A free-standing urinal (1) having: a housing (2); a trough (3) for urine; a urine collection tank (4) located within the housing (2); a drain (7) and waste trap (8) arrangement extending between the trough (3) and the tank (4); a valved outlet (28) from the tank (4); a hand wash sink (9); a drain (10) extending between the sink (9) and the trough (3); a fresh water dispenser for dispensing water into the sink (9); a paper towel dispenser (60); a paper towel waste container (70); and lifting fixtures (35, 36, 37) for moving the urinal (1) by forklift, hand or crane; The drain (7) and waste trap (8) arrangement has an “S bend” (30) containing an oily sealant (31). The urinal (1) is portable, it is freestanding and need not be mounted to a wall or other fixture, and it need not be connected to a mains water supply and sewerage system.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a urinal. In particular, the invention concerns a freestanding urinal.

BACKGROUND ART

Commercially available urinals are typically wall-mounted as well as connected to a water supply and sewerage system. Fresh water from the water supply rinses a trough of the urinal and urine is discharged to the sewerage system by way of a drain of the urinal.

A problem with such urinals as that they cannot be used at locations where a water supply and sewerage system are not available. Another problem with such urinals is that they are not freestanding and need to be mounted to a wall or other fixture. Other problems with such urinals include that they utilise (precious) water resources, and that urine wastes and cleaning agents are discharged to drain.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a urinal which overcomes or minimises at least one of the problems mentioned above, or to provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided a freestanding urinal comprising:

a freestanding housing;

a trough extending within the housing;

a urine collection tank located within the housing, wherein the collection tank has an outlet and a control valve for opening and closing the outlet; and

a drain and waste trap arrangement for draining urine from the trough to the collection tank and for trapping odours from the collection tank.

The housing can be of any suitable size, shape and construction. Being a freestanding urinal, it need not be mounted to a wall or other fixture. The housing can be made of any suitable material or materials, such as plastics material, fibreglass, stainless steel or vitreous china. Preferably, the housing is substantially trapezoidal in shape and has a base wall, an upstanding front wall, an upstanding rear wall, a pair of upstanding substantially trapezoidal sidewalls, and an intermediate sloping wall extending between the front, rear and side walls. One or more of the walls can be reinforced and they can be reinforced in any suitable way. For instance, the front, rear and side walls can be ribbed. Preferably, the housing is made of moulded plastics material.

The trough can be of any suitable size, shape and construction. The trough can be made of any suitable material or materials, such as plastics material, fibreglass, stainless steel or vitreous china. Preferably, the trough extends within the housing from the intermediate sloping wall. The trough can have a pair of side walls and an intermediate wall extending between the side walls. The intermediate wall can have an upper portion which extends parallel with the rear wall of the housing and a curved lower portion. Preferably, the trough is made of moulded plastics material and is integrally formed with the housing.

The urine collection tank can be of any suitable size, shape and construction. The collection tank can be made of any suitable material or materials, such as plastics material. Preferably, the collection tank has about a 250 L storage capacity. Preferably, the collection tank is located beneath the trough and is defined by at least some of the walls of the housing and trough, as well as perhaps one or more upstanding walls within the housing. The collection tank can have an inlet for urine. The outlet of the collection tank is preferably connectable to a pump such that the collection tank can be drained of urine. The outlet can be connected to the pump in any suitable way, but preferably involves a quick (male outlet to female hose) coupling. The outlet can be in the form of a camlock fitting.

The urinal can have a valve/vent allowing the introduction of air into the collection tank when the collection tank is being evacuated of urine under vacuum. Such a valve/vent can be, for instance, located in a wall of the housing.

Any suitable type of control valve for opening and closing the outlet can be used. The control valve is preferably a tap that can be moved by hand between the open and closed positions.

The drain and waste trap arrangement can be of any suitable size, shape and construction, and can be made of any suitable material or materials. Preferably, the arrangement extends from the curved lower portion of the intermediate wall of the trough to the inlet of the collection tank. The arrangement can comprise one or more pipes of any suitable shape. The waste trap can comprise an “S bend” of sorts. The waste trap can further comprise a liquid sealant through which urine can pass but through which odours cannot pass. Such waste traps having an “S bend” and a liquid (oily) sealant are sold in cartridge form under the trade mark Sloan® Waterfree by Sloan Valve Company. Preferably, an upper end of the waste trap is in fluid communication with the trough and a pipe of the arrangement extends from a lower end of the waste trap to the inlet of the collection tank.

The urinal can have lifting fixtures enabling it to be lifted, for example, by hand, crane or forklift. For instance, recessed areas of the base wall can provide entry points for a fork of a forklift. A handle fixed to each side wall of the housing can enable the urinal to be lifted by hand. One or more openings in each side wall of the housing can serve as attachment points for a crane.

The urinal can have wheels such that it can be transported from one location to another. The urinal can have a wheeled frame or wheels (eg. castor wheels) mounted to the base wall.

The urinal can further comprise at least one fluid dispenser for dispensing fluid such as water, detergent and/or antiseptic hand wash solution (e.g. an evaporative solution containing ethanol).

The urinal can further comprise a hand wash sink, at least one fluid dispenser for dispensing fluid such as water or detergent into the sink, and a drain for draining fluid from the sink to the trough.

Preferably, the urinal comprises a hand wash sink, a water dispenser for dispensing water into the sink, and a drain for draining water from the sink to the trough.

The sink can be of any suitable size, shape and construction. The sink can be made of any suitable material or materials, such as plastics material. Preferably, the sink extends within the housing from the intermediate sloping wall. Preferably, the sink has a pair of side walls and an intermediate wall extending between the side walls. The intermediate wall of the sink can have an upper portion which extends parallel with the rear wall of the housing and a curved lower portion from which extends the drain. Preferably, the side walls of the sink and the housing extend parallel with one another. Preferably, the sink is made of moulded plastics material and is integrally formed with the housing.

The drain can be of any suitable size, shape and construction, and can be made of any suitable material or materials. Preferably, the drain is a passage which extends through adjacent side walls of the sink and the trough, such that water within the sink can drain into the trough.

The water dispenser can be of any suitable size, shape and construction. Preferably, the water dispenser comprises a water reservoir, a feeder pipe for feeding water to the sink, and a pump for pumping water from the reservoir to the feeder pipe.

The water reservoir can be of any suitable size, shape and construction. The reservoir can be made of any suitable material or materials, such as plastics material. Preferably, the reservoir has about a 40 to 60 L storage capacity and is located within the housing. The reservoir can have an inlet for receiving fresh water from an external source and an outlet connected to the pump.

Any suitable type of pump can be used. The pump can be driven manually or by motor. Preferably, the pump is foot-operated. Preferably, a foot-operated lever of the pump is located within a recess in the front wall of the housing.

The feeder pipe can be of any suitable size, shape and construction. Preferably, the feeder pipe has an inlet connected to the pump and an outlet located adjacent to the intermediate wall of the sink. The rear wall of the housing can have a vertically extending groove and the feeder pipe can extend within the groove.

The urinal can further comprise a paper towel dispenser and a paper towel waste container. The paper towel dispenser and the paper towel waste container can be of any suitable size, shape and construction, and can be made of any suitable material or materials. Preferably, the paper towel dispenser is connected to the intermediate wall of the sink above the outlet of the feeder pipe. Preferably, the paper towel waste container is located adjacent to the sink and extends from the intermediate sloping wall within the housing. Preferably, the paper towel waste container is made of moulded plastics material and is integrally formed with the housing.

The housing can have one or more ports or doors for accessing internal components of the urinal, such as the pump, water reservoir, collection tank, drain and waste trap.

The urinal can have a privacy screen such that the urinator is provided with privacy when urinating. Any suitable type of privacy screen can be used and can be connected to the housing in any suitable way. Preferably, the privacy screen extends from the front wall or intermediate sloping wall around or partway around the urinator.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In the figures, like reference numerals refer to like features.

The figures show a urinal1having a housing2, a trough3, a urine collection tank4(seeFIG. 6), a drain7and waste trap8arrangement (seeFIG. 6), a tap17(seeFIG. 5), a hand wash sink9, a drain10(seeFIG. 3), lifting fixtures, and a fresh water dispenser for dispensing water into the sink9.

The housing2is substantially trapezoidal and comprises a base wall11, a pair of upstanding substantially trapezoidal side walls12,13, an upstanding front wall14, an upstanding rear wall15, and an intermediate sloping wall16. The housing2is reinforced by way of recessed areas18of the front and side walls12,13,14. Access ports and doors (not shown) of the housing2provide access to internal components, such as the drain7, the waste trap8and collection tank4.

The trough3extends within the housing2from the intermediate sloping wall16. The trough3has a pair of side walls21,22and an intermediate wall23. The intermediate wall23has an upper portion which extends parallel with the rear wall15of the housing2and a curved lower portion from which extends an upper end25of the drain7and waste trap8arrangement.

Referring now toFIG. 6, the urine collection tank4is located within the housing2below the trough3and has about a 250 L storage capacity. Walls of the tank4are defined by the walls11,13,14,15of the housing2and the intermediate wall23of the trough3, as well as by one or more upstanding walls that extend between the front14and rear15walls of the housing2. The tank has an inlet27at a lower end26of the drain7and waste trap8arrangement. The tank has an outlet28that can be opened and closed using the tap17. The outlet28is in the form of a camlock fitting and is connectable to a pump (not shown), such that the tank4can be drained of urine.

As seen inFIG. 6, the drain7and waste trap8arrangement has an “S bend”30of sorts containing an oily sealant31. Such a waste trap8is sold in cartridge form under the trade mark Sloan® Waterfree by Sloan Valve Company. The direction of flow of urine32through the drain7and water trap8arrangement is indicated inFIG. 6by way of arrows.

The urinal1has lifting fixtures enabling it to be lifted, for example, by hand, crane or forklift. Recessed areas35(seeFIG. 4) of the base wall11provides entry points for a fork of a forklift. A handle36mounted to each side wall12,13enables the urinal1to be lifted by hand. An opening37in each side wall12,13serves as an attachment point for a crane.

The sink9extends within the housing2from the intermediate sloping wall16. The sink9has a pair of side walls40,41and an intermediate wall42. The intermediate wall42has an upper portion which extends parallel with the rear wall15of the housing2and a curved lower portion from which extends the drain10. The drain10is an opening which extends through adjacent side walls41,21of the sink9and the trough3. The drain10allows water from within the sink9to drain to the trough3.

The water dispenser comprises a water reservoir (not shown), a feeder pipe50for feeding water to the sink9, and a foot-operated pump that, when operated, pumps water from the reservoir to the feeder pipe50.

The reservoir has about a 40 to 60 L storage capacity and is located within the housing2beneath the sink9. The foot-operated pump is also located within the housing2. A foot-operated lever55of the pump is located within a recess56in the front wall11of the housing2. The reservoir has an outlet connected to the pump. An inlet enables the reservoir to be replenished with fresh water.

The feeder pipe50has an inlet connected to the pump and an outlet43located adjacent the intermediate wall42of the sink9. The rear wall15of the housing2has a vertically extending groove57and a part of the feeder pipe50extends within the groove57(seeFIG. 2).

The urinal1further comprises a paper towel dispenser60and a paper towel waste container70. The paper towel dispenser60has a rectangular housing61connected to the intermediate wall42of the sink9above the feeder pipe outlet43. Paper towel is dispensed through a slot in the housing61. The waste container70is rectangular and extends from the intermediate sloping wall16into the housing2.

In use, the urinal1is transported to the desired location by hand or using a forklift truck or crane, using one or more of the lifting fixtures35,36,37. The water reservoir is filled with fresh water. The collection tank4is sealed by closing the outlet28with the tap17and by placing oily sealant31within the waste trap8. A urinator stands adjacent the front wall11and directs his urine stream into the trough3. The urine drains into the collection tank4by way of the drain7and waste trap8arrangement. The urinator may then place his hands within the sink9and pump water onto his hands using the foot-operated lever55. The urinator may then dry his hands with paper towels from the dispenser60and dispose of the towels in the waste container70. In order to empty the collection tank4of urine, a hose of a pump is coupled to the outlet18and the tap17is opened. If necessary, the urinal1can have a valve/vent allowing the introduction of air into the collection tank4when the collection tank4is being evacuated of urine under vacuum.

Advantages of the urinal as exemplified include that it is portable, it is freestanding and need not be mounted to a wall or other fixture, and it need not be connected to a mains water supply and sewerage system. Hence, the urinal can be used at remote locations or at other locations where plumbing is not available or feasible. Moreover, since it is essentially a dry sanitation system, water resources can be conserved and disposal of liquid wastes into waterways can be avoided.

The foregoing embodiments are illustrative only of the principles of the invention, and various modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention is capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways and in other embodiments. It is also to be understood that the terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

The term “comprise” and variants of the term such as “comprises” or “comprising” are used herein to denote the inclusion of a stated integer or stated integers but not to exclude any other integer or any other integers, unless in the context or usage an exclusive interpretation of the term is required.