Cartridge-removing tool for use in waterless urinals

Abstract

A tool ( 120, 220, 320 ) is engageable with the upper wall ( 44 ) of a cartridge ( 42 ) and placeable over a diverter ( 50 ) which may have been secured to the upper wall. The tool employs fingers ( 126, 226, 336 ) which are adapted to engage openings ( 64, 64 a ) in the upper wall for enabling the cartridge to be insert into or removed from a urinal ( 49 ).

1 . A system including a urinal, a urine cartridge placeable in the urinal, and a tool for inserting and removing the cartridge into and from the urinal, comprising: 
 an upper wall in the cartridge;    spaced apart openings in said upper wall; and    elements in said tool engageable in the openings for engaging said upper wall and for manipulating the cartridge into and from the urinal.    
   
   
       2 . A system according to  claim 1  in which the openings and said elements have similarly shaped cross-sections.  
   
   
       3 . A system according to  claim 2  in which the similarly shaped cross-sections of the openings and said elements are bent for enabling a grasping of said upper wall by the elements when said elements are inserted in the openings.  
   
   
       4 . A system according to  claim 2  in which the similarly shaped cross-sections of the openings and said elements are rectangular.  
   
   
       5 . A system according to  claim 4  further including hooks located at the ends of said elements for grasping said upper wall when said elements are inserted in the openings.  
   
   
       6 . A system according to  claim 1  in which the upper wall openings act as air vents that communicate with the interior of the cartridge.  
   
   
       7 . A system according to  claim 1  further including a holder for holding said elements, and a manipulator for manipulating said elements.  
   
   
       8 . A system according to  claim 7  further including slanted ends on said holder adjacent said elements for aiding said manipulator when manipulating said elements into engagement with the openings.  
   
   
       9 . A system according to  claim 7  in which said manipulator comprises a shaft and a handle, and said handle and said holder are secured to opposite ends of said shaft.  
   
   
       10 . A system according to  claim 7  wherein said manipulator comprises a manipulating combination including a shaft portion and a handle portion, to which combination said elements are secured.  
   
   
       11 . A system according to  claim 1  further comprising: 
 an opening in said cartridge upper wall for permitting urine to enter into said cartridge; and    a diverter placeable on said cartridge upper wall for avoiding direct access of the urine to the opening, and in which said plurality of tool holes in the cartridge upper wall are positioned exterior of said diverter when said diverter is placed on the cartridge.    
   
   
       12 . A urinal and urine cartridge system comprising: 
 an upper wall in the cartridge having an opening therein for receipt of urine and for entry of the urine into the cartridge;    a diverter on said cartridge upper wall and including (1) a shell on said upper wall and over the opening therein and (2) a spacer spacing said shell from the upper wall to permit urine to flow into the upper wall opening of the cartridge;    a plurality of tool holes in said cartridge upper wall and positioned exterior of said diverter; and    a tool having prongs for engaging the tool holes in the cartridge upper wall and thereby for enabling the insertion and removal of the cartridge into and from a urinal.    
   
   
       13 . A urinal and urine cartridge system according to  claim 12  in which said tool holes form a communication between the interior and exterior of said cartridge.  
   
   
       14 . In a urine cartridge having an upper wall and openings therein respectively for entry of the urine into the cartridge and for providing venting between the interior and the exterior of the cartridge, a diverter on the cartridge upper wall for avoiding direct access of the urine to the entry opening, a tool for inserting and removing the cartridge from a urinal, comprising: 
 prongs engageable with the venting openings in the cartridge; and    a manipulator for manipulating the prongs into the venting holes.    
   
   
       15 . In a urinal and urine cartridge system, in which the cartridge has a urine-ingress wall, a method for inserting and removing the cartridge into and from the urinal, comprising the steps of: 
 providing openings in the cartridge wall;    engaging elements with the openings; and    manipulating the elements for respective insertion and removal of the cartridge into and from the urinal.    
   
   
       16 . A system according to  claim 1  in which said element engaging step comprises the steps of providing a tool having tips and configuring the tips with a cartridge wall-engaging shape.