Field of the invention

The invention relates to a dry toilet as defined in the preamble of independent claim 1. Various dry toilets are known in the art.

Publication WO 90/027720 relates to a composting device for toilet and foodstuff waste to be used in connection with a toilet. In the device according to the invention, the upper portion of a rotating compost container provided with a filtering floor is divided into four sections to keep apart compost materials of different degree of composting. The compost container is positioned partially within the toilet room so that the toilet seat is positioned immediately or substantially immediately above the cover of the composting device. In this way, the natural aeration will not cause the smell of the compost material to enter the toilet room when the cover of the toilet is opened. In the compost container, the waste is aerated both from above and from below. The circulation of air is arranged to take place naturally so that it flows all the time upwards. The air flow causes the liquid on the bottom of the container to evaporate and takes the evaporated liquid with it, thus keeping the above compost material humid. Surplus liquid is discharged from the central area of the bottom of the compost container. This enables the collection of liquid at one point by means of a single-wall rotating container.

Publication EP 2 196 124 presents a composting latrine and a method for maintaining thereof. A problem of latrines in prior art is, among other things, that they require a difficult displacement of the waste from one place to the other, usually outside of the latrine. In the solution according to the invention, the latrine has a space for two containers, one of which is currently for collecting waste and the other is for composting waste. The collecting container can be displaced to composting container's place by displacing inside the space of the latrine. After this, an empty container can be placed in the latrine through the opening in front of the latrine for collecting waste. There is a second opening in the latrine for the removal of the container containing composted waste.

Publication WO 2008/020116 relates to a composting device and a method for composting. The composting device comprises a compost container provided with a feed opening through which waste to be composted is added into the compost container. The compost container comprises a belt loop circulating inside it for the purpose of turning, mixing and/or moving the waste to be composted.

Objective of the invention The object of the invention is to provide a dry toilet which is easy to empty.

Short description of the invention

The dry toilet of the invention is characterized by the definitions of independent claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the dry toilet are defined in the dependent claims.

The axis arrangement provides for easy emptying of the dry toilet because the compost container of the dry toilet can be tilted with respect to a horizontal axis for facilitating the emptying of the compost container.

In a preferred embodiment of the dry toilet all parts attached to the compost container, the container lid, and a possible openable and closable cover for opening a feed opening in the container lid, are fixedly movable attached. This makes parts of the dry toilet difficult to steal or to lend.

List of figures

In the following the invention will described in more detail by referring to the figures, of which

Figure 1 shows a dry toilet according to a first embodiment,

Figure 2 shows the dry toilet shown in figure 1 as cut along line A-A in figure 1,

Figure 3 shows the dry toilet shown in figure 1 as seen from above,

Figure 4 shows the dry toilet shown in figure 1 as cut along line B-B in figure 1,

Figure 5 shows the dry toilet shown in figure 1 as cut along line C-C in figure 1,

Figure 6 shows the dry toilet shown in figure 1 as cut along line D-D in figure 1,

Figure 7 shows the dry toilet shown in figure 1 as cut along line E-E in figure 1,

Figure 8 shows a dry toilet housing,

Figure 9 shows a dry toiler according to a second embodiment,

Figure 10 shows a dry toiler according to a third embodiment, and

Figure 11 shows the dry toilet shown in figure 10 as cut along line A-A in figure 10.

Detailed description of the invention

Figures 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the dry toilet and figure 9 shows a second embodiment of the dry toilet. Figures 3 to 7 shows various section of the first embodiment of the dry toilet. It is in this context obvious that the compost container in the second embodiment of the dry toilet shown in figure 9 can have the configuration that is shown in figures 3 to 7.

The dry toilet comprises a compost container 1 defining an inner space 2 for receiving solid waste (not shown in the figures) and liquid waste (not shown in the figures).

The compost container 1 has a side wall structure 3 and a bottom structure 4.

The dry toilet comprises an openable and closable container lid 5 for closing the inner space 2 of the compost container 1 and forming at least a part of a top structure (not marked with a reference numeral) of the compost container 1.

The dry toilet comprises a feed opening 6 in the container lid 5.

The dry toilet comprises a support structure 7 for supporting the compost container 1 at a base such at the ground.

The compost container 1 is connected to the support structure 7 by means of an axis arrangement 8 so that the compost container 1 is tiltable with respect to the support structure 7 about an essentially horizontal axis. The axis arrangement 8 may, as shown in the figures, comprise axles 9, which are attached to the compost container 1 at opposite sides of the compost container 1.

The container lid 5 is preferably, but not necessarily, fixedly attached to the compost container 1 by means of at least one hinge 10 as is shown in figure 2.

The dry toilet comprises preferably, but not necessarily, an openable and closable protective cover 21 for opening and closing the feed opening 6. Such openable and closable protective cover in preferably, but not necessarily, fixedly attached by at least one hinge 11 to the container lid 5 or to the compost structure as is shown in figure 2.

The dry toilet comprises preferably, but not necessarily, as shown in the figures, filtering means 12 arranged in the inner space 2 of the compost container 1 for separating liquid waste such as seep liquid or urea from solid waste in the inner space 2 of the compost container 1. Such filtering means 12 may comprise a net structure (not shown in the figures) or a corresponding perforated structure configured for supporting filtering material (not shown in the figures) such as straw or peat. The dry toilet comprises preferably, but not necessarily, filter holding means 22 for holding the filtering means 12 in a correct position in the inner space 2 of the compost container 1. In the figures the filter holding means 22 are in the form of ridges extending from the inner surface of the side wall structure 3 into the inner space 2 of the compost container 1. The filtering means 12 extends preferably, but not necessarily, in an upright manner from the bottom structure 4 of the compost container 1 and extending between at least two different side wall portions of the side wall structure 3 of the compost container 1 dividing the inner space 2 of the compost container 1 into a compartment for solid waste 27 and into a compartment for filtering material 28. If the dry toilet is provided with such filtering means 12 dividing the inner space 2 of the compost container 1 into a compartment for solid waste and into a compartment for filtering material, the feed opening 6 in the container lid 5 is preferably, but not necessarily, provided above the filtering means 12, when the dry toilet is in an use position, and the compartment for solid waste is larger, preferably 2 to 5 times larger, than the compartment for filtering material. In such embodiment of the dry toilet, the compartment for filtering material 28 is provided at a front side of the compost container 1 of the dry toilet at which the user of the dry toilet sits, when using the dry toilet. In the embodiments shown in the figures the side wall structure 3 of the compost container 1 comprises a front wall member 29 at the front side such that the compartment for filtering material 28 is provided in the inner space 2 of the compost container 1 between the front wall member 29 and the filtering means 12.

The side wall structure 3 of the compost container 1 may, as shown in the figures, comprise an upper part 13 and a lower part 14 so that the upper part 13 has an average larger cross section area, which is larger than an average larger cross section area of the lower part 14, and so that a collar structure 15 is formed between the upper part 13 and the lower part 14. Such collar structure 15 may be used for supporting the compost container 1 for example in a dry toilet building 24. By a dry toilet building 24 is in this respect meant a building which is solely designed to function as a dry toilet building 24 or a building one function of several other functions is to function as a dry toilet building 24.

If the side wall structure 3 of the compost container 1 comprises, as shown in the figures, an upper part 13 and a lower part 14 and a collar structure 15 between the upper part 13 and the lower part 14, the container lid 5 may have an upwards facing surface and the collar structure 15 may have a downwards facing surface so that the upwards facing surface of the container lid 5 is inclined with respect to the downwards facing surface of the collar structure 15.

If the side wall structure 3 of the compost container 1 comprises, as shown in the figures, an upper part 13 and a lower part 14, a first filtering means 16 may be arranged in the upper part 13 of the inner space 2 of the compost container 1 for separating liquid waste from solid waste in the inner space 2 of the compost container 1, so that the first filtering means 16 being supported at the collar structure 15, and a second filtering means 17 may be arranged in the lower part 14 of the inner space 2 of the compost container 1 for separating liquid waste from solid waste in the inner space 2 of the compost container 1, so that the second filtering means 17 being supported at the bottom structure 4 of the compost container 1. Such first filtering means 16 and such second filtering means 17 may comprise a net structure (not shown in the figures) or a corresponding perforated structure configured for supporting filtering material (not shown in the figures) such as straw or peat. The first filtering means 16 extends preferably, but not necessarily, in an upright manner from the collar structure 15 and between at least two different side wall portions of the side wall structure 3 of the compost container 1 dividing the upper part 13 of the inner space 2 of the compost container 1 into an upper compartment for solid waste 27a and into an upper compartment for filtering material 28a. The second filtering means 17 extends preferably, but not necessarily, in an upright manner from the bottom structure 4 of the compost container 1 and between at least two different side wall portions of the side wall structure 3 of the compost container 1 dividing the lower part 14 of the inner space 2 of the compost container 1 into a lower compartment for solid waste 27b and into a lower compartment for filtering material 28b. If the dry toilet is provided with such first filtering means 16 dividing the upper part 13 of the inner space 2 of the compost container 1 into an upper compartment for solid waste 27a and into an upper compartment for filtering material 28a, the feed opening 6 in the container lid 5 is preferably, but not necessarily, provided above the first filtering means 16 and the upper compartment for solid waste 27a is larger, preferably 2 to 5 times larger, than the upper compartment for filtering material 28a, and the second filtering means 17 is arranged essentially below the first filtering means 16, when the dry toilet is in an use position, so that the upper compartment for solid waste 27a is above the lower compartment for solid waste 27b and in communication with the lower compartment for solid waste 27b and so that the upper compartment for filtering material 28a is above the lower compartment for filtering material 28b and in communication with the lower compartment for filtering material 28b. In such embodiment of the dry toilet, the upper compartment 27a for filtering material is provided at a front side of the compost container 1 of the dry toilet at which the user of the dry toilet sits, when using the dry toilet. In the embodiments shown in the figures 1 to 9, the side wall structure 3 of the compost container 1 comprises a front wall member 29 at the front side of the compost container 1 such that the upper compartment for filtering material 28a is provided in the upper part 13 of the inner space 2 of the compost container 1 between the front wall member 29 and the first filtering means 16 and such that the lower compartment for filtering material 28b is provided in the lower part 14 of the inner space 2 of the compost container 1 between the front wall member 29 and the second filtering means 17.

The dry toilet may comprise a locking means (not shown in the figures) for locking the container lid 5 in a closed position.

The compost container 1 of the dry toilet may be, as shown in the drawings, provided with a liquid outlet 18 in the bottom structure 4 of the compost container 1, and the bottom structure 4 of the compost container 1 may, as shown in the drawings, be at least partly inclined towards the liquid outlet 18 in the bottom structure 4 of the compost container 1. Such liquid outlet 18 in the bottom structure 4 of the compost container 1 is preferably, but not necessarily, provided at the lowest point of the compost container 1, when the dry toilet is in use. Such liquid outlet 18 in the bottom structure 4 of the compost container 1 may be provided with a filtering means 12 as shown in the figures.

The dry toilet may comprise a stop means (not shown in the figures) for at least one of keeping the compost container 1 in a tilted position with respect to the support structure 7 and/or keeping the compost container 1 in an use position with respect to the support structure 7.

The compost container 1 of the dry toilet may be provided with a solid waste discharge opening (not shown in the figures) at a lower region of the compost container 1 for discharging solid waste from the compost container 1, wherein the discharge opening is located closer to the bottom structure 4 of the compost container 1 than the container lid 5 of the dry toilet.

The compost container 1 of the dry toilet may be, as shown in the figures, be provided with a ventilation pipe connecting means 19 at an upper region of the dry toilet connecting a ventilation pipe to the dry toilet. Such ventilation pipe connecting means 19 may be, as shown in the figures, provided in the container lid 5. Such ventilation pipe connecting means 19 are preferably, but not necessarily, provided at the highest point of the compost container 1 of the dry toilet when the dry toilet is in use. Such ventilation pipe connecting means 19 are preferably, but not necessarily, designed to automatically connect to ventilation ducts (not shown in the figures) when the compost container 1 is turned into a use position and correspondingly preferably, but not necessarily, designed to automatically disconnect from ventilation ducts (not shown in the figures) when the compost container 1 is turned into an emptying position.

If the compost container 1 of the dry toilet is, as shown in the figures, provided with a ventilation pipe connecting means 19 at the highest point of the compost container 1 of the dry toilet and with a liquid outlet 18 at the lowest point of the compost container 1 of the dry toilet, the ventilation of the compost container 1 may be arranged so that air is drawn into the compost container 1 of the dry toilet through the liquid outlet 18 at the lowest point of the compost container 1 when the dry toilet is in use and so that air is removed from the compost container 1 of the dry toilet via the ventilation pipe connecting means 19 at the highest point of the compost container 1 when the dry toilet is in use.

The support structure 7 of the dry toilet may be formed of a dry toilet building 24 supported at a base such at the ground into which dry toilet building 24 the dry toilet is to be installed or into which dry toilet building 24 the dry toilet is installed. By a dry toilet building 24 is in this respect meant a building which is solely designed to function as a dry toilet building 24 or a building one function of several other functions is to function as a dry toilet building 24.

The support structure 7 of the dry toilet may be in the form of a support structure 23 to be attached to a dry toilet building 24 supported at a base such at the ground and into which dry toilet building 24 the dry toilet is to be installed. By a dry toilet building 24 is in this respect meant a building which is solely designed to function as a dry toilet building 24 or a building one function of several other functions is to function as a dry toilet building 24. A such embodiment is shown in figure 9. A such support structure 23 to be attached to a dry toilet building 24 supported at a base such at the ground and into which dry toilet building 24 the dry toilet is to be installed may, as shown in figure 9, comprise a supporting rim 25 made of metal such as steel and attachment means 26 for attaching the support structure 23 to the dry toilet building 24. The supporting rim 25 of the support structure 23 is configured for receiving the compost container 1 so that the supporting rim 25 surrounds the compost container 1. When the support structure 23 is attached to the dry toilet building 24 by means of the attachment means 26, the supporting rim 25 of the support structure 23 can be pivoted with respect to the dry toilet building 24 by means of the axis arrangement 8 of the support structure 23 so that the compost container 1 received in the supporting rim 25 at the same time is pivoted with respect to the dry toilet building 24.

The support structure 7 of the dry toilet may, as shown in the figures, be in the form of a separate support structure 20 for supporting the compost container 1 at a base such as at the ground. A such embodiment is shown in figures 1 and 2.

At least the compost container 1 and the container lid 5 are preferably, but not necessarily, made of polymer.

It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that as technology advanced, the basic idea of the invention can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are therefore not restricted to the above examples, but they may vary within the scope of the claims.