Anti-Splash Holding Tank and Stand-Alone Anti-Splash Guard for Portable Toilets

Abstract

Described herein is an inventive anti-splash guard for non-flush portable toilets. The innovation comprises a sloped structure either affixed to or made integral with the bottom of the holding tank of a portable toilet, positioned under the seat. The form of the inventive anti-splash guard is preferably conical, but may also be pyramidal, hemispherical and ellipsoidal. Functionally, the innovation may be submerged fully under the level of the holding tank water, so that the impact of deposited solid matter is absorbed by the anti-splash guard and not transferred to the surrounding water. In this way the upward splash of the water is suppressed, and risk of contamination to the user is greatly reduced. The disclosure describes both a portable toilet holding tank with an integrally formed anti-splash guard according to the invention, and stand-alone embodiments that may be retrofitted to existing portable toilets.

1 . An anti-splash holding tank for portable toilets, comprising:
 (i) A portable toilet having a holding tank having a top, a bottom, and an interior volume, said holding tank having a toilet seat disposed above the volume of the holding tank, said toilet seat comprising a rim surrounding an opening in the top of the holding tank; and   (ii) An anti-splash guard disposed on the bottom of said holding tank and substantially under the toilet seat opening, said anti-splash guard having a base disposed on the bottom of said holding tank and at least one wall extending upward at angle from said base is such a way as to form a tapered pillar.   
     
     
         2 . The anti-splash holding tank for portable toilets of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-splash guard has a conical shape. 
     
     
         3 . The anti-splash holding tank for portable toilets of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-splash guard has a pyramidal shape, and wherein the apex of the anti-splash guard is blunt. 
     
     
         4 . The anti-splash-holding tank for portable toilets of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-splash guard has a hemispherical shape. 
     
     
         5 . The anti-splash holding tank for portable toilets of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-splash guard has an ellipsoidal shape. 
     
     
         6 . The anti-splash holding tank for portable toilets of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-splash guard is affixed to the bottom of the holding tank. 
     
     
         7 . The anti-splash holding tank for portable toilets of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-splash guard further comprises a mounting flange disposed on the base and surrounding the perimeter of the base. 
     
     
         8 . The anti-splash guard of  claim 7 , wherein the mounting flange comprises a plurality of bolt holes for passage of bolts therethrough for affixing the anti-splash guard to the bottom of the holding tank by use of bolts. 
     
     
         9 . The anti-splash holding tank for portable toilets of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-splash guard is affixed to the bottom of said holding tank by use of adhesives. 
     
     
         10 . The anti-splash holding tank for portable toilets of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-splash guard is formed integrally with the holding tank. 
     
     
         11 . A stand-alone anti-splash guard insert for inserting into the holding tank of portable toilets, comprising:
 (i) a tapered pillar having a base portion and an apex portion, wherein the base portion is wider than the apex portion forming sloped sides converging at the apex; and   (ii) a means for affixing the anti-splash guard insert to the bottom of a portable toilet holding tank.   
     
     
         12 . The stand-alone anti-splash guard insert of  claim 11 , wherein the tapered pillar is substantially cone-shaped. 
     
     
         13 . The stand-alone anti-splash-guard insert of  claim 11 , wherein the tapered pillar is substantially pyramidal shaped. 
     
     
         14 . The stand-alone anti-splash-guard insert of  claim 11 , wherein the tapered pillar is substantially ellipsoidal. 
     
     
         15 . The stand-alone anti-splash guard insert of  claim 11 , wherein the apex portion is blunt. 
     
     
         16 . The stand-alone anti-splash guard insert of  claim 11 , wherein the means for affixing the anti-splash guard insert to the bottom of a portable toilet holding tank is a mounting flange, wherein the mounting flange at least partially surrounds the base of said anti-splash insert. 
     
     
         17 . The stand-alone anti-splash guard insert of  claim 15 , wherein the mounting flange comprises a plurality of bolt holes. 
     
     
         18 . The stand-alone anti-splash guard insert of  claim 11 , wherein the means for affixing the anti-splash guard insert to the bottom of a portable toilet holding tank is an adhesive applied to the base of the stand-alone anti-splash guard insert. 
     
     
         19 . A method for using an anti-splash guard, comprising the steps of:
 (i) providing an anti-splash guard disposed on the bottom of the holding tank of a portable toilet, wherein the holding tank has a top, a bottom, and an interior volume, said holding tank having a toilet seat disposed above the volume of the holding tank, said toilet seat comprising a rim surrounding an opening in the top of the holding tank, and wherein the anti-splash guard is disposed substantially under the toilet seat opening, said anti-splash guard having a base disposed on the bottom of said holding tank and at least one wall extending upward at angle from said base is such a way as to form a tapered pillar having sloped sides and an apex; and   (ii) filling the holding tank with a portable toilet fluid to a depth such that the apex of the anti-splash guard is submerged to a level between 0 to 2 inches below the surface of the portable toilet fluid.