MOVABLE FLUSHABLE URINAL

Abstract

Disclosed is a movable flushable urinal having a door for access by a male user to urinate into the urinal. The door prevents odors from emanating from the urinal. The urinal may be attached to a water supply with a sprayer for flushing the urinal. The urinal has a drain for discharge of urine and water to a sewer drain, or a toilet bowl. Some embodiments include a toilet having both a primary drain with a p-trap attached to the toilet bowl and a secondary drain with a second p-trap for discharge from the urinal. Flushing uses less water than conventional toilets. The urinal may attach to a stand, or mounting surface, for positioning near a toilet during use, and retraction away from the toilet while not in use. The urinal may be adjustable in height and have a handle for manipulating the urinal.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical Field

This invention relates generally to bathroom plumbing fixtures and specifically to a movable flushable urinal.

State of the Art

It is common for male persons to use a conventional toilet bowl for urinating while in a standing position. Among the most common problems associated with this practice is the splashing of water and urine onto the exterior of the toilet bowl, including the seat thereof, and extending onto the floor and other surrounding articles. Furthermore, a significant amount of water is usually required to flush a conventional toilet bowl, which is often a waste of water.

Conventional wall- or floor-mounted urinals are more accommodating for use by male persons for urinating while in a standing position. Conventional urinals may prevent splashing and typically use less water for flushing than conventional toilet bowls. However, many restrooms, including most residential restrooms, do not have conventional urinals installed. In addition, conventional urinals can be expensive, and many restrooms do not have room to accommodate the installation of a wall- or floor-mounted urinal.

Accordingly, what is needed is an inexpensive movable and flushable urinal to prevent splashing and minimize water use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to bathroom plumbing fixtures and specifically to a movable flushable urinal.

A movable flushable urinal comprises a main body having an outer wall and an inner volume. The main body comprises at least one opening through the outer wall, with a door, operationally coupled thereto, for access by a male user to urinate into the inner volume thereof. The at least one door further acts to prevent unpleasant odors from emanating from the urinal.

Embodiments of a urinal may further comprise a water supply coupled thereto and feeding sprayer, such as a spray nozzle, with a valve for controlling water spray from the spray nozzle for flushing of the urinal. In some embodiments, the spray nozzle may have multiple spray holes, similar to a shower head, for spraying water in many directions to more thoroughly flush the inner surface of the outer wall of the main body. The sprayer may be disposed within the inner volume of the main body, at or near the top of the main body, such that water may be sprayed from the sprayer and directed to the inner surfaces of the main body for flushing urine from the inner surfaces of the main body. In operation, a user may control water spray from the sprayer by using the valve to turn the sprayer on or off.

A urinal of the present invention also comprises a drain for discharge of urine and water from the inner volume of the main body. The drain may be disposed at or near the bottom of the main body. In some embodiments, the drain may be coupled to a waste discharge line, such as any flexible hose that is further coupled to any sewer drain pipe. Alternatively, the drain may be configured for discharge of water and urine from the main body into a conventional toilet bowl directly, either with or without a waste discharge line, such as a flexible hose, attached. In some embodiments, the urinal may be configured for operation completely independent of a toilet bowl, wherein the drain discharges into any sewer drain pipe or other suitable discharge collection.

Embodiments of a movable urinal may comprise a mounting bracket for attaching the urinal to a mounting surface, such as a wall, a ceiling, a floor, a cabinet, a toilet, a shower, or the like, such that the urinal may be positioned at or near a toilet during use, and then retracted away from the toilet while not in use. In some embodiments, the urinal may be coupled to a wheeled cart, or other stand, wheeled or otherwise, such that the urinal is mobile. Some embodiments may comprise a handle coupled to the main body, such that a user may position the urinal for use or storage by grasping the handle to manipulate the urinal. In some embodiments, the mounting bracket may be further configured to be adjustable in height, to accommodate use by users of different heights.

Embodiments of the present invention may further comprise a toilet having a primary drain with a primary p-trap and a secondary drain with a secondary p-trap. In embodiments comprising a toilet with a secondary drain, the waste discharge line is partially inserted into the opening of the secondary drain, such that the waste discharge line discharges into the secondary drain of the toilet. The secondary drain may merge into the primary drain, such that, in operation, discharge from either or both of the primary drain and secondary drain flows through the sewer drain of the toilet to a sanitary sewer system. In embodiments, the waste discharge line may be coupled to the secondary drain by means of a waste discharge line mounting bracket.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in conjunction with the Figures, wherein like reference numbers refer to similar items throughout the Figures, and:

FIG. 1A is a front partial sectional view of a movable flushable urinal with a door in the closed configuration in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 1B is a front partial sectional view of a movable flushable urinal with a door in the open configuration in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a movable flushable urinal attached by a mounting arm to a wall and coupled to a conventional toilet bowl and water supply line in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a movable flushable urinal coupled to a wheeled stand in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a toilet having a secondary P-trap in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a movable flushable urinal supported by a wheeled stand and coupled to a toilet having a secondary drain and P-trap to accommodate discharge from the movable flushable urinal in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a section view of a toilet having a secondary drain and P-trap to accommodate discharge from the movable flushable urinal with a discharge line of a movable flushable urinal coupled thereto in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a partial section view of a secondary drain of a toilet with a mounting bracket for coupling a urinal discharge line thereto in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a partial section view of a secondary drain of a toilet having drain plugs inserted therein for plugging the secondary drain and mounting holes while not in use in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 9 illustrates a trim piece mounted to the interior surface of the main body of a movable flushable urinal around the opening thereof as viewed from the interior of the main body looking outward in accordance with an embodiment; and

FIG. 10 is a section view of a trim piece mounted to the interior surface of the main body in accordance with an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to bathroom plumbing fixtures and specifically to a movable flushable urinal.

Referring to the drawings, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, a movable flushable urinal 10 comprises a main body 12 with an outer wall and an inner volume 14. The main body 12 comprises at least one opening 18 through the outer wall and a door 16, operationally coupled thereto, for access by a male user to urinate into the inner volume 14 thereof. The at least one door 16 further acts to prevent unpleasant odors from emanating from the urinal 10. In a preferred embodiment, the at least one door 16 may conform to the contour of an exterior surface of the main body 12 and cover an opening 18 therethrough while in a closed position, the edges of the door 16 being held to the main body 12 by a sliding mechanism 20, such that the at least one door 16 may be slid between a closed position, as shown in FIG. 1A, and an open position, as shown in FIG. 1B. Some embodiments may comprise a door rest 98 mounted to the main body 12 above the opening 18 for resting the door 16 upon while in the open position to maintain the door 18 in the open position.

Some embodiments of a movable flushable urinal 10 comprise only one door 16. Other embodiments of a movable flushable urinal 10 comprise more than one door 16. For example, a movable flushable urinal 10 may comprise a first door 16 disposed at the front of the main body 12, near the top 34 thereof, and a second door 16 disposed at a side of the main body 12, near the bottom 42 thereof. Such embodiments with more than one door 16 may conveniently accommodate users of different heights without the need to adjust the height of the urinal 10.

The above description of the at least one door 16 is not intended to be limiting. Any type of door 16 may be used, so long as it is consistent with being able to be opened by a user for access by a male user to urinate into the inner volume 14 of the main body 12, and then be closed for flushing of the urinal 10 and while not in use.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, embodiments of a urinal 10 may further comprise a water supply 22 coupled thereto and feeding a spray nozzle, such as sprayer 24 with a valve 26 for controlling water spray from the sprayer 24 for flushing of the urinal 10.

The water supply 22 may be a flexible hose coupled to a water supply line of a building in which the urinal 10 is located, such as the same water supply line 28 that feeds a conventional toilet bowl 46, for example, as shown in FIG. 2. In such embodiments, the flexible hose 22 may be configured to tie into the toilet bowl water supply line 28 with a tee coupler 30, for example. In some such embodiments, the flexible hose 22 may comprise a shut-off valve 32. Although the water supply 22 may be through a flexible hose attached to the water supply line 28 of a toilet bowl 46, as described above, this is not intended to be limiting. The water supply 22 may be any other means of supplying water to the urinal 10 known by a person of ordinary skill in the art, such as any direct feed water supply, or the like.

The sprayer 24 may be disposed within the inner volume 14 of the main body 12, at or near the top 34 of the main body 12, such that water may be sprayed from the sprayer 24 and directed to the inner surfaces 36 of the main body 12 for flushing urine from the inner surfaces 36 of the main body 12. In operation, a user may control water spray from the sprayer 24 by using the valve 26 to turn the sprayer 24 on or off. The valve 26 may be any of a push-button valve, a lever valve, or any other valve for opening or shutting off water supply to the sprayer 24 in a manner that is convenient to the user and consistent with the intended use of a urinal 10 of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, the valve 26 is a push-button valve coupled to the main body 2.

A urinal 10 of the present invention also comprises a drain 40 for discharge of urine and water from the inner volume 14 of the main body 12. The drain 40 may be disposed at or near the bottom 42 of the main body 12. In some embodiments, the drain 40 may be coupled to a waste discharge line 44, such as any flexible hose that is further coupled to any sanitary sewer drain pipe. Alternatively, the drain 40 may be configured for discharge of water and urine from the main body 12 into a conventional toilet bowl 46 directly, either with or without a waste discharge line 44, such as a flexible hose, attached, as shown in FIG. 2. For example, in some embodiments, the main body 12 may be disposed directly above the toilet bowl 46, so that it may discharge directly into the toilet bowl 46 with no waste discharge line 44 attached. In other embodiments, the main body 12 may be otherwise disposed within the vicinity of the toilet bowl 46, such that it may discharge through an attached waste discharge line 44, such as a flexible hose, for example, wherein the waste discharge line 44 discharges into the toilet bowl 46. In such embodiments, the waste discharge line 44 may be attached to the toilet bowl 46 by any suitable means of attachment 48, such as a bracket, a clasp, or the like, as shown in FIG. 2. In some embodiments, the urinal 10 of the present invention may be configured for operation completely independent of a toilet bowl 46, wherein the drain 40 discharges into any sanitary sewer drain pipe or other suitable discharge collection.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, some embodiments may further comprise a trim piece 96, such as a flexible J-channel trim piece (having a J-shaped profile, as shown in FIG. 10), for example, mounted to the interior surface of the main body 12. FIG. 9 illustrates a trim piece 96 mounted to the interior surface of the main body 12 as viewed from the interior of the main body 12 looking outward through the opening 18. The trim piece 96 is disposed in a generally U-shaped configuration up one side of the opening 18, across the top of the opening 18, and down the other side of the opening 18, as shown in FIG. 9. The trim piece channels water from the sprayer 24 around the opening 18 to help prevent water from escaping the main body through the opening 18.

As shown in FIGS. 4-8, embodiments of the present invention may further comprise a toilet 60 that is configured for attachment of the waste discharge line 44 to the toilet 60. As shown in FIG. 6, such a toilet 60 may comprise a primary drain 62 with a primary p-trap 64 and a secondary drain 66 with a secondary p-trap 68. In embodiments comprising a toilet 60 with a secondary drain 66, the waste discharge line 44 is partially inserted into the opening 70 of the secondary drain 66, such that the waste discharge line 44 discharges into the secondary drain 66 of the toilet 60. Upon flushing the urinal 10 for the first time, the secondary p-trap 68 is filled with water to prevent sewer gases and other contaminants from escaping from the sanitary sewer system into the interior of the building through the urinal 10. Thereafter, when the urinal 10 is flushed, a sufficient amount of water may discharge into the secondary drain 66 to fill the secondary p-trap 68, pushing an equal amount of water through the secondary p-trap 68 to discharge through the sewer drain 72 of the toilet 60 to a sanitary sewer system. As shown, the secondary drain 66 may merge into the primary drain 62, at a merge location 74 on the primary drain 62 that is after the primary p-trap 64 and a merge location 76 on the secondary drain 66 that is after the secondary p-trap 68, such that, in operation, discharge from either or both of the primary drain 62 and secondary drain 66 flows through the sewer drain 72 of the toilet 60 to a sanitary sewer system. In this manner, flushing of a movable flushable urinal 10, of the present invention, uses significantly less water than flushing of a conventional toilet bowl after urination by a user.

A toilet 60 having a secondary drain 66 may comprise one or more mounting holes 78 disposed proximate the opening 70 of the secondary drain 66 and configured for inserting mounting hardware for mounting a waste discharge line mounting bracket 80 to the toilet 60. In some embodiments, the mounting hardware may comprise one or more of a bolt 82 with a retaining nut 84. The waste discharge line mounting bracket 80 may be configured and used for securing the waste discharge line 44 to the body of the toilet 60, such that the waste discharge line 44 remains partially inserted into the opening 70 of the secondary drain 66 of the toilet 60 when attached.

As shown in FIG. 7, the waste discharge line mounting bracket 80 may further comprise a seal 86, such as a gasket, for sealing the opening 70 around the waste discharge line 44 while the waste discharge line 44 is partially inserted into the opening 70. Alternatively, the waste discharge line bracket 80 may comprise a threaded male end receiver 88 protruding upward therefrom for receiving a threaded female end coupler 90 attached to the end of the waste discharge line 44. However, the foregoing descriptions of a waste discharge line mounting bracket 80 are not intended to be limiting. It is contemplated that any conventional bracket or coupling device or other means, with or without a seal or a gasket, known to a person of skill in the art of coupling a hose, tube, or pipe to an opening may be utilized for attaching the waste discharge line 44 to the toilet 60 such that discharge from the waste discharge line 44 may flow into the secondary drain 66 through the opening 70 thereof.

As shown in FIG. 8, for times when a movable flushable urinal 10 is not attached to the toilet 60, a set of plugs may be provided. A secondary drain opening plug 92 may be provided for plugging the secondary drain opening 70, and mounting hole plugs 94 may be provided for plugging the mounting holes 78.

Embodiments of a movable urinal 10 may comprise a mounting arm 48 for attaching the urinal 10 to a supporting surface 50, such as a wall, a ceiling, a floor, a cabinet, a toilet, a shower, or the like. In some embodiments, the mounting arm 48 may be a linkage configured to allow the urinal 10 to be positioned at or near a toilet during use, and then retracted away from the toilet While not in use. For example, the urinal 10 may be coupled to a linkage that is coupled to a wall 50, as shown in FIG. 2. The urinal 10 may be positioned at or near a toilet bowl 46 while in use and then positioned adjacent to the wall 50 while not in use. In other embodiments, the urinal 10 may be positioned near a ceiling or a floor while not in use. In some embodiments, the urinal 10 may be completely contained within a cabinet or a wall while not in use.

In some embodiments, the urinal 10 may be coupled to a wheeled cart, or other stand 52, wheeled or otherwise, such that the urinal 10 is mobile, as shown in FIG. 3. In such embodiments, the stand 52 to which the urinal 10 is coupled may be positioned in one location for use and positioned in another location while not in use. For example, the urinal 10 may be coupled to a stand 52, wheeled or otherwise, that is positioned at or near a toilet while in use. The user may then position the stand 52 away from the toilet and near a wall while not in use.

Some embodiments may comprise a handle 54 coupled to the main body 12, such that a user may position the urinal 10 for use or storage by grasping the handle 54 to manipulate the urinal 10. In some embodiments, the mounting bracket 48 may be further configured to be adjustable in height, to accommodate use by users of different heights.

The components defining any movable flushable urinal 10 of the present invention may be formed of any of many different types of materials or combinations thereof that can readily be formed into shaped objects provided that the components selected are consistent with the intended operation of a movable flushable urinal 10 of the present invention. For example, the components may be formed of: rubbers (synthetic and/or natural) and/or other like materials; glasses (such as fiberglass) carbon-fiber, aramid-fiber, any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; polymers such as thermoplastics (such as ABS, Fluoropolymers, Polyacetal, Polyamide; Polycarbonate, Polyethylene, Polysulfone, and/or the like), thermosets (such as Epoxy, Phenolic Resin, Polyimide, Polyurethane, Silicone, and/or the like), any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; composites and/or other like materials; metals, such as copper, zinc, magnesium, titanium, copper, iron, steel, carbon steel, alloy steel, tool steel, stainless steel, aluminum, any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; alloys, such as aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, magnesium alloy, copper alloy, any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; any other suitable material; and/or any combination thereof.

Furthermore, the components defining any movable flushable urinal 10 of the present invention may be purchased pre-manufactured or manufactured separately and then assembled together. However, any or all of the components may be manufactured simultaneously and integrally joined with one another. Manufacture of these components separately or simultaneously may involve extrusion, pultrusion, vacuum forming, injection molding, blow molding, resin transfer molding, casting, forging, cold rolling, milling, drilling, reaming, turning, grinding, stamping, cutting, bending, welding, soldering, hardening, riveting, punching, plating, and/or the like. If any of the components are manufactured separately, they may then be coupled with one another in any manner, such as with adhesive, a weld, a fastener (e.g. a bolt, a nut, a screw, a nail, a rivet, a pin, and/or the like), wiring, sewing, any combination thereof, and/or the like for example, depending on, among other considerations, the particular material forming the components. Other possible steps might include sand blasting, polishing, powder coating, zinc plating, anodizing, hard anodizing, and/or painting the components for example.

The embodiments and examples set forth herein were presented in order to best explain the present invention and its practical application and to thereby enable those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the foregoing description and examples have been presented for the purposes of illustration and example only. The description as set forth is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teachings above without departing from the spirit and scope of the forthcoming claims.

Claims

1. A movable flushable urinal comprising: a water supply line;a main body coupled to the water supply line, the main body further comprising: an outer wall having a first opening therethrough for a user to urinate through; andan inner volume for collecting urine;a first door operatively coupled to the outer wall such that the first door covers the first opening when in the closed position and discloses the first opening when in the open position;a spray nozzle operatively coupled to the water supply line, such that water flows from the water supply, through the spray nozzle, and onto the inner surface of the outer wall for flushing urine from the inner volume;a valve coupled to one of the water supply line or the spray nozzle for controlling the flow of water through the spray nozzle; anda waste discharge line coupled to the bottom of the main body for discharge of waste from the main body.

2. The movable flushable urinal of claim 1, further comprising: a mobile stand, wherein the main body is supported on the stand.

3. The movable flushable urinal of claim 2, further comprising a handle coupled to the main body.

4. The movable flushable urinal of claim 3, wherein the mobile stand supports the main body by the handle thereof.

5. The movable flushable urinal of claim 2, wherein the mobile stand is a wheeled cart.

6. The movable flushable urinal of claim 1, further comprising: an adjustable mounting arm, wherein the adjustable mounting arm is secured to a supporting surface and wherein the main body is supported by the adjustable mounting arm.

7. The movable flushable urinal of claim 1, further comprising: a second opening through the outer wall of the main body, the second opening being disposed at an elevation that is different from the elevation of the first opening; anda second door operatively coupled to the outer wall such that the second door covers the second opening when in the closed position and discloses the second opening when in the open position.

8. The movable flushable urinal of claim 1, wherein the waste discharge line is coupled to a toilet bowl such that waste from the inner volume thereof discharges into the toilet bowl.

9. The movable flushable urinal of claim 1, further comprising: a toilet, the toilet further comprising: a primary drain coupled to a bowl of the toilet, the primary drain having a primary p-trap; anda secondary drain having a secondary p-trap, wherein the waste discharge line is partially inserted into the secondary drain such that waste from the inner volume of the movable flushable urinal discharges into the secondary drain.

10. The movable flushable urinal of claim 9, further comprising: at least one mounting hole through a body portion of the toilet, the at least one mounting hole being configured for coupling of a waste discharge line mounting bracket to the toilet; anda waste discharge line mounting bracket coupled to the waste discharge line and coupled to the toilet by means of the at least one mounting hole thereof, such that the waste discharge line is secured in its position relative to the secondary drain.

11. The movable flushable urinal of claim 9, wherein the secondary drain merges with the primary drain at a point on the secondary drain after the secondary p-trap and a point on the primary drain after the primary p-trap.

12. A toilet comprising: a primary drain coupled to a bowl of the toilet, the primary drain having a primary p-trap; anda secondary drain coupled to a body portion of the toilet, the secondary drain having a secondary p-trap, the secondary drain being configured for waste from a movable flushable urinal to discharge thereinto.

13. The toilet of claim 12, wherein the secondary drain merges with the primary drain at a point on the secondary drain after the secondary p-trap and a point on the primary drain after the primary p-trap.