Abstract:
A system and method for temporary sanitary disposal of human liquid waste in a building under construction on a level above ground level with a ceiling and prior to the installation of permanent plumbing fixtures. The method comprises the steps of providing one or more temporary urinals on the level, providing at least one holding tank capable of accumulating liquid waste at or below ground level, and providing liquid waste piping between each of the one or more temporary urinals and the at least one holding tank. The method also comprises the steps of introducing a fluidization agent at the one or more temporary urinals, guiding the liquid waste and the fluidization agent from the one or more temporary urinals to the at least one holding tank via the waste piping system, wherein the fluidization agent prevent precipitation of solids from the liquid waste in the waste piping.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     Generally, disposal of human waste in construction sites is conducted by locating portable toilets on the ground level of a building under construction. In a multi-level building under construction such as high-rise buildings or the like, ground level portable toilets are inconvenient and difficult to reach for those workers at above ground floor levels. Ceilings on multi-level buildings under construction prevent cranes from placing portable toilets on above-ground floor levels. Thus, unsanitary conditions frequently result in construction sites from workers located in these above-ground floor levels. Such unsanitary conditions commonly found in multi-level construction sites are containers of liquid human waste, liquid human waste lying on the floor and other areas of a building under construction, and the associated odor with these open pools and containers of liquid human waste. Thus, there exists a need in the art to provide sanitary conditions and dispose of liquid human waste in a multi-level building under construction.  
         [0002]     It is therefore an object of the disclosed subject matter to obviate the deficiencies of the prior art by presenting a novel temporary urinal comprising a basin, a drain, and a splash guard wherein an upper portion of the temporary urinal comprises an attachment device adapted for attaching the temporary urinal to a wall system.  
         [0003]     It is another object of the disclosed subject matter to present a novel temporary liquid waste system for an above ground level floor in a building under construction without permanent plumbing fixtures. The temporary liquid waste system comprises one or more urinals located on the above ground level floor, at least one holding tank located at or below ground level, and a liquid waste piping system extending from each of the one or more urinals to the at least one holding tank whereby the one or more urinals and the at least one holding tank are disparately located.  
         [0004]     It is still another object of the disclosed subject matter to present a novel method for temporary sanitary disposal of human liquid waste in a building under construction on a level above ground level with a ceiling and prior to the installation of permanent plumbing fixtures. The method comprises the steps of providing one or more temporary urinals on the level, providing at least one holding tank capable of accumulating liquid waste at or below ground level, and providing liquid waste piping between each of the one or more temporary urinals and the at least one holding tank. The method also comprises the steps of introducing a fluidization agent at the one or more temporary urinals, guiding the liquid waste and the fluidization agent from the one or more temporary urinals to the at least one holding tank via the waste piping system, wherein the fluidization agent prevent precipitation of solids from the liquid waste in the waste piping.  
         [0005]     It is yet another object of the disclosed subject matter to present a novel temporary liquid waste system for an above ground level floor in a building under construction without permanent plumbing fixtures. The system comprises one or more temporary urinals located on the above ground level floor, a sewer interface located at or below ground level, a connection device, a trapless liquid waste piping system extending from the above ground floor to the sewer interface and adapted to receive permanent toilet fixtures, and a connection device extending between the one or more temporary urinals and the trapless liquid waste piping system.  
         [0006]     It is also an object of the disclosed subject matter to present a novel method to reduce the proliferation of containers of human urine on interior levels of a multilevel building during the construction of the building and prior to installation of permanent plumbing fixtures where the interior levels are above ground level. The method comprises the steps of providing one or more temporary urinals on one of the interior levels, providing a waste collection interface capable of disposing liquid waste at or below ground level, and providing liquid waste piping between each of the one or more temporary urinals and the waste collection interface. The method also comprises the steps of introducing fluidization agent at the one or more temporary urinals, guiding the liquid waste and the fluidization agent from the one or more temporary urinals to the waste collection interface via the waste piping system, and removing the liquid waste and the fluidization agent from waste collection interface.  
         [0007]     These objects and other advantages of the disclosed subject matter will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art to which the disclosure pertains from a perusal or the claims, the appended drawings, and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1A  is a front view of a temporary urinal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.  
         [0009]      FIG. 1B  is a side view of the temporary urinal of  FIG. 1A .  
         [0010]      FIG. 1C  is a cross-sectional view of the temporary urinal of  FIG. 1A  along line A-A.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2A  is a front view of a temporary urinal according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2B  is a side view of the temporary urinal of  FIG. 2A .  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a pictorial representation of a temporary human waste disposal system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a pictorial representation of a temporary human waste disposal system according to an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a pictorial representation of a temporary human waste disposal system according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]     The present disclosure presents a system and method to reduce the proliferation of human liquid waste on interior levels of a multilevel building during the construction of the building and prior to installation of permanent plumbing fixtures where the interior levels are above ground level.  
         [0017]      FIGS. 1A-1C  illustrate a temporary urinal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIGS. 1A-1C , the temporary urinal  100  may be generally tubular in shape. Other forms for the temporary urinal  100  and respective basin  110  are also envisioned such as a trough-shaped, box-shaped, spherical-shaped form or other known form commonly used in the art. The urinal  100  is comprised of a catch basin  110  having a drain  112  operably connected thereto. The catch basin  110  may be formed such that the length, width and height of the basin  10  conform to a substantially rounded bottom is formed having a lower portion proximate to the drain  112 . Extending upwardly from the lateral sides of the catch basin  110  is a splash guard  114 . The width of the splash guard  114  may be substantially equal to the width of the basin  110 . The temporary urinal  100  may have privacy panels (not shown) extending from the basin  110 . The upper portion of the temporary urinal  100  may have an attachment device  116  adaptable for attaching the urinal  100  to a wall made of sheetrock, masonry, or cement (not shown), stud (not shown) or other vertical plane commonly located in a construction site. The attachment device may be a hanging strap or formed eyelet whereby a bolt, nail or other known affixing means may affix the urinal  100  to a wall, stud or other vertical plane. It is also envisioned that the urinal  100  be affixed directly to a wall, stud or other vertical plane without an attachment means. The basin  110 , drain  112  and splash guard  114  may be molded from a single article and/or material or may also be fabricated or constructed from separate articles and/or materials. The temporary urinal  100  may be constructed or molded of any type of plastic, polyvinylchloride, wood, metal, or other known materials commonly used in the art.  
         [0018]     As shown in  FIG. 1C , the temporary urinal  100  may also comprise a chemical tank  130  positioned in the upper portion of the urinal  100  and above the basin  110 . The chemical tank  130  is operably connected to a tube  120  whereby sanitation chemicals may be allowed to enter into the basin  110 . A valve  122  may also be provided below and operably connected to the chemical tank  130  to thereby control the flow of sanitation chemicals from the chemical tank  130  into the basin  110 . The valve  122  may be a spring loaded valve or other known manually operated valve, an automatic valve or other known valve commonly used in the art. An orifice plate or other known construction means may also be operably placed in the tube  120  in combination with or in lieu of a valve to thereby control the flow of sanitation chemicals and/or to provide a continuous supply of sanitation chemicals. The urinal  100  may also be provided with a cap  118  above and operably connected to the chemical tank  130  for replenishment of the sanitation chemicals contained therein. A strainer  111  may be provided at the interface of the basin  110  and drain  112  to thereby prevent passage of particulate matter into the temporary human waste disposal system. The strainer  111  may be any known straining means such as a wire or fabric mesh, metal strainer, or other known strainer commonly used in the art.  
         [0019]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate a temporary urinal according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the temporary urinal  200  may be elongated and trough-like. The urinal  200  is comprised of a catch basin  210  having a drain  212  operably connected thereto. The catch basin  210  may be formed such that the length, width and height of the basin  210  conform to a substantially rounded bottom having a lower portion proximate to the drain  212 . The urinal  200  may be affixed directly to a stud  230 , wall or other vertical plane. The upper portion of the temporary urinal  200  may also be equipped with an attachment device (not shown) adaptable for attaching the urinal  200  to the vertical plane. The attachment device may be a hanging strap or other known means whereby a bolt, nail or other affixing means may affix the urinal  200  to the vertical plane. A splash guard  213  may be provided that extends upwardly from the catch basin  210 . The width of the splash guard may also be substantially equal to the width of the basin  210 . The upper portion of the temporary urinal  200  may also be equipped with a sanitation apparatus depicted in  FIGS. 1A-1C  and described above.  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a pictorial representation of a temporary human waste disposal system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. A temporary liquid waste disposal system  300  is illustrated in a building under construction without permanent plumbing fixtures such as toilets, sinks, and the like. The temporary liquid waste disposal system  300  comprises one or more temporary urinals  380  located on above ground level floors  320 ,  330 . The system  300  may have temporary piping  360  operably connected to the one or more urinals  380  and to a holding tank  362  located below the urinals  380  and preferably at or below ground level  310 . The holding tank  362  may include a sanitation solution and a pump out system (not shown) whereby the contents thereof may be pumped to an offsite storage location such as a truck, mobile tank, or other second holding means commonly used in the art. As shown, the holding tank  362  may be located outside of the building and accessible to a vehicle. Thus, the holding tank  362  may be evacuated using a pumping truck or other known pumping means or the holding tank  362  may be disconnected from the system and drained and/or replaced with a new holding tank.  
         [0021]     The temporary piping  360  extending from the one or more urinals  380  may be external to the walls  304  of the building and/or internal to the walls  304  of the building, extending through stairway openings, elevator openings and or window openings. The temporary piping  360  may be flexible tubing, rigid PVC tubing, or other known tubing or piping commonly used in the art. It is also envisioned that the temporary liquid waste disposal system  300  be self venting and trapless to thereby minimize human interaction or operation of the system.  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a pictorial representation of a temporary human waste disposal system according to an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure. A temporary liquid waste disposal system  400  is illustrated in a building under construction without permanent plumbing fixtures. The temporary liquid waste disposal system  400  comprises one or more temporary urinals  480  located on above ground level floors  420 ,  430 . The urinals  480  are operably connected to interior tubing  450  in the building. The interior tubing  450  may be flexible or rigid temporary or permanent piping. The interior tubing  450  may also be a trapless liquid waste piping system extending from the above ground floors  420 ,  430  to a sewer interface  452  and to sewer piping  454 . The trapless liquid waste piping system may also be adapted to receive permanent toilet or other plumbing fixtures. In the instance the system comprises one or more urinals  480  interfacing with the trapless liquid waste piping system or other permanent waste piping in the building, a connection device or means (not shown) may be provided operably connecting the urinals  480  to the piping  450 . The connection interface may be a length of flexible or rigid tubing affixed and extending from the discharge of the temporary urinals  480  to the piping  450  or may be other known connection means known in the art, i.e., flange, seals and the like.  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a pictorial representation of a temporary human waste disposal system according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. A temporary liquid waste disposal system  500  is illustrated in a building under construction without permanent plumbing fixtures. The temporary liquid waste disposal system  500  may comprise one or more temporary urinals  580 A,  580 B located on above ground level floors  520 ,  530  and operably connected to both temporary piping  560  and interior tubing or piping  550  in the building such as a trapless liquid waste piping system extending from the above ground floor  520 ,  530  to a sewer interface  552  and to existing sewer piping  554 . The temporary piping  560  may be operably connected to a holding tank  562  located below the urinals  580 A and preferably at or below ground level  510  and accessible by a vehicle. The holding tank  562  may be located within or outside of the building and may include a sanitation solution and a pump out system (not shown) whereby the contents thereof may be pumped to an offsite storage location such as a truck, mobile tank, or other known storage means commonly used in the art. Thus, the holding tank  562  may be evacuated as necessary or the holding tank  562  may be disconnected from the system and drained and/or replaced with a new holding tank  562 .  
         [0024]     The temporary piping  560  extending from the one or more urinals  580 A may be external to the walls  504  of the building and/or internal to the walls  504  of the building, extending through stairway openings, elevator openings and or window openings. The temporary piping  560  may be flexible tubing, rigid PVC tubing, or other known tubing or piping commonly used in the art.  
         [0025]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the urinals  580 B are operably connected to interior tubing  550  in the building. The interior tubing  550  may be flexible or rigid temporary or permanent piping such as a trapless liquid waste piping system extending from the above ground floor  520 ,  530  to a sewer interface  552  and to sewer piping  554 . The trapless liquid waste piping system may be adapted to receive permanent toilet or other plumbing fixtures. In the instance the system comprises one or more urinals  580 B interfacing with the trapless liquid waste piping system or other permanent waste piping in the building, a connection device or means (not shown) may be provided operably connecting the urinals  580 B to the piping  550 . The connection interface may be a length of flexible or rigid tubing affixed and extending from the discharge of the temporary urinals  580 B to the piping  550  or may be other known connection means known in the art, i.e., flange, seals and the like.  
         [0026]     The temporary human waste disposal system shown in  FIGS. 3-5  may contain a fluidization agent located proximate to or affixed in one or more of the urinals. The fluidization agent may be introduced directly into the piping or via the one or more urinals by depressing a spring loaded valve or other known manually operated valve or automatic valve. The fluidization agent and any liquid human waste is then directed to the holding tank via the temporary piping. The fluidization agent is generally utilized to prevent precipitation of solids form the liquid waste in the piping to thereby sanitarily dispose of any liquid human waste. The fluidization agent may be released at any time during operation of the system. It is envisioned that the temporary human waste disposal system disclosed herein may be provided with privacy walls (not shown) between any temporary urinals that are proximate to each other or for each temporary urinal. Furthermore, hand sanitizers may be provided at various locations in the temporary human waste disposal system including at the one or more temporary urinals. It is further envisioned that the temporary liquid waste disposal system illustrated herein be self venting and trapless to thereby minimize human interaction or operation of the system.  
         [0027]     While preferred embodiments of the present inventive system and method have been described, it is to be understood that the embodiments described are illustrative only and that the scope of the embodiments of the present inventive system and method is to be defined solely by the appended claims when accorded a full range of equivalence, many variations and modifications naturally occurring to those of skill in the art from a perusal hereof.