Title of Invention: Inflatable Multi-Compartment Toilet SHELTER

[0001] Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to an inflatable shelter that provides privacy for people for excreting body waste. In particular, the present invention pertains to trans portable, inflatable, multi-compartment shelter for providing privacy for solid and fluid excretions for a plurality of people at the same time and non-aqueous based means for collecting and discarding the excreted mass in hygienic and sterile route while preventing accumulation of the mass to a non-treatable amount.

[0002] Background

Temporary or standalone solutions for toilet compartments, which are provided today, divide into water-based or water-used and chemical-based ones. Water-based compartments require fluid communication with network or independent sewage piping for expelling the solid and liquid waste for further treatment. Chemical-based compartments neutralize the excretions with chemical mixtures and absorb the extracted fluids with special sponges that solidify into a gel. The solids may then be collected and transported in bags for waste burial or recycling. Generally, the com partment shelter is a permanent or temporary structure and is made of rigid parts. It is, therefore, difficult to transport and use it in field conditions, particularly where emergency help is needed in humanitarian crises that affect mass populations. One objective is to prevent epidemic outbreak in such cases by providing sanitary living conditions to the inflicted population. Rough terrain conditions or distant or dis connected areas where a crisis happens also compound the problem of transporting and deploying facilities, particularly those which are necessary for maintaining hygienic conditions. Water-based facilities are impossible to use in such situations and trans portation and deployment of multiple rigid and heavy toilet compartments are time- and resources consuming. Furthermore, such rigid facilities are not equipped with efficient means for collecting, transporting and expelling the accumulated excreted mass from the crisis zone.

The invention, therefore, is aimed at providing a solution for the problems described above, particularly for humanitarian crisis situations that endanger the health and sanitary conditions of mass populations.

[0003] Summary

In one aspect, the present invention pertains to a multi-compartment inflatable and portable shelter tent for use for capturing human waste. In general, crowded or mass events that take place in field conditions lack connection to infrastructures for clearing and disinfecting human waste. Current portable waste receiving and collecting fa- cilities are too heavy-weight or provide only a partial solution without compromising users privacy. The facility of this invention provides a light-weight structure that can be carried to the field and deployed onsite in relatively short time and simple means. This facility is equipped with complementing means for providing service to a large number of people under such field conditions, where no sanitary maintenance infras tructure is available or any direct communication with it.

The facility of this invention is aimed at receiving solid and liquid human waste, treating it while maintaining hygienic conditions and providing service to a large number of people simultaneously while keeping their privacy not compromised. Es sentially, the facility of this invention overcomes difficulties for treating human waste, which are solved differently by current facilities, by adapting alternative solutions for maintaining sanitary conditions in mass gathering under field conditions and breaking down the chain of treating human waste to discrete steps. Each of this steps may then be treated independently of those before or after it, thus alleviating the difficulty in maintaining hygienic conditions throughout the entire process of treating the waste. In addition, the facility of the present invention is configured to treat mass amounts of ac cumulated waste, thereby enabling a sanitarily safe environment for massive gatherings.

[0004] Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a multi-compartment toilet tent.

Fig. 1A schematically illustrates the multi-compartment tent in inflated state.

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a schematic perspective view of the tent.

Fig. 3 schematically illustrates front view of the tent’s compartments.

Fig. 4 schematically illustrates front view of the back joint room of the tent.

Fig. 5 schematically illustrates a top view of the multi-compartment tent.

Fig. 6 schematically illustrates the interior of a compartment with pockets and waste outlet accessories.

Fig. 7 schematically illustrates a close view of the pocket in a compartment.

Fig. 8 schematically illustrates the back joint room of the tent in inflated state.

Fig. 9 schematically illustrates a closer view of the waste outlet in a compartment.

Fig. 10 schematically illustrates the back room in inflated state with a plurality of waste disposal sleeves introduced into waste bins and elevated air circulation channels.

Figs. 11, 13 and 14 schematically illustrate different combinations between types of compartments of the tent with facilities for excretion and collection of solid and liquid wastes.

Fig. 12 schematically illustrates front view of the back room of the tent with means for delivering and collecting solid waste.

Fig. 15 illustrates part of the compartment for a compartment with suitable ac- cessories for use and disposal.

Figs. 16-17 illustrate urinary compartment with a suitable facility for liquid disposal and channelling.

Figs. 18-19 schematically illustrate ventilation conduit system for circulating air between the space inside the tent and its surroundings.

[0005] Detailed Description of the Drawings

The present invention provides a multi-compartment toilet shelter, which is inflatable onsite and easily transportable to areas, which are unreachable with conventional trans portation. This shelter is made of durable polymeric materials and essentially comprises an inflatable skeleton that holds the deployed state of the shelter in stable position when filled with air.

[0006] In one embodiment as illustrated in Figs. 1, 1A and 2-11 for example, the toilet shelter 100 comprises a plurality of compartments 110 with a facility 140 for excretion of solid waste. In another embodiment, the toilet shelter 100 comprises a plurality of compartments 150 for accommodating urinary facilities 160. In still another em bodiment, the toilet shelter 100 comprises a plurality of compartments, 110, 150, with these two types of facilities, 140, 160, in any division of numbers between them.

[0007] In view of these options, such multi-compartment toilet inflatable and portable shelter toilet shelter 100 has a basic architecture, which may be configured in more than one way as detailed below.

[0008] For a toilet shelter 100 that comprises compartments 110 for excretion of solid waste, the inflatable toilet shelter 100 comprises: an inflatable skeleton for erecting the toilet shelter 100 in rigid position; a plurality of compartments 110 for accommodating toilet seats 140, said com partments 140 are arranged in two rows parallel each other; a back room 120 connecting between the two rows of compartments an outlet 115 in every compartment that communicates the compartments 110 to the back room 120; pockets 115b in every compartment that stores excretion collecting bags 117, the bags 117 comprising chemicals for neutralizing and solidifying body excretions; a pocket 119 that stores toilet seat covers and a sub-pocket 119a that stores sterilizing and disinfecting pads; a plurality of sleeves 115a, each sleeve 115a is configured to communicate with an outlet in every compartment 110 and extend into the space of the back room 120, wherein the sleeves 115a channel the used bags 117, covers and pads into portable bins 116 at their distal ends for removing the accumulated body waste away from the toilet shelter 100 for further treatment, such as burial, cremation or recycling.

[0009] The inflatable toilet shelter 100 further comprises a plurality of air inlets 130c in the inflatable skeleton that communicate with a plurality of air pumps for introducing the air into the skeleton 130b.

[0010] Fig. 1 illustrates a general scheme 100 of the shelter in the form of a tent. When deployed, the shelter provides two rows of compartments 110 on opposite sides of the tent. Each compartment has sufficient space for accommodating a toilet seat. Each compartment is equipped with hygienic means for neatly treating body excretions. Close-up view of such means is shown in the pictures in Figs. 6, 7 and 9. Particularly, bag 117 contains solid and liquid excretion collection disposable bags for deploying inside the toilet bowl. Pockets 119 and 119a contain sterilizing and disinfecting pads and single-use covers for placing over the toilet seat for cleaning the person’s private parts and hands after completing expelling the waste. The user then discards the disposable waste containing elements through outlet 115 that opens to a back bag 115a as shown in Fig. 8. The back bag connects to a sleeve 125, which is shown in Fig. 4 at the back room 120 of the shelter between the two rows of compartments (see Figs. 2,

4, 5 and 8). Bins or other types of receptacles may be placed under the distal ends of the sleeves to receive the used bags. Once filled, the bins are taken and their content may be disposed of at an acceptable waste burial site, incinerated or shipped for recycling. The advantage in such waste disposal is that it prevents accumulation of large masses, which are difficult to handle, particularly in absence of proper, possibly motorized transportation means or physical connection to municipal or state waste treatment and disposal facilities. Fig. 15 illustrates a bar 155 for placing toilet paper as may be required by the users. The bar 155 is attached and secured to the relatively thin and flexible side wall of the compartment with a pad.

[0011] Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 8 also show air circulation and ventilation means 130 for streaming air into the back room of the tent and circulating it into and out of the compartments. The ventilation means, pipe in the illustrations, may also stream odour neutralizers into the compartments. Fig. 6 also shows a rolled sheet for closing the compartment and providing privacy to the user. A portable facility for receiving solid excretion 140 may be placed inside the compartment 110 and removed in the end of a field event. The ac cessories, which are kept in the compartment for treating the excretion without use of water or any other fluid, e.g. bags and sterilizing and disinfecting pads, cover the facility itself 140 and protect it from being soiled. The facility 140 is then maintained sterile and does not require any further cleaning or disinfection.

[0012] Fig. 10 shows a plurality of waste disposal sleeves 115a extend into the back room of the tent, where each sleeve delivers the discarded waste of a toilet compartment into a waste collection bin 116. Fig. 10 also shows elevated air-circulation conduit 130a that streams air from the surroundings into the tent and channels it to the compartments through conduits 130b. These conduits open to the main conduit 130a at their proximal end and to the space of the compartments at their distal ends. The main conduits is connected to the tube 130 that streams air from the surroundings into the tent and circulates it in the compartments to expel bad odours.

[0013] The air-supported skeleton is inflated with a single bellows that may stream air into the skeleton through a single inlet or a plurality of inlet. The tent can be erected in a very short time, possibly a few minutes, making it instantly ready for use.

[0014] For a toilet shelter 100 that comprises compartments 150 for excretion and collection of liquid waste, the inflatable toilet shelter tent comprises: an inflatable skeleton for erecting the shelter in rigid position; a plurality of compartments 150 for accommodating urinal facilities 160 for receiving liquid waste, said compartments 150 are arranged in two rows parallel each other; a back room 120 connecting between the two rows of compartments; an outlet pipe 163 in every compartment that communicates the urinal facilities 160 to the back room; a pipe switchboard in the back room 120, where the switchboard connects a plurality of the outlet pipes 163 that channel the liquid waste from the urinal facilities 160; and a tank which is connected to the pipe switchboard for collecting the accumulating fluid waste from the urinal facilities 160 in the compartments 150.

[0015] In one example, the tank for collecting the liquid waste is placed outside the back room of the tent. To allow an easier flow of the liquid waste, this tank is positioned in a slope for complete drainage of the liquid waste off of the pipes and easier accu mulation in the tank. Further, a drainage pump may be connected to the tank for collecting the liquid waste at the opening of the tank to speed up liquid drainage, par ticularly in time intervals of peak use. The volume of the tank may also vary, for example between 200 to 5,000 litres depending on capacity and requirements onsite. The tank for collecting the liquid waste may be rigid or elastic as required.

[0016] In one example, the treatment of liquid excretion is made as follows:

Initial disinfection material is distributed in the urinary facilities.

- A one-way valve is installed in the tank for collecting the liquid excretion from the compartments to prevent backflow to the pipes.

- A disinfection material is disposed in the tank for collecting the liquid excretion.

- Optionally, a solidifying material is disposed in this tank if further treatment and/or disposal should be delayed.

- For solidified liquid excretion, this liquid waste is treated as solid waste, if it cannot be returned to liquid phase and pumped and drained out in the end of use.

[0017] Figs. 16 and 17 illustrate a compartment 150 in which is installed a disposable and portable urinary facility 160 for excretion of liquids. This facility comprises a urinal 1 62 for receiving liquid waste and a pipe 163, which is connected to the urinal 162 for channelling the liquid waste to the pipe switchboard and from there to the liquid waste collecting tank. The urinary facility 160 also comprises a support backing 165 for attaching the urinal 162 to the back wall of the compartment 150 and a securing disc 1 66 that surrounds a hole in the back wall of the compartment 150for securing the outlet of the pipe 163 to the pipe switchboard through the back wall.

[0018] Since the walls of the compartment are made of relatively thin sheets, the support backing 165 is used to provide a more substantially bulky wall that stabilizes and safely fastens the urinal 162 to the wall of the compartment 150 at any desired height from the floor. An anchor receiving seat 161 at the top of the support backing 165 receives an anchor at the top of the urinal 162 that corresponds to the shape and size of the seat 161. This coupling of the seat 161 and anchor adjusts the urinal 162 parallel to the support backing 165 and provides initial attachment of the urinal 162 to the support backing 165. Once the seat-anchor coupling secures the urinal 162 to the support backing 165, further fastening and stabilization means may be applied for safe connection of them, such as the butterfly screws at the sides of the urinal 162. The urinal 162 connects to the support backing 165 with such butterfly screws, and may further be connected and fastened to the wall of the compartment with Velcro strips at the top and bottom of the urinal 162.The urinal and its support backing may then po sitioned and levelled at right angle and any desired height relative to the floor of the compartment 150.

[0019] In one example, the urinal 162 and support backing 165 are essentially made of light weight materials, particularly synthetic polymeric materials, to reduce weight load on the back wall. In particular, the support backing 165 is made of PVC (Polyvinylchloride) in a solid stiff oval shape. The urinal 162 is also made of a synthetic polymer, PVC or other suitable polymer and may be disposable for use in a single event. In a further embodiment, the urinal may be recycled by disinfecting it or melting, purging and moulding. The pipe 163 may also be disposable or recyclable as the urinal 162.

[0020] The toilet shelter 100 may combine any number of compartments, 110 and 150, that accommodate solid and liquid waste facilities, 140 and 160, respectively. Corre spondingly, solid and liquid waste channelling and collecting devices and systems connect to the respective facilities in the compartments and deliver the accumulated waste to the bins 116 for the solid waste and the liquid waste collecting tank. Fig. 13 il lustrates schematics of a toilet shelter 100 with only solid waste facilities 140 in the compartments 110. Fig. 11 illustrates schematics of a toilet shelter 100 with com partments 110 and corresponding solid waste facilities 140 and compartments 150 for accommodating liquid waste facilities 160. Fig. 14 illustrates a toilet shelter 100 with a combination of solid and liquid waste compartments, 110 and 150, with corresponding solid and liquid waste facilities, 140 and 160, respectively.

[0021] The inflatable toilet shelter 100 further comprises air-circulation means for ven tilating air inside the shelter compartments. In particular, toilet shelter of the invention may comprise the following configurations of an air-circulation and ventilation system. One configuration comprises air-channel switchboard with a central air pipe 130a that extends outside 130 of the shelter to the surroundings, where it is connected to an air- pump for pumping air inside. This central pipe 130a stretches along the back room 120 of the toilet shelter 100 and splits to air side pipes 130b that enter into the com partments, 110, 150, through air inlets 130c, which are located at the top of the com partments 110, 150. The inlets 130c are fastened to the walls that divide between the back room and the compartments with a pad 130d. The incoming air leaves the side pipes into the space of the compartments and circulates the air in the volume of the compartments and leaves back the surrounding through the entrance of the com partments. In an alternative configuration, the air circulation and ventilation system passes between neighbour compartments with channels 132, 133, in n-shape connection between them as schematically illustrated in Figs. 18-19. Such con figuration does not have a main central pipe to distribute incoming air to the side pipes. In such n-shape configuration, air from the surrounding is pumped with an air pump outside the toilet shelter into the external air pipe 130. The chained air pipes inside the toilet shelter connect to the outlet of the external pipe 130 and channel and release the incoming air inside the compartments through holes made in the parts of the pipes, which are located in the compartments. In this n-shape configuration, the number of air outlets in the whole air circulation and ventilation system is smaller, which better maintains air pressure in the pipes and air circulation and ventilation in the com partments themselves. In both configurations, the incoming air through the air cir culation and ventilation systems pushes and expels bad odours in the compartments outside through the entrance of the compartments.

[0022] In one example, a PVC floor is laid down under the toilet shelter. Alternatively, an anti-skid sheet is laid down as the floor to for user safety. The surface of such sheet may be textured or rough to prevent skidding.

In still another embodiment, the toilet shelter 100 is also equipped with proper lighting system, including proper wiring, switching and load. In particular, the lighting system may be deployed in the toilet shelter in advance and extend throughout the compartments and back room of as the shelter as the shelter is deployed in the field. The lighting system may operate on a 12 Volt load.

[0023] The relatively light weight of this shelter makes it easily transportable with different types of vehicles including aerial ones, particularly UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles). Such aerial transportation is advantageous where terrestrial obstacles or lack of acces- sibility for other reasons prevent reaching a crisis area and the first aid equipment has to be delivered from above. The multi-compartment shelter is, therefore, ideal for such shipping. Its relative light weight and compactness enable packaging it in containers that can be loaded aboard airplanes and parachuted down from or carried by UAVs and landed at the site. Onsite deployment may then be carried out by the people at the crisis area or a rescue team and provide the hygienic and sanitary environment they need for maintaining their health and preventing outbreak of diseases.