Patent Abstract:
A portable toilet for holding waste includes a base having an aperture, an insert for being mounted in the base. The insert includes a first collar coupled to a first container, a second collar, and a second container and the insert including a pad between the first container and the second container.

Full Description:
PRIORITY 
     The present invention claims priority based on 35 USC section 119 and provisional application Ser. No. 60/727,555 filed on Oct. 18, 2005. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to portable toilets having a disposable liner and more particularly to a portable toilet for a general use at any time when such toilets would be useful for example in the car or camping. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There has long been portable toilets for use at construction and camping sites. These toilets have often been little more than large bowls requiring sanitary cleaning after each use and being inconvenient for many users. 
     As we have become a more mobile society, the use of the automobile has been increasing over the years. However, public toilets have been decreasing in numbers especially along the long stretches of empty highways. 
     A toilet may be available at a service station; however, these service station toilets are usually not cleaned frequently, and these service station toilets are unappealing and may spread disease. It would be desirable to be able to avoid the service station toilets in order to prevent disease. 
     Furthermore, public toilets may be unsafe and visited by predators especially during the late evening hours. It would be desirable to be able to avoid these public toilets despite their availability. 
     Bedpans for capturing the release of waste from bedridden individuals are known in the art. Bedpans can have various sizes and shapes depending upon their use and can be composed of materials including both metal and plastic and are either reusable or disposable. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,903,932 to Whitesel discloses a portable toilet seat arranged to receive a liner. The liner is a film of hydrophobic material with a drainage pad attached to the center. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,385,790 to Abraham discloses a portable toilet apparatus which includes a seat elevating structure. The seat elevating structure preferably includes an annular bellows having a tubular accordion outer bellows sidewall, an annular upper bellows wall an annular lower bellows wall. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,532,605 to Howell discloses a liner which may be readily utilized in a toilet receptacle such as a child&#39;s potty or a bedpan. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,277 to Spitzer discloses a method and apparatus to collect dispose and measure liquid output from bedridden individual. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a simple design which can be made in different sizes. In youth or adult sizes, the toilet may be used by either gender while in the automobile, boat, plane or camping or at a location with no active plant plumbing. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a toilet which does not require chemicals and which does not require cleaning. Consequently, it is an object of the invention to provide a toilet with all the convenience of a disposable diaper. 
     It is an object of the invention to make use of the toilet and having the necessary accessories to protect the seat of the vehicle and to ensure the privacy of the user of the toilet. 
     It is in the object of the invention to provide a self-contained portable device which may be sealed and carried safely. 
     Is an object of the invention to provide a self-contained portable device which is biodegradable. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a portable toilet apparatus which can be reduced in overall size in order for a compact storage. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which is lightweight, durable and inexpensive to manufacture. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a self-contained portable device which can be used to avoid service station toilets and which can be used to avoid public toilets especially during late evening hours. 
     The present invention includes an annular base having an aperture to accept an insert for the base. The insert includes a pad to absorb liquid, a first collar, a second collar and an inner container of flexible material. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of the base of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the side of the base of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a view of the top of the base of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a view of the top of the insert of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the side of the insert of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a view of the top of the first sheet of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a view of the top of the first collar of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a view of the top of the second collar of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a view of the top of the second sheet of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a perspective view of the assembly of the base and insert of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a view of additional elements of the system of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The term excrement or waste as used herein is meant to include but not limited to urine, solid and liquid feces, stool, body fluids, vomit and any other substance cast out as waste from the body. 
     The term super-absorbing material as used herein is meant to include but is not limited to a gel, silica, resins such as hydrolyzed starch-acylonitrile graft polymers or neutralized starch-acrylic acid graft polymer, absorbent powders, desiccating agents, chemical compounds such as polyacylamide, polyacrylate or potassium, crystals and other similar liquid absorbing substances or materials known to the skill in the art. 
     The term absorption mechanism or absorbent layer material is used herein is a layer of material that is absorbent to various materials for example, the absorbent layer material could be made of materials including but not limited to artificial and natural fibers, paper materials, sponge, cloth, cotton and any other similar liquid absorbing materials known to those skilled in the art. The absorption layer material optionally has a super absorbing material that has increased liquid absorbency. 
     The term attachment apparatus is meant to include but not limited to Velcro, snaps, buttons, string, glue, tape, adhesive elastic, fasteners and any other affixing devices known to those skilled in the art. 
     The present invention is applicable for use in any setting including but not limited to cars, airplanes, trucks, trailers, boats, the vast outdoors, homes, playing, hiking, hospitals, medical offices, emergency rooms, public and private facilities or any other similar setting where the device could be needed by the individual. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of the base  102  of the present invention which is shown for illustration as annular but could be other shapes. The base  102  could be formed from plastic, polyurethane, metal, glass, polymers, or a foam material such as polyethylene and various polymers and other similar liquid impervious materials known to those of skill in the art. Alternatively, the base  102  could be formed from a hollow flexible material such as an air filled inner tube. Additionally, the annular base  102  could be formed from a biodegradable material so that it can be used safely with landfills and fills. One variation uses a starch based material which may require a water resistant sleeve so that it will not dissolve. The annular base  102  includes an aperture  104  for accepting the insert  410 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the side of the annular base  102 . The dimension ‘a’ should approximate the dimension ‘b’ as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a view of the top of the annular base  102  showing the aperture  104 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a view of the top of the insert  104  including a receptacle  412  for the waste. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the side of the insert  410 . The receptacle  412  for the waste includes an inner container  524  which may be formed from flexible absorbent material, an outer container  526  which may be water resistant and formed from flexible absorbent material and a pad  414  formed from absorbent material to absorb liquid. The pad  414  may be positioned between the inner container  524  and the outer container  526  to form a bag like structure. 
     The insert  410  additionally includes a first collar  522  and a second collar  528 , both of which may be formed from rigid material and substantially conforms to the base  102 . The inner container  524  and the outer container  526  extend to and are attached between the first collar  522  and the second collar  528 . The attachment apparatus attaches the first collar  522 , the inner container  524 , the outer container  526  and the second collar  528  together around the periphery of the insert  410 . Optionally, a first sheet  520  may extend over the top surface of the first collar  522  and may be formed from absorbent material in order to absorb escaping liquid. In a similar fashion, a second sheet  530  may extend over the bottom surface of the second collar  528  in order to absorb escaping liquid. Optionally, additional absorbent layers  521 , for example five or six layers, maybe positioned between the first sheet  520  and the second sheet  530 . The first sheet  520 , the first collar  522 , the second collar  528  and the second sheet  530  have dimensions which correspond to the dimensions of the base  102 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a view of the top of the first sheet  520  having an aperture  521  corresponding in dimensions approximately to the aperture  104 . The collar  522 ,  528  may fold and may possibly be sealed by tabs and placed into a refuse bag provided in the kit. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a view of the top of the first collar  522  having an aperture  523  which corresponds to the dimensions approximately of the aperture  104 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a view of the top of the second collar  528  having an aperture  529  which corresponds dimensionally and approximately to the aperture  104 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a view of the top of the second sheet  530  having an aperture  531  which corresponds dimensionally and approximately to the aperture  104 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a method of manufacture of the present invention. The annular base  102  is formed with aperture  104 . The first collar  522  is attached to the inner container  524 , to the outer container  526  and to the second collar  528 . The first sheet  520  covers the top of the first collar  522 , and the second sheet  530  covers the bottom of the second collar  528 . 
     The base  102  can be reused. The insert  410  is inserted into the base  102 . The user places waste material into the insert  410 , and the insert  410  is folded, removed and discarded to the refuse bag. 
     The system of the present invention includes the base  104  the insert  410  and the articles shown in  FIG. 11 . In  FIG. 11 , a storage case  1102  is illustrated for portability, and an apron  1106  is illustrated which may be rectangular or trapezoidal in shape and include elastic band  1110  and an attachment apparatus  1108 . Additionally  FIG. 11  illustrates a protective sheet  1104  to lay down on the seat of the vehicle. 
     While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0