Multi-Piece Tank for Portable Restrooms

Abstract

A holding tank for a portable restroom comprised of two parts, a top portion and a bottom portion, is provided. The top portion fits on the bottom portion to enclose an interior of the tank, and the top portion defines a toilet opening. The top portion preferably fits to the bottom portion with a tongue-and-groove joint. The holding tank may include additional features, such as barbs included between the top portion and the bottom portion that hold the top portion to the bottom portion. In addition, the holding tank may include a toilet bowl in the toilet opening, and the toilet bowl may be flushed by water from an internal or external fresh water vessel.

1 . In a toilet holding tank for a portable restroom, the tank including a top portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion having a bottom wall, front, rear, left, and right sidewalls extending up from the bottom wall and the top portion fitting on the bottom portion to enclose an interior of the tank, and the top portion defining a toilet opening, the improvement wherein the top portion fits to the bottom portion with a tongue-in-groove joint. 
   
   
       2 . A toilet holding tank as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a groove of the joint is defined by the top portion and a tongue of the joint is defined by the bottom portion. 
   
   
       3 . A toilet holding tank as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the joint is located around the entire perimeter of the tank. 
   
   
       4 . A toilet holding tank as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising guide ribs extending downwardly from the top portion that assist fitting the top portion to the bottom portion. 
   
   
       5 . A toilet holding tank as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising barbs between the top portion and the bottom portion that hold the top portion to the bottom portion, at least portions of the barbs being molded integrally with at least one of the top portion and the bottom portion. 
   
   
       6 . In a toilet holding tank for a portable restroom, the tank including a top portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion having a bottom wall, front, rear, left, and right sidewalls extending up from the bottom wall and the top portion fitting on the bottom portion to enclose an interior of the tank, and the top portion defining a toilet opening, the improvement wherein there are snap clips between the top portion and the bottom portion that hold the top portion to the bottom portion, and at least portions of the clips being molded integrally with at least one of the top portion and the bottom portion. 
   
   
       7 . In a toilet holding tank for a portable restroom, the tank including a top portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion having a bottom wall, front, rear, left, and right sidewalls extending up from the bottom wall and the top portion fitting on the bottom portion to enclose an interior of the tank, the top portion defining a toilet opening, and having a toilet bowl in the toilet opening, the improvement wherein the holding tank has an internal fresh water holding vessel for holding water to flush the toilet bowl. 
   
   
       8 . A toilet holding tank as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the fresh water holding vessel is connected by the top portion to one side of a bowl of the toilet. 
   
   
       9 . A toilet holding tank as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the fresh water holding vessel is fillable through a port in the top portion. 
   
   
       10 . A toilet holding tank as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the port is closable with a cover that is hinged to the top portion and has an integrally molded barbed clip that holds the cover closed. 
   
   
       11 . In a toilet holding tank for a portable restroom, the tank including a top portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion having a bottom wall, front, rear, left, and right sidewalls extending up from the bottom wall and the top portion fitting on the bottom portion to enclose an interior of the tank, the top portion defining a toilet opening, and having a toilet bowl in the toilet opening, the improvement wherein the holding tank has an external fresh water vessel for holding water to flush the toilet bowl, the external fresh water vessel being supported on the top portion to one side of the toilet opening, and the external fresh water vessel being taller than it is wide. 
   
   
       12 . In a toilet holding tank for a portable restroom, the tank including a top portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion having a bottom wall, front, rear, left, and right sidewalls extending up from the bottom wall and the top portion fitting on the bottom portion to enclose an interior of the tank, the top portion defining a toilet opening, and having a toilet bowl in the toilet opening the improvement wherein the toilet bowl is flushable with operation of a foot operated pump, the pump being held in a housing and the housing having a label recess. 
   
   
       13 . A toilet holding tank as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein a label in the recess states “FLUSH”. 
   
   
       14 . In a toilet holding tank for a portable restroom, the tank including a top portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion having a bottom wall, front, rear, left, and right sidewalls extending up from the bottom wall and the top portion fitting on the bottom portion to enclose an interior of the tank, and the top portion defining a toilet opening, the improvement wherein at a juncture between sidewalls of the bottom portion and the bottom wall of the bottom portion, a skirt is included that supports the tank on a support surface. 
   
   
       15 . A toilet holding tank as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the skirt is interrupted. 
   
   
       16 . In a toilet holding tank for a portable restroom, the tank including a top portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion having a bottom wall, front, rear, left, and right sidewalls extending up from the bottom wall and the top portion fitting on the bottom portion to enclose an interior of the tank, and the top portion defining a toilet opening, the improvement wherein the tank contains an element that reduces the capacity of the tank to hold waste. 
   
   
       17 . A toilet holding tank as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the element is a tank. 
   
   
       18 . A toilet holding tank as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the element is a bulkhead. 
   
   
       19 . In a toilet holding tank for a portable restroom, the tank including a top portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion having a bottom wall, front, rear, left, and right sidewalls extending up from the bottom wall and the top portion fitting on the bottom portion to enclose an interior of the tank, and the top portion defining a toilet opening, the improvement wherein the top portion has integrally molded ribs extending downwardly from a lower surface that angle inwardly so as to guide the top portion into engagement with the bottom portion upon assembly of the top portion to the bottom portion. 
   
   
       20 . A toilet holding tank as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the ribs support a plurality of top portions in a substantially vertical stack when the top portions are stacked one on top of another. 
   
   
       21 . In a toilet holding tank for a portable restroom, the tank including a top portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion having a bottom wall, front, rear, left, and right sidewalls extending up from the bottom wall and the top portion fitting on the bottom portion to enclose an interior of the tank, and the top portion defining a toilet opening, the improvement wherein the toilet has a toilet bowl that is hinged to the top portion and protrusions extend up from the top portion to engage the bowl behind a rear edge of the bowl when the bowl is pivoted up to an upright position, so as to help hold the bowl in the upright position. 
   
   
       22 . A toilet holding tank as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the protrusions help support a hinge pin of the bowl. 
   
   
       23 . A toilet holding tank as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the external fresh water vessel includes a flush handle. 
   
   
       24 . A toilet holding tank as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the external fresh water vessel has a leg extending downwardly to a housing for a foot pump flush pedal.