Nested Graduated Toilet Seats

Abstract

An assembly of cooperatively hinged nested toilet seats of sizes downwardly graduated from smaller to larger, from a smallest top seat to a largest bottom first seat. Each of the relatively smaller seats nests within a declining inner seat contour of a relatively larger seat below it. An extension of the declining inner seat contour of each seat defines a downward seat flange, which is configured to extend within the rim of the toilet bowl when the seat is lowered. Each successively smaller seat has a downward seat flange which is configured, when the seat is lowered, to nest within and engage the inner perimeter of the seat opening defined by the downward seat flange of the seat below it. The cross-sectional profile of each of the nested toilet seats comprises the downward seat flange, which transitions into the declining inner seat contour, which transitions into a middle seat contour, which in turn transitions into an outer seat contour.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to the field of toilet seats, and more particularly to toilet seat assemblies comprising multiple toilet seats of different sizes.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Standard sized toilet seats are designed to accommodate the body contours of an average adult. They are not well suited to small children, who often must support themselves with their arms to avoid falling through the seat opening. This problem makes the process of toilet training young children all the more difficult.[0003]Large and obese adults often have the opposite problem, as their bottom body contours extend well beyond the rim of the standard toilet seat, making it difficult for them to maintain their balance on the seat.[0004]Attempts to address these problems have included special toilet seat inserts, such as child seats. But small children usually cannot deploy such inserts without adult assistance, which defeats the goal of enabling the child to use the toil...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides an assembly of nested toilet seats with declining inner seat contours and downward seat flanges that engage with the inner perimeter of the toilet bowl rim. The seats have different sizes and shapes, with the larger seats having a laterally shaped inner seat contour that engaged with the inner perimeter of the bowl rim to create the largest opening. The smaller seats have a narrower inner seat contour that engages with the bowl rim to create smaller openings. The cross-sectional profile of the seats includes the downward seat flange and the inner and outer seat contours. The technical effects of the invention are improved sealing, efficient use of space, and improved user experience.

Problems solved by technology

They are not well suited to small children, who often must support themselves with their arms to avoid falling through the seat opening.

This problem makes the process of toilet training young children all the more difficult.

Large and obese adults often have the opposite problem, as their bottom body contours extend well beyond the rim of the standard toilet seat, making it difficult for them to maintain their balance on the seat.

But small children usually cannot deploy such inserts without adult assistance, which defeats the goal of enabling the child to use the toilet independently.

But such tiered seat configurations tend to raise the overall height of the seat, making the seating of small children and infirm adults even more difficult.

Moreover, the overlapping edges of tiered toilet seats tend to generate lateral movement of the seats when bearing bodily weight, thereby making seating more unstable and less comfortable.

The cross-sectional profile of the standard toilet seat is typically flat to slightly convex, which is not optimal for stable seating.

Aged and infirm adults often require assistance maintaining their seating on these seats, because they provide no lateral support.

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