WO2017077430A1

WO2017077430A1 - Portable toilet

Info

Publication number: WO2017077430A1
Application number: PCT/IB2016/056477
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alberto Dainelli
Original assignee: Findeco S.P.A.
Priority date: 2015-11-02
Filing date: 2016-10-27
Publication date: 2017-05-11
Also published as: ITUB20155008A1

Abstract

The portable toilet (1) comprises: a support base (2) for the support on the ground; - a cabin element (3) arranged on the support base (2); a base frame (10) having an upper opening (13) for the passage of organic human waste (R); a cleaning system (18) associated with the base frame (10); actuating means (19) associated with the cleaning system (18), able to actuate the cleaning system (18) and to be activated by a user after each use of the portable toilet (i); a collecting element (20) able to receive and support the organic human waste (R); the collecting element (20) comprises a flexible belt (20) which has at least a first side (21) secured to the base frame (10) in a fixed position and which is at least partially wound around a roller element (22); the cleaning system (18) comprises a movement assembly (23, 24, 25) of the roller element (22) between a first configuration in which the flexible belt (20) is arranged below the upper opening (13) for the collection of the organic human waste (R) on the collecting element (20) and a second discharge configuration of the organic human waste (R) from the flexible belt (20).

Description

PORTABLE TOILET

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a portable toilet.

Background Art

Sanitary devices are known generally made of ceramic, steel, glass, resin or other materials intended for the discharge of organic human waste, in other words the products of human physiological activity such as urination and defecation.

These devices usually consist of a waste collection basin equipped with a water-based washing system (so-called "flushing") connected to pipes which drain the organic human waste into the sewage system.

Another type of sanitary devices, on the other hand, consists in the so-called chemical toilets, which instead of water use chemical agents to disinfect the basin in all those cases in which it is not possible to drain the contents into the sewage system.

Their main use is inside aeroplanes, trains, campers, caravans, in special cabins or in buildings which are not connected to the sewage system; within this invention, all the above types of chemical toilets are referred to as "portable toilets".

One example of a drainage system is given in the patent document IT_1297370 concerning an improved portable toilet equipped with a tank containing organic human waste situated below an upper opening fitted with a seat and therefore in close contact with the user. To close the tank a temporary collection surface is used of a size that is substantially sufficient to cover the whole upper opening and fitted with relative actuating means used to discharge the organic human waste collected after each use and the subsequent repositioning of the collection surface in the collection position ready for use again.

The temporary collection surface comprises a continuous belt wound around two rollers arranged at diagonally opposite points in relation to the opening and one of the rollers is connected to the actuating means which move the belt and therefore discharge the waste. Another example of a drainage system for portable toilets is on the other hand given in the patent document IT_MO2013A000290 which described a WC drain operated by hand with the opening of two surfaces placed in contact adapted to collect the organic human waste and cleaned of the residues which remain on the surface by means of flexible scraper elements, which slide on contact with them.

Having said this, it should be noticed that in the sanitary devices sector the need continues to be felt to find new manufacturing solutions which increase the level of cleanliness of sanitary devices, particularly those without water-based washing devices, and which at the same time have considerably reduced weight and size, facilitating their use in vehicles and/or in tight spaces, but which are also easy and simple to transport from one place to another and which are easy to maintain.

In this regard it is in fact underlined that conventional chemical toilets have some difficulties which lead to a poor level of cleanliness obtained after each use.

The primary reason of the low level of cleanliness is due to the distraction of the user who does not operate the cleaning systems after using the toilet, thus leaving it dirty inside. In addition to this, it should be noticed that conventional portable toilets usually have a lever or a pedal to activate the pumping of a sanitising liquid inside the organic human waste collection tank which, generally, is recycled and gives off nasty odours with each use.

The sanitising liquid is pumped by the user who manually activates the lever or pedal, and who may not activate the lever or pedal due to negligence or if they refuse to do so because of the poor hygienic conditions this triggers for the portable toilet.

If the lever or pedal is not activated, at times the toilet will remain dirty.

We must also not forget that conventional portable toilets are often used outdoors and, if there are very low external temperatures, ice may form inside the toilet and block the cleaning system.

Another drawback of conventional portable toilets consists in the fact that they are often equipped with cumbersome and heavy drainage systems which may be particularly complex in structural terms and which make maintenance operations particularly difficult. Description of the Invention

The main aim of this invention is to devise a portable toilet which increases the level of cleanliness and sanitisation of the toilet after each use by the user.

One object of the invention is represented by the fact of guaranteeing sanitisation after each use without having to perform particularly tiresome physical activities to activate the cleaning system, even if the user is distracted, and all without any electrical actuation.

Another object of this invention is to devise a portable toilet with a particularly compact drainage system with a very simple structure which does not require frequent maintenance. Another object of the present invention is to devise a portable toilet which allows to overcome the mentioned drawbacks of the prior art within the ambit of a simple, rational, easy, effective to use and affordable solution.

The above mentioned objects are achieved by the present portable toilet, having the characteristics of claim 1.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better evident from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a portable toilet, illustrated by way of an indicative, but non-limiting, example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an axonometric, partially broken away, view of a portable toilet according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an axonometric, partially transparent, view of a detail of the portable toilet according to the invention;

Figure 3 is an axonometric view of the detail of Figure 2 in an organic human waste collection configuration;

Figure 4 is an axonometric view of the detail of Figure 2 in an organic human waste discharge configuration;

Figure 5 is an axonometric view of a detail of the actuating means of the cleaning system according to the invention;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the detail of Figure 5 in which the access door of the portable toilet is closed;

Figure 7 is a plan view of the detail of Figure 5 in which the access door of the portable toilet is open;

Figure 8 is an axonometric view of another detail of the portable toilet according to the invention in a configuration of non-use;

Figure 9 is an axonometric view of the detail of Figure 8 in a configuration of use;

Figure 10 is an axonometric view of the pressurized container provided by the portable toilet according to the invention;

Figure 11 is an axonometric view of the dispensing device provided by the portable toilet according to the invention;

Figure 12 is a side view of the dispensing device of Figure 11 in a normal operating position;

Figure 13 is a side view of the dispensing device of Figure 11 in an emergency position. Embodiments of the Invention

With particular reference to such figures, reference number 1 globally indicates a portable toilet which is adapted to collect organic human waste R consequent to the physiological activities of urination and/or defecation.

The portable toilet 1 comprises at least one substantially squared support base 2 for the support on the ground.

On the support base 2 is positioned at least one cabin element 3 comprising a closing slab called wall 4 which has a substantially cylindrical conformation.

In particular, the cabin element 3 has an access door 5 through which it is possible to enter the portable toilet 1.

Conveniently, the cabin element 3 comprises a sliding guide 6 arranged on the top of a portion of the wall 4 and the access door 5 slides along the sliding guide 6 moving substantially parallel to the inner surface of the wall 4.

At the top of the wall 4 the cabin element 3 also has a roof 9.

The portable toilet 1 comprises at least one base frame 10, locked together with the support base 2, at least partially hollow and which comprises a tank 11 for the collection of the organic human waste R and a lid 12, coupled to the top of the base frame 10, having at least one upper opening 13 for the passage of the organic human waste R and its collection in the tank 11.

Projecting the area of the upper opening 13 vertically we obtain a cylindrical space defined as the vertical projection 14 of the upper opening itself.

The lower surface of the lid 12 comprises a plurality of first support elements 15 and a plurality of second support elements 16.

The cleaning system 18 is adapted to clean the portable toilet 1 and is associated with actuating means 19 which are adapted to actuate the cleaning system 18 and are activatable by a user after each use of the portable toilet 1.

The cleaning system 18 cooperates with one collecting element 20 adapted to receive and support the organic human waste R which pass through the upper opening 13 before being discharged into the tank 11.

The collecting element 20 is associated with the base frame 10 and comprises one flexible belt 20 which has a first side 21 secured to the base frame 10 in a fixed position and which is at least partially wound around at least one roller element 22.

More specifically, the first side 21 is secured at two of the first support elements 15.

The cleaning system 18 comprises one movement assembly 23, 24, 25 of the roller element 22 between a first configuration, in which the flexible belt 20 is arranged below the upper opening 13 for the collection of the organic human waste R, and a second discharge configuration of the organic human waste R from the flexible belt 20.

The movement assembly 23, 24, 25 comprises:

one guide unit 23, which is associated with the base frame 10 by means of first support elements 15, which defines a substantially rectilinear guide direction A. In the embodiment shown in the illustrations, the guide direction A is substantially horizontal, even if alternative embodiments cannot be ruled out in which it is inclined in a different manner; and

one sliding element 24 which supports the roller element 22 and is slidably mounted on the guide unit 23 between the first configuration and the second configuration. The movement assembly 23, 24, 25 also comprises at least one elastic element 25 adapted to pull the sliding element 24 towards the first configuration. In particular, the displacement of the sliding element 24 from the first configuration to the second configuration counteracts the elastic element 25.

The elastic element 25 is composed, e.g., of a spring and is adapted to slide the sliding element 24 connected to it, from the second configuration to the first configuration.

In the embodiment shown in the illustrations, the movement assembly 23, 24, 25 comprises two elastic elements 25 adapted to return the sliding element 24 to the first configuration.

The two elastic elements 25 are connected between the second support elements 16 and the sliding element 24.

More specifically, the two elastic elements 25 are arranged parallel to each other and beyond the vertical projection 14 of the upper opening 13 so as to avoid that the organic human waste R entering through the vertical projection 14 is deposited on the elastic elements themselves, compromising the cleaning of the portable toilet 1.

Conveniently, the movement assembly 23, 24, 25 comprises at least one scraper element 26 associated with the sliding element 24 in the proximity of the roller element 22 and is adapted to rub on the flexible belt 20 to remove the organic human waste R from the flexible belt itself.

In particular, the scraper element 26 consists e.g. of a flexible plate-shaped strip 26 of a size that is consistent with the size of the sliding element 24.

The scraper 26 is associated with the lower side of the sliding element 24 through special guides which guarantee its retaining capacity.

In the particular embodiment shown in the illustrations, the roller element 22 is roller- shaped and is associated with the sliding element 24 in a rotatable and idle manner in both ways around an axis of rotation B substantially orthogonal to the guide direction A.

However, other embodiments cannot be ruled out in which the roller element 22 is of the type of a smooth bar fixed to the sliding element 24 and on which the flexible belt 20 can slide by effect of the movement induced by the actuating means 19.

Advantageously, the flexible belt 20 comprises a second side 28, opposite to the first side 21, with a particular pointed conformation by which the portion of flexible belt 20 near the second side 28 remains totally taut and does not fold once connected to the actuating means 19, as better described below.

More specifically, the second side 28 comprises a through hole 7 arranged in a substantially central position in the proximity of the pointed conformation of the second side itself.

The first side 21 and the first axis of rotation B are substantially horizontal and parallel to each other. In actual facts, the roller element 22 divides the flexible belt 20 into:

a first section 30, which extends from the first side 21 to the roller element 22; and a second section 31, which extends from the roller element 22 to the second side 28 and which is arranged at least partially below the first section 30.

In particular, in the switch from the first configuration to the second configuration, the roller element 22 moves close to the first side 21, thus reducing the extension of the first section 30 and increasing the extension of the second section 31.

In the embodiment shown in the illustrations, in the first configuration the first section 30 has greater extension than the second section 31 and the second side 28 is located away with respect to the first side 21.

In the second configuration, on the contrary, the first section 30 has an extension substantially coincident to the second section 31.

More specifically, the second section 31 extends parallel below the first section 30 and the second side 28 being located close with respect to the first side 21.

The actuating means 19 which actuate the cleaning of the portable toilet 1 after each use, comprise at least one connecting medium 33 associated with the cleaning system 18 and with the access door 5 to actuate the cleaning system 18 every time the access door is opened.

The connecting medium 33 is preferably composed of at least one flexible member 33 having a first extremity 34 associated with the access door 5 and a second extremity 35 associated with the cleaning system 18.

In particular, the flexible member 33 is substantially wire shaped or belt shaped, e.g. of the type of a sufficiently flexible and strong steel cable to resist the tension determined by the opening of the access door 5 to which it is connected, but at the same time flexible in order to move along different sliding directions.

Alternative embodiments cannot however be ruled out in which the actuating means 19, rather than being connected to the access door 5, are connected via the connecting medium 33 e.g. to a lever or a pedal actuated by the user after using the portable toilet 1.

Moreover, other embodiments cannot be ruled out, in which the actuating means 19 comprise one or several electro-mechanical motorised devices, in which case, for example, the movement of the flexible belt 20 between the first configuration and the second configuration takes place by switching on an electric motor or the like.

Advantageously, the access door 5 comprises at least one anchoring element 36, associated with it, adapted to tension the flexible member 33 when opening/closing the access door 5. More specifically, the first extremity 34 is secured to the anchoring element 36, while the second extremity 35 is associated with the through hole 7. In a preferred embodiment, the actuating means 19 comprise at least one drive and snub pulley 39, 40 associated with at least one of the base frame 10 and the cabin element 3 around which the flexible member 33 is at least partially wound.

More specifically, the actuating means 19 comprise two drive and snub pulleys 39, 40, of which a first drive and snub pulley 39 is mounted in the proximity of the upright of the access door 5 in order to invert the drive direction of the flexible member 33, and a second drive and snub pulley 40 mounted at the wall 4 and substantially in the proximity of the tank 11 and aligned to the position of the through hole 7, to position the flexible member 33 in order to obtain the correct orientation and manage the correct path.

In particular both drive and snub pulleys 39, 40 have a groove 41 which contains at least partially the flexible member 33 allowing it to wind at least partially around them.

Conveniently, the first drive and snub pulley 39 and the second drive and snub pulley 40 divide the flexible member 33 into several stretches 42, 43, 44 to allow it to be placed along the wall 4 of the cabin element 3 and prevent it from obstructing the free space inside the cabin element itself during use.

More specifically, the flexible member 33 has:

a first stretch 42 which extends from the access door 5 to the first drive and snub pulley 39; and

a second stretch 43 which extends from the first drive and snub pulley 39 to the second drive and snub pulley 40; and

a third stretch 44 which extends from the second drive and snub pulley 40 to the cleaning system 18.

In particular, the first stretch 42, the second stretch 43 and the third stretch 44 all extend horizontally, though each one oriented in a different direction.

In particular, the first stretch 42 substantially extends along the inner surface of the wall 4 and comprises the first extremity 34 associated with the anchoring element 36 of the access door 5.

The second stretch 43 extends inside a containing sheath 32 arranged along the external surface of the wall 4 and substantially parallel to the first stretch 42.

The third stretch 44 extends substantially orthogonally to the direction of the second stretch 43 and parallel to the guide direction A and the second extremity 35 is associated with the through hole 7 of the second side 28.

More specifically, the containing sheath 32 of the flexible member 33 communicates with the inside of the wall 4 by means of a first opening 37 located in the proximity of the first drive and snub pulley 39, and a second opening 38 located in the proximity of the second drive and snub pulley 40. The tensioning of the flexible member 33 along the containing sheath 32 is used to increase the extension of the stroke of the flexible member itself during the opening/closing of the access door 5.

The portable toilet 1 comprises at least one seat element 45 adapted to the seat of the user and associated in a movable manner with the lid 12 between a configuration of use, in which the seat element 45 is arranged in the proximity of the upper opening 13 surrounding it at least partially, and a configuration of non-use, in which the seat element 45 is raised and moved away from the upper opening 13.

The seat element 45 is hinged to the lid 12 around a horizontal axis E and, in the configuration of use, the seat element 45 is substantially horizontal while, in the configuration of non-use, it is positioned substantially vertically along the wall 4.

Preferably, the cleaning system 18 comprises at least one movement device 46, 47 associated with the connecting medium 33 and adapted to displace the seat element 45 from the configuration of use to the configuration of non-use when the access door 5 is opened.

More specifically, the movement device 46, 47 comprises temporary locking means 46 which are adapted to temporarily lock the seat element 45 in the configuration of use, with a substantially horizontal arrangement relative to the lid 12, and which are releasable by means of the connecting medium 33 when the access door 5 is opened.

Conveniently, to move from the horizontal configuration to the vertical configuration, the movement device 46, 47 comprises counterweight means 47, e.g. of the type of small lead weights or the like, associated with the seat element 45 on the opposite side with respect to the horizontal axis E and adapted to move the seat element 45 to the configuration of non- use when the temporary locking means 46 are released.

An alternative embodiment cannot however be ruled out in which the movement device 46, 47 comprises elastic return means, e.g. of the type of torsion springs, adapted to move the seat element 45 to the configuration of non-use when the temporary locking means 46 are released.

In a preferred embodiment shown in the illustrations, the temporary locking means 46 comprise at least one first magnetic body 48 associated with the seat element 45 and a second magnetic body 49 associated in a fixed manner with a running slide 50.

Within this invention, the first magnetic body 48 and the second magnetic body 49 can both be magnets or can be a magnet and a ferro-magnetic element, which has equivalent properties to a magnet when coupled to another magnet.

Conveniently, the first magnetic body 48 is secured at the surface of the seat element 45 which in the configuration of use faces downwards. The second magnetic body 49, on the other hand, is mounted on the top of a holding element 51 , which is associated with the running slide 50 and has a substantially elongated shape facing upwards.

Advantageously, the movement of the running slide 50 along the guide direction A is actuated by means of the connecting medium 33 connected to the flexible belt 20.

In other words, the movement of the running slide 50 is linked to the actuation of the cleaning system 18 and to the opening of the access door 5.

Conveniently, in this particular embodiment shown in the illustrations, the running slide 50 coincides with the sliding element 24 and is therefore movable along the guide direction A.

Alternative embodiments cannot however be ruled out in which the running slide 50 is separate and distinct from the sliding element 24.

When the seat element 45 is in the configuration of use, the first magnetic body 48 and the second magnetic body 49 are positioned in mutual magnetic connection in order to overcome the force of the counterweight means 47.

The opening of the access door 5 implies, on the other hand, that the running slide 50 moves away and therefore the second magnetic body 49 are moved away from the first magnetic body 48, releasing the seat element 45 from the configuration of use.

The cleaning system 18 also comprises:

- a pressurised container 52 which contains a sanitising fluid F;

at least one pumping element 53 associated with the pressurised container 52 and adapted to bring pressure inside the pressurised container 52 to a set value for dispensing a plurality of doses of sanitising fluid F; and

at least one dispensing device 65 in fluidic connection with the pressurised container 52, in which the actuating means 19 are adapted to open the dispensing device 65 to dispense one of the doses of sanitising fluid F under pressure coming from the pressurised container 52.

The dose of sanitising fluid F is dispensed at each use, in this case every time the actuating means 19 are actuated, in other words every time the user enters or leaves the portable toilet 1 and the opening of the access door 5 actuates the actuating means 19 connected to it.

More specifically, the dose of sanitising fluid F is dispensed and distributed substantially on the collecting element 20.

The pressurised container 52 is a plastic cylinder 52 which comprises a hollow portion to contain the pumping element 53, which is associated in a movable manner to the cylinder itself along a displacement direction H for pressurising the sanitising fluid F. In particular, the pumping element 53 comprises a gripping body 54 placed on the upper extremity and adapted for gripping for periodic manual pumping by an operator.

In this regard, it is underlined that in this invention the expression "periodic manual pumping" refers to the fact that the pressurised container 52 is periodically charged by an operator, for example during normal cleaning and emptying operations or during maintenance checks which are performed once a week or at other intervals.

Moving the pumping element 53 along the displacement direction H, pressure is formed inside the pressurised container 52 so that the latter is able to dispense a plurality of doses of sanitising fluid F before the cylinder 52 needs to be charged/pressurised again.

In other words, the periodic manual pumping of the pressurised container 52 allows it to be used for a prolonged period without the need for being pressurised by the user of the portable toilet 1.

The plurality of doses is strictly linked to the manual pumping performed periodically, in which it is possible to obtain a pre-set amount of sanitising fluid F which is dispensed with each use and for a pre-set number of uses.

In a preferred embodiment, the dispensing device 65 comprises:

a main body 55, e.g. of the type of a substantially hollow tubular body in which the sanitising fluid F flows, comprising a first coupling element 56 connected to the pressurised container 52 by means of a first tubular element 57 and a second coupling element 58 connected, by means of a second tubular element 59, to a nozzle 60 adapted to dispense the sanitising fluid F;

a secondary body 66, substantially hollow and mounted on the base frame 10 at the lower surface of the lid 12, and adapted to contain the main body 55 which is movable inside the secondary body itself along a substantially vertical movement direction M. More specifically, the secondary body 66 comprises at least one movement seat 67 which is substantially stretched along the movement direction M, inside which the main body 55 is movable. Conveniently, the secondary body 66 comprises an abutment surface 68, arranged below the second coupling element 58, at which a passage opening 69 of the sanitising fluid F is formed from the first coupling element 56 to the second coupling element itself;

a command lever 61 associated with the main body 55 in a movable manner between a rest configuration, in which the dispensing device 65 is closed, and a working configuration, in which the dispensing device 65 is open. In this regard it is underlined that the dispensing device 65 is closed when the flow of the sanitising fluid F inside it is blocked, while it is open when the flow of the sanitising fluid F inside it is permitted to dispense a dose of sanitising fluid itself; a shutter element 70 adapted to adjust the dispensing of the sanitising fluid F from the dispensing device 65. The shutter element 70, which is deformable along the movement direction M, has a substantially cylindrical conformation and is fitted inside the secondary body 66;

- an elastic member 62, of the type e.g. of a spring or the like, placed between the base frame 10 and the main body 55 and adapted to move the main body 55 along the movement direction M.

The displacement of the command lever 61 from the rest configuration to the working configuration is commanded by the actuating means 19 and the displacement of the command lever 61 from the working configuration to the rest configuration is commanded by the deformation of the shutter element 70.

The command lever 61 comprises:

a first terminal portion 71 hinged to the main body 55 in a rotatable manner around a tilting axis I; and

- a second terminal portion 72 comprising a rotating element 73 mounted on it and rotatable around a second axis of rotation C.

To move the command lever 61, the cleaning system 18 comprises at least one pressing element 63 which is mounted on a sliding member 64 and is adapted to enter into contact with the command lever 61.

In particular, the contact between the command lever 61 and the pressing element 63 takes place by means of the sliding of the rotating element 73 on the pressing element 63 following a movement of the sliding member 64.

The sliding member 64 is associated in a movable manner on the base frame 10 along a sliding direction L and is connected to the actuating means 19 to displace the command lever 61 from the rest configuration to the working configuration.

In particular, the second axis of rotation C is substantially horizontal and orthogonal to the sliding direction L.

In the particular embodiment shown in the illustrations, the sliding member 64 coincides with the sliding element 24 described above and the sliding direction L is horizontal and substantially rectilinear and coincides with the guide direction A.

Alternative embodiments cannot however be ruled out in which the sliding member 64 is separate and distinct from the sliding element 24 and/or the sliding direction L is at least partially curved.

In the embodiment shown in the illustrations, the first coupling element 56 and the second coupling element 58 are arranged inside the movement seat 67 and the main body 55 is movable between the normal operating position, in which the elastic member 62 is in a discharge configuration along the movement direction M, and an emergency position, in which the elastic member 62 is in a charge configuration along the movement direction M and the main body 55 is raised towards the base frame 10.

In this invention, the main body 55 is movable between the normal operating position and the emergency position by means of the movement of the elastic member 62 from the discharge configuration to the charge configuration.

In the normal operating position the command lever 61 is movable between the rest configuration, in which it is substantially inclined relative to the sliding direction L and the rotating element 73 is positioned away from the pressing element 63, and the working configuration, in which the command lever itself is arranged along the trajectory, substantially horizontal and parallel to the sliding direction L, of the pressing element 63 sliding on the sliding member 64.

In the emergency position, on the other hand, the command lever 61 is in the working configuration and the rotating element 73 slides on the pressing element 63.

The shutter element 70 comprises a first extreme portion 74 resting on the command lever 61 and a second extreme portion 75 resting against the abutment surface 68 to define a tight coupling between the second extreme portion 75 and the abutment surface 68 to interrupt the flow of the sanitising fluid F through the passage opening 69.

In particular, the shutter element 70 has greater deformability than the elastic member 62 to allow:

in normal operating conditions, the switch of the command lever 61 from the rest configuration to the working configuration and to maintain the main body 55 in the normal operating position; and

in emergency conditions, the switch of the command lever 61 from the rest configuration to the working configuration and the switch of the main body 55 from the normal operating position to the emergency position.

Preferably, the dispensing device 65 can comprise a yielding element 76 placed between the second extreme portion 75 and the top of the main body 55 to facilitate the movement of the shutter element 70 inside the main body itself along the movement direction M and to allow the flow or the interruption of the sanitising fluid F through the passage opening 69.

In this invention, the expression "emergency conditions" refers to the circumstances which determine the accidental blockage of the shutter element 70, as may happen for example in particularly cold weather conditions, such as in the winter, in which the formation of ice G inside the dispensing device 65 compromises the raising of the second extreme portion 75 with respect to the abutment surface 68 by blocking the shutter element 70. In these conditions, the elastic member 62 is compressed along the movement direction M switching from the discharge configuration, in which some forces acts on the elastic member itself and the main body 55 remains in the normal operating position, to the charge configuration, in which the main body 55 moves towards the base frame 10 and exerts a compression force on the elastic member 62, which is therefore in the charge configuration.

In moving the main body 55 from the normal operating position to the emergency position the second extreme portion 75 of the shutter element 70 remains tightly coupled to the abutment surface 68 and the sanitising fluid F does not flow through the through hole 7. The operation of this invention is as follows.

The cleaning system 18 of the portable toilet 1 is activated on each use when the access door 5 is opened.

When the user enters the portable toilet 1 and the access door 5 is closed behind him/her, the actuating means 19 are not activated and the flexible belt 20 is substantially stretched below the upper opening 13.

In this circumstance the seat element 45 is raised and, if the user wishes to use it, he/she lowers it manually, contrasting the action of the counterweight means 47, which in conditions of balance maintain the seat element 45 in the vertical configuration, placing it in the configuration of use where it remains blocked thanks to the mutual magnetic connection of the first magnetic body 48 and the second magnetic body 49.

The actuation of the cleaning system 18 tales place when the access door 5 is opened by the user, when he/she leaves the portable toilet 1.

In this phase, the flexible member 33 connected to the access door 5 moves in such a way around the first drive and snub pulley 39 and the second drive and snub pulley 40 and pulls the flexible belt 20 setting in motion the sliding element 24/running slide 50/sliding member 64 along the guide direction A/sliding direction L.

The flexible belt 20 displaces from the first configuration of collection of organic human waste R to the second discharge configuration, in order to discharge the organic human waste R in the tank 11.

In the switch from the first configuration to the second configuration, the flexible belt 20 is cleaned of the residues remaining on it by means of the scraper element 26 on which it rubs, and is sanitised by the sanitising fluid F dispensed by the dispensing device 65.

Indeed, the rotating element 73 which is fitted on the command lever 61 of the dispensing device 65, rubbing on the pressing element 63 when the sliding member 64 is actuated by the actuating means 19, allows the command lever itself to switch from the rest configuration to the working configuration in which the dispensing device 65 is open, and the shutter element 70 is compressed by the command lever 61 and the second extreme portion 75 moves away from the passage opening 69 allowing a dose of sanitising fluid F to flow through it and be dispensed onto the flexible belt 20.

At the same time, if the user has lowered the seat element 45 at the time of use, the opening of the access door 5 releases the magnetic connection between the first magnetic body 48 and the second magnetic body 49 and the counterweight means 47 return the seat element 45 to the configuration of non-use.

In the event of the occurrence of the emergency conditions described above, in which for example the formation of ice G inside the main body 55 implies that the second extreme portion 75 cannot move away from the abutment surface 68, the portable toilet 1 can in any case continue to work.

In these conditions, in fact, the movement of the sliding member 64 along the sliding direction L pushes the main body 55 into the emergency position and the mobility of the sliding element 24 is not compromised.

The portable toilet 1 can therefore continue to be used even without the cleaning action offered by the sanitising fluid F and, when the ice G melts or is removed, the yielding element 76 is released and returns to normal operation, allowing the regular dispensing of the sanitising fluid F, whereas the elastic member 62 remains in the discharge configuration.

It has in practice been ascertained that the described invention achieves the intended objects and in particular it is underlined that this invention overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art.

In particular, this invention reduces the complexity linked to the cleaning system in terms of structure and size, always ensuring actuation after each use thanks to its main characteristic of being self-cleaning, avoiding great physical efforts, and ensures a high level of cleaning even in the event of bad weather conditions which would compromise sanitisation.

Moreover, the need for frequent maintenance is reduced, limited to predetermined periodic interventions to empty the waste collection tank and to check the sanitising fluid dispensing system.

Claims

1) Portable toilet (1) which comprises:

at least one support base (2) for the support on the ground;

at least one cabin element (3) arranged on said support base (2);

- at least one base frame (10) having at least one upper opening (13) for the passage of organic human waste (R) located on said support base (2) and inside said cabin element (3);

at least one cleaning system (18) associated with said base frame (10) and suitable for the cleaning of said portable toilet (1);

- actuating means (19) associated with said cleaning system (18), able to actuate said cleaning system (18) and to be activated by a user after each use of said portable toilet

(i);

at least one collecting element (20) able to receive and support said organic human waste (R);

characterized in that:

said collecting element (20) comprises at least one flexible belt (20) which has at least a first side (21) secured to said base frame (10) in a fixed position and which is at least partially wound around at least one roller element (22);

said cleaning system (18) comprises at least one movement assembly (23, 24, 25) of said roller element (22) between a first configuration in which said flexible belt (20) is arranged below said upper opening (13) for the collection of said organic human waste (R) on said collecting element (20) and a second discharge configuration of said organic human waste (R) from said flexible belt (20).

2) Portable toilet (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said movement assembly (23, 24, 25) comprises:

at least one guide unit (23), which is associated with said base frame (10) and able to define a guide direction (A) substantially rectilinear; and

at least one sliding element (24), which supports said roller element (22) and is slidably mounted on said guide unit (23) between said first configuration and said second configuration.

3) Portable toilet (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said movement assembly (23, 24, 25) comprises at least one elastic element (25) able to pull said sliding element (24) towards said first configuration, the displacement of said sliding element (24) from said first configuration to said second configuration counteracting said elastic element (25).

4) Portable toilet (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said movement assembly (23, 24, 25) comprises at least one scraper element (26) associated with said sliding element (24) in the proximity of said roller element (22) and able to slide along said flexible belt (20) to remove said organic human waste (R) from said flexible belt (20).

5) Portable toilet (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said roller element (22) is roller-shaped and is associated with said sliding element (24) rotatably around a first axis of rotation (B) substantially orthogonal to said guide direction (A).

6) Portable toilet (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said flexible belt (20) comprises a second side (28) opposite to said first side (21) and associated with said actuating means (19).

7) Portable toilet (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first side (21) and said axis of rotation (B) are substantially horizontal and parallel to each other.

8) Portable toilet (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second side (28) has a substantially pointed configuration in correspondence of which is defined at least one through hole (7), said through hole (7) being associable with said actuating means (19).

9) Portable toilet (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said roller element (22) divides said flexible belt (20) into:

a first section (30), extending from said first side (21) to said roller element (22); a second section (31), extending from said roller element (22) to said second side

(28), and which is arranged at least partially below said first section (30).

10) Portable toilet (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that:

in said first configuration, said first section (30) has greater extension than said second section (31) and said second side (28) is located away with respect to said first side (21);

in said second configuration, said first section (30) has an extension substantially coincident to said second section (31), said second section (31) extending parallel below said first section (30) and said second side (28) is located close with respect to said first side (21).