Valve And P Trap For A Waterless Urinal

Abstract

The inventive subject matter provides apparatus, systems and methods in which a skirt valve mechanism is supplied that can easily ret to an existing, prior art waterless urinal fixture. The skirt valve reduces or prevents evaporation from a P trap and does not present a barrier to liquid flow through the inlet to the outlet of the device, but prevents the passage of fluids (gases or liquids) from the outlet to the inlet. The skirt valve similarly prevents the attempted passage of a pest species (for example, an insect pest) from the outlet to the inlet of the device, thereby prevent the pest from exiting the sewers through the waterless urinal. A P trap is also provided that can be retro-fitted to existing waterless urinals and is compatible with the skirt valve mechanism, thereby replacing prior art float valve devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for replacing a float valve in a waterless urinal, comprising:
 a first housing having an inlet and an outlet;   a central shaft comprising an upper collar that is positioned below the inlet and a lower collar that is positioned below the upper collar;   an upper skirt valve and a lower skirt valve, each configured as a surface of a frustum of a cone that is concentric with the central shaft and having an upper base that is oriented towards the inlet and a lower base that is oriented towards the outlet, wherein the lower base has a greater diameter than the lower base, and wherein the upper base of the upper skirt valve is engaged with the upper collar and the upper base of the lower skirt valve is engage with the lower collar;   a first sealing surface that is positioned to contact at least a portion of an upper surface of the upper skirt valve and a second sealing surface that is positioned to contact at least a portion of an upper surface of the lower skirt valve;   a plurality of anchors extending outward from the first housing, wherein the plurality of anchors are configured to affix the first housing to a second housing; and   a P trap, wherein the outlet is in fluid communication with the P trap.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the upper base comprises an aperture, and wherein the central shaft passes through the aperture. 
     
     
         3 . Then device of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet, first skirt valve, second skirt valve, and outlet define a passageway through which a liquid can flow through the device. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the second skirt valve is positioned such that a pest insect moving from the outlet to the inlet contacts a lower surface of the second skirt valve. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the upper skirt valve and the lower skirt valve each comprise a plant material that is resistant to uric acid. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the pliant material is selected from the group consisting of a urine resistant rubber, silicone, nitrile rubber, polyethylene, a perfluoroelastomer, an ethylene acrylate elastomer, and polychloroprene. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a perforated cover that is positioned proximal to the inlet. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the perforated cover is configured to retain a chemical disk. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the P-trap comprises:
 a cylindrical housing with an open upper terminus, a sealed lower terminus, and a lateral aperture positioned between the upper terminus and the lower terminus; and   a lateral housing that is oriented normal to the cylindrical housing, wherein as first open terminus of the lateral housing is affixed to the cylindrical housing at an interface region such that the first open terminus surrounds the lateral aperture, and wherein the area of the first open terminus exceeds the area of the lateral aperture, and wherein the lateral opening is positioned within a portion of the interface region that is proximal to the open upper terminus of the cylindrical housing.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the distance between the sealed lower terminus and a lower edge of the lateral aperture is at least 5 cm (2 inches). 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the lateral housing further comprises a second open terminus that is configured to provide fluid communication with a sewage system. 
     
     
         12 . A method for replacing a float valve in a waterless urinal, comprising:
 providing an insert comprising   (a) a first housing having an inlet and an outlet,   (b) a central shaft comprising an upper collar that is positioned below the inlet and a lower collar that is positioned below the upper collar;   (c) a first skirt valve and a second skirt valve, each configured as a surface of a frustum of a cone that is concentric with the central shaft and having an upper base that is oriented towards the inlet and a lower base that is oriented towards the outlet, wherein the lower base has a greater diameter than the lower base, and wherein the upper base of the upper skirt valve is engaged with the upper collar and the upper base of the lower skirt valve is engage with the lower collar;   (d) a first sealing surface that is positioned to contact at least a portion of an upper surface of the upper skirt valve and a second sealing surface that is positioned to contact at least a portion of an upper surface of the lower skirt valve; and   (e) a plurality of anchors extending outward from the first housing, wherein the plurality of anchors are configured to affix the first housing to a second housing; and   utilizing the anchors, affixing the insert within the interior of the second housing.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the second housing is positioned within a drain pipe of a plumbing fixture, and is distinct from the drain pipe. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the plumbing fixture is a waterless urinal. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the anchors are reversibly engaged with the second housing. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein a tool is required to reverse the engagement of the anchors with the second housing. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of placing the outlet of the insert in fluid communication with a P trap. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the P trap comprises:
 a cylindrical housing with an open upper terminus, a sealed lower terminus, and a lateral aperture positioned between the upper terminus and the lower terminus; and   a lateral housing that is oriented normal to the cylindrical housing, wherein a first open terminus of the lateral housing is affixed to the cylindrical housing at an interface region such that the first open terminus surrounds the lateral aperture, and wherein the area of the first open terminus exceeds the area of the lateral aperture, and wherein the lateral opening is positioned within a portion of the interface region that is proximal to the open upper terminus of the cylindrical housing.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein flow of a fluid through the device from then outlet to the inlet is impeded. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the fluid is a gas.