US20070209102A1

US20070209102A1 - Covering apparatus for toilet system and attachments

Info

Publication number: US20070209102A1
Application number: US11/370,281
Authority: US
Inventors: Howard Lim
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-03-07
Filing date: 2006-03-07
Publication date: 2007-09-13

Abstract

A covering apparatus is provided for a toilet system and attachments to conceal, secure, protect, or decorate in part or completely. The device is configured to selectively house or hide a toilet system and attachments with a structure containing one or more structural components of cord, flat surface, and round surface. The structure is formed by means of attachment, assembly, mold, infusion, or consolidation of the structural components with a fastener, a sealer, and hardware, thereafter it is connected, added, or placed to the various environments with or without a support element. The device also includes a structure having various means and configurations as well as decorative figures.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a toilet accessory for a toilet system and attachments, particularly a covering apparatus adapted for the purpose of concealment, protection, or decoration of the toilet system and its applicable attachments in part or completely.
2. Description of Prior Art
The conventional toilet system in earlier application has been modified with new attachments such as the water sprayers and bidet systems. The attachments also include the plumbing fixtures such as the pipes and fittings for various connections as well as hoses for remote water supply. The water heaters are used for tempered water and valves are connected for control of water flow. The control boxes are located for the toilet users and the nozzles are placed around the toilet bowl. All of these applicable attachments are often visible too much, making the toilet system and attachments less attractive. Therefore, it is desirable to conceal, protect, or decorate these items in part or completely while affording convenience of easy access for installation, operation, and maintenance.
There is a toilet accessory for concealing toilet articles disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,679 issued to Mary E. Rehmann, which include a decorative figure having an aperture in the lower end for receiving an upstanding rod mounted on a base. Another invention for disguising bathroom tissue rolls and plungers is disclosed in U.S. Pat No. 4,432,451 issued to Oneida O. Hooser. The accessories have been invented for covering toilet articles, but not for the toilet system and its attachments such as the plumbing fixtures, bidets, and sprayers, being substantially different in the purposes and structures. It is an object of the present invention to provide a covering apparatus for the toilet system and attachments partially or completely.
The covering apparatus is composed of one or more elements of cord, flat surface, and round surface, which can be assembled or infused individually or collectively with any fasteners and sealers. The-cord includes a wire, rope, or string, which can be used for attachment, connection, or decoration. The flat surface such as a board or panel and the round surface such as a convex or concave section can be used for concealing, masking, disguising, or decoration. It is more object of the present invention is to provide a covering apparatus having one or more elements of cord, flat surface, or round surface assembled or infused individually or collectively by means of fastening, sealing, and supporting together with hardware.
The covering apparatus is composed of one or more components of the support elements. The support elements include a base, a foot, a stand, a wheel, or foundation with or without using any kind of fasteners, sealers and hardware. The covering apparatus can be placed on the floor, attached to the toilet system, or hung to the wall or ceiling with a support element. It is further more object of the present invention to provide a covering apparatus having a support element attached to various environments.
The covering apparatus is composed of one or more elements of decorative figures. The decorative figure includes a nature such as a natural world or character, wherein the natural world implies scenery or environment and the character implies personality or sprit. The decorative figure also includes a geometric shape, a person, and an animal, wherein the person implies individual or group of people and the animal implies creature such as living thing or monster. Therefore, it is still further object of the present invention to provide a covering apparatus that includes a decorative element such as a nature, geometry, person, or animal figure.
The covering apparatus has facility having one or more elements of the toilet system and attachments placed or added on. The facility offers convenience for arrangement and operation of the toilet system and attachments. It also offers an auxiliary storage room for concealing bathroom items. For example, the facility of sprayer holder provides an easy way for placement of the sprayer and the hose rack affords arrangement of hose. Also, the facility makes it easy for operation of the components installed on the covering apparatus. For instance, the valve attached on the top covering apparatus offers a convenient way to control water supply for the sprayer user. Therefore, it is still further more object of the present invention to provide a covering apparatus having facility of the installation, operation, and arrangement of a part of the toilet system and attachments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A variety of the covering apparatus are presented to conceal and decorate a toilet system and attachments. The covering apparatus is a structure configured to house or hide partially or completely a toilet system and the applicable attachments. It is comprised of one or more structural components of the cord, flat surface, and curved surface element, which is then connected, added, or placed on the toilet, floor, or wall singularly or plurally by means of fastening and sealing. It utilizes hardware and a support element for means of attachment, assembly, mold, infusion, and consolidation. The covering apparatus includes one or more elements of decorative figures such as a nature, geometry, person, or animal. It also includes a variety of means of installation, arrangement, facility, adaptability, attachment, mobility, support, concealment, disguisement, storage, utility, versatility, diversity, and plurality. The configurations of the covering apparatus include a body having one or more sides of a cord, a flat, or a round surface element with or without border lines. The side can include a blank element for installation of the attachments or decoration. The hardware and a support element of the covering apparatus includes such as a roller for hose arrangement, a latch for quick attachment, a door, a lock, a handle, a hanging element, a flap, or a decorative element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a quadrangular box type covering apparatus attached on the wall with placement of a sprayer and a valve, wherein the covering apparatus conceals the attachments of cold water spray system.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an angular front covering apparatus having a pentagonal side and a support attached between the wall and fractional bottom side, including placement of a sprayer and a valve, wherein the covering apparatus conceals the tempered water spray system having a mixing valve and the plumbing parts.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a round cornered front covering apparatus with a side and a support bracket attached on the wall and fractional bottom side, including facility for placement of a sprayer and a valve, wherein the covering apparatus conceals the tempered water spray system having a water heater and the plumbing parts.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a round front covering apparatus attached on the wall with fasteners having a sprayer placed on the base and a valve attached with a bracket, concealing a flexible hose and plumbing parts.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a closet covering apparatus having doors attached with the hinges, enclosing the round front covering apparatus shown in FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a short front covering apparatus having a decoration and concealing a flexible hose, wherein the side covering panel is attached to the wall with a cord as a support element.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a long front covering apparatus concealing total sprayer system, wherein the front cover is hinged with the side covering panel which is attached to the wall with a cord as a support element.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a free standing covering apparatus with a support element placed on the floor, wherein the covering apparatus includes a concealing room and a storage compartment as well as a sprayer placement and valve installation facility.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an attached covering apparatus to the toilet system with a support element place on the toilet system fasteners, wherein the covering apparatus includes a-concealing room of a flexible hose and a valve.
FIG. 10 a perspective view showing a flat covering apparatus attached on the toilet and the wall using a hose rack and brackets, wherein the covering panel hides a partial toilet system and attachments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is now made in detail to the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein reference numerals having the same first two digits indicate related elements, such as 20 and 201. The numerals having the same first three digits indicate same components with different elements, such as 421 and 4211. There are many variations of the covering apparatus for a toilet and the attachments, which will be generalized as a structure composed of one or more cords, flat surfaces, and curved surfaces with or without using one or more fasteners, sealers, hardware, support elements, and decoration elements to secure, conceal, attach, and decorate. The cord here defines any lengthy figure such as a string, a rope, a wire, or the like. The flat surface includes a plane such a flat board or panel. The curved surface includes a curved surface such as a convex or a concave sector. The various structures can be created to a multiple shaped figures by assembly, infusion, or consolidation, such as a box, a sphere, a prism, a cylinder, a cone, polygonal prism, and a single board. Several structures are presented in the following with details as examples, but the more configurations can be easily created within the scope of imagination.
Referring to FIG. 1, a toilet system having a covering apparatus 40 attached on the wall 150, a bowl 85, a seat 80, a water tank 65, and a lid 60, is shown and indicated the number 10. The covering apparatus 40 here shows a box structure 40 having six flat sides; a front 41, a back 42, a top 43, a bottom 44, a left 45, and a right 46. The back side 42 of the covering apparatus 40 in FIG. 1 includes a support element 421 secured on the wall 150 with a fastener 4211. The support element 421 is provided as an illustration for attachment facility and can be used for a foundation of a fixed or removable covering. It can hold up a top side 43 and a bottom side 44, while affording rooms for an assembled structure of a front side 41, a left side 45, and a right side 46 to be attached with a fastener 451. The top side 43 has a spray stand 431 for the sprayer placement 70 and the roller 435 for easy hose arrangement at the opening. It also has a valve 20 installed on the bottom surface of top side 43 with a clamp 202, wherein the knob 201 of the valve 20 is located outside for easy control. The right side 46 of the covering apparatus 40 can be omitted or partially placed for communication channel 38 to the angle stop valve 52 through a T-adapter 93. The bottom side 44 can be covered partially or completely for hose 30 storage room. The covering apparatus 40 can be placed to conceal the toilet system and attachments partially or completely.
A variation of the covering apparatus 40 is shown in FIG. 2 having a flat surface 47 secured between the front side 41 and top side 43. The left side 45 and right side 46 are figured to be pentagon. The back side 42 is secured with a fastener 421 and the bottom side 44 is supported with a rod 441 and a fastener 4411, wherein the rod 441 is an example of the support element. The bottom side 44 is partially installed for a hose 30 storage room. The covering apparatus 40 is completely concealing the toilet system attachments except the control knobs 201, 551, 521 of the valves 20, 55, 52, respectively. The valve 20 is for the sprayer 70, the valve 55 is for hot water source, and the valve 52 is for cold water source. The sprayer 70 gets tempered water from the mixing valve 91 through the control valve 20, wherein the mixing valve 91 gets cold water from the valve 52 through the T-adapter 93 and hot water from the valve 55 through the adapter 57. The outlet of the mixing valve 91 is connected to the control valve 20 with a connection hose or pipe 38. A part or whole components of the toilet and the attachments can be constructed or installed on the covering apparatus 40 to make one consolidated structure.
Another variation of the covering apparatus 40 is shown in FIG. 3 having a round surface 48 between the front side 41 and the top side 43. The left side 45 and right side 46 are figured to be a sector according to the contour. The back side 42 is secured with a fastener 421 and the bottom side 44 is supported with a bracket 443 and a fastener 4431. The bottom side 44 is partially installed for a hose 30 storage space. The covering apparatus 40 is completely concealing the toilet system attachments except the control knobs 201, 521 of the valves 20, 52, respectively. The sprayer valve 20 is for the sprayer 70 and the cold water valve 52 is for cold water source. The sprayer 70 gets tempered water from the water heater 99 through the sprayer valve 20, wherein the water heater 99 gets cold water from the cold water valve 52 through an adapter 93 and a connector 931. The outlet of the water heater is connected to the sprayer valve 20 with a hose or a pipe 38. A part or whole components of the toilet and the attachments can also be constructed or installed on the covering apparatus 40 to make one consolidated structure.
Another variation of the covering apparatus is shown in FIG. 4 having a round front side 41, top side 43, and bottom side 44. The left side 45 and right side 46 are figured to be a U-shape according to the contour. The left or right side 46 can be covered partially for placement of the attachments. The back side 42 is secured to the wall 15 with a fastener 421 and the top side 44 contains an inclined sprayer stand 431. The bottom side 44 is installed for a hose 30 arrangement and storage space. The covering apparatus 40 is partially concealing the toilet system attachments as an illustration. The sprayer 70 on the covering apparatus 40 in FIG. 4 is exposed, but it can be concealed using a cabinet 75 in FIG. 5. The cabinet 75 can be added on the existing covering apparatus 40 or it can be built as a one structure. The cabinet 75 can have one or more doors 751 with hardware 753 to access the items inside. A part or whole components of the toilet and the attachments can be constructed or installed in the cabinet to make one consolidated structure.
The covering apparatus 40 as an illustration can be simplified as shown in FIG. 6, having a front side 41, a left side 45, and a bottom side 44. The left side 45 can be omitted or added according to the contour with decoration. The covering apparatus 40 is secured with a bottom support 447 and a string support 453, wherein the string 453 is secured to a point 4532 of the covering apparatus 40 and a site 151 of the wall 15 using fasteners, sealers, and hardware. The sprayer 70 on the covering apparatus 40 in FIG. 6 is partially exposed, but it can be hided fully using a large front cover 41 as in FIG. 7. The front cover 41 can be added any decoration 419 as in FIG. 6. The front cover 41 in FIG. 7 can also be added using one or more hinges 416 and a door knob 414 as well as a magnetic strike 415 for door lock. A part or whole components of the toilet and the attachments can be constructed or installed in the cabinet to make one consolidated structure.
The covering apparatus 40 in FIG. 8 is made for placing on the floor as an illustration. The covering apparatus 40 is placed or secured to the floor using fasteners, sealers, and hardware. The bottom side 44 of the covering apparatus 40 can include a rod 448 as a support element for placement on the floor. The bottom side 44 can also include the wheels for mobility as a support element. A sprayer stand 431 is placed for arrangement of the sprayer 70 on the covering apparatus 40. The valve 20 is secured inside with a clamp 202 but the valve knob 201 is located in the outside for easy control. The auxiliary room 49 can be added for storage space with an opening 492 to access. The opening 492 can be covered with a door 493 which can be included with a hinge 4933 and a knob 4931.
The covering apparatus 40 in FIG. 9 can be made for attachment on the toilet system as an illustration. The covering apparatus 40 is secured to the toilet system using fasteners, sealers, and hardware. The bottom side 44 of the covering apparatus 40 can be included a support rod 449 as means of attachment to the toilet bolt 856. The covering apparatus 40 can also be secured to a seat bolt 852 or any other fasteners around the toilet system and attachments. The covering apparatus 40 can include a sprayer 70 on the stand and a valve 20 for water supply control. The valve 20 is secured inside with a clamp 202 and the valve knob 201 is located in the outside for easy control.
The covering apparatus 40 in FIG. 10 can be made for attachment on the toilet system as another illustration. The covering apparatus 40 is a single flat surface with decoration figures to conceal a part of the toilet system 17 and attachments. It is secured to the toilet system through a hose rack 35 using a fastener 407 and to the wall using a bracket 405 and a fastener 4051. It can be secured to the toilet system using any support element with fasteners, sealers, and hardware for partial or whole concealment of the toilet system and attachments. The covering apparatus 40 can include a flap 408 in the surface for easy access of hose and other convenient features for easy application and installation.

Claims

1. Toilet system covering apparatus comprises:

a structure for concealing, protecting, or decorating the toilet system and attachments, having one or more structural components attached, assembled, molded, infused, or consolidated with means to conceal, secure, attach, or decorate, wherein said structure including but not limited configurations of a box, a prism, a polygonal prism, a partition, a cabinet, a sphere, a cylinder, and a board.

a cord element of said structural components including but not limited a string, rope, and wire;

a flat surface element of said structural components including but not limited a board and panel;

a curved surface element of said structural components including but not limited a convex and concave sector;

a fastening element of said structure for means of attachment, assembly, mold, infusion, and consolidation, including but not limited a screw, a bolt, a nut, a washer, a spacer, and a nail;

a sealing element of said structure for means of attachment, assembly, mold, infusion, and consolidation, including but not limited an adhesive, a sealants, a caulk, a tape, a gasket, a packing, a 0-ring, or a seal;

a hardware element of said structure for means of attachment, assembly, mold, infusion, and consolidation, including but not limited a hinge, a handle, a hook, a magnetic strike, or a door knob;

a support element of said structure for means of attachment, assembly, mold, infusion, and consolidation, including but not limited a bar, a leg, a wheel, a brace, base, a pillar, a joist, a bracket, or a string;

a decoration element of said structure for means of decoration and ornamentation, which includes but not limited a pattern, design, or mold;

2. Toilet system covering apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said structure includes:

an installation means to install a part or whole of the toilet and the attachments, which includes but not limited a sprayer, a hose roller, a valve, and a valve clamp.

an arrangement means to place and arrange a part or whole of the toilet system and attachments, which includes but not limited a sprayer stand opening and a valve stem opening;

a facility means to locate a part or whole of the toilet system and attachments for easy access, which includes but not limited a valve knob placing on said covering apparatus;

an adaptability means to be placed or secured to the wall, floor, or toilet system;

an attachment means to be placed or secured to the wall, floor, or toilet system using said fastener, sealer, hardware, and support elements;

a mobility means to move from one location to the other using said fastener, sealer, hardware, and support elements;

a support means to support and brace said structure using said fastener, sealer, hardware, and support elements;

a concealment means of hiding a part or whole of the toilet system and attachments;

a disguisement means of disguising a part or whole of the toilet system and attachments;

a storage means of storing a part or whole of the toilet system and attachments;

an extension means of adding an auxiliary space for an additional storage or display;

a decoration means of decorating a part or whole of the toilet system and attachments;

a decorative means including but not limited a nature, geometry, person, and animal figure;

a utility means for using as a storage room for flexible hose or a box for trash disposal;

a versatility means having one or more functions, which includes but not limited a top covering apparatus for use as a shelf and a front covering apparatus for using as an ornament;

a diversity means having a variety of forms, shapes, appearances, and contours;

a plurality means having employment of one or more said structures to form another structure.

3. Toilet system covering apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said configurations of said structure include but not limited:

a body having one or more configurations of said structure;

a side of said body having said cord, said flat, or said curved surface element;

a side of said body having none of said element or blank element;

an edge of said side located at the end;

a border line of said body located in between said sides;

4. Toilet system covering apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said hardware and support element of said structure include but not limited:

a hose roller element of said body for easy hose arrangement;

a latch element of said body for quick attachment and detachment;

a door element of said body for opening or closing of space;

a lock element of said body for locking of said body and said door;

a handle element of said body for easy operation of said body and said door;

a hanging element of said body for suspending installation and decoration;

a support element of said body for installation and decoration;

a flap element of said body for easy access of said attachments;

a decorative element of said body for decoration.

5. Toilet system covering apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said toilet system and attachments includes but not limited:

a conventional toilet system;

an attachment connected to said conventional toilet system including a plumbing system and an accessory;

a cold water source and valve assembly of said attachment to supply cold water;

a hot water source and valve assembly of said attachment to supply hot water;

a mixing valve assembly of said attachment to supply tempered water;

a water heater of said attachment to supply hot water;

a water sprayer of attachment for cleaning;

a valve of said attachment for controlling water flow;

a hose of said attachment to supply water in a remote area;

an adapter of said attachment for connection;

a pipe of said attachment for transportation of water;

a fitting of said attachment for connection or decoration;

a fixture of said attachment for connection or decoration.

6. Toilet system covering apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said conventional toilet system is for the purpose of conventional toilet usage having a seat with a large opening for communication with the toilet bowl.

7. Toilet system covering apparatus according to claim 1 is for concealing, protecting, or decorating said toilet system and attachments in part or completely.