Wednesday, October 15, 2008

The Creation of my Idea



The Creation of my Odorless and Overflow-less Toilet System.

The thought of odor removal at the source (the toilet), came to me back in the year of 1981. I was in the military. My Company was on an exercise with our NBC gear (chemical protection). We were on break. Approximately 200 of us had the use of ten stalls and several urinals in a restroom with very poor ventilation.

After waiting in line for several minutes, I had finally made it to the stall. The smell was horrific. If I could have “held on”, I would have left immediately. I couldn’t. I had to forge ahead. Once I was in the stall, I thought to myself, Hey, I wonder if this gas mask will work in here, so I put it on and it did indeed work.

I had a few minutes to contemplate; how could odor be better controlled? The gas mask surely was not the answer. I realized then that if odor could be removed at the toilet before it could become airborne, that would be the solution.

For the next twenty plus years I talked about it, nothing more. After seeing a few other ideas I talked about go to market, I felt the need to pursue my idea further was imperative.

I was clueless to the entire process and it took me a few years of research to figure out how to proceed. After purchasing and experimenting with different software programs, I had viable drawings to present my product. I then chose a firm specializing in patents to initiate the process of a patent search.

Months later I received two voluminous binders containing over forty patents on toilet odor removal. I obviously was not the first to come up with this idea. What a feeling.

I begrudgingly shelved my idea and began the “getting over it” process. I felt like the person who sent in his world’s smallest drill bit to patent only to receive it back with a smaller hole drilled in the middle of it.

Years later I picked up the search results and began studying those two huge books again. I closely studied each patent for odor removal and grew more convinced that my invention was better, simpler and less expensive. At this time I discovered the internet and the USPTO which also reignited my enthusiasm. In my search I found a patent very similar to mine. Once again: What a feeling.

This time however, I embraced the challenge and set about finding any faults or improvements as I compared my idea to his. I found that both inventions would have a problem if the toilet overflowed. The line would become trapped with overflow that could not escape, rendering the odor removal feature useless.

Hence, I created the UTA and incorporated it into my design. The UTA is a device that deals with overflow conditions and simplifies installation. It is engineered to allow each of the different units to function flawlessly and does not conflict with the odor removal feature. My invention was now an odorless and overflow-less system that could be incorporated into any type toilet or urinal.

Results of the next patent search rendered promising and positive results; I filed the provisional patent and started the networking and submitting process. Now, a year later, I have filed for a non-provisional patent.

Ronald F. Pickle

Inventor of the:
Odorless and Overflow-less Toilet System.
Simply a “Better Toilet”

My Site: http://bettertoilet.com/

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Some Humor


Found this joke and thought the humor would go with the blog.
Hope you enjoy it.

Little Red Riding Hood is skipping thru the forest road when she sees the big bad wolf crouched down behind a log.

'My, what big eyes you have, Mr. Wolf.'
The wolf jumps up and runs away.

Further down the road Little Red Riding Hood sees the wolf again and this time he is crouched behind a bush.

'My what big ears you have, Mr. Wolf.'

Again the wolf jumps up and runs away.

About 1/4 mile down the road Little Red Riding Hood sees the wolf again and this time he is crouched down behind a rock.

'My what big teeth you have Mr. Wolf.'

With that the wolf jumps up and screams, 'Will you knock it off, I'm trying to poop!'
Ronald F. Pickle
Inventor of the:
Odorless and Overflow-less Toilet System.
Simply a "Better Toilet".

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Another Perspective


Recently someone asked me if my toilet was “green” as in environmental friendly. I replied yes because it would reduce the chemicals needed to cover up odors. They said that they meant in the way of water conservation.

It occurred to me then, that we do not always understand the questions (such as in my case), comments or even the concepts (such as in their case).

So I felt it necessary to make some additional comments to help others better understand my idea. I am not inventing the toilet I am re-inventing the toilet with improved features.

In today’s market, there are a vast variety of toilets available through fine companies such as American Standard Brands, Kohler and Toto just to name a few. They all offer their versions of “super flushing”, “conservative”, “tank style" or "flush valve”, “style and color” and so forth. These are features that can be individually used in their standard models or combined in their premium toilet.

I am not trying to improve on any of these features. I am introducing two more features that can be added to any of their toilets, whether it is an affordable standard model or their top of the line model. Imagine a Super flushing, water conservative premium toilet that is now odorless and overflow-less.

I am hoping that a toilet manufacturing company, even an investment group or individual looking to get into the market, will find interest in my innovation, to give them a competitive edge.

Not “inventing” the toilet/urinal, just”re-inventing” a “Better Toilet”.

Ronald F. Pickle

Inventor of the:
Odorless and Overflow-less Toilet Systems,
simply a "Better Toilet".

http://www.bettertoilet.com/

Friday, October 3, 2008

Toilets in Space

Ever wonder how the Astronauts relieve themselves in 0 gravity? Perhaps not but my brother Jim sent me this movie file and I thought it was informative enough to share. Hope you enjoy.

Ronald F. Pickle

Inventor of the:
Odorless and Overflow-less Toilet Systems,
simply a "Better Toilet"

http://www.bettertoilet.com/