Patent Publication Number: US-6219853-B1

Title: Toilet ventilation system

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to toilet systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to toilet systems having ventilation systems for venting unpleasant odors. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A variety of ventilation systems have been employed to dissipate unpleasant odors present within lavatory facilities. Most commonly, ceiling fans have been used to continuously withdraw air from a lavatory facility. However, ceiling fans only ventilate unpleasant odors after they have already diffused throughout the lavatory facility. Consequently, even with operable ceiling fans, objectionable odors are still present in lavatories. Furthermore, ceiling fans are relatively inefficient because they continuously ventilate large volumes of air from the entire lavatory. 
     Efforts have been made to provide ventilation systems that solve the aforementioned problems associated with ceiling fans by ventilating air directly from a toilet bowl. However, such systems are commonly complicated and difficult to assemble. Furthermore, existing ventilation systems commonly cannot be readily used to retrofit existing toilet systems. 
     What is needed is a simple, inexpensive and easy to install ventilation system that can be used in association with new toilet facilities, and can also be used to easily retrofit existing toilet facilities. What is also needed is an efficient, quiet and inconspicuous toilet ventilation system that evacuates air directly from a toilet bowl. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a toilet ventilation system including a toilet structure having a toilet bowl that defines a plurality of ports for directing water into an interior of the toilet bowl. The toilet structure also includes a tank for holding water, and an interior passageway for conveying water from the tank to the ports of the toilet bowl. The toilet structure further includes an overflow tube mounted in the tank that is in fluid communication with the interior passageway. The toilet structure additionally includes a ventilation port in fluid communication with the interior passageway, and a valve structure that allows water to flow from the tank into the interior passageway through the overflow tube, but prevents air from being drawn from the tank into the interior passageway through the overflow tube. 
     In use, a ventilation line is preferably connected to the ventilation port of the toilet ventilation system. When water is not in the interior passageway, the ventilation line can draw air from the toilet bowl through the ports of the toilet bowl. The air drawn through the ports flows through the interior passageway and exits the toilet structure through the ventilation port. The valve structure of the overflow tube prevents air from being evacuated from inside the tank. In this manner, the total amount of air evacuated by the ventilation system is minimized. 
     A variety of advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practicing the invention. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the present invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
     A brief description of the drawings are as follows: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of an exemplary toilet equipped with a toilet ventilation system that is an embodiment of the present invention, the toilet is shown in the process of flushing; 
     FIG. 2 is another schematic cross-sectional view of the toilet of FIG. 1, the toilet is shown with the ventilation system drawing air from the bowl; and 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic front cross-sectional view of the tank of the toilet of FIG.  2 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary aspects of the present invention that are illustrated in the accompanying drawing. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawing to refer to the same or like parts. 
     FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a toilet ventilation system  20  constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The toilet ventilation system  20  includes a toilet  21  having a base  22  (i.e., a stool) and a tank  24 . The tank  24  is preferably mounted to the base  22  by conventional techniques. 
     The tank  24  defines a reservoir for holding water. As best shown in FIG. 3, a conventional water supply arrangement  28  is mounted within the tank  24 . The water supply arrangement  28  includes an inlet line  30  connected to a source of pressurized water  29  such as a conventional municipal water supply line. The water supply arrangement  28  also includes first and second water supply tubes  32  and  34  that receive water from the inlet line  30 . The first water supply tube  32  directs water from the inlet line  30  to a tank overflow tube  36 . The second water supply tube  34  functions to fill the tank  24  with water after the toilet  21  has been flushed. 
     The water supply arrangement  28  includes a valve  38  for controlling water flow between the inlet line  30  and the first and second water supply tubes  32  and  34 . A conventional float arrangement  40  is used to open and close the valve  38 . For example, when the toilet  21  is flushed, the water level in the tank  24  drops causing the float arrangement  40  to also drop. When the float arrangement  40  drops, the valve  38  is caused to open flow between the inlet line  30  and the first and second water supply tubes  32  and  34 . With the valve  38  open, the second water supply tube  34  refills the tank  24  causing that the water level in the tank  24  to rise. As the water level in the tank  24  rises, the float  40  also rises. When the float  40  reaches a predetermined level  27  (shown in FIG.  2 ), the valve  38  closes and flow is stopped between the inlet line  30  and the first and second water supply tubes  32  and  34 . 
     Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, a discharge pipe  42  is used to discharge water through the bottom of the tank  24  when the toilet  21  is flushed. The discharge pipe  42  is opened and closed by a conventional flapper or plunger valve  44 . A conventional handle and chain arrangement  46  is used to open and close the plunger valve  44 . To flush the toilet  21 , the handle is pressed downward causing the chain to lift the plunger valve  44  to an open position (shown in FIG.  1 ). With the plunger valve  44  in the open position, the water in the tank  24  is discharged through the discharge pipe  42 . After the water has been discharged through the discharge pipe  42 , the plunger valve  44  moves to a closed position (shown in FIG. 2) such that the tank  24  can be refilled with water. 
     The tank overflow tube  36  includes a top end  48  and a bottom end  50 . The top end  48  is positioned above the predetermined water level  27  of the tank  24 . The predetermined water level  27  is coextensive with a desired maximum water level height of the tank  24 . The bottom end  50  of the tank overflow tube  36  is connected to the discharge pipe  42  at a location below the plunger valve  44 . The tank overflow tube  36  defines a passageway  52  that extends from the top end  48  to the bottom end  50 . The passageway  52  is in fluid communication with the interior of the discharge pipe  42  and bypasses the plunger valve  44 . In this manner, the passageway  52  is open regardless of whether the plunger valve  44  is in the open or closed position. 
     The base  22  of the toilet ventilation system  20  includes a basin or bowl  54 . The bowl  54  includes a circumferencial rim  56  defining a circumferencial rim chamber  58 . The bowl  54  defines a plurality of ports  60  in fluid communication with the rim chamber  58 . The base  22  also defines an intermediate chamber  62  providing fluid communication between the discharge pipe  42  and the rim chamber  58 . The intermediate chamber  62  and the rim chamber  58  cooperate to form an interior passageway that provides fluid communication between the discharge pipe  42  and the ports  60 . 
     The base  22  also defines a ventilation port  64  adapted for connection to a ventilation line  65 . Preferably, the ventilation port  64  is located at an inconspicuous position such as a back region of the base  22 . The ventilation port  64  is preferably in fluid communication with the intermediate chamber  62 . It will be appreciated that the ventilation port  64  can be formed in the base  22  at the time the toilet is manufactured. Alternatively, existing toilets can be retrofitted by drilling the ventilation port  64  and then mounting a water tight fitting within the port  64 . Such a fitting allows the ventilation line  65  to be easily connected to the ventilation port  64 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ventilation line  65  extends from the ventilation port  64  through a wall  66  positioned behind the toilet  21 . Once inside the wall  66 , the ventilation line  65  preferably extends in an upward direction. The upward extending portion of the ventilation line  65  can include an increased diameter portion  68 . The increased diameter portion  68  reduces the velocity of the air being drawn through the ventilation line  65  to prevent water from following the air stream up the ventilation line  65 . In one non-limiting embodiment, the ventilation line  65  includes a substantially horizontal reduced diameter portion  67  having a diameter of around 1 and 1¼ inch, and the increased diameter portion  68  can have a diameter of about 3 inches. The ventilation line  65  is preferably connected to a source of vacuum  70  such as a fan or blower having a discharge port  71  typically in fluid communication with a vent. 
     The tank overflow tube  36  of the toilet ventilation system  20  provides two primary functions. First, the tank overflow tube  36  prevents the tank  24  from overflowing. For example, should the valve  38  malfunction and continue to supply water to the tank  24  even after the water level reaches the desired maximum fill level  27 , the water level within the tank will rise until it reaches the top end  48  of the overflow tube  36 . When the water level reaches the top end  48  of the overflow tube  36 , the water flows into the passageway  52  of the overflow tube  36 . From the passageway  52 , the water exits the tank through the discharge pipe  42  and flows into the intermediate chamber  62 . From the intermediate chamber  62 , the water flows into the rim chamber  58  and is discharged into the bowl  54  through the ports  60 . 
     The overflow tube  36  also functions to refill the bowl  54  after the toilet  21  has been flushed. For example, after the toilet  21  has been flushed, the first water supply tube  32  conveys water into the passageway  52  of the overflow tube  36 . The water from the first water supply tube  32  flows downward through the passageway  52  and exits the tank  24  through the discharge pipe  42 . From the discharge pipe  42 , the water flows through the intermediate chamber  62  into the rim chamber  58 . From the rim chamber  58 , the water flows through the ports  60  into the interior of the bowl  54 . In this manner, the water provided by the first water supply tube  32  refills the bowl  54  after the toilet has been flushed. Water flow through the first water supply tube  32  stops when the water level in the tank reaches the desired maximum fill level  27 . 
     Referring again to FIG. 1, the first water supply tube  32  preferably extends from the valve  38  to the tank overflow tube  36 . The first water supply tube  32  is preferably connected to the tank overflow tube  36  at a location between the top end  48  of the overflow tube  36  and the desired maximum water level  27  of the tank  24 . 
     The tank overflow tube  36  includes a valve structure that allows water from the tank  24  to flow downward through the overflow tube  36 , but prevents air from the tank  24  from being drawn downward through the overflow tube  36 . For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the valve structure is shown as a float ball  72  positioned at the top end  48  of the overflow tube  36 . When the water level in the tank  24  rises above the top end  48  of the overflow tube  36 , the float ball  72  (which is less dense than water) floats upward to allow water to flow into the passageway  52  of the overflow tube  36 . A chain  76  prevents the float ball  72  from floating away from the overflow tube  36 . 
     In use of the toilet ventilation system  20 , the ventilation line  65  functions to evacuate or withdraw air from the interior of the bowl  54  through the ports  60  as shown in FIG.  2 . For example, when the plunger valve  44  is closed and no water is in the rim chamber  58 , the vacuum source  70  can be used to draw air from the toilet bowl  54  through the ventilation line  65 . Specifically, air is drawn from the bowl  54  into the rim chamber  58  through the ports  60 . From the rim chamber  58 , the air is drawn into the intermediate chamber  62  and exits the base  22  through the ventilation port  64 . From the ventilation port  64 , the air is drawn upward through the ventilation line  65  by the vacuum  70  and is discharged through the vacuum discharge port  71  to a vent. 
     While air is being drawn from the bowl  54 , the float ball  72  prevents air from being drawn from the tank  24  through the overflow tube  36 . For example, the vacuum provided by the source of vacuum  70  causes the float ball  72  to be drawn against the top end  48  of the overflow tube  36  thereby providing a seal. The seal is significant because it prevents the vacuum source  70  from evacuating clean air from the tank  24 . Instead, the air is evacuated strictly from the base  22 . By minimizing the amount of air drawn by the ventilation line  65 , smaller, less powerful sources of vacuum  70  can be used. By using smaller fans, operating efficiency is improved and noise levels are reduced. 
     It will be appreciated that when the toilet is in the process of being flushed as shown in FIG. 1, no air will be ventilated through the ports  60  of the toilet bowl  54 . Instead, when the toilet is flushed, water flows from the tank  24  through the discharge pipe  42  and into the intermediate chamber  62 . From the intermediate chamber  62 , the water flows into the rim chamber  58  and enters the interior of the bowl  54  through the ports  60 . While the rim chamber  58  and the intermediate chamber  62  are filled with water, air cannot be drawn through the ports  60 . After the toilet has been flushed, the intermediate chamber  62  and the rim chamber  58  remain filled until the bowl  54  is refilled with water supplied by the first water supply tube  32 . 
     Once the tank  24  and the bowl  54  have been re-filled, the valve  38  of the water supply and float level arrangement  28  closes flow to the first and second water supply tubes  32  and  34 . Hence, no additional water is provided to the intermediate and rim chambers  62  and  58  and the remaining water within the intermediate and rim chambers  62  and  58  drains into the bowl  54  through the ports  60 . After the water drains from the rim and intermediate chambers  58  and  62  into the bowl  54 , the toilet ventilation system is again operative to draw air directly from the bowl  54  through the ports  60  as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     With regard to the foregoing description, it is to be understood that changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of the construction materials employed and the shape, size and arrangement of the parts without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, while a float ball is shown for sealing the overflow tube, it will be appreciated that any valve type structure that allows water to flow in one direction through a tube, but prevents air from flowing in the same direction through the tube, can be utilized. It is intended that the specification and depicted embodiment be considered exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the broad meaning of the following claims.