REPLACEABLE RESTROOM URINAL ASSEMBLIES, INCLUDING URINAL SCREENS

• US 20130067651A1
• Filed: 09/19/2012
• Published: 03/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fresh Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fresh Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Brown, Douglas S., Smith, Jeffrey A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,243,394 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 4/301
• 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

Abstract

A urinal assembly having a screen body with a date feature corresponding to days, weeks, months, years, quarters or other time intervals. The date feature includes date tabs that may be removably attached to the screen body that may be removed or altered to indicate the desired date, such as a date of installation or expiry date of the urinal screen. The date feature and date tabs may be molded together with the remainder of the urinal screen body, forming a one piece construction made of a plastic material that may withstand the harsh environmental conditions within a urinal or toilet.

Claims

1. A urinal assembly, comprising:

a screen body sized and shaped to be placed in a urinal;

wherein the screen body is configured to extend over a portion of the drain portion of the urinal;

the screen body defining at least one opening;

a date feature comprising at least one date tab associated with indicia corresponding to a time or time interval, wherein the at least one date tab is removably attached to the screen body;

wherein the date feature and the at least one date tab are made of a plastic, wherein the plastic resists damage or alteration due to the environmental conditions within a urinal.

2. The urinal assembly of claim 1, wherein the time or time interval comprises months of a year.

3. The urinal assembly of claim 1, wherein the time or time interval comprises days of a calendar month.

4. The urinal assembly of claim 1, wherein the time or time interval comprises weeks of a calendar year.

5. The urinal assembly of claim 1, wherein the time or time interval comprises quarters of a calendar year.

6. The urinal assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one date tab is removably attached to the screen body by a living hinge.

7. The urinal assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one date tab comprises a pull tab.

8. The urinal assembly of claim 1, further comprising a divot formed in the screen body, wherein the at least one date tab is removably attached to the screen body at a location above the divot, wherein upon removal of the at least one date tab, the divot is exposed.

9. The urinal assembly of claim 8, wherein the surface of the divot is of the same color as the screen body.

10. The urinal assembly of claim 8, wherein the surface of the divot is made of the same material as the screen body.

11. The urinal assembly of claim 1, wherein the removal of the at least one date tab results in an opening in the screen body.

12. The urinal assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one date tab is removably connected to the screen body by a rib.

13. A urinal assembly, comprising:

a screen body sized and shaped to be placed in a urinal;

wherein the screen body is configured to extend over a portion of the drain portion of the urinal;

the screen body defining at least one opening;

the screen body defining at least one date opening associated with indicia corresponding to a time or time interval; and

a date pin sized and shaped to be secured within the at least one date opening.

14. The urinal assembly of claim 13, wherein the time or time interval comprises months of the year.

15. The urinal assembly of claim 13, wherein the time or time interval comprises days of a calendar month.

16. The urinal assembly of claim 13, wherein the time or time interval comprises weeks of a calendar year.

17. The urinal assembly of claim 13, wherein the time or time interval comprises quarters of a calendar year.

18. The urinal assembly of claim 13, wherein the date pin is removably attached to the screen body.

19. The urinal assembly of claim 13, wherein the date pin further comprises a longitudinal axis extending from a proximal end of the pin to a distal end of the pin, wherein the date pin is tapered along the longitudinal axis.

20. The urinal assembly of claim 13, wherein the date pin further comprises a protrusion disposed on an outer surface of the date pin, sized and shaped to lock the date pin into the at least one date opening.

21. The urinal assembly of claim 13, wherein the date pin is of the same color as the screen body.

22. The urinal assembly of claim 13, wherein the date pin is made of the same material as the screen body.

23. A method of manufacturing a urinal assembly comprising the steps of:

providing a plastic that resists damage or alteration due to the environmental conditions within a urinal, wherein the plastic has a melting point of not greater than 250°

F.;

loading the plastic with from at least 15% to about 75% by weight of fragrance material to produce a fragranced plastic, wherein the loading occurs at a stage conducted at temperatures such that the fragranced plastic is from at least 15% by weight fragrance upon completion of the stage;

molding the fragranced plastic into a urinal screen, sized and shaped to be disposed in a urinal;

forming openings in the screen body; and

forming date tabs which collectively form a date feature.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of perforating the date tabs to be removably attached to the screen body.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of forming a pull tab on at least one date tab.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of forming a divot in an area underneath at least one of the date tabs, wherein upon removal of the at least one date tab, the divot is exposed.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of forming a rib connecting at least one date tab to the screen body.

28. A urinal assembly, comprising:

a screen body sized and shaped to be placed in a urinal;

wherein the screen body is configured to extend over a portion of the drain portion of the urinal;

the screen body defining at least one opening;

a date feature associated with indicia corresponding to a time or time interval, the date feature configured to physically manipulated to indicate a time or time interval;

wherein the date feature is made of a plastic, wherein the plastic resists damage or alteration due to the environmental conditions within a urinal.

29. The urinal assembly of claim 28, wherein the date feature comprises at least one dome corresponding to a time or time interval, the at least one dome configured to collapse when pressed.