Urinal for Removable Over-The-Toilet-Bowl Installation

Abstract

A urinal assembly for removable attachment on a rim of toilet bowl that defines an upper opening of the toilet bowl is a clamp having a pair of clamp arms that receive the rim of the toilet bowl into a gap between the clamp arms to attach the assembly to the rim. A funnel arm extends from one of the clamp arms and holds a funnel that receives urine received into the funnel into the water of the toilet bowl.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a non-provisional patent application of and claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 63 / 789,621 “Urinal for Removable Over-the-Toilet-Bowl Installation” filed on Apr. 16, 2025 at Attorney Docket No. 1-3525-P, said priority application being incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] The disclosure relates generally to urinals, and in particular, a urinal assembly for removably installation on a toilet bowl.BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0003] A urinal is for receiving urine only from a user. A urinal is commonly used as a plumbing fixture found in public bathrooms affixed to the bathroom walls. The fixture flows the urine received into the urinal through an attached dedicated drain line used only by the urinal for disposal.

[0004] There is a need for a convenient, light-weight portable urinal assembly that can be used in the home without being a plumbing fixture attached to a dedicated drain line that can also be conveniently stored away when not in use.SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0005] Disclosed is a portable urinal assembly that can be used in the home without being a plumbing fixture attached to a dedicated drain line, and the urinal assembly can also be conveniently stored away when not in use.

[0006] The disclosed urinal assembly is usable in combination with a conventional toilet having a toilet seat rim and defining a toilet bowl. The urinal assembly is removably attached to the toilet rim over the toilet bowl. The attached urinal assembly presents a funnel to the user that receives urine. The funnel flows the urine to the water contained in the toilet bowl. After a user's bladder is emptied, the toilet is flushed and the urine is disposed of through the home drain pipe connected to the toilet.

[0007] In possible embodiments of the urinal assembly, the assembly includes an adjustable-width clamp that attaches the urinal assembly to the rim of toilet bowl. The adjustable clamp enables the urinal assembly to be attached to toilets having different sized toilet seat rims.

[0008] The disclosed portable urinal assembly has a number of advantages. It is light-weight and not permanently mounted to the toilet bowl. The portable urinal assembly is easily and quickly attached to or removed from the toilet. When removed from the toilet, the portable urinal assembly can be stored assembled or can be disassembled into its component parts for storage or cleaning. The assembly or its component parts can be stored in a small plastic bowl or similar container next to the toilet bowl for convenient access. Because the portable urinal assembly can fit over different sized toilet bowl rims, the urinal assembly can be take along when traveling and used away from home as well.

[0009] Other objects and features of the disclosure will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing sheets illustrating one or more illustrative embodiments.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a portable urinal assembly in accordance with this disclosure attached to the rim of a toilet bowl.

[0011] FIGS. 2-5 are side, top, bottom, and rear views respectively of a first clamp member of the portable urinal assembly.

[0012] FIGS. 6-8 are side, top, bottom, and rear views respectively of a second clamp member of the portable urinal assembly.

[0013] FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate the portable urinal assembly in its narrowest and widest configurations.

[0014] FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line 12 -12 of FIG. 10.

[0015] FIGS. 13 and 14 are similar to FIGS. 10 and 11 respectively but with the funnel held by the funnel member.

[0016] FIG. 15 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 12 of a second embodiment portable urinal assembly.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] The motivation for a urinal in accordance with this disclosure is to assist male children when urinating in maintaining a clean bathroom environment but the disclosed urinal can be adapted for use by others.

[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates a portable urinal assembly 10 in accordance with this disclosure. The urinal assembly is shown attached to the toilet bowl rim R of a conventional Western-style toilet bowl B. A closed, continuous ring toilet bowl seat (not shown) is intended to be in its raised position with respect to the toilet bowl rim while the portable urinal assembly is attached to the rim. An open “U” shaped toilet seat with an air gap between the free ends of the legs of the seat(a toilet seat design often found in public bathrooms) may be in its lowered position with the urinal assembly received in the gap.

[0019] The portable urinal assembly 10 includes an adjustable-width clamp 12 that receives the toilet bowl seat rim R and attached the assembly 10 to the toilet bowl as illustrated in FIG. 1. A funnel arm 14 extends away from the clamp 12 and into the toilet bowl above the normal level of the water in the toilet bowl. The funnel arm 14 is configured to removably receive and hold a vertically aligned funnel 16 (shown in FIGS. 13 and 14) that receives the urine into an intake end of the funnel and discharges the urine through the funnel spout and into the toilet bowl.

[0020] The clamp 12 has a first clamp arm 18 and a second clamp arm 20 that receive between them the interior lip or ledge L of the toilet rim R that surrounds and defines the upper opening of the toilet bowl. The distance between the arms 18, 20 is adjustable and enables the clamp 12 to receive toilet bowl ledges of different widths and thicknesses. The first arm 18 has a flat side 22 that in use lies in a vertical plane against the inner wall of the ledge. The second arm has a flat side 24 that in use is inclined with respect to the flat side 18 to press against a conventional convex outside surface of the toilet bowl. The inclined side of the second arm extends towards the first arm as the second arm extends downwardly from the upper side of the rim whereby the distance between the arms decreases in the downward direction away from the upper side of the rim. The clamp is placed over the toilet rim where the rim is accessible to the clamp, typically at locations away from the back of the toilet bowl away from the toilet tank.

[0021] The clamp 12 is formed as a two-member adjustable length assembly formed from a first clamp member 26 carrying the first arm 18 and the funnel arm 14 and a second clamp member 28 carrying the second arm 20. The arm sides 22, 24 face each other and engage against the bowl and rim as described to attach the clamp 12 and the funnel arm 18 to the toilet bowl rim R. The clamp members 26, 28 are axially movable with respect to one another to enable the clamp 12 to fit over the toilet bowl rim.

[0022] A bolt / nut assembly 30 that includes a bolt 30B and nut 30N releasably holds the first clamp member 26 and the second clamp member 28 in a fixed-length relationship. The bolt extends through cooperating axially elongate slots described further below and the nut is tightened, thereby sandwiching the clamp members between the bolt and nut to maintain the arms 18, 20 against the ledge and bowl as shown in FIG. 1. Loosening the nut allows the clamp members to move towards and away from each other to attach or remove the portable urinal assembly to or from the rim R. Removing the nut enables disassembly of the portable urinal assembly for storage and cleaning. The bolt and nut can be metal, plastic, nylon, or other suitable material.

[0023] The first clamp member 26 is shown in FIGS. 2-5. The first clamp member is a “Z” shaped member having an upper horizontal arm 32 and a lower horizontal arm 34 parallel with the upper arm. The upper and lower arms extend in opposite directions from opposite upper and lower ends of a vertical arm 36. The vertical arm forms the first clamp arm 18. The clamp arm flat side 22 faces towards the upper arm. The clamp arm flat side 22 extends from an upper fillet radius 38 joining the upper and vertical vertical arms to the upper to the lower end of the vertical arm.

[0024] A central threaded vertical hole 40 extends through the upper arm proximate the free end of the upper arm. The threaded hole 40 is sized to threadably receive the bolt 30B of the nut / bolt assembly 30. The bolt can remain attached to the upper arm 32 when the first and second clamp members are not attached to one another. Alternatively, the hole 40 can be an unthreaded hole sized to receive the bolt.

[0025] The lower arm 34 forms the funnel arm 14. A tapered funnel spout hole 42 extends vertically through the funnel arm. The funnel spout hole conforms with and receives the spout of the funnel 16. Alternatively, the funnel spout hole can have a uniform diameter that conforms with a funnel spout. A horizontal threaded set-screw hole 44 extends into the funnel harm 14 and opens into the funnel spout hole. The set-screw hole can receive a set screw (not shown) that presses against a funnel spout placed in the funnel spout hole and secures the funnel to the funnel arm.

[0026] The second clamp member 28 is shown in FIGS. 6-9. The second clamp member is an “L” shaped member having a horizontal upper arm 46 extending away from an upper end of a vertical arm 48. The vertical arm 48 forms the second clamp arm 20. The second clamp arm flat side 24 extends from the upper arm 46 to the lower end of the second clamp arm.

[0027] A rectangular, recessed axial channel 50 extends axially into the upper horizontal arm 46 from the free end of the arm. The channel 50 is open to the bottom side of the arm and is sized to closely receive the upper arm 32 of the first clamp member 28. A central elongate, axial slot 52 extends parallel with the channel and extends from the channel to the upper side of the upper horizontal arm. The slot 52 is sized to closely receive the bolt 30B of the bolt / nut assembly 30.

[0028] FIGS. 10-12 illustrate the first and second clamp members 25, 26 forming the adjustable clamp 12. FIG. 10 illustrates the clamp with the clamp arms 18, 20 closest to each other. FIG. 11 illustrates the clamp arms being furthest away from each other. FIG. 12 illustrates the upper arm of the first clamp member being received in and guided by the channel 50 defined by the second clamp member. The bolt hole 40 is aligned with the slot such that the bolt can extend through the bolt hole and the slot. The nut 30N of the nut / bolt assembly 30 presses against the upper side of the second clamp member upper arm 46 and the head of the bolt 30B presses against the lower side of the first clamp member upper horizontal arm 32 when sandwiching the first and second clamp members.

[0029] FIGS. 13 and 14 correspond to FIGS. 11 and 12 but include a funnel 16 held by the funnel arm 14. The funnel 16 shown in solid lines is intended for use of the urinal assembly 10 by adults. The funnel 16 shown in phantom lines is intended for use by children. The upper intake end of the funnel as shown in FIGS. 13-14 is spaced above the funnel arm and the toilet bowl B. The discharge end of the funnel is spaced below the funnel arm. The discharge end of the funnel is disposed to discharge urine from the funnel above the water level of the water in the toilet bowl. The urine is discharged relatively close to the curved, relatively steep interior surface of the toilet bowl to minimize splashing. The shape, height, and configuration of the funnel shown in the drawings is representational only and is not intended to limit the types and constructions of funnels that can be adapted for use with the portable urinal assembly 10.

[0030] FIG. 15 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 12 of a second embodiment portable urinal assembly 110. Only differences between the first embodiment portable urinal assembly 10 and the second embodiment portable urinal assembly 110 will be discussed.

[0031] The second embodiment portable urinal assembly 110 replaces the bolt 30B and the nut 30N with a socket head cap screw 130B and a nut 130N. The socket head cap screw is press fit in the hole 40 and is intended to remain attached to the second clamp member 26. The socket head of the cap screw is closely received in a counterbore aligned with the hole 40 and is flush with the second clamp member as shown in FIG. 15.

[0032] The socket head cap screw and associated nut can be metal, plastic, nylon, or other suitable material. Other types of cap screws or bolts can be used in other embodiments of the disclosed portable urinal assembly.

[0033] While this disclosure includes one or more illustrative embodiments described in detail, it is understood that the one or more embodiments are each capable of modification and that the scope of this disclosure is not limited to the precise details set forth herein but include such modifications that would be obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the relevant art including (but not limited to) changes in material selection, size, operating ranges (for example, the minimum and maximum length of the adjustable clamp), means for releasably fastening the adjustable clamp, and the like.

Claims

1. A urinal assembly for removable attachment on a rim of of toilet bowl that defines an upper opening of the toilet bowl, said urinal assembly comprising:a clamp comprising a first clamp arm, a second clamp arm, a funnel arm extending from the second clamp arm way from the clamp, and a funnel;the pair of clamp arms extending away from an upper end of the clamp, the pair of clamp arms comprising a first clamp arm and a second clamp arm, each clamp arm of the first clamp arm and the second clamp arm extending away from the upper end of the clamp to a lower free end of the clamp arm, the pair of clamp arms being spaced away from each other and defining an air gap therebetween extending from the free ends of the clamp arms towards the upper end of the clamp, the pair of clamp arms comprising respective surfaces facing each other on opposite sides of the gap whereby the rim of the toilet bowl is receivable into the air gap between the surfaces to attach the clamp to the toilet bowl with the first clamp arm outside of the toilet bowl and the second clamp arm extending into the toilet bowl opening with the funnel arm at least partially in the opening;the funnel arm comprising a through-opening that removably receives the funnel and orients the received funnel to discharge liquid received into an intake end of the funnel into the toilet bowl when the clamp is attached to the toilet bowl.

2. The urinal assembly of claim 1 wherein the clamp is an adjustable clamp assembly whereby the gap between the surfaces of the first and second clamp arms is selectively adjustable.

3. The urinal assembly of claim 2 comprising a first clamp member carrying the first clamp arm, a second clamp member carrying the second clamp arm, and a fastener;each clamp member comprising an elongate through slot extending along an axis, the slot of the first clamp member and the slot of the second clamp member being aligned axially parallel with each other to receive the fastener in both slots of the first and second clamp members;the fastener being loosenable to permit relative translation of the first clamp member relative to the second clamp member along the slot axes; andthe fastener being tightenable to resist relative translation of the first clamp member relative to the second clamp member and thereby fix the distance between the first and second clamp arms.

4. The urinal assembly of claim 3 wherein the fastener comprises a nut and bolt.

5. The urinal assembly of claim 3 wherein the fastener comprises a socket head cap screw and a nut.

6. The urinal assembly of claim 5 wherein the socket head of the socket head cap screw is closely received into a bore formed in one of the first clamp member and the second clamp member.

7. The urinal assembly of claim 3 wherein the first clamp member is an “L” shaped member comprising joined first and second elongate legs, the first clamp arm being the first leg of the first clamp member and the slot of the first clamp member being disposed in the second leg of the first clamp member; andthe second clamp member is an “L” shaped member comprising joined first and second elongate legs, the second clamp arm being the first leg of the second clamp member and the slot of the second clamp member being disposed in the second leg of the first clamp member.

8. The urinal assembly of claim 7 wherein the second leg of one of the first clamp member and the second clamp member is slidably received in a channel formed in the second leg of the other of the first clamp member and the second clamp member, the channel extending parallel with the slot axis of the other of the first clamp member and the second clamp member.

9. The urinal assembly of claim 1 wherein the distance between the surface of the first clamp arm and the surface of the second clamp arm decreases as the clamp arms extend towards the free ends of the clamp arms.

10. The urinal assembly of claim 1 wherein the said surface of the first clamp arm and the said surface of the second clamp arm are each a flat surface.

11. The urinal assembly of claim 1 wherein the clamp is attached to the rim of the toilet bowl.

12. The urinal assembly of claim 11 wherein the toilet bowl has a concave inner surface that contains water having a normal water level in the toilet bowl;the funnel arm through-opening extends along a longitudinal axis passing through the through-opening that parallels the discharge direction of a fluid that is discharged from the funnel and intersects a surface of the toilet bowl above the water.

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