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Splash-retardant systemRelated Patent Categories: Baths, Closets, Sinks, And Spittoons, Flush Closet, With Splash Guard Or Water BaffleSplash-retardant system description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060191064, Splash-retardant system. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF INVENTION [0001] This invention relates generally to toilet systems. In particular, it relates to a splash retarding system for substantially reducing the splashing of lavatory fluid when waste material is disposed into the lavatory fluid. BACKGROUND [0002] Conventional toilet systems have become a ubiquitous part of modem living and daily conveniences and this has led many to ignore its inevitable disadvantages. A typical toilet system consists of a toilet bowl and a cistern typically positioned behind and above the toilet bowl or otherwise associated with the toilet bowl. The cistern is filled with sufficient water or other types of fluids for flushing the toilet bowl upon operation of a hand lever or a button on the cistern. When the toilet is flushed after a person has defecated, waste disposal fluid is disposed through a disposal outlet and drained into a service sewer line. [0003] While this is considered an indispensable tool for modern society, it can also be the cause of embarrassment and hygiene degradation. During defecation, use of the conventional toilet system may lead to splashing of the waste disposal fluid onto certain portions of the body of a person using such a toilet system. [0004] The splashing of the polluted water creates another problem whereby the splashing is unsanitary and stains the toilet. It pollutes the toilet and its surrounding areas with bad odour and allows bacteria to fester and spread diseases which easily makes the toilet unwelcoming and unhygienic. This is in addition to the time and effort needed to clean and sanitise the toilet. [0005] These disadvantages have remained unchanged and unaddressed even though the standard of living has been constantly improving. Modern society expects a higher level of performance from such equipment, and while the engineering and operation of the toilet system have changed these problems still remain. Therefore, many proposals have been directed at alleviating these problems but these ideas are either too complicated or unsuitable for widespread application. [0006] One such idea is proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,339 by Clark. Clark describes an anti-splash device which includes a submerged motor driven rotor for creating hydro-turbulence on the surface of water in the toilet bowl. When waste material is disposed into the toilet bowl, the turbulent water surface counteracts the impact of the dropped waste material which thereby reduces the splashing effect that normally occurs following the entry of waste material through the surface of the waste disposal fluid. The drawbacks for this proposal include the need to have an electrical power supply for the submerged motor driver rotor and the tendency for its accessories to collect or retain waste material which results in cleaning difficulties. [0007] Another proposal is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,010,497 by Menter et al. which uses the idea of having barriers or deflectors near the surface of the water to break the fall of the waste material. Menter proposes a form of disposable paper to function as a barrier near the surface of the water. Although this solves the problem of self cleaning, it creates another problem whereby a stock of the disposable paper has to be kept near the toilet bowl and the user has to manually lay the disposable paper on the surface of the water either before or after each use. Another problem that can occur is that the disposable paper may not be able to handle large amount of waste. The disposable paper may just sink into the water and additional paper has to be reapplied if the user is only partially done with using the toilet. Lastly, the use of substantial amount of disposable paper may cause clogging of the disposal outlet. [0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,644,801 by Zhao et al. proposes to solve the problems created by Menter et al. through the use of magnetic forces on a floating deflector to break the fall of the waste while preventing the deflector from sinking. While this approach is effective, it requires major reconstruction of the toilet bowl and the usage of electricity. Therefore, this approach will not work when there is a power failure. [0009] In U.S. Pat. No. 3,383,710 by Sumner, the usage of foam on the surface of the water is proposed. Sumner discloses addition of a chemical to the water in the toilet bowl to form a layer of foam on the surface of the water which the waste is penetrating. The foam acts as a cushion to soften the impact of waste when the waste is disposed into the toilet bowl and also functions to suppress any dispersion of the water from the surface. However, the foam is effective only when applied to the water immediately prior to usage. [0010] There is therefore a need for a splash retarding system which reduces the splashing of waste disposal fluid when waste material is disposed into the waste disposal fluid for maintaining sanitation while reducing physical, visual and audible splashing effects and substantially preventing splashing of waste disposal fluid onto the user. SUMMARY [0011] The present invention provides a system and method for reducing the splashing of waste disposal fluid when waste material is disposed into the waste disposal fluid contained in the toilet bowl. Conventional toilet system consists of a cistern and a toilet bowl which is connected to a disposal outlet. [0012] Due to the construction of the toilet bowl, splashing of the waste disposal fluid occurs whenever a person defecates. The splashing can cause significant discomfort when the waste disposal fluid dirties the user. In addition, the splashing may cause staining of the toilet bowl while polluting the toilet with its odour and allowing bacteria growth to set in. [0013] The present invention reduces splashing by forming viscous fluid from at least a portion of the waste disposal fluid. The viscosity of the viscous fluid within the toilet bowl impedes flow of the waste disposal fluid which in turn reduces the amount of splashing. [0014] The system and method used in this present invention require an additive which when added to waste disposal fluid, forms a viscous fluid for splash retardation. A dissolution agent subsequently reduces the viscosity of the viscous fluid in the toilet bowl to facilitate expulsion therefrom. Therefore, the additive and the dissolution agent are added into a toilet flushing system having a toilet bowl and a cistern which stores and dispenses waste disposal fluid into the toilet bowl for facilitating waste disposal through a disposal outlet in fluid communication with the toilet bowl. [0015] When the additive is dispensed into the toilet bowl and the viscous fluid receives waste, the viscous fluid substantially reduces fluid splashing from the toilet bowl. During subsequent disposal of the waste conveyed by the viscous fluid through the disposal outlet, the dissolution agent reduces the viscosity of the viscous fluid to thereby prevent clogging of the disposal outlet. [0016] Therefore, in accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a splash retarding system comprising an additive, a dissolution agent, and a dispenser for containing at least one of the additive and the dissolution agent. The dispenser is operatively incorporable with a toilet flushing system having a toilet bowl for receiving waste disposal fluid therein and a disposal outlet is in fluid communication with the toilet bowl for draining at least a portion of the waste disposal fluid away from the toilet bowl, the waste disposal fluid received in the toilet bowl having a fluid surface. Furthermore, the dispenser is operatively adaptable for providing at least one of the additive to the waste disposal fluid contained in the toilet bowl for forming viscous fluid therefrom and the dissolution agent is introducible to the formed viscous fluid for viscosity dilution of a viscous fluid. Therefore when waste is disposed into the toilet bowl, the formed viscous fluid substantially impedes fluid splashing from the fluid surface and whereupon subsequent disposal of the waste, the viscous diluted viscous fluid facilitates discharge thereof from the toilet bowl and conveyance thereof through the disposal outlet. [0017] In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is described a splash retarding method comprising the steps of providing an additive, a dissolution agent while using a dispenser for containing at least one of the additive and dissolution agent, wherein the dispenser is operatively incorporable with a toilet flushing system having a toilet bowl for receiving waste disposal fluid therein and a disposal outlet being in fluid communication with the toilet bowl for draining at least a portion of the waste disposal fluid away from the toilet bowl, such that the waste disposal fluid received in the toilet bowl is having a fluid surface. Furthermore the dispenser is operatively adaptable for providing at least one of the additive to the waste disposal fluid for forming viscous fluid therefrom and the dissolution agent introducible to the formed viscous fluid for viscosity dilution of a viscous fluid. Therefore when waste is disposed into the toilet bowl, the formed viscous fluid substantially impedes fluid splashing from the fluid surface and whereupon subsequent disposal of the waste, the viscous diluted viscous fluid facilitates discharge thereof from the toilet bowl and conveyance thereof through the disposal outlet. [0018] In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is described a splash retarding system comprising an additive and a dispenser being operatively incorporable with a toilet flushing system having a toilet bowl for receiving waste disposal fluid therein and a disposal outlet being in fluid communication with the toilet bowl for draining at least a portion of the waste disposal fluid away from the toilet bowl, the waste disposal fluid received in the toilet bowl having a fluid surface. Furthermore the dispenser contains the additive and is operatively adaptable for providing the additive to waste disposal fluid contained in the toilet bowl for forming viscous fluid therefrom, whereby when waste is disposed into the toilet bowl, the formed viscous fluid substantially impedes fluid splashing from the fluid surface and whereupon subsequent disposal of the waste. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0019] Embodiments of the invention are described hereinafter with reference to the drawings, in which: [0020] FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a splash retarding system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; Continue reading about Splash-retardant system... Full patent description for Splash-retardant system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Splash-retardant system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. 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