Urinal enclosure

Abstract

An enclosure for concealing the presence of a portable urinal includes a housing having each of a predetermined size and a predetermined shape and having a hollow interior portion for receiving such portable urinal. An aperture is formed in an exterior surface of the housing for accessing the hollow interior portion and a door is hingeably attached to the housing and selectively movable between a first position for covering the aperture and a second position for uncovering the aperture. A drawer is slideably mounted adjacent a base member of the housing for collecting accidental spillage from such portable urinal.

1 . An enclosure for concealing a presence of a portable urinal, said enclosure comprising: 
 (a) a housing having each of a predetermined size and a predetermined shape and having a hollow interior portion for receiving such portable urinal;    (b) an aperture formed in an exterior surface of said housing for accessing said hollow interior portion of said housing;    (c) a door means hingeably attached to said housing and selectively movable between a first position for covering said aperture and a second position for uncovering said aperture; and    (d) means disposed within said housing for collecting accidental spillage from such portable urinal being placed into said housing.    
   
   
       2 . The enclosure, according to  claim 1 , wherein said housing includes: 
 (a) a base member for supporting such portable urinal received in said hollow interior portion of said housing;    (b) a top member disposed opposite said base member;    (c) a back member connected to aligned respective rear edges of said base member and said top member;    (d) a pair of side members each connected to an aligned respective side edge of each of said base member and said top member and connected to a respective side edge of said back member, whereby a combination of front edges in each of said base member, said top member and each of said pair of side members form said aperture for accessing said hollow interior portion of said housing.    
   
   
       3 . The enclosure, according to  claim 2 , wherein said door means is hingeably attached to one of said side members.  
   
   
       4 . The enclosure, according to  claim 1 , wherein said enclosure includes a closure means for securely retaining said door means in said first position.  
   
   
       5 . The enclosure, according to  claim 4 , wherein said closure means is a magnetic member attached to one of said housing and said door means and a metallic member attached to other one of said housing and said door means in alignment with said magnetic member.  
   
   
       6 . The enclosure, according to  claim 1 , wherein said means for collecting spillage includes a tray means removably engageable with at least a portion of an interior surface of a base member of said housing.  
   
   
       7 . The enclosure, according to  claim 1 , wherein said means for collecting such accidental spillage includes a partition member mounted in said housing and in a predetermined spaced relationship about a base member of said housing, a drawer means mounted for slideable movement in a space formed intermediate said base member and said partition member and a predetermined plurality of apertures disposed in a predetermined pattern within said partition member for enabling passage of such accidental spillage into said drawer means.  
   
   
       8 . The enclosure, according to  claim 7 , wherein said enclosure further includes a deodorizing means placed into said drawer means and capable of releasing a predetermined scent penetrating said hollow interior portion by way of said predetermined plurality of apertures for eliminating undesirable odor permeating from at least one of such portable urinal and such accidental spillage.  
   
   
       9 . The enclosure, according to  claim 7 , wherein said door means disposed in said first position enables a sliding movement of said drawer means.  
   
   
       10 . The enclosure, according to  claim 1 , wherein said enclosure includes a predetermined indicia applied to at least a portion of an exterior surface of one of said housing, said door means and a combination thereof.  
   
   
       11 . The enclosure, according to  claim 1 , wherein a material of said housing and said door means is one of wood, metal and plastic.  
   
   
       12 . The enclosure, according to  claim 11 , wherein said material is said wood and at least a portion of an interior surface in each of said housing and said door means includes means engaged therewith for preventing an accidental spillage from such portable urinal to damage said wood material.  
   
   
       13 . The enclosure, according to  claim 12 , wherein said means for preventing damage of said wood material includes a vinyl material.  
   
   
       14 . The enclosure, according to  claim 1 , wherein said enclosure further includes a mounting means for securely mounting said enclosure to a vertical wall surface.  
   
   
       15 . The enclosure, according to  claim 14 , wherein said enclosure is mounted in a spaced relationship to a generally horizontal floor surface.  
   
   
       16 . A method of at least operatively concealing a portable urinal being kept in close proximity to a location of use in at least a residential dwelling, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing an enclosure having a hollow interior portion and an aperture formed in an exterior surface of said enclosure for accessing said hollow interior portion, a door means hingeably attached to said enclosure for selectively opening and closing said access aperture, and means engageable with at least a portion of said hollow interior portion for collecting accidental spillage from such portable urinal;    (b) placing said enclosure adjacent such location of use;    (c) placing such portable urinal within said hollow interior portion;    (d) opening said door means to expose said access aperture and such portable urinal;    (e) removing such portable urinal for one of use and emptying contents contained therein;    (f) replacing such portable urinal within said hollow interior portion; and    (g) closing said door means for concealing such urinal.    
   
   
       17 . A method of concealing a urinal fixture mounted to a wall, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing an enclosure having a hollow interior portion and an aperture formed in an exterior surface of said enclosure for accessing said hollow interior portion and a door means hingeably attached to said enclosure for selectively opening and closing said access aperture;    (b) mounting said enclosure onto such wall, whereby such urinal is disposed within said hollow interior portion;    (c) opening said door means to expose such urinal during use; and    (d) closing said door means for concealing such urinal.    
   
   
       18 . The method, according to  claim 17 , wherein said enclosure includes means at least partially disposed within said hollow interior portion for collecting accidental spillage formed during use of such urinal.