Patent Publication Number: US-6701538-B2

Title: Ventilating and deodorizing toilet and toilet bowl ventilating and deodorizing apparatus

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to devices for cleaning air and, more particularly, air cleaning devices in close association with toilets for eliminating malodor. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Most people have considered their excremental functions private, and reserve these events to small closed rooms. While private, these small rooms lack the cleansing breezes of a more natural setting. Attempts to compensate for this deficiency include windows and ventilating fans. Because sulfur is capable of counteracting malodor, methods have been employed using sulfur. Some of the simpler methods include lighting matches and candles. 
     While effective, these techniques are not always possible. Many times, the toilets are placed with no access to the outside. In these situations, ducting is required to exchange fresh air with the tainted air. This can be expensive and the ventilation may be slow since the offensive odor is diffused throughout the room and generally evacuated through a small duct. This is less than ideal, since persons in the room will be subjected to the offensive malodor for prolonged periods of time. Other situations that do not permit open windows or the use of matches is in the very small rest rooms of airplanes. Obviously, windows cannot be opened and federal regulations prohibit the use of matches in airplane rest rooms. Furthermore, the odoriferous air cannot simply be vented outside the aircraft, and certainly cannot be vented into the passenger compartment. 
     To overcome the problems associated with venting the closed rooms, commonly referred to as bathrooms, containing the toilet, devices directly associated with the toilet have been developed which filter the malodor from the air. Typically, many of the various devices require extensive modifications to be made to the toilet, or a toilet constructed to specification in order to remove the odiferous air. These modifications include specially constructed toilet seats with air passages, lids and/or bowls. 
     After the foul air is drawn from the bowl, it is then necessary to provide treatment devices packaged in a manner that will not detract from the decor of the bathroom. No matter how attractively the exhaust and deodorizing devices are housed, they remain a distraction and are often a nuisance. Generally, these devices are not esthetically pleasing, being large bulky and positioned on the floor next to the toilet. These devices, so placed are tasteless and detract from the overall decor of a bathroom as well being obstructive. Many require an electrical outlet as a power source, which may or may not be conveniently to hand. 
     Given these and other deficiencies in the art, there is a need for a new and useful ventilating and deodorizing toilet, and new and useful ventilating and deodorizing apparatus for use with toilets that, among other things, are easy to construct, easy to install with toilets, simple to maintain, energy efficient, and easy to replace. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The above problems and others are at least partially solved and the above purposes and others realized in a toilet including a toilet bowl having a rim bounding a mouth. An attached toilet seat confronts the rim and an attached odor collector is capable of moving air from the toilet bowl through the mouth and deodorizing the air. Shield structure is disposed between the toilet seat and the rim inhibiting air from transferring between the toilet seat and the rim and channeling air from the toilet bowl to the odor collector. The odor collector includes an inlet disposed proximate the mouth of the toilet bowl and an outlet, an impeller disposed between the inlet and the outlet, an air flow path between the inlet and the impeller, a filter disposed at the air flow path between the inlet and the impeller, a power source capable of supplying power to the impeller, and a switch capable of activating the impeller. The filter is a framework supporting charcoal cloth material. The toilet seat is pivoted, either to the seat or to the odor collector, between a first position confronting the rim and a second position away from rim. The shield structure is carried by the toilet seat, but it can be carried by the rim of the toilet if desired. Preferably, the switch is a sensor that is capable of sensing objects and activating the impeller in response thereto. A pivoted lid is also provided, which is capable of pivoting between a first position away from the toilet seat and a second position toward the toilet seat. In a particular embodiment, the odor collector is carried by the lid. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Referring to the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is perspective view of a toilet seat assembly, in accordance with the principle of the invention, the toilet seat assembly including a toilet seat and a pivoted odor collector that also acts as a lid; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmented perspective view of the toilet seat assembly of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the toilet seat assembly of FIG. 1 with the odor collector pivoted away from the toilet seat; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the toilet seat assembly of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the toilet seat assembly of FIG. 1, with portions of a housing of the odor collector removed for the purpose of illustration; 
     FIG. 7 is a fragmented perspective view of the odor collector as depicted in FIG. 6 illustrating attached batteries; 
     FIG. 8 is perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a toilet seat assembly, in accordance with the principle of the invention, the toilet seat assembly including a toilet seat pivoted to an odor collector; 
     FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of the toilet seat assembly of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the odor collector of FIG. 8 with portions of a housing thereof removed for the purpose of illustration; 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the invention including an odor collector for use with a toilet seat installation, in accordance with the principle of the invention; and 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the odor collector of FIG. 11 shown as it would appear attached to a toilet seat, with portions of a housing of the odor collector removed for the purpose of illustration. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning now to the drawings, in which like reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is first directed to FIG. 1 in which is seen a toilet seat assembly, embodying the principle of the instant invention, generally indicated by the reference character  20  including a toilet seat  21  pivoted to an odor collector  22 , which is also a lid for toilet seat  21 . Assembly  20  is capable of being attached to a toilet, which is substantially any toilet of a type including a base supporting a toilet bowl having a front, a back and a rim that bounds a mouth into the interior of the toilet bowl. Assembly  20  is to be attached to the toilet at the back thereof by hinges. This hinge arrangement permits seat  21  and collector  22  to be lowered to a horizontal position with respect to the rim of the toilet bowl, i.e., toward the rim of the toilet bowl, and raised to an upright position with respect to the rim, i.e., away from the rim of the toilet bowl. The movement of seat  21  and collector  22  is accomplished independently. As with a conventional toilet, a water tank extends upward at the back of the toilet bowl. Although not explicitly illustrated by way of a drawing figure, a pair of threaded hinge posts is capable of being affixed to toilet bowl by inserting the threaded ends through openings in the toilet bowl and securing them with nuts. A hinge  25  attaches to the hinge posts, to seat  21  and to collector  22 . Hinge  25  is a pin that passes between the hinge posts through a set of seat hinges  30  (FIG. 5) and a set of lid hinges  31  (FIG. 3) so that seat  21  and collector  22  may be independently pivoted thereabout. This hinge arrangement is an example of a useful and simple hinge arrangement, and is not provided as a limitation on the invention. When assembly  20  is so attached to the toilet, collector  22  is capable of moving malodorous air from the toilet bowl through the mouth thereof and deodorizing the malodorous air, regardless of whether collector  22  is disposed toward the rim of the toilet bowl or away from the toilet bowl. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, collector  22  includes a housing  40  that in shape and form resembles a typical toilet lid. Referring to FIG. 4, which is a sectional view taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 1, housing  40  bounds a chamber  41  and defines an inlet  42 , which is directed generally toward seat  21  and disposed adjacent hinge  25 , and an outlet  43  (FIGS.  1 , 2 ), which is disposed along a portion of the outer edge of housing  40 . Outlet  43  can be disposed elsewhere. For the purpose of orientation, housing  40  includes a top  50  disposed away from seat  21  and a bottom  51  disposed toward seat  21 , and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of assembly  20  with top  50  removed for the purpose of illustration. Referring to FIG. 6, inlet  42  and outlet  43  communicate with a duct  52  of chamber  41 . Dividing walls  53  delineate duct  52  and are disposed between and engage top  50  (not shown in FIG. 6) and bottom  51  substantially isolating duct  52  from the balance of chamber  41 . An attached impeller  60  is disposed within duct  52  between inlet  42  and outlet  43  and an attached filter  55  is disposed within duct  52  between inlet  42  and impeller  60 . 
     Impeller  60  consists of a housing  61  enclosing a fan  62  having a hub  63 . A motor  64  positioned in hub  63  drives fan  62 . Batteries  65  contained in a battery case  66  affixed to housing  40  in chamber  41  provide motor  64  with power. Battery case  66  (FIGS.  6 , 7 ) includes a body or cradle  67  for holding batteries  65 . Top  50  (not shown in FIGS.  6 , 7 ) closes body  67 . Battery case  66  holds four batteries  65 , which are preferably D cell batteries, and includes conventional negative and positive terminal contacts for receiving batteries  65 , with the negative terminal contacts being compression coils to insure a secure fit and connection. Conventional electrical wiring associated with battery case  66  and motor  64  transfers power between battery case  66  and motor  64 . Rotation of fan  62  draws air into duct  52  through inlet  42  from the toilet bowl and expels the air through outlet  43 . Because inlet  42  is disposed adjacent hinge  25  (FIG.  4 ), it is located adjacent the rim of the toilet bowl, which allows it draw air from the toilet bowl through the mouth of the toilet bowl not only when collector  22  is disposed toward the rim but also away from the rim. 
     With continuing reference to FIG. 6, filter  55  consists of charcoal cloth  70  attached to and held by a framework  71 . Framework  71  is fashioned of plastic, aluminum or the like, and is a generally square/rectangular continuous rim  72  that bounds a window  73 . Cloth  70  is 100% charcoal in a flexible form and is woven or kitted. Cloth  70  has a high capacity for adsorption of organic vapors and has rapid adsorption kinetics, which permits it to display highly effective adsorption at short contact times and with high airflows. 
     Duct  52  defines an airflow path between inlet  42  and impeller  60 . Filter  55  sits in a seat  75  at duct  52  between inlet  42  and impeller  60  and divides the airflow path. As a result, malodorous air pulled into duct  52  by impeller  60  through inlet  42  from the mouth of the toilet bowl is forced through cloth  70 , where malodor is removed from the air, into impeller  60  and expelled through outlet  43 . The height of filter  55  is much greater than the height of duct  52 . As best depicted in FIG. 4, filter  55  is therefore disposed at a shallow angle in duct  52 . The size of filter  55  and its shallow orientation in duct  52  allows a large surface area of cloth  70  to reside in duct  52 , as opposed to a smaller filter disposed at a steeper angle or even perpendicularly to the flow of air through the air flow path of duct. In FIG. 4, filter  55  is angled so that air passes into the bottom of filter  55  and out the top of filter. Filter  55  can be angled so that air passes into the top of filter  55  and out of the bottom of filter  55  if desired. Framework  71  supports and maintains cloth  70  in the airflow path defined by duct  52 . 
     Looking to FIGS. 3,  5 , and  6 , collector  22  is furnished with a controller  80  and a switch  81 . Switch  81  is capable of activating impeller  60  collecting and deodorizing malodorous air from the toilet bowl and deactivating impeller  60 . Batteries  65  contained in battery case  66  provide controller  80  and switch  81  with power. Conventional electrical wiring associated with battery case  66 , controller  80  and switch  81  transfers power between battery case  66  and controller  80  and switch  81 . Conventional electrical wiring also couples together controller  80 , switch  81  and impeller  60 , with controller  80  functioning essentially as the “brains” of collector  22 . 
     Switch  81  is a sensor  82  that is capable of sensing the presence of obstacles confronting it. Sensor  82  toggles between a first condition in response to detecting an obstacle confronting it activating impeller  60  and a second condition in response to it not detecting an obstacle deactivating impeller  60 . Sensor  82  is a conventional, readily available device that employs infrared pulses for detecting the presence of obstacles confronting it. Sensor  82  is coupled to bottom  51  of housing  40  and as seen in FIGS. 3 and 5 is exposed exteriorly of bottom  51  facing seat  21 . In a manner of using a toilet fashioned with assembly  20 , collector  22  is disposed upright with respect to the rim of the toilet and seat  21  is disposed toward the rim of the toilet resting against it, which allows a user to sit upon seat  21  for purpose of voiding into the toilet bowl. When a user is so seated upon seat  21 , the back of the user will confront sensor  82 . In response to sensing the presence of the user seated upon seat  21 , sensor  82  is responsive and activates impeller  60  (i.e., collector  22 ) collecting and deodorizing malodorous air from the toilet. After the user vacates seat  21  and sensor  82  no longer detects the presence of the user, sensor  82  is responsive and deactivates impeller  82  (i.e., collector  22 ). This is how collector  22  is operated. Sensor  82  is preferred for activating and deactivating impeller  60 , wherein the activation of impeller  60  is considered an activation of collector  22  collecting and deodorizing malodorous air from the toilet. In an appreciate of the scope of the invention, those having ordinary skill will appreciate that other switch forms can be used for activating and deactivating collector  22  including a manual switch, a switch that is responsive to pressure applied against seat  21  by a user seated thereagainst, etc. 
     In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, controller  80  cooperates with sensor  82  and carries out a number of different functions. For instance, after a user vacates seat  21  having voided in the toilet, malodorous air will usually remain in the toilet bowl. Accordingly, controller  80  is programmed or otherwise configured to keep impeller  60  running for a predetermined period of time after sensor  82  no longer detects the presence of the user for the purpose of collecting and deodorizing the balance of the malodorous air from the toilet, regardless of whether controller  22  is upright away from the rim of the toilet or disposed toward the rim of the toilet against seat  21 . This predetermined period of time can be any desired period of time, whether five seconds, seven seconds, ten seconds, thirty seconds, one minute, five minutes, etc. After the predetermined period of time has passed, controller  80  deactivates impeller  60 . If desired, controller  80  can be programmed to activate impeller  60  only after sensor  82  has continually detected the presence of a user confronting it for five seconds, ten seconds, thirty seconds, or other predetermined period of time. Preferably, sensor  82  is configured to detect an object up to nine inches away but this distance can be less or more depending on specific needs. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, seat  21  is a generally circular rim having an upper seating surface  85  and an opposing lower surface  86  (FIG.  5 ), which faces the rim of a toilet to which seat  21  is attached. Regarding FIG. 5, seat  21  supports shield structure  87 , which is disposed at lower surface  86 . Shield structure  87  is basically a raised wall or shield  88  that projects away from lower surface  86  extending from an end  88 A thereof at seat hinge  30  proximate inlet  42  along lower surface  86  and to an end  88 B thereof at the other seat hinge  30  proximate inlet  42 . A space  89  is defined between ends  88 A, 88 B. A gap  90  is also provided opposite space  89  to allow for the inlet of air into the toilet bowl. When seat  21  is lowered against the rim of a toilet, shield  88  is disposed between seat  21  and the rim and rests against the rim advantageously inhibiting malodorous air from transferring between seat  21  and the rim and channeling malodorous air from the toilet bowl to inlet  42  and thus to collector  22  by way of space  89 . Shield structure  87  can, if desired, be attached to and carried by the rim of the toilet if desired, in which it would accomplish its function as if it were attached to and carried by seat  21  as with the immediately depicted embodiment. 
     Reference is now made to FIG. 8, illustrating a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a toilet seat assembly  100 , in accordance with the principle of the invention, assembly  100  including a toilet seat  101  pivoted to an odor collector  102 . Assembly  100  is designed for use with industrial toilets, which, by law, cannot be furnished with a toilet lid. Assembly  100  is capable of being attached to a toilet, which, in accordance with the present embodiment, is substantially any toilet of a type for industrial use including a base supporting a toilet bowl having a front, a back and a rim that bounds a mouth into the interior of the toilet bowl. Collector  102  is to be attached to the toilet at the back thereof with threaded bolts secured by nuts or by means of another suitable manner of attachment. When assembly  100  is so attached to the toilet, collector  102  is capable of moving malodorous air from the toilet bowl through the mouth thereof and substantially deodorizing the malodorous air. Collector  102  can be incorporated into the structure of the toilet if desired. Seat  101  is pivoted to the sides of a housing  103  of collector  102  by way of any suitable hinged structure. This hinge arrangement permits seat  101  to be lowered to a horizontal position with respect to the rim of the toilet bowl, i.e., toward the rim of the toilet bowl, and raised to an upright position with respect to the rim, i.e., away from the rim of the toilet bowl. Seat  101  can be pivoted directly to the toilet if desired, rather than to collector  102 . As with a conventional industrial toilet, a dedicated water line communicates with the toilet bowl. 
     In common with the previously described collector designated  22 , collector  102 , as illustrated in FIG. 10, shares inlet  42 , outlet  43  (which is not immediately depicted), duct  52 , filter  55 , impeller  60 , batteries  65  and battery case  66 , controller  80  (which is not immediately depicted), and switch  81  (FIG.  8 ), namely, sensor  82 . Sensor  82  is exposed exteriorly of housing  103  facing seat  21  and functions identically to the sensor of collector  22 . In this regard, collector  102  functions identically to collector  22 , but the foregoing common elements are arranged somewhat differently and housing  103  is not a toilet seat and rather is to be attached as a fixed element to the back of the toilet with inlet  42  disposed proximate the mouth of the toilet bowl. Also, the interior chamber bound by housing  103  constitutes duct  52  and batteries  65  and battery case  66  are attached to housing  103  within duct  52  as is the case with impeller  60 . 
     Duct  52  defines an airflow path between inlet  42  and impeller  60 . Filter  55  sits in a seat  104  of housing  103  at duct  52  between inlet  42  and impeller  60  and divides the airflow path. As a result, malodorous air pulled into duct  52  by impeller  60  through inlet  42  from the mouth of the toilet bowl is forced through filter  55  a first time in one direction and then back through filter  55  a second time in an opposing direction, where malodor is removed from the air, into impeller  60  and expelled through an outlet  43 . In the embodiment of FIG. 10, the height and width of filter  55  are substantially equal to the height and width of duct  52  as defined by housing  103  and sits perpendicularly relative to the air flow path. Unlike the filter of collector  22 , a framework  105  of filter  55  of collector  102  includes a plurality of windows  106  that are each occupied by the charcoal cloth material previously disclosed. Framework  105  supports and maintains the charcoal cloth material in the airflow path. Framework  105  can also be formed so as to fit around impeller  60 , requiring the malodorous air to pass through filter  55  only once. 
     Seat  101  of assembly  100  is a generally U-shaped element having an upper seating surface  110  (FIG. 8) and an opposing lower surface  111  (FIG.  9 ), which faces the rim of a toilet to which seat  101  is attached either directly or by way of collector  102 . Regarding FIG. 9, seat  101  supports shield structure  112 , which is disposed at lower surface  11 . Shield structure  112  constitutes raised walls or shields  113 , 114  that project away from lower surface  111  extending from ends  113 A, 114 A thereof, respectively, at a rearward end of seat  101  proximate inlet  42  along lower surface  111  of the extremities of seat  101  to the forward end of seat  101 . A space  115  is defined between ends  113 A, 114 A. When seat  101  is lowered against the rim of a toilet, shields  113 , 114  are disposed between seat  101  and the rim and rest against the rim advantageously inhibiting malodorous air from transferring between seat  101  and the rim and channeling malodorous air from the toilet bowl to inlet  42  and thus to collector  102  by way of space  115 . Shield structure  112  can, if desired, be attached to and carried by the rim of the toilet if desired, in which it would accomplish its function as if it were attached to and carried by seat  101  as with the immediately depicted embodiment. 
     Reference is now made to FIGS. 11 and 12, illustrating a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the invention including an odor collector  120  for use with a toilet seat installation, in accordance with the principle of the invention. Collector  120  is like that of collector  102 , in that it is designed for use with an industrial toilet. FIG. 12 illustrates a toilet seat assembly  122  incorporating collector  120 , namely, a toilet seat  121  pivoted to collector  120  in much the same manner as seat  101  is pivoted to collector  102 . 
     In common with the previously described collector designated  102 , collector  120 , as shares housing  103 , seat  104 , inlet  42  (FIG.  11 ), outlet  43  (which is not immediately depicted), duct  52 , filter  55 , impeller  60 , batteries  65  (FIG.  11 ), battery case  66 , controller  80  (which is not immediately depicted), and switch  81  (FIG.  11 ), namely, sensor  82 . Collector  120  functions identically to collector  102  and its various elements are similarly arranged. However, and with reference to FIG. 11, battery case  66  is removable attached to housing  103  and is removable from housing  103  through an opening  130  thereof, permitting battery case  66  to be removed for replacing batteries as the need arises. Like battery case  66 , filter  55  is also removable from housing  103  through an opening or slot  131  thereof, permitting filter  55  to be removed for replacement with a new filter as the need arises. 
     The present invention is described above with reference to preferred embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes and modifications may be made in the described embodiments without departing from the nature and scope of the present invention. Various changes and modifications to the embodiments herein chosen for purposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art. To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within the scope thereof.