Patent Publication Number: US-2015082525-A1

Title: Dispersion Assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
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     RELATED CO-PENDING U.S. PATENT APPLICATIONS 
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     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
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     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER LISTING APPENDIX 
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     COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office, patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     One or more embodiments of the invention generally relate to odor dispersion. More particularly, the invention relates to odor dispersion from a toilet to an external exhaust through existing pipes and an existing structure. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon. 
     The following is an example of a specific aspect in the prior art that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon. By way of educational background, another aspect of the prior art generally useful to be aware of is that a receptacle is a bathroom fixture consisting of a bowl, usually with a detachable, hinged seat and lid, and a device for flushing with water, used for defecation and urination. The receptacle often rests in a bathroom. 
     Typically, defecation is the final act of digestion, by which organisms eliminate solid, semisolid, and/or liquid waste from the digestive tract through the anus. The receptacle is commonly used to receive the defecation waste. A user may sit on a seat while defecating. 
     In many instances, an odor is caused by one or more volatilized chemical compounds, generally at a very low concentration, that humans or other animals perceive by the sense of olfaction. The defecation waste produces an unpleasant odor, which is desirable to disperse. A suction fan, pleasant scents, and water may be efficacious in removing the unpleasant odor. 
     In view of the foregoing, it is clear that these traditional techniques are not perfect and leave room for more optimal approaches. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of an exemplary dispersion assembly with an exemplary dispersion tube dispersing an odor through an existing barrier, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of an exemplary dispersion assembly with an exemplary dispersion tube dispersing an odor over an existing barrier to an exemplary exhaust portion, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a sectioned view of an exemplary cavity carrying an odor, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention is best understood by reference to the detailed figures and description set forth herein. 
     Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to the Figures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments. For example, it should be appreciated that those skilled in the art will, in light of the teachings of the present invention, recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable approaches, depending upon the needs of the particular application, to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond the particular implementation choices in the following embodiments described and shown. That is, there are numerous modifications and variations of the invention that are too numerous to be listed but that all fit within the scope of the invention. Also, singular words should be read as plural and vice versa and masculine as feminine and vice versa, where appropriate, and alternative embodiments do not necessarily imply that the two are mutually exclusive. 
     It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular methodology, compounds, materials, manufacturing techniques, uses, and applications, described herein, as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an element” is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. Similarly, for another example, a reference to “a step” or “a means” is a reference to one or more steps or means and may include sub-steps and subservient means. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word “or” should be understood as having the definition of a logical “or” rather than that of a logical “exclusive or” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Preferred methods, techniques, devices, and materials are described, although any methods, techniques, devices, or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein may be used in the practice or testing of the present invention. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     From reading the present disclosure, other variations and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. Such variations and modifications may involve equivalent and other features which are already known in the art, and which may be used instead of or in addition to features already described herein. 
     Although Claims have been formulated in this application to particular combinations of features, it should be understood that the scope of the disclosure of the present invention also includes any novel feature or any novel combination of features disclosed herein either explicitly or implicitly or any generalization thereof, whether or not it relates to the same invention as presently claimed in any Claim and whether or not it mitigates any or all of the same technical problems as does the present invention. 
     Features which are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination. The Applicants hereby give notice that new Claims may be formulated to such features and/or combinations of such features during the prosecution of the present application or of any further application derived therefrom. 
     References to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” “various embodiments,” etc., may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in one embodiment,” or “in an exemplary embodiment,” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may. 
     Headings provided herein are for convenience and are not to be taken as limiting the disclosure in any way. 
     The enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. 
     The terms “a”, “an” and “the” mean “one or more”, unless expressly specified otherwise. 
     Devices or system modules that are in at least general communication with each other need not be in continuous communication with each other, unless expressly specified otherwise. In addition, devices or system modules that are in at least general communication with each other may communicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries. 
     A description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present invention. 
     As is well known to those skilled in the art many careful considerations and compromises typically must be made when designing for the optimal manufacture of a commercial implementation any system, and in particular, the embodiments of the present invention. A commercial implementation in accordance with the spirit and teachings of the present invention may configured according to the needs of the particular application, whereby any aspect(s), feature(s), function(s), result(s), component(s), approach(es), or step(s) of the teachings related to any described embodiment of the present invention may be suitably omitted, included, adapted, mixed and matched, or improved and/or optimized by those skilled in the art, using their average skills and known techniques, to achieve the desired implementation that addresses the needs of the particular application. 
     Those skilled in the art will readily recognize, in light of and in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, that any of the foregoing steps may be suitably replaced, reordered, removed and additional steps may be inserted depending upon the needs of the particular application. Moreover, the prescribed method steps of the foregoing embodiments may be implemented using any physical and/or hardware system that those skilled in the art will readily know is suitable in light of the foregoing teachings. For any method steps described in the present application that can be carried out on a computing machine, a typical computer system can, when appropriately configured or designed, serve as a computer system in which those aspects of the invention may be embodied. Thus, the present invention is not limited to any particular tangible means of implementation. 
     The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     There are various types of odor dispersion assemblies that may be provided by preferred embodiments of the present invention. In one embodiment of the present invention, the odor dispersion assembly may help disperse odors from a toilet to an external exhaust through existing structures and existing pipes. The assembly may be configured to disperse odors through a dispersion tube that passes through an existing building structure, whereby the cost of additional components and materials is minimized. Additionally, the assembly is operable to suck the odors at a proximal point from their discharge. 
     In one embodiment, the assembly may include a receptacle for receiving a discharge. Those skilled in the art, will recognize that the discharge may emit an odor, which is unpleasant. The receptacle may include a seat for providing a surface for a user to sit on a seat while performing the discharge. The seat may include at least one aperture configured to enable at least partial passage of the odor. The at least one aperture directs the odor to a cavity that encircles an inner periphery of the seat. The cavity joins with a pressure differential portion that serves to suck the odors immediately after discharge. In some embodiments, the odor may then pass through a dispersion tube behind the toilet, and through an existing barrier. The dispersion tube may join with at least one existing pipe behind the existing barrier. The at least one existing pipe may then lead to the final exhaust portion, such as a ceiling fan or duct. Those skilled in the art, in light of the present teachings, will recognize that at each stage of the assembly, the odor passes through a prebuilt, existing structure of a building. In this manner, new construction projects may implement the system requirements, such that the system may not require additional parts and labor for installation. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of an exemplary dispersion assembly with an exemplary dispersion tube dispersing an odor through an existing barrier, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, an odor dispersion assembly  100  may help disperse odors from a receptacle to an external exhaust through existing structures and existing pipes. The assembly may be configured to disperse odors through a dispersion tube that passes through an existing building structure, whereby minimizing the cost of additional components and materials. Additionally, the assembly is operable to suck the odors from a proximal point to their discharge. 
     In some embodiments, a receptacle  102  may provide a foundation for receiving a discharge, which emits an odor  108 . The receptacle may include, without limitation, a toilet bowl, a squat toilet, a pit toilet, a portable toilet, and a urinal. The receptacle may include a seat  104  for providing a surface for a user to sit on while performing the discharge. The discharge may include, without limitation, defecation and urination. The seat may include at least one aperture  106  disposed to be in proximity to the odor immediately after discharge. The at least one aperture may include a peripheral configuration of equidistant holes that position on the inner circumference of the seat. In one embodiment, each aperture may be approximately two inches apart. However, in other embodiments, the at least one aperture may be sized and spaced differently. At last one fastener may join the seat to the receptacle. In this manner, the seat with apertures may be interchangeable with a normal seat. The fastener may include, without limitation, screws, bolts, adhesives, and magnets. In some embodiments, the at least one aperture direct the odor through a cavity in the seat. The cavity may then join with a pressure differential portion  118  that serves to suck the odors immediately after discharge. The pressure differential portion may include a fan. The fan may be disposed to position at a rear area of the receptacle. However, in other embodiments, the fan may position behind an existing barrier  114 , such as a wall. 
     In some embodiments, the odor may follow a path through a cavity in the seat, and disperse form a rear area of the receptacle. After passing through the seat the odors may then pass through a dispersion tube  110  behind the receptacle. In some embodiments, the dispersion tube may pass through an existing barrier, such as a bathroom wall behind the receptacle. The dispersion tube may then interconnect with at least one existing pipe  112 . Those skilled in the art, in light of the present teachings, will recognize that each stage that at each stage of the assembly, the odor passes through a prebuilt, existing structure of a building. In this manner, new construction projects may implement the system requirements, such that the system may not require additional parts and labor for installation. For example, without limitation, newly constructed homes may include prefabricated fittings to attach the dispersion tube to the at least one existing pipe. The newly constructed home may further include receptacles with the seat having the at least one aperture, whereby interchanging the seat is not necessary. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the at least one existing pipe may include, without limitation, a plumbing fixture, a PVC pipe, and a copper tubing. Those skilled in the art will recognize that for an existing bathroom, a pipe may be utilized to reach to the existing ceiling fan over the wall. For new construction, the fan and the pipe may be built into the wall. However, in other embodiments, the dispersion tube may extend directly to an exhaust portion  116 , without utilizing the at least one existing pipe. The exhaust portion may include, without limitation, a ceiling fan, a ceiling duct, and an external vent. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the direct dispersion of odors from the seat to the exhaust portion may provide a simple, cost effective solution that requires minimal parts and labor. However, the dispersion tube may join with the at least one existing pipe, whereby the odor runs through the existing pipe alone as a gas, or in conjunction with other fluids. At least one existing pipe may then lead to the final section, the exhaust portion for external dispersion. The exhaust portion may include, without limitation, a ceiling fan, a ceiling duct, and an external vent. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of an exemplary dispersion assembly with an exemplary dispersion tube for dispersing an odor over an existing barrier to a ceiling, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a power switch  202  may position on the seat, or on the pressure differential portion for powering the pressure differential portion. In some embodiments, the pressure differential portion may be actuated by the weight of the user sitting on the seat. In some embodiments, a power supply  204  may power the pressure differential portion. The power supply may include, without limitation, a battery, an external power socket, and a solar panel. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a sectioned view of an exemplary cavity carrying an odor to an exemplary exhaust portion, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the seat may include a cavity  302  that circumnavigates within the seat. The at least one aperture may funnel the odor into the cavity. The cavity may provide a passage at the rear area of the seat, which joins with the dispersion tube. The odor may pass through the cavity prior to entering the dispersion tube. The odor may be sucked at a proximal distance to a point of excrement of the discharge. 
     In one alternative embodiment, the seat may include a protruding tube that extends form the at least one aperture to provide additional proximity to the point of excrement. In yet another alternative embodiment, an air filter may position inside the dispersion tube and/or the seat. The air filter may include a pleasant scent, which may be expelled out the receptacle by reversing the direction of the fan. In yet another alternative embodiment, the seat with apertures may include magnets to expedite interchangeability with normal seats. In yet another alternative embodiment, an inner surface of the receptacle may include the at least one aperture for additional suction of odor. In yet another alternative embodiment, the fan may be activated by a pressure sensitive device on the seat, or a motion detecting device on the receptacle. 
     All the features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying abstract and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. 
     It is noted that according to USA law 35 USC §112 (1), all claims must be supported by sufficient disclosure in the present patent specification, and any material known to those skilled in the art need not be explicitly disclosed. However, 35 USC §112 (6) requires that structures corresponding to functional limitations interpreted under 35 USC §112 (6) must be explicitly disclosed in the patent specification. Moreover, the USPTO&#39;s Examination policy of initially treating and searching prior art under the broadest interpretation of a “mean for” claim limitation implies that the broadest initial search on 112(6) functional limitation would have to be conducted to support a legally valid Examination on that USPTO policy for broadest interpretation of “mean for” claims. Accordingly, the USPTO will have discovered a multiplicity of prior art documents including disclosure of specific structures and elements which are suitable to act as corresponding structures to satisfy all functional limitations in the below claims that are interpreted under 35 USC §112 (6) when such corresponding structures are not explicitly disclosed in the foregoing patent specification. Therefore, for any invention element(s)/structure(s) corresponding to functional claim limitation(s), in the below claims interpreted under 35 USC §112 (6), which is/are not explicitly disclosed in the foregoing patent specification, yet do exist in the patent and/or non-patent documents found during the course of USPTO searching, Applicant(s) incorporate all such functionally corresponding structures and related enabling material herein by reference for the purpose of providing explicit structures that implement the functional means claimed. Applicant(s) request(s) that fact finders during any claims construction proceedings and/or examination of patent allowability properly identify and incorporate only the portions of each of these documents discovered during the broadest interpretation search of 35 USC §112 (6) limitation, which exist in at least one of the patent and/or non-patent documents found during the course of normal USPTO searching and or supplied to the USPTO during prosecution. Applicant(s) also incorporate by reference the bibliographic citation information to identify all such documents comprising functionally corresponding structures and related enabling material as listed in any PTO Form-892 or likewise any information disclosure statements (IDS) entered into the present patent application by the USPTO or Applicant(s) or any 3 rd  parties. Applicant(s) also reserve its right to later amend the present application to explicitly include citations to such documents and/or explicitly include the functionally corresponding structures which were incorporate by reference above. 
     Thus, for any invention element(s)/structure(s) corresponding to functional claim limitation(s), in the below claims, that are interpreted under 35 USC §112 (6), which is/are not explicitly disclosed in the foregoing patent specification, Applicant(s) have explicitly prescribed which documents and material to include the otherwise missing disclosure, and have prescribed exactly which portions of such patent and/or non-patent documents should be incorporated by such reference for the purpose of satisfying the disclosure requirements of 35 USC §112 (6). Applicant(s) note that all the identified documents above which are incorporated by reference to satisfy 35 USC §112 (6) necessarily have a filing and/or publication date prior to that of the instant application, and thus are valid prior documents to incorporated by reference in the instant application. 
     Having fully described at least one embodiment of the present invention, other equivalent or alternative methods of implementing an odor dispersion assembly for a toilet that utilizes existing pipes to disperse the odor according to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Various aspects of the invention have been described above by way of illustration, and the specific embodiments disclosed are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. The particular implementation of the odor dispersion assembly for a toilet that utilizes existing pipes to disperse the odor may vary depending upon the particular context or application. By way of example, and not limitation, the odor dispersion assembly for a toilet that utilizes existing pipes to disperse the odor described in the foregoing were principally directed to apertures in a seat that suck out odors immediately after dispersion, and suck the odors out an exhaust through existing pipes implementations; however, similar techniques may instead be applied to sewage systems that suck out odors from a main artery pipe, which implementations of the present invention are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention. The invention is thus to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims. It is to be further understood that not all of the disclosed embodiments in the foregoing specification will necessarily satisfy or achieve each of the objects, advantages, or improvements described in the foregoing specification. 
     Claim elements and steps herein may have been numbered and/or lettered solely as an aid in readability and understanding. Any such numbering and lettering in itself is not intended to and should not be taken to indicate the ordering of elements and/or steps in the claims. 
     The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. 
     The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. Section 1.72( b ) requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to ascertain the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to limit or interpret the scope or meaning of the claims. The following claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.