Patent Publication Number: US-4549321-A

Title: Urinal

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to waste disposal systems and particularly to a new and improved urinal which is mounted to a toilet seat cover in a compact and convenient arrangement. One lifts the cover and pulls a geared lever on the cover thereby locking the cover in a tilted position and moving a funnel-shaped urinal outwardly from the seat. When the lever is returned to its closed position, it activates a flushing valve which sends a spray of water around the entire inside of the urinal. Using the urinal saves at least six gallons of precious water per flush and eliminates unsanitary urine splatter and odors on rugs and floors. The urinal also eliminates splashing sounds thereby providing more privacy for the individual. 
     The prior art contains many patents in the waste disposal field and indeed many patents directed specifically to toilets and urinals. One of the closer prior art patents is U.S. Pat. No. 3,448,467 to Smith which discloses a toilet having a separate fecal waste collection receptacle and a urine receptacle mounted on the seat. The seat is pivotal to any desired height to accomodate the user. The system employs an exhaust pump in connection with the receptacles and to draw air therethrough and remove vapors therefrom. The Smith system is structurally and functionally different from the present invention. 
     In summary, the prior art does not disclose a urinal of the type disclosed herein which is simple, compact and inexpensive. The urinal structure may also be retrofitted to present installations. It does not require separate pumps or unsightly hoses. The design saves water and promotes cleanliness. It is particularly useful in the case of older users where the urine stream may be irregular. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to waste disposal systems and particularly to a new type of urinal which may be mounted to a toilet seat cover. 
     The urinal comprises a pivotal lever which is mounted to the toilet seat cover at one end which includes a geared section engaging a gear system coupled to the means for activating the urinal. The geared lever is moved outwardly 180 degrees after the cover has been lifted and this locks the cover in position and ejects the funnel-shaped urinal from the forward portion of the cover. The gear system includes a locking device which engages a mechanism in the toilet cover to lock the cover in a tilted position and a pulley arrangement which is coupled to a carrier which moves the funnel-shaped urinal outwardly from the forward portion of the cover. 
     The urinal comprises a funnel-shaped hard rubber member having a collapsable steel support in the outer peripheral portion which folds flat when the urinal is in a retracted position. The rear portion of the rubber member is mounted to a flexible hose-type arrangement which receives the waste urine. When the cover is in a closed position, the hose member is in a bent configuration but becomes straight when the urinal is projecting outwardly from the seat. A lower support member holds the rubber member in a fixed extended position. A flush valve is coupled to the lever to activate a spray when the lever is returned to its initial position. The spray is emitted from a hose member which extends along the periphery of the funnel-shaped member. 
     In operation the cover on the toilet is raised to a desired height and the geared lever is pulled from across the front edge of the cover through an angle of 180 degrees. The cover is then locked in the desired position and the urinal is forced outwardly from an opening in the forward portion of the seat. The urinal comprises a four inch round rubber funnel-shaped urinal having a steel support along its outer front edge. When the lever is moved back to its closed position, it immediately activates a flushing valve which sends a spray of water along the entire inside of the urinal. The braking device which holds the cover in place is now released and the cover can be moved up or down. 
     Accordingly, the object of this invention is to provide a new and improved urinal in conjunction with a conventional toilet. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved urinal mounted within a toilet seat which provides a funnel-shaped opening to eliminate unsanitary splashing and odors. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved urinal which provides a separate flushing arrangement in order to save water. 
     A more specific object of this invention is to provide a new and improved urinal which is mounted within a toilet seat cover and which projects outwardly from the cover in a predetermined variable raised position and may be used to eliminate splashing, odors and save flushing water by providing a separate outwardly projecting funnel-shaped urinal which is conveniently activated and cleansed by a separate flushing arrangement. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly illustrated when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a toilet showing the invention in a closed position; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of a toilet showing the urninal of the present invention in an activated position extending outwardly from the cover; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged cutaway view of the urinal, parts of which are shown in phantom to illustrate the operation thereof; 
     FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the operation of the invention as the urinal is activated to project outwardly from the cover; 
     FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the urinal in a fully extended position from the cover; 
     FIG. 6 is a side cross sectional view of the funnelshaped urinal in a fully extended position taken along the line 6--6 of FIG. 5. 
     FIG. 7 is a view taken along the line 7--7 of FIG. 3; and, 
     FIG. 8 is a view taken along the line 8--8 of FIG. 4. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, the inventin comprises a new type urinal for installation with conventional toilets. As shown in FIG. 1, the urinal 7 is mounted to the cover 1 of a toilet seat 23 on toilet 30. In the inactive state of FIG. 1, the urinal 7 is recessed within the cover 1 and the only portion accessible is the pivotal activating lever 2. To operate the urinal 7, one moves the lever 2 through an angle of 180 degrees while lifting the cover 1 to the desired height. The lever 2 drives the urinal 7 outwardly from the forward position of the cover 1 and locks it in position while simultaneously locking the seat 1 in a raised angular position as shown in FIG. 2. To deactivate the arrangement, the lever 2 is moved back to its original position freeing the cover 1 for movement and driving the urinal 7 into a recess 24 in the cover 1. During the unlocking movement of the lever 2, a flushing valve 11 is activated causing a spray within the urinal. 
     In greater detail, the lever 2 is of a curved configuration conforming to the contour of the cover 1 in an inactive state. The lever 2 includes a geared position 3 which engages a booster gear 4 having two spaced rows of teeth designed to approximately double the speed of the main gear 5. The main gear 5 meshes with the lower row of teeth on the booster gear and is driven thereby. The gear 5 also includes a groove 25 on its outer edge which engages the operating cables 15 which drive the urinal to and fro with the carrier 6. An off-center pin 13 protrudes through a slot 26 in gear 5 and is connected to a locking device 14 in the seat hinge arm 27 by linkage 28. The locking device comprises a brake-shoe type pad 28 which is driven against the arm 27 to lock the cover 1 in a raised angular position when the geared lever 2 has been rotated through an angle of approximately 135 degrees. 
     The urinal 7 is mounted to the carrier 6 which slides along a plurality of roller guides 18. The operating cable 15 is connected to the carrier 6 at mountings 29 and 30 to drive the carrier 6 as the main gear 5 is driven by the activating lever 2. The cable passes from the grooved position of the gear 5 over idlers 31 to the carrier mountings 29 and 30. The movement of the carrier is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. 
     The funnel-shaped urinal 7 is constructed of hard rubber with a flexible steel supporting member 32 comprising a rigid water channel 16 mounted about the outer periphery thereof and extending rearwardly into slot 24. The rear position of the funnel 33 is connected to the mounting 34 which has a flexible waste line 9 coupled thereto. The mounting 34 is located on the carrier 6 for movement back and forth and includes a forwarding extending expander arm 8 connected to the urinal funnel. The expander arm 8 is spring-mounted to the member 34 to keep the urinal 7 tightly closed. 
     As best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 the ball bearing wheel 19 engages the angled track 20 having the hinged position 22 of the expander arm connected thereto. The expander arm 8 is driven outwardly from slot 24 and expands the urinal 7 into the open locked position of FIG. 6. When the activating lever 2 is moved to its original position the urinal 7 is retracted into the cover 1. 
     A fresh water supply is fed from the water closet 35 along line 10 and its flexible position 21 to the flush valve 11. The valve 11 is connected to the main gear 5 for activation when the urinal 7 is retracted into the cover 2. The valve 11 opens and permits water to flow through flexible line 21 and through the water channel 16 which is built into the funnel to the two peripheral channels 17. Apertures in the channels 17 provide a spray along the inside of the funnel. Approximately one pint of water is used per flush in contrast with the six gallons of water which are used each time a toilet is flushed. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates in greater detail the locking arrangement 14 wherein the hinge arm of the cover is engaged by the brake shoe 29 when the rod 28 having a spring end position 36 is moved in an outward direction. This action locks the cover 1 in a raised position. 
     In summary, the present invention provides a new and improved urinal 7 which conserves water and eliminates unsightly and unsanitary splatter and odors. The device may be included in new installations or inexpensively retrofitted into existing installations. The relative simplicity of the subject urinal adds to the reliability and life of the design. 
     It is understood that the above-described arrangements are merely illustrative examples of the application. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principals of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.