Toilet and garment for waste removal in a zero-gravity condition

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11970291-B2
Application number	US-202217714377-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 6, 2022
Priority date	Apr 6, 2022
Publication date	Apr 30, 2024
Grant date	Apr 30, 2024

Abstract

A toilet for a zero-gravity condition, having: a seat extending from a first end to a second end, and from a first side to a second side; a leg rest at the first end of the seat that is level with the seat; a backrest at the second end of the seat that extends away from the seat, toward an outer end of the toilet, a first sidewall at the first side of the seat and a second sidewall at the second side of the seat, the sidewalls extend away from the seat toward the outer end of the toilet; a basin extending away from the seat toward an inner end of the toilet; a first inflatable member extending about the leg rest, the sidewalls and the backrest, the first inflatable member is configured to inflate against a back, sides and under legs of a person seated against the seat.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A toilet for a zero-gravity condition, comprising:
a seat extending from a first end to a second end, and from a first side to a second side;
a leg rest at the first end of the seat that is level with the seat;
a backrest at the second end of the seat that extends away from the seat, toward an outer end of the toilet,
a first sidewall at the first side of the seat and a second sidewall at the second side of the seat, wherein the sidewalls extend away from the seat toward the outer end of the toilet;
a basin extending away from the seat toward an inner end of the toilet;
a first inflatable member extending about the leg rest, the sidewalls and the backrest,
wherein the first inflatable member is configured to inflate against a back, sides and under legs of a person seated against the seat.

2. The toilet of claim 1 , wherein
the seat is removably supported by the toilet.

3. The toilet of claim 1 , wherein:
the sidewalls respectively define first ends that face the outer end of the toilet and second ends that faces away from the backrest; and
the first inflatable member extends along the first ends and the second ends of the sidewalls.

4. The toilet of claim 3 , wherein
the backrest is taller than each of the sidewalls, and the first inflatable member extends along the backrest so that it is level with the first ends of each of the sidewalls.

5. The toilet of claim 4 , wherein:
the leg rest includes a center partition that extends away from the seat, toward the outer end of the toilet, to define adjacent first and second leg-rest cavities between the sidewalls, and
the first inflatable member extends over the center partition,
wherein when the person is seated against the seat, the first inflatable member is configured to inflate under and partially around the legs of the person.

6. The toilet of claim 5 , wherein
a waste outlet port is defined at the inner end of the toilet.

7. The toilet of claim 3 , wherein
the first sidewall defines a first outer corner where the first and second ends of the first sidewall meet, and the second sidewall defines a second outer corner where the first and second ends of the first sidewall meet, and
the toilet includes:
a lap bar having opposing ends that are spaced apart from each other by a distance that is complimentary to spacing between the sidewalls, wherein the lap bar is configured to be positioned against the outer corners of the sidewalls and extend continuously therebetween, and wherein the lap bar is configured to be releasably fixed against the outer corners of the sidewalls; and
a second inflatable member extending between the opposing ends of the lap bar,
wherein, when the person is seated against the seat, the second inflatable member is configured to inflate against portions of the legs and waist of the person that are otherwise exposed by the first inflatable member to form a seal around the person.

8. The toilet of claim 7 , including
a spray nozzle extending into the basin, between the inner end of the toilet and the seat, wherein the spray nozzle is configured to direct a spray toward the seat.

9. The toilet of claim 7 , including
an air duct extending through the backrest, between the seat and the first inflatable member, and the air duct is configured to direct air toward the seat.

10. The toilet of claim 1 , wherein
the sidewalls respectively define pockets with gloves extending therethrough.

11. A garment for disposing human waste in a zero-gravity condition, comprising:
a pelvis enclosure, extending from an outer end to an inner end;
a waist opening at the outer end of the garment;
the inner end of the garment defines leg openings and a waste collection chamber between the leg openings,
wherein the waste collection chamber includes:
a conduit connector that defines a plurality of ports, including a fluid inlet port and a waste outlet port; and
a baffle fluidly coupled to the fluid inlet port, wherein the baffle defines a fluid nozzle that is configured to direct a fluid flow from the fluid inlet port toward the outer end of the garment,
wherein when a person is wearing the garment, the baffle is configured to be located between legs, and adjacent to a perineum, of the person.

12. The garment of claim 11 , further comprising
leg sleeves extending away from respective ones of the leg openings to sleeve ends.

13. The garment of claim 12 , further comprising
inflatable members at each of the waist opening and the sleeve ends, wherein when the garment is worn by the person, the inflatable members are configured to inflate about a waist and the legs of the person to create a seal.

14. The garment of claim 13 , wherein
a rigid shell surrounds the waste collection chamber.

15. The garment of claim 14 , wherein
the rigid shell is formed of plastic and the leg sleeves are formed of silicone.

16. The garment of claim 11 , wherein:
the plurality of ports further includes a first gas inlet port; and
a conduit within the waste collection chamber is fluidly connected to the first gas inlet port, wherein the conduit defines a first gas nozzle that is configured to direct gas flow from the first gas inlet port into the waste collection chamber.

17. The garment of claim 16 , including:
a pinch valve to control outflow from at least one of the baffles and the conduit.

18. The garment of claim 11 , wherein
the garment defines a gloved opening that is configured to provide access into the waste collection chamber.

19. A system including:
the garment of claim 11 ; and
an inflatable seat with hand grips with a seating zone that is configured to be positioned against the inner end of the garment.

20. The system of claim 19 , comprising
magnets disposed along the seating zone of the inflatable seat and the inner end of the garment to prevent slipping motion between the garment and the inflatable seat.

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Space Sys

Inventors

• Himmelmann Ashley
• Kaplan Daniel J
• Rohrig Jake
• Ladue Rachel L

Classifications

• B64G1/60 Primary

  Crew or passenger accommodations · CPC title

• A47K11/02 Primary

  Dry closets, e.g. incinerator closets · CPC title

• A47K11/00 Primary

  Closets without flushing; Urinals without flushing; Chamber pots; Chairs with toilet conveniences or specially adapted for use with toilets · CPC title

• A47K17/00

  Other sanitary equipment not covered by the other groups of this subclass {; Holders for toilet brushes} · CPC title

• A47K17/02

  Body supports, other than seats, for closets, e.g. handles, back-rests, foot-rests; Accessories for closets, e.g. reading tables · CPC title