IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,651,499
Granted Patent B2
US 12,651,499 · App. 18/499,803 · Granted Jun 9, 2026

User accountability restroom

Inventor: Robert Rhett Slagel (Ironton, OH)
Assignee: PORTABLE SOLUTIONS GROUP, LLC
G07C9/253G06V40/172G06V40/20H04N23/611
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,651,499
App. No.
18/499,803
Granted
Jun 9, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A deployable restroom may include individually accessible—and access controlled—restroom units. That is, only authorized users identified using electronic readers and/or face detection cameras may be allowed to access the restroom units. For each access, the identification of the user and the corresponding time stamps may be recorded such that there is an accurate access log of who accessed a restroom unit and when—thereby keeping all users identifiable and accountable. One or more security perimeter cameras may continuously monitor the surroundings to complement or augment the access log.

Claims (54)

1 . A deployable, user-accountable anti-vandalism restroom comprising:

a cluster of individually accessible restroom units, a restroom unit comprising:

a face detection camera; and

an electronic reader;

the face detection camera configured to detect a particular user's face;

the electronic reader configured to read an identification information of the particular user;

at least one of the face detection camera or the electronic reader further configured to:

trigger an actuator to unlock the restroom unit responsive to determining that the particular user is authorized to use the restroom unit based on the identification information or face detection information, the determination based on matching the identification information with a stored identification information of the particular user or based on matching the face detection information with a stored face detection information of the particular user; and

transmit an indication that the particular user has used the restroom unit with corresponding timestamps to a processor such that a record of the restroom unit access is maintained to deter vandalism; and

an internal camera configured to capture a first image before the particular user uses the restroom unit and a second image after the particular user has used the restroom unit, such that the processor compares the first image and the second image to determine vandalism.

2 . The restroom of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one security perimeter camera configured to capture images an area surrounding the restroom.

3 . The restroom of claim 1 , the electronic reader comprising a card reader configured to read the identification information from a card associated with the particular user.

4 . The restroom of claim 3 , the card reader being at least one of a swipe card reader, near field communication reader, or an optical bar code reader.

5 . The restroom of claim 1 , the electronic reader being configured to read the identification information from an electronic device associated with the particular user.

6 . The restroom of claim 1 , the restroom unit further comprising:

a motion sensor configured to detect a presence of the particular user in the restroom unit.

7 . The restroom of claim 1 , the restroom unit further comprising:

a proximity sensor configured to detect a presence of the particular user in the restroom unit.

8 . The restroom of claim 1 , wherein the restroom unit comprises an interior wall with anti-graffiti paint.

9 . The restroom of claim 1 , the processor being remote from the restroom or being local to the restroom.

10 . A method to mitigate vandalism in a user-accountable deployable restroom, the method comprising:

detecting, by a face detection camera on a restroom unit of the restroom, a particular user's face;

reading, by an electronic reader on the restroom unit, an identification information of the particular user;

triggering, by at least one of the face detection camera or the electronic reader, an actuator to unlock the restroom unit responsive to determining that the particular user is authorized to use the restroom unit, the determination based on matching the identification information with a stored identification information of the particular user or based on matching the face detection information with a stored face detection information of the particular user;

transmitting, by at least one of the face detection camera or the electronic reader, an indication that the particular user has used the restroom unit with corresponding timestamps to a processor such that a record of the restroom unit access is maintained to deter vandalism; and

capturing, by an internal camera of the restroom unit, a first image before the particular user uses the restroom unit and a second image after the particular user has used the restroom unit, such that the processor compares the first image and the second image to determine vandalism.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

capturing, by a security perimeter camera of the restroom, images an area surrounding the restroom.

12 . The method of claim 10 , the electronic reader comprising a card reader, the method further comprising:

reading, by the card reader, the identification information from a card associated with the particular user.

13 . The method of claim 12 , the card reader being at least one of a swipe card reader, near field communication reader, or an optical bar code reader.

14 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

reading, by the electronic reader, the identification information from an electronic device associated with the particular user.

15 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

detecting, by a motion sensor of the restroom unit, a presence of the particular user in the restroom unit.

16 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

detecting, by a proximity sensor of the restroom unit, a presence of the particular user in the restroom unit.

17 . The method of claim 10 , the restroom unit comprising an interior wall with anti-graffiti paint.

18 . The method of claim 10 , the processor being remote from the restroom or being local to the restroom.

19 . A deployable, user-accountable restroom comprising:

a restroom unit comprising:

a face detection camera configured to:

detect a particular user's face and generate a face detection information;

trigger an actuator to unlock the restroom unit responsive to determining that the particular user is authorized to use the restroom unit based on the face detection information, the determination based on matching the face detection information with a stored face detection information of the particular user; and

transmit an indication that the particular user has used the restroom unit with corresponding timestamps to a processor such that a record of the restroom unit access is maintained to deter vandalism; and

an internal camera configured to capture a first image before the particular user uses the restroom unit and a second image after the particular user has used the restroom unit, such that a processor compares the first image and the second image to determine vandalism.

20 . A deployable, user-accountable restroom comprising:

a restroom unit comprising:

an electronic reader configured to:

read an identification information of a particular user;

trigger an actuator to unlock the restroom unit responsive to determining that the particular user is authorized to use the restroom unit based on the identification information the determination based on matching the identification information with a stored identification information of the particular user; and

transmit an indication that the particular user has used the restroom unit with corresponding timestamps to a processor such that a record of the restroom unit access is maintained to deter vandalism; and

an internal camera configured to capture a first image before the particular user uses the restroom unit and a second image after the particular user has used the restroom unit, such that a processor compares the first image and the second image to determine vandalism.

Assignments (5)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 21, 2026
From: PORTABLE SOLUTIONS GROUP, LLC, A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
To: TRUIST BANK, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 073540/0187 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE'S NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 68599 FRAME 268. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jun 12, 2025
From: SLAGEL, ROBERT RHETT
To: DROPBOX INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 071576/0271 →
CERTIFICATE OF CONVERSION FROM A CORPORATION TO A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY Recorded Dec 17, 2024
From: DROPBOX INCORPORATED
To: DRPBX, LLC
Reel/Frame 069727/0132 →
CERTIFICATE OF MERGER Recorded Dec 17, 2024
From: DRPBX, LLC
To: PORTABLE SOLUTIONS GROUP, LLC
Reel/Frame 069728/0634 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 16, 2024
From: SLAGEL, ROBERT RHETT
To: DROPBOX, INC.
Reel/Frame 068599/0268 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63382367 · Nov 4, 2022
Related Publication 20240153331A1 · May 9, 2024
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