Waste receptacle systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016376779-A1
Application number	US-201615196235-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 29, 2016
Priority date	Jun 29, 2015
Publication date	Dec 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A toilet assembly is provided and includes an inlet conduit, a waste conduit, a flush-assist subsystem, and a plug. The waste conduit is configured to fluidly communicate with the inlet conduit. The flush-assist subsystem includes a flush-assist inlet and a flush-assist outlet. The flush-assist inlet is configured to fluidly communicate with the inlet conduit. The flush-assist outlet is configured to fluidly communicate with the waste conduit. The plug is disposed within the flush-assist subsystem and configured to prevent fluid communication between the inlet conduit and the waste conduit through the flush-assist subsystem.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A toilet assembly comprising:
an inlet conduit; a waste conduit configured to fluidly communicate with the inlet conduit; a flush-assist subsystem having a flush-assist inlet and a flush-assist outlet, the flush-assist inlet configured to fluidly communicate with the inlet conduit, the flush-assist outlet configured to fluidly communicate with the waste conduit; and a plug disposed within the flush-assist subsystem and configured to prevent fluid communication between the inlet conduit and the waste conduit through the flush-assist subsystem.

2 . The toilet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flush-assist subsystem includes a flush-assist conduit having an inner surface.

3 . The toilet assembly of claim 2 , wherein the plug is sealingly engaged with the inner surface.

4 . The toilet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plug includes at least one of metal, elastomer, ceramic, mortar, and plaster.

5 . The toilet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plug is disposed proximate the flush-assist inlet.

6 . The toilet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plug is disposed proximate the flush-assist outlet.

7 . The toilet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the toilet assembly includes a bowl having an outlet port in fluid communication with the waste conduit, the flush-assist outlet disposed downstream of the outlet port.

8 . The toilet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the toilet assembly includes a bowl having an outlet port in fluid communication with the waste conduit, the flush-assist outlet disposed upstream of the outlet port.

9 . The toilet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plug is removably disposed within the flush-assist subsystem.

10 . A vacuum plumbing system comprising:
a vacuum pump; a waste discharge conduit; a waste container in fluid communication with the vacuum pump and the waste discharge conduit; and a toilet comprising
an inlet conduit;
a waste conduit in fluid communication with the inlet conduit and the waste container;
a flush-assist conduit having a flush-assist inlet and a flush-assist outlet, the flush-assist inlet configured to fluidly communicate with the inlet conduit, the flush-assist outlet configured to fluidly communicate with the waste conduit; and
a plug disposed within the flush-assist conduit and configured to prevent fluid communication between the inlet conduit and the waste conduit through the flush-assist conduit.

11 . The vacuum plumbing system of claim 10 , wherein the plug includes at least one of metal, elastomer, ceramic, mortar, and plaster.

12 . The vacuum plumbing system of claim 10 , wherein the plug is disposed proximate one of the flush-assist inlet and the flush-assist outlet.

13 . The vacuum plumbing system of claim 10 , wherein the toilet assembly includes a bowl having an outlet port in fluid communication with the waste conduit, the flush-assist outlet disposed downstream of the outlet port.

14 . The vacuum plumbing system of claim 10 , wherein the toilet assembly includes a bowl having an outlet port in fluid communication with the waste conduit, the flush-assist outlet disposed upstream of the outlet port.

15 . The vacuum plumbing system of claim 10 , wherein the plug is removably disposed within the flush-assist subsystem.

16 . A method of retrofitting a toilet having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a flush-assist subsystem in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the flush-assist subsystem having a flush-assist inlet and a flush-assist outlet, the method comprising:
preventing fluid communication between the flush-assist outlet and the fluid outlet.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein preventing fluid communication between the flush-assist outlet and the fluid outlet includes inserting a plug within the flush-assist subsystem to prevent fluid communication between the flush-assist inlet and the flush-assist outlet.

18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising decoupling the fluid outlet from a waste discharge conduit.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising fluidly coupling the fluid outlet to a waste container.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising fluidly coupling the waste container to the waste discharge conduit.

Assignees

• Acorn Eng Co

Inventors

• Boeltl Darryl
• Marshall Keith
• Marshall Laura
• Morris Don
• Zinn Tom

Classifications

• E03D5/01 Primary

  using flushing pumps · CPC title

• E03D11/11

  Bowls combined with a reservoir, e.g. containing apparatus for disinfecting or for disintegrating · CPC title

• E03D2201/30

  Water injection in siphon for enhancing flushing · CPC title

• E03F1/006

  Pneumatic sewage disposal systems; accessories specially adapted therefore · CPC title

• E03D1/24

  Low-level flushing systems · CPC title