Abstract:
An apparatus in the form of a separate “shutter” system is disposed below and attached to the opening of a portable toilet seat in a manner that substantially blocks the underlying tank from view, yet allows for the waste material to easily pass into the tank. The system shutter assembly includes an inverted-V shaped component that is suspended below the toilet opening to block the view of an underlying pit tank while allowing for waste material to pass over either side of the “V” and fall into the tank (also protects user from any waste material splashing upward). The assembly further includes a shutter support assembly connected between the toilet seat opening and the shutter and is used to support the shutter in its suspended place. The shutter may be fixed in place, or permitted to swing back and forth as the waste material encounters the shutter.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/216,429, filed Sep. 10, 2015 and herein incorporated by reference 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to portable toilet facilities and, particularly, to a shutter device that blocks the view of the tank from the user. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    There are many instances where the need for temporary, portable toilet facilities is desirable. Events such as fairs, concerts, and the like often make use of portable facilities. Campgrounds and similar locations may use a “pit” toilet, while not being portable is also not flushable. 
         [0004]    In these cases where the waste is not flushed away into a remote sewer or septic system, the situation is likely to occur where the refuse collecting in the tank is visible to the users. This is obviously an unsightly situation, as well as creating odor and possibly leading to an unsanitary situation. Indeed, it is possible that some of the waste already collected in the tank may splash upward and contact a person using the portable toilet—an unacceptable possibility. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The needs remaining in the prior art are addressed by the present invention, which relates to portable toilet facilities and, more particularly, to a separate “shutter” system that is disposed below and attached to a toilet seat in a manner that substantially blocks the underlying tank from view, yet allows for the waste material to easily pass into the tank. The shutter also eliminates the possibility of any waste already collected in the tank from splashing in a manner that contacts the user. 
         [0006]    In accordance with the present invention, an exemplary toilet system shutter assembly includes an inverted-V shaped component that is suspended below the toilet opening in a manner that essentially blocks the view to the underlying pit tank, yet allows waste material to pass over either side of the “V” and fall into the tank. The assembly further includes a flange element for mounting on the toilet opening and a shutter support assembly connected between the flange and the inverted-V shaped shutter, where the dimensions of the shutter support assembly dictate how far below the seat the shutter will be suspended. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the shutter is fixedly attached to the shutter support assembly and remains immobile (preferably, press-fit into place so that it can be removed under force for repair/maintenance functions). In another embodiment, the shutter is attached to the support assembly via a configuration that allows for the shutter to swing back and forth when waste material comes into contact with one of the sides of the “V”. In either case, when not in use the shutter will block the view of the tank from an individual entering the portable toilet facility. 
         [0008]    One particular configuration of the present invention utilizes a funnel-like base as the support assembly, providing a “closed” element that keeps the waste material confined and is inwardly tapered to direct the waste material toward the shutter. Another configuration utilizes a pair of brackets to suspend the shutter (either fixedly or capable of rotating) below the seat. In any case, the shutter prevents any previously-collected waste material from splashing upward and contacting an individual using the portable toilet. 
         [0009]    One particular embodiment of the present invention may be defined as a shutter assembly for use with a portable toilet, the shutter assembly comprising: a flange apparatus for mounting the shutter assembly in place within an opening of a portable toilet; an inverted V-shaped shutter suspended underneath the opening of the portable toilet so as to block a view of an underlying tank; and a shutter support assembly connected between the flange apparatus and the inverted-V shutter for supporting the inverted-shaped shutter in its suspended position underneath the toilet seat opening. 
         [0010]    Other and further aspects and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent during the course of the following discussion and by reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    Referring now to the drawings, where like numerals represent like parts in several views: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary toilet seat shutter apparatus formed in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a view of the shutter support assembly component of the embodiment of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the shutter component of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the exemplary toilet seat shutter apparatus as shown in  FIG. 1 , with this view illustrating the disposition of the shutter with respect to the support assembly and, for this embodiment, the capability for the shutter to swing back and forth in its suspended position; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the exemplary toilet seat shutter apparatus as shown in  FIG. 1 , with this view illustrating the ability of the shutter to block the view of the pit tank that would be located beneath the toilet seat; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  illustrates an alternative configuration for the shutter component of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  illustrates another embodiment of the present invention, in this case comprising a bracket-mounted shutter; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  shows an alternative configuration for the embodiment of  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary toilet seat shutter apparatus  10  formed in accordance with the present invention. As shown, toilet seat shutter apparatus  10  comprises a seat flange  12  that is sized to fit around the designated opening to be used as the toilet area. In this particular embodiment, toilet seat shutter apparatus  10  further includes a shutter support assembly  14  in the form of a funnel-like base component.  FIG. 1  illustrates base  14  as being attached to the underside of flange  12 , while extending downward and tapering inward. A pair of L-shaped of pins  16 ,  18  is shown as extending downward from a lower termination  20  of base  14 . 
         [0021]    In accordance with this embodiment of the present invention, an inverted-V shaped shutter  30  (the shape of shutter  30  best shown in  FIG. 3 ), engages with pins  16 ,  18  in a manner where the end terminations  32 ,  34  of shutter  30  extend downward and away from base  14 . A pair of apertures  36 ,  38  is formed along join spine  40  of shutter  30 , where apertures  36 ,  38  mate with pins  16 ,  18  to position shutter  30  in a suspended location underneath of the toilet seat opening. 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  illustrates base component  14  of toilet seat shutter apparatus  10  (shutter  30  removed for the sake of clarity). Here, the specific configuration of L-shaped pins  16  and  18  is clearly shown. In accordance with this exemplary embodiment of the present invention, each pin includes a horizontal projection component P (denoted as  16 -P and  18 -P in  FIG. 2 ). Apertures  36  and  38  of shutter  30  are sized so as to engage with pin projections  16 -P and  18 -P, respectively, and hold shutter  30  suspended in place below lower termination  20  of base  14 . 
         [0023]    In one exemplary embodiment, the connection between pins  16 ,  18  and apertures  36 ,  38  is configured so that shutter  30  is not permanently affixed in place. That is, shutter  30  remains free to swing back and forth (i.e., rock back and forth with respect to spine  40 ) when a force is applied to either side surface  42  or side surface  44  of shutter  30  (for example, when waste material contacts either side surface  42  or side surface  44 ).  FIG. 4  is an isometric view of toilet seat shutter apparatus  10 , where the swinging movement of shutter  30  is indicated by the double-ended arrow. 
         [0024]    In an alternative embodiment, shutter  30  may be configured to remain fixed in place (i.e., is immobile and cannot rock back and forth). In this embodiment, the waste material will still be deflected by side surfaces  42 ,  44  and enter the tank below the seat. In a preferred configuration of this alternative embodiment, shutter  30  is removably attached to pin projections  16 -P,  18 -P to allow for servicing, repair, and/or replacement. 
         [0025]    Returning to the description of the embodiment where shutter  30  is free to swing back and forth in its suspended position, it is obvious that when no force is applied to shutter  30  (e.g., when an individual enters a stall but has not begun to use the toilet), shutter  30  remains in place and blocks the view of the underlying tank. This “blocking” feature of the apparatus of the present invention is best shown in  FIG. 5 , which is a top view of toilet seat shutter apparatus  10 . While blocking the view of the underlying tank, it is to be understood that the positioning of shutter  30  also prevents a portion of the tank odor from rising about the position of the shutter. The inclusion of the inventive shutter assembly in a conventional portable toilet is thus seen as advantageous in terms of both improving the appearance and the odor of the toilet housing. 
         [0026]    While the embodiment described thus far illustrates shutter  30  as including a pair of apertures and base  14  as including a pair of pins, it is to be understood that the apertures may be formed along the end terminations of elements  16 ,  18  and pin projections formed along end terminations of spine  40  of shutter  30 . In either case, the configurations may be designed to maintain the shutter fixed in position, or free to rock back and forth. 
         [0027]    When being used in the embodiment where shutter  30  is free to move, the force of the waste material against either side surface  42  or  44  will cause shutter  30  to swing out of the way, as shown in  FIG. 4 , and allow the waste material to fall into the tank without any problems. When finished, shutter assembly  30  will naturally return to its balanced position and again block the tank from view, as shown in  FIG. 5 . Alternatively, if shutter assembly  30  remains fixed in place, the waste material will be deflected by side surfaces  42 ,  44  and enter the tank. 
         [0028]    It is to be understood that the inverted-V shaped shutter component of the present invention may comprise any suitable geometry and the “flat plate” geometry of shutter  30  as shown in  FIG. 3  is only one exemplary configuration. Indeed,  FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary inverted-V shaped shutter  60  which has a different geometry, in this case comprising a pair of upwardly-flared sides  62  and  64 . As with shutter  30 , flared sides  62  and  64  are joined along a spine  66  (which forms a horizontal line parallel with bottom termination  20  of base  14  when positioned in place. A pair of apertures  68  and  70  are formed at opposing ends of spine  66  and used to engage flared shutter  60  with pin projections  16 -P and  18 -P of L-shaped pins  16  and  18 , respectively (these projections illustrated in  FIG. 2 ). Moreover, it is to be remembered that the design may be modified such that the apertures are formed on elements  16 ,  18 , with pins included along end terminations of spine  66 . 
         [0029]    It is contemplated that the utilization of upwardly-flared sides, such as sides  62  and  64 , allow for a larger portion of the toilet opening to be obstructed, improving the quality of the user&#39;s experience. Indeed, this is only one exemplary alternative, various other designs for the side surfaces of the inverted-V shaped shutter are considered to be merely choices of the user and are considered to fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0030]      FIG. 7  illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. In this case, the shutter support assembly utilizes a pair of extended-length brackets to suspend the shutter in place below the toilet opening. Referring to  FIG. 7 , an exemplary toilet shutter assembly  80  is shown as comprising a pair of extended-length brackets  82 ,  84  to support a suspended inverted-V shaped shutter  86 . For this specific configuration bracket  82  is formed to include a horizontal pin projection  82 -P and bracket  84  is formed to include a similar pin project  84 -P, where projections  82 -P and  84 -P point “inward” and are aligned with each other. Bracket  82  is also shown as including a horizontal flange member  88  that contacts a conventional toilet opening (with bracket  84  containing a similarly-located flange member  90 ). 
         [0031]    Shutter  86  is similar in form and function as shutters  30  and  60  described above. In the particular configuration as shown in  FIG. 7 , shutter  86  comprises a pair of plates  92 ,  94  (in this particular configuration having curved outer surfaces) joined along a spine  96 . Spine  96  is formed to include opposing end apertures  98  and  100 . Thus, similar to the embodiment described above, aperture  98  engages with pin projection  82 -P of bracket  82 , and aperture  100  engages with pin projection  84 -P of bracket  84 . 
         [0032]    An alternative configuration of this second embodiment is shown in  FIG. 8 . In similar fashion to the configuration of  FIG. 7 , a toilet seat shutter assembly  110  is shown in  FIG. 8  as comprising a pair of extended-length brackets  112 ,  114  that are utilized in conjunction with an inverted-V shaped shutter  116 . Bracket  112  includes an upper attachment flange  118  and bracket  114  includes an upper attachment flange  120 , where flanges  118  and  120  are used to hold assembly  110  in place within a portable toilet area. 
         [0033]    In this particular embodiment, brackets  112 ,  114  are configured to include apertures near the opposing end terminations, these apertures referred to as  122  and  124  in  FIG. 8 , with only aperture  124  being visible in this view. Here, shutter  116  itself is formed to include a pair of pin projections  126 ,  128  that engage with apertures  122 ,  124  of brackets  112 ,  114  (only projection pin  128  visible in this view). 
         [0034]    As with the various shutter geometries described above, shutter  116  includes a pair of plates  130 ,  132  connected along a spine  134 . Projection pins  126 ,  128  are formed as extensions of spine  134 . In this particular configuration, plates  130  and  132  exhibit a slightly upward curvature. Again, various geometries of shutter plates may be used and the specific design of the plate is considered to be a choice that does not impact the spirit or scope of the present invention. 
         [0035]    Moreover, it is to be understood that the extended-bracket second embodiment of the present invention may be formed to include either a “stationary” shutter, or a free-swinging shutter, as discussed above in association with the description of the first embodiment. 
         [0036]    While the present invention has been described above in accordance with preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that there may be minor variations to the details of the portable toilet shutter assembly that would be apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, it is asserted that the spirit and scope of the present invention is only limited by the claims appended hereto.