WO2001095777A1

WO2001095777A1 - Target device

Info

Publication number: WO2001095777A1
Application number: PCT/GB2001/002511
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jacqueline Kopec; Andrew Adam Kopec
Original assignee: Jacqueline Kopec; Andrew Adam Kopec
Priority date: 2000-06-12
Filing date: 2001-06-07
Publication date: 2001-12-20
Also published as: AU2001262536A1

Abstract

A target device (10) mountable in a toilet bowl, urinal or similar apparatus at a location to which urine is desired to be diverted so that as urine contacts the target (10) the target (10) changes appearance, thereby signalling that the target (10) has been hit.

Description

Target Device

The present invention relates to a target device and particularly but not exclusively to a device for presenting a target to aim urine at.

For young males in particular there can be a difficulty in appropriately directing urine into a toilet bowl, urinal or the like. Particular difficulties can be faced by younger children when they are first training to use a toilet or urinal. Indeed accurate direction of fluid can also be a problem with older males. This can lead to hygiene problems.

According to the present invention there is provided a target device comprising a body mountable at a location to which urine is to be directed and the appearance of which is changeable when urinated upon.

Preferably the appearance is reversibly changeable, and desirably changeable between a first appearance and a second appearance. The body may be sensitive to temperature and changes appearance upon detecting appropriate increases and/or decreases in temperature, for example changes as a consequence of relatively warm urine impinging thereupon.

The body may comprise temperature sensitive pigment which changes colour upon the detection of temperature change. The pigment may comprise thermo chromatic pigment which may be printed on a surface of the body or otherwise provided thereon.

Preferably the device is releasably mountable. The device may be provided to be mountable in a toilet bowl, urinal or similar. The device may be mounted using an adhesive which is preferably substantially water resistant whereby to securely mount the device at a desired location and be fixed against movement when contacted by urine or other fluid, such as during flushing of the toilet, but which can be readily manually removed, for example by a peeling action when desired. The body of the device may be flexible and may comprise vinyl or other plastic material and may be circular in configuration to facilitate the application and location to curved surfaces as are usually found on locations at which the device is intend to be located.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a method of providing a target towards which a stream of urine can be aimed, the method comprising providing a target at a location which target changes appearance when urinated upon.

The method may comprise the use of a device substantially as described in any of the preceding paragraphs.

A preferred embodiment will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Fig. 1 illustrates a plan view of a target device according to the present invention circle

Fig. 2 is a perspective illustration of the device at Fig. 1 in location for use in a toilet bowl.

Referring to the drawings there is provided a target device 10 mountable at a location to which urine is to be directed, the appearance of the device 10 being changeable when urinated upon.

Referring in particular to Fig. 1, the device 10 comprises a circular body 12 of generally planar configuration. The body 12 may comprise vinyl or any other suitable flexible material which will enable the device 10 to conform to the contours of the location at which it is intended to be positioned for use, for example in the bowl of a toilet as will be described.

On an in use upper surface 14 of the body 12 is provided an image 16. The image 16 can be of any desired appearance, for example it could comprise a representation of a target, a character, a device, a symbol, a shape, lettering or a annvy n otthhperr s snuiiftaabbllpe i immaagtrpe.

On the other, in use, underside surface of the body 12 is means to fix the device 10 in position at the desired location. The means comprise a suitable, water resistant adhesive.

In this embodiment the device 10 is selectively releasably locatable but it is important that when in position within a toilet bowl, urinal or the like for use the device 10 is sufficiently securely fixed at the desired location to resist movement during flushing and the like of the toilet, but being readily selectively removable when desired, for example by way of manual peeling.

The nature of the change in appearance can be of a number of types. For example, the device 10 may have a first appearance in use in which the image 16 cannot be seen but as relative warmth is applied by a stream of urine for example the heat sensitive covering or pigment changes colour or appearance such that the image 16 becomes visible. This change in appearance by revealing hidden image provides interest for a person aiming at the device and therefore will help to encourage accurate aiming of a stream of urine onto the device 10, and consequently into the toilet bowl.

The present invention is particularly suitable for training young children in particular boys to use a toilet or urinal, although it will be appreciated that the invention has wider application for example for use by adult males or others perhaps as a novelty or fun object.

It will be appreciated that in an alternative embodiment the image 16 may be visible when the device is in its first appearance and its visibility either vanishes, reduces or otherwise changes when the device changes to adopt the second appearance.

It is also a possibility that a first image may be visible in the first appearance and changes or is replaced by a second image in the second appearance.

The image 16 may be printed on the surface 14 by screen printing or may be otherwise provided. The heat sensitive material used in the device may be thermo chromatic or thermo chromic or pigment.

In use, the device 10 is located at a desired location for example in the bowl B of a toilet T as shown in Fig. 2. The device 10 is preferably located just above the water level W within the toilet T, although it will be appreciated that the device 10 may be otherwise located, for example partially or wholly beneath the water level W. It is the general intention however that the device' 10 is located to mitigate the likelihood of urine splashing out from within the bowl onto the rim of the bowl or on to the toilet seat S.

Once located, the device 10 is securely attached in position with no significant protruding edges. The device 10 is therefore hygienic and presents no significant areas for bacteria and the like to accumulate.

In use, the device 10 presents a target for a person using the toilet to aim at. As urine impinges upon the device 10 its appearance changes as confirmation to the user that their aim is accurate. This provides an incentive for users to hit the target. This is particularly useful in facilitating toilet training of young children.

Once the urine stream stops impinging on the device 10, the device 10 senses a relative drop in temperature and the appearance of the device 10 will revert back to the first appearance for further use. The flushing of the toilet following use will facilitate the change back to the first appearance as cool water washes over the device 10.

When it is desired to remove the device 10 from position, it can be simply peeled away from location leaving no debris or other mark on the toilet bowl. Various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. For example, the device may be of any suitable shape and made of any suitable, flexible material. The device may be non- planar.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A target device comprising a body mountable at a location to which urine is to be directed and the appearance of which is changeable when urinated upon.

2. A target device according to claim 1, wherein the appearance is reversibly changeable.

3. A target device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the appearance is changeable between a first appearance and a second appearance.

4. A target device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the body is sensitive to temperature and changes appearance upon detecting appropriate increases and/or decreases in temperature.

5. A target device according to claim 4, wherein the body changes appearance as a consequence of relatively warm urine impinging thereupon.

6. A target device according to claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the body comprises temperature sensitive pigment which changes colour upon the detection of temperature change.

7. A target device according to claim 6, wherein the pigment comprises thermo chromatic pigment.

8. A target device according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the pigment is provided on a surface of the body.

9. A target device according to claim 8, wherein the pigment is printed on a surface of the body.

10. A target device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the device is releasably mountable.

11. A target device according to any preceding claim, wherein the device is provided to be mountable in a toilet bowl, urinal or similar.

12. A target device according to any preceding claim, wherein the device is mounted using an adhesive.

13. A target device according to claim 12, wherein the adhesive is substantially water resistant to securely mount the device at a desired location and fix the device against movement when contacted by urine or other fluid, such as during flushing of a toilet.

14. A target device according to any of claims 10 to 13, wherein the device can be readily manually removed.

15. A target device according to claim 14, wherein the device can be readily manually removed by a peeling action when desired.

16. A target device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the body of the device is flexible.

17. A target device according to any preceding claim, wherein the body of the device comprises vinyl or other plastic material.

18. A target device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the body of the device is circular in configuration to facilitate the application and location to curved surfaces as are usually found on locations at which the device is intend to be located.

19. A method of providing a target towards which a stream of urine can be aimed, the method comprising providing a target at a location which target changes appearance when urinated upon.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the method comprises the use of a device substantially as described in any of claims 1 to 18.

21. A target device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompany drawings.

22. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

23. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.