DE102022116536B4 - Toilet with two knee surfaces - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a toilet with two horizontal, elongated knee surfaces to make it easier for men to urinate. It is envisaged that • the knee surfaces have an inclination of 10.8° ± 2° along their longitudinal direction, and • the knee surfaces have an inclination of 7°-10° along their transverse direction, the knee surfaces and the toilet base body being integral with one another are connected, and the knee surfaces have an upward-pointing, circumferential edge for inserting a knee pad.

Description

The invention relates to a toilet that makes it easier for men to urinate.

State of the art

Various toilet shapes are already known. There are variants for squatting while standing on your feet, for example in the form of a ceramic surface on the floor.

There are footstools for children to place in front of the toilet so that the toilet seat is easier to reach.

CN108720700A describes a support frame for the user to support thighs and knees. The support frame is placed on a toilet bowl and is located above the toilet bowl.

It is a known problem that it is difficult to urinate in a sitting position due to the bending of the body (in the groin area). Urinating while standing in front of a toilet bowl is often the solution of choice, but this is accompanied by contamination from splashes.

KR101722727B1 In this regard, discloses a toilet seat for facilitating urination for male users. It is intended that a single knee pad can be brought into the appropriate position using a guide rail in order to support one of the two knees on it when urinating while standing and to bend it to one side. The other stretched leg is used to regulate the direction of the urine stream. The structure is very complex and the production is complicated. The device, especially the gaps created by the guide rail, are difficult to clean. For this reason, the toilet is not suitable for public toilets.

JP 2005-253748A In this context, describes a toilet with knee support elements on a toilet bowl body with knee pads, which are attached by screws. The short knee support element of all four examples described has a large angle (with respect to the horizontal) of apparently 45°. While standing, the knees are placed on the high, approximately 45° inclined surfaces, which disadvantageously leads to painful contact between the kneecap and the contact surface. When the body is lowered at this angle of 45°, the upper part of the kneecap is the first to hit the knee pad. This is a very small area of the body bone, so the force acting on the kneecap is very large per area.

JP 2004 - 267 669 A describes a western toilet bowl with urination aids for kneeling, which are hydraulically height-adjustable and have an inclination.

Similarly revealed too DE 299 17 406 U1 a device for using a seated toilet, which is to be arranged in front of the toilet, whereby knee surfaces can be slightly inclined.

DE 295 13 648 U1 describes a side piece of furniture for toilets as a mobile device, with a lower height than a standard toilet bowl. The surface can be designed as a trough and provided with padding or a cover. Holes are used for attachment to the floor.

DE 201 08 528 U1 discloses a toilet accessory device disposed on the side of the toilet and connected to the inner edge of the toilet. A knee support is supported by a floor support.

EP 1 658 800 A2 describes a device for kneeling to use a toilet bowl. A padded knee surface is supported by a stable substructure. Grab handles are also provided.

FR 2 862 324 B1 describes a support trolley for work at ground level with a frame with padded supports for knees, buttocks and chest.

CA 2 486 521 C describes ergonomic seating that allows the body to be supported in several positions that are suitable for working close to the floor.

WO 2007/067058 A1 reveals an exercise device for rehabilitation, exercise and play. Provision is made, among other things, for an airtight envelope attached to the floor along its perimeter and a valve for inflating and deflating the envelope.

DE 200 10 921 U1 similarly describes an inflatable cushion to support knee joints and the cervical spine as well as to fix a bath towel.

Task of the invention

The task is to provide a solution that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, men should be able to urinate while standing without the external toilet area becoming dirty. There should be no additional effort when urinating. In addition, strong bending of the body, which makes urination difficult, should be avoided. The solution should be easy to clean and, above all, do not cause any pain when used.

Solution to the task

According to the invention the task is solved with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

• • die Knieflächen entlang ihrer Längsrichtung eine Neigung von 10,8° ± 2° aufweisen, und
• • die Knieflächen entlang ihrer Querrichtung eine Neigung von 7°-10° aufweisen,

wobei die Knieflächen und der Toiletten-Grundkörper integral miteinander verbunden sind, und
wobei die Knieflächen einen nach oben weisenden, umlaufenden Rand zur Einlage eines Kniepolsters aufweisen.The subject of the invention is a toilet with two horizontal, elongated knee surfaces on both sides of the toilet, comprising a toilet base body for kneeling when urinating, wherein

• • the knee surfaces have an inclination of 10.8° ± 2° along their longitudinal direction, and
• • the knee surfaces have an inclination of 7°-10° along their transverse direction,

wherein the knee surfaces and the toilet base body are integrally connected to one another, and
wherein the knee surfaces have an upward-pointing, circumferential edge for inserting a knee pad.

All statements regarding toilet and an unused mobile kneeling device (with a horizontal, elongated knee surface (such as those listed above) apply to both items unless otherwise stated).

“Elongated knee surface” means that the knee surface is not square, for example it is rectangular or trapezoidal.

In the case of the toilet, the inclination of the knee surface “in the longitudinal direction” is, in the case of the toilet, a downward inclination of the knee surface towards the person standing in front of it (facing the wall). The mobile knee device would accordingly be positioned in front of a toilet.

“Transverse direction”, on the other hand, is the short width of the elongated knee surface, so that when the knee is tilted in the transverse direction (due to this lateral tilt) it can advantageously abut the outer surface of the toilet bowl and the knee is protected from slipping (as can be seen in 6 ).

Regarding the toilet:

For the purposes of the invention, the toilet is a toilet bowl of a standing or hanging toilet, which usually has a height of the toilet seat of 390-500 mm, most often 400 mm. As is known, a seat is formed on the upper edge of the edge of the pool, which is usually provided with a hinged lid including a seat edge support ring.

“Toilet seat” is therefore correctly a toilet seat edge of the toilet base body, but should be referred to here as a toilet seat.

According to the invention, the knee surfaces lie below the toilet seat (both the lowest point and the highest point of the knee surfaces).

By “knee area on both sides” we mean when standing in front of the toilet facing the wall: on the outside left and on the outside right of the toilet. Comments on the knee surface in the singular apply to both knee surfaces on both sides. Because the toilet according to the invention is advantageously constructed in a mirror-symmetrical manner.

Also not claimed but described is a set comprising two of the mobile knee devices described and a holding device (e.g. one or two handles or a rod) for attachment to the wall.

Advantages

The advantage of the invention is that the height of fall when urinating while standing is reduced and there is therefore less contamination from splashes while still being in an upright bending position. Because when kneeling, the flexion is comparable to that when standing. This is beneficial for use by men.

The toilet according to the invention designed in this way is very similar to conventional toilet bowls, i.e. the production is not significantly more complex. The toilet does not require additional gaps or rails and screws that contribute to dirt and make it unsuitable for public toilet areas.

In this context, the knee area can be cleaned very easily, comparable to cleaning a toilet seat in public toilets using paper.

The specified angle of inclination in the longitudinal and transverse directions advantageously prevents pain when kneeling due to the human shape of a kneecap. Because the invention does not require kneeling with only a small contact area over which the force must be distributed. Due to the inclination, the knee and the shin can be placed over a larger area.

Rather, due to the optimized angle of inclination, the invention requires kneeling in a lower position and, above all, with a larger contact area. The force is therefore distributed over this larger area and pain in the kneecap is reduced. The bending of the body is still so slight that urination is possible without any problems.

Preferred Embodiments

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the knee surface is not square, in particular it is rectangular or trapezoidal (in particular in the manner of an isosceles trapezoid).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the knee surface has a length of at least 12 cm in the longitudinal direction. Particularly preferred is at least 15 cm, in particular even >20 to 25 cm. In the case of a trapezoidal knee surface, the length is the height of the trapezoid.

According to the invention, the knee surface has an upward-pointing, circumferential edge for inserting a knee pad. The advantage here is that a knee pad then does not have to be attached separately, which would be difficult, especially with ceramics. It can simply be inserted. In addition, the knee pad is easy to change by simply inserting it into the surrounding edge, which is very important in the toilet area.

Particularly preferably, the upward-pointing, circumferential edge forms a frame shape with round, square or oval corners. The edge is particularly preferably essentially frame-shaped.

In a sensible embodiment of this embodiment with an edge, it is 2 cm ± 0.5 cm high (only the height of the edge that exceeds the top of the knee surface is measured). It is preferably 0.5-1.5 cm thick, in particular a maximum of 1.3 cm, very particularly preferably 0.8-1.3 cm or even 1-1.2 cm.

In a likewise preferred embodiment of the invention, a knee pad is included, which is attached to the knee surface (e.g. placed on it or inserted into a frame, etc.). The knee pad is particularly preferably made of a material selected from polyurethane, rubber and polystyrene. The knee pad is advantageously soft and yet easy to clean. The materials have a long service life, even when used in damp rooms and where there is constant exposure to light, such as toilets at rest areas with a transparent roof.

The knee pad is particularly preferably 1-6 cm thick, in particular 3-5 cm, even 4 cm.

In particular, it is also expedient to combine the above-mentioned versions with an upward-pointing edge with these preferred thicknesses of the knee pad. Advantageously, the knee pad can be inserted into the frame in a non-slip manner without the edge being able to hold it, and at the same time the knee pad offers enough protruding material so that you do not come into contact with the edge when kneeling down.

• • bei der Toilette um 170-320 mm, insbesondere 180-220 mm, tiefer als die Toiletten-Sitzfläche, und
• • bei der nicht beanspruchten mobilen Knievorrichtung in einer Höhe von 180-220 mm, insbesondere auch bei 200 mm ±10 mm, gemessen vom Boden, auf den die mobile Knievorrichtung aufgestellt wird.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the lowest point is on the knee surface

• • for the toilet by 170-320 mm, especially 180-220 mm, deeper than the toilet seat, and
• • for the unloaded mobile knee device at a height of 180-220 mm, especially at 200 mm ±10 mm, measured from the floor on which the mobile knee device is set up.

The term “toilet seat” does not mean the height of a toilet seat, but rather the upper edge of the toilet base.

The position of the highest point, on the other hand, results from the inclination of the knee surface according to the invention. For example, the highest point in one version is 42 mm above the lowest point.

In the case of hanging toilets, which depend on the height of the suspension, this height of the lowest point of the knee surface (which results in the contact point of the shin when kneeling) is better described in the case of hanging toilets, which depend on the height of the suspension, by the distance between the toilet seat and this lowest point.

Both ranges chosen here correspond to the almost same absolute height of the lowest point of the knee surface when the shin is placed when kneeling - with a usual toilet seat height of 390-500 mm.

It is an advantage of this optimized height that the flexion of the body achieved when kneeling is optimal and that, in conjunction with the inclination of the knee surface according to the invention, it allows the entire knee to be supported with parts of the shinbone. This prevents one edge from coming into contact with the shinbone first, which can lead to pain and injury.

According to the invention, the inclination in the longitudinal direction is 10.8° ± 2° and the inclination in the transverse direction is 7-10°. Particularly preferably in the longitudinal direction it is 10.8 ± 0.7°, even ± 0.5°, particularly preferably ± 0.3°, even 5-9°. Particularly preferably in the transverse direction it is 8-10°, particularly preferably 9.5° ± 0.5°, also 8-9°.

According to the invention, both the inclination of the knee surface in the longitudinal direction and the inclination in the transverse direction are present. This means that the invention has both inclinations (i.e. in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction).

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the width of the knee surface along the transverse direction is 120 mm ± 10 mm. In the case of a trapezoid shape, the width is measured at the widest point of the trapezoid. The width is particularly suitable for a knee and shin without causing lateral slipping.

It is also preferred that the knee surface has a rectangular or trapezoidal shape.

• In einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung ist die Kniefläche entweder als U-förmige Vertiefung (wie in 10 links gezeigt) oder als V-förmige (keilförmige) Vertiefung (wie in 10 rechts gezeigt) ausgestaltet. Diese Ausgestaltung betrifft die frontale Blickrichtung auf den Querschnitt von Toilette oder mobiler Knievorrichtung, entlang der Längsrichtung der Knieflächen.
• In beiden Varianten der Ausführungsform weisen die Knieflächen besonders die erfindungsgemäße Neigung in Längsrichtung auf. Bei der V-förmigen Vertiefung gilt linker und
• rechter Teil der V-Form als erfindungsgemäße Kniefläche. Die Ausgestaltung mit Neigung in Querrichtung würde in dieser Ausführungsform einer Neigung der U- bzw. V-Form um die erfindungsgemäßen 7-10° entsprechen, in der Art einer Drehung um die Achse der „frontalen Blickrichtung auf den Querschnitt, entlang der Längsrichtung der Kniefläche“.

Design of the knee surface:

• In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the knee surface is either a U-shaped depression (as in 10 shown on the left) or as a V-shaped (wedge-shaped) depression (as in 10 shown on the right). This embodiment concerns the frontal viewing direction of the cross section of the toilet or mobile knee device, along the longitudinal direction of the knee surfaces.
• In both variants of the embodiment, the knee surfaces particularly have the inclination according to the invention in the longitudinal direction. For the V-shaped depression, left and
• right part of the V-shape as a knee surface according to the invention. In this embodiment, the design with an inclination in the transverse direction would correspond to an inclination of the U or V shape by the 7-10° according to the invention, in the manner of a rotation about the axis of the “frontal viewing direction of the cross section, along the longitudinal direction of the knee surface “.

The advantage of this embodiment is that liquid can collect in the V- or U-shaped depression and that the knee is fixed in the middle of the knee surface.

Particularly preferably, the depression (of the U or the V) is a maximum of 2 cm deep, in particular 0.5-2 cm, even 1-2 cm.

In combination with the edge according to the invention, this edge either remains straight all the way around its upper edge. Or the edge also forms the V or U shape of the knee surface at the front and back (or just on one of these two short sides) when looking in the longitudinal direction along the knee surface. With the straight edge, the knee pad is particularly preferably present, with a thickness of >4 cm, preferably 4.5-6 cm. In the variant with a V-shaped or U-shaped recessed edge, the thickness of any knee pad that may be present is as thick as described above.

It is also particularly preferred that the knee pad provided for this also has this V or U shape. In particular, the existing edge can be a maximum of 2 cm high, the knee pad 4 cm, so that the knee pad protrudes beyond the edge by at least 2 cm.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention (in a version with a knee pad), only the top of the knee pad has such a V-shaped or U-shaped recess described above (as in 11 shown). Fluid can also advantageously collect and the knee can be fixed without complicating the manufacture of the toilet or the mobile knee device. Because producing a knee pad with a V- or U-shaped recess is much easier than it is to do with a toilet or mobile knee device.

In an unclaimed comparison embodiment, the knee surface can also have this V- or U-shaped depression and the edge can be omitted. This would give the knee pad support (at least in the transverse direction) and prevent it from slipping off the knee surface without the circumferential edge being necessary.

With regard to the toilet according to the invention, the knee surface is designed to be height-adjustable in a preferred embodiment. This advantageously increases comfort and offers usability that is independent of the user's height and leg length.

According to the invention, the knee surface has an inclination of 7-10° along its transverse direction, with the knee surface of the toilet being designed to be circumferential. The advantage of this design is easier industrial production of the toilet base body with a knee surface, for example as a simple bulge. In addition, it is an advantage that liquid flows together automatically through this knee surface in the manner of a “circumferential channel”. It is therefore advisable in this version to establish a connection between the deep part of the knee surface and the interior of the toilet (e.g. by means of a hole or drilling or recess) so that liquid that collects in the circumferential channel (ie on the knee surface) can flow away into the interior of the toilet on its own.

In any case, it makes sense that “all-round” does not mean that the area behind the toilet (i.e. on the wall) also has to have a knee area. “All-round” means that the knee surface runs from one side at the back over the side and middle at the front to the other side at the back and can end in such a way that it can be flush with the wall (in a toilet design in which the cistern is in installed on the wall). Any existing drain connection will then be located in this area. However, it can also be completely circumferential including the area on the wall.

In a preferred embodiment of the toilet, the knee surface (both at its lowest point and at its highest) is lower than the toilet seat.

According to the invention, the knee surface and the toilet base body (with toilet bowl) are integrally connected to one another.

To implement the invention, it is also expedient to combine the above-described inventive configurations, embodiments and features of the claims with one another.

Examples of embodiments

The invention will be explained in more detail below using several exemplary embodiments. They are not intended to limit the invention.

• 1 bis 2 zeigen eine nicht beanspruchte mobile Knievorrichtung 2 in einer kurzen Variante. 1 ist dabei eine Seitenansicht senkrecht zur Längsrichtung 3a der Kniefläche 3. 2 zeigt die zugehörige Draufsicht.
• 3 zeigt eine lange Variante solch einer nicht beanspruchten mobilen Knievorrichtung 2 in Form technischer Zeichnungen in verschiedenen Ansichten mit Abmessungen (links oben: Vorderansicht, rechts oben: Seitenansicht, links unten: Draufsicht, rechts unten: perspektivische Ansicht).
• 4 bis 7 zeigen schematisch Ausführungsformen der Toilette 1.
• 4 zeigt dabei eine Draufsicht auf eine Ausführung der Toilette 1, bei der der Nutzer an der kreisrunden Seite unten im Bild stehen würde und sich von dort auf die Knieflächen 3 aufknien kann.
• 5 zeigt die entsprechende Vorderansicht.
• 6 zeigt die Frontansicht einer Ausführung der erfindungsgemäßen Toilette 1, bei der Längs- und Querneigung der Kniefläche 3 vorhanden sind und angedeutet wurden. In dieser Darstellung ist auch der tiefste Punkt 6 der Kniefläche bei dieser Ausführungsform markiert, der sich durch die beiden Neigungen ergibt.
• 7 zeigt eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform der erfingunsgemäßen Toilette mit nach oben weisendem, umlaufenden Rand 4.
• 8 und 9 zeigen ein Ausführungsbeispiel der Toilette 1 bzw. der nicht beanspruchten mobilen Knievorrichtung 2 als Ausschnitt, welcher die Kniefläche 3 zeigt, mit eingelegtem Kniepolster 5. Das Kniepolster 5 ist aus Gummi. Der Rand 4 ist in dieser Ausführungsform 2 cm hoch und 1 cm dick. Das Kniepolster 5 selbst hat eine Dicke von 4 cm 8 zeigt einen Querschnitt als Ansicht entlang der Kniefläche 3. 9 zeigt die Draufsicht auf diese Kniefläche 3 mit Rand 4 und Kniepolster 5.
• 10 zeigt zwei Vergleichsbeispiele der Kniefläche 3 (anhand der nicht beanspruchten mobilen Knievorrichtung), bei denen diese entweder als U-förmige Vertiefung (10 links) oder als keilförmige (V-förmige) Vertiefung (10 rechts) ausgestaltet ist. In beiden Ausführungsformen weisen die Knieflächen 3 die erfindungsgemäße Neigung in Längsrichtung auf. In 10 rechts bei der V-förmigen Vertiefung gilt linker und rechter Teil der V-Form als erfindungsgemäße Kniefläche. Demnach wurde in beiden Vergleichsbeispielen auf die erfindungsgemäße Neigung in Querrichtung verzichtet (oder als Ausführungsbeispiel sind durch die U- bzw. V-Form bereits Teile der Kniefläche in Querrichtung geneigt).
• 11 zeigt links eine kombinierte Ausführungsform mit Kniepolster 5, wobei das Kniepolster als V-förmige Vertiefung (an der Oberseite) ausgestaltet ist und ein umlaufender Rand vorhanden ist, wobei der Rand (umlaufend) gerade verläuft. In 11 rechts ist eine Variante gezeigt, bei der der Rand ebenfalls die V-Form der Oberseite des Kniepolsters abbildet.

The following drawings describe the individual exemplary embodiments. All dimensions in the figures are given in mm.

• 1 to 2 show an unused mobile knee device 2 in a short version. 1 is a side view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 3a of the knee surface 3. 2 shows the corresponding top view.
• 3 shows a long variant of such an unused mobile knee device 2 in the form of technical drawings in different views with dimensions (top left: front view, top right: side view, bottom left: top view, bottom right: perspective view).
• 4 to 7 show schematic embodiments of the toilet 1.
• 4 shows a top view of a version of the toilet 1, in which the user would stand on the circular side at the bottom of the picture and from there can kneel down on the knee surfaces 3.
• 5 shows the corresponding front view.
• 6 shows the front view of an embodiment of the toilet 1 according to the invention, in which the longitudinal and transverse inclinations of the knee surface 3 are present and have been indicated. In this illustration, the lowest point 6 of the knee surface is also marked in this embodiment, which results from the two inclinations.
• 7 shows a preferred embodiment of the toilet according to the invention with an upward-pointing, circumferential edge 4.
• 8th and 9 show an exemplary embodiment of the toilet 1 or the unused mobile knee device 2 as a detail, which shows the knee surface 3, with the knee pad 5 inserted. The knee pad 5 is made of rubber. In this embodiment, the edge 4 is 2 cm high and 1 cm thick. The knee pad 5 itself has a thickness of 4 cm 8th shows a cross section as a view along the knee surface 3. 9 shows the top view of this knee surface 3 with edge 4 and knee pad 5.
• 10 shows two comparative examples of the knee surface 3 (based on the unused mobile knee device), in which it is either designed as a U-shaped depression ( 10 left) or as a wedge-shaped (V-shaped) depression ( 10 right). In both embodiments, the knee surfaces 3 have the inclination according to the invention in the longitudinal direction. In 10 On the right of the V-shaped depression, the left and right parts of the V-shape are considered to be the knee surface according to the invention. Accordingly, in both comparative examples, the inclination according to the invention in the transverse direction was omitted (or as an exemplary embodiment, parts of the knee surface are already inclined in the transverse direction due to the U or V shape).
• 11 On the left shows a combined embodiment with knee pad 5, whereby the knee pad is designed as a V-shaped recess (on the top) and there is a circumferential edge, with the edge (circumferentially) running straight. In 11 A variant is shown on the right in which the edge also depicts the V-shape of the top of the knee pad.

Another embodiment corresponds 11 right, but with a U-shaped depression on the top of the knee pad, where the edge also reflects this U-shape.

Both representations in 11 are to be understood as sections which, among other things, show the knee surface 3.

Reference symbols

1

Toilet

2

Mobile knee device (not claimed)

3

Horizontal, elongated knee surface

3a

Longitudinal direction of the knee surface

3b

Transverse direction of the knee surface

4

edge

5

Knee pads

6

Lowest point of the knee surface

Claims (11)

Toilet (1) with two horizontal, elongated knee surfaces (3) on both sides of the toilet, comprising a toilet base body for kneeling when urinating, whereby • the knee surfaces (3) have an inclination of 10.8° ± 2° along their longitudinal direction (3a) and • the knee surfaces (3) have an inclination of 7°-10° along their transverse direction (3b), wherein the knee surfaces (3) and the toilet base body are integrally connected to one another, and wherein the knee surfaces (3) have an upward-pointing, circumferential edge (4) for inserting a knee pad (5). Toilet (1) after Claim 1 , wherein the knee surfaces (3) have a length of at least 12 cm in the longitudinal direction (3a). Toilet (1) after Claim 2 , whereby the surrounding edge (4) is 2 ± 0.5 cm high. Toilet (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , wherein knee pads (5), attached to the knee surfaces (3), are comprised of a material selected from polyurethane, rubber and polystyrene. Toilet (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , whereby the lowest point (6) of the knee surfaces (3) is 170-320 mm lower than the toilet seat. Toilet (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , whereby both the inclination of the knee surfaces in the longitudinal direction and the inclination in the transverse direction are present. Toilet (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 , whereby the width of the knee surfaces (3) along the transverse direction (3b) is 120 mm ± 10 mm. Toilet (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 7 , whereby the knee surfaces (3) have a rectangular or trapezoidal shape. Toilet (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 8th , wherein the knee surfaces (3) are designed either as a U-shaped depression or as a V-shaped depression. Toilet (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 9 , whereby the knee surfaces (3) are designed to be height-adjustable. Toilet (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 10 , in which the knee surfaces (3) have an inclination of 7-10° along their transverse direction (3b), the knee surfaces of the toilet being designed to be circumferential.

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