WATERLESS WASTE DISPOSAL SYSTEM

Abstract

A waterless waste disposal system to suspend a bag inside of a toilet bowl, and under a user, to collect solid/semi-solid human waste. The bag preferably includes a perforation on its front side that the user can tear open to allow urine to pass over the top of the bag and into the toilet bowl while the user is seated over the bag. The user then disposes of the bag into a trash receptacle or waste composter. Urine may be allowed to accumulate in the toilet bowl without flushing after every use to conserve water.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of Invention

The invention relates generally to water conservation, and more specifically to an improved waterless human waste disposal system.

Description of Related Technology

Many people dispose of feces by throwing it into a trashcan. For example, people dispose of soiled baby diapers by depositing them into a “Diaper Genie”, or a trash bag, before ultimately throwing them into a trashcan.

Many parts of the world suffer drought conditions. Various governments impose water use limitations on their populations to conserve water. These limitations generally focus on outdoor water use, such as limiting watering lawns to twice a week, etc. Although, more recently, in the United Kingdom, Thames water executives have advised the local population to flush their toilets less frequently by using the slogan “If it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown flush it down.” (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11975115/Don't-flush-toilet-using-conserve-nations-water-supply-says-Thames-Water-executive.html)

In the United States of America, flush toilets use water to move human waste from a restroom to a sewage treatment plant (e.g., Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant). The United States Environmental Protection Agency lists toilets as the largest source of water use in the home, accounting for almost 30 percent of a household's water consumption. Less efficient toilets can use up to 7 gallons of water per flush. Whereas a modern toilet may use only 1.6 gallons.

Therefore, there remains a need to conserve water in a way that addresses the largest source of water use in the home, namely flush toilets in the disposal of solid/semi-solid human waste.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF CERTAIN INVENTIVE ASPECTS

To overcome the aforesaid problems of using water to move human feces out of a bathroom, disclosed is a waterless waste disposal system that utilizes a specialized apparatus and bag to gather a user's feces for disposal. As used herein, the term “bag” includes a flexible container with a single top opening.

Without limiting the scope of this invention as expressed by the claims that follow, its more prominent features will now be discussed briefly. After considering this discussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled “DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS”, one will understand how the features of this invention provide advantages that include the improved collection and disposal of solid/semi-solid human waste without the need of water.

In a preferred embodiment, the invention includes a waterless waste disposal system, comprising a dual toilet seat assembly. The dual toilet seat assembly includes a first and second toilet seat, wherein the second toilet seat includes a mooring to suspend a bag inside of a toilet bowl (above any water in the bowl) to collect human waste for disposal.

In an alternative embodiment, the invention comprises an apparatus that includes a mooring to suspend a bag in a toilet bowl under a user's anus and behind the user's external urethral orifice when the user is positioned over a toilet bowl.

In yet another alternate embodiment, the invention includes a bag for a waterless waste disposal system, comprising a bag including a top opening to directly receive human feces from a user positioned over the top opening, and a front side of the bag including a perforation.

The invention, now having been briefly summarized, may be better visualized by turning to the following drawings wherein like elements are referenced by like numerals.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, the present invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only, and changes may be made in the specific construction(s) illustrated and described that are within the scope of the claims.

Although, the invention is described in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, the various features, aspects, and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the embodiment with which they are described. Instead, they can be applied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more of the other embodiments of the invention, whether such embodiments are explicitly described and whether such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments.

The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “at least”, “but not limited to”, or other phrases, shall not be read to mean that a narrower case is intended, or required, where such broadening phrases may be absent.

The objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following descriptions and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail using the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 Shows a perspective view of a waterless waste disposal system including a dual toilet seat assembly including a bag mooring.

FIG. 2 Shows a top view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 Shows a front view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 Shows a side view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 Shows a front elevated view of an alternative embodiment of a waterless waste disposal system including a toilet seat cover.

FIG. 6 Shows a perspective view of a bag for a waterless waste disposal system including a perforation on the bag's front side.

FIG. 7 Shows a sideview of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 Shows a front view of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 Shows a perspective view of a waterless waste disposal system including a perforated bag suspended inside of a toilet bowl.

FIG. 10 Shows a top view of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 Shows a front elevated view of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 Shows a side view of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description is directed to certain specific embodiments of the invention. However, the invention can be embodied in a multitude of different ways as defined and covered by the claims. In this description, reference is made to the drawings wherein like parts are designated with like numerals throughout. As used herein, the term “waste” includes solid and semi-solid human waste (i.e., feces), unless specified otherwise.

The present invention solves the aforesaid problems by providing a waterless waste disposal system that allows a user to collect his waste in a bag suspended in a toilet bowl and dispose of it without using water. The user would dispose of the waste in a trash receptacle or a composter. The dual seat assembly, and the alternate embodiment that includes a toilet seat cover apparatus, may be attached to an existing flush toilet in place of a prior art toilet seat assembly.

These and other features, aspects and embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail below.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a waterless waste disposal system including a dual seat assembly 10 for a flush toilet, including a first toilet seat 11, and a second toilet seat 12. Each toilet seat 11 & 12 is independently moveable about a pivot axis 14, so that the second toilet seat 12 can be moved out of the way (i.e., folded up) when not in use. The second toilet seat 12 includes at least one mooring 13 to suspend a bag inside of a toilet bowl to collect waste. The bag mooring 13 is preferably of a one-piece unitary construction with the second toilet seat 12. In an alternative embodiment, the first toilet seat 11 may include a bag mooring 13, instead of, or in addition to, the second toilet seat 12, or the bag mooring 13 may be removeable, etc. Further, the moorings 13 may be located at, or behind, the midpoint of the second seat's 12 length to position a bag under a user's anus.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of FIG. 1, where the second toilet seat 12 substantially covers the top surface area of the first toilet seat 11 when the second toilet seat 12 rests on the top surface of the first toilet seat 11. In a preferred embodiment, the second toilet seat 12 is a full-sized adult seat and will include a hole 16 that is substantially the same size and shape as the first toilet seat's 11 hole 15. However, in an alternate embodiment, the second seat 12 may be a smaller “potty training” toilet seat, with a substantially smaller hole (not shown) for a child.

The toilet seats 11 & 12 share a pivot axis 14 located to the rear of the dual seat assembly 10. In an alternate embodiment, the seats 11 & 12 may not share a pivot axis 14. For example, the second toilet seat 12 may be removably attachable to the first toilet seat 11 (e.g., the second toilet seat 12 is a removably attachable toilet seat riser).

FIG. 3 shows a front view of the toilet seat assembly 10 in FIG. 2, with the second toilet seat 12 resting on the first toilet seat 11. Moorings 13 are part of the second toilet seat 12, and the seats 11 & 12 are shown sharing a common pivot axis 14.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the toilet seat assembly 10 in FIG. 2 with the second toilet seat 12 resting on the top surface of the first toilet seat 11. The mooring 13 is of a one-piece, unified construction with the material of the second toilet seat 12. The mooring 13 will preferably be located to the rear (i.e., behind the midpoint) of the second toilet seat 12, to position a bag under a user's anus who is seated on a toilet bowl. In an alternative embodiment a mooring 13 may be located at, or in front of the midpoint of a the second 12, or first, toilet seat 11. Further, the second toilet seat 12 may include a plurality of moorings to give a user many locations to suspend a bag from, to accommodate the needs of multiple users. The seats 11 & 12 move about a pivotal axis 14.

FIG. 5 shows a front elevated view of an alternative embodiment of a waterless waste system 17, comprising a toilet seat cover apparatus 18 that includes a hook shaped mooring 19 to suspend a bag inside of a toilet bowl 20 to collect human waste. A bag is preferably suspended inside of a toilet bowl 20 behind a user's external urethral orifice and under a user's anus. In this way, the bag will avoid, or greatly limit, the collecting of urine. Instead, a user may urinate into the toilet bowl 20 and not into the bag. Those or ordinary skill in the art know what an anus and an external urethral orifice are, and where they are located on the human body, and so are not described further herein. Additionally, this alternate embodiment will save money on manufacturing costs, as there is only one toilet seat.

FIG. 6 shows a shows a perspective view of a bag 21 for the aforesaid waterless waste systems 10 & 17, including a handle(s) 22 of a unified one-piece construction with the bag 21. The bag 21 includes a perforation 23 on the front 24 of the bag 21 that a user may tear open when the bag 21 is to be used to collect waste. In this way a user may urinate into the toilet bowl 20, through, or over, the bag 21. In a preferred embodiment, the perforation 23 is centered on the front 24 of the bag 21 to align with a user's likely urine stream path when the user is seated on a second toilet seat 12.

The perforation 23 may be in a straight line, or other pattern, and include closely spaced holes, slits, indentations, or a combination of them, in the bag material. The bag 21 material may be made of any suitable material that is flexible to allow a user to the tie the opening 25 at the top of the bag 21 shut (e.g. using the handles 22 to make a knot at the top of the bag 21 to close it). The bag 21 material may be made of a compostable, biodegradable, or plastic/recycled plastic material, or a combination of them.

The perforation 23 is preferably perpendicular to a front edge of the opening 25. In an alternate embodiment, the perforation 23 may be at a different angle relative to the opening 25 (e.g., diagonal). The perforation 23 includes a length that begins proximate to the bag's 21 opening 25 and continues at least partially down the bag's 21 front side 24. It is preferable that the perforation 23 does not run the full length of the front side 24 of the bag 21 to prevent any accidental leakage of waste in transporting the bag 21 to a waste receptacle/composter (e.g., if the perforation is made of small holes).

The perforation 23 may be singular, or a plurality of perforations 23. For example, a bag 21 in an alternate embodiment may include two parallel perforations 23 that are spaced (e.g., 4 inches apart) and perpendicular to the opening 25, so a user can tear open to create a flap on the front side 24 of the bag 21. Another alternate embodiment example includes a second perforation 22 on the bag's 21 back side (not shown) that is of the same pattern and length as the perforation 23 on the front side 24 of the bag 21, so that a user who is in a hurry to use the toilet will not have to check if the perforation 23 is pointed forward before sitting on a second toilet seat 12.

Instead of, or in addition to a perforation 23, the bag's 21 opening 25 may include a front edge that is lower than the bag's 21 back edge to allow a user's urine stream to pass over the front side 24 of the bag 21 and into the toilet bowl 20, without a perforation 23.

FIG. 7 shows a side view of the bag for a waterless waste disposal system in FIG. 6, including a handle 22 of a unitary one-piece construction with the bag 21. A perforation (not shown) is on the front side 24 of the bag.

FIG. 8 shows a front view of the bag for a waterless waste disposal system in FIG. 6, including a perforation 23 on the front side 24 of the bag 21 that is substantially centered and perpendicular to the bag's 21 opening 25. The bag 21 includes a handle 22 of a unitary one-piece construction.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a waterless waste disposal system including a dual toilet seat assembly 10, that includes a first toilet seat 11 and second toilet seat 12, wherein a bag 21 is suspended inside of a toilet bowl 20 by the bag's 21 handles 22 attached to moorings 13. The bag 21 is suspended over any water 26 in the toilet bowl 20. The perforation 23 is shown torn slightly open 27 to allow a user's urine stream to pass through and/or over the top front side 24 of the bag 21 into the water 26.

In this way, the user may allow the urine to accumulate in the toilet bowl 20, without flushing the toilet after every use, to conserve water (i.e., “If it's yellow let it mellow . . . ” supra). For example, the user can allow the urine to accumulate in the toilet for a fixed number of uses, flush before the user goes to bed for the night, until there is an odor, etc.

FIG. 10 shows a top view of the waterless waste disposal in FIG. 9 including a dual seat assembly 10 that includes a first toilet seat 11 and a second toilet seat 12 that share a common pivot axis 14 to allow the seats 11 & 12 to move independently of each other, so that the second toilet seat 12 may be moved out of the way when the second toilet seat 12 is not in use. A bag 21 is suspended inside of a toilet bowl 20, over any water 26 therein. The bag 21 is suspended by its handles 22 (that are of a unitary one-piece construction with the bag 21) hooked over the second toilet seat's 12 moorings 13. The moorings 13 are of a unitary one-piece construction with the second toilet seat 12. The bag's 21 perforation 23 is shown torn open 27.

FIG. 11 shows a front elevated view of the waterless waste disposal system in FIG. 9, including a toilet seat assembly 10 that includes a first toilet seat 11 and a second toilet seat 12, suspending a bag 21 inside of a toilet bowl 20 over water 26 by moorings 13. The bag 21 has a perforation 23 on its front side 24, and is shown torn open 27 for use.

FIG. 12 shows a side view of FIG. 9, including a bag 21 suspended inside of a toilet bowl 20 over water 26 by the moorings 13 of a dual seat assembly 10 including a first and second toilet seat 11 & 12 that share a pivot axis 14.

The disclosed invention teaches a new waterless waste disposal system that utilizes an existing toilet. Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiments have been set forth only for the purposes of examples and that they should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by the following claims. For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim are set forth below in certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the invention includes other combinations of fewer, more, or different ones of the disclosed elements.

Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements.

The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what incorporates the essential idea of the invention.

Claims

1. A waterless waste disposal system, comprising: a dual toilet seat assembly,the dual toilet seat assembly including a first toilet seat; anda second toilet seat, wherein the second toilet seat includes a mooring to suspend a bag inside of a toilet bowl to collect human waste for disposal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second toilet seat rests on the first toilet seat when suspending the bag inside of the toilet bowl.

3. The dual toilet seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second toilet seat are independently moveable about a pivot axis.

4. The mooring of claim 1, further being of a unitary, one-piece construction with the second toilet seat.

5. The mooring of claim 1, further being configured to suspend the bag by a handle of the bag.

6. The mooring of claim 1, wherein the mooring is located at or behind the midpoint of the second seat.

7. The mooring of claim 1, wherein the mooring is configured to suspend the bag under a user's anus and behind the user's external urethral orifice in use.

8. An apparatus to suspend a bag inside of a toilet bowl, comprising: an apparatus, the apparatus including a mooring to suspend a bag inside of a toilet bowl under a user's anus while the user is positioned over the toilet bowl.

9. The mooring of claim 8, further being of a unitary, one-piece construction, with the apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the mooring further suspends the bag behind a user's external urethral orifice.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, further being removably attachable above a toilet bowl rim.

12. The bag of claim 8, including a handle of a unitary, one-piece, construction.

13. A bag for a waterless waste disposal system, comprising: a bag for a waterless waste disposal system,the bag including a top opening, a back side; anda front side including a perforation.

14. The perforation of claim 13, wherein the perforation is substantially perpendicular to an edge of the top opening.

15. The perforation of claim 13, wherein the perforation is substantially centered on the front of the bag.

16. The perforation of claim 13, wherein the perforation includes a length, the length begins proximate to the top opening; and continues partially down the front side.

17. The bag of claim 13, including a second perforation on the bag's back side that is of the same pattern and length as the perforation on the front side of the bag.

18. The perforation of claim 13, wherein the perforation is a group, the group comprised of closely spaced holes, closely spaced slits, or closely spaced indentations; and is as wide as a single hole, slit, or indentation.

19. The bag of claim 13, further including a handle that is of a unified one-piece construction with the bag.

20. The bag of claim 13, wherein the top opening's front edge is lower than top opening's back edge.