Patent Publication Number: US-2005114991-A1

Title: Lavatory

Description:
The invention pertains to a sanitary cubicle.  
      In the context of this application, the term sanitary cubicle includes all types of facilities with sanitary installations that require the supply of a fluid.  
      The sanitary installations may consist, for example, of toilets or urinals that require a flushing fluid or of hand wash basins that require water in order to clean the hands.  
      Sanitary cubicles may also be realized in the form of self-contained sanitary cubicles without hookups, i.e., sanitary cubicles that are not connected to an external water supply line.  
      Sanitary cubicles of this type are required, for example, on ships, airplanes, railroads, recreational vehicles or further mobile equipment.  
      The invention also pertains, in particular, to sanitary cubicles in the form of so-called portable toilet cubicles without hookups. These toilet cubicles are primarily known under the trademark “DIXI” of the firm ADCO Umweltdienste GmbH &amp; Co. KG, Ratingen, and are required, for example, on construction sites or at outdoor events. These toilet cubicles consist of mobile (portable) “toilet cabins” and usually contain sanitary installations in the form of a toilet, a hand wash basin and a urinal.  
      In sanitary cubicles without hookups, in particular, it would be desirable to find an effective and—with respect to a toilet or a urinal of the sanitary cubicle—hygienic “substitute” for an external fluid (water) supply.  
      In this context, it is known to flush the toilet or the urinal by means of a so-called “recirculation flushing system.” In this case, the liquid fractions of the human excrements are reused for flushing purposes.  
      However, a recirculation flushing system is quite unfavorable, in particular, with respect to hygienic considerations.  
      There also exist so-called fresh water flushing systems. In this case, the user actuates a hand lever pump or a foot pump in order to deliver the fluid for flushing the toilet or the urinal or for washing the hands.  
      One disadvantage of a fresh water flushing system is that the flushing process is dependent on the actuation by the user; this means that it cannot always be ensured that the toilet or the urinal is flushed. Under certain circumstances, the actuation of the pump may also be considered an “annoyance” by the user.  
      The invention is based on the objective of making available a sanitary cubicle, particularly without hookups, in which a fluid can be reliably delivered to the sanitary installations of the sanitary cubicle and a hygienic flushing of the sanitary installations, particularly a toilet or a urinal, can be achieved.  
      According to the invention, this objective is attained with a sanitary cubicle with a hinged door, a pump for delivering a fluid to a sanitary installation and a transmission means that is arranged between the door and the pump in such a way that the pump can be actuated by the swinging movement of the door.  
      In the sanitary cubicle according to the invention, a fluid is delivered to the sanitary installations by swinging the door. Such a swinging movement of the door occurs, in particular, when the user of the sanitary cubicle opens and closes its door. The respective user of the sanitary cubicle does not perceive this actuation of the pump “annoying” because the door needs to be opened and closed “anyhow” when entering and exiting the sanitary cubicle.  
      In addition, a reliable delivery of a fluid to the sanitary installations is ensured because the user of the sanitary cubicle needs to open or swing the door “in any case.” In contrast to fresh water flushing systems according to the state of the art, the user can no longer “forget” to flush the respective sanitary installation.  
      On its intake side (suction side), the pump is connected, for example, to a fluid reservoir by means of one or more hoses or pipelines or combinations thereof. On its delivery side (pressure side), the pump is connected to one or more sanitary installations, for example, by means of one or more hoses or pipelines or combinations thereof. When the pump is actuated, the fluid contained in the fluid reservoir is delivered to the sanitary installations connected to the pump.  
      It is possible, in principle, to utilize any type of pump, for example, a reciprocating pump such as a reciprocating piston pump or a diaphragm pump.  
      It would be possible to utilize a pump with a double stroke, for example, a double-stroke diaphragm pump. In double-stroke pumps, the pump delivers the fluid a first time when the pump handle (lever) is moved in one direction and a second time when the pump handle is moved back. In the idle state, the pump handle can be held in a defined position, for example, by means of a spring or another tensioning element.  
      In one embodiment of the invention, the pump handle is in its idle position when the door of the sanitary cubicle is closed. Once a user swings the door open, the transmission means transmits this swinging movement to the pump handle such that the pump handle is moved and the pump delivers (pumps) the fluid from the fluid reservoir into the sanitary installations connected to the pump a first time.  
      When the door subsequently swings back into the closed position, the pump handle is moved once again by the transmission means (or by the tensioning element of the pump handle, respectively) and the pump delivers fluid from the fluid reservoir to the sanitary installations connected to the pump a second time. If the pump handle is held in a defined position by a tensioning element in its idle state, the transmission means transmits the swinging movement against the force of the tensioning element to the pump handle when the door is opened. This initiates the first pumping process as described above. When the door is closed, the pump handle is moved back into its idle position due to the force of the tensioning element (and, if applicable, by the transmission means). This initiates the second above-described pumping process.  
      When the user exits the sanitary cubicle, the door is subjected to corresponding swinging movements such that the pump delivers fluid to the sanitary installations in accordance with the previous description. Sanitary installations, particularly the toilet and the urinal, are flushed during this process.  
      Naturally, it would also be possible to utilize pumps that only carry out one pumping process when the door is opened and closed—i.e., when swinging the door back and forward.  
      For example, the pump handle of such pumps only initiates one pumping process during one back-and-forward movement of the door.  
      It is possible to utilize a sanitary cubicle, in which the fluid reservoir is arranged in the wall of the sanitary cubicle. In this case, the sanitary cubicle is realized, for example, in a double-walled fashion such that the free intermediate space between the walls forms the fluid reservoir. In a portable toilet cubicle without hookups, for example, one or more “columns” in the corners of the toilet cubicle could be realized in the form of fluid reservoirs.  
      The pump delivers the fluid from the fluid reservoir to the sanitary installations via hoses or pipelines or combinations thereof. This makes it possible, for example, to flush a toilet or a urinal of the sanitary cubicle.  
      It is possible to arrange the end sections of the hoses or pipelines within the sanitary installations such that the fluid is “tangentially” delivered into the respective sanitary installation. This makes it possible to produce a circulating fluid flow in the sanitary installation in order to subject the respective sanitary installation to a favorable cleaning effect. Alternatively, a perforated line that is connected to the hoses or pipelines of the pump may extend along the circumference of the upper edge of the sanitary installation. The fluid can be “perpendicularly” sprayed onto the surface of the sanitary installation from the perforations of the circumferential line in this case.  
      It is possible, in principle, to utilize any fluid that is suitable for cleaning a sanitary installation, for example, water. If the fluid is also delivered to a hand wash basin, it should be compatible with the human skin.  
      The fluid may consist, for example, of water and another component that lowers the surface tension of the water, e.g., a tenside solution. The utilization of a corresponding fluid provides the advantage of improving the sliding properties of the sanitary installation being flushed with this fluid. This reduces the amount of matter (e.g., feces or toilet paper) adhering to the toilet. In this context, the flushing that already takes place when entering the sanitary cubicle—and is triggered by the swinging movement of the door when the user enters the cubicle—is particularly advantageous, namely because the sanitary installation is already wetted with a fluid film before it is used such that the amount of matter adhering to the toilet during its use can be significantly reduced.  
      The tenside solution may consist, for example, of 98-99 weight-percent water and 1-2 weight-percent of a tenside concentrate, wherein the tenside concentrate contains, for example, 3-7 weight-percent of non-ionic tenside and at least one of the following components: inorganic acids, organic acids, solubilizers or perfume oil.  
      According to one embodiment, the bowl of the toilet consists of a plastic part, for example, polyethylene.  
      The plastic part may be realized, for example, in an essentially funnel-shaped fashion. On the user side, the plastic part may be provided with an acrylic coating that has superior sliding properties, particularly if it was previously wetted with a tenside. Matter situated in the funnel slides through the outlet opening of the funnel into the holding tank situated underneath.  
      Funnel-shaped holding tanks are known from the state of the art. The disadvantage of these funnels can be seen in the fact that they allow a clear view of the holding tank. This is unfavorable with respect to esthetic considerations. In addition, it may occur that liquid matter splashes upward out of the holding tank. This is also unfavorable with respect to hygienic considerations. It is known from the state of the art to close the outlet opening of the funnel leading into the holding tank by means of a flap. However, this is relatively complicated.  
      If a funnel-shaped plastic part is used as the toilet bowl, the invention proposes to arrange the outlet opening laterally in the wall of the funnel rather than in its center (axially). In this case, the outlet opening at least partially protrudes over the lowest point of the funnel such that no matter can adhere at this location. This not only ensures a reliable removal of matter situated in the funnel (feces, toilet paper, flushing water, etc.) into the holding tank, but also reduces the view and the “splashing upward” of matter situated in the holding tank, namely because the outlet opening is aligned at a steeper angle relative to the user such that the surface facing the user is reduced—while maintaining the size of the outlet opening identical to that of an axial arrangement.  
      The invention also proposes that the surface of the funnel facing the holding tank is colored black. This black color reduces the light intensity in the holding tank such that the holding tank is less visible for the user. This is advantageous with respect to esthetic considerations. In addition, the inner wall of the holding tank may also be colored black.  
      The transmission means used may consist, in principle, of any means that is suitable for converting the swinging movement of the door into an actuation of the pump.  
      The transmission means may consist, for example, of an electronic or a mechanical component or a combination thereof.  
      An electronic component may consist, for example, of a transmitting and a receiving unit, wherein a swinging movement of the door causes the transmitting unit to transmit a signal to the receiving unit and the receiving unit to forward the signal to a device for actuating the pump. Such a transmitting and receiving unit may be realized, for example, in the form of a so-called light barrier.  
      A transmission means in the form of a mechanical component may consist, in principle, of any component that converts the swinging movement of the door into a movement that causes an actuation of the pump, i.e., a power transmission means. This mechanical component may consist, for example, of an element (that is a resistant to bending), e.g., an articulated arm, a Bowden cable or a combination thereof.  
      A Bowden cable consists of a tube with a wire that is guided therein in a sliding fashion. A force can be transmitted by the movement of the wire if the tube is fixed on both of its ends.  
      In the sanitary cubicle according to the invention, the tube of the Bowden cable can be arranged on a first stationary holding element at its end on the door side and on a second stationary holding element at its end on the pump side. In this context, the term “stationary” implies that the holding elements are arranged stationarily relative to the sanitary cubicle.  
      The wire of the Bowden cable can now be connected to the door at its end on the door side and to a device for actuating the pump at its end on the pump side.  
      On the door side, the wire of the Bowden cable may be coupled to the door in such a way that the wire is pulled out of the tube on the door side by a certain section when the door swings open. For example, when utilizing a door with a joint rod for supporting the door swinging in hinges, the end on the door side can be coupled to the joint rod in such a way that the wire is wound around the joint rod in case of a swinging movement of the door. For this purpose, the joint rod may be provided, for example, with a receptacle, into which the end of the wire on the door side is inserted with a thickening. A radially extending circumferential groove may be provided on the joint rod in the region of the receptacle in order to guide the wire on the joint rod.  
      The end of the transmission means on the pump side may be directly coupled to a device for actuating the pump, for example, a pump handle (lever for actuating the pump).  
      Alternatively, the end of the transmission means on the pump side may be coupled to a device for actuating the pump via one or more intermediate elements. These intermediate elements may consist, for example, of levers or other power-transmitting elements.  
      According to one embodiment, the end of the wire of the Bowden cable on the pump side is coupled to the device for actuating the pump via an intermediate element. This intermediate element may be movably arranged, for example, on the second holding element, i.e., the holding element for holding the end of the tube of the Bowden cable on the pump side.  
      The first and the second holding element, in principle, may have any arbitrary shape.  
      For example, the second holding element may be realized in the form of a hollow body, e.g., a tubular hollow body. The end of the tube of the Bowden cable on the pump side may be arranged, for example, in the interior of the hollow body, and the end of the wire of the Bowden cable on the pump side may protrude out of the hollow body. The end of the wire that protrudes out of the hollow body is coupled to the device for actuating the pump or the intermediate element, respectively.  
      For example, the intermediate element may be designed in such a way that it can be movably arranged on the holding element.  
      When utilizing a holding element in the form of a tubular hollow body, the intermediate element may be arranged on the hollow body, for example, along its axis. In this case, the intermediate element may contain, for example, an inner cylindrical opening for encompassing the cylindrically shaped circumferential surface of the holding element. The intermediate element can now be moved on the holding element along its axis.  
      The end of the wire of the Bowden cable on the pump side may be arbitrarily connected to the device for actuating the pump or the intermediate element. For example, the end of the wire may contain a thickening that is inserted into a receptacle of the device for actuating the pump or into a receptacle of the intermediate element. The end of the wire may also be connected, for example, to a thread that is screwed into the device for actuating the pump or into the intermediate element.  
      The intermediate element can be held in a defined position by a spring, for example, a pressure spring. The spring may consist, for example, of a cylindrical coil spring that, when utilizing a holding element in the form of a cylindrical hollow body, may be arranged coaxially to the axis of the holding element and to the axis of the opening in the intermediate element.  
      The intermediate element is connected to the device for actuating the pump, for example, by means of one or more intermediate elements, namely in such a way that the pump can be actuated via the intermediate element. For example, the intermediate element may be connected to the pump handle of the pump (lever).  
      According to one embodiment, the intermediate element is arranged in the sanitary cubicle in such a way that it can be manipulated by the user of the sanitary cubicle. This makes it possible for the user to directly move the intermediate element (independently of a swinging movement of the door). Consequently, the user is also able to actuate the pump independently of a swinging movement of the door by directly manipulating the intermediate element. The intermediate element may be provided, for example, with a foot pedal or with a hand lever in order to manipulate the intermediate element and thusly actuate the pump.  
      Other characteristics of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims and the other application documents, particularly the figures.  
      It goes without saying that all characteristics disclosed in this application may be arbitrarily combined with one another.  
      The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to one embodiment. 
    
    
      The highly schematic figures respectively show:  
       FIG. 1 , a lateral section through a sanitary cubicle in the region of the pump, and  
       FIG. 2 , a perspective representation of the mounting of the end of a Bowden cable on the door side.  
    
    
      The floor of the sanitary cubicle shown in  FIG. 1  is realized in a double-walled fashion and comprises an upper floor plate  1  and a lower floor plate  2 , on which a metal plate  3  is arranged.  
      A holding element  4  that is essentially realized in the form of a tubular hollow body is arranged on the metal plate  3  such that it perpendicularly protrudes therefrom. A bolt  5  extends through the lower floor plate  2  as well as the metal plate  3  and into the inner hollow space of the holding element  4  coaxially to the holding element  4 . On the side of the metal plate  3  that points away from the holding element  4 , the bolt  5  contains a thickening that adjoins the metal plate  3 . A grooved dowel pin is guided through the bolt  5  and the holding element  4  perpendicular to the axis of the holding element  4  in order to mount the holding element  4  by means of the bolt  5 .  
      A Bowden cable  11  extends into the inner hollow space of the holding element  4  through a lateral opening  9  in the holding element  4 . The end  11   ep  of the tube of the Bowden cable  11  on the pump side is clamped in position by means of a radially extending circumferential bead in the interior of the holding element  4 .  
      The end of the wire  15  of the Bowden cable  11  on the pump side protrudes from the holding element  4  and is rigidly connected to a thread  17 , the axis of which extends coaxially referred to the axis of the holding element  4 .  
      The thread  17  is inserted into the inner cylindrical opening of an intermediate element  19 . The inner cylindrical opening of the intermediate element  19  extends coaxially referred to the axis of the holding element  4  and encompasses the cylindrical outer circumferential surface of the holding element  4 . The intermediate element  19  can be correspondingly moved up and down along the axis of the holding element  4 .  
      A cylindrical pressure spring in the form of a coil spring  21  is arranged between the upper edge of the holding element  4  and the lower edge of the thread  17  in order to hold the intermediate element  19  in an idle position—that is illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
      In its lower region, the intermediate element  19  contains a widened section, wherein a foot pedal  23  lies on the upwardly directed surface  19   o  of this widened section. The foot pedal  23  contains an essentially cylindrical inner hollow space that is placed over the intermediate element  19  such that the inner hollow space of the foot pedal  23  also extends coaxially referred to the axis of the holding element  4 . The outer circumferential surface of the foot pedal  23  is realized in an essentially cylindrical fashion and contains a taper in its upper end section. The taper in the upper end section is guided through an opening  25  in the upper base plate  1 .  
      The widened section of the intermediate element  19  contains a downwardly directed, groove-like depression (not shown in  FIG. 1 ), in which the pump handle  27  of a diaphragm pump  29  is arranged (the section of the pump handle  27  that is illustrated with broken lines lies in the groove-like depression). The pump handle  27  is held in the position shown in  FIG. 1  by a (not-shown) tensioning element.  
      The diaphragm pump  29  is arranged on the metal plate  3  and comprises an intake line  31  on the suction side that arrives from a (not-shown) fluid reservoir and a delivery line  33  on the pressure side that leads to the (not-shown) sanitary installations.  
      The joint rod  35  of the (not-shown) door of the sanitary cubicle is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . A driver  37  is mounted on the joint rod  35  such that it extends coaxially thereto.  
      The driver  37  contains a receptacle  39  in the form of a depression in the region of a radially extending circumferential bead  37   w  that is adjoined by a radial groove  41  of smaller width than the receptacle  39 .  
      The end  11   et  of the tube of the Bowden cable  11  on the door side is arranged on a (not-shown) stationary holding element on the door side.  
      The end of the wire  15  of the Bowden cable  11  on the door side contains a thickening  43  that is inserted into the receptacle  39 . The section of the wire  15  that lies adjacent to the thickening  43  extends through the groove  41  situated adjacent to the thickening  43  over a certain distance.  
      The function of a sanitary cubicle with the installations shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is described below.  
      The joint rod  35  is turned about its axis (indicated with an arrow D in  FIG. 2 ) due to a swinging movement of the door of the sanitary cubicle. This causes a displacement of the thickening  43  situated in the receptacle  39  such that the wire  15  is subjected to tension. During the rotational movement, the wire  15  is placed into the groove  41 . Once the door is completely swung open, the wire  15  is looped around the groove  41  by an angle of approximately 90°.  
      The thread  17  fixed to the other end of the wire  15  on the pump side and consequently the intermediate element  19  connected thereto are also subjected to a corresponding tension, namely downward in the direction of the arrow P in  FIG. 2 . This movement takes place against the force of the coil spring  21 .  
      The downward movement of the intermediate element  19  simultaneously causes the pump handle  27  lying in the groove-like depression of the widened section of the intermediate element  19  to be pressed downward against the force of the tensioning element.  
      This downward movement of the pump handle  27  initiates a first pumping process of the diaphragm pump  29 : fluid is sucked into the diaphragm pump  29  from the fluid reservoir via the intake line  31  and delivered to the sanitary installations via the delivery line  33  of the diaphragm pump  33 .  
      Once the door swings back into the closed position, the joint rod  35  turns in the respectively opposite direction.  
      This reduces the tension on the wire  15 . The tension of the coil spring  21  is released such that it presses the thread  17  and consequently the intermediate element  19  connected thereto upward opposite to the direction of the arrow P.  
      The force of the coil spring  21  causes the wire  15  to remain continuously tensioned, namely even if the door is closed again.  
      The upward movement of the intermediate element  19  also causes the force exerted upon the pump handle  27  by the intermediate element to be reduced. This results in the tensioning element moving the pump handle  27  upward once again, namely into the position illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
      The upward movement of the pump handle  27  initiates a second pumping process of the diaphragm pump  29  that takes place in accordance with the above-described first pumping process.  
      The user of the sanitary cubicle is able to initiate a pumping process independently of the above-described pumping processes by stepping on the section of the foot pedal  23  that is guided through the upper base plate  1 . The downward movement of the foot pedal  23  that lies on the surface  19 o of the widened section of the intermediate element  19  causes a corresponding downward movement of the intermediate element  19  such that a first pumping process is initiated as described above. Once the foot pedal  23  is no longer subjected to a load, the foot pedal—and the intermediate element  19 —are moved upward again due to the force of the tensioning element of the pump handle  27 . As described above, this results in a second pumping process being initiated.