FORM 2
THE PATENT ACT 1970
(39 OF 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10 and rule 13)
Title of the Invention : Latrine apparatus
Name of the Applicant : Silafrica India Pvt. Ltd.
Address of the Applicant : 501, Casablanca, Plot No. 45, Sector
11, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai -400614, Maharashtra, India.
Preamble of the invention: - The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
Technical field of the invention: - The invention relates to a latrine apparatus, in particular a latrine apparatus for use as a cover on the floor surface of a pit latrine

Background of the invention:-
In developing countries, pit latrines are widely used especially in rural areas and in slum districts in urban areas. Pit latrines suffer from many disadvantages and they provide poor sanitation conditions. They produce offensive odours and are a source of flies that are a health hazard to people living in surrounding areas. Poor sanitation conditions are known to cause disease such as cholera, typhoid, dysentery and diarrhoea, which can be prevented by use of proper sanitation methods and facilities. The apparatus of the invention is designed to eliminate or greatly reduce the cited and other disadvantages of existing latrines. The invention aims to improve the condition of pit latrines to avoid or minimize infestation by flies as well as to reduce offensive odours in such facilities. The inventions aims to provide an apparatus that is safe and clean and easy to use. It is therefore an objective of invention to provide a simple apparatus for use in pit latrines, an apparatus that can be installed easily, an apparatus that is easy to operate and is easy to clean with little amount of water. The apparatus is also designed to be installed in existing latrines as well as in new pit latrines. It can be used on different surfaces of pit latrines, for example, in pit latrines whose surface is made of timber or even where the floor surface is cemented.

Summary of the invention
According to the invention, there is provided a latrine apparatus, which is designed to be used as a cover on the floor surface of a pit latrine. The apparatus comprises of a slab to be fastened on the surface of a pit latrine. The slab is provided with a drainage hole which is designed to overlie the hole of an existing pit latrine when the slab is fitted on the surface of such pit latrine. A lid is provided for covering the drainage hole of the slab. The lid is mounted on the slab using a plug that allows the lid to be moved from a closed position to an open position in very flexible ways.
The slab has foot surfaces on each side of the drainage hole to allow different types of users, whether adults, the old and young children, to position themselves in the right place to avoid soiling the surface of the apparatus. To enhance the safety of the user, the foot surfaces are provided with grip enhancing members to make the foot surfaces less slippery to the user. The bottom side of the slab is made in the form of a grid structure to increase the rigidity and stability of the apparatus for it to withstand the weight of the user without deforming. The slab is provided with fastening means for fastening the slab to the floor surface of a pit latrine. The slab can be fastened on the surface of the pit latrine by nails or screws. To enhance rigidity of the apparatus the slab may be provided with a reinforcing skirting around the perimeter. A key aspect of the apparatus is that it is easy to install and it can also be easily unfastened and relocated to another pit latrine. The slab is provided with a recessed trough between the foot surfaces, which is made to slant towards the drainage hole. This design of the recessed trough and slanting foot surfaces is

intended to improve the hygienic conditions of a host pit latrine as it enhances the flow of any liquid matter from the surface of the apparatus into the drainage hole thus making it easy to clean the apparatus. The recessed trough and the foot surfaces are also designed to form or define angled inner walls to allow for smooth and gradual movement of the lid.
When the apparatus is assembled, the rear end of the lid is pivotally mounted on the plug through a shaft. The design of the plug is such that the lid can be removably mounted on the plug. This arrangement is suitable as it allows the apparatus to be cleaned easily
The lid is further provided with handle fastening means for fastening a handle thereof. The handle is used to move the lid in order to open or close the drainage hole. The lid is provided with a lip such that a user can also move the lid by hooking their foot under the lip. The lid is designed to close the drainage hole firmly and to either lock in flies that may be in the pit latrine or lock them out from getting in the pit latrine. The slab is provided with a plughole for mounting the lid on the slab. The plug is designed such that when it is fitted in the plughole, the lid can be moved relative to the slab so as to open and close the drainage hole. The plug has a channel and a groove that allows the lid to be pivotally mounted on the plug. The plug is further provided with lug members that make the plug to overlie the surface of the recessed trough thus retaining the plug in a position that prevents it from sliding through the plughole

Brief description of the drawings
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a latrine
apparatus of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a top view of the latrine apparatus shown in fig 1;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the components of the latrine
apparatus of fig 1 before the apparatus is assembled;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the components of the latrine
apparatus of fig 1 during assembly
Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view along the line B-B of Fig. 2 when
a lid for covering a drainage hole is connected to a slab of the
latrine apparatus;
Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view along the line A-A of fig 2;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the bottom side of the apparatus;
Fig. 8 is an example showing a movement of the lid from a
closed position of the drainage hole to an open position;
Fig. 9 is example showing another movement of the lid from a
closed position of the drainage hole to an open position;
Fig. 10 is a Perspective view of a plug for connecting the lid and
the slab of the latrine apparatus;
Fig. 11 is a side view of the plug of fig. 10;
Fig. 12 is another side of the plug of fig. 10;
Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the lid of the latrine apparatus;
Fig. 14 is a front view of the lid of fig. 13;
Fig. 15 is a side view of the lid of fig. 13;
Fig. 16 is a top view of a lid of fig. 13;
Fig. 17 is a a bottom perspective view of a lid of fig. 13;
Fig. 18 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
latrine apparatus of the invention; and
Fig. 19 is a top view of latrine apparatus of fig. 18.

Detailed description of the invention
The invention is more specifically described in the following paragraph with reference to the drawings only by way of example.
With reference to fig. 1 to 4 there is provided an embodiment of a latrine apparatus, which is designed to be used as a cover on the floor surface of a pit latrine. The apparatus is designed to be used on different surfaces of pit latrines. For example, the apparatus can be used in pit latrines whose surface is made of timber or even where the floor surface is cemented. The apparatus comprises of a slab (10), a lid (30) for covering a drainage hole (25) and a plug (23) for mounting the lid (30) on the slab (10), each of which is preferably made as separate unit. The slab has a drainage hole (25) that may conform to the hole of a host pit latrine. Alternatively, the hole of the pit latrine may be constructed to conform to the drainage hole of the apparatus. The slab is designed with foot surfaces (12, 17) on each side of the drainage hole (25). The slab is specifically designed with long foot surfaces (12, 17) to allow different types of users, whether adults, the old and young children, to position themselves in the right place, by moving to and fro along the foot surfaces (12, 17), and in the process soiling the surface of the apparatus is avoided.
As illustrated in Fig. 7 the bottom side of the slab (10) is in the form of a grid structure (27) comprising of a plurality of horizontal and cross members. The grid structure increases rigidity and stability of the apparatus to withstand the weight of the user without deforming. The grid structure is also essential in maintaining a flat surface of the apparatus.

To enhance the safety of the user, the foot surfaces (12, 17) are provided with a plurality of grip enhancing members (11, 16) designed to make the foot surfaces (12, 17) less slippery for the user. In a preferred embodiment, the grip enhancing members (11, 16) comprise a plurality of spherical projections on the foot surfaces (12, 17). While it is possible to use other types of projections, the spherical projections are preferred as they make it easy to clean the apparatus unlike other possible alternatives for example oval and rectangular projections for which dirt is likely to get stuck around the edges.
The apparatus is designed to be fastened on the surface of a pit latrine. The slab (10) is therefore provided with one or more slab fastening means (14, 18) for fastening the slab (10) to the floor surface of a pit latrine. Preferably, such slab fastening means (14, 18) include holes embedded on the surface of the slab (10). The slab can then be fastened on the surface of the pit latrine by nails or screws through the holes. To enhance rigidity of the apparatus the slab (10) may be provided with a reinforcing skirting (26) around the perimeter. Key aspect of the apparatus is that it is easy to install and it can also be easily unfastened and moved to a different pit latrine, for example in the event that a host pit latrine is filled up or is no longer in use. The slab (10) is provided with a recessed trough (13, 20) between the foot surfaces (12, 17). As illustrated in Fig. 5, the recessed trough (13, 20) is made to slant from the front side (19) and backside (15) of the slab (10) towards the drainage hole (25) respectively. The foot surfaces (12, 17) also slant towards the recessed trough (13, 20), as illustrated in Fig. 6. The angle of slanting at the front side of the slab (10) towards the drainage hole (25) is preferably 9 degrees while the angle of slanting from the backside towards the drainage hole (25) is preferably 4

degrees. This design of the recessed trough and the slanting foot surfaces (12, 17) towards the drainage hole is intended to improve the hygienic condition of a host pit latrine as the design enhances the flow of any liquid matter from the surface of the apparatus into the drainage hole and also makes it easy to clean the apparatus.
The recessed trough (13, 20) and the foot surfaces (12, 17) are configured such that inner walls (302,303) are defined thereof between each side of the foot surfaces (12, 17) and the recessed trough (13, 20). The inner walls (302, 303) are in particular obliquely angled towards the foot surfaces (12, 17) to allow for simple and gradual movement of the lid (30) in a horizontal direction as illustrated in fig.9.
With reference to Fig. 13 to 17, the lid (30) is provided, at the rear end, with a shaft (22). When the apparatus is assembled, the rear end of the lid is pivotally mounted through the shaft (22) on the plug (23). The design of the plug is such that the lid (30) can be removably mounted on the plug (23). This is suitable for example to allow for cleaning of the apparatus or for replacement of the lid (30). In one aspect of operation of the apparatus as illustrated in Fig. 8, the lid (30) can be moved by the user in a swivel movement in a vertical direction about the horizontal axis of the shaft (22). In this way, the lid (30) is capable of swiveling up to 180 degrees in the vertical direction from the closed position to the open position of the drainage hole.
The lid (30) is further provided with handle fastening means (28) for fastening a handle (21) to the lid (30). In a preferred embodiment, as illustrated in Fig. 13, the handle fastening means (28) comprise a recess capable of receiving a threaded handle. Preferably, the recess is threaded in commonly used

thread size for example those used to thread water bottles such that in the event the handle is lost or destroyed a water bottle for example can be used as a replacement.
In operation, the handle is used to move the lid from the closed position to the open position of the drainage hole and vice versa. Handles of various lengths can be made to cater for the elderly or the like users who would have difficulties in opening the drainage hole.
At the front end of the lid (30) there is provided a lip (31) projecting outwardly, such that a user can move the lid (30) from the closed position to the open position by hooking the foot under the lip (31). An example of the movement of the lid (30) using the foot is illustrated in fig. 9.
In a further aspect of the invention as illustrated in Fig. 17, underneath the lid (30), there is provided horizontal members (36) intersecting with cross members (37), with a lid wall (34) extending around the outer sides of the horizontal members (36) and cross members (37) to form a grid structure. The cross members (37) are provided with cutout edges along the corners that are in contact with the recessed trough (13, 20) such that when the lid (30) is in a closed position (as shown in Fig. 6), the lid (30) lies flush with the surface of the recessed trough (13, 20). Apart from being used to open and close the drainage hole the lid is designed to close the drainage hole firmly and to either lock in flies that may be in the pit latrine or lock them out from getting in the pit latrine. Thus, the apparatus of the present invention provides an ideal and hygienic environment for users as well for people in the surrounding environment. Adjacent to the drainage hole (25), the slab (10) is provided with a plughole (24) for receiving the plug (23) that is used to mount the lid (30) on the slab. The plug (23) is designed such that when

it is fitted in the plughole, the lid (30) can moved relative to the slab (10) so as to open and close the drainage hole (25). As illustrated in Fig. 10, 11 and 12, the plug (23) is provided, at the top side thereof, with a channel (231) and a groove (235). The shaft (22) can be removably fitted into the channel (231). The arrangement of the channel and the groove is such that the lid (30) is pivotally mounted on the plug (23) and therefore flexible enough to rotate about the vertical axis of the shaft. The groove (235) preferably runs along the length of the channel (231). The channel and the groove are designed to allow the shaft to snap fit into the plug, thus making it possible for the lid to be removed easily from the plug.
The plug (23) is further provided with one or more lug members (230) projecting from the surface of the plug (23), such that when the plug (23) is mounted in the plughole (24) (as shown on Fig. 5), the lug members (230) overlie the surface of the recessed trough (13) to retain the plug (23) in a position that prevents the plug (23) from sliding through the plughole (24). This configuration of the plug inside the plughole also enables the lid (30) to rotate about the axis of the shaft (22). The plug (23) is further provided, along the circumference of the bottom side, with a rim (232) and one or more cut outs (233). In addition, at the bottom side, the plug (23) is provided with a chamfer (234), This arrangement of the rim (232), the cut outs (233) and the chamfer (234) allows the plug (23) to compress as it is fitted into the plughole (24). Thus the plug (23) can be removably mounted on the slab (10) and also rotate in a horizontal direction relative to the slab (10) when the lid (30) is moved in a horizontal direction. This configuration of the apparatus makes the lid capable of rotating 360 degrees relative to the slab (10).

The various parts of are made by injection moulding to provide a firm and solid apparatus.
It should be appreciated to those skilled in the art that various modification of the apparatus can be made to suit specific circumstances without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. As illustrated in Fig. 18 and 19 there is shown by way of example a modified apparatus that is designed to be cheaper and suitable for small sized latrines. The size of this embodiment is reduced to make it affordable to target market segment. The apparatus is made in trapezoidal or hexagonal shape to cut down on the material used but without affecting the functionality and sturdiness of the apparatus. In this embodiment, the slab fastening means (14) are located on the foot surfaces (12, 17) of the slab.

Claims
1) A latrine apparatus, in particular for use as a cover on
the floor surface of a pit latrine, comprising:
A slab (10) provided with a drainage hole (25) therein, with
foot surfaces (12, 17) on each side of the drainage hole (25)
and a plughole (24) adjacent to the drainage hole (25) for
receiving a plug (23) therein;
A lid (30) for covering the drainage hole (25);
A plug (23) for mounting the lid (30) on the slab (10) such
that the lid (30) moves relative to the slab (10) so as to
open and close the drainage hole (25).
2) A latrine apparatus of claim 1 wherein the foot surfaces (12, 17) are provided with a plurality of grip enhancing members (11, 16).
3) A latrine apparatus of claim 2 wherein the grip enhancing members (11, 16) comprise a plurality of spherical projections.
4) A latrine apparatus of claim 1 wherein the slab (10) is provided with one or more slab fastening means (14, 18) for fastening the slab (10) to the floor surface of the latrine.
5) A latrine apparatus of claim 4 wherein the slab fastening means (14, 18) comprise holes embedded on the surface of the slab (10).

6) A latrine apparatus of claim 1 wherein the slab (10) is
provided with a recessed trough (13, 20) between the foot
surfaces (12, 17) so as to define inner walls (302,303)
between each side of the foot surfaces (12, 17) and the
recessed trough (13,20).
7) A latrine apparatus of claim 6 wherein the recessed
trough (13, 20) slants from the front side (19) and backside
(15) of the slab (10) towards the drainage hole (25).
8) A latrine apparatus of claim 6 wherein the inner walls (302, 303) are obliquely angled towards the foot surfaces (12, 17) to allow for easy movement of the lid (30) in a horizontal direction.
9) A latrine apparatus of claim 1 or 6 wherein the foot surfaces (12, 17) slants towards the recessed trough (13,20).
10) A latrine apparatus of claim 7 wherein the angle of slanting at the front side of the slab (10) towards the drainage hole (25) is preferably 9 degree and the angle of slanting from the backside towards the drainage hole (25) is preferably 4 degree.
11) A latrine apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bottom
side of the slab (10) is in the form of a grid structure (27)
comprising of a plurality of horizontal and cross members.

12) A latrine apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lid (30) is provided at the rear end with a shaft (22) thereof wherein the rear end is pivotally mounted on the plug (23).
13) A latrine apparatus of claim 12 wherein in the lid (30) is removably mounted on the plug (23).
14) A latrine apparatus of claim 1 and 12 wherein the movement of the lid (30) is a swivel movement in a vertical direction about a horizontal axis of the shaft (22).
15) A latrine apparatus of claim 14 wherein the lid (30) is capable of swiveling up to 180 degree in the vertical direction upon actuation by a user.
16) A latrine apparatus of claim 12 wherein the lid (30) is provided with handle fastening means (28) for fastening a handle (21) to the lid (30).
17) A latrine, apparatus of claim 16 wherein handle fastening means (28) comprise a recess capable of receiving a threaded handle.
18) A latrine apparatus of claim 12 wherein the lid (30) at the front end thereof is provided with a lip (31) projecting outwardly such that a user can move the lid (30) from a closed position to an open position by actuating the lip (31) with the foot.
19) A latrine apparatus of claim 1 wherein underneath the lid (30) there is provided horizontal members (36)

intersecting with cross members (37), with a lid wall (34) extending around the outer sides of the horizontal members (36) and cross members (37) to form a grid structure.
20) A latrine apparatus of claim 19 wherein the cross members (37) are provided with cutout edges along the corners that are in contact with the recessed trough (13, 20) such that when the lid (30) is in a closed position, the lid (30) lies flush with the surface of the recessed trough (13,20).
21) A latrine apparatus of claim 1 and 12 wherein the plug (23) is provided at the top side thereof with a channel (231) and a groove (235) such that the shaft (22) is removably fitted into the channel (231), the arrangement being such that the lid (30) is pivotally mounted on the plug (23).
22) A latrine apparatus of claim 21 wherein the groove
(235) preferably runs along the length of the channel (231).
23) A latrine apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plug (23) is provided with one or more lug members (230) projecting from the surface of the plug (23), such that when the plug (23) is mounted in the plughole (24), the lug members (230) overlie the surface of the recessed trough (13) to retain the plug (23) in a position that prevents the plug (23) from sliding through the plughole (24).
24) A latrine apparatus of claim 1 or 21 wherein the plug (23) is provided along the circumference of the bottom side thereof with a rim (232) and one or more cut outs (233).

25) A latrine apparatus of claim 23 wherein the rim (232) at the bottom side of the plug (23) is provided with a chamfer (234) such that the arrangement of the rim (232), the cut outs (233) and the chamfer (234) allow the plug (23) to compress as it is fitted into the plughole (24). 26. A latrine apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plug (23) is removably mounted on the slab (10).
27) A latrine apparatus of claim 1 wherein the slab (10) is provided with a reinforcing skirting around the perimeter.
28) A latrine apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plug (23) rotates in a horizontal direction relative to the slab (10) when the lid (30) is moved in a horizontal direction.
29) A latrine apparatus of claim 28 wherein lid (30) is capable of rotating 360 degree relative to the slab (10).
30) A latrine apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the latrine apparatus is made by injection moulding.