Portable Restroom Layout With Shared Utility Trunk and Gravity Drainage

Solution Overview

Problem

Multi-unit portable restrooms are expensive to procure and maintain due to the complexity of components like wheels, axles, and water pumps, which increases operational costs and maintenance requirements.

Innovation Solution

A portable restroom system featuring a shared utilities trunk, fresh water holding tank, and waste water holding tank that extends through multiple restroom units, eliminating the need for individual components by using skids instead of wheels and relying on gravity for water management, thus simplifying the design and reducing costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multi-unit portable restrooms are equipped with separate vanities, toilets, showers, wheels, wheel bearings, wheel axles, water pumps for each individual unit, then a conventional home-like bathroom on wheels is provided, but the cost to procure and maintain becomes expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehome-like bathroom functionalityVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple restroom units into a single integrated structure with shared components. Instead of having separate vanities, toilets, and water systems for each unit, the invention merges these functions into common facilities that serve multiple users simultaneously, thereby reducing the total number of components while maintaining bathroom functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements universal components that serve multiple functions and multiple units. The water pump, wheel assembly, and utility systems are designed as multi-functional elements that support the operation of several restroom units, eliminating the need for duplicate specialized components in each individual unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multi-unit portable restrooms are equipped with separate vanities, toilets, showers, wheels, wheel bearings, wheel axles, water pumps for each individual unit, then a conventional home-like bathroom on wheels is provided, but maintenance requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehome-like bathroom functionalityVSAvoidmaintenance requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple restroom units into a single integrated structure with shared components. Instead of having separate vanities, toilets, and water systems for each unit, the invention merges these functions into common facilities that serve multiple users simultaneously, thereby reducing the total number of components while maintaining bathroom functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements universal components that serve multiple functions and multiple units. The water pump, wheel assembly, and utility systems are designed as multi-functional elements that support the operation of several restroom units, eliminating the need for duplicate specialized components in each individual unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of manufacture

If a portable restroom system uses shared utilities trunk and waste water holding tank extending through multiple restroom units, then operational costs and maintenance are reduced, but the structural design becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecost reductionVSAvoidstructural design

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the portable restroom system into modular units that can be independently manufactured and then assembled. The shared utilities trunk and waste water holding tank are designed as separate modular components that integrate with multiple restroom units, allowing for standardized production and reduced manufacturing costs while managing structural complexity through modularity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a nested structure where the utilities trunk and waste water holding tank are positioned to extend through and serve multiple restroom units. The smaller restroom units are arranged around and alongside the central utility structures, creating an efficient space-utilizing configuration that reduces overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system reduces operational costs and maintenance by eliminating complex components, allowing for efficient transportation and easy waste management, while providing a modular and customizable bathroom solution for various events and locations.

Implementation Method 1

relying on gravity for water management

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS9303420B2Port-a-pod-y portable restroom system

Publication Date: 2016.04.05 VAN DER LINDE PETER

AI summary

A portable restroom system that includes: a utilities trunk; a waste water holding tank; and a plurality of restroom units. The utilities trunk and the waste water holding tank each extend through each one of the plurality of restroom units.