Toilet sealing device

Devices for sealing a toilet are provided. The devices comprise at least one barrier comprising barrier members configured to releasably and sealingly engage with and magnetically attract to each other. The barrier members are configured to be coupled to a toilet lid, a toilet seat and/or a toilet bowl and when the barrier members sealingly engage with each other, the at least one barrier inhibits or reduces movement of material from inside the toilet bowl to outside the toilet bowl.

PRIORITY

This application is a U.S. national entry from PCT/CA2020/050908, entitled “Toilet Sealing Device,” filed on Jun. 29, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to toilets, and specifically to devices for sealing toilets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is well known in the art of toilets to employ a lid to partially inhibit or reduce movement of materials from inside a toilet bowl to outside the toilet bowl. Typically, however, toilet lids only minimally prevent material from exiting a toilet bowl as there are gaps disposed between the lid and the bowl that allow passage of potentially hazardous material to the outside. This is generally the case when the material is in the form of a particulate matter or plumes. Material exiting a toilet bowl can cause an unhygienic condition that may result in the transmission of disease and microbials, such as, but not limited to, the COVID-19 virus.

Numerous toilet related devices have been developed in an effort to provide an easy and simple means to inhibit or reduce movement of materials from inside a toilet bowl to outside the toilet bowl.

For example, United States Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0206998 to Corbin describes a system and apparatus which inhibit or reduce movement of contaminated particles out of a toilet bowl enclosure are disclosed. The system and apparatus include at least one barrier coupled to a seat and/or lid of a toilet which is configured to inhibit or reduce particles from moving out of the toilet bowl enclosure. The barrier further may allow air to move into the toilet bowl enclosure.

The system and apparatus contemplated by Corbin, however, has some drawbacks. In certain embodiments described by Corbin, a spring was employed to assist a hinge in increasing the closing force on a lid or seat and improving a seal thereto. It is well known in the art that springs wear over time, especially when use is frequent, such as in the case of lifting and setting down a toilet seat. Overtime, the employment of a spring for increasing the closing force on a lid or seat may fail resulting an ineffective seal thereby allowing for the movement of particulate out of the toilet bowl enclosure.

Corbin also describes an embodiment of a system that includes one or more valves configured to allow air to flow into the toilet bowl enclosure thereby allowing sufficient air flow into the toilet bowl enclosure such that flushing of the toilet is not inhibited despite a barrier(s) being employed forming a substantially air-tight seal in gaps disposed between the toilet lid, toilet seat and the toilet bowl. Corbin, however, does not contemplate that the employed valves prevent passage of air and material from inside the toilet bowl to outside the toilet bowl thereby causing an unhygienic condition if microbials and other hazardous materials are released.

Furthermore, the barriers contemplated by Corbin still allow material from inside the toilet bowl to move onto the toilet seat during flushing operations due to the barriers being provided adjacent to the outer perimeter of the seat. This may create a very unsanitary condition that a user would require the whole toilet seat to be sterilized after each and every use.

What is needed, therefore, is a toilet sealing device or system that is relatively simple and robust in construction, while providing means for ensuring any seals are facilitated with a closing force that is maintained overtime and means for to allowing passage of air from outside the toilet bowl to inside the toilet bowl and prevent passage of air and/or material from inside the toilet bowl to outside the toilet bowl. Furthermore, it would be advantageous if the device or system provided a sealing means that inhibits or reduces the movement of material from inside the toilet bowl to move onto the top surface of the toilet seat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first broad aspect of the invention, there is provided a device configured for sealing a toilet, the toilet comprising a toilet bowl and a toilet lid, the device comprising:at least one first barrier comprising at least one first barrier member and at least one second barrier member configured to releasably sealingly engage with and magnetically attract to each other;wherein the at least one first barrier member is configured to be coupled to the toilet lid;wherein the at least one second barrier member is configured to be coupled to the toilet bowl;wherein when the at least one first barrier member and the at least one second barrier member sealingly engage with each other, the at least one first barrier inhibits or reduces movement of material from inside the toilet bowl to outside the toilet bowl.

Preferably, wherein when the toilet further comprises a toilet seat, the device further comprises:at least one second barrier comprising at least one third barrier member and at least one fourth barrier member configured to releasably sealingly engage with and magnetically attract to each other;wherein the at least one third barrier member is configured to be coupled to the toilet lid;wherein the at least one fourth barrier member is configured to be coupled to the toilet seat;at least one third barrier comprising at least one fifth barrier member and at least one sixth barrier member configured to releasably sealingly engage with and magnetically attract to each other;wherein the at least one fifth barrier member is configured to be coupled to the toilet seat;wherein the at least one sixth barrier member is configured to be coupled to the toilet bowl;wherein when the at least one third barrier member and the at least one fourth barrier member sealingly engage with each other and the at least one fifth barrier member and the at least one sixth barrier member sealingly engage with each other, the at least one second barrier and the at least one third barrier inhibits or reduces movement of material from inside the toilet bowl to outside the toilet bowl.

According to a second broad aspect of the invention, there is provided a device configured for sealing a toilet, the toilet comprising a toilet bowl, a toilet seat and a toilet lid, the device comprising:at least one first barrier comprising at least one first barrier member and at least one second barrier member configured to releasably sealingly engage with and magnetically attract to each other;at least one second barrier comprising at least one third barrier member and at least one fourth barrier member configured to releasably sealingly engage with and magnetically attract to each other;wherein the at least one first barrier member is configured to be coupled to the toilet lid;wherein the at least one second barrier member is configured to be coupled to the toilet seat;wherein the at least one third barrier member is configured to be coupled to the toilet seat;wherein the at least one fourth barrier member is configured to be coupled to the toilet bowl;wherein when the at least one first barrier member and the at least one second barrier member sealingly engage with each other and the at least one third barrier member and the at least one fourth barrier member sealingly engage with each other, the at least one first barrier and the at least one second barrier inhibit or reduce movement of material from inside the toilet bowl to outside the toilet bowl.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Throughout the following description specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding to persons skilled in the art. However, well known elements may not have been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the disclosure. The following description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form of any exemplary embodiment. Accordingly, the description and drawings are to be regarded and interpreted in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive, sense.

The present invention is directed to devices for sealing a toilet. The devices comprise at least one barrier comprising barrier members configured to releasably and sealingly engage with and magnetically attract to each other. The barrier members are configured to be coupled to a toilet lid, a toilet seat and/or toilet bowl and when the barrier members sealingly engage with each other, the at least one barrier inhibits or reduces movement of material from inside the toilet bowl to outside the toilet bowl.

Turning toFIGS.1to4, a first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. A toilet sealing device100is shown that is mounted or configured to be mounted onto a typical toilet101having toilet bowl1, a toilet seat5and a toilet lid3.

The device100comprises a first barrier member9coupled to or embedded into the toilet lid3and a second barrier member11acoupled to or embedded into the toilet seat5. The first barrier member9and second barrier member11amay respectively be coupled to the toilet lid3and toilet seat5by a variety of means such as, but not limited to, glues and adhesives. The first barrier member9and the second barrier member11aare configured to releasably and sealingly engage with and magnetically attract to each other. As the toilet lid3is positioned rotatably towards the toilet seat5, the first barrier member9and the second barrier member11asealingly engage with each other.

As shown inFIGS.1and2, the first barrier member9is coupled to the outer peripheral extent31of the lid3, while the second barrier member11ais coupled to an interior peripheral extent33of the seat5defining the aperture29in the seat. As a result of this, when the first barrier member9and the second barrier member11asealingly engage with each other, the movement of material from inside the toilet bowl1onto the top surface of the toilet seat5is inhibited or reduced. Preferably, the lid3and the first barrier member9fit inside seat5while the first barrier member9and the second barrier member11asealingly engage with each other, thereby plugging the aperture29and inhibiting or reducing the movement of material from inside the toilet bowl1onto the top surface of the toilet seat5. In such embodiments, it is preferable that the top surface of the lid3and the first barrier member9are flush with seat5top surface while plugging the aperture29.

The device100further comprises a third barrier member11bcoupled to or embedded into the toilet seat5and a fourth barrier member7coupled to or embedded into the toilet bowl1onto a toilet bowl top surface1aor toilet bowl inner surface1b. The third barrier member11band fourth barrier member7may respectively be coupled to the toilet seat5and toilet bowl1by a variety of means such as, but not limited to, glues and adhesives. The third barrier member11band the fourth barrier member7are configured to releasably and sealingly engage with and magnetically attract to each other. As the toilet seat5is rotatably positioned towards the toilet bowl1, the third barrier member11band the fourth barrier member7sealingly engage with each other.

When the first barrier member9and the second barrier member sealingly11aengage with each other and the third barrier member11band the fourth barrier member7sealingly engage with each other, barriers are formed that inhibit or reduce movement of material from inside the toilet bowl1to outside the toilet bowl1. This may be achieved by the formed barriers that at least partially fill a first gap disposed between the toilet lid3and the toilet seat5and a second gap disposed between the toilet seat5and the toilet bowl1.

Preferably, when the first barrier member9and the second barrier member sealingly11aengage with each other and the third barrier member11band the fourth barrier member7sealingly engage with each other, air-tight seals are formed that assist in the inhibition or reduction of movement of material from inside the toilet bowl1to outside the toilet bowl1. This can be achieved as the barrier members may comprise flexible materials such as, but not limited to neoprene, silicon, rubberized and/or plastic materials.

As described above, the barrier members may be configured to magnetically attract to each other. This can be achieved as the barrier members may comprise ferromagnetic materials. Preferably, the barrier members are configured to magnetically attract to each other with a magnitude of magnetic attractive force allowing them to be remain sealingly engaged with each other during toilet bowl flushing operations.

It is believed that for certain types of toilets, significantly inhibiting the passage of air into the toilet bowl may be detrimental to proper operation of the toilet during flushing. To assist with proper flushing operations, the device100may further comprise a valve configured to allow passage of air from outside the toilet bowl to inside the toilet bowl and prevent passage of air and/or material from inside the toilet bowl to outside the toilet bowl. Numerous one-way valves that may be employed for the present are known to those skilled in the art.

In some embodiments, the device100comprises an elongated passage15having a first end17and a second end19such that the first end17is adjacent to the outside of the toilet bowl1and the second end19is adjacent to the inside of the toilet bowl1. Preferably for such embodiments, the passage15comprises a first portion15aand a second portion15bsuch that the first portion15aand the second portion15bare positioned essentially parallel to each other thereby allowing passage of air from outside the passage to inside the toilet bowl1while inhibiting or reducing passage of material from inside the passage15to outside the passage15.FIG.4illustrates such an embodiment such that the passage15is provided inside a toilet seat5. As material moves from inside the toilet bowl1into the passage, a portion of the material gets trapped in the passage due to it impacting a turn connecting the first portion to the second portion. A greater number of passage15portions and turns increases the inhibition or reduction of passage of material from inside the passage15to outside the passage15. A flap21may be couple to the first end17to assist in the inhibition or reduction of passage of material from inside the passage15to outside the passage15. The flap21is configured to open and allow air to enter into the passage15but remain closed and inhibit or reduce materials from existing the passage15.

In operation, a user, after use of the toilet101, closes the toilet lid3such that the first barrier member9and second barrier member11asealingly engage with each other. The seat5may already be in down position during use, and if not, the user puts down the seat, before closing the lid3, such that the third barrier member11band fourth barrier member7sealingly engage with each other. As the user flushes the toilet, the barrier members remained sealingly engaged due to the magnetic attractive closing force resulting from magnetic materials in the barrier members. To assist with flushing operations, a valve allows passage of air from outside the toilet bowl1to inside the toilet bowl1while preventing passage of air and/or material from inside the toilet bowl1to outside the toilet bowl1.

In a second embodiment of the present invention, a toilet sealing device, akin to that described with respect to the first embodiment of the present invention, however, is mounted or configured to be mounted onto a toilet having toilet bowl and a toilet lid (i.e., no toilet seat).

The device comprises a first barrier member coupled to or embedded into the toilet lid and a second barrier member coupled to or embedded into the toilet bowl. The first barrier member and second barrier member may respectively be coupled to the toilet lid and toilet bowl by a variety of means such as, but not limited to, glues and adhesives. The first barrier member and the second barrier member are configured to releasably and sealingly engage with and magnetically attract to each other. As the toilet lid is positioned rotatably towards the toilet bowl, the first barrier member and the second barrier member sealingly engage with each other.

Similarly to the first embodiment, in some embodiments, the first barrier member may be coupled to the outer peripheral extent of the lid, while the second barrier member may be coupled to an interior peripheral extent of the bowl defining an opening into the bowl. As a result of this, when the first barrier member and the second barrier member sealingly engage with each other, the movement of material from inside the toilet bowl onto the top surface of the toilet bowl (see1a) is inhibited or reduced. Preferably, the lid and the first barrier member fit inside the bowl while the first barrier member and the second barrier member sealingly engage with each other, thereby plugging the toilet bowl opening and inhibiting or reducing the movement of material from inside the toilet bowl onto the top surface of the bowl. In such embodiments, it is preferable that the top surface of the lid and the first barrier member are flush with bowl top surface while plugging the opening.

When the first barrier member and the second barrier member sealingly engage with each other, a barrier is formed that inhibits or reduces movement of material from inside the toilet bowl to outside the toilet bowl. This may be achieved by the formed barrier that at least partially fill a gap disposed between the toilet lid and the toilet bowl.

Preferably, when the first barrier member and the second barrier member sealingly engage with each other, an air-tight seal is formed that assists in the inhibition or reduction of movement of material from inside the toilet bowl to outside the toilet bowl. This can be achieved as the barrier members may comprise flexible materials such as, but not limited to neoprene, silicon, rubberized and/or plastic materials.

As described above, the barrier members may be configured to magnetically attract to each other. This can be achieved as the barrier members may comprise ferromagnetic materials. Preferably, the barrier members are configured to magnetically attract to each other with a magnitude of magnetic attractive force allowing them to be remain sealingly engaged with each other during toilet bowl flushing operations.

It is believed that for certain types of toilets, significantly inhibiting the passage of air into the toilet bowl may be detrimental to proper operation of the toilet during flushing. To assist with proper flushing operations, the device may further comprise a valve configured to allow passage of air from outside the toilet bowl to inside the toilet bowl and prevent passage of air and/or material from inside the toilet bowl to outside the toilet bowl. Numerous one-way valves that may be employed for the present are known to those skilled in the art.

In some embodiments, the device comprises an elongated passage having a first end and a second end such that the first end is adjacent to the outside of the toilet bowl and the second end is adjacent to the inside of the toilet bowl. Preferably for such embodiments, the passage comprises a first portion and a second portion such that the first portion and the second portion are positioned essentially parallel to each other thereby allowing passage of air from outside the passage to inside the toilet bowl while inhibiting or reducing passage of material from inside the passage to outside the passage. As material moves from inside the toilet bowl into the passage, a portion of the material gets trapped in the passage due to it impacting a turn connecting the first portion to the second portion. A greater number of passage portions and turns increases the inhibition or reduction of passage of material from inside the passage to outside the passage. A flap may be couple to the first end to assist in the inhibition or reduction of passage of material from inside the passage to outside the passage. The flap is configured to open and allow air to enter into the passage but remain closed and inhibit or reduce materials from existing the passage.

Turning toFIGS.5to9, a third embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. A toilet sealing device3100is shown that is mounted or configured to be mounted onto a typical toilet3101having toilet bowl31, a toilet seat35and a toilet lid33. The toilet seat35, however, is U-shaped having a space323. The space323extends between the outer peripheral extent335and the inner peripheral extent333of the seat35forming spaced-apart ends of the seat35. The lid33comprises a nub member325that is configured to fit inside the space323.

The device3100comprises a first barrier member39coupled to or embedded into the toilet lid33and a second barrier member37coupled to or embedded into the toilet bowl31. The first barrier member39and second barrier member37may respectively be coupled to the toilet lid33at the bottom surface of the nub member325and the toilet bowl31adjacent to the space323by a variety of means such as, but not limited to, glues and adhesives. The first barrier member39and the second barrier member37are configured to releasably and sealingly engage with and magnetically attract to each other. As the toilet lid33is positioned rotatably towards the toilet bowl31, the first barrier member39and the second barrier member37asealingly engage with each other.

The device3100further comprises a third barrier member39acoupled to or embedded into the toilet lid33and a fourth barrier member311acoupled to or embedded into the toilet seat35. The third barrier member39aand fourth barrier member311amay respectively be coupled to the toilet lid33, including at the side surfaces of the nub member325, and the toilet seat35by a variety of means such as, but not limited to, glues and adhesives. The third barrier member39aand the fourth barrier member311aare configured to releasably and sealingly engage with and magnetically attract to each other. As the toilet lid33is rotatably positioned towards the toilet seat35, the third barrier member39aand the fourth barrier member311asealingly engage with each other.

As shown inFIGS.5and6, the third barrier member39ais coupled to the outer peripheral extent331of the lid33and the sides of the nub325, while the fourth barrier member311ais coupled to the inner peripheral extent333of the seat35defining the aperture329in the seat. As a result of this, when the third barrier member39aand the fourth barrier member311asealingly engage with each other, the movement of material from inside the toilet bowl31onto the top surface of the toilet seat35is inhibited or reduced. Preferably, the lid33and the third barrier member39afit inside the seat35while the third barrier member39aand the fourth barrier member311asealingly engage with each other, thereby plugging the aperture329and inhibiting or reducing the movement of material from inside the toilet bowl31onto the top surface of the toilet seat35. In such embodiments, it is preferable that the top surface of the lid33and the third barrier member39aare flush with the seat35top surface while plugging the aperture329.

The device3100further comprises a fifth barrier member311bcoupled to or embedded into the toilet seat35and a sixth barrier member37acoupled to or embedded into the toilet bowl31onto a toilet bowl top surface31a. The fifth barrier member311band sixth barrier member37amay respectively be coupled to the toilet seat35and toilet bowl31by a variety of means such as, but not limited to, glues and adhesives. The fifth barrier member311band the sixth barrier member37aare configured to releasably and sealingly engage with and magnetically attract to each other. As the toilet seat35is rotatably positioned towards the toilet bowl31, the fifth barrier member311band the sixth barrier member37sealingly engage with each other.

When the first barrier member39and the second barrier member sealingly37engage with each other, the third barrier member39aand the fourth barrier member311asealingly engage with each other and the fifth barrier member311band the sixth barrier member37sealingly engage with each other, barriers are formed that inhibit or reduce movement of material from inside the toilet bowl31to outside the toilet bowl31. This may be achieved by the formed barriers that at least partially fill a first gap disposed between the toilet lid33(at the nub member325) and the toilet bowl31adjacent to the space323, a second gap disposed between the toilet lid33and the toilet seat35and a third gap disposed between the toilet seat35and the toilet bowl31.

Preferably, when the first barrier member39and the second barrier member sealingly37engage with each other, the third barrier member39aand the fourth barrier member311asealingly engage with each other and the fifth barrier member311band the sixth barrier member37sealingly engage with each other, air-tight seals are formed that assist in the inhibition or reduction of movement of material from inside the toilet bowl31to outside the toilet bowl31. This can be achieved as the barrier members may comprise flexible materials such as, but not limited to neoprene, silicon, rubberized and/or plastic materials.

As described above, the barrier members may be configured to magnetically attract to each other. This can be achieved as the barrier members may comprise ferromagnetic materials. Preferably, the barrier members are configured to magnetically attract to each other with a magnitude of magnetic attractive force allowing them to be remain sealingly engaged with each other during toilet bowl flushing operations.

It is believed that for certain types of toilets, significantly inhibiting the passage of air into the toilet bowl may be detrimental to proper operation of the toilet during flushing. To assist with proper flushing operations, the device3100may further comprise a valve configured to allow passage of air from outside the toilet bowl to inside the toilet bowl and prevent passage of air and/or material from inside the toilet bowl to outside the toilet bowl. Numerous one-way valves that may be employed for the present are known to those skilled in the art.

In some embodiments, the device3100comprises an elongated passage315having a first end317and a second end319such that the first end317is adjacent to the outside of the toilet bowl31and the second end319is adjacent to the inside of the toilet bowl31. Preferably for such embodiments, the passage315comprises a first portion315aand a second portion315bsuch that the first portion315aand the second portion315bare positioned essentially parallel to each other thereby allowing passage of air from outside the passage to inside the toilet bowl31while inhibiting or reducing passage of material from inside the passage315to outside the passage315.FIG.9illustrates such an embodiment such that the passage315is provided inside a toilet seat35. As material moves from inside the toilet bowl31into the passage, a portion of the material gets trapped in the passage due to it impacting a turn connecting the first portion to the second portion. A greater number of passage315portions and turns increases the inhibition or reduction of passage of material from inside the passage315to outside the passage315. A flap321may be couple to the first end317to assist in the inhibition or reduction of passage of material from inside the passage315to outside the passage315. The flap321is configured to open and allow air to enter into the passage315but remain closed and inhibit or reduce materials from existing the passage315.

In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the device may comprise a sprayer assembly. The sprayer assembly13,313is configured to spay a liquid, such as disinfectant, into the toilet bowl. The sprayer assembly13,313may comprise holes340at the back of the seat for the air intake and the spray dispenser intake. Numerous sprayer assemblies would be known to those skilled in the art that may be employed for the present invention. A user my employ the sprayer assembly before lifting a toilet lid to ensure the inside of a toilet bowl is sanitary. In some embodiments, the sprayer assembly nozzle may rotate allowing it to spay a liquid thoroughly, into the toilet bowl.

In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the device may comprise a toilet lid where a least a portion of the lid is transparent allowing a user to inspect inside a toilet bowl when the lid is in the closed position and the toilet is sealed.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the barrier members are rubberized such that they damper the impact and noise of impact when closing a toilet component such as the lid or the seat.

Specific examples of methods and apparatus have been described herein for purposes of illustration. These are only examples. The invention provided herein can be applied to contexts other than the exemplary contexts described above. Many alterations, modifications, additions, omissions and permutations are possible within the practice of this invention. This invention includes variations on described embodiments that would be apparent to the skilled person, including variations obtained by: replacing features, elements and/or acts with equivalent features, elements and/or acts; mixing and matching of features, elements and/or acts from different embodiments; combining features, elements and/or acts from embodiments as described herein with features, elements and/or acts of other technology; and/or omitting combining features, elements and/or acts from described embodiments.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. The scope of the claims should not be limited by the exemplary embodiments set forth in the foregoing but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the specification as a whole.