US3851339A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable, self-contained toilet
Assignee: Interface Inc
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Filing: 1973-10-23
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Granted: 1974-12-03
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Expires: 1993-10-23
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 and a bowl portion extending downwardly of the rim to a drain through the base wall. At the point where the drain penetrates the base wall a socket is recessed upwardly into the base wall. A flush valve assembly is demountably secured to the holding tank section, and a thimble on the valve assembly is insertably receivable within the socket. A valve element in the form of a partial sphere is mounted in the valve assembly to control communication between the bowl portion and the interior of the holding tank section. The valve element is selectively opened and closed by rotation of a handle which is fittedly received within a recess in the toilet when the valve is closed and which requires translation outwardly of the recess before it can be rotated in order to preclude inadvertent opening of the valve. A horizontally spiraled distribution ledge circumscribes the bowl portion and receives a distributing tube having a plurality of circumferentially spaced discharged orifices for emitting flush fluid in directions and at locations most propitiously to clean the bowl.
Inventors
- 👤 V Flinner
- 👤 R Sprang
- 👤 D Zody
- 👤 H Fulton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 05:41
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47K; A47K11/00; A47K11/02; E; E03; E03D; E03D11/00; E03D11/02; E03D11/11; E03D5/00; E03D5/016; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A50/00; Y02A50/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A portable toilet comprising; a seat section and a holding tank section, said holding tank section having an inlet port, a flush valve housing, means to fasten said flush valve housing to said inlet port, a thimble formed on said valve housing and extending oppositely of said holding tank section, a passageway extending through said valve housing and thimble, a valve element comprising a portion of a sphere mounted for rotation within said thimble, means to rotate said valve element selectively to open and close said passageway, said seat section having a bowl portion that converges downwardly to a drain, a socket circumscribing said drain, the thimble presented from said valve housing being insertably receivable within said socket and means to effect a seal between said thimble and said socket.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
A portable toilet comprising; a seat section and a holding tank section, said holding tank section having an inlet port, a flush valve housing, means to fasten said flush valve housing to said inlet port, a thimble formed on said valve housing and extending oppositely of said holding tank section, a passageway extending through said valve housing and thimble, a valve element comprising a portion of a sphere mounted for rotation within said thimble, means to rotate said valve element selectively to open and close said passageway, said seat section having a bowl portion that converges downwardly to a drain, a socket circumscribing said drain, the thimble presented from said valve housing being insertably receivable within said socket and means to effect a seal between said thimble and said socket.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 1, in which a handle is operatively connected to said spherical valve element such that rotation of said handle rotates said valve element and means are provided to preclude inadvertent rotation of said handle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 2, in which a recess is provided in at least one separable section of said toilet, said handle being normally confined against rotation within said recess and means being provided to displace said handle outwardly of said recess for unrestricted rotation of said handle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 3, in which the means to displace said handle comprise, a spindle secured to said spherical valve element, an extension shaft, means to effect a rotatable driving connection between said spindle and extension shaft while allowing the spindle and extension shaft to move axially of each other, said handle being fastened to said extension shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 4, in which means are provided to bias said extension shaft in that direction along said spindle which retains said handle within the said recess.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 1, in which said spherical valve element has a diametric axis, a trunnion extending outwardly on one side of said valve element along said diametric axis and being rotatably received within said valve housing, means on said valve element diametrically opposed to said trunnion for selective connection to the means for rotating said spherical valve element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 6, in which a pair of indentations are provided in said spherical valve element in proximity to said diametric Axis in order to facilitate removal and insertion of the valve element with respect to the valve housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 1, in which an annular drain seal is retained within said thimble for engaging said spherical valve element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 8, in which said drain seal is located along the radially innermost portion of said thimble, and a second seal means is provided along the radial outermost portion of said thimble to effect a seal between said thimble and said socket, a common retainer ring locating both said seals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 8, in which said drain seal presents a plurality of annular beads for engaging said spherical valve element and a channel to receive an anchor rib presented from said thimble.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
71 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 1, in which a distribution ledge circumscribes said bowl portion, a source of flush fluid is provided within said seat section together with a means for pumping said flush fluid and a feed tube for communicating the flush fluid from said pump means to said distribution ledge, said feed tube being provided with a plurality of discharge orifices spaced along said distribution ledge.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
69 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 11, in which said distribution ledge progressively narrows to afford a spiral configuration and in which a first of said discharge orifices is directed obliquely inwardly with respect to a tangent to the distribution ledge at the point of discharge and in which a second of said discharge orifices is spaced circumferentially of said first discharge orifice along said distribution ledge.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 12, in which said second discharge orifice is spaced from said first discharge orifice at approximately one-quarter the circumference of said bowl portion.
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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) | 1977-12-02 | 1978-06-03 | 1978-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-02 | 1982-06-03 | 1982-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-02 | 1986-06-03 | 1986-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |