A LOCAL inventor is hoping a member - or members - of the public will grant him the financial backing necessary to get his project off the ground.

Sid Brown believes his idea - a toilet seat fitted to accommodate both toddlers and adults - will make millions, but doesn't have $15,000 to conduct an international patent search to determine whether or not the invention is unique.

And as each day passes, he risks the possibility that someone with financing will patent the idea and move ahead with it.

"It's such a fantastic idea," the 53-year-old said. "A child-friendly toilet. As far as I know there's nothing like it and I don't understand why people (aren't throwing money at me). It's sure to be a success.

"I have approached many people. Most say, 'Check me when it happens'. Who needs you when it happens? I need the money now. Yes, it's my idea. But if someone or, some people were to help me, collectively, we could enjoy the fruits of my labour. I need less than $15,000. I don't need it all at once."

A self-described entrepreneur, Mr. Brown said he came up with the idea of the Rhymbo Child-Friendly Toilet Seat while travelling on a bus seven years ago.

"I was looking at a baby and suddenly realised that there was no such thing as a child's toilet seat and that there should be one. Some of the options today are either unsafe or unsanitary. Portable toilets require extra work on the part of the adult and the child and don't necessarily accelerate toilet training.

"Most of those used today either sit on the floor or on top of the toilet. You have to take them off, pack them away and sanitise them. Frankly, some adults lack cleanliness and hygienic habits. The risk of rash and other diseases needs to be eliminated.

"Lastly, the safety issue caused much concern. Small children attempting to use regular toilets sometimes get their bottoms submerged. Some even get their tiny, delicate frames stuck in the hardware. And history has recorded much more tragic events than these examples of accidents.

"So I came up with the idea of having it all in one. I've made it so children can be like adults; exactly what they always ask for - 'I want to be like mummy', or 'I want to be like daddy'."

Although not a tradesman by profession, Mr. Brown is a father. His first-hand knowledge of the problems arising with children and toilet use, he said, made it easy for him to design the prototype.

"I drew the plan and thought, there's nothing like this in the world," he said. "And then I made it. It's basically a smaller opening that fits in the toilet so that the child doesn't slip through.

"So you have an adult's seat as well as a child's seat. It's a great idea. Children are everywhere. This can be used in office blocks, on cruise ships, you name it."

It was upsetting, Mr. Brown said, that people did not seem to realise the things we used every day and took for granted were once as intangible as his own idea was at present.

"I'm what you call a visionary," he said. "Many things that I have predicted have come true. It's such a fantastic idea and I know it would be a success. People use things every day. Someone invented them.

"If no one was willing to invest in an idea, we'd have none of the things we take for granted today. I can't go any further until I can find the money to pay a lawyer to have a company check it out worldwide.

"If (I am able to progress), I'll take it to the United States; to one of the entrepreneur conventions they have there. Manufacturers make the rounds, look at what's offered, and if they're interested, bid for the patent.

"Companies here are not (capable) of manufacturing to the scale that I expect this will be. I'm not looking to do it myself. I want to sell the patent and get paid through the royalties."

Anyone who wants to invest in Mr. Brown's invention can contact him by e-mail - zulusidhotmail.com