PORTABLE SANITARY DEVICE

Abstract

The present invention provides a portable sanitary device comprising a sanitary device with removable water supply mechanisms and removable waste holding and removal mechanisms. The mechanisms include one or more tanks removably attached to the sanitary device and function to allow a user to wash or flush after a use and circulate waste material into a waste holding and removal tank. Alternative embodiments provide flanges and valve systems.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/710,743 filed Aug. 24, 2005, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

FIGURE SELECTED FOR PUBLCIATION

FIG. 1

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a portable sanitary device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a portable sanitary device enabling washing and having at least one or more removable water supply tanks and wastewater holding tanks.

2. Description of the Related Art

The related art involves and discloses a wide variety of portable sanitary devices. These portable sanitary devices are well-known to those traveling on the interstate or visiting job sites (e.g., “port-a-Johnny”) and in various camping type toilet apparatus.

What is not appreciated by the prior art is need to flush after using the portable sanitary device in a manner related to existing fixed-installation toilet systems, wherein a water flush is provided for waste movement. It is also not appreciated by the known travel or champing toilets to provide an optional cleansing sprits to a user or to pre-move and pre-dilute waste prior to a final flush. The present application provides a unique way to combine portability, sanitary operation, and ready flushing after use for.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved portable sanitary device enabling rapid flushing and re-supply of water, and removal of a waste/holding tank after use for later cleaning and reuse.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a portable sanitary device to facilitate and respond to the needs noted above.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable sanitary device having at least one or more removable water tanks that enable ready storage and refilling for easy and simple transport.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable sanitary device including a removable waste matter/holding tank enabling the ready removal of said tank from the portable sanitary device for ready emptying, cleaning, and sterilization.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable sanitary device having a compact flushing and waste transport system as well as a compact bidet system. For example, a water-receiving area proximate a seating area may be easily curved to direct and circulate water to remove and wash waste from an initial deposit zone into a waste holding tank.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable sanitary device enabling the use of toilet tissue following use and the transport of the used toilet tissue in a wastewater and holding tank for ready disposal and cleaning.

The present invention relates to a portable sanitary device having a removable fluid supply tank along a back upright portion of a chair and a waste fluid holding tank releasably attachable to a seat portion of a chair member for operation in relation thereto.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a water transport flange and system for receiving wash water, flushing-washing-circulating the water, and transporting the now-used wash water to waste holding tank.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in conduction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate the same elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear-perspective view of the embodiment in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view along face I-I in FIG. 2 (back removed) noting internal construction in a portable use condition.

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view along face I-I in FIG. 2 (back removed) noting an internal construction in a semi-fixed use condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments of the invention that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps. The drawings are in simplified form and are not to precise scale. For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms, such as top, bottom, up, down, over, above, and below may be used with respect to the drawings. These and similar directional terms should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. The words “connect,” “couple,” and similar terms with their inflectional morphemes do not necessarily denote direct and immediate connections, but also include connections through mediate elements or devices.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a portable sanitary device 100 includes a seat member 4 pivotably affixed to a chair frame member 1 having opposing arm members 3, 3, and leg members 2. Portable sanitary device 100 further includes a back member 31 positioned at an angle adjacent to seat 5 for slidably supporting and retaining a removable tank member 10 within sliding channels 30, as shown.

Water tank member 10 is removably attached to a back location of back plate or back member 31 via a plurality of sliding channels 30. At least a first waste fluid and waste matter holding tank 7 is releasably positioned below seat 4. Slidable guides 5 engage projecting lip members 5A on tank 7. A handle 8 allows a user to slidably remove tank 7 for cleaning and re-use, as will be described. It is preferable that tank 7 include a waste opening 9 having a slidable/openable waste door 16A that is actuated by a lever assembly 50 projecting from a side of seat member 4. During a sliding installation of tank 7 along guides 5, engagement members on a top surface of tank 7 (not shown) engage an end of lever assembly 50 so as to enable a user to operate waste door 16A as desired.

Seat 4 defines a bounded opening 6 for receiving waste material during use of portable sanitary device 100 and is arranged to open directly over tank 7 unit opening 9 for receiving waste through a slidable waste door 16A, as will be discussed.

As noted best in FIG. 1, waste door 16A is slidable along guides (not shown) in a direction A to seal opening 16A for easy removal and transport of waste tank 7.

An opening 16 is formed in a side wall of seat opening 6, as shown, and includes a small spritz member (tube) directable along a direction noted by a water or spritz-guide 16B positioned in seat opening 6. As a consequence of this design, a user may choose to direct the spritz upwardly for self cleaning or along direction guide 16B to aid in cleaning and flushing of waste on a top of waste door 16A (when not opened prior to use) or downwardly into waste unit 7 as a flushing aid.

As a consequence of the present design, it is envisioned that substantial improvements over the related art is provided by the use of a sealable and removable waste unit 7 having an actuatable waste door 16A and an engageable level 50 for operation.

Outer water unit 10 includes three reservoirs, a central reservoir 11 for initially storing flush water, a flush reservoir 22 for storing main flush water, and a spritz or cleansing cavity reservoir 15 for storing spritz water or flush water, as will be discussed.

A central filling opening 12 is formed in tank 10 for refilling water and a sealable plug (not shown) may seal opening 12 for easy transport when tank 10 is removed from back plate 31.

One way openings 13, 14 allow flush water to flow from main tank 11 to spritz tank 15 and flush tank 22 as will be discussed. During such motion, the water level in main tank 11 decreases along direction 21.

Flush mechanism 23 is slidably positioned with flush tank 22 and includes a sealing plate 24 with edge seals 24A. Sealing plate 24 and edge seals 24A provide a wall-tight/water-tight seal with the walls of flush tank 22.

It is envisioned, that during an initial fill process, central tank 11 is filled via opening 12 until a level 90 is reached, which in turn flows through openings 13, 14 to reach an equilibrium pressure level within respective tanks 15, 22.

Due to seal 24,24A and resistance plunger 23 provides, a water level is retained in flush tank 22 despite repeated spritz-uses or small flushes generated flowing from spritz tank 15. As a consequence, while water level 21 may decrease prior to a re-filling, initial flush tank 22 retains its initial flush-full condition.

Similarly, in spritz or minor-flush tank 15, a valve and tube assembly 19 is provided and receives an initial fluid fill to fill tube 19A due to the water filling the initial tube and passing by a juncture with spritz valve tube assembly 18 linked with a spritz activator mechanism 17 projecting from a top of tank 10.

During a common use, one should expect that a user will actuate spritz activator mechanism 17 multiple times to repeatedly trigger valve tube assembly 18 to release small amounts of spritz or flushing water down tube 19A through tube 20, to portal 16. Due to the lower volumes released by assembly 18, it is envisioned that tube 19A may hold as many as 5 spritzes for each large flush provided via plunger 23.

As also noted, a flush portal 25 is provided opposite one-way opening 14 for transporting flush water down tube 27 to a rear access portal 28 in waste tank 7 for ease of cleaning. In use, it is envisioned that a user will push downwardly on plunger 23 along the Force direction (FIG. 3) to seal one-way valve 14 and force flushing water out portal 25 through one-way seal 28. Following the force of flushing water, one-way seal 28 will close preventing back-flow up pipe 27.

Thereafter, a user will refill tank 10 fully and will lift plunger 23 to draw water through one-way opening 14 to prepare for the next flush.

In an alternative assembly, a seal 26 may be fixed over flush port 25, and a user may replace one-way seal 28 with an inverse one-way seal 28A allowing waste to continuously flow down a collector pipe 29 in a manner more closely related to a long-term positioning. In this mode, it is envisioned that spritzing will be more common and that system 100 will be merely used for fluid not solid waste therefore obviating the need for a large-volume flush capacity.

Following a flush or empting use of tank 10, a user will simply lift tank 10 along channels 30 from back support plate 31 and transport it to a filling station. Alternatively, a user may simply fill tank 10 in place via portal 12 opening.

Both said tanks are projected to be self-contained bounded regions constructed from high density poly propylene or other suitable material. It is also envisioned that the tanks may be further sub-divided into various holding regions within each tank. Access valves and drain valves are considered to be included in the tank in reasonably accessible areas and further in a manner which enable the ready sterilization of both the water tank and the waste/holding tank during a cleaning cycle.

According to one alternative in aspect of the present invention the water tank 10 includes a lever or actuating mechanism that when pulled releases water through a simple ball valve or alternative spray/bidet dispensing mechanism. According yet to another alternative embodiment there is a sliding trap similar to guide 16B that operates to receive released water and slidably guide the water and waste into holding tank 7 in a manner similar to that of a flushing commercial toilet. Another alternative embodiment of the present invention anticipates that holding tank 7 may alternatively include a waste treatment chemical or waste disposal chemical wherein the chemical enables rapid disposal of the waste and possibly toilet tissue and similarly pacifies any organic or biologically active matter retained therein.

It is known that chemicals exist, for example, AQUA ZUME®, as an aid in decomposition and pacification of the organic matter. It is therefore considered by inventors of the present portable sanitary device that a quick dissolving and biodegradable tissue may be optionally used for this device, as well as regular tissue, and additionally that waste holding tank 7 may be preloaded with some amount of waste-fluid decomposition and pacification chemical prior to a use to mitigate smells, and other biological activity between through cleanings.

As a consequence of the above described invention for a portable sanitary device it is believed that the present invention responds to at least one of the needs noted above in a manner that is unique to the portable sanitary device arts.

In any future claims, the claims, means- or step-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described or suggested herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Thus, for example, although a nail, a screw, and a bolt may not be structural equivalents in that a nail relies on friction between a wooden part and a cylindrical surface, a screw's helical surface positively engages the wooden part, and a bolt's head and nut compress opposite sides of a wooden part, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail, a screw, and a bolt may be readily understood by those skilled in the art as equivalent structures.

Having described at least one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes, modifications, and adaptations may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A portable sanitary device, comprising:

a first frame assembly supporting a seat member and a back member;

said back member projecting from said seat member and including a back plate portion and a plurality of receiving means for storing a tank;

said seat member including a seat opening proximate a central region thereof;

at least a first removable fluid tank for storing a fluid sidably engaged with said plurality of receiving means for storing said tank, whereby said fluid tank is disengeably affixed to said back member during a human use and is removable during periods of non-use for refilling and transport;

at least a first removable rigid waste tank for receiving user-waste and a flush wash during a use;

at least a first tank opening in said waste tank proximate said seat opening on said seat member for receiving waste passing through said seat opening;

means for removably mounting said rigid waste tank on said seat member enabling an easy removal of said waste tank;

flush means for urging a flush volume from said fluid tank to said waste tank during said use; and

spritz means for enabling a user selection of a spritz volume from said fluid tank during said use, whereby said spritz volume enables a user to select one of a cleansing spritz wash and a waste removal spritz wash.

2. A portable sanitary device, further comprising:

at least a first waste door on said waste tank;

said waste door selectably closing said first tank opening during non-use whereby said waste tank is sealed to minimize odor; and

lever means for selectively opening and closing said waste door and engaging said waste tank in a use position.

3. A portable sanitary device, according to claim 2, further comprising:

means for actuating a spritz fluid volume release;

said means including at least a first user actuator for enabling said spritz fluid release; and

means for dividing said fluid tank into at least a first flush volume, whereby said means for dividing preserves said flush volume of fluid in a ready volume despite other uses of said fluid in said fluid tank.

4. A portable sanitary device, according to claim 2, further comprising:

at least a first and a second arm support assembly proximate said seat member, whereby said portable sanitary device may provide safe support for an aged or infirm user.

5. A portable sanitary device, according to claim 4, further comprising:

pivot means for pivotably connecting said back member to said seat member; and

said pivot means including means for position said back member in close proximately to said seat member for ready storage.

6. A portable sanitary device, according to claim 4, further comprising:

means for collapsing said first and second arm support assemblies relative to said frame assembly, whereby said portable sanitary device is readily reduced in outer volume to enable ready storage.

7. A portable sanitary device, according to claim 1, wherein:

said means for removably mounting said waste tank include at least one of a set of sliding guides, a roller-bearing assembly, a pull handle, and a roller-stop safety assembly means for preventing unintended waste tank separation.

8. A portable sanitary device, according to claim 3, further comprising:

a back-flow prevention door in said means for dividing, whereby said back-flow prevention door prohibits a loss of said flush volume prior to an intended use thereof.

9. A portable sanitary device, according to claim 8, further comprising:

a plunging member; and

said plunging member operable relative to said first flush volume in said fluid tank, whereby during said use, said plunging member moves relative to said fluid tank to remove the fluid there from in a flush action.