Urinal Device

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/579,106, which was filed on Aug. 28, 2023, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of urinals. More specifically, the present invention relates to a urinal device with a urinal body with an opening positioned within the body to specifically eliminate the phenomenon of splashback when urinating into the device. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices, and methods of manufacture.

BACKGROUND

Urinals are designed to provide a convenient and efficient means for men to urinate while standing. However, splashback can occur when a user's urine stream collides with the smooth surface of the urinal. The angle and velocity at which the stream hits the urinal, coupled with the properties of the urinal surface, cause the urine to scatter in unpredictable patterns. This undesirable effect leads to droplets of urine deflecting off the urinal and, quite frequently, landing on the user's clothing and shoes.

The implications of this splash-back are multifaceted. On a personal level, it can result in embarrassing and unsightly stains on clothing, which is particularly problematic in public or professional environments where personal appearance is important. Furthermore, this issue isn't limited to just the user's attire. The ricocheting droplets often end up on the floor around the urinal, contributing to an unhygienic and unsightly restroom environment. This not only poses a cleanliness issue but also creates a potential slipping hazard, particularly in restrooms where such spills are not promptly attended to.

The splash-back problem is compounded by the typical design of standard urinals, which often feature flat or inadequately angled surfaces that do not effectively direct the urine stream downwards. The lack of consideration for fluid dynamics in urinal design is a significant oversight, as it directly impacts user experience and restroom hygiene.

Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an improved urinal. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a urinal device. More specifically, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a urinal device that reduces splashback when using a urinal. Further, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a urinal device that reduces splashback when using a urinal and prevents urine or water from exiting the urinal.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a urinal device. The device is comprised of a urinal body comprised of a bowl with an opening. The opening is preferably angled at 45 degrees such that a user can aim to urinate into the opening and urine will flow down the opening to a bottom drain without splashing back on a user.

In this manner, the urinal device of the present invention accomplishes all the foregoing objectives and provides an improved urinal. Due to the positioning of the opening within the bowl, the device reduces splashback when using a urinal. As a result, this prevents urine or water from exiting the urinal.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a urinal device. The device is comprised of a body with a bowl, wherein the bowl is comprised of a 45-degree opening that eliminates splashback while urinating into the bowl. The bowl is preferably funnel/cone-shaped and is further comprised of at least one opening. The opening is preferably angled at 45 degrees relative to a bottom edge of the bowl and/or body. The angle of the opening prevents urine that enters into the bowl and/or a first end of the opening from splashing back onto the user during urination.

Further, the opening is comprised of a bottom drain positioned at the second end of the opening. The length of the opening and the positioning of the drain at the second end are preferably configured and positioned such that when a user urinates into the bowl they can urinate directly into the first end of the opening, wherein urine falls directly down to the bottom drain without splashing back on the user.

The present invention is also comprised of a method of using the device. First, a device is provided comprised of a urinal body comprised of a bowl with an opening positioned at a 45-degree angle relative to a bottom edge of the bowl and/or body. Then, a user may stand in front of the body and urinate into a first end of an opening of the bowl such that urine flows down the opening and into a bottom drain positioned at a second end of the opening. Finally, a user can flush water through the bowl by pulling the handle on at least one flushometer.

Accordingly, the urinal device of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides an improved urinal. Due to the positioning of the opening within the bowl, the device reduces splashback when using a urinal. As a result, this prevents urine or water from exiting the urinal. In this manner, the urinal device overcomes the limitations of existing urinals known in the art.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of one potential embodiment of a urinal device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-section front view of one potential embodiment of a flushometer of a urinal device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of a method of using one potential embodiment of a urinal device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.

As noted above, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an improved urinal. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a urinal device. More specifically, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a urinal device that reduces splashback when using a urinal. Further, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a urinal device that reduces splashback when using a urinal and prevents urine or water from exiting the urinal.

The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is comprised of a urinal device comprised of a body with a bowl, wherein the bowl is comprised of a 45-degree opening that eliminates splashback while urinating into the bowl. The bowl is preferably funnel/cone-shaped and is further comprised of at least one opening preferably angled at 45 degrees relative to a bottom edge of the bowl and/or body. The angle of the opening prevents urine that enters into the bowl and/or a first end of the opening from splashing back onto the user during urination.

Further, the opening is comprised of a bottom drain positioned at the second end of the opening. The length of the opening and the positioning of the drain at the second end are preferably configured and positioned such that when a user urinates into the bowl they can urinate directly into the first end of the opening, wherein urine falls directly down to the bottom drain without splashing back on the user.

The present invention is also comprised of a method of using the device. First, a device is provided comprised of a urinal body comprised of a bowl with an opening positioned at a 45-degree angle relative to a bottom edge of the bowl and/or body. Then, a user may stand in front of the body and urinate into a first end of an opening of the bowl such that urine flows down the opening and into a bottom drain positioned at a second end of the opening. Finally, a user can flush water through the bowl by pulling the handle on at least one flushometer.

Accordingly, the urinal device of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides an improved urinal. Due to the positioning of the opening within the bowl, the device reduces splashback when using a urinal. As a result, this prevents urine or water from exiting the urinal. In this manner, the urinal device overcomes the limitations of existing urinals known in the art.

Referring initially to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of one potential embodiment of a urinal device 100 of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The device 100 is comprised of a body 110 with a bowl 120, wherein the bowl 120 is comprised of a 45-degree opening 122 that eliminates splashback while urinating into the bowl 120.

The body 110 may be any shape, size, and configuration in different embodiments that allow a user to urinate into the body 110 while standing. More specifically, the body 110 is comprised of at least one bowl 120 that a user urinates into while standing. The bowl 120 is preferably funnel/cone-shaped but may be any shape. The bowl 120 may also be comprised of at least one lip 123 to prevent urine/water from splashing out of the bowl 120 during use and/or captures urine as a user backs away from the bowl 120. The body 110 may be made of any material such as, but not limited to, porcelain, metal, fiberglass, plastic, etc.

The bowl 120 is further comprised of at least one opening 122. The opening 122 is preferably angled at 45 degrees relative to a bottom edge 124 of the bowl 120 and/or body 110. The angle of the opening 122 prevents urine that enters into the bowl 120 and/or a first end 1220 of the opening 122 from splashing back onto the user during urination. The first end 1220 of the opening 122 is preferably parallel with a wall surface the device 100 is attached to.

Further, the opening 122 is comprised of a bottom drain 126 positioned at the second end 1224 of the opening 122. The length of the opening 122 and the positioning of the drain 126 at the second end 1224 are preferably configured and positioned such that when a user urinates into the bowl 120 they can urinate directly into the first end 1220 of the opening 122, wherein urine falls directly down to the bottom drain 126 without splashing back on the user.

In one embodiment, the device 100 can be used as a waterless urinal. In another embodiment, the device 100 is connected to a water supply via at least one flushometer 130 (as seen in FIG. 2), wherein water can be flushed into the bowl 120 after urination via at least one opening 121. The flushometer 130 is comprised of an upper chamber 131 and a lower chamber 132, wherein at rest water is at equal pressure in the upper 131 and lower chambers 132 to keep a flexible rubber diaphragm 133 closed tightly on the valve seat 134. When the handle 135 is pressed, the relief valve 136 opens and releases water from the upper chamber 131, which decreases the pressure. High-pressure water from the inlet 137 then lifts the diaphragm 133 up and travels down the flush pipe 138. During the flush, some of the water is forced back into the upper chamber 131 through at least one bypass hole 139 in the diaphragm 133. The flush continues until the pressure equalizes and pushes the diaphragm 133 down onto the valve seat 134.

The present invention is also comprised of a method of using 200 the device 100, as seen in FIG. 3. First, a device 100 is provided comprised of a urinal body 110 comprised of a bowl 120 with an opening 121 positioned at a 45-degree angle relative to a bottom edge 124 of the bowl 120 and/or body 110 [Step 202]. Then, a user may stand in front of the body 110 and urinate into a first end 1220 of an opening 122 of the bowl 120 such that urine flows down the opening 122 and into a bottom drain 126 positioned at a second end 1224 of the opening 122 [Step 204]. Finally, a user can flush water through the bowl 120 by pulling the handle 135 on at least one flushometer 130 [Step 206].

Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “urinal device” and “device” are interchangeable and refer to the urinal device 100 of the present invention.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the urinal device 100 of the present invention and its various components can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that they accomplish the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration, and material of the urinal device 100 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the urinal device 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the urinal device 100 are important design parameters for user convenience, the urinal device 100 may be of any size, shape, and/or configuration that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.

Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.

What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.