GB2384496A - Portable urinal - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable urinal comprises a housing <B>11</B>, a bowl <B>13</B>, a duct <B>14</B>, and a collector <B>15</B>. The components have relative to the housing <B>11</B> a working configuration and a storage configuration. In the working configuration, the duct <B>14</B> extends though a wall of the housing <B>11</B>, the bowl <B>13</B> is located on one end of the duct <B>14</B> outside the housing <B>11</B> and the other end of the duct <B>14</B> opens into the collector <B>15</B> located inside the housing <B>11</B>.

Description

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PORTABLE TOILET UNIT This invention relates to a portable toilet unit. It is particularly concerned with a such a unit for use in travel applications.

According to the present invention there is provided a portable toilet unit including components comprising: a housing, a bowl, a duct and a collector; the components having relative to the container a working configuration and a storage configuration wherein, in the working configuration, the duct extends through a wall of the container with the bowl is located on one end of the duct located outside the container and the end of the duct opposite to the one end opens into the collector located inside the container; the duct and collector in the working configuration serving to define a first path: for liquid from the bowl into the collector; and a separate second path for air displaced from the collector by liquid entering the collector.

According to a first preferred version of the present invention the housing is adapted to provide, in the storage configuration, locations for the bowl, duct and collector so that they are contained within the housing.

According to a second preferred version of the present invention or the first preferred version thereof the housing is adapted to provide locations for disposables such as tissue or liquids.

According to a third preferred version of the present invention or of any preceding preferred version thereof the housing includes means enabling the unit to be secured to an anchorage in a location where the unit is intended for use with the components in their working configuration.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying perspective drawings of a portable toilet unit of which: Figure 1 shows the unit when held in a box;

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Figure 2 shows the unit of Figure 1 with the stored components removed; and Figure 3 shows the unit of Figure 1 with the components of Figures 1 and 2 in a working configuration.

The figures variously show a portable toilet unit 11 including components comprising: a housing 12, a bowl 13, a duct 14, a collector 15. The unit 11 is closed by a lid L. The components have a working configuration (see Figure 3) and a storage configuration (see Figure 1).

Figure 3 shows the working configuration in which the duct 14 extends through wall 16 of the housing 12. The bowl 13 is located on end 17 of the duct 14 and located outside the housing 12 and end 18 of the duct 14 opens into the collector 15 located within the housing 12. The duct 14 and collector 15 in the working configuration serve to define a first path: PI for liquid from the bowl 13 into the collector 15; and a separate second path P2 for air displaced from the collector 15 by liquid entering the collector 15 along duct 14.

Figure 1 shows unit 11 with the components stored in the housing 16 in which they can be closed and stored by means of lid 16A.

Figure 2 shows the various individual items making up the unit 11. Housing 16 and its lid L (Figure 1) are of cardboard with a plastics material covering.

The housing 16 and its contents can be secured by the portions of straps, which lie outside the housing 16, whose central portions 21,22 pass through, respectively, apertures 23,24 in base 25 of the housing.

Bowl 13 is a frusto-conical unit of a flexible plastics material with a flexible rim 26 which in use can be readily pressed into contact with a body region area to provide a temporary water tight seal bounding the area. The bowl 13 has at narrower end 27 an

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integral stem 28. Central aperture 29 of the bowl 13 opens into stem 28 which in use engages with end 17 of the duct 14.

The end 18 of duct 14 extends in use into collector 15 by way of neck 27 which can be closed by cap 28.

The housing 12 has various storage regions for disposables for use wit6h the unit 11 typically: region 30 to receive a disinfectant spray 31 and region 32 for packets 33 of tissues.

Figure 1 shows lid L which has deep sides sufficient to cover the side of the housing 16 and also the outer end 17 of duct 14.

Claims (5)

1. CLAIMS 1 A portable toilet unit including components comprising: a housing, a bowl, a duct and a collector; the components having relative to the container a working configuration and a storage configuration wherein, in the working configuration, the duct extends through a wall of the container with the bowl is located on one end of the duct located outside the container and the end of the duct opposite to the one end opens into the collector located inside the container; the duct and collector in the working configuration serving to define a first path: for liquid from the bowl into the collector; and a separate second path for air displaced from the collector by liquid entering the collector.
2. 2 A unit as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the housing is adapted to provide, in the storage configuration, locations for the bowl, duct and collector so that they are contained within the housing.
3. 3'A unit as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein housing is adapted to provide locations for disposables such as tissue or liquids.
4. 4 A unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the housing includes means enabling the unit to be secured to an anchorage in a location where the unit is intended for use with the components in their working configuration.
5. 5 A toilet unit as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.