Transportable sanitary unit

Abstract

Transportable sanitary unit, comprising a frame and a number of sanitary facilities supported by the frame, wherein the frame comprises an upper section and a lower section, wherein the upper section comprises an upper cover and upper column sections extending downward from the upper cover and the lower section comprises a bottom and lower column sections extending upward from the bottom, wherein the upper section and the lower section can be moved relative to each other between an upwardly extended operational position having an operational height and a downwardly retracted transport position having a transport height that is lower than the operational height, wherein the upper column sections and the lower column sections can be slid into or along each other over a slide path, between the operational position and the transport position, and in the operational position can be secured one to the other in that position using blocking means, wherein the upper cover and the bottom comprise construction members, such as girders and carriers, providing the upper cover and the bottom with a construction height, which each time defines a vertical space, wherein in the transport position the lower column sections extend to within the vertical space of the upper cover and/or the upper column sections extend to within the vertical space of the bottom.

Claims

1. A transportable sanitary unit, comprising: a frame; and a number of sanitary facilities supported by the frame, wherein the frame comprises an upper section and a lower section, wherein the upper section comprises an upper cover and upper column sections extending downward from the upper cover, and the lower section comprises a bottom and lower column sections extending upward from the bottom, wherein the upper section and the lower section are movable relative to each other between an upwardly extended operational position having an operational height and a downwardly retracted transport position having a transport height that is lower than the operational height, wherein the upper column sections and the lower column sections are slidable into or along each other over a slide path between the operational position and the transport position, and in the operational position are securable one to the other in that position, wherein the upper cover and the bottom comprise construction members providing the upper cover with a first height and defines a first vertical space of the upper cover and the bottom with a second height and defines a second vertical space of the bottom, which each time defines a vertical space, and wherein, in the transport position, the lower column sections extend to within the first vertical space of the upper cover of the upper section and/or the upper column sections extend to within the second vertical space of the bottom of the lower section.

2. The sanitary unit according to claim 1, wherein the length of the lower column sections equals the length of the upper column sections.

3. The sanitary unit according to claim 1, wherein, in the transport position, the lower column sections extend to above half the first height of the upper cover, and/or wherein, in the transport position, the upper column sections extend to below half the second height of the bottom.

4. The sanitary unit according to claim 1, wherein the upper column sections and the lower column sections are slidable into each other between the operational position and the transport position.

5. The sanitary unit according to claim 4, wherein the upper cover has an upper plane, and wherein the upper column sections extend downward from a short distance from the upper plane of the upper cover.

6. The sanitary unit according to claim 4, wherein the bottom has a lower plane, and wherein the lower column sections extend upward from the lower plane of the bottom.

7. The sanitary unit according to claim 1, wherein the frame defines a box-shape, and wherein the upper column sections and the lower column sections are situated near corners of the frame.

8. The sanitary unit according to claim 7, wherein the frame defines a straight parallelepiped shape, wherein the upper cover has an upper plane and the bottom has a lower plane, the sanitary unit being provided with placement devices on the upper plane and on the lower plane, near the corners, provided with placement devices and accommodation holes suited to the placement devices, configured for stacking two or more identical sanitary units, wherein the placement devices are arranged on support plates, wherein the upper column sections and lower column sections are attached to the support plates, and wherein the placement devices are within the frame as viewed in a horizontal plane of projection on the sanitary unit.

9. The sanitary unit according to claim 8, wherein the upper column sections and lower column sections are situated offset relative to the placement devices.

10. The sanitary unit according to claim 8, wherein the upper column sections and the lower column sections are tubular and debouch in the respective support plates.

11. The sanitary unit according to claim 1, comprising three subspaces with toilet bowls, which subspaces are situated next to each other and accessible from the same access side.

12. The sanitary unit according to claim 1, having a height in transport position approximately, but less than half the internal height of a standard 40 ft high cube transport container, and having a width in the transport position at the access side approximately, but less than one fifth of the internal length of a standard 40 ft high cube container, and having a depth in the transport position at the transverse sides approximately, but less than half the internal width of a standard 40 ft high cube container.

13. A transport container having a number of first-type sanitary units according to claim 1 in an interior of the transport container, wherein the container is configured as a 40 ft high cube container, having 20 of the sanitary units of claim 1, in transport position in its interior; wherein the sanitary units have a height in transport position approximately, but less than half the internal height of a standard 40 ft high cube transport container, and having a width in the transport position at the access side approximately, but less than one fifth of the internal length of a standard 40 ft high cube container, and having a depth in the transport position at the transverse sides approximately, but less than half the internal width of a standard 40 ft high cube container.

14. The sanitary unit according to claim 1, wherein, in the transport position, an uppermost portion of the lower column sections extend within a portion of the upper column sections located within the first vertical space of the upper cover of the upper section and/or a lowermost portion of the upper column sections extend within a portion of the lower column sections located in the second vertical space of the bottom of the lower section.

15. A sanitary unit comprising: a frame; and a number of sanitary facilities supported by the frame, wherein the frame comprises an upper section and a lower section, wherein the frame defines a straight parallelepiped shape, wherein the upper section comprises an upper cover and upper column sections extending downward from the upper cover and the lower section comprises a bottom and lower column sections extending upward from the bottom, wherein the upper section and the lower section are movable relative to each other between an upwardly extended operational position having an operational height and a downwardly retracted transport position having a transport height that is lower than the operational height, wherein the upper column sections and the lower column sections are slidable into or along each other over a slide path between the operational position and the transport position, and in the operational position are securable one to the other in that position, wherein the frame defines a box-shape, and wherein the upper column sections and the lower column sections are situated near corners of the frame, wherein the unit has an access side and holding devices for doors at said access side, and wherein the lower column sections that are situated near corners at the access side, are situated offset in a direction away from the access side relative to the front edge of the bottom situated at the corners at the access side.

16. A sanitary unit comprising: a frame; and a number of sanitary facilities supported by the frame, wherein the frame comprises an upper section and a lower section, wherein the upper section comprises an upper cover and upper column sections extending downward from the upper cover and the lower section comprises a bottom and lower column sections extending upward from the bottom, wherein the upper section and the lower section are movable relative to each other between an upwardly extended operational position having an operational height and a downwardly retracted transport position having a transport height that is lower than the operational height, wherein the upper column sections and the lower column sections are slidable into or along each other over a slide path between the operational position and the transport position, and in the operational position are securable one to the other in that position, wherein the unit comprises a number of sanitary subspaces that are situated next to each other, wherein the unit has an access side and holding devices for doors at said access side, wherein the subspaces are bounded by partition walls in horizontal directions in a direction away from the access side and/or towards one lateral side and/or towards both lateral sides, wherein the partition walls are divided into an upper partition wall section attached to the upper section, and a lower partition wall section attached to the lower section, wherein the upper partition wall section, considered from the interior of the subspace in question, during conversion from the transport position into the operational position and vice versa, are slidable vertically along the inner side of the lower partition wall section, wherein the upper partition wall section is divided in vertical direction into at least a first and a second partition wall portion, the second upper partition wall portion being located below the first upper partition wall portion, and wherein the first upper partition wall portion, considered from the interior of the subspace in question, during conversion from the transport position into the operational position and vice versa, are slidable vertically along the inner side of the second partition wall portion of the upper partition wall section.

17. The sanitary unit according to claim 16, wherein the sanitary facility in the subspaces is attached to the lower section.

18. The sanitary unit according to claim 17, wherein the upper partition wall section is divided in vertical direction into partition wall portions, wherein the upper partition wall portion, considered from the interior of the subspace in question, during conversion from the transport position into the operational position and vice versa, are slidable vertically along the inner side of the partition wall portion of the upper partition wall section situated below it, and wherein the upper partition wall portions are slidable downward along the lower partition wall section down to the location of attachment of the sanitary facility.

19. The sanitary unit according to claim 17, wherein the partition walls define a lying U-shape, wherein the opening of the U-shape is situated at the access side.

20. The sanitary unit according to claim 16, comprising three subspaces with toilet bowls, which subspaces are situated next to each other and accessible from the same access side.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown in the attached drawings, in which:

(2) FIGS. 1A-E show a number of views of a sanitary unit according to the invention, in the extended operational position;

(3) FIGS. 2A-B show views of the sanitary unit of FIGS. 1A-E, in the retracted transport position; and

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a transport container having a number of sanitary units according to the invention in the transport position in there.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(5) The sanitary unit 1 shown in FIGS. 1A-E and 2A,B comprises a straight parallelepiped-shaped or box-shaped, vertically retractable/extendable frame 2, for instance having steel construction members, that is divided into an upper frame section 2a and a lower frame section 2b.

(6) The upper frame section 2a comprises an upper cover 3a comprising a number of construction members in the form of tubular girders/carriers for providing strength and rigidity (see FIG. 2B) and is upwardly covered by an upper plate 20 (left out in FIG. 2B), the upper side of which defines an upper plane 3aa. Between their upper sides and lower sides, the construction members define a vertical space. Near the corners, hollow upper column sections 4a, having a circular cross-section, extend downward from the support plates 5a situated at the corners, to which support plates they are attached with their upper edges 4aa. The support plates 5a are provided with stacking cams 6a. The upper cover 3a further comprises fork holes 7a for lifting and lowering the upper frame section 2a using a forklift truck, which fork holes can be reached at the front side or access side and at the rear.

(7) The lower frame section 2b comprises a bottom 3b comprising a number of construction members in the form of tubular girders/carriers for providing strength and rigidity and which is open in downward direction. Between their upper sides and lower sides, the construction members define a vertical space. Near the corners, hollow lower column sections 4b, having a square cross-section, extend upward from the support plates 5b situated at the corners, to which support plates they are attached with their lower edges 4bb. The support plates 5b are provided with holes 6b in which said stacking cams 6a fit. Inspection holes 6c make it possible to perceive such a fit. The bottom 3b further comprises fork holes 7b to all sides for moving the unit 1 using the fork of a forklift truck or pallet jack. At the lower side of the bottom 3b, the carriers/girders have holes for rollers of a pallet jack. The lower sides of the girders/carriers of the bottom 3b define a lower plane 3bb.

(8) The column sections 4a and 4b have an identical length and form a vertical through passage that is open.

(9) The lower frame section 2b further comprises a back plate 8a that can be flipped up and side plates 8b.

(10) In the interior of the frame 2, three sanitary subspaces 9 that are situated next to each other are housed, equipped with toilet bowls P. The subspaces 9 are accessible at the front side and can be closed off by their own doors 10, in the operational position. At one vertical side, the doors 10 are bearing mounted so as to be rotatable on upper pivot pins 11a and lower pivot pins 11b, extending downward and upward, respectively, from the lower side of the upper cover 3a and the upper side of the bottom 3b. The fork holes 7a, 7b at the front side are situated just inside the sidewalls and the posts 19a,b (see below) of the middle subspace 9.

(11) In this example, the subspaces 9 are each bounded laterally and rearward by a U-shaped partition wall 12, formed by an upper partition wall section 12a and a lower partition wall section 12b, which are attached to the upper frame section 2a and the lower frame section 2b, respectively, and which can be slid up and down along each other. The upper partition wall section 12a is divided itself as well into an upper partition wall portion 12aa and a lower partition wall portion 12ab that is connected thereto so as to be slidable therewith. The arrangement is such that the upper partition wall portion 12aa can be slid up and down just along and within the lower partition wall portion 12ab, and the lower partition wall portion 12ab can be slid up and down just along and within the lower partition wall section 12b. This can also be seen in FIG. 1D, in which a view from the interior towards the front side is shown. It also shows that the lower partition wall portions 12ab that are situated next to each other, are joined together and are slid up and down as one part or unity. When lowering the upper cover 3a, said cover will upon abutting the upper edge of the partition walls portions 12ab take them along downward. When lifting the upper cover 3a again, an abutment at the lower edge of the upper back wall portions 12aa will ensure that the partition wall portions 12ab are taken along.

(12) The lower partition wall section 12b has a back wall portion 12bb to which the toiled bowl P as well as a waste bin 14 is attached. Behind the waste bin 14, the back wall portion 12bb is provided with a maintenance opening 16 for emptying the waste bin from the rear of the subspaces 9. Against the rear of the back wall portion 12bb a toilet roll holder is furthermore arranged, which is accessible to the user from the inside through opening 16 in back wall portion 12bb and accessible from the rear for replenishing the stock.

(13) Behind the subspaces 9, a technical space 17 is realized within the frame 2, in particular within the lower frame section 2b, in which technical space there is room for the requisite drain pipes, water supply pipe(s) and electricity cables, optionally also for a pump and grinders for faeces and paper. The toilet bowls P have the drain in the back wall portion 12bb. In the transport position, the space 17 also provides room to the three doors 10. The space 17 can be shielded rearward by the said back plate 8a that can be flipped up.

(14) The subspaces 9 further have a ceiling plate 18a and a floor plate 18b, which are attached in upper frame section 2a and lower frame section 2b, respectively. The floor plate 18a is slopes down towards the front side, for draining away rinse water.

(15) For the protection of the front edges of the partition wall sections 12a, 12b and optionally the vertical articulation of the front edges of the upper partition wall sections 12a, vertical upper and lower profiles 19a, 19b have been attached to the front side of the upper frame section 2a and lower frame section 2b, respectively, wherein the profile section 19a can slide inside the profile section 19b.

(16) As can be seen, also see FIG. 1E, the columns 4 are situated slightly offset to the rear at the corners at the front side, whereas the columns 4 at the corners at the rear of the unit 1 are situated at the corner. As a consequence, there is room at the front side to place the hinge pins 11a, 11b at the left-hand side in front of the column 4a,b situated at that location. Room can also be left free at the right-hand side for abutment of the door 10 operational at that location. As a result, the overall horizontal occupation of space in the direction parallel to the front side can be kept within limits, for an equal number of subspaces.

(17) As the column sections 4a,4b extend from a short distance (the thickness of the upper plate 20) from the upper plane 3aa of the upper cover 3a and from the lower plane 3bb of the bottom 3b, respectively, and are capable of being slid fully into each other, wherein the lower edge 4ab of the column sections 4a extends as far as the lower plane 3bb and the upper edge 4ba extends as far as said short distance from the upper plane 3aa, an as low as possible height in the transport position relative to the achievable height in the operational position is realized, namely almost equal to the height of a column section 4a or 4b (the thicknesses of the support plates 5a,b have to be added in the example). Also see FIG. 1E, in which it can be seen that only the upper edge 4aa of upper column section 4a is attached to the lower side of the support plate 5a, so that the upper edge 4ba of the lower column section 4b can extend as far as against the lower side of the support plate 5a in the transport position. The lower edge 4ab of the upper column section 4a then rests on the upper side of the support plate 5b.

(18) By way of example, in the transport position of the unit 1 (FIGS. 2A,B) the length L along the front side can be approximately 2.35 m, the width or depth B approximately 1.1 m and the height H approximately 1.3 m. FIG. 3 illustrates how 2× ten of such units can be accommodated in a 40 ft high cube container 100, of which the internal dimensions in the clear of the door opening are 2.33 m wide b0 by 2.655 m high h0, having a container length l0 of 11.998 m. The assembly of the twenty units 1 may then cover a length l1 of approximately 11.8 m, a width b1 of 2.2 m and a height of approximately 2.6 m, including the placement cams projecting at the upper side of the top units 1.

(19) On the site where they will be used, a forklift truck can remove the sanitary units 1 one by one out of the container 100 and place them at the correct spot, wherein the fork engages into the holes 7b at the short side. Next, the fork of the same forklift truck can be inserted into the holes 7a, and subsequently, by raising the fork, the upper frame section 2a can be lifted relative to the lower frame section 2b. The upper columns sections 4a then slide out of the lower column sections 4b, until the operational height has been reached, which in this example, can amount to approximately 2.31 meters between the upper plane 3aa and the lower plane 3bb. The fork is then kept still and the driver or another person operates the blocking facility in the unit 1 for securing both column sections 4a,4b in that position. In this extension process the partition wall portions 12aa and 12ab have also been extended upwards along the inner side of the partition wall sections 12b. After flipping the back plate 8a open, the doors 10 can be taken out and placed at the front side on the pivot pins 11a,11b. The various pipes and cables can be connected.

(20) When transporting the unit 1 away again, the pipes etc. are first disconnected. Then the doors 10 are placed in the space 17 again. The fork of a forklift truck is inserted in the holes 7a and the blocking facility is released. The fork is then lowered, wherein the upper column sections 4a slide into the lower column sections 4b again, until they have been fully accommodated in each other, wherein the upper edge of the lower column section 4b abuts the lower side of the support plate 5a and the lower edge of the upper column section 4a abuts the upper side of the support plate 5b. Simultaneously the partition wall portions 12aa,12bb have been retracted sliding along each other and along the inner side of the back wall section 12b again, wherein first the partition wall portion 12ab with its lower edge abuts for instance the upper/rear edge of the toilet bowl P or another abutment, and then the partition wall portion 12aa slides further downward along the inner side of the partition wall portion 12ab.

(21) In the transport position that is now realized, the blocking facility can be used again for securing the column sections 4a,4b one to the other.

(22) It is noted that the invention cannot only be applied to sanitary units with toilet bowls, but also to units with urinals, showers, wash basins and combinations thereof. A pump unit to be used with a number of sanitary units can be configured in a similar manner, with corresponding transport dimensions, for instance to be accommodated together with 19 sanitary units in the aforementioned 40 ft high cube container.

(23) The invention is/inventions are not at all limited to the embodiments discussed in the description and shown in the drawings. The above description is included to illustrate the operation of preferred embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention. Starting from the above explanation many variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention will be evident to an expert. Variations of the parts described in the description and shown in the drawings are possible. They can be used individually in other embodiments of the invention(s). Parts of the various examples given can be combined together.