Patent Publication Number: US-2019174975-A1

Title: Portable toilet

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a portable toilet which swivels outwards around hinges so as to be overlapped with legs such that the portable toilet is easily folded and carried, and which is capable of supporting weight that is caused when a user sits on the portable toilet and that is applied to the portable toilet. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     More and more people do the bivouac camping and go backpacking at a time when quality of life has been improved. 
     It is difficult for climbers or backpackers to deal with their natural urges such as defecation, urination while climbing and backpacking. 
     As examples, Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-2010-005129, and Utility Model Registration Publication No. 0459464 disclose a portable toilet. 
     The related arts disclose a portable toilet that is folded when not in use and unfolded when in sue. However, they are still bulky although they are folded. Accordingly, it is not easy to carry them. 
     Further, if a part for supporting bottoms is configured to be thin such that a portable toilet can be easily carried, or if hinges used for folding a portable toilet are arranged in the wrong way, such portable toilets cannot stably support a user&#39;s bottoms. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Problems 
     As a means to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is directed to providing a portable toilet having a seat plate for supporting a user&#39;s bottoms, which is configured to swivel outwards around hinges, and which has a simple structure and a small volume so as to be easily carried. 
     The present invention is directed to providing a portable toilet having a seat plate that is configured to swivel outwards around hinges at an angle of almost 270 degrees, and that has a small volume such that the seat plate etc. is prevented from being raised when the portable toilet is folded and carried. 
     Further, the present invention is directed to providing a portable toilet having fixation rods which are configured to extend, configured to enable a solid and liquid waste envelope used for the portable toilet to be easily attached and configured to enable the solid and liquid waste envelope to be easily detached after urination and defecation. 
     Technical Solutions 
     A portable toilet of the present invention, formed as a foldable structure so as to be fixable and foldable, includes a front body part, a first side body part, a second side body part, and a rear body part which form four sides of the portable toilet, and a seat plate part which is connected to an upper hinge assembly formed at the upper side of the first side body part, and is configured to swivel around the upper hinge assembly, wherein the front body part includes a first front frame configured to swivel around one side of the first side body part, a second front frame configured to swivel around one side of the second side body part, and a central hinge configured to swivel between the first front frame and the second front frame, wherein the seat plate part swivels so as to contact the first side body part when the central hinge moves toward the inside of the portable toilet—that is, the central hinge is folded, wherein the portable toilet further includes a solid and liquid waste collecting means accommodated in an area corresponding to the inside of the portable toilet and surrounded by the four body parts, wherein the solid and liquid waste collecting means further includes, together with a solid and liquid waste envelope for collecting solid and liquid waste, envelope rods coupled to rod coupling grooves formed at the upper sides of the front and rear body parts, or side extended parts configured to extend from sides of a solid and liquid waste envelope so as to be fitted into envelope coupling holes formed at the first and second side body parts. 
     Further, a portable toilet of the present invention, formed as a foldable structure so as to be fixable and foldable, includes a front body part, a first side body part, a second side body part, and a rear body part which form four sides of the portable toilet, and a seat plate part which consists of a first seat plate frame configured to swivel around an upper hinge assembly formed at the upper side of the first side body part, and a second seat plate frame configured to swivel around an upper hinge assembly formed at the upper side of the second side body part, wherein the front body part includes a first front frame configured to swivel around one side of the first side body part, a second front frame configured to swivel around one side of the second side body part, and a central hinge configured to swivel between the first front frame and the second front frame, and the first seat plate frame and the second seat plate frame of the seat plate part respectively swivel so as to contact the outer circumferential surfaces of the first side body part and the second side body part when the central hinge moves toward the inside of the portable toilet—that is, the central hinge is folded. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     The advantages of a portable toilet according to the present invention will be described as follows. 
     First, a portable toilet according to the present invention is configured to have a foldable structure so as to improve functionality and is configured to weigh less than a conventional one and have a small volume so as to be easily carried. 
     According to a conventional portable toilet, a seat stand is configured to be 36 or more cm wide so as to cover exposed bottoms. Additionally, the conventional portable toilet is configured to have a shape like a rectangular bag when packed. This leads to an increase in the weight and volume of the portable toilet. As a result, it is hard to carry the portable toilet during long distance travel. The present invention has the advantage of solving the problem with conventional portable toilets by reducing weight and volume. 
     A portable toilet according to the present invention, manufactured from plastics, weighs 800 or less g which is less than 900 g of a paper toilet that is available in the market and is repeatedly used. 
     Second, a portable toilet of the present invention is easily manipulated. 
     Most portable toilets with a minimum volume, except for toilets for infants, need to be assembled for use. According to the present invention, side body parts as legs of a body and a seat stand are foldably joined. Accordingly, if the portable toilet is manipulated once or twice, the portable toilet is easily installed and collapses. 
     Third, a solid and liquid waste envelope constituting a portable toilet of the present invention is easily attached and detached. 
     Envelope rods are used to attach and detach a solid and liquid waste envelope. Accordingly, the solid and liquid waste envelope can be expanded as much as possible and easily fixed. Additionally, the mouth of the solid and liquid waste envelope can be rapidly closed and the solid and liquid waste envelope can be easily detached. 
     Fourth, a portable toilet of the present invention has excellent stability compared to weight and volume. 
     Minimized weight and volume can lead to a reduction in stability when a user sits on a portable toilet. However, according to the present invention, side body parts consisting of legs of a body and a seat stand are foldably joined, thereby making it possible to stably install the portable toilet, give a user a pleasant feel when the user sits on the portable toilet, and ensure safety. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an entire appearance of a portable toilet of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a portable toilet without a seat plate part. 
         FIG. 3  is a view illustrating a configuration of a seat plate part constituting a portable toilet of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a view illustrating the upper side of a side body part constituting a portable toilet of the present invention in detail, and  FIG. 5  is a view illustrating a reinforcing part provide on the upper side of the side body part. 
         FIG. 6  is a view illustrating a portable toilet that is folded such that the portable toilet of the present invention can be carried. 
         FIGS. 7 and 8  are views illustrating a portable toilet according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 9 to 11  are views illustrating an envelope support part that can be used together with a portable toilet according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a view illustrating a configuration of a solid and liquid waste collecting means according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 13 and 14  illustrate a state where the solid and liquid waste collecting means is accommodated in a portable toilet. 
     
    
    
     MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings in relation to the embodiments. The scope of the spirit of the embodiments of the present invention can be defined by what is disclosed through the embodiments, and the spirit of the embodiments of the present invention includes modifications to embodiments such as an addition, a removal, a modification etc. of a component with respect to the suggested embodiments. 
     The term “part” used to describe the present invention is given for the sake of easiness in drawing up the specification, and the term itself does not have distinguishable meanings and roles. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an entire appearance of a portable toilet of the present invention, and  FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a portable toilet without a seat plate part. 
     A portable toilet of the present invention, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , includes a seat plate part  150  consisting of a first seat plate frame  151  and a second seat plate frame  152  that are selectively detachable, and a body part supporting the lower side of the seat plate part  150 . 
     The body part is configured to surround four sides and includes a front body part  110 , a first side body part  130 , a second side body part  140  and a rear body part  120 . 
     Specifically, the seat plate part  150  includes a seat plate hole  159  such that a user sits on the seat plate hole for defecation and urination, and the seat plate hole  159  consists of a first seat plate frame  151  and a second seat plate frame  152  configured to have a “ ” shape or “C” shape. 
     According to the first embodiment of the present invention, the seat plate part  150 , as illustrated, consists of a pair of seat plate frames  151 ,  152 , and each of the seat plate frames can swivel outwards with respect to upper hinge assemblies  131 ,  141  formed on the upper sides of the first and second side body parts  130 ,  140 . If a state where the first and second seat plate frames  151 ,  152  are coupled to each other—i.e. a state where the seat plate frames are coupled such that a user can sit—is configured to be 0°, each of the seat plate frames are configured to rotate around the upper hinge assemblies  131 ,  141  of the side body parts  130 ,  140  at an angle of 270°. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a configuration of the seat plate part and can be examined. 
     When it comes to a portable toilet according to the first embodiment of the present invention, a seat plate part  150 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , consists of a first seat plate frame  151  and a second seat plate frame  152 . 
     The first seat plate frame  151  is configured to have the same structure as the second seat plate frame. Accordingly, if a seat plate frame  151  is described on the basis of the first seat plate frame  151 , the seat plate frame  151  is configured to have a “ ” or “C” shape and includes a first seat plate hinge assembly  153  coupled to the upper hinge assembly of a side body part. 
     In addition, a first seat plate coupling part  155   a  and a second seat plate coupling part  155   b  are configured to have a shape where the first seat plate coupling part  155   a  and the second seat plate coupling part  155   b  can be coupled to and detached from each other at each portion where the first seat plate frame  151  and the second seat plate frame  152  are coupled, such that the first seat plate frame  151  and the second seat plate frame  152  are attached to and detached from each other. 
     Meanwhile, a configuration of a body part coupled to a first seat plate hinge assembly  153  and a second seat plate hinge assembly  154  of the seat plate part  150 , and arranged at the lower side of the seat plate part  150  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     A body part of a portable toilet of the present invention includes a front body part  110  arranged at the front of the toilet, a rear body part  120  arranged to face the front body part  110  and coupled to the rear of the toilet, and first and second side body parts  130 ,  140  connecting the front body part  110  and the rear body part  120  and arranged on each side of the toilet. 
     The front body part  110  is configured to have the same shape as the rear body part  120 . Accordingly, body parts will be described in detail on the basis of the front body part  110 . 
     The front body part  110  includes a central hinge  113  arranged at the center thereof and configured to swivel, a first front frame  111  arranged on one side of the central hinge  113 , and a second front frame  112  arranged on the other side of the central hinge  113 . 
     The first front frame  111  and the second front frame  112  are configured to swivel around the central hinge  113 , and the central hinge  113  can move toward the inner side (rear) of the toilet by means of the swiveling of the first and second front frames. 
     Meanwhile, a first side hinge assembly  135  coupled to the first front hinge assembly  115  is formed on one side of the first side body part  130 , and a second side hinge assembly  136  coupled to the rear body part  120  is formed on the other side of the first side body part  130 . 
     A seat plate frame swiveling around the upper hinge assembly  131 , and a configuration of the upper hinge assembly  131  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
     The upper hinge assembly  131  formed at the upper side of the first side body part  130 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , is configured to be bent at a predetermined angle with respect to the lengthwise direction of the first side body part  130 . That is, the upper hinge assembly  131  is formed at the end of a bent part  131   a  having a certain angle or certain radius of curvature (ROC) with respect to the end of the first side body part  130 . 
     A curved angle of the bent part  131   a  is configured such that the first seat plate frame  151  coupled to the upper hinge assembly  131  can move to a second position  151 B from a first position  151 A. That is, when the portable toilet is folded and stored, the seat plate frames of the seat plate part are arranged in parallel with the side body parts or contact the side body parts so as to minimize the volume of the portable toilet. Accordingly, the bent part  131   a  has to ensure an angle at which the first seat plate frame  151  swivels from the first position  151 A in the state where the toilet is used to the second position  151 B in the state where the toilet is stored. 
     Additionally, the bent part  131   a  has to withstand weight applied to the seat plate frame  151  when a user sits on the seat plate frame  151 . Accordingly, the bent part, as illustrated, is preferably configured to have a curved shape with certain radius of curvature rather than a shape inclined at a certain angle. 
     Additionally, a reinforcing part  139 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , can be provided on the inner circumferential surface of the first side body part  130  so as to support the lower surface of the first seat plate frame  151 . The reinforcing part  139  is configured to be small in size so as to minimize the volume thereof when the portable toilet is folded, and is configured to support a part of the lower surface of the first seat plate frame  151  such that the portable toilet is not distorted when a user sits on the seat plate hole. 
       FIG. 6  is a view illustrating a portable toilet that is folded such that the portable toilet of the present invention can be carried. 
     The upper hinge assembly  131  of the side body part  130 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , is formed towards the outside of the body part in the lengthwise direction of the side body part  130  from a certain distance at a certain angle. Accordingly, the first seat plate frame  151  and the second seat plate frame  152  swiveling around the upper hinge assembly  131  can swivel to the extent that the first seat plate frame  151  and the second seat plate frame  152  respectively contact the side body part. 
     The portable toilet can be folded so as to have a volume similar to that illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Accordingly, the portable toilet can be stored under the seat of a vehicle and can be put into a bag so as to be carried. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  are views illustrating a portable toilet according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     A portable toilet according to the second embodiment has a seat plate part, which contacts a user&#39;s bottom, consisting of a single seat plate frame, as illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
     That is, in this case, one side of a first seat plate frame  151  is swivably coupled to an upper hinge assembly  131  of a first side body part  130 , and the other side of the first seat plate frame  151  is coupled to fixation protrusion parts  148  of a second side body part  140 . 
     The first seat plate frame  151  consisting of a single seat plate frame has one side which is swivably coupled to the upper hinge assembly  131 , and the other side which has fixation protrusion parts  158  configured to have a certain thickness and protrude. 
     The fixation protrusion parts  158  of the first seat plate frame  151  are configured to be fitted into fixation protrusion parts  148  formed at the upper side of the second body part  140 . Convex areas of the fixation protrusion parts  148 ,  158  are configured to correspond to concave areas of the fixation protrusion parts  148 ,  158  such that the fixation protrusion parts  148 ,  158  are fitted into each other. 
     In the case of a seat plate part consisting of a single seat plate frame, one side of the seat plate frame can be configured to swivel when a portable toilet is folded. 
       FIGS. 9 to 11  are views illustrating an envelope support part that can be used together with a portable toilet according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     A portable toilet according to this embodiment, as illustrated in  FIGS. 9 to 11 , is provided with grooves to which a pair of envelope rods  210  coupled to a solid and liquid waste envelope  201  are attached and from which the pair of envelope rods  210  are detached. 
     Specifically, a first rod coupling groove  117  and a second rod coupling groove  118 , to which a part of an envelope rod  210  coupled to a solid and liquid waste envelope  201  is inserted and fixed, are formed at the upper sides of a front body part  110  and a rear body part  120  of a portable toilet of this embodiment. 
     Accordingly, envelope rods  210  of a solid and liquid waste collecting means  200  carried by a user are inserted into the rod coupling grooves such that the envelope rods  210  of the solid and liquid waste collecting means  200  and the solid and liquid waste envelope  201  is fixed to the inside of the portable toilet. 
     Additionally, a front extended part  230  and a rear extended part  240  whose positions are fixed by a seat plate part  150  are formed on the other sides other than envelope rod coupling holes at the ends of the solid and liquid waste envelope, so as to be fixed by the weight of the seat plate part  150  and a user who sits on the seat plate part. 
     Additionally, an envelope tightening string  220  is configured to pass through a hole into which the envelope rods  210  penetrate at the end of the solid and liquid waste envelope  201 . The envelope tightening string  220  is configured to connect the solid and liquid waste envelope  201  at a portion connected with the envelope rods  210 , and the other side of the envelope tightening string  220  is configured to be pulled by a user. 
     After defecation and urination, the envelope rods  210  are separated from the rod coupling grooves  117 ,  118 , and one side of the envelope tightening string  220  is pulled such that the mouth of the solid and liquid waste envelope  201  is easily closed. 
     Additionally, the solid and liquid waste envelope  201  is separated from the envelope rods  210  such that only the solid and liquid waste envelope is separated. 
       FIG. 12  is a view illustrating a configuration of a solid and liquid waste collecting means according to another embodiment of the present invention, and  FIGS. 13 and 14  illustrate a state where the solid and liquid waste collecting means is accommodated in a portable toilet. 
     A solid and liquid waste collecting means  200  according to another embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in  FIGS. 12 to 14 , includes a solid and liquid waste envelope  201 , a front extended part  202  and a rear extended part  203  whose positions are fixed by a seat plate part  150  when the solid and liquid waste envelope is accommodated in a portable toilet, and first and second side extended parts  204 ,  205  for fixing the position of the solid and liquid waste envelope  201  by means of envelope coupling holes  300  formed at a side body part  130  of the portable toilet. 
     Two coupling holes  300 , as illustrated in  FIG. 13 , are formed respectively at the upper sides of both of the side body parts of the portable toilet so as to install the solid and liquid waste envelope in  FIG. 12 . That is, a total of four coupling holes  300  are formed at the upper sides of both of the side body parts of the portable toilet. Each of the coupling holes has a “V”-shaped groove. Accordingly, the side extended parts of the solid and liquid waste envelope are fixed to the “V”-shaped grooves when the solid and liquid waste envelope in  FIG. 12  is installed. 
     In the case of a solid and liquid waste collecting means  200  with the above-described configuration, the positions of the front and rear extended parts  202 ,  203  configured to extend in the forward and backward directions can be fixed by means of the weight of the seat plate part  150  and a user who sits on the seat plate part. 
     Additionally, through the fixation of the first and second side extended parts  204 ,  205  configured to extend in a lateral direction, the position of the solid and liquid waste envelope  201  is not changed, and the mouth of the solid and liquid waste envelope  201  does not become narrower. 
       FIGS. 15 to 17  are views illustrating how a cover that can be coupled to a portable toilet according to an embodiment of the present invention is used. 
     If a portable toilet is continuously used at the same place, a cover  400  can be used such that a solid and liquid waste envelope is easily installed and that a user comfortably sits on the portable toilet. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 15 to 17 , a cover  400  configured to cover the seat plate part  150  of this embodiment can be provided. The cover  400  consists of a cover body  401  configured to have an approximately rectangular shape and is provided with one or more lower side protrusion parts  410 ,  420 ,  430 ,  440  configured to protrude to a certain height from the lower surface thereof. 
     When a solid and liquid envelope  201  is disposed in the portable toilet of the first or second embodiment that have been described above and then the cover  400  is fitted into the seat plate part  150 , the lower side protrusion parts of the cover  400  are inserted into seat plate hole  159  so as to wrap the seat plate together with the solid and liquid envelope, and fixes and expands the solid and liquid waste envelope. 
     The lower side protrusion parts formed at the lower surface of the cover  400  are configured to be bent in a “C” shape. When the lower side protrusion parts are inserted into the seat plate hole  159 , the “C”-shaped lower side protrusion parts wraps the inner circumferential surface of the seat plate hole  159  such that the cover  400  and the seat plate part  150  are firmly coupled. 
     Additionally, the lower side protrusion parts  410 ,  420 ,  430 ,  440 , as illustrated, are separately formed at the lower surface of the cover  400  such that the cover  400  is easily inserted into the seat plate hole  159 . 
     A solid and liquid waste envelope of this embodiment is illustrated in the drawing. However, a usual envelope can be used. First, a solid and liquid envelope is hung in the seat plate hole  159 . 
     Next, the solid and liquid envelope is pressed by the cover  400  covering the seat plate part  150  and fixed. In this case, the lower side protrusion parts of the cover  400  are inserted into the seat plate hole  159  so as to wrap the solid and liquid envelope. Accordingly, the solid and liquid envelope can be smoothly expanded and fixed.