WO2018077816A1

WO2018077816A1 - Sanitary cabin

Info

Publication number: WO2018077816A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/077033
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giancarlo MATTEUCCI
Original assignee: Power Trip S.R.L.S.
Priority date: 2016-10-28
Filing date: 2017-10-23
Publication date: 2018-05-03
Also published as: IT201600109510A1

Abstract

Sanitary cabin for personal hygiene purposes, capable of acting as shower box and toilet, comprising sliding doors (19) and a pair of tilting bottoms (2, 3) in lower and upper position, suitable for being in an operating position and in a non-operating position, in which the volume of said sliding doors and of said tilting bottoms is considerably reduced.

Description

SANITARY CABIN

The present patent application for industrial invention relates to a sanitary cabin for personal hygiene purposes, which is suitable for being used as shower box and toilet, as well as for being operated in a very small space.

The new sanitary cabin of the invention has been devised based on the fact that in several occasions people do not have the possibility of using a toilet for personal hygiene or physiological needs.

Such a necessity may be experienced in buildings that are not suitably equipped or are still under construction, and especially by individuals who perform activities or use spaces that are not expressly and permanently intended for residential use.

An example of this is represented by individuals who live in mobile homes, boats or camping tents.

Nevertheless, in devising the present invention, greater attention was paid to truck drivers who drive long distances. As a matter of fact, the necessity of having a suitable hygienic space is especially felt by this group of workers.

While it is true that truck drivers can use the toilets of fuel stations or rest areas in highways during night stops, it is also true that they are not always able to use these fixed facilities advantageously.

Such a difficulty comes from the concurrence of two different factors: i.e. the maximum duration of the driving shifts provided for by the law, and the need to meet the delivery time of the goods that are being transported.

As a matter of fact, it may be impossible for a truck driver to stop for the night in an equipped rest area because of the impossibility to reach said rest area within the permitted time of the driving shift, or because said rest area is too far from destination and a stop would involve a premature interruption of the journey, leaving an excessive distance to be covered during the next portion of the journey. In all of the above situations, truck drivers are obliged to stop their truck in non-equipped pull-offs or improvised areas, along the carriageway of the freeway or highway whereon they are traveling.

For a long time, trucks have been equipped with a sleeper berth where the driver can lie down and sleep comfortably. However, none of these means permits to satisfy another physical need, i.e. personal hygiene, which not only consists in body cleaning, but also in the satisfaction of physiological needs.

It is easy to imagine the discomfort experienced by truck drivers when, after a long driving session, they are forced to lie down in their sleeper berth without having the possibility of brushing their teeth, washing their face, or satisfying their physiological needs, most of the times being forced to do so in precarious conditions, in the open air and without any privacy.

The same discomfort is experienced when truck drivers have to resume driving after spending the night in their vehicle, without having the possibility of washing their face.

CH191813 discloses a shower cabin comprising a compartment defined by a bottom wall in lower position, by a rear wall on the back and by a piece of soft, waterproof material on the sides, said piece of material being connected to the rear wall and suitable for being moved to open and close said compartment.

Based on the above considerations, the primary purpose of the present invention is to disclose a sanitary cabin that allows the user to satisfy all of the above personal needs, occupying a small space and being completely self- sufficient in terms of operation mode.

As mentioned above, such a sanitary cabin has been devised in order to be used both as shower box and as toilet. At the same time, however, it can be also equipped with a washbasin and a mirror for those users who intend to wash their face, shave or put their make-up on, in case of female users.

An additional purpose of the present invention is to disclose a sanitary cabin that is completely self-sufficient in terms of operation, being provided with a water supply tank and a drain for waste waters suitably connected to a septic tank. Finally, another purpose of the sanitary cabin of the invention is to provide the aforementioned advantages in a very small, yet practicable space.

In view of the above, the sanitary cabin of the invention is provided with a sort of "variable geometry", meaning that its volume increases when it is used (for example as shower box), and decreases rapidly and considerably when it is not used.

Because of such a reduced volume, the sanitary cabin of the invention can be mounted in very small spaces where traditional fixed facilities cannot be mounted, and especially in truck cabs.

With reference to the latter use, the sanitary cabin of the invention has been especially designed to be installed in the driver's cab of a truck, in the space behind the driver and the passenger's seats, i.e. in the space that is normally occupied by said sleeper berth.

In view of the above, the sanitary cabin of the present invention is used in combination with a bed with folding or retractable structure, in such a way to occupy a very small space when it is brought in maximum retraction position.

Therefore, after bringing a similar bed to its retracted position, a significant space is freed on the bottom of the interior space of the vehicle, which is fully sufficient to contain the new sanitary cabin of the present invention, even when said sanitary cabin is in operation condition and has a higher volume.

After being used, the sanitary cabin can be brought back to its non- operating compact condition, in which its minimum volume does not interfere with the opening of said folding bed.

For the sake of clarity, the description of the invention continues with reference to the attached drawings, which merely have an illustrative, not limiting value, wherein:

- Fig. 1 is a view of the bearing frame of the sanitary cabin according to the invention;

- Fig. 1 A is substantially identical to Fig. 1 , except that it also shows the support panel of a washbasin, a mirror and a shower-head applied on the front of the bearing frame; - Figs. 2 to 5 are diagrammatic views of the different positions taken by the various elements of the sanitary cabin according to the invention;

- Fig. 6 is a view of the bottom used to provide the shower tray in the position taken when the sanitary cabin of the invention is used as shower box;

- Fig. 7 is a view of the bottom used to provide the shower tray in the position taken when the sanitary cabin of the invention is used as toilet.

With reference to the attached figures, the sanitary cabin of the invention (C) can be used as shower box and as toilet.

Moreover, it must be noted that the sanitary cabin of the invention (C) can go from an operating position, in which it offers the necessary comfort to the user, but tends to increase its volume in the space where it is positioned, to a non-operating position, in which all its parts are compacted in order to reduce their volume.

With reference to Fig. 1 , it must be noted that the sanitary cabin (C) of the invention is composed of a bearing frame (1 ), preferably made of metal sections, with a substantially "L"-shaped profile.

Said bearing frame (1 ) comprises a vertical element shaped as a rectangular frame (10), substantially having the same height as the average height of a person, and a horizontal element (1 1 ) that protrudes in lower position in the front of the vertical element (10), being suitable for acting as stabilization and support base; it being also provided that said vertical element (10) is frontally covered for its entire height by a rectangular panel (12), as shown in Fig. 1 A.

It must be noted that, with respect to said element (10), said panel (12) has substantially the same height and a higher width. Moreover, said panel (12) is provided near its vertical sides (12a) with a symmetric pair of identical vertical slots (12b) that cut the base side (12c) of said panel (12) and are only interrupted near the upper side (12d).

With respect to the bearing frame (1 ), said vertical slots (12b) are disposed in external position on the vertical sides of said rectangular frame element (10). Two tilting bottoms (2, 3) are pivoted on the front of the transverse ends (10a, 10b) of said vertical element (10), with possibility of rotating by approximately 90°. After being brought to the operating horizontal position, the two tilting bottoms (3, 3) are respectively suitable for acting as "ceiling" and "floor" for the sanitary cabin of the invention (C), as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 5.

Alternatively, said bottoms (2, 3) can be brought to the non-operating vertical position in contact with said panel (12), in such a condition that the first tilting bottom (2) is directed downwards and the second tilting bottom (3) is directed upwards, as shown in Fig. 3.

It must be considered that, being suitable for acting as the bottom wall of the sanitary cabin according to the invention (C), the second (3) of said tilting bottoms, i.e. the lower one, is also configured as shower tray and for this reason is provided with a drain hole (3b) suitable for being connected to a drain system intended to convey the water into a black water tank, of the type normally used in camper vans.

Such a tank has two different compartments, one for the clear waters of the shower and the washbasin, and one for the black waters, because of the fact that the sanitary cabin according to the invention is also manufactured in a version with toilet, as described in detail below.

The connection system to the tank provides for a closing system that completely closes the tank when the lower bottom is raised, preventing bad odors from being exhaled inside the interior space of the camper van.

As a matter of fact, the only function of the upper bottom (2) is to act as support for the sliding guides of the sanitary cabin doors. For this reason it preferably consists in a lightweight grille structure, with the only condition that its dimensions and shape must be perfectly identical to the ones of the lower bottom (3).

In particular, the two bottoms (2, 3) have the same "C"-shape, being provided with an arc-of-a-circle profile with length higher than an arc of semicircle, defined on the back by a transverse rectilinear edge (2a, 3a).

The back edge (2a) of the first bottom (2) is suitable for being pivoted on the front of the upper transverse end (10a) of the vertical element (10), whereas the upper edge (3a) of the second bottom (3) is suitable for being pivoted on the front of the lower transverse end (10b), immediately above said horizontal element (1 1 ) of the bearing frame (1 ).

A shower head (13), a mirror (14) and a washbasin (15), which is associated with a tap (16) for supplying/mixing water, are mounted on the front of said vertical panel (12) from up downwards.

According to a preferred embodiment and in order to minimize the front volume of the sanitary cabin of the invention (C), the structure of said washbasin (15) is made of a soft, elastically-deformable rubber or plastic material in such manner that, when not used, it can be compressed and flattened against the panel (2), which is provided with suitable means, such as for example rubber bands, belts or hooks, to hold said washbasin (15) in deformed flattened position.

On the top of said vertical element (10) of the bearing frame (1 ), the housing case (17) of a winding roller is mounted for a piece of material (18) that, after being completely unwound downwards, is suitable for being disposed in such a way to completely cover the panel (12) and all the other parts - reference being made, of course, to the two tilting bottoms (2, 3), to the shower head (13) and to the washbasin (15) - that are fitted on the surface of said panel (12) .

The following parts are mounted and fixed firmly, without any possibility of moving, on the back of said vertical element (10) of the frame (1 ):

- a lower counter-bottom (300) that is coplanar to the bottom (3), practically being its extension on the back of the frame (1 ), in such manner to form a circular dish, as shown in Fig. 6

- an upper counter-bottom (200) that is coplanar to the bottom (2), practically being its extension on the back of the frame (1 ), in such manner to form a circular structure.

The sanitary cabin (C) according to the invention is provided with at least two pairs of sliding doors (19), preferably made of glass or Plexiglass, that are compacted and concealed on the back of said panel (12) when they are completely open, and are brought to the front of said panel (12), when they are completely closed, in order to define a watertight compartment (V) with said panel (12) in which the user can have a shower.

The movement of said sliding doors (19) from the back to the front of the panel (12) and vice versa is made possible by said vertical slots (12b) that practically represents the opening for the passage of said sliding doors (19).

Said sliding doors (19) have a curved profile that is shaped as an arc of circle and are supported by corresponding rails (20a and 20b) disposed on the tilting bottoms (2,3) and on the fixed counter-bottoms (200, 300).

More precisely, said guide rails (20a and 20b) develop along two concentric adjacent arcs of a circle that run in parallel direction near the edges of the tilting bottoms (2,3) and of the fixed counter-bottoms (200, 300), as shown in Fig. 6.

A first pair of doors (19) slides along the guide rails (20a), whereas the second pair of doors (19) slides along the guide rails (20b).

In order for the sanitary cabin of the invention (C) to act as toilet, a special configuration of said second tilting bottom (3), i.e. the one acting as lower bottom for the sanitary cabin (C), has been devised.

In such a case, in fact, the second bottom (3) has a box structure with a central cavity provided with a considerable width and height (30), which is defined by a perimeter edge (31 ), inside which a tilting door (34) is pivoted.

Two platforms (32) protrude from the bottom of said cavity (30), being similar to the ones that are typical of squat toilets, and a drain hole (33) is provided in intermediate position, as shown in Fig. 7.

Said cavity (30) is accessed through said tilting door (34), which is suitable for being disposed inside said perimeter edge (31 ), when said tilting door (34) is brought to its closing position, as shown in Fig. 6.

In such a perspective, the versatility of this specific embodiment of said second bottom (3) of the sanitary cabin of the invention (C) appears evident.

Until the sanitary cabin (C) is used as shower box, said door (34) is evidently maintained in closing position, basically representing the support surface for the feet of the user. Instead, when the sanitary cabin (C) is used as a toilet, said door (34) is raised in such a way that the user can rest his or her feet on the platforms (32) that protrude from the bottom of said cavity (30).

After satisfying his or her physiological needs in a similar toilet, the user can activate a water cascade to clean the cavity (30) by means of a button (35) disposed on the panel (12), favoring the evacuation of the residues through the drain hole (33) into said clear/black water collection tank connected to the sanitary cabin of the invention (C).

It must be noted that said button (35) is connected to a tank (36) that is full of water and is concealed behind the panel (12), being fixed to the frame (1 ), as well as provided with a drain hose in order to convey and discharge the water towards drain outlets (31 a) disposed on the internal wall of said edge (31 ), as shown in Fig. 7.

Moreover, in such a special construction of the second bottom (3), the door (34) is not provided with a drain hole for the water supplied by the shower head (13) because such water can be drained by means of a set of suitable drain outlets (31 b) obtained on the internal side of the perimeter edge (31 ) at a higher height compared to the drain outlets (31 a), as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

Additionally, said door (34) is provided with a substantially truncated- conical bulb (34b) in lower position, which is suitable for being exactly inserted as a plug in the central hole (33) of the cavity (30), in order to prevent the exhalation of bad odors that may arise from the septic tank where the black water and the defecations are discharged through the central hole (33).

Finally, it must be noted that, in other embodiments of the sanitary cabin (C), said sliding doors (19) may be replaced with covering panels made of plastic material with a bellows-like structure or, more simply, sliding curtains made of plastic material, with the same level of efficacy and satisfaction.

Although not shown in the attached figures, the back of said vertical element (10) of the bearing frame (1 ) is provided with all the hydraulic connections that are necessary to supply water to said shower head (13), to said tap (16) of the washbasin (15) and to said tank (36). Evidently, such hydraulic connections take the water from a storage tank with the interposition of a boiler to heat the water supplied by said shower head (13) and by said tap (16) of the washbasin (15).

If the sanitary cabin (C) is to be mounted on a truck, the storage tank and the boiler are preferably installed on the back of the driver's cab, whereas the septic tank can be advantageously installed under the driver's cab.

Claims

1 ) Sanitary cabin, comprising:

- a bearing frame (1 ) ;

- a vertical panel (12) supported by the bearing frame (1 ) and having a rectangular shape, said vertical panel (12) comprising two vertical sides (12a), one base side (12c) and one upper side (12d);

- a first bottom (2) and a second bottom (3) having the same dimensions and shape, wherein said first bottom (2) and said second bottom (3) are respectively disposed in front of said base side (12c) and of said upper side (12d) of said panel (12),

- a compartment (V) defined by said panel (12) and by said bottoms (2,

3);

- a plurality of doors (19) sliding along at least two guide rails (20a, 20b) provided on the bottoms (2, 3) to close the compartment (V);

- one or more water-supply devices (13, 16) mounted on the front of said panel (12);

wherein

said first bottom (2) is tilting and pivoted at the bearing frame (1 ) in such manner to go from an operating position, wherein said first bottom (2) is in horizontal position, to a non-operating position, wherein said first bottom (2) is lowered downwards in vertical position near the panel (12); and

said second bottom (3) is tilting and pivoted at the bearing frame (1 ) in such manner to go from an operating position, wherein said second bottom (3) is in horizontal position, to a non-operating position, wherein said second bottom (3) is turned upwards in vertical position near the panel (12).

characterized in that

said vertical panel (12) is fixed on the front of said bearing frame (1 ); said second bottom (3) has a drain hole (3b),

said bearing frame (1 ) comprises a vertical element (10) shaped as a rectangular frame (10) and a horizontal element (1 1 ) that protrudes in lower position on the front of the vertical element (10), in such a way to act as stabilization and support base for the vertical element (10);

said panel (12) substantially has the same height as said vertical element (10) and a higher width than the width of the vertical element (10), said panel (12) comprises a pair of symmetric vertical slots (12b), said vertical slots (12b) being obtained in the proximity of the vertical sides (12a) of the panel (12), in such a way to cut the base side (12c) of said panel (12) and to be interrupted near the upper side (12d) of the panel (12); said vertical slots (12b) being disposed in external position on the vertical sides of said vertical element (10); and

said sliding doors (19) are suitably dimensioned to pass through the vertical slots (12b) of the panel (12) when going from an opening position of said compartment (V) to a closing position of said compartment (V).

2) The sanitary cabin of claim 1 , also comprising:

- a lower counter-bottom (300) permanently fixed on the back of the bearing frame (1 ); said lower counter-bottom (300) being coplanar to the second bottom (3), in such a way to be an extension of the second bottom (3) on the back of the bearing frame (1 ) and form a circular dish with said second bottom (3);

- an upper counter-bottom (200) permanently fixed on the back of the bearing frame (1 ); said upper counter-bottom (200) being coplanar to the first bottom (2), in such a way to be an extension of the first bottom (2) on the back of the bearing frame (1 ) and form a circular structure with said first bottom (2); wherein said guide rails (20a, 20b) develop along two concentric adjacent arcs of a circle that run in parallel direction near the edges of the tilting bottoms (2, 3) and of the fixed counter-bottoms (200, 300).

3) The sanitary cabin of claim 1 or 2, wherein said second bottom (3) has a box structure, in the center of which a cavity (30) with considerable width and depth is obtained, being defined by a perimeter edge (31 ) on the sides, and by a bottom in lower position; said second bottom (3) comprising two platforms (32) that protrude from the bottom of said cavity, and a drain hole (33) obtained on the bottom of said cavity between the two platforms (32); said second bottom (3) comprising a door (34) for accessing said cavity (30), pivoted inside said perimeter edge (31 ) in such manner that said door (34) can go from a closing position, wherein said door (34) is in a horizontal position inside the cavity (30), to an opening position, wherein said door (34) is in a turned-up vertical position near the vertical panel (12).

4) The sanitary cabin of claim 3, wherein said door (34) is provided in lower position with a bulb (34b) with substantially truncated-conical shape, which suitable for being exactly inserted inside the drain hole (33) of the cavity (30) as a sort of plug.

5) The sanitary cabin of claim 3 or 4, wherein

said perimeter edge (31 ) that defines the cavity (30) is provided with drain outlets (31 a) disposed on an internal wall of the perimeter edge (31 ), and said panel (12) supports a button (35) connected to a tank (36) that is full of water and is concealed behind the panel (12), being fixed to the bearing frame (1 ), wherein said tank (36) is provided with a drain hose suitable for conveying and discharging the water contained in the tank towards said drain outlets (31 a) above which other drain outlets (31 b) are provided to discharge clean water.

6) The sanitary cabin of one of the preceding claims, wherein said panel (12) frontally supports a washbasin (15) provided with a tap (16) and a shower head (13).

7) The sanitary cabin of one of the preceding claims, wherein a housing case (17) is mounted on the top of said bearing frame (1 ), said housing case (17) housing a winding roller for a piece of cloth (18) suitable for being disposed in such a way to completely cover the panel (12) and all the other parts (2,3,13,15,16) that are fitted on the surface of said panel (12), when said piece of cloth (18) is unrolled downwards completely.

8) The sanitary cabin of claim 6, wherein said washbasin (15) is made of elastically deformable soft rubber or plastic material, in such manner that, when not used, said washbasin (15) can be compressed and flattened against the panel (12), said panel (12) comprising means suitable for holding said washbasin (15) in deformed flattened position. 9) Truck comprising an equipped driver's cab, in correspondence of the space behind the driver and the passenger's seats, with a bed provided with a folding or telescopic structure and a sanitary cabin (C) as described in any one of the preceding claims.