Single-use toilet

Abstract

A single-use toilet (10), comprising: a collar part (11), and a pouch (15), which is fastened to the edges of the opening of the collar part (11) such that the edges of the mouth of'the pouch (15) are fastened to the collar part (11) for the whole perimeter of the inner edge of the collar part (11), characterized in that the collar part (11) is foldable along a folding line (14) and wherein the collar part (11) includes at least one fastening means (16) in a first half (12) and in a second half (13) of the collar part (11), by means of which fastening means (16), the first and second halves (12, 13) of the collar part (11) are configured be attached to each other, and the mouth of the pouch (15) is configured to be closed.

Description

[0001] Single-use toilet

[0002] Background of the invention

[0003] The invention relates to a single-use toilet which is manufactured of materials having as little as possible impact on the environment. People commonly use water toilets. Particularly in exceptional situations, the use of non-water toilets is considered strange due to our high level of hygiene. Quick adoption of other similar methods, even in extreme situations, is difficult.

[0004] Brief description of the invention

[0005] An object of the invention is thus to provide an apparatus so as to enable the aforementioned problems to be solved. The object of the invention is achieved by an apparatus characterized by what is stated in the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

[0006] The invention is based on a collar part open from the middle, which collar part is foldable along a folding line to be closed, and a pouch, which will close when halves of the collar part are attached together.

[0007] An object of the invention is to enable a single toilet use irrespective of the surrounding conditions. An object of the single-use toilet is to minimize the spreading of infectious diseases and to conserve common good hygiene irrespective of the conditions and the geographical location. Such conditions where there is no toilet hygiene or it is significantly impaired are floods, earthquakes, power outages, other changes in the weather conditions, unexpected evacuations, big events, or large-scale and prolonged pipe breakages.

[0008] Due to its disposability, the single-use toilet is an ecological option; its materials have been selected such that the manufacture of it in large quantities has as small as possible impact on the environment.

[0009] Brief description of the drawings

[0010] The invention will now be described in more detail in connection with preferred embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0011] Figure 1 is a schematic top view of a single-use toilet, the collar part being in an opened position;

[0012] Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the single-use toilet, the halves of the collar part being folded against each other; Figures 3a-3c schematically show the forming of the collar part of the single-use toilet from a top part and a bottom part and the installation of a pouch between the top part and the bottom part;

[0013] Figure 4 is a schematic top view of the single-use toilet, the collar part being in an opened position, wherein the single-use toilet comprises two fastening means in both longitudinal halves of the collar part.

[0014] Detailed description of the invention

[0015] Those skilled in the art will find it obvious that, as technology advances, the basic idea of the invention may be implemented in many different ways. The invention and its embodiments are thus not restricted to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.

[0016] People commonly use water toilets. Quick adoption of other similar methods, even in extreme situations, is difficult. The invention is based on a collar part open from the middle, which collar part is foldable along a folding line to be closed, and a pouch, which will close when halves of the collar part are attached together. Then, the shape of the collar part is that of the familiar toilet seat, whereby its use is very easy to understand.

[0017] With reference to Figure 1, a single-use toilet 10 comprises a collar part 11 open from the middle, which collar part is foldable along a folding line 14, and a pouch 15, which is fastened to the inner edge of the opening in the collar part 11 such that the edges of the open mouth of the pouch 15 are fastened to the inner edge of the collar part 11 for the whole perimeter of the opening, either over the inner edge of the opening to the other side of the inner edge for the other parts of the pouch 15, or the edges of the open mouth of the pouch 15 are directly fastened to the inner edge of the opening. The collar part 11 is foldable such that first and second halves 12, 13 of the collar part may be turned against each other and, when folded, the collar part 11 will close the mouth of the pouch 15. Furthermore, the collar part 11 includes, on both sides of the folding line 14, at least one fastening means 16, by means of which, the first and second halves 12, 13 of the collar part 11 may be fixedly attached to each other, and the fastening means 16 on both sides of the collar part 11 will set against each other. Then, the first and second halves 12, 13 of the collar part 11 are connected to each other both at the folding line 14 and by at least one fastening means 16. The thickness of the collar part 11 may vary but it preferably is between 4-10 mm and it is substantially rigid to ensure the closing of the single-use toilet. The cross-sectional profile of the collar part 11 may also form e.g. a curved shape, a partial U-shape, or some other shape in order to increase the rigidity of the collar part 11 in the edge direction.

[0018] The single-use toilet 10 may be equipped with a hygiene article, such as toilet paper or a liquid pack. The size of the pouch 15 may vary. Its size may be e.g. 1-10 litres. The pouch 15 may be provided with an additive, such as active carbon, for odour removal. Additionally, the pouch 15 may be equipped with drying agent and / or material which accelerates decomposition, such as a composting starter. Various combinations of materials may be used for odour removal, waste drying and acceleration of the decomposition of waste. These materials may also be biodegradable. The pouch 15 may also be without the above-mentioned additives. The material of the collar part 11 and the pouch 15 may be biodegradable, for the part of the collar part 11 e.g. wood fibre, cardboard manufactured of wood cellulose or recycled material, and for the part of the pouch 15, polymers obtained from e.g. starch or some other biomass.

[0019] With reference to Figure 2, the single-use toilet 10 has been folded such that both of the first and second halves 12, 13 of the collar part have been turned against each other and the collar part 11, when folded along the folding line 14, will close the mouth of the pouch 15. The fastening means 16 in the collar part 11 on both sides of the folding line 14 will set against each other and attach the first and second halves 12, 13 of the collar part 11 to each other and, at the same time, the mouth of the pouch 15 will close. Attaching the fastening means 16 to each other tightens the edges of the mouth of the pouch 15 against each other and prevents odour from coming out of the closed single-use toilet 10. The fastening means 16 may comprise e.g. form locking, velcro, tape, or adhesive.

[0020] According to an embodiment of the invention, the collar part includes a handle 17 or a handle preform. The handles 17 may include an opening formed in the collar part 11. It is also possible that to the collar part 11 is perforated with a handle preform, whereby the inner part of the opening of the handle preform may be detached to provide the handle 17. The handle 17 may be used for carrying the single-use toilet 10. The handle 17 is located parallel with the folding line 14 substantially in the middle part of the collar part 11 in relation to the longitudinal direction of the collar part 11. The handle 17 may also be located closer to one of the longitudinal ends of the collar part 11.

[0021] According to an embodiment of the invention, the handle 17 or the handle preform also comprises fastening means for attaching the first and second halves 12, 13 of the collar part 11 to each other, such as e.g. shaping the edges of the handle 17 in order to provide form locking between both of the first and second halves 12, 13 of the collar part 11. Then, the first and second halves 12, 13 of the collar part 11 are connected to each other by means of the folding line 14 and the fastening means of the handle 17.

[0022] With reference to Figures 3a-3c, according to an embodiment of the invention, the collar part 11 comprises a top part 111 and a bottom part 112 and a pouch 15 which is fastened between the top part 111 and the bottom part 112. Figure 3 shows the collar part 11 which comprises the top part 111 and the bottom part 112. Figure 3b shows the bottom part 112, to which the pouch 15 is attached such that the edges of the mouth of the pouch 15 fasten on top of the inner edge of the bottom part 112 and the pouch 15 is located for its other parts on the opposite side of the bottom part 112 and the edges of the pouch 15 thus remain between the bottom part 112 and the top part 111. Alternatively, the edges of the mouth of the pouch 15 fasten below the inner edge of the top part 111 and the pouch 15 is located for its other parts in the opening of the bottom part 112 and the edges of the pouch 15 thus remain between the bottom part 112 and the top part 111. Figure 3c shows the single-use toilet 10, wherein the top part 111 and the bottom part 112 are attached to each other forming the collar part 11 and wherein the pouch 15 is attached to the collar part 11.

[0023] With reference to Figure 4, according to an embodiment of the invention, the collar part 11 comprises at least two fastening means 18, 19 in the first half 12 of the collar part 11 and at least two fastening means 18, 19 in the second half 13 of the collar part 11 such that the fastening means 18 and the fastening means 19 are located parallel with the folding line 14 on different sides in relation to the longitudinal direction of the collar part 11 substantially separate from each other. Thus, the fastening means 18, 19 constitute the fastening when the singleuse toilet 10 is closed as folded. The first and second halves 12, 13 of the collar part 11 may also be attached to each other together by the fastening means 18, 19 and by the fastening means of the handle 17. The fastening of the first and second halves 12, 13 may also be implemented solely by means of the fastening means 18, 19 or by means of the fastening means 18, 19 and the handle 17 without the folding line 14 attaching the first and second halves 12, 13 to each other. In this case, the folding line 14 is thus a cutoff line.

[0024] Before use, the single-use toilet 10 may be folded closed or be open. Figure 1 shows the single-use toilet 10 as opened. Before use, the single-use toilet 10 is opened. The collar part 11 is dimensioned such that it fits to most common toilet seats, or a separate support / holder manufactured for it. The collar part 11 may be set as opened on top of the toilet seat.

[0025] After use, the single-use toilet may be disposed of by e.g. burning, freezing, burying or among mixed waste. It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that, as the technology advances, the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are not limited to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims

Claims1. A single-use toilet (10), comprising: a collar part (11), and a pouch (15), which is fastened to the edges of the opening of the collar part (11) such that the edges of the mouth of the pouch (15) are fastened to the collar part (11) for the whole perimeter of the inner edge of the collar part (11), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that: the collar part (11) is foldable along a folding line (14) and wherein the collar part (11) includes at least one fastening means (16) in a first half (12) and in a second half (13) of the collar part(ll), by means of which fastening means (16), the first and second halves (12, 13) of the collar part (11) are configured be attached to each other, and the mouth of the pouch (15) is configured to be closed.

2. A single-use toilet (10) according to claim 1, the collar part of which includes a handle (17), or a handle preform.

3. A single-use toilet (10) according to claim 2, wherein the handle (17) or the handle preform comprises fastening means for attaching the halves (12, 13) of the collar part (11) to each other.

4. A single-use toilet (10) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the collar part (11) and the pouch (15) are manufactured of biodegradable material.

5. A single-use toilet (10) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the pouch (15) comprises inside the pouch (15) an additive for at least one of odour removal, drying and accelerating decomposition.

6. A single-use toilet (10) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the folding line (14) is a cutoff line and wherein the first half (12) and the second half (13) of the collar part (11) are configured to be attached to each other by means of which at least two of the fastening means (16, 18, 19) and the handle

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