US20230263345A1

US20230263345A1 - Funnel urinal

Info

Publication number: US20230263345A1
Application number: US17/677,392
Authority: US
Inventors: Judge Smith; Essie Kavanaugh; Richard Kavanaugh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-02-22
Filing date: 2022-02-22
Publication date: 2023-08-24

Abstract

A funnel urinal, including a funnel body removably connected to at least a portion of the toilet to collect urine in response to being urinated therein, a urine collecting tube removably connected to at least a portion of the funnel body to receive the urine from the funnel body and direct the urine away from the funnel body, and a urine outlet channel removably connected to at least a portion of the urine collecting tube to dispense the urine into the toilet.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present general inventive concept relates generally to toilets, and particularly, to a funnel urinal.

2. Description of the Related Art

While using a bathroom to urinate, urine often splashes out of a toilet and/or a urinal onto a floor and/or a toilet seat. Although this can happen to anyone, it is more common among men, due to the distance urine strikes the toilet bowl while standing. Not only does the urine release a potent odor after having splashed on the floor and/or the toilet seat, but the urine can also be a catalyst for pathogen growth and exposure.
Unfortunately, despite having curved surfaces to direct any liquid including urine, into the bottom of the toilet, some urine entering the toilet bowl splashes. Furthermore, the presence of the urine on the floor and/or the toilet seat requires a deep cleaning process of the toilet and/or surrounding areas which can be incredibly tedious and time consuming.
Therefore, there is a need for a funnel urinal to collect the urine into the toilet bowl in a controlled manner and prevent splashing.

SUMMARY

The present general inventive concept provides a funnel urinal.
Additional features and utilities of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept.
The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing a funnel urinal, including a funnel body removably connected to at least a portion of the toilet to collect urine in response to being urinated therein, a urine collecting tube removably connected to at least a portion of the funnel body to receive the urine from the funnel body and direct the urine away from the funnel body, and a urine outlet channel removably connected to at least a portion of the urine collecting tube to dispense the urine into the toilet.
The funnel body may include a protruding surface circumferentially disposed around at least a portion of an interior edge of the funnel body to prevent the urine from splashing out from the funnel body.
The urine outlet channel may be more rigid than the urine collecting tube.
The funnel urinal may further include a deodorizer removably disposed within at least a portion of the funnel body to dispense at least one of cleaning particles and deodorant particles into the funnel body in response to receiving the urine thereon.
The funnel urinal may further include a funnel holder removably connected to at least a portion of the toilet to receive at least one of the funnel body and the urine collecting tube therein, such that the urine collecting tube is suspended therefrom.
The funnel urinal may further include a tube holding plate removably connected to at least a portion of the toilet to prevent the urine collecting tube from moving away from the toilet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other features and utilities of the present generally inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a top perspective view of a funnel urinal as disposed on a toilet, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various example embodiments (a.k.a., exemplary embodiments) will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which some example embodiments are illustrated. In the FIGURES, the thicknesses of lines, layers and/or regions may be exaggerated for clarity.
Accordingly, while example embodiments are capable of various modifications and alternative forms, embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the figures and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit example embodiments to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, example embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure. Like numbers refer to like/similar elements throughout the detailed description.
It is understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.).
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art. However, should the present disclosure give a specific meaning to a term deviating from a meaning commonly understood by one of ordinary skill, this meaning is to be taken into account in the specific context this definition is given herein.

LIST OF COMPONENTS

- Funnel Urinal 100
- Funnel Body 110
- Protruding Surface 111
- Urine Collecting Tube 120
- Urine Outlet Channel 130
- Deodorizer 140
- Funnel Holder 150
- Tube Holding Plate 160

FIG. 1 illustrates a top perspective view of a funnel urinal 100 as disposed on a toilet 10, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.
The funnel urinal 100 may be constructed from at least one of metal, plastic, wood, glass, and rubber, etc., but is not limited thereto.
The funnel urinal 100 may include a funnel body 110, a urine collecting tube 120, a urine outlet channel 130, a deodorizer 140, a funnel holder 150, and a tube holding plate 160, but is not limited thereto.
Referring to FIG. 1 , the funnel body 110 is illustrated to have a cylindrical shape. However, the funnel body 110 may be rectangular, circular, conical, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal, or any other shape known to one of ordinary skill in the art, but is not limited thereto. Also, the funnel body 110 may be constructed of a wide variety of colors to match a toilet 10.
The funnel body 110 may be removably connected to at least a portion of the toilet 10. The funnel body 110 may taper from a first end to a second end thereof. More specifically, a diameter and/or a circumference of the first end of the funnel body 110 may be greater than a diameter and/or circumference of the second end of the funnel body 110. The funnel body 110 may receive and/or collect a liquid, such as urine, in response to being urinated therein. Moreover, the funnel body 110 may direct the urine from the first end to the second end of the funnel body 110 in response to receiving the urine within at least a portion of the funnel body 110.
The funnel body 110 may include a protruding surface 111, but is not limited thereto.
The protruding surface 111 may be circumferentially disposed (i.e., in a circle) around at least a portion of an interior edge at the first end of the funnel body 110. The protruding surface 111 may be a beveled surface and/or an arcuate shape (i.e., arcuately disposed) from the edge of the first end of the funnel body 110 toward a center of the funnel body 110. However, the protruding surface 111 may not entirely cover the center of the funnel body 110. In other words, the protruding surface 111 may at least partially protrude toward the center of the funnel body 110 and be distanced from the center of the funnel body 110. The protruding surface 111 may prevent the urine and/or any other liquid from moving toward the first end of the funnel body 110 and/or exit from the first end of the funnel body 110, such as splashing out from the funnel body 110.
The urine collecting tube 120 may be removably connected at a first end to at least a portion of the second end of the funnel body 110. The urine collecting tube 120 may be removably connected without tools (e.g., screwdriver, wrench, power tool, etc.) and/or a fastener (e.g., screw, nail, bolt, washer, nut, etc.). In other words, the urine collecting tube 120 may be quickly connected and/or removed without using tools for removal. For example, the urine collecting tube 120 may be at least partially threaded to be screwed into a threaded portion on the second end of the funnel body 110. The urine collecting tube 120 may receive and/or collect the urine from the funnel body 110, such that the urine collecting tube 120 may direct the urine away from the funnel body 110.
Also, the first end of the urine collecting tube 120 may have a watertight seal to prevent the urine from leaking therefrom. It is important to note that the urine collecting tube 120 may be highly flexible, such that the urine collecting tube 120 may at least partially deform (i.e., bend, stretch, expand) in response to an application of force (e.g., pushing, pulling) thereto.
The urine outlet channel 130 may be removably connected to at least a portion of a second end of the urine collecting tube 120. The urine outlet channel 130 may be removably connected without tools (e.g., screwdriver, wrench, power tool, etc.) and/or a fastener (e.g., screw, nail, bolt, washer, nut, etc.). In other words, the urine outlet channel 130 may be quickly connected and/or removed without using tools for removal. Moreover, the urine outlet channel 130 may be rigid. Furthermore, the urine outlet channel 130 may be more rigid than the urine collecting tube 120. As such, the urine outlet channel 130 may resist being bent. Furthermore, referring again to FIG. 1 , the urine outlet channel 130 may be disposed over a toilet bowl of the toilet 10 to dispense the urine therefrom into the toilet bowl of the toilet 10.
The deodorizer 140 may be removably disposed within at least a portion of the funnel body 110. The deodorizer 140 may dispense cleaning particles and/or deodorant particles into the funnel body 110 and/or the urine collecting tube 120 in response to receiving the urine thereon. As such, the deodorizer 140 may emit a fragrance to eliminate and/or prevent odor from the urine from dispersing into air.
Referring again to FIG. 1 , the funnel holder 150 is illustrated to be a clamp. However, the funnel holder 150 may be a clip, a clasp, a rope, a wire, a cord, an adhesive (e.g., tape, glue), a magnet, and/or any combination thereof, but is not limited thereto.
The funnel holder 150 may be removably connected to at least a portion of the toilet 10. Additionally, the funnel holder 150 may receive the funnel body 110 and/or the urine collecting tube 120 therein, such that the urine collecting tube 120 may be at least partially suspended therefrom.
The tube holding plate 160 may be removably connected to at least a portion of the toilet 10. For example, the tube holding plate 160 may be removably connected behind a toilet seat and/or connected to the urine collecting tube 120. The tube holding plate 160 may prevent the urine collecting tube 120 from moving away from the toilet 10.
During use, the funnel body 110 and/or the first end of the urine collecting tube 120 may be disposed on the toilet 10 at a higher elevation than the second end of the urine collecting tube 120 and/or the urine outlet channel 130 to facilitate movement of the urine from the first end of the urine collecting tube 120 to the second end of the urine collecting tube 120 and/or the urine outlet channel 130. As such, the urine outlet channel 130 may drain the urine into the toilet 10.
Therefore, the funnel urinal 100 may collect the urine in a controlled manner by allowing a user to urinate into the funnel body 110 and directing the urine into the toilet 10. Also, the funnel urinal 100 may prevent the urine from splashing onto a toilet seat and/or a floor, which reduces odor buildup and/or a need for frequent cleaning.
The present general inventive concept may include a funnel urinal 100, including a funnel body 110 removably connected to at least a portion of the toilet 10 to collect urine in response to being urinated therein, a urine collecting tube 120 removably connected to at least a portion of the funnel body 110 to receive the urine from the funnel body 110 and direct the urine away from the funnel body 110, and a urine outlet channel 130 removably connected to at least a portion of the urine collecting tube 120 to dispense the urine into the toilet 10.
The funnel body 110 may include a protruding surface 111 circumferentially disposed around at least a portion of an interior edge of the funnel body 110 to prevent the urine from splashing out from the funnel body 110.
The urine outlet channel 130 may be more rigid than the urine collecting tube 120.
The funnel urinal 100 may further include a deodorizer 140 removably disposed within at least a portion of the funnel body 110 to dispense at least one of cleaning particles and deodorant particles into the funnel body 110 in response to receiving the urine thereon.
The funnel urinal 100 may further include a funnel holder 150 removably connected to at least a portion of the toilet 10 to receive at least one of the funnel body 110 and the urine collecting tube 120 therein, such that the urine collecting tube 120 is suspended therefrom.
The funnel urinal 100 may further include a tube holding plate 160 removably connected to at least a portion of the toilet 10 to prevent the urine collecting tube 120 from moving away from the toilet 10.
Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A funnel urinal, comprising:

a funnel body removably connected to at least a portion of a toilet to collect urine in response to being urinated therein;

a urine collecting tube removably connected to at least a portion of the funnel body to receive the urine from the funnel body and direct the urine away from the funnel body; and

a urine outlet channel removably connected to at least a portion of the urine collecting tube and disposed under a seat of the toilet in a closed position to dispense the urine into the toilet, such that the urine outlet channel has a diameter less than a distance between the seat of the toilet in the closed position and a bowl of the toilet.

2. The funnel urinal of claim 1, wherein the funnel body comprises:

a protruding surface circumferentially disposed around at least a portion of an interior edge of the funnel body to prevent the urine from splashing out from the funnel body.

3. The funnel urinal of claim 1, wherein the urine outlet channel is more rigid than the urine collecting tube.

4. The funnel urinal of claim 1, further comprising:

a deodorizer removably disposed within at least a portion of the funnel body to dispense at least one of cleaning particles and deodorant particles into the funnel body in response to receiving the urine thereon.

5. The funnel urinal of claim 1, further comprising:

a funnel holder removably connected to at least a portion of the toilet to receive at least one of the funnel body and the urine collecting tube therein, such that the urine collecting tube is suspended therefrom.

6. The funnel urinal of claim 1, further comprising:

a tube holding plate removably connected to at least a portion of the toilet to prevent the urine collecting tube from moving away from the toilet.

7. A funnel urinal, comprising:

a urine collecting tube removably connected at a first end to at least a portion of the funnel body to receive the urine from the funnel body and direct the urine away from the funnel body;

a urine outlet channel removably connected to at least a portion of the urine collecting tube to dispense the urine into the toilet; and

a tube holding plate removably connected between a first hinge and a second hinge of a seat of the toilet to prevent the urine collecting tube from moving away from the toilet, such that the urine collecting tube is disposed at a second end between the tube holding plate and a bowl of the toilet.