Abstract:
A toilet odor removal system and method of use uses an air intake member connected to an air exit member with a fan member attached to the air exit member. When installed, the air intake member is inside the toilet tank and the air exit member is outside of the toilet tank so that the air in the toilet tank and toilet bowl may be evacuated therefrom by activating the fan member to draw the air from both the toilet tank and toilet bowl via the passageway from the toilet tank to the toilet bowl or water overflow tube in communication with a toilet tank. A toilet tank water supply line runs through the air intake member and air exit member.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The embodiments of the present invention relate to an automated system for removing odors proximate to a toilet. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Waste odor near toilets is an age-old nuisance. Various systems and methods have been devised to address the waste-odor-near-a-toilet problem. Unfortunately, such systems and methods suffer drawbacks including: (i) complexity; (ii) unreliability and (iii) expense. 
     It would be advantageous to develop a waste odor removal system and method for use with a toilet which is easy to install, reliable and inexpensive relative to other systems. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention comprises an air intake member attached to an air exit member with a fan member attached directly or via an intermediate tube, pipe or similar passageway to the air exit member. When installed, the air intake member resides inside the toilet tank and the air exit member resides outside of the toilet tank so that the air in the toilet tank and toilet bowl may be evacuated therefrom by activating the fan member drawings the air from both the toilet tank and toilet bowl via the opening (i.e., flush valve) from the toilet tank to the toilet bowl. A toilet tank water supply tube runs through the air intake member and air exit member. 
     In one embodiment, the air intake member and air exit member are T-shaped members connected in line with the stem portions perpendicular to the connected passageways through which the water supply tube extends. In practice, the fan member, when activated during the flush cycle, draws or sucks air from the toilet tank and toilet bowl, via the flush valve leading from the toilet tank to the toilet bowl, through the air intake member then air exit member into an exit tube extending to a location remote from the toilet. 
     Other variations, embodiments and features of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description, drawings and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a cross-sectional/internal side view of a conventional toilet; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded side view of an air intake member and air exit member unit according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded upper view of the air intake member and air exit member unit according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of the assembled air intake member and air exit member unit according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a first cross-sectional view of the assembled air intake member and air exit member unit according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a second cross-sectional view of the assembled air intake member and air exit member unit according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a front view the air intake member and air exit member unit connected to a float mechanism according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an internal view of the air intake member and air exit member according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a fan housing according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a front view of the air intake assembly and air exit member unit attached to a conventional toilet according to the embodiments of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 11  illustrates an internal view of a toilet tank with a system installed according to the embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive feature illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention claimed. 
     The components of the embodiments of the present invention may be fabricated of any suitable materials, including, but not limited to, plastics (e.g., PVC), alloys, composites, resins and metals or combinations thereof, and may be fabricated using suitable techniques, including, but not limited to, molding, casting, machining and rapid prototyping or combinations thereof. 
       FIG. 1  shows a cross-sectional/internal side view of a conventional toilet  100 . A toilet tank  110  includes a lever  115 , tank fill tube  120 , inlet valve  125 , bowl refill tube  130 , float arm  135 , float ball  140 , overflow pipe  145 , lift wire  150 , flapper  155 , flush valve seat  160  and flush valve  165 . A toilet bowl  175  includes rim  180 , flush passage  185 , trap  190  and seal  195 . A shut off valve  200  and supply tube  205  control water to the toilet tank  110 . The supply tube  205  enters into the tank  110  through a tank opening via a mounting nut  210 , locknut  215  and gasket  215 . Operation of a conventional toilet comprises (i) pushing on the handle which pulls the chain lifting the flapper releasing the flush valve causing about 2 gallons of water to rush from the toilet tank to the toilet bowl in about 3 seconds via the flush valve; (ii) after the water leaves the toilet tank, the flapper reseats closing the flush valve; (iii) the rush of water activates the siphon in the toilet bowl sucking all contents down the drain; (iv) meanwhile as the level of the water in the toilet tank is falling so does the float; (v) the falling float turns on the refill valve refilling the toilet tank and toilet bowl with water; and (vi) once the float rises to a threshold level, the refill valve shuts off. The overflow tube prevents accidental flooding. 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate exploded side and upper views, respectively, of a partially hollow air intake member and a partially hollow air exit member unit  200 . The air intake member and a partially hollow air exit member unit  200  comprises an air intake member  210  and air exit member  220  attached to one another via a threaded arrangement comprising a threaded male extension  211  on the air intake member  210  and a threaded opening  221  in the air exit member  220 . A grommet  215  provides a seal between the attached air intake member  210  and air exit member  220 . A water supply tube  230  is configured to insert through the air intake member  210  and into the air exit member  220 . Within the air exit member  220 , an intermediary connector  240  attaches at a first end  241  to a threaded end  231  of the water supply tube  230  and at a second threaded end  242  attaches to a threaded opening in an extension coupler  250  configured to receive a water supply. A second end  232  of the water supply tube  230  attaches to a float mechanism coupling  255  and grommet  260  arrangement. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the float mechanism coupling  255  is configured to receive a conventional-type float mechanism. A conventional-type float mechanism may include a float arm, float ball or similar article which floats and connection means for connecting it to the tank and/or bowl/tank refill tube. 
       FIG. 4  shows a side view of the assembled air intake member and air exit member unit  200 . Air intake member  210  includes a hollow air intake passageway  217  and the air exit member  220  includes an air exit passageway  227 . The cross-sectional view along A, as shown in  FIG. 5 , and the cross-sectional view along B of  FIG. 6 , reveals that air may enter the air intake passageway  217 , travel into the air intake member  210 , pass through the threaded male extension  211  into the air exit member  220  and exit through the air exit passageway  227 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the air is free to pass through the threaded male extension  211  into the air exit member  220  via a space  205  surrounding the water supply tube  230  which has a smaller diameter than the hollow portions of the air intake member  210  and air exit member  220 . 
     In practice, the assembled air intake member and air exit member unit  200  is installed proximate a bottom of a toilet tank near the water supply. Installation involves: (i) emptying a subject toilet tank; (ii) inserting threaded extension  211  through a conventional water supply opening in a bottom of the toilet tank; (iii) attaching the air exit member  220  to the air intake member  210  via the threaded extension  211 ; (iv) attaching a water supply tube  233  to the air exit member  220  via extension coupler  250  as shown in  FIG. 7 ; and (v) attaching a float mechanism  265  to the air intake member  210  via float mechanism coupling  255  as shown in  FIG. 7 . Once the air intake member and air exit member unit  200  is installed, an air exit tube  275  containing fan member  280  is attached to air exit member  220 . In this manner, the fan member  280 , when activated and below a water level during a flush operation, draws or sucks air through the air intake member  210  within the toilet tank and from the toilet bowl via the opening between the toilet tank and toilet bowl or via the water overflow tube. An air intake tube may be attached to the air intake member  210  at one end and extend to the toilet bowl through a flapper blocking the opening between the toilet tank and toilet bowl or directly from the toilet tank to the toilet bowl via sealed openings. The second end of the air intake tube may extend into the toilet bowl rim or elsewhere within the toilet bowl above water level. 
       FIG. 9  shows a fan housing  295  which contains the fan member  280 . The fan housing  295  may be incorporated into the air exit tube  275 , connected directly to the air intake member  210  or form part of the air exit tube  275 .  FIG. 10  shows the air intake member and air exit member unit  200  installed proximate to a bottom of a toilet tank  300  near the water supply  310  as described above. Activating the fan member  280  may be automated or manual. In an automated embodiment, pushing down the handle to trigger the flush operation may activate the fan member  280  for a pre-established time period. Other actions may cause the fan member  280  to activate. In a manual embodiment, the user may activate the fan member  280  using a switch or button proximate the toilet. In another embodiment, a remote control unit may be configured to activate the fan member  280 . 
       FIG. 11  shows the internal portion of a toilet tank  450  with a toilet air evacuation system installed according to the embodiments of the present invention. Air intake member  400  receives a float and water fill mechanism  410 . A water fill tube  420  extends from said float and water fill mechanism  410  to a water overflow tube  430 . An air evacuation tube  440  extends from said water overflow tube  430  to said air intake member  400 . The water overflow tube  430  leads to the toilet bowl. Accordingly, as the flushing process occurs, a motorized fan (not shown in  FIG. 11 ) draws air through an air exit member (not shown in  FIG. 11 ) outside of said toilet tank, said air intake member  400  within said toilet tank and in communication with said air exit member, said air evacuation tube  440 , water overflow tube  430  and toilet bowl. That is, the fan draws air from the toilet bowl and causes it to travel through said water overflow tube  430 , air evacuation tube  440 , air intake member  400 , air exit member and through an air exit tube (not shown in  FIG. 11 ). 
     Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to several embodiments, additional variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.