Self-cleaning urinal anti-splash device

• US 7,398,565 B1
• Filed: 09/01/2006
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael C. Chou
• Original Assignee: Michael C. Chou
• Inventors: Chou, Michael C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips; Charles E
• Application Number:
  US11/514,442
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 430/03, 431/0
• US Class Current: 4/310
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 13/00 Urinals without flushing devices A47K11/00 ; Means for connecting the urinal to the flushing pipe and the wastepipe; Splashing shields for urinals
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 13/005 Accessories specially adapted for urinals

Abstract

A self-cleaning urinal anti-splash device having a series of angled deflectors which send the urine stream ever deeper into a series of channels leading down toward the urinal drain. The angled deflectors not only send the urine stream ever deeper into the channels, but they simultaneously prevent the urine from exiting the channels in any direction other than downward toward the drain. This is accomplished by virtue of the fact that inner faces of the deflectors are adapted to deflect the urine back toward the urinal wall. No plane perpendicular to the direction of the initial urine stream is presented to the user. Gravity then causes it to flow to the drain. The device is also self cleaning because there is nothing to prevent the water of a flush cycle from passing through the vertical channels by gravity feed, thereby removing all the urine on the deflector surfaces. The device can be made of metal, plastic, rubber, or other inexpensive easily moldable substance. It has notches in the channels so the device is easily trimmed to size.

Claims

1. A self-cleaning urinal anti-splash device comprising:

a plurality of angled deflectors facing a user of the device, each deflector being in the shape of an elongated vane with the cross section of each vane possessing a head that presents sharply angled surfaces;

a flat panel of sufficient size to accommodate a plurality of said angled deflectors arranged generally parallel to each other and generally perpendicular to said flat panel such that a plurality of channels are defined by said angled deflectors and said flat panel;

means for joining said angled deflectors to said flat panel;

each vane being formed at an end to be positioned at the top of the urinal, with a tapered deflector facing water dispensed by the urinal;

whereby, said device will prevent a stream of urine from returning back to a user and also allow the user to flush the urinal and clean the device.

2. The self-cleaning urinal anti-splash device of claim 1 wherein said angled deflectors are positioned in a staggered formation.

3. The self-cleaning urinal anti-splash device of claim 1 wherein said angled deflectors have a shape of an arrowhead.

4. The self-cleaning urinal anti-splash device of claim 1 wherein said flat panel would be molded into the urinal.