Flushable urinary device for directing urine into a toilet from a standing user

Abstract

Flushable urinary device for directing urine into a toilet from a standing user comprises a flushable funnel. The funnel helps prevent urine-splatter on and around the toilet and improves hygiene. The user holds the funnel at his or her urethra and directs urine into the toilet. Then, the user drops the used funnel into the toilet and flushes the toilet. The funnel, made of flushable and bio-degradable material, disintegrates in the sewer system. The material is configured to retain its substantial strength and shape temporarily when wetted. The funnel has tail or lip adjacent one of its ends to help hold the funnel. The funnel may be of different suitable shapes, sizes and materials. An apparatus, placed on water tank of a toilet, contains a supply of the funnels for users. The apparatus also stores extra flushable funnels and toilet paper rolls.

1 . A flushable urinary device for directing urine into a toilet from a standing user, the toilet having an aperture for receiving human waste, comprising:
 a flushable funnel having an inlet end adapted to register with outlet of urethra of the user, an outlet end adapted to direct urine into the aperture, and a plurality of walls forming a passage between said inlet end and said outlet end; wherein urine is directed from the standing user into said inlet end, flows through said passage and exits said funnel through said outlet end and flows into the aperture; wherein said funnel is made of flushable and bio-degradable material configured to retain its substantial strength and shape temporarily when wetted.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said funnel includes at least one bendable tail portion extending outwardly adjacent a portion of one of the ends; wherein said bendable tail portion forms a handle for being grasped by a user. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said funnel having transitory surface water repellency to at least one surface of said funnel without impairing the ability of said funnel to be disposed of by flushing. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said funnel material further comprising a minimum wet strength resin selected from a group comprising melamine formaldehyde, urea formaldehyde, and a neutral cure wet strength material. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the funnel is tapered between the inlet end and the outlet end. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the funnel is part of a nested stack of the funnels. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the nested stack is placed on a core. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein a protrusion that forms a lip extending outwardly and around one of the ends of the funnel around said plurality of walls; said lip being configured to hold said funnel in place. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet end is same size as the outlet end. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an apparatus having a dispenser for supply of the funnels and a storage section for extra supplies. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said apparatus having at least one fastening device on exterior of said apparatus for attaching said apparatus to an object. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said apparatus is placed water tank of a toilet. 
     
     
         13 . A method for directing urine into a toilet from a standing user of the toilet, the toilet having an aperture for receiving human waste, comprising:
 providing a supply of flushable funnels, each of said funnels comprising an inlet end, an outlet end, and a plurality of walls forming a passage between said inlet end and said outlet end; wherein urine is directed from a standing user into said inlet end, flows through said passage and exits said funnel through said outlet end and flows into the toilet aperture; wherein said funnel is made of flushable, bio-degradable material configured to retain its substantial strength and shape temporarily when wetted;   removing a flushable funnel from the supply of flushable funnels;   suspending the flushable funnel relative to the toilet aperture to provide a path for urine from a standing user to the toilet aperture;   directing urine into the suspended funnel to channel the urine into the toilet aperture;   releasing the suspended funnel and allowing the funnel to drop into the toilet aperture; and   flushing the toilet aperture to flush away the dropped funnel.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of suspending the funnel comprises suspending the funnel by a tail portion. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of suspending the funnel comprises suspending the funnel by a protrusion that forms a lip extending outwardly and around the larger end of the funnel. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of suspending the funnel above the toilet aperture comprises deploying a movable arm; the method further comprising returning the movable arm to a stored position after finishing urination into the suspended funnel to channel the urine into the toilet aperture. 
     
     
         17 . A means for directing urine into a toilet from a standing user, the toilet having an aperture for receiving human waste, comprising:
 a flushable and biodegradable urine funneling means configured to retain its substantial strength and shape temporarily when wetted.   
     
     
         18 . The funneling means of  claim 17  includes at least one bendable tail portion adjacent a portion of one of the ends of said funneling means; wherein said tail portion forms a handle for being grasped by a user. 
     
     
         19 . The funneling means of  claim 17  includes a protrusion that forms a lip extending outwardly and around one of the ends of said funneling means; said lip being configured to hold said funnel in place. 
     
     
         20 . The funneling means of  claim 17 , wherein said means having transitory surface water repellency to at least one surface of said funneling means without impairing the ability of said funneling means to be disposed of by flushing.