U.S. patent application number 12/582072 was filed with the patent office on 2011-03-03 for apparatus for treating objectionable odors in toilet bowls.
Invention is credited to James Moore.
Application Number | 20110047686 12/582072 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43622644 |
Filed Date | 2011-03-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110047686 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Moore; James |
March 3, 2011 |
Apparatus for Treating Objectionable Odors in Toilet Bowls
Abstract
Disclosed is an apparatus for removing foul odor from the stool
directly from the stool area without having to first draw the foul
air through the toilet closet. The apparatus includes various
embodiments including a unit venting the foul air out of the toilet
closet or bathroom. The apparatus includes both pressure and motion
actuators for activating the fan upon the use of the toilet.
Furthermore the apparatus includes a sound generation device for
masking bathroom sounds and filter for treating the foul air. The
apparatus may be power by household current or battery power.
Inventors: |
Moore; James; (Sparland,
IL) |
Family ID: |
43622644 |
Appl. No.: |
12/582072 |
Filed: |
October 20, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12553089 |
Sep 2, 2009 |
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12582072 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
4/213 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03D 9/052 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/213 |
International
Class: |
E03D 9/04 20060101
E03D009/04 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for venting objectionable odors from a toilet bowl,
the toilet bowl having an upper rim thereon for supporting a toilet
seat, comprising: a conduit being disposed on the upper rim of the
toilet bowl and under the toilet seat, the conduit having an
opening in communication with the toilet bowl for drawing air from
the bowl; a fan fluidly connected to the conduit for drawing air
through the conduit and from the bowl; a filter fluidly connected
to the fan receiving the drawn air and cleansing the air; an
activator operatively connected to the fan for engaging the
fan.
2. The apparatus for venting objectionable odors of claim 1,
further including a vent stack extending communicatingly from the
fan and the vent stack extending out from a dwelling into the
outside air.
3. The apparatus for venting objectionable odors of claim 1,
further including a fragrance dispenser within the conduit for
treating the air drawn from the bowl.
4. The apparatus for venting objectionable odors of claim 1,
wherein the fan is powered by standard electrical outlet power.
5. The apparatus for venting objectionable odors of claim 1,
wherein the fan is powered by 12 volts, the 12 volts provided by a
plug/transformer plugging into standard electrical outlet
power.
6. The apparatus for venting objectionable odors of claim 1,
wherein the fan is powered by a battery.
7. The apparatus for venting objectionable odors of claim 1,
further including a pressure switch activator attached to the
conduit disposed on the upper rim of the toilet and under the
toilet seat bottom surface for actuating the fan when a
predetermined amount of pressure is applied to the toilet seat.
8. The apparatus for venting objectionable odors of claim 7,
wherein the pressure switch includes a delay so that the fan
continues to be actuated for a predetermined amount of time after
the predetermined amount of pressure is no longer applied to the
toilet seat.
9. The apparatus for venting objectionable odors of claim 1,
further including a sound generator operatively connected to the
activator such that when the fan is activated music or sounds are
played to mask the sounds of a user of the toilet.
10. The apparatus for venting objectionable odors of claim 1,
further including a motion senor activator activating the fan at a
predetermined interval.
11. An apparatus for venting objectionable odors from a toilet
bowl, the toilet bowl having an upper rim thereon for supporting a
toilet seat, comprising: a conduit being disposed on the upper rim
of the toilet bowl and under the toilet seat, the conduit having an
opening in communication with the toilet bowl for drawing air from
the bowl; a fan fluidly connected to the conduit for drawing air
through the conduit and from the bowl; a vent stack extending
communicatingly from the fan and the vent stack extending out from
a dwelling into the outside air; and an activator operatively
connected to the fan for engaging the fan.
12. The apparatus for venting objectionable odors of claim 11,
further including a filter fluidly connected to the fan receiving
the drawn air and cleansing the air.
13. The apparatus for venting objectionable odors of claim 11,
further including a pressure switch activator attached to the
conduit disposed on the upper rim of the toilet and under the
toilet seat bottom surface for actuating the fan when a
predetermined amount of pressure is applied to the toilet seat.
14. The apparatus for venting objectionable odors of claim 11,
further including a sound generator operatively connected to the
activator such that when the fan is activated music or sounds are
played to mask the sounds of a user of the toilet.
15. The apparatus for venting objectionable odors of claim 11,
further including a motion senor activator activating the fan at a
predetermined interval.
16. The apparatus for venting objectionable odors of claim 11,
further including a fragrance dispenser within the conduit for
treating the air drawn from the bowl.
17. The apparatus for venting objectionable odors of claim 1,
wherein the fan is powered by a battery.
18. An apparatus for venting objectionable odors from a toilet
bowl, the toilet bowl having an upper rime thereon for supporting a
toilet seat, comprising: a conduit being disposed on the upper rim
of the toilet bowl and under the toilet seat, the conduit having an
opening in communication with the toilet bowl for drawing air from
the bowl; a fan fluidly connected to the conduit for drawing air
through the conduit and from the bowl; a filter fluidly connected
to the fan receiving the drawn air and cleansing the air; an
activator operatively connected to the fan for engaging the fan,
wherein the activator is a pressure switch activator attached to
the conduit disposed on the upper rim of the toilet and under the
toilet seat bottom surface for actuating the fan when a
predetermined amount of pressure is applied to the toilet seat; and
a sound generator operatively connected to the activator such that
when the fan is activated music or sounds are played to mask the
sounds of a user of the toilet.
19. The apparatus for venting objectionable odors of claim 18,
further including a vent stack extending communicatingly from the
fan and the vent stack extending out from a dwelling into the
outside air.
20. The apparatus for venting objectionable odors of claim 18,
further including a fragrance dispenser within the conduit for
treating the air drawn from the bowl.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/553,089, filed Sep. 2, 2009, the contents
of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to the field of air treatment
devices and particularly to devices for eradicating objectionable
odors from toilet bowls or stools by retrofitting a standard
toilet.
BACKGROUND
[0003] The most disliked aspect of today's toilet is the unpleasant
odor when using the toilet cannot be effectively expelled from the
toilet. Since the restroom is a small closed space associated with
an individual's privacy, air within cannot be well circulated to
overcome the problem of stagnant and unpleasant smells.
[0004] Objectionable odors produced during normal toilet use are a
source of concern and embarrassment to many people. Thus, the
elimination or diminution thereof has occasioned a great deal of
effort and inventive energy.
[0005] There are various conventional ways known to reduce the
pollution of unpleasant smells, or odors, from a restroom. Such
methods include the use of ceiling fans or exhaust fans which
typically discharge the unpleasant smell to the outdoors. Further
methods include the introduction to the bathroom of a deodorizer to
mask the smell.
[0006] Some known systems attempt to add sufficient fragrance to
the air to overcome objectionable odors. Re-odorizing the air has
resulted in the annoyance and/or discomfort of many people. Indeed,
the addition of chemicals and fragrances to the atmosphere is
becoming less and less acceptable to many people. Thus a system to
remove and eliminate malevolent odors and makes no attempt to
"cover-up" odors is preferred by most people.
[0007] Another approach to solving the odor removal problem around
toilets is to mount a suction blower in the ceiling of the room
containing the toilet such as a bathroom. Unfortunately, the
deodorizing effect brought about by ceiling fans is often quite
inadequate and thus limited. In such a configuration a wall mounted
switch controls the suction blower to exhaust odorous gases present
in the bathroom to the exterior of the building. This approach
works to a degree, but has some serious shortcomings.
[0008] For example, the odorous gases are allowed to circulate
throughout the air in the bathroom prior to being removed and
exhausted. Thus, foul air is drawn though out the whole bathroom
and past the user. Therefore, the person using the toilet must
smell the odorous gases in the air which can be quite
unpleasant.
[0009] Secondly, this approach necessitates removing most or all of
the air from the bathroom to remove the odorous gases, which is a
quantity of air at least equal to that contained in the bathroom,
typically two to three times as much. The air contained in the
bathroom is typically heated air in the winter, which must be
replaced with more heated air causing an increase in the heating
and/or electric bill. In the summer, this air might be cooled air
such as in an air conditioned building, which air must be replaced
with more cooled air causing an increase in the electric bill for
air conditioning.
[0010] A further example of ventilating a toilet and eliminating
odors includes a toilet bowl having an auxiliary passageway
built-in to the rear of the bowl and housing a water driven
ventilation fan. Water valves are coupled to use of the toilet seat
so that weight placed on the seat initiates the fan turbine which
runs the fan until the weight is removed from the seat.
Unfortunately, such a design requires replacing the conventional
toilet bowl entirely which is expensive and undesirable.
[0011] Thus what is needed is an apparatus which can overcome the
failings of the above described art while quickly and efficiently
removing odors from a bathroom and in particular a toilet bowl.
SUMMARY
[0012] The present invention includes an apparatus for removing
foul odor directly from the toilet stool without having to first
draw the foul air through the bathroom. The apparatus includes
various embodiments including a unit venting the foul air directly
out of the bathroom and an embodiment wherein the foul is treated
and then returned to the bathroom. The apparatus includes both
pressure and motion actuators for activating the fan upon the use
of the toilet. Furthermore the apparatus includes a sound
generation device for masking bathroom sounds and a filter for
treating the foul air. The apparatus may be power by household
current or by battery power.
[0013] In greater detail, the apparatus for venting objectionable
or foul odors from a toilet bowl includes the toilet bowl having an
upper rim thereon for supporting a toilet seat. The apparatus
includes a conduit being disposed on the upper rim of the toilet
bowl and under the toilet seat. The conduit has an opening in
communication with the toilet bowl for drawing air from the bowl. A
fan is fluidly connected to the conduit for drawing air through the
conduit and from the bowl within the apparatus. Additionally a
filter is also fluidly connected to the fan for receiving the drawn
air and cleansing the air. An activator operatively connected to
the fan for engaging the fan upon the use of the toilet is also
included.
[0014] A further embodiment includes a vent stack extending
communicatingly from the fan and the vent stack extending out from
a dwelling into the outside air. The apparatus may further include
a fragrance dispenser within the conduit for treating the air drawn
from the bowl. The fan may be powered by standard electrical outlet
power, by 12 volts, the 12 volts provided by a plug/transformer
plugging into standard electrical outlet power, and by battery.
[0015] Regarding the activation of the apparatus, a pressure switch
activator may be attached to the conduit disposed on the upper rim
of the toilet and under the toilet seat bottom surface for
actuating the fan when a predetermined amount of pressure is
applied to the toilet seat. Furthermore the pressure switch may
include a delay so that the fan continues to be actuated for a
predetermined amount of time after the predetermined amount of
pressure is no longer applied to the toilet seat.
[0016] An additional embodiment includes a sound generator
operatively connected to the activator such that when the fan is
activated music or sounds are played to mask the sounds of a user
of the toilet. The apparatus may also include a motion senor
activator activating the fan at a predetermined interval.
DRAWINGS
[0017] In the Drawings
[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present apparatus
including the duct work between the seat and stool area for
removing the foul odor connected to a fan and filter for removing
the objectionable odor from the foul air; and
[0019] FIG. 2 is a further embodiment of the present invention
including a vent stack for removing the foul air from the bathroom
and the pressure activator between the rim and seat.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] The present apparatus is for removing foul odor directly
from the toilet stool without having to first draw the foul air
through the bathroom. The apparatus includes various embodiments
including venting the foul air directly out of the bathroom and an
embodiment wherein the foul is treated and then returned to the
bathroom. The apparatus includes both pressure and motion actuators
for activating the fan upon the use of the toilet. Furthermore the
apparatus includes a sound generation device for masking bathroom
sounds and filter for treating the foul air. The apparatus may be
power by household current or battery power.
[0021] Traditional air cleansing methods in a toilet setting use an
exhaust system which draws air out of the stool and into the room
before being exhausted through the exhaust fan unit located in the
ceiling. Such systems must first saturate the air of the room with
the stool odor before the odor can be removed from the room. The
present invention removes the foul odor from the stool directly
from the stool area without having to first draw the foul air
through the air of the toilet closet.
[0022] The present invention includes various embodiments including
a conduit having various configurations which draws air from the
stool area between the toilet seat and stool. A fan draws the foul
air of the stool area through the duct work and past a filter
removing the objectionable odors from the removed stool air. The
filter may be any known air filter such as activated charcoal or
the like. However, the present invention is not limited by any
single type of filter. In a further embodiment the foul air may be
drawn into an existing air duct or vent stack.
[0023] Fans employed in the present apparatus may be powered by
such known means as portable sources such as batteries or hard
wired into the house. The fan may be mounted to the toilet or the
fan may be incorporated into the drywall of the dwelling housing
the toilet. The fan may run as a quiet mode or an apparatus may be
included which plays music or some type of prerecorded sound when
the unit is activated. Recorded sound may be used to mask the sound
of a person using the toilet to avoid embarrassment. The fan may be
controlled by a switch, motion sensor, or pressure sensor when one
sits on the toilet seat.
[0024] A further embodiment contemplates a portable device for
traveling or the like. Furthermore the unit may be modified for use
with bedpans for use in hospitals or nursing homes. The unit may be
modified by use of a hose from a fan in a wall or a unit attached
to the bed or built into the bedpan. Additionally, the unit may use
dc power.
[0025] Referring now in greater detail to the drawings in which
like numerals indicate like items throughout the several views,
FIGS. 1-2 depict the apparatus for venting foul odors from a toilet
bowl in various embodiments of the present invention.
[0026] The present apparatus is shown generally in FIG. 1 for
venting objectionable odors from a toilet bowl 6 and cleansing the
air through a filter 16. The toilet 4 has a bowl 6, a seat 8, an
upper rim 24 and a flush handle 10. The present apparatus 2
comprises a conduit 12, a fan 14, a filter 16 and an activator 18.
The conduit 12 communicates with the bowl 6 of the toilet 4. The
fan 14 is in communication with the conduit 12 and is for venting
the objectionable odors from the toilet 4. Typically the fan 14 is
housed within the conduit 12. The activator 18 is operatively
connected to the fan 14 for engaging the fan 14.
[0027] The conduit 12 is generally Y-shaped tapering from a wider
first opening operatively connected to the bowl 6 to a narrow
second opening fluidly connected to the fan 14. However, the
conduit 12 can take any form or shape and may have a plurality of
apertures opening up into the toilet bowl 6 for removing foul
odors.
[0028] As shown in the embodiment in FIG. 2, the apparatus may
further comprise a vent stack 20. The vent stack 20 extends
communicatingly from the fan 14 and extending out from a dwelling
into the outside air.
[0029] An activator 18 is in communication with the fan 14 to
selectively actuate the fan 14. The activator 18 as shown in FIG. 1
or a pressure mounted activator 18 is shown in FIG. 2. The
activator may also be connected to the flush handle 10 to activate
the fan 14 when the toilet is flushed.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, the activator is a pressure activation
sensor 18 attached to the conduit 12. The activator 18 is a toilet
seat weight-sensing switch for selectively interacting with toilet
seat 8 and the conduit 12. The toilet seat weight-sensing switch 18
of the activator is operatively connected to the fan 14 and is for
activating when the seat 8 of the toilet 4 is sat upon.
[0031] The activation sensor 18 is a pressure switch that
automatically actuates the fan 14 when a predetermined amount of
pressure is applied to the toilet seat 8. The pressure switch 18
may include a delay so that the fan 14 continues to be actuated for
a predetermined amount of time after the pressure is no longer
applied to the toilet seat 8. This delay would allow any odor that
remains in the toilet bowl 6 after the user leaves to be exhausted
through the apparatus 2. This could also be accomplished by
programming the fan 14 to run for a predetermined amount of time
after the activator 18 is released.
[0032] The apparatus may further comprise a toilet flush handle
switch 10. The toilet flush handle switch 10 is operatively
connected to the flush handle 10 of the toilet 4 and is for
activating the fan 14 when the flush handle of the toilet 4 is
activated.
[0033] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the foul air is
recirculated back into the room after being treated with an odor
removing filter 16 and in an additional embodiment a fragrance
introducing means is added to the filter 16. The filter 16 may be
an activated charcoal filter wherein the foul air is neutralized or
the filter may contain some other medium capable neutralizing the
foul air. In the example where the foul air is exhausted out of the
room and building through the vent pipe 20, as shown in FIG. 2, the
filter 16 and/or fragrance introducing is not necessary.
[0034] The fan 14 requires energy to perform its functions.
Although the power source for the fan 14 can be derived from
numerous sources, typically the power source is household AC
current supplied by adapter plug that fits into a standard
electrical outlet, as this power source present in most households.
Alternatively, the fan 14 could be directly configured into the
standard electric grid of the building or house. Alternatively, the
power source could be derived from a battery or standard electric
current reduced to the equivalency of a battery. The fan 14 is
activated by one or more activators or switches 18 that can be
electrically connected to fan 14.
[0035] In operation and use, foul air is drawn away from a region
generally defined by toilet bowl 6 once the fan 14 has been
activated. As disclosed previously, activation is either by the
user manually activating manual activator/switch 18, by toilet seat
8 depressing automatic switch 18 by the weight of the user or by
activating a proximity sensor 26 detecting the presence of a
user.
[0036] When activated, the fan 14 creates a vacuum that draws air
from the region generally defined by toilet bowl 6 into the conduit
14 having an opening or aperture into the bowl 6 area. From the
conduit 14, the air is drawn through the conduit 14 and past the
fan 14, and into the filter 16 or vent pipe 20. As shown in FIG. 2
the conduit may extend out as a tube to the fan 14 where the fan 14
is housed within the conduit 12.
[0037] In an additional embodiment the apparatus 2 may also include
a sound generation device 28 of most any known devise known.
Typically, the sound generator is relatively small and provides
sufficient volume as to mask the sounds of the user and in an
embodiment the fan 14. The sound generator 28 may be activated the
activator/switch 18 which also activates the fan 14. The sound
generator 28 may play music or other sounds to mask the use of the
toilet 4 or the operation of the fan 14.
[0038] While Applicant has set forth embodiments as illustrated and
described above, it is recognized that variations may be made with
respect to disclosed embodiments. Therefore, while the invention
has been disclosed in various forms only, it will be obvious to
those skilled in the art that many additions, deletions and
modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of this invention, and no undue limits should be imposed
except as set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *