Splash-retardant system

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates generally to toilet systems. In particular, it relates to a splash retarding system for substantially reducing the splashing of lavatory fluid when waste material is disposed into the lavatory fluid.

BACKGROUND

Conventional toilet systems have become a ubiquitous part of modem living and daily conveniences and this has led many to ignore its inevitable disadvantages. A typical toilet system consists of a toilet bowl and a cistern typically positioned behind and above the toilet bowl or otherwise associated with the toilet bowl. The cistern is filled with sufficient water or other types of fluids for flushing the toilet bowl upon operation of a hand lever or a button on the cistern. When the toilet is flushed after a person has defecated, waste disposal fluid is disposed through a disposal outlet and drained into a service sewer line.

While this is considered an indispensable tool for modern society, it can also be the cause of embarrassment and hygiene degradation. During defecation, use of the conventional toilet system may lead to splashing of the waste disposal fluid onto certain portions of the body of a person using such a toilet system.

The splashing of the polluted water creates another problem whereby the splashing is unsanitary and stains the toilet. It pollutes the toilet and its surrounding areas with bad odour and allows bacteria to fester and spread diseases which easily makes the toilet unwelcoming and unhygienic. This is in addition to the time and effort needed to clean and sanitise the toilet.

These disadvantages have remained unchanged and unaddressed even though the standard of living has been constantly improving. Modern society expects a higher level of performance from such equipment, and while the engineering and operation of the toilet system have changed these problems still remain. Therefore, many proposals have been directed at alleviating these problems but these ideas are either too complicated or unsuitable for widespread application.

One such idea is proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,339 by Clark. Clark describes an anti-splash device which includes a submerged motor driven rotor for creating hydro-turbulence on the surface of water in the toilet bowl. When waste material is disposed into the toilet bowl, the turbulent water surface counteracts the impact of the dropped waste material which thereby reduces the splashing effect that normally occurs following the entry of waste material through the surface of the waste disposal fluid. The drawbacks for this proposal include the need to have an electrical power supply for the submerged motor driver rotor and the tendency for its accessories to collect or retain waste material which results in cleaning difficulties.

Another proposal is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,010,497 by Menter et al. which uses the idea of having barriers or deflectors near the surface of the water to break the fall of the waste material. Menter proposes a form of disposable paper to function as a barrier near the surface of the water. Although this solves the problem of self cleaning, it creates another problem whereby a stock of the disposable paper has to be kept near the toilet bowl and the user has to manually lay the disposable paper on the surface of the water either before or after each use. Another problem that can occur is that the disposable paper may not be able to handle large amount of waste. The disposable paper may just sink into the water and additional paper has to be reapplied if the user is only partially done with using the toilet. Lastly, the use of substantial amount of disposable paper may cause clogging of the disposal outlet.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,644,801 by Zhao et al. proposes to solve the problems created by Menter et al. through the use of magnetic forces on a floating deflector to break the fall of the waste while preventing the deflector from sinking. While this approach is effective, it requires major reconstruction of the toilet bowl and the usage of electricity. Therefore, this approach will not work when there is a power failure.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,383,710 by Sumner, the usage of foam on the surface of the water is proposed. Sumner discloses addition of a chemical to the water in the toilet bowl to form a layer of foam on the surface of the water which the waste is penetrating. The foam acts as a cushion to soften the impact of waste when the waste is disposed into the toilet bowl and also functions to suppress any dispersion of the water from the surface. However, the foam is effective only when applied to the water immediately prior to usage.

There is therefore a need for a splash retarding system which reduces the splashing of waste disposal fluid when waste material is disposed into the waste disposal fluid for maintaining sanitation while reducing physical, visual and audible splashing effects and substantially preventing splashing of waste disposal fluid onto the user.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a system and method for reducing the splashing of waste disposal fluid when waste material is disposed into the waste disposal fluid contained in the toilet bowl. Conventional toilet system consists of a cistern and a toilet bowl which is connected to a disposal outlet.

Due to the construction of the toilet bowl, splashing of the waste disposal fluid occurs whenever a person defecates. The splashing can cause significant discomfort when the waste disposal fluid dirties the user. In addition, the splashing may cause staining of the toilet bowl while polluting the toilet with its odour and allowing bacteria growth to set in.

The present invention reduces splashing by forming viscous fluid from at least a portion of the waste disposal fluid. The viscosity of the viscous fluid within the toilet bowl impedes flow of the waste disposal fluid which in turn reduces the amount of splashing.

The system and method used in this present invention require an additive which when added to waste disposal fluid, forms a viscous fluid for splash retardation. A dissolution agent subsequently reduces the viscosity of the viscous fluid in the toilet bowl to facilitate expulsion therefrom. Therefore, the additive and the dissolution agent are added into a toilet flushing system having a toilet bowl and a cistern which stores and dispenses waste disposal fluid into the toilet bowl for facilitating waste disposal through a disposal outlet in fluid communication with the toilet bowl.

When the additive is dispensed into the toilet bowl and the viscous fluid receives waste, the viscous fluid substantially reduces fluid splashing from the toilet bowl. During subsequent disposal of the waste conveyed by the viscous fluid through the disposal outlet, the dissolution agent reduces the viscosity of the viscous fluid to thereby prevent clogging of the disposal outlet.

Therefore, in accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a splash retarding system comprising an additive, a dissolution agent, and a dispenser for containing at least one of the additive and the dissolution agent. The dispenser is operatively incorporable with a toilet flushing system having a toilet bowl for receiving waste disposal fluid therein and a disposal outlet is in fluid communication with the toilet bowl for draining at least a portion of the waste disposal fluid away from the toilet bowl, the waste disposal fluid received in the toilet bowl having a fluid surface. Furthermore, the dispenser is operatively adaptable for providing at least one of the additive to the waste disposal fluid contained in the toilet bowl for forming viscous fluid therefrom and the dissolution agent is introducible to the formed viscous fluid for viscosity dilution of a viscous fluid. Therefore when waste is disposed into the toilet bowl, the formed viscous fluid substantially impedes fluid splashing from the fluid surface and whereupon subsequent disposal of the waste, the viscous diluted viscous fluid facilitates discharge thereof from the toilet bowl and conveyance thereof through the disposal outlet.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is described a splash retarding method comprising the steps of providing an additive, a dissolution agent while using a dispenser for containing at least one of the additive and dissolution agent, wherein the dispenser is operatively incorporable with a toilet flushing system having a toilet bowl for receiving waste disposal fluid therein and a disposal outlet being in fluid communication with the toilet bowl for draining at least a portion of the waste disposal fluid away from the toilet bowl, such that the waste disposal fluid received in the toilet bowl is having a fluid surface. Furthermore the dispenser is operatively adaptable for providing at least one of the additive to the waste disposal fluid for forming viscous fluid therefrom and the dissolution agent introducible to the formed viscous fluid for viscosity dilution of a viscous fluid. Therefore when waste is disposed into the toilet bowl, the formed viscous fluid substantially impedes fluid splashing from the fluid surface and whereupon subsequent disposal of the waste, the viscous diluted viscous fluid facilitates discharge thereof from the toilet bowl and conveyance thereof through the disposal outlet.

In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is described a splash retarding system comprising an additive and a dispenser being operatively incorporable with a toilet flushing system having a toilet bowl for receiving waste disposal fluid therein and a disposal outlet being in fluid communication with the toilet bowl for draining at least a portion of the waste disposal fluid away from the toilet bowl, the waste disposal fluid received in the toilet bowl having a fluid surface. Furthermore the dispenser contains the additive and is operatively adaptable for providing the additive to waste disposal fluid contained in the toilet bowl for forming viscous fluid therefrom, whereby when waste is disposed into the toilet bowl, the formed viscous fluid substantially impedes fluid splashing from the fluid surface and whereupon subsequent disposal of the waste.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are described hereinafter with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a splash retarding system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the splash retarding system of FIG. 1 illustrating additive being blended with fluid to form a viscous fluid;

FIG. 3a is a perspective view of a cistern of the splash retarding system of FIG. 1 which contains a dispenser being immersed in fluid for dispensing the additive;

FIG. 3b is a perspective view of the cistern of the splash retarding system of FIG. 1 which contains a dispenser attached with a nozzle for dispensing the additive;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a toilet bowl of the splash retarding system of FIG. 1 attached with a distributor along the periphery of the toilet bowl; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a splash retarding system according to a second embodiment of the invention wherein a dissolution agent is added to the splash retarding system to prevent the clogging of the disposal outlet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the drawings, embodiments of the invention are described hereinafter for reducing splashing of waste disposal fluid from a toilet bowl when waste is disposed into the waste disposal fluid.

Fluid splashing is a normal occurrence whenever a person uses the toilet. Fluid splashing may dirty the user while staining the area around the toilet bowl which makes visiting the toilet an unpleasant experience. Bacteria and diseases may also result from the unsanitary environment created.

A splash retarding system and a method therefor according to embodiments of the invention reduce splashing of waste disposal fluid from the toilet bowl while a person is defecating into the toilet bowl. The system and method are capable of reducing fluid splashing from any fluid-filled toilet system.

For purposes of brevity and clarity, the description of the invention is limited hereinafter to applications relating to prevention of fluid splashing specifically from a toilet bowl. This however does not preclude the invention from other areas of application that requires similar operating functions and performance for splash retardation.

The system and method therefor are described in greater detail hereinafter for reducing splashing of fluid. In the detailed description provided hereinafter and illustrations provided in FIGS. 1 to 5 of the drawings, like elements are identified with like reference numerals.

With reference to FIG. 1, a splash retarding system 100 according to a first embodiment of the invention for reducing splashing of waste disposal fluid 102 from a toilet bowl 104 is described. The splash retarding system 100 comprises an additive 106 for elevating the viscosity of the waste disposal fluid 102 for forming a viscous fluid 108 therefrom.

A conventional toilet flush system 110, herein incorporated into the splash retarding system 100, comprises the toilet bowl 104 for containing waste (not shown) and a cistern 114 for storing and releasing the waste disposal fluid 102 into the toilet bowl 104 for waste disposal after a user has urinated or defecated into the toilet bowl 104. The toilet bowl 104 is in fluid communication with the cistern 114 for facilitating flushing. During flushing, waste disposal fluid 102 contained in the cistern 114 is discharged into the toilet bowl 104. In addition, the toilet flush system 110 further comprises a disposal outlet 116 which is also in fluid communication with the toilet bowl 104 for conveying the waste to the sewer system (not shown).

However due to the design of the toilet bowl 104, splashing may occur whenever a person defecates into the toilet bowl 104. As a result, the waste disposal fluid 102 dirties the user while the area around the toilet bowl 104 is stained which inevitably allows bacteria growth and diseases to fester. Therefore, in order to maintain the cleanliness of the toilet and its user, splashing has to be reduced. One of the main components of the splash retarding system 100 is the additive 106 which is provided to the waste disposal fluid 102 in the toilet bowl 104 to form the viscous fluid 108 therefrom. The additive 106 is preferably a coagulant (eg, starch), an oil-based solution or the like substance or material.

Whenever a person is using the toilet, waste is disposed into the viscous fluid 108. The elevated viscosity of the viscous fluid 108 increases the hydrostatic mass effect of the waste to thereby allow the waste to be slowly absorbed into the viscous fluid 108. The reduced flowability of the viscous fluid 108 in turn reduces splashing. As a result, the cleanliness of the toilet and its user is improved.

In the first embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 1, at least a portion of the viscous fluid 108 is formed as a viscous layer 118 along the surface of the viscous fluid 108 when the additive 106 is added to the waste disposal fluid 102. Preferably, the viscous layer 118 has a substantially lower density than the waste disposal fluid 102. The viscous layer 118 receives the waste and the waste slowly submerges into the viscous fluid 108 without splashing. Alternative as shown in FIG. 2, the additive 106 blends with at least a portion of the waste disposal fluid 102 to form a substantially homogenous viscous fluid 108 that has an increased viscosity.

With reference to FIG. 3a, the cistern 114 is described in greater detail in which a dispenser 120 is located inside the cistern 114. The additive 106 is preferably kept in the dispenser 120 wherein the additive 106 is dispensed into the waste disposal fluid 102 through the dispenser 120. The dispenser 120 preferably is a semi-porous container for containing additive 106. The dispenser 120 is preferably attached to a flushing mechanism 122 as shown in FIG. 3a such that when the flushing mechanism 122 is operated, the dispenser 120 is momentarily submerged in the waste disposal fluid 102 contained in the cistern 114. The semi-porous container allows the additive 106 contained therein to be discharged therethrough and into the waste disposal fluid 102 when the dispenser 120 is submerged into the waste disposal fluid 102.

Alternatively, the dispenser 120 includes a nozzle 123 extending from the dispenser 120 for dispensing and directing the additive 106 through and to the waste disposal fluid 102 as shown in FIG. 3b. When the toilet flush system 110 is actuated, the dispenser 120 dispenses the additive 106 through the nozzle 123 and near the cistern outlet 124 while flushing the waste disposal fluid 102 into the toilet bowl 104. Subsequently, the waste disposal fluid 102 with the additive 106 flushes through the cistern outlet 124 and into the toilet bowl 104.

Alternatively as shown in FIG. 4, the dispenser 120 is a distributor 125 shaped for attachment along the periphery of the toilet bowl 104. The distributor 125 contains the additive 106 for distribution thereof to the waste disposal fluid 102. Therefore, nozzles 123 are attached along the distributor 125 for dispensing the additive 106 to the waste disposal fluid 102.

Further alternatively, the additive 106 is containable within a handheld sized container (not shown). The handheld sized container enables the user to discharge the additive 106 into the toilet bowl 104 before the user urinates or defecates. Therefore, this embodiment substantially reduces the possibility of dirtying the user for a variety of toilet localities.

A second embodiment of the invention, a splash retarding system 200 as shown in FIG. 5 comprises the toilet flush system 110 and the dispenser 122 for containing the additive 106. The positional and operational relationship between the waste disposal fluid 102, toilet bowl 104, additive 106, dispenser 122 and cistern 144 with reference to the first embodiment of FIG. 3b are incorporated herein.

While the reduced flowability of the viscous fluid 108 reduces splashing, the viscous fluid 108 may conversely be difficult for the toilet flushing system 110 to flush away to the sewer system. Therefore to ease this difficulty the splash retarding system 200 according to the second embodiment of the invention further comprises a dissolution agent 126 for substantially reducing the viscosity of the viscous fluid 108 as shown in FIG. 5. The dissolution agent 126 dilutes the viscous fluid 108 in order to improve the flowability of the viscous fluid 108. The dissolution agent 126 is preferably an enzyme. It is expected that the reduction in the viscosity of the viscous fluid 108 substantially improve the flowability of the viscous fluid 108 in order for the viscous fluid 108 to drain smoothly through the disposal outlet 116 and into the sewer system.

At least one of the additive 106 and the dissolution agent 126 is preferably stored in at least one of the dispenser 120 and the distributor 125 for ease of refilling and dispensing by the user. Preferably, the additive 106 and the dissolution agent 126 are dispensed from separate nozzles 123 attached to the at least one of the dispenser 120 and the distributor 125. Alternatively, the dissolution agent 126 and the additive 106 are storable within a handheld sized container for portability and use with other conventional flushing systems.

Although the additive 106 and the dissolution agent 126 are of different compositions, the additive 106 or the dissolution agent 126 can either be dispensed separately through at least one of the distributor 125 and dispenser 120, or mixed together before being dispensed into the waste disposal fluid 102 as a whole. The later approach preferably requires the dissolution agent 126 to have a time-delayed dissolution effect property.

While the waste disposal fluid 102 is usually dispensed into the toilet bowl 104 during flushing, the additive 106 and the dissolution agent 126 can be dispensed in various situations. One window for the at least one of the additive 106 and dissolution agent 126 to be discharged into the toilet bowl 104 is in response to the toilet bowl 104 being flushed. Alternatively the at least one of the additive 106 and dissolution agent 126 can also be dispensed after refilling of the waste disposal fluid 102 in the cistern 114. This will prepare the toilet bowl 104 for use by the next user. Therefore, when the next user defecates into the toilet bowl 104, the prepared viscous fluid 108 within the toilet bowl 104 substantially reduces the splashing effect with the dissolution agent 126 improving on the flowability of the viscous fluid 108 during flushing of the toilet bowl 104. Thereafter, this cycle is repeated after each flushing of the toilet bowl 104 preferably subsequent to use of the toilet by each following user.

The above-described embodiments of the invention are incorporated into toilet flush systems 110 which use the cistern 114 for interfacing a fluid source (not shown) and the toilet bowl 104. Alternatively, the invention is also incorporable into toilet flush systems 110 which do not incorporate the cistern 114. Instead, a manually or automatically actuable control valve (not shown) interfaces the fluid source (for example, a water pipeline) and the toilet bowl 104 for controlling supply of waste disposal fluid 102 to the toilet bowl 104 for flushing thereof. In such toilet flush systems 110, the dispenser 120 is preferably incorporated with the control valve for provision of the additive 106 to the waste disposal fluid 102 upon activation of the control valve for flushing of the toilet bowl 104.

In the foregoing manner, a system and method for preventing splashing of waste disposal fluid 102 from the toilet bowl 104 while urinating or defecating into the toilet bowl 104 is disclosed. While two particular embodiments of the invention has been herein described, it becomes apparent to one skilled in the art in view of this disclosure that numerous changes and/or modification can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.