative dimensions in an embodiment of a disposable absorbent toilet mat according to the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  illustrates a flow chart for use of the disposable absorbent toilet mat, in use, in an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  presents a side perspective exploded view of a disposable absorbent toilet mat in an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, but without limitation, mat  10  comprises multiple layers and has a thickness of approximately 0.125 (⅛″) of an inch, as indicated at  12 . Top layer  14  is of a porous material capable of passing liquid spills through to deeper layers of the mat  10 . In one embodiment, such passage occurs via micro holes (not shown). This passage of spills to a deeper layer enhances hygiene by allowing a user to stand on the mat without coming into contact with the spilled liquid. Layer  14  permits the spilled liquid to pass through to transition layer  16 , which is located directly below top layer  14 . Thus, spilled liquid that is received via the micro holes (not shown) in layer  14 , is transferred to an absorbent layer  18  via transition layer  16 . At absorbent layer  18 , the spilled liquid is absorbed in order to confine the spilled liquid to that layer and avoid the liquid from coming into contact with either the floor area under the matting, or the top layer  14  on which the user of the mat  10  may stand. Buffer layer  20 , isolates the absorbent layer  18  holding the spilled liquid, from floor contact layer  22 , which provides a non-slip surface  24  for ensuring that mat  10  does not slip on the bathroom floor. Top layer  14  also includes an adhesive collar  26  having an adhesive surface  28 , which creates a seal between the base of a toilet and collar  26 . The utility of the adhesive collar  26  will be further described in relation to  FIG. 2 .  
         [0016]     Generally, the disposable absorbent toilet mat is made from any material intended to be used until soiled, that is, a small number of time, or ever a single time, single-use or otherwise disposable, as distinguished from a mat or rug of fabric that wouldn&#39;t ordinarily be intended to be used only once or a small number of times until soiled. The absorbent material of the disposable absorbent toilet mat may comprise any known material such as those incorporated in diapers, feminine pads or panty liners, or other such articles that absorb moisture away from a top surface that initially comes in contact with the top surface and that most preferably contain a spill. Typically, the layers utilized in disposable absorbent materials may comprise a liquid permeable top layer for passing liquid spills, a liquid absorbent layer for absorbing the liquid, and a liquid impermeable bottom layer for confining the spilled liquid. The liquid absorbent layer may also comprise one or more chemical reagents that can change color when they come into contact with the liquid. The reagents many also exhibit a change in coloration in response to a substance within the liquid.  
         [0017]     Other numbers, arrangements and thicknesses of layers in the mat  10 , as known or may become known in the art, are also contemplated by, and fall within the scope of, the present invention. However, the material, or materials are, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, most preferably disposable materials, as opposed to durable fabric and rubber material used in those toilet mats that are known in the art for repeated, indefinite use.  
         [0018]     The positioning of mat  10  in relation to a toilet  30 , in an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention, is shown in  FIG. 2 . Mat  10  has a cut-away region  32  along an edge  34 , where the cut-away region  32  abuts toilet base  36 . As shown in the figure, the adhesive surface  28  ( FIG. 1 ) of collar  26  adheres the periphery of cut-away region  30  to the bottom region of toilet base  36 , thus, creating a seal between the toilet base  36  and the cut-away region  32 . In this manner, the seal provides additional stability for keeping the mat  10  in position, and therefore prevents the mat from slipping on the floor surface. It also provides additional protection from urine spills that may occur in areas that are in relatively close proximity to the toilet base  34 .  
         [0019]     The mat  10  may be of any desired shape. For example, mat  10  may be square, rectangular, or other multi-sided shape, oval or round. Also, depending on the location, orientation, and design of the toilet, mat  10  may not have a cut-away region. For example, some toilet units such as urinals may not have a base that is in contact with the floor. Accordingly, the shape of the mat  10  may be conformed for such use. The mat  10  may, for example, have straight sides instead of a cut-away region on one side. In this case, one of the sides of the mat abuts the wall to which one or more urinals is attached and may cover the floor under one or a plurality of urinals. Similarly, some toilet units are attached to the vertical walls, rather than being connected to the floor by means of a toilet base, such as toilet base  36  shown in  FIG. 1 . In this case, as with the urinal, mat  10  may not comprise a cut away region but may still be provided with adhesive strips. In terms of aligning and positioning the mat  10  with the toilet, the toilet base may be referred to as both an actual base, such as toilet base  36 , or the area or region underneath the toilet bowl structure for toilet units not having an actual base (i.e., toilet units designed for attachment to a vertical wall). Other toilet units may include children&#39;s potties or generally any device designed to accommodate both children and/or adults in the act of releasing bodily fluids.  
         [0020]     Mat  10  also includes optional footprint-shaped indicia  38  for encouraging a male user to stand on during urination. The indicia  38  are provided in order to suggest an appropriate stance during use. Any other indicia, such as advertising, or none at all, can be used.  
         [0021]     In an embodiment of one aspect of the invention, indicia  38  (whether in the shape of footprints or another configuration) may incorporate a visually enhancing material (e.g., phosphorescent, or fluorescent products), which glows in the dark or otherwise exhibits a luminous or reflective effect. This will serve as a means of attracting the person&#39;s attention to the existence of the indicia  38 . Indicia having luminous effects are I useful when the mating is being used in a darkened room.  
         [0022]     Mat  10  comprises, in one embodiment, a wetness indicator. The mat  10  may be treated with a substance that undergoes a change in color when it is contacted with a liquid. For example, a hydra-table salt mixture may be applied to a liquid permeable layer such as top layer  14  and/or transition layer  16 , whereby when the layer comes into contact with a liquid, a visible color change can be visually perceived by the user. Also, chemical reagents, which exhibit a change in coloration upon contact with a liquid as known in the art, may be applied to a layer of the mat  10 , such as absorbent layer  18 , without limitation. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , when a urine spill passes through a treated layer (e.g., layer  14 ), a color change is visually detected, as indicated by wetness indications  40 . The intensity of the color change may vary according to the volume of liquid contacting the mat. In this manner, based on the detected wetness indications  40  caused e.g., by urine spills, it can be determined whether or not the mat  10  should be disposed of, and replaced. In addition to a wetness indicator that provides a visually detectable wetness indication  40  on contact with a liquid (e.g., urine), an olfactory indication may also be provided to enhance urine detection. By incorporating an olfactory indicator into mat  10 , a particular scent may be released when the mat comes into contact with liquid.  
         [0023]     The wetness indicator is a reactant layer that exhibits a characteristic change in response to coming in contact with urine and/or other liquids that are spilled on the matting. For example, if a urine spill were to occur, the absorbent matting would not merely change color (i.e., yellow) as a result of urine staining, the wetness indicator would react to the urine and generate a detectable change (e.g., color, smell, etc.) Various types of coatings or materials that are known in the art for exhibiting a color change upon hydration can be used. Materials or substances that react to the chemical content of urine may also be incorporated in the matting, according to an aspect of the present invention, not only to provide a visual indication of a urine spill, but also to detect certain characteristics of the urine. For example, a person or user of the toilet that is dehydrated or suffers from another condition susceptible to detection by a component of the wetness indicator (e.g., diabetes or kidney ailments) may be alerted to the existence of the condition by the mat.  
         [0024]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , both the wetness indications  40  and the indicia  38  are used to facilitate proper use of the toilet  30  and to alert the user, or others, to excessive use, errors, non-hygienic conditions, or even a medical condition of a user.  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  illustrates approximate dimensions of an embodiment of disposable absorbent toilet mat  10  according to the present invention. These dimensions may vary, or be scaled depending on the type or size of toilet  30 , or the space the toilet  30  may occupy, or other factors, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 5  illustrates a flow chart for a method of use of the disposable absorbent toilet mat  10 , in an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention. At step  42 , a mat having a wetness indicator is placed around the periphery of a toilet base in order to protect the toilet floor from spills. At optional step  44 , users of the toilet are encouraged to stand on footprint indicia located on the mat during use of the toilet. At step  46 , a user or other responsible party may detect a spill by observing a region of activated wetness indicator in the absorbent mat. As indicated in step  48 , the user or responsible party may determine the extent of the spill by observing the are of wetness indicator. If it is determined that the wetness indicator shows any or an excessive amount of spill, at step  50 , the mat is replaced with another, unused mat. If the user or responsible party determines that the wetness indicator does not show an appreciable or excessive amount of spill, the mat is not replaced, and as indicated at step  44 , the users are continued to be encouraged to use the indicia during use of the toilet.  
         [0027]     In addition to the embodiments of the aspects of the present invention described above, and with respect to the appended figures, those of skill in the art will be able to arrive at a variety of other arrangements and steps which, if not explicitly described in this document, nevertheless embody the principles of the invention and fall within the scope of the appended claims. For example, the ordering of method steps is not necessarily fixed, but may be capable of being modified without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.