Portable lavatory apparatus

• US 6,948,196 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2004
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Susan P. Hinton
• Original Assignee: Susan P. Hinton
• Inventors: Hinton, Susan P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Khoa D.
• Application Number:
  US10/872,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20040221379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 448/4, 448/3, 423/9, 425/4, 297/130, 297/54, 297/344.18
• US Class Current: 4/484
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 11/02 Dry closets, e.g. incinerator closets
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 13/005 Auxiliary or portable seats for children A47K13/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/30 Against vector-borne diseases, e.g. mosquito-borne, fly-borne, tick-borne or waterborne diseases whose impact is exacerbated by climate change

Abstract

A multi-function portable lavatory apparatus is provided that may be used as a self-supporting portable seat in conjunction with a conventional toilet, as well as a minimal contact portable seat in conjunction with portable bathroom facilities that typically comprise a fixed toilet seat mounted directly upon a waste holding tank.

Claims

1. A portable lavatory apparatus for use in conjunction with a portable bathroom facility having conventional toilet seat secured directly upon the surface of a waste holding tank, said portable lavatory apparatus, comprising:

a generally planar member having an opening therein and having a top surface and a bottom surface;

four telescoping support members extending from said bottom surface of said planar member, each of, said four support members comprising a lower telescoping section having a top end, a central portion, and a bottom end, said bottom end of said lower telescoping section comprising a first non-skid footing and said central portion of said lower telescoping section comprising a second non-skid footing, an upper telescoping section in communication with said lower telescoping section, said upper telescoping section capable of moving into at least one position relative to said lower telescoping section, and a means for securing said upper telescoping section in said at least one position relative to said lower telescoping section;

four hinge mechanisms securing said plurality of support members to said bottom surface of said planar member, said four hinge mechanisms capable of allowing said four support members to rotate from a perpendicular open position to a parallel closed position relative to said planar member such that when said four support members are in said perpendicular open position said first non-skid footings engage the surface of the waste holding tank, and when said four support members are in said parallel closed position said second non-skid footings engage the surface of the waste holding tank preventing contact with the conventional toilet sear secured thereupon.

2. The portable lavatory apparatus of claim 1, wherein said planar member further comprises a right hand segment, a left hand segment, and at least one hinge mechanism securing said right hand segment to said left hand segment, said hinge mechanism capable of allowing said right hand segment to be folded into a closed position upon said left hand segment.

3. The portable lavatory apparatus of claim 2, wherein said planar member further comprises at least one locking mechanism preventing said planar member from folding into said closed position.

4. The portable lavatory apparatus of claim 1, wherein said planar member further comprises a cushioning surface disposed around said opening upon said top surface.

5. The portable lavatory apparatus of claim 4, wherein said cushioning surface is temporarily secured to said top surface of said planar member such that said cushioning surface may be temporarily removed from said top surface.

6. The portable lavatory apparatus of claim 5, wherein said cushioning surface is temporarily secured to said top surface of said planar member by means of a plurality of hook and loop fabric strips.

7. The portable lavatory apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a biodegradable waste containing splashguard, said splashguard comprising a central waste containing portion and a plurality of substantially rectangular tab portions extending radially from said central waste containing portion, said substantially rectangular tab portions being sandwiched between said cushioning surface and said top surface of said planar member.

8. The portable lavatory apparatus of claim 1, wherein said planar surface further comprises a plurality of handrails secured to said top surface.