IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,501,924
Granted Patent B2
US 10,501,924 · App. 16/175,379 · Granted Dec 10, 2019

Urinal screens

Inventors: Douglas S. Brown (Toledo, OH); Jeffrey A. Smith (Perrysburg, OH)
Assignee: Fresh Products, Inc.
E03D13/005E03D9/00E03D9/007
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,501,924
App. No.
16/175,379
Granted
Dec 10, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A urinal assembly having a frame and a plurality of posts or posts extending from the frame. The frame can include a plurality of openings. The openings can be defined by a plurality of sides and corners. The posts can extend from the corners and/or from the sides of the openings. In some embodiments, posts extend from a first face and a second face of the frame.

Claims (62)

1. A reversible urinal screen comprising:

a plurality of interconnected cells that form a tessellation of openings,

wherein a perimeter of each of a majority of openings of the tessellation of openings is at least partially defined by three or more braces of a plurality of braces, with a majority of the plurality of braces being shared by multiple openings; and

a plurality of posts to deflect urine when the reversible urinal screen is placed upon a urinal surface, the plurality of posts connected to the plurality of braces and positioned such that:

when the reversible urinal screen is placed upon the urinal surface in a first orientation, a first plurality of tips of the plurality of posts support the plurality of braces above the urinal surface, and a second plurality of tips of the plurality of posts are positioned above the plurality of braces, and

when the reversible urinal screen is placed upon the urinal surface in a second orientation, the second plurality of tips of the plurality of posts support the plurality of braces above the urinal surface, and the first plurality of tips of the plurality of posts are positioned above the plurality of braces, and

wherein at least some of the plurality of braces comprise contoured upper and lower surfaces to deflect urine when the reversible urinal screen is placed upon the urinal surface in either of the first or second orientations.

2. The reversible urinal screen of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of braces are centered in a vertical direction between the first plurality of tips and the second plurality of tips when the urinal screen is placed upon a horizontal surface.

3. The reversible urinal screen of claim 1 , wherein the tessellation of openings are the only openings that pass through the reversible urinal screen.

4. The reversible urinal screen of claim 1 , wherein the contoured upper and lower surfaces comprise convex surfaces.

5. The reversible urinal screen of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of posts that are connected to the plurality of braces are connected at corners of the interconnected cells.

6. The reversible urinal screen of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of posts that are connected to the plurality of braces are connected at midpoints of sides of the interconnected cells.

7. The reversible urinal screen of claim 1 , wherein a majority of the plurality of posts that are connected to the plurality of braces are connected at corners of the interconnected cells.

8. The reversible urinal screen of claim 1 , wherein a majority of openings of the tessellation of openings comprise a polygonal perimeter shape.

9. The reversible urinal screen of claim 1 , wherein a majority of openings of the tessellation of openings comprise a four-sided perimeter shape.

10. The reversible urinal screen of claim 1 , wherein a majority of openings of the tessellation of openings comprise a five-sided perimeter shape.

11. The reversible urinal screen of claim 1 , wherein a majority of openings of the tessellation of openings comprise a six-sided perimeter shape.

12. The reversible urinal screen of claim 1 , wherein some openings of the tessellation of openings comprise a different perimeter shape than other openings of the tessellation of openings.

13. The reversible urinal screen of claim 1 , wherein some openings of the tessellation of openings comprise a perimeter shape having a different number of sides than other openings of the tessellation of openings.

14. The reversible urinal screen of claim 1 , wherein some posts of the plurality of posts comprise a different height than other posts of the plurality of posts, as measured perpendicular to a horizontal surface when the urinal screen is placed upon the horizontal surface.

15. The reversible urinal screen of claim 1 , wherein at least 25% of the plurality of posts comprise a shorter height than other posts of the plurality of posts, as measured perpendicular to a horizontal surface when the urinal screen is placed upon the horizontal surface.

16. The reversible urinal screen of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of posts are oriented perpendicularly to a horizontal surface when the urinal screen is placed upon the horizontal surface.

17. The reversible urinal screen of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of posts are oriented at a non-perpendicular angle to a horizontal surface when the urinal screen is placed upon the horizontal surface.

18. The reversible urinal screen of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of braces and the plurality of posts comprise a fragranced EVA material.

19. The reversible urinal screen of claim 1 , wherein the reversible urinal screen is molded.

20. A urinal system comprising:

the reversible urinal screen of claim 1 ; and

a urinal comprising the urinal surface, the urinal surface having a drain extending therethrough,

wherein the reversible urinal screen is placed upon the urinal surface.

21. A reversible urinal screen comprising:

a plurality of interconnected cells that form a tessellation of openings,

wherein a perimeter of each of a majority of openings of the tessellation of openings is at least partially defined by three or more braces of a plurality of braces, with a majority of the plurality of braces being shared by multiple openings;

a solid portion positioned between at least some of the openings of the tessellation of openings, the solid portion occupying an area greater than or equal to ten of the openings of the tessellation of openings; and

a plurality of posts to deflect urine when the reversible urinal screen is placed upon a urinal surface, the plurality of posts connected to the plurality of braces and positioned such that:

when the reversible urinal screen is placed upon the urinal surface in a first orientation, a first plurality of tips of the plurality of posts support the plurality of braces above the urinal surface, and a second plurality of tips of the plurality of posts are positioned above the plurality of braces, such that at least a portion of the plurality of posts between the second plurality of tips and the plurality of braces can reduce splashing of urine impacting the urinal screen from above, and at least a portion of the plurality of posts between the first plurality of tips and the plurality of braces can reduce splashing of urine that has passed through the tessellation of openings, and

when the reversible urinal screen is placed upon the urinal surface in a second orientation, the second plurality of tips of the plurality of posts support the plurality of braces above the urinal surface, and the first plurality of tips of the plurality of posts are positioned above the plurality of braces, such that at least a portion of the plurality of posts between the first plurality of tips and the plurality of braces can reduce splashing of urine impacting the urinal screen from above, and at least a portion of the plurality of posts between the second plurality of tips and the plurality of braces can reduce splashing of urine that has passed through the tessellation of openings,

wherein at least some of the plurality of braces comprise contoured upper and lower surfaces to deflect urine when the reversible urinal screen is placed upon the urinal surface in either of the first or second orientations,

wherein, when the urinal screen is placed upon a horizontal surface, a thickness of the majority of the plurality of braces as measured perpendicular to the horizontal surface is less than or equal to ½ of an overall thickness of the urinal screen as measured perpendicular to the horizontal surface,

wherein a majority of the plurality of posts that are connected to the plurality of braces are connected at corners of the interconnected cells,

wherein some openings of the tessellation of openings comprise a different perimeter shape than other openings of the tessellation of openings, and

wherein the plurality of braces, the plurality of posts, and the solid portion comprise a fragranced EVA material.

22. The reversible urinal screen of claim 21 , wherein the reversible urinal screen comprises a generally circular shape.

23. The reversible urinal screen of claim 21 , wherein the reversible urinal screen comprises a generally hexagonal shape.

24. The reversible urinal screen of claim 21 , wherein the tessellation of openings comprise at least half of a surface area of the urinal screen as observed perpendicular to a flat surface when the urinal screen is placed on the flat surface.

25. The reversible urinal screen of claim 21 , wherein at least some of the plurality of posts comprise a different size than at least some other of the plurality of posts.

26. The reversible urinal screen of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of braces are centered in a vertical direction between the first plurality of tips and the second plurality of tips when the urinal screen is placed upon a horizontal surface.

27. The reversible urinal screen of claim 21 , wherein the contoured upper and lower surfaces comprise convex surfaces.

28. A reversible urinal screen comprising:

a plurality of interconnected cells that form a tessellation of openings,

wherein a perimeter of each of a majority of openings of the tessellation of openings is at least partially defined by three or more braces of a plurality of braces, with a majority of the plurality of braces being shared by multiple openings;

a solid portion positioned between at least some of the openings of the tessellation of openings, the solid portion occupying an area greater than or equal to ten of the openings of the tessellation of openings; and

a plurality of posts to deflect urine when the reversible urinal screen is placed upon a urinal surface, the plurality of posts connected to the plurality of braces and positioned such that:

when the reversible urinal screen is placed upon the urinal surface in a first orientation, a first plurality of tips of the plurality of posts support the plurality of braces above the urinal surface, and a second plurality of tips of the plurality of posts are positioned above the plurality of braces, such that at least a portion of the plurality of posts between the second plurality of tips and the plurality of braces can reduce splashing of urine impacting the urinal screen from above, and at least a portion of the plurality of posts between the first plurality of tips and the plurality of braces can reduce splashing of urine that has passed through the tessellation of openings, and

when the reversible urinal screen is placed upon the urinal surface in a second orientation, the second plurality of tips of the plurality of posts support the plurality of braces above the urinal surface, and the first plurality of tips of the plurality of posts are positioned above the plurality of braces, such that at least a portion of the plurality of posts between the first plurality of tips and the plurality of braces can reduce splashing of urine impacting the urinal screen from above, and at least a portion of the plurality of posts between the second plurality of tips and the plurality of braces can reduce splashing of urine that has passed through the tessellation of openings,

wherein, when the urinal screen is placed upon a horizontal surface, a thickness of the majority of the plurality of braces as measured perpendicular to the horizontal surface is less than or equal to ½ of an overall thickness of the urinal screen as measured perpendicular to the horizontal surface,

wherein the perimeter of each of the majority of openings of the tessellation of openings comprises a plurality of corners, with a post being connected at each of the corners, and

wherein the plurality of braces, the plurality of posts, and the solid portion comprise a fragranced EVA material.

29. The reversible urinal screen of claim 28 , wherein the reversible urinal screen comprises a generally circular shape.

30. The reversible urinal screen of claim 28 , wherein the reversible urinal screen comprises a generally hexagonal shape.

31. The reversible urinal screen of claim 28 , wherein the tessellation of openings comprise at least half of a surface area of the urinal screen as observed perpendicular to a flat surface when the urinal screen is placed on the flat surface.

32. The reversible urinal screen of claim 28 , wherein at least some of the plurality of posts comprise a different size than at least some other of the plurality of posts.

33. The reversible urinal screen of claim 28 , wherein the plurality of braces are centered in a vertical direction between the first plurality of tips and the second plurality of tips when the urinal screen is placed upon a horizontal surface.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 25, 2019
From: BROWN, DOUGLAS S.; SMITH, JEFFREY A.
To: FRESH PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 050833/0662 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 14925369 · Oct 28, 2015
Provisional Application 62075827 · Nov 5, 2014
Related Publication 20190264435A1 · Aug 29, 2019
Cited By (5)
US 1,078,945 US 1,107,871 US 1,121,787 US 12,247,381 US 12,723,393