US3939501A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Toilet
Assignee: Thetford LLC
•
Filing: 1974-11-01
•
Granted: 1976-02-24
•
Expires: 1994-11-01
Abstract
Abstract A self-contained portable toilet that has a bowl which is mounted on a support bucket or holding tank. The bowl has an outlet port for discharging the contents of the bowl into the bucket, and a closure means for the outlet port is provided which comprises a flexible diaphragm movable between a first position in which it closes the port and a second position in which it uncovers the port. Means are provided to tension the diaphragm into contact with the outlet port when the diaphragm is in its first position so as to seal the port closed. A flush lever is provided for moving the diaphragm between its first and second positions. A flush water storage chamber is contained within the portable toilet and a hand pump is provided in association with the storage chamber for discharging flush water into the bowl.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank T. Sargent
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 03:36
CPC Classifications
E; E03; E03D; E03D5/00; E03D5/012; A; A47; A47K; A47K11/00; A47K11/02; E03D11/00; E03D11/02; E03D11/10; E03D5/016; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A50/00; Y02A50/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
A toilet comprising a bowl having an outlet port, a flexible diaphragm, means supporting said diaphragm for movement between a first position in which said diaphragm closes said outlet port and a second position in which said diaphragm uncovers said outlet port, and said means being operable to tension said diaphragm into contact with said outlet port when said diaphragm is in said first position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
65 words
A toilet comprising a bowl having an outlet port, a flexible diaphragm, means supporting said diaphragm for movement between a first position in which said diaphragm closes said outlet port and a second position in which said diaphragm uncovers said outlet port, and said means being operable to tension said diaphragm into contact with said outlet port when said diaphragm is in said first position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A toilet according to claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is formed of rubber or rubberized fabric.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
95 words
A toilet comprising a bowl having an outlet port, a flexible diaphragm movable between a first position in which it closes said outlet port and a second position in which it uncovers said outlet port, and means to tension said diaphragm into contact with said outlet port when it is in said first position, said means including two movable members between which said diaphragm is supported, one member abutting a stop in the first position and the other member then being resiliently urged away therefrom to tension the diaphragm into contact with said outlet port.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
95 words
A toilet comprising a bowl having an outlet port, a flexible diaphragm movable between a first position in which it closes said outlet port and a second position in which it uncovers said outlet port, and means to tension said diaphragm into contact with said outlet port when it is in said first position, said means including two movable members between which said diaphragm is supported, one member abutting a stop in the first position and the other member then being resiliently urged away therefrom to tension the diaphragm into contact with said outlet port.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A toilet according to claim 3, wherein the two movable members are two pivotable crank members, one being secured to one end of said diaphragm and the other being secured to the other end of said diaphragm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A toilet according to claim 4, wherein said crank members are pivotable about different axes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A toilet according to claim 4, wherein the crank members each have cross bars, upon which the ends of the diaphragm are mounted, the cross bars being so disposed in the first position of the diaphragm that the outlet port extends beyond the straight line connecting the two cross bars.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
A toilet according to claim 5, wherein a tension spring is arranged as an overcenter spring, to urge said other crank, in said first position, to tension said diaphragm and in said second position, to urge said diaphragm into the open position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A toilet according to claim 7, and including a second stop to restrain said other crank when the diaphragm is in said second position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A toilet according to claim 4, and further including a connection member joining said cranks together, said connecting member being slidable with respect to at least one of said cranks.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
65 words
A toilet according to claim 9, wherein an actuating lever is pivotably mounted with respect to the bowl and is slidably connected to said other crank, whereby rotation of said actuating lever initially causes pivoting of said other crank, in a direction to release the tension in the diaphragm, and then pivoting of said two cranks together, to move the diaphragm to its second position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
73 words
A toilet according to claim 1, and including guards extending on either side of said diaphragm and said outlet port, parallel to the direction of movement of said diaphragm from its first to its second position, said guards being closely adjacent to the diaphragm at least in its closed position. 12. A toilet according to claim 1, which includes a support bucket and wherein said bowl is mounted on said support bucket with
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
7 words
outlet port arranged within said support bucket.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
7 words
outlet port arranged within said support bucket.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
A toilet according to claim 12, wherein said bucket is provided with a closable outlet port.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
A toilet according to claim 1, wherein a lever is connected to said means, said means being responsive to movement of said lever to move said diaphragm from its first position to its second position when it is desired to flush the bowl.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
A toilet according to claim 14, which includes a manually operable pump and a water tank to which the pump is connected, said pump discharging to at least one outlet positioned at the periphery of the bowl so that the discharged water will create a vortex pattern in the bowl.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
A toilet according to claim 15, wherein a length of tube is connected to the pump and extends around the bowl and is provided with a number of outlets opening into the bowl.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
A toilet according to claim 1, wherein the bowl is provided with a tiltable seat and cover, and wherein said cover is provided with means to lock the cover in its closed position and a lifting handle for lifting the toilet bodily.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
51 words
A toilet according to claim 17, wherein the lifting handle includes means to urge said handle resiliently downwardly, so as to be flush with the top of said cover, said handle being liftable initially to enable the fingers of a user to pass under and thereafter to lift the toilet bodily.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
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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) | 1979-02-23 | 1979-08-25 | 1980-02-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-02-23 | 1983-08-25 | 1984-02-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-02-23 | 1987-08-25 | 1988-02-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |