Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Flush closet – Tank only
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-26
2001-09-04
Phillips, Charles E. (Department: 3751)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Flush closet
Tank only
C004S228100, C004S246100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282732
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to home furnishings. More particularly, though not exclusively, the present invention relates to an accessory for decorating, customizing, or otherwise personalizing an existing toilet flushing handle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
One of the first activities undertaken when setting up a home is the personalization of the home by selecting various home furnishings. These home furnishings provide the resident an opportunity to express their artistic and stylistic preferences through artwork, color combinations, and furniture. Consistent with this trend, many people continue their artistic expressions into their bathrooms. For example, some people like to decorate their bathrooms with a theme such as clowns, cows or other farm animals, balloons, or other objects or subjects.
Unfortunately, there are few accessories available to change the appearance of a toilet. Currently available accessories include placing a sock-type decorative cover over a spare toilet paper roll on the lid of the toilet tank to disguise the spare roll. Even more common is the bath floor-matte, which is often shaped to contour the base of the toilet, and may provide cushion the feet of the toilet user. There is also the option of putting a cover on the toilet seat lid or a cover over the toilet tank itself. None of these presently available accessories provide for the customization of the flushing handle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In light of the above, a toilet flushing handle accessory is provided which gives the user a novel and extremely functional way of customizing an existing toilet flush activator arm, also called a toilet flushing handle. The toilet flushing handle accessory of the present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for decorating and personalizing the existing toilet flushing handle on a toilet.
The toilet flushing handle accessory of the present invention enables an individual to make a visual and audible statement. The toilet flushing handle accessory of the present invention may be equipped with a variety of attachment mechanisms to securely fasten the toilet flushing handle accessory to virtually any shape and size toilet flushing handle. In this manner, an otherwise sterile or un-decorative toilet tank may be decorated and personalized.
The toilet flushing handle accessory of the present invention allows the individual to add an extra touch to their bathroom decor. Instead of having to depress a standard toilet flushing handle, the individual will be able to attach the present invention, and depress it to flush the toilet. One advantage of this invention is that since it can be easily attached and also removed, the individual can change the toilet flushing handle accessory to suit their desire to make a statement or reflect for instance a change in the season or National holiday. Further, the toilet flushing handle accessory of the present invention enables an individual to make a visual and audible statement to every member of the household, or other persons using the toilet.
Using the toilet is common to most every human being. Thus, with the toilet flushing handle accessory of the present invention, a message may be conveyed to everyone in the household. For instance, a toilet flushing handle accessory of the present invention which announces “Happy Birthday” could be attached to an otherwise ordinary toilet flushing handle to surprise a loved one on their Birthday. Also, the toilet flushing handle accessory of the present invention can be used to relay more serious messages, such as “Stop Using Crack”, “Thank You For Flushing”, or “Don't Forget To Wash Your Hands”.
The toilet flushing handle accessory of the present invention could also be used to honor the individual's ethnicity or National origin. For example, the Stars and Stripes, or the Croatian Flag, could be embodied in the toilet flushing handle accessory. Naturally, the toilet flushing handle accessory of the present invention could be used to represent flags or symbols for any ethnicity or group.
Toilet training a toddler can be a difficult time, for both the child and parents or care givers. The toilet flushing handle accessory of the present invention could be used to help a young person learn to use the toilet by rewarding them with the opportunity to use the toilet flushing handle accessory of the present invention and flush, after successfully using the toilet. To further incentivize the young person, a sound-generator could be added to the present invention, such as an electronic circuit which would emit a sound, such as an emphatic “Hoorah!”
The toilet flushing handle accessory of the present invention could also be outfitted with a recording device enabling the individual user to make their own message, cheer or other sound. Once the recording device has been used to record a message, the toilet flushing handle accessory may repeat the recorded message upon each activation of the toilet flushing handle with the invention attached. This could also make the invention more useful as an incentive during the toilet training of a toddler.
Because odor is a concern in virtually every bathroom, the toilet flushing handle accessory of the present invention may be equipped with scented portion, such as “potpourri” or other means of gradually and steadily releasing a pleasant scent. Alternatively, the toilet flushing handle accessory of the present invention could include a spray canister containing scented spray which would emit a spray burst upon the depression of the toilet flushing handle. The scented spray would conveniently and effectively mask any odors left by the toilet user.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a means of decorating an existing toilet flushing handle with an easily attachable and removable device. A further object of the present invention is to provide an attachable and removable device for the decoration and customization of an existing toilet. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a toilet flushing handle accessory having virtually any shape or figure thereby providing unlimited opportunity for the decoration and customization of a toilet.
The toilet flushing handle accessory of the present invention includes the main body of the invention equipped with one or more fasteners. The body is made out of a material suitable for exposure to manipulation and moisture, such as plastic and ceramics. Each fastener may be fixed to the body and attachable to an existing toilet flushing handle. The toilet flushing handle accessory of the present invention may also be equipped with a audio recording and playback circuit for recording and playing back a message or announcement, and may also be equipped with a scent producing module, including a scented spray canister and dispensing mechanism for dispensing a burst of pleasantly scented spray.
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Bluemel Mark-Robert
Krvavica Michaelle A.
Krvavica Patricia A.
Eastman Gary L.
Phillips Charles E.
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