TOILET ANTI-SPLASH DEVICE

Abstract

Described herein is a toilet anti-splash device comprising a sealed mesh pouch containing a plurality of substantially spherical beads, an elongate flexible tether having a first end coupled to the periphery of the mesh pouch and a second end coupled to a reversible fastener for reversible attachment to a peripheral or outer surface of a toilet bowl.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to toilet bowls, and more particularly to devices placed within toilet bowls to reduce splashing from male urination.

2. Description of the Related Art

Splash back during male urination into a toilet bowl is a long recognized problem. When a male in a standing position directs a urine stream into a toilet bowl some degree of splashing typically occurs. Splashing can occur regardless of whether the first contact of a urine stream is with the surface of water contained within a bowl or the inner wall of a bowl above the water line. In addition, splashing may occur in both floor mounted and wall mounted toilet bowls.

Several functional solutions to the problem of splash back have been disclosed. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,212,104 (issued 19 Oct. 1965) and 4,215,443 (issued 5 Aug. 1980) provide a screen and U.S. Pat. No. 4,062,070 (issued 13 Dec. 1977) provides a floating ball to deflect a urine stream. Each of these solutions suffers from having only a single structure to deflect a urine stream. Furthermore, none of these solutions have achieved widespread commercial acceptance.

Accordingly, there is a continuing need for an alternative toilet anti-splash device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an aspect there is provided, a toilet anti-splash device comprising a sealed mesh pouch containing a plurality of substantially spherical beads, an elongate flexible tether having a first end coupled to the periphery of the mesh pouch and a second end coupled to a reversible fastener for reversible attachment to a peripheral or outer surface of a toilet bowl.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exploded front view of a toilet anti-splash device;

FIG. 2 shows an exploded side cross-section view taken along line 2-2 shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows an assembled view of the same cross-section shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a toilet with a side cutout to view a use of the toilet anti-splash device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows a cross-section view taken along line 5-5 shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Now referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows an exploded front view of toilet anti-splash device 10. FIG. 2 shows an exploded side cross-section view taken along line 2-2. FIG. 3 shows an assembled view of the same cross-section shown in FIG. 2. Toilet anti-splash device 10 comprises a mesh pouch and a tether to connect the mesh pouch to a reversible fastener. The mesh pouch comprises a first flexible mesh sheet 12 providing a matrix of regularly spaced and equal sized openings bound by a first solid perimeter border 16 and a second flexible mesh sheet 14 providing a matrix of regularly spaced and equal sized openings bound by a second solid perimeter border 18. The mesh pouch is formed by joining the first solid perimeter border 16 to the second perimeter border 18. The mesh pouch provides an inner cavity or lumen bound by the first mesh sheet 12 and the second mesh sheet 14 joined along the corresponding first and second borders 16 and 18, respectively. A plurality of beads 20 are held within the inner cavity or lumen of the mesh pouch.

First and second straps 30 and 40 connect the mesh pouch to first and second reversible fasteners 38 and 48, respectively. First strap 30 is an elongate flexible material strip comprising a first end 33 connected to perimeter borders 16 and 18 and a second end 32 coupled to the first reversible fastener suction cup 38. The second end 32 comprises a plurality of eyelet openings 35 that can each receive and engage shaft 37 connected to the first reversible fastener suction cup 38. Second strap 40 is an elongate flexible material strip comprising a first end 43 connected to perimeter borders 16 and 18 and a second end 42 coupled to the second reversible fastener suction cup 48. The second end 42 comprises a plurality of eyelet openings 45 that can each receive and engage shaft 47 connected to the second reversible fastener suction cup 48. The set of six eyelet openings 35 and 45 provide for six position choices to incrementally adjust the vertical position of the mesh pouch within a toilet.

In use, the toilet anti-splash device 10 is placed within a toilet. A typical floor mounted wet toilet is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The toilet 50 comprises a generally semi-spherical bowl bound by a generally concave inner surface 54, a generally convex outer surface 52, an upper peripheral rim 56 and a lower centrally located drainage opening 58. The generally concave inner surface defines a cavity for receiving water 60 to a level that fully covers the centrally located drainage opening 58. Water 60 is contained within the bowl and drainage of the water is controlled by a flush actuator (not shown). The centrally located drainage opening is communicative with a drainage pipe (not shown) and the semi-spherical bowl is communicative with a water line (not shown) to replenish water 60 once it has been drained. The toilet anti-splash device 10 is fastened to the toilet so that the mesh pouch containing the plurality of beads 20 is located within the toilet bowl cavity in between the peripheral rim 56 and the water 60.

First and second straps 30 and 40 connect the mesh pouch to first and second reversible fastener suction cups 38 and 48, respectively. First and second reversible fastener suction cups 38 and 48 are reversibly coupled to the generally convex outer surface 52 near the peripheral rim 56; optionally the convex outer surface may be cleaned with alcohol, detergent solution or the like prior to coupling the suction cups. The mesh pouch is then positioned in the toilet bowl cavity and the first and second straps 30 and 40 are draped over the peripheral rim 56 and are coupled to the shafts 37 and 47 extending from the reversible fastener suction cups 38 and 48 by engaging shaft 37 with one of the plurality of eyelet openings 35 and engaging shaft 47 with one of the plurality of eyelet openings 45. Once linked to the reversible fastener suction cups 38 and 48 the straps 30 and 40 are held taut due to the weight of the mesh pouch hanging within the toilet bowl cavity in between the peripheral rim 56 and the water 60. The vertical displacement of the mesh pouch below the peripheral rim 56 can be controlled by choosing a different one of the plurality of eyelet openings 35 and 45. Thus, the mesh pouch is adjustable from at least a first position of vertical displacement below the peripheral rim 56 to a second position of vertical displacement below the peripheral rim 56. For toilet anti-splash device 10, the set of six eyelet openings 35 and 45 provide for six position choices to incrementally adjust the vertical position of the mesh pouch within the cavity of toilet 50 below the peripheral rim 56.

A user secures the toilet anti-splash device 10 to the toilet 50 so that the mesh pouch is held in a desired position between the peripheral rim 56 and the water 60 suitable for the mesh pouch to receive a directed urine stream from the user. The user directed urine stream (not shown) can flow through the mesh sheet 12 of the mesh pouch and impact on the plurality of beads 20. Splash back or ricochet from the impact of the urine stream with one or more of the plurality of beads is contained by the proximity of the surrounding beads and by the mesh surfaces of the mesh pouch. Furthermore, the linkage of the mesh pouch to a reversible fastener using flexible straps 30 and 40 allows the mesh pouch to sway to absorb the initial impact of the urine stream. The combination of a mesh pouch and a plurality of beads effectively reduces urine back splash from a directed urine stream compared to the inner wall or water surfaces of a toilet as well as compared to single mesh or floating ball surfaces. Thus, the rim of the toilet, the floor surface around the toilet, and the clothing and skin of users benefit from reduced exposure to splash back. A further benefit of the toilet anti-splash device 10 is that the sound of a directed urine stream in a toilet is reduced.

An illustrative version of the toilet anti-splash device has been described above. Further illustrative variants and modifications will now be described. Still further variants, modifications and combinations thereof are contemplated and will be recognized by the person of skill in the art.

The toilet anti-splash device may be used with any type of toilet or urinal into which a urine stream is directed from a standing position.

Construction of the mesh pouch need not be limited to two separate mesh sheets as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. Any convenient mesh bag making machine or mesh bag making technique may be used. The mesh pouch may be constructed using any convenient technique including use of one or more sheets sealed along edges. The one or more sheets can be joined to create a sealed pouch. The pouch may be permanently sealed or may have a portion of the seal that may be a reversibly sealable opening.

The mesh pouch is bound by an opposing exterior surface and interior surface of its sheet walls. The interior surface defines the volume of the interior cavity or lumen of the mesh pouch. Mesh openings extend through the sheet wall from the exterior surface to the interior surface and are communicative with the interior cavity. The thickness of the sheet wall as defined by the distance between the opposing exterior and interior surfaces may be varied as desired, but will typically be less than 2 millimeters (mm), and more typically less than 1 mm.

The shape of the mesh pouch may be varied including for example, circular, donut, elliptical, triangular, rectangular, polygonal, cubic, cylindrical, spherical, polyhedral, or conical shapes. The mesh pouch may also be shaped to resemble an animal such as a fish or a person such as a public figure or politician. The mesh pouch may be decorated with any desired indicia or markings such as a bulls-eye target comprising concentric circle markings located at a central portion of an outer surface of the pouch.

Donut shapes may provide an added benefit of surrounding the initial impact point of a directed urine stream by the inner aperture of the donut, thereby allowing the splash back to be captured within the inner aperture. Donut shaped mesh pouches will typically comprise a channel formed in a central location of a first surface of the mesh pouch and extending generally inwardly towards an opposing second surface of the pouch. The channel includes at least one opening at the first surface. The channel may take any shape providing a concave surface such as a funnel, a trough, a cup or a cylinder. The channel may extend partially through to the opposing second surface of the mesh pouch or fully through the mesh pouch with an opening at the second surface as in a full donut configuration. The channel wall is formed of a mesh material and may be integral with the mesh material of the first surface. The plurality of beads are arranged to surround the channel. A directed urine stream can enter the channel through its opening and pass through its mesh wall and impact one or more of the plurality of beads. Ricochet or splash back from the initial impact of the urine stream may then be captured within the beads and the mesh and also within the channel structure.

The mesh pouch need not be comprised entirely of mesh, but at least 50% of the surface area of the mesh pouch will typically comprise a mesh material with the openings of the mesh material communicative with the interior cavity of the mesh pouch.

The ability of the mesh pouch to absorb the impact of a directed urine stream is positively correlated with the flexibility of its material. Thus, the mesh pouch will typically comprise a flexible mesh material.

The mesh pouch comprises a surface that provides a matrix of regularly spaced and generally equal sized openings. The openings are communicative with the interior cavity of the mesh pouch. If the size of the openings are too small a directed urine stream can splash back from the mesh surface instead of flowing into the interior cavity of the mesh pouch. Thus, the size of the openings should be sufficiently large to allow a directed urine stream to flow through without pooling on the mesh surface. Furthermore, the size of the openings may be sufficiently large to allow a directed urine stream to flow through with minimal splash back. Typically, openings with diameters of greater than 2 millimeters (mm) are sufficient to achieve a flow of urine with minimal splash back. Openings with diameters in between 2 mm and 1 mm can be suitable but splash back is typically observed. Openings with diameters less than 0.5 mm are typically not suitable. Thus, the mesh openings will typically have a dimension greater than 1 mm, and more typically greater than 2 mm. For example, the mesh openings may have a dimension greater than 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm, 6 mm or greater than any number of millimeters therebetween. The upper limit of the size of the openings is determined by the size of the individual beads. The openings will be dimensioned to prevent individual beads from passing through the openings. Thus, a dimension of the openings will be less than a dimension of each bead. An additional consideration, for the size of the openings is the ability to capture splash back from the impact of the directed urine stream on one or more of the plurality of glass beads. The ability to capture splash back is limited with any opening diameter greater than 10 mm. Thus, the mesh openings will typically have a dimension ranging from 1 mm to 10 mm, and more typically from 2 mm to 10 mm.

The mesh pouch may be made from any suitable material that is insoluble in water. In addition, the mesh material may be water impermeable. The mesh material will typically be a synthetic, polymeric or glass fiber. Mesh bag making machines capable of manufacturing mesh pouches made of polyethylene polymers such as high density polyethylene are widely available.

The plurality of beads provide surfaces that function to deflect and disperse a directed urine stream. Furthermore, ricochet or splash back from the initial impact of a directed urine stream with one or more of the plurality of beads can be at least partially captured by the surrounding beads. Accordingly, beads having large flat surfaces such as cubes are typically not suitable due to increased probability of a perpendicular impact of a directed urine stream with the flat bead surface. Curved, convex, or round surfaces, or surfaces made of a sufficient number of small straight segments that approximate a convex or round surface are useful for increasing the probability of tangential impact of a directed urine stream with a bead surface. Thus typically, each bead will have a substantially spherical shape. Polyhedral shapes with more than 20 facets that approximate a spherical shape may be tolerated.

Within the plurality of beads the size of the individual beads need not be uniform. However, if the size of the beads are too large the ability to capture splash back may be compromised. Beads having a diameter larger than 30 millimeters (mm) were typically not suitable for capturing splash back. Beads having a diameter less than 25 mm, and more typically less than 20 mm are suitable for capturing splash back. For example, beads may have a diameter less than 20 mm, 19 mm, 18 mm, 17 mm, 16 mm, 15 mm, 14 mm, 13 mm, 12 mm, 11 mm or less than any number of millimeters therebetween. The lower limit of bead size depends on the size of the mesh openings. Beads must be dimensioned to be larger than the mesh openings. As mentioned above the mesh openings will typically have a dimension greater than 1 mm, and more typically greater than 2 mm. Thus, each bead will typically have a dimension greater than 2 mm, and more typically greater than 3 mm. Given the considerations for upper and lower limits, bead sizes will typically range in dimension from 2 mm to 20 mm, and more typically from 3 mm to 20 mm.

Beads may be made of water soluble or water non-soluble materials. Water non-soluble materials include glass, plastic, rubber or metal. Substantially inert materials including natural materials such as glass or quartz or synthetic materials such as polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) may be useful for with standing repeated exposure to urine. Glass beads may be particularly useful as glass is odourless, non-corrosive, does not rust, does not absorb or adsorb chemicals or odours, and does not release undesired chemicals even with prolonged usage in a toilet or a prolonged shelf life. Water soluble beads may include any natural or synthetic chemical compound that may be used in conjunction with urinals and toilet areas including compounds having aromatherapy, scent, detergent, or anti-septic properties. For example, a material such as lavender has both aromatherapy and anti-septic properties. Lavender extracts and soy wax may be combined to produce water-soluble beads. Many different scented beads are available. Furthermore, beads may be manufactured with a water-insoluble core surrounded by a water soluble coating.

The number of beads contained within the mesh pouch may vary as a function of the size of the inner cavity of the mesh pouch and the size of the individual beads. Less than 10 beads is typically not suitable for capturing splash back. Typically, the number of beads will be greater than 20, more typically greater than 30. For example, the number of beads may be greater than 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 or greater than any number therebetween. 20 to 200 beads will typically be used.

The mesh pouch containing a plurality of beads may be used without coupling to a toilet, but will typically be coupled to a surface of the toilet above or outside of the water line.

The mesh pouch may be coupled to a toilet using a fastener. The fastener need not be limited to the suction cups shown in the drawings. The fastener may be reversible or permanent. For ease of removal, a reversible fastener may be used. Any suitable reversible fastener may be used including snaps, clips, brackets, adhesive, hook and loop (Velcro), magnetic or suction cup fasteners. For example, 3M produces a reversible adhesive strip under the name Command that can be used to couple the mesh pouch to a toilet. Furthermore, reversible adhesive strips may be used to fix a first portion of a reversible fastener such as a magnet or hook and loop fastener to the toilet with a second portion attached to the pouch. As another example, a bracket or hook may be sized and shaped to hang the mesh pouch from the peripheral rim of a toilet. Any suitable number of fasteners may be used.

The mesh pouch may be connected to the fastener with a tether. The tether need not be limited to the configuration of two straps 30 and 40 shown in the drawings. The tether may comprise one or more elements. For example, a single strap may be used where rotation of the mesh pouch is tolerated such as a mesh pouch that has a spherical or conical shape. When incorporated in the toilet anti-splash device the tether will typically be made of a flexible material to help the mesh pouch absorb the initial impact of a directed urine stream. In certain examples, the tether may be made of a material with elastic properties. The tether may be made of a mesh material to allow a directed urine stream that partially misses the pouch to pass through the tether. The length of the tether may be adjustable. The tether may be coupled to the fastener and the mesh pouch using any convenient mechanism. Typically, the coupling of the tether to the mesh pouch will avoid any hard surfaced connectors to minimize chance of splash back in case a directed urine stream misses its target and impacts a connection point between the tether and the mesh pouch. Typically, the tether will connect to a peripheral point, such as an edge or apex, of the mesh pouch and the connection will be flexible such as can be achieved with stitching, adhesives or integral production of the tether and the mesh pouch.

Illustrative variants and modifications of the toilet anti-splash device have been described. Still further variants, modifications and combinations thereof are contemplated and will be recognized by the person of skill in the art.

Claims

1. A toilet anti-splash device comprising a sealed mesh pouch containing a plurality of substantially spherical beads, an elongate flexible tether having a first end coupled to the periphery of the mesh pouch and a second end coupled to a reversible fastener for reversible attachment to a peripheral or outer surface of a toilet bowl.

2. The toilet anti-splash device of claim 1, wherein the elongate flexible tether is made of a mesh material.

3. The toilet anti-splash device of claim 1, wherein the elongate flexible tether is integral with the mesh pouch.

4. The toilet anti-splash device of claim 1, wherein at least 50% of the mesh pouch is made of a flexible mesh material.

5. The toilet anti-splash device of claim 1, wherein the mesh pouch is made of a flexible mesh material with each mesh opening having a dimension greater than 0.5 millimeters.

6. The toilet anti-splash device of claim 1, wherein the mesh pouch is made of a flexible mesh material with each mesh opening having a dimension greater than 1 millimeter.

7. The toilet anti-splash device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of substantially spherical beads comprises at least 10 beads.

8. The toilet anti-splash device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of substantially spherical beads comprises at least 20 beads.

9. The toilet anti-splash device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of substantially spherical beads has a diameter less than 30 millimeters.

10. The toilet anti-splash device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of substantially spherical beads has a diameter less than 20 millimeters.

11. The toilet anti-splash device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of substantially spherical beads are water-insoluble.

12. The toilet anti-splash device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of substantially spherical beads are water-soluble.

13. The toilet anti-splash device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of substantially spherical beads comprise a combination of water-insoluble beads and water-soluble beads.

14. The toilet anti-splash device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of substantially spherical beads comprise a water-insoluble core bead surrounded by a water-soluble coating.

15. The toilet anti-splash device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of substantially spherical beads are made of glass.

16. The toilet anti-splash device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of substantially spherical beads are water-soluble beads comprising a lavender extract.

17. The toilet anti-splash device of claim 1, further comprising a channel formed in a central location of the pouch surrounded by the plurality of substantially spherical beads, the channel having an opening communicative with a surface of the pouch, the channel comprising a wall made of mesh material.

18. The toilet anti-splash device of claim 1, wherein the mesh pouch comprises a channel extending inwardly from an outer surface of the mesh pouch, the channel integral with the outer surface and surrounded by the plurality of substantially spherical beads.

19. The toilet anti-splash device of claim 1, wherein the reversible fastener is a suction cup.

20. The toilet anti-splash device of claim 1, wherein the reversible fastener is a hook sized to hang from a peripheral rim of the toilet.