U.S. patent application number 10/973053 was filed with the patent office on 2006-04-27 for toilet ventilation system.
Invention is credited to David Birdsong.
Application Number | 20060085897 10/973053 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36204779 |
Filed Date | 2006-04-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060085897 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Birdsong; David |
April 27, 2006 |
Toilet ventilation system
Abstract
A ventilation system for a toilet having a toilet bowl, a toilet
seat for supporting a user of the toilet, and a tank mounted on the
toilet bowl for holding water used in flushing the toilet. The
ventilation system includes a fan adapted for connection to the
toilet bowl to draw odorous air from the toilet bowl into the fan
and to discharge the odorous air from the toilet. A fan water
supply line is adapted for fluid communication with the fan wherein
water from the water supply line is adapted to power the fan to
evacuate the odorous air from the toilet.
Inventors: |
Birdsong; David;
(Williamsville, MO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SENNIGER POWERS
ONE METROPOLITAN SQUARE
16TH FLOOR
ST LOUIS
MO
63102
US
|
Family ID: |
36204779 |
Appl. No.: |
10/973053 |
Filed: |
October 25, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/213 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03D 9/05 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
004/213 |
International
Class: |
E03D 9/04 20060101
E03D009/04 |
Claims
1. A ventilation system for a toilet comprising a toilet bowl, a
toilet seat for supporting a user of the toilet, and a tank mounted
on the toilet bowl for holding water used in flushing the toilet,
said ventilation system comprising: a fan adapted for connection to
the toilet bowl to draw odorous air from the toilet bowl and to
discharge the odorous air from the toilet, a fan water supply line
adapted for fluid communication with the fan wherein water from
said water supply line is adapted to power said fan to evacuate the
odorous air from the toilet.
2. The ventilation system of claim 1 wherein said ventilation
system is free from any electrical circuitry and is operable based
on pressure and flow of said water exiting the fan water supply
line.
3. The ventilation system of claim 1 wherein the fan is sized for
mounting in the toilet.
4. The ventilation system of claim 1 wherein said fan comprises a
water-powered motor adapted for communication with said fan water
supply line and fan blades driven by said water-powered motor.
5. The ventilation system of claim 1 wherein said ventilation
system comprises an air inlet conduit for drawing odorous air into
said fan and an air outlet conduit for discharging odorous air from
said toilet.
6. The ventilation system of claim 5 wherein said air inlet conduit
is adapted for connection to a plenum in fluid communication with
openings spaced around the toilet bowl in fluid communication with
an interior space of the toilet bowl, the fan being adapted to draw
odorous air from the interior space of the toilet bowl through said
openings and the plenum.
7. The ventilation system of claim 6 wherein said air inlet conduit
includes a check valve for the control of air flow into said
fan.
8. The ventilation system of claim 6 wherein said air outlet
conduit is adapted to convey air from an outlet of said fan to a
drain of said toilet to discharge odorous air from the toilet.
9. The ventilation system of claim 5 wherein said fan is adapted to
be supported in said tank by the air inlet conduit and the air
outlet conduit.
10. The ventilation system of claim 1 further comprising a water
saving container for receiving and storing water discharged from
the fan.
11. The ventilation system of claim 10 wherein said water saving
container comprises a drain valve operable based on the level of
water in said toilet tank.
12. The ventilation system of claim 1 further comprising a control
valve in said fan water supply line controlling the flow of water
to said fan, said control valve comprising an actuator operable
upon the application of pressure to said toilet seat.
13. The ventilation system of claim 12 wherein said actuator is a
push-button actuator adapted to be in contact with the toilet seat
in a lowered position of said toilet seat and moveable between a
first position in which the valve is closed and no water is
supplied to the fan and a second position in which the valve is
open and water is supplied to the fan to evacuate air from the
toilet.
14. A ventilated toilet system comprising: a toilet comprising a
toilet bowl and a tank for storing flush water of the toilet, a
water-driven fan disposed for being impinged by water supplied to
the toilet, said water-driven fan being adapted to draw odorous air
from the toilet bowl and to discharge said odorous air to a
location remote from the toilet bowl.
15. The ventilated toilet system of claim 14 wherein said
water-driven fan comprises a water-powered motor adapted for
communication with a water supply line and fan blades driven by
said water powered motor to evacuate odorous air from the
toilet.
16. The ventilated toilet system of claim 15 wherein the motor is
disposed in the tank and is adapted for communication with the same
water supply line that supplies flush water to the tank.
17. The ventilated toilet system of claim 16 wherein said
water-driven fan is disposed in the tank and is free from any
electrical circuitry.
18. The ventilated toilet system of claim 15 wherein said
water-driven motor has vanes adapted to be impinged by water
supplied to the fan and said fan blades being operatively connected
to said vanes.
19. The ventilated toilet system of claim 18 further comprising an
air inlet conduit for drawing odorous air into said fan and an air
outlet conduit for discharging odorous air from said toilet.
20. The ventilation system of claim 19 wherein the toilet bowl has
a drain, a plenum, and openings spaced around the toilet bowl in
fluid communication with the plenum, and wherein the air inlet
conduit is in communication with the plenum and the fan, said air
outlet conduit being mounted in the tank in fluid communication
with the fan and the drain of the toilet bowl.
21. A ventilated toilet system comprising: a toilet comprising a
toilet bowl having a drain, a plenum, and openings spaced around
the toilet bowl in fluid communication with the plenum, a tank for
storing flush water of the toilet, and a toilet seat mounted on the
toilet bowl, a water-driven fan disposed for being impinged by
water supplied to the toilet, said water-driven fan being adapted
to draw odorous air from the toilet bowl and to discharge said
odorous air to a location remote from the toilet bowl, the
water-driven fan comprising a water-powered motor adapted for
communication with a water supply line and fan blades driven by
said water powered motor to evacuate odorous air from the toilet,
an air inlet conduit in communication with the plenum and the fan
for drawing odorous air into said fan, an air outlet conduit
mounted in the tank and connected to the fan, the air outlet
conduit comprising a passage in the toilet bowl in fluid
communication with the drain of the toilet bowl for discharging
odorous air from said toilet, a fan water supply line adapted for
fluid communication with the fan wherein water from said water
supply line is adapted to power said fan to evacuate odorous air
from the toilet, and a control valve in said fan water supply line
controlling the flow of water to said fan, said control valve
comprising an actuator operable upon the application of pressure to
said toilet seat to permit operation of the fan.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to a ventilation system and
more particularly to a ventilation system for ventilating
unpleasant odors from a toilet.
[0002] A variety of ventilation systems are common in the art to
dissipate unpleasant odors present in a restroom or lavatory
facility. Most commonly, ceiling ventilation fans have been used to
continuously withdraw air from the restroom when the toilet is in
use. However, ceiling ventilation fans only ventilate unpleasant
odors after they have already diffused throughout the restroom
facility. Consequently, ceiling fans are ineffective in eliminating
odors before they are generally noticeable throughout the restroom.
Also, ceiling fans are inefficient because they require venting
large volumes of air from within the restroom in order to
adequately vent the odorous air.
[0003] Ventilation systems have been provided that ventilate air
directly from a toilet bowl. However, such systems are complicated
and difficult to assemble. Further, such systems typically require
electrical power to drive a motorized fan. As such, electrical
wiring must be mounted in or near the toilet so that the electrical
components are in frequent contact with water used in the toilet.
The components of an electrically powered ventilation system
mounted inside a toilet frequently short or fail making the use of
electrical powered toilet ventilation systems expensive to supply,
maintain, and repair.
[0004] Therefore, a need exists for a ventilation system that
ventilates air from a toilet that is easy to install and reliable
to operate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Among the several objects of this invention may be noted the
provision of a ventilation system that is easy to install and
operate; the provision of such a ventilation system that is
efficient; the provision of such a ventilation system that is free
from electrical componentry; the provision of such a ventilation
system that can be retrofitted into an existing toilet; and the
provision of such a ventilation system that is disposed, at least
in part, in a toilet. At least one of the preceding objects is met
in whole or in part by the present invention described herein.
[0006] In general, a ventilation system for a toilet having a
toilet bowl, a toilet seat for supporting a user of the toilet, and
a tank mounted on the toilet bowl for holding water used in
flushing the toilet comprises a fan adapted for connection to the
toilet bowl. The fan draws odorous air from the toilet bowl and
discharges the odorous air from the toilet. A fan water supply line
is adapted for fluid communication with the fan wherein water from
the water supply line is adapted to power the fan to evacuate the
odorous air from the toilet.
[0007] In another aspect of the invention, a ventilated toilet
system comprises a toilet having a toilet bowl and a tank for
storing flush water of the toilet. A water-driven fan is disposed
for being impinged by water supplied to the toilet. The
water-driven fan is adapted to draw odorous air from the toilet
bowl into the fan and to discharge the odorous air to a location
remote from the toilet bowl.
[0008] In yet another aspect of the invention, a ventilated toilet
system comprises a toilet with a toilet bowl having a drain, a
plenum, and openings spaced around the toilet bowl in fluid
communication with the plenum, a tank for storing flush water of
the toilet, and a toilet seat mounted on the toilet bowl. A
water-driven fan is disposed for being impinged by water supplied
to the toilet. The water-driven fan is adapted to draw odorous air
from the toilet bowl and to discharge the odorous air to a location
remote from the toilet bowl. The water-driven fan comprises a
water-powered motor adapted for communication with a water supply
line and fan blades driven by said water powered motor to evacuate
odorous air from the toilet. An air inlet conduit is in
communication with the plenum and the fan for drawing odorous air
into the fan. An air outlet conduit is mounted in the tank and
connected to the fan. The air outlet conduit comprises a passage in
the toilet bowl in fluid communication with the drain of the toilet
bowl for discharging odorous air from said toilet. A water supply
valve in the fan water supply line controls the flow of water to
the fan. The water supply valve has an actuator operable upon the
application of pressure to the toilet seat to permit operation of
the fan.
[0009] Other objects and features of the present invention will be
in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a front perspective of a toilet having a
ventilation system of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a tank of the
toilet partially broken away to show details of the ventilation
system;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a back perspective of the toilet showing the tank
partially broken away to reveal details of the ventilation
system;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the toilet;
[0014] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective of a fan of the
ventilation system;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the fan;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a cross-section taken along the plane including
line 7-7 of FIG. 6.
[0017] Corresponding parts are designated by corresponding
reference numbers throughout the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a ventilation system of the
present invention is designated in its entirety the reference
numeral 1 and is shown installed on a toilet, generally designated
5. The toilet 5 has a base, generally designated 9, a toilet bowl
13 having a moveable toilet seat 15 for supporting a user of the
toilet, and a tank 19 mounted on the toilet bowl for storing water
used to flush the toilet. It is understood that the ventilation
system 1 of the present invention may be supplied as part of the
toilet 5 or as part of a retrofit kit for an existing toilet. The
ventilation system 1 is operable to remove odorous air from the
toilet bowl 13 prior to detection by a user of the toilet 5.
[0019] A handle 25 mounted on the exterior of the tank 19 is
operatively connected to a flush valve 29 located in the bottom of
the tank to control the flow of water from the tank to the toilet
bowl 13. As shown in FIG. 3, the handle 25 is operatively connected
to the flush valve 29 by a lever 33 extending from the handle and
connected to a chain 37 attached to the valve 29. The pivoting
movement of the handle 25 causes the toilet 5 to flush by raising
the end of the lever 33 connected to the flush valve 29 to pivot
the valve away from its seat and allow water to flow from the tank
19 into toilet bowl 13. In the illustrated embodiment, the flush
valve 29 is shown in the closed position to seal against the flow
of water from the tank 19 to the toilet bowl 13. A toilet water
supply line 43 is connected to a manually operated water valve 47
that provides on/off control of the toilet water supply from a main
water source (not shown). Typically, this would be, for example, a
municipal water supply.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 4, the toilet bowl 13 comprises a plenum 55
having a rear portion below the tank 19 and a front portion defined
by a hollow rim 61 of the bowl. The plenum 55 receives flush water
from the tank 19 upon opening of the flush valve 29 and directs the
water from the tank into the toilet bowl 13 to create the flushing
action of the toilet 5. The plenum 55 has a plurality of openings
65 spaced around the hollow rim 61 to allow flush water to be
discharged from the plenum into the toilet bowl 13 when the toilet
5 is flushed. When the flush valve 29 is closed, the plenum 55 is
substantially free of water so that air from within the toilet bowl
13 may flow into the plenum through the openings 65 in the hollow
rim 61. The toilet bowl 13 has an interior space 69 and a bottom
opening 73 leading to a drain 77 in the base 9 of the toilet 5. The
drain 77 has an outlet 81 for connection with sewer piping (not
shown) below the toilet 5.
[0021] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the tank 19 houses a water valve
85 that provides on/off control of the water used to fill the tank
after flushing the toilet 5. The water valve 85 controls water from
a water line 89 connected to a tee 93 located downstream from the
manual water supply valve 47. The water valve 85 is controlled by a
float 97 that closes the valve when the water level in the tank 19
reaches a predetermined level. An overflow tube 99 in the tank 19
is connected to the plenum 55 and protects against overfilling the
tank in the case of malfunction of the water valve 85 or float 97.
If the water level in the tank 19 reaches the top of the overflow
tube 99, water flows through the overflow tube and into the plenum
55 and the toilet bowl 13.
[0022] The ventilation system 1 of the present invention comprises
a water-driven fan 109 mounted in the tank 19 in fluid
communication with the interior space 69 of the toilet bowl 13. The
water-driven fan 109 is free from any electrical circuitry and is
operable to evacuate the toilet 5 of odorous air based on the
pressure and flow of water entering the fan. Upon operation of the
fan 109, the ventilation system 1 evacuates odorous air from the
toilet bowl 13 and discharges the odorous air from the toilet
5.
[0023] In the illustrated embodiment, the ventilation system 1 has
a fan water supply line 113 that branches off from the tee 93
downstream of the manual water valve 47 to supply water to the
water-driven fan 109 mounted in the tank 19. In the illustrated
embodiment, the fan water supply line 113 is routed to a control
valve 117 located on the top of the toilet bowl 13 that is
positioned for contact with the bottom surface of the toilet seat
15 in the lowered position of the toilet seat. The fan water supply
line 113 extends from the control valve 117 into the tank 19 and
has an outlet 121 mounted on the water-driven fan 109 for
discharging water into the fan. In one embodiment, the control
valve 117 has a push-button actuator 125 that contacts the bottom
surface of the toilet seat 15 in the closed position of the seat.
When the toilet seat 15 is lowered, the actuator 125 is depressed
causing the control valve 117 to open so that water is supplied to
the water-driven fan 109. It is understood that the control valve
117 may be other types of valves having other types of actuators
125. Further, the control valve 117 may be otherwise located for
remote operation by a pressure switch (not shown) mounted on the
toilet bowl 13 or a wall-mounted switch (not shown) without
departing from the scope of this invention.
[0024] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the water-driven fan 109
comprises an upper housing 135, a lower housing 139, a
water-powered motor, generally designated 145 and located in the
upper housing in fluid communication with the outlet 121 of the fan
water supply line 113, and fan blades 149 in the lower housing
operatively connected to the water-powered motor. The fan 109 has
an air inlet conduit 153 connected to the plenum 55 for the flow of
air into the fan and an air outlet conduit 157 for conveying air
discharged from the fan. The air inlet conduit 153 and air outlet
conduit 157 are connected to the bottom wall of the tank 19 for
supporting the fan 109 in the tank. In the illustrated embodiment,
the inlet conduit 153 and the outlet conduit 157 are connected to
respective mounting sleeves 159, 161 attached to the bottom wall of
the tank 19 by conventional fastening means (e.g. adhesive). It
will be understood that the inlet conduit 153 and the outlet
conduit 157 may be attached to the tank 19 by any means to support
the fan 109 and allow communication between the fan and the plenum
55. A check valve 161 in the air inlet conduit 153 prevents the
flow of air from the fan 109 back into the plenum 55. As shown in
FIG. 4, the air outlet conduit 157 is connected to a discharge pipe
167 at the back of the toilet 5 below the tank 19. In the
illustrated embodiment, the discharge pipe 167 has an outlet 173
connected to the drain 77 of the toilet 5 at a location spaced
above the drain outlet 88 so that odorous air can be discharged
into the main sewer line connected to the toilet. It is understood
that the ventilation system 1 may be otherwise arranged such that
the fan 109 discharges odorous air to other locations to prevent
detection of the odorous air by a user of the toilet 5. For
example, the fan 109 could discharge air through a wall (not shown)
enclosing the toilet 5 or to an air filter device (not shown) that
cleanses or conditions the air to remove offensive odors prior to
discharging the air to the environment surrounding the toilet.
[0025] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the water-powered motor 145 has
vanes 181 connected to a rotatable shaft 185 that extends downward
into the lower housing 139 of the fan 109. The outlet 121 of the
fan water supply line 113 (FIG. 4) is positioned to impinge the
vanes 181 of the motor 145 with water discharged from the outlet.
It is understood that the outlet 121 of the fan water supply line
113 may comprise a nozzle for increasing the velocity of the water
impinging the vanes 181. The fan blades 149 are connected to the
shaft 185 so that the fan blades, the shaft, and the vanes 181 of
the motor 145 rotate together. The force of the water impinging the
vanes 181 rotates the vanes and the shaft 185 causing the fan
blades 149 in the lower housing 139 to rotate. The rotation of the
fan blades 149 in the lower housing 139 discharges air from the
outlet conduit 157 of the fan 109 creating a vacuum in the lower
housing that draws air into the fan through the inlet conduit 153.
Air from the interior space 69 of the toilet bowl 13 is conveyed
into the lower housing 139 of the fan 109 through the openings 65
spaced around the rim 61 of the toilet bowl, the air plenum 55, and
the air inlet conduit 153 connected to the plenum. The odorous air
drawn into the fan 109 is discharged from the toilet 5 to the sewer
line through the air outlet conduit 157 and the discharge pipe 167
connected to the drain 77 of the toilet.
[0026] As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the fan 109 has a drain line 191
connected to the upper housing 135 of the fan for the flow of water
from the water-powered motor 145 to a water saving container 195
mounted in the tank 19. The water saving container 195 receives
water from the water-driven fan 109 after the potential energy of
the water exiting the outlet 121 of the fan water supply line 113
has dissipated by contact with the vanes 181 of the motor 145. The
water saving container 195 conserves the water used to operate the
fan 109 by storing the water discharged from the fan for use when
the toilet 5 is next flushed. The water saving container 195 could
be omitted from the ventilation system 1 so that the water from the
fan 109 would not be used in the flushing cycle of the toilet and
would flow into the sewer line via the overflow tube 99, toilet
bowl 13, and drain 77.
[0027] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the water saving container 195
has a drain valve, generally indicated 199, that discharges water
from the container when the toilet 5 is flushed. In one embodiment,
the drain valve 199 comprises a float 205 housed in a sleeve 209
below an opening in the bottom wall of the water saving container
195. The float 205 is vertically moveable in the sleeve 209 to
close the opening in the water saving container 195 when the water
level in the tank 19 is raised above the bottom wall of the
container. When the water level in the tank 19 drops below the
bottom wall of the container 195 (e.g., during flushing), the float
205 drops below the opening in the bottom wall of the container so
that water drains from the container. It is understood that the
drain valve 189 of the water saving tank may be otherwise
configured to be actuated by the float 97 of the water valve 85
used to fill the tank 19 or by any other actuator without departing
from the scope of this invention. For example, the drain valve 199
could comprise a gate valve in a side wall of the water saving
container 195 that opens and closes based on the position of the
float 97 that raises and lowers based on the water level in the
tank 19. Also, the water saving container 195 may be other sizes,
may be otherwise located in the tank, or may be mounted externally
of the tank without departing from the scope of this invention.
[0028] In use, the ventilation system 1 of the present invention
evacuates odorous air from the interior space 69 of the toilet bowl
13 to prevent detection by a user of the toilet 5. Upon lowering of
the toilet seat 15, the control valve 117 opens to supply water to
the water-driven fan 109 mounted in the tank 19 of the toilet 5.
The water discharging from the outlet 121 of the fan water supply
line 113 contacts the vanes 181 of the water-powered motor 145 to
cause the shaft 185 and fan blades 149 to rotate. The rotation of
the fan blades 149 discharges air from the fan 109 and creates a
vacuum in the fan that draws in odorous air from the interior space
69 of the toilet bowl 13. As indicated by arrows A1 of FIG. 4, air
flows from the interior space 69 of the toilet bowl 13 into the
plenum 55 via the openings 65 in the rim 61 of the toilet bowl and
into the air inlet conduit 153 of the fan 109. The air discharged
from the fan 109 flows through the air outlet conduit 157, the
discharge pipe 167, and into the main drain pipe 77 of the toilet 5
connected to the sewer line. The water used to turn the
water-powered motor 145 flows from the drain line 191 into the
water saving tank 195 where it is stored until the toilet 5 is
flushed. Upon raising the toilet seat 15 from the lowered position,
the control valve 117 closes to shut off water to the fan 109 which
stops the rotation of the fan blades 149 and the flow of air from
the interior space 69 of the toilet bowl 13. When the toilet 5 is
flushed, the water in the tank 19 is discharged into the toilet
through the flush valve 29 and the water in the water saving
container 195 exits through the drain valve 199 in the bottom of
the water saving container. After flushing, the flush valve 29
closes and the tank 19 is filled with water from the water valve 85
for use in the next flush cycle of the toilet 5.
[0029] It is understood that the ventilation system 1 of the
present invention could be supplied as a kit of parts for retrofit
of an existing toilet 5 or the ventilation system could be supplied
as part of a new toilet without departing from the scope of this
invention.
[0030] When introducing elements of the present invention or the
preferred embodiment(s) thereof, the articles "a", "an", "the" and
"said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the
elements. The terms "comprising", "including" and "having" are
intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional
elements other than the listed elements.
[0031] In view of the above, it will be seen that the several
objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous
results attained.
[0032] As various changes could be made in the above constructions
without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended
that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the
accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not
in a limiting sense.
* * * * *