US20100257664A1

US20100257664A1 - Fibrous Urinal Splash Prevention

Info

Publication number: US20100257664A1
Application number: US12/384,980
Authority: US
Inventors: Todd Kener
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-04-10
Filing date: 2009-04-10
Publication date: 2010-10-14

Abstract

A fibrous urinal splash prevention insert to prevent urinal splash back that occurs when a urine stream is directed into a urinal and impacts the flat surfaces within the urinal and on existing urinal mats. The fibrous urinal splash prevention insert absorbs the initial urine stream directed into the urinal and eliminates splash back. The insert can also be shaped into numerous configurations and can be retrofitted onto existing urinal mats or be designed to be placed directly into a urinal and replace an existing urinal mat.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to accessories for urinals and more particularly a splash preventing insert for urinals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typically, urinals in a men's pubic restroom are vertically disposed porcelain surfaced features. The use of a urinal often results in splash back, where the urine stream hits off the surface of the urinal and splatters out of the urinal onto the surrounding floors and wall and often the user as well. This creates an unsanitary and unsightly condition around the urinal and a mess for the urinal user, who is faced with either walking around with urine on their pants or attempting to remove the urine with water. Either way, the urinal user exits the restroom in a condition worse than when he went in.
Others have recognized this problem in the past and have attempted to solve it. Generally, such attempts have resulted in the use of drain mats, screens, and structural splatter guards. These devices have not been completely effective because they do not eliminate the presence of flat surfaces, which are the primary culprits leading to urinal splash back. In addition, many of the devices require periodical cleaning, which is both undesirable and unhealthy.
Few efforts have been made to provide a structure within a urinal that is devoid of flat surfaces that will eliminate the problem of urinal splash back all together. Moreover, none of the prior efforts to address the problem utilize a urinal splash prevention insert that is composed of a fibrous material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To solve the problems with urinal splash back, I have designed an improved fibrous urinal splash prevention insert. Accordingly, an improved fibrous urinal splash prevention insert is disclosed that traps the urine stream and inhibits the splash back that occurs from using a men's urinal, thereby preventing urine droplets from splashing onto the user or to the surrounding walls and floor.
A structure made of fibrous material is placed within the urinal. The fibrous material can be molded into a virtually infinite number of different configurations. Because the device of the present invention is made of fibrous material, it muffles the urine stream when the urine stream contacts it. Rather than presenting a flat surface that promotes splash back, the fibrous urinal splash prevention insert absorbs the urine, eliminating splash back. The urine than passes through the fibrous urinal splash prevention insert and goes down the urinal drain. The fibrous urinal splash prevention insert is rinsed out when the urinal is flushed.
Because the fibrous urinal splash prevention insert can be presented in multiple shapes and sizes, it can be retrofitted into existing urinal mats, shaped into a urinal mat made completely of fibrous material, shaped to allow the insertion of a urinal deodorant, come with an embedded urinal deodorant or any other of a variety of shapes and applications. The present invention also prevents solid debris from being flushed down a urinal because it can be incorporated into existing urinal mats or be used independently as a urinal mat itself. Unlike previous attempts to eliminate urinal splash back, the present invention may be made of a biodegradable material. In such an embodiment, the fibrous urinal splash prevention insert can be easily disposed of in any existing landfill, while not creating material that will sit in the landfill for hundreds of years. My fibrous urinal splash prevention insert can be designed for use in any manufacturer's design, can be used in conjunction with screens, deodorizers and urinal mats or used by itself.
In one aspect of the invention, it provides an improved fibrous urinal splash prevention insert.
In another aspect of the invention, it provides a fibrous urinal splash prevention insert that reduces urinal splash back.
In another aspect of the invention, it provides a fibrous urinal splash prevention insert that prevents urinal splash back.
In another aspect of the invention, it provides a fibrous urinal splash prevention insert that reduces unhygienic conditions around a men's urinal.
In another aspect of the invention, it provides a fibrous urinal splash prevention insert that prevents solid debris from being deposited in the bottom of the urinal.
In another aspect of the invention, it provides a fibrous urinal splash prevention insert that reduces damage to walls and floors caused by spillage of urine around a men's urinal.
In another aspect of the invention, it provides a fibrous urinal splash prevention insert that allows for the insertion of a urinal deodorant block.
In another aspect of the invention, it provides a fibrous urinal splash prevention insert that is biodegradable.
To the accomplishment of the above and related aspects, the invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The drawings, however, are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the invention, limited only by the scope of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an existing urinal and urinal mat showing urinal splash back.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention being retrofitted on an existing urinal mat.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section detail of the present invention taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the present invention showing the elimination of urinal splash back.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the present invention being used with a urinal deodorant.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the present invention being used with an embedded urinal deodorant.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the present invention being used as a stand alone urinal mat.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-section detail of the present invention taken along lines 11-11 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the present invention showing the elimination of urinal splash back.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a user of a urinal 10 creates urine stream 12 which then comes in contact with the internal walls 13 of urinal 10 or existing urinal mat 14. When urine stream 12 contacts internal walls 13 or urinal mat 14 urinal splash back 15 is created, which leads to urinal spillage on and around urinal 10 and the urinal user. To alleviate the problem of urinal splash back, I have invented a fibrous urinal splash prevention insert 16 shown in FIG. 2. Fibrous urinal splash prevention insert 16 is placed over urinal mat 14. When urine stream 12 impacts fibrous urinal splash prevention insert 16, the urine stream is absorbed and passed through fibrous urinal splash prevention insert 16. Because fibrous urinal splash prevention insert 16 does not present any flat surfaces that obstruct urine stream 12, urinal splash back 15 is eliminated.
Fibrous urinal splash prevention insert 16 can be easily incorporated onto an existing urinal mat as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. Fibrous urinal splash prevention insert 16 can be shaped to form a cap that will fit over existing urinal mat 14, which is comprised of base mat 17, deodorant block 18 and deodorant block screen 19. Urinal mat 14 is assembled as it normally would be and fibrous urinal splash prevention insert 16 is simply placed over the top of deodorant block 18 and deodorant block holder 19. The new assembly that includes fibrous urinal splash prevention insert 16 is then placed into the bottom of a urinal and urinal splash back is eliminated as is shown in FIG. 2.
Fibrous urinal splash prevention insert 16 can also be shaped to form both the base of a urinal mat and the deodorant block cover as is shown in FIG. 6. In this case, fibrous urinal splash prevention insert 16 is not retrofitted over an existing urinal mat 14. Instead, fibrous urinal splash prevention insert replaces an existing urinal mat. In the configuration shown in FIG. 7, fibrous urinal splash prevention insert 16 can be formed to include an opening 20 through which deodorant block 18 is passed. As shown in FIG. 8, deodorant block 18 can also be embedded in fibrous urinal splash prevention insert 16 eliminating the need for hole 20.
Fibrous urinal splash prevention insert 16 can also include a deodorizing agent within the fibrous material resulting in a fibrous urinal splash prevention insert 16 that is less cumbersome than existing urinal mats as is shown in FIG. 9.
Fibrous urinal splash prevention insert 16 can also be shaped into a hemisphere as shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12. In this application, fibrous urinal splash prevention insert 16 is placed against internal wall 13 of urinal 10. The user directs urine stream 12 at fibrous urinal splash prevention insert 16, which absorbs urine stream 12, eliminating urinal splash back. Urine 21 then passes through fibrous urinal splash prevention insert 16 into the bottom of urinal 10. Each time urinal 10 is flushed, water passes through fibrous urinal splash prevention insert 16 washing urine out of fibrous urinal splash prevention insert 16.
The description of the invention above should not be interpreted as limiting the invention to the disclosed embodiment because those who are skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to devise other equivalent forms thereof within the scope of the invention. Variations and changes, which are obvious to one skilled in the art, are intended to be within the scope and nature of the present invention.

Claims

1. A fibrous urinal splash prevention insert assembly comprising:

a base mat;

a deodorant block;

a deodorant block screen; and

a shaped fibrous deodorant block screen cover.

2. The fibrous urinal splash prevention insert assembly of claim 1 wherein the shaped fibrous deodorant block screen cover is comprised of biodegradable material.

3. The fibrous urinal splash prevention insert assembly of claim 1 wherein the shaped fibrous deodorant block screen cover incorporates a deodorizing agent.

4. A fibrous urinal splash prevention insert assembly comprising:

a fibrous base mat.

5. The fibrous urinal splash prevention insert assembly of claim 4 wherein the fibrous base mat is comprised of biodegradable material.

6. The fibrous urinal splash prevention insert assembly of claim 4 wherein the fibrous base mat incorporates a deodorizing agent.

7. A fibrous urinal splash prevention insert assembly comprising:

a fibrous base mat;

a deodorant block; and

a shaped fibrous deodorant block cover.

8. The fibrous urinal splash prevention insert assembly of claim 7 wherein the fibrous base mat and shaped fibrous deodorant block cover are comprised of biodegradable material.

9. The fibrous urinal splash prevention insert assembly of claim 7 wherein the deodorant block is inserted into the shaped fibrous deodorant block cover.

10. The fibrous urinal splash prevention insert assembly of claim 7 wherein the deodorant block is embedded into the shaped fibrous deodorant block cover.

11. A fibrous urinal splash prevention insert assembly comprising:

a shaped fibrous urinal target.

12. The fibrous urinal splash prevention insert assembly of claim 11 wherein the shaped fibrous urinal target is dome shaped.

13. The fibrous urinal splash prevention insert assembly of claim 11 wherein the shaped fibrous urinal target is comprised of biodegradable material.

14. The fibrous urinal splash prevention insert assembly of claim 11 wherein the shaped fibrous urinal target incorporates a deodorizing agent.

15. The fibrous urinal splash prevention insert assembly of claim 11 wherein a deodorant block is embedded in it.