Patent US3801991A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3801991A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable, self-contained toilet
Assignee: Interface Inc
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Filing: 1972-11-29
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Granted: 1974-04-09
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Expires: 1992-11-29
Abstract
Abstract A self-contained portable toilet that has a seat section and a holding tank section. The seat section includes: An upper rim; a lower base wall; a bowl portion extending downwardly of the rim to a drain through the base wall; a plurality of exterior side walls in spaced relation radially outwardly of said bowl portion; a flush fluid reservoir defined by a cavity formed between the bowl and exterior walls; a flush pump that is constructed for facile mounting in the seat section to transfer flush fluid from the reservoir into the bowl, said flush pump incorporating a unique check valve in conjunction with the outlet port particularly to facilitate priming; a separately interchangeable lid, seat, rim and hinge means by which such components are interconnected; and, a thimble associated with the bowl drain by which to effect an assured seal between the seat section and a flush valve demountably secured to the holding tank section. The flush valve assembly has a neck portion with novel thread means and a sealing wall that cooperatively engage corresponding thread means and a seal presented from a collar associated with the inlet port of the holding tank section. The pouring spout on the holding tank section, like the filling port in the flush fluid reservoir, are selectively closed with a unique cap and seal combination, and a clamp assembly assures joinder of a seat section to one or more holding tank sections and, if desired, to the supporting surface on which the portable toilet rests. The clamp assembly is uniquely constructed to permit it to be detachably secured to a seat section, a holding tank section and, if desired, a supporting surface.
Inventors
- 👤 H Fulton
- 👤 V Flinner
- 👤 R Sprang
- 👤 D Zody
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 18:35
CPC Classifications
E; E03; E03D; E03D5/00; E03D5/01; E03D11/00; E03D11/02; E03D11/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A portable toilet comprising; a seat section and a holding tank section, said holding tank section having an inlet port, a collar circumscribing said inlet port, a flush valve assembly, said flush valve assembly presenting a neck, said neck being insertably received within said collar, connecting means releasably securing said neck within said collar, said flush valve assembly presenting a socket in a direction oppositely of said neck, a passageway extending through said socket and neck with a valve element operative between said neck and socket selectively to open and close said passageway, said seat section having a bowl portion that converges downwardly to a drain, a thimble circumscribing said drain, said thimble being insertably received within said socket to present a substantially cylindrical interface, and means effecting a radial seal between said substantially cylindrical interface presented by said thimble and socket.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
A portable toilet comprising; a seat section and a holding tank section, said holding tank section having an inlet port, a collar circumscribing said inlet port, a flush valve assembly, said flush valve assembly presenting a neck, said neck being insertably received within said collar, connecting means releasably securing said neck within said collar, said flush valve assembly presenting a socket in a direction oppositely of said neck, a passageway extending through said socket and neck with a valve element operative between said neck and socket selectively to open and close said passageway, said seat section having a bowl portion that converges downwardly to a drain, a thimble circumscribing said drain, said thimble being insertably received within said socket to present a substantially cylindrical interface, and means effecting a radial seal between said substantially cylindrical interface presented by said thimble and socket.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising; at least one clamp assembly releasably securing said seat section to said holding tank section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 1, in which the connecting means releasably securing said neck within said collar comprises; thread means extending radially inwardly of said collar and thread means extending radially outwardly of said neck to engage the thread means on said collar.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 3, in which lock lugs presented from said holding tank section selectively and releasably engage said flush valve assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 3, in which the collar has an upper sealing wall and thread means, the thread means on said collar being located at a level lower than said sealing wall, said neck having an upper wall portion receivable interiorly of said sealing wall, thread means on said neck at a level lower than said upper wall portion to engage the thread means on said collar.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 5, in which the thread means on said neck have a major diameter, the major diameter of said thread means being of lesser magnitude than the inner diameter of said sealing wall and in which the outer diameter of said upper wall portion approximates the inner diameter of said sealing wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
80 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 3, in which the teeth in at least one of said thread means have a pitch dimension and a thread axis, the profile of the cross section for said threads comprising; a work face on each said tooth, said work face being inclined at approximately 80* with respect to said thread axis, a release face on each said tooth, said release face being inclined at a lesser degree than said work face.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 7, in which said teeth have a major and minor diameter and a flat at each said diameter, the dimension of the flat measured parallel to said thread axis at the minor diameter being equal to approximately twice the dimension of the flat at said major diameter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 8, in which the radial dimension of said teeth is equal to approximately three-eighths the dimension of said pitch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 9, in which means on said flush valve assembly engage the holding tank assembly in opposition to the engagement of the work faces on the intermeshed teeth between said collar and neck.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 10, in which seal means are interposed between said neck and collar.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 1, in which a recess is provided in said socket, a seal is received in said recess to engage said thimble when said thimble is received in said socket.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
75 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 11, in which at least one clamp assembly connects between said seat and holding tank sections, said clamp assembly comprising; a plug releasably securEd to said seat section, a toggle assembly mounted to swing from said plug, means on said toggle assembly to engage said holding tank section, and means to contract said toggle assembly whereby releasably to secure said holding tank section to said seat section.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 13, in which said plug is of geometric cross section and in which a receptacle cavity is provided in said seat section matingly to receive said plug.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 14, in which said plug presents a tongue that extends between said seat and holding tank sections, a lug presented from at least one of said sections engages said tongue to anchor said plug in operative position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 14, in which said plug is of trapezoidal cross section and in which stabilizing fins project laterally of said plug, grooves being provided in said receptacle cavity to receive said stabilizing fins.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
64 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 16, in which a mounting flange extends from said plug outwardly with respect to the seat section in which said plug is received, said toggle assembly comprising; a link and a clamp arm, a first hinge pin mounting said link to said mounting flange, and a second hinge pin mounting said clamp arm to said link.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 17, in which said clamp arm presents a first hook and said holding tank section presents a rib, said first hook being selectively engageable with said rib.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 18, in which said clamp arm presents a second hook, a stirrup secured to a supporting surface, said second hook being selectively engageable with said stirrup.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 18, in which said clamp arm extends from a seat section past a first holding tank section to engage a rib on a second holding tank section.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 1, in which said seat section has exterior walls and in which a cavity is defined between said bowl and said exterior walls to form a flush fluid reservoir.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 21, in which a filling port in the form of a stub is presented to replenish the flush fluid in said reservoir, a cap being removably secured to said stub.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 22, in which a sleeve is secured to and extends inwardly of said reservoir cavity from said filling port.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 22, in which a pouring spout in the form of a stub is provided to permit facile emptying of said holding tank section, a cap being secured to said stub.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
61 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 24, in which at least one said cap has a central portion displaced axially inwardly with respect to a peripheral channel portion, a gasket having a body portion and a peripheral bead portion, said body portion fully spanning the central portion of said cap, said bead portion being received in said peripheral channel.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
48 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 25, in which a bevelled transitional wall extends between the body and the bead portions of said gasket, said transitional wall being disposed to engage an axially outer, radially inward portion of said stub as the cap is tightened thereon.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 26, in which a rounded surface joins the central and channel portions of said cap, said rounded surface engaging the transitional wall of said gasket.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 27, in which a concave depression extends annularly of the bead section in opposition to the channel portion of said cap.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
62 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 21, in which a pump means directs flush fluid from said reservoir into said bowl, said pump means employing at least one check valve, said check valve having a supporting frame member, a seat presented from said supporting member, a conical plug and resilient means biasing said plug inTo sealing engagement with said seat.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 29, in which said resilient means comprises an elastomeric filament.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
46 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 29, in which said conical plug terminates in an apex and the resilient means comprises an elastomeric filament extending from said apex, a collar being carried from said supporting frame member, said filament being anchored in said collar.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
76 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 29, in which said seat section has a wall with oppositely directed surfaces, an aperture pierces said wall, said pump means has a body portion, a flange on said body portion engaging one surface of said wall peripherally of said aperture, a retaining head on said body portion in spaced relation below said flange, said retaining head engaging the opposite surface of said wall peripherally of said aperture.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 32, in which a hinge is provided in said body portion between said flange and said retaining head.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
39 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 33, in which said hinge comprises a recess presenting a radially outwardly directed surface between said flange and said retaining head, a peripheral concavity incorporated in said radially outwardly directed surface.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
32 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 1, in which a cover ring is removably secured to said seat section, a seat and a lid swingably mounted from said cover ring.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
66 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 35, in which a hinge section extends upwardly from said cover ring, a hinge pin slidably received in said hinge section, first hinge arms removably carried on said hinge pin, means securing a lid to said first hinge arms, and second hinge arms removably carried on said hinge pin, means securing a seat to said second hinge arms.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
72 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 36, in which said hinge pin has opposed ends, said opposed ends extending beyond said hinge section, at least one set of hinge arms presenting cap collars, said cap collars mounted for swinging movement on the opposed ends of said hinge pin, the means securing at least one of the hinge arms presenting a cap collar to the member carried thereon being readily removable.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-04-08 | 1977-10-08 | 1978-04-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-08 | 1981-10-08 | 1982-04-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-08 | 1985-10-08 | 1986-04-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |