1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to disposable toilet bowl liner and more particularly pertains to a new flushable bowl protecting liner for reducing the need for manual cleaning by providing a barrier between the bowl of the toilet and solid waste, in particular applications wherein the bowl is not filled with water between uses as with a standard flush toilet, but specifically for those toilets in which there is little or no water in the bowl between uses as with a recreational vehicle toilet.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of disposable toilet bowl liner is known in the prior art. More specifically, disposable toilet bowl liners heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 3,071,289, that teaches a variety of designs for dispenser for paper products, which includes toilet seat covers. The patent does not teach the use of bowl liners to enclose solid waste.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,237 teaches a disposable toilet seat cover. The patent does not teach the use of bowl liners to enclose solid waste.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,092 teaches a child's training toilet with a disposable liner. The liner is designed to be used with a dry or non-flushing toilet. The patent does not teach the use of a liner designed for use in conjunction with a standard flush toilet nor with a toilet with limited water in the bowl during use.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,811 teaches a drain liner for improving the visual appearance of a drain. The patent does not teach a disposable or flushable liner that would be replaced with every use.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,745,929 teaches a covering for a toilet seat and external portion of the toilet bowl. The patent does not teach the use of bowl liners to enclose solid waste.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,985,396 teaches a material film that maintains its' strength and integrity when in use but disperses when placed in contact with water. Although the material could be used in conjunction with the invention the patent does not teach a physical design for a toilet bowl barrier that deforms into a shape for enclosing solid waste to prevent contact with the toilet bowl.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,564,399 teaches that a water activated liner with a special shape can eliminate the deposition of solid waste on the bowl surfaces. This patent also teaches that using a special material that can breakdown easily upon contact with water the liner and solid waste contents are flushable in a standard flush toilet. The patent teaches that by incorporating slots in the liner the liner may conform to the bowl. The patent does not teach the particular physical configuration that allows for use with a toilet that has limited water in the bowl during use such as those fitted in RV=s, boats and aircraft. The patent does not teach that by providing the liner in a special shape that already conforms to the bowl, there is no need for water activated paper.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new flushable bowl protecting liner made of conventional paper products for use with toilets in which there is limited water in the bowl prior to use. Although one of the patents does attempt to recognize the particular problem of keeping the solid waste from attaching itself to the bowl surface, it does not address the problem when the bowl is not partially filled with water. The flushable bowl protecting liner according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of reducing the need for manual cleaning by providing a barrier between the solid waste and bowl of the toilet and also keeping the waste from contacting and thus interfering with the operation of the waste valve.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of disposable toilet bowl liners now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new flushable bowl protecting liner construction wherein the same can be utilized for reducing the need for manual cleaning by providing a barrier between the bowl of the toilet and solid waste.
To attain these benefits, the present invention generally comprises a material shield designed to be placed into the toilet bowl that would enclose solid waste to prevent contact between the solid waste and the bowl.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention
The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
The material of the liner may also include other substances incorporated into or coated onto the liner. Such substances may include a fragrance dispersing substance, which may disperse a chemical scent. The scent may be emitted continuously or may be released upon contacting water. The fragrance may be beneficial in making the odors associated with the waste less noticeable. Another substance may include antiseptic or antibiotic substances to reduce the spread of germs associated with the waste. Yet another substance that might be included may be a friction reducing coating that may make the exterior of the liner slippery. The increased ease that such a coating would convey to the package of waste while passing through plumbing would diminish the possibility of causing blockages and obstructions. Still another substance may be enzymes and/or bacteria that may assist in decomposing the liner and/or the waste. These biological decomposing substances, as is used in septic systems, may help in biodegrading the liner and waste as well as keeping plumbing free from blockages and build-up.
To understand the application of the invention better the functioning of a typical recreational vehicle toilet will be described. The toilet has a bowl that is closed at the lowest area by a flat plate, a valve, 11
The shape of the liner may provide the function of encompassing or wrapping waste deposited onto the liner. During use only a small amount of water 10,
Multiple liners may be stored ready for use in a liner dispenser 1,
In use, the flushable bowl protecting liner may be made available from a liner dispenser 1,
As the package of waste and the wrap formed by the liner drops into the waste tank 13,
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.