Patent Publication Number: US-11649617-B2

Title: Method for water saving by retrofitting an institutional plumbing fixture and plumbing fixture made by such method

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is related to Provisional Application No. 62/931,266, filed Nov. 6, 2019, the priority of which is hereby claimed and the complete contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many institutions, especially prisons, have been outfitted with individual toilet units provided in each room or cell. In most cases, these toilet units are required to be extremely resistant to vandalism and, are thus typically manufactured from strong stainless steel in an integrated form. For example, one of the most common type of such toilet units installed today comprises a stainless steel commode stand having a toilet bowel integrally connected to the commode stand, such that the unit comprises a combined toilet bowel and lavatory sink. The most common model employs a pressure flush system for the toilet bowel, in some cases providing for only a single type of flush using a single volume of water, but in other cases providing a dual flush capability, whereby a smaller volume of water can be selected by the user in the case where only urination has taken place in the toilet bowel. The lavatory sink in the pressure flush-type combined toilet-sink units drains completely separately into its own drain, separately from the toilet drain. 
     In these types of toilet units, a great deal of water is wasted due to the fact that, in every case of urination, a significant amount of water must be used to clear the toilet bowel, and then another amount of water must be independently used in the sink for washing of hands. The present invention provides an improvement in water saving by retro-fitting these already-installed units with a separate urinal that utilizes the hand washing water to flush the urinal, thereby obviating the need to flush the toilet altogether. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the invention, there has been provided an improved method for water saving by retrofitting an institutional plumbing fixture having a plurality of sidewalls, and a combination of an integral lavatory basin above the sidewalls and a toilet bowel integrally attached to one of the sidewalls below the lavatory basin, wherein the lavatory basin includes a drain pipe for draining water into a drain provided for the plumbing fixture, comprising the steps of: forming an aperture in a sidewall of the plumbing fixture; cutting out a portion of the lavatory drain pipe between the lavatory; inserting into the aperture of the sidewall a urinal receptacle having a water inlet opening on its top side and a water outlet opening on its bottom side; connecting the water inlet opening of the urinal receptacle to the lavatory drain pipe to receive water draining from the lavatory and connecting the water outlet opening of the urinal receptacle to the drain provided for the plumbing fixture, whereby water from hand washing after use of the urinal serves to flush down the urinal, without necessitating flushing of the toilet bowel, thereby saving substantial amounts of water. 
     In another aspect of the invention, there has been provided an institutional plumbing fixture retrofit for water saving, produced by the method described above, comprising: an institutional plumbing fixture having a plurality of sidewalls, and a combination of an integral lavatory basin above the sidewalls and a toilet bowel integrally attached to one of the sidewalls below the lavatory basin, wherein the lavatory basin includes a drain pipe for draining water into a drain provided for the plumbing fixture; and an aperture formed in a sidewall of the plumbing fixture, into which has been retrofit a urinal receptacle having a water inlet opening on its top side and a water outlet opening on its bottom side, wherein the water inlet opening of the urinal receptacle is connected to the lavatory drain pipe to receive water draining from the lavatory and the water outlet opening of the urinal receptacle is connected to the drain provided for the plumbing fixture, whereby water from hand washing after use of the urinal serves to flush down the urinal, without necessitating flushing of the toilet bowel, thereby saving substantial amounts of water. 
     In another aspect of the invention, there has been provided a urinal-type receptacle comprising box-shaped receptacle having a flanged opening on its front side for attachment to plumbing fixture sidewall, where the receptacle includes a water inlet opening on its top side and a water outlet opening on its bottom side, adapted to be retrofit to an existing water drain system in the plumbing fixture. This receptacle can be made of stainless steel or a plastic material. 
     Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the appended drawings and the detailed description of preferred embodiments set forth below. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic front view of a very common arrangement of a commode stand having a toilet bowel integrally connected to a commode stand. 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic front view of only the commode stand of  FIG.  1   , which has been retrofitted with a urinal-type collection container according to the invention. 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of one preferred embodiment of a retrofit urinal-type collection receptacle according to the invention. 
         FIG.  4    is a front view taken from the opening side of the urinal-type collection receptacle in  FIG.  3   . 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of a retrofit urinal-type collection receptacle according to the invention. 
         FIG.  6    is a schematic view showing the mode of inserting a retrofit urinal-type collection receptacle according to the invention into a standard commode stand that has been modified to receive the collection container. 
         FIG.  7    is a front view another preferred embodiment of a retrofit urinal-type collection receptacle according to the invention, similar to that shown in  FIG.  5   , but having a water dispersing member. 
         FIG.  8    is a vertical cross-sectional view taken from the right-hand side and passing through the center of the device of  FIG.  7   . 
         FIG.  9    is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG.  8    of a modified embodiment according to  FIGS.  7  and  8   , showing an alternative embodiment of the water-dispersing member. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As noted above, in the standard types of combined lavatory sink and toilet units, a great deal of water is wasted due to the fact that, in every case of urination, a significant amount of water must be used to clear the toilet bowel, and then another amount of water must be independently used in the sink for washing of hands. The present invention provides an improvement in water saving by retro-fitting these already-installed units with a separate urinal that utilizes the hand washing water to flush the urinal, thereby obviating the need to flush the toilet altogether. 
     Depending on the age of the unit, it could take anywhere from 3.5 to 6 gallons, of water to flush. According to the present invention for retrofitting such units to save water, the retrofit urinals would operate using less than one gallon of water, thereby providing not only environmental benefits, but also permitting institutions to cut water use cost significantly. See the tables below. 
     RETROFIT URINAL—Water Usage Comparison 
     The average person urinates seven times daily, on average requiring about 5 gallons of water to flush in a standard toilet. Below are tables showing a comparison of water usage between a standard toilet module in correctional facilities versus water usage in a similar module that has been retrofit according to the present invention. It is projected that use of the retrofit urinal will result in use of les than 2 gallons of water for flushing, thereby cutting water usage significantly. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 One Inmate Water Usage 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 Year  
                 -------------------------------------- 5,310 
               
               
                   
                 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12,7775 
               
               
                 Month  
                 - - - - 434 
               
               
                   
                 ----------  1,085 
               
               
                 Week 
                 - -  98 
               
               
                   
                 -----   245 
               
               
                 Day  
                 - 14 
               
               
                   
                 --  35 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 0 
                 2000 
                 4000 
                 6000 
                 8000 
                 10000 
                 12000 
                 14000 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 - - Retrofit Gallons Used 
                 --- Standard Gallons Used 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Jefferson County, WI, Water Usage 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 Year 
                 -------------------------------------------  1,170,190 
               
               
                   
                 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   2,925,475 
               
               
                 Month  
                 - - -  99,386 
               
               
                   
                 ------------  248,465 
               
               
                 Week 
                 - -  22,442 
               
               
                   
                 ----   56,105 
               
               
                 Day  
                 -  3,206 
               
               
                   
                 --  8,015 
               
               
                   
                 0      500,000   1,000,000   1,500,000   2,000,000   2,500,000  3,000,000  3,500,000 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                    - -Retrofit Gallons Used 
                 --- Standard Gallons Used 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The following is a table showing the expected water usage comparison for all of the correctional institutions in Wisconsin, collectively. It is estimated that nearly 300 million gallons of water are wasted every year in state correctional institutions, in Wisconsin alone, just as a result of needlessly flushing of toilets. By means of the very inexpensive solution of retrofitting those toilet units according to the present invention, water usage relating to toileting activities can be reduced by about one half. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Wisconsin Correctional Facilities, Water Usage 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 Year 
                 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  119,906,105 
               
               
                   
                 --------------------------------------------------------------------  299,765,375 
               
               
                 Month  
                 - - - 10,183,810 
               
               
                   
                 -------- 25,459,525 
               
               
                 Week 
                 - - 2,299,442 
               
               
                   
                 ----   5,748,925 
               
               
                 Day  
                 - 328,510 
               
               
                   
                 --  821,275 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 0 
                 1,000,000 
                 200,000,000 
                 300,000,000 
                 400,000,000 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 - - Retrofit Gallons Used 
                 --- Standard Gallons Used 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The present invention is not limited to any particular design of an institutional combination toilet and sink unit. The benefits from the invention are achieved in any unit having a separately plumbed sink and drain system, which operates essentially independently of the combined toilet bowl and associated flushing system. Further, the invention is not limited to any particular configuration or shape of a retrofit urinal-type collection receptacle, but rather any shape can be selected that can fit within the space provided in the commode stand and still fulfill its role to serve as a urinal. Thus, many different manufacturers provide a large number of different models that can benefit from the present invention. Some are listed in the table at the end of the specification. There are hundreds of thousands of these units that are already installed in institutions, and since these types of units are designed to serve a very long lifetime, it is simply not cost-effective to replace them except when they fail. 
     Turning now to the drawings,  FIG.  1    is a schematic front view of a very common arrangement of a commode stand  10  having a toilet bowel  16  integrally connected to .a commode stand that contains a sink  14  and a faucet  15  for washing hands. The sink  14  has a separate drain pipe  17  that normally contains a drain trap  18  in the lower area of the commode stand  10 . The toilet has a flush control mechanism located somewhere convenient on the commode stand, for example, flush control  19  located at the top of the rear panel of the commode stand  10 . In many instances, the flush control may be located near the floor and be foot-actuated. Typically, the flush system is pressure driven, but could also be a standard tank flushing system. The fixture shown in  FIG.  1    is one of the most commonly installed designs. 
     In the typical arrangement shown in  FIG.  1   , the commode stand has a shape that is defined by multiple walls  12  that are angled with respect to one another, so as to provide a beveled shape that offers flexibility in arranging the toilet bowl  16  with respect to the commode stand  10 .  FIG.  1    shows an opening  13  in the right side-wall  12 , which is not part of the standard combined fixture, i.e., the side wall  12  is a solid or closed sheet of metal or possibly mesh. Opening  13  shows where the wall  12  may be cut out for retrofitting the urinal-type collection receptacle according to the invention. In the future, manufacturers may adopt to provide an opening, such as opening  13 , that is covered by a cover that is not easily removed, so that going forward it would provide flexibility in placing the units and/or will be easier to retrofit the fixtures utilizing the concept of the invention. Not all of these combination units used in correctional institutions can benefit from the present invention, for example, those installed in female correctional institutions; however, usage of such institutions can change over time. 
       FIG.  2    shows only the commode stand part  20  of the fixture illustrated in  FIG.  1   . In  FIG.  2   , there is schematically illustrated how a retrofit urinal-type collection receptacle  21  can be retrofitted into the conventionally-designed commode stand, after an opening such as opening  13  in  FIG.  1    is produced in the side wall  12  of the stand, in order to provide the modified commode stand  20  in  FIG.  2   . The urinal-type collection receptacle  21  has an opening  25  in the area where the opening is cut into wall  12 . The receptacle  21  connects on the top side with the sink drain pipe  17  to provide a water supply to the receptacle during the time when a user runs water in the sink  14  to wash his hands. On the lower part of receptacle  21  is located a connection with a portion of the drain pipe associated with trap  18 . The retrofit urinal-type collection receptacle  21  has a flanged frame  26  surrounding opening  25 , wherein at least some of the frame parts can be provided with pre-drilled holes to connect the receptacle  21  to wall  12  of the commode stand  20 . 
       FIG.  3    is a perspective view of one preferred embodiment of a retrofit urinal-type collection receptacle  30  according to the invention.  FIG.  4    is a front view, from the open side, of the receptacle shown in  FIG.  3   . Receptacle  31  has a configuration defined by its four side walls  31 , which taper from the opening  35  down to the bottom wall  33 . This shape is often convenient to accommodate placement inside of the commode stand. The top end with opening  35  is framed on three sides by flanges  36  that contain holes  37  for attaching the receptacle  30  onto a commode stand wall. At the lower edge of opening  35  is a urine drip-catching lip  38 , which is not essential but is preferred. On the top side of receptacle  30  an input connecting stub  32  is attached for use in connecting the water inlet side of receptacle  30  to the drain pipe  17  ( FIG.  1   ) from a sink, which has been severed to enable retrofitting of the receptacle  30 . Similarly, the receptacle  30  also is provided on its bottom side with an outlet connecting stub  34 , for connecting with the line running into a trap  18  ( FIG.  1   ) located in a commode stand. 
       FIG.  5    is, a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of a retrofit urinal-type collection receptacle  40  according to the invention. Receptacle  40  has many similarities to receptacle  30  shown in  FIGS.  3  and  4   , but also some differences. For example, receptacle  40  has a steeper angle to the vertical when it is inserted into an opening  13  that has been cut into a vertical side wall of a commode stand, i.e., when the frame flanges  46  that surround the opening  45  are attached to a vertical side wall of a commode stand. This has the advantage of permitting insertion of receptacle  40  into a commode stand that is narrower and therefor has less interior space. Another advantage is that the water inlet connection pipe  42  can enter through the back wall  41  (the wall facing opening  45 ) at a higher elevation, so that the water entering from the sink drain can rinse off more of the back wall  41  as it enters the receptacle  40 . In the case of receptacle  40 , the outlet pipe  44  is positioned on the bottom wall  43 . Drip catching lip  48  is located at the bottom of opening  45 . 
       FIG.  6    is a schematic view showing the mode of inserting a retrofit urinal-type collection receptacle  40  according to the invention into a standard commode stand  10  that has been modified to, receive the collection container by cutting an opening  13  in one of the side walls of the commode stand  10 . After the opening  13  is cut out, the sink drain line  17  ( FIG.  1   ) is severed between the sink  14  and trap  18 , and then receptacle  40  is inserted into opening  13 . Then the severed sink drain  17  is attached to water inlet pipe  42  and water outlet pipe  44  is attached to trap  18 . Finally, receptacle  40  is securely attached to the side wall of commode stand  10 , for example, by screws. 
       FIGS.  7  and  8    are a front view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of another preferred embodiment of a retrofit urinal-type collection receptacle  50  according to the invention, similar to that shown in  FIG.  5   , but having in addition a water dispersing member  59  that is positioned across the width of interior back wall  51  (facing opening  55 ). Here again, the back wall  51  is provided with a rinse water inlet pipe  52  that is integrally connected with wall  51  of the receptacle. Water dispersing member  59  extends at least part of the distance across the inner surface of back wall  51 , preferably across the entire distance, as shown in  FIG.  7   . Member  59  can be attached to the back wall  51  in any suitable manner, e.g., by welding along at least some points on its top edge. It functions as follows: as water enters through inlet pipe  52 , it collects in the interior of water dispersing member  59  and flows away from the center where inlet pipe  52  is located, while in the meantime some of the collected water drains out of slot opening  19  and flows across the surface of back wall  51 , thereby rinsing a large portion of the wall surface that is soiled during use of the urinal. As in  FIG.  5   , the embodiment of  FIGS.  7  and  8    includes flanges  56  surrounding opening  55 , a urine drip catching lip  58  and bottom wall  53  in which water outlet pipe  54  is located. 
     The embodiment shown in cross-section in  FIG.  9    is a view similar to  FIG.  8    of a modified embodiment according to  FIGS.  7  and  8   , illustrating an alternative embodiment  69  of the water-dispersing member  59  in  FIG.  8   . The embodiment of  FIG.  9   , in front view, looks identical to the front view shown in  FIG.  7   . The only differences between the devices in  FIGS.  8  and  9    can be seen in the cross-sectional view of  FIG.  9   . The differences involve the manner in which the water-dispersing member  69  is attached to back wall  61  of the retrofit urinal-type collection receptacle  60 . The shape of the actual water-dispersing element  69  and the slot  19  are the same as in the embodiment of  FIGS.  7  and  8   , and the element  69  functions exactly as element  59  in  FIGS.  7  and  8   . However, rather than being attached by bonding directly to the surface of back wall  61 , the element  69  has a water inlet stub  6  attached to it, which stub extends through an aperture  62  in back wall  61  and serves as a connection stub for connecting to the water inlet line  17  ( FIG.  1   ) coming from the sink. In other words, the back wall  61  does not have water inlet pipe integrally connected with the back wall. The water inlet stub  6  has threads  9  on its outer surface, to cooperate with a threaded nut or ring  8 , which, when tightened, seals tightly against a rubber gasket or other sealing ring  7 . As in  FIGS.  7  and  8   , the embodiment of  FIG.  9    includes flanges  66  surrounding opening  65 , a urine drip catching lip  68  and bottom wall  63  in which water outlet pipe  54  is located, 
     The invention is applicable to many other designs of plumbing units containing a combined toilet bowel and lavatory sink. A few of such designs available from Acorn Engineering are listed below: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Model 1426FA 
                 Model 1432FA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Front Access, 26 Inch Toilet- 
                 Front Access, ADA Compliant, Toilet- 
               
               
                 Lavatory Comby 
                 Lavatory Comby with Angled Toilet,  
               
               
                   
                 Angled Lavatory 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Model LR1418 Series 
                 Model 1418LMBFA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Ligature Resistant 18″ Stainless  
                 Front Access, 18 Inch Comby with  
               
               
                 Steel Lav-Toilet Comby with Oval 
                 Toilet and Multi-Sided  
               
               
                 Lavatory Bowl 
                 Lavatory Bowl 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Model 1418FA 
                 Model 1420FA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Front Access, 18 Inch Comby with  
                 Front Access, 20 Inch Toilet- 
               
               
                 Toilet and Lavatory Oval Bowl 
                 Lavatory Comby 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Model 1420LRB 
                 Model 1426 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 20″ Toilet-Lavatory Comby with  
                 26″ Toilet-Lavatory Comby 
               
               
                 Rectangular Lavatory Bowl 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Model 1415 
                 Model LR1415 Series 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 15 Inch Comby with Toilet and  
                 Ligature Resistant 15″ Stainless  
               
               
                 Lavatory Multi-Sided Bowl 
                 Steel Lav-Toilet Comby with  
               
               
                   
                 Round Lavatory Bowl 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Model 1418 
                 Model 1418LMB 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 18 Inch Comby with Toilet and  
                 18 Inch Comby with Toilet and  
               
               
                 Lavatory Oval Bowl 
                 Multi-Sided Lavatory Bowl