Patent ID: 7485166
Filing Date: 2009-02-03
Classification: A61L,B01D

Abstract:
1. A device for detection, collection, containment, neutralization, and elimination of aerosolized contaminants, comprising: a toilet lid coupled with a toil seat, and when the toilet lid is in a closed position, an entire underside of the toilet lid directly and physically contacts and rests on a top surface of the toilet seat; the toilet lid further including a shroud section that fully covers and extends past an exterior facing edge of the toilet seat and a top surface opening of a toilet bowl when the toilet lid is in the closed position, with the shroud directly and physically contacting an entire exterior facing edge of the toilet seat; the underside of the toilet lid and the shroud fully enclose a first gap between the toilet lid and the toilet seat when the toilet lid is in the closed position, containing exiting aerosolized contaminants and blocking exiting of aerosolized contaminants through the first gap during a flush; the toilet seat is further comprised of a continuous seal coupled with an underside of the toilet seat to fully enclose a second gap between the toilet seat and the top surface opening of the toilet bowl when the toilet seat is in the closed position, containing exiting aerosolized contaminants and blocking exiting of aerosolized contaminants through the second gap during the flush; the toilet lid further having a housing for accommodating an article; the housing comprising a top vent and a bottom vent; with the toilet lid and the toilet seat in closed positions to close the first and the second gaps, when water is delivered into the toilet bowl, the delivered water displaces and compresses air within the toilet bowl, generating an increasing air pressure therein that is pushed upward as a volume of delivered water continues to increase and fill the toilet bowl, with the increased volume of water pushing the pressurized air and the aerosolized contaminants within the toilet bowl vertically up to ascend and exit the toilet bowl through the bottom vent and then out the top vent, while the closed first and the second gaps block exiting of the aerosolized contaminants; with the aerosolized contaminants detected, collected, contained, neutralized, and eliminated by the article within the housing, allowing only uncontaminated air out of the top vent, and only through a natural upward movement of the aerosolized contaminants due to the flush cycle, without using electrical or moving components.