Toilet Training Stool

Abstract

A stool system for use in conjunction with a toilet having a bowl and a seat, the seat defining a seat plane and having a seat front edge apex, includes a freestanding stool including a base, the stool being reconfigurable between a use position and storage position, wherein the stool in the use position is disposable adjacent the bowl and substantially below the seat plane, and wherein the stool in the storage position is disposable substantially below the seat plane and substantially on a toilet side of a vertical plane tangential to the seat front edge apex.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A stool system for use in conjunction with a toilet having a bowl and a seat, the seat defining a seat plane and having a seat front edge apex, the stool system comprising:
 a freestanding stool including a base, the stool being reconfigurable between a use position and storage position, wherein the stool in the use position is disposable adjacent the bowl and substantially below the seat plane, and wherein the stool in the storage position is disposable substantially below the seat plane and substantially on a toilet side of a vertical plane tangential to the seat front edge apex.   
     
     
         2 . The stool system of  claim 1 , the stool further comprising a generally planar top portion coupled to the base. 
     
     
         3 . The stool system of  claim 2 , wherein the base is configured to remain substantially immobile during reconfiguration between the use and storage positions, and wherein the top portion is configured to reposition during reconfiguration between the use and storage positions. 
     
     
         4 . The stool system of  claim 2 , wherein the top portion is movably attached to the base. 
     
     
         5 . The stool system of  claim 2 , wherein the top portion is generally vertical in the storage position. 
     
     
         6 . The stool system of  claim 2 , wherein the base includes a static portion and a leg portion, wherein the static portion is movably attached to the top portion, and wherein the leg portion is movably attached to the top portion. 
     
     
         7 . The stool system of  claim 6 , wherein the static portion of the base is configured to remain substantially immobile during reconfiguration between the use and storage positions, and wherein the top portion and the leg portion of the base are configured to reposition during reconfiguration between the use and storage positions. 
     
     
         8 . The stool system of  claim 6 , wherein the leg portion of the base is configured to at least partially nest with the static portion of the base in the storage position. 
     
     
         9 . The stool system of  claim 6 , wherein the leg portion has a center of gravity and is pivotable relative to the top portion at a hinge position, wherein a floor-contacting point of the leg portion is horizontally further from the seat front edge apex than is the hinge position when the stool is in the use position, and wherein the hinge position and the center of gravity are configured to allow the leg portion to pivot when the top portion is lifted to a position wherein the floor-contacting point is horizontally closer to the seat front edge apex than is the hinge position. 
     
     
         10 . The stool system of  claim 2 , wherein the top portion includes an arcuate section configured to at least partially nest with the toilet bowl in the use position. 
     
     
         11 . The stool system of  claim 2 , wherein the top portion includes a hand hold. 
     
     
         12 . The stool system of  claim 2 , wherein the base includes a leg portion, and wherein the stool is configured to be transitionable from the use position to the storage position by lifting the top portion adjacent the leg portion. 
     
     
         13 . The stool system of  claim 1 , the base including a lattice of planar elements, and wherein adjacent planar elements meet to form a lattice angle. 
     
     
         14 . The stool system of  claim 13 , wherein the stool is configured to be laterally collapsible by increasing the angles of a first plurality of lattice angles, and by decreasing the angles of a second plurality of lattice angles. 
     
     
         15 . The stool system of  claim 1 , wherein the stool has a use position horizontal maximum cross-section area and a storage position maximum horizontal cross-section area, and wherein the use position maximum horizontal cross-section area is larger than the storage position maximum horizontal cross-section area. 
     
     
         16 . The stool system of  claim 1 , wherein the stool has a use position maximum vertical height and a storage position maximum vertical height, and wherein the use position maximum vertical height is essentially identical to the storage position maximum vertical height. 
     
     
         17 . A stool system for use in conjunction with a toilet having a bowl and a seat, the seat defining a seat plane and having a seat front edge apex, the stool system comprising:
 a freestanding stool being reconfigurable between a use position and storage position, the stool including a generally planar top portion and a base having a static portion and a leg portion, wherein the static portion is movably attached to the top portion, and wherein the leg portion is movably attached to the top portion such that the static portion of the base is configured to remain substantially immobile during reconfiguration between the use and storage positions, and wherein the top portion and the leg portion of the base are configured to reposition during reconfiguration between the use and storage positions,
 wherein the stool in the use position is disposable adjacent the bowl and substantially below the seat plane, and wherein the stool in the storage position is disposable substantially below the seat plane and substantially on a toilet side of a vertical plane tangential to the seat front edge apex. 
   
     
     
         18 . The stool system of  claim 17 , wherein the leg portion has a center of gravity and is pivotable relative to the top portion at a hinge position, wherein a floor-contacting point of the leg portion is horizontally further from the seat front edge apex than is the hinge position when the stool is in the use position, and wherein the hinge position and the center of gravity are configured to allow the leg portion to pivot when the top portion is lifted to a position wherein the floor-contacting point is horizontally closer to the seat front edge apex than is the hinge position. 
     
     
         19 . A stool system for use in conjunction with a toilet having a bowl and a seat, the seat defining a seat plane and having a seat front edge apex, the stool system comprising:
 a freestanding stool being reconfigurable between a use position and storage position, the stool including a base having a lattice of planar elements, and wherein adjacent planar elements meet to form a lattice angle, wherein the stool is configured to be laterally collapsible by increasing the angles of a first plurality of lattice angles and by decreasing the angles of a second plurality of lattice angles,
 wherein the stool in the use position is disposable adjacent the bowl and substantially below the seat plane, and wherein the stool in the storage position is disposable substantially below the seat plane and substantially on a toilet side of a vertical plane tangential to the seat front edge apex. 
   
     
     
         20 . The stool system of  claim 19 , wherein the stool has a use position horizontal maximum cross-section area and a storage position maximum horizontal cross-section area, and wherein the use position maximum horizontal cross-section area is larger than the storage position maximum horizontal cross-section area.