GB2473273A

GB2473273A - Urinal insert

Info

Publication number: GB2473273A
Application number: GB0915617A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Matt Read
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-09-08
Filing date: 2009-09-08
Publication date: 2011-03-09
Anticipated expiration: 2029-09-08
Also published as: GB2473273B; GB0915617D0

Abstract

The invention relates to an insert for a urinal, wherein the insert comprises a number of pebble features 102, each having a domed top and steep sloping sides. The features are connected by spacers 104 that leave gaps 112 between them which allows the liquid to flow between the features. The features are preferably arranged in a configuration to fit a urinal interior. The insert further comprises a support 108 under the pebble features. The support may comprise four curved legs to support the pebble features in the urinal. The insert serves to minimize splashing.

Description

Urinal Insert

Background of the Invention

[1] The present invention relates to an insert for a urinal to reduce splashing.

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Description of the Prior Art

[2] Deodorant block holders are commercially available and generally include a flexible pad with a perforate receptacle on the upper surface of the pad for receiving a deodorant block which must be periodically replaced. The replacement of the deodorant block is somewhat difficult. The construction of some presently available commercial devices utilize upwardly facing flat surfaces which cause splashing of urine when urine flow impacts against the flat surfaces. Some splash-proof inserts have been developed to address the splashing problem including US Pat. No. 6,269,490. This patent and other prior art of record therein S are incorporated herein by reference thereto.

[31 The prior art discloses structures associated with urinals in the flow path of urine and include screen structures, slotted receptacles and dispersing filters with spaced parallel rods having sharp bottom edges to enable discharge of urine to the outlet of the urinal and reduce splashing.

[4] The following prior art patents are also directed towards the present state of the urinal and toilet bowl insert

* field.

[5] Hedberg, U.S. Pat. No. 1,442,270: An improved shield device for toilet bowls and seats comprises a body portion made of flexible, yielding material substantially segmental in outline and designed to be secured to the under surface of a toilet seat at the front thereof, and an apron portion and designed to extend downwardly from the under surface of the seat to a point spaced below the top of the bowl, the forward edge of said apron being beveled to incline downwardly and rearwardly to engage the inner edge of the bowl top, for the purposes stated.

[61 Piper, U.S. Pat. No. 1,854,328: A sanitary shield comprises a clamping member adapted to be placed on the rim of a closet bowl, an apron hinged to said clamping member, a spring on the hinge member for causing the apron to assume an inclined position above the rim of the bowl.

[7] Bryant, U.S. Pat. No. 1,879,066: A shield is adapted for attachment to a boy's toilet seat of the open front type having an opening extending inwardly from its forward edge, said shield comprising a bowl adapted to be seated in said opening with the mouth of said bowl facing rearwardly, and yieldable means on said bowl adapted to frictionally engage the edges of the seat adjacent said opening for detachably securing said bowl to the seat.

[8] Haley, U.S. Pat. No. 24,070,605: A commode attachment comprises a baffle which is arcuate from end to end in plan and which is arcuate in cross section from end to end and whose center is elevated, the ends forming discharge chutes which decline each way from the elevated portion, the forward margin of the baffle being shaped to fit against the inside of the front :: wall of the commode from end to end and the baffle extending rearwardly beyond the commode rim but only part of the way across the commode bowl so as to leave the rear portion of the bowl unobstructed and means for attaching the baffle to the commode.

[9] Juaire et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,670,918: A urinal for use with a portable restroom unit is formed of plastic and includes a unitary urinal body, including rear, side, bottom and front walls. Front and rear shelves are integral with front and rear walls, respectively, and cooperate with front and rear locking elements for supporting a screen. Attachment tabs project from the rear and bottom walls to permit attachment of the urinal to a wall of the portable restroom unit. A tubular drain tube is integral with the urinal and includes large and small diameter portions to permit selective connection to large and small diameter drain tubes.

[10] Brickhouse, U.S. Pat. No. 4,716,602: A urination deflector for attachment to a toilet seat is formed using a sheet of flexible plastic material which is provided with hook and loop fastening arrangements which maintain the device to the toilet seat and provide for folding of the device into its functional configuration.

[1111 Perry, U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,851: A urinating splash shield for use with conventional toilets which includes a splash shield and radial attachment ring. The splash shield is flipped up for use and down for nonuse. The attachment ring enables the splash shield to seat within the toilet bowl mouth. The device : isolates the toilet seat from the urine stream thereby negating ,*, any additional need to clean the toilet seat.

[12] Burbank et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,408,447: A urine deflector is designed to be detachably interconnected with a S. .55.

* toilet seat of the type having an upper surface designed to : support a user and a hole defined through the seat. The deflector includes a stream deflection member designed to deflect a stream of urine into the toilet bowl. The deflection member has a concave deflection surface. A support member is provided that has a generally planar body designed to be supported on the upper surface of the toilet seat. The generally planar body supports the deflection member such that when the generally planar body is placed on the upper surface of the toilet seat, the deflection member projects into the hole in the seat and the concave deflection surface faces a user seated on the seat. The support member also includes an attachment for releasably retaining the generally planar body in engagement with the upper surface of the seat.

[13] Brannon, III, U.S. Pat. No. 6,550,075: A toilet bowl splash guard prevents splattering about the toilet when the user is going to the bathroom. The toilet bowl splash guard includes a support member being adapted to be attached to an underside of a toilet seat; and also includes an upper sheet of material having a top end which is securely attached to the support member; and further includes a hinge member being attached to a bottom end of the upper sheet of material; and also includes a lower sheet of material being attached to the hinge member and being adapted to extend into a toilet bowl; and further includes side sheets of material being attached to the upper and lower sheets of material to form side walls to prevent splattering to sides of the toilet; *** and also includes a fastening member for fastening one of the ** : sheets of mateial to the toilet bowl. * *

[14] Lewis, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 7,461,413: A wall mounted ** S * urinal has a detachable urinal insert where the insert provides a *:* frontally directed opening for receiving a urine stream. The insert provides a lower surface in contact with the bottom *.*..S * surface of the urinal for supporting the insert, and an upper surface or a rear surface, or both, for stabilizing the insert within the urinal. A splash capturing surface defines an aperture for admitting a urine stream, the aperture comprising an area inferior to that of the frontally directed opening of the urinal and extending outwardly from it.

[15] Clearly, a need has arisen for a urinal insert that serves to minimize splashing, while providing an image of freshness. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides solutions and further related advantages as described in

the following summary.

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Br.ef Summary of the Invention

[16] In the present invention, an apparatus is disclosed comprising a urinal insert that fits into the urinal bowl. The insert has the appearance of a pile of pebbles. For support and structure, the insert has curved legs which stand on the urinal base and/or are supported by the urinal sides. The pebble features are a number of hollow mounds with steep, convex sides for minimizing splashing of a flow of liquid. Between the various pebble features are spacers for connecting the base of the pebble features to one another, and apertures for liquid to flow down O through.

[17] In a further aspect, the insert is injection moulded from a single piece of plastic. Advantageously, this reduces manufacturing costs.

[181 In a further aspect, the pebble features are not of a uniform height, diameter, or spacing. ** S

[19] Further advantages of the present invention are that S.....

* S splashing is minimized and hygiene is improved. The image of pebbles to some people symbolizes freshness and relaxation. The steep pebble walls break up the flow of liquid. This has the added benefit of enabling urinal cakes, located below the insert, to last longer.

[20] In a further advantage, the insert can be made in a range of different colours and finishes to complement its setting and environment.

Brief Description of the Several Views of the Drawing [211 The invention will now be described with reference to the following drawings in which: [221 Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[231 Figure 2 shows a top view of the same embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[24] With reference now to Figure 1, an embodiment of the invention is provided in isometric view, in which: Insert includes a group of pebble features 102, a plurality of spacers 104 and support 108. Pebble features 102 each have a domed top and steep sides. The external surfaces of pebble feature 102, together with spacers 104, define apertures 112 for liquid drainage.

[25J Support 108 is shown consisting of four legs. Legs have a convex outer surface, for fitting into a toilet bowl or urinal.

: Legs of support 108 are shown with anti-slip pads 110. This is a .* preferred embodiment but is not required by the invention. Is..

Support 108 could alternatively by provided with more or fewer *..: legs, for example, a single tubular leg might provide support under the whole perimeter of the insert. The main requirements for support 108 are that support 108 provides a supporting structure under the pebble features 102 and spacers 104, and that support 108 fits securely into the urinal it is to be used with.

[26] With reference now to Figure 2, the same embodiment of the invention is provided, from a top view perspective. As shown, pebble features 102 are preferentially asymmetrically spaced and have a variety of heights h and diameters d. However, the invention can also be built featuring pebble features 102 arranged with a symmetrical design, or some having identical height h or identical diameter d to one another.

[27] Pebble features 102 are preferentially hollow, which helps keep the insert light weight, however, the invention also includes non-hollow pebble features 102.

[28] Spacers 104 are connected between adjacent pairs of pebble features 102. However, in one aspect of the invention, not every pair of adjacent pebble features 102 need be connected to one another, as the structure is supportive enough if many but not all adjacent pebble feature 102 pairs are directly connected to one another with spacer 104.

[29 Spacers 104 may be connected to pebble features 102 at the base of the pebble features 102, or a little higher than the base of the pebble features 102. Spacers 104 connect adjacent pebble feature pairs, that is, generally, two pebble features 102 that lie adjacent one another will be connected with a spacer 104. However, not every pair of adjacent pebble features 102 need to be connected to one another, the scope of the invention requires that each pebble feature 102 is directly connected to at least one other pebble feature 102 with a spacer 104, or to edge definer 106. In a preferred embodiment, two spacers 104 are used * in parallel to connect between pairs of adjacent pebble features 102.

[30] Edge definer 106 lends additional structure to insert, although the invention does not require it. The group of pebble features 102 are shown as arranged in a circular configuration, with a circular edge definer, which fits many urinals. This configuration is not mandatory and it is within the scope of the invention to configure the group of pebble features 102, and edge definer 106 where present, according to any urinal shape, for example into a square, oval or a rectangular configuration.

[31] Pebble features 102, spacers 104, and supports 108 may or may not be coloured, patterned, finished or branded in any way.

[32] The insert may be made of a variety of materials and with any manufacturing type that is able to create it. In a preferred embodiment, it is a single unit made of injection moulded plastic.

[33] The invention has been described with many details and specificities, however these should not be seen as limiting the scope of the invention in any way, this should be determined only from the appended claims. * S S S. * I... * S S... S. * * . S * SS

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Claims

Claims 1. An insert for a urinal, said insert comprising a plurality of pebble features, wherein each pebble feature comprises a mound having a domed top and steep slopes, wherein said pebble features are arranged in a configuration to fit a urinal interior, and spacers for connecting the pebble features to one another while leaving gaps for a flow of liquid between pebble features, and a support connected to said pebble features for providing support for said pebble features in the urinal, wherein said support is shaped to fit the urinal interior.
2. The insert of claim 1 wherein said plurality of pebble features comprises at least pebble features with at least two different heights and diameters from one another.
3. The insert of claim 1 wherein said configuration is selected from the group consisting of: circle, square, oval, and rectangle.
4. The insert of claim 1 wherein said insert is made of injection moulded plastic.
5. The insert of claim 1 wherein said pebble features are hollow.
6. The insert of claim 1 wherein said support comprises four *S.. legs.

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7. The insert of claim 6 wherein an exterior surface of said four legs has a convex shape, for fitting in the urinal interior.
8. The insert of claim 7 wherein said four legs comprise anti-slip pads on said convex shaped surfaces. e.s..
9. The insert of claim 1 further comprising an edge definer, connected to said pebble features, for defining the edge of said configuration.
10. The insert of claim 9 wherein said edge definer is circular.
11. The insert of claim 1 wherein said spacers comprise two parallel spacers connecting adjacent pebble feature pairs. a... a * * * . * * S... *S a * * a * a. * * . S. S * S