Flow projector device

A flow projector device is used between the rim of a toilet bowl and an overlying seat. The flow projector device includes a base having an upper surface, a lower support surface, an inner end, an outer end, and lateral sides extending between the inner and outer ends. The upper surface slopes downwardly from the outer end toward the inner end. The device also includes a return portion and an outer barrier. The return portion extends downwardly from the inner end. The outer barrier extends upwardly from the outer end. The outer barrier includes a recurved surface configured to redirect urine to the upper surface of the base. Urine directed along the upper surface towards the recurved surface can be redirected by the recurved surface back onto the upper surface of the base to flow down the upper surface, past the return portion and into the toilet bowl.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is a problem, not often discussed, of urine spilling between the seat and rim of a toilet when a man or a young boy sits on a toilet to urinate. This issue can arise with older men, men with medical problems (i.e. diabetes), overweight men, men using steroid-based medication, and can arise for other reasons when men sit to urinate. This is a well recognized issue when young boys sit to urinate.

In addition to being messy, there is a hygienic issue relating to urine on the floor. Urine is liquid biological waste and as such contains a resource for bacteria to grow. Left on the floor, it can be a health hazard. More and more men are taking insulin and still spill sugar in their urine, increasing the chance of bacterial growth on the floor near the toilet, increasing the possibility of infection if stepped on with bare feet.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An example of a flow projector device captures the urine and returns it to the toilet bowl instead of the urine flowing between the seat and the rim of the toilet bowl. An example of a flow projector device may also prove be useful for young families with young male children, including providing a novel approach to potty training.

An example of a flow projector device is used between the rim of a toilet bowl and an overlying seat. The flow projector device includes a base having an upper surface, a lower support surface, an inner end, an outer end, and lateral sides extending between the inner and outer ends. The upper surface slopes downwardly from the outer end toward the inner end. The device also includes a return portion and an outer barrier. The return portion extends downwardly from the inner end. The outer barrier extends upwardly from the outer end. The outer barrier includes a recurved surface configured to redirect urine to the upper surface of the base. Urine directed along the upper surface towards the recurved surface can be redirected by the recurved surface back onto the upper surface of the base to flow down the upper surface, past the return portion and into the toilet bowl. In some examples the device includes sidewalls extending upwardly from the upper surface of the base along the lateral sides. In some examples the device includes a support bracket extending downwardly from the outer end of the base. In some examples the recurved surface has first and second portions, the first portion extending from the base generally upwardly away from the upper surface of the base and the second portion extending from the first portion generally downwardly toward the upper surface of the base. The recurved surface defines a urine catch/return cavity.

An example of a flow projector assembly includes a toilet and a flow projector device. The toilet includes a toilet bowl and an overlying seat, the seat having a lower seat surface. The toilet bowl includes a rim having an upper rim surface opposite the lower seat surface, an outer surface and an inner surface. The flow projector device includes a base, a return portion, an outer barrier, sidewalls and a support bracket. The base has an upper surface, a lower support surface, an inner end, an outer end, and lateral sides extending between the inner and outer ends. The upper surface slopes downwardly from the outer end toward the inner end. The return portion extends downwardly from the inner end. The outer barrier extends upwardly from the outer end. The outer barrier includes a recurved surface configured to redirect urine to the upper surface of the base. The recurved surface has first and second portions, the first portion extending from the base generally upwardly away from the upper surface and the second portion extending from the first portion generally downwardly toward the upper surface. The second surface portion terminates at a position overlying the upper surface of the base. The sidewalls extend upwardly from the upper surface of the base along the lateral sides, the sidewall having upper sidewall surfaces. The support bracket extends downwardly from the outer end of the base. The flow projector device is positioned between the rim of the toilet bowl and the seat, with the return portion opposite the inner surface of the rim, the support bracket opposite the outer surface of the rim, the base resting on the upper rim surface and the lower seat surface adjacent to the upper sidewall surfaces. A gap is defined between the upper surface of the base and the lower seat surface. Urine directed into the gap from the inner edge of the base and along the upper surface towards the recurved surface can be redirected by the second surface portion of the recurved surface back onto the upper surface to flow down the upper surface, past the return portion and into the toilet bowl.

Other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention can be seen on review the figures, the detailed description, and the claims which follow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description will typically be with reference to specific structural embodiments and methods. It is to be understood that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specifically disclosed embodiments and methods but that the invention may be practiced using other features, elements, methods and embodiments. Preferred embodiments are described to illustrate the present invention, not to limit its scope, which is defined by the claims. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize a variety of equivalent variations on the description that follows. Like elements in various embodiments are commonly referred to with like reference numerals.

Referring now toFIGS. 1-7, a flow projector assembly10is shown to include a flow projector device12used with a toilet14. The toilet14comprises a toilet bowl16and an overlying seat18. The seat has a lower seat surface20. The toilet bowl16includes a rim22having an upper rim surface24opposite the lower seat surface20. Rim22also has a curved outer surface26and a curved inner surface28.

Flow projector device12includes a base30having an upper surface32, a lower support surface34, an inner end36, an outer end38, and lateral sides40,42extending between the inner and outer ends. The distance between inner end36and outer end38is about 2 to 3.5 inches, typically about 2.4 inches as in this example. As seen best inFIG. 5, the upper surface32is thicker at outer end38and at inner end36so that upper surface32slopes downwardly from the outer end38toward the inner end36. In this example the thickness of base30at inner end36is about 0.125 inch while the thickness at outer end38is about 0.250 inch. While in this example upper surface32is generally flat, it may have other appropriate surface shapes. In some examples the downwardly sloping upper surface32slopes at an angle to the lower support surface34of base30of about 12° to 20°, specifically about 16° for this example. Device12also includes a return portion44extending downwardly and inwardly from the inner end36of base30. Both inner end36and return portion44have curved shapes to generally correspond to the curvature of inner rim surface28.

Flow projector device12also includes an outer barrier46extending upwardly from the outer end38of base30. The outer barrier46includes a C shaped recurved surface48including a first portion50and a second portion52. The first portion50extends from the outer end38of base30generally upwardly away from the upper surface32. The second portion52extends from the first portion50generally downwardly toward the upper surface32. The outer end54of second surface portion52terminates at a position overlying the upper surface32of base30. Recurved surface48is, as discussed below, configured to redirect urine to the upper surface32of base30. While recurved surface48is, in this example, a smoothly curving surface, it could be made of flat surfaces, curved surfaces, or a combination thereof. Sidewalls56,58extend upwardly from the upper surface32of base30along the lateral sides40,42and to the ends60,62of outer barrier46. The height of sidewalls56,58, that is the distance between lower surface34of base30and the upper surfaces68,70of sidewalls56,58, is about 0.4 inches in this example. Recurved surface48defines a urine catch/return cavity64bounded by sidewalls56,58. In this example the included angle defined by the outer surfaces of sidewalls56,58, seeFIG. 2, is about 32°.

Flow projector device12also includes a support bracket66extending downwardly from the outer end38of base30. Outer end38and support bracket66have curved shapes generally corresponding to the curvature of outer rim surface26and inner rim surface28, respectively.

In some examples recurved surface48may not include a second, generally downwardly directed portion52. Also, recurved surface48may be other than a circular or other smoothly curved surface, but could be made of straight sections or a combination of straight and curved sections. In addition, the sections need not be joined by tangent lines. It is preferred that upper surface32and recurved surface48have no tight corners for ease of cleaning.

In use, flow projector device12is mounted between the rim22of toilet bowl16and seat18. When so positioned, return portion44is opposite the inner surface28of rim22and support bracket66is opposite the outer surface26of rim22. Lower support surface34of base30is supported by upper rim surface24. In the example shown inFIG. 3, lower surface20of seat18is shown resting on upper surface70of sidewall58. In some examples a lower seat surface20may be positioned above the upper surfaces68,70of sidewall56,58; the distance above is preferably relatively short so to make a minimal change in orientation of seat18. Whether or not there is any such distance will depend upon the length of any seat supports72extending from lower surface20of seat18. A gap74is defined between the upper surface32of base30and lower seat surface20. Gap74is a variable height gap which is in this example is about 0.3 inch at inner end36and about 0.15 inch towards outer end38.

Through the use of flow projector device12, a misdirected stream of urine from a male user, which could otherwise pass between lower seat surface20and upper rim surface24and onto the floor, is directed into the gap74at inner end36of base30, along the upper surface32and towards the recurved surface48. This misdirected urine can have its direction reversed by recurved surface48and be redirected by the second surface portion52back onto the upper surface32. The misdirected urine can then flow back down the upper surface32, past the return portion44and into the toilet bowl16. Whether misdirected urine will reach recurved surface48will depend upon the force of the urine flow. Also, the user is provided with audio feedback that the device is working by the sound of the misdirected urine stream flowing into the toilet. After use, flow projector device12can be simply removed from the rim22of toilet bowl16, cleaned and then replaced.

The above descriptions may have used terms such as above, below, top, bottom, over, under, et cetera. These terms may be used in the description and claims to aid understanding of the invention and not used in a limiting sense.

While the present invention is disclosed by reference to the preferred embodiments and examples detailed above, it is to be understood that these examples are intended in an illustrative rather than in a limiting sense. It is contemplated that modifications and combinations will occur to those skilled in the art, which modifications and combinations will be within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the following claims. For example, flow projector device12is shown as a device that can be used with existing toilet14. However, flow projector device12can be made as part of toilet14, typically as part of toilet bowl16or as part of seat18. Flow projector device12could also be designed so that it clips onto or otherwise is attached to toilet bowl16; this could be achieved by, for example, engaging the underside of rim22or through the use of adhesive securing lower support surface34to upper rim surface24.

Any and all patents, patent applications and printed publications referred to above are incorporated by reference.