WO2002103138A1

WO2002103138A1 - Public lavatory or urinal and method for its arrangement and for preventing vandalism

Info

Publication number: WO2002103138A1
Application number: PCT/FI2002/000476
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tapio Kordelin
Original assignee: Oy Shippax Ltd
Priority date: 2001-06-19
Filing date: 2002-06-04
Publication date: 2002-12-27
Also published as: EP1397570A1; FI20011296A; FI20011296A0

Abstract

The invention comprises a public lavatory or urinal (10) to which an other means (12, 24, 26) intended for public use, such as a bench, a flower bed, or an advertising board is combined, and a method for arranging a public lavatory or urinal (10). The public lavatory or urinal (10) can be arranged into at least two operating positions, i.e. the lavatory position and the preventing position. In the lavatory position the lavatory or urinal (10) is available, and said other means (12, 24, 26) is raised above the lavatory (10), in order to prevent the use of the other means (12, 24, 26). In the preventing position said other means (12, 24, 26) is arranged to be available to the public in front of the public lavatory or urinal (10) and substantially at the same level with it. At the same time said other means (12, 24, 26) typically at least mainly puts the lavatory or urinal (10) out of sight. A lavatory or urinal according to the invention typically also comprises lifting members (14) with which the lavatory or urinal (10) or at least said other means (12, 24, 26) is moved between the lavatory position and the preventing position.

Description

Public lavatory or urinal and method for its arrangement and for preventing vandalism

The invention relates to a public lavatory or urinal according to the preamble of the independent claim presented below and to a method for arranging a public lavatory or urinal. The invention relates particularly to a manner, in which an advantageous and tidy public lavatory and some other means intended for public use can be used in an effective way and protected from vandalism.

It is well known that public premises in cities, such as parks or pedestrian streets present a demand for lavatories and urinals. Particularly at night, during festivals and on weekends there are too few public lavatories available. The problem has been met by placing movable lavatories in parks and along streets during the worst problem periods. These temporary lavatories are often ugly and unhygienic. In addition, they occupy space in the streets which also otherwise are crowded, and they will easily become the object of vandalism. Due to the above reasons it is usually necessary to remove such lavatories from their locations from time to time, for instance every morning, and to bring them back in the evening.

The same places, which at night and during festivals present a high demand for lavatories, need particularly in daytime different public means which are not particularly required at night. Such public means are, for instance, flower beds, fountains, advertisements, benches and bus stops. It would be actually preferable to remove the above mentioned public means and the like for the night, when they often are an object of vandalism.

A combination of a bed and a lavatory intended for private use is previously known from the Japanese patent publication JP 10043089. The WO publication WO 01/36765 presents how a lavatory or urinal is hidden in daytime below ground by a kind of a lift solution. This solution is very expensive, the cost of plumbing and electricity installation is very high. A problem is also the permanence of the location - when the excavation and the plumbing have been made it is very inconvenient to move it. The sewer piping of an apparatus located below the ground will be very easily located below the existing sewer level, whereby the apparatus must include a pump which can pump the waste water into the sewer. This solution will also in no way exclude costs caused by vandalism on other public means than the lavatory.

The object of the present invention is to provide a public lavatory or urinal which minimises the above mentioned problems apparent in the prior art. A particular object is a solution that provides for public use in the same place, both a lavatory or urinal and some other means when required. The intention is also to reduce damage caused by vandalism in public premises.

The above mentioned disadvantages can be obviated, or reduced, and the above defined objects are attained by a public lavatory or urinal according to the invention and by a method which are characterised by what is defined in the characterising parts of the independent claims presented below.

The embodiment examples and advantages mentioned in this text relate both to the lavatory or urinal and to the method according to the invention, even if this is not always explicitly mentioned.

A typical public lavatory or urinal according to the invention comprises at least one other means, which is intended for public use and which is arranged to prevent the use of the lavatory or urinal when desired. Furthermore, the other means represents some other device or thing than the lavatory or urinal intended for public use. Such other means are for instance different decorations or other means intended to be looked at, such as a flower bed with planted flowers, an advertisement frame, a fountain, or an information board or a direction indicator board. The other means in this text means devices intended for all kinds of public activities, such as a bench or a bench group, a bus stop, a kiosk, a vending machine or an amusement machine, or a lavatory intended for pets.

A typical method according to the invention provides a lavatory or urinal in a public premises and prevents damages caused by vandalism. The public premises further has at least one other means which is intended for public use and which, according to the invention, is combined with said lavatory or urinal. A typical method according to the invention comprises two separate main steps, of which only one can be performed at a time, and a transition from one main step into the other is possible at a desired moment:

1. During the use of the lavatory or urinal (10) the use of the public lavatory or urinal (10) is allowed, and at the same time the public use of the other means (12, 24, 26) is prevented, and 2. During other use the other means (12, 24, 26) is kept available to the public, and at the same time the other means (12, 24, 26) prevents the use of the public lavatory or urinal (10).

Typically the transition from the usage period of the lavatory or urinal to the other usage period is performed by lowering the other means mainly from above the lavatory or urinal in front of the public lavatory or urinal. The other means is lowered substantially to the same level as the public lavatory or urinal, whereby it at the same time is offered for public use. The transition from the other usage period to the lavatory or urinal usage period is typically performed by raising the other means from the position in front of the lavatory or urinal mainly above the public lavatory or urinal. At the same time the other means is thus protected from vandalism, and the public lavatory or urinal is released for public use.

A typical public lavatory or urinal according to the invention can be arranged into at least two operating positions, that is into the lavatory position and into the preventing position. In the lavatory position the lavatory or urinal can be used, and said other means is raised at least mainly above the lavatory, whereby its use is prevented. In the preventing position said other means is arranged so it can be used by the public in front of the public lavatory or urinal and substantially at the same level as the lavatory. At the same time said other means will typically at least mainly prevent seeing the lavatory or urinal. The lavatory or urinal according to the invention comprises typically also lifting members, with which the lavatory or urinal or at least said other means is moved between the lavatory position and the preventive position.

The lifting of the other means mainly above the lavatory or urinal means that the other means is raised so high, that passage into the lavatory or urinal space is easy, and that the other means is so high that its normal use is impossible.

One of the most important advantages of the invention is that public means required at different times can be combined into a single unit, so that they together occupy less space than when separated.

Another most important advantage of the invention is that ugly and unhygienic lavatories and urinals can be advantageously and easily hidden from the public when they are not needed. Still one most important advantage of the invention is that means intended for public use and required only at certain times, can be revealed only when they are needed.

One further most important advantage of the invention is that it reduces vandalism in public premises. In the preventing position the lavatory or urinal is at least mainly protected from vandalism, and in the lavatory position the at least one other means of the invention is at least mainly protected from vandalism.

The other means which can be raised and lowered can be arranged for instance to enclose the lavatory on all sides. Then in the lavatory position a first other means, such as a bench group or advertisement boards arranged in a rectangular fashion are above the lavatory and protected from vandalism. At the same time in the lavatory position another possible other means, such as a flower bed or a fountain arranged on the roof of the lavatory remains within the first other means, and particularly well protected from vandalism. When moved into the preventing position said first other means is then lowered with the aid of the lifting means, for instance along rails, to the street level so that it prevents seeing the lavatory or urinal.

Advantageously at least one other means intended for public use forms a roof encircling the lavatory or urinal during the use of the lavatory or urinal. Particularly advantageously the roof is formed by a bench group encircling the lavatory on all sides. A roof like this will protect the lavatory and its users from rain and sun.

The other means is advantageously arranged to prevent use of the lavatory or urinal by mechanical means, either with the aid of a switch located in the apparatus itself or close to it, or automatically at certain times. At least when the use according to the invention is automatic, the safety of users and bystanders must be secured with the aid of safety precautions. For instance, a weight sensor can be combined in the lavatory floor, so that it is not possible to close the lavatory or urinal if somebody is using it.

The other means preventing the use covers advantageously at least a substantial part of the lavatory or urinal according to the invention, which improves the appearance of the lavatory, which generally annoys people. Advantageously said covering is made as air tight as possible in order to minimise any smell disadvantages caused by the lavatory to the environment. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention the lavatory or urinal has walls which are arranged telescopically. Then in the lavatory position the walls are substantially entirely extended, and in the preventing position the walls are at least partly contracted. In this way the lavatory or urinal according to the invention is low in the preventing position, whereby it can be entirely hidden, even behind a low other means according to the invention, such as behind benches or flower beds.

Advantageously the public use of the other means according to the invention is prevented in the lavatory position. By lifting for instance flower beds sufficiently high for the night their tearing can be prevented. For instance a bench used as the other means can be arranged to be hinged, so that in the lavatory position the bench above the lavatory will be tilted over. Then even the most agile climbers can not sit on it, and a tilted bench will not even attract vandals to sit on it. Some other means according to the invention, such as advertisement boards can be used also in the lavatory position. For the night they can be for instance illuminated, whereby they are even better visible. Advantageously said other means is available to the public at least in the preventing position.

All operating parts of a particularly advantageous lavatory or urinal according to the invention are located above the ground. The lavatory can even have a reservoir of its own for faeces and water. In the lavatory or urinal according to the invention it is even possible to arrange an own source of electric power, such as batteries and/or solar panels. However, advantageously the lavatory or urinal has connections for directing the faeces into a sewer and for supplying electric power and clean water. However, then it is particularly advantageous that the apparatus according to the invention does not require any further installation work, such as excavation. When all parts of the lavatory or urinal are located above ground it is easily arranged to be movable. Advantageously a hook or the like is arranged in the lavatory or urinal in order to lift it as a single block. Then it can be easily moved from one place to another, for instance in the back of a lorry provided with a crane.

The lavatory or urinal according to the invention is advantageously intended for humans. It is also possible that it is a lavatory intended for pets like that presented in the WO publication WO 99/62329 (Kordelin).

CORRECTED In a preferred embodiment example of the invention said other means is a pet lavatory like that presented in said publication WO 99/62329 or some other lavatory for pets. Then for instance the lavatory could operate at night to be used by people, and in daytime to be used by pets of people taking out their dogs.

The advantages relating to this invention are in suitable parts also applicable to an inventive solution where one or more means according to this invention intended for public use are installed on the roof of a lavatory, which is like that presented in the publication WO 01/36765 and which can be lowered below ground. Thus also this place can be utilised when the lavatory according to said publication is not used.

The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the enclosed schematic figures, in which

Figure 1 shows schematically an example of a public lavatory according to the invention, seen from one side in the lavatory position;

Figure 2 shows the public lavatory according to figure 1 in the preventing position; and

Figure 3 shows a horizontal cross-section of the public lavatory according to figure 1 in a view from above.

Figures 1, 2 and 3 show schematically a public lavatory 10 according to the invention. It comprises one space provided with a toilet seat 30 and two spaces provided with a urinal 32. In figure 1 the public lavatory 10 according to the invention is shown in the lavatory position. A base 28 is placed on the ground surface 18, whereby for instance a reservoir for storing wastewater is advantageously located within the base. In the space provided with the toilet seat 30 the lavatory 10 presented in the figures has walls which continue to the top, and which are formed by a lower part 16a and an upper part 16b. The spaces provided with a urinal are open at the upper part and have walls 16a only in their lower parts. All partitions are closed up to the top. One partition 22 is thicker than the other walls, as the lifting members 14 are arranged within this wall. The wall parts 16a and 16b are arranged telescopically within each other, so that the upper parts 16b can move in the vertical direction when the lavatory position shown in figure 1 is changed into the preventing position of figure 2. The wall 22 is also telescopic. The door 34 of the space provided with the toilet seat 30 covers the whole wall height, and thus also the door is telescopic. The doors 36 of the spaces provided with the urinals 32 have a only a height corresponding to the lower wall parts 16a, so that they are not required to be telescopic. The fittings of the lavatory 10, such as the toilet seat 30, the urinals 32, any washbowls, and the water, sewer and electricity lines are advantageously located on the floor or in the fixed lower part walls 16a, whereby it is not necessary to raise or lower these lines. The top surface 42 of the roof in the urinals and lavatory is shown by dotted lines.

A basin 26 is arranged on the roof 42 of the spaces which comprise the lavatory and urinal, and flowers 24 are planted in the basin. Benches 12 are arranged to encircle the basin 26 on all sides. The basin 26 and the benches 12 are moved up and down along vertical telescopic pipes 20. The purpose of the pipes 20 is on their part to enable a reliable up and down movement of the benches 12 and the flower beds 24 and 26, but also to support the whole structure of the lavatory 10. The lifting members 14 can be any members suitable for this purpose, such as scissor-like lifting rails, which are powered for instance directly by an electric motor or by hydraulic cylinders. Hydraulic cylinders can also be arranged in the pipes 20. Required motors and other means can be arranged for instance within the base 28 or the wall 14. The benches 12 and particularly their seat parts around the lavatory 10 form a roof 40 protecting against rain and sun or street lighting. Thanks to the roof 40 for instance a customer using the space provided with a partly open urinal 32 can perform his task in shadow, and completely covered at least against a weak rain.

During the transition in the embodiment example from the lavatory position of figure 1 into the preventing position of figure 2 the walls 16 and 22 and the pipes

20 will be contracted when the lifting members 14 lower the roof 42, the flower basin 26 and the benches 12. When the walls 16 and 22 are in their contracted position the roof 42 and with it the flower basin 26 have reached their lowest position. The bench 12 is arranged to be lowered still a short distance H, so that the seating height is suitable and so that the flowers 24 are beautifully visible above the benches 12. Then the lavatory 10 of the invention is in the preventing position shown in figure 2. Then, it is not possible to use the toilet seat 30 or urinals 32 of the lavatory. On the other hand, the benches 12 are now freely available to people. In the same way the flowers 24 are lowered to be seen by everybody. The figures show hidden parts by dotted lines. In figure 1 the dotted line shows the location of the wall 22, which is thicker than the other walls. Figure 3 shows by a dotted line how the edge of the bench 12 encircles the whole lavatory 10. The benches 12 are arranged to be tight, so that around the lavatory they form a roof 40, which among other things, provides protection against rain and sun. Figures 1 and 2 show by dotted lines the roof 42, on which the flower basin 26 is arranged.

Advantageously the watering of the flowers 24 is arranged by providing a particular connection from the water piping to the basin 26. Then it is possible to arrange an automatic watering.

According to the invention the benches 12 and the flower basins 26 could be replaced by some other means intended for public use. For example, instead of the benches 12, or in addition to them, there could be arranged advertising boards, which are raised above the rest of the lavatory in the lavatory position, and which cover at least the doors 34 and 36 in the preventing position.

The figures show only one advantageous embodiment example according to the invention. The figures do not particularly show details, which are secondary regarding the basic inventive idea, which are known as such, or which are obvious to a person skilled in the art, such as power sources or structures for connecting the lavatory 10 to the water, electricity or sewer networks. To a person skilled in the art it is obvious that the invention is not limited only to the examples presented above, but the invention may vary within the claims presented below. The dependent claims present some possible embodiments of the invention, as such they should not be considered to restrict the scope of the invention. The lavatory or urinal can for instance comprise a number of spaces with different shapes. Its floor plan could for instance be hexagonal or octagonal. The use of the lavatory or urinal could also possibly be prevented by for instance turning, lifting or lowering advertising boards or amusement machines or the like to uncover the lavatory's doorways, for instance along rails or on hinges. It could be possible to arrange boxes in the walls of the lavatory for advertising or indicator boards combined with the lavatory. In the morning such boards are pulled out from the boxes and turned on hinges to cover for instance the lavatory's doorways, and so to prevent the use of the lavatory. Then no lifting members 14 would be needed.

Claims

1. A method for arranging a public lavatory or urinal (10) in a public premises and for preventing damages of vandalism, which public premises has, in addition to the lavatory or urinal (10), at least one other means (12, 24, 26) intended for public use, which method comprises at least the following steps:

- during the use of the lavatory or urinal (10), allowing the use of the public lavatory or urinal (10) and at the same time preventing the public use of the other means (12, 24, 26),

- during other use, keeping the other means (12, 24, 26) available to the public and at the same time preventing the use of the public lavatory or urinal (10) with the aid of the other means (12, 24, 26),

- at a desired moment, performing a transition from the usage period of the lavatory or urinal (10) to the other usage period and vice versa, characterised in that - the transition from the usage period of the lavatory or urinal (10) to the other usage period is performed by lowering the other means (12, 24, 26) mainly from above the lavatory or urinal (10) to a position in front of the public lavatory or urinal (10), substantially to the same level as the public lavatory or urinal (10), and at the same time available to the public, - the transition from the other usage period to the usage period of the lavatory or urinal (10) is performed by raising the other means (12, 24, 26) from the position in front of the lavatory or urinal (10) to a position mainly above the public lavatory or urinal (10), whereby the other means (12, 24, 26) at the same time is thus protected from vandalism, and the public lavatory or urinal is released for use.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one other means (12, 24, 26) intended for public use covers the lavatory or urinal (10) so that it at least mainly prevents seeing the lavatory or urinal.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that at least one other means (12, 24, 26) intended for public use forms a roof (40) encircling the lavatory or urinal (10) during the use of the lavatory or urinal (10).

4. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that at least one other means (12, 24, 26) intended for public use is a bench or bench group (12), which during other use mainly encircles the lavatory or urinal (10).

5. A method according to any previous claim 1 to 4, characterised in that

- in the transition from the usage period of the lavatory or urinal (10) to the other usage period the roof (42) of the lavatory or urinal is lowered, whereby the lavatory or urinal (10) is more effectively hidden behind the other means (12) lowered in front of it, and that

- in the transition from the other usage period to the usage period of the lavatory or urinal (10) the roof (42) of the lavatory or urinal is raised at the same time.

6. A method according to any previous claim 1 to 5, characterised in that on the roof (42) of the lavatory or urinal (10) there is at least one other means (24, 26) intended for public use, whereby

- during other use this other means (24, 26) is kept available to the public, and

- during the use of the lavatory or urinal (10) this other means (24, 26) is kept raised, protected from vandalism.

7. A method according to any previous claim 1 to 6, characterised in that plants are grown on the roof (42) of the lavatory or urinal (10), for instance in a flower basin (24, 26) or the like.

8. A public lavatory or urinal (10) which comprises at least one other means (12, 24, 26) intended for public use, which lavatory or urinal (10) can be arranged into at least two operating positions, whereby - in the lavatory position the lavatory or urinal (10) is available, and the use of said other means (12, 24, 26) is prevented,

- in the preventing position said other means (12, 24, 26) is arranged to be available to the public, and at the same time it prevents the use of the lavatory or urinal (10), which lavatory comprises means (14, 20) for moving said other means (12, 24, 26), characterised in that with the aid of said moving means (14, 20) said other means (12, 24, 26) can be arranged

- in the lavatory position mainly above the lavatory or urinal (10), and

- in the preventing position in front of the lavatory or urinal (10) substantially at the same level of the public lavatory or urinal (10) in order to at least mainly putting it out of sight.

9. A lavatory or urinal (10) according to claim 8, characterised in that at least one other means (12) intended for public use is arranged to form a roof (40) which encircles the lavatory or urinal (10) during its use.

10. A lavatory or urinal (10) according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that it comprises walls (16, 22) of the lavatory or urinal and over them a roof (42), whereby the walls are arranged telescopically, so that in the lavatory position the walls (16, 22) are substantially extended in their entire length, and in the preventing position the walls (16, 22) are partly contracted.

11. A lavatory or urinal (10) according to any previous claim 7 to 10, characterised in that at least one second other means (24, 26) is arranged on the roof (42) of the lavatory or urinal, which other means in the preventing position is partly arranged above the first other means (12) available to public use, and which in the lavatory position is arranged above the lavatory or urinal (10) so that it is protected against vandalism.

12. A lavatory or urinal (10) according to any previous claim 7 to 11, characterised in that all of its operating parts are located above ground surface (18).

13. A lavatory or urinal (10) according to any previous claim 7 to 12, characterised in that it is arranged to be movable.

14. A lavatory or urinal (10) according to any previous claim 7 to 13, characterised in that it comprises members for connecting the lavatory or urinal to the waste water, electricity or water networks.

15. A lavatory or urinal (10) according to any previous claim 7 to 14, characterised in that said other means (12, 24, 26) is a flower bed, a bench, an advertising board, a fountain, a bus stop, or an animal lavatory, or a combination of these.