Flow projector device

• US 8,887,320 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2011
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ernest Lee Dezarn, John Dennis Wolfe
• Original Assignee: Ernest Lee Dezarn, John Dennis Wolfe
• Inventors: DeZarn, Ernest Lee, Wolfe, John Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): CRANE, LAUREN ASHLEY
• Application Number:
  US13/234,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20120066824A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: 430/03, 4DI/G 1.5
• US Class Current: 4/300.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 13/08 Covers with urine funnels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 4/05 Urine guards

Abstract

A flow projector device is used between the rim of a toilet bowl and an overlying seat. The flow projector device includes a base having an upper surface, a lower support surface, an inner end, an outer end, and lateral sides extending between the inner and outer ends. The upper surface slopes downwardly from the outer end toward the inner end. The device also includes a return portion and an outer barrier. The return portion extends downwardly from the inner end. The outer barrier extends upwardly from the outer end. The outer barrier includes a recurved surface configured to redirect urine to the upper surface of the base. Urine directed along the upper surface towards the recurved surface can be redirected by the recurved surface back onto the upper surface of the base to flow down the upper surface, past the return portion and into the toilet bowl.

Claims

1. A flow projector device, for use with a toilet having a toilet bowl with a toilet bowl rim and an overlying seat, the seat placeable in a use position generally parallel to the toilet bowl rim and supported by the toilet bowl rim, comprising:

a base having an upper surface, a lower support surface, an inner end, an outer end, and lateral sides extending between the inner and outer ends, the base positionable between the seat and the toilet bowl rim with the seat in the use position;

the upper surface sloping downwardly from the outer end toward the inner end;

a return portion extending downwardly from the inner end;

an outer barrier extending upwardly from the outer end, the outer barrier comprising a recurved surface configured to redirect urine to the upper surface of the base;

the recurved surface having first and second portions, the first portion extending from the base generally upwardly away from the upper surface of the base and the second portion extending from the first portion, the second portion terminating at an outer end at a position directly overlying the upper surface and outward of the seat with no portion of the seat between the outer end and the upper surface; and

the recurved surface defining a urine catch/return cavity;

whereby urine directed along the upper surface towards the recurved surface can be redirected by the recurved surface directly back onto the upper surface of the base to flow down the upper surface, past the return portion and into the toilet bowl.

2. The flow projector device according to claim 1, further comprising sidewalls extending upwardly from the upper surface of the base along the lateral sides.

3. The flow projector device according to claim 2, wherein the sidewalls extend about 0.4 inch above the lower surface of the base.

4. The flow projector device according to claim 1, further comprising a support bracket extending downwardly from the outer end of the base.

5. The flow projector device according to claim 1, wherein the upper surface is a generally flat surface.

6. The flow projector device according to claim 1, wherein the second portion extends from the first portion generally downwardly toward the upper surface of the base.

7. The flow projector device according to claim 6, wherein the recurved surface is generally C shaped.

8. The flow projector device according to claim 6, wherein the recurved surface is a smoothly curving surface.

9. The flow projector device according to claim 1 wherein the downwardly sloping upper surface slopes at an angle of about 12°

to 20°

to the lower support surface of the base.

10. A flow projector device, for use with a toilet having a toilet bowl with a toilet bowl rim and an overlying seat, the seat placeable in a use position generally parallel to the toilet bowl rim and supported by the toilet bowl rim, comprising:

a base having an upper surface, an inner end, an outer end, and lateral sides extending between the inner and outer ends, the base positionable between the seat and the toilet bowl rim with the seat in the use position;

the upper surface sloping downwardly from the outer end toward the inner end;

a return portion extending downwardly from the inner end;

an outer barrier extending upwardly from the outer end, the outer barrier comprising a generally C shaped recurved surface configured to redirect urine to the upper surface of the base;

the recurved surface having first and second portions, the first portion extending from the base generally upwardly away from the upper surface of the base and the second portion extending from the first portion generally downwardly toward the upper surface of the base;

the second surface portion terminating at an outer end at a position directly overlying the upper surface of the base and outwardly of the seat with no portion of the seat between the outer end and the upper surface;

sidewalls extending upwardly from the upper surface of the base along the lateral sides; and

a support bracket extending downwardly from the outer end of the base;

whereby urine directed along the upper surface towards the recurved surface of the outer barrier can be redirected by the second portion of the recurved surface back onto the upper surface to flow down the upper surface, past the return portion and into the toilet bowl.

11. A flow projector assembly comprising:

a toilet comprising a toilet bowl and an overlying seat, the seat having a lower seat surface, the seat placeable in a use position;

the toilet bowl comprising a rim having an upper rim surface opposite and generally parallel to the lower seat surface when the seat is in the use position, an outer surface and an inner surface;

a flow projector device comprising;

a base having an upper surface, a lower support surface, an inner end, an outer end, and lateral sides extending between the inner and outer ends, the base positioned between the seat and the toilet bowl rim and resting on the toilet bowl rim;

the upper surface sloping downwardly from the outer end toward the inner end;

a return portion extending downwardly from the inner end;

an outer barrier extending upwardly from the outer end, the outer barrier comprising a recurved surface configured to redirect urine to the upper surface of the base;

the recurved surface having first and second portions, the first portion extending from the base generally upwardly away from the upper surface and the second portion extending from the first portion generally downwardly toward the upper surface, the second portion terminating at an outer end at a position directly overlying the upper surface and outwardly of the seat with no portion of the seat between the outer end and the upper surface;

the second surface portion terminating at a position overlying the upper surface of the base;

sidewalls extending upwardly from the upper surface of the base along the lateral sides, the sidewall having upper sidewall surfaces; and

a support bracket extending downwardly from the outer end of the base;

the return portion being opposite the inner surface of the rim and the support bracket being opposite the outer surface of the rim; and

a gap defined between the upper surface of the base and the lower seat surface;

whereby urine directed into the gap from the inner edge of the base and along the upper surface towards the recurved surface can be redirected by the second surface portion of the recurved surface directly back onto the upper surface to flow down the upper surface, past the return portion and into the toilet bowl.

12. The flow projector assembly according to claim 11, wherein the upper surface is a generally flat surface.

13. The flow projector assembly according to claim 11, wherein the return portion and the support bracket have curved cross-sectional shapes.

14. The flow projector assembly according to claim 11, wherein the recurved surface is generally C shaped.

15. The flow projector device according to claim 11, wherein the downwardly sloping upper surface slopes at an angle of about 12°

to 20°

to the lower support surface of the base.

16. The flow projector device according to claim 11, wherein the gap is about 0.3 inch to 0.15 inch high.

17. The flow projector device according to claim 11, wherein the sidewalls extend about 0.4 inch above the lower surface of the base.