Abstract:
The inventive subject matter provides apparatus, systems and methods in which a skirt valve mechanism is supplied that can easily ret to an existing, prior art waterless urinal fixture. The skirt valve reduces or prevents evaporation from a P trap and does not present a barrier to liquid flow through the inlet to the outlet of the device, but prevents the passage of fluids (gases or liquids) from the outlet to the inlet. The skirt valve similarly prevents the attempted passage of a pest species (for example, an insect pest) from the outlet to the inlet of the device, thereby prevent the pest from exiting the sewers through the waterless urinal. A P trap is also provided that can be retro-fitted to existing waterless urinals and is compatible with the skirt valve mechanism, thereby replacing prior art float valve devices.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/108,942, filed Jan. 28, 2015. All extrinsic materials identified herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The field of the invention is plumbing fixtures, specifically waterless urinals. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
         [0004]    With supplies of potable water decreasing, there is an increasing interest in water conservation. One opportunity to conserve water is to decrease or eliminate water used in the transfer of human waste from the receiving plumbing fixture to a municipal sewer system. A large number of “low flush” toilet designs are currently in use, which reduce the amount of water used from 4 to 5 gallons per flush to 1 gallon or less. More recently, waterless urinals have been introduced. These devices, which do not utilize water or a conventional flushing mechanism, have found widespread use in public facilities such as airports, stadiums, and amusement parks. 
         [0005]    Typically, such waterless urinals control odor by providing a drain mechanism that includes a layer of relatively low-density oil. This oil lies on top of the waste material and forms a float valve that provides a physical barrier to the passage of odors to the exterior of the fixture. Unfortunately over time this oil is lost, due to the inevitable loss of this material to the sewer system during normal use and during cleaning or sanitation. For example, the common use of a hose to rinse the fixture can result in the sudden introduction of large volumes of water to the normally waterless fixture, resulting in disruption of the oil layer and loss of the oil as an oil/water mixture that moves on to the sewer. The loss of this oil layer results in unpleasant odors. In many waterless urinal designs the oil layer can only be restored by replacing a relatively expensive cartridge within the fixture and since it can be difficult to determine precisely where an odor is originating from, the loss of an oil layer in a single urinal can necessitate servicing of all of the urinals in a bank of such fixtures. This can represent a considerable expense. 
         [0006]    It should also be appreciated that the United States requires the use of P traps in such plumbing fixtures to maintain a body of water between sewer gases and the exterior of the fixture. Unfortunately, in the absence of an evaporation barrier (for example, through loss of an oil barrier) liquids held within the P trap will evaporate over time and render the P trap useless. In addition such P traps are not always successful in prevent pests from moving up a sewer line and exiting from a bathroom fixture. Some insect pests, notably cockroaches, are able to traverse the water barrier of a P trap and reach the fixture drain. A layer of oil, such as is commonly used in conventional waterless urinals, does not prevent these pests from exiting the drain. It should also be appreciated that many waterless urinals manufactured outside of the United States may not include such P traps, which represents a barrier to commercialization of such fixtures. 
         [0007]    Thus, there is still a need for a mechanism that can provide a stable, low maintenance barrier to evaporation from such traps, and also for a simple and reliable trap that can be easily added to existing fixtures. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The inventive subject matter provides apparatus, systems and methods in which a skirt valve mechanism is supplied that can easily retrofitted to an existing, prior art waterless urinal fixture. The skirt valve reduces or prevents evaporation from a P trap and does not present a barrier to liquid flow through the inlet to the outlet of the device, but prevents the passage of fluids (gases or liquids) from the outlet to the inlet. The skirt valve similarly prevents the attempted passage of a pest species (for example, an insect pest) from the outlet to the inlet of the device, thereby prevent the pest from exiting the sewers through the waterless urinal. A P trap is also provided that can be retro-fitted to existing waterless urinals and is compatible with the skirt valve mechanism, thereby replacing prior art float valve devices. 
         [0009]    Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1A  is a cross sectional view of the insert inner body, with skirt valves installed on the central shaft. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1B  is an alternative skirt valve arrangement, where at least a portion of the skirt valve travels between an upper and a lower stop in response to pressure changes. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an outer view of the insert inner body, showing relative dimensions. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an outer view of the insert outer body, showing complementary threads for interfacing with the insert inner body. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional and outer views of a cartridge inner body, showing relative dimensions. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a cross sectional and outer views of a cartridge outer body. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is an external view of an assembled skin valve assembly installed in a secondary housing. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is an external and cross-sectional view illustrating the position of an assembled skirt valve assembly when installed in a secondary housing. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is an external view of a skirt valve assembly installed in a drain. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a transparent view showing the orientation of the assembled skirt valve assembly, mounted within a secondary housing and installed in a drain. 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of an assembled skirt valve assembly, mounted within a secondary housing and installed in a drain. 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  illustrates an example of a P trap assembly. 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a cross section of a P trap assembly, showing relative dimensions. 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  illustrates an assembled device, showing the assembled skirt valve assembly mounted in a secondary housing and installed in a drain, and a P trap in fluid communication with the skirt valve assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    The following description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
         [0025]    In some embodiments, the numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, properties such as concentration, reaction conditions, and so forth, used to describe and claim certain embodiments of the invention are to be understood as being modified in some instances by the term “about,” Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters set forth in the written description and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by a particular embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of some embodiments of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as practicable. The numerical values presented in some embodiments of the invention may contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements. 
         [0026]    As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
         [0027]    The recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g. “such as”) provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention. 
         [0028]    Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all Markush groups used in the appended claims. 
         [0029]    Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components. 
         [0030]    One should appreciate that the disclosed techniques provide many advantageous technical effects including reduced need for servicing and provision of protection from pest insects. In addition, the disclosed devices and methods advantageously permit more rigorous sanitation of the urinal fixtures. 
         [0031]    The following discussion provides many example embodiments of the inventive subject matter. Although each embodiment represents a single combination of inventive elements, the inventive subject matter is considered to include all possible combinations of the disclosed elements. Thus if one embodiment comprises elements A, B, and C, and a second embodiment comprises elements B and D, then the inventive subject matter is also considered to include other remaining combinations of A, B, C, or D, even if not explicitly disclosed. 
         [0032]    As used herein, and unless the context dictates otherwise, the term “coupled to” is intended to include both direct coupling (in which two elements that are coupled to each other contact each other) and indirect coupling (in which at least one additional element is located between the two elements). Therefore, the terms “coupled to” and “coupled with” are used synonymously. 
         [0033]    In one embodiment of the inventive concept, a housing is provided that encloses a skirt valve mechanism. The housing can include a plurality component, including an insert inner body that interfaces with an insert outer body, and a cartridge inner body that interfaces with both the insert outer body and a cartridge outer body. Various skirt valve arrangements are suitable for use in devices and methods of the inventive concept. One embodiment, shown in  FIG. 1A , utilizes at least two skirt valves mounted on a central shaft. As shown, the skirt valves are shaped as the surface of a frustum of a cone, with the smaller of the two bases oriented upwards (i.e. towards the fluid inlet) and contacting and concentric with the central shaft. Such skirt valves can be mounted on the central shaft at collar regions, which provide ridges or similar features that provide for accurate location and orientation of the skirt valves. At least a portion of each skirt valve is in contact with a corresponding sealing surface. The skirt valves are constructed of pliant materials which, when coupled with the arrangement and orientation of the skirt valves permits fluid to flow from an inlet to an outlet of the assembled device. Pressure or fluid flow in the opposing direction (i.e. from the outlet towards the inlet), however, results in firm seating of the skirt valves against their respective sealing surfaces and prevents or reduces passage of fluids or other objects in this direction. It should be appreciated that such fluids can include liquids and/or gases originating from a sewer system (for example, a sewer system that is in fluid communication with a device of the inventive concept). It should also be appreciated that pressure can be applied to a skirt valve in the outlet to inlet direction by other means, including pest arthropods (for example, spiders and/or insects) that have exited the sewer system and successfully traversed downstream trap mechanisms. 
         [0034]    Alternatively, a skirt valve mechanism can include a sliding skirt valve, such as is shown in  FIG. 1B . In such a device a skirt valve shaped as a frustum of a cone is mounted between an upper stop and a lower stop on a central shaft, with the smaller base of the Skirt valve oriented upwards (i.e. towards the inlet) and contacting and concentric with the central shaft. The skirt valve in constructed of a pliant material, such that pressure applied to the underside of the skirt valve (i.e. from the outlet to the inlet) results in movement of at least a portion of the skirt valve from the lower stop towards the upper stop. This further results in an increase in the force applied to a sealing surface by the skirt valve and prevents movement of fluids and other items from the outlet towards the inlet, as described above. In some embodiments of the inventive concept, the sliding skirt valve is in contact with the sealing surface when the skirt valve is positioned at the lower stop. In other embodiments a gap is present between the sealing surface and the sliding skirt valve when the skirt valve is positioned at the lower stop. Both fixed skirt valve mechanisms ( FIG. 1A ) and sliding skirt valve mechanisms ( FIG. 1B ) are suitable for use in devices and methods of the inventive concept. 
         [0035]    As noted above, skirt valves are constructed of a pliant material. In preferred embodiments of the inventive concept the skirt valve(s) is (are) constructed of a material that is resistant to components of urine, such as uric acid. Suitable materials include urine resistant rubber, silicone, nitrile rubber, polyethylene, a perfluoroelastomer, an ethylene acrylate elastomer, and polychloroprene. 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIG. 1A , devices and methods of the inventive concept can include a perforated cover, which aids in preventing unwanted materials from entering. Such a perforated cover can be constructed to house a chemical disk, for example a deodorant disk. 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIG. 1A , in some embodiments the skirt valve mechanism can be housed in an insert upper body component of the housing. An exemplary embodiment of such an insert inner body, drawn to scale, is shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0038]    In some embodiments of the inventive concept, the insert inner body is at least partially mounted within an insert outer body component of the housing. An example of an insert outer body, showing threading complementary to that of the insert inner body, is shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0039]    In some embodiments of the inventive concept, the insert outer body lies within a cartridge inner body component of the housing. An example of a cartridge inner body component, drawn to scale, is shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0040]    In some embodiments of the inventive concept, the cartridge inner body at least partially lies within a cartridge outer body component of the housing. An example of a cartridge outer body, drawn to scale, is shown in  FIG. 5 . In preferred embodiments of the inventive concept the cartridge outer body includes one or more anchors that serve to hold the assembled housing within a secondary housing that lies within the waterless urinal. 
         [0041]      FIG. 6  provides an external view of an assembled skirt valve assembly with completed housing, mounted in a secondary housing and showing the position of the anchors. Such a secondary housing can be an adaptor that holds the assembled skirt valve assembly in place within a drain of a plumbing fixture (such as a waterless urinal). Fixation of the anchors to the secondary housing is preferably reversible. In some embodiments of the inventive concept a tool is required to release the anchors from the secondary housing, thereby preventing accidental or unauthorized access. 
         [0042]      FIG. 7  shows an external view and cross section of an assembled skirt valve assembly mounted within a secondary housing, showing their relative positions. 
         [0043]    As noted above, skirt valve assemblies of the inventive concept are suitable for placement within a drain of a plumbing fixture.  FIG. 8  illustrates the placement of a skirt valve assembly within a typical drain of a waterless urinal. 
         [0044]      FIG. 9  provides a partially transparent view that shows the relative position of a skirt valve assembly mounted within a secondary housing and placed within a drain of a typical waterless urinal. 
         [0045]      FIG. 10  provides a cross section view of skirt valve assembly mounted within a secondary housing and placed within a drain of a typical waterless urinal. 
         [0046]    Skirt valve assemblies as described above are used in conjunction with a P trap. Suitable P traps provide a liquid barrier to gases found in sewer systems, and prevent passage of such gases into areas where plumbing fixtures are in use. A preferred embodiment of a P trap is shown in  FIG. 11 . A vertical section is formed by a cylindrical housing or pipe that has an open upper terminus and closed lower terminus. This cylindrical housing includes an opening or lateral aperture along its length. A lateral housing or pipe is attached to the cylindrical housing at an interface area that overlaps and encompasses the lateral aperture, with the lateral aperture placed at an upper (i.e. towards the upper terminus) part of the interface region. When fluid is introduced to the P trap it accumulated in the portion of the cylindrical housing that lies below the lateral aperture, forming a water/liquid trap that prevents the passage of gases. 
         [0047]      FIG. 12  shows a cross section of a suitable P trap, drawn to scale. 
         [0048]      FIG. 13  shows an example of an assembled device of the inventive concept. A skirt valve assembly is shown mounted within a secondary housing, which is in turn placed within a drain. The drain, in turn is coupled to a P trap to provide fluid communication between the plumbing fixture and a sewage system. In preferred embodiments, the drain is mounted to the P trap by a friction fit with a pliant collar that lies within the open upper terminus of the cylindrical housing of the P trap. 
         [0049]    Another embodiment of the inventive concept is a method for replacing a float valve in a waterless urinal. In such an embodiment a skirt valve assembly, as described above, is used to replace a float valve assembly within a secondary housing that lies within the drain of a waterless urinal. A P trap as described above is mounted on a suitable sewage inlet, such that the open end of the lateral housing of the P trap is in fluid communication with the sewage line, and the upper terminus of the P trap is placed in fluid communication with the float valve assembly. This can be accomplished, for example, by connecting a drain that has been fitted with a skirt valve assembly to the P trap. In a preferred embodiment of the inventive concept, this can be accomplished by engaging the drain with a pliant collar located at the upper terminus of the P trap, where it is held by friction. 
         [0050]    It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification claims refers to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C . . . and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.