Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2128286
~ v ~
93-263
BACKGROUND OF TH~ TNVENTION
The invention relates to portable toilets and,
particularly, to a chock for holding the flush valve of a
portable toilet open so as to ~acilitate the cleaning and
servicing of the toilet.
Portable toilets are widely used in numerous
applications including recreational vehicles, trucks,
temporary installations at work sites, and the like, wherein
a limited capacity for waste water i6 available. Such
toilets typically have a flush valve having an outlet and a
flap or valve member which closes the outlet. The valve is
typically biased into the closed position and opened by
depre~sing a pedal, handle or leve~ or the like to open the
valve. Conventionally, upon the release of such pedal,
etc., the valve member returns to the closed position. U.S.
Patent Nos. 4,145,773, 4,217,668, 4,710,g88 and 4,974,899
are representative of such conventional portable toilet
apparatus.
The water supply for flushing such toilets is typically
actuated by the valve member or pedal so that when the pedal
is released and the valve member closed, the flow of water
into the toilet is stopped. Such a function is useful for
obtaining efficient use of a small amount of flUs~ water.
However, when the toilet is to be cleaned or the system
~lushed by running water (either from the system or from an
2I28Z86 ~vvu
93-263
external source such as a hose) through the toilet and into
the black water holding tank, the pedal, handle, etc. must
be held depressed to keep the valve member open and, in some
ca~es, to continue the flow of water. It would of course be
S desirable to provide a toilet wherein said cleaning
operation can be performed without having to keep a foot or
hand on the pedal or handle to keep the flush valve open.
It i8 therefore the principal object of the present
invention to provide an apparatus for placement in the
outlet of the portable toilet to hold the flush valve of the
porta~le toilet open to facilitate cleaning.
It is another ob;ect of the invention to provide such
an apparatus with a handle structure for convenlent
placement of the apparatus within the outlet and removal
therefrom.
It is still another ob;ect of the invention to provide
such an apparatus having a positioning structure for proper
positioning of the apparatus within the outlet.
It ~s a further ob~ect of the invention to provide such
an apparatus which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
Other ob~ects and advantages will appear hereinbelow.
2I28286
93-263
SUMMARY OF THE INV~TION
The apparatus of the present invention readily attains
the foregoing ob~ects and advantages.
The invention relates to a chock for use in holding the
~lush valve of a conventional portable toilet open during
clean~ng of the toilet or flushing of the tan~ of the
system.
According to the invention, such a chock is provided
for holding open a valve member of a flush valve assembly of
a portable toilet having an outlet for communicating the
toilet with a storage tank wherein the valve member is
associated with the outlet and movable between a closed
position wherein the valve member blocks the outlet and an
open position wherein the outlet is unblocked, and wherein
the valve member is biased toward the closed position. The
chock comprises a body member adapted for placement within
the outlet so as to hold the valve member in the open or
unblocked position and to allow communication between the
toilet and the storage tank, and handle means attached to
the body member for placing the body member in the outlet
and for removing the body member from the outlet.
The body of the cho~k is preferably a substantially
tubular article having open ends and a diameter less than
that of the outlet of the flush valve.
212828 6 ~vu~
,
93-263
The chock preferably has a positioning structure such
as a flange having a diameter greater than that of the
outlet, the flange radially extending around one end of the
chock.
Still rurther, the handle means may include a cord
mem~er attached to the body member at both ends to define a
loop shaped handle. The handle may also be provided in the
form of a rigid upstanding structure such as, for example, a
simple tab structure or an inverted-J-shaped member or hooks
defining a finger hold.
B~T~.F DESCRIPTION OF T~E DRAWINGS
A detailed description of the preferred embodiments of
the invention follows, with reference to the atta~hed
drawings, wherein:
Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a typical
portable toilet and a flush valve assembly thereof;
Fig. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing a typical
portable toilet with a chock according to the invention
disposed in the outlet of the toilet;
Fig. 3 is a partially sectional side view of a chock
according to the invention;
Fig. 4 is an end view of an alternate embodiment of the
invention;
212~286
-
UUO
93-263
Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 of
Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the
invention;
Fig. 7 illustrates an end view of a further alternate
e~bodiment of the invention; and
Fig. 8 is a sectlonal view taken along the lines 8-8 of
Fig. 7.
D~q:AILED DES~RIPTION
The invention relates to a chock for holding the valve
member of a flush valve of a conventional porta~le toilet
open. This is useful when the toilet is to be cleaned or
the tank o~ the portable toilet system is to be filled
and/or flushed, because such an operation requires the valve
member of such a portable toilet, which is typically ~iased
into a closed position, to be open. ThuS, the valve member
of the flush valve must be held open by continuously
depresslng the rOot pedal or lever, which operates the flush
valve, during the entire cleaning operation. According to
the invention, a chock is provided for positioning within
the outlet of the toilet to hold the valve member open so
that, advantageously, both hands and both feet of the user
are free during the cleaning and/or flushing operation.
2I28286
~ ~u~
93-263
Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a typical portable
toilet 12 with outlet 16 and flush valve structure 10.
Toilet 12 typically includes a bowl portion 14 with outlet
16 for communicating bowl portion 14 with a storage member
such as storage tank 22. A Valve member 18 is associated
with outlet 16 and is typically positionable between an open
position (illustrated by dashed lines in Fig. 1) and a
closed position. In the closed position, outlet 1~ ls
blocked by valve member 18, thereby preventing flow through
o~tlet 16. In the open position, valve member 18 is pulled
away, either laterally as shown, or pivotally or through any
other range of movement as desired so as to remove valve
member 18 from seal~ng engagement with outlet 16 and allow
flow through the unblocked outlet 16. Valve member 18 is
typically operated by a pedal, handle or lever structure 20
(shown schematlcally) which serves to open valve member 18.
Because valve member 18 is normally closed, it is typically
biased toward the closed position by any conventional means
(not shown). Such biasing is normally desirable because the
valve member should be kept closed unless the toilet is
being flushed. However, when bowl portion 14 is to be
cleaned, or when it becomes desirable to flush out the
entire system for example including waste storage tank 22
(partially shown in Fig. 1 and 2), it is desirable to keep
valve member 18 open, against the normal bias, so that a
2128286
951 J l U
~3-263
ste~dy stream of water can be introduced into bowl portion
14 and/or tank 22 for cleaning, filling and/or tank flushing
purposes.
According to the invention, a chock 24 (Flg. 2) is
provided for removable positioning in outlet 16 so as to
hold valve member 18 in the open position so as to allow
flow from the bowl portion 14 through outlet 16 to storage
tank 22. Chock 24 is preferably a hollow tubular structure
having open ends 26 so that flow through outlet 16, in this
embodiment through chock 24, is allowed when chock 24 is
positioned in outlet 16. Chock 24 may suitably be
positioned for use by opening valve member 18 with pedal 20,
placing chock 24 in outlet 16 so as to extend into the plane
occupied by valve member 18 when valve member 18 is in the
closed position, and releasing pedal 20. Release of pedal
20 allows valve member 18 to be biase~ towards the closed
position. However, chock 24 blocks valve member 18 and
keeps outlet 16 open. The force exerted by valve member 18
on chock 24 is preferably sufficient to maintain chock 24 in
po9ition within outlet 16.
Chock 24 also preferably includes a handle member 28
for use in positioning chock 24 in outlet 16 and for
removing chock 24 from outlet 16. Handle member 28 may be a
cord member 30 attached at each end 32 to chock 24. Cord
member 30 may suitably be made from a stiffened material, or
~12828~
.
93-263
coated with a plastic or other substance, so that cord
member 30 i8 substantially rigid. In this manner, cord
member 30 i8 formed into a generally upstanding loop-shaped
handle for easy grasping to position or remove chock 24 as
desired, and st~ffened cord member 30 does not fall down
into bowl 14 during use.
Fig. 3 is a partially bro~en away view of an embodiment
of chock 24 in its simplest form. As shown, chock 24
includes a generally tube shaped article 34 having two open
endæ 26. Tu~e shaped article 34 is formed from a tubular
wall section 36 which may be extruded or molded or formed in
any other suitable and convenient manner. Wall section 36
defines an inner flow passage 38 through which fluids pass
when chock 24 i8 positioned within outlet 16 as shown by
arrow A in Fig. 2. Tubular article 34, according to the
nvention, has a diameter 39 which is less than the diameter
of outlets of conventional portable toilets, and may
preferably be about ~ 3/8" in outside diameter, so that
chock 24 is useful for most or all existing portable
toilets.
It should be noted that while the preferred embodiment
as discussed above is tubular in shape, such preference is
because the tubular article is easily and inexpensively
provided. The body portion of chock 24 could, in accordance
with the present invention, be any other shaped or adapted
212828~
g3-263
body member which, when disposed in outlet 16, serves to
hold valve mem~er 18 in the open position and to allow flow
from bowl portion 14 to storage tank 22. In this regard, a
flow passage may be defined within the body of chock 24, as
in tubular article 34, or the flow passage may be defined
relying entirely or in part upon the inner wall of outlet
16. An example of such a configuration would be to provide
chock 24 with a substantially solid cross section and having
one or more longitudinal cutouts tnot shown~ formed
lo lengthwise along the outer surface of chock 24 so as to
define flow passages in conjunction with outlet 16~ Chock
24 could similarly have numerous other configurations such
as a solid or hollow square or rectangular block or a semi-
or part- circular member or the like.
Fig. 3 also illustrates a preferred attachment of cord
member 30 to tubular article 34, by providing apertures 40
in the wall 36 o~ tubular article 34, and by fixing ends 32
of cord member 30 through apertures 40 through any
conventional means such as knots 42 or the like.
Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a preferred embodiment of
chock 24 wherein a flange 44 lB formed or disposed around an
end of tubula~ article 34. Flange 44 has an outside
diameter 46 which is larger than that of outlets 16 of most
or all typical portable toilets 12, and serves to hold chock
24 in position and pravent chock 24 fro~ passing through
212828~
IS~I U 1 3
g3-263
outlet 16. Without such flan~e, chock 24 is held in
position by the force of valve member 18 which is biased
toward a closed position and thus pressed against chock 24.
With flange 44, however, it is not necessary to rely upon
valve member 18 to maintain the desired position of chock
24. This i8 particularly advantageous in situations where
the force of valve member 18 may not be sufficient to hold
chock 24 in place. Flange 44 may suitably have an outslde
diameter 46 of about 3 3/8", and may suitably be formed on
chock 24, or formed separately and attached to chock 24
through any conventional means.
Flange 44 is preferably provided wlth a number of
cutouts 48 spaced about a periphery thereof. Such cutouts
48 serve to define peripheral flow passages around flange 44
and to thereby prevent water or other liquids from
collecting on the flat surface of flange 44 during use.
Further, cutouts 48 are preferably arranged in alignment
with apertures 40 so that cord member 30 is accommodated in
cutouts 48 when chock 24 is in use. otherwise, cord member
30 could be damaged by being caught between flange 44 and
the walls of outlet 16 or bowl portion 14.
Fig. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the invention,
wherein the handle member includes one or more inverted-J-
shaped members formed at an end of chock 24 so as to define
upstanding hooks 50. Such hooks 50 serve as finger holds for
2128286
1~1 U14
93-263
grasping chock 24 for placement and removal. Such hooks 50
may suitably be formed on chock 24, or ~ormed separately and
conventionally attached thereto, as desired.
Of course, the handle member may have any of numerous
structural configurations in accordance with the present
invention. Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate a further simple
embodiment of such a configuration wherein the handle member
comprise6 a simple tab portion 4g, extending upwardly from
an end 26 of the article, preferably extending from flange
44 as shown. Two such tab portions ~9 are illustrated. Of
course, one or more tabs 49 may suitably be provided in
accordance with the invention. Tab 49, as with flange 44,
may be ~ormed or molded as a portion of article 24, or may
be provlded separately and attached thereto in any
conventional manner.
It should be noted that numerous alternate embodiments
for the handle structure could o~ course be used in
accordance with the present invention.
Further, chock 24 may be made from plastic, met~l, or
any other material which is suitable for the desired use and
which, preferably, provides a durable and inexpensive
article of manufacture.
It is to be understood that the invention is not
limited to the illustrations described and shown herein,
which are deemed to be merely illustrative of the best mode6
212828~
-
v ~ v ~ ~ 016
93-263
of carrying out the invention, and which are susceptible of
modification of form, 6ize, arrangement of parts and details
of operation. The invention rather is intended to encompass
all ouch modifications which are within its spirit and scope
as defined by the claims.
