Seat for a toilet including a target illuminating feature

Abstract

A toilet seat incorporating a laser pointing device for creating a target to increase accuracy during standing urination. Several embodiments of decorative and/or functional lighting may also be combined in various embodiments of the toilet seat. Power may be supplied from an internal battery pack or, optionally, from an external power supply connected to the power grid. Numerous versions of sensors and/or controls may be implemented to switch one or more features on or off depending upon such factors as ambient light levels, the proximity of a person to the toilet seat, etc. In some embodiments, timers may be used to control one or more features. Ancillary devices such as audio annunciatiors, audio message generators, and fragrance generators may also be included.

1 . A toilet seat, comprising a seat portion and a lid portion hingedly affixed to one another and to a toilet bowl, the improvement comprising:
 a) a pointing device for projecting a beam into said toilet bowl to form a target therein;   b) means for actuating said pointing device operatively connected thereto; and   c) a power source operatively connected to at least one of said pointing device and said means for actuating.   
     
     
         2 . The toilet seat as recited in  claim 1  wherein said pointing device comprises a laser. 
     
     
         3 . The toilet seat as recited in  claim 1  wherein said pointing device is disposed on an inside surface of said lid portion. 
     
     
         4 . The toilet seat as recited in  claim 3  wherein said pointing device comprises an aiming mechanism to direct said beam to a desired location in said toilet bowl. 
     
     
         5 . The toilet seat as recited in  claim 1  wherein said means for actuating comprises at least one device selected from the group: a proximity sensor, a room occupancy sensor, an ambient light level sensor, a gravity actuated switch, a timer, and a manual switch. 
     
     
         7 . The toilet seat as recited in  claim 1  wherein said power source comprises at least one power source selected from the group: a battery pack, and a power source connected to an AC distribution grid. 
     
     
         8 . The toilet seat as recited in  claim 7  wherein said battery pack is contained within at least one of said lid portion and said seat portion. 
     
     
         9 . The toilet seat as recited in  claim 7  wherein said power source connected to an AC distribution grid comprises a power supply having an input adapted for connection to an AC power source, a transformer, and a rectifier for providing a low voltage, DC output. 
     
     
         10 . The toilet seat as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said power source comprises a ground fault interrupter (GFI). 
     
     
         11 . The toilet seat as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said power source comprises a “brick” style power supply. 
     
     
         12 . The toilet seat as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 d) an illumination device affixed to at least one of said lid portion and said seat portion, said illumination device being operatively connected to said power source.   
     
     
         13 . The toilet seat as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 d) an illumination device affixed to at least one of said lid portion and said seat portion, said illumination device being operatively connected to said power source.   
     
     
         14 . The toilet seat as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said illumination device comprises at least one selected from the group: an illumination device affixed to an outside edge of said lid portion, an illumination device affixed to an outside edge of said seat portion, an illumination device affixed to an inside major surface of said lid portion, an illumination device affixed to an outside major surface of said lid portion, and an illumination device affixed to a lower major surface of said seat portion. 
     
     
         15 . The toilet seat as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 e) a control mechanism operatively connected to at least one of said illumination source and said power source.   
     
     
         16 . The toilet seat as recited in  claim 15  wherein said control mechanism comprises at least one device selected from the group: a proximity sensor, a room occupancy sensor, an ambient light level sensor, a gravity actuated switch, a timer, a dimmer, and a manual switch. 
     
     
         17 . The toilet seat as recited in  claim 11  wherein said power source comprises at least one power source selected from the group: a battery pack disposed in at least one of said lid portion and said seat portion, a battery pack disposed externally to said toilet seat, and a power source connected to an AC distribution grid comprising a power supply having an input adapted for connection to said AC distribution grid, a transformer, and a rectifier for providing a low voltage, DC output, and a ground fault interrupter (GFI). 
     
     
         18 . The toilet seat as recited in  claim 11  wherein said illumination source comprises at least one downward pointing light emitting diode generating an output having a wavelength in the ultraviolet portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. 
     
     
         19 . The toilet seat as recited in  claim 12  further comprising:
 e) an ancillary device attached to at least one of said lip portion, said seat portion or, another portion of said toilet, said ancillary device being operatively connected to said power source and adapted to generated at least one output selected from the group: an audio annunciation, an audio message, and a fragrance; and 
 f) a control mechanism operatively connected to at least one of said ancillary device and said power source. 
 
     
     
         20 . The toilet seat as recited in  claim 19  wherein said control mechanism comprises at least one device selected from the group: a proximity sensor, a room occupancy sensor, an ambient light level sensor, a gravity actuated switch, a timer, a dimmer, and a manual switch.