Foul air removal apparatus for a toilet bowl

A toilet (20) has an upper part (28) and lower part (30) joined together. A foul air unit (22) mounted to the rear of the seat is interconnected via a flexible tube (16) with a filtration unit (12) mounted conveniently adjacent. A fresh air outlet (24) mounted on the seat front interconnects with the unit (12) via a flexible tube (18). A further version exits pressurized foul air to the exterior of the toilet room without filtering.

BACKGROUND
 Background of the Invention
 The present invention relates generally to foul air removal apparatus for a
 toilet, and, more particularly, to such apparatus including foul air inlet
 and fresh air outlet means incorporated into the toilet seat.
 SUMMARY
 In accordance with the practice of the present invention, foul air inlet
 means are connected to a toilet seat adjacent its rear side (i.e., where
 rotatably connected to the toilet bowl) and extend downwardly somewhat
 into the bowl above the water. Similarly, a filtered air outlet means are
 secured to the front underside of the seat and extend downwardly into the
 bowl above the bowl water. A first hollow tubular member is incorporated
 within the seat body having one end connected to the foul air inlet means
 and its other end exiting adjacent one part of the hardware that rotatably
 interconnects the seat to the bowl. A second tubular member incorporated
 within the toilet seat body extends from the filtered air outlet means to
 an exit point adjacent a second hardware part for rotatably mounting the
 seat to the bowl.
 An air filtration unit is located conveniently adjacent the toilet seat
 (e.g., resting on the toilet water tank behind the seat or mounted onto an
 adjacent wall) and includes a first flexible tube interconnecting the unit
 inlet with the foul air seat opening and a second flexible tube
 interconnecting the unit filtered air outlet to the seat opening for the
 filtered air outlet means. Also, an electrically powered apparatus for
 moving air through the unit is incorporated within the unit.
 The two flexible tubes are interconnected by individual fittings each of
 which includes an opening for providing communication with a respective
 tubular member exit opening.
 A further feature is the location of a pushbutton electrical switch on the
 upper surface of the toilet seat which is actuated when someone sits on
 the seat to energize the filtration unit and remove foul air for
 filtration.
 In a further embodiment of the invention, flexible tubes interconnect the
 seat to an electric fan air pressurizing means which both exits the foul
 air from the bathroom via a wall opening and provides fresh air to the
 seat.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 With reference now to the drawing and particularly FIG. 1, there is shown
 an embodiment 10 of the invention, including, in its major parts, an air
 filtration unit 12 positioned on the upper surface of a typical toilet
 water tank 14 interconnected by first and second flexible tubes 16 and 18
 with a specially constructed toilet seat 20 to be described. In general
 operation, the filtration unit 12 when electrically energized draws foul
 air from the inlet means 22 on the seat via a first flexible tube 16 into
 the air filtration unit where the air is deodorized and then returned to
 the fresh air outlet means 24 to exit into the toilet bowl 26 between the
 seat and the bowl water.
 Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the toilet seat 20 is seen to include an
 upper seat part 28 and lower seat part 30 with aligned facing grooves
 which enclose first and second tubes 32 and 34 when the seat parts are
 unitarily secured together (e.g., by cementitious material). More
 particularly, the first tube 32 has one end connected to the foul air
 inlet means 22 and its other end terminating at a first rotatable seat
 mounting means 36. Similarly, the second tube 34 has one end
 interconnected with the fresh air outlet means 24 and its other end
 connected to a second rotatable seat mounting means 38. As the name
 implies, the mounting means 36 and 38 secure the seat to the toilet bowl
 26 such that the seat can be rotated from a generally horizontal position
 resting on the top surface of the bowl 26 to an upright position
 uncovering the bowl and leaning against the water tank 14, as is commonly
 required for a toilet seat.
 The inlet and outlet means 22 and 24 can be identically constructed, and,
 therefore, only means 22 will be described in detail. In particular, means
 22 preferably includes a body member 40 with a plurality of slot openings
 42, which body member is mounted onto the seat and extends over and spaced
 from an open end of the first tube 32. The means 24 similarly is mounted
 to the seat and extends over the open end of the second tube 34 adjacent
 the front of the seat.
 As shown best in FIG. 2, when the seat is in raised condition the slots
 face downwardly, which prevents any accumulation of water from flowing
 into tubes 32 and 34 and thus into the air filtration unit to be
 described.
 The air filtration unit 12 is preferably situated on the top surface of the
 water tank 14 with the flexible tubes 16 and 18 extending preferably down
 behind the water tank for interconnection to the mounting means 36 and 38.
 The filtration unit 12 typically includes an electric fan for drawing foul
 air into the unit and through a filtering material (e.g., powdered
 charcoal, baking soda, molecular sieves) to be emitted as fresh air into
 the toilet bowl via the outlet means 24.
 Reference is now made to FIG. 4 for the ensuing description of the details
 of the mounting means 36 and 38 as they relate to providing an air path
 from the flexible tubes to the first and second tubes within the seat.
 Since the mounting means 36 and 38 are identical only means 36 will be set
 forth in detail. Specifically, means 36 includes a nut 48 having internal
 threads which is secured onto the outer end of the flexible tube 16 (or
 18). A hollow cylinder 50 has a threaded end portion 52 for threaded
 receipt within the nut 48. The cylinder opposite end portion has an
 opening 54 in the cylinder sidewall, and is further provided with O-rings
 56 and 58 located, respectively, on the cylinder at opposite sides of the
 opening.
 In assembly, each cylinder 50 is threaded into a respective nut 48 of tubes
 16 and 18. The outer or opposite end of the cylinder 50 is pushed into an
 opening 60 that is located adjacent the rear of the seat 20, one on each
 side of the seat. When the cylinder 50 is fully received within opening 60
 the tube 32 (and tube 34 as well) is in close air communication relation
 with opening 54 in the cylinder. Accordingly, on the unit fan being
 actuated, foul air is sucked from toilet bowl via means 22, filtered and
 fresh air blown out into the toilet bowl via means 24 to enhance foul air
 removal.
 Although an electrical switch for energizing the fan can be located
 anywhere convenient, it is preferred that a pushbutton switch 62 be
 mounted to an upper surface of the upper seat part 28 (FIG. 5) and covered
 over by a resilient layer 64. When someone sits on the seat the pushbutton
 switch is actuated by the weight of the individual automatically
 energizing the fan, and thus the filtering action. On the individual's
 weight being removed from the seat a spring 66 automatically returns the
 switch to the open position stopping filtering action.
 For the ensuing description of yet another embodiment, reference is made to
 FIG. 6. As shown, the special seat 20 of the first described version
 interconnects via flexible tubes 68 and 70 with an electric fan air
 pressurizing means 72. The means 72 when energized takes foul air from
 inlet means 22 and moves it via a conduit 74 to an exit point located
 exteriorly of the bathroom. At the same time, the means 72 moves fresh air
 through flexible tube 68 for release at outlet means 24.
 Although the present invention has been described in connection with a
 preferred embodiment, it is understood that those skilled in the
 appertaining art may contemplate making changes which come within the
 spirit of the invention as disclosed and encompassed by the appended
 claims.