U.S. patent application number 13/238782 was filed with the patent office on 2012-08-02 for portable toilet cover.
Invention is credited to Kenneth A. Novotny.
Application Number | 20120192344 13/238782 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45804304 |
Filed Date | 2012-08-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120192344 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Novotny; Kenneth A. |
August 2, 2012 |
Portable Toilet Cover
Abstract
A cover for a portable toilet includes a front panel, a rear
panel, two side panels and a roof panel arranged to fully span
respective ones of the front wall, the rear wall, the two side
walls and the roof member of the portable toilet. The roof panel
has a window portion formed of a translucent material aligned with
translucent material of the roof member of the portable toilet to
communicate external light therethrough into the interior of the
portable toilet. A lower panel of heat insulating material spans a
bottom side of the portable toilet between spaced apart skid
members on the bottom of the portable toilet. A strip of reflective
material is also mounted on each of the front panel, the rear panel
and the side panels.
Inventors: |
Novotny; Kenneth A.; (Grand
Point, CA) |
Family ID: |
45804304 |
Appl. No.: |
13/238782 |
Filed: |
September 21, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/476 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 1/1216
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/476 |
International
Class: |
A47K 11/04 20060101
A47K011/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 31, 2011 |
CA |
2728600 |
Claims
1. A cover for a portable toilet including a front wall, a rear
wall, two side walls connected between the front and rear walls, a
door operatively mounted across a door opening in the front wall,
and a translucent roof member spanning a top end of the portable
toilet, the cover comprising: a front panel arranged to fully span
the front wall of the portable toilet; a cut line in the front
panel arranged for alignment with a perimeter of the door opening
such that the cut line defines a door flap portion in the front
panel arranged to span the door of the portable toilet; a pair of
side panels joined to the front panel so as to be arranged to fully
span respective side walls of the portable toilet; a rear panel
joined to the side panels so as to be arranged to fully span the
rear wall of the portable toilet; and a roof panel joined to the
front panel, the rear panel and the side panels so as to be
arranged to fully span the roof member of the portable toilet; at
least a portion of the roof panel comprising a window portion
formed of a translucent material.
2. The cover according to claim 1 wherein the window portion of the
roof panel is more transparent than the roof member.
3. The cover according to claim 1 wherein the front panel, the rear
panel and the side panels are thicker than the window portion of
the roof panel so as to be arranged to be heat insulating.
4. The cover according to claim 1 wherein the window portion fully
spans the roof panel.
5. The cover according to claim 4 wherein the roof panel solely
comprises a single panel of translucent material.
6. The cover according to claim 1 wherein the translucent material
comprises translucent fibres which are woven together.
7. The cover according to claim 1 wherein there is provided a vent
opening in the window portion of the roof panel arranged to receive
a vent in the roof member of the portable toilet therethrough.
8. The cover according to claim 1 wherein the front panel, the rear
panel and the side panels have a black exterior surface arranged to
absorb solar heat.
9. The cover according to claim 1 further comprising reflective
material mounted on each of the front panel, the rear panel and the
side panels.
10. The cover according to claim 9 wherein the reflective material
comprises a horizontally extending strip arranged to span
continuously between the front panel, the rear panel and the side
panels at an intermediate location between top and bottom ends of
the respective panels.
11. The cover according to claim 10 wherein the reflective material
comprises two stripes of contrasting colours arranged to span
continuously between the front panel, the rear panel and the side
panels.
12. The cover according to claim 1 further comprising a lower panel
of heat insulating material arranged to span a bottom side of the
portable toilet.
13. The cover according to claim 12 for a portable toilet
comprising a pair of skid members protruding from a bottom side of
the portion toilet at spaced apart locations so as to be arranged
to receive lifting forks therebetween, the lower panel being
suitably sized so as to be arranged to fit between the skid
members.
14. The cover according to claim 12 wherein a front edge of the
lower panel includes fasteners arranged to be secured to mating
fasteners on the portable toilet below the door opening.
15. The cover according to claim 12 wherein the lower panel
includes grommets formed therein arranged to receive a rope
therethrough for fastening the lower panel to the portable
toilet.
16. The cover according to claim 15 wherein at least some of the
panels include anchoring loops at a bottom end thereof and wherein
the cover further comprises a rope arranged to span beneath the
toilet between opposing anchoring loops to secure the cover to the
portable toilet and wherein the grommets in the lower panel are
provided along at least one edge of the panel so as to be arranged
to receive said rope of the anchoring loops therethrough for
fastening the lower panel to the portable toilet.
17. A cover for a portable toilet including a front wall, a rear
wall, two side walls connected between the front and rear walls, a
door operatively mounted across a door opening in the front wall, a
translucent roof member spanning a top end of the portable toilet,
and a pair of skid members protruding from a bottom side of the
portion toilet at spaced apart locations so as to be arranged to
receive lifting forks therebetween, the cover comprising: a front
panel arranged to fully span the front wall of the portable toilet;
a cut line in the front panel arranged for alignment with a
perimeter of the door opening such that the cut line defines a door
flap portion in the front panel arranged to span the door of the
portable toilet; a pair of side panels joined to the front panel so
as to be arranged to fully span respective side walls of the
portable toilet; a rear panel joined to the side panels so as to be
arranged to fully span the rear wall of the portable toilet; a roof
panel joined to the front panel, the rear panel and the side panels
so as to be arranged to fully span the roof member of the portable
toilet; and a lower panel of heat insulating material arranged to
span a bottom side of the portable toilet; the lower panel being
suitably sized so as to be arranged to fit between the skid
members.
18. The cover according to claim 17 wherein a front edge of the
lower panel includes fasteners arranged to be secured to mating
fasteners on the portable toilet below the door opening.
19. A cover for a portable toilet including a front wall, a rear
wall, two side walls connected between the front and rear walls, a
door operatively mounted across a door opening in the front wall,
and a translucent roof member spanning a top end of the portable
toilet, the cover comprising: a front panel arranged to fully span
the front wall of the portable toilet; a cut line in the front
panel arranged for alignment with a perimeter of the door opening
such that the cut line defines a door flap portion in the front
panel arranged to span the door of the portable toilet; a pair of
side panels joined to the front panel so as to be arranged to fully
span respective side walls of the portable toilet; a rear panel
joined to the side panels so as to be arranged to fully span the
rear wall of the portable toilet; a roof panel joined to the front
panel, the rear panel and the side panels so as to be arranged to
fully span the roof member of the portable toilet; and a strip of
reflective material mounted on each of the front panel, the rear
panel and the side panels.
20. The cover according to claim 19 wherein the reflective material
comprises two horizontally extending stripes of contrasting colours
arranged to span continuously between the front panel, the rear
panel and the side panels at an intermediate location between top
and bottom ends of the respective panels.
Description
[0001] This application claims foreign priority benefits from
Canadian Patent Application 2,728,600, filed Jan. 13, 2011.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a cover for a portable
toilet in which the cover can provide some heat insulation while
still allowing sufficient light penetration into the interior of
the portable toilet through the roof panel thereof.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Portable toilets are commonly used in various temporary
locations such as construction sites or at temporary events, for
example parties, concerts and the like. Typical portable toilets
have a front wall including a door, a rear wall, two side walls and
a roof member of translucent material allowing some light to enter
therethrough into the interior of the toilet so that no electrical
light is required to be installed in the portable toilet for
illumination.
[0004] Due to a problem with heat readily escaping the typical
construction of portable toilets in colder climates, U.S. Pat. No.
6,622,319 by Mousseau et al proposes an insulating cover comprising
a front panel, a rear panel, two side panels and a roof panel all
formed of insulating material for spanning the respective front
wall, rear wall, sides walls and top of the portable toilet. The
insulating material of the roof panel obstructs the passage of
light through the translucent roof member of the portable toilet
however such that auxiliary lighting may be required to be
installed in the portable toilet, otherwise the interior of the
toilet is too dark for the comfort of users.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a
cover for a portable toilet including a front wall, a rear wall,
two side walls connected between the front and rear walls, a door
operatively mounted across a door opening in the front wall, and a
translucent roof member spanning a top end of the portable toilet,
the cover comprising:
[0006] a front panel arranged to fully span the front wall of the
portable toilet;
[0007] a cut line in the front panel arranged for alignment with a
perimeter of the door opening such that the cut line defines a door
flap portion in the front panel arranged to span the door of the
portable toilet;
[0008] a pair of side panels joined to the front panel so as to be
arranged to fully span respective side walls of the portable
toilet;
[0009] a rear panel joined to the side panels so as to be arranged
to fully span the rear wall of the portable toilet; and
[0010] a roof panel joined to the front panel, the rear panel and
the side panels so as to be arranged to fully span the roof member
of the portable toilet;
[0011] at least a portion of the roof panel comprising a window
portion formed of a translucent material.
[0012] The use of translucent material in the roof panel allows
external light to be readily transmitted through the translucent
roof member of the portable toilet in the usual manner. Translucent
material in a cover for a toilet has previously not been attempted
as cover are only known to be used for providing heat insulation
and known translucent materials provide substantially no insulating
value. It has been surprisingly discovered however that the use of
heat insulating material only on the front, rear and side walls of
the cover is sufficient to retain a comfortable amount of heat in
the interior of the portable toilet even when the roof panel
includes translucent material such that the cover according to the
present invention can still retain heat in a portable toilet while
allow natural light to enter into the interior through the roof for
optimal comfort to the user.
[0013] Preferably the window portion of the roof panel of the cover
is more transparent than the roof member of the portable
toilet.
[0014] The front panel, the rear panel and the side panels are
preferably thicker than the window portion of the roof panel so as
to be arranged to be heat insulating.
[0015] The roof panel preferably solely comprise a single panel of
translucent material such that the window portion fully spans the
roof panel. The translucent material may comprise translucent
fibres which are woven together.
[0016] There may be provided a vent opening in the window portion
of the roof panel arranged to receive a vent in the roof member of
the portable toilet therethrough.
[0017] Preferably the front panel, the rear panel and the side
panels have a black exterior surface arranged to absorb solar
heat.
[0018] Preferably reflective material is mounted on each of the
front panel, the rear panel and the side panels.
[0019] The reflective material may comprise a horizontally
extending strip arranged to span continuously between the front
panel, the rear panel and the side panels at an intermediate
location between top and bottom ends of the respective panels. More
particularly, the reflective material may comprise two stripes of
contrasting colours arranged to span continuously between the front
panel, the rear panel and the side panels.
[0020] A lower panel of heat insulating material may be arranged to
span a bottom side of the portable toilet. When the portable toilet
comprises a pair of skid members protruding from a bottom side of
the portion toilet at spaced apart locations so as to be arranged
to receive lifting forks therebetween, the lower panel is
preferably suitably sized so as to be arranged to fit between the
skid members.
[0021] A front edge of the lower panel may include fasteners
arranged to be secured to mating fasteners on the portable toilet
below the door opening.
[0022] When some of the panels include anchoring loops at a bottom
end thereof and a rope is arranged to span beneath the toilet
between opposing anchoring loops to secure the cover to the
portable toilet, the grommets in the lower panel are preferably
provided along at least one edge of the panel so as to be arranged
to receive the same rope of the anchoring loops therethrough for
fastening the lower panel to the portable toilet.
[0023] According to a second aspect of the present invention there
is provided a cover for a portable toilet including a front wall, a
rear wall, two side walls connected between the front and rear
walls, a door operatively mounted across a door opening in the
front wall, a translucent roof member spanning a top end of the
portable toilet, and a pair of skid members protruding from a
bottom side of the portion toilet at spaced apart locations so as
to be arranged to receive lifting forks therebetween, the cover
comprising:
[0024] a front panel arranged to fully span the front wall of the
portable toilet;
[0025] a cut line in the front panel arranged for alignment with a
perimeter of the door opening such that the cut line defines a door
flap portion in the front panel arranged to span the door of the
portable toilet;
[0026] a pair of side panels joined to the front panel so as to be
arranged to fully span respective side walls of the portable
toilet;
[0027] a rear panel joined to the side panels so as to be arranged
to fully span the rear wall of the portable toilet;
[0028] a roof panel joined to the front panel, the rear panel and
the side panels so as to be arranged to fully span the roof member
of the portable toilet; and
[0029] a lower panel of heat insulating material arranged to span a
bottom side of the portable toilet;
[0030] the lower panel being suitably sized so as to be arranged to
fit between the skid members.
[0031] According to a third aspect of the present invention there
is provided a cover for a portable toilet including a front wall, a
rear wall, two side walls connected between the front and rear
walls, a door operatively mounted across a door opening in the
front wall, and a translucent roof member spanning a top end of the
portable toilet, the cover comprising:
[0032] a front panel arranged to fully span the front wall of the
portable toilet;
[0033] a cut line in the front panel arranged for alignment with a
perimeter of the door opening such that the cut line defines a door
flap portion in the front panel arranged to span the door of the
portable toilet;
[0034] a pair of side panels joined to the front panel so as to be
arranged to fully span respective side walls of the portable
toilet;
[0035] a rear panel joined to the side panels so as to be arranged
to fully span the rear wall of the portable toilet;
[0036] a roof panel joined to the front panel, the rear panel and
the side panels so as to be arranged to fully span the roof member
of the portable toilet; and
[0037] a strip of reflective material mounted on each of the front
panel, the rear panel and the side panels.
[0038] One embodiment of the invention will now be described in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0039] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the portable toilet
cover.
[0040] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the portable toilet
cover.
[0041] FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the portable toilet
cover.
[0042] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the portable toilet
cover.
[0043] FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the portable toilet
cover.
[0044] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the portable toilet cover.
[0045] In the drawings like characters of reference indicate
corresponding parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0046] Referring to the accompanying figures there is illustrated a
portable toilet cover generally indicated by reference numeral 10.
The cover 10 is particularly suited for use with a portable toilet
12 of the type commonly found on various temporary sites such as
constructions sites or temporary events including concerts and the
like.
[0047] The portable toilet typically comprises a front wall 14
spanning a front side, a rear wall 16 spanning a rear side, and two
side walls 18 spanning laterally opposed sides of the toilet
between the front and rear walls. A roof member 20 of rigid
translucent material spans the top side of the toilet between the
walls to fully enclose the hollow interior of the toilet.
[0048] The toilet typically further comprises a base 22 comprising
a flat bottom panel spanning between two laterally opposed skid
members 24 extending longitudinally between the front and rear
walls adjacent respective ones of the two side walls 18 of the
toilet. The skid members protrude downwardly beyond the bottom
panel along opposing sides of the toilet such that the bottom panel
is recessed upwardly in relation to the bottom of the skid panels
when supported on a level supporting surface for accommodating
lifting forks between the two skid members for handling of the
portable toilet during installation or transport. The portable
toilet further comprises a bench within the interior which
integrally locates a waste reservoir therebelow between the bench
and the bottom panel. Side vents 26 are located in the two side
walls 18 adjacent the top end thereof to provide some ventilation
between the interior and exterior of the toilet enclosure. The
waste reservoir is also ventilated to the exterior by a vent pipe
extending through the interior of the toilet from the reservoir to
the roof member where the vent pipe 28 of the reservoir vent
protrudes upwardly through the top end of the toilet enclosure.
[0049] The cover 10 according to the present invention is arranged
to fully surround the various walls of the portable toilet to
provide some insulation to the toilet for retaining heat
therein.
[0050] More particularly the cover includes a lower panel 30
comprising flexible insulating material arranged to span the bottom
panel of the toilet between the two skid members 24. The lower
panel fully spans the bottom panel between the two skid members to
fit between the two skid members without overlapping the skid
members and interfering with the handling and transport of the
portable toilet.
[0051] Mechanical fasteners 32 are provided at spaced locations
along the front and rear edges of the lower panel for mating with
corresponding fasteners installed in the bottom panel of the
toilet. Typically, the fasteners comprise snap fasteners in which a
base portion of the fastener is riveted to the plastic panel
forming the bottom panel of the toilet while the mating fastener is
punched through the flexible material forming the lower panel
30.
[0052] The cover further comprises a front panel 34 which is sized
and shaped to fully span the front wall 14 of the toilet. A cut
line 36 is formed in the front panel in alignment with a perimeter
of a door opening in the front wall 14 which supports a door 29 of
the toilet therein. The door 29 is hinged along one side of the
door opening for pivotal movement about a vertical axis between
open and closed position relative to the door opening in the front
wall. The cut line follows the perimeter of the top edge of the
door and one side of the door opening opposite the hinges of the
door to communicate through to the bottom end of the front panel
such that the cut line defines a door flap portion 38 in the front
panel corresponding approximately in shape and size to the door 29
of the front wall of the toilet. A trim panel 38 mounted about the
periphery of the door flap portion 38 so as to be arranged to
overlap the cut line 36 in the front panel in the closed position
of the door.
[0053] Fasteners 42 are mounted in the front panel along both sides
of the cut line 36 for anchoring the front panel 34 to the front
wall 14 of the toilet about the perimeter of the door opening as
well as for securing the free edge of the door flap portion 38 to
the free edge of the door panel 29 of the toilet. Fasteners 42 are
also provided in alignment with the perimeter of the door opening
where the hinges of the door are mounted such that the front panel
remains secured to the front wall of the toilet where the door flap
portion connects to the remainder of the front panel as the door is
opened and closed. Each of the fasteners 42 includes a base portion
which is riveted to the molded plastic wall forming the front wall
of the toilet and a mating portion secured to the fabric forming
the front panel such that the mating portion and base portion can
be selectively secured such as in a snap fastener for example.
[0054] The front panel 34 further comprises two anchoring loops 44
protruding from the bottom edge thereof adjacent laterally opposed
side edges of the front panel for fastening at the bottom side of
the toilet as described in further detail below.
[0055] The cover also includes a rear panel 46 which is suitably
sized and shaped to fully span the rear wall of the toilet
similarly to the front panel, the rear panel includes three
anchoring loops 48 protruding from the bottom edge thereof so that
two of the loops are located adjacent laterally opposed sides of
the rear panel while the third loop is centrally located
therebetween.
[0056] The cover also includes two side panels 50 which are
arranged to span respective ones of the two side walls 18 of the
toilet. Accordingly, each side panel comprises a rectangular panel
of flexible material spanning between respective side edges of the
front panel and rear panel respectively. The side panels are joined
between the front and rear panels at opposing sides of the toilet
such that the front panel, the rear panel and the two side panels
form a continuous wrap of integrally joined panels extending about
the full rectangular perimeter of the toilet when mounted thereon.
The panels may be joined together integrally or may comprise
separate panels of material which are joined by suitable stitching
and the like. Each of the side panels 50 includes a window pane 52
comprising a clear material in alignment with the side vents 26 in
the side walls of the toilet. The window panes 52 block the
ventilation through the side vents 26 to assist in retaining heat
within the interior of the toilet while allowing light to penetrate
therethrough.
[0057] The cover further comprises a roof panel 54 comprising a
single panel of translucent material defining a window portion
which fully spans the roof member at the top end of the toilet. The
roof panel is a substantially rectangular panel of material which
follows the domed profile of the roof member of the toilet when
installed due to the domed profile of the top edge of the front and
rear panels to which it is joined.
[0058] The material forming the roof panel comprises transparent or
translucent plastic fibres which are woven together to form a
flexible material defining a substantially uniform plastic sheet
which is substantially waterproof. The fibres forming the woven
transparent material of the roof panel are arranged to be more
transparent than the material of the roof member so as to allow a
considerable portion of the surrounding light to pass therethrough
and through the roof member for illuminating the interior of the
toilet enclosure. An aperture 56 is formed in the roof panel for
receiving the vent pipe of the reservoir vent 28 communicating
therethrough.
[0059] The panels forming the front, rear, side, and lower panels
are much thicker than the roof panel and are formed of a multi-ply
construction including a layer of heat insulating filler material
between inner and outer shell layers so as to be arranged for heat
insulating about the sides and bottom of the portable toilet
enclosure.
[0060] The exterior surface of at least the front, rear and sides
is arranged to be black for absorbing solar heat to further assist
in the heat retention within the interior of the toilet
enclosure.
[0061] The cover further includes a reflector 58 comprising two
stripes of reflective material which extend horizontally about the
full circumference of the cover and toilet upon which it is
mounted. Accordingly the reflector includes reflective material
spanning continuously across the front panel including the door
flap portion 38, the two side panels, and the rear panel at an
intermediate location which is generally central between top and
bottom ends, but is closer to the top end so as to be located above
the handle of the door of the toilet. The two stripes of reflective
material are contrasting in colour, for example one of the stripes
is white while the other is red to enhance the visibility of the
cover and the toilet when the cover has a black exterior surface
for absorbing solar heat.
[0062] The cover is further provided with apertures in alignment
with a door handle and an indicator of a door 29 of the toilet. In
particular, there is provided an indicator aperture 60 in the door
flap portion in alignment with the occupation indicator of the
toilet at a location below the reflector 58. A door handle aperture
62 is also provided in the door flap portion 38 in alignment with
the handle of the door 29.
[0063] Additional pockets of transparent material are provided at
various locations such as on the rear panel or centrally at the top
end of the door flap portion 38. The pockets 64 accommodate various
signs for advertising or for various indications such as the gender
designated for using the toilet.
[0064] For installing the toilet cover, the toilet is initially
positioned in an upright orientation so that the fully assembled
cover can be slidably mounted over top of the top end of the
toilet. The roof panel is aligned with the roof member such that
the remaining panels depend therefrom in alignment with respective
ones of the front, rear and side walls of the toilet. With the side
walls and door flap portion aligned with the corresponding parts of
the toilet, the toilet is then laid on its rear side for accessing
the bottom of the toilet. The lower panel is usually installed at
this point. A rope 66 is then used for connecting through all of
the anchoring loops of the front and rear panels. In particular,
the rope is initially secured to one of the side loops of the rear
panel before being subsequently inserted through one of the loops
of the front panel at the same side followed by the central rear
loop followed by the other front loop and finally anchored to the
remaining rear loop. An even amount of tension is provided on the
rope to draw the anchoring loops towards one another which applies
tension to the cover to hold the cover down over top of the top end
of the toilet.
[0065] Once the toilet is again in the upright position, the
fasteners in the front panel including the door flap portion are
aligned with corresponding mounting locations on the front wall and
door of the toilet so that the base portion of the fasteners can be
installed on the toilet and the mating portions on the cover can
then be secured to the respective base portions. The base portions
are typically riveted through the plastic wall forming the wall of
the toilet with the mating portion comprising a snap fastener
securable to the base portion.
[0066] Typically, the lower panel is installed prior to the rope 66
by securing similar mechanical fasteners to the bottom panel of the
toilet along the front and rear edges thereof. In particular
fasteners are located at the front edge below the door opening and
door flap portion of the cover.
[0067] In alternative embodiments, grommets may be provided in the
front and rear edges of the lower panel for receiving the same rope
therethrough which is used to connect the anchoring loops of the
front and rear panels.
[0068] Since various modifications can be made in my invention as
herein above described, and many apparently widely different
embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims
without department from such spirit and scope, it is intended that
all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be
interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
* * * * *