Portable toilet pourspout

A pourspout accessory kit for use with a portable toilet holding tank to facilitate dumping of the holding tank's contents via an outlet opening in the holding tank. The accessory kit copmrises a pourspout having an inlet end for attachment to the holding tank outlet opening and an outlet end spaced from the inlet end. Respective inlet and outlet end closure caps cover the inlet and outlet ends respectively of the pourspout. The inlet end of the pourspout is configured to fit a holding tank outlet opening having either a partial internal screw thread or a full external screw thread. The attachment to the partial internal screw thread is by means of a pair of bayonets on diametrically opposite sides of the pourspout which engage the partial screw threads on diametrically opposite sides of the holding tank outlet opening. The attachment of the pourspout to the external screw thread is by means of a retainer element fitted over the pourspout and which has an endwall overlapping a circumferential flange on the pourspout and a sidewall having an internal screw thread which threads onto the external thread of the holding tank outlet opening. An O-ring seal seats in a circumferential groove extending around the outside of the pourspout adjacent the flange and provides a leak-proof seal when the pourspout is attached to the holding tank. Two embodiments of O-ring seal are disclosed. The provision of closure caps for both ends of the pourspout provides for its convenient stowage when not in use. The accessory kit can be used with newly purchased toilets as well as those already owned by users.

REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION 
Reference is made to pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 383,410, 
filed June 1, 1982, commonly assigned and relating to the same general 
subject matter. 
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to portable toilets and more specifically to a spout 
for association with the holding tank of such a portable toilet for the 
purpose of emptying the contents of the holding tank. 
Portable toilets have come to enjoy widespread popularity, particularly in 
the recreational field. The assignee of the present patent application, 
Thetford Corporation, has been the leading innovator in portable toilets. 
One such innovation is the two-piece portable toilet which has separably 
mounted seat and holding tank sections. The seat section comprises a bowl 
having a bottom discharge outlet in sealed relation with an opening in the 
holding tank section. A flush water storage reservoir surrounds the bowl 
and a flush medium, such as flush water, may be introduced into the bowl 
from the storage reservoir by means of a hand operated pump. The contents 
of the bowl are deposited into the holding tank section by operation of a 
valve at the holding tank opening. The holding tank serves to accumulate 
waste contents from the bowl as the toilet is used. 
From time to time the holding tank is emptied. This is done by removing the 
seat section from the holding tank section, transporting the holding tank 
section to a suitable disposal facility, removing an outlet cap from an 
outlet opening on the holding tank and pouring out the contents of the 
holding tank through its outlet opening and into the disposal facility. 
One or more rinsing operations may thereafter be conducted on the holding 
tank section to more thoroughly remove any minute amounts of residual 
waste material. The outlet cap is then put back in place, and the seat 
section finally re-mounted on the holding tank section. 
As explained in the aforementioned pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 
383,410, the inclusion of a separate spout on the holding tank section can 
be beneficial. One advantage is that the dumping procedure is made more 
convenient and can be accomplished with less concern for back-splashing of 
the waste discharge. 
Insofar as applicants are aware, the disclosure of pending application Ser. 
No. 383,410 is the sole disclosure of a portable toilet with a separate 
pourout spout for the holding tank section. 
Theretofore the usual practice had been to provide a threaded boss 
circumscribing an outlet opening and a threaded cap threaded onto the boss 
to close the opening. When the contents were to be dumped, the cap was 
unscrewed and the waste materials poured out. 
The pourout spout disclosed in that patent application is an integral part 
of a new model of portable toilet also illustrated therein. That spout and 
toilet were designed to incorporate new and unique cooperative features 
forming certain details of the invention of that application. One such 
detail comprises a particular keyed connection of the pourout spout with 
the aperture in the holding tank section within which one end of the 
pourout spout is disposed. 
The present invention is directed to a portable toilet pourspout which can 
be used with a range of different portable toilet models. This is an 
important aspect of the invention for it allows a pourspout to be offered 
to customers as an accessory item for use not only with newly purchased 
toilets, but also with previously purchased ones as well. By virtue of 
unique features the pourspout of the present invention is adapted for many 
existing models of portable toilets so that there is no need to redesign 
or modify those existing models of portable toilets merely to accept the 
new pourspout. For customers already owning portable toilets, it means 
that they do not have to modify their toilets, and for the toilet 
manufacturer, it means no retooling of existing toilets. 
In addition to the foregoing, the pourspout of the present invention is 
endowed with a stowage capability which minimizes the risk that waste 
products will accidentally come in contact with the user or with the 
environment in which the spout is stowed when not in use. 
Still another attribute of the invention involves the particular design of 
the pourspout which renders its attachment compatible with various models 
of portable toilets yet imposes no significant restriction on the 
discharge of the waste contents through it. When in use the pourspout 
promotes an efficient discharge of waste contents while minimizing the 
risk that waste contents passing through the spout might impede the 
desired discharge flow through the spout and/or back-splash. 
In its preferred embodiment the invention is offered in a kit form 
containing several component parts. The kit affords the customer the 
capability for attachment to a range of portable toilet models without the 
use of tools or the need to make modifications to his toilet. It also 
provides the stowage capability referred to above.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of one model of portable toilet 20 with which 
the pourspout of the present invention is adapted to be used. The toilet 
illustrated in FIG. 1 is similar to that shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,215,445 
and 4,180,876 both of which are assigned to the same assignee as the 
present application. 
Portable toilet 20 comprises a seat section 22 separably mounted atop a 
holding tank section 24. Seat section 22 contains a bowl having a bottom 
discharge outlet which is in communication with an inlet opening 26 (see 
FIG. 2) of the holding tank 24. Referring now also to FIG. 2, holding tank 
24 comprises a flat slide valve 28 which is operable by an external 
operating handle 30 to open and close inlet opening 26 and thereby permit 
the accumulated contents of the bowl to be deposited by force of gravity 
into the holding tank. 
FIG. 2 illustrates a pourspout 32 embodying principles of the invention 
cooperatively associated with holding tank 24. Holding tank 24 has an 
outlet opening 34 which, prior to the pourspout of the present invention, 
was closed by a removable cap, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,215,445. 
The cap was removed at the time of emptying the holding tank, and the 
contents were poured through outlet opening 34. With the addition of 
pourspout 32, emptying the contents of the holding tank is rendered more 
convenient, and there is less risk of waste back-splashing as it is being 
poured from the holding tank. 
Referring now to both FIGS. 3 and 4 as well, pourspout 32 is seen to be a 
tubular walled element, plastic is the preferred material, having an inlet 
end section 36 which attaches to opening 34 and an outlet end section 38 
via which the contents of the holding tank are discharged. It may be 
considered to comprise a main walled section 40 extending between the 
inlet and outlet end sections 36 and 38 respectively. Section 40 is 
provided with a slight frustoconical taper such that the pourspout narrows 
in diameter in the direction running from inlet end to outlet end. 
Inlet end section 36 comprises a circular flange 42 which extends around 
the outside of the pourspout. Closely adjacent flange 42 on the side 
thereof which is opposite the outlet end, the pourspout is provided with a 
groove 44 extending continuously around its outside. Groove 44 has an 
approximately semi-circular cross sectional shape so that an elastomeric 
O-ring seal 46 of circular cross section can be fitted onto the inlet end 
of the pourspout and seat in groove 44 as shown in FIG. 3. It will be 
observed that the radial distance from the longitudinal axis 48 of the 
pourspout to the radially outermost point of O-ring 46 is slightly less 
than the radial distance from axis 48 to the radially outermost point of 
flange 42. 
Inlet end section 36 is further provided with a pair of integrally formed 
bayonets 52 on diametrically opposite sides. As will become more apparent 
from the ensuing description, these bayonets 52 provide for an 
interlocking attachment of the pourspout on outlet opening 34 of holding 
tank 24. 
Each bayonet 52 has a limited arcuate extent 54 as shown in FIG. 4. As can 
be better seen in FIG. 3, each bayonet 52 comprises a first portion 56 
which extends radially inwardly and axially away from O-ring 46. This 
first portion 56 merges into a reverse turn second portion 58 which itself 
merges into a radially outwardly extending third portion 60. Portion 60 
has opposite axial faces, one of which faces in the direction of the first 
portion 56 and the other of which faces in the opposite direction. On this 
latter face of each portion 60, each bayonet is provided with an axially 
extending flange portion 62. The axially extending flange portion 62 may 
be considered as having three sides bounding three sides of the four sided 
face of portion 60. These three sides are identified by the reference 
numerals 62a, 62b, and 62c. 
Outlet end section 38 is illustrated to have essentially a constant nominal 
diameter throughout its axial extent. A screw thread 64 is provided around 
the outside of outlet end section 38 to provide for the threaded mounting 
of a closure cap (not shown in FIG. 3). 
In order to explain how inlet end section 36 of the pourspout is attached 
to holding tank 24, a further description of the holding tank outlet 34 is 
presented with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. Outlet 34 comprises a nominal 
circular tubular wall 68. Partial screw threads 70 are provided on the 
I.D. of wall 68 on diametrically opposite sides. As can be seen in FIG. 6 
these partial screw threads have limited arcuate extents 72. Each screw 
thread 70 is integrally formed with wall 68 of outlet 34 and triangular 
reinforcements 74 are also integrally formed as shown to strengthen the 
construction. As can also be seen in FIG. 6 the opening bounded by wall 68 
has arcuate spaces 76 between the arcuate spans 72 of the partial screw 
threads 70. 
Attachment of pourspout 32 to holding tank 24 is accomplished by disposing 
the spout in general alignment with opening 34 and circumferentially 
orienting the spout such that bayonets 52 register with spaces 76. The 
spout is then axially advanced into opening 34. This serves to dispose 
O-ring seal 46 within wall 68 such that the O-ring forms a seal between 
the O.D. of the pourspout and the I.D. of the outlet wall. The pourspout 
is positioned to a point where the sides of each of the bayonets are 
disposed axially inwardly of the leading edges of the partial screw 
threads 70. Now rotation of the pourspout about axis 48 is effective to 
dispose one edge of each bayonet behind the corresponding leading edge of 
the corresponding partial screw thread 70. The relative dimensions of the 
partial screw threads 70 and portions 60 are such that a threading action 
takes place as the pourspout is rotated so as to urge the pourspout 
inwardly. The extent to which the two can be threaded may be limited by 
abutment of flange 42 with the end edge 78 of wall 68, but there will be a 
sufficient amount of thread engagement to assure the desired attachment. 
The connection therefore serves to interlock the spout on the holding tank 
with the O-ring providing an effective seal between the two so as to 
prevent the leakage of material through the point of attachment. 
FIG. 7 illustrates the interaction between one partial thread 70 and the 
corresponding bayonet 52, and the sealing of O-ring 46 between wall 68 and 
the pourspout when the pourspout is attached to the holding tank. 
It will be further observed that the construction of the bayonets 52 
constitutes an efficient organization and use of material. The nominal 
thickness of material throughout the extent of the bayonets is 
substantially uniform, a desirable attribute for manufacturing purposes, 
yet the bayonets are endowed with sufficient strength for their threaded 
attachment to the holding tank. In this regard it will be observed that 
flange 62 performs a rigidifying function for the portion 60 which 
interacts with the partial screw thread 70 when the pourspout is attached 
to the holding tank. It will be also noticed that the limited arcuate and 
radial extents of bayonets 52 imposes a minimal restriction on the cross 
sectional area of the opening through the pourspout at the inlet end 
because the remainder of the inlet end has a nominal diameter indicated by 
the reference numeral 80 in FIG. 4. Accordingly, the arrangement and 
organization of the bayonets constitutes an efficient use of material in 
fabrication of the pourspout and effective performance for use. 
FIG. 8 illustrates pourspout 32 in use with a different model of portable 
toilet 90. Portable toilet 90 like portable toilet 20, comprises a seat 
section 92 and a holding tank section 94. Instead of the outlet opening 95 
of holding tank section 94 being covered by the seat tank section 92 when 
the toilet is in use, outlet opening 95 is located on the exterior at one 
upper corner of the rear sidewall. Whereas the cap which was used with 
toilet 20 prior to the pourspout of the present invention has an internal 
thread which engaged the partial threads 70 when the cap was installed on 
the outlet opening 34, outlet opening 95 of holding tank 94 comprises an 
external thread. 
FIG. 10 illustrates a fragmentary sectional view through the attachment of 
the pourspout to holding tank 94. The holding tank outlet opening 95 
comprises a circular tubular wall 96 having an external thread 98. The 
I.D. of wall 96 is essentially smooth. Bayonets 52 do not provide for 
attachment to this embodiment of portable toilet. Although they fit within 
wall 96, they present a minimum obstruction which has no substantial 
effect on the pourout flow. 
The attachment as shown in FIG. 10 comprises the use of a retainer 100 and 
a seal 102 which is of a different configuration from the attachment 
reflected by FIG. 7. Retainer 100 is a circular annular element comprising 
a sidewall 104 with a radially inwardly directed flange 106 at one end. 
The sidewall 104 contains an internal screw thread 108. As will be 
apparent from consideration of FIGS. 8 and 10, retainer 100 is fitted over 
the narrower outlet end of pourspout 32 and brought onto inlet end 36 so 
that flange 106 overlappingly confronts flange 42. Screw thread 108 is 
engaged with screw thread 98 by rotating the retainer about axis 48 after 
the inlet end of the pourspout has been disposed within outlet wall 96. 
The action of flange 106 on flange 42 serves to draw the pourspout 
inwardly toward the holding tank. 
Seal 102 is a one-piece annular elastomeric element comprising a generally 
O-shaped portion 110 with which a flange portion 112 integrally joins. The 
O-shaped portion 110 seats in groove 44. Flange portion 112 comprises an 
axial section 114 extending from O-shaped portion 110 and a radial section 
116 extending from axial section 114. It will be observed that seal 102 
affords the possibility for sealing either by means of the fit of the 
portions 110, 114 within the I.D. of wall 96 and/or by portion 116 
providing a compression seal between flange 42 and the end edge 118 of 
outlet wall 96. This construction is advantageous for certain models of 
toilets where a greater tolerance has been allowed on dimensions. For 
example, this is generally true in the case of holding tanks which are 
blow molded, rather than injection molded. With blow molding procedures, 
it is more difficult to accurately control the dimensions than with 
injection molding procedures. Therefore, the axial compression of radial 
portion 116 can particularly compensate for variations in tolerance 
through the compressibility of the elastomeric seal as the retainer is 
tightened onto the holding tank. 
FIG. 9 illustrates a closure cap 120 threaded onto the outlet end of 
pourspout 32. The closure cap comprises an internally threaded sidewall 
122 which threads onto threads 64 and an endwall 124 which is of generally 
circular shape. A groove is provided within cap 120 extending around end 
wall 124 and a resilient seal 126 is disposed within this groove as a part 
of the cap to provide a seal against the end edge 128 of the pourspout 
when the cap is fully tightened onto the outlet end. FIG. 8 illustrates 
cap 120 in place on the pourspout while FIG. 2 illustrates the pourspout 
with the closure cap having been removed. 
The present invention also contemplates a particular commercial 
configuration in which the pourspout is offered for sale to users. This 
configuration is in the form of a pourspout kit designated by the general 
reference numeral 130 in FIG. 11. 
Kit 130 comprises the following components which have been previously 
described: pourspout 32, closure cap 120, and retainer 100. In addition 
the kit comes with a pourspout inlet closure cap 132 which fits over the 
end of the pourspout inlet section. 
The kit also comes with each type of O-ring seal 46, 102. This affords the 
user the full set of components needed to use the pourspout with either 
type of holding tank outlet opening described above. It would be possible 
to provide only a single O-ring seal 102 which could be trimmed if 
necessary to remove excess material and make it the same as the O-ring 46, 
but this would then impose upon the user the need to use a cutting tool to 
remove the excess material. 
Inlet closure cap 132 is shown by itself in FIGS. 12 and 13, and referring 
to these latter two figures, the reader will see that it is a generally 
cup-shaped element having an end wall 134 from which extends an outwardly 
flaring frusto-conically tapered sidewall 136. Sidewall 136 terminates in 
an outwardly flared lip 138 having a taper which is even greater than the 
taper of sidewall 136. 
On diametrically opposite sides of the I.D. of closure cap 132, and at the 
junction of sidewall 136 and lip 138, the closure cap is provided with a 
pair of inwardly projecting ridges 140. As can be seen from consideration 
of FIGS. 12 and 13 the two ridges have a limited arcuate extent about the 
longitudinal axis of the closure cap. It is these ridges 140 which provide 
for the removable attachment of cap 132 with the inlet end section of the 
pourspout. 
Referring back to FIG. 4, one will observe that flange 42 is not 
circumferentially continuous. The flange is embodied as two separate 
flange segments of uniform arcuate extent, which are separated by equal 
slots 142 on diametrically opposite sides. 
Closure cap 132 is dimensioned such that when placed in alignment with the 
inlet end section of the pourspout and circumferentially oriented such 
that ridges 140 register with slots 142, the closure cap may be moved onto 
the end of the pourspout to dispose ridges 140 axially beyond the flange 
segments. A rotation of the closure cap relative to the pourspout will be 
effective to dispose the ridges 140 directly behind the flange segments so 
that the closure cap is thereby secured onto the end of the pourspout. 
Cap 132 also contains integral retaining buttons 144 formed in the outside 
surface of its sidewall for storing retainer 100. The retainer snaps onto 
and off of cap 132, with the retainer flange snapping over buttons 144. 
Thus, the kit has no loose pieces, the O-ring or rings having been placed 
onto the spout. 
The kit may be put to use in the following manner. The existing portable 
toilet will typically have its own closure cap for its outlet opening. 
That cap is first removed. Inlet closure cap 132 is removed from the kit, 
and depending upon the nature of the holding tank outlet opening (i.e. 
either internal or external thread), the inlet end of the pourspout is 
provided with one of the O-ring seals and attached to the holding tank 
outlet. 
Where the holding tank outlet has an internal thread and the kit is not 
expected to be used with a portable toilet having an external thread on 
its holding tank outlet, retainer 100 may be unsnapped from cap 132 and 
discarded. 
When the contents of the holding tank are to be discharged through the 
attached pourspout, the outlet closure cap 120 is unthreaded from the 
pourspout. The holding tank is tipped with the spout pointing toward the 
disposal facility so that the contents of the holding tank are thereby 
deposited into the disposal facility. 
It is possible, and desirable, to conduct one or more rinsing operations on 
the holding tank. This can be done by introducing rinse water through the 
pourspout, re-attaching the outlet closure cap 120, shaking the holding 
tank to slosh the rinsewater around the tank's interior, removing the 
closure cap and then pouring the rinse water out of the holding tank into 
the disposal facility. 
The dumping procedure may be concluded in the following manner. The 
pourspout may be removed from the holding tank, grasped around the outside 
of its main wall, and held under a stream of rinse water to rinse away any 
residual materials or residue which may have been left on it from the 
dumping procedure. The inlet and outlet closure caps are then both 
re-attached to the pourspout. Although this rinse procedure does not 
constitute sanitizing, the provision of the inlet and outlet closures for 
the pourspout permits it to be stowed without concern for rinse and/or 
residue leaking onto the location at which the spout is stowed. It also 
permits the spout to be handled and stowed with less concern than would be 
required were closures not provided for both ends. Accordingly, the 
pourspout stowage capability constitutes a further attribute of the 
invention. 
The preferred material for the several parts of the kit, with the exception 
of the O-ring seals, comprises any suitable plastic. Preferably the 
plastic parts are fabricated by conventional plastic molding procedures. 
The invention thereby provides an accessory which can be purchased by 
itself, or in combination with a new toilet, to enhance the utility of the 
portable toilet, particularly insofar as disposal procedures are 
concerned. 
While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it will 
be appreciated that principles are applicable to other embodiments.