A urinal unit

Abstract

There is provided a urinal unit comprising a base, the base comprising a urine tank. The urinal unit further comprises at least one exterior wall mounted on the base to define a urinal usage space. The at least one exterior wall comprises a first wall section and a second wall section, the wall sections being positioned on the base to provide an entrance to the urinal usage space. The urinal unit further comprises an occupancy indicator mounted movably on the first wall section. The occupancy indicator is configured to rotate from a first, vacant, position wherein the entrance is unobstructed to a second, occupied, position wherein the entrance is at least partially obstructed.

Description

[0001] A urinal unit

[0002] Field

[0003] The present invention concerns urinal units, for example free-standing and / or portable urinal units. The present invention more particularly concerns female urinal units.

[0004] Portable urinal units are typically transported for temporary usage on site, for example at festivals and other outdoor events. The urine is drained from a collection tank, so that the units can be re-used. Portable urinal units will be understood to be urinal units which can be easily moved between locations, and therefore are not fixed in situ. Portable urinal units will be understood to be freestanding units, which may have a single compartment for use by one occupant at a time, or multiple compartments for use by multiple occupants.

[0005] A difficulty with portable female urinal units is that a requirement for privacy has led to designs which prevent a line of sight to the pedestal. As a consequence, it can be difficult to know whether a unit is occupied or not, from the outside.

[0006] Some portable urinal units have a door with a lock to provide a visual indicator to the surrounding environment that the unit is in use. However, it has been found that in such portable urinal units wherein a door provides a fully enclosed urinal space, usage of the urinal space is slowed down leading to increased queuing times. In addition, door locks are frequently impractical for mass usage, and usage in outdoor locations, because the locks can dislodge or jam after repeated use.

[0007] Some recent portable urinal units provide a unit having no door, but instead incorporating a privacy screen or overlapping entrance path (i.e. labyrinth or complex entrance path) to prevent visibility of the urinal space from the exterior. Such urinal units reduce queueing times because the average time spent in the urinal is lower, but without a lock it is not apparent whether the unit is occupied at a given time.

[0008] Improvements in urinal units are required to address the above mentioned drawbacks.

[0009] In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a urinal unit. The urinal unit comprises a base comprising a urine tank and at least one exterior wall mounted on the base to define a urinal usage space. The at least one exterior wall comprises a first wall section and a second wall section, the wall sections being positioned on the base to provide an entrance to the urinal usage space. The urinal unit further comprises an occupancy indicator mounted movably on the first wall section, the occupancy indicator being configured to rotate from a first, vacant, position wherein the entrance is unobstructed to a second, occupied, position wherein the entrance is at least partially obstructed.

[0010] The urinal unit may be portable (meaning transportable between locations with or without disassembly, for example with partial disassembly). The urinal unit may be an outdoor urinal unit. The urinal unit may be a women’s urinal unit. The urinal unit may be a modular urinal unit being configured for assembly alongside other similar urinal units to form a urinal unit assembly. The occupancy indicator may extend fully across the width of the entrance of the urinal unit in the second, occupied, position. The urinal unit may be a doorless urinal unit. The urinal unit may be a semi-enclosed urinal unit. The urinal unit may comprise an overlapping entrance path (i.e. a labyrinth entrance).

[0011] The inventors have appreciated that by providing an occupancy indicator which is mounted movably on the first wall section, the occupancy indicator can be rotated by a person using the urinal unit to enable access to the urinal unit and to thereafter by rotating back the indicator, indicate occupancy of the unit during use. Thus the present invention provides a visual indicator of occupancy of the urinal unit, thereby reducing queueing times. Moreover the occupancy indicator provides a physical obstruction to entry to the urinal unit. The occupancy indicator can be visible from a considerable distance away.

[0012] The exterior wall may be positioned at the periphery of the base. The wall section may be continuous. The wall sections may be discrete. The entrance may comprise a gap, or an access pathway. The wall sections may be positioned in parallel on the base to provide the entrance to the urinal usage space. The wall sections may be positioned side by side on the base to provide the entrance to the urinal usage space. The wall sections may overlap to define an access pathway. The access pathway may be a straight pathway. The access pathway may be a curved pathway. The urinal usage space will be understood to be a space within the at least one exterior wall in which a person may use the urinal.

[0013] The range of rotation from the first position to the second position may be an angle of ~90 degrees. The range of rotation from the first position to the second position may preferably be an angle of ~180 degrees. The range of rotation from the first position to the second position may be an angle in the range 90-270 degrees, for example in the range 140-220 degrees.

[0014] The occupancy indicator may comprise a vacancy indicator portion and an occupancy indicator portion. The occupancy indicator portion may be disposed generally along a longitudinal axis at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the vacancy indicator portion.

[0015] The vacancy indicator portion may extend a height above an upper edge of the at least one exterior wall in the first, vacant, position. The height may be greater than 15 cm for example in the range 15-30 cm. Thus, the vacancy indicator portion may be visible from outside the urinal unit in the first, vacant, position. Providing a vacancy indicator portion which is visible above the upper edge of the exterior wall may increase visibility from the surroundings. The vacancy indicator portion may extend a distance below the upper edge of the at least one exterior wall in the second, occupied, position. Thus the vacancy indicator portion may be at least partially concealed from view from outside the urinal unit in the second, occupied, position.

[0016] The vacancy indicator portion may comprise a post, for example a cylindrical post. In another embodiment the post may be a square or other shaped post. A post may conveniently form a handle for turning the occupancy indicator from the second, occupied, position to the first, vacant, position.

[0017] The occupancy indicator portion may extend a height above an upper edge of the at least one exterior wall in the second, occupied, position. The height may be greater than 20 cm for example greater than 30 cm. Thus, the occupancy indicator portion may be visible from outside the urinal unit in the second, occupied, position. Providing an occupancy indicator portion which is visible above the upper edge of the exterior wall may increase visibility from the surroundings.

[0018] The occupancy indicator portion may extend a distance below the upper edge of the at least one exterior wall in the first, vacant, position. Thus the occupancy indicator portion may be at least partially concealed from view from outside the urinal unit in the first, vacant, position.

[0019] The occupancy indicator portion may comprise a fin. A fin may be understood to be a portion which is wider at one end, tapering to a narrower portion at the opposing end. A fin-shaped occupancy indicator portion may conveniently form a handle for turning the occupancy indicator from the first, vacant, position to the second, occupied, position. In another embodiment the occupancy indicator may have a rectangular or other shape. The occupancy indicator portion may be disposed along a longitudinal axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vacancy indicator portion.

[0020] The occupancy indicator may comprise a first visual indicator on the occupancy indicator portion, and a second visual indicator on the vacancy indicator portion.

[0021] The first visual indicator may comprise a red panel, and the second visual indicator may comprise a green panel. Use of red and green panels may further improve determination of the occupied or vacant status of the urinal unit.

[0022] The occupancy indicator may be mounted at the top of the first wall section. The occupancy indicator may be mounted for rotation about a pivot point. The at least one exterior wall may comprise an attachment assembly. The attachment assembly may comprise a spigot. The occupancy indicator may have a hole through which the spigot is inserted. Thus the occupancy indicator can be mounted for rotation about a pivot point formed by the spigot.

[0023] The attachment assembly may further comprise a bracket connecting an end (i.e. the distal end) of the spigot to a part of the exterior wall. Thus the occupancy indicator may be retained in place.

[0024] The spigot may have a generally cylindrical shape and protrude from an upper part of the exterior wall. Alternatively, the occupancy indicator may be mounted in another way for example mounted directly on the exterior wall. For example, the exterior wall may comprise a moulded spigot or pivot point on which the occupancy indicator can be mounted.

[0025] The entrance may comprise an access pathway. In the second, occupied, position the occupancy indicator may extend fully across the access pathway. The access pathway may have a width between 45-60cm. The width of the access pathway may vary for example being wider towards the exterior of the urinal unit and narrower towards the interior of the urinal unit. The occupancy indicator may be configured to rotate to rest on top of the at least one exterior wall in the second, occupied, position.

[0026] The occupancy indicator may be configured to rotate to abut an inner side of the at least one exterior wall in the second, occupied, position.

[0027] The occupancy indicator may comprise a flat rear face, and the exterior wall may comprise an abutment extending forward from the inner side, the abutment having a flat front face. In the first, vacant, position, the flat rear face of the occupancy indicator may rest on the flat front face of the abutment to thereby hold the occupancy indicator in a generally horizontal position. Accordingly, the occupancy indicator may be supported in a position which extends a maximum distance over the urinal.

[0028] The urinal unit may further comprise a pedestal mounted on the base in the urinal usage space, wherein in the first, vacant, position, the occupancy indicator extends towards the pedestal. The occupancy indicator may extend over the pedestal.

[0029] The urinal unit may be a female urinal unit. The urinal unit may be a portable urinal unit. The urinal unit may be a modular urinal unit configured to fit in a tessellated arrangement with at least one further urinal unit.

[0030] In a second aspect of the invention there is provided a urinal unit comprising a base and at least one exterior wall mounted on the base to define a urinal usage space. The at least one exterior wall is arranged on the base to provide an entrance to the urinal usage space. The urinal unit further comprises an occupancy indicator mounted movably on the at least one exterior wall. The occupancy indicator comprises a vacancy indicator portion and an occupancy indicator portion, the occupancy indicator being configured to rotate from a first, vacant, position wherein the vacancy indicator portion extends a first height above an upper edge of the at least one exterior wall to a second, occupied, position wherein the occupancy indicator portion extends a second height above an upper edge of the at least one exterior wall.

[0031] The inventors have appreciated that an occupancy indicator configured as such provides a visual indication of vacancy or occupancy of the urinal unit from a greater distance away from the urinal unit, as either the vacancy indicator portion or the occupancy indicator portion extend above the height of the exterior wall of the unit. In an outdoor location this can significantly improve queuing efficiency.

[0032] The vacancy indicator portion may be shaped to provide a visual indication of vacancy of the urinal unit. The occupancy indicator portion may be configured to provide a visual indication of occupancy of the urinal unit, for example being shaped to indicate occupancy or coloured to indicate occupancy or comprising a light emitting element to indicate occupancy. The vacancy indicator portion may be configured to provide a visual indication of vacancy of the urinal unit, for example being shaped to indicate vacancy or coloured to indicate vacancy or comprising a light emitting element to indicate vacancy.

[0033] In a third aspect of the invention there is provided a base comprising a urine tank and a side tank support; and at least one exterior wall mounted on the base to define a urinal usage space; the at least one exterior wall comprising a first wall section and a second wall section, the wall sections being positioned on the base to provide an entrance to the urinal usage space; the urine tank comprising a sloped floor having an upper edge and a lower edge, the sloped floor being supported at or adjacent the upper edge by the side tank support, the urine tank further comprising a trough at or adjacent the lower edge, the sloped floor being flat and angled to direct the flow of urine in the tank towards the trough; the urine tank comprising at least one drainage outlet from the trough.

[0034] A tank configured as such enables continuous flow of collected urine towards the trough where it can be extracted, avoiding collection of urine in pools in portions of the tank, minimising stagnant urine remaining in the tank. The urinal unit may further comprise a central tank support beneath the urine tank. The central tank support may be wedge-shaped. The trough may be a squareshaped trough. The angle of the sloped floor may be less than 20 degrees from a notional horizontal reference plane.

[0035] The base may further comprise one or more pillars within the tank, the pillars extending between or in contact with the sloped floor and a roof of the tank. The pillars may provide a bracing support to the floor of the urinal unit.

[0036] The base may further comprise one or more ground supports beneath the tank, the ground supports being positioned vertically below the pillars to provide structural support when the base is resting on the ground in use.

[0037] The urinal unit may further comprise a pedestal mounted on the base, the pedestal being positioned at least partially above one of the pillars. Arranged as such, the weight of a person in the urinal unit can be better supported. The pillar may be arranged beneath the pedestal so that the pedestal drains directly into the tank without obstruction by the pillar. For example the pillar may support a rear part or a front part of the pedestal.

[0038] The urinal unit may further comprise a pedestal mounted on a surround attached to or within the roof of the tank. The surround may be configured to rotate with respect to the base from an upturned position wherein the pedestal is upstanding from the base in a position ready for use, and a downturned position wherein the pedestal extends into the interior of the tank between the pillars.

[0039] As such, the pedestal can pack away for more easy transportation of the urinal unit, as a complete unit or in parts (as a base and separate exterior wall panels).

[0040] In a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a urine collection unit for a portable urinal unit, the urine collection unit comprising a tank and a pedestal assembly, the tank comprising a floor, at least one sidewall, and a roof defining an opening, the tank having at least one outlet for urine extraction; wherein the pedestal assembly comprises a pedestal on a surround; and wherein the pedestal assembly is attached to or within the roof of the tank; and wherein the pedestal assembly is mounted movably with respect to the tank being movable from an upturned position wherein the pedestal is upstanding from the tank in a position ready for use, to a downturned position wherein the pedestal extends through the opening into the interior of the tank.

[0041] The surround may be symmetric about a centre line. During use the pedestal assembly may be rotated 180 degrees about the centre line in the downturned position compared to the upturned position.

[0042] The surround may be rectangular. The centre line may be a longitudinal centre line.

[0043] The roof of the tank may comprise a support structure and in the upturned and downturned positions, the pedestal assembly may rest on the support structure.

[0044] The support structure may comprise a lip at the periphery of the opening, wherein the pedestal assembly rests on the lip in the upturned and downturned positions.

[0045] The pedestal assembly may be configured to rest on or within the roof of the tank, so that it may be freely lifted from the tank. The pedestal assembly may have a complementary shape to fit within the opening.

[0046] Features of one aspect of the invention may be incorporated in a different aspect of the invention.

[0047] Drawings Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings:

[0048] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a urinal unit according to an example embodiment of the invention, with an occupancy indicator in an occupied position; Figure 2 is another perspective view of the urinal unit of Figure 1 ;

[0049] Figure 2a is a close-up view of part of an attachment assembly of the urinal unit according to the example embodiment of the invention;

[0050] Figure 2b is a close-up view of the attachment assembly of Figure 2a with occupancy indicator mounted;

[0051] Figure 3 is a top view of the urinal unit of Figures 1 -2;

[0052] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the urinal unit according to the example embodiment of the invention, with the occupancy indicator in a vacant position;

[0053] Figure 5 is another perspective view of the urinal unit of Figure 4;

[0054] Figure 6 is a top view of the urinal unit of Figures 4-5;

[0055] Figure 7 is a perspective view of a urinal according to the example embodiment of the invention;

[0056] Figure 8 is a side view of the urinal of Figure 7;

[0057] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the urinal of Figures 7-8;

[0058] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the urinal unit according to the example embodiment of the invention;

[0059] Figure 11 is another perspective view of the urinal unit according to the example embodiment of the invention;

[0060] Figure 12 is a perspective view of a tank of a urinal unit of a further example embodiment of the invention, with a urinal in an upturned position;

[0061] Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of the tank of Figure 12, with the urinal in an upturned position;

[0062] Figure 14 is a perspective view of the tank of Figure 12, with the urinal in a downturned position; and

[0063] Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of the tank of Figure 12, with the urinal in a downturned position.

[0064] Specific Description A portable urinal unit 1 (Figures 1 -3) according to the first example embodiment of the invention comprises a base 3 and a plurality of exterior wall panels 4a-4d connected end to end around the periphery of the base 3 to form a continuous exterior wall 5. The exterior wall 5 is shaped around the base to define a urinal usage space 6. The base 3 comprises a urine collection tank 7 (as will be described in more detail below) and a stair assembly 9 connected on a front face of the tank 7. The stair assembly 9 comprises two steps, a lower step and an upper step, the upper step being level with a top surface 13 of the tank 7 providing a floor on which an occupant can stand to use the pedestal 8.

[0065] A first exterior wall panel 4a is a curved wall, upstanding from an outer portion of the stair assembly 9, and extending around a first side 15a of the base 3.

[0066] A second exterior wall panel 4b is a curved wall, upstanding from a front corner 17 of the base 3, and extending inwardly across the top surface 13 of the tank 7, thus providing a border between the urinal usage space 6 and an access pathway 19 into the urinal usage space 6. The first exterior wall panel 4a and the second exterior wall panel 4b overlap partially in a circumferential direction to define the access pathway 19. The access pathway 19 in the example embodiment has a c- shape. The curved overlapping walls 4a, 4b, provide an entrance way into the portable urinal unit 1 whilst preventing a line of sight to the pedestal 8 mounted within the unit 1 .

[0067] The first exterior wall panel 4a adjoins a third exterior wall panel 4c upstanding from a second side 15c of the base 3. The third exterior wall panel 4c is straight. The third exterior wall panel 4c adjoins at an opposing side a fourth exterior wall panel 4d upstanding from a fourth side 15d of the base 3. The fourth exterior wall panel 4d is straight. The third and fourth exterior wall panel meet at an apex at an angle of 90 degrees. The base 3 has a corresponding square corner beneath the apex. As such, the portable urinal unit 1 is shaped to tessellate with further urinal units, to form a group of four urinal units in a freestanding assembly. In the tessellated arrangement (not shown) the second side 15c of each base abuts the fourth side 15d of an adjacent urinal unit. A combination of straight rear wall panels 4c, 4d and curved front wall panels 4a, 4b, has been found to provide a shape of unit which can tessellate to form a cluster of units, whilst being space efficient as a standalone unit (and ensuring ease of use of the urinal).

[0068] The portable urinal unit 1 comprises an occupancy indicator 11 (Figures 1 , 2, 2a, 2b). In the example embodiment, the occupancy indicator 11 comprises a vacancy indicator portion 33 and an occupancy indicator portion 31 , arranged orthogonally to one another and joined by a bridging portion 34.

[0069] The occupancy indicator 11 is mounted movably adjacent an upper edge 21 of the exterior wall, more specifically adjacent an upper edge the second exterior wall panel 4b. In the example embodiment the occupancy indicator 11 is mounted via an attachment assembly 24 (Figures 2a and 2b) comprising a spigot 26 on which the occupancy indicator 11 is mounted. The spigot 26 is inserted through a hole in the bridging portion 34 of the occupancy indicator 11 so that the occupancy indicator 11 can rotate about a rotation axis through the spigot 26. The occupancy indicator 11 is held in place by a bracket 28 connecting the end of the spigot 26 to an abutment 30 protruding from the second exterior wall panel 4b. The occupancy indicator 11 is thus mounted rotatably with respect to the exterior wall.

[0070] The occupancy indicator 11 rotates about a rotation axis through the spigot from an occupied position as shown in Figures 1 , 2, 2b and 3 to a vacant position as shown in Figures 4-6. The angle of rotation is ~180 degrees but in another embodiment could be more or less. The occupancy indicator 11 is sized and shaped to be movable by a person entering the portable urinal unit 1 . In the occupied position the occupancy indicator 11 extends horizontally across the access pathway 19, resting on top of an upper edge 27 of the first exterior wall panel 4a. In the example embodiment the occupancy indicator 11 extends fully across the access pathway 19, however in another embodiment may only extend partially across the access pathway. The occupancy indicator 11 thereby provides a physical obstruction to access to the portable urinal unit 1 by an occupant. In the vacant position (Figures 4-6) the occupancy indicator 11 extends horizontally in an opposing direction into the urinal usage space 6. In the example embodiment, in the vacant position, the occupancy indicator 11 extends over the top of the pedestal 8 (Figure 6) thus providing a physical obstruction to use of the pedestal 8 by an occupant. In another embodiment, the occupancy indicator 11 may extend into the urinal usage space 6, but not present any physical obstruction to usage of the pedestal 8.

[0071] In use, by rotating the occupancy indicator 11 by 180 degrees, the occupancy indicator portion 31 moves from one lateral position to another lateral position, whilst the vacancy indicator portion 33 moves from one vertical position to another vertical position. The occupancy indicator portion 31 in the example embodiment has a fin shape, with a curved upper edge 35, a straight lower edge 37, and a straight rear edge 38. The occupancy indicator portion 31 comprises a red panel on either side of the fin. In the occupied position the occupancy indicator portion 31 extends above the upper edges of the wall panels 4a-4d, with the curved edge in an uppermost position and the straight edge resting on the upper edge 27 of the first exterior wall panel 4a. As such, the occupancy indicator portion 31 is visible from outside the portable urinal unit 1 , and through the use of red coloured panels the occupancy of the unit is visible from afar. When rotated to the vacant position (Figures 4-6), the occupancy indicator portion 31 is below the upper edges of the wall panels 4a-4d, with the curved edge in an lowermost position facing the floor, and the straight edge extending horizontally beneath the upper edges of the wall panels 4a-4d. In the vacant position the occupancy indicator portion 31 is concealed from sight from outside the portable urinal unit 1 . The vacancy indicator portion 33 is a post disposed at a right angle to the straight edge 37 of the occupancy indicator portion 31 . In the example embodiment the post comprises green coloured panels. In the occupied position (Figures 1 , 2 and 3) the vacancy indicator portion 33 extends vertically below the upper edges of the wall panels 4a-4d and is concealed from view from outside the portable urinal unit 1. In the vacant position (Figures 4-6), the vacancy indicator portion 33 extends vertically above the upper edges of the wall panels 4a-4d and is visible from outside the portable urinal unit 1 . Through the use of green coloured panels the vacancy of the unit is visible from afar. The occupancy indicator portion 31 provides a visual indication of occupancy of the portable urinal unit 1 in the occupied position. The vacancy indicator portion 33 provides a visual indication of vacancy of the portable urinal unit 1 in the vacant position.

[0072] The abutment 30 extends inwardly towards the urinal usage space from the second exterior wall panel 4b (see e.g. Figure 2b) and provides a flat inner-facing surface on which the straight rear edge 38 of the occupancy indicator portion rests in the vacant position. The abutment 30 thus provides a stop which prevents further rotation of the occupancy indicator 11 beyond a level horizontal position, thereby ensuring that the occupancy indicator 11 extends a maximum distance into the urinal usage space 6 in the vacant position, preventing usage of the pedestal 8 over which the occupancy indicator 11 extends, and maintaining the occupancy indicator 11 in a position which ensures easy handling by a person entering the portable urinal unit 1 .

[0073] During use, a person wishing to use the urinal would have sight of the vacancy indicator portion above the top of the portable urinal unit 1 , ascend the stairs and enter the urinal usage space 6 via the unobstructed access pathway. Upon entering the urinal usage space, the person would lift the occupancy indicator 11 with a hand or arm, to rotate the indicator over the top of the second exterior wall panel 4b from the first, vacant, position to the second, occupied, position. The pedestal 8 can then be used within the urinal usage space without obstruction by the occupancy indicator. During use of the portable urinal unit 1 , occupancy of the unit is indicated by the red occupancy indicator portion visible above the exterior wall, and moreover, by the physical barrier provided across the access pathway by the occupancy indicator. To exit the portable urinal unit, the occupancy indicator is moved back from the second, occupied, position to the first, vacant, position.

[0074] The pedestal 8 (Figures 6-9) is mounted centrally on the floor 13 within the urinal usage space 6. The pedestal 8 comprises a bowl 41 with a central drainage hole 43 for funnelling urine to a collection tank (not shown in Figures 6-9), the bowl 41 being supported on a curved wall 45. The curved wall 45 is upstanding from a flat surround 59. The curved wall 45 is shorter at a rear side 47 of the pedestal and taller at a front side 49 of the pedestal 8. The bowl 41 comprises a rim 51 . The bowl 41 comprises a rear region 47 and a front region 49, and a ridge 53 in the front region 49 between the drainage hole 43 and the rim 51 . The ridge 53 is positioned centrally extending most of the way between the drainage hole 43 and the rim 51 . In the example embodiment, the ridge 53 comprises a crest 55 and two sloped sides 57. Each sloped side 57 has a concave profile, and the curve of each sloped side meets the concave surface of the bowl 41 . In use, the ridge deflects urine towards the sides of the bowl thus reducing splash back from the bowl.

[0075] The urine collection tank 7 of the base 3 (Figures 10-11 ) is supported on one side by an arch support 63. The urine collection tank 7 has a sloped bottom 65, which drains into a square-based trough 67 on the opposing side of the tank to the arch support 63. A front edge of the square-based trough is rounded, and a rear edge of the square-based trough is square. The top of the urine collection tank 7 is flat, providing a floor 13 for usage of the urinal. The underside of the tank 7 is supported by a wedge-shaped block 71 . Within the tank are two bracing towers 73a, 73b spanning the height of the tank and providing structural support to the floor 13. A first bracing tower 73a is positioned partially beneath the pedestal 8 to provide support to the pedestal and / or floor 13 without obstructing the drainage hole. A second bracing tower 73b is positioned beneath at least part of the second exterior wall panel 4b.

[0076] In use, urine drains through the drainage hole 43 of the pedestal 8 and flows into the square-based trough 67 of the urine collection tank 7 for extraction from the tank. The urine is extracted via one of a plurality of extraction holes 75a, 75b in the tank. A first extraction hole 75a is located at a longitudinal end of the square based trough 67, in the second side 15c of the base 3 (i.e. at the square edge of the trough). A second extraction hole 75b is located at the opposing longitudinal end of the square based trough in the floor 13 of the unit (i.e. at the round edge of the trough). The urine is extracted by drainage or suction extraction using known techniques and equipment. In a further embodiment, a urinal unit T has all the features of the first example embodiment but with a turntable pedestal (Figures 12-15, wherein like components are illustrated with like reference numerals). A pedestal 8’ is mounted on a surround, the surround being fixed to a first treadplate 83’ being movably mounted on the tank 7’. In the example embodiment, the first treadplate 83’ is rectangular and inset into the top surface 13’ of the tank 7’. In the example embodiment, the second treadplate 81’ is rectangular with a chamfered corner, and is inset into the top surface 13’ of the tank 7’. In the further embodiment, the two treadplates are positioned side by side in the roof of the tank 7’. The treadplates 83’, 8T, rest on a protruding lip (not shown) at the edge of a recess in the top surface 13’ of the tank 7’ but could be held instead by supporting struts or another configuration. The second treadplate 8T is also movably mounted on the tank 7’ but remains in situ during use unless cleaning of the tank 7’ is required. During use the first treadplate 83’ can be manually removed by lifting up the first treadplate 83’ away from the tank 7’. The first treadplate 83’ can then be rotated laterally (i.e. about a central longitudinal axis) by 180 degrees, and placed back on the tank 7’. Thus the pedestal 8’ may be rotated from a first position where the pedestal 8’ is above the top surface 13’ of the tank 7’ to a second position where the pedestal 8’ is below the top surface 13’ of the tank 7’. Such a packed away arrangement provides a space saving for transportation of the urinal unit.

Claims

Claims1. A urinal unit comprising: a base comprising a urine tank; at least one exterior wall mounted on the base to define a urinal usage space; the at least one exterior wall comprising a first wall section and a second wall section, the wall sections being positioned on the base to provide an entrance to the urinal usage space; an occupancy indicator mounted movably on the first wall section, the occupancy indicator being configured to rotate from a first, vacant, position wherein the entrance is unobstructed to a second, occupied, position wherein the entrance is at least partially obstructed.

2. The urinal unit of claim 1 , wherein the occupancy indicator comprises a vacancy indicator portion and an occupancy indicator portion.

3. The urinal unit of claim 2, wherein the vacancy indicator portion extends a height above an upper edge of the at least one exterior wall in the first, vacant, position.

4. The urinal unit of claim 2 or 3, wherein the vacancy indicator portion extends a distance below the upper edge of the at least one exterior wall in the second, occupied, position.

5. The urinal unit of any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the vacancy indicator portion comprises a post.

6. The urinal unit of any of claims 2 to 5, wherein the occupancy indicator portion extends a height above an upper edge of the at least one exterior wall in the second, occupied, position.

7. The urinal unit of any of claims 2 to 6, wherein the occupancy indicator portion extends a distance below the upper edge of the at least one exterior wall in the first, vacant, position.

8. The urinal unit of any of claims 2-7, wherein the occupancy indicator portion comprises a fin.

9. The urinal unit of any of claims 2-8, wherein the occupancy indicator portion is disposed along a longitudinal axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vacancy indicator portion.

10. The urinal unit of any of claims 2-9, wherein the occupancy indicator comprises a first visual indicator on the occupancy indicator portion, and a second visual indicator on the vacancy indicator portion.11 . The urinal unit of claim 10, wherein the first visual indicator comprises a red element, and the second visual indicator comprises a green element.

12. The urinal unit of any preceding claim, wherein the occupancy indicator is mounted at or adjacent the top of the first wall section.

13. The urinal unit of any preceding claim, wherein the at least one exterior wall comprises an attachment assembly, the attachment assembly comprising a spigot, the occupancy indicator having a hole through which the spigot is inserted.

14. The urinal unit of claim 13, wherein the attachment assembly further comprises a bracket connecting the end of the spigot to a part of the exterior wall.

15. The urinal unit of any preceding claim, wherein the entrance comprises an access pathway and in the second, occupied, position the occupancy indicator extends fully across the access pathway.

16. The urinal unit of any preceding claim, wherein the occupancy indicator is configured to rotate to rest on top of the at least one exterior wall in the second, occupied, position.

17. The urinal unit of any preceding claim, wherein the occupancy indicator is configured to rotate to abut an inner side of the at least one exterior wall in the second, occupied, position.

18. The urinal unit of claim 17, wherein the occupancy indicator comprises a flat rear face, and the exterior wall comprises an abutment extending forward from the inner side, the abutment having a flat front face, wherein in the first, vacant, position, the flat rear face of the occupancy indicator rests on the flat front face of the abutment to thereby hold the occupancy indicator in a generally horizontal position.

19. The urinal unit of any preceding claim, further comprising a pedestal mounted on the base in the urinal usage space, wherein in the first, vacant, position, the occupancy indicator extends towards the pedestal.

20. The urinal unit of any preceding claim, being a female urinal unit.21 . The urinal unit of any preceding claim, being a portable urinal unit.

22. The urinal unit of any preceding claim, being a modular urinal unit configured to fit in a tessellated arrangement with at least one further urinal unit.

23. A urinal unit comprising: a base; at least one exterior wall mounted on the base to define a urinal usage space; the at least one exterior wall being arranged on the base to provide an entrance to the urinal usage space;an occupancy indicator mounted movably on the at least one exterior wall, the occupancy indicator comprising a vacancy indicator portion and an occupancy indicator portion, the occupancy indicator being configured to rotate from a first, vacant, position wherein the vacancy indicator portion extends a first height above an upper edge of the at least one exterior wall to a second, occupied, position wherein the occupancy indicator portion extends a second height above an upper edge of the at least one exterior wall.

24. A urinal unit comprising: a base comprising a urine tank and a side tank support; and at least one exterior wall mounted on the base to define a urinal usage space; the at least one exterior wall comprising a first wall section and a second wall section, the wall sections being positioned on the base to provide an entrance to the urinal usage space; the urine tank comprising a sloped floor having an upper edge and a lower edge, the sloped floor being supported at or adjacent the upper edge by the side tank support, the urine tank further comprising a trough at or adjacent the lower edge, the sloped floor being flat and angled to direct the flow of urine in the tank towards the trough; the urine tank comprising at least one drainage outlet from the trough.

25. The urinal unit of claim 24, further comprising a central tank support beneath the urine tank.

26. The urinal unit of claim 25, wherein the central tank support is wedge- shaped.

27. The urinal unit of any of claims 24-26, wherein the trough is a squareshaped trough.

28. The urinal unit of any of claims 24-27, wherein the angle of the sloped floor is less than 20 degrees from a notional horizontal reference plane.

29. The urinal unit of any of claims 24-28, wherein the base further comprises one or more pillars within the tank, the pillars in contact with the sloped floor and a roof of the tank.

30. The urinal unit of claim 29, wherein the base further comprises one or more ground supports beneath the tank, the ground supports being positioned vertically below the pillars.31 . The urinal unit of claim 29 or 30, further comprising a pedestal mounted on the base, the pedestal being positioned partially above one of the pillars.

32. The urinal unit of any of claims 29 to 31 , further comprising a pedestal mounted on a surround attached to or within the roof of the tank, the surround being movable with respect to the base from an upturned position wherein the pedestal is upstanding from the base in a position ready for use, and a downturned position wherein the pedestal extends into the interior of the tank between the pillars.

33. A urine collection unit for a portable urinal unit, the urine collection unit comprising a tank and a pedestal assembly, the tank comprising a floor, at least one sidewall, and a roof defining an opening, the tank having at least one outlet for urine extraction; wherein the pedestal assembly comprises a pedestal on a surround; and wherein the pedestal assembly is attached to or within the roof of the tank; and wherein the pedestal assembly is mounted movably with respect to the tank being movable from an upturned position wherein the pedestal is upstanding from the tank in a position ready for use, to a downturned position wherein the pedestal extends through the opening into the interior of the tank.

34. A urine collection unit according to claim 33, wherein the surround is symmetric about a centre line, and wherein the pedestal assembly isrotated 180 degrees about the centre line in the downturned position compared to the upturned position.

35. A urine collection unit according to claim 34, wherein the surround is rectangular and the centre line is a longitudinal centre line.

36. A urine collection unit according to any of claims 33-35, wherein the roof of the tank comprises a support structure and in the upturned and downturned positions, the pedestal assembly rests on the support structure.

37. A urine collection unit according to claim 36, wherein the support structure comprises a lip at the periphery of the opening, wherein the pedestal assembly rests on the lip in the upturned and downturned positions.

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