Retractable urine-splash mitigating device

Abstract

Described herein is an apparatus mitigating splash-back during the use of a conventional toilet while urinating. The apparatus uses a plurality of upstanding baffles that provide for a large target area mounted on a base with a central opening. Additionally, the baffles rotate into and out of operative configurations, relative to the inner-toilet surface, to allow the use of the toilet for solid waste. The baffles mitigate the effect of splash back as the urine stream makes contact with the baffles and reflects the droplets laterally. Additionally, droplets generated when the urine stream contacts either the base or pool of standing water is mitigated by the baffles intercepting the reflective path back to the user.

Description

BACKGROUNDField of the Technology[0001]The present invention relates generally to toilet sanitation. In particular, the invention relates to anti-splash devices for conventional toilets in CPC E03D 9 / 00, sanitary or other accessories for lavatories, and CPC A47K 13 / 26, mounting devices for seats or covers.[0002]Conventional floor toilets, typically constructed of porcelain or a similar material, are a receptacle having a floor-mounted, bowl-shaped collection basin with a pool of standing water in the basin. A drain is typically placed at the bottom of the basin below the pool of standing water. The interior walls of the basin and the standing water provide an area to receive a stream of urine from a person using the toilet. When the toilet is flushed, water runs down and along the interior walls and the standing water, along with the urine, exits through the drain. Fresh water then replaces the flushed fluids to create another pool of standing water for future use.[0003]The porcelai...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]The illustrated embodiments of the invention include an apparatus for attenuating reflective splash during the use of a conventional toilet. The apparatus includes a base that includes a plurality of upstanding, retractable baffles. The base, lying against the interior surface of the basin, has an appropriate thickness so that the flow of water down the interior walls of the basin during the flushing process is unobstructed. Additionally, the base, made of a flexible sheet material which is wrapped into a frustoconical form and laid on the interior surface of the toilet bowl, has perforations defined therethrough to prevent the collection of fluid on the surface of the base while still conforming to the contours of the interior surface of the basin. A central opening, defined by the base, exposes the pool of standing water below it and allows for, in addition to the retractable baffles, the operation of the toilet for solid waste without the need to remove the apparatus. The conical shape of the base prevents the base from sliding down into the lower portion of the basin. Rails run along both the upper and lower edges of the base providing rigidity and structure to the base.

[0007]In some embodiments, the base does not use the rails along both upper and lower edges. This allows the base to maintain a flexible property and adapt to different toilet-bowl shapes.

[0008]In some embodiments, the base has a radial cut through the entirely of the thickness of the base, breaking the continuity of the base, to allow for temporary manipulation of the shape of the base to ease the installation process into the toilet.

[0013]Also in accordance with the present invention, a plurality of upstanding baffles are disposed on top of the plurality of hinges. When the hinges rotate downward, the baffles are placed into a non-operational configuration and when the hinges rotate upward, the baffles are placed into an operational configuration. The plurality of baffles are substantially uniform or approximately equal in height, thickness, and flexibility.

[0015]In accordance with some embodiments, the distance between one group of baffles and another, has a range of approximately 0.25 inches to 1 inch so that the operation of the hinges do not cause interference with adjacent baffles.

[0017]Also in accordance with the present invention, a plurality of stoppers are disposed adjacent to the plurality of hinges such that the stoppers and hinges are paired together. The stopper prevents the hinge from rotating beyond 90 degrees.

Problems solved by technology

Further, a urine stream directed into the standing pool of water in the basin will also cause splashing, in this case in the form of a urine-water mixture.

This splash back is a long-recognized problem and can occur regardless of whether the urine stream first contacts the surface of the water or the interior wall of the collection basin.

Past solutions suffer from having either small targets making use of the solution difficult or prevent the use of the toilet for solid waste making the solution inconvenient.

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