Odor trap mechanisms and self cleaning urinal systems

Abstract

Disclosure provides mechanical odor trap mechanism that can be coupled anywhere in the plumbing of a urinal system below the operative base. A receptacle is provided to receive and discharge the fluid from the urinal via a floatation device that is configured to float in the presence of fluid and settle down into the discharge opening in the absence of fluid to sealingly close the opening and block the escape of odor. A self cleaning urinal system can be configured to implement such mechanical odor trap mechanism and further be configured with spraying mechanism disposed at an elevation to spray water and/or air jets to wash away splattered fluid residue. A feces, urine and wash water separating toilet pan can be provided with a lid configured to sealingly close the opening for feces to enable washing without the user shifting positions and also to block odor.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A mechanical odor trap mechanism coupled to at least one urinal, said mechanism comprising:
 (i) a receptacle configured to be coupled to the at least one urinal at either the operative base of the at least one urinal, along the fluid connector associated thereof or disposed within the fluid connector, said receptacle being provided with a first opening to receive the fluid from the at least one urinal and a second opening to discharge the received fluid; and   (ii) a floatation device disposed within said receptacle, said floatation device configured to float in the presence of the fluid, thereby allowing the fluid to discharge through and sealing engage said second opening in the absence of the fluid thereby blocking odor associated with the discharged fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein said receptacle is press fitted, threaded, clamped or provided with at least one of mechanical sleeves, O-rings, annular ribs, lock nuts or hex nuts for scalingly coupling with the at least one urinal. 
     
     
         3 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein said receptacle is configured with a sieve to filter out any undesired material and permit only the fluid from the at least one urinal from entering therein. 
     
     
         4 . The mechanism of  claim 3 , wherein said receptacle is configured with a T-shaped joint or at least a two-way joint proximal said sieve, said T-shaped joint having an arm extending laterally along said fluid connector at an end configured to receive the fluid and an arm perpendicular to the lateral arm provided with at least one opening configured to facilitate access to debris collected on said sieve for cleaning, said opening being openably sealable. 
     
     
         5 . The mechanism of  claim 3 , further comprising at least one of (i) a lifting mechanism for maneuvering said floatation device for maintenance or replacement, said lifting mechanism coupled to said sieve or a side wall of said receptacle and (ii) a floatation limiting mechanism configured to restrain said floatation device in place by inhibiting toppling in the presence of a gush of fluid in said receptacle. 
     
     
         6 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein said floatation device is selectively filled with predetermined quantity and type of gas for facilitating buoyancy. 
     
     
         7 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein said floatation device is made of at least two subparts defining a volume of air there between for buoyancy. 
     
     
         8 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein said floatation device is configured to have a unitary construction or have at least two subparts that can be sealingly coupled with pre-defined volume of gas there between for buoyancy. 
     
     
         9 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein said floatation device is configured to have a non-spherical shape with at least an operative bottom surface of said floatation device conforming with the shape defined by said second opening with upwardly inclined side walls configured on either side of said opening. 
     
     
         10 . The mechanism of  claim 1  further comprising grip means integrally formed with said receptacle for facilitating use of tools for coupling said mechanism to at least one urinal. 
     
     
         11 . A self cleaning urinal system having at least one mechanical odor trap mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said system comprises a spraying mechanism configured to clean splattered fluid residue from the at least one urinal, said spraying mechanism comprising one or more combinations of fluid jets disposed in a pre-determined manner at an elevated level to facilitate cleaning of the facility housing the at least one urinal, said fluid jets being operable at pre-determined time intervals by either automated timer controller valves or manually operated valves. 
     
     
         12 . A feces, urine and wash water separating toilet pan having at least one first opening for receiving the urine, at least one second opening for receiving the feces and at least one third opening for receiving wash water,
 said toilet pan comprising a detachable lid configured to sealingly close each of said at least one second opening and prevent wash water from entering therein and facilitating washing without requiring user to move towards said third opening and permitting only one of said at least one second opening to be used.   
     
     
         13 . The feces, urine and wash water separating toilet pan of  claim 12 , wherein said at least one first opening and said at least one third opening are configured in a first end section and a second end section at opposing ends along a longitudinal axis of the toilet pan and said second opening is configured in a middle section there between such that said first end section, said second end section and said middle section together form said toilet pan having either unitary construction or one or more combination of discrete sections. 
     
     
         14 . The feces, urine and wash water separating toilet pan of  claim 13  further comprising a barrier disposed between said first end section and said middle section, said barrier configured to prevent mixing of urine received in said first opening with wash water that is spread over said middle section and said second end section. 
     
     
         15 . The feces, urine and wash water separating toilet pan of  claim 13 , wherein said middle section is disposed substantially horizontal with respect to ground and said first end section and said second end section extend in opposing directions at an inclined angle from ends of said middle section on either side. 
     
     
         16 . The feces, urine and wash water separating toilet pan of  claim 12  further comprising foot rests configured on either side of said second opening. 
     
     
         17 . The feces, urine and wash water separating toilet pan of  claim 12 , wherein said lid is configured with at least one handle. 
     
     
         18 . The feces, urine and wash water separating toilet pan of  claim 12 , wherein said lid is configured with at least one fourth opening configured to receive wash water and direct the wash water to flow towards said second end section. 
     
     
         19 . The feces, urine and wash water separating toilet pan of  claim 12 , wherein said lid is provided with at least one inclined surface configured to direct the wash water to flow towards said second end section. 
     
     
         20 . The feces, urine and wash water separating toilet pan of  claim 12 , wherein said lid is configured with either conical or dome shaped operating top surface. 
     
     
         21 . The feces, urine and wash water separating toilet pan of  claim 12 , wherein said lid is configured to be press fitted, threaded or provided with a mechanical lock to place said lid into position over said second opening.