CLEANING APPARATUS FOR THE BASE OF A TOILET

Abstract

There is provided a cleaning apparatus for the base of a toilet. The apparatus includes an inner peripheral portion for extending at least partially around the base of the toilet. The apparatus includes an outer peripheral portion spaced-apart from the inner peripheral portion. The apparatus includes an arcuate-shaped top portion extending from the inner peripheral portion to the outer peripheral portion. According to another aspect, there is provided a cleaning apparatus for the base of a toilet. The apparatus includes an absorbent member that is biased upwards and which may be selectively lowered to abut a location adjacent to the base of the toilet for absorbing fluid.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

There is provided an improved cleaning apparatus. In particular, there is provided a cleaning apparatus for the base of a toilet.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

U.S. Pat. No. 6,295,658 to Jenkins provides a system comprises a disposable pad having a plurality of layers, and means for retaining the disposable pad either upon the upper surface of a permanent base or directly onto the floor. The permanent base is positioned upon the floor and the base has an upper surface that is generally horizontal. The disposable pad includes a layer of absorbent material, and a coating layer of waterproof material. The pad is flame retardant and biodegradable. The system is useful for keeping the floor dry and in a sanitary condition. The undersurface of the disposable pad includes two bores for cooperative engagement with two projections extending upwardly and affixed to the floor.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,656 to Creamer provides a disposable, absorbent pad adapted to be formed into a u-shaped configuration and to be placed at least partially about the base of a toilet to absorb moisture gravitating near such base. The pad is adjustable and can be provided with a water-proof backing as well as means for adhesively bonding the same to the floor. Several embodiments of the pad are disclosed.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,285,075 to Nelson provides a mat adapted to be placed on the floor around the base of a commode or urinal. The mat is shaped to match the contours of the facility. A mat cover is provided formed from plastic or rubber-like material having a solid base and a hingedly attached cover formed as grille work. A replaceable pad is contained in the mat cover and has an impervious plastic film base with layers of absorbent material overlaying the base, and a top permeable film of non-woven material. The top film is sealed around its edges to the edges of the base film. When installed, urine falling on the grille work of the mat passes therethrough, through the permeable top film and is absorbed by the layers of absorbent material. The absorbent material may be impregnated with disinfectant and deodorizing chemicals. At suitable intervals, the mat cover is opened, the used pad removed and disposed of, the mat cover rinsed off, and a fresh pad is installed.

United States Patent Publication No. 2009/0077728 to Stickler et al. provides a mat designed to fit under the toilet bowl area. The mat may inhibit unwanted urine from soiling the area surrounding the toilet bowl while giving its user non-skid protection. The base of the mat forms a u-shape around the toilet bowl and the center top region of the plastic mat unit contains a disposable absorbent pad. There is provided a method of joining two types of material together comprising of a rigid disposable absorbent pad and a multi-suction non-skid plastic mat.

While the above systems may function to absorb bodily fluid around the base of the toilet to varying degrees of effectiveness, there may still remain a need for an improved cleaning apparatus therefor which may function to absorb bodily fluid, clean the floor adjacent to the base of the toilet and air out the underlying floor thereafter.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

There is accordingly provided a cleaning apparatus for the base of a toilet. The apparatus includes an inner peripheral portion for extending at least partially around the base of the toilet. The apparatus has an outer peripheral portion spaced-apart from the inner peripheral portion. The apparatus also includes an arcuate-shaped top portion extending from the inner peripheral portion to the outer peripheral portion.

According to another aspect, there is provided a cleaning apparatus for the base of a toilet. The apparatus includes an absorbent member that is biased upwards and which may be selectively lowered to abut a location adjacent to the base of the toilet for absorbing fluid.

According to a further aspect, there is provided a cleaning apparatus for the base of a toilet. The apparatus has a pair of spaced-apart, elongate side members. The apparatus has an arcuate-shaped front member connecting the side members together. The apparatus has an absorbent member connected to the front member. The apparatus has a pair of downwardly-extending protrusions interposed between the side members and the front member. The side members are shaped to bias the absorbent member upwards. Applying force to the front member causes the absorbent member to selectively lower downwards for absorbing fluid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will be more readily understood from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof given, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toilet and a cleaning apparatus therefor according to one aspect;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the cleaning apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the cleaning apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 2, with the apparatus being partially shown in fragment;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the cleaning apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the cleaning apparatus of FIG. 1, the rearward region of the apparatus biasing the front region of the apparatus upwards;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the cleaning apparatus of FIG. 1 and a person's foot shown biasing the front region of the apparatus downwards;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a cleaning apparatus for the base of a toilet, the cleaning apparatus being according to a second aspect;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of a cleaning apparatus for the base of a toilet, the cleaning apparatus being according to a third aspect;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a toilet and a cleaning apparatus therefor according to a fourth aspect;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the cleaning apparatus taken along lines 12-12 of FIG. 11, the apparatus being in a raised mode; and

FIG. 13 is a section view similar to FIG. 12, the apparatus being in a lowered mode.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings and first to FIG. 1, there is shown a toilet 20 having a base 22. The base of the toilet has a pair of spaced-apart sides 24 and 26, a rear 27, and a front 28 which is spaced-apart from the rear, the rear and the front extending between the sides. The toilet, including its various parts and functionings, is conventional and well-known to those skilled in the art. It will therefore not be described in further detail.

There is further provided a cleaning apparatus 30 for the base 22 of the toilet 20. The cleaning apparatus is generally u-shaped in profile in this example as best seen in FIG. 2 and is shaped to extend around the sides 24 and 26 and front 28 of the base of the toilet.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the cleaning apparatus 30 includes an inner peripheral portion 32 for extending at least partially around the base of the toilet, in this example around the sides 24 and 26 and front 28 of the base of the toilet seen in FIG. 1. The inner peripheral portion of the apparatus is u-shaped in this example. The cleaning apparatus 30 includes an outer peripheral portion 34 which is spaced-apart from the inner peripheral portion 32. The outer peripheral portion is also u-shaped in this example.

The cleaning apparatus further includes a top portion 36 extending from inner peripheral portion 32 to outer peripheral portion 34 as seen in FIG. 2. The top portion is arcuate-shaped in this example, as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. The cleaning apparatus 30 includes an interior profile 38, seen in FIGS. 3 to 5, positioned between the inner peripheral portion 32, the outer peripheral portion 34 and the top portion 36 of the apparatus.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the cleaning apparatus 30 includes a pair of spaced-apart, elongate side members 40 and 42 which extend along and adjacent to the sides 24 and 26, respectively, of the base 22 of the toilet 20 when in use. The side members of the cleaning apparatus extend from the inner peripheral portion 32 to the outer peripheral portion 34 of the apparatus from adjacent to the rear 27 of the base 22 of the toilet 20 to adjacent to the front 28 thereof. The side members 40 and 42 are located at a rearward region 43 of the apparatus in this example.

The cleaning apparatus 30 includes an arcuate-shaped front member 44 connecting the side members 40 and 42 together. In this example, the front member is integrally connected to and formed integrally with the side members although this is not essential. The front member 44 extends from the inner peripheral portion 32 to the outer peripheral portion 34 of the apparatus adjacent to the front 28 of the base 22 of the toilet 20. The front member is located at a front region 45 of the apparatus. The side members 40 and 42 and the front member 44 are hollow and are arcuate-shaped in transverse cross-section as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The cleaning apparatus 30 includes a plurality of openings, in this example apertures 46 extending through the top portion 36 of the apparatus as seen in FIGS. 1 and 5. The apertures in this example are located within the front member 44 at the front region 45 of the apparatus. The apertures are positioned and shaped to enable fluid, such as bodily fluid, contacting the top portion 36 of the apparatus to pass therethrough and into the interior 38 of the apparatus 30.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the cleaning apparatus includes a replaceable absorbent member 48. The absorbent member has a top 50 that is arcuate-shaped in cross-section in this example, as seen in FIG. 5. The absorbent member is generally in the shape of a curved, rectangular prism in this example. However, this is not strictly required and the absorbent member 48 may be provided in other shapes, in other embodiments. The absorbent member is positioned within the interior 38 for selectively absorbing fluid, such as bodily fluid 49 seen in FIG. 7.

The absorbent member in this example is interposed between the inner peripheral portion 32 and outer peripheral portion 34 of the apparatus within the front region 45 of the apparatus. The absorbent member 48 is positioned at and is a part of the front region of the apparatus in this example. The absorbent member is operatively connected to the front member 44 and, in this example, is coupled to top portion 36 of the apparatus 30, as seen in FIG. 5.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 5, the apparatus 30 includes a plurality of bristles 52 connected to and extending downwards from the inner peripheral portion 32 of the apparatus. The apparatus includes in this example a plurality of bristles 54 connected to and extending outwards from the outer peripheral portion 34 of the apparatus. The bristles 52 and 54 are located with the front region 45 of the apparatus in this example and are aligned in elongate rows in this example. The bristles are adjacent to the absorbent member 48 for selectively scrubbing regions of floor 57 adjacent to the base 22 of the toilet 20 seen in FIG. 1.

The apparatus 30 includes a biasing assembly 55, in this example in the form of two pairs of downwardly-extending protrusions interposed between the side members 40 and 42 and the front member 44 of the apparatus, as shown by protrusions 56 and 58 interposed between side member 40 and front member 44 in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7. The protrusion 56 has a front portion that is semi arcuate shaped in profile. The protrusion 56 further has a rear portion which is tapered and extends downwards in a more gradual manner relative to the front portion. Each of the pairs of protrusions is outwardly arcuate-shaped in this example and extends from inner and outer peripheral portions of the apparatus, respectfully, as seen by protrusion 56 extending from outer peripheral portion 34 in FIG. 1. The protrusions are configured to abut the floor 57 and rearward region 43 and front region 45 to allow the apparatus to pivot about the protrusions, enabling the front region to pivot upwards and downwards, as seen by arrow 59 in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 7, the rearward region 43 of the apparatus, in this example side members 40, is configured to bias the front region 45, and thus absorbent member 48, upwards. This is because the rearward region 43 is larger and heavier than front region 45. Applying sufficient force to the front member 44, by way of a user's foot 60, for example, causes the absorbent member to selectively lower downwards for absorbing fluid 49 seen in FIG. 7. The downward force is shown by arrow 62 in FIG. 8, which shows the absorbent member in its lowered mode. Bristles 54 may selectively abut and scrub the floor 57 in this manner. The absorbent member 48 thus may be selectively lowered to abut a location 64 adjacent to the base 22 of the toilet 20, seen in FIG. 1, for absorbing fluid.

FIG. 9 shows a cleaning apparatus 30.1 for the base of a toilet according to a second aspect. Like parts have like numbers and functions as the cleaning apparatus 30 shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 with the addition of “0.1”. Cleaning apparatus 30.1 is substantially the same as cleaning apparatus 30 shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 with the exception that its openings are in the form of slits 46.1 instead of apertures. The slits extend through the top portion 36.1 of the apparatus adjacent to the front region 45.1 of the apparatus.

FIG. 10 shows a cleaning apparatus 30.2 for the base of a toilet according to a third aspect. Like parts have like numbers and functions as the cleaning apparatus 30 shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 with the addition of “0.2”. Cleaning apparatus 30.2 is substantially the same as cleaning apparatus 30 shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 with the exception that it further includes downwards protrusions at the respective rearward ends of the side members, as shown by protrusion 66 at rearward end 68 of side member 40.2. The protrusion 66 is shaped to enable the apparatus to move with a smooth forward and backward motion when the apparatus is actuated. It may include a filler material at the rear or be made of a heavier material relative to the rest of the apparatus to provide the weight distribution needed to raise the front and of the apparatus. The rearward protrusions may extend from outer peripheral portions 34.2 of the apparatus 30.2 and are be outwardly arcuate-shaped in this example. The rearward protrusions 66 function to stabilize the rearward region 43.2 of the apparatus 30.2 and may function to add more weight to the rear section of the apparatus.

FIGS. 11 to 13 show a cleaning apparatus 30.3 for the base 22.3 of a toilet 20.3 according to a fourth aspect. Like parts have like numbers and functions as the cleaning apparatus 30 shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 with the addition of “0.3”. Cleaning apparatus 30.3 is substantially the same as cleaning apparatus 30 shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 with the following exceptions.

Apparatus 30.3 includes a biasing assembly 55.3 in the form of a pair of male connectors 70 and 72 that abut the floor 57.3. As seen in FIG. 12, each male connector comprises an elongate portion or shaft 74 in this example, and an enlarged distal end portion 76 that is spherical in this example. The end portion is integrally formed with and is connected to the shaft in this example.

The biasing assembly 55.3 includes a pair of female connectors for each male connector, as shown by female connector 78 in FIG. 12. The female connectors are shaped to selectively receive the male connectors. Each female connector 78 comprises a pair of resilient members that extend downwards from the top portion 36.3 of the apparatus 30.3, as shown by resilient members 80 and 82 which bias connector 78 upwards relative to connector 70. The resilient members align above the distal end portion 76 of the male connectors 70 and 72 when the apparatus is in the upper position shown in FIG. 12. In this position, the outer ends 84 and 86 of the resilient members abut adjacent to the top 88 of end portion 76.

The apparatus 30.3 is moveable from the upwardly biased position shown in FIG. 12, to a lowered position, shown in FIG. 13, when the user's foot abuts the front region 45.3 of the apparatus for example and as shown by arrow 62.3. As the apparatus 30.3 is lowered, the outer ends 84 and 86 of the resilient members 80 and 82 are spread-apart by end portion 76 of the male connector 70. When downward force is removed the top portion 36.3 of the apparatus 30.3, the resilient members 84 and 86, which are biased inwards, spring back towards the position of FIG. 12 and cause top portion 36.3 to raise upwards relative to the male connector, as shown by arrow 90 in FIG. 13. In an alternative embodiment, the male connector may extend from the top portion and the female connector may abut the floor.

It will be appreciated that many variations are possible within the scope of the invention described herein. It will be also understood by someone skilled in the art that many of the details provided above are by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention which is to be determined with reference to at least the following claims.

Claims

1. A cleaning apparatus for the base of a toilet, the apparatus comprising:

an inner peripheral portion for extending at least partially around the base of the toilet;

an outer peripheral portion spaced-apart from the inner peripheral portion; and

an arcuate-shaped top portion extending from the inner peripheral portion to the outer peripheral portion.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inner and outer peripheral portions are u-shaped.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further including an absorbent member interposed between the inner and outer peripheral portions.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further including an interior positioned between the inner peripheral portion, the outer peripheral portion and the top portion of the apparatus, and an absorbent member positioned within the interior for selectively absorbing fluid.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further including a plurality of apertures extending through the top portion of the apparatus and through which fluid may pass.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further including a plurality of slits extending along and through the top portion of the apparatus and through which fluid may pass.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further including a plurality of bristles connected to and extending outwards from the inner peripheral portion of the apparatus.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further including a plurality of bristles connected to and extending outwards from the outer peripheral portion of the apparatus.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further including bristles extending downwards from the inner and outer peripheral portions of the apparatus at a front region of the apparatus, an absorbent member positioned between the inner and outer peripheral portions of the apparatus at the front region of the apparatus and a plurality of apertures extending through the top portion of the apparatus at the front region of the apparatus.

10. A cleaning apparatus for the base of a toilet, the apparatus comprising:

an absorbent member for absorbing fluid, the member being biased upwards and which may be selectively lowered to abut a location adjacent to the base of the toilet.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 further including an inner peripheral portion, an outer peripheral portion spaced-apart therefrom, the absorbent member extending between the inner and outer peripheral portions, and a plurality of bristles extending along and outwards from the inner and outer peripheral portions.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 further including a downwardly-extending protrusion about which rearward and front regions of the apparatus may pivot, the absorbent member being part of the front region, and the rearward region of the apparatus being shaped to bias the front region of the apparatus upwards.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 further including a female connector, a male connector shaped to be selectively received by the female connector and a resilient member positioned to bias the female connector outwards relative to the male connector, a first one of the female connector and the male connector being operatively mountable on the floor and a second one of the female connector and the male connector operatively connecting to the absorbent member.

14. A cleaning apparatus for the base of a toilet, the apparatus having a pair of spaced-apart, elongate side members, an arcuate-shaped front member connecting the side members together, an absorbent member connected to the front member, and a pair of downwardly-extending protrusions interposed between the side members and the front member, the side members being shaped to bias the absorbent member upwards whereby applying force to the front member causes the absorbent member to selectively lower downwards for absorbing fluid.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, the apparatus being u-shaped and is shaped to at least partially extend about the base of the toilet.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein the side members and the front member are hollow and are arcuate-shaped in transverse cross-section.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 further including a plurality of apertures extending through the front member of the apparatus.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 further including a plurality of bristles adjacent to the absorbent member for selectively scrubbing regions adjacent to the base of the toilet.