A Waste Disposal Unit

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a waste disposal unit, for example for receiving body waste in a convenient and hygienic manner.

BACKGROUND

People who have a colostomy or ileostomy are normally limited to using a hand basin or toilet bowl when emptying full or near full colostomy or ileostomy bags. They are often unable to conveniently reach over the basin or bowl while doing so, which brings a greater risk of spills and the spread of disease for others who use the basin or toilet.

In the case of a wheelchair user, getting close enough to the basin or bowl to conveniently empty their bag can be difficult. Even people that are able to stand can experience difficulty. For example they may stand in front of, or straddling, the toilet bowl and spill some of the contents of their bag while emptying it. Some people empty their bag while kneeling on a bathroom floor next to a toilet bowl, but that is also undesirable as toilet floors are often soiled or otherwise dirty, especially in a public facility.

Further, wash basins and toilet bowls are also often used by people who are ill and need to vomit. Using a basin is unhygienic because others may later use it for washing their hands or face and they may not realise that the basin has unseen residues of vomit. Vomiting into a toilet bowl can also be problematic in that the person doing so needs to get close to avoid missing or splashing onto the floor. Additionally, basins are not normally designed for receiving vomit and can become blocked by it.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention to go at least some way towards addressing the above problems. However, it should be understood that the object of the invention per se is not so limited. It is, rather, simply to provide a useful choice. Therefore any objects or advantages of any preferred embodiment should not be taken as a limitation on claims expressed more broadly. DEFINITIONS

The term“comprising” as used in this document in relation to a combination of features means that the combination has at least the features mentioned. However it should not be taken to exclude the option of it having further unspecified features. The same applies to derivative terms such as“comprise”,“comprises” and“comprising”.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a waste disposal unit comprising:

· at least one drawer arranged to be opened and closed;

• a pan below the drawer; and

• flushing means arranged to flush the drawer with water when the drawer is closed;

the unit being arranged such that flush-water entering the drawer drops into the pan and exits it via a pan outlet.

Optionally the flushing means is triggered to activate to flush in response to the drawer having been closed. Optionally the pan has an outlet that directs flush-water to a drainage line.

Optionally the waste disposal unit comprises a sink above the drawer.

Optionally the flushing means comprises a cistern for, or containing, flush-water.

Optionally the waste disposal unit comprises steam cleaning means arranged to direct steam into the drawer and pan to provide for steam cleaning of these.

Optionally the flushing means comprises a flush-water release valve.

Optionally the waste disposal unit is wall mounted such that it is cantilevered.

Optionally the drawer is used to receive at least one or more of:

• the contents of a human used colostomy bag;

· the contents of a human used ileostomy bag;

• human vomit; and faecal matter

Optionally there is at least a second drawer arranged to be opened and closed. Optionally the second drawer is beneath the sink.

Optionally the second drawer houses a toilet seat adapted for use over the first mentioned drawer. DRAWINGS

Some preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, or which:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of the waste disposal unit when fitted in a bathroom with the drawer in the closed position; Figure 2 is an isometric view of the unit when in a ready to use

disposition;

Figure 3a is a side cross-sectional view of part the unit when in a‘drawer closed’ disposition;

Figure 3b is a side cross-sectional view of part of the unit when in a

‘drawer open’ disposition;

Figure 4a is an end-on cross-sectional rear elevation view illustrating detail of the unit when installed;

Figure 4b is a side-on cross-sectional view of the unit when installed; Figure 5a is a further end-on cross-sectional rear elevation view illustrating detail of the unit when installed;

Figure 5b is a further side-on cross-sectional view of the unit when

installed;

Figure 6a is a cross-sectional plan view of the unit illustrating the flow of flush-water in the drawer reservoir; Figure 6b is a further cross-sectional plan view of the unit showing the flow of flush-water in the pan reservoir; Figure 7a is a side-cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the unit, incorporating a proximity sensor;

Figure 7b is a side-cross-sectional view of the alternative embodiment, when opened; Figures 8a-b illustrate a waste disposal unit according to a further

embodiment of the invention with some key parts shown in exploded form;

Figure 8c illustrates cross-sectional detail of the inlet valve and lever in its open and closed form; Figures 9a-b show the Figure 8a-b embodiment in plan and cross-sectional elevation;

Figure 9c illustrates cross-sectional detail of the lever in its open and closed form;

Figures 10a-b illustrates detail of the Figure 8a-b embodiment when connected to a supply of flushing water using the proximity sensor and solenoid valve options; and

Figures 11a-b illustrate a waste disposal unit according to a further

embodiment of the invention, incorporating steam clean functionality, shown in front and side cross-section respectively. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In Figure 1 the waste disposal unit 1 is cantilever fitted to a bathroom wall and is illustrated in its normal closed state. Figure 2 on the other hand shows the unit when open, ready to receive human waste such as the contents of a colostomy bag, an ileostomy bag, the stomach contents of someone who is about to vomit, or faecal matter, etc.

The unit 1 has a top sink 2 for use in the normal way, for example for washing one’s hands under running water from a faucet or the like. The faucet is not shown but is in normal circumstances fitted just above the sink’s drainage outlet 3. In some embodiments of the unit the faucet may be omitted. As shown in Figure 2, the open state corresponds with the outward extension of a drawer 4, which is in effect a second sink that can be pulled open for use and pushed back to a stowed position when not needed. When the drawer 4 is in its open or forward position, it can receive the contents of a colostomy or ileostomy bag, vomit, faecal matter or other bodily waste. The drawer has a central waste outlet aperture 4A (only partly visible) to allow matter to be readily flushed from it. The aperture 4A is preferably broad, indeed significantly wider than a standard sink outlet, to reduce the chance of it becoming blocked in use. The aperture 4A may be fitted with a grate (not shown) to prevent disposal of large items such as; diapers, incontinence pads, colostomy bags, plastic tubing.

Figure 3a illustrates details of the unit 1 when the drawer 4 is closed, and Figure 3b when it is partially open. The back of the drawer has a pin 5 that is magnetically attracted to a plate 6. The plate 6 is in turn connected to the front of a piston spring 7. When the drawer is closed, the pin 5 presses against the plate 6 to compress the spring 7. Compression of the spring 7 in turn triggers a switch 8. Each time the switch 8 is triggered it causes the drawer 4 to be given a single flush of water (preferably it does not flush continuously).

The magnetic attraction between the pin 5 and plate 6 helps keep the drawer closed, unless a deliberate hand force is exerted on the drawer to open it. When the drawer is closed, the spring keeps the front of the drawer flush with the front of the sink 2 for good aesthetics. The switch 8 is optionally connected to a flush-water release mechanism by way of a cable. The movement of the cable is at least predominantly manual.

Figures 4a and 4b illustrate the manner in which water (indicated with shading) is stored and released for flushing the unit 1 . More specifically, the unit 1 is fitted to the bathroom wall 9 and a cistern 10 within the wall cavity holds a fill of water 1 1 . When the unit is triggered to flush, flush-water 1 1 originating from the cistern 10 enters the drawer 4. Preferably the switch 8 is in the form of a cable flush button connected to a flush drop valve (not shown) forming part of the cistern 10. The arrangement is such that the flush-water proceeds through a peripheral lip 12 of the drawer so that the drawer is thoroughly flushed. And, as indicated at 14, some of the flush-water runs directly into a toilet-like pan 13 below the drawer. As with a normal household toilet, the pan 13 has a partial fill of water 13a even when it is not flushing. Figures 5a and 5b illustrate the movement of water from the drawer 4 as it drains to and through an outlet 17 of the pan 13. The flow is indicated with shading and by arrow 18. As best seen in Figure 5b, the sink outlet 16 and the pan outlet 17 both open to a common drainage pipe, which is in turn connected to a sewage main, either directly or indirectly. Preferably the sink 2 also has an anti-overflow outlet (not shown) in case its drainage outlet 3 becomes blocked. An overflow outlet (not shown) may also be built into the back of the pan 13 in case of blockage.

Figure 6a illustrates the way in which flush-water from the cistern 10 is able to enter the sink 2 via a series of spaced holes in a peripheral lip 2a. As shown, the water drops from at least three sides of the lip 2a.

Figure 6b illustrates the way in which flush-water from the cistern 10 enters the drawer 4 via a series of spaced holes in the peripheral lip 12. As shown, the flush-water drops from at least three sides of the drawer.

As will be appreciated, the cistern refills automatically after being emptied, so that it has a new fill of water for subsequent flushing.

Figures 7a and 7b show drawer detail of an alternative embodiment of the waste disposal unit. It is the same as described above, except that a proximity sensor 20 detects when the drawer is moved from an open to a closed position and, as a consequence, causes flushing of the drawer as before, and except that a solenoid or other electrical flush valve 21 within the wall cavity is used to release water from a water supply pipe directly, or alternatively from a cistern. The valve 21 is responsive to a signal from the sensor 20 that the drawer 4 is closed. Again, each time the drawer 4 is closed only one flush, or a predetermined number of flushes, is/are delivered.

In particularly preferred embodiments of the invention the arrangement is such that flushing of the drawer is only possible when it is in a closed disposition. Further, any excess or unneeded water from the cistern 10 automatically runs into the pan 13, not the sink 2, as shown at figure 4b, regardless of the position of the drawer 4.

The above embodiments of the waste disposal unit assist in providing a significantly sanitary way for people to dispose of waste fluids with less chance of spilling compared with discarding into a normal toilet bowl. For example a human user can approach the unit and pull the drawer 4 open by hand. If the person is seated in a wheel chair at the appropriate height then the drawer can be pulled open over the person’s lap. The drawer is therefore in very close proximity to reduce the chance of spillage. When the drawer is returned to a stowed and flushing disposition the person can wash their hands or clothing using the sink 2. In some embodiments the sink 2 is associated with an extendable faucet nozzle, or hose and nozzle.

Preferably when the drawer 4 is closed it is sealed against the underside of the sink 2. This reduces the risk of splashes of water or waste material onto the bathroom floor during flushing. The unit 1 is preferably cantilever fixed to the bathroom wall with enough strength to deal with downward loads of up to 350 kg. This is sufficient to cope with the weight of most people, albeit it is not intended that the unit ever has to withstand such loading.

At least preferred embodiments of the waste disposal unit may be used to assist parents of small children/babies, the elderly, men and women, colostomy, ileostomy and urostomy users, people with gastric issues like irritable bowel or crohn’s disease, people recovering from chemotherapy and radiation therapy or people who need to vomit. The unit may for example be installed in hotels, medical and aged care facilities, retail shopping facilities (eg parents’ rooms or toilets), sporting facilities, public spaces such as parks, homes and on transportation vehicles, eg trains, planes and cruise ships, etc.

In particularly preferred embodiments-

• the waste disposal unit is positioned against a wall in place of a hand basin, within a vanity housing/setting, so as to disguise the pan beneath the drawer;

• there is a waste outlet pipe to allow for black water waste, as well as a normal sink outlet pipe;

• the sink has a built-in overflow, and there is an extendable handheld hose fitting with a flicker tap handle that releases wash water for timed periods;

• the drawer has a back drain that empties into the pan below;

• the drawer is arranged so that users are able to utilise the handheld hose to clean off any excess faecal matter or urine as part of their individual cleaning process prior to closing the drawer;

• the drawer is associated with a motion sensor or a piston that triggers a flush button or solenoid to activate release of flush-water from either an inlet water pipe or cistern; • only when the drawer is closed is the flush activated, so there is minimal risk of water/faecal matter spreading into the room when in closed position;

• if the drawer is reopened prior to completion of flushing, the water flow

connection to the drawer is interrupted and the water just runs into the pan below;

• the pan flushes at the same time as the drawer and, as the unit is smaller than a standard toilet, the amount of water used is less;

• an overflow outlet is built into the back of the pan in case of blockage; and

• the drawer can be detached and removed to enable a plumber or other service person to access the pan and use a plunger to remove blockages.

In further embodiments of the invention there may be a storage drawer housing a toilet seat, for example situated beneath the flushing drawer. There may or may not be additional storage drawers.

In some embodiments of the invention the sink above the flushing drawer may be omitted altogether.

A further preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 8a and 8b. Component parts that have an equivalent role to that mentioned previously have been given the same reference numbers but with the suffix“a”. The waste disposal unit 1 a of this embodiment functions in substantially the same manner described above.

The unit 1 a has a top sink 2a, a drainage outlet 3a and a drawer 4a. The unit 1 a incorporates a vanity-like housing 22 for snugly supporting the sink 2a and drawer 4a. There is a rubber seal 23 around the front opening in the housing 22 that receives the drawer 4a so that when the drawer is flushed with water, the water and associated waste is not able to spill out. The drawer waste outlet 17a and sink waste outlet 16a are shown in Figure 8b. With further reference to Figures 8a and 8b, the unit 1 a incorporates a water supply, waste and flush mechanism 34. There is also a lever 26 that helps control flushing of the drawer 4a As shown in Figure 8a, there is a lock 24 that keeps the drawer locked in its closed position while flushing. This will be explained in more detail later. There is a flush inlet valve 25 for controlling the flow of flush water from the cistern (not shown) to the drawer 4a. Figure 8c shows the lever 26 and inlet valve 25 in more detail. The left hand image illustrates the lever 26 and inlet valve 25 when the drawer 4a is closed. In that case the edge of the drawer pushes the lever 26 to the right to a‘water shut-off position which prevents the drawer from flushing. There may also be one or more magnets in the bottom of the inlet valve 25 and top of the drawer 4a. When the drawer 4a is in the closed position the drawer magnet repels the magnet of the inlet valve 25, ensuring that the valve remains open. However when the drawer is pulled away from the lever and valve to an opened position, the lever 26 and inlet valve 25 automatically drops under gravity to the position shown in the right hand image to trigger the valve closed and allow the cistern and flush water inlet 27 (see figure 10a) to fill up with water.

When the drawer 4a is then pushed back into its closed position the lever 26 stops the flow of water (if not already done so via the standard cistern float) and the magnet in the top of the drawer repels the magnet in the inlet valve 25 causing a drawer reservoir to fill up with water for subsequent flushing of the drawer 4a.

Figures 9a, 9b and 9c illustrate further detail of the unit 1 a, including the bathroom wall. As with the Figure 1 embodiment, if the drawer 4a is open then flush-water is not able to flow to the drawer reservoir 29 or into drawer 4a. A charge of flushing water is retained in the flush water inlet and the cistern.. The drawer reservoir 29 and the pan reservoir 28 (see Figure 10a) receive the water automatically when the drawer is closed. Referring to Figure 9c, a fill cycle is triggered when the drawer, on opening, moves an inlet lever 26a in a similar manner to that described above. The left hand image of Figure 9c shows the lever 26a when the drawer 4a is closed and the right hand image shows it when the drawer is open and the lever has swung down under gravity.

As reservoir 29 fills, the drawer lock 24 mentioned in figure 8a fills with water and drops down into complimentary holes located in the top of drawer 4a. This locks drawer 4a in place until reservoir 29 has emptied itself of water. The spring 24a is located under the reservoir 29 connected to lock 24. This spring 24a pushes lock 24 up and releases drawer 4a when reservoir 29 is empty of water. The release of water frees the lock and enables drawer to be opened again.

Figures 10a and 10b illustrate the position of the lever 26 relative to other parts.

These also show the flush-water inlet 27 for the drawer reservoir 29 and the water inlet 28 for the pan 13a. For flushing the drawer 4a, the flush-water may drop from the cistern 10a under gravity. Flushing preferably happens automatically on closing the drawer 4a. In preferred embodiments the arrangement is such that any excess water from the cistern 10a flows straight to the pan 13a rather than overflowing the drawer 4a.

Still with Figures 10a and 10b, the unit 1 a is formed so that when the drawer 4a is opened it will only flush once, after which the flow of flush-water is shut off. This prevents the drawer 4a from being flushed continuously if left open. The drawer must be returned to a closed position and opened once again before water is released to flush the drawer. To that end an optional wall mounted sensor 20a may be arranged in lieu of the leaver 26a (to determine when the drawer has been opened and when it has been closed and to communicate with the cistern 10a so that it does not release water to the unit.

Figures 11a and 11 b show a waste disposal unit 1 b according to an alternative embodiment of the invention. It is similar to that of figures 8a and 8b and incorporates means for steam cleaning. In this regard the unit 1 b has a steam generator 31 located within the cistern or wall cavity. The steam generator 31 is connected to several flexible steam pipes 32 and steam nozzles 33. The unit’s steam cleaning mode activates once flushing has completed, and is timed to allow for destruction of microorganisms on surfaces of both the drawer and the pan. The steam pipes 32 go through the drawer reservoir at several points, for directing steam into the reservoir and through to the drawer below. At least one of the steam nozzles is located above the drawer lock to keep the lock down, and is timed to stop the drawer from opening until a steam cleaning is completed and steam expelled the pan’s overflow,. Additional steam pipes may be used to connect to the back of the pan reservoir to aid in cleaning that reservoir and the pan.

While some embodiments of the invention have been described by way of example it should be appreciated that modifications and improvements can occur without departing from the scope of the following claims.

In terms of disclosure, this document hereby discloses each item, feature or step mentioned herein in combination with one or more of any of the other items, features or steps disclosed herein, in each case regardless of whether the combination is claimed.