Abstract:
A bathroom ventilation air inlet is mounted in conjunction with a toilet paper dispenser. Activation of a suction source connected by conduit to the inlet draws air from the bathroom, removing odour and moisture. The system also operates using a central vacuum system as a suction source. In such case the air inlet has a valve to seal and open the air inlet.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to room ventilation systems. In particular, it relates to a wall or ceiling-mounted outlet to exhaust air from a room in a building, such as a bathroom or toilet room through a central vacuum system. 
     BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
     Room ventilation systems are known. Bathrooms in particular have switch-activated fans and ceiling-mounted outlets that remove air from bathrooms. The ventilation of bathrooms is particularly appropriate to remove odours and moisture. 
     This application concerns a new arrangement for ventilating a room, such as a bathroom. It relies in one aspect on the fact that a penetration must be made in the wall of a bathroom to install a wall-mounted toilet paper dispenser. This invention also relies, in another aspect, upon the use of a central vacuum system as an exhaust means. 
     A central vacuum system involves the installation of suction conduits throughout a house. These conduits terminate in multiple outlets that are individually sealed until accessed to take advantage of the suction created by the system to effect household cleaning. The present invention addresses these background structures to propose a new combination that provides new and useful benefits for bathroom ventilation. 
     The invention in its general form will first be described, and then its implementation in terms of specific embodiments will be detailed with reference to the drawings following hereafter. These embodiments are intended to demonstrate the principle of the invention, and the manner of its implementation. The invention in its broadest and more specific forms will then be further described, and defined, in each of the individual claims which conclude this Specification. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the invention an air outlet to exhaust air from a room through an exhaust system is provided. Preferably the outlet, when installed in a bathroom, is mounted in the housing of a toilet paper holder or dispenser so that both elements can be installed in the same wall penetration in the wall of a bathroom. According to another aspect of the invention the exhaust outlet is a suction inlet which is mounted at any location within a room, such as a bathroom, and is coupled through a conduit to a central vacuum system as a suction source and air evacuation means. In either case, switch means is provided to activate exhaustion of air from the room preferably through a grill mounted before a plenum to screen and diffuse the air flow being sucked into the conduit. 
     The suction source is electrically activated by a switch that preferably is accessible to a person resting on the seat of a toilet. Conveniently, the switch may be carried by the same housing which carries the toilet paper and exhaust outlet of the invention. A conduit, preferably concealed within walls, connects the exhaust outlet/suction inlets, whether of a simple or toilet paper holder type, to the suction source. Activation of the switch draws air from the room being ventilated to the suction source, whereafter the air is ejected by the suction source either to the outside environment or into a remote room, such as a household basement. 
     While the suction source may simply be a remotely mounted fan, a preferred suction source is a central vacuum system vacuum suction generator. In the case of a central vacuum system, multiple wall-mounted room suction inlets are generally provided, each with their own closure. Failure to effect closure of unused suction inlets will result in loss of suction intensity at a used suction inlet. 
     To adapt the room air exhaust outlet described above to a central vacuum system, a conduit closure means or valve is provided. Such a valve may be carried by the common housing for the suction inlet, or where combined, for a toilet paper holder. Until this valve is opened, the suction inlet of the invention is sealed. Conveniently, activation of a common control lever can serve to both mechanically open the conduit valve and electrically activate the suction source or the lever may operate the conduit valve through a solenoid. 
     The foregoing summarizes the principal features of the invention and some of its optional aspects. The invention may be further understood by the description of the preferred embodiments, in conjunction with the drawings, which now follow. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bathroom interior with a toilet and adjacent wall-mounted toilet paper dispenser with exhaust outlet/suction inlet, according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a face view of the front plate of the dispenser of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the dispenser of FIG. 1; 
     FIGS. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional plan views of the dispenser of FIG. 1, taken just above the conduit valve lever, respectively showing the conduit sealed and open; 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the conduit system terminating at a suction source that evacuates air from the bathroom, either through a toilet paper holder outlet or through a ceiling mounted outlet. 
     FIG. 6 is a detailed cross-sectional side view of the ceiling mounted outlet of FIG.  5 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In FIG. 1 a toilet  1  with a seat cover  2  is installed adjacent to a wall  3  in a bathroom  11 . In the wall  3  a toilet paper dispenser housing  4 , carrying toilet paper  5 , is installed. Mounted in the dispenser housing  4  is an air evacuation opening  6  to remove air from the bathroom  11 . A lever  7  activates an electrical switch  9  that turns-on a suction source  10  mounted remotely from the bathroom  11 . A conduit  12  for evacuating air extends between the suction source  10  and the air evacution opening  6 . Activation of the lever  7  also opens an conduit valve  13  within the housing  4  that otherwise seals the conduit  12 . 
     FIG. 2 shows the face plate  14  carried by the frame  4  as mounted in the wall. Screws  17  attach this plate  14  to the frame  4 . A grill  15  overlies the exhaust opening  6 . A spindle  16  passing through the roll of toilet paper  5  is fitted to the housing  4 . 
     FIG. 3 shows the presence of a plenum  18  behind the grill  15  separated from the conduit  12  by the valve  13 . The valve  13  is carried by a lever arm  19  that swings about hinge screw  20  when the lever  7  is rotated sideways. Hinge screw  20  is mounted on housing  4 . 
     In the plan views of FIGS. 4A,  4 B the action of swinging the lever  7  is shown as opening and sealing the conduit  12  by removing and replacing the valve  13  with its gasket  13   a  over the end of the conduit  12 . The activated, conduit “open” position is shown in FIG.  4 B. The closed, “off” position is shown in FIG.  4 A. The action of swinging the lever arm  19  causes a pin  21  carried on the underside of lever arm  19  to press a spring wire  22  mounted on a seat  23  carried by plenum floor  33  which separates the air flow from the toilet paper so as to bear against electrical contact  24 . This closes a low voltage circuit which activates relay  9  and turns on the suction source  10 . 
     The spring  22  may be bent to provide a detent to effect a “toggle” action that stabilizes the lever arm  19  in either the closed or open position. The fit of the lever arm  19  with the hinge screw  20  may have sufficient play or looseness to allow the surface of valve gasket  13   a  to be carried over the upper end of the opening  35  that provides an entry into conduit  12 . 
     In FIG. 5, the suction source  10  is the suction generator of a central vacuum system. The activation of suction source  10  causes air drawn from the bathroom  11  to be exhausted outside by vent pipe  34 . Other conduits  32  connected through a manifold  31  to the suction source  10  remain sealed while conduit  12  is open. Conversely, with valve  13  shut, the other conduits  32  will be functional to provide suction. 
     In FIG. 6, the alternate ceiling mounted outlet  40  present in FIG. 5 is shown in a detailed cross-section. The conduit  12  is coupled to a complementary coupling section  41  which has a downwardly-directed open end  42  into which a sealing member  43 , shown shaped as a hemisphere, may enter to serve as a valve. The sealing member  43  is carried on a plunger  44  that passes through a spring  45  and solenoid coil  46 . The coil  46  rests on a transverse support  47  that connects to the frame  48  supporting the coupling section  41 . Flanges  49  allow the frame  48  to be connected to the ceiling  50 . A cover plate  51 , shown at a partially disengaged location, may be provided to conceal the mechanism aesthetically. 
     The spring  45  urges the plunger  44  to carry the sealing member  43  upwards to cover the open end  42  and seal the conduit  12  against vacuum loss. Activation of the solenoid coil  46  withdraws the plunger  44  and sealing member  43 , opening the end  42  of the coupling section  41 . A switch  52 , conveniently mounted on the room wall, provides current both to the ceiling solenoid  46  and, through wire  53 , to the relay  9  to activate the suction source  10 . 
     Thus, it has been shown how a wall or ceiling-mounted exhaust outlet may be provided in a room, such as a bathroom to remove odorous air therefrom in response to ready activation by a user of a switch that both opens an exhaust conduit and activates a suction source. In the case of a bathroom, the exhaust outlet may be conveniently located in the same housing as a toilet paper dispenser. By using the remotely located fan of a central vacuum system as the suction source  10 , high volumes of air may be extracted from such a room without the intrusion of noise from a locally installed exhaust fan. By providing a sealed termination at the conduit end of a central vacuum system, the central vacuum system is able to continue to operate in the normal manner through the manifold  31  when the exhaust outlet is closed. Operation of the central vacuum system is only disabled for a short time during activation of the exhaust outlet of the invention. 
     CONCLUSION 
     The foregoing has constituted a description of specific embodiments showing how the invention may be applied and put into use. These embodiments are only exemplary. The invention in its broadest, and more specific aspects, is further described and defined in the claims which now follow. 
     These claims, and the language used therein, are to be understood in terms of the variants of the invention which have been described. They are not to be restricted to such variants, but are to be read as covering the full scope of the invention as is implicit within the invention and the disclosure that has been provided herein.