Abstract:
Presented is a cover for a portable sanitary unit, with the cover providing protection, decoration, advertising space, and the option of color and theme selection for the owners or user of the portable sanitary unit.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority date of the provisional application entitled COVER FOR PORTABLE SANITARY UNIT filed by James McLaughlin on Mar. 3, 2006 with application Ser. No. 60/779,016. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention is generally related to portable sanitary units, and more specifically to a device for covering a portable sanitary unit. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In the typical use of these sanitary units there is an opportunity for increased use of the popularity and visibility of these units. In an event such as an event in a park or at a concert venue or in a picnic area, the sanitation units are readily visible by a number of people, and virtually everyone at an event is likely to use the sanitation units at one time or another during an event. They may also have the pleasure in standing in line to use such device. An opportunity is presented by the highly visible nature of these units, the fact that everyone in the vicinity visits one of these units, and they may be standing in line waiting to use these units. The opportunity is presented in the form of available advertising space. Several problems of the units can also be incorporated into the solution that provides advertising space. The units can be hot as they sit in the sun, and a way to reflect or block some heat from the sun would be desirable. The units are typically ugly, and a device which can utilize their presence and make them actually attractive or pleasant looking would also be a benefit. If these functions are accomplished while providing an opportunity for advertisers to get their message to possible customers, then that device would greatly enhance the utility of the sanitation unit. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Portable sanitary units of many sizes and configurations are present when any kind of a temporary or portable sanitation need is required. These are typically plastic or fiberglass units which are four-sided, have a roof panel or a peaked roof, and have a door on hinges. They also have one or more toilet seats inside the unit, a reservoir of chemicals and a reservoir for collecting sewage until it can be pumped. These units come in many different sizes, colors and configurations. They also have one thing in common: they are ugly. Or to be more politically correct, they are esthetically challenged. 
         [0005]    These units are typically of a utilitarian color such as green or gray. They are also of utilitarian appearance, without any particular attempt to make the units attractive. They are primarily configured for ease of construction and ease of transport. They are typically rectangular, but can also be cylindrical or other shapes. 
         [0006]    These and other objects are accomplished by the device of the present invention. The device of the present invention can be an after market add-on to portable sanitary units, or it can be sold as an accessory when a person purchases the portable sanitary unit or they can be rented to the party planning an event and who needs to use portable sanitary units. They can also be used to sell advertising to sponsors of an event or to advertisers who wish to place a message where people can read about a product or service. 
         [0007]    The present invention is a device that can add significantly to the appearance, as well as to the function of portable sanitary units. The invention is a cover for portable sanitary units which can be made of a flexible fabric and draped over the portable sanitary unit. The cover would typically have a roof panel and 3 side panels. A fourth wall panel and a door panel would be optional features, and could be configured for attachment to the side panels, or could be separate from the cover body and could be attached to the door of the sanitary unit. 
         [0008]    The cover for the sanitary unit could come in a variety of styles for different purposes of the user. A cover for sanitary units which are placed in areas where heat is a problem could be covered with a reflective surface to reduce the heat build-up in the unit. The covers could also be configured with different colors for different users. One user might prefer a conspicuous color so that the sanitary units could be easily found. This could mean colors such as red, orange or yellow. Other users might prefer a less conspicuous color and might choose blue or green or camouflage. A particular user might choose a color based on the colors of a sporting team, or on the color of a company&#39;s logo or letterhead. Some covers might be configured for themes such as a party theme, an old west theme, a cartoon theme, a team colors theme, or other designs which make the portable sanitary unit appear more attractive and less industrial. The cover body can have utility openings in it which correspond with openings in the portable sanitary unit for such items as screened windows, air vents, plumbing connections, lifting handles, door handles, or other features which benefit from having an opening in the cover. 
         [0009]    The covers can also be configured to display advertising material of a user. For instance, if a concert is being sponsored by a company, the cover for the portable sanitary unit could correspond to advertising material or logos of the company or venue. They could also include text and graphics related to the theme, such as Shakespeare, IBM, or to governmental entities such as City of Boise. The cover provides a surface on which other graphics, advertising or information can be displayed, including maps of the event, maps of the city subway system, maps of city bus routes, maps of a fairground, or other information which is beneficial to display to users of the sanitary facilities. 
         [0010]    The roof panel of the cover can be configured to extend beyond the edge of the portable sanitary unit, and provide some shade to the unit and to an area adjacent to the unit. The roof panel can also be configured to be a reflectant to reduce the heat load on the unit. The roof panel can also be configured to include solar charging cells and to provide power to the portable sanitary unit for operation of fans or lights. 
         [0011]    The invention is a cover to be placed on portable sanitation units. The cover can serve as advertising space for renters or users of the portable sanitation unit, and can also have such features as colors and graphics to suit the owner&#39;s preference, graphics to fit a theme selected by the user, team or school colors and logo; public service information such as maps of an event, a park, a bus system, a subway system or a city, or other useful graphics. The covers provide insulation for the sanitation units, and keep the units cooler in the summer by reflecting sunlight and providing insulation and shade. 
         [0012]    The purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the public, and especially the scientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection, the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
         [0013]    Still other features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description describing preferred embodiments of the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated by carrying out my invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modification in various obvious respects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description of the preferred embodiments are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive in nature. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1 . is a perspective view of the sanitary unit cover of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2 . is a side view of one version of the sanitary unit cover of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3 . is a side view of one version of the sanitary unit cover of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims. 
         [0018]    In the following description and in the figures, like elements are identified with like reference numerals. The use of “or” indicates a non-exclusive alternative without limitation unless otherwise noted. The use of “including” means “including, but not limited to,” unless otherwise noted. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a version of the portable sanitation unit cover of the invention. The device is designated as numeral X and as seen in  FIG. 1  is a cover which can be draped over a prior art portable sanitation unit  42 . The portable sanitation unit cover  10  includes a cover body  12  which includes wall panels  14 , one or more roof panels  16 , and optionally a door panel  18  and a fourth wall panel  44 . The fourth wall panel  44  and the door panel  18  are optional. The door panel  18  may be affixed to the door  46  of the prior art sanitation unit  42 . The cover  10  includes an attachment means  20 . The attachment means  20  can take a number of configurations depending on the preference of the owner of the cover  10 . Shown are Velcro strips  22  which form one version of an attachment scheme. Velcro strips  22  would be placed along the walls of the sanitation unit  42 , and would interact with corresponding Velcro strips attached or built into the portable sanitation unit cover  10 . In this way, the cover could be slid into place and affixed to the sanitation unit using Velcro. Another optional way is the use of snaps  24  which are shown attached to the prior art sanitation unit, and would correspond to snaps  24  on the inside of the walls of the sanitation unit cover  10 . Another optional attachment means is by the use of magnets  26  which are shown attached to the walls  48  of the sanitation unit  42 . The magnets  26  would typically be glued or otherwise affixed to the walls  48  of the sanitation unit  42 . The magnets on the sanitation unit correspond to magnet  26  which are attached to or built in to the panels of the cover  10 . The roof panel  16  of the cover or one or more of the wall panels  14  of the cover can be made of a reflective material which will reflect heat from the sun and keep the prior art, sanitation units  42 , cooler than they would otherwise be. Shown in  FIG. 1  is an attached ad  30  which may be affixed to the wall  14  of the cover  10 , and may be easily removed for changing the ad content. Another style of placing ads using the cover of the invention is shown on the door panel  18 , which displays a printed ad  32  which is printed on to the material of the cover and is permanent. 
         [0020]    Door panel  18  includes a utility opening  34  which in the instance shown is to allow a user of the facility to use the handle  50  of the sanitation unit  42 . Other utility openings would be made available depending on the specific requirements of a particular sanitation unit  42 . For instance, utility openings can be made available for events, air intakes, pumping and flushing connections, windows, screens, and connections for refilling chemicals held in tanks inside the sanitation unit  42 . Besides the advertising material, which is shown in  FIG. 1 , the sanitation unit cover  10  of the invention can be used to enhance the utility of the sanitation unit  42  by changing its color, such as to make it bright and visible, or subdued and inconspicuous. For a particular event, an event planner may prefer units in camouflage coloring, team colors and logo, bright colors for greater visibility, or subdued colors so that the sanitation units are inconspicuous.  FIG. 2  shows a possible graphic on the side of one of the covers  10  of the invention which is a subway map of a metropolitan area.  FIG. 3  shows a graphic for a specific event, and illustrates that graphics for an event, a company, a school or graphics advertising businesses or providing other information to the unit users could be placed on the side wall  14  of the cover  10 . 
         [0021]    While there is shown and described the present preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that this invention is not limited thereto, but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.