Patent ID: 8893317

Claim:
A toilet training device, the device including: a seat having a curved surface defining a cavity shaped to accommodate a child, the seat having an aperture therein; and a backrest at a first end of the seat, the backrest being shaped to support a body of a child using the device, wherein the backrest is inclined forward towards the cavity at an angle α of between 5 and 15 degrees from the vertical over substantially the entire length of the backrest and is configured to contact the lower back of the child to force the child to lean forward slightly and to hold the child's body in a correct position for use of the device; wherein the seat includes an upstanding side wall defining opposed side support members extending forward from the backrest about the cavity, to assist in supporting a child upright in the seat, the upstanding side wall defining at least one opening at a second end of the device opposed to the first end, to allow the child's legs to extend forward and beyond the side wall when the child is seated in the device, said at least one opening defining a leg support surface for supporting the underside of the child's legs which is inclined backwardly towards the cavity at a predetermined angle relative to the horizontal, such that the child is held in a squat position in which his/her legs are raised and his/her upper body is forced slightly forward when seated in the cavity of the seat; and wherein the aperture in the seat is teardrop shaped in plan, with an enlarged first end portion located centrally in the seat at or near a lowermost portion of the cavity defined therein, and a tapered second end portion extending forwardly away from the backrest, the tapered second end portion extending up said curved surface of the seat defining the cavity so that its extreme end is higher than the enlarged first end portion in use.