Patent Publication Number: US-10787801-B1

Title: Toilet ventilating apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present disclosure relates to the field of water closets or public lavatories. In particular, the present invention relates to ventilation means for being deployed in a water closet or public lavatories. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Ventilation of obnoxious fumes from the lavatories is one of the most basic needs of decent living. To this end, exhaust fans have been used in the art, wherein the exhaust fans are mounted at a wall of the lavatory, which is exposed to the atmosphere at one of its sides. However, it is not always possible to use an exhaust fan, since some complicated constructions may often result in the lavatory walls not being exposed to the atmosphere. 
     Several designs for discreet toilet ventilation systems and apparatuses have been designed in the past. None of them, however, are known to have a compact configuration and a design that can be retro-fitted on the conventional toilet bowls as well. 
     Applicant believes that a related reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 7,644,450 filed by KENNETH A. LAPOSSY. The Lapossy reference discloses a built-in to the toilet ventilation system, in which the active parts are contained in a simple housing that is removably attached to the side surface of the toilet base. However, the system disclosed in Lapossy reference requires a toilet bowl with a specific configuration in which vent holes are configured on the toilet bowl itself. As such, the system cannot be retro-fitted to the conventional toilet bowls. 
     Another related application is U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,596 filed by HEINRICH MENGE. The Menge reference discloses ventilation system having a pipe for evacuating odors from the bowl that leads from the bowl to the flush tank. This evacuating pipe has an open end in the bottom of the bowl and a second end in the tank. An air duct hooked into the waste line also extends into the tank and can be caused to communicate with the evacuating pipe when the toilet is in use. However, the system disclosed in the Menge reference requires the use of a flush tank with a specific construction, and as such cannot be retro-fitted to the conventional toilet bowls without changing the flush tank. 
     Other documents describing the closest subject matter provide for a number of more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problem in an efficient and economical way. None of these patents suggest the novel features of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a toilet ventilation apparatus having a compact configuration. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a toilet ventilation apparatus that can be retro-fitted to the conventional toilet bowls. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a toilet ventilation apparatus that can be deployed in domestic lavatories as well as public lavatories. 
     Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing any limitations thereon. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an isometric view of a toilet ventilation apparatus  10 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the toilet ventilation apparatus  10  comprises a toilet seat assembly  12  disposed on a toilet bowl  14 , and a venting means  16 . 
         FIG. 2  illustrates bottom views of a top half  12 A and a top view of a bottom half  12 B of the toilet seat assembly  10 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of the top half  12 A and a bottom view of the bottom half  12 B of the toilet seat assembly  10 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an isometric view of the toilet seat assembly  10 , wherein the top half  12 A and the bottom half  12 B are in an assembled configuration, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a schematic isometric view of the venting means  16 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-5 , where the present invention is generally referred to with numeral  10 , it can be observed that a toilet ventilation apparatus  10  (hereinafter referred to as apparatus  10 ), in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, container  10  comprises a toilet seat assembly  12  attached on a toilet bowl  14 , and a venting means  16 . 
     The apparatus  10 , in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, has compact configuration that can be retro-fitted to the conventional toilet bowls as well. More specifically, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the apparatus  10  does not require any kind of components that have an application specific construction, and the apparatus  10  can be employed on any kind of conventionally available toilet bowls. 
     Furthermore, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the need of having a lavatory wall face the atmosphere on one side for mounting an exhaust fan is also overcome, the apparatus  10  does not involve the use of conventional wall mounted exhaust fans. As such, the apparatus  10  can be employed in establishments having a complicated construction, where the lavatory walls do not necessarily face the atmosphere. 
     The apparatus  10  comprises the toilet seat assembly  12 . Unlike the conventional toilet seats, the toilet seat assembly  12 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, comprises a top half  12 A and a bottom half  12 B. The assembly of the top half  12 A and the bottom half  12 B defines the toilet seat assembly  12 , as can be seen in  FIG. 4 . 
     Reference is directed to  FIGS. 2 and 3  hereinafter. The top half  12 A has a plurality of apertures  12 C configured on the top half  12 A. The plurality of apertures  12 C funnel into a channel  12 D. The channel  12 D extends on the bottom surface of the top half  12 A, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Similarly, the bottom half  12 B also has a plurality of apertures  12 E configured thereon. The plurality of apertures  12 E funnel into a channel  12 F configured on the top surface of the bottom half  12 B. When the top half  12 A and the bottom half  12 B are assembled, the channels  12 D,  12 F coincide to define an enclosed space that is in communication with the plurality of apertures  12 C,  12 E. 
     Reference is hereinafter directed to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 5 . The apparatus  10  further comprises at least one duct  18 . The duct  18  extends from the toilet seat assembly  12 . The duct  18  is in communication with the plurality of apertures  12 C,  12 E. At the other end of the duct  18 , a venting means  16  is provided. The venting means  16 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, is an in-line exhaust fan. The advantage of the in-line exhaust fan is its compact size. Furthermore, the in-line exhaust fan or venting means  16  also includes an exhaust duct  16 A that extends from the venting means  16 . This duct  16 A can be routed to the outermost wall of the establishment so that the outlet of the duct  16 A opens directly to the atmosphere. 
     The apparatus  10  can further include a switch that is provided in the vicinity of the toilet bowl  14  so that the user can operate the venting means  16  at will. In one embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a timer in communication with the switch and the venting means  16 . The timer is configured to operate the venting means  16  for a pre-determined period of time once the switch is actuated by the user. 
     The apparatus  10  of the present invention can be used in domestic as well as public lavatories.  FIG. 5  illustrates the schematic view of the venting means  16  that are mounted adjacent each other. Each of these venting means  16  can be associated with a one toilet bowl each, e.g., toilet bowls of a public lavatory. 
     The operative configuration of the apparatus  10  is hereinafter described. The function of the apparatus  10  is to vent out the obnoxious odors produced when an individual uses the toilet. To this end, the apparatus  10  is provided with the toilet seat assembly  12  having the plurality of apertures  12 C,  12 E formed on the top half  12 A and the bottom half  12 B. The venting means  16  is in communication with the apertures  12 C,  12 E via the duct  18 . Once the user actuates the switch and turns on the venting means  16 , suction of air takes place inside the toilet bowl  14  under the effect of the venting means  16 , thereby causing the odor containing air from the toilet bowl  14  to be exhausted to the atmosphere. 
     The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objectives and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.