US20160302630A1

US20160302630A1 - Toilet Bowl Liner

Info

Publication number: US20160302630A1
Application number: US15/077,198
Authority: US
Inventors: Robin Campbell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-04-16
Filing date: 2016-03-22
Publication date: 2016-10-20

Abstract

A toilet bowl liner is provided that is adapted to be placed along the interior of a toilet bowl and along the base thereof. The liner has a trapezoidal shape and includes a pleated sidewall to allow the liner to expand and contract for different toilet bowl sizes. In use, the sidewalls of the liner abut the walls of the toilet bowl as the base of the liner extends across the lower opening of the toilet bowl. The liner acts as a barrier between the toilet bowel and waste water, whereby the liner can then be flushed along with the contents of the bowl. The liner is therefore flushable and biodegradable, making it suitable for use in septic systems and sewer systems. Overall, the device provides a temporary barrier to reduce accumulation of waste and deposits on the toilet bowl walls, thereby extending the period between necessary cleanings.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/148,470 filed on Apr. 16, 2015. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to toilet bowls and commodes. More specifically, the present invention relates to a toilet bowl liner that is inserted into the toilet bowl in order to maintain the cleanliness thereof while subject to use.
Commodes and toilet bowls often need to be cleaned in order to maintain their cleanliness and proper operation. This involves cleaning the interior of the toilet bowl using cleaning products and tools. While this is common place for both residential and public toilets, the process can be time consuming and burdensome. A need exists for an improved method of maintaining the cleanliness of toilet bowls for extended periods between cleanings.
The present invention provides a new device that is adapted to be placed within a toilet bowl interior and provide a disposable liner between the toilet bowl surface and waste that is received into the bowl. Generally waste and minerals in the water cause the toilet bowl to build up residue and change color. The present invention provides a toilet bowl liner that is inserted into the toilet bowl to act as a barrier between the waste and minerals in the water and the walls of the toilet bowl. This prevents the accumulation of residue on the interior surfaces of the toilet bowl, thereby requiring less cleanings over a given period of time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following summary is intended solely for the benefit of the reader and is not intended to be limiting in any way. The present invention provides a new toilet bowl liner that can be utilized to maintain the cleanliness of a toilet bowl over an extended period.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved toilet bow liner device that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a toilet bowl liner that is adapted to be placed inside a toilet bowl to act as a barrier for the walls of the toilet bowl while the toilet is in use.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a toilet bowl liner that comprises a disposable and biodegradable construction that is suitable for flushing and use with septic or sewer systems.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a toilet bowl liner that comprises upstanding sidewalls, a lower end, and an open upper. The sidewall of the liner is adapted to bear against the walls of the toilet bowl when placed therein, while the lower end extends across the lower opening of the toilet bowl.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a toilet bowl liner that comprises a water soluble tissue material such that the liner is flushable.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a toilet bowl liner in which the upstanding sidewalls further comprise a pleated surface that is adapted to flare outward or inward when the liner is placed within the interior of a toilet bowl. The pleated surface allows the liner to conform to the interior of the toilet bowl.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a toilet bowl liner in which the liner further comprises a substantial trapezoidal shape with a lower surface along the lower end of the liner. The upstanding sidewalls extend upwards and outwards from the lower surface and the open upper and the lower surface are substantially parallel to one another.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a toilet bowl liner wherein the pleated surface of the upstanding sidewalls further comprises a plurality of fold lines extending between an upper edge and a lower edge of the upstanding sidewalls. Between the fold lines, the sidewalls are bowed surfaces to form individual pleats.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a toilet bowl liner wherein the pleated surface of the upstanding sidewalls further comprises a substantially sinusoidal surface profile when viewed from above the open upper.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows an overhead perspective view of the toilet bowl liner of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a view of the toilet bowl liner being placed within the interior of a toilet bowl.

FIG. 3 shows a view of the toilet bowl liner in a working state, placed against the walls of the toilet bowl and across its lower opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the toilet bowl liner of the present invention. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for creating a barrier between the walls of the toilet bowl and waste water therein. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown an overhead perspective view of the toilet liner device 20 of the present invention. The toilet liner 20 is a disposable and biodegradable paper product that is adapted to be placed within the interior of a toilet bowl and submerged within the water therein. Once in position, the liner 20 acts as a physical barrier between the walls of the toilet bowl and the water therein, blocking waste water and preventing deposits from accumulating along the walls of the toilet bowl. The goal is provide a disposable liner that is deployed when the toilet is in use and one that can assist maintaining the cleanliness of the bowl over periods of time. This reduces maintenance costs and extends the period between the toilet bowl cleanings. The device is suited for both commercial and domestic use.
In order to function as a single-use liner, the liner 20 must be flushable and function with both septic and sewer systems. The liner 20 therefore comprises water soluble tissue material such that the liner is flushable and biodegrades in wastewater in the same manner as toilet paper and other flushable products. The water soluble tissue material of the liner 20 has a slower rate of breakdown than toilet tissue in order for the liner to maintain its structure for a period of time while deployed in the toilet bowl water and while in use. In particular, the liner 20 is adapted to be placed into the toilet bowl water and maintain its structure for several minutes without biodegrading, thereby acting as a physical barrier between the walls of the toilet bowl and the water therein. When flushed, the liner continues to break down and eventually separates and dissolves to the extent it does not interfere with septic or sewer systems.
The structure of the liner 20 is one that comprises a substantial trapezoidal shape. The liner 20 comprises upstanding sidewalls 27, a lower end 25, and an open upper 35. In one embodiment, and as provided in FIG. 1, the liner 20 has a lower surface along the lower end 25 thereof upstanding sidewalls 27 that extend upwards and outwards from the lower end 25. The open upper 35 and the lower surface are substantially parallel to one another while the sidewalls 27 flare outward, forming the substantial trapezoidal shape when viewed from the side. This shape allows the sidewalls 27 to conform to the walls of the toilet bowl as the lower end 25 of the liner extends across the opening in the toilet bowl. In another embodiment, the lower end is opening and does not have a lower surface that would extend across the lower opening of the toilet bowl.
In order to accommodate different sized toilet bowls and the various surfaces therein, the upstanding sidewalls 27 of the liner also comprise a pleated surface pattern. The pleated sidewalls 27 flare outward or inward allow the device to conform to an irregular toilet bowl shape when the liner is placed within the interior of the toilet bowl. The pleated sidewalls 27 are formed of a plurality of fold lines 41 that extend vertically between an open upper 35 and the lower end 25 of the liner. In particular, the fold lines 41 extend from an upper edge 42 of the liner that forms the upper perimeter thereof, and extend downward until intersecting a lower perimeter edge of the liner at a junction between the sidewalls 27 and the lower end 25 of the liner.
Between the fold lines 41, the sidewalls form bowed surfaces 45, which are the individual pleats of the liner. The bowed surfaces 45 can stretch or be folded inward to accommodate larger or smaller toilet bowl interiors. The upper edge of the liner 20 may terminate in a single plane along the open upper 35, or alternatively each pleat may form a rounded upper edge 42 and a valley 43 between the pleats. Moreover, the pleated surface pattern of the upstanding sidewalls 27 may further comprise a substantially sinusoidal surface profile when viewed from above. The pleated configuration of the sidewalls is designed to allow the cross section of the liner to expand and contract as necessary when being placed in different toilet bowl sizes. The sidewalls 27 can flare outward or inward to accommodate different surface profiles within the toilet, thus improving the effectiveness of the liner to prevent solid waste from contacting the toilet bowl.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, there are shown views of the liner 20 being placed within a toilet bowl 89. In use, the liner 20 is dropped into a toilet bowl interior 89. The liner is dropped into the bowl right-side up, with the lower end 25 of the liner 20 being below the upper end 35. The liner then descends into the bowl 89 and nestles into the lower opening 82 thereof. The lower end 25 of the liner extends across the lower opening 82 of the bowl while the sidewalls 27 conform to the bowl interior surface 81. In particular, the sidewalls 27 flare outward and/or inward, conforming to the shoulder 85 between the toilet bowl lower opening 82 and the bowl interior surfaces 81. The sidewalls 27 furthermore flare outward and bear against the bowl interior surfaces 81. FIG. 3 illustrates the liner 20 in its working state.
Once installed in the towel bowl, the liner 20 is partially or fully submerged within the bowl water of the toilet. The flushable paper material of the liner 20 is adapted to remain stable after being soaked for several minutes before starting to decompose and separate. This allows the liner 20 to maintain its integrity as a barrier between waste water in the bowl and the bowl interior surfaces 81. After the toilet has been used, the user flushes the toilet and the bowl contents, along with the liner 20, are flushed. Thereafter, the liner will break down and separate. Because the material is water soluble, it is suitable for septic and sewer systems. It is also contemplated that the liner will be useful in recreational vehicle waste systems.
It is submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

I claim:

1) A disposable toilet bowl device, comprising:

a liner having upstanding sidewalls, a lower end, and an open upper;

the liner being comprised of a water soluble tissue material such that the liner is flushable;

the upstanding sidewalls further comprise a pleated surface that is adapted to flare outward or inward when the liner is placed within the interior of a toilet bowl, and whereby the upstanding sidewalls are adapted to conform to the interior of the toilet bowl.

2) The disposable toilet bowl device of claim 1, wherein:

the liner further comprises a substantial trapezoidal shape with a lower surface along the lower end of the liner; and

whereby the upstanding sidewalls extend upwards and outwards from the lower surface and the open upper and the lower surface are substantially parallel to one another.

3) The disposable toilet bowl device of claim 1, wherein:

the pleated surface of the upstanding sidewalls further comprises a plurality of fold lines extending between an upper edge and a lower edge of the upstanding sidewalls;

whereby the upstanding sidewalls further comprises a plurality of bowed surfaces between the fold lines to form individual pleats.

4) The disposable toilet bowl device of claim 1, wherein:

the pleated surface of the upstanding sidewalls further comprises a substantially sinusoidal surface profile when viewed from above the open upper.