Happy Birthday

Here at the UW an amazing birthday is going to happen...if you didn't say Happy Birthday go do it you owe it one!!!!!!!!!!!! I said Happy Birthday 3 times today...March 27- Andrew Rankin patents the urinal.

A urinal is a specialized toilet designed to be used only for urination.

It often contains a deodorizing urinal cake contained within a plastic mesh guard container or a plastic mesh guard without a urinal cake. The plastic mesh guard is designed to prevent solid objects such as cigarette butts, feces, or paper from being flushed and possibly causing a plumbing stoppage.

Urinal with strawberry scented urinal cake.

The term may also apply to a small building or other structure, in which such toilets are contained. Or it can refer to a small container where urine can be collected for medical purposes, or to use where access to washroom facilities is not possible, such as in small aircraft or for the bedridden.

Manual handles

This type of flush might be regarded as standard in the United States. Each urinal is equipped with a button or short lever to activate the flush, with users expected to operate it as they leave. Such a directly-controlled system is the most efficient provided that patrons remember to use it. This is far from certain, however, often because of fear of touching the handle which is located too high to kick.^[1] Urinals with foot-activated flushing systems are sometimes found in high-traffic areas; these systems have a button set into the floor or a pedal on the wall at ankle height. Some establishments, often bars, pubs or nightclubs, fill their urinals with ice cubes during peak hours. As the ice melts it serves to slowly flush the urinal, and also cools the urine to prevent smells from rising during use. The ice may also provide entertainment to patrons as they urinate. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that flush valves be mounted no higher than 44" AFF (above the finished floor). Additionally, the urinal shall be mounted no higher than 17" AFF, which has a rim that is tapered and elongated and protrudes at least 14" from the wall. This enables users in wheelchairs to straddle the lip of the urinal and urinate without having to "arc" the flow of urine too high.

Voice-Activated Flush

In some regions of Japan, particularly the industrial zones of Honshu. These flush systems are triggered by the word "wash!", "fire" or "destroy the grime" in over 30 different languages.

Timed flush

A rather primitive urinal in Chung Ling High School, Malaysia, operated using timed-flush mechanism.

In the United Kingdom & Ireland and in some parts of Sweden, manual flush handles are unusual. Instead, the traditional system is a timed flush that operates automatically at regular intervals. Groups of up to ten or so urinals will be connected to a single overhead cistern, which contains the timing mechanism. A constant drip-feed of water slowly fills the cistern, until a tripping point is reached, the valve opens, and all the urinals in the group are flushed. Electronic controllers performing the same function are also used.

This system does not require any action from its users, but it is wasteful of water where the toilets are used irregularly. However, because British men are so used to the automatic system, attempts to install manual flushes to save water are generally unsuccessful. Users ignore them not through deliberate laziness or fear of infection, but because activating the flush is not habitual.

To help reduce water usage when restrooms are closed, some restrooms with timed flushing use an electric water valve connected to the restroom light switch. When the building is in active use during the day and the lights are on, the timed flush operates normally. At night when the building is closed, the lights are turned off and the flushing action stops.

"Kisses!" is a controversial urinal designed by Dutch designer Meike van Schijndel.

A mouth kiss urinal.

It is shaped like an open pair of red lips.^[3] In early March of 2004 the National Organization for Women (NOW) took offense to these new urinals Virgin Atlantic Airways decided to install in the Virgin Atlantic clubhouse at JFK Airport in New York, New York.^[4] After receiving many angry phone calls from female customers Virgin Atlantic Vice President John Riordan called NOW to apologize.^[5] Protestors surmised a connection to oral sex and/or urolagnia, and based complaints on the urinals being sexist.

A McDonald's restaurant in the Netherlands removed them after an American complained to the U.S. head office. Ironically, the urinal in question was designed by a woman.^[6]

In March of 2006, the Associated Press reported that the plumbers union in Philadelphia had become upset because the developer of the city's newest skyscraper, Liberty Property Trust, has decided to use waterless urinals. Many in the union decided that because of the decision that this would lead to less work for them. The developer cited saving the city 1.6 million gallons of water per year as its deciding factor.^[7]

Former Wham! lead singer George Michael was arrested for "engaging in a lewd act" with another man in a public restroom. His first post-incident single was "Outside" which had a music video with disco ball styled urinals.