US20170335557A1

US20170335557A1 - Toilet urinal

Info

Publication number: US20170335557A1
Application number: US15/594,542
Authority: US
Inventors: Francisco Valdez
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-05-17
Filing date: 2017-05-12
Publication date: 2017-11-23

Abstract

A device is attached to a toilet bowl seat, and has an inlet, an outlet and a body portion. The inlet is shaped as a funnel. The toilet bowl seat includes a central opening and an upper surface that can support a seated user thereon. The body portion is disposed on an underside of the toilet bowl seat, such that the inlet is at the front, and the outlet is disposed over the bowl of the toilet. The inlet faces radially outward from the toilet bowl. The body portion is connected to the inlet funnel, and is formed as a hollow tubular body which is in communication with the outlet. The toilet bowl seat is connected to the toilet bowl via a hinge that allows a user to select the angle of the toilet bowl seat relative to the toilet bowl.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of Provisional Application No. 62/337,403 filed on May 17, 2016, inventor Francisco Valdez, entitled “TOILET URINAL”. The entire disclosure of this provisional patent application is hereby incorporated by reference thereto, in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a urinal device, and particularly to a device which can be attached to an existing commode.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is a problem in the art to provide a urinal device for an existing commode or toilet of the type having a bowl, hinged seat, and water tank.
It is a problem to provide a device that can be retrofit to existing commodes and toilets, to collect urine reliably. Specifically, it is a problem to provide a device that can collect urine without splashing, for example, and prevents missing the bowl of the commode when the user is in the dark or low light conditions.
This invention relates to improvements in toilet bowl seats. While urinating into an open toilet bowl, men may have difficultly aiming or may be worried about excess urine splashing out of the bowl. Urine can splash from time to time and land on the floor, creating an unsanitary mess in the bathroom. Men may miss entirely and urinate on the toilet seat or the floor. Further, urinating into a toilet typically causes loud noises which can be embarrassing if a person has company at their home. There exists a need for a device that can direct urine into the toilet bowl from a standing position.
It is a problem to provide a device that solves the foregoing problems in the art that is reliable, convenient, and that can be attached to an existing commode or toilet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

From the foregoing, it is seen that it is a problem in the art to provide a device meeting the above requirements. According to the present invention, a device is provided which meets the aforementioned requirements and needs in the prior art. Specifically, the device according to the present invention provides a device to that can be retrofit to existing commodes and toilets, to collect urine reliably. More specifically, the present invention can collect urine without splashing, for example, and prevents missing the bowl of the commode when the user is in the dark or low light conditions.
The device of the present invention provides a device that is attached to a toilet bowl seat, the device having an inlet, an outlet and a body portion. The inlet is shaped as a funnel. The toilet bowl seat includes a central opening and an upper surface that can support a seated user thereon. The body portion is disposed on an underside of the toilet bowl seat, such that the inlet is at the front, and the outlet is disposed over the bowl of the toilet. The inlet faces radially outward from the toilet bowl. The body portion is connected to the inlet funnel, and is formed as a hollow tubular body which is in communication with the outlet. The toilet bowl seat is connected to the toilet bowl via a hinge that allows a user to select the angle of the toilet bowl seat relative to the toilet bowl.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a bottom elevational view of a toilet seat having the inventive tubing attached to it, according to the present invention, the tubing having a funnel to receive urine.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view taken along the plane of the toilet seat of FIG. 1, showing the inventive tubing on the underside of the seat; the seat is shown as it would be resting on a commode in the down position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the underside of the toilet seat when it is raised at a slight angle, showing both the front and the underside of the seat along with the inventive device attached to the underside of the toilet seat.

FIG. 4 is a right side elevational view of the toilet seat of FIGS. 1-3, showing the seat in a partially raised position of around 45 degrees relative to its normal resting position on a commode.

FIG. 5 is a schematic left side elevational view of the seat of FIGS. 1-4 in the lowered position (in solid outline), and also showing the seat in a raised position (in dashed outline).

FIG. 6 is a schematic front elevational view of a further embodiment, showing the commode, a water tank, and a conduit for carrying water from the water tank to the toilet urinal device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side elevational view of the tube of FIG. 6 as it is connected to the toilet urinal device of FIGS. 1-5.

FIG. 8 is a schematic top elevational view of the conduit as it is connected to the toilet urinal as shown in FIG. 7, showing the connection of the conduit and the water flow direction.

FIG. 9A is a side elevational view of the conduit, partially broken away, showing the portion that is disposed inside the urinal device, in which passages or holes are shown.

FIG. 9B is an enlarged close up view of a portion of the urinal device of FIG. 8, showing the conduit in dashed outline and includes arrows schematically showing the water flow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a bottom elevational view of a toilet seat 10 having a toilet urinal 20 attached to it. The toilet seat 10 has an underside 12 and an opening 14. The toilet urinal 20 is a device that is attached to the underside 12 of the toilet seat 20, the device 20 having an inlet end 22, an outlet end 26, and a body portion 24.
This invention relates to improvements in toilet bowl seats. While urinating into an open toilet bowl, men may have difficultly aiming or may be worried about excess urine splashing out of the bowl. Urine can splash from time to time and land on the floor, creating an unsanitary mess in the bathroom. Men may miss entirely and urinate on the toilet seat or the floor. Further, urinating into a toilet typically causes loud noises which can be embarrassing if a person has company at their home. There exists a need for a device that can direct urine into the toilet bowl from a standing position.
The inlet end 22 is shaped as a funnel. The toilet seat 10 includes the central opening 14 and has an upper surface 18 (shown in FIG. 2) that can support a seated user thereon. The toilet urinal 20 is disposed on the underside 18 of the toilet bowl seat 10, such that the inlet end 22 is disposed at the front, e.g. the side closest to the user in normal use. The outlet end 26 is disposed over the bowl 50 of the toilet (see FIG. 5), such that liquid flows from the body portion 24 to the outlet end 26 and into the bowl 50.
The inlet end 22 faces radially outward from the toilet bowl, that is, toward the user when the user is standing in a usual position for urination. The inlet end 22 receives urine, which flows into the body portion 24.
In the preferred embodiment, the toilet bowl seat is connected to the toilet bowl via a hinge that allows a user to select the angle of the toilet bowl seat relative to the toilet bowl. Such hinges are known in the commode and toilet arts, and allow the toilet seat to be raised manually by the user to a desired angle, such that the toilet seat remains at that desired angle during use.
FIG. 2 is a front elevational view taken along the plane of the toilet seat 10 of FIG. 1, showing the inventive toilet urinal 20 disposed on the underside 12 of the seat 10; the seat 10 is shown as it would be resting on a commode in a “down” position (i.e., the position a user would employ when seated on the commode).
As shown in FIG. 2, the inlet end 22 has an enlarged entrance opening 28, serving as a funnel for receiving a urine stream during use. The user can raise the seat 10 to a desired angle, and can stand proximate to the entrance opening to direct the urine stream into the entrance opening 28. Here, the upper surface 18 of the seat 10 is shown. The toilet urinal 20, having the body portion 24, can be secured to the underside 12 of the seat 10 in any known manner, such as by adhesive, glue, ultrasonic welding, fastener elements such as screws or bolts, snap fastener elements, straps (not shown), or any other manner of securing the toilet urinal 20 to the seat 10 which would be known to any one having skill in the manufacturing arts or plumbing arts.
As seen in FIG. 2, the entrance opening 28 is generally rectangular, and the present invention is not limited to this shape. Instead, the entrance opening 28 can have any other enlarged shape adapted to receive a urine stream, including circular, oval, square, and other symmetrical and asymmetrical shapes. The body portion 24 is shown as a tubular conduit such as plastic or rubber tubing, and the invention is not limited to these shapes or materials. Other cross sectional shapes can be used, and any suitable materials capable of serving as a urine conduit can be used, including copper, iron, plated metal, stainless steel, coated materials, and any other materials which would be known to any one having skill in the manufacturing arts or plumbing arts.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the underside 12 of the toilet seat 10 when it is raised at an angle, showing both the front and the underside of the seat 10 along with the inventive device 20 attached to the underside 12 of the toilet seat 10. In this view, the outlet end 26 is shown which includes a downwardly bend end that opens directly into the toilet bowl 30 (shown in FIG. 4).
FIG. 4 is a right side elevational view of the toilet seat of FIGS. 1-3, showing the seat 10 in a partially raised position relative to its normal resting position on the toilet bowl 30. In the present discussion, the term commode is used interchangeably with toilet bowl. In this view, the front end is at the left side, and the rear end of the seat 10 is at the right side of the drawing.
The bowl 10 is shown broken away at the lower end. A hinge 40 is shown in FIG. 4, for connecting the seat 10 to a mounting fixture (not shown) supported on the bowl 30 that is of a type common to all toilets having a hinged seat. Any such mounting fixture can be used which would be known to any one having skill in the toilet arts.
FIG. 5 is a schematic left side elevational view of the seat 10 of FIGS. 1-4 in the lowered position (in solid outline), and also showing the seat 10 in a raised position (in dashed outline). Here, a bowl 50 is shown having water 60 therein (shown schematically in FIG. 5). Here, the downward flow of urine is shown by an arrow located at the outlet end 26, showing the urine flowing into the water 60 in the bowl 50.
FIG. 6 is a schematic front elevational view of a further embodiment, showing the bowl 50, a water tank 70, and a conduit 90 for carrying water from the water tank 70 to the toilet urinal device 20 of the present invention. The conduit 90 communicates with the interior of the toilet urinal 20, for example by penetrating one side of the toilet urinal 20 near the inlet end 22 or in the body portion 24.
Here, the conduit 90 takes water from a toilet valve 80 (for example of a type that provides water to the toilet bowl when the toilet is flushed). The conduit then supplies the water to the interior of the toilet urinal 20. This way, when the user has finished, operation of the flush valve (not shown) of the toilet activates the valve 80 to dispense water to the bowl 50 and to the conduit 90. The conduit 90 can be disposed to collect water from the valve 80 in any manner which would be known to one having skill in the plumbing arts and in the toilet arts.
FIG. 7 is a schematic side elevational view of the conduit 90 of FIG. 6 as it is connected to the toilet urinal 20 of FIGS. 1-5.
FIG. 8 is a schematic top elevational view of the conduit 90 as it is connected to the toilet urinal 20 as shown in FIG. 7, showing the connection of the conduit 90 and also the water flow direction when in operation (i.e., when the toilet is flushed). The water flow is schematically shown by arrows in FIG. 7. The water from the flush valve 80 is supplied as flushing water through the conduit 90, into the body portion 24, through the outlet end 26 and into the bowl 50 (shown in FIG. 6).
As seen in FIG. 8, the conduit 90 passes through the wall 24 of the urinal device 20 and extends along the interior of the urinal device 20. The conduit 90 has a plurality of holes in the portion that is interior to the urinal device 20 as shown in FIG. 8. The conduit 90 extends to a location near the outlet end 26 of the urinal device 20. In use, water supplied to the conduit 90 is distributed along the interior of the urinal device 20 so that it flushes and cleans the interior thereof. Thus, as discussed above, flushing of the toilet causes a flushing of the urinal device 20.
FIG. 9A is a side elevational view of the conduit 90, partially broken away, showing the portion that is disposed inside the urinal device 20. Here, the passages or holes 92 are shown. The size, pattern, and distribution of holes 92 can be varied, and such variations are contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention.
FIG. 9B is an enlarged close up view of a portion of the urinal device 20 of FIG. 8, showing the conduit 90 in dashed outline and includes arrows schematically showing the water flow from the holes 92 as well as along the interior of the conduit 90.
The invention being thus described, it will be evident that the same may be varied in many ways by a routineer in the applicable arts. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A toilet urinal for attachment to a toilet bowl seat, comprising:

a body portion;

an inlet end; and

an outlet end; wherein said inlet is shaped as a funnel.

2. The toilet urinal of claim 1, wherein the toilet bowl seat includes a central opening and an upper surface that can support a seated user thereon, and wherein the toilet bowl seat has a front portion and a rear portion; and wherein said body portion is disposed on an underside of the toilet bowl seat such that said inlet end is at the front portion of the toilet seat, and the outlet end is disposed near the rear portion of the toilet and angled in a direction downwardly into a toilet bowl disposed below the toilet seat.

3. The toilet urinal of claim 1, wherein said inlet end faces radially outward from the toilet bowl seat.

4. The toilet urinal of claim 1, wherein said inlet end faces radially outward from the toilet bowl seat, and wherein said body portion is connected to the inlet funnel, and is formed as a hollow tubular body which is in communication with said outlet.

5. The toilet urinal of claim 1, wherein said toilet bowl seat is connected to the toilet bowl via a hinge that allows a user to select the angle of the toilet bowl seat relative to the toilet bowl.

6. The toilet urinal of claim 1, further comprising a conduit having a first end connected to a toilet flush valve and having a second end communicating with an interior of said body portion, whereby during flushing water flows from the toilet flush valve through said conduit and into said body portion.