US3453665A - Portable toilet sink unit - Google Patents

Description

July 8, 1969 M. COKIC ET AL PORTABLE TOILET SINK UNIT She et Z of 2 Filed July 5, 1967 FIG.2

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y 1969 M. COKIC ET AL PORTABLE TOILET SINK UNIT Filed July 5, 196 7 Sheet FIG. 6

INVENTORS Au: JOSEPH HAGER MILAN COKIC ATTO RN EYS United States Patent 3,453,665 PORTABLE TOILET SINK UNIT Milan Cokic, Hotel Lotschberg, General Gulson-Strasse, Interlaken, Switzerland, and Alie Joseph Hager, 47 Bernard Ave., Toronto, Ontario, Canada Filed July 3, 1967, Ser. No. 651,007 Int. Cl. A47k 1/02 US. Cl. 4-166 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a portable toilet sink unit.

In particular this invention relates to a portable toilet sink unit having an interior reservoir for water.

With the increasing popularity of vacational camping and outdoor activities the problem of providing adequate toilet facilities in remote areas is well known. It is customary when camping to carry a supply of clean water for drinking and washing purposes in plastic or metal containers and to carry a basin or other suitable receptacle for personal washing and toilet purposes. In modern camping sites public wash facilities are generally provided but these are invariably inadequate to cope with the numbers of campers.

The present invention provides a simple water storage container which provides a toilet basin which can be filled from the container reservoir and which can also be employed to carry and dispense drinking water.

It is an object of this invention to provide a portable container having a reservoir for water and having a contour to provide a basin for toilet purposes.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a portable container having a reservoir for water and having a contour to provide a basin wherein water can be transferred directly from the reservoir into the basin.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a container as previously described wherein a manually operated pump is provided to facilitate the transfer of water from the reservoir to the basin.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a container as previously described wherein provision is made for a drain plug, to permit spent water to be drained from the basin.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a container as previously described, wherein a handle is provided to enable the container to be easily carried.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a plastic container as previously described, wherein the contour of the container is such that it may readily be formed by means of a blow molding operation.

With these and other objects in view, the invention generally comprises, a toilet sink unit comprising, a portable container having an interior reservoir for water, said container having a first wall, an exterior open toilet basin carried by said first wall, said container having support means for self support thereof, to dispose said toilet basin in an operative position, said container having passage means between said reservoir and said toilet basin, whereby water can be transferred from said reservoir to said toilet basin.

3,453,665 Patented July 8, 1969 In the drawing which illustrates embodiments of the invention.

FIGURE 1 is a pictorial view of a sink unit according to the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view along the line 2-2 of the sink unit of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the pump as shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of an alternative form of the invention.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 illustrating the method of filling the basin with water, and

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view similar to FIGURES 3 and 4 illustrating the basin having been filled with a supply of water.

With reference to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 refers generally to a portable sink unit comprising a portable container 12 of plastic such as polypropylene or other suitable material. The container 12 comprises a first wall 14 formed to provide a toilet basin as at 16 and a second wall 18 adapted to support the toilet basin 16 in an operative position. The container 12 is adapted to provide an interior storage reservoir 20 for 'water such that the unit may be employed without the need to carry a separate Water storage vessel. Water is introduced to the storage reservoir 20 by way of a large input neck 22 which is provided with a closure cap 24 such that the water storage reservoir may be watertight to permit the unit to be carried around without spillage. A drain passageway 26 is provided in the lowermost region of the basin 16 and passes through and is isolated from the storage reservoir 20 such that water may be discharged from the basin. A drain plug 28 is adapted to fit into the drain passageway 26 in a well known manner to prevent the water contained in the basin from escaping while the unit is in use.

A simple manually operable pump generally indicated by the reference numeral 30 is employed to discharge water from the reservoir 20 to the basin 16. The pump 30 comprises a hollow cylindrical body 32 which extends into the reservoir 20 and which is provided with a simple reciprocating piston and shutoff valve arrangement as will be described hereinafter, whereby actuation of the piston causes water to be drawn into the pump and discharged from the pump into the basin 16 by way of discharge orifice 38. With reference to FIGURES 2 and 3, it can be seen that upward movement of the piston 31 causes the first valve 33 to close and the second valve 35 to open, thereby drawing water into the cylinder 32. Downward movement of the piston causes first valve 33 to open and second valve 35 to close, thereby causing the water contained in the cylinder to pass into the upper end of the cylinder. Again upward movement of the piston causes first valve 33 to close and water is discharged from the cylinder by way of orifice 38.

The reciprocating piston is connected] to a closure cap 36 by way of connecting rod 39 and closure cap 36 is adapted to threadably receive the upper end of cylindrical pump cylinder 32 to close the discharge orifice 38 when the pump is not in use. An air vent 40 is provided such that air may enter the reservoir while the pump is in operation to facilitate the pumping operation. Again the closure cap 36 is adapted to close the :air vent 40 when the pump is not in use, and thereby maintain the reservoir 20 in a watertight condition.

A handle 50 is provided as an integral portion of the container whereby the unit may readily be carried.

With reference to FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, it can be seen that by suitably locating the orifice '60, it is possible to discharge water from the reservoir 20 :into the basin 16 by tilting the container as shown in FIGURE 5. A simple closure plug 62 being adapted to maintain the reservoir in a water tight condition when not in use.

It will also be apparent that water can be discharged from the basin 16 simply by tipping the container onto one edge. The provision of a drain plug, however considerably simplifies the operation and a hose may be attached to the lower end of the drain plug to convey the water to a suitable discharge point.

In the preferred embodiment, the container 12 is manufactured by a blow molding operation, and the pump unit 30 and the drain passageway 26 are welded into the orifices provided therefor at the assembly stage. To permit the container 12 to be manufactured by a blow molding process, the container is formed about a plane which extends transversely of the container along the centre line 52 as shown in FIGURE 2. All exterior surfaces of the container being inclined to said plane such that the container may readily be removed from the blow molding dies.

A typical portable sink unit according to the invention would have 'a reservoir capacity of 2.7 gallons, a basin capacity of 0.9 gallons and a pump capacity of 12 fluid ounces. The capacity of the reservoir is limited to ensure that when the reservoir is full the unit will remain readily portable.

What -we claim is:

1. A self-contained toilet sink unit comprising, a portable container having a hollow interior defining a water reservoir, said container having a first wall formed to define an exterior open toilet basin, said container having support means for self support thereof to dispose said toilet basin in an operative position, said container having passage means communicating between said reservoir and said toilet basin whereby water can be transferred from said reservoir directly into said toilet basin and closure means for closing said passage means.

2. A toilet sink unit as claimed in claim 1 including input passage means communicating with said reservoir whereby said reservoir may readily be filled with water and closure means for said input passage.

3. A toilet sink unit as claimed in claim 1 including a manually operative pump for discharging water from said reservoir into said basin, an input passage communicating with said hollow interior whereby said reservoir may readily be filled with water and closure means for said input passage.

4. A toilet sink unit as claimed in claim 1 having outlet passage means opening from said basin whereby water may be discharged from said basin and closure means for said passage whereby water may be retained within said basin.

5. A toilet sink unit as claimed in claim 2 having outlet passage means opening from said basin whereby water may be discharged from said basin and closure means for said passage whereby water may be retained within said basin.

6. A toilet sink unit as claimed in claim 3 having outlet passage means opening from said basin whereby water may be discharged from said basin and closure means for said passage whereby water may be retained within said basin.

7. A toilet sink unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said container is formed with a die parting plane parallel to said first wall such that all surfaces of the container extending from said plane are inclined at an angle thereto such that the unit may be formed by a blow molding process.

8. A toilet sink unit as claimed in claim 2 wherein said container is formed with a die parting plane parallel to said first wall such that all surfaces of the container extending from said plane are inclined at an angle thereto such that the unit may be formed by a blow molding process.

9. A toilet sink unit as claimed in claim 3 wherein said container is formed with a die parting plane parallel to said first wall such that all surfaces of the container extending from said plane are inclined at an angle thereto such that the unit may be formed by a blow molding process.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,246,344 4/1966 Saulson 4112 FOREIGN PATENTS 820,393 3/ 1953 Germany. 910,331 4/ 1954 Germany. 998,144 1/ 1952 France. 628,219 11/1961 Italy.

33,478 1/1949 Poland. 408,316 9/1966 Switzerland.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

HENRY K. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 4187; 220-20

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