Apparatus for reducing urinary splash from commode

• US 6,081,937 A
• Filed: 12/28/1998
• Issued: 07/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Whitacre D. Gregg
• Original Assignee: Whitacre D. Gregg
• Inventors: Whitacre, D. Gregg
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Charles E.
• Application Number:
  US09/221,370
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 4/300.3, 4/661, 4/902
• US Class Current: 4/300.3
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 9/00 Sanitary or other accessories for lavatories hand tools for cleaning the toilet bowl A47K11/10; seats or covers for closets A47K13/00; body supports, other than seats for closets A47K17/02; devices for preventing contamination of drinking-water pipes E03C1/10 ; Devices for cleaning or disinfecting the toilet room or the toilet bowl; Devices for eliminating smells cleaning, disinfecting or deodorising the seat A47K13/30

Abstract

The present invention generally discloses an apparatus for absorbing the impact of a stream of liquid entering a body of liquid so as to minimize splash. More particularly, the present invention discloses such an apparatus that may be used advantageously within a standard commode bowl to minimize or eliminate the amount of splash caused by a stream of urine impacting the body of water contained within the commode bowl. Preferably, such an apparatus is capable of floating substantially upon the surface of the body of water within the commode bowl prior to and during use, easy to use, inexpensive to manufacturer, sanitary, and easily disposable after use by flushing the commode.

Claims

1. An apparatus for absorbing the impact of a stream of liquid into a body of liquid having a surface, comprising:

a first layer of liquid-permeable material having a bottom portion formed to float just below the surface of the body of liquid;

a second layer of liquid-permeable material having a top portion formed to receive and allow the stream of liquid to pass therethrough;

a layer of liquid-absorbent tissue paper material disposed between said first and second liquid-permeable layers and formed to substantially absorb a predetermined amount of liquid whereby splash generated by the impact of the stream of liquid entering the body of liquid is minimized, and wherein said first and second liquid-permeable layers each comprise an outer edge portion, said outer edge portions being joined together in substantially sealing contact.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first and second liquid-permeable layers define a pocket therebetween for placement of said liquid-absorbent layer.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said first liquid-permeable layer is substantially flat and said second liquid-permeable layer Is substantially concave.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said liquid-absorbent layer comprises a plurality of loosely placed tissue paper.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said first and second liquid-permeable layers comprise a sheet of toilet seat cover papers.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said first and second liquid-permeable layers are circular and sized to substantially cover the surface of the body of water in the commode bowl.