Piston-flush toilet system

• US 9,416,524 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2014
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guardian Health Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hall Labs, LLC
• Inventors: Hall, David R., Marshall, Jon, Larsen, Joshua, Reynolds, Jared, Englund, Corbin
• Primary Examiner(s): Jacyna, J. Casimer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shaw, Benjamin R
• Application Number:
  US14/198,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20150252556A1
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 431/9, 432/0, 432/1, 432/3, 443/1, 443/4, 440/7, 425/502, 425/503, 466/1, 466/2, 443/2, 443/3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/012 combined with movable closure elements in the bowl outlet bowls with closure elements between bottom or outlet and outlet pipe E03D11/10
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/08 directly by the foot combined with devices for opening or closing shutters in the bowl outlet and/or with devices for raising or lowering seat and cover and/or for swiveling the bowl
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/10 operated electrically E03D5/01, E03D5/12 take precedence, e.g. by a photo-cell; also combined with devices for opening or closing shutters in the bowl outlet and/or with devices for raising/or lowering seat and cover and/or for swiveling the bowl

Abstract

The present invention comprises a piston-flush toilet system that may use appreciably less water than commonly used toilets today. Such a piston-flush toilet system may comprise a bowl to accept waste and a chamber comprising a waste inlet connected to the bowl and a waste outlet connected to a sewer system or the like. A piston may be disposed within the chamber capable of sealing the waste inlet.

Claims

1. A piston-flush toilet system, comprising:

a bowl to accept waste;

a compressed air source for providing compressed air;

a chamber comprising a waste inlet connected to the bowl and a waste outlet, the waste outlet having an adjacent one-way valve which allows the waste to exit the chamber when compressed by a piston;

the piston disposed within the chamber seals the waste inlet and compresses the waste through the one-way valve as the compressed air is used to pressurize the piston; and

wherein the compressed air is used to pressurize the piston between retracted and compressed positions and to produce foam.

2. The piston-flush toilet system of claim 1, wherein the chamber is positioned beneath the bowl such that gravity transports waste from the bowl to the chamber.

3. The piston-flush toilet system of claim 1, wherein the chamber is positioned at an angle such that gravity transports waste entering the chamber at the waste inlet to the waste outlet.

4. The piston-flush toilet system of claim 1, further comprising a macerating unit disposed within the chamber between the piston and the waste outlet.

5. The piston-flush toilet system of claim 1, further comprising an elastic stopper disposed within the chamber between the piston and the waste outlet wherein the elastic stopper deforms when pressurized by the piston and returns to its original shape when not pressurized.

6. The piston-flush toilet system of claim 1, further comprising a rigid stopper disposed within the chamber between the piston and the waste outlet held in place by a spring that deforms when pressurized by the piston and returns to its original position when not pressurized.

7. The piston-flush toilet system of claim 1, further comprising a foam generating system for supplying foam to the bowl or chamber or both.

8. The piston-flush toilet system of claim 7, wherein the foam is supplied to the bowl or chamber or both as the piston retracts.

9. The piston-flush toilet system of claim 7, wherein the foam comprises a lubricant to aid gravity in transporting waste from the bowl to the chamber.

10. The piston-flush toilet system of claim 1, wherein the bowl and chamber are formed of a solid member.

11. The piston-flush toilet system of claim 1, wherein the bowl and chamber are formed of plastic.

12. The piston-flush toilet system of claim 1, further comprising a microchip, for measuring characteristics of the waste, disposed within the chamber.

13. The piston-flush toilet system of claim 12, wherein the piston compresses waste against the microchip.

14. The piston-flush toilet system of claim 13, wherein the piston comprises a reflective surface that reflects light passing through the waste to the microchip.

15. The piston-flush toilet system of claim 13, wherein the piston comprises a light source that passes light through the waste to the microchip.