Patent ID: 12220089

While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular example embodiments described. On the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following descriptions, the present invention will be explained with reference to various exemplary embodiments. Nevertheless, these embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention to any specific example, environment, application, or particular implementation described herein. Therefore, descriptions of these example embodiments are only provided for purpose of illustration rather than to limit the present invention.

Referring toFIGS.1-13, a portable hand wash station100according to certain embodiments is shown. The hand wash station100generally comprises a base102that sets upon the ground. The fresh water tank104and greywater tank106are each disposed atop the base102. A tank cover108is disposed atop the fresh104and greywater106tanks.

The sink member110is pivotally mounted to the tank cover108, atop the tank cover108, with a plurality of hinges112. Three hinges112are depicted, but more or fewer number of hinges can be used as well. The sink member110defines two sink basins114that oppose one another. Each sink basin114can be shaped and sized to allow the user to wash their forearms. For example each sing basin114can be an oval or elliptical shape that spans the majority of the lateral width of the sink member110.

A backsplash member116is secured to the sink member110between the individual sink basins114. The sink member110and backsplash member116can also be formed as a single part. The backsplash member116extends horizontally the approximately the lateral width of the sink member110and vertically upward from the sink member110. The backsplash member116defines opposing surfaces to which accessories can be mounted, as will be explained later herein.

As shown inFIGS.2-8, a reinforcing bracket117can be secured commonly to the lateral sides of the backsplash member116and the sink member110with a plurality of fasteners (e.g., screws) to enhance the rigidity of the backsplash member116atop the sink member110. The reinforcing brackets117can be metal plates or other stiff and durable material, such as certain plastics, fiberglass, carbon fiber, etc.

A faucet118is disposed adjacent to each sink basin114. The faucets118can be separate components secured to the sink member110and/or the backsplash member116, or the faucets118can be formed at least partially integrally with the backsplash member116.

Accessories such as towel dispenser120and soap dispenser122(or hand sanitizer dispenser) are mounted to each flat side of the backsplash member116above the sink basins114.

A foot pump124is provided to the base102on each side of the hand wash station. The foot pumps can be riveted directly to the base102for rugged assembly. The user pushes on the foot pump124to cause water from the fresh water tank to emit from the faucet118connected to that particular foot pump124.

The two water tanks104,106are secured together between the base102and the top cover108via a plurality of elongated rods126spanning from the base102to the top cover108. Each rod126is positioned adjacent to an outer side surface of one of the tanks and secured on one end to the base102and the opposing end to the top cover108to sandwich the tanks104,106there between. The rods126can be formed, for example, of rigid material such as a metal.

As can be seen inFIGS.8and11, provisions are made for up to six rods126to be used to secure the tanks104,106, base102and tank cover108together. Each end of each rod126is threaded so that a threaded nut can be used as a fastener.

The provision of the rods126discussed above creates a strong assembly without the need for fasteners going into or through a side of the tanks104,106. This eliminates the possibility of tank leaks due to apertures necessary for the rods to pass through the sidewall of the tanks. In contrast, many conventional hand wash station designs have rods and/or fasteners passing through the tank sidewall, or that are molded into the tanks. These conventional configurations are prone to failure due to pulling out, stripping, cracking and/or leaking.

The hinged sink member can be secured in place atop the tank cover108to prevent users from accessing the fasteners, accessing the fresh water fill aperture, tampering with the hand wash station, and to improve aesthetics. For example, one or more rotary latches128are provided opposite the hinges112to allow the sink member110to be secured down on the tank cover108. Thus, users cannot gain access to the fresh water tank and/or the fasteners for the rods126. The latches128can be key-lockable or a padlock can be provided to enhance security.

Referring toFIG.10A, the fresh water fill cap130for the fresh water tank104is hidden by and protected by the hinged sink member110. Thus, the fresh water tank is not accessible by public because it can be padlocked as described above.FIG.11shows the fresh water fill aperture after the cap is removed.

As shown inFIGS.10A and10B, a cable tether131can be provided between the tank cover108and the sink member110to keep the sink member110from pivoting too far (and possibly causing the portable sink to tip over) when the sink member110is pivoted open. The cable tether131is fastened through a bracket attached to the sink member110at the upper end and through the tank cover108at the lower end.

Also as can be seen inFIG.11, the top side of the tank cover108defines a trough132into which both sink basins114drain. The trough132is positioned and sloped to drain both basins into the greywater (waste) tank106. This configuration eliminates the need for separate hoses to route the drain waste water from each sink basin114into the greywater tank. This configuration also can catch debris that passes through the sink basins' drains before getting into the greywater waste tank106.

Referring back toFIG.2, both tanks104,106include a threaded drain plug133. The greywater tank106also includes a suction port134incorporated into the base102.

As shown particularly inFIGS.2and8, the base102defines two opposing stake-down holes136that can be used to secure or stabilize the hand wash station100in place atop the ground with stakes, nails or other fastener passing through the stake-down holes136.

FIG.12illustrates the attachment of the backsplash member116to the sink member110in a cross-sectional view. The backsplash member116defines a pair of downwardly-protruding post portions117. The sink member110defines corresponding recesses119to receive the respective downwardly-protruding post portions117. Rivets can be used to secure the backsplash member116to the sink member110. A rivet can be provided into each downward protruding post portion117of the backsplash member to fasten the backsplash to the respective recesses119in the sink member110. The engagement of the downwardly-protruding post portions117into the respective recess119is at a slight interference fit to make a rigid structure.

FIG.12shows the backsplash member116, the sink member110and tank top cover108parts as solid, but they can also be hollow parts.

FIG.13illustrates the two tanks104and106. Both tanks are identical as they come out of the mold. They are then differentiated by receiving different trimming operations to make them either “fresh water” or “greywater” tanks. This allows use of two molds for manufacturing when demand is high, and only one mold when demand is low. This frees up a molding press for other products.

The fresh water tank104has a threaded neck that allows the fresh water fill cap130to be screwed on. The greywater tank106has this threaded neck cut off to leave an opening138into the tank. In addition, a smaller hole140allows routing the hose from the suction port into the waste water tank. The sink basins114drain into the opening138via the trough132in the tank cover108described above. The greywater tank106does not normally require a cap to seal the opening138because it is of little concern if the waste water is tampered with. There is a desire, however, to keep the fresh water protected. As described previously, the sink member110hinges open to provide access to the fresh water fill cap130, while providing a way to lock the sink member110down to prevent tampering.

Portable hand wash stations are often located nearby portable restrooms. It is desirable to transport the portable hand wash stations to their destination while located inside of a portable restrooms because of the space savings. However, the size of some conventional hand wash stations prevents service persons from being able to transport the hand wash station inside the restroom because the toilet seat protrudes toward the doorway, which pushes the hand wash station forward such that the restroom's door cannot fully close.

Referring toFIGS.14-15, a further feature of certain embodiments of the hand wash station100is to define a recess142in the tanks104,106to provide clearance for the toilet seat of a portable restroom to protrude inward of the outer perimeter of the hand wash station. This recess142allows the door of the restroom to close fully with the hand wash station disposed inside of the restroom. Thus the portable hand wash station can be transported inside of a conventional portable restroom.

The main components of the present hand wash station100(base102, fresh water tank104, greywater tank106, tank cover108, sink member110, and backsplash member116) are configured to be formed of a plastic material via a blow-molding process. This is advantageous because the blow-molding process allows for far more units per day to be produced versus the conventional roto-molding processes typically used for producing plastic components of conventional hand wash stations. Blow-molding provides greatly-increased speed of production over rotational molding. For example a single set of molds for the blow-molding process can produce parts five times faster than rotational molding.

Other features and aspects of the invention can be appreciated from the depictions in the figures, even if not described in writing herein.

While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments. It will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and equivalent arrangements can be made thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, such scope to be accorded the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all equivalent structures and products. Moreover, features or aspects of various example embodiments may be mixed and matched (even if such combination is not explicitly described herein) without departing from the scope of the invention.