Toilet bowl having integrated implement

Abstract

The instant invention provides an improved toilet 10 that promotes ease and convenience of cleaning and promotes simplicity without clutter, by providing easy access to implements housed by the toilet. An example provides an access port 40 formed through a toilet wall, such as a cover 25 that allows passage of an implement, i.e., a toilet brush 55 , stored within the toilet.

1 . A toilet assembly comprising, a bowl, a tank and a cleaning implement, wherein the tank and cleaning implement are cooperatively configured for storage of the cleaning implement within the tank. 
     
     
         2 . The toilet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tank and cleaning implement are configured for storage of the cleaning implement with a handle end of the cleaning implement above a water level in the tank and with a distal end of the cleaning implement below the water level in the tank. 
     
     
         3 . The toilet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein an interior of the tank comprises a water storage region and a dry region, and the tank and cleaning implement are configured for storage of the cleaning implement in the dry region. 
     
     
         4 . The toilet assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the dry region is defined by a housing disposed within the interior of the tank. 
     
     
         5 . The toilet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning implement comprises an arm with a replaceable scrubbing element removably affixed proximate an end of the arm, the toilet assembly further comprising a plurality of replacement scrubbing elements. 
     
     
         6 . The toilet assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the tank comprises a water storage region and a dry region, and the tank and cleaning implement are configured for storage of the cleaning implement in the water storage region and for storage of the replacement scrubbing elements in the dry region. 
     
     
         7 . The toilet assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an access port formed in the tank for passage of the cleaning implement. 
     
     
         8 . The toilet assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the access port is formed in a lid of the tank. 
     
     
         9 . The toilet assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising a retainer disposed in the access port, the retainer configured to releasably engage the cleaning implement. 
     
     
         10 . The toilet assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a housing disposed within the tank and defining a dry region within the tank for the storage of the cleaning implement. 
     
     
         11 . The toilet assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising a pop-up mechanism disposed in the tank for engaging the cleaning implement when passed into the tank through the access port. 
     
     
         12 . A cleaning system for a toilet, the toilet including a bowl and a tank, the cleaning system comprising:
 a cleaning implement comprising an arm;   a cleaning element removably attached to the arm;   an access port allowing passage of the cleaning implement into an interior of the tank for storage therein.   
     
     
         13 . The cleaning system of  claim 12 , wherein the cleaning implement is configured such that the cleaning element is disposed below a water level of the tank when the cleaning implement is stored in the tank. 
     
     
         14 . The cleaning system of  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of replacement cleaning elements each removably attachable to the arm. 
     
     
         15 . The cleaning system of  claim 14 , further comprising a housing defining a dry region within the tank for storage of the plurality of replacement cleaning elements. 
     
     
         16 . The cleaning system of  claim 12 , wherein the cleaning element further comprises a treatment composition. 
     
     
         17 . A method of cleaning a toilet, the method comprising:
 providing a cleaning implement;   using the cleaning implement to clean a toilet; and   storing the cleaning implement within a tank of the toilet when not in use.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the cleaning implement comprises a replaceable cleaning element, the method further comprising:
 providing a plurality of replacement cleaning elements; and   storing the replacement cleaning elements within the tank of the toilet until use.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 storing the cleaning implement within a wet region of the tank; and   storing the replacement cleaning elements within a dry region of the tank.