U.S. patent application number 15/009097 was filed with the patent office on 2016-07-28 for valve and p trap for a waterless urinal.
The applicant listed for this patent is Green Drain Inc.. Invention is credited to Frank Landon.
Application Number | 20160213208 15/009097 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56433063 |
Filed Date | 2016-07-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160213208 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Landon; Frank |
July 28, 2016 |
Valve And P Trap For A Waterless Urinal
Abstract
The inventive subject matter provides apparatus, systems and
methods in which a skirt valve mechanism is supplied that can
easily ret to an existing, prior art waterless urinal fixture. The
skirt valve reduces or prevents evaporation from a P trap and does
not present a barrier to liquid flow through the inlet to the
outlet of the device, but prevents the passage of fluids (gases or
liquids) from the outlet to the inlet. The skirt valve similarly
prevents the attempted passage of a pest species (for example, an
insect pest) from the outlet to the inlet of the device, thereby
prevent the pest from exiting the sewers through the waterless
urinal. A P trap is also provided that can be retro-fitted to
existing waterless urinals and is compatible with the skirt valve
mechanism, thereby replacing prior art float valve devices.
Inventors: |
Landon; Frank; (Santa Ana,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Green Drain Inc. |
Naples |
FL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
56433063 |
Appl. No.: |
15/009097 |
Filed: |
January 28, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62108942 |
Jan 28, 2015 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03D 13/007
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47K 11/12 20060101
A47K011/12; E03D 13/00 20060101 E03D013/00 |
Claims
1. A device for replacing a float valve in a waterless urinal,
comprising: a first housing having an inlet and an outlet; a
central shaft comprising an upper collar that is positioned below
the inlet and a lower collar that is positioned below the upper
collar; an upper skirt valve and a lower skirt valve, each
configured as a surface of a frustum of a cone that is concentric
with the central shaft and having an upper base that is oriented
towards the inlet and a lower base that is oriented towards the
outlet, wherein the lower base has a greater diameter than the
lower base, and wherein the upper base of the upper skirt valve is
engaged with the upper collar and the upper base of the lower skirt
valve is engage with the lower collar; a first sealing surface that
is positioned to contact at least a portion of an upper surface of
the upper skirt valve and a second sealing surface that is
positioned to contact at least a portion of an upper surface of the
lower skirt valve; a plurality of anchors extending outward from
the first housing, wherein the plurality of anchors are configured
to affix the first housing to a second housing; and a P trap,
wherein the outlet is in fluid communication with the P trap.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the upper base comprises an
aperture, and wherein the central shaft passes through the
aperture.
3. Then device of claim 1, wherein the inlet, first skirt valve,
second skirt valve, and outlet define a passageway through which a
liquid can flow through the device.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the second skirt valve is
positioned such that a pest insect moving from the outlet to the
inlet contacts a lower surface of the second skirt valve.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the upper skirt valve and the
lower skirt valve each comprise a plant material that is resistant
to uric acid.
6. The device of claim 5, wherein the pliant material is selected
from the group consisting of a urine resistant rubber, silicone,
nitrile rubber, polyethylene, a perfluoroelastomer, an ethylene
acrylate elastomer, and polychloroprene.
7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a perforated cover
that is positioned proximal to the inlet.
8. The device of claim 7, wherein the perforated cover is
configured to retain a chemical disk.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein the P-trap comprises: a
cylindrical housing with an open upper terminus, a sealed lower
terminus, and a lateral aperture positioned between the upper
terminus and the lower terminus; and a lateral housing that is
oriented normal to the cylindrical housing, wherein as first open
terminus of the lateral housing is affixed to the cylindrical
housing at an interface region such that the first open terminus
surrounds the lateral aperture, and wherein the area of the first
open terminus exceeds the area of the lateral aperture, and wherein
the lateral opening is positioned within a portion of the interface
region that is proximal to the open upper terminus of the
cylindrical housing.
10. The device of claim 9, wherein the distance between the sealed
lower terminus and a lower edge of the lateral aperture is at least
5 cm (2 inches).
11. The device of claim 10, wherein the lateral housing further
comprises a second open terminus that is configured to provide
fluid communication with a sewage system.
12. A method for replacing a float valve in a waterless urinal,
comprising: providing an insert comprising (a) a first housing
having an inlet and an outlet, (b) a central shaft comprising an
upper collar that is positioned below the inlet and a lower collar
that is positioned below the upper collar; (c) a first skirt valve
and a second skirt valve, each configured as a surface of a frustum
of a cone that is concentric with the central shaft and having an
upper base that is oriented towards the inlet and a lower base that
is oriented towards the outlet, wherein the lower base has a
greater diameter than the lower base, and wherein the upper base of
the upper skirt valve is engaged with the upper collar and the
upper base of the lower skirt valve is engage with the lower
collar; (d) a first sealing surface that is positioned to contact
at least a portion of an upper surface of the upper skirt valve and
a second sealing surface that is positioned to contact at least a
portion of an upper surface of the lower skirt valve; and (e) a
plurality of anchors extending outward from the first housing,
wherein the plurality of anchors are configured to affix the first
housing to a second housing; and utilizing the anchors, affixing
the insert within the interior of the second housing.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the second housing is
positioned within a drain pipe of a plumbing fixture, and is
distinct from the drain pipe.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the plumbing fixture is a
waterless urinal.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein the anchors are reversibly
engaged with the second housing.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein a tool is required to reverse
the engagement of the anchors with the second housing.
17. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of placing
the outlet of the insert in fluid communication with a P trap.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the P trap comprises: a
cylindrical housing with an open upper terminus, a sealed lower
terminus, and a lateral aperture positioned between the upper
terminus and the lower terminus; and a lateral housing that is
oriented normal to the cylindrical housing, wherein a first open
terminus of the lateral housing is affixed to the cylindrical
housing at an interface region such that the first open terminus
surrounds the lateral aperture, and wherein the area of the first
open terminus exceeds the area of the lateral aperture, and wherein
the lateral opening is positioned within a portion of the interface
region that is proximal to the open upper terminus of the
cylindrical housing.
19. The method of claim 12, wherein flow of a fluid through the
device from then outlet to the inlet is impeded.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the fluid is a gas.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application No. 62/108,942, filed Jan. 28, 2015. All extrinsic
materials identified herein are incorporated by reference in their
entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The field of the invention is plumbing fixtures,
specifically waterless urinals.
BACKGROUND
[0003] The background description includes information that may be
useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an
admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art
or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any
publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0004] With supplies of potable water decreasing, there is an
increasing interest in water conservation. One opportunity to
conserve water is to decrease or eliminate water used in the
transfer of human waste from the receiving plumbing fixture to a
municipal sewer system. A large number of "low flush" toilet
designs are currently in use, which reduce the amount of water used
from 4 to 5 gallons per flush to 1 gallon or less. More recently,
waterless urinals have been introduced. These devices, which do not
utilize water or a conventional flushing mechanism, have found
widespread use in public facilities such as airports, stadiums, and
amusement parks.
[0005] Typically, such waterless urinals control odor by providing
a drain mechanism that includes a layer of relatively low-density
oil. This oil lies on top of the waste material and forms a float
valve that provides a physical barrier to the passage of odors to
the exterior of the fixture. Unfortunately over time this oil is
lost, due to the inevitable loss of this material to the sewer
system during normal use and during cleaning or sanitation. For
example, the common use of a hose to rinse the fixture can result
in the sudden introduction of large volumes of water to the
normally waterless fixture, resulting in disruption of the oil
layer and loss of the oil as an oil/water mixture that moves on to
the sewer. The loss of this oil layer results in unpleasant odors.
In many waterless urinal designs the oil layer can only be restored
by replacing a relatively expensive cartridge within the fixture
and since it can be difficult to determine precisely where an odor
is originating from, the loss of an oil layer in a single urinal
can necessitate servicing of all of the urinals in a bank of such
fixtures. This can represent a considerable expense.
[0006] It should also be appreciated that the United States
requires the use of P traps in such plumbing fixtures to maintain a
body of water between sewer gases and the exterior of the fixture.
Unfortunately, in the absence of an evaporation barrier (for
example, through loss of an oil barrier) liquids held within the P
trap will evaporate over time and render the P trap useless. In
addition such P traps are not always successful in prevent pests
from moving up a sewer line and exiting from a bathroom fixture.
Some insect pests, notably cockroaches, are able to traverse the
water barrier of a P trap and reach the fixture drain. A layer of
oil, such as is commonly used in conventional waterless urinals,
does not prevent these pests from exiting the drain. It should also
be appreciated that many waterless urinals manufactured outside of
the United States may not include such P traps, which represents a
barrier to commercialization of such fixtures.
[0007] Thus, there is still a need for a mechanism that can provide
a stable, low maintenance barrier to evaporation from such traps,
and also for a simple and reliable trap that can be easily added to
existing fixtures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The inventive subject matter provides apparatus, systems and
methods in which a skirt valve mechanism is supplied that can
easily retrofitted to an existing, prior art waterless urinal
fixture. The skirt valve reduces or prevents evaporation from a P
trap and does not present a barrier to liquid flow through the
inlet to the outlet of the device, but prevents the passage of
fluids (gases or liquids) from the outlet to the inlet. The skirt
valve similarly prevents the attempted passage of a pest species
(for example, an insect pest) from the outlet to the inlet of the
device, thereby prevent the pest from exiting the sewers through
the waterless urinal. A P trap is also provided that can be
retro-fitted to existing waterless urinals and is compatible with
the skirt valve mechanism, thereby replacing prior art float valve
devices.
[0009] Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the
inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the
following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with
the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent
like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1A is a cross sectional view of the insert inner body,
with skirt valves installed on the central shaft.
[0011] FIG. 1B is an alternative skirt valve arrangement, where at
least a portion of the skirt valve travels between an upper and a
lower stop in response to pressure changes.
[0012] FIG. 2 is an outer view of the insert inner body, showing
relative dimensions.
[0013] FIG. 3 is an outer view of the insert outer body, showing
complementary threads for interfacing with the insert inner
body.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional and outer views of a cartridge
inner body, showing relative dimensions.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional and outer views of a cartridge
outer body.
[0016] FIG. 6 is an external view of an assembled skin valve
assembly installed in a secondary housing.
[0017] FIG. 7 is an external and cross-sectional view illustrating
the position of an assembled skirt valve assembly when installed in
a secondary housing.
[0018] FIG. 8 is an external view of a skirt valve assembly
installed in a drain.
[0019] FIG. 9 is a transparent view showing the orientation of the
assembled skirt valve assembly, mounted within a secondary housing
and installed in a drain.
[0020] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an assembled skirt
valve assembly, mounted within a secondary housing and installed in
a drain.
[0021] FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a P trap assembly.
[0022] FIG. 12 is a cross section of a P trap assembly, showing
relative dimensions.
[0023] FIG. 13 illustrates an assembled device, showing the
assembled skirt valve assembly mounted in a secondary housing and
installed in a drain, and a P trap in fluid communication with the
skirt valve assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] The following description includes information that may be
useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an
admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art
or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any
publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0025] In some embodiments, the numbers expressing quantities of
ingredients, properties such as concentration, reaction conditions,
and so forth, used to describe and claim certain embodiments of the
invention are to be understood as being modified in some instances
by the term "about," Accordingly, in some embodiments, the
numerical parameters set forth in the written description and
attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the
desired properties sought to be obtained by a particular
embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should be
construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and
by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the
numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of
some embodiments of the invention are approximations, the numerical
values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely
as practicable. The numerical values presented in some embodiments
of the invention may contain certain errors necessarily resulting
from the standard deviation found in their respective testing
measurements.
[0026] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims
that follow, the meaning of "a," "an," and "the" includes plural
reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as
used in the description herein, the meaning of "in" includes "in"
and "on" unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0027] The recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended
to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each
separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated
herein, each individual value is incorporated into the
specification as if it were individually recited herein. All
methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order
unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted
by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language
(e.g. "such as") provided with respect to certain embodiments
herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and
does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise
claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as
indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the
invention.
[0028] Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the
invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations.
Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in
any combination with other members of the group or other elements
found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or
deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or
patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the
specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified
thus fulfilling the written description of all Markush groups used
in the appended claims.
[0029] Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the
inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the
following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with
the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent
like components.
[0030] One should appreciate that the disclosed techniques provide
many advantageous technical effects including reduced need for
servicing and provision of protection from pest insects. In
addition, the disclosed devices and methods advantageously permit
more rigorous sanitation of the urinal fixtures.
[0031] The following discussion provides many example embodiments
of the inventive subject matter. Although each embodiment
represents a single combination of inventive elements, the
inventive subject matter is considered to include all possible
combinations of the disclosed elements. Thus if one embodiment
comprises elements A, B, and C, and a second embodiment comprises
elements B and D, then the inventive subject matter is also
considered to include other remaining combinations of A, B, C, or
D, even if not explicitly disclosed.
[0032] As used herein, and unless the context dictates otherwise,
the term "coupled to" is intended to include both direct coupling
(in which two elements that are coupled to each other contact each
other) and indirect coupling (in which at least one additional
element is located between the two elements). Therefore, the terms
"coupled to" and "coupled with" are used synonymously.
[0033] In one embodiment of the inventive concept, a housing is
provided that encloses a skirt valve mechanism. The housing can
include a plurality component, including an insert inner body that
interfaces with an insert outer body, and a cartridge inner body
that interfaces with both the insert outer body and a cartridge
outer body. Various skirt valve arrangements are suitable for use
in devices and methods of the inventive concept. One embodiment,
shown in FIG. 1A, utilizes at least two skirt valves mounted on a
central shaft. As shown, the skirt valves are shaped as the surface
of a frustum of a cone, with the smaller of the two bases oriented
upwards (i.e. towards the fluid inlet) and contacting and
concentric with the central shaft. Such skirt valves can be mounted
on the central shaft at collar regions, which provide ridges or
similar features that provide for accurate location and orientation
of the skirt valves. At least a portion of each skirt valve is in
contact with a corresponding sealing surface. The skirt valves are
constructed of pliant materials which, when coupled with the
arrangement and orientation of the skirt valves permits fluid to
flow from an inlet to an outlet of the assembled device. Pressure
or fluid flow in the opposing direction (i.e. from the outlet
towards the inlet), however, results in firm seating of the skirt
valves against their respective sealing surfaces and prevents or
reduces passage of fluids or other objects in this direction. It
should be appreciated that such fluids can include liquids and/or
gases originating from a sewer system (for example, a sewer system
that is in fluid communication with a device of the inventive
concept). It should also be appreciated that pressure can be
applied to a skirt valve in the outlet to inlet direction by other
means, including pest arthropods (for example, spiders and/or
insects) that have exited the sewer system and successfully
traversed downstream trap mechanisms.
[0034] Alternatively, a skirt valve mechanism can include a sliding
skirt valve, such as is shown in FIG. 1B. In such a device a skirt
valve shaped as a frustum of a cone is mounted between an upper
stop and a lower stop on a central shaft, with the smaller base of
the Skirt valve oriented upwards (i.e. towards the inlet) and
contacting and concentric with the central shaft. The skirt valve
in constructed of a pliant material, such that pressure applied to
the underside of the skirt valve (i.e. from the outlet to the
inlet) results in movement of at least a portion of the skirt valve
from the lower stop towards the upper stop. This further results in
an increase in the force applied to a sealing surface by the skirt
valve and prevents movement of fluids and other items from the
outlet towards the inlet, as described above. In some embodiments
of the inventive concept, the sliding skirt valve is in contact
with the sealing surface when the skirt valve is positioned at the
lower stop. In other embodiments a gap is present between the
sealing surface and the sliding skirt valve when the skirt valve is
positioned at the lower stop. Both fixed skirt valve mechanisms
(FIG. 1A) and sliding skirt valve mechanisms (FIG. 1B) are suitable
for use in devices and methods of the inventive concept.
[0035] As noted above, skirt valves are constructed of a pliant
material. In preferred embodiments of the inventive concept the
skirt valve(s) is (are) constructed of a material that is resistant
to components of urine, such as uric acid. Suitable materials
include urine resistant rubber, silicone, nitrile rubber,
polyethylene, a perfluoroelastomer, an ethylene acrylate elastomer,
and polychloroprene.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 1A, devices and methods of the inventive
concept can include a perforated cover, which aids in preventing
unwanted materials from entering. Such a perforated cover can be
constructed to house a chemical disk, for example a deodorant
disk.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 1A, in some embodiments the skirt valve
mechanism can be housed in an insert upper body component of the
housing. An exemplary embodiment of such an insert inner body,
drawn to scale, is shown in FIG. 2.
[0038] In some embodiments of the inventive concept, the insert
inner body is at least partially mounted within an insert outer
body component of the housing. An example of an insert outer body,
showing threading complementary to that of the insert inner body,
is shown in FIG. 3.
[0039] In some embodiments of the inventive concept, the insert
outer body lies within a cartridge inner body component of the
housing. An example of a cartridge inner body component, drawn to
scale, is shown in FIG. 4.
[0040] In some embodiments of the inventive concept, the cartridge
inner body at least partially lies within a cartridge outer body
component of the housing. An example of a cartridge outer body,
drawn to scale, is shown in FIG. 5. In preferred embodiments of the
inventive concept the cartridge outer body includes one or more
anchors that serve to hold the assembled housing within a secondary
housing that lies within the waterless urinal.
[0041] FIG. 6 provides an external view of an assembled skirt valve
assembly with completed housing, mounted in a secondary housing and
showing the position of the anchors. Such a secondary housing can
be an adaptor that holds the assembled skirt valve assembly in
place within a drain of a plumbing fixture (such as a waterless
urinal). Fixation of the anchors to the secondary housing is
preferably reversible. In some embodiments of the inventive concept
a tool is required to release the anchors from the secondary
housing, thereby preventing accidental or unauthorized access.
[0042] FIG. 7 shows an external view and cross section of an
assembled skirt valve assembly mounted within a secondary housing,
showing their relative positions.
[0043] As noted above, skirt valve assemblies of the inventive
concept are suitable for placement within a drain of a plumbing
fixture. FIG. 8 illustrates the placement of a skirt valve assembly
within a typical drain of a waterless urinal.
[0044] FIG. 9 provides a partially transparent view that shows the
relative position of a skirt valve assembly mounted within a
secondary housing and placed within a drain of a typical waterless
urinal.
[0045] FIG. 10 provides a cross section view of skirt valve
assembly mounted within a secondary housing and placed within a
drain of a typical waterless urinal.
[0046] Skirt valve assemblies as described above are used in
conjunction with a P trap. Suitable P traps provide a liquid
barrier to gases found in sewer systems, and prevent passage of
such gases into areas where plumbing fixtures are in use. A
preferred embodiment of a P trap is shown in FIG. 11. A vertical
section is formed by a cylindrical housing or pipe that has an open
upper terminus and closed lower terminus. This cylindrical housing
includes an opening or lateral aperture along its length. A lateral
housing or pipe is attached to the cylindrical housing at an
interface area that overlaps and encompasses the lateral aperture,
with the lateral aperture placed at an upper (i.e. towards the
upper terminus) part of the interface region. When fluid is
introduced to the P trap it accumulated in the portion of the
cylindrical housing that lies below the lateral aperture, forming a
water/liquid trap that prevents the passage of gases.
[0047] FIG. 12 shows a cross section of a suitable P trap, drawn to
scale.
[0048] FIG. 13 shows an example of an assembled device of the
inventive concept. A skirt valve assembly is shown mounted within a
secondary housing, which is in turn placed within a drain. The
drain, in turn is coupled to a P trap to provide fluid
communication between the plumbing fixture and a sewage system. In
preferred embodiments, the drain is mounted to the P trap by a
friction fit with a pliant collar that lies within the open upper
terminus of the cylindrical housing of the P trap.
[0049] Another embodiment of the inventive concept is a method for
replacing a float valve in a waterless urinal. In such an
embodiment a skirt valve assembly, as described above, is used to
replace a float valve assembly within a secondary housing that lies
within the drain of a waterless urinal. A P trap as described above
is mounted on a suitable sewage inlet, such that the open end of
the lateral housing of the P trap is in fluid communication with
the sewage line, and the upper terminus of the P trap is placed in
fluid communication with the float valve assembly. This can be
accomplished, for example, by connecting a drain that has been
fitted with a skirt valve assembly to the P trap. In a preferred
embodiment of the inventive concept, this can be accomplished by
engaging the drain with a pliant collar located at the upper
terminus of the P trap, where it is held by friction.
[0050] It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many
more modifications besides those already described are possible
without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive
subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the
spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the
specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in
the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In
particular, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" should be
interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a
non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements,
components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with
other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly
referenced. Where the specification claims refers to at least one
of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C . . .
and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element
from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.
* * * * *