# US 8,784,110 B2 · Urine stream target device, toilet training method, and method of manufacture > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,784,110 B2 - Document ID: US8784110B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/677,582 - Filed: 2012-11-15 - Published: 2014-05-15 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-15 - Applicants: Kathryn R. Hug; Thomas W. Marrero - Inventors: Kathryn R. Hug; Thomas W. Marrero - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784110B2 ## CPC - A47K 17/00: Other sanitary equipment not covered by the other groups of this subclass {; Holders for toilet brushes} - Y10T 156/10: Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor - A47K: SANITARY EQUIPMENT; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR, e.g. TOILET ACCESSORIES - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A multilayer urine stream target device usable as a toilet training aid includes an upper layer of a first relatively absorbent material, a lower layer of a second relatively non-absorbent material adhesively attached to the upper layer. The upper or first layer of material comprises an alkaline environment and a pH indicator. The pH indicator provides the upper or first layer with first coloration. The upper layer is floatable upon a water surface as typified within a toilet bowl by way of the relatively non-absorbent lower or second layer of material. When a urine stream makes contact with the upper or first layer, the pH-indicator causes a color change in the first material, which color change is believed to promote the targeting of the target device by a urine stream provider. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A multi-layer urine stream target device usable as a toilet training aid, the target device comprising: an upper layer of a first material; a lower layer of a second material attached to the upper layer; pH-indicating means for indicating pH; and an alkaline compound, the pH-indicating means and the alkaline compound being absorbed by the first material thereby providing the first material with a first color and rendering the upper layer with a basic environment, the upper layer being floatable upon a water surface via the lower layer, the pH-indicating means causing a color change in the first material when urine comes into contact therewith, the color change for aiding in toilet training a urine stream provider, the basic environment for enhancing color change characteristics of the target device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The target device of claim 1 wherein the pH-indicating means comprise a select pH indicator, the select pH indicator being selected from the group consisting of a methyl red pH indicator, a universal pH indicator or a litmus pH indicator. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The target device of claim 1 comprising a rounded transverse cross-section and an angled upper section defining a first diameter and a second diameter, the first diameter defines a junction site intermediate a planar lower section and the angled upper section, an upper rim of the angled upper section defining the second diameter, the second diameter being greater in magnitude than the first diameter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The target device of claim 3 wherein the lower layer at the angled upper section is angled greater than 30 degrees from a lower section plane of the lower section. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The target device of claim 1 wherein the first material is a paper-based material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The target device of claim 1 wherein the lower layer is adhesive attached to the upper layer via an adhesive layer, the adhesive layer being water-based for enhancing degradation of the target device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The target device of claim 1 comprising an ornamental marking, the ornamental marking being applied to an upper surface of the upper layer for visually attracting the urine stream provider. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The target device of claim 7 wherein the ornamental marking comprises a pigment ink, the pigment ink for preventing inadvertent color changes upon the upper layer. ### Claim 9 A toilet training method, the toilet training method comprising the steps of: providing a wine stream target device, the urine stream target device comprising: an upper layer of a first material; a lower layer of a second material attached to the upper layer; a rounded transverse cross-section; an angled upper section defining a first diameter and a second diameter, the first diameter defining a junction site intermediate a planar lower section and the angled upper section, an upper rim of the angled upper section defining the second diameter the second diameter being greater in magnitude than the first diameter; and pH-indicating means for indicating pH, the pH-indicating means being absorbed by the first material, the upper layer thereby being provided with first coloration; floating the target device upon a water surface via the lower layer, thereby properly positioning the target device for a urine stream provider; and targeting the target device with a urine stream provided by the urine stream provider, the pH-indicating means causing a color change in the upper layer when urine comes into contact therewith, the color change for aiding in toilet training the urine strewn provider. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The toilet training method of claim 9 wherein the target device is formed such that the lower layer at the angled upper section is angled greater than 30 degrees from a lower section plane of the lower section. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The toilet training method of claim 9 wherein the target device is formed such that the lower layer is adhesively attached to the upper layer via an adhesive layer, the adhesive layer being water-based for enhancing water-based degradation of the target device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The toilet training method of claim 9 comprising wherein the target device is formed such that the first material comprises an absorbed alkaline compound, the absorbed alkaline compound for rendering the upper layer a basic environment, the basic environment for enhancing color change characteristics of the target device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The toilet training method of claim 9 wherein the pH-indicating means comprise a select pH indicator, the select pH indicator being selected from the group consisting of a methyl red pH indicator, a universal pH indicator and a litmus pH indicator. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The toilet training method of claim 9 wherein the target device is formed to comprise an ornamental marking, the ornamental marking being applied to an upper surface of the upper layer for visually attracting the urine stream provider. ### Claim 15 A urine stream target device manufacturing method, the method comprising the steps of: soaking an absorbent first material in pH-indicating means thr indicating pH, the step of soaking the absorbent first material in pH-indicating means comprising the steps of: pre-soaking the absorbent first material in an alkaline solution; drying the pre-soaked absorbent first material; and re-soaking the absorbent first material in a select pH indicator solution; re-drying the re-soaked absorbent first material; adhesively applying a non-absorbent second material to the absorbent first material thereby forming a multilayer arrangement; and pressing a portion of the multilayer arrangement to finally form a urine stream target device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The manufacturing method of claim 15 comprising the step of ornamentally marking an upper surface of the first absorbent material with an ornamental marking, the ornamental marking comprising a second color different than the first color. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The manufacturing method of claim 16 wherein the ornamental marking comprises a select ink, the select ink for preventing inadvertent color change of the first color. ### Claim 18 A multi-layer urine stream target device usable as a toilet training aid, the target device comprising: an upper layer of a first material, a lower layer of a second material attached to the upper layer, a rounded transverse cross-section, an angled upper section defining a first diameter and a second diameter, and pH-indicating means for indicating pH, the first diameter defining a junction site intermediate a planar lower section and the angled upper section, an upper rim of the angled upper section defining the second diameter, the second diameter being greater in magnitude than the first diameter, the pH-indicating means being absorbed by the first material thereby providing the first material with a first color, the upper layer being floatable upon a water surface via the lower layer, the pH-indicating means causing a color change in the first material when urine comes into contact therewith, the color change for aiding in toilet training a urine stream provider. ### Claim 19 A toilet training method, the toilet training method comprising the steps of: providing a urine stream target device, the urine stream target device comprising: an upper layer of a first material; a lower layer of a second material attached to the upper layer; pH-indicating means for indicating pH; and an alkaline compound; the pH-indicating means and alkaline compound being absorbed by the first material, the upper layer thereby being provided with first coloration and for rendering the upper layer with a basic environment, the basic environment for enhancing color change characteristics of the target device; floating the target device upon a water surface via the lower layer, thereby properly positioning the target device for a urine stream provider; and targeting the target device with a urine stream provided by the urine stream provider, the pH-indicating means causing a color change in the upper layer when urine comes into contact therewith, the color change for aiding in toilet training the urine stream provider.