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Title: Toilet
Claims: It is claimed: 1. A toilet comprising a bowl having an outlet port, a flexible diaphragm, means supporting said diaphragm for movement between a first position in which said diaphragm closes said outlet port and a second position in which said diaphragm uncovers said outlet port, and said means being operable to tension said diaphragm into contact with said outlet port when said diaphragm is in said first position. 2. A toilet according to claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is formed of rubber or rubberized fabric. 3. A toilet comprising a bowl having an outlet port, a flexible diaphragm movable between a first position in which it closes said outlet port and a second position in which it uncovers said outlet port, and means to tension said diaphragm into contact with said outlet port when it is in said first position, said means including two movable members between which said diaphragm is supported, one member abutting a stop in the first position and the other member then being resiliently urged away therefrom to tension the diaphragm into contact with said outlet port. 4. A toilet according to claim 3, wherein the two movable members are two pivotable crank members, one being secured to one end of said diaphragm and the other being secured to the other end of said diaphragm. 5. A toilet according to claim 4, wherein said crank members are pivotable about different axes. 6. A toilet according to claim 4, wherein the crank members each have cross bars, upon which the ends of the diaphragm are mounted, the cross bars being so disposed in the first position of the diaphragm that the outlet port extends beyond the straight line connecting the two cross bars. 7. A toilet according to claim 5, wherein a tension spring is arranged as an overcenter spring, to urge said other crank, in said first position, to tension said diaphragm and in said second position, to urge said diaphragm into the open position. 8. A toilet according to claim 7, and including a second stop to restrain said other crank when the diaphragm is in said second position. 9. A toilet according to claim 4, and further including a connection member joining said cranks together, said connecting member being slidable with respect to at least one of said cranks. 10. A toilet according to claim 9, wherein an actuating lever is pivotably mounted with respect to the bowl and is slidably connected to said other crank, whereby rotation of said actuating lever initially causes pivoting of said other crank, in a direction to release the tension in the diaphragm, and then pivoting of said two cranks together, to move the diaphragm to its second position. 11. A toilet according to claim 1, and including guards extending on either side of said diaphragm and said outlet port, parallel to the direction of movement of said diaphragm from its first to its second position, said guards being closely adjacent to the diaphragm at least in its closed position. 12. A toilet according to claim 1, which includes a support bucket and wherein said bowl is mounted on said support bucket with 12. outlet port arranged within said support bucket. 13. A toilet according to claim 12, wherein said bucket is provided with a closable outlet port. 14. A toilet according to claim 1, wherein a lever is connected to said means, said means being responsive to movement of said lever to move said diaphragm from its first position to its second position when it is desired to flush the bowl. 15. A toilet according to claim 14, which includes a manually operable pump and a water tank to which the pump is connected, said pump discharging to at least one outlet positioned at the periphery of the bowl so that the discharged water will create a vortex pattern in the bowl. 16. A toilet according to claim 15, wherein a length of tube is connected to the pump and extends around the bowl and is provided with a number of outlets opening into the bowl. 17. A toilet according to claim 1, wherein the bowl is provided with a tiltable seat and cover, and wherein said cover is provided with means to lock the cover in its closed position and a lifting handle for lifting the toilet bodily. 18. A toilet according to claim 17, wherein the lifting handle includes means to urge said handle resiliently downwardly, so as to be flush with the top of said cover, said handle being liftable initially to enable the fingers of a user to pass under and thereafter to lift the toilet bodily. Other info: Inventors: Sargent, Frank T. (Jacksonville, FL, US) Application Number: 519804 Filing Date: 1974-11-01 Publication_date: 1976-02-24 Assignee: Thetford Corporation (Ann Arbor, MI) Primary Class(es): 4/323 4/317, 4/324, 4/329, 4/442 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs: Primary Examiner: Artis, Henry K. Assistant Examiner: Attorney: Olsen and Stephenson |
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