Abstract:
A toilet bowl ventilation system exhausts air in and around the toilet bowl to an area adjacent to the room in which the toilet is located. The toilet bowl ventilation system includes a housing operable to affix to a toilet seat and a fan positioned within the housing. The system further includes a controller for activating the fan and optionally adjusting the fan&#39;s speed when activated. An exhaust hose is operable to transport air from the fan in the housing to a selected area adjacent to the room in which the toilet is located (e.g., outdoors).

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to and hereby incorporates by reference in its entirety U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/001,917 entitled “TOILET VENTILATION SYSTEM” filed on May 22, 2014. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a toilet ventilation system to vent air from around a toilet bowl. More specifically, the disclosure is directed to a toilet ventilation system including a housing, a fan enclosed by the housing, an air vent in the housing in proximity to a toilet bowl, and an ventilation outlet to move air from the area proximate to the toilet bowl through the housing and exhaust the air to an adjacent area. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The disclosure relates to the field of restroom ventilation devices, and specifically to those devices mounted on or proximate to a toilet bowl. 
         [0004]    Within the field of restroom ventilation devices, a distinct need exists for an apparatus which may efficiently exhaust the unpleasant odors and air which normally emanate from a toilet, especially during and after use. Furthermore, a need exists for an apparatus which may be quickly and easily adapted onto a number of existing toilets. 
         [0005]    Numerous systems are known for exhausting air from a restroom. Systems which are mounted within a wall or ceiling are the most common. However, these known systems suffer from significant inefficiencies. Chief among these inefficiencies is the excessive room volume from which wall and ceiling-mounted systems must ventilate. The primary volume of concern exists at, or near, the toilet itself. However, wall and ceiling-mounted systems must draw air from the entire room, including area occupying the space at and near the toilet. 
         [0006]    Because of the large volume of air that known systems would need to ventilate to be effective, known restroom ventilation systems fail to remove all air containing foul odors, thereby allowing foul odors to linger or permeate the room. In order to be effective, traditional restroom ventilation systems require the ventilation of large quantities of air. To ventilate an effective amount of air to remove offensive odors rapidly, the speed and size of the room fan must be significant. Even then, the opportunities for pressure loss and air-flow resistance naturally increase with the size of the room such that the inefficiencies associated with ventilating large restrooms, including commercial restrooms, may be significantly multiplied over those existing in an average-sized residential restroom. 
         [0007]    Additionally, removing air from the room does not prevent the user from being exposed to unpleasant smells or prevent users in adjacent stalls from being exposed to unpleasant smells emitted by a toilet associated with another user. Moreover, existing restroom ventilation systems are not energy efficient, because they may increase the amount of conditioned air that needs to be supplied to the restroom by heating, ventilating and cooling systems. Furthermore, because of the large room size and small air draw, the time to remove unpleasant odors from the toilet area may overlap between users, exposing a subsequent user to a prior user&#39;s odors. 
         [0008]    Several toilet-mounted ventilation systems currently exist. However, these systems require proprietary toilets or proprietary seat arrangements. A consumer desiring to install an existing toilet-mounted ventilation system must replace the existing toilet and buy a toilet that is compatible with that specific toilet-mounted ventilation system. Even if a consumer does purchase a known toilet-mounted ventilation system, the consumer is required to replace and use only the proprietary seats designed and produced to work with that system. The lack of compatibility and interoperability between various toilet models and toilet-mounted ventilation systems greatly limits consumer choices for selecting toilet and toilet seat color, design, and features. Moreover, the lack of compatibility and interoperability are also likely to increase toilet seat and toilet part replacement cost should a seat, a toilet, or any other part of the seat or toilet, need to be replaced. 
         [0009]    Beyond the disadvantages of a proprietary seat arrangement, incorporating ventilation structures necessarily introduces design constraints on the seat. Also, users will likely face difficulty when trying to clean the complex duct arrangements formed within the seats of the prior art. Since the seats are so closely positioned to the toilet bowl itself, cleaning the seats is especially important in preventing the spread of germs and disease, and in maintaining a clean appearance. 
         [0010]    Toilet-mounted ventilation systems of the prior art also fail to teach systems which fully eliminate odors. Prior art systems simply recirculate air and odors drawn from a toilet back into the room. Filters, such as those made from activated charcoal, are placed in the air-flow path and serve to remove some of the odors before the air is blown back into the room. However, filters, such as those made from activated charcoal, are usually only able to remove up to 70% of the odors found in the air and become saturated over time, which results in a reduction in efficiency. Moreover, filters require replacement at the end of their useful life. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    In view of the foregoing, a toilet ventilation system that is efficient, effective, easy to clean, and compatible with existing toilets is needed. 
         [0012]    An embodiment disclosed herein is a toilet bowl ventilation system. The ventilation system includes a housing connecting a toilet seat associated with the toilet bowl, the housing having a ventilation inlet in a bottom surface of the housing. The ventilation system includes a ventilation outlet and a fan positioned within the housing operable to move air from the ventilation inlet through the housing to the ventilation outlet in response to receiving power. A controller selectively provides power to the fan. 
         [0013]    Another embodiment disclosed herein is a ventilated toilet seat base. The ventilated toilet seat base includes an aperture and a base hingedly connected to the toilet seat, the base including a lower distal vent portion and configured to be received on a toilet. The seat base includes an exhaust fan at least partially enclosed in the base, the exhaust fan in fluid communication with the lower vent portion and configured to draw air from the lower vent portion to the exhaust fan. An outlet is in fluid communication with the exhaust fan and is configured to receive air from the exhaust fan. A controller selectively provides power to the fan. 
         [0014]    A sensor may be positioned in the toilet seat to provide an activation signal to the controller indicative of a presence of a body on the toilet seat, wherein the controller is operable to provide power to the fan when the activation signal indicates that the body is present on the toilet seat. In an embodiment, the sensor is operable to provide an activation signal to the controller indicative of a presence of a body on the toilet seat, and the controller is operable to provide power to the fan when the activation signal indicates that the body is present on the toilet seat. 
         [0015]    The housing may also include a lower distal vent portion including at least one ventilation inlet. 
         [0016]    The toilet bowl ventilation system may also include an exhaust hose operable to fluidly connect the ventilation outlet of the housing to an adjacent area. The adjacent area may comprise an exhaust tube or an exhaust pipe. In an embodiment, the system includes a hose or a tube in fluid communication with the ventilation outlet and configured to receive air from the ventilation outlet. 
         [0017]    In an embodiment, the system includes a closing mechanism operable to control a speed at which the toilet seat travels towards a rim of the toilet bowl when transitioning the seat from an opened position to a closed position. In another embodiment, the system also includes a seat cover hingedly attached to the housing and the toilet seat. The toilet cover may include an upwardly tapered seat cover top. 
         [0018]    The toilet bowl ventilation system may include a fan cover operable to at least partially enclose the fan, and have a top and a sidewall. The fan outlet may be positioned in the fan cover sidewall, an inlet cover may be positioned underneath the fan. The inlet cover may prevent water from being pulled into the fan. In an embodiment, the fan cover fully encloses the fan. 
         [0019]    In an embodiment, a seat cover may be positioned on the toilet seat and hingedly attached to the base. The seat cover may have a distal seat cover height and a proximal seat cover height, the proximal height greater than the distal height. 
         [0020]    In another embodiment, the toilet seat includes an aperture sidewall and a bottom surface, and neither the aperture sidewall nor the bottom surface includes a vent or a hole. 
         [0021]    The toilet bowl ventilation system may include a housing affixed to a toilet seat. The housing includes at least one ventilation inlet positioned on a proximal end of the housing (i.e., end closer to the toilet tank or wall behind toilet) and a ventilation outlet. A fan is positioned within the housing and is operable to move air from the toilet bowl through an exhaust hose to an adjacent room or area (e.g., outdoors). In one embodiment, the fan is controlled by a controller which selectively provides power to the fan, and the fan moves air in response to receiving power from the controller. Aspects of the invention prevent a toilet user from being significantly exposed to the user&#39;s own odors, and prevent a subsequent user from being exposed to any odors from prior users. 
         [0022]    Additional objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the toilet ventilation system. 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a side cross-sectional view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with a cover over the toilet seat. 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is a side view of an embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is an internal view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 7  is a top view of one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 8  is a schematic side view of another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 9  is a block diagram of the control system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0032]    While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that is embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of the invention. 
         [0033]    It will be understood that the particular embodiments described herein are shown by way of illustration and not as limitations of the invention. The principal features of this invention may be employed in various embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize numerous equivalents to the specific procedures described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this invention and are covered by the claims. 
         [0034]    A side view of an embodiment of a toilet ventilation system  10  is shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , a housing  12  is operably connected to a toilet seat  14 . The toilet seat  14  is hinged to the housing  12 . The toilet seat  14  may be selectively removable or fixedly attached. The toilet seat  14  may include a ventilation outlet  64  ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ) which is integral with a seat hinge  16 . 
         [0035]    The housing  12  and the toilet seat  14  may be operably connected by, for example, forming the toilet seat  14  and the housing  12  with the hinge  16 . In an embodiment, the toilet seat  14  and the housing  12  are attached with two hinges. The toilet seat  14  may have a hinge area  15 . The hinge  16  may connect to the hinge area  15  and the housing  12 . In an embodiment including multiple hinges  16 , the hinges are spaced apart by a distance  25  ( FIG. 3 ), which may be from about 5 mm to about 28 mm. The housing  12  and the toilet seat  14  may be mounted onto the distal end of a standard commercial or residential toilet bowl (not pictured). The toilet seat  14  may be round or elongated in shape. The toilet seat  14  includes an aperture  18  for the passage of waste from a user to the toilet bowl. The toilet seat  14  may include an aperture sidewall  20 . In an embodiment, the aperture sidewall  20  does not include holes and/or vents. The aperture sidewall  20  may have one or more rounded edges. The aperture sidewall  20  may have an aperture sidewall height  23  of from about 25 mm to about 45 mm. The toilet seat  14  has a seat surface  22  that has a toilet seat distal height  24  and a toilet proximal height  26  that are about equal in the illustrated embodiment. 
         [0036]    The hinge area  15  may have a hinge area length  88  of from about 30 mm to about 60 mm. The hinge area  15  may have a hinge area height  90  of from about 20 mm to about 40 mm. 
         [0037]    The housing  12  may have a housing height  17  of from about 20 mm to about 200 mm. The toilet seat  14  may have a toilet seat length  9  of from about 350 mm to about 525 mm. The toilet seat  14  and the housing  12  may have a total combined length  11  of from about 400 mm to about 625 mm. The toilet seat  14  may have a toilet seat width  27  of from about 15 mm to about 35 mm. The aperture  18  may have an aperture length  19  of from about 250 mm to about 450 mm. The aperture  18  may have an aperture width  21  of from about 175 mm to about 275 mm. The housing  12  may be recessed from the toilet tank at a recessed distance (not shown) of from about 1 to about 10 mm. 
         [0038]    The housing  12  includes a bottom surface  28 . The bottom surface  28  includes at least one ventilation inlet  30 . In an embodiment, the housing  12  may include an enclosure  32  and a housing passage  13 . The enclosure  32  encloses a fan  34  for moving air from a toilet bowl area (not pictured) to the ventilation inlet  30  through the housing passage  13  and the enclosure  32  and into an adjacent area  92  ( FIG. 9 ). The fan  34  may be positioned vertically, horizontally, or diagonally within the enclosure  32 . The fan  34  may be, for example, a squirrel cage fan ( FIG. 1 ) or a bladed fan ( FIG. 2 ). 
         [0039]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the toilet ventilation system  10  may include a seat cover  36 . The seat cover  36  may be round or elongated to match the toilet seat  14 . The seat cover  36  may be operably attached to the housing  12 , by, for example, the hinge(s)  16 . The same hinge(s)  16  may attach the housing  12 , the seat cover  36  and the toilet seat  14 , or independent hinge(s) may attach the housing  12  and toilet seat  14 , and the housing  12  and the seat cover  36 . The hinge(s)  16 , either individually or together, may incorporate a closing mechanism to control the descent and/or opening speed of the seat and lid between their respective open positions and closed positions. For example, the closing mechanism may modulate the speed of the toilet seat  14  and/or the seat cover  36  closing as to prevent slamming against a toilet bowl. Such closing mechanisms are known and are not described herein. Even if such a closing mechanism is not utilized, the fan  34  is in the housing and is not subject to wear from opening and closing toilet seat  14  and/or the seat cover  36 . 
         [0040]    In another embodiment, the seat cover  36  includes a distal seat cover height  38  and a proximal seat cover height  40 . The proximal seat cover height  40  may be taller than the distal seat cover height  38  so that a seat cover top  42  upwardly tapers from distal side of the seat cover top  42  to the proximal side of the seat cover top  42 . The proximal seat cover height  40  may be taller than a hinge height  44  so that seat cover  36  at least partially, or fully, covers the hinge(s)  16 . The heights, shapes and length of seat cover  36  may be such that seat cover  36  covers all, or substantially all, of the toilet seat  14  and the hinge  16 . Advantages of covering the toilet seat  14  and the hinge  16  include reducing surfaces which require cleaning and improving aesthetics. 
         [0041]    As seen in  FIG. 3 , the housing  12  may include a rise  46 . The toilet seat  14  and/or the seat cover  36  may be positioned above the rise  46  when in an open position (not shown). 
         [0042]    As seen in  FIG. 4 , a channel  47  may be formed between the housing  12 , the toilet seat  14  and the seat cover  36 . 
         [0043]      FIGS. 5 and 6  provide an internal view of the housing  12 . The housing  12  includes a bottom housing platform  48  and a top housing platform  50  ( FIG. 6 ), which may be selectively joined together, by, for example, at least one connection member  52 . At least one connection member  52  may be, for example. a plurality of integrated tab members, magnetic members, hook and loop members, or a single continuous edge and corresponding overlapping lip. In some embodiments, the top housing platform  50  includes the hinge(s)  16  as an integrally attached member. 
         [0044]    The housing  12  encloses a fan cover  58  positioned over the fan  34  ( FIG. 1 ). The fan cover  58  includes a top surface  60  and at least one fan cover sidewall  62 . The fan cover  58  further includes a ventilation outlet  64  ( FIG. 6 ) operatively connecting the fan cover  58  to an exhaust hose  66 . The ventilation outlet  64  is positioned above the fan  34  and within the at least one fan cover sidewall  62 . Moreover, an inlet cover  68  may be positioned below the fan  34  so as to prevent water and foreign objects from striking the fan  34 . The inlet cover  68  may include a plurality of solid members, a mesh structure, or a selectively removable solid cover (e.g. for cleaning). In an embodiment, the fan cover  58  also includes a recess for receiving a fan transformer  74  ( FIG. 6 ). 
         [0045]    The adjacent area  92  may comprise an exhaust hose, tube and/or a pipe, as shown in  FIG. 8 . For example, an exhaust hose  66  may be rigid or flexible, and may be constructed of polymer or metallic materials, including, for example, PVC. The exhaust hose  66  hose may be connected to an existing bathroom ventilation system. The exhaust hose  66  may serve to transport air from the fan cover  58  to an adjacent room, area  92 , or to further ventilate the air. In some embodiments, a system for ventilating the air from the exhaust hose  66  may include a length of flexible tubing (not shown) which may be extended to tailor the needs of the area in which it is installed, and/or to the secondary ventilation system to which it is attached, such as an existing bathroom ventilation system. Alternatively, the exhaust hose  66  may be a preselected solid piece of PVC pipe or other suitable material. 
         [0046]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , the housing  12  may include one or more mounting brackets  71 , positioned near the distal end of the toilet bowl. In an another embodiment, the housing  12  may also be attached to the seat cover  36 . One or more mounting brackets may be positioned and configured to be compatible with existing toilets, including a “universal” type design. 
         [0047]    In some embodiments, the housing  12  may be integrally attached with a side member  70 . The side member  70  may extend laterally outward and along a side of the toilet seat  14  or the housing  12  and serve as an extended area for containing the controller  54  ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ) or any other element disposed within the housing  12  (e.g., the fan  34 ). Furthermore, the side member  70  may contain a filter element (e.g., activated charcoal). The side member  70  may serve as a selectively openable area for user storage. 
         [0048]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , the housing  12  may include a lower distal vent portion  76 . The lower distal vent portion  76  includes the at least one ventilation inlet  30 . The at least one ventilation inlet  30  may be on a lower distal vent portion sidewall  78  and/or on a lower distal vent portion bottom surface  80  (as shown). The ventilation inlet  30  is positioned proximate to, or above, the toilet bowl. Air is drawn from the toilet bowl area through the housing  12  to the fan  34  and then discharged to the ventilation outlet  64  (not shown). 
         [0049]    The lower distal vent portion sidewall  78  may have a lower distal vent portion sidewall height  82  of from about 10 mm to about 25 mm. The lower proximal vent portion  76  may have a lower proximal vent portion height  84  of from about 15 mm to about 35 mm. The housing  12  may have a fan distance  86  of from about 20 mm to about 40 mm. 
         [0050]    Certain embodiments of the ventilation system  10  are mounted on the distal end of the toilet bowl such that the ventilation system  10  is adjacent the toilet tank or handle. Optionally, the ventilation system  10  may be configured such that the housing  12  mounts to the seat mounting holes of a standard commercial or residential toilet. 
         [0051]    In some embodiments, the ventilation system  10  may include one, or a set of one or more, brackets which serve to attach the ventilation system  10  to the toilet bowl. 
         [0052]    The controller  54  ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ) may be included to regulate and selectively apply power to the fan  34 . For example, in one embodiment, the controller  54  comprises a WT51F104microcontroller commercially available from Welltrend Semiconductor of Hsinchu, Taiwan. The controller  54  is responsive to inputs from the sensor  56  and from an optional light sensor  57  to generate pulse-width modulation (PWM) signals to control the rotational speed of the fan  34 . 
         [0053]    In some embodiments, the controller  54  may supply power to the fan  34  upon receiving a signal from the sensor  56  ( FIG. 9 ) indicating that a body is seated on the toilet seat  12 . The sensor  56  may be incorporated into, or on, the toilet seat  14 , the housing  12  or the hinge(s)  16 . The sensor  56  may detect when a user, or body, is sitting on the toilet seat  14  by, for example, a weight sensor or a motion sensor. In an embodiment, when a body sits on the toilet seat  14 , the sensor  54  detects the presence of the sitting body and supplies power to the fan  34 . The signal may either be continuous for the period during which a body is detected, or the signal may include a singular instant transmittal (i.e., a pulse). Upon receiving a signal, the controller  54  provides power to the fan  34  such that the fan  34  is automatically operated as soon as a user sits on the toilet seat  14 . Furthermore, when controller the  54  no longer receives the sensor signal, it may immediately stop providing power to the fan  34 . Alternatively, the controller  54  may continue to supply power to the fan  34  for a predetermined amount of time, said time beginning either when the signal is first sent or when the signal stops being sent (i.e., indicates that the body is no longer on the toilet seat  14 ). If a pressure sensor is used, the signal may only be transmitted if and when a predetermined pressure threshold is met. The controller  54  also may also modulate fan speed based on, for example, user preference or whether use is commercial or residential. For example, fan speed may be higher and/or longer duration for commercial uses to account for more frequent use. 
         [0054]    Some embodiments may include the optional light sensor  57  ( FIG. 9 ) operable to transmit a signal to the controller  54  either when a light is sensed, or when a light circuit is broken. The controller  54  may be configured to, therefore, supply power to the fan  34  upon receipt of a signal. The light sensor might serve to signal the controller  54  only when an ambient room light has been turned on, for instance, when a user turns on the restroom light. In this manner, power might be supplied to the fan  34  such that the fan  34  only operates when a user is making use of the restroom. In this way, the fan  34  is not activated when a user is out of the restroom. The controller  54  may also automatically discontinue supplying power after a predetermined amount of time, thus ensuring the fan  34  is not accidentally left on. 
         [0055]    The controller  54  may also include a manually actuated keypad or switch for activating it. In some embodiments, activation of the fan  34  may be manually controlled. Certain embodiments may automatically activate the fan  34  based on a predetermined set of conditions such as one or more time intervals. 
         [0056]    In another embodiment, the controller  54  includes an electric circuit board, integrated circuit board, microcontroller, or any programmable computer system well-known in the art. 
         [0057]    Some embodiments may include a closing mechanism (e.g., gas piston, torsion spring, compression spring, electric motor, soft-close hinge, etc.) operable to control a speed at which the toilet seat  14  closes and/or opens. Such a closing mechanism would serve to prevent the toilet seat  14  from slamming and potentially damaging itself, the housing  12 , or a user. In some embodiments, the controller  54  serves to activate the closing mechanism, either automatically, or based on user input. For instance, the lid mechanism might automatically close when a pressure sensor no longer detects a threshold pressure amount. Alternatively, the user might press a keypad button or lightly push on the seat surface  22  or top surface of the lid  60 . 
         [0058]    The power may be supplied to the fan  34  and/or the sensor  56  by general purpose alternating current or by at least one battery. 
         [0059]    The fan  34  may be oriented on a plane  72  ( FIG. 6 ) of the bottom housing platform  48 . In an alternate embodiment, the fan  34  is perpendicular to the plane  72 . 
         [0060]    This written description uses examples to disclose the invention and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims. 
         [0061]    All of the apparatuses and/or methods disclosed and claimed herein may be made and/or executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the apparatuses and methods of this invention have been described in terms of the embodiments included herein, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that variations may be applied to the apparatuses and/or methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the method described herein without departing from the concept, spirit, and scope of the invention. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope, and concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
         [0062]    Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of the present invention of a new and useful Toilet Ventilation System, it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this invention except as set forth in the following claims.