Toilet tank vase

Abstract

A device to contain flowers, plant cuttings or other items within the space of a conventional toilet tank. A lip on the top edge of the container hold the container on the top edge of a hole in the toilet tank lid, such that the container hangs suspended into the tank. The container can be solid-walled, so as to separate the water in the container from that in the tank, or perforated or otherwise open to the water in the tank.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure is for a device that holds floral, other plant arrangements or items within the space of a toilet tank. It can either be part of an entire toilet assembly or a separate retrofitting kit to adapt an existing toilet.

2. Background

Many people enjoy having floral arrangements in their homes. Flowers and other plants can brighten a room visually or add a pleasant scent to the environment. Further, especially for city-dwellers, floral arrangements allow them to bring a taste of the outdoors into their homes.

Many vessels exist for holding the arrangements and keeping the plant cuttings immersed in water so that they stay fresh for as long as possible. Some of these vases and such are themselves attractive and an integral part of the aesthetic look of the overall arrangement, while others are plain and merely functional. Either way, a user needs to find a suitable space to put the entire arrangement.

Of course, the user wants to place the arrangement in an attractive location, but may also have to consider the bulkiness and stability of the arrangement, particularly if it is likely to be disturbed by small children or pets, or even an adult inadvertently brushing up against it. In small spaces, this can be especially challenging. Setting a vase of flowers on a flat surface may look lovely, but be inviting an accident in which it is knocked over, breaking the vase and spilling water and flowers.

A bathroom is one room in particular that could benefit from a pleasing floral arrangement. Many flowers and plants can do well in bathrooms due to the moist environment. However, space, as well as surface area, is often limited here. Even a modest arrangement could take up much-needed space. Further, a glass vase breaking in a bathroom would be particularly dangerous, since people are often barefoot here.

What is needed is a device that allows a person to place a floral arrangement in a bathroom such that it is held securely, attractively, and in a minimum of space. Further, the device could take advantage of the water in the existing bathroom equipment to provide a low-maintenance arrangement that does not need to have the water changed frequently.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of one embodiment of the present device in use as part of a conventional toilet.

FIG. 2 depicts a front cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the present device.

FIG. 2a depicts a detail of this embodiment of the container element of the present device, wherein the lip is integrated into the container.

FIG. 2b depicts a detail of another embodiment of the container, wherein the lip is a separate piece.

FIG. 3 depicts a front cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present device, wherein the walls of the container are perforated.

FIG. 4 depicts a front cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present device, wherein the container is comprised of a woven, water-permeable bag.

FIG. 5 depicts a front cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present device, wherein the container is a “basket”.

FIG. 6 depicts a perspective view of the present device with a cover in place when the container is not in use.

FIG. 7 depicts a front cross-sectional view of the present device with a cover in place when the container is not in use.

FIG. 8 depicts a perspective view another embodiment of the present device with multiple containers.

FIG. 9 depicts perspective view of a kit embodiment of the present device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of one embodiment of the present device in use as part of a conventional toilet. A toilet tank 102, has a removable lid 104. The lid 104 has an opening 106 cut through its topmost surface. In the embodiment shown here, the opening 106 is located substantially along the longitudinal midline of the lid 104, and in the end portion of the lid 104 opposite the flushing lever of the toilet 108. However in alternative embodiments, the penetration can be located in any convenient location. This configuration is to prevent the device from interfering with the function of the flushing mechanism within the tank 102.

On the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the container 110 has a proximal end and a distal end, with the distal end in this embodiment being closed and the proximal end being open. In the present embodiment, the sides of the container 110 are solid to separate the interior of the container 110 from the water in the toilet tank 102. Said proximal end of the container 110 has an edge to which is a lip 112 is attached or integrated. The lip 112 can extend outward over the edge of the container 110. When the container 110 is placed into the opening 106, it sets down into the toilet tank 102 with the lip 112 preventing the container 110 from slipping all the way into the toilet tank 102.

FIG. 2 depicts a front cross-sectional view of this embodiment of the present device. The container 110 is set down into the toilet tank 102 via the opening 106, the cross-sectional area of which can be sized to be slightly larger than that of the largest medial cross-sectional area of the container 110. The lip 112 extends outwardly and sits over the edge of the opening 106 to suspend the container 110 in the tank 102. The container 110 can then be conveniently lifted out of the tank 102 for placement of flowers or other plant cuttings and then replaced into the opening 106.

FIG. 2a depicts a front view detail of the container 110. Here, the lip 112 is shown as integrated with the proximal edge of the container 110, as it would be if the container 110 and lip 112 were formed as one piece. The container 110 can be made of a polymer, ceramic, non-rusting metal, such as stainless steel, or any other known or conveniently used material. However, as shown in FIG. 2b, the lip 112 can also be a separate piece fitted to the edge of the container 110. It can be removable or permanently affixed to the edge of the container 110. In this embodiment, the lip 112 can be also made of a polymer, ceramic, non-rusting metal, such as stainless steel, or any other known or conveniently used material that is different or the same as the material of the container 110.

FIG. 3 depicts another embodiment of the present device, wherein the sides of the container 110 are perforated to allow water from the toilet tank 102 to flow freely through the container 110 and hydrate the flower or plant cuttings. Here, the embodiment is shown with holes cut into the container 110, but the same effect of free-flowing water could be achieved if the container 110 were fabricated from a water-permeable fabric in a “bag” configuration, as shown in FIG. 4 or metal or polymer wire in a “basket” configuration, as shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 depicts a perspective view of another embodiment of the present device, which shows a cap 602 placed over the opening of the container 110 when not filled with flowers or plant cuttings. This cap 602 could be made from a polymer, ceramic, non-rusting metal, such as stainless steel, or any other known and/or conveniently used material. In the embodiment shown here, it is sized to sit slightly within the opening of the container 110 and then has a lip to hold it in place over the opening. Alternatively, it could fit in the same manner directly over the opening 106 cut into the toilet tank lid 104.

FIG. 7 depicts a front cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the present device showing a covering 602 place over the opening of the container 110 when it is not in use holding flowers or plant cuttings. Although shown in this embodiment as sitting inside the opening of the container 110, the covering 602 could also be fitted around the outer perimeter of the lip of the container 112.

FIG. 8 depicts a perspective view of another embodiment of the present device with multiple containers 110. In this embodiment, two or more holes 106 can be cut into the toilet lid 104. Although depicted in this embodiment in a linear arrangement, the holes can be arranged in any regular or random geometric pattern. Containers 110 can be placed in each hole 106 in the same manner as for the embodiment with the single container 110, or the holes 106 can be covered or left covered.

To use the present device, a person places flowers, plant cuttings or other items in the container 110. If the container has solid, non-water-permeable walls and the cuttings require water to stay fresh, the person would then fill the container with water. The person then slips the container 110 into the hole 106 in the toilet tank lid 104 and the container 110 hangs down into the tank 102 with the lip 106 resting on the top surface of the tank lid 104. The person can then remove the container 110 to change the water as needed or replace the cuttings.

If the sides of the container 110 are water-permeable, then the container 110 will share its water supply with that in the toilet tank 102. This eliminates the need for a person to continually change the water in the container 110 and can help to maintain the freshness of the cuttings.

FIG. 9 depicts a perspective view of another embodiment of the present device as a kit to modify an existing conventional toilet. The kit can include a toilet tank lid 902 with a hole 904 or holes 904, cut through its thickness at a convenient location or locations substantially along the longitudinal midline or any convenient location of the lid 902, and in an end portion of the lid 902. A separate container 906 can fit into the hole or holes 904 and is held suspended into the toilet tank by a lip 908 that extends over the edge of the hole 904. The container 906 can be solid-walled, perforated, woven of metal or polymer wire, or a bag fashioned from water-permeable fabric, as shown in the previous embodiments. The container 906 and lip 908 can be made from polymer, ceramic, non-rusting metal, such as stainless steel, or any other known or conveniently used material. The lid 902 can be fabricated from ceramic, metal, a polymer, wood, or any other known or conveniently used material. The kit can also include a cover or covers adapted to cover the hole 904 or holes

To use this embodiment of the present device, a user can obtain the kit and replace an existing toilet tank lid. The kit lid 902 would come in sizes to fit various conventional toilets. After installing the kit lid 902, a user can use the present device in the same manner as described for the previously described embodiments.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention as described and hereinafter claimed is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A device to contain a plant arrangement within a toilet tank, comprising:

a conventional toilet, wherein the lid of said toilet has an opening cut through its thickness located substantially along the longitudinal midline of said lid and within one half of said lid;

a container having periphery and a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being open and having an edge around its perimeter;

a lip coupled with the edge of said open proximal end that extends beyond the outer perimeter of said open proximal end, such that said lip prevents the container from falling through said opening;

a cover to close said opening in the toilet tank lid and close the open proximal end of the container when not in use.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the sides of said container are solid.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the sides of said container are perforated.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said container is comprised of a mesh/frame.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said container is made from a water-permeable material.

6. A kit for retrofitting a conventional toilet, comprising:

a substantially planar surface capable of covering the top opening of a conventional toilet that has an opening cut through its thickness located substantially along the longitudinal midline of said lid and within one half of said lid;

a container having periphery, a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being open and having an edge around its perimeter;

a lip coupled with the edge of said open proximal end that extends beyond the outer perimeter of said open proximal end, such that said lip prevents the container from falling through said opening;

a cover to close said opening in the toilet tank lid and close the open proximal end of the container when not in use.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the sides of said container are solid.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the sides of said container are perforated.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein said container is comprised of a mesh/frame.

10. The device of claim 6, wherein said container is made from a water-permeable material.