U.S. patent application number 11/736491 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-23 for novel toilet air treatment device.
Invention is credited to Bruce Edward Barton.
Application Number | 20080256692 11/736491 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39870721 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080256692 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Barton; Bruce Edward |
October 23, 2008 |
Novel Toilet Air Treatment Device
Abstract
The invention comprises a novel device for circulating and
treating odorous air inside a toilet bowl without the need for
external venting of the treated air. The invention comprises a
toilet air treatment device that has an air treatment member. The
air treatment member has an inlet port leading from the toilet bowl
to an air pathway and an outlet port leading from the air pathway
to the toilet bowl. A means for treating air is located along the
air pathway of the air treatment member. A means for moving air,
located inside the air treatment member, causes air to be moved
under pressure from the toilet bowl, through the inlet port, along
the air pathway, into contact with the means for treating air, and
through the outlet port into the toilet bowl.
Inventors: |
Barton; Bruce Edward;
(Germantown, TN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CORDTS AND GULLEY, PLLC
6283 POPLAR AVENUE, SUITE 1132
MEMPHIS
TN
38119
US
|
Family ID: |
39870721 |
Appl. No.: |
11/736491 |
Filed: |
April 17, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/213 ;
4/217 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03D 9/05 20130101; A47K
13/307 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/213 ;
4/217 |
International
Class: |
A47K 13/30 20060101
A47K013/30; E03D 9/05 20060101 E03D009/05 |
Claims
1. A toilet air treatment device, the toilet air treatment device
comprising: (a) an air treatment member having an air pathway for
the circulation of air, an inlet port leading from the toilet bowl
into the air pathway, and an outlet port leading out of the air
pathway into the toilet bowl; (b) an air treatment means located in
the air treatment member, located along the air pathway, for
treating air circulated through the air pathway; and (c) a means
for moving air under pressure from the toilet bowl, through the
inlet port, through the air pathway and into contact with the air
treatment means, through the outlet port, and into the toilet bowl,
said means for moving air under pressure being located in the air
treatment member.
2. The toilet air treatment device as described in claim 1 further
comprised of a means for providing electrical power to the means
for moving air and a switch for activating the means for moving
air.
3. The toilet air treatment device as described in claim 1 wherein
the air treatment member is further comprised of multiple outlet
ports leading out of the air pathway, directing air across an
opening in the air treatment member, the opening and air flow
forming a boundary between air inside the toilet bowl and air
outside the toilet bowl.
4. The toilet air treatment device as described in claim 1 wherein
the air treatment means is comprised of a means to absorb odors
from the air.
5. The toilet air treatment device as described in claim 1 wherein
the air treatment means is comprised of a means to remove
particulates from the air.
6. The toilet air treatment device as described in claim 1 wherein
the air treatment means is comprised of a means to provide the air
with a fragrance.
7. The toilet air treatment device as described in claim 2 wherein
the air treatment member is further comprised of multiple outlet
ports leading out of the air pathway, directing air across an
opening in the air treatment member, the opening and air flow
forming a boundary between air inside the toilet bowl and air
outside the toilet bowl.
8. The toilet air treatment device as described in claim 2 wherein
the air treatment means is comprised of a means to absorb odors
from the air.
9. The toilet air treatment device as described in claim 2 wherein
the air treatment means is comprised of a means to remove
particulates from the air.
10. The toilet air treatment device as described in claim 2 wherein
the air treatment means is comprised of a means to provide the air
with a fragrance.
11. The toilet air treatment device as described in claim 3 wherein
the air treatment means is comprised of a means to absorb odors
from the air.
12. The toilet air treatment device as described in claim 3 wherein
the air treatment means is comprised of a means to remove
particulates from the air.
13. The toilet air treatment device as described in claim 3 wherein
the air treatment means is comprised of a means to provide the air
with a fragrance.
14. The toilet air treatment device as described in claim 7 wherein
the air treatment means is comprised of a means to absorb odors
from the air.
15. The toilet air treatment device as described in claim 7 wherein
the air treatment means is comprised of a means to remove
particulates from the air.
16. The toilet air treatment device as described in claim 7 wherein
the air treatment means is comprised of a means to provide the air
with a fragrance.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an air treatment device for
a toilet.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Odors emanating from a toilet are a long-standing problem
associated with use of said toilet. Many attempts have been made to
address this issue, both external and internal to the toilet. A
common technique is to ventilate the enclosed space where the
toilet resides. This ventilation means normally consists of an
exhaust fan located in the ceiling of the enclosed space where the
toilet resides. Due to its location, the exhaust fan can actually
exacerbate the spread of odors throughout the enclosed space.
Another technique is to place the ventilation means in or around
the toilet seat. However, air vented in this manner must still
either be dispersed into the enclosed space where the toilet
resides or through tubing or other similar means to a location
external of the enclosed space.
[0005] Information relevant to attempts to address this problem can
be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,165,274 B1, 7,117,548 B1, 7,103,925
B1, 6,928,666 B1, 6,895,604 B1, 6,775,853 B1, 6,772,449 B1 and
4,780,913 and also U.S. Patent Application Nos. 2007/0028373 A1,
2007/0000035 A1, 2006/0277671 A1, 2006/0248634 A1, 2006/0195975 A1,
2006/0031979, 2005/0166305, and 2004/0019960. However, each one of
these references suffers from one or more of the following
disadvantages: exhaust of treated air into space occupied by user,
air moving means external of toilet, and ventilation means external
of toilet.
SUMMARY
[0006] The present invention is directed to a device that allows
for the treatment of toilet odors without need for external venting
of the treated air. The invention comprises a toilet air treatment
device that has an air treatment member. The air treatment member
has an inlet port leading from the toilet bowl to an air pathway
and an outlet port leading from the air pathway to the toilet bowl.
A means for treating air is located along the air pathway of the
air treatment member. A means for moving air, with the associated
power source being located in the air treatment member, causes air
to be moved under pressure from the toilet bowl, through the inlet
port, along the air pathway, through the means for treating air,
and through the outlet port into the toilet bowl.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with regard to the
following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings
where:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view from above of the air treatment
member of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 1A is a perspective view from below of the air
treatment member of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 1B is a front elevation view of the air treatment
member of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view from above of the top of the
air treatment member of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 2A is a perspective view from below of the top portion
of the air treatment member of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view from above of the middle
portion of the air treatment member of the embodiment shown in FIG.
1.
[0014] FIG. 3A is a perspective view from below of the middle
portion of the air treatment member of the embodiment shown in FIG.
1.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view from above of the bottom
portion of the air treatment member of the embodiment shown in FIG.
1.
DESCRIPTION
[0016] Reference now will be made in detail to the embodiments of
the invention, one or more examples of which are set forth below.
Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention,
not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to
those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations
can be made in the present invention without departing from the
scope or spirit of the invention. It is intended that the present
invention cover modifications and variations as come within the
scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
[0017] In describing the various figures herein, the same reference
numbers are used throughout to describe the same material,
apparatus, or process pathway. To avoid redundancy, detailed
descriptions of much of the apparatus once described in relation to
a figure is not repeated in the descriptions of subsequent figures,
although such apparatus or process is labeled with the same
reference numbers.
[0018] FIG. 1 shows an air treatment member generally at 10
according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 further
shows the air treatment member top portion 11 connected to the air
treatment member middle portion 12, which is further connected to
the air treatment member bottom portion 13. Connection of the air
treatment member top portion 11 and air treatment middle portion 12
creates outlet ports 14 which direct air horizontally across air
treatment member opening 15. In a preferred embodiment, the air
treatment member 10 serves as a toilet seat. Hinge screw openings
16 allow the toilet seat to be connected to the toilet bowl by use
of traditionally used nuts and bolts. Though shown in one
configuration here, the hinge screw openings could easily be
modified to accept all traditional hinge screw patterns.
[0019] As best seen in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the air treatment member
10 is formed of three separate pieces including air treatment
member top portion 11, air treatment member middle portion 12, and
air treatment member bottom portion 13. The air treatment member
top portion 11 may be secured to the air treatment member middle
portion 12 by a plurality of clips extending from the air treatment
member top portion 11 which engage a plurality of aligned clip
attachments located on the air treatment member middle portion 12.
In a preferred embodiment, the air treatment member top portion 11
is connected to the air treatment member middle portion 12 by the
connection of the top portion clips 22 into the top portion clip
receptacles 23. The air treatment member middle portion 12 may be
secured to the air treatment member bottom portion 13 by a
plurality of clips extending from the air treatment member middle
portion 12 which engage a plurality of aligned clip attachments
located on the air treatment member bottom portion 13. In a
preferred embodiment, the air treatment member middle portion 12 is
connected to the air treatment member bottom portion 13 by the
connection of the middle portion clips 19 into the middle portion
clip receptacles (not shown). The provision of the top, middle, and
bottom portions of the air treatment member facilitate the
construction of the air pathways and placement of operative
components as will best be described below. However, other
conventional attachment mechanisms such as a dowel/aperture
configuration, adhesives, or other joining hardware may be used
between the top, middle, and bottom portions of the air treatment
member.
[0020] Air treatment member 10 has an air inlet port 15 that is
preferably located along the bottom surface of air treatment member
10. In one embodiment, inlet port 15 comprises an opening defined
upon the bottom of the air treatment member. However, as seen in
FIG. 1A, a plurality of inlet ports 15 may be provided. The inlet
port 15 is in connection with the air pathway, the shape and
direction of air pathway best seen in reference to the directional
arrows of FIGS. 1, 1A, 3, and 4. The air pathway is defined by the
hollow portion of the air treatment member 10. In a preferred
embodiment, rib supports 21 in the air treatment member bottom
portion 13 and air treatment member top portion 11 do not
completely extend to the surfaces of the air treatment member
middle portion 12. The directional arrows indicate the flow of air
through the air pathway, the air movement being controlled by the
air moving means. In this preferred embodiment, two fans (not
shown), such as those used to cool desktop computers, are used as
the air moving means. The computer cooling fans (not shown) used in
a preferred embodiment are placed into the fan mountings 24 measure
forty (40) millimeters by forty (40) millimeters by ten (10)
millimeters. Fan ribs 29 allow space for the fans (not shown). The
operation of the fans (not shown) pulls air through the inlet port
15 and into the air pathway, said air pathway shown by air flow
directional arrows. The movement of air generated by the fans (not
shown) establishes a substantially circular air pathway of air
entering inlet port 15 and continuing through air pathway. The air
pathway passes the moving air along the air treatment means (not
shown). In a preferred embodiment, the air treatment means is
comprised of a foam filter treated with scented oils (not shown).
This foam filter is manufactured to fill each side of the air
pathway in the air treatment member bottom portion 13. In this
preferred embodiment, air enters inlet port 15, flows directly
through the foam filter treated with scented oils (not shown), and
passes through the fans (not shown) and into air treatment member
top portion 11.
[0021] Air passing through fan (not shown) and into air treatment
member top portion 11 is directed along the air pathway and out of
the air treatment member top portion 11 via outlet port 14. In one
embodiment, outlet port 14 comprises an opening defined upon the
inside edge of the air treatment member opening 20, created by
connection of the air treatment member top portion 11 and air
treatment member middle portion 12. However, as seen in FIGS. 1A
and 3, a plurality of outlet ports may be provided. Air exiting
outlet port 14 is directed straight across the air treatment member
opening 20. During use in this embodiment, a circular flow of air
is created by the fans (not shown), allowing for continual
treatment of air within toilet. This preferred embodiment is that
for a mostly circular opening in the toilet seat. However, the
present invention could easily be modified to take the shape of an
oval toilet seat or split toilet seat.
[0022] As seen in FIG. 4, a battery housing 30 is provided within
the interior of the air treatment member 10. Power supply may be
provided by conventional batteries, including a rechargeable
battery pack. If a rechargeable battery pack is used, it is
convenient to provide an access port for a conventional connection
for a re-charger.
[0023] Electrical leads (not shown) connect the power source to
fan. In a preferred embodiment, a switch, seen here in the form of
a pressure contact switch placed on the switch mounting 27 with a
switch contact pin 18 moving through a switch contact pin housing
28, switch contacts 25, may be provided to control the operation of
the fan when the seat bears weight of a seated individual. If
desired, a rocker switch may also be used to control the operation
of the fan. For either type of switch, it is desirable that the
switch be responsive to a timer circuit so as to provide for a
pre-determined interval of operation before the fan is
automatically turned off Use of the timer circuit provides for a
continued interval of operation once the user has left the bathroom
facility and, in the case of a rocker switch, conserves battery
life if the rocker switch is left in the on position.
[0024] Two conventional spacers 17 are located on the bottom
surface of the air treatment member 10 to insure that the inlet
port 15 does not rest on the rim of the toilet bowl when an
individual is seated. This ensures proper air flow into the inlet
port 15 when fan is in operation.
[0025] The illustrated embodiment is manufactured by injection
molding. One having ordinary skill in the art would be able to
create an equivalent structure from milled or routed wood or other
materials. However, injection molding allows for less expensive and
quicker manufacturing while still providing sufficient structural
strength required by consumers.
[0026] The structural strength of air treatment member 10 is also
enhanced by the placement of rib supports 21 throughout the air
treatment member top portion 11 and air treatment member bottom
portion 13. The air treatment member middle portion 12 also
contributes to the strength of the air treatment member 10. In this
embodiment, the rib supports 21 also define the air pathway as
shown by the air flow directional arrows.
[0027] The means for providing power to the means for moving air
may be accessed by disconnecting the air treatment member middle
portion 12 from the air treatment member bottom portion 13. In a
preferred embodiment, the means for providing power is comprised of
a battery housing 30 built into the air treatment member. The
battery housing 30 holds nine (9) AA batteries and is connected to
the fans (not shown) by electrical leads (not shown) which pass
from the battery housing 30, through the electrical lead passageway
26, to the switch contacts 25, and to the fans (not shown).
[0028] Although the present invention has been described and
illustrated with respect to a preferred embodiment and a preferred
use therefore, it is not to be so limited since modifications and
changes can be made therein which are within the full intended
scope of the invention.
* * * * *