DK179828B1

DK179828B1 - Open top portable transport unit

Info

Publication number: DK179828B1
Application number: DKPA201870023A
Authority: DK
Inventors: Højland Egebjerg Alexander; Terry Carolina Perier Gina
Original assignee: Lapee Aps
Priority date: 2018-01-12
Filing date: 2018-01-12
Publication date: 2019-07-22
Also published as: DK201870023A1; WO2019137592A1; EP3737807A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a portable open top pissoir unit (1), configured for being stackable and formed as a molded unitary structure, comprising at least two stalls (30, 40, 50) separated from each other by sections (32, 42, 52) of a wall (10), said sections (32, 42, 52) preferably extending outwardly from a vertical axis (X), each stall (30, 40, 50) having a urinal (100) or being configured for mounting a urinal (100), a lower portion (7) of said wall (10) defining a downwardly open recess (R) and having a lower peripheral edge (14), preferably by which the pissoir unit (1) may rest directly on a ground surface (G), a pissoir unit (1) top portion (5) integrally molded with said portion (7) defining a free upper edge (12) of said pissoir unit (1), said wall (10) tapering towards said free upper edge (12), said wall (10) being formed as a hollow structure defined by converging opposite inside and outside skins (16, 18), said inside and outside skins (16, 18) being separated by a downwardly open hollow space (20) communicating with said recess (R), said skins (16, 18) having respective outer faces (17, 19) defining the surfaces of said pissoir unit (1) being visible in normal use of the pissoir unit (1), said outside skins (16, 18) that define the surfaces facing the outside of the pissoir unit 1 defining said lower portion (7), a respective elevated stall bottom (35, 45, 55) being formed as an integral portion of said inside skins (16, 18) facing the inside of a respective stall (30, 40, 50) and providing a stepping surface above said recess (R).

Description

An open top portable pissoir unit

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to the field of portable open top pissoir units, of the type that may be moved from a storage facility to a site of temporary use.

Background

Portable open top toilets, in the following referred to as open top pissoirs, are well known in the art, see by way of example US2009/0188025, US2010/0058518, WO2015/033007, WO2007/094656, http://www.ipreferparis.net/2011/07/modern-day-pissoirs.html and www.zdnet.com/article/finally-a-urinal-for-girls/.

While some of the prior art portable pissoirs have gained widespread use problems arise when they are transported from a storage facility to the site of temporary use, during which transport the prior art pissoir units are typically placed next to each other on a truck body or stacked on top of each other, as shown in fig. 6 of WO 2007/094656, where a top projection of a lower unit is accommodated in an indentation in the bottom of the upper unit, similarly to the stacking principle followed with the telescopic pissoir unit shown in fig. 7 of WO 2015/033007. Specifically, the prior art pissoir units involve the problem that relatively few pissoir units may be stacked and then transported on a truck body due to restrictions caused by road obstacles, such as bridges.

Another problem resides in the prior art portable pissoir units not being fully suitable for female users; typically they are perceived as being uncomfortable in use or as providing a visually unprotected environment.

Summary

The present invention provides a unitary pissoir unit, preferably molded in one piece through rotational molding, allowing a compact stacking of several identical units while at the same time providing for a safe environment for a user, for easy cleaning, for low cost manufacturing, and/or for use together with a high volume urine reception tank.

More specifically, the aforementioned problems are solved through a wall structure of the pissoir unit comprising sections defining individual urinal stalls and having two opposite skins defining a hollow space, the hollow space communicating with a bottom recess delimited by an outer skin of the two opposite skins, an inner skin of the two opposite skins facing the stall being integral with a raised pissoir unit bottom defining a stepping surface for a person using a stall of the pissoir unit.

In one embodiment the pissoir unit of the invention may be specifically configured for female users.

Embodiments of the invention are defined in the appended claims.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1a is a schematic perspective view of a stack comprising four identical stackable and portable open top pissoir units, each according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

Fig. 1b is a top view of five individual pissoir units of the first embodiment, placed for storage in a closely fitting relationship next to each other,

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the various procedures involved in the transporting of the pissoir unit of the invention,

Fig. 3 shows the pissoir unit of the first embodiment used together with a separate urine reception tank,

Fig. 4a is an enlarged top view of the pissoir unit of the first embodiment,

Fig. 4b is a vertical cross-sectional view of the pissoir unit of fig. 4a along line C-C,

Fig. 4c is a view similar to fig. 4b, showing a stack of the pissoir units of fig. 4b,

Figs. 5a and 5b illustrate a “step-right-in” variant of the first embodiment, in perspective top and bottom views,

Fig. 6a is a schematic view showing the first embodiment of the pissoir unit of the invention adapted for female users, with certain features not visible from the outside of the pissoir unit being shown in broken lines,

Figs. 6b and 6c are partial, vertical cross-sectional views similar to fig. 4b along line C-C in fig. 4a,

Figs. 7a-7c are perspective sectional and full views of an exemplary urinal for use with the pissoir unit of the invention,

Figs. 8a and 8b are perspective and top views of a second embodiment of the pissoir unit of the invention,

Figs. 9a and 9b are schematic cross-sections and perspective bottom views, respectively, of a part of a mold for rotational molding of the pissoir unit of the invention, and

Figs. 10a-10c are horizontal cross-sectional views from above taken at different levels through the pissoir unit of fig. 4a, fig. 10c showing a cross-sectional view below the stall bottom and indicating the location of the urinals openings located thereabove in broken lines.

Detailed description

The invention will now be explained in more detail below by reference to two presently preferred embodiments.

Fig. 1a is a schematic perspective view of a stack comprising four identical stackable and portable open top pissoir units 1, each according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In use the pissoir units 1 are placed individually at a selected site of use, such as at a festival ground, either in a group of similar pissoir units 1 or standing alone on the ground surface G.

The stackable pissoir unit 1 of the present invention and to be described in further details below is a molded unitary structure formed from eg. polyethylene, preferably made through a rotational molding process. Generally, the vertical height H of each pissoir unit 1 may be in the order of 140-200 cm, possibly with some variation within that range for each pissoir unit 1, but other dimensions may be foreseen.

Fig. 1b is a top view of five individual pissoir units 1 of the first embodiment, placed for storage in a closely fitting relationship next to each other on the ground surface G or other supporting surface of a pissoir unit 1 storage facility.

The shown pissoir units 1 each have three stalls 30, 40, 50 separated from each other by sections 32, 42, 52 of a wall generally referred to in the following by reference numeral 10. The sections 32, 42, 52 extend from a vertical axis X passing through the centre of mass of the pissoir unit 1. Alternatively, another number, such as four, similar stalls may be provided, with a corresponding number of wall sections extending from the axis X.

Each stall 30, 40, 50 has a urinal 100, preferably adapted specifically for use either by a male or by a female user, as seen in fig. 1b. The wall sections 32, 42, 52 preferably are configured to reduce or eliminate direct visibility from the outside of the pissoir unit 1 of the side of a user using the urinal 100. For the shown first embodiment portions of the wall sections 32, 42, 52 are curved and follow the general outline of the arc of a circle; other outlines of the wall sections 32, 42, 52 may be selected without departing from the invention.

Shown also in fig. 1a is an eye defining a lifting engagement structure 2 of the pissoir unit 1 and being engageable by a mobile lifting apparatus 500 operating on a ground surface G, as shown in fig. 2, for moving the pissoir unit 1. The lifting engagement structure 2 is positioned at the vertical axis X above the centre of mass of the pissoir unit 1 to allow for a balanced lifting of the pissoir unit 1, as also shown in fig. 2, whereby the pissoir unit 1 will remain upright during lifting. The lifting apparatus 500 engaging the engagement structure 2 may be operated at the site of use of the pissoir unit 1 and/or at the storage facility, and may be used in the process of forming a stack of the pissoir units 1, or for destacking. At a lower portion 7 of the pissoir unit 1 preferably may be arranged dedicated base portions B configured to be engageable for portability by a fork lift 510 to allow for shifting of a stack of pissoir units 1, or of a single pissoir unit 1, across the ground surface G. Using the fork lift 510 the pissoir units 1 may be placed on a truck body for transport from a storage facility to a site of use; alternatively, where the pissoir units 1 are locked together in a stack as shown in fig. 1a the lifting apparatus 500 may be used for lifting the entire stack by engaging the engagement structure 2 of the uppermost pissoir unit 1 of the stack. It is noted that engagement structures 2 in the form of anchors with eyes anchored to the molded pissoir unit 1 may be used; alternatively, by way of example, the lifting apparatus 500 may engage holes 2 formed in the wall 10.

Fig. 3 shows the pissoir unit 1 of the first embodiment used together with a separate urine reception tank 110 configured for being received by the pissoir unit 1 and preferably following the general outline of the pissoir unit 1 for maimum capacity. Preferably, the lower portion 7 of the pissoir unit 1 has a peripheral edge or flange 14 via which the pissoir unit 1 may rest on the ground surface G, with the reception tank 110 having a base or peripheral edge 114 similarly configured for resting on the ground surface G inside the lower portion

7. The reception tank 110 received by the pissoir unit 1 is generally not visible in use where by the action of gravity it receives urine from the individual urinals 100, i.e. from each stall 30, 40, 50; where no reception tank 110 is provided the urinals 100 may be connected by a pipe connection to a sewer (not shown).

Fig. 4a is an enlarged top view of the pissoir unit 1 of the first embodiment; fig. 4b is a vertical cross-sectional view of the pissoir unit of fig. 4a along line C-C and illustrating some of the general, inventive features of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 4b, a pissoir unit 1 top portion 5 integrally molded with the aforementioned lower portion 7 generally defines a free upper edge 12 of the open top pissoir unit 1, with the wall 10 tapering towards the free upper edge 12. As seen best in fig. 4b, the wall 10 in accordance with the invention is formed as a hollow structure by each of the sections 32, 42, 52 being defined by two slightly inclined and converging opposite skins 16, 18, preferably each having an inclination to the vertical in the order of 1°-5°, such as 1.46°, and preferably having an essentially constant and uniform thickness following from a rotational molding process, the opposite skins 16, 18 being separated by a downwardly open hollow space 20 extending from the axis X.

The opposite skins 16, 18 of each section 32, 42, 52 have respective outer faces 17, 19 facing away from the hollow space 20 to define the surfaces of the wall sections 32, 42, 52 visible in normal use of the pissoir unit 1. By way of example, and referring to the first embodiment shown in figs. 4a and 4b, for the wall section identified by numeral 32 the skin thereof referenced by numeral 18 has its outer face 19 facing the stall 30 while for the wall section identified by numeral 52 a skin thereof has its outer face 19 facing the outside of the pissoir unit 1. The skins, or portions thereof - such as the curved portion of skin 16 of section 32 shown in fig. 4a - having a face 17 oriented away from the hollow space 20 and towards the outside of the pissoir unit 1 to define at least a portion of the outer contour of the pissoir unit 1 will be referred to herein as the “outside skin”, and preferably defines at the same time the aforementioned peripheral edge 14.

More specifically, as seen in fig. 4c, the lower portion 7 of the pissoir unit 1 is defined by an integral lower portion of the skin that has its outer face facing the outside of the pissoir unit 1. The lower portion 7 defines a downwardly open recess R which in use of the pissoir unit 1 receives the tank 110, which recess R communicates with the downwardly open hollow space 20.

The aforementioned downwardly open recess R and hollow space 20 is according to the invention configured for receiving an upper portion P of the tapering wall 10' of an identical, subadjacent (lower) pissoir unit 1' of a stack of the pissoir units, as seen best in fig. 4c, preferably also with at least a portion 7' of the lower portion 7 of the subadjacent pissoir unit 1' being receivable in the recess R of the upper/super adjacent pissoir unit 1 for compact stacking, with preferably around 80%-90% of the subadjacent pissoir unit 1' being receivable by the superadjacent one, such as after proper orientation/turning of the superadjacent one about the axis X. This preferably follows from the wall 10 tapering evenly towards the free upper edge 12 and from the horizontal distance between the opposite inner faces 17', 19' of the skins 16, 18 varying in accordance with the variation in the overall thickness of the wall 10, i.e. with the variation in the horizontal distance between the outer faces 17, 19 of the skins 16, 18 of the wall 10. The wall 10 may as shown be provided with a stop 3 for limiting the extent to which the wall 10' of the subadjacent pissoir unit 1' may be introduced into/received by the hollow space 20 of the super adjacent pissoir unit 1, to ensure that the pissoir units 1, 1' do not become too hard to release from one another due to contact friction.

Referring still to figs. 4a and 4b an upright, preferably slightly inclined end 33, 43, 53 of each wall section 32, 42, 52 is shown. This upright end 33, 43, 53 of each wall section 32, 42, 52 defines between a nearest, opposite wall section 52, 32, 42 an access A into a respective stall 30, 40, 50, via a step 36, 46, 56. Figs. 4a-4c shows the first embodiment of the invention in a “step-left-in” variant where a user moves to the left for reaching the urinal 100 after having entered the stall via the access A. Figs. 5a and 5b, to which reference will now be made, illustrate a “step-right-in” variant of the first embodiment where a user moves to the right for reaching the urinal (not shown) of the stall 35, 45, 55 entered via the access A.

Figs. 4b, 5a and 5b show that each stall 30, 40, 50 is defined in addition to the respective wall sections 32, 42, 52 by a respective elevated stall bottom 35, 45, 55 connected to a lower edge L of the inside skin, i.e. the skin/skin portion having an outer face oriented towards the inside of the respective stall 30, 40, 50, to ensure high stability of the pissoir unit 1 and to provide a stepping surface above the tank 110. Preferably, the stall bottoms 35, 45, 55 are formed as an integral part of the pissoir unit 1, the connection with the lower edge L of the wall skin facing the inside of the stall 30, 40, 50 being established during the rotational molding procedure. In a presently less preferred embodiment the stall bottoms 35, 45, 55 may be connected to the wall 10 after the molding procedure, preferably via a permanent connection, to remain connected with the wall 10 in the future use of the pissoir unit 1. Urinal 100 receiving openings 38, 48, 58 are formed in the stall bottoms 35, 45, 55.

As seen best in fig. 6b, in the shown first embodiment the stall bottoms 35, 45, 55 comprise an integrally molded raised wall 37, 47,57 delimiting together with the aforementioned inside skin of the wall 10 a respective one of the openings 38, 48, 58.

The aforementioned openings 38, 48, 58 are for receiving a complementary, preferably removable urinal 100 in fluid communication with the urine reception tank 110, as will be explained later with reference to i.a. fig. 4b.

Each elevated stall bottom 35, 45, 55 provides a surface that a user may step up to from the level of the ground G in that the stall bottoms 35, 45, 55 are at a distance from the lower peripheral edge 14. For the shown embodiment the stall bottoms 35, 45, 55 include a further step 36, 46, 56 provided at the access A; this allows for placing a high volume urine reception tank 110 between the ground G and the stall bottoms 35, 45, 55 and may also be of particular advantage where the pissoir unit 1 is adapted for use by female users, as shown in fig. 6a. The lower surface of the stall bottoms 35, 45, 55, such as of the further step 36, 46, 56, conveniently may define a base portion B configured to be engageable by direct contact by a fork lift 510 to allow for shifting of a stack of pissoir units 1, as mentioned above in connection with fig. 2.

Turning briefly to fig. 6a, as shown, the first embodiment of the pissoir unit 1 of the invention is adapted for female users by the stall bottoms 35, 45, 55 being located at such a height that a female user in squatting position will have her eyes at substantially the same level as the eyes E of a person of average height standing outside the pissoir unit 1. By forming the free upper edge 12 of the pissoir unit 1 at this level the female user is able to monitor the pissoir unit 1 surroundings for any threats/distrurbing elements by looking over the free dge 12 while at the same time the wall section 32, 42, 52 defining the stall 30, 40, 50 reduces or eliminates direct visibility of her side from the outside of the pissoir unit 1. Generally, for this the level of the stall bottom 35 stepping surface within a stall is formed so as to be located at a height h above ground level G or above the lower peripheral edge 14, corresponding to between 15% and 40%, preferably between 20% and 30%, of the total height H of the pissoir unit 1. Armrests (not shown) may be provided for suitable support of the female user in squatting position.

Figs. 6b and 6c are partial, vertical cross-sectional views similar to fig. 4b along line C-C in fig. 4a and representative of a urinal receiving opening 38, 48, 58 in some or all of the stalls 30, 40, 50. Schematically shown is a portion of the wall 10 and the stall bottom 35 of one of the stalls 30, together with a small height raised wall 37 being an integral part of the bottom 35 and the inside skin 18, delimiting together with the inside skin 18 a respective one of the openings 38, 48, 58. The opening 38 may have been formed in a cutting operation following rotational molding of the pissoir unit 1.

A urinal 100 is mounted to the openings 38, 48, 58. In the shown example, from an upper edge 37' of the raised wall 37 is suspended an oval urinal 100 formed as a bowl having a drain 105 and an outwardly extending rim for being suspended on the upper edge 37', as shown in figs. 7a-7c. Before use of the pissoir unit 1 a urinal 100 is inserted into each opening 38, 48, 58, and the urinal 100 may be moved either for rinsing after use of the pissoir unit 1 or for the purpose of introducing a suction pipe into the tank 110, for emptying thereof. A tissue paper receiving part 103 communicating with a separate tissue paper container (not shown) may also be provided.

Figs. 8a and 8b show a second, two-stall 30, 50 embodiment of a molded unitary pissoir unit 1 of the invention, and particularly suitable for standing up male users. Only two wall sections 32, 52 of the wall 10, each comprising portions at 90 degree to one another, are provided, extending each from the vertical axis X, and the two stalls 30, 50 have a raised stall bottom 35, 55 providing space for a urine reception tank (not shown). Openings 38, 58 for receiving a urinal 100 in the form of a removable bowl or similar structure, as shown by way of example in fig. 7c, for receiving urine may be provided, and the inside skin facing the inside of each stall 30, 50 and/or the bottom 35, 55 may have a recessed portion or area 90 defining a splash zone and/or a inclined surface for guiding urine towards a respective opening 38, 58 of the stall 30, 50. For stacking the pissoir unit 1 according to this second embodiment the wall 10 the wall 10 is formed at described in connection with fig. 4b with downwardly open hollow spaces 20 between the opposite skins of the wall section 32, 52 comminicating with a recess R. Specifically, the wall 10 tapers towards the free upper edge 12 and the horizontal distance between the opposite inner faces the skins 16, 18 vary in accordance with the variation in the overall thickness of the wall 10, i.e. with the variation in the horizontal distance between the outer faces 17, 19 of the skins 16, 18, of the wall 10. The wall 10 may be again provided with a stop/stops for limiting the extent to which the wall 10' of a subadjacent identical pissoir unit may be introduced into/received by the hollow spaces 20 and recess R of the super adjacent pissoir unit 1, to ensure that the pissoir units are not too hard to release from one another due to contact friction.

Figs. 9a and 9b show a partial cross-sectional view and a perspective bottom view of a mold 200 suitable for rotational molding of the pissoir unit 1 according to the first embodiment of the invention and, with slight modifications also for the second embodiment described above. During the molding process a plastic material layer will be formed in contact with the removable mold base 201;

this layer is cut away to open up into the inside of the pissoir unit 1, thereby providing the aforementioned downwardly open space 20.

Claims

P a t e n t k r a v

A portable open top pissoir unit (1) configured to be stackable and configured as a molded unit structure, comprising:

- at least two stalls (30, 40, 50) spaced apart by sections (32, 42, 52) of a wall (10),

- the sections (32, 42, 52) preferably extending from a vertical axis (X),

- wherein each stall (30, 40, 50) has a urinal (100) or is configured to mount a urinal (100),

- wherein a lower part (7) of the wall (10) defines a downwardly open recess (R) and has a lower edge (14), preferably by means of which the pissor unit (1) can rest directly on a ground surface (G),

- a top portion (5) of the wall (10) molded to the lower portion (7) defines a free upper edge (12) of the pissing unit (1),

- the wall (10) pointing towards the free upper edge (12),

- wherein the wall (10) comprises a hollow structure defined by converging opposed inner and outer shells (16, 18),

- wherein the inner and outer shells (16, 18) are separated by a downwardly open cavity (20) in connection with the recess (R),

- wherein the outer shells (16, 18) are oriented towards the exterior of the pissing unit (1) and define the lower part (7) of the wall (10),

- wherein the inner shells (16, 18) are oriented towards the interior of a respective stall (30, 40, 50), and

- wherein a respective stall base (35, 45, 55) integrated with the inner shells (16, 18) provides a tread surface above the recess (R) for a user of the pissoir unit (1).

A pissoir unit (1) according to claim 1, wherein each stall includes a urinal (100) receiving opening (38, 48, 58), preferably formed in the bottom of the stall (35,

45, 55) of some or all of the stalls (30, 40, 50) and / or defined by a raised wall (37, 47,57) integrated with the base of the stalls (35, 45, 55) and together with the interior must delimit a respective of the openings (38, 48, 58).

A pissoir unit according to claim 2, wherein a urine (100) for receiving urine is mounted or can be mounted on each of the openings (38, 48, 58).

The pissoir unit (1) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the wall sections (32, 42, 52) are configured or disposed to reduce or eliminate direct visibility from the exterior of the pissoir unit (1) by the side of a user using the urinal (100) and / or that the shells (16, 18) have respective outer surfaces (17, 19) defining the surfaces of the pissing unit (1) visible during normal use of the pissing unit (1).

A pissoir unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shells (16, 18) are preferably inclined with respect to the vertical and preferably each have a substantially uniform thickness.

The pissoir unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sections (32, 42, 52) extend outwardly from a vertical axis (X), which vertical axis (X) passes through the center of gravity (M) of the pissoir unit. (1).

Pissure unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the level of the tread surface is at a height (h) above the lower peripheral edge (14), corresponding to between 15% and 40%, preferably between 20% and 30%, of the total height (H) of the pissing unit (1).

A pissoir unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, including a lifting engagement structure (2) for moving the pissoir unit (1), which lifting structure (2) is preferably arranged at the vertical axis (X).

A pissoir unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lower part (7) and / or the stall bottoms (35, 45, 55) have base parts (B) which are configured to be engaged with for transportability, for example, with a forklift (510), so that it is possible to move a stack of the pissoir units (1) or a single pissoir unit (1) over a ground surface (G).

A pissoir unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, including a separate urine receptacle (110) accommodated in the recess (R).