Abstract:
Apparatus for collecting and disposing of air from the vicinity of a commode, utilizing a room exhaust fan. The apparatus may comprise an air intake member mountable to the commode, a conduit extending to the inlet grille of the exhaust fan, and an adapter housing which fits over the intake of the fan and constrains the exhaust fan to draw exclusively or almost exclusively from the conduit. The conduit may comprise flat sided plural sections, with connecting sleeves and right angled elbow connectors. The adapter housing may bear closable louvers. The air intake member may be mounted to the commode using an adhesive bearing anchor, occupying the space between the bowl and the toilet seat. The apparatus may include clips for securing the conduit to a wall surface. The air intake member may be rigid or flaccid.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to evacuation of odoriferous near commodes by drawing air from the environment of the commode and discharging the same. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Use of commodes typically entails release of objectionable odors into the atmosphere. Current practice is to provide bathrooms with exhaust fans for discharging odoriferous air. However, exhaust fans are typically located high in the room, at the ceiling in most cases. This causes fouled air to blend with the remaining air, so that the atmosphere of nearly the entire room becomes fouled. While an exhaust fan may eventually evacuate the fouled air, there is still considerable opportunity for the odor firstly, to permeate the entire room, and secondly, to spread beyond the bathroom. 
         [0003]    The prior art has suggested diverse devices to collect air from the immediate vicinity of a commode, and to discharge this air. While this approach seems intuitively superior to depending on a wall or ceiling mounted exhaust fan, most executions of the approach cause the apparatus to become unduly cumbersome and impractical. For example, most air collection devices are self-contained, having a fan integral thereto. Not only does this cause the air collection device to become heavier and more expensive, but it further introduces the necessity of incorporating a power supply such as a battery, or introduces necessity of connecting to a wall mounted electrical receptacle. 
         [0004]    There remains a need for an air evacuation system which draws from the immediate vicinity of the commode, and yet which is uncomplicated and practical. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention provides apparatus which collects and disposes of air from the vicinity of a commode. The apparatus draws from the immediate vicinity of the commode and conducts collected air to a room exhaust fan. The apparatus comprises an inlet mountable to the commode, a conduit extending to the inlet grille of the exhaust fan, and an enclosure which constrains the exhaust fan to draw exclusively or almost exclusively from the conduit, thereby maximizing effectiveness of the air evacuation system. 
         [0006]    The conduit is adapted to mount to room surfaces, such as the partition and ceiling, thereby being minimally intrusive with respect to the room, and for secure anchorage on the commode. The entire apparatus is uncomplicated, lightweight, inexpensive, and easily installable. Reliance upon integral power providing and utilizing apparatus is eliminated. 
         [0007]    The invention may comprise a kit providing at least most of the components necessary to complete installation within a room, such as clips for wall and ceiling mounting of the conduit, and an anchor for mounting one end of the system to the commode. 
         [0008]    It is an object of the invention to provide an air evacuation system for controlling and discharging odors from commodes. 
         [0009]    Another object of the invention is that the air evacuation system be uncomplicated, inexpensive, and easily installed. 
         [0010]    It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
         [0011]    These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective environmental view of a room improved by incorporating apparatus of the invention, according to at least one aspect of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective detail view of a component of the apparatus, seen near the top of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged front view of the connection of the novel system at the commode, and is shown partially in cross section. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged perspective detail view of a component facilitating the installation as seen in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged perspective detail view of a washer that may be utilized with the component of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a front view of a variation of the installation of  FIG. 1 , wherein there is no actual contact between the novel system and the associated commode. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged perspective detail view of an alternative form to a terminus of the apparatus of the novel system. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged perspective detail view of a connector which may be part of the apparatus of the novel system. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a top perspective view of a component of the apparatus of the novel system. 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a front perspective cross sectional view of the component of  FIG. 9 , taken along line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is similar to  FIG. 10 , but is taken along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  is similar to  FIG. 10 , but is taken along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  is an enlarged perspective view of a fastener which may be used with some of the components of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]    Referring first to  FIG. 1 , according to at least one aspect of the invention, there is shown apparatus  100  for collecting and discharging odoriferous air from the vicinity of a commode  10  located in a room  12  provided with an exhaust fan  14  (not visible in its entirety) having an inlet to receive air from the room  12 . The apparatus  100  may comprise an intake member  102  having an intake end  154  and a discharge end  106  of configuration different from that of the intake end  154 . Air inducted from the intake member  102  flows into a conduit  108  which is insertably compatible with the discharge end  106  of the intake member  102 . Air flows through the conduit  108  to an adapter housing  110  which is disposed to connect the elongated conduit  108  to the inlet of the exhaust fan  14 . The adapter housing  110  also substantially seals against draw of air by the exhaust fan  14  from the atmosphere outside the adapter housing  110 . It will be understood that air flow through the apparatus  100  is effected by the exhaust fan  14 . 
         [0027]    The adapter housing  110  may be large enough to cover the inlet of the exhaust fan  14 , and may comprise an inlet opening  112  formed therein. The inlet opening  112  may be dimensioned and configured to be connectably compatible with the conduit  108 , or alternatively, to comprise an adapter (not shown) effecting connection and retention of the conduit  108  to the adapter housing  110 . The adapter housing is open at its upper end as depicted in  FIG. 1 , thereby forming an outlet opening  114  of cross sectional area at least about as great as that of the inlet of the exhaust fan  14 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  shows further details of the adapter housing  110 . The adapter housing  110  may comprise a louvered zone bearing openable and closable louvers  116  and a manual control  118  for opening and closing the louvers  116 . The manual control  118  may comprise a lever (not separately shown) which moves the louvers  116 , which are pivotally mounted to the adapter housing  110 . The end of the lever may be is exposed for access for manual operation. The louvers  116  may be opened to enable the exhaust fan  14  to be used to evacuate air from the vicinity of the adapter housing  110  without drawing air through the conduit  108 , when it is desired to utilize the exhaust fan  14  in conventional fashion. To utilize the apparatus  100  rather than to utilize the exhaust fan  14  conventionally, the louvers  116  are closed. 
         [0029]    The adapter housing  110  may be formed in a first component  120  and a second component  122  bearing the louvers  116 , which second component  122  is removable from the first component  120 . The first component  120  may comprise four walls which define the final volume of the adapter housing  110 , as well as the inlet opening  112 . Forming the adapter housing in two components  120 ,  122  may be done for manufacturing convenience, to expose fasteners for mounting the first component  120  to the ceiling or to the exhaust fan  14 , to enable access to the fan  14  for servicing, or for other reasons. 
         [0030]    Turning now to  FIG. 3 , the intake member  102  may be dimensioned and configured to fit between the toilet seat  16  and the upper surface of the bowl  18  of the commode  10 . When installed between the toilet seat  16  and the upper surface of the bowl  18 , the intake member  102  may fit without displacing the toilet seat  16  from its normal position when in use. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in order to keep the intake member  102  in place, the apparatus  100  may include an anchor  124  which is retainably engageable with the mounting structure of the toilet seat  16 . Notably, the anchor  124  may comprise a first section  126  bearing a central opening  128  for passing a threaded fastening shaft of the mounting structure (not separately shown) of the toilet seat  16  therethrough. Such mounting structure typically includes a bolt or threaded stud which passes through a hole formed in the bowl of the commode. The toilet seat  16  may be temporarily removed to enable the central opening  128  of the anchor  124  to be placed over the bolt or stud, after which the toilet seat  16  may be replaced. To assure that the toilet seat  16  be symmetically displaced from the upper surface of the bowl  18  at both left and right sides after installation of the anchor  124 , the apparatus  100  may comprise a washer  130  (see  FIG. 5 ) of thickness  132  equal to the thickness  134  of the first section  126  of the anchor  124 . 
         [0032]    The anchor  124  may have a holding element for engaging and holding the intake member  102  so that the intake member  102  may be secured to the commode  10  by engagement with the mounting structure of the toilet seat  16 . This holding element may comprise a second section bearing a fastening element for engaging and securing the intake member  102 . This holding element may take the form of a tab or enlarged head  136 . The fastening element may comprise adhesive  138 . A neck  140  may project from the first section  126  to the second section, for connecting the former to the latter. 
         [0033]    As seen in  FIG. 6 , it would be possible to mount the intake member  102  near the toilet seat  16  but not in as close proximity as seen in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0034]    In a further option seen in  FIG. 7 , an intake member  102 A, which in other ways may be a structural and functional equivalent of the intake member  102 , may comprise flaccid constituent material, which lends itself to being manually formed to conform to diverse environmental elements (not shown) which might if present prevent installation as seen in  FIG. 3 . The intake member  102 A may comprise a constrictive elastic band  142  for engaging the conduit  108 . By contrast with flaccid construction of the intake member  102 A, the intake member  102  may be sufficiently rigid as hold its form in the absence of forces which would distort its form. 
         [0035]    As seen in  FIG. 1 , the conduit  108  comprises at least one section  144  which has at least one flat, planar side so as to be flushly mountable to a flat, planar wall or partition  20  of the room  12 . In the installation as depicted in  FIG. 1 , the conduit  108  comprises not only the central section  144 , but also a section  146  extending along the ceiling  22 , and a short section  148  extending from the partition  20  to the intake member  102 . 
         [0036]    To facilitate installation in rooms of different layouts and dimensions, the apparatus  100  may be provided with components enabling ready assembly. For example, the installation seen in  FIG. 1  includes two connector sleeves in the form of elbow fittings  150  each of which is disposed to receive therein and to mutually connect two adjacent sections of the conduit  108  disposed at a right angle to one another. This arrangement enables the conduit  108  to be mounted flushly to the ceiling  22  of the room and to a wall or partition such as the partition  20 , while making transition between vertical orientation (i.e., extending along the partition  20 ) and horizontal orientation (i.e., extending along the ceiling  22 ). 
         [0037]    The elbow fittings  150  may be dimensioned and configured to slip over the exposed ends of the various sections of the conduit  108 , such as the sections  144 ,  146 , and  148 , and to engage these by friction. It will also be appreciated that the conduit  108  may be formed from lengths of stock material such as a synthetic resin, and may be easily cut to suit in order to be installed in rooms of different characteristics. Therefore, it would be possible to provide connector sleeves such as a straight connector sleeve  152 , shown in  FIG. 8 , for joining conduit sections in straight alignment. Connection of the various conduit sections to one another enables a conduit such as the conduit  108  to be built up in overall length by connecting the plural sections serially so as to be able to span the distance from the intake member  102  to the adapter housing  110  regardless of the specific dimensions and configuration of the room. 
         [0038]      FIG. 9  illustrates how the intake member  102  accommodates both the narrow gap between the toilet seat  16  and the bowl  18  of the commode, and also the configuration of the end of the conduit section  148 . As seen in  FIG. 3 , the distal end  154  of the intake member  102  must be of low profile to fit between the toilet seat  16  and the bowl  18 . Yet at its proximal end  156 , the intake member  102  must be greater in height to match the configuration of the conduit section  148 . This transition is preferably but not necessarily made gradually and progressively, as seen in  FIGS. 9 ,  10 ,  11 , and  12 , where it is seen from three arbitrarily selected cross sections that the height of the intake member  102  progressively increases from the distal end  154  to the proximal end  156 . 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 13 , the apparatus  100  may be provided with one or more a three sided clip  158  for mounting the conduit  108  to the partition  20  or ceiling  22  of the room  12 . The clip  158  may comprise a base section  160 , a first side grip section  162  extending from the base section  160  at a substantially right angle thereto, and a second side grip section  164  spaced apart from the first side grip section  162  and extending from the base section  160  at a substantially right angle thereto. The clip  158  may be provided with a hole  166  for receiving the shaft of a fastener such as a screw  168  if desired, although it would be possible to delete the hole  166  since holes are easily drilled. 
         [0040]    The invention may also be thought of as a method of collecting and discharging odoriferous air from the vicinity of a commode such as the commode  10  located in a room such as the room  12 , which is provided with an exhaust fan such as the exhaust fan  14 . The method may comprise the steps of providing an air intake member such as the air intake member  102  at the immediate vicinity of the commode; providing a conduit such as the conduit  108  disposed to conduct air from the air inlet to the immediate vicinity of the exhaust fan; providing an adapter housing such as the adapter housing  110 , which covers the inlet of the exhaust fan and which receives the distal end of the conduit, and which substantially seals the inlet of the exhaust fan to infiltration of ambient air of the room; operating the exhaust fan; transporting collected air to the exhaust fan; and discharging collected air using the exhaust fan as the only air propulsion device acting to evacuate air from the vicinity of the commode and to the exterior of the room. 
         [0041]    The method may be amplified to comprise the further step of causing the conduit to extend from the commode to a vertical surface of the room, such as the partition  20 . The method may further comprise a step of causing the conduit to extend along the ceiling of the room, such as the ceiling  22 , to the adapter housing. The method may comprise a further step of anchoring the intake member to the commode, and a still further step of installing the intake member between the rim of the commode and the seat of the commode. 
         [0042]    While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible.