GB2232079A

GB2232079A - Portable toilet

Info

Publication number: GB2232079A
Application number: GB8912835A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graeme Walter Jobling Metcalf; Diane Metcalf
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-06-03
Filing date: 1989-06-03
Publication date: 1990-12-05
Also published as: EP0402066A1; GB8912835D0

Description

1 1 CHILD'S POTTY

SPECIFICATION

This invention relates to an improved child's potty.

Potties for use by small children suffer from two particular disadvantages. The f irst is that they are not usually easily portable, and therefore are not appropriate for travel. The second concerns the disposal of the contents of the potty after use by the child, which again is a particular problem when travelling.

it is an object of the present invention to provide an impr--ved child's potty which over- - least -omes or a. substantially reduces these problems and which also has additional bene-fits not found with convent ional potties.

Broadly in accordance with the present invention there is provided a portable child's potty comprising a -ion and an openable and carrying case having a base port closable lid, a receptacle zone within the base portion, and a seat portion movable between a lowered -ion overlies position, for use, in which the seat por4L -ion which permit the base portion and a raised posit I-s access to the interior of the base port'-ion.

Preferably, the base portion defines a receptacle bowl and peripheral compartments for storage purposes.

Preferably, the potty is designed to be used with a disposable liner bag which is adapted to be fitted into the receptacle zone within the base portion and which can be secured in place by the seat portion in its lowered position.

The incorporation of the potty into a carrying case gives improved portability, and the addition, in the 1 2 preferred embodiment, of storage compartments within the case enables one to transport spare liner bags, tissues, wipes, etc. conveniently within the one unit. The portable unit also has good stability, particularly if the carrying case is formed as a box-shaped structure.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, one presently preferred embodiment of portable child's potty in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows -'I.-.he portable unit with the carrying case closed; Fig. 2 shows the unit with the lid open; -ional view t Fig. 3 is a sec' i-aken on the lins IT.I III in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a view of the unit with the lid open and with the seat raised; and Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V- V in Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a port'-able carrying case, indicated generally at 10, which comprises a base portion 12 and a lid 14 which can be opened and closed. The lid 14 is held close" by a suitable catch or fastener 16 and the base port-ion 12 is fitted with a carrying handle 18.

In Fig. 2 the carrying case is shown with the lid 14 open. The lid 14 is hinged to the base portion 12. A seat portion 20 is also hingedly connected along one edge to the base portion 12, in practice to the edge of the base portion which lies opposite the carrying handle 18. The seat portion 20 is provided with a central hole 22. At the front side of the hole 22 the seat portion is raised to form a splashguard, and to the rear of the hole 22 the seat portion is raised to 1 1 3 provide support for the child using the seat. on the underside of the seat portion 20 are provided reinforcing ribs 24, for example from the zone defining the hole 22 to the four corners.

The base portion 12 of the case incorporates a bowl portion 26 with storage compartments 27, 28 and 29 positioned around it. The bowl 26 and storage compartments can be formed for example by a suitable moulding, either as part of the base portion 12 or as a component which can be fitted into the base. It will be appreciated that the number and size of the storage compar4Cments is a matter of choice. The receptacle bowl 26 is designed to be used with a disposable plastics liner bag 30. As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the disposable liner bag 30 is positioned so that the upper edge of the bag is held in place when the seat 20 is lowered into Position for use. Then, after use, the seat 20 can be raised and the bag can be closed, sealed and removed. After being sealed, the bag 30 can be placed within one of the storage compartments or in the bowl for disposal at a later date, which again is a benefit when travelling.

In one alternative embodiment of the invention, the disposable liner bag 30 can be used without an actual bowl, although the provision of a bowl is preferred.

In this alternative embodiment the bag would simply be held or secured between the seat and a rim supported within the base of the carrying case. with the bag hanging freely therewithin.

Although the portable unit of the present invention can be made of any suitable materials, it is preferably made of plastics material, for example by moulding. By virtue of its shape and cons'.-ruc"L--iin the portable unit of the present invention is also usable as a step-up stool.

1 4

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A portable child's potty comprising a carrying case having a base portion and an openable and closable lid, a receptacle zone within the base portion, and a seat portion movable between a lowered position, for use, in which the seat portion overlies the base portion and a raised position which permits access to the interior of the base portion.

2. A potty as claimed in claim 1, in which the base portion def ines a receptacle bowl and peripheral compartments.

3. A potty as.claimed in claim 1, in which the base portion is fitted with means defining a support ring from which a bag can be suspended.

4. A potty as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, in which a disposable bag is adapted to be fitted into the receptacle zone within the base portion and is held in place by the seat portion in its lowered position.

5. A potty as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the lid is hinged to the base portion and is pivotable through substantially 1800, and the seat portion is hinged to the base portion and is pivotable through substantially 900.

6. A potty as claimed in claim 2, in which the bowl and peripheral compartments are formed as a one-piece component arranged to be fitted into the base portion.

7. A potty as claimed in any preceding claim, moulded from plastics material.

8. A portable child's potty substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Published 1990 atThe Patent Office, State House. 6671 HighHolborn. London WC I R 4TP. Further copies maybe obtainedfrom The Patent OfficeSales Branch, St Mary Cray Orpington. Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mary Cray. Kent, Con. 1/87