DRY CLOSET
First Claim
1. A dry closet comprising:
- a vessel having an open top;
a seat member adjacent the open top of said vessel;
a receptacle holding member positioned within said vessel, said receptacle holding member comprising a lower container receiving portion and a foraminous upper portion having an air permeable surface secured to said container receiving portion and diverging outwardly upwardly of said container receiving portion and secured adjacent an upper portion of said vessel, said lower container receiving portion and said foraminous upper portion together defining a member for holding a receptacle within said dry closet;
said receptacle holding member dividing said vessel into a first chamber portion in the space between said receptacle holding member and the walls of said vessel, said first chamber portion being capable of being made air tight by placing an imperforate receptacle in said receptacle holding member, and into a second chamber portion in the space within said receptacle holding member;
first duct means for removing gas from said first chamber portion; and
second duct means for removing gas from said second chamber portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dry closet comprises a vessel having an open top and provided with a seat member adjacent the open top. A receptacle holding member is positioned within the vessel and includes a lower container receiving portion and an upper, foraminous, portion. A disposable receptacle is positioned on the holding member prior to use. The receptacle includes a container portion, preferably in the form of a closeable box, and a bag portion much larger in volume than the box when extended upwards of the box in unfolded condition. The bag is closed at the bottom and open at its top and is secured at its lower end within the box and forms a water tight receptacle bag within the vessel. A rim portion at the upper, open, end of the bag is placeable over the upper surface of the seat portion at the top of the vessel. The receptacle holding member and receptacle thus divided the vessel into a first, closed, chamber comprising the space between the vessel walls and the receptacle holding member aNd a second chamber having an open top comprising the space within the receptacle holding member. With the receptacle in place, vacuum is applied to the first chamber thus causing the receptacle to be held in place against the foraminous upper portion of the receptacle holding member. During use, the second chamber is ventilated, utilizing a vacuum source. After use, the top area of the bag is folded together and evacuated using the ventilation vacuum source, such that the walls collapse without entraining air in the bag. The bag is then rolled down on itself until it is within the box container. The box container is then closed and sealed and stored for subsequent disposal. The individual closed boxes are preferably stored in larger carriers capable of carrying several used boxes to a disposal site. The invention is particularly suited to marine use since no waste products are discharged overboard and since pumping-out facilities, necessary for use with holding tank devices, are not required ashore.
46 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A dry closet comprising:
- a vessel having an open top;
a seat member adjacent the open top of said vessel;
a receptacle holding member positioned within said vessel, said receptacle holding member comprising a lower container receiving portion and a foraminous upper portion having an air permeable surface secured to said container receiving portion and diverging outwardly upwardly of said container receiving portion and secured adjacent an upper portion of said vessel, said lower container receiving portion and said foraminous upper portion together defining a member for holding a receptacle within said dry closet;
said receptacle holding member dividing said vessel into a first chamber portion in the space between said receptacle holding member and the walls of said vessel, said first chamber portion being capable of being made air tight by placing an imperforate receptacle in said receptacle holding member, and into a second chamber portion in the space within said receptacle holding member;
first duct means for removing gas from said first chamber portion; and
second duct means for removing gas from said second chamber portion.
- a vessel having an open top;
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2. A dry closet according to claim 1 wherein said foraminous upper portion of said receptacle holding member is secured adjacent the inner edge of said annular seat member.
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3. A dry closet according to claim 1 wherein said first duct means includes first valve means for regulating the flow of gas within said first duct means to regulate the pressure within said first chamber portion.
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4. A dry closet according to claim 1 wherein said second duct means includes second valve means for regulating the flow of gas within said second duct means to regulate the withdrawal of gas from said second chamber portion.
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5. A dry closet according to claim 1 wherein said seat portion includes a channel in its upper surface for receiving said first duct means.
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6. A dry closet according to claim 5 wherein said first duct means comprises a conduit member moveable into an operative position in said channel with an open end positioned in said second chamber portion for removing gas therefrom.
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7. A dry closet according to claim 6 including means for actuating said second valve means for removing gas from said second chamber portion upon moving said conduit member into said operative position.
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8. A dry closet according to claim 1 further including means for withdrawing gas from said first and second chamber portions through said first and second duct means.
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9. A dry closet according to claim 2 wherein said annular seat portion includes a plurality of perforations for holding a flexible sheet material adjacent its upper surface when a vacuum is maintained within said first chamber portion.
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10. A dry closet according to claim 1 including means for mechanically securing a receptacle to said dry closet.
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11. A dry closet according to claim 1 including a hinged lid for covering said second chamber portion.
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12. A dry closet according to claim 5 wherein said annular seat member includes a forward portion and a rear portion, said rear portion including said channel, said front portion being hingedly secured to said rear portion for swinging said front portion over said rear portion to place the upper surfaces of said front and rear portions in adjacency.
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13. A dry closet according to claim 1 including a disposable receptacle according to claim 1, said disposable receptacle being positioned in said second chamber portion with its self-supporting container being located within said container receiving portion, said flexible rim portion of said bag being positioned over the upper surface of said annular rim member.
Specification