Gizmodo: Urinal

ONDA Urinal Concept Changes the Question: Did You Wash Yours Hands While Going to the Bathroom?

Jack Loftus — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EDT

Usually, washing up in the toilet at a sporting event gets you a one-way ticket out of the ballpark, but that could be changing thanks to Lee Isherwood and his ODNA urinal concept. The first—and probably last—of its kind, the ODNA promotes water conservation by combining a hand washing station with a urinal. Instead of simply flushing, you go about your business and then wash your hands in the infrared-activated "sink" above. The cascading water from the sink cleans out the toilet, and serves as the "flush."

The beauty of the ONDA, beyond its Italian-inspired design and conservation chops (uses only half the water—think about it), is that it can be fitted to existing plumbing. It also features an "anti-splashback" design for those with less-than-desirable aim (score!).Of course, for you non-hand washers out there, this is just another toilet. You know who you are. [Hershwood 3D via The Design Blog]

Peeandgo, The Lady Urinal with a Splash of Gold

Kit Eaton — Fri, 30 May 2008 07:59:00 EDT

You may be forgiven for thinking it's toilet week here on Giz, but how could we not show you this? The Peeandgo, designed by Chen-Karlsson takes its inspiration from traditional squat urinals in Asia and the Middle East, and I'm guessing its *ahem* provocative shape is designed to stop splashback. There's no info on pricing, or indeed on whether that's real gold, so it looks like a design prototype. It's nice to see a rethink, and a bit of luxury devoted to the oft-ignored porcelain things in the bathroom, but, ladies of Giz, do you think this design is actually convenient nowadays? [Belowtheclouds via Likecool]

Cute Elephant Robot Drinks Human Urine

Sean Fallon — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:00:00 EDT

Those crazy inventors over at Mertec in Japan have recently unveiled their newest creation—a robot elephant designed to clean urinals. The man behind the unique design claims that the elephant theme came to him because he imagined the trunk as "a powerful reversal of the urinal drain." The idea of reversal is even represented in the robot's brand name "DCBA" (ABCD). Mertec claims that DCBA can clean a urinal in 10 seconds and save 8 liters of water in the process. All I know is that if I ever travel to Japan and see one of these things patrolling a bathroom, I'm keeping my junk tucked safely in my pants. [Impress via 3yen]

Crazy Singing Clown Urinal Makes Us Go HAHAHAARRGHHSTOPDOINGTHAT!

Jesus Diaz — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 06:56:45 EST

This Japanese mechanical urinal in Osaka is an all-laughing, all-singing clown with a huge mouth. Yes, you read that well: it sings and moves up and down as you pee in it. And it has teeth. I know. After seeing it in action, I found it so wrong on so many levels that I had to put the video after the jump for other sensitive souls like me.

I don't know about you, but I think this beats our previous Wrongmodo entries, the Jesuswitch and the Musical SpongeBob Digital Thermometer, by a wide margin. [LiveLeak]

Gloo Urinals Inspire Good Aim, Bad Taste

Mark Wilson — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 09:43:44 EST

You don't have the ultimate bachelor pad unless you own a urinal. And as long as you're going all out with the theme, the urinal might as well glow like the slutty fluorescents of a cheap motel sign. The Gloo urinal is built from plastic and filled with LEDs, at last bringing the same style we see in the Aurea to your urea. Of course, the $655 price tag may make you wet yourself anyway.

For those looking for more practical toilet lighting solutions, check out this little gadget. [philipwatts via techdigest]

Folding Installable Home Urinal Provides Class

Jason Chen — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 17:20:28 EDT

Nothing says luxury housing like a folding home urinal, which is just what you can get when you pick up one of these from Mister Miser. Not only is it great for people who hate wiping their pee off the toilet seat, it's great for conservationists as well—it only takes 10 ounces per flush. Ten! Plus, it's so space efficient, you can install one in every room of the house, meaning you'll never have to walk that extra 25 feet to the bathroom again. [Mister Miser via Luxury Housing Trends via Smart Stuff via Uber Review]

Piss-Screen Urinal Game Discourages Drunk Driving

kthompson — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 20:20:54 EDT

Forget the Wiimote, this humble German-engineered device houses a racing game controlled by your powerful stream of urine. Designed to promote taxis as an alternative to drunk driving, the Piss-Screen shocks drunkards with a brutal car crash when they inevitably ram their virtual roadster into oncoming traffic. Apparently if you're too drunk to play a video game with your junk, you're too drunk to drive home. Don't have to pee? Try the web-based game, which isn't limited by your bladder volume. [The Piss-Screen via Geekologie]

WACOM Urinals, Disturbing Even if Fake

Mark Wilson — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 16:50:01 EDT

At first glance, the self-explanatory "WACOM" urinals seem like a good idea. Featuring a built-in LCD display, hands free operation, and the romantic musk of blue sterilizing cake, all the elements are present for those special times when a man needs his...relief. But then you notice the monitor is displaying a child's drawing and you begin to worry for society, yourself, the guy who did the Photoshop and the poor souls at Adobe who probably feel like they were part of The Mahatten Project II. [The World's Best Urinal]

Talking Urinal Cakes Discourage Drunks, Deliver Urgent Messages

Charlie White — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 15:45:00 EST

It's the perfect place to reach those who are spiraling down that path to drunkenness: a urinal, where guys who are merely renting beer are returning its effervescent byproducts whence they came. The weird thing is, this urinal cake actually talks. As soon as it senses motion, a disembodied voiceover babe talks to your penis thusly:

"Hey there, big guy. Having a few drinks? It's time to call a cab or ask a sober friend for a ride home."

Good message, but what an odd medium to deliver it! Captive audience, indeed. But we see all this urinal-based nagging as a slippery slope. Next, these little piss catchers will be singing us beer jingles. – Charlie White

DWI message finds home in urinal [Free Newmexican, via CrunchGear]

Panasonic DL-GWN Toilet Seat Lights Your Pee-Path

Charlie White — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 10:37:15 EDT

Panasonic makes a foray into the useless toilet seat business, trying to sell this Panasonic DL-GWN device that lights up a bull's-eye in the water at which to aim your stream. Its light has a dual function, also warming the toilet seat, which we can tell you from personal experience is a highly desirable feature, especially in winter.

But hey, instead of spending the $1165 on this throne, we would suggest a dimmable light switch in your bathroom along with a heated toilet seat, both which can be had for a fraction of that price and accomplish the same thing. Or better yet, guys, get your own urinal—no lights needed, no splashing unless you're really drunk and your aim is off by 90 degrees. Anyway, the Panasonic DL-GWN will be available November 1. – Charlie White

New Toilet Seat helps you pee when drunk [Newlaunches]

Peter Potty: Training Urinal

Noah R — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 14:18:32 EST

Why is it that all those potty training toilets for our sons are of the sit-down variety? Because women control the world, and are biased against men who mark their territory around the toilet while stand-up peeing. Well, boys, no longer will your son have to suffer the indignity of peeing like a girlie. Meet the Peter Potty, the toddler urinal. It even has a flush system—fill the top reservoir with water and empty it from a tray on the bottom. Which is useful, assuming your two-year-old can pull down his pants and undies, grab his wee-wee and manage to get any of his pee into the basin without being distracted by the Wizmark Interactive Urinal Communicator you put in the there for fun.

According to its creators, "The PeterPotty is proven to reduce the potty training age for boys by an average of six months..." While the website does not provide any research proving this claim, it's sure to be related to the confidence your son will gain by learning to pee all over the floor and toddle away from his mess without looking back. It's never too early to teach him that cleaning the toilet is a job best left for his sister, mother or maid. The Peter Potty is available from major retailers for between $39.99 and $49.99.

Product Page

Pit Stop Portable Urinal: 1.25 Gallons Before Stopping

Charlie White — Wed, 22 Mar 2006 12:27:54 EST

Here s Pit Stop, the portable urinal designed for truckers that's tailor-made for guys and gals with promises to keep. The receiving end is designed to be mounted on the wall of a truck s sleeper cab, while the leakproof container at the other end of the five-foot transfer hose is self-sealing with a quick-disconnect mechanism. The 1.25-gallon tank s carrying handle facilitates easy transport of all of that detritus without danger of spillage, and is probably big enough for a non-stop coast-to-coast haul.

Now if somebody would just figure out a way to refuel a truck on the fly, those big rigs would never have to stop. Miles to go before you sleep? Pick one up for $59.95.

Product page [via Strange New Products]

Flushless Urinals Receive Awards, Save Water

Charlie White — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 11:16:12 EST

Thanks to the laws of physics and some good old ingenuity, there's no need to use water to get rid of liquid waste any more. Even though it sounds gross, flushless/waterless urinals received a 2006 Award for Design Excellence and have been endorsed by the U.S. Green Building Council. Best of all, if just 10% of conventional urinals could be converted to waterless, 200 billion gallons of water could be saved each year.

How does it work? The flushless urinal contains a liquid consisting of alcohol and mineral oils, which are lighter than the urine which flows through the liquid and down the drain. There's a special cartridge that replaces the conventional drain that makes this possible. It wouldn't be much fun to be the poor soul who has to change those cartridges, though.

No Flush: Let the Yellow Mellow [Wired News]