Systems and Methods For Cleaning and Monitoring Portable Toilets

Abstract

Systems and methods for cleaning and monitoring a portable toilet are provided. The system's components include a chemical detector, a concentration sensor, a cleaning device, a container, a rotatable spray nozzle, a locator, an automated door locking device, a processor, and memory. The memory causes the processor to execute a method which involves detecting and sensing urine and feces concentration levels, and cleaning the areas of highest concentration with chemical neutralizers dispersed by the spray nozzle. Data regarding the sanitary condition and GPS location of the toilet may be sent to servers for remote human monitoring. The door locking device may be triggered if the toilet is found to have harmful levels of chemicals associated with urine and fecal matter.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention is generally related to portable restroom facilities. More specifically, this invention is related to managing sanitary conditions of portable toilets remotely.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Managing sanitary conditions of public toilets is a very challenging task. With a private toilet, management is much easier because the frequency of use is a lot lower than that of a public toilet. The sanitary condition of a toilet creates an impression to the user of the toilet about the cleanliness of the particular establishment in which the toilet is located. When a person uses a public toilet and feels that the toilet is unclean, that creates bad user experience relating to management of the toilet. Therefore, if the toilet is managed by a private entity, such as a restaurant, the user would likely be a customer of the restaurant, and such a user may feel that the restaurant is poorly managed or even worse poorly cleaned. This poor management style would then have a negative impact on the business of the restaurant. Thus, keeping a toilet clean is therefore very critical, given the business impact.

[0003] Some businesses may have a dedicated person serving at a toilet. When a toilet is unclean, or after certain uses, the dedicated person would help cleaning the toilet before it can be made available to others. Others may consider saving labor by using cameras to keep track of the toilet. At any given time, the toilet can be monitored for cleanliness. If visible unsanitary conditions exist, then prompt actions can be taken to clean up the toilet. One problem however is that using a camera to monitor a toilet raises privacy issues. Furthermore, the camera may not be able to pick up the presence of urine or the high concentration of chemicals associated with urine. Therefore, there is a need to monitor the sanitary conditions without the use of camera.

[0004] In view of the foregoing, there is a need for portable toilet system that is monitored and cleaned remotely thereby not requiring human intervention until harmful conditions exist.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] According to embodiments of the invention, a system for cleaning and monitoring a portable toilet is provided. The system's components include a chemical detector, a concentration sensor, a cleaning device, a container, a rotatable spray nozzle, a locator, an automated door locking device, a processor, and memory.

[0006] The concentration sensor is configured to sense the concentration of chemicals associated with urine and feces, and to sense which area in the toilet contains the highest concentration thereof. The container contains a urine and feces neutralizer, and the nozzle disperses the neutralizer.

[0007] The memory comprises instructions that cause the processor to execute a method. The method comprises the following steps. The first step involves detecting current sanitary state of the portable toilet. This involves detecting, using the concentration sensor, whether the presence of the chemical element associated with the urine has reached a threshold urine level; and detecting, using the concentration sensor, whether the presence of the chemical element associated with the feces has reached a threshold feces level.

[0008] The method proceeds with the cleaning of the interior of the portable toilet upon detection that the presence of the chemical element has reached the threshold urine level. The cleaning step involves using the concentration detector to identify the area within the portable toilet that contains the highest concentration of urine; and directing the spray nozzle to disperse the urine neutralizer to the area that contains the highest concentration of urine. In further embodiments, the cleaning may also involve steps of using the concentration detector to identify a next area within the portable toilet that contains a next highest concentration of urine; and directing the spray nozzle to disperse the urine neutralizer to the next area, until it is detected that the presence of the chemical element has dropped below the threshold urine concentration level.

[0009] The next step involves reporting the current sanitary state of the portable toilet to a remote server after a period of time has elapsed. The data reported includes: whether the concentration of the chemical element has dropped below the threshold urine concentration level; and the amount of time for the concentration of the chemical element to drop below the threshold urine concentration level.

[0010] In another embodiment of the disclosed technology, the aforementioned system and method may comprise two or more portable toilets placed at different geographic locations. The method comprises similar steps, but instead applied to two distinct portable toilets contemporaneously. The method applied to two portable toilets may further comprise the following additional steps. The first step being reporting the current sanitary state of the portable toilet of each of the first and second portable toilets, after a period of time elapsed. The data reported includes an identification of which, if any, of the first and second portable toilets, has urine concentration levels exceeding a predetermined threshold. Another step involves sending a request for human intervention, the request comprising location information from the locator. And still another step involves denying any further uses of the portable toilet by engaging the locking device before the concentration has dropped to an acceptable level.

[0011] In another embodiment of the disclosed invention, a method for cleaning and monitoring a portable toilet is provided comprising the following steps. The method begins by providing a portable toilet comprising the following components disposed therein: a chemical concentration sensor, a cleaning device comprising a spray nozzle and container for storing urine and feces chemical neutralizer, a locator, an automated door locking mechanism, and, a processor with associated memory for executing the method. The next step involves detecting with the sensor the concentration of chemicals associated with urine and feces within the portable toilet. Upon detection that either chemical has reached a certain threshold concentration, cleaning the interior of the portable toilet with the cleaning device. Then, uploading the data regarding the sanitary state of the portable toilet to a remote server after a specified time period has elapsed.

[0012] The method of this embodiment may further comprise the following steps upon detection that either chemical has reached a hazardous concentration level: sending a request for human intervention, the request comprising location information from the locator; and triggering the automated door locking mechanism in order to deny further access to portable toilet.

[0013] The cleaning step of this embodiment may comprise the following steps. The first step being using the concentration sensor to identify the area within the portable toilet that contains a highest concentration of chemicals associated with urine. The second step involving directing the spray nozzle to disperse urine neutralizers to the area of the highest concentration of urine. Then, the concentration sensor is used to identify the area within the portable toilet that contains a highest concentration of chemicals associated with feces. Finally, the spray nozzle is directed to disperse urine neutralizers to the area of the highest concentration of feces.

[0014] The cleaning portion of the method may also further include: using the concentration sensor to identify the area within the portable toilet that contains a highest concentration of chemicals associated with urine. Then, directing the spray nozzle to disperse urine neutralizers to the area of the highest concentration of urine. Using the concentration sensor to identify the area within the portable toilet that contains a highest concentration of chemicals associated with feces. And finally directing the spray nozzle to disperse urine neutralizers to the area of the highest concentration of feces.

[0015] The data regarding sanitary state of the portable toilet may include numerical concentration levels of chemicals associated with urine and feces within the portable toilet. The data may also reflect whether the levels have exceeded a certain threshold concentration. Also included may be data regarding geographic location of the portable toilet gathered from the locator.

[0016] It is, therefore, an objective of the disclosed invention to provide a system and method for remotely cleaning and monitoring portable toilets.

[0017] In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the invention will now be described with particular reference to the drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary overview of a portable toilet system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Referring now to the FIGURE, a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a portable toilet system is shown. A portable toilet 100 is shown. Any portable toilet 100 that is available may be employed by the current invention. Generally, a portable toilet is a simple portable enclosure that has a chemical toilet disposed therein. Portable toilets may also be referred to as `p-Pot`, `Porta-John`, `Port-a-loo`, `Porta-Potty`, or `Portable Sanitation Unit`. Portable toilets are easily transported to and from various sites. Referring still to the FIGURE, a chemical detector 200 and concentration detector 300 are provided within the confines of the portable toilet 100. The portable toilet's 100 other components include a cleaning device, a container, a rotatable spray nozzle, a locator, an automated door locking device, a processor, and memory.

[0020] Referring still to FIG. 1, the memory comprises instructions that cause the processor to execute a method. The method comprises the following steps. The first step involves detecting the current sanitary state of the portable toilet. This involves detecting, using the concentration sensor, whether the presence of the chemical element associated with the urine has reached to a threshold urine level; and detecting, using the concentration sensor, whether the presence of the chemical element associated with the feces has reached to a threshold feces level. The urine concentration sensor may be a sensor configured to measure concentration of a chemical found in urine such as urea, creatinine, or ammonia. The level may be a threshold, in grams per liter (g/L), at which those chemicals become toxic to the human body upon exposure to skin or inhalation in a confined area. The feces concentration sensor may measure the amount of bacteria in and around the toilet.

[0021] The method proceeds with the cleaning of the interior of the portable toilet upon detection that the presence of the chemical element has reached the threshold urine level. The cleaning step involves using the concentration detector to identify the area within the portable toilet that contains the highest concentration of urine, and directing the spray nozzle to disperse the urine neutralizer to that area. In further embodiments, the cleaning may also involve steps of: using the concentration detector to identify a next area within the portable toilet that contains a next highest concentration of urine, and directing the spray nozzle to disperse the urine neutralizer to the next area, until it is detected that the presence of the chemical element has dropped below the threshold urine concentration level.

[0022] The next step involves reporting the current sanitary state of the portable toilet to a remote server, after a period of time has elapsed. The data reported includes: whether the concentration of the chemical element has dropped below the threshold urine concentration level; and the amount of time for the concentration of the chemical element to drop below the threshold urine concentration level.

[0023] In another embodiment of the disclosed technology, the aforementioned system and method may comprise two or more portable toilets placed at different geographic locations. The method comprises similar steps, but instead the steps are applied to two distinct portable toilets contemporaneously. The method applied to two portable toilets may further comprise the following additional steps. The first step being reporting the current sanitary state of the portable toilet of each of the first and second portable toilets after a period of time elapsed. The data reported includes an identification of which, if any, of the first and second portable toilets, has urine concentration levels exceeding a predetermined threshold. Another step involves sending a request for human intervention, the request comprising location information from the locator. The locator may be a Global Positioning System ("GPS") receiver capable of transmitting longitude and latitude coordinates to a remote server. And still another step involves denying any further uses of the portable toilet of the neighborhood by using the locking device, before the concentration has dropped to an acceptable level.

[0024] It is contemplated that more than 2 toilets may be employed by the system of the present invention. All of the toilets may be monitored remotely via a computer and server system. For example, a portable toilet leasing company may use the system on each of their toilets, and may track the various locations and sanitary conditions of the toilets from one central computer.

[0025] In another embodiment of the disclosed invention, a method for cleaning and monitoring a portable toilet is provided comprising the following steps. The method begins by providing a portable toilet comprising the following components disposed therein: a chemical concentration sensor, a cleaning device comprising a spray nozzle and container for storing urine and feces chemical neutralizer, a locator, an automated door locking mechanism, and, a processor with associated memory for executing the method. The next step involves detecting with the sensor the concentration of chemicals associated with urine and feces within the portable toilet. Upon detection that either chemical has reached a certain threshold concentration, cleaning the interior of the portable toilet with the cleaning device. Then, uploading the data regarding the sanitary state of the portable toilet to a remote server after a specified time period has elapsed.

[0026] The method of this embodiment may further comprise the following steps upon detection that either chemical has reached a hazardous concentration level: sending a request for human intervention, the request comprising location information from the locator; and triggering the automated door locking mechanism in order to deny further access to portable toilet.

[0027] The cleaning step of this embodiment may comprise the following steps. The first step being using the concentration sensor to identify the area within the portable toilet that contains a highest concentration of chemicals associated with urine. The second step involving directing the spray nozzle to disperse urine neutralizers to the area of the highest concentration of urine. Then, the concentration sensor is used to identify the area within the portable toilet that contains a highest concentration of chemicals associated with feces. Finally, the spray nozzle is directed to disperse urine neutralizers to the area of the highest concentration of feces.

[0028] The cleaning portion of the method may also further include using the concentration sensor to identify the area within the portable toilet that contains a highest concentration of chemicals associated with urine. Then, directing the spray nozzle to disperse urine neutralizers to the area of the highest concentration of urine. Next, using the concentration sensor to identify the area within the portable toilet that contains a highest concentration of chemicals associated with feces. And finally directing the spray nozzle to disperse urine neutralizers to the area of the highest concentration of feces.

[0029] The data regarding sanitary state of the portable toilet may include numerical concentration levels of chemicals associated with urine and feces within the portable toilet. The data may also reflect whether the levels have exceeded a certain threshold concentration. Also included may be data regarding geographic location of the portable toilet gathered from the locator.

[0030] While the disclosed invention has been taught with specific reference to the above embodiments, a person having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. Combinations of any of the methods, systems, and devices described hereinabove are also contemplated and within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A portable toilet cleaning and monitoring system comprising: a chemical detector disposed in a portable toilet for detecting presence of chemical elements, including a chemical element associated with urine and a chemical element associated with feces; a concentration sensor disposed in the portable toilet for: sensing a concentration of the chemical elements associated with urine; sensing a concentration of the chemical elements associated with feces; sensing an area within the portable toilet that contains a highest concentration of the urine; and sensing an area within the portable toilet that contains a highest concentration of the feces; a cleaning device disposed in the portable toilet for cleaning of the portable toilet; a container associated with the cleaning device, the container storing a urine and feces neutralizer; a rotatable spray nozzle associated with the cleaning device, wherein the spray nozzle is configured to disperse the urine neutralizer and the feces neutralizer to a certain area; a locator associated with the portable toilet; an automated door locking device associated within the portable toilet that can be used to deny further uses of the portable toilet; a processor; memory storing instructions that cause the processor to execute a method, the method comprising: detecting current sanitary state of the portable toilet, wherein the detection comprises: detecting, using the concentration sensor, whether the concentration of the chemical element associated with urine has reached a threshold urine level; and detecting, using the concentration sensor, whether the concentration of the chemical element associated with feces has reached a threshold feces level; cleaning the interior of the portable toilet, upon detection that the concentration of the chemical element associated with urine has reached the threshold urine level, wherein the cleaning comprises: using the concentration detector to identify the area within the portable toilet that contains the highest concentration of urine; directing the spray nozzle to disperse the urine neutralizer to the area that contains the highest concentration of urine; and reporting the current sanitary state of the portable toilet to a remote location, after a period of time has elapsed, wherein data reported comprises: whether the concentration of the chemical element has dropped below the threshold urine concentration level; and amount of time for the concentration of the chemical element to drop below the threshold urine concentration level.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said cleaning further comprises the following steps: after dispersing the urine neutralizer, using the concentration detector to identify a next area within the portable toilet that contains a next highest concentration of urine; directing the spray nozzle to disperse the urine neutralizer to the next area, until it is detected that the concentration of the chemical element has dropped below the threshold urine concentration level.

3. A system for cleaning and monitoring two or more portable toilets comprising: a chemical detector disposed in a first portable toilet at a first location for detecting presence of chemical elements, including a chemical element associated with urine and a chemical element associated with feces; a chemical detector disposed in a second portable toilet at a second location for detecting presence of chemical elements, including the chemical element associated with urine and the chemical element associated with the feces; a concentration sensor disposed in each of the first and second portable toilets for: sensing concentration of the chemical elements associated with urine and feces in each of the first and second portable toilets; and sensing an area within each of the first and second portable toilets that contains a highest concentration of the chemical elements; a cleaning device disposed in each of the first and second portable toilets for cleaning of the portable toilet of the first neighborhood; a container associated with each cleaning device, the container storing a urine and feces neutralizer; a spray nozzle associated with each cleaning device, wherein the spray nozzle can be controlled to disperse the urine neutralizer and the feces neutralizer to a particular area; a locator associated with each of the first and second portable toilets; an automated door locking device associated each of the first and second portable toilets that can be engaged to prevent further access to either of the first and second portable toilets; a processor; memory storing instructions that cause the process to execute a method, the method comprising: detecting current sanitary state of each of the first and second portable toilets, wherein the detection comprises: detecting, using the chemical detector, whether the presence of the chemical element associated with urine has reached a threshold level; cleaning each of the first and second portable toilets, if detected that the presence of the chemical element has reached to the threshold urine level, wherein the cleaning comprises: using the concentration detector to identify the area within each portable toilet that contains the highest concentration of urine; directing the spray nozzle to disperse the urine neutralizer to the area of each of the first and second toilets that contains the highest concentration of urine; and reporting the current sanitary state of the portable toilet of each of the first and second portable toilets, after a period of time elapsed, wherein data reported includes: an identification of which, if any, of the first and second portable toilets, has urine concentration levels exceeding a predetermined threshold; sending a request for human intervention, the request comprising location information from the locator; and denying any further uses of any toilet which has urine concentration levels exceeding a predetermined threshold by engaging the locking device until the concentration has dropped to an acceptable level.

4. A method for cleaning and monitoring a portable toilet comprising the following steps: providing a portable toilet comprising the following components disposed therein: a chemical concentration sensor for sensing concentrations of chemicals associated with urine and feces; a cleaning device comprising a spray nozzle and container for storing urine and feces chemical neutralizer; a locator; an automated door locking mechanism; and a processor with associated memory for executing the method; detecting with the sensor the concentration of chemicals associated with urine and feces within the portable toilet; upon detection that either chemical has reached a threshold concentration, cleaning the interior of the portable toilet with the cleaning device; and uploading data regarding the sanitary state of the portable toilet to a remote server after a specified time period has elapsed.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the following steps: upon detection that either chemical has reached a hazardous concentration level, taking the following actions: sending a request for human intervention, the request comprising location information from the locator; and triggering the automated door locking mechanism in order to deny further access to portable toilet.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the cleaning comprises the following steps: using the concentration sensor to identify an area within the portable toilet that contains a highest concentration of chemicals associated with urine; directing the spray nozzle to disperse urine neutralizers to the area of the highest concentration of urine; using the concentration sensor to identify the area within the portable toilet that contains a highest concentration of chemicals associated with feces; and directing the spray nozzle to disperse urine neutralizers to the area of the highest concentration of feces.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the cleaning comprises the following steps: using the concentration sensor to identify an area within the portable toilet that contains a highest concentration of chemicals associated with urine; directing the spray nozzle to disperse urine neutralizers to the area of the highest concentration of urine; using the concentration sensor to identify the area within the portable toilet that contains a highest concentration of chemicals associated with feces; and directing the spray nozzle to disperse urine neutralizers to the area of the highest concentration of feces.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the data regarding sanitary state of the portable toilet comprises: numerical concentration levels of chemicals associated with urine and feces within the portable toilet; whether the levels have exceeded a certain threshold concentration; and data regarding geographic location of the portable toilet gathered from the locator.

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