Sheet catcher for toilets and methods therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9422700-B2
Application number	US-201313915213-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 11, 2013
Priority date	Jun 11, 2013
Publication date	Aug 23, 2016
Grant date	Aug 23, 2016

Abstract

An apparatus ( 100 ) for a toilet ( 600 ) is provided. The apparatus can include a rim engagement portion ( 101 ) and a sheet catcher ( 102 ) comprising one or more barbs ( 104,105,106 ). A bowl side bestrider ( 103 ) can couple the rim engagement portion to the sheet catcher. The sheet catcher to situate within a water seal ( 605 ) of the toilet when the rim engagement portion engages a rim ( 601 ) of the toilet. The barbs can to catch non-dispersible sheets ( 701 ) when the toilet is flushed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for a toilet, comprising:
a rim engagement portion;
a sheet catcher comprising one or more barbs; and
a bowl side bestrider coupling the rim engagement portion to the sheet catcher;
the sheet catcher to situate within a water seal of the toilet when the rim engagement portion engages a rim of the toilet; and
the one or more barbs to catch non-dispersible sheets when the toilet is flushed.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , the sheet catcher to at least partially extend into a trapway of the toilet.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , the sheet catcher between four and five inches in length.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , the one or more barbs comprising three barbs.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , the three barbs spaced from each other about an axis of the sheet catcher.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a handle extending from the rim engagement portion.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , the handle extending from a side of the rim of the toilet at an angle of between fifteen and thirty degrees.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , the apparatus manufactured from a pliant metal.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , the rim engagement portion:
comprising three or fewer corners;
to release the rim in response to upward force applied to the handle.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , the bowl side bestrider having a radius of between seven and eight inches.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , the one or more barbs to permit dispersible sheets to pass when the toilet is flushed.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , the one or more barbs to allow human waste to pass when the toilet is flushed.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , the non-dispersible sheets manufactured from one of needlepunched material or spunlace material.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , the non-dispersible sheets between five and eight inches in width.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , the non-dispersible sheets between seven and twelve inches in length.

16. A method, comprising:
disposing a sheet catcher in a water seal of a toilet;
attaching a rim engagement portion to a rim of the toilet; and
catching non-dispersible sheets with one or more barbs of the sheet catcher when the toilet is flushed.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising permitting one or more of human waste or dispersible sheets to pass when the toilet is flushed.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising placing a bowl side bestrider against an inner surface of a bowl of the toilet.

Assignees

• Medline Ind Inc

Inventors

• Kutsch John
• Lackowski Vince
• Maalouf Sharbel
• Rowe Lorie

Classifications

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• E03D11/00

  Other component parts of water-closets (pipe-joints or couplings in general F16L ){, e.g. noise-reducing means in the flushing system (noise-reducing means in combination with flushing valves E03D9/14), flushing pipes mounted in the bowl, seals for the bowl outlet, devices preventing overflow of the bowl contents; devices forming a water seal in the bowl after flushing, devices eliminating obstructions in the bowl outlet or preventing backflow of water and excrements from the waterpipe} · CPC title

• E03D9/00 Primary

  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)} · CPC title