Accessible portable restroom & floor system and structures for portable restrooms & similar enclosures

Abstract

An accessible or ADA/ANSI compliant style of portable restroom is provided. The portable restroom includes one or more of the features of: structural supports and/or curved sidewall segments allowing for the use of lighter weight material or construction of thinner walls and roof; improved holding tank structure; improved joints; vertical and horizontal grab bars; grab bar mounts which are molded into the restroom sidewall and facilitate mounting high impact yet flexible tubing; an improved lightweight floor structure, and a floor having upturned flanges which provide an area for attachment of the sidewalls; and integrated recesses in the floor for lift truck forks, among other features.

1 . A floor structure for a portable restroom comprising:
 one or more sheets of material;   the material having an upturned flange surrounding its perimeter, the upturned flange having one or more notched corners;   a door opening formed by a recess in the perimeter of the plastic sheet, and   a protrusion interior of the flanges which protrusion may form a portion of a cradle or nest for a holding tank.   
     
     
         2 . The floor structure of  claim 1  wherein the flange has a joining area for the sidewall positioned a distance above an entry elevation of a lift truck's fork. 
     
     
         3 . The floor structure of  claim 2 , wherein the floor structure comprises recesses formed into the floor for lift truck fork entry. 
     
     
         4 . The floor structure of  claim 1 , wherein the flange extends at an angle relative to the floor and is formed of the same material as the floor. 
     
     
         5 . The floor structure of  claim 4 , wherein the flange extends at an approximate 90 degree angle from the floor. 
     
     
         6 . The floor structure of  claim 1 , wherein the flange comprises a double bend or has a stiffening rib. 
     
     
         7 . The floor structure of  claim 1 , wherein a surface of the flange is joined to a sidewall. 
     
     
         8 . A portable restroom having the floor structure of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . A portable restroom assembly comprising:
 a floor having a cradle for a holding tank, the cradle arranged to locate and support the holding tank thereon; and   a tank having a lower sidewall or more than one such lower sidewall matingly shaped to engage the cradle in the floor in order to nest the tank in position in the portable restroom.   
     
     
         10 . The portable restroom assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the cradle comprises a protrusion extending from the floor and forming a portion of the cradle for the holding tank, such that the protrusion seats the holding tank above the floor. 
     
     
         11 . The portable restroom assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the holding tank is provided with a sump in the base of the tank. 
     
     
         12 . The portable restroom assembly of  claim 9 , including one or more wall segments which are outwardly curved providing added stiffness to the wall panel. 
     
     
         13 . A portable restroom having the portable restroom assembly of  claim 9 . 
     
     
         14 . A portable restroom structure comprising:
 one or more improved portable restroom joints comprising a plurality of nested sheets; wherein the nested sheets comprise   a mounting flange which overlaps and nests with an adjacent segment shaped and/or angled to align with the mounting flange.   
     
     
         15 . The portable restroom structure of  claim 14  wherein a wall-to-roof assembly comprises a nesting shape forming one or more air slots for ventilation. 
     
     
         16 . The portable restroom structure of  claim 14 , comprising at least two nested plastic sheets. 
     
     
         17 . A portable restroom having the portable restroom structure of  claim 14 . 
     
     
         18 . An occupant support system for a portable restroom comprising:
 a horizontal grab bar;   a vertical grab bar;   said horizontal and vertical grab bars located near a toilet; wherein the vertical grab bar is mounted to the floor and ceiling of the portable restroom, and extends the entire length therebetween, wherein the vertical grab bar is secured by molded-in pockets provided in the floor and the roof of the portable restroom, and wherein grab bar mounts are molded as integral components of the a restroom sidewall and extend inward into the interior of the portable restroom, wherein the horizontal grab bar is mounted to the grab bar mounts.   
     
     
         19 . The occupant support system of  claim 18 , wherein the grab bar mount comprises a receptor corresponding to the shape and approximate dimension of the grab bar and shaped to receive and retain the grab bar 
     
     
         20 . A portable restroom having the occupant support system of  claim 18 .