Toilet shield
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Solution Overview
Problem
The splattering and splashing of loose stools during defecation create undesirable cleaning burdens, especially in toilets, leading to embarrassment and increased cleaning efforts, particularly for individuals with chronic diarrhea or other conditions.
Innovation Solution
A toilet shield made of flushable material, such as water-soluble paper, with vertical surfaces that intercept and contain fecal splatter, reducing the need for extensive cleaning by minimizing splatter onto hard surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a toilet shield is installed to intercept fecal splatter, then cleaning effort is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable toilet shields made of flushable material that are used once and then discarded with the waste. This eliminates the need for durable, complex structures while achieving the same splatter interception function. The shields are inexpensive, single-use barriers that prevent fecal matter from splattering onto the toilet rim and surrounding areas, thereby reducing cleaning effort without requiring permanent installation or complex mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the splatter interception function from the permanent toilet structure and implements it through a separate, removable shield component. This allows the toilet itself to remain simple while adding a temporary protective element that can be easily installed and removed. The shield is a standalone component that performs the specific function of catching splatter without modifying the underlying toilet structure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If flushable material is used to make the toilet shield, then environmental impact is reduced, but material strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes materials that change their properties in response to environmental conditions. The flushable material is designed to maintain sufficient strength and structural integrity when dry to effectively intercept and contain fecal splatter. Upon contact with water during flushing, the material's strength decreases and it begins to disintegrate, allowing it to be carried away through the sewage system without causing blockages. This parameter change from strong-dry-state to weak-wet-state enables both splatter prevention and environmental safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention relies on the phase transition of the flushable material from a solid, structurally sound state during use to a disintegrating, water-soluble state during flushing. This phase change allows the shield to perform its splatter-interception function effectively when installed and dry, then automatically break down when exposed to water, ensuring it can be safely flushed without harming the environment or clogging pipes. The material transitions from maintaining structural form to dissolving into small particles that can pass through sewage treatment systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A toilet shield comprises a gutter shaped portion with an interior channel, a first arm, and a second arm. The interior channel comprises: a rear vertical wall; a first vertical side wall; and a second vertical side wall. The first arm is coupled to a top edge of the first vertical side wall of the interior channel of the gutter shaped portion. The second arm is coupled to a top edge of the second vertical side wall of the interior channel of the gutter shaped portion, wherein the gutter shaped portion is configured such that the interior channel of the gutter shaped portion opens in response to the first arm and the second arm being extended in generally opposite directions.