Gel infused toilet seat

Abstract

A gel-infused seat for a toilet bowl is provided comprising an exposed base section for directly contacting a top rim of the bowl while supporting a user's weight, the base section having a top surface opposite to the bottom surfaces of the seat and at least two edges including an inner circumferential edge and an outer circumferential edge; a foam core layer covering the top surface of the base section and extending to parts of the bottom surfaces of the seat at its inner and outer circumferential edges; a gelatinous overlay for defining a top contour of the seat that yields easily to a pressure applied to give a comfortable softness to the user; and an outer layer for covering the gelatinous overlay and foam core layer leaving the base section exposed with substantially constant space from the base section.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]A. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to a toilet seat. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cushioned toilet seat with an additional infusion of gelatinous elastomers to a seat frame that does not require a complex or series of injection moldings.[0003]B. Description of the Prior Art[0004]There has been a problem recognized in relation to the inconvenient hard feeling when sitting on the conventional toilet seats made simply of a molded plastic, a carved wood or even a composite of different thermoplastic materials.[0005]A soft layer to envelope a harder seat ring core in making more comforting seating surface for toilet users has been the subject of many patents including U.S. Pat. No. 7,111,331 to Cecchin that describes a skin polymer filled with a core material thru concentric co-injection; U.S. Pat. No. 6,640,349 to Toldo et al. describing encapsulation of a toilet seat ring with a plastic overlay covering...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]The gel-infused seat for a toilet bowl according to the present invention comprises a downwardly exposed base section for directly contacting a top rim of the bowl while supporting a user's weight and multiple overlays joined securely to the base section in a unique structure to facilitate the manufacturing of the seat, which provides a substantially improved seating comfort. The base section has a top surface opposite to the bottom surfaces of the seat and at least two edges including an inner circumferential edge and an outer circumferential edge. To give a firm bond between overlays as well as a softer volume, a foam core layer covers the top surface of the base section and extends to parts of the bottom surfaces of the seat at its inner and outer circumferential edges. For allowing a functional contour as well as sensible softness, a gelatinous overlay is provided defining a top contour of the seat that yields easily to a pressure applied to give a comfortable softness to the user. An outer layer covers the gelatinous overlay and foam core layer leaving the base section exposed with substantially constant space from the base section.

[0012]As a way to ensure a permanent unity between the multiple layers of seat that involves no encapsulation but open overlays, several structural features are embedded in the skin as well as base section: First, two opposite overhangs are made of the core layer at its inner end near opening and outer end near outer edge; second, two opposite notches are formed on base section along the inner and outer peripheral edges of bottom respectively and then buried under solidified overhangs, respectively and finally, a number of intermittent eyes are formed through notch of base section. Such a partial wrapping over base section permits manufacturing of layered seat in most simplified way because pouring and curing of molten materials can be done just with a lower mold utilizing base section itself as an upper mold eliminating the need for two consecutive injection processes or a sophisticated combination of the two.

Problems solved by technology

There has been a problem recognized in relation to the inconvenient hard feeling when sitting on the conventional toilet seats made simply of a molded plastic, a carved wood or even a composite of different thermoplastic materials.

However, it requires two separate molding processes involving a molding of the rigid insert and an over-molding of top layer for non-slip seating surface.

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