Abstract:
A modular facility for on-site erection at work places and recreation areas is provided in kit form of expendable components for temporary periods of bathing, permitting users to transmit through privacy compartments including an entry &#34;dirty&#34; booth, an intermediate shower booth, and an exit &#34;clean&#34; booth. The facility is serviced by a portable shower and waste water filtration subsystem that operates solely on the flow of an input pressurized supply of water. Filter elements are removeable to recover particles and contaminants from the waste water of shower bathing.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention in its preferred embodiment relates to privacy booths for personal disrobing, bathing, and dressing under short term or temporary situations where permanent facilities are not available and in certain applications where needs exist for effluent filtration and for the recovery of particles. Applications for portable erectable booths and showers are anticipated where persons make transitions between differing activities or environments for purposes of working or of recreation. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A typical portable transitional shower facility is an assembly of three contiguous compartmental units including a &#34;dirty&#34; entry derobing compartment, the intermediate shower, and an exit &#34;clean&#34; compartment. Frequently the facility is delivered to the site in kit form where it is erected for use. In some applications persons make two way passages through the facility--one direction upon arriving at the site and the reverse direction upon leaving. 
     In the prior art Ashley, U.S. Pat. No. 4,675,923, teaches base pans, positionable side-by-side, and a tent frame extending upward to support curtains that form the walls and the passageways of the three compartments. An electrically powered pump is used to discharge filtered water from the shower to a suitable drain. For portability the base pans are arranged to form a shipping box for the apparatus for delivery or removal from the work site. 
     In the patent of Peterson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,348,777, a semi-portable shower is disclosed having a single skid base and three permanently fixed compartments positioned thereon. The Peterson facility requires electricity for ventilation, and heating of air and water. In addition the facility has timing apparatus for regulating the use of each of the compartments and a conveyor for moving clothing from the first to the third compartment for recovery after the person has bathed in the intermediate second compartment. The geometry of the facility is not adaptable in height or in occupied floor space. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an adaptable low-cost facility for decontamination and bathing applications. It has an entry compartment where the worker disrobes when the decontamination task is complete, an inside compartment for bathing, and an exit compartment where the worker dresses for the return to off work activities. Major portions of the facility are disposable. 
     In its preferred implementation the invention can be rapidly assembled at the site and put into service with single hose connection to a source of pressurized water and with a hose to a suitable drain. For safety, minimum weight and low cost, the invention does not require electrical power in any phase or cycle of its use. The effluent of the shower is filtered to remove particles or solid contaminants. The filtered water is discharged to the drain by a pump that is operative upon the input pressurized supply of water. 
     The water resistant disposable components that mesh to form abutting compartments may be adapted to low ceilings and the requirements of the work site, using ordinary hand tool. Curtains seal the entire length of each passageway so as to secure and isolate each compartment to prevent back drafts and escape of contaminants. 
     An objective of the present invention is to provide a low cost disposable bathing facility that may be erected, modified if necessary, and disassembled at the work site. 
     Another objective of the invention is to filter and discharge the effluents of bathing without a requirement for an electrical power source. 
     Another objective of the invention is to provide component parts for the assembly of the facility that can be transported to the work site in a small volume. 
     Another objective of the invention is to provide disposable components for the assembly of the facility that are easily fit into waste containers or are biodegradable after their use and disposal. 
     Still another objective of the invention is an integrated pump and filtering subsystem for recovering particles and contaminants before discharging spent liquids from the bath. 
     A further objective of the invention is the ability to function at a work site with a single demand for on-site support; i.e., a source of pressurized potable water together with a suitable drain conduit. 
     A further objective of the invention is an effluent ejector pump, operative from the energy of a source of pressurized water (typically at 20-40 psi flowing at a rate of at least four gallons per minute) to lift fluids from the shower bath for filtering and discharge of residual water in nearby drains or natural surface drainage. 
     An additional objective of the invention is a disposable low-cost facility that has an on-site operating lifetime of at least 5 working days, providing for at least 60 shower baths. 
     An additional objective is to provide an optional nonbiodegradable material for certain parts of the invention to extend their service life to 10 working days and 120 shower baths. 
     Many other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from a reading of the specification which follows in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled decontamination facility. 
     FIG. 2 is a floor plan of an assembled decontamination facility. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a compartment as prepared for shipment to a work site. 
     FIG. 4 is a pattern for the wall components of each compartment. 
     FIG. 5 is a pattern for the floor section of each compartment. 
     FIG. 6 is a pattern for the top section of each compartment. 
     FIG. 7 details the plastic tie method of assembly of parts. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates the assembly of wall components to the bottom section. 
     FIG. 9 illustrates the assembly of the top section to the wall components 
     FIG. 10 illustrates the attachment of passageway curtains in each compartment. 
     FIG. 11 illustrates interlocking of adjacent compartments. 
     FIG. 12 is a partial cutaway illustration of the showers, effluent pump, multi-stage filtering and discharge subsystems. 
     FIG. 13 illustrates a typical plastic tie. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring initially to FIG. 1, the modular shower bath facility 20 has three similar meshing box compartments standing vertically through which persons pass upon arriving and upon leaving a work or recreation site. There is an off-site &#34;clean&#34; change compartment 21, an interior shower bathing compartment 22, and an on-site &#34;dirty&#34; compartment 23. 
     As an example, a worker upon arrival at the site will enter the off-site compartment 21 where street apparel are removed and are stored. Here the worker dons his working apparel. The worker will then pass through the shower 22 and through the on-site compartment 23. He then advances to the working site. Upon leaving the work site the worker enters the on-site compartment 23, where the working apparel are removed and may be deposited in a suitable disposal bag. He will then enter the shower compartment 22 to bathe, sanitize, or disinfect and pass into the off-site compartment 21 where he dresses for return to the street. 
     Typically, the three compartments 21-23 are joined or meshed as illustrated by the floor plan shown in FIG. 2. 
     However, alternate arrangements are often constructed. The passageways 31 through each of the compartments 21-23 are closed by two-piece flexible water shedding flaps or curtains 24, which are suspended from the transom 25, being secured thereto by tape, adhesive, or ties 26. Each flap 24 is also permanently secured to the passageway jambs 27 by adhesive or edge banding along the length of the vertical edge of jamb 27. 
     Each of the three compartments 21-23 is assembled at the site from a kit FIGS. 3-11 that includes, in addition to the passageway flaps 24, a rectangular tub-shaped water retaining base section 28, two water resistant foldable side wall panels 29 that insert within the base 28, and a rectangular cap 30 that inserts within the upright wall panels 29. The base 28 and the cap 30 mesh to form a shipping box, FIG. 3, for the folded wall panels 29, flaps 24, ties 26, and accessories. The transoms 25 are integral parts of the cap 30. 
     The water supply and filtration subsystem for the modular shower is illustrated in FIG. 12. Clean water, at a suitable temperature, is obtained from an external source at a pressure of 40 psi typical (20 psi minimum) and at a flow rate of at least 6 gallons per minute through an input garden hose 32, that is inserted through a knockout opening 33 in a side wall panel 29 of the shower compartment 22. The input hose 32 is connected by a suitable fitting to an adjustable mechanical water timing valve 34 that has a range of adjustment, operable by the bather, of 0-120 minutes for automatic shut-off of the supply. The timer 34 output flows through a nipple 35 to a &#34;Tee&#34; coupler 36 which has dual water flow outputs; the first through suitable fittings to a flexible shower pipe or hose 37 that terminates in a shower wand 38 and shower head 39, and the second through a nipple 40 to the ejector drain pump and filtration subassembly 41. The shower wand 38 contains an on-off valve 42 for regulation of the shower. 
     The drain pump and filtration subassembly 41 is portable and is placed unattached upon the floor of the shower tub section 28. It includes an ejector pump 43 operating in response to the flow of pressurized water supplied through the input hose 32, timer 34, and &#34;Tee&#34; coupler 36. Filtration of the waste water of the showers is accomplished in the suction line of the ejector pump. In FIG. 12 the ejector venturi chamber 44 has pressure 45 and suction 46 input ports and a discharge port 47 to which a drain (garden) hose 48 is attached for conveying the filtered effluent or waste water through a second drain knockout opening 49 in the shower side wall panel 29 to a suitable external discharge point or sewer (not part of this invention). 
     On the suction side of the ejector pump 43 the open end of a semi-rigid tubular rubber base 50 rests upon the shower tub floor 51. Dispersed about the periphery of the rubber base 50 at its contact with the tub floor 51 are a multiplicity of waste water suction pickup openings 52 extending through the tubular wall. The interior cavity of the base 50 contains replaceable prefiltering for the waste water. Coarse prefilters 53 are overlayed with medium prefilters 54. Above the medium prefilters 54 the size of the rubber base 50 is reduced to fit upon a transparent filter case 55. The base 50 is secured to the filter case 55 by an adjustable metal band type of clamp 56. 
     The transparent filter case 55 contains a replaceable polishing filter 57, typically a 5 micron pleated filter element A multiplicity of input ports 58 are distributed in the bottom of the transparent filter case 55 so that the prefiltered waste water can be drawn into the input zone 59 of the filter case 55 surrounding the outer surfaces of the polishing filter 57. The suction of the ejector pump 43 draws the prefiltered waste water through the polishing filter 57 to an inner cavity 71, about the central axis of the filter case 55, then to an exit port 60 provided in a detachable top cap or housing 61 that is joined to the transparent filter case 55. A seal 62 is provided between the polishing filter 57 and the top cap 61 so that the waste water cannot bypass the polishing filter 57. The mating surfaces of the transparent filter case 55 and the detachable cap housing 61 are threaded for an air tight fit to enable suction action of the ejector pump 43 and for disassembly to replace expanded polishing filter elements 57. The exit port 60 within the cap housing 61 leads to an interconnecting nipple 63 with the venturi chamber 44. Periodic replacement of the filters 53-54 and 57, FIG. 12, which is normally a routine operation to recover the hazardous particles and contaminants of bathing, maintains the pumping efficiency of the combined pump and filtration subassembly. 
     Each kit for the on-site erection of the shower compartments 21-23, of FIGS. 1-2, contains a base or tub element 28, a cap or top element 30, two side wall panel elements 29, four passageway flaps or curtains 24, and a multiplicity of plastic ties 26. The base 28, the cap 30, and the wall panels 29 are fabricated of flat sheet semi rigid corrugated board materials which may be imprinted for purposes of folding and which may be worked with ordinary hand cutting tools. Typical materials may include plastics or paper products, or organic-plastic structural materials that are treated with a suitable water sealer and which may be selected for a period of shower usage and for biodegradability when the shower facility is discarded. 
     For the modular kit, packed for shipment, the outer receptacle shown in FIG. 3 is the base (or tub) section 28, which covers the meshing inner cap (or top) section 30 that contains folded side wall panels 29, passageway flaps 24, and assembly ties 26. To define the elements of the kit, FIG. 4 illustrates a preferred pattern for fabrication of side panels 29 from flat stock material Imprints are made along horizontal lines a--a and b--b (FIG. 4) for purposes of temporary folding the panel 29 in accordion-like fashion to dimensions that will fit within a fully fabricated cap 30 and base 28. For erection at a work site, the received panel 29 of the kit is unfolded to the pattern shown in FIG. 4. Imprints in the panel 29, along lines c--c and d--d allow vertical folding during the erection of the shower facility, the area between lines c--c and d--d forming the frontal passageway casings 27 and the area between lines d--d and the periphery of the panel 29 are foldable for inward or outward projection at the option of the assembler to effect a desired intermeshing of adjacent compartments. Slots 64 in the panel 29 permit interlocking within the base 28 and externally to cap 30 sections FIG. 10. In a typical application the unfolded panel 29 has dimensions of 41.5 and 78 inches in width and height, respectively. 
     The pattern for the tub or base 28 section must provide compatible outside mating with the folded side panels 29. FIG. 5 illustrates a preferred pattern for the fabrication of the tub 28. For the cited typical application the blank sheet has dimensions of 42 by 58 inches in width and length, respectively. Imprints are provided along lines m--m and n--n to permit upward folding to establish raised sides for the tub or base section 28. Slots 65 enable the upward folding and permit an overlay wraparound at the corners of the tub or base 28 section that may be secured and made watertight by an adhesive binding such as hot melt glue, for example Slots 66, FIG. 5, allow folding of the cap section 30 along lines r--r for the formation of threshold ledges in the passageways 31 Upon assembly of the panels 29 with the base 28 the corner tabs of the panel 29, formed by slots 64, extend inside the base 28 beneath the threshold 31 formed by folding of the base 28 along lines r--r, FIG. 5. Assembly of panels 29 to the cap 30 is accomplished with the corner tabs of the panel 29, formed by slots 64, extending upon the outer surface of the cap 30 along the transom 25 formed by folding along lines z--z, FIGS. 6, 1 and 10. 
     The pattern for the cap 30 section provides compatible inside mating with the folded side panels 29. FIG. 6 illustrates a preferred pattern for the fabrication of the cap 30. For the cited typical application the blank sheet has dimensions of 41 by 57 inches. Imprints are provided along lines x--x and y--y to permit downward folding to establish dropped sides for the cap 30 section. Slots 67 enable the downward folding and permit an overlay wraparound at the corners of the cap section 30 that may be secured by an adhesive such as hot melt glue. Slots 68, FIG. 6 allow folding of the cap section 30 along lines z--z for the formation of the passageway transoms 25. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates the plastic tie method of assembling or joining side panels 29 to the tub 28 and cap 30 sections. The plastic tie FIG. 13 resembles an elongated flexible needle having an eye 69 at one end and a serrated stem 70 that is inserted and looped through a pair of matching holes in the abutting parts. During assembly the erecting workman may make pairs of matching holes as desired using an awl to pierce the abutting panels 29 and sections 28 and 30. The serrated stem 70 is fed through the eye 69 and is captive therein by the serrations to secure the assembly. Plastic ties 26 may be used in a disposable facility 20 together with adhesives to stabilize the assembly while the adhesive sets bonding the panels 29 to the cap 30, and tub 28 sections. 
     An embodiment of the modular bathing facility has been described. The modular units can be easily shipped, transported, erected, modified to suit site accessibility problems, used for a short period, and disposed of as waste. It should be understood that the number of contiguous compartments may be varied and that two or more bathing facilities may be erected and joined in a parallel configuration. With hand tools the units can be modified and joined in a right angle floor pattern. Also, with hand tools, the modular compartments 21, 22, or 23 can be shortened in height by removal of an equal portion of each panel 29, adjacent to one end, and by making new assembly slots 64. Variations in size and in materials may be made without departing from the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the invention be limited only by the claims which follow.