US20120102636A1

US20120102636A1 - Portable toilet

Info

Publication number: US20120102636A1
Application number: US13/282,885
Authority: US
Inventors: April West
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-11-01
Filing date: 2011-10-27
Publication date: 2012-05-03

Abstract

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a portable toilet is disclosed. The portable toilet includes a pan; a seat secured to a rim of the pan; and a liner disposed within an interior area of the pan, the liner having a draw member configured to seal the liner in response to a user pulling thereof, at least a portion of the draw member pullable through an opening to an exterior of the pan to seal the liner while a remaining portion of the liner remains within the pan.

Description

BACKGROUND

Many times, restroom facilities are unavailable when needed (e.g., when traveling, on a camping excursion, etc.). Portable toilets are one type of device that may be used in these situations.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the present disclosure a portable toilet is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the portable toilet comprises a pan; a seat secured to a rim of the pan; and a liner disposed within an interior area of the pan, the liner having a draw member configured to seal the liner in response to a user pulling thereof, at least a portion of the draw member pullable through an opening to an exterior of the pan to seal the liner while a remaining portion of the liner remains within the pan.
According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a portable toilet includes a pan; a seat secured to an upper periphery of the pan; and a liner fixedly secured within the pan, where the liner comprises a draw member extending through an opening in a sidewall of the pan, and where the draw member is pullable from an exterior of the pan to seal the liner across an upper portion of the pan.
According to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, a portable toilet includes a pan; a liner secured to an interior area of the pan; and a seat secured to an upper periphery of the pan and having an aperture providing access to the liner; and where the liner is sealable within the pan in response to pulling a draw member of the liner from an exterior of the pan.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present application, the objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a portable toilet according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an exploded assembly view of the portable toilet illustrated in FIG. 1 according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a section view of the portable toilet illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a section view of the portable toilet illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1 according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the portable toilet of FIG. 1 after sealing of a liner of the portable toilet according to the present disclosure; and

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of a portable toilet according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a portable toilet 10 in accordance with the present disclosure, and FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an exploded assembly view of toilet 10 of FIG. 1. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10, toilet 10 includes a pan 12, liner 14 and a seat 16. In FIG. 1, toilet 10 is configured having a generally triangular shape; however, it should be understood that toilet 10 may be formed having other geometric shapes (e.g., elliptical, circular, etc.).
In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, pan 12 includes a solid or apertureless bottom wall 20 and a sidewall 22 extending upwardly from bottom wall 20 toward a rim or upper periphery 24 of pan 12. Sidewall 22 extends upwardly from bottom wall 20 to form a cavity 26 in an interior area 28 of pan 12 for receiving liner 14 therein. In the illustrated embodiment, sidewall 22 includes a recess 30 located at an anterior position 32 along upper periphery 24 to enable a portion of liner to extend from interior area 28 of pan 12 to an area exterior to pan 12. However, it should be understood that recess 30 may be positioned elsewhere on pan 12 (e.g., along a posterior edge 34 of upper periphery 24, along a lateral edge 36 of upper periphery 24, or elsewhere). In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, recess 30 is located along upper periphery 24 of pan 12 to facilitate sealing of liner 14 at or near and extending across upper periphery 24 of pan 12 (e.g., as will be described in further detail below, a portion of liner 14 extends through an opening formed by recess 30); however, it should be understood that recess 30 and/or an opening to facilitate the extension of liner 14 to the exterior of pan 12 may be otherwise located along sidewall 22.
In FIGS. 1 and 2, seat 16 is formed having an aperture 40 to enable access therethrough toward interior area 28 of pan 12 (e.g., toward liner 14). Seat 16 is generally formed having a periphery 42 shaped to correspond to a shape of upper periphery 24 of pan 12. Seat 16 includes a planar upper surface or portion 44 to support a user of toilet 10. However, it should be understood that upper portion 44 may be otherwise shaped and/or configured. In some embodiments, seat 16 is permanently or fixedly secured to pan 12 to prevent or substantially prevent removal therefrom; however, it should be understood that in some embodiments, seat 16 may be releasably secured to pan 16 (e.g., using tabs, hooks, snap-fit elements, etc.). In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, an anterior location 46 includes a recess 48 positioned to correspond to recess 30 formed in pan 12 such that the interface of pan 12 and seat 16 at the locations of recesses 30 and 48 for an opening for a portion of liner 14 to extend therethrough to an exterior of pan 12. It should be understood that recess 48 may be otherwise located on seat 16 to correspond to a position of recess 30 on pan 12. It should also be understood that an opening for liner 14 to extend from interior area 28 of pan 12 to an exterior of pan 12 may be otherwise configured (e.g., residing solely in pan 12, residing solely along a portion of seat 16, etc.).
Liner 14 is generally formed having a shape to correspond to the shape of interior area 28 of pan 12 to facilitate liner 14 lying along an upper interior surface of bottom wall 20 and extending upwardly along an interior surface of sidewall 22 toward upper periphery 24. In some embodiments, liner 14 is formed of a waterproof material (e.g., plastic) having an inner hydrophilic lining material (e.g., a polymer) for fluid absorption. Liner 14 may also be formed of biodegradable materials that, in some embodiments, provide at least some period of fluid resistance to prevent leakage of fluids therethrough. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, liner 14 includes a draw member 52 to facilitate sealing of an upper portion of liner 14. For example, in some embodiments, draw member 52 includes a tab 54 coupled to a drawstring extending along an inner cavity of an upper periphery 56 of liner 14. As will be described and illustrated in further detail below, a portion of liner 14 (e.g., a portion of tab 54) extends through an opening formed by recesses 30 and 48 to enable liner 14 to be sealed from an exterior of pan 12. In FIGS. 1 and 2, pan 12 also includes a handle 60 to facilitate positioning and/or transport of toilet 10. Handle 60 may be formed of any configuration or shape and be located at anterior position 32, a posterior position, a lateral position, or elsewhere on toilet 10.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a section view of portable toilet 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a section view of portable toilet 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1. As best illustrated in FIG. 3, an opening 70 is formed at an interface between seat 16 and pan 12 proximate to the locations of recesses 30 and 48 to facilitate a portion of liner 14 (e.g., tab 54) to extend therethrough from interior area 28 of pan 12 to an area exterior to pan 12. Draw member 52 includes a drawstring 72 coupled to tab 54 such that pulling tab 54 from the exterior of pan 12 causes drawstring 72 to be cinched or tightened in a similar direction, thereby enabling the sealing of an upper portion of liner 14. In some embodiments, sidewall 22 of pan 12 includes a protrusion 74 extending about an inner periphery 76 of pan 12, and a recess 78 extending about upper periphery 24 of pan 12 between protrusion 74 and an outer edge 80 of pan 12. Recess 78 is formed to facilitate storage therein of additional and/or excess material of liner 14 such that, in response to pulling of tab 54 in the direction indicated by arrow 82, the excess material of liner 14 residing in recess 78 is extracted therefrom to facilitate the extension of liner 14 across upper periphery 24 of pan 12 (e.g., extending across aperture 40 of seat 16) to seal liner 14. It should be understood that recess 78 may be otherwise located in pan 12 to facilitate storage therein of additional or excess liner 14 material (e.g., along in interior surface of sidewall 22) or a storage area for excess liner 14 material may be provided in seat 16 (e.g., a recess in seat 16 opening toward interior area 28 of pan 12).
In some embodiments, liner 14 is permanently or fixedly secured within pan 12 such that pulling tab 54 enables sealing of liner 14 from an area exterior to pan 12 while liner 14 remains fixed within interior area 28 of pan 12. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, a portion of liner 14 is secured between seat 16 and an upper surface 86 of sidewall 22 at an interface location 88. Liner 14 may be secured to pan 12 using adhesive, by fusing or welding, or otherwise. In some embodiments, liner 14 is secured at interface 88 as a result of seat 16 being permanently or fixedly attached to pan 16 (i.e., to prevent or substantially prevent disassembly thereof). For example, seat 16 may be secured to pan 12 by adhesive, fusion welding, or otherwise. Thus, in some embodiments, securing seat 16 to pan 12 may retain a portion of liner 14 therebetween, thereby preventing or substantially preventing liner 14 from being removed from pan 12.
It should be understood that in some embodiments, liner 14 may be otherwise disposed within interior area 28 of pan 12 to facilitate extension of liner 14 across upper periphery 24 and across aperture 40 to seal liner 14. For example, in some embodiments, excess liner 14 material may reside in folds, be tacked together, or otherwise be positioned in a generally stationary manner along an inner surface of sidewall 22 to facilitate extension thereof across pan 12 in response to pulling of tab 54 in the direction 82.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating portable toilet 10 after sealing of liner 14. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, draw member 52 has been pulled outwardly away from toilet 10 (e.g., after use of toilet 10), thereby causing drawstring 72 to pull an upper portion of liner 14 toward opening 70 to facilitate drawstring 72 being tied off, secured, or otherwise cinched and thereby sealing liner 14. Thus, in some embodiments, in the sealed position, an upper portion of liner 14 extends across cavity 26 along upper periphery 24 of pan 12 and across aperture 40 of seat 16, thereby closing aperture 40 and facilitating disposal of toilet 10. In some embodiments, seat 16 and pan 12 (as well as liner 14) are formed from biodegradable materials (e.g., paperboard, biodegradable fiber, UV-degradable and/or corn-based plastic, etc.) to facilitate the disposal and degradation of toilet 10 after use. Materials used to form seat 16 and pan 12 are preferably of rigid or semi-rigid form to facilitate shape retention as well as support the weight of a user of toilet 10.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of portable toilet 10 according to the present disclosure (e.g., illustrated in section view such as along 4-4 of FIG. 1). In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, a portion of liner 14 is secured between seat 16 and upper surface 86 of sidewall 22. For example, in this embodiment, upper surface 86 of sidewall 22 is configured having a generally planar configuration extending from interior area 28 to outer edge 80 of pan 12 (e.g., omitting recess 78). Liner 14 may be secured to pan 12 and/or seat 16 using adhesive, by fusing or welding, or otherwise. In some embodiments, liner 14 is secured between seat 16 and pan 12 as a result of seat 16 being attached to pan 12. For example, seat 16 may be secured to pan 12 by adhesive, fusion welding, snap-fit elements, or otherwise. Thus, in some embodiments, securing seat 16 to pan 12 may retain a portion of liner 14 therebetween, thereby preventing or substantially preventing liner 14 from being removed from pan 12. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, a portion of liner 14 extends beyond interface 88 between seat 16 and pan 12 to facilitate secure attachment of liner 14 therebetween; however, it should be understood that the positioning of liner 14 at interface 88 may be otherwise configured.
In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, a portion of liner 14 extends from interface 88 into a portion of interior area 28 of pan 12 adjacent an interior surface 90 of seat 16 to facilitate extension of liner 14 across pan 12 in a sealed state. For example, in FIG. 6, a portion of liner 14 containing drawstring 72 is releasable secured to surface 90 of seat 16 (e.g., using a releasable adhesive or otherwise). Additional or excess liner 14 material 92 may be folded, pleated or otherwise retained within an outer periphery of interior area 28. In operation, in response to a user pulling draw member 52, liner 14 is released from attachment to seat 16, thereby enabling drawstring 72 to pull liner 14 across the upper portion of interior area 28 and seal liner 14. Thus, in this embodiment, liner 14 remains within pan 12 while enabling sealing of liner 14 after use. It should be understood that another portion of liner (e.g., other than a portion containing drawstring 72) may be releasably secured to surface 90 of seat 16. Further, liner 14 may be configured having a reinforced portion at such location to prevent damage to liner 14 upon pulling of draw member 52.
Thus, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a portable toilet that is convenient and easy to use, is sealable as a unit, and that can be easily disposed of after use. Accordingly, the portable toilet 10 of the present disclosure may be stored in a car, easily transported from place to place in a concealed manner if desired, used and discarded. In some embodiments, the various components of toilet 10 are assembled to form a unit that substantially impedes disassembly thereof, thereby resulting in a more sanitary use thereof by preventing re-use of toilet 10.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the disclosure in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosure for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Claims

1. A portable toilet, comprising:

a pan;

a seat secured to a rim of the pan; and

a liner disposed within an interior area of the pan, the liner having a draw member configured to seal the liner in response to a user pulling thereof, at least a portion of the draw member pullable through an opening to an exterior of the pan to seal the liner while a remaining portion of the liner remains within the pan.

2. The portable toilet of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the liner is secured between the pan and the seat.

3. The portable toilet of claim 1, wherein the draw member comprises a drawstring extending around an upper periphery of the liner.

4. The portable toilet of claim 1, wherein the pan comprises a recess disposed at an upper end of a sidewall of the pan, the recess forming the opening for the draw member.

5. The portable toilet of claim 1, wherein the liner comprises a waterproof liner having a hydrophilic material for fluid absorption.

6. The portable toilet of claim 1, wherein the opening is disposed between the pan and the seat.

7. The portable toilet of claim 1, wherein the pan and the seat are formed of biodegradable materials.

8. The portable toilet of claim 1, wherein the seat is permanently secured to the pan.

9. A portable toilet, comprising:

a pan;

a seat secured to an upper periphery of the pan; and

a liner fixedly secured within the pan, the liner comprising a draw member extending through an opening in a sidewall of the pan, the draw member pullable from an exterior of the pan to seal the liner across an upper portion of the pan.

10. The portable toilet of claim 9, wherein the opening is disposed at an interface between the sidewall of the pan and the seat.

11. The portable toilet of claim 9, wherein the liner comprises a waterproof liner having a hydrophilic material for fluid absorption.

12. The portable toilet of claim 9, wherein the liner is fixedly secured about a periphery of the pan.

13. The portable toilet of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the liner is secured between an upper periphery of the pan and the seat.

14. The portable toilet of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the liner is releasably secured to an interior surface of the seat.

15. The portable toilet of claim 9, wherein the draw member comprises a drawstring extending around a periphery of the liner.

16. A portable toilet, comprising:

a pan;

a liner secured to an interior area of the pan; and

a seat secured to an upper periphery of the pan and having an aperture providing access to the liner; and

wherein the liner is sealable within the pan in response to pulling a draw member of the liner from an exterior of the pan.

17. The portable toilet of claim 16, wherein the pan comprises an apertureless bottom wall and a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom wall to the seat, and wherein the sidewall comprises an opening to enable the draw member to extend from the liner in the interior of the pan to the exterior of the pan.

18. The portable toilet of claim 16, wherein a portion of the liner is secured to an interior surface of the seat and releasable from the interior surface of the seat in response to pulling of the draw member to seal the liner.

19. The portable toilet of claim 16, wherein the liner is fixedly secured about the upper periphery of the pan.

20. The portable toilet of claim 19, wherein pulling the draw member seals the liner across an upper interior portion of the pan and extending across the aperture of the seat.