Systems and methods for providing a portable toilet system

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing a portable toilet system. The system may include a portable toilet used in combination with a container and a privacy screen. Various components of the system may further be made of biodegradable materials to facilitate disposal of the system following use. The container of the system may be combined with a bioactive agent to disinfect microorganisms present within the system. The systems and methods of the present invention further provide a byproduct that may be used to enrich soil.

1 . A portable toilet system, comprising:
 a portable toilet having a folding structure including a front wall and a rear wall, the front and rear wall being parallel to one another and spaced apart, the portable toilet further including a first and second side wall being parallel and to one another and perpendicular to the front and rear walls, the first and second side being connected to and interposed between the front and rear walls to define an interior bowl with an open bottom and top, wherein each of the sides includes means to enable the sides to angle inwardly near their middle to form two spaced apart integral support pillars, and wherein the front wall includes an interior panel and an exterior panel, the interior panel having a tab and the exterior panel having a hole adapted to interlockably receive the tab, the portable toilet further including an interlockable interior seat panel and an interlockable exterior seat panel providing openings aligned to provide a toilet seat and an integral cover for the seat panels;   a container positioned adjacent to the portable toilet to collect an excrement sample; and   a privacy screen placed adjacent to the portable toilet to provide a visual barrier between the portable toilet and an onlooker.   
   
   
       2 . The portable toilet system of  claim 1 , wherein the portable toilet comprises a corrugated paperboard material having a polymer coating to substantially seal the corrugated paperboard material. 
   
   
       3 . The portable toilet system of  claim 2 , wherein the polymer coating provides a moisture barrier to the corrugated paperboard material. 
   
   
       4 . The portable toilet system of  claim 2 , wherein the polymer coating is biodegradable. 
   
   
       5 . The portable toilet system of  claim 2 , wherein the polymer coating provides flame resistance to the corrugated paperboard material. 
   
   
       6 . The portable toilet system of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a biopolymer material. 
   
   
       7 . The portable toilet system of  claim 6 , wherein the container further comprises a bioactive agent. 
   
   
       8 . The portable toilet system of  claim 7 , wherein the container further comprises an oxidizing agent. 
   
   
       9 . The portable toilet system of  claim 1 , wherein the privacy screen comprises a substantially opaque material that is supported by a frame structure, the privacy screen having a width and a height sufficient to shield a user while using the portable toilet. 
   
   
       10 . The portable toilet system of  claim 1 , wherein the components of the system comprise a kit. 
   
   
       11 . A portable toilet system, comprising:
 a portable toilet having a folding structure including a front wall and a rear wall, the front and rear wall being parallel to one another and spaced apart, the portable toilet further including a first and second side wall being parallel and to one another and perpendicular to the front and rear walls, the first and second side being connected to and interposed between the front and rear walls to define an interior bowl with an open bottom and top, wherein each of the sides includes means to enable the sides to angle inwardly near their middle to form two spaced apart integral support pillars, and wherein the front wall includes an interior panel and an exterior panel, the interior panel having a tab and the exterior panel having a hole adapted to interlockably receive the tab, the portable toilet further including an interlockable interior seat panel and an interlockable exterior seat panel providing openings aligned to provide a toilet seat and an integral cover for the seat panels;   a polymer coating substantially covering portions of the folding structure;   a container positioned adjacent to the portable toilet to collect an excrement sample; and   a privacy screen placed adjacent to the portable toilet to provide a visual barrier between the portable toilet and an onlooker.   
   
   
       12 . The portable toilet system of  claim 11 , wherein the polymer coating is selected from the group consisting of a water repellant polymer, a flame retardant polymer, a spectra-coat polymer, a plasma-polymer, a biodegradable polymer, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       13 . The portable toilet system of  claim 11 , wherein the interior bowl further comprising a mating surface for coupling to a portion of the container, the container being supported by the mating surface in a position adjacent to the interior bowl of the portable toilet. 
   
   
       14 . The portable toilet system of  claim 11 , wherein the container comprises a plurality of biopolymer sheets, each biopolymer sheet being attached to another biopolymer sheet at a perimeter edge, and a lumen being interposed between opposing biopolymer sheets, each lumen being occupied with a disinfectant component selected from the group consisting of a bioactive agent, an oxidizing agent, water, and air. 
   
   
       15 . The portable toilet system of  claim 11 , wherein the privacy screen is biodegradable. 
   
   
       16 . A method for providing a portable toilet system, the method comprising:
 providing a portable toilet, the portable toilet having a folding structure including a front wall and a rear wall, the front and rear wall being parallel to one another and spaced apart, the portable toilet further including a first and second side wall being parallel and to one another and perpendicular to the front and rear walls, the first and second side being connected to and interposed between the front and rear walls to define an interior bowl with an open bottom and top, wherein each of the sides includes means to enable the sides to angle inwardly near their middle to form two spaced apart integral support pillars, and wherein the front wall includes an interior panel and an exterior panel, the interior panel having a tab and the exterior panel having a hole adapted to interlockably receive the tab, the portable toilet further including an interlockable interior seat panel and an interlockable exterior seat panel providing openings aligned to provide a toilet seat and an integral cover for the seat panels;   providing a container, the container being positioned adjacent to the portable toilet to collect an excrement sample; and   providing a privacy screen, the privacy screen being positioned adjacent to the portable toilet to provide a visual barrier between the portable toilet and an onlooker.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of coupling the container to the interior bowl of the portable toilet. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the portable toilet comprises a corrugated polymer material. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the portable toilet comprises a polymer coating. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the container and the privacy screen comprise a biodegradable material.