Disposable sanitary cover for a toilet and related methods of use

Abstract

A disposable sanitary cover for a toilet and methods of using the cover. The cover includes a continuous single sheet dimensioned to cover a seat of the toilet and has a front portion, first and second side portions, and a rear portion, all surrounding a generally central opening of the sheet. The sheet may comprise a material which substantially dissolves in response to being placed in a water-based liquid having a temperature within a pre-selected temperature range. The cover may be secured to the seat by means of first and second side overhanging portions of the sheet which are operable to be tucked underneath the seat. The sheet may have a front overhanging portion enveloping front portions of the seat and toilet and connected to the first and second side overhanging portions to form a pocket. The sheet may have at least one protrusion oriented to protrude in a direction away from the toilet, and operable to be used as a sanitary grip to facilitate removal of the sheet from the toilet seat.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
   
   
       29 . A disposable sanitary cover for a toilet, comprising:
 a continuous single sheet of material dimensioned to cover a seat of the toilet when deployed thereon and comprising a front portion, first and second side portions, and a rear portion, all surrounding a generally central opening of said sheet, said central opening being operable to be registered with an opening in said seat, said sheet having at least one protrusion operable to be used as a grip to facilitate removal of said sheet from the toilet seat, said at least one protrusion being oriented to protrude in a direction away from the toilet when said sheet is deployed on the seat.   
   
   
       30 . The cover of  claim 29  wherein some portions of said sheet are disposed adjacent said at least one protrusion so as to be interposed between a user and the toilet to protect the user from accidental contact with the toilet in the vicinity of said at least one protrusion when the user reaches to grasp said at least one protrusion. 
   
   
       31 . The cover of  claim 29  wherein said at least one protrusion is formed by cooperation of said front portion and at least one of said first and second side portions. 
   
   
       32 . The cover of  claim 31  wherein said at least one protrusion comprises a heat seam connecting said front portion to said at least one of said first and second side portions. 
   
   
       33 . The cover of  claim 32  wherein said at least one protrusion comprises a generally right-angled corner. 
   
   
       34 . The cover of  claim 29  wherein said at least one protrusion is integral with the cover. 
   
   
       35 . The cover of  claim 29  wherein said at least one protrusion comprises two generally parallel layers of said sheet. 
   
   
       36 . The cover of  claim 29  wherein said at least one protrusion is operable to be disposed adjacent a front portion of the toilet seat when said central opening of said sheet is registered with said opening in the toilet seat. 
   
   
       37 . The cover of  claim 29  wherein said continuous single sheet substantially dissolves in response to being placed in water-based liquid having a temperature within a pre-selected temperature range. 
   
   
       38 . The cover of  claim 37  wherein the entire said continuous single sheet has a substantially uniform solubility. 
   
   
       39 . The cover of  claim 37  wherein the entire said sheet substantially dissolves within about 90 seconds of being placed in water-based liquid having a temperature within a temperature range of between about 10 degrees Celsius and about 30 degrees Celsius. 
   
   
       40 . The cover of  claim 37  wherein the entire said sheet dissolves sufficiently within about 15 to about 30 seconds of being placed in said water-based liquid, to permit said sheet to be deformed in response to flushing of the toilet such that the entire said sheet may be flushed down the toilet without clogging the toilet. 
   
   
       41 . The cover of  claim 37  wherein said continuous single sheet of material comprises polyvinyl alcohol. 
   
   
       42 . The cover of  claim 29  wherein said sheet is free of adhesive. 
   
   
       43 . The cover of  claim 29  wherein said sheet of material has a top surface and bottom surface and wherein entire said bottom surface has a higher coefficient of friction than said top surface. 
   
   
       44 . A disposable sanitary cover for a toilet comprising a sheet dimensioned to cover a seat of the toilet when deployed thereon and comprising a front portion, first and second side portions, and a rear portion, all surrounding a generally central opening of said sheet, said central opening being operable to be registered with an opening in said seat, the cover comprising at least one protrusion oriented in an outward direction from the toilet when the cover is deployed on the toilet, said at least one protrusion being operable to be grasped and pulled to facilitate removal of the cover from said seat. 
   
   
       45 . The cover of  claim 44  wherein said front portion of said sheet includes a front overhanging portion for enveloping front portions of both the seat and toilet, said front overhanging portion being connected to at least one of said first and second side portions to form a pocket operable to help secure the sheet to the seat when the front portion of the toilet is inserted into said pocket, said at least one of said first and second side portions also cooperating with said front portion to provide said at least one protrusion oriented in said outward direction from the toilet and operable to be grasped and pulled by a user to facilitate removal of the cover from said seat. 
   
   
       46 . The cover of  claim 45  wherein said sheet comprises a continuous single sheet of film having a substantially uniform solubility such that when the cover is immersed in water-based liquid in the toilet, the entire cover tends to dissolve at a substantially uniform rate in the water-based liquid. 
   
   
       47 . The cover of  claim 45  wherein said sheet of material has a top surface for contacting a user and a bottom surface for contacting the toilet and wherein the entire said bottom surface has a higher coefficient of friction than said top surface. 
   
   
       48 . A disposable sanitary cover for a toilet, comprising a continuous single sheet of water-soluble material dimensioned to cover a seat of the toilet when deployed thereon and comprising a front portion, first and second side portions, and a rear portion, all surrounding a generally central opening of said sheet, said central opening being operable to be registered with an opening in said seat, said first and second side portions including respective first and second side overhanging portions operable to be tucked underneath respective first and second side portions of the seat when it is lifted, said front portion including a front overhanging portion for enveloping front portions of both the seat and toilet, said front overhanging portion being folded back and connected to said first and second side overhanging portions so as to form a pocket operable to receive the front portion of the toilet when the cover is deployed on the toilet, said first and second side overhanging portions cooperating with said front overhanging portion, when the front portion of the toilet is received in said pocket, to provide at least one protrusion integral with the cover, disposed adjacent a front portion of the seat, and oriented in an outward direction from the toilet, said protrusion being operable to be grasped and pulled by a user to remove the cover from the seat, said at least one protrusion being surrounded by adjacent portions of the sheet, said adjacent portions of the sheet being interposed between the user and the toilet to protect the user from accidental contact with the toilet in the vicinity of said at least one protrusion when the user reaches to grasp said at least one protrusion, wherein the entire cover including said at least one protrusion substantially dissolves in response to being placed in a water-based liquid.