US4570273A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable toilet pourspout
Assignee: Thetford LLC
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Filing: 1983-12-29
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Granted: 1986-02-18
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Expires: 2003-12-29
Abstract
Abstract A pourspout accessory kit for use with a portable toilet holding tank to facilitate dumping of the holding tank's contents via an outlet opening in the holding tank. The accessory kit copmrises a pourspout having an inlet end for attachment to the holding tank outlet opening and an outlet end spaced from the inlet end. Respective inlet and outlet end closure caps cover the inlet and outlet ends respectively of the pourspout. The inlet end of the pourspout is configured to fit a holding tank outlet opening having either a partial internal screw thread or a full external screw thread. The attachment to the partial internal screw thread is by means of a pair of bayonets on diametrically opposite sides of the pourspout which engage the partial screw threads on diametrically opposite sides of the holding tank outlet opening. The attachment of the pourspout to the external screw thread is by means of a retainer element fitted over the pourspout and which has an endwall overlapping a circumferential flange on the pourspout and a sidewall having an internal screw thread which threads onto the external thread of the holding tank outlet opening. An O-ring seal seats in a circumferential groove extending around the outside of the pourspout adjacent the flange and provides a leak-proof seal when the pourspout is attached to the holding tank. Two embodiments of O-ring seal are disclosed. The provision of closure caps for both ends of the pourspout provides for its convenient stowage when not in use. The accessory kit can be used with newly purchased toilets as well as those already owned by users.
Inventors
- 👤 John M. Antos
- 👤 John Selina
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 02:10
CPC Classifications
E; E03; E03D; E03D11/00; E03D11/02; E03D11/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
264 words
A pourspout accessory kit for use with a portable toilet having a holding tank to facilitate dumping of the contents of the holding tank via an outlet opening in the holding tank, said accessory kit comprising a pourspout having an inlet end for attachment to the outlet opening of a holding tank, an outlet end spaced from said inlet end, an inlet end closure cap for removably closing said inlet end, an outlet end closure cap for removably closing said outlet end, integral flange means extending circumferentially around the pourspout adjacent its inlet end, sealing means for extending circumferentially around the pourspout to a side of said flange means toward the inlet end of the pourspout, integral bayonets projecting from the inlet end of the pourspout for attachment to a holding tank internally of the holding tank's outlet opening, said bayonets being enclosed by said inlet end closure cap with the latter disposed closing said inlet end, said inlet end closure cap removably attaching to the inlet end of said pourspout via said flange means and also enclosing said sealing means with the latter disposed circumferentially around the pourspout to the side of said flange means toward the inlet end of the pourspout, and a separate annular retainer for passing onto the pourspout via said outlet end along the length of the pourspout to said inlet end, said retainer having a cooperative engagement with said flange means providing for attachment to the holding tank externally of the holding tank's outlet opening when said inlet end closure cap is removed from the pourspout inlet end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
264 words
A pourspout accessory kit for use with a portable toilet having a holding tank to facilitate dumping of the contents of the holding tank via an outlet opening in the holding tank, said accessory kit comprising a pourspout having an inlet end for attachment to the outlet opening of a holding tank, an outlet end spaced from said inlet end, an inlet end closure cap for removably closing said inlet end, an outlet end closure cap for removably closing said outlet end, integral flange means extending circumferentially around the pourspout adjacent its inlet end, sealing means for extending circumferentially around the pourspout to a side of said flange means toward the inlet end of the pourspout, integral bayonets projecting from the inlet end of the pourspout for attachment to a holding tank internally of the holding tank's outlet opening, said bayonets being enclosed by said inlet end closure cap with the latter disposed closing said inlet end, said inlet end closure cap removably attaching to the inlet end of said pourspout via said flange means and also enclosing said sealing means with the latter disposed circumferentially around the pourspout to the side of said flange means toward the inlet end of the pourspout, and a separate annular retainer for passing onto the pourspout via said outlet end along the length of the pourspout to said inlet end, said retainer having a cooperative engagement with said flange means providing for attachment to the holding tank externally of the holding tank's outlet opening when said inlet end closure cap is removed from the pourspout inlet end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
144 words
An accessory kit as set forth in claim 1 in which said flange means is circumferentially interrupted so as to provide two circumferentially extending flange segments which are spaced apart by circumferential gaps on diametrically opposite sides of the pourspout about the pourspout longitudinal axis and in which said inlet end closure cap has ridges on diametrically opposite sides whose circumferential extents are less than the circumferential extents of said gaps so as to permit said inlet end closure cap to be removably attached to said pourspout by passing said ridges axially onto said inlet end closure cap to dispose said ridges axially behind said flange segments and upon rotation of said inlet end closure cap relative to said pourspout, said ridges are lodged behind said flange segments to thereby removably secure said inlet end closure cap on said inlet end of said pourspout.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
107 words
An accessory kit as set forth in claim 2 incuding a circumferentially continuous groove extending around the outside of the pourspout to the side of said flange means which is toward side inlet end and said sealing means comprising an O-ring seal disposed in said groove, said O-ring seal having a portion of circular cross section seated in said groove and with the radial dimension from the longitudinal axis of the pourspout to the radially outermost point of said O-ring seal portion of circular cross section being less than the radial dimension from the longitudinal axis of the pourspout to the radially outermost point of said flange.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
An accessory kit as set forth in claim 3 in which said O-ring seal comprises only said portion of circular cross section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
An accessory kit as set forth in claim 3 in which said O-ring seal has in addition to said circular portion, an integral flange portion extending from said circular portion toward said pourspout flange means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
An accessory kit as set forth in claim 5 in which said flange portion of said O-ring seal has an axial segment extending from said circular portion thereof and a radial segment extending from said axial segment, said radial segment being disposed against the side of said pourspout flange means which is toward said inlet end of the pourspout.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
120 words
An accessory kit as set forth in claim 1 in which said bayonets comprise two bayonets on diametrically opposite sides of the pourspout having limited arcuate extents about the longitudinal axis of the pourspout, each bayonet having a first portion extending both radially inwardly and axially away from said pourspout flange, a second portion extending radially outwardly from said first bayonet portion and having an edge, and a third portion disposed on said second portion, said third portion comprising a wall extending axially away from said second bayonet portion on the side thereof opposite said pourspout flange, said wall bounding portions of the edge of said second bayonet portion, all said portions of said bayonets being a generally uniform thickness.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
An accessory kit as set forth in claim 1 in which said retainer has an endwall overlapping said flange means and a sidewall extending from said endwall radially outwardly of said flange means, said sidewall having means on its interior providing for attachment to a holding tank outlet externally of the holding tank's outlet opening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
An accessory kit as set forth in claim 8 in which said means on said sidewall providing for attachment to a holding tank outlet externally of the holding tank's outlet opening comprises an internal screw thread within the sidewall of said retainer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
135 words
An accessory kit as set forth in claim 1 in which said inlet end closure cap comprises an endwall and a sidewall extending from said endwall toward the outlet end of the pourspout with the inlet end closure cap disposed closing said inlet end, said sidewall of said inlet end closure cap having a frusto-conically tapered shape extending from its endwall and an outwardly flared lip projecting from said frusto-conically shaped sidewall at a greater frusto-conically shaped taper than that of said sidewall, said inlet end closure cap including ridges within its interior at the juncture of its lip and sidewall, said pourspout flange means extending around the outside of the pourspout adjacent the inlet end thereof, and said ridges providing for the removable engagement of said inlet end closure cap with said flange means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
221 words
In a pourspout accessory kit for use with a portable holding tank of a toilet the combination of a pourspout having inlet and outlet ends, an inlet end closure cap for removably closing said inlet end, said pourspout comprising integral flange means extending circumferentially around the pourspout adjacent its inlet end, sealing means for extending circumferentially around the pourspout to a side of said flange means toward the inlet end of the pourspout, integral bayonets projecting from the inlet end of the pourspout for attachment to a holding tank internally of the holding tank's outlet opening, said bayonets being enclosed by said inlet end closure cap with the latter disposed closing said inlet end, said inlet end closure cap removably attaching to the inlet end of said pourspout via said flange means and also enclosing said sealing means with the latter disposed circumferentially around the pourspout to the side of said flange means toward the inlet end of the pourspout, and a separate annular retainer for passing onto the pourspout via said outlet and along the length of the pourspout to said inlet end, said retainer having a cooperative engagement with said flange means providing for attachment to a holding tank externally of the holding tank's outlet opening when said inlet end closure cap is removed from the pourspout inlet end.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
221 words
In a pourspout accessory kit for use with a portable holding tank of a toilet the combination of a pourspout having inlet and outlet ends, an inlet end closure cap for removably closing said inlet end, said pourspout comprising integral flange means extending circumferentially around the pourspout adjacent its inlet end, sealing means for extending circumferentially around the pourspout to a side of said flange means toward the inlet end of the pourspout, integral bayonets projecting from the inlet end of the pourspout for attachment to a holding tank internally of the holding tank's outlet opening, said bayonets being enclosed by said inlet end closure cap with the latter disposed closing said inlet end, said inlet end closure cap removably attaching to the inlet end of said pourspout via said flange means and also enclosing said sealing means with the latter disposed circumferentially around the pourspout to the side of said flange means toward the inlet end of the pourspout, and a separate annular retainer for passing onto the pourspout via said outlet and along the length of the pourspout to said inlet end, said retainer having a cooperative engagement with said flange means providing for attachment to a holding tank externally of the holding tank's outlet opening when said inlet end closure cap is removed from the pourspout inlet end.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
208 words
In an accessory kit for use with a portable toilet holding tank to facilitate the dumping of the contents of the holding tank through an outlet opening in the holding tank, a pourspout comprising an inlet end and an outlet end spaced from said inlet end, said pourspout having flange means extending circumferentially around the pourspout adjacent its inlet end, sealing means for extending circumferentially around the pourspout to a side of said flange means toward the inlet end of the pourspout, integral bayonets projecting from the inlet end of the pourspout providing for attachment of the pourspout to a holding tank internally of the holding tank's outlet opening, said bayonets having limited arcuate extents about the longitudinal axis of the pourspout, each bayonet having a first portion extending both radially inwardly and axially away from said flange means, a second portion extending radially outwardly from said first bayonet portion and having an edge, and a third portion disposed on said second portion, said third portion comprising a wall extending axially away from said second bayonet portion on the side thereof opposite said flange means, said wall bounding portions of the edge of said second bayonet portion, all said portions of said bayonets being of generally uniform thickness.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
208 words
In an accessory kit for use with a portable toilet holding tank to facilitate the dumping of the contents of the holding tank through an outlet opening in the holding tank, a pourspout comprising an inlet end and an outlet end spaced from said inlet end, said pourspout having flange means extending circumferentially around the pourspout adjacent its inlet end, sealing means for extending circumferentially around the pourspout to a side of said flange means toward the inlet end of the pourspout, integral bayonets projecting from the inlet end of the pourspout providing for attachment of the pourspout to a holding tank internally of the holding tank's outlet opening, said bayonets having limited arcuate extents about the longitudinal axis of the pourspout, each bayonet having a first portion extending both radially inwardly and axially away from said flange means, a second portion extending radially outwardly from said first bayonet portion and having an edge, and a third portion disposed on said second portion, said third portion comprising a wall extending axially away from said second bayonet portion on the side thereof opposite said flange means, said wall bounding portions of the edge of said second bayonet portion, all said portions of said bayonets being of generally uniform thickness.
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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) | 1989-02-17 | 1989-08-19 | 1990-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-02-17 | 1993-08-19 | 1994-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-02-17 | 1997-08-19 | 1998-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |