Combination of urinal and hand washing facility

Abstract

The present invention relates to a combination of a urinal with a hand washing facility. Therein, the waste water from the hand washing facility is used for flushing the urinal. The hand washing facility and the urinal are in close proximity to each other and/or in physical contact with each other. The hand washing facility is offset relative to the urinal so that the imaginary plane as defined by the center plane miming vertically through the urinal is positioned at an offset angle relative to the imaginary plane as defined by the central vertical plane of the hand washing facility. Said angle is between 20° and 80°, preferably between 30° and 75°, further preferably between 40° and 70°.

1 . The combination of a urinal with a hand washing facility, wherein the waste water from the hand washing facility is used for flushing the urinal, and wherein the hand washing facility and the urinal are in close proximity to each other and/or in physical contact with each other, characterized in that said hand washing facility is offset relative to said urinal so that a first imaginary plane, as defined by a center plane running vertically through the urinal, from top to bottom, is positioned at an angle relative to a second imaginary plane as defined by a center plane running vertically through the hand washing facility, wherein said offset angle is between 20° and 80. 
     
     
         2 . A combination according to  claim 1 , wherein the urinal comprises at least one opening or outlet or orifice through which water can be dispensed onto an inside surface of the urinal that is exposed to the urine, and wherein said water comprises or is waste water from the hand washing facility, optionally together with water from a fresh water source. 
     
     
         3 . A combination according to  claim 1 , wherein waste water from the hand washing facility is stored in a storage device prior to being dispensed into the urinal. 
     
     
         4 . A combination according to  claim 1  wherein any dispensing of water into the urinal is controlled by means of a control unit, a central processing unit, a timer, a central control unit or any other controller. 
     
     
         5 . A combination according to  claim 1  wherein the hand washing facility comprises at least one dispensing unit for dispensing fresh water, and wherein said hand washing facility furthermore comprises at least one discharge unit for discharging the spent water that is collected in a container/receptacle of the hand washing facility, the spent water then being the waste water for flushing the urinal. 
     
     
         6 . A combination according to  claim 1  wherein the natural pull of gravity is used to transport the waste water from the hand washing facility, through the discharge unit of the same, to the opening or orifice or outlet through which water can be dispensed onto the inside of the urinal, optionally together with a pump. 
     
     
         7 . A combination according to  claim 1  wherein the hand washing facility is in direct or immediate contact with the urinal, or wherein the distance between the two outer surfaces of the urinal and the hand washing facility, respectively, that are the closest to each other, is not more than 40 . 
     
     
         8 . A combination according to  claim 1  wherein the hand washing facility and the urinal are separated by at least one spacing unit. 
     
     
         9 . A combination according to  claim 1  wherein urinal and hand washing facility are provided as two separate building units that can be exchanged or replaced independently from each other. 
     
     
         10 . A combination according to  claim 1 , wherein urinal and hand washing facility are provided as an integral unit. 
     
     
         11 . A combination according to  claim 1  wherein a sensor is provided in the urinal, which detects the onset and/or the end of a urination process. 
     
     
         12 . A method of using at least two of the combinations of urinal with hand washing facility according to  claim 1  in one room of a public restroom. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein a location of the public restroom is selected from the list comprising: public transportation venues, railroad stations, airports, highway restroom facilities, hotels, restaurants, conference facilities, public buildings, museums, exhibition venues, movie theatres, art houses, government buildings, schools, universities. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein at least two combination units of urinal and hand washing facility are arranged around a column, pole or post. 
     
     
         15 . A method of using at least one combination of urinal with hand washing facility according to  claim 1  in a private restroom, a private restroom in a transportation device, an RV, a camping wagon, a bus, maritime applications, boats or other seaborne vessels. 
     
     
         16 . A combination according to  claim 1  wherein said offset angle is between 30° and 75°. 
     
     
         17 . A combination according to  claim 1  wherein said offset angle is between 40° and 70°. 
     
     
         18 . A combination according to  claim 1  wherein said offset angle is between 40° and 60°. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein at least four combination units of urinal and hand washing facility are arranged around a column, pole or post. 
     
     
         20 . Use according to  claim 12  wherein at least eight combinations of urinal with hand washing facility are arranged in one room of a public restroom.