Portable toilet shelter having improved stackability

Abstract

A portable toilet shelter that is more stackable and easier to assemble and disassemble. The portable toilet shelter includes a loop enclosure that is mountable to a base, and that is adapted to receive a roof. The loop enclosure includes opposed end walls each having opposed edges. Opposed side walls are positioned between the opposed end walls, with each of the side walls also having opposed edges. Flexible hinges connect the edges of the side walls to respective adjacent edges of the end walls to complete the loop enclosure. The portable toilet shelter is partially disassembled when collapsed to a height of about the thickness of two walls, wherein the end walls fold respectively toward and overlay the side walls. The portable toilet shelter is partially erected when the end walls are unfolded respectively away from the side walls to maintain an upright and self-supporting position.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A portable toilet shelter comprising: 
 a loop enclosure comprising: 
 opposed end walls each having opposed edges;  
 opposed side walls between said opposed end walls, each of said side walls having opposed edges; and  
 means for connecting said opposed edges of said side walls to said opposed edges of said end walls such that said end walls and said side walls complete said loop enclosure;  
   said portable toilet shelter being in a partially disassembled state when said loop enclosure is collapsed, wherein said end walls are in a folded position respectively against said side walls, such that each of said end walls overlays a respective one of said side walls;    said portable toilet shelter being in a partially erected state when said end walls are in an unfolded position respectively away from said side walls and said loop enclosure is in an upright and self-supporting position, wherein said side walls are substantially parallel to one another and said end walls are also substantially parallel to one another, such that said side walls are substantially respectively transverse to said end walls.    
     
     
         2 . The portable toilet shelter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said means for connecting comprises at least one flexible hinge fastened to respective said side edges of said end and side walls.  
     
     
         3 . The portable toilet shelter as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said at least one flexible hinge is riveted to respective said side edges of said end and side walls.  
     
     
         4 . The portable toilet shelter as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a roof hingedly connected to one of said walls; and    a floor hingedly connected to one of said walls.    
     
     
         5 . The portable toilet shelter as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a commode mounted to said base within said loop enclosure.  
     
     
         6 . The portable toilet shelter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said loop enclosure is collapsible to a thickness of about two of said end and side walls.  
     
     
         7 . A portable toilet shelter comprising: 
 a base; and    a loop enclosure mounted to said base, said loop enclosure comprising: 
 front and back end walls, each of said front and back end walls having disposed thereon opposed edges, opposed longitudinal ends, and an inward surface;  
 opposed side walls between said front and back end walls, each of said side walls having disposed thereon opposed edges, opposed longitudinal ends, and an inward surface; and  
 a plurality of flexible hinge strips connecting said edges of said side walls to respectively adjacent edges of said edges of said front and back end walls such that said end walls and said side walls complete said loop enclosure and said longitudinal ends of said end walls and said side walls collectively define opposed longitudinal ends of said loop enclosure;  
 whereby said front wall is foldable against a respective one of said side walls and said back wall is foldable against a respective other of said side walls to collapse said loop enclosure, further whereby said front and back end walls are unfoldable respectively away from said side walls such that said loop enclosure is self-supporting when placed on one of said longitudinal ends thereof.  
   
     
     
         8 . The portable toilet shelter as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of flexible hinge strips are riveted to respective said opposed edges of said front and back end walls and said side walls.  
     
     
         9 . The portable toilet shelter as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 a roof hingedly connected to one of said walls; and    a floor hingedly connected to one of said walls.    
     
     
         10 . The portable toilet shelter as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising a commode mounted to said base within said loop enclosure.  
     
     
         11 . The portable toilet shelter as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said loop enclosure is collapsible to a thickness of about two of said front and back end walls and said side walls.  
     
     
         12 . A portable toilet shelter comprising: 
 a base;    a loop enclosure mounted to said base, said loop enclosure being foldable to a collapsed condition and unfoldable to a self-supporting condition, said loop enclosure comprising: 
 a front end wall having disposed thereon left and right edges, top and bottom longitudinal ends, and an inward surface, said front end wall further having a door opening therethrough;  
 an oppositely disposed back end wall having disposed thereon left and right edges, top and bottom longitudinal ends, and an inward surface;  
 a right side wall between said front and back end walls, said right side wall having disposed thereon opposed front and back edges, top and bottom longitudinal ends, and an inward surface;  
 a left side wall between said front and back end walls, said right side wall having disposed thereon opposed front and back edges, top and bottom longitudinal ends, and an inward surface;  
 said longitudinal ends of said side and end walls collectively define longitudinal ends of said loop enclosure;  
 a plurality of flexible hinge strips, said plurality of hinge strips connecting said right edge of said front panel to said front edge of said right side wall, said back edge of said right side wall to said right edge of said back end wall, said left edge of said back end wall to said back edge of said left side wall, and said front edge of said left side wall to said left edge of said front wall, thereby completing said loop enclosure;  
 whereby said front and back end walls are foldable respectively toward said side walls such that said inside surfaces of said front and back end walls respectively overlay said inside surfaces of said right and left side walls to collapse said loop enclosure, and further whereby said front and back end walls are unfoldable respectively away from said right and left side walls such that said loop enclosure is self-supporting when placed on one of said longitudinal ends thereof; and  
   a roof mounted to the other of said longitudinal ends of said loop enclosure.    
     
     
         13 . The portable toilet shelter as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said plurality of flexible hinge strips are riveted to respective said edges of said end and side walls.  
     
     
         14 . The portable toilet shelter as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 a roof hingedly connected to one of said walls; and    a floor hingedly connected to one of said walls.    
     
     
         15 . The portable toilet shelter as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising a commode mounted to said base within said loop enclosure.  
     
     
         16 . The portable toilet shelter as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said loop enclosure is collapsible to a thickness of about two of said front and back end walls and said right and left side walls.  
     
     
         17 . A portable toilet shelter adapted to be collapsed to facilitate transportation thereof, said portable toilet shelter having a base and a roof, said portable toilet shelter further comprising: 
 a substantially loop-like enclosure, said substantially loop-like enclosure being divided into four substantially equal sections; and    a plurality of hinge members, one of said plurality of hinge members being interposed each of said four substantially equal sections;    whereby when said portable toilet shelter is collapsed, two of said four substantially equal sections are in side by side relationship disposed atop another two of said four substantially equal sections such that an increased number of said portable toilet shelters may be transported when in said collapsed state.    
     
     
         18 . The portable toilet shelter as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 a roof hingedly connected to said substantially loop-like enclosure; and    a floor hingedly connected to said substantially loop-like enclosure.    
     
     
         19 . A flip-top toilet unit adapted for use with a portable toilet shelter, said flip-top toilet comprising: 
 a tank portion; and    a lid portion hingedly connected to said tank portion to close tank portion.    
     
     
         20 . The flip-top toilet unit as claimed in  claim 19 , further comprising a toilet seat mounted to said lid portion.