Patent Publication Number: US-2016242607-A1

Title: Method and apparatus for customizing toilet tanks

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to toilet tanks and more particularly to a method and apparatus for customizing toilet tank aesthetics. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The design and functionality of bathroom fixtures and appliances are constantly evolving. Improvements in faucets, sinks, tubs, showers and other features are continually being conceived for aesthetics, water quality, water efficiency and comfort. The toilet itself is, argumentatively, the most important item in a bathroom. However, little has been done in the last few decades to deviate from the now standard toilet design. Every household toilet has the same basic design: a plain toilet tank, which holds water for flushing, attached to a base. Though models may differ slightly in handle location, size and shape of the tank, bowl size, height and color, there is currently no way to customize a toilet to reflect an owner&#39;s personality or to conform with other bathroom décor. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to limitations in customizing toilet tank aesthetics and provide a novel and non-obvious method, computer program product and toilet tank wrapper for creating a customized toilet tank wrapper. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, a method is presented for creating a customized laminated toilet tank wrapper for decorating a toilet according to personal preferences. A consumer logs in to a website and is presented with a menu for selecting his/her toilet tank model for customization. Additionally, the consumer may select digital artwork to be replicated on the customized toilet tank wrapper. Alternatively, the consumer may select to upload their own digital artwork to the website for replication on the customized toilet tank wrapper. Information identifying the toilet and the selection of digital artwork is received at the website. The digital artwork is sized to fit the identified toilet and printed to create a physical copy of the digital artwork which is laminated to create a customized toilet tank wrapper and cut to fit the identified toilet. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the customized toilet tank wrapper includes a first poly-vinyl material layer overlaid on the front side of the physical copy of the digital artwork, an adhesive coating layer covering the back side of the physical copy of the digital artwork, and a removable layer protecting the adhesive coating layer. The removable layer may be a waxed paper. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the information identifying the toilet tank may include a brand and a model number. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, toilet tank measurements corresponding to the identified toilet are retrieved. The toilet tank measurements may be received directly from the consumer as part of the information identifying the toilet or retrieved from a database based on the information identifying the toilet. The toilet tank measurements may include the length, width and depth of the toilet tank, a location and size of the handle and at least one location of a toilet-specific feature. The customized toilet tank wrapper is cut to fit the identified toilet by cutting the customized toilet tank wrapper to have an overall size conforming to the length, width and depth of the toilet tank, cutting an opening at the location of the handle large enough to accommodate the size of the handle, and cutting an opening at the least one location of a toilet-specific feature to accommodate the toilet-specific feature. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the toilet tank wrapper further comprises a second poly-vinyl material layer overlaid on the back side of the physical copy of the digital artwork. With this arrangement, the adhesive coating layer is applied to the second poly-vinyl material layer. 
     Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The aspects of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a three dimensional diagram of a toilet with an example customized toilet tank wrapper in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a three dimensional diagram of a customized toilet tank wrapper in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view diagram of the layers of a customized toilet tank wrapper in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating an example method of creating a customized toilet tank wrapper in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 5 and 6  are three dimensional diagrams illustrating installation of a customized toilet tank wrapper in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the invention provides for a method of creating a customized laminated toilet tank wrapper for decorating a toilet according to personal preferences. Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a toilet  100  with an example customized toilet tank wrapper  102  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is presented. The toilet  100  includes, inter alia, a toilet tank  104 , a tank lid  106 , a handle  108 , a base  110  and a seat  114  with a seat cover  116 . The customized toilet tank wrapper  102  is designed to conform to the measurements of the toilet tank  104  and includes artwork  112  specified by a consumer. The artwork  112  may be supplied (i.e. uploaded to a website and/or server) by the consumer or selected from a pre-defined menu of available artwork. In the case where the artwork  112  is supplied by the consumer, a review of the artwork for known or potential copyright or trademark violations may be performed manually (e.g., reviewed by a human) or automatically (e.g., reviewed by a computer using specified parameters). Such violations may include, but are not limited to, logos, insignia or photographs of sports teams, universities, celebrities, etc. The artwork  112  is supplied in digital form and a physical copy of the artwork  112  is used to create the actual toilet tank wrapper  102 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an example toilet tank wrapper  102  is sized to fit a specified toilet  100 . The toilet tank wrapper  102  includes a handle opening  202  cut out to accommodate the handle  108  of the specified toilet  100 . The location, size and shape required for the handle opening  202  may differ for various toilets. The toilet tank wrapper  102  also includes a right side flap  204  and a left side flap  206  that wrap around the right side and left side of the toilet  100 , respectively. In some instances, the toilet tank wrapper  102  may include tabs (not shown) on the right side flap  204  and the left side flap  206  which wrap underneath the toilet tank  104  and help to secure the toilet tank wrapper  102  in place. 
     The overall length, width and depth of the toilet tank wrapper  102  are dependent upon the dimensions of the identified toilet  100 . The toilet tank wrapper  102  may include a base indentation  208  along a bottom side  210  which allows the toilet tank wrapper  102  to clear the base  110 . The length and width of the base indentation  208  are likewise dependent upon the dimensions or the identified toilet  100 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 3 , an exploded view illustrating example layers of the toilet tank wrapper  102  is provided. The layers may include a first poly-vinyl material layer  302  overlaid on the front side of a physical copy  304  of the artwork  112 , an optional second poly-vinyl material layer  306  on the back side of the physical copy  304  of the artwork  112 , an adhesive coating layer  308  covering the back side of the physical copy  302  of the artwork  112  or the second poly-vinyl material layer  306  (when present), and a removable layer  310  protecting the adhesive coating layer  308 . The removable layer  310  may comprise a waxed paper or similar material allowing the removable layer  310  to be easily peeled away from the adhesive coating layer  308  upon installation. The poly-vinyl material layer(s)  302  and  306  are transparent and may be clear or colored to enhance the view of the artwork  112 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a flowchart  400  illustrating an example method of creating a customized toilet tank wrapper  102  is provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Information identifying a toilet  100  is received (at step  402 ) at a website or server. The information identifying the toilet  100  may include a brand and a model number or other identifying information. In some instances, the information identifying the toilet  100  includes toilet tank measurements, such as a length, width and depth of the toilet tank  104 , a location and size of the handle  108 , and location and dimensions of various toilet-specific features, such as the location and size of the base  110  or various indentations or raised areas on the toilet tank  104 . When the information identifying the toilet  100  does not include toilet tank measurements, these measurements may be retrieved from a database based on the identifying information corresponding to the identified toilet  100 . 
     A selection of digital artwork  112  is received (at step  404 ) at the website or server. The digital artwork  112  may be selected by the consumer from a listing of artworks offered via menu selection or the selection of digital artwork  112  may be received as a copy of digital artwork  112  uploaded by a user. The digital artwork  112  is sized (at step  406 ) to fit the identified toilet (i.e. expanded, cropped, replicated, etc.) and printed (at step  408 ) to create a physical copy  304  of the digital artwork  112 . The physical copy  304  of the digital artwork  112  has a front side and a back side. The physical copy  304  of the digital artwork  112  is laminated (at step  410 ) to create a customized toilet tank wrapper  102 . The laminating may include overlaying a first poly-vinyl material layer on the front side of the physical copy  304  of the digital artwork  112 . An adhesive coating layer  308  is applied (at step  412 ) to cover the back side of the physical copy  304  of the digital artwork  112  and a removable layer  310  is applied (at step  412 ) to protect the adhesive coating layer  308 . 
     The customized toilet tank wrapper  102  is cut (at step  414 ) to fit the identified toilet  100 . The cutting may be performed automatically by a CNC (computer numerical controlled) router under control of or receiving instructions from the website or server. The toilet tank wrapper  102  is cut to have an overall size conforming to the length, width and depth of the toilet tank  104 . A handle opening  202  is cut at the location of the handle  108 ; the handle opening  202  is large enough to accommodate the size of the handle  108 . Optionally, an opening may be cut, or the toilet tank wrapper  102  may be perforated or folded at the location of a toilet-specific feature to accommodate the toilet-specific feature. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , to install the toilet tank wrapper  102  on the toilet tank  104 , the tank lid  106  and handle  108  are removed and the toilet tank  104  is thoroughly cleaned and dried. The removable layer  310  is peeled back from one side of the toilet tank wrapper  102 , exposing the adhesive coating. The toilet tank wrapper  102  is aligned with the toilet tank  104  and the exposed adhesive coating layer  308  is pressed to the toilet tank  104  using a sponge, float  602 , or other device to secure the toilet tank wrapper  102  in place. The remaining removable layer  310  is slowly removed, allowing the toilet tank wrapper  102  to be pressed in place as the adhesive coating is exposed. The tank lid  106  and handle  108  are replaced. The newly installed customized toilet tank wrapper  102  provides an aesthetically pleasing display to the consumer while also protecting the surface of the toilet tank  104 . 
     Although the methods and materials described herein have been referenced with respect to making a customized toilet tank wrapper for a specific toilet model, similar methods and materials may be used to create customized wrappers for other household appliances or apparatuses, such as toilet seat covers, refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, etc. 
     Embodiments of the present invention may be embodied within a customized toilet tank wrapper, a method, a computer program product or any combination thereof. The computer program product may include a computer readable storage medium or media having computer readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention. The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. 
     A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer readable storage medium includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmitted through a wire. 
     Computer readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computer readable storage medium or to an external computer or external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in each computing/processing device receives computer readable program instructions from the network and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium within the respective computing/processing device. 
     Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations of the present invention may be assembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The computer readable program instructions may execute entirely on the user&#39;s computer, partly on the user&#39;s computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user&#39;s computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user&#39;s computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readable program instructions by utilizing state information of the computer readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention. 
     Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable program instructions. 
     These computer readable program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects of the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions. 
     Finally, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 
     Having thus described the invention of the present application in detail and by reference to embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims as follows: