Sealed toilet

Abstract

A toilet comprising a bowl and an enclosure. At least one of the bowl and enclosure are movable relative to the other of the bowl and enclosure between a first position and a second position. When in the first position the bowl is sealably enclosed within the enclosure and a vent is operable to admit air into the enclosure.

1 . A toilet comprising: 
 a bowl;    an enclosure, at least one of the bowl and enclosure movable relative to the other of the bowl and enclosure between a first position and a second position, when in the first position the bowl is sealably enclosed within the enclosure; and    a vent operable to admit air into the enclosure.    
   
   
       2 . The toilet of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure includes a movable portion and a stationary portion and wherein the bowl is coupled to the movable portion.  
   
   
       3 . The toilet of  claim 1 , wherein the vent includes a check valve that inhibits flow out of the enclosure.  
   
   
       4 . The toilet of  claim 1 , wherein the bowl includes a top opening and wherein the enclosure includes a cover that sealably engages the bowl to cover the top opening.  
   
   
       5 . The toilet of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor positioned to detect when the bowl and enclosure are in the first position.  
   
   
       6 . The toilet of  claim 5 , wherein the sensor includes a limit switch.  
   
   
       7 . The toilet of  claim 5 , further comprising a flush mechanism operable in response to the sensor to flush the bowl.  
   
   
       8 . The toilet of  claim 7 , wherein the flush mechanism inhibits flushing when the bowl and enclosure are in any position other than the first position.  
   
   
       9 . A toilet comprising: 
 a housing at least partially defining a flush space;    a movable wall movable between a first position and a second position, the movable wall and the housing cooperating to define the flush space;    a vent in fluid communication with the flush space and operable to admit air into the flush space; and    a flushable bowl coupled to at least one of the movable wall and the housing such that when the movable wall is in the first position, the flushable bowl is sealably enclosed within the flush space.    
   
   
       10 . The toilet of  claim 9 , further comprising a hinge connected to the movable wall and the housing to allow the movable wall to move between the first position and the second position.  
   
   
       11 . The toilet of  claim 9 , wherein the vent provides the sole air flow path into the flush space when the movable wall is in the first position.  
   
   
       12 . The toilet of  claim 9 , wherein the vent includes a check valve that inhibits flow out of the flush space.  
   
   
       13 . The toilet of  claim 9 , further comprising a sensor positioned to detect when the movable wall is in the first position.  
   
   
       14 . The toilet of  claim 13 , wherein the sensor includes a limit switch.  
   
   
       15 . The toilet of  claim 13 , further comprising a flush mechanism operable in response to the sensor to flush the bowl.  
   
   
       16 . The toilet of  claim 15 , wherein the flush mechanism inhibits flushing when the bowl and enclosure are in any position other than the first position.  
   
   
       17 . A method of flushing a toilet, the method comprising: 
 providing a movable bowl;    moving the bowl into a substantially air tight enclosure;    initiating a flush operation; and    admitting air into the air tight enclosure through a vent.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising sensing when the bowl is within the enclosure.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising preventing the initiating step unless the bowl is within the enclosure.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising inhibiting the escape of air out of the vent.