Patent Publication Number: US-8984676-B2

Title: Toilet with an odor eliminating function

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention described below relates to a toilet system for the purpose of removing obnoxious odors promptly from the toilet bowl during toilet usage. More specifically, the subject invention pertains to ventilated toilet utilizing a ventilating fan to evacuate odors from a toilet bowl to the drain. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A common problem with the traditional toilet is that odors accumulate during use and persist for a long time after the toilet usage. The conventional bathroom ventilating fan provided on the ceiling can not withdraw these odors promptly, efficiently and timely. There are many types of devices have been made to provide means for removing these obnoxious odors. They can be categorized into several groups according to their construction and mode of operation. 
     One set of devices use the ventilation system attached to the seat, or built into the seat itself. These ventilation systems can cause a sanitary problem due to the presence of baffles, channels and openings along the underside of the seat and/or tubing located in the bowl which presents a breeding ground for bacteria. 
     Another set of devices use an air filter system that is attached to the toilet bowl or hung on the side thereof. These designs involve the costs of buying and replacing filters. Furthermore, if the filter is spent, the system will pump unfiltered odor-filled air into the room. 
     Another set of devices use a pump system for removing odors from a toilet bowl to outside of the lavatory. Typically, the odors are pumped to the exterior of the bathroom or the building. These solutions require architectural improvements to be made to the building to allow for passages through which to pump the odor-filled gas. 
     In general, the above, ventilation systems have one or more of the following problems: inadequate sanitation, unsightly appearance, physical obstruction, and/or expense for the filter. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an integral toilet having a pre-cast air channel for removing odors from a toilet bowl by pumping the odors to the sewer pipe, which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods. 
     The basic features of present invention consist of four sections, an integral toilet having built in air channel and maintenance window, an odor or gases ventilating device, an annular eliminating device and air chamber enclosure elements. 
     In the first section, the air tunnel is set outside of the toilet bowl as one piece and has one top open end pass through the bowl wall forming an inlet opening; the other lower open end of the air tunnel, an outlet opening, connects to and passes through an air chamber which is provided under the front end of toilet bowl. The intake opening is further covered and waterproof sealed by an inlet screen to prevent solid waste get into the air channel. An open maintenance window is provided in the front wall of the toilet system and is provided for the purposes to repair or replace the ventilating parts when service is required. 
     The section of odor ventilating device includes a connector, a one-way valve and a low voltage direct current ventilating fan or similar device. The connector connects the aforementioned outlet opening and the ventilating fan. The ventilating fan sits inside the air chamber. The one-way valve can be installed either on the inlet of the fan or on the exhaust exit of said fan. The fan will collect the odors and keep the odors inside the an chamber during its operation. 
     The third section of the annular eliminating device is a thin and hollow plate and has its downward ring-like air outlet leading to the sewer pipe. The annular eliminating device sits under the toilet bottom outlet, and its horizontal air inlet connected with the air chamber. 
     The forth section of the present invention are two enclosure elements used to enclose the air chamber. One of the enclosure elements is a bottom plate to seal all the bottom area of the air chamber. The other enclosure element is a maintenance window cover, which is used to cover the maintenance window and the cover can be removed as needed. The air chamber is an airtight space to prevent the odor leak during the operation. 
     The main object of this invention is to provide a toilet bowl venting system whereby odors from within the toilet bowl may be vented therefrom and discharged into the drain line for the toilet bowl. 
     Another object of this invention in accordance with the preceding objects is to provide a toilet bowl venting system which will exclude the possibility of backflow of odors from the toilet drain line into the toilet bowl. 
     Still another object of this invention is to provide a toilet bowl venting system in accordance with the preceding objects and which may be easily accessible while maintenance and services are needed. 
     A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a toilet bowl odor venting system in accordance with the preceding objects and which will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation. 
     The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a sectional view through a toilet with an odors eliminating function according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic view of a toilet prepared for assembly of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic view of a ventilating device according to the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective view of an annular eliminating device and relation with a bottom plate according to the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of an annular eliminating device and relation with a bottom plate according to the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom view of a toilet with odors eliminating function according to the invention; and 
         FIG. 7  is a front top perspective view of a toilet with odors eliminating function according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, particularly, to  FIGS. 1 and 2  thereof, there is seen a toilet  20  that has been pre-casted for installing an air tunnel  2  for removing odors from a toilet bowl  5 . The toilet  20  is a conventional toilet with an integrated body having the bowl or commode  5  with a discharge passage  13 . 
     The air tunnel  2  is pre-set outside of the toilet howl  5  as one piece and has one top open end passed through the upper part of bowl wall  6  forms an inlet opening  1 ; the other lower open end of the air tunnel  2  is an outlet opening  4 , which connects to and passes through an air chamber  14  which is provided behind front end wall  18  and under the front part of said toilet bowl  5 . The intake opening  1  is further covered and waterproof sealed by an inlet screen  111  to prevent solid waste get into the air channel  2 . The inlet screen  111  can be made by any durable waterproof materials. An open maintenance window  3  is provided in the front end wall  18  of the toilet  20 . Said maintenance window  3  is provided for the purposes to repair or replace the ventilating parts when service is required. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an odor ventilating device  7  that is provided inside of the air chamber  14  ( FIG. 1 ). The odor ventilating device  7  further consists of an inlet connector  15 , a one-way valve  16 , a fan connector  171  and a low voltage ventilating fan  17  or similar device. The ventilating fan  17  can be a centrifugal fan or a non-centrifugal fan. The ventilating fan  17  can be activated on and off by an electric switch (not shown). The inlet connector  15  connects the aforementioned outlet opening  4  and the fan connector  171  which then connecting to the ventilating fan  17 . The ventilating fan  17  sits inside the air chamber  14  ( FIG. 1 ). When the ventilating fan  17  starts to suck the odors from the toilet bowl  5 , the one-way valve  16  will be pushed open. The one-way valve  16  will be closed when the ventilating fan  17  stops, that will prevent gases or odors returning back to toilet bowl  5 . The one-way valve  16  can be installed either on the inlet of the fan or on the exhaust exit of said ventilating fan  17 . The ventilating fan  17  will collect the odors and keep the odors temperately inside the air chamber  14  during its operation. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6 , an annular eliminating device  11  is a thin and hollow plate and has its downward ring-like air vent  12  leading to the floor drain pipe  19 . There is an air passage  10  provided inside the annular eliminating device  11 . The annular eliminating device  11  is placed under the end of the discharge passage  13 , with its hollow center aligned with the end of the discharge passage  13 . The horizontal air passage  11  is opened toward the air chamber  14 . The annular eliminating device  11  can be provided either during the toilet manufacturing process as a united part of the toilet  20  or as an independent element. 
     As illustrated by relevant drawing figures, there are two enclosure elements used to enclose the air chamber  14 . One of the enclosure elements is a bottom plate  9  to seal all the bottom area of the air chamber  14 . One end of the bottom plate  9  is placed on edge of the horizontal air passage  10  keeping the opening of air passage  10  enclosed inside the air chamber  14 . All other edges are sealed under the air chamber  14  of the toilet  20 . A maintenance window cover  8 , which is used to air tightly cover the maintenance window  3  and the matching maintenance cover  8  can be easily removed as needed. The air chamber  14  is an airtight space to prevent the odor leak during the operation of the fan  17  or usage of the toilet  20 . 
     After installation of the entire toilet  1  described above, when a user turn on the ventilating fan  17 , the one-way valve  16  opens and the odors in the toilet bowl  5  are sucked from inlet opening  1  through the air tunnel  2  and the outlet opening  4  and into the air chamber  14 , finally the odors are eliminated into the drain pipe  19  through the air passage  10  and the air vent  12 . 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the toilet with an odors eliminating function, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and the manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the toilet ventilation apparatus to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the toilet with an odors eliminating function