TOLIET SEAT APPARATUS

Abstract

A toilet bowl slide apparatus for redirecting urine which is projected in the direction of the gap between the toilet bowl and toilet tank into the toilet bowl. The toilet bowl slide apparatus comprises a contiguous structure defined by a slide portion, an elongated back plate, and a back portion. The slide portion extends from approximately the point where the toilet seat attaches to the toilet bowl into the toilet bowl to a point above the water level. The back portion and the elongated back plate rest in the area where the toilet bowl and tank meet and extend vertically up the toilet tank, respectively, forming a counterweight which balances the slide portion, enabling it to remain in place during the ordinary use of the flush toilet on which it is installed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to bathroom accessories and, more particularly, to slide apparatus adapted attach to a toilet and redirect stray urine or splashed urine into the toilet bowl.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of flush toilets is well known in many parts of the world. Flush toilets are most often defined by a vitreous, ceramic bowl containing water and connected to a flushing mechanism and a drainpipe. Typically, women use a flush toilet while in a seated position facing away from the bowl, while men on some occasions use a flush toilet both while in the seated position and facing away from the bowl and on others use it in a standing position facing the bowl. When men use a flush toilet standing while facing the bowl, which is usually while urinating, it is well known that urine sometimes splashes and/or splatters around behind the toilet bowl, soiling the toilet bowl and leaving an unpleasant aroma. Consequently, a problem which still exists is that the design of flush toilets is unable to prevent urine from mean soiling the toilet bowl and leaving an unpleasant aroma as a result of mere customary use of the flush toilet. Thus, there remains a need for a slide apparatus which is configured to redirect urine which splashes or splatters out of the toilet bowl or misses the toilet bowl altogether back into the toilet bowl. It would be helpful if such a toilet bowl slide apparatus was configured to be attached to a plurality of conventional toilet bowl designs. It would be additionally desirable for such a toilet bowl slide apparatus to be able to cover the gap between the toilet tank and toilet bowl of a conventional flush toilet.

The Applicant's invention described herein provides for a slide apparatus adapted to cover the space behind a toilet bowl so as to block urine which does not go or stay in the toilet bowl. The primary component of Applicant's toilet bowl slide apparatus is an L-shaped, ceramic coated metal structure adapted to fit along the toilet bowl and the toilet tank. When in operation, the toilet bowl slide apparatus redirects urine which splashes out of or misses the toilet tank back into the toilet tank. As a result, a pervasive limitation of conventional flush toilets designs is removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A toilet bowl slide apparatus for redirecting urine which is projected in the direction of the gap between the toilet bowl and toilet tank into the toilet bowl. The toilet bowl slide apparatus comprises a contiguous structure defined by a slide portion, an elongated back plate, and a back portion. The slide portion extends from approximately the point where the toilet seat attaches to the toilet bowl into the toilet bowl to a point above the water level. The slide portion is thus able to provide a slide means for redirecting urine projected toward the gap between the toilet bowl and the toilet tank of the flush toilet. The back portion is a triangular structure fits into the corner where the toilet bowl meets the toilet tank. The elongated back plate extends vertically from the back portion and, together with the back plate, forms a counterweight through which the slide portion is balanced, enabling it to remain in place during the ordinary use of the flush toilet on which it is installed. Thus, the back portion and the elongated back plate together provide a means for balancing the slide means to enable it to remain in place when installed on the flush toilet. Through such a structure, the toilet bowl slide apparatus provides a stable structure which blocks the space between the toilet bowl and the toilet tank and can redirect any urine which is directed toward said space back into the toilet bowl.

It is an object of this invention to provide for a slide apparatus which is configured to redirect urine which splashes or splatters out of the toilet bowl or misses the toilet bowl altogether back into the toilet bowl.

It is another object of this invention to provide a toilet bowl slide apparatus configured to be attached to a plurality of conventional toilet bowl designs.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a toilet bowl slide apparatus which is able to cover the gap between the toilet tank and toilet bowl of a conventional flush toilet.

These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1a is a front perspective view of a toilet bowl slide apparatus installed on a conventional flush toilet with the toilet seat and lid cover removed.

FIG. 1b is a front perspective view of a toilet bowl slide apparatus installed on a conventional flush toilet with the toilet seat and lid cover down.

FIG. 1c is a front perspective view of a toilet bowl slide apparatus installed on a conventional flush toilet with the toilet seat down and the lid cover up.

FIG. 1d is a front perspective view of a toilet bowl slide apparatus installed on a conventional flush toilet with the toilet seat up, the lid cover up, and the upper portion of toilet bowl slide apparatus in phantom.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a toilet bowl slide apparatus installed on a conventional flush toilet with no lid cover and the toilet seat down.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a toilet bowl slide apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 2, and 3, a toilet bowl slide apparatus 10 is shown having a slide portion 10a connected to an elongated back plate 10b through a back portion 10c to form a contiguous barrier. The slide portion 10a is defined by an arched, narrowing lip that, when installed on a conventional flush toilet 11 extends into the toilet bowl to a point above the water level. By extending into the toilet bowl in such a manner, the slide portion 10a blocks the space between the toilet bowl and the toilet tank and can redirect any urine which is directed toward said space back into the toilet bowl.

The back portion 10c is a weighted triangular block which is configured to rest against the corner created at the point of intersection for a toilet bowl and a toilet tank of a conventional flush toilet. The back portion 10c, along with the elongated back plate 10b, form a counterweight to the slide portion 10a. This counterweight enables the toilet bowl slide apparatus 10 to be balanced and remain stable and in place when it is installed on a flush toilet 11 in accordance with the present invention.

The elongated back plate 10b extends vertically, from the back portion 10c, up the front wall of a toilet tank. As such, when a lid cover and toilet seat are placed in the up position (as in parallel with the front surface of the toilet tank) it is contemplated that the lid cover will be parallel with the elongated back plate 10b or, depending on the design of the flush toilet, rest against the elongated back plate 10b. In the same regard, it is contemplated that in flush toilets which do not have a lid cover, when the toilet seat is placed in the up position, the toilet seat will be parallel to or rest against the elongated back plate 10b.

In operation, the toilet bowl slide apparatus 10 is able to remain in place on a conventional flush toilet 11 through routine use of the conventional flush toilet 11, which necessarily includes the toilet seat and/or lid being moved repeatedly into the up position and the down position (as in parallel to the top surface of the toilet seat). Whenever a user urinates from a standing position, facing the toilet bowl (with the toilet seat in the up position), any urine which splashes and/or splatters out of the toilet bowl, and any urine which misses the toilet bowl altogether, and such stray urine is directed to the gap between the toilet tank and the toilet bowl, the toilet bowl slide apparatus 10 is able to block the urine and allow it to slide down the slide portion 10a into the toilet bowl.

In the preferred embodiment, the toilet bowl slide apparatus 10 is constructed out of a lightweight metal which is covered with a ceramic material. As such, it is more easily transported that if it were solid ceramic from a weight and durability perspective, but it still can be designed to blend in aesthetically with conventional ceramic flush toilets of any color.

In an alternate embodiment, the elongated back plate 10b extends less in a vertical direction and the back portion 10c and/or the elongated back plate contains additional weight to allow it to still perform as a counterweight.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A toilet bowl slide apparatus for installing on a conventional flush toilet, comprising:

a slide means for redirecting urine projected toward the gap between the toilet bowl and the toilet tank of the flush toilet; and

a means for balancing the slide means to enable it to remain in place when installed on the flush toilet.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said toilet bowl slide apparatus is removably installed on the flush toilet.

3. A toilet bowl slide apparatus for installing on a conventional flush toilet, comprising:

a back portion configured to rest in the corner created by the intersection point between the toilet bowl and the toilet tank of the flush toilet; and

a slide portion connected to the back portion above the rim of the toilet bowl of the flush toilet and configured to extend down into the toilet bowl, wherein said back portion is adapted to provide a counterweight to said slide portion, enabling the toilet bowl slide apparatus to be balanced while installed on the flush toilet.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, additionally comprising a back plate which is connected to and extends vertically from said back portion, wherein said back plate additionally provides a counterweight to said slide portion.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said back portion, slide portion, and back plate are disposed on a single, contiguous body.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said toilet bowl slide apparatus is removably installed on the flush toilet.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the slide portion narrows as it extends from the back portion into the toilet bowl.

8. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the toilet bowl slide apparatus is constructed of a lightweight metal covered with ceramic.