Toilet training device and method of use

Claim 1

An improved toilet training device for use in a toilet bowl containing water, to aid in the toilet training of children comprising: a thin planar element formed to be positioned within said toilet bowl, said element being formed of a paper fiber stock material having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein: (i) said bottom surface has a substantially uniform coating applied thereto to cover substantially three-quarters of said bottom surface, so that said device will float upon the water surface within the toilet bowl, in a generally contiguous orientation upon the water surface with said bottom surface facing downwardly, for an extended duration: said coating being applied to said bottom surface to retard the penetration of the water into the paper fibers in such a manner as to counter-balance the expansion and stresses created by water absorption in the non-coated portion of the paper fiber such that as compressive stresses are formed in the non-coated areas of the paper stock due to rapid water absorption, the tensile stresses existing in the adjacent coated areas of the paper stock will counter-act the same such that warpage of the paper stock will be maintained to a minimum until such time as said paper stock is saturated, and (ii) said top surface is partially coated with a water resistant covering, whereby when urine is deposited thereon the effective weight of the element will increase thereby causing the surface tension of the water within the toilet bowl to be broken thus causing the element to sink below the water surface and degrade by absorbing water so as to be flushable through the waste drain of the toilet bowl.