Description

The invention relates to a toilet system for use in a lorry cabin.

With the present invention it is proposed to provide a toilet system built into or to be built into a lorry cabin for use by the driver of the lorry.

For this purpose, according to the invention a toilet system is provided for use in a lorry cabin, comprising a fixed frame that is provided with a horizontal slidable frame with a toilet seat, wherein the slidable frame is provided with a WC opening under the toilet seat, wherein all this is arranged so that a receiving container (e.g. receiving bag) can be fitted in the WC opening for receiving faeces/urine, wherein in the position of use the receiving container extends downwards in the WC opening.

The toilet system according to the invention preferably also comprises a powder or gel, intended and suitable for placing an amount thereof in the receiving container when using the toilet system, said powder or gel being intended to bind the faeces/urine deposited or to be deposited in the receiving container during use.

Preferably, the system according to the invention comprises a carrying/closing device for closing and carrying the receiving container, wherein the receiving container and the carrying/closing device are configured to be able to take the receiving container out of the WC opening by means of the carrying/closing device after use of the toilet system.

In a preferred embodiment, the receiving container comprises a strengthened edge, configured for hanging the waste container in the WC opening in the position of use. In particular, the strengthened edge is provided at least partially with a larger size than the WC opening so that the waste container can be hung in the WC opening.

Preferably, the carrying/closing device and the strengthened edge are configured to be connected together detachably for closing and carrying the receiving container.

In particular, the receiving container is provided with a waste bag made of a composite material comprising pressed cardboard and PVC. The waste bag may be made of a plastic material or other suitable material, but in an advantageous sustainable embodiment the waste bag is made of a composite material comprising pressed cardboard and PVC (polyvinyl chloride).

The toilet system according to the invention is pre-eminently suitable for being placed under a bed in the lorry cabin, wherein in the pushed-in position it does not take up any space.

The invention will now be discussed further on the basis of the following description of the figures.

Figs. 1a-e show an embodiment example of a toilet system according to the invention.

Figs. 1a-e show an embodiment example of a toilet system 1 for application in a lorry cabin, comprising a fixed frame 2a with a horizontal slidable frame 2 fitted therein provided with a toilet seat 3 with a seat and optionally a cover, wherein the slidable frame 2 can be pushed into and out of the fixed frame 2a. The toilet system 1 is pre-eminently suitable for being fitted under a bed 6 or somewhere else in an existing lorry cabin, wherein in the pushed-in position the toilet system takes up little space. The toilet system has the advantage that the lorry cabin requires little or no adaptation, and it can simply be fitted in a suitable free space, such as under a bed. The slidable frame 2 is provided with a WC opening 3a under the toilet seat 3, wherein all this is arranged so that a receiving container 4 for receiving faeces/urine can be fitted in the WC opening 3a. In the position of use of the toilet system, the slidable frame 2 is pushed out of the fixed frame 2a by the user, the toilet seat 3 is folded upwards and the receiving container 4 is hung in the WC opening 3a.

In the embodiment in Figs. 1a-e, the receiving container 4 comprises a waste bag, provided with a strengthened edge 4a near the opening of the waste bag, said strengthened edge 4a being fitted in the WC opening 3a so that during use the receiving container 4 remains suspended in the WC opening 3a, for example by providing the strengthened edge 4a with a larger size than the WC opening 3a. In an advantageous embodiment, the strengthened edge 4a and the WC opening 3a are both provided with a substantially circular shape.

The toilet system according to the invention comprises a powder or gel (not shown), intended and suitable for placing an amount thereof in the receiving container 4 during use of the toilet system, said powder or gel being intended to bind (and thereby deodorize, immobilize etc.) the faeces/urine deposited or to be deposited in the receiving container 4 during use.

Preferably, the toilet system according to the invention comprises a carrying/closing device 4b for closing and carrying the receiving container 4, wherein the receiving container 4 and the carrying/closing device 4b are arranged - for example because they "snap-fit" together - so that after use of the toilet system 1 , the receiving container 4 can be removed from the WC opening 3a, which is provided in the slidable frame 2. In particular, the strengthened edge 4a of the receiving container 4 and the carrying/closing device 4b are configured to be connected together detachably for closing and carrying the receiving container 4 by the user.

After use of the toilet system 1 , the user closes the receiving container 4 with the carrying/closing device 4b, by connecting the carrying/closing device 4b to the receiving container 4, and preferably with the strengthened edge 4a thereof, and the user lifts the receiving container 4 with the carrying/closing device 4b from the WC opening 3a. Then the toilet seat 3 with the seat and optionally the cover is folded back over the WC opening 3a, so that the slidable frame 2 with the closed toilet seat 3 can be pushed out of view in the fixed frame 2a. In the search report of the Netherlands Patent Office, the invention is considered entirely new, but two publications are cited which according to the examiner could form an objection against the inventiveness of the invention, namely US 6079770 A (FREIGHTLINER CORP) 27 June 2000 ("D1") and JP 2018-202117 A (DATA KOBO KK) 27 December 2018 ("D2"). It will be argued hereunder why D1 and D2, separately or in combination, do not form any objection against the inventiveness of the invention.

D1 discloses a toilet system built into a lorry cabin designed for it, comprising a slidable frame that can be pushed to three positions, namely position (1) for storage, (2) for use in the lorry cabin and (3) for cleaning via an opening at the rear, outside of the lorry cabin. From D2, a toilet kit is known, which can be fitted under a toilet seat in the hollow space of a normal Western toilet for receiving faeces or urine.

The toilet system from D1 is relatively large, in particular in height, because the toilet seat is connected to a receptacle with a hollow interior space (54) for receiving faeces or urine, said receptacle sliding together with the toilet seat to the three aforementioned positions. According to the toilet system from D1 , after use the toilet must first be pushed back to the storage position and then to the position for cleaning at the rear, outside of the lorry cabin. The toilet system in D1 cannot be used in existing lorry cabins. Existing lorry cabins are not configured to comprise a toilet system of this format and also do not have an opening at the rear of the lorry cabin.

Furthermore, the toilet system from D1 has other drawbacks. In long queues, drivers may need to make use of a toilet. A driver who makes use of the toilet system from D1 when in a queue and cannot then leave the lorry cabin immediately for cleaning, will have to push the toilet system including the hollow receptacle with faeces or urine back to the storage position. Then the driver will have to drive to a safe spot in order to be able to clean the toilet system outside of the lorry cabin. In the meantime, reuse of the toilet system is not then possible, or is very unhygienic, because the receptacle already contains faeces or urine. In addition, driving with a receptacle containing faeces or urine may cause leakage in the lorry cabin, for example when taking bends, shaking or vibrations of the lorry.

The receiving kit from D2 is suitable for use in a normal Western toilet and is not usable in a lorry cabin. It is not obvious to a person skilled in the art, who is familiar with D2, to combine this with D1 , because owing to the large format, the toilet system from D1 does not fit in limited spaces in existing lorry cabins. In addition, existing lorry cabins do not have a cleaning hatch at the rear of the lorry cabin. A person skilled in the art who would nevertheless combine D1 with D2 thus comes up against the problem that the toilet system does not fit or cannot be built into an existing lorry cabin, and cannot be fitted under a bed in the lorry cabin, because even using the receiving kit from D2 in the pushed-in position it takes up a lot of space. Moreover, neither D1 nor D2 discloses a waste container with a strengthened edge with which the waste container can be suspended in the WC opening in the slidable frame of the toilet system, and said strengthened edge also being suitable for being connected detachably to a carrying/closing device for closing and carrying the waste container.

In contrast, the toilet system according to the invention consists only of a fixed frame with a slidable frame therein, provided with a toilet seat. The toilet system according to the invention is not arranged and configured as a normal Western toilet and does not have a hollow receptacle under the toilet seat. It takes up relatively little space and is therefore usable in the limited spaces of existing lorry cabins, preferably by placing it under a bed in the lorry cabin. In the pushed-in position, the toilet system takes up hardly any space. If the toilet system according to the invention is built in, account must be taken of the space that the receiving container occupies downwards in the position of use. After use, the receiving container is lifted out, closed and removed. The toilet system can be used again by hanging the receiving container, a new one or one already used, in the WC opening, without the driver needing to leave the lorry cabin for cleaning the toilet system.