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US4012797A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Sitting-squatting water closet

Assignee: Boeing Co
•
Filing: 1976-03-03
•
Granted: 1977-03-22
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Expires: 1996-03-03
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Abstract

Abstract A single water closet or toilet fixture for dual functional use as either a western style fixture wherein the user is in the sitting position and normally facing forward, or an eastern style fixture wherein the user is in the squatting position and facing either in the forward direction or the aft direction depending on the embodiment utilized. An external footrest is provided on each side of the fixture for supporting the user in the squatting position. A movable toilet seat when folded down onto the lower bowl portion of the toilet fixture is proportioned for use in the sitting position; and when the toilet seat is raised to an upright position, a fore and aft elongated receptical or bowl portion is exposed which is relatively narrow in width for straddling and is proportioned for use in the squatting position. Also, formed integral with the bowl portion of the fixture, is a urine spray shield which nestles under the contoured toilet seat and is functional in both the sitting and the squatting positions. The necessary height difference between the two function positions of sitting and squatting is incorporated into the height or thickness of the movable seat, in order that fixture can be made low enough to squat on without bodily supporting contact with the user and high enough to sit on.

Inventors

  • 👤 Bjorn R. Kristoffersen

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 14:42
CPC Classifications
E; E03; E03D; E03D11/00; E03D11/02; E03D11/04

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim 177 words
A dual function water closet for use in either the sitting or the squatting position, comprising: a fixed lower section and a movable upper section foldable thereon; said lower section comprising a closet bowl being elongated in a fore and aft direction; said upper section comprising a toilet set hinged to the aft portion of the closet bowl and being in abutment sealing relationship with the sides of the elongated closet bowl when moved to the down position for use in the sitting position; a footrest fixed to each side of the closet bowl for support of the user in the squat position; said closet bowl having the level of its interior bottom surface below the horizontal plane of the side footrests; a urine spray shield at the forward end of the closet bowl; and said urine spray shield having an outer upper surface which nestles under the forward undersurface of the toilet seat for deflecting the urine of the user into the body of the closet bowl when the user is facing in the forward direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 177 words
A dual function water closet for use in either the sitting or the squatting position, comprising: a fixed lower section and a movable upper section foldable thereon; said lower section comprising a closet bowl being elongated in a fore and aft direction; said upper section comprising a toilet set hinged to the aft portion of the closet bowl and being in abutment sealing relationship with the sides of the elongated closet bowl when moved to the down position for use in the sitting position; a footrest fixed to each side of the closet bowl for support of the user in the squat position; said closet bowl having the level of its interior bottom surface below the horizontal plane of the side footrests; a urine spray shield at the forward end of the closet bowl; and said urine spray shield having an outer upper surface which nestles under the forward undersurface of the toilet seat for deflecting the urine of the user into the body of the closet bowl when the user is facing in the forward direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 72 words
The water closet as set forth in claim 1, wherein said urine spray shield is formed integral with the body of the closet bowl, and has an interior concave curvature which merges in a streamlined fashion with the inner curvature of the body of the closet bowl and functions to receive and redirect the urine into the body of the closet bowl such that it is not deflected back onto the user.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 63 words
The water closet as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the toilet seat thickness is approximately half of the height difference between the upper surface of the footrests and the top of the toilet seat; whereby, the height difference between the two functional positions of squatting and sitting, is incorporated in the thickness of the movable toilet seat portion of the water closet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 120 words
The water closet as set forth in claim 1, further including: a drain valve outlet in the bottom of the closet bowl; nozzles mounted under the urine spray shield, and around the interior periphery of the closet bowl; said nozzles being addjusted so as to inject flushing fluid to move deposited waste matter to the drain valve outlet; and said drain valve outlet being positioned within the closet bowl such that the user situated in either the sitting or the squatting position would normally deposit waste matter thereon; whereby, the waste matter does not have to be moved any appreciable distance within the closet bowl by the action of the flush fluid before being removed through the drain valve outlet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 43 words
The water closet as set forth in claim 1, further including: a urine spray shield at the aft end of the closet bowl for deflecting the urine into the body of the closet bowl when the user is facing in the aft direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 62 words
The water closet as set forth in claim 5, further including: means for restraining said movable upper section in the raised position; and a handle fixed to said movable upper section on each side thereof, for support utilization by the user in the squatting position when facing in an aft direction with said movable upper section being restrained in the raised position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 204 words
A dual purpose water closet for sitting or squatting, comprising: a fixed lower section and a movable upper section foldable thereon; said lower section comprising a closet bowl being of a low-down profile and elongated in a fore and aft direction with upraised sides; said upper section comprising a seat hinged to the rear portion of the closet bowl; said seat being in an abutment sealing relationship along the upper edge of the upraised sides of the closet bowl, when folded down onto said lower section; a footrest on each side of the closet bowl for support of the user in the squat position; said closet bowl having its bottom below the horizontal level of the side footrests; said lower section being for use in a squat position when said upper section is raised; said upper section being for use in a seated position when folded down onto said lower section; a urine spray shield at the forward end of the closet bowl; said urine spray shield having an outer upper surface which nestles under the forward undersurface of the seat for deflecting the urine of the user into the body of the closet bowl when the user is sitting on the toilet seat.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 204 words
A dual purpose water closet for sitting or squatting, comprising: a fixed lower section and a movable upper section foldable thereon; said lower section comprising a closet bowl being of a low-down profile and elongated in a fore and aft direction with upraised sides; said upper section comprising a seat hinged to the rear portion of the closet bowl; said seat being in an abutment sealing relationship along the upper edge of the upraised sides of the closet bowl, when folded down onto said lower section; a footrest on each side of the closet bowl for support of the user in the squat position; said closet bowl having its bottom below the horizontal level of the side footrests; said lower section being for use in a squat position when said upper section is raised; said upper section being for use in a seated position when folded down onto said lower section; a urine spray shield at the forward end of the closet bowl; said urine spray shield having an outer upper surface which nestles under the forward undersurface of the seat for deflecting the urine of the user into the body of the closet bowl when the user is sitting on the toilet seat.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 51 words
The water closet as set forth in claim 7, wherein said urine spray shield is formed integral with the body of the closet bowl, and has an interior concave curvature which functions to receive and redirect the urine into the body of the closet bowl without deflecting it onto the user.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 60 words
The water closet as set forth in claim 7, wherein: the seat thickness is approximately half of the height difference between the upper surface of the footrests and the top of the seat; whereby, the height difference between the two functional positions of squatting and sitting, is incorporated in the thickness of the foldable seat portion of the water closet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 120 words
The water closet as set forth in claim 7, further including: a drain valve outlet in the bottom of the closet bowl; nozzles mounted under the urine spray shield, and around the interior periphery of the closet bowl; said nozzles being adjusted so as to inject flushing fluid to move deposited waste matter to the drain valve outlet; and said drain valve outlet being positioned within the closet bowl such that the user situated in either the sitting or the squatting position would normally deposit waste matter thereon; whereby, the waste matter does not have to be moved any appreciable distance within the closet bowl by the action of the flush fluid before being removed through the drain valve outlet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 48 words
The water closet as set forth in claim 7, further including: a urine spray shield at the aft end of the closet bowl for deflecting the urine into the body of the closet bowl when the user is in the squatting position and facing in the aft direction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 60 words
The water closet as set forth in claim 11, further including: means for restraining the seat in the raised position; and a handle fixed to the seat on each side thereof, for support utilization by the user in the squatting position when facing towards the aft end of the closet bowl with the seat being restrained in the raised position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 146 words
A dual function use water closet for use in either the sitting or the squatting position, comprising: a closet bowl elongated in a forward and a rearward direction, and having an interior bowl length dimension of at least twice its width; a toilet seat hinged to the rearward portion of the closet bowl, and in abutment sealing relationship with the elongated sides of the closet bowl when folded down onto the closet bowl for use in the sitting position with the user facing in the forward direction; a footrest fixed on each of the elongated sides of the closet bowl for supporting the user in the squatting position; and a urine spray shield at the rearward end of the closet bowl for deflecting the urine into the body of the closet bowl when the user is in the squatting position and facing in the rearward direction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 146 words
A dual function use water closet for use in either the sitting or the squatting position, comprising: a closet bowl elongated in a forward and a rearward direction, and having an interior bowl length dimension of at least twice its width; a toilet seat hinged to the rearward portion of the closet bowl, and in abutment sealing relationship with the elongated sides of the closet bowl when folded down onto the closet bowl for use in the sitting position with the user facing in the forward direction; a footrest fixed on each of the elongated sides of the closet bowl for supporting the user in the squatting position; and a urine spray shield at the rearward end of the closet bowl for deflecting the urine into the body of the closet bowl when the user is in the squatting position and facing in the rearward direction.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 64 words
The water closet as set forth in claim 13, wherein said urine spray shield is formed integral with the body of the closet bowl, and has an interior concave curvature for receiving the urine and redirecting it into the body of the closet bowl without deflecting it onto the user when the user is in the squatting position and facing in the rearward direction.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 63 words
The water closet as set forth in claim 13, wherein: the toilet seat thickness is approximately half of the height difference between the upper surface of the footrests and the top of the toilet seat; whereby, the height difference between the two functional positions of squatting and sitting is incorporated in the thickness of the foldable toilet seat portion of the water closet.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 120 words
The water closet as set forth in claim 13, further including: a drain valve outlt in the bottom of the closet bowl; nozzles mounted under the urine spray shield, and around the interior periphery of the closet bowl; said nozzles being adjusted so as to inject flushing fluid to move deposited waste matter to the drain valve outlet; and said drain valve outlet being positioned within the closet bowl such that the user situated in either the sitting or the squatting position would normally deposit waste matter thereon; whereby, the waste matter does not have to be moved any appreciable distance within the closet bowl by the action of the flush fluid before being removed through the drain valve outlet.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 61 words
The water closet as set forth in claim 13, further including: means for restraining the toilet seat in the raised position; and a handle fixed to the toilet seat on each side thereof, for support utilization by the user in the squatting position when facing towards the raised toilet seat and with the toilet seat being restrained in the raised position.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 69 words
The water closet as set forth in claim 13, further including: a urine spray shield at the forward end of the closet bowl; said forward urine spray shield having an outer upper surface which nestles under the forward undersurface of the toilet seat for deflecting the urine into the body of the closet bowl when the user is sitting on the toilet seat and facing in the forward direction.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 263 words
A dual functional use water closet for either the sitting or the squatting position, comprising: a closet bowl elongated in a fore and aft direction, and having an interior bowl length dimension of at last twice its width; a footrest fixed on each of the elongated sides of the closet bowl in a horizontal plane for supporting a person in the squat position; said closet bowl having the level of its interior bottom surface below the horizontal plane of the side footrests for bodily clearance of a person in the squat position, and having an elongated side height above the horizontal plane of the side footrests such that there is no supporting body contact with the person in the squat position; a toilet seat hinged to the aft portion of the closet bowl for movement between a down position to support a person in the sitting position, and a raised position to expose the full interior bowl length dimension of the closet bowl for a person assuming the squatting position; said toilet seat when in the down position, being in abutment sealing relationship with the elongated sides of the toilet bowl for containing the spatter and spray from the deposited waste matter and urine when used by a person in the sitting position; means for restraining the toilet seat in the raised position; and a handle fixed to the toilet seat on each side thereof, for support utilization by a person in the squatting position when facing towards the raised toilet seat and with the toilet seat being restrained in the raised position.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 263 words
A dual functional use water closet for either the sitting or the squatting position, comprising: a closet bowl elongated in a fore and aft direction, and having an interior bowl length dimension of at last twice its width; a footrest fixed on each of the elongated sides of the closet bowl in a horizontal plane for supporting a person in the squat position; said closet bowl having the level of its interior bottom surface below the horizontal plane of the side footrests for bodily clearance of a person in the squat position, and having an elongated side height above the horizontal plane of the side footrests such that there is no supporting body contact with the person in the squat position; a toilet seat hinged to the aft portion of the closet bowl for movement between a down position to support a person in the sitting position, and a raised position to expose the full interior bowl length dimension of the closet bowl for a person assuming the squatting position; said toilet seat when in the down position, being in abutment sealing relationship with the elongated sides of the toilet bowl for containing the spatter and spray from the deposited waste matter and urine when used by a person in the sitting position; means for restraining the toilet seat in the raised position; and a handle fixed to the toilet seat on each side thereof, for support utilization by a person in the squatting position when facing towards the raised toilet seat and with the toilet seat being restrained in the raised position.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 251 words
A dual functional use water closet for either the sitting or the squatting position, comprising: a closet bowl elongated in a fore and aft direction, and having an interior bowl length dimension of at least twice its width; a footrest fixed on each of the elongated sides of the closet bowl in a horizontal plane for supporting a person in the squat position; said closet bowl having the level of its interior bottom surface below the horizontal plane of the side footrests for bodily clearance of a person in the squat position, and having an elongated side height above the horizontal plane of the side footrests such that there is no supporting body contact with the person in the squat position; a toilet seat hinged to the aft portion of the closet bowl for movement between a down position to support a person in the sitting position, and a raised position to expose the full interior bowl length dimension of the closet bowl for a person assuming the squatting position; said toilet seat when in the down position, being in abutment sealing relationship with the elongated sides of the toilet bowl for containing the spatter and spray from the deposited waste matter and urine when used by a person in the sitting position; and a urine spray shield at the aft end of the closet bowl for deflecting the urine into the body of the closet bowl when the user is in the squatting position and facing in the aft direction.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 251 words
A dual functional use water closet for either the sitting or the squatting position, comprising: a closet bowl elongated in a fore and aft direction, and having an interior bowl length dimension of at least twice its width; a footrest fixed on each of the elongated sides of the closet bowl in a horizontal plane for supporting a person in the squat position; said closet bowl having the level of its interior bottom surface below the horizontal plane of the side footrests for bodily clearance of a person in the squat position, and having an elongated side height above the horizontal plane of the side footrests such that there is no supporting body contact with the person in the squat position; a toilet seat hinged to the aft portion of the closet bowl for movement between a down position to support a person in the sitting position, and a raised position to expose the full interior bowl length dimension of the closet bowl for a person assuming the squatting position; said toilet seat when in the down position, being in abutment sealing relationship with the elongated sides of the toilet bowl for containing the spatter and spray from the deposited waste matter and urine when used by a person in the sitting position; and a urine spray shield at the aft end of the closet bowl for deflecting the urine into the body of the closet bowl when the user is in the squatting position and facing in the aft direction.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 271 words
A dual functional use water closet for either the sitting or the squatting position, comprising: a closet bowl elongated in a fore and aft direction, and having an interior bowl length dimension of at least twice its width; a footrest fixed on each of the elongated sides of the closet bowl in a horizontal plane for supporting a person in the squat position; said closet bowl having the level of its interior bottom surface below the horizontal plane of the side footrests for bodily clarance of a person in the squat position, and having an elongated side height above the horizontal plane of the side footrests such that there is no supporting body contact with the person in the squat position; a toilet seat hinged to the aft portion of the closet bowl for movement between a down position to support a person in the sitting position, and a raised position to expose the full interior bowl length dimension of the closet bowl for a person assuming the squatting position; said toilet seat when in the down position, being in abutment sealing relationship with the elongated sides of the toilet bowl for containing the spatter and spray from the deposited waste matter and urine when used by a person in the sitting position; and a urine spray shield at the forward end of the closet bowl; said forward urine spray shield having an outer upper surface which nestles under the forward undersurface of the toilet seat for deflecting the urine into the body of the closet bowl when the user is in the squatting position and facing in the forward direction.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 271 words
A dual functional use water closet for either the sitting or the squatting position, comprising: a closet bowl elongated in a fore and aft direction, and having an interior bowl length dimension of at least twice its width; a footrest fixed on each of the elongated sides of the closet bowl in a horizontal plane for supporting a person in the squat position; said closet bowl having the level of its interior bottom surface below the horizontal plane of the side footrests for bodily clarance of a person in the squat position, and having an elongated side height above the horizontal plane of the side footrests such that there is no supporting body contact with the person in the squat position; a toilet seat hinged to the aft portion of the closet bowl for movement between a down position to support a person in the sitting position, and a raised position to expose the full interior bowl length dimension of the closet bowl for a person assuming the squatting position; said toilet seat when in the down position, being in abutment sealing relationship with the elongated sides of the toilet bowl for containing the spatter and spray from the deposited waste matter and urine when used by a person in the sitting position; and a urine spray shield at the forward end of the closet bowl; said forward urine spray shield having an outer upper surface which nestles under the forward undersurface of the toilet seat for deflecting the urine into the body of the closet bowl when the user is in the squatting position and facing in the forward direction.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 64 words
The water closet as set forth in claim 21, wherein said urine spray shield is formed integral with the body of the closet bowl, and has an interior concave curvature for receiving the urine and directing it into the body of the closet bowl without deflecting it onto the user when the user is in the squatting position and facing in the forward direction.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

DE463664C Cited
US1243148A Cited
FR842422A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1980-03-21 1980-09-20 1981-03-22 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1984-03-21 1984-09-20 1985-03-22 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1988-03-21 1988-09-20 1989-03-22 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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