Motivational urinal for toilet training of young males

Abstract

A urinal is disclosed for motivating and facilitating urination toilet training of young males. The urinal includes a urine sensor and a motivational device that is activated by the sensor so as to produce visible and / or audible stimuli enjoyable to a young male. Preferred embodiments also include target objects toward which urine can be directed. In some of these embodiments the target objects change color and / or enjoyable stimuli are generated when target objects are struck by urine. Target objects can have recognizable images and / or shapes, and corresponding stimuli can be produced when targets are struck. For example, mooing sounds can be produced when a target with a cow image is struck. Embodiments can be connectable to plumbing or self-contained. Urinals can be sized and shaped optimally for use by young males, and can be powered by an electrical outlet or by batteries so as to provide powerful stimuli.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention generally relates to educational devices for young children, and more specifically to toilet training devices for young male children.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]One of the most significant steps in early childhood development is the transition from the use of diapers to the use of toilet facilities. This transition is often referred to as “toilet training.” So as to make this transition, a young child must learn to be aware of his or her bodily functions, and how to manipulate them consciously and purposefully. This requires not only physical maturity, but also sufficient motivation so as to induce the required effort and practice.[0003]Young boys face special difficulties as compared to young girls when undergoing toilet training. Both young boys and young girls must learn to recognize the need to urinate, and how to delay and control the onset of urination. In addition, young boys must also learn how to direct the flow of urine into ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]A motivational urinal is claimed that provides ease of use and enhanced motivation so as to facilitate toilet training of young males. By incorporating motivational features into a specially designed urinal, rather than relying on motivational devices intended for use in conventional urinals, the present invention is able to produce brighter visual effects, louder audible effects, and a greater variety of stimuli than the prior art.

[0008]One general aspect of the invention provides an apparatus for facilitating toilet training of young males. The apparatus includes a urinal, a sensor, and a motivational device. The sensor is fixed within the urinal and is able to detect contact with urine, and the motivational device can be activated by the sensor. When activated by the sensor, the motivational device can produce an enjoyable stimulus that tends to reward a young male for using the urinal.

Problems solved by technology

This is problematic when using a conventional toilet, since directing a stream of urine into a toilet bowl is inconvenient and somewhat unnatural for a young boy when sitting on the toilet seat, and directing a stream of urine accurately into a toilet bowl is difficult for a young boy when standing in front of the toilet bowl.

However, while this simplifies the physical requirements for young boys, it does not enhance the motivation of a young boy to learn to use the urinal.

However, this approach is not adaptable to use in a urinal.

However, the degree of visual interest and variety of stimuli produced by such devices is limited, since they generally include only small batteries at most, or in many cases no power source whatsoever.

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