US3340543A

US3340543A - Zero gravity toilet

Info

Publication number: US3340543A
Application number: US446633A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard T Cella
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-04-08
Filing date: 1965-04-08
Publication date: 1967-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 1984-09-12

Description

Sept. 12, 1967 T CELLA 3,340,543

ZERO GRAVITY TOILET Filed April 8, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR RlCHARD T. CELLA 7 ATTORNEY Sept. 12, 1967 R. T. CELLA 3,340,543

ZERO GRAVITY TOILET Filed April 8, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 12, 1967 R. T. CELLA ZERO GRAVITY TOILET Filed April 8, 1965 5 M 5 uw wwmwwwmmmww m x y i INVENTOR RICHARD T. CELLA ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,340,543 ZERO GRAVITY TOILET Richard T. Cella, 35 Park Ave., New York, N.Y. 10016 Filed Apr. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 446,633 9 Claims. (Cl. 410) This invention relates to toilets and more particularly to a toilet which is suitable for use in space capsules under zero gravity conditions or in hospitals for bed patients.

An object is to provide a toilet of the above type having novel and improved characteristics.

Another object is to provide such a toilet with minimum space requirements and convenience.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed.

The nature of the invention will be better understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which a specific embodiment has been set forth for purposes of illustration.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a toilet embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse vertical section showing the locating pad and flush ring;

FIG. 3 is a similar section showing the refuse bag and closure valve;

FIG. 4 is a similar transverse section showing the bag coupled to the flush ring for use;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on the 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line 66 of FIG. 5 showing the construction of the flush ring and valve;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal section taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 5 showing the construction of the closure valve and coupling ring for the bag;

FIG. 8 is a section similar to FIG. 4 showing the valves in open position for use; and

FIG. 9 is a horizontal section taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 8 showing the closure valve in open position.

Referring to the drawing more in detail the invention is shown as embodied in a compact device comprising a positioning pad 10 on which the person sits. The pad 10 is formed with an upper surface 11 shaped to conform to the contour of the body with a pair of concave portions 12 separated by a central rib 13. The pad has a central hole 14 which is surrounded on the upper surface of the pad by an inflatable sealing ring 15. The ring is adapted, when inflated, to contact the body to form an effective seal around the hole 14 of the pad. The ring 15 is connected by a duct 16 to a valve panel 17 which forms a part of the equipment and is connected to an air cylinder 18.

A cylindrical housing 21 is disposed in the hole 14 and is fixed to the pad 10. The housing 21 is formed with a central bore 22 registering with the hole 14 and forming a continuation thereof and has an annular passage 23 communicating with the bore 22 by radial passages 24 to form a flush ring as will be described. The annular passage 23 is connected to the valvepanel 17 to be connected thereby to the air supply bottle 18 or to a water supply bottle 26 or to a bottle 27 containing cleansing foam.

A valve 31 in the form of a tubular sleeve of suitable material has a circular upper end 32 attached to the inner surface of the bore 22 of the housing 21 in a position to hang downwardly Within the bore. The sleeve 31 is composed of a material which is sufliciently resilient to assume and retain a flat ribbon form which at its lower end 33 is coiled up upon itself so that the sleeve normally forms a closure valve for the bore 22 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 but it may be opened and extended as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 by the application of air pressure from the flush ring 23.

A bag 41 as shown in FIG. 3 is carried by a coupling ring 42 having an inner surface formed with a resilient lip 43 adapted to snap over a resilient ring 44 carried on the outer surface of the housing 21 for coupling the bag to the apparatus. The coupling ring 42 carries a closure valve 45 in the form of a pair of inflatable, semi-circular diaphragms 46 which are normally in contact along their diametric edges 47 to form a closure for the bag 41 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Elastic strips 54 extend along the edges 47 of the diaphragm 46, and carry a depending tube 55 through which the sleeve 31 extends when the diaphragms are in open position. The diaphragms 46 are connected by passages 49 in the coupling ring 42 and a duct 50 to the valve panel 17 to receive compressed air from the bottle 18. When air is supplied to the diaphragms 46 their diametric edges 47 are drawn apart to form an opening to the bag 41 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

The pad 10 and housing 21 are supported on a hollow base 51 within which the bag 41 is contained.

When the device is to be used the bag 41 is coupled to the housing 21, the pad and bag placed on the base 51 and the assembly brought into contact with the body. By suitable manipulation of the valves 0n the valve panel 17 the sealing ring 15 is inflated to provide a seal with the body. Air is then applied to the valve diaphragms 46 to open the valve 45 after which air is supplied to the flush ring 23 to cause the sleeve valve 31 to unroll and pass down through the open valve 45. After use wash water or foam are supplied to the flush ring 23, air pressure is released from the diaphragms 46 and from the sealing ring 15 and the apparatus can be removed and uncoupled. When the sleeve 31 is withdrawn from the valve 45 it again flattens out and coils to form a closure for the housing 21.

Caps

52 and 53 may be placed over the open ends of the housing 21 and the coupling ring 42 if desired.

What is claimed is:

1. A toilet for use under zero-gravity conditions comprising a pad having a surface conformed to the shape of the body and having an opening therethrough, an annular housing containing a flush ring disposed in said opening and adapted to be coupled to a receiver, and means supplying fluids under pressure to said flush ring.

2. A toilet as set forth in claim 1 in which a closure valve is carried by said housing.

3. A toilet as set forth in claim 2 in which said valve comprises a collapsible sleeve.

4. A toilet as set forth in claim 1 in which an inflatable sealing ring is carried by said pad around said opening.

5. A toilet as set forth in claim 1 in which said receiver comprises a bag having a coupling ring adapted to be coupled to said housing, said coupling ring having a closure valve for closing said bag.

6. A toilet as set forth in claim 5 in which said last valve comprises a pair of semi-circular inflatable diaphragms having normally contacting diametric edges to separate for forming a valve opening.

7. A toilet as set forth in claim 6 in which a collapsible sleeve valve is carried by said housing, said sleeve being normally flattened and coiled but being adapted to pass 3 through said diaphragm valve in response to air pressure from said flush ring.

8. A toilet as set forth in claim 7 including a valve panel and means connecting a source of compressed air and a source of cleansing fluid selectively to said flush 5 ring.

7 '9. A toilet as set forth in claim 8 including a hollow base member supporting said pad and adapted to contain said bag.

4 References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,749,558 6/1956 Lent et a1 4112 3,034,131 5/1962 Lent 490 3,158,874 12/1964 Bennett 4142 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner. H. K. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A TOILET FOR USE UNDER ZERO-GRAVITY CONDITIONS COMPRISING A PAD HAVING A SURFACE CONFORMED TO THE SHAPE OF THE BODY AND HAVING AN OPENING THERETHROUGH, AN ANNULAR HOUSING CONTAINING A FLUSH RING DISPOSED IN SAID