Portable washing station

The portable washing station has a mounting plate having rigid upper and lower sections joined by fabric so that it can be folded up for storage and transport. The washing station has a detachable sink basin attached to the lower section, made of flexible and lightweight, waterproof material. The washing station has straps that serve a dual purpose. While in use, the straps allow the washing station to be mounted to a support structure, such as a tree, utility pole, sailboat mast, fence post or any other structure of sufficient height. The straps also keep the portable washing station securely in the stored configuration, when folded up. This portable washing station is perfect for families while camping, the military while cleaning weapons in the field, first responders during natural disasters and any other users in which the convenience of providing and maintaining good hygiene are necessary.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a travel hygiene device, and more particularly, to a portable washing station for oral hygiene, personal cleanliness and medical treatment.

2. Description of the Related Art

Portable washing equipment is desirable for use in recreational, emergency and temporary service applications, especially when camping. While recreational vehicles and campers are fitted with sinks and pumps for supplying fresh water for washing, campers with tents do not have such plumbing facilities and must rely on the provision of such washing facilities at recognized campsites. When camping in remote areas, park facilities often provide toilets, but neglect to offer washing facilities with running water. To shave and wash in a park facility often occupies the washroom for an extended period. However, in wilderness regions and remote camping grounds, such washrooms are often not provided.

Along the same lines, military personal stationed in the field do not always have the facilities necessary to clean their equipment, or themselves, without the modern conveniences of indoor plumbing. Relief aid workers working in remote corners of the world need the amenities provided by a sanitary bathroom in order to provide medical treatment to those in need. Hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and other natural disasters force people from their homes for extended periods.

Thus, a portable washing station solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The portable washing station includes a mounting plate having an upper section and a lower section so that it can be folded up into a stored configuration, capable for travel. The washing station has a detachable sink basin, which is attached to the lower section. The basin is made of flexible, lightweight, waterproof material, which is also chemical-resistant. The entire washing station has straps that serve a dual purpose. The straps allow the washing station to be mounted to a support structure, such as a tree, utility pole, sailboat mast, fence post, or any other structure of sufficient height for use. The straps also keep the portable washing station securely in the stored configuration, when the station is folded up.

This portable washing station is perfect for families while camping, the military while cleaning weapons in the field, first responders during natural disasters and any other users in which the convenience of providing and maintaining good hygiene is necessary.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown inFIG. 1, the portable washing station10has mounting plates11and12, which is capable of being folded into a stored configuration for travel. The washing station10is perfect for families while camping, for the military while cleaning weapons in the field, for first responders during natural disasters, and for any other users in which the convenience of providing and maintaining good hygiene is necessary. The washing station10is designed to fold into a small size for storage and transport. When in use, the station10unfolds into two main sections, an upper section A and lower section B that are pivotally attached to each other by flexible fabric FF. The basin34is pulled out of a storage pocket32in the lower section B, as shown inFIG. 3. The washing station10is designed to fit inside a bag that meets federal regulations for commercial aircraft carry-on luggage dimensions. of providing and maintaining good hygiene is necessary. The washing station10is designed to fold into a small size for storage and transport. When in use, the station10unfolds into two main sections, an upper section A and lower section B that are pivotally attached to each other by flexible fabric. The basin34is pulled out of a storage pocket32in the lower section B. The washing station10is designed to fit inside a bag that meets federal regulations for commercial aircraft carry-on luggage dimensions.

When in the open configuration for use, the washing station10can be secured to a support structure, such as a nearby tree T, with straps20having fasteners22, the straps20being attached directly to the mounting plates11and12. Optional hooks (not shown) can also be placed at the top of the upper section A so that the washing station10may be suspended from a support if the user chooses not to strap the washing station10to the support structure T. When the outer side60of the mounting plate11is strapped to the tree T, the inner face62of mounting plates11and12facing towards the user, as seen inFIG. 1. The mounting plate has two distinct functional areas, an upper section A and a lower section B.

Referring toFIG. 2, the upper section A has a mirror28illuminated by a light56. The mirror28is made from a flexible, shatterproof material. For ease of use when removing and cleaning, the mirror28is affixed to mounting plate11with strips of hook and loop fasteners29, as depicted inFIG. 3. Above the mirror28, the light56is also secured with hook and loop fasteners58. There is an optional location for the light56to be placed on the lower section B with fasteners58as well.

FIG. 4shows another embodiment in which the mirror28may be replaced with three folding shelves64that have hinges63attached to the mounting plate11. When in place, the shelves64have gussets65that can be locked into place and then released in order for them to lay flat so that the washing station10may be folded up, as shown inFIG. 5.

Since this washing station10will be used primarily for personal hygiene, small storage pockets30are provided for holding items, such as soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant (or any other toiletry item), but it need not be limited to these items. When the washing station10is used for meal preparation, the storage pockets30could be used to store cooking utensils, silverware, spices, sponges, etc. The first embodiment shows pockets30that are open. However, the alternative embodiment, as shown inFIG. 5, shows storage pockets30that each have a zipper66for releasably closing the pockets30and securing the contents inside. Hook and loop fasteners, buttons or magnets could also be substituted for the zipper66to securely close the storage pockets30. The pockets30may be made out of a solid fabric or a mesh material.FIG. 7shows another alternative embodiment that has an external storage pocket32, located on the outer face60of the lower section B.

Another feature of the washing station10is the flexible sink basin34that is attached to the lower section B by way of hook and loop fasteners24(shown inFIG. 3) and a pair of suspension cables44having hooks42attached to the steel rod frame40of the basin34. When not in use, the straps44can be attached to the mounting plate12by the hooks42. The basin34is made from a lightweight and flexible, waterproof canvas fabric36that will also hold up to chemicals compounds, such as disinfectants used to clean the wash station10or materials used to clean weapons. On the side of the basin34is a towel bar or strap38for supporting a towel. This design is not limited to the number of attachments shown or fabric used.

When attached, the basin34is perpendicular to the mounting plate12in a manner such that any fluid held in the basin34would drain down out through the drain hose50. If a user wanted to trap water in the basin34, a drain plug48would simply be inserted into the drain until such time that the fluid is to be drained from the basin34. In order to control where the fluid is drained and to prevent undesired splashing of the fluid when draining, drain straps52are used to tie back the drain hose50to the support structure T. When the washing station10is packed up into its stored configuration, the drain hose50is stored in a storage pocket54located on the front of the basin34.

In order to fold up the washing station10, as shown inFIG. 6, the basin34is removed. The basin34is slid up into a large storage pocket32(as shown inFIG. 7) and closed by zipper68. The upper section A is folded down towards the lower section B. At such time, a bottom flap16is folded over and secured with hook and loop fastener18. Then the pair of side flaps12are folded over and secured by hook and loop fasteners14.

Once all the flaps are folded, straps20are fastened with fasteners22, holding the basin34securely in place as well. An additional strap buckle21is placed on the middle strap20to assure that the straps are secure. The outer side60of the side flap12has a carrying handle26and an identification tag27.

Except for the rigid upper A and lower B sections of the mounting plates11and12, respectively, substantially the entire washing station10is made from a lightweight and flexible, waterproof canvas fabric36and may be made in a variety of colors in order to designate its intended use. For example, green may be chosen for camping, red for first aid, blue for washing, orange for cooking, and so on.