Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation-in-Part of application Ser. No. 09/933,217, which is a Continuation-in-Part of application Ser. No. 09/704,921, both of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a ventilation system for a commode. More particularly, the present invention relates to a compact ventilation system that removes and filters airborne odors and does so making use of a compact design and apparatus that is self-contained within the interior of a standard size commode seat.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The prior art has identified the problem of removing objectionable odors from bathrooms. A variety of products have been developed directed to masking or removing odors from a bathroom. In particular, odors associated with the use of a commode are objectionable to most persons. Where there are multiple users of a bathroom or commode, typical ceiling mounted ventilation systems are not adequate to remove odor-containing air in a sufficiently rapid manner.  
           [0004]    A variety of masking aerosol scents is used to render odors less objectionable. However, some persons find the use of airborne perfumes or scents objectionable in their own right and may exacerbate allergy symptoms in some individuals.  
           [0005]    Among some of the devices developed as a means of deodorizing commodes and bathroom environments include the use of ventilation devices which are designed to evacuate and discharge odor borne air from the bathroom environment. One such device may be seen in reference to U.S. Pat. No. 3,069,696 to Howell. The ventilation device of Howell uses a vacuum-type apparatus to remove air from the proximity of the commode and then discharges the air at a remote location. The arrangement of Howell merely transports odors from one area to another. Further, the conventional vacuum-type apparatus proposed by Howell is quite loud in operation.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,659,296 to Stamper discloses a toilet seat using a fan to discharge a deodorizing scent. The fan may be battery operated and may be controlled by a pressure-operated switch that activates when a person is seated on the commode. However, the apparatus of Stamper provides only a very short flow pathway in which conditioning or treating the air may occur. Further, the air discharge outlet of the Stamper device is directed against the tank or reservoir wall of the commode. As such, the effective operation of the unit is easily blocked by a person&#39;s clothing when seated on the commode.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 4, 200,940 to Buchanan discloses a hollow toilet seat that is connected to an external vacuum supply. The removed air is passed through an incineration unit in an effort to purify the air. However, this apparatus requires a large, bulky structure adjacent to the commode as well as ready access to an electrical outlet. Further, the operation of an indoor incinerary device may not be safe in the presence of small children and serves as an undesired heat source during hot weather.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 4, 586,201 to Todd, Jr., discloses a ventilation apparatus for a commode in which air moving and deodorizing means are mounted within a commode lid. The Todd Jr., apparatus makes further use of a hollow toilet seat that may limit the strength and, therefore, materials from which a toilet seat may be constructed.  
           [0009]    Overall, the prior art has not find acceptance among consumers as providing an effective, esthetically discrete, and self-contained apparatus for the removal of odors associated with the use of a commode. Accordingly, there is room for variation and improvement within the art.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    The present invention addresses some of the problems identified above by providing an improved apparatus for the filtration and elimination of airborne odors associated with the commode. More particularly, the present invention provides for a new apparatus which is self-contained within a standard size commode seat and which provides for an air removal pathway, a filter, an air-moving device, along with a power source for the air moving device. In addition, the present invention is esthetically pleasing in that it has the appearance of a conventional toilet seat. Further, the operation of the apparatus lends itself to quiet and unobtrusive operation.  
           [0011]    Accordingly, in one embodiment of the invention, a toilet seat is provided having an air inlet positioned along the inner rim or lower edge of the commode seat. The air intake is in communication with an air channel that directs the airflow to a first filter. Upon exiting the carbon filter, the air flow continues along a path defined within the interior of the commode seat and passes through a carbon filter before exiting through a blower motor positioned within the commode seat. The treated air is discharged from the floor along the side or rear of the commode seat. One or more filter elements are housed within an opening accessible from the outer edge of the toilet seat to facilitate removal and replacement of the cartridges. A simple rocker switch is provided along one edge of the toilet seat to control the operation of the air blower unit. A rechargeable battery source is also provided within a housing defined by the commode seat and provides a power source for the blower motor.  
           [0012]    It is an additional aspect with regard to at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide a commode seat in which the seat defines an upper half and a lower half, the respective seat halves collectively defining housings in which the battery source, blower motor, and filter elements reside. Further, the upper and lower halves cooperatively define an air passage extending from the bottom of the commode seat, through a first seat half, into a second seat half and which further extends into the lower seat half where an outlet is defined.  
           [0013]    These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, including reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a commode having a commode seat constructed according to the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a different view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 that depicts the commode seat in a raised, non-seated position.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the commode seat seen in FIG. 1 and illustrating the air flow pathway of the commode seat.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the commode seat showing an upper half and a lower half of the commode seat setting forth details of the component parts and air flow pathways collectively defined between the upper and lower hemispheres.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is an isolated, side perspective view showing the operation of a removable filter cartridge that is being inserted into a defined housing along an edge of the commode seat.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 is an alternative embodiment of a commode seat according to one aspect of this invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the commode seat seen in FIG. 6 and illustrating an airflow pathway of the commode seat.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 8 is a plan view of the commode seat of FIG. 6 setting forth an upper and lower half of the commode seat along with additional details of the component parts.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 9 is an isolated, side perspective view showing details of the removable filter cartridge as seen in the embodiment of FIG. 6.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 10 is a plan view similar to FIG. 8 showing additional details of the construction and operation of an additional embodiment of the invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 11 is a plan view of a commode seat showing details and components of an additional embodiment of the invention.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 setting forth structures milled from a solid commode seat.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 13 is a perspective exploded view taken along line  13 - 13  of FIG. 12 and setting forth additional details of the invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0028]    Reference now will be made in detail to the embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are set forth below. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment, can be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Other objects, features, and aspects of the present invention are disclosed in the following detailed description. It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present invention, which broader aspects are embodied in the exemplary constructions.  
         [0029]    In describing the various figures herein, the same reference numbers are used throughout to describe the same material, apparatus or process pathway. To avoid redundancy, detailed descriptions of much of the apparatus once described in relation to a figure is not repeated in the descriptions of subsequent figures, although such apparatus or process is labeled with the same reference numbers.  
         [0030]    An embodiment of the present invention may be seen in reference to FIG. 1 in which a conventional commode  10  having a reservoir tank  12  is situated on a base  14 . A lid  16  may be provided as is conventional within the art. A commode seat  20  defines an upper surface  22 , a lower surface  24 , lower surface  24  having a flexible gasket  25  which provides a substantially air tight seal between the seat and the rim  18  (FIG. 2) of the commode. Seat  20  further provides an exterior edge  26  and an inner edge  28 , the inner edge  28  surrounding the opening  29  defined by seat  20 .  
         [0031]    As best seen in reference to FIG. 4, the commode seat  20  is formed of two separate halves including an upper half  36  and a lower half  38 . Upper half  36  and lower half  38  may be secured to each other by a plurality of dowels (not illustrated) which engage a plurality of aligned apertures  39  with the respective seat halves  36  and  38 . The provision of upper and lower seat halves facilitate the construction of the air pathways and placement of operative components as will best be described below. However, other conventional attachment mechanisms such as a snap-fit configuration, adhesives, or other joining hardware may be used between the respective halves.  
         [0032]    Seat  20  defines an air intake that is preferably located along either an inner edge or bottom surface of seat  20 . In one embodiment, intake  30  comprises a slot defined along an inner edge  28  of the seat. However, as seen in FIG. 2, a plurality of intakes  31  may be provided as an additional or sole means of air intake. The intake  30  is in communication with an air plenum  40 , the shape and direction of air plenum  40  best seen in reference to the directional arrows in FIGS. 3 and 4. The directional arrows indicate the flow of air through plenum  40 , the air movement being controlled by a fan such as a blower motor  60 . The operation of blower motor  60  discharges air from a blower outlet through outlet  32  defined by seat  20 . The movement of air generated by blower  60  establishes a substantially circular air pathway of air entering intake  30  and continuing through plenum  40 . The pathway of plenum  40  passes the moving air through a first filter  50 . Filter  50  is preferably a mesh-type pre-filter contained within a filter cartridge  52 . Cartridge  52  designed to operatively place filter  50  within the pathway of air plenum  40  thereby forming a portion of the pathway when the filter is inserted. In a preferred embodiment, the airflow enters through a bottom of filter  50  and exits through an upper surface of the filter. The first filter  50  thereby provides a transition point from the air plenum  40  contained within the lower half  38  and upper half  36 .  
         [0033]    As best seen in reference to FIG. 4, air entering the bottom of filter  50  exits the opposite side and continues along an arcuate portion of plenum  40  positioned within the upper half  36  of the commode seat  20 . The air path is in further communication with a second filter  50  and filter cartridge  52  configured similarly as to the filter previously described. The second filter  50  contains activated carbon to help in the removal of odors. As seen in reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the first and second filters  50  and cartridges  52  are adapted for being inserted into and received by a slot and housing defined within the interior of seat  22 . This removable cartridge facilitates the periodic replacement of the various filters  50  without the necessity of disassembling the seat. Further, the edge-accessible cartridges provide easy access compared to rear mounted or bottom mounted filtering media. However, a variety of different filtering media may be used and having different configurations, so long as air flow through the filter is achieved and the filter composition has sufficient filtering qualities to remove or treat bathroom odors.  
         [0034]    Upon exiting the second filter  50 , air is directed along plenum  40  to blower  60 . An intake of blower  60  receives the air and discharges the air from blower  60  through seat outlet  32 .  
         [0035]    As seen in reference to FIG. 4, a battery source  70  is provided within a housing defined within the interior of seat  22 . Power supply  70  may be provided by conventional batteries, including a rechargeable battery pack. If a rechargeable power supply is used, it is convenient to provide an access port  72  for a conventional connection for a re-charger.  
         [0036]    Electrical leads  74  connect the power source  70  to blower motor  60 . Further, switch  80 , seen here in the form of a rocker switch, may be provided to control the operation of the blower fan  60 . If desired, a pressure contact switch  82  may also be used to limit operation of the blower fan  60  to intervals when the seat  20  bears the weight of a seated individual. For either type of switch, it is desirable that the switch be responsive to a timer circuit so as to provide for a 10-minute interval of operation before the blower motor is automatically turned off. Use of the timer circuit conserves battery life and also provides for an interval of operation once the user has left the bathroom facility.  
         [0037]    The illustrated embodiment is constructed from a conventional wooden toilet seat. The air plenum  40  and associated housings for housing the battery supply  70 , the fan blower  60 , filters  50 , and other structures related to the operation of the air filtering system, may be milled or routed from the wood. One having ordinary skill in the art would be able to provide an equivalent structure from molded plastic or other materials. However, a wooden seat remains the material of choice for most consumers. Further, the wood construction maintains the seat strength when constructed in accordance with this invention.  
         [0038]    The strength of the resulting seat is also enhanced by making use of both the upper and lower hemispheres to define the various compartments and air pathways so that the structural strength of the seat may be maintained. For instance, air plenum  40  is initially defined within the lower seat half  38  before engaging filter  50 . The air plenum  40  continues from filter  50  along the plenum pathway defined solely within the upper half  36 . This arrangement insures that air flow must pass through filter  50  along this pathway. The reverse arrangement occurs with respect to the second filter  50  which directs air passing from the upper to the lower surface of the filter through a portion of the air plenum now defined within lower seat half  38 .  
         [0039]    The illustrated embodiment set forth above uses two filter cartridges that are aligned in series along the inner pathway. It is understood and appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that depending upon the efficiency of the air filtration cartridge, a single cartridge may be operative to remove odors associated with the use of the commode. If desired, an existing cartridge or additional dispenser may be adapted or provided within the air flow to release a masking scent or air freshener.  
         [0040]    It has been found advantageous to use a blower motor such as a Delta Motor BF B0512H manufactured by Delta Motor Company, Long Beach, Calif. The Delta blower motor is compact, very quiet in operation, and provides a sufficiently high volume of air flow and pressure drop to bring about the desired displacement of air from the bowl region of the commode and through the toilet seat air passage.  
         [0041]    The first filter  50  may be provided by a HEPA filter such as ACA  5030  available from Duracraft Corporation, South Borough, Mass. The combination of filters provide effective odor control, a sufficiently long service life, and have a compact design allowing them to fit within the confines of a conventional commode seat. The second filter  50  may be constructed of conventional activated carbon material and configured within the housing for receiving air along an upper surface of the filter and discharging the air along the lower surface of the filter and into the lower half of the commode seat.  
         [0042]    One suitable commode seat for practicing the present invention makes use of a Beamis brand seat having model number 400-BP available from Beamis Manufacturing, Shegowgane Falls, Ml. This particular model is a wooden seat having a very thin profile. Accordingly, by sizing the components to fit within a thin seat, allows the same design to be adapted for thicker seat structures.  
         [0043]    The power supply  70  may be removed along an access opening defined along the rear edge of the commode seat. The compartment housing the power source  70  is tightly configured so as when a fresh battery supply is inserted, the required electrical connections are reestablished as is conventional within the art of battery-operated devices such as cellular phones, calculators, and the like.  
         [0044]    An additional embodiment of a toilet seat is seen in reference to FIGS.  6 - 9 . The illustrated additional embodiment provides a more compact air plenum defined within a side portion of the seat as best seen in FIG. 7. While the additional embodiment is illustrated in the form of a continuous, round toilet seat, it is understood and appreciated that the compact nature of the present invention will also fit within a conventional horseshoe shaped seat.  
         [0045]    As best seen in reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, a bottom  24  of the seat  20  defines a plurality of apertures  31  or other air inlet(s). The apertures  31  are positioned along an inner portion of seat bottom  24  relative to the gasket  25  positioned on the lower seat surface. The seat  20  is adapted for receiving, in response to a fan or other forced air flow means, a supply of air through the apertures  31 , the air being directed upwardly through the seat and through a carbon-activated filter seen in the form of filter  50  contained in cartridge  52 . Upon exiting the filtration system, the filtered air flow, as indicated by the directional arrows, is conveyed along a plenum  40  that is partially formed within an interior length portion of the seat to an adjacent blower  60 . The blower  60  has an inlet  62  in communication with the air passageway and serves to pull air in through the air apertures  31  and filter  50 . The resulting filtered air flow exits the blower  60  along an outlet  64 . A seat air outlet  32  is defined along a rear edge of the seat through which the air is discharged.  
         [0046]    As best seen in reference to FIG. 8, and in reference to yet another embodiment of FIG. 10, the toilet seat may be in the form of a conventional wooden seat. The seat is split along the median cross section so as to divide the seat into a solid upper half  36  and a solid lower half  38 , each upper and lower half having its own respective unitary character. As set forth in more detail below, the resulting cavities, air plenums, and component housings may then be milled or otherwise formed within the respective solid halves  36  and  38 . Thereafter, the two halves may be joined using wooden dowels or other interlocking engagement means such as adhesives, engaging cams, fasteners, or friction fit engagement so as to provide an integral seat.  
         [0047]    In reference to FIG. 8, the lower half  38  has defined therein an air passageway  40  that includes a first cavity  51 . The cavity is adapted for receiving a slide-in cartridge module  52  seen here in the form of a two-stage parallel filter element. The filter media of a granulated activated carbon may be contained within a cartridge or other housing to facilitate the insertion and removal of the filter element.  
         [0048]    The upper seat half  36  has a similarly positioned cavity  53  defined, which, when the toilet seat is operatively assembled, is positioned above the filter cavity  51  of the lower half  38 . The upper cavity  53  further defines a ledge  55  for receiving a resilient gasket  56 . The gasket  56  helps provide for an air tight seal about the filter and filter cartridge and thereby directs air flow into the adjacent position of air passageway  40  defined within the upper seat half and in communication with the upper cavity  51 . As seen in reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the air passageway  40  provides for air flow as seen by the directional arrows, the air passageway being in communication with an adjacent blower motor  60 . The blower motor  60  is positioned within a housing formed between adjacent surfaces of the upper seat half and the lower seat half. Air exiting the blower is discharged along a portion of the air passageway  40  which may be defined by sections of both the upper and lower seat halves. As illustrated, the air exits through an outlet  32  defined by the seat such as lower seat half  38 .  
         [0049]    Additional details of construction of the additional embodiments are similar in respect to the features described in the first embodiment. In addition, it has been further found useful to include a timer circuit  73  that automatically turns off the blower motor following the passage of a pre-selected time interval. A time interval of between  3  to  4  minutes has been found useful. Given the quiet operation of the fan, the automatic cut-off switch is useful to prevent battery drain for users who may forget to manually disengage the unit.  
         [0050]    An aspect in the operation of the present invention is the ability to provide for a strong flow of air through the granulated carbon filter. A suitable blower motor such as a brushless blower by Delta Electronics, Inc. (Taipei, Taiwan) model number BFB0505HA. A suitable blower provides an air flow rate of about 3.2 cubic feet per minute. This volume of air flow blower provides a sufficient flow of air through the seat including the attendant pressure drop across the filter. Since the air passageway occupies a compact volume, the volume of air that needs to be moved is kept at a minimum, thereby increasing the efficiency of the air filtration process.  
         [0051]    It is also envisioned that the operative electronics, switches, filters, fan, and a defined air passageway including inlets and outlets may be provided within a single unitary cartridge or similar module. As such, the cartridge could be inserted into a conventional toilet seat that has an appropriate segment milled out or pre-molded for receipt of the unit.  
         [0052]    As seen in reference to FIGS. 11 through 13 is a third embodiment of a commode seat. In this embodiment the air flow passageways, filters, blower motors, and other components of the ventilation system are defined and housed within structures milled from the bottom surface of a solid commode seat.  
         [0053]    As seen in reference to FIG. 11, a commode seat  120  is provided having a lower surface  124  having a flexible gasket  125  which may extend around a circumference of the seat bottom and provides a substantially air tight seal between the seat and a rim of the commode.  
         [0054]    Seat  120  defines an air intake  134  that is defined in a detachable cover  150 . Cover  150 , as best seen in reference to FIG. 13, is sized and shaped so as to engage the underlying components and structures of the ventilation system and to provide for a substantially smooth and flush juncture with the surface of seat bottom  124  when engaged. While not separately shown, gasket  125  may extend across the surface of cover  150 . Air intake  134  is positioned opposite a filter housing  151  which has been milled from the commode seat. Filter housing  151  is adapted for engagement of a filter  152 , one surface of filter  152  opposite the intake and a second filter surface opposite an air plenum  140  that is defined below (relative to the orientation seen in FIG. 13) the filter housing  151 . As described in reference to other embodiments, filter  152  may be in the form of a slide-in cartridge that may be inserted and removed through an exterior edge portion of the commode seat. As best seen in reference to FIG. 13, air plenum  140  extends in a direction toward a rear of the seat to a point opposite a blower housing  161  which houses a blower motor  160 . As seen in FIG. 11, blower  160  defines an inlet  162  which is in communication with air plenum  140 . In operation, blower  160  directs air from air intake  134 , through filter  152  and into plenum  140 . The filtered air is then directed to inlet  162 , the air passing through blower  160  and exiting blower outlet  164 . Air exiting outlet  164  is directed into an air passageway  142  before existing along a rear edge of the seat through outlet  132 .  
         [0055]    Blower motor  160  is powered by a battery supply  170  which is positioned in a battery housing  171 . Adjacent the battery supply  170 , a timer circuit  173  may also be provided which provides for automatically turning off the blower motor following the passage of a pre-selected time interval. A conduit  175  is also defined within the surface of the toilet seat, for containing electrical leads  174  which extend to blower motor  160 . In addition, leads  174  are in further electrical communication with a switch  172 , seen in the Figures as a push button switch. Switch  172  and a re-charger port  180  are positioned within a common housing  181 . As best seen in reference to FIG. 3, housing  181  is in communication with respective openings defined within an exterior edge of seat  120  through which access to the re-charger port  180  and switch  172  may be provided.  
         [0056]    As best seen in reference to FIG. 13, the milled out portion of the commode seat also defines a recessed surface  190  which is defined a sufficient depth below the surface  124  of the seat so as to receive cover  150  in a substantially flush engagement and orientation with the surrounding portions of the seat bottom  124 .  
         [0057]    As best seen in reference to FIG. 13, an insert  155  is used in the assembly and construction of the commode seat. Insert  155  defines a bridge including a filter seal region  157  which is adapted for forming a portion of the housing  151  for receiving filter  152 . As seen in reference to FIG. 13, the region  157  of insert  155  defines a portion of groove  153 , groove  153  adapted for receiving a gasket (not illustrated) to provide for an air tight seal between filter  152  and filter housing  151 . As further seen in reference to FIG. 13, air plenum  140  extends below insert  155 , insert  155  helping to define a portion of air plenum  140  in the region between filter housing  151  and blower housing  161 . By use of insert  155 , the integrity of the air plenum  140  is maintained and unwanted entrainment of air into plenum  140  is avoided when blower  160  is in operation. As a result, the overall integrity of the collective air flow passageways is maintained, preventing loss of pressure. Blower efficiency is thus maintained by providing air passageways that which are essentially closed along their lengths. Air enters the system only through the intake and exits at the outlet. No additional sources of air flow or entrainment are present, maintaining the high efficiency airflow which allows a rotary blower motor to develop the necessary pressure to draw air across the filter.  
         [0058]    The embodiment seen and described in FIGS. 11 through 13 affords highly efficient air flow properties while maintaining maximum strength of the commode seat. By milling the air passageways and component housings from a solid commode seat, the overall strength of the solid seat can be maintained. In addition, maximum efficiency of blower motor  160  is achieved by providing a well defined, air plenum  140  and passageways  142  in which filtered air is moved through an interior of the seat before being discharged through outlet  132 . By providing air flow passageways through the solid commode seat structure, unwanted air entrainment from surrounding regions is prevented. For instance, in a hollow commode seat environment, the large open volumes contributes to air entrainment and well as minimizes the necessary pressure drop needed to achieve the maximum air flow from the bottom of the commode seat through the ventilation system. Further, other operational components of the ventilation system, such as the power supply, lead lines, and switches, are positioned in separate housings which also minimizes the air volume the blower motor may engage. By maintaining small housings which are spatially separated from the air flow pathways, a maximum air flow efficiency through the filter is obtained.  
         [0059]    It is preferred in one embodiment of the invention that the commode seat utilize a solid commode seat such as one made from wood. This allows the seat to have sufficient strength and rigidity following the milling of the appropriate cavities, air plenums, and housings such that the strength and operation of the seat is not impaired. However, a plastic toilet seat, including hollow plastic seats, could be equipped with a slide-in cartridge. Alternatively, a plastic seat may be molded to include the appropriate cavities and housings that are described in the above embodiments.  
         [0060]    A useful process for manufacturing a commode ventilation seat includes: providing a solid toilet seat; a cavity within the toilet seat, the cavity adapted for receiving a filter housing; and, providing an air passage defined within an interior of the solid toilet seat, the air passage in communication with an inlet defined by the seat, the passage being in further communication with the cavity and with a fan housing defined by the seat, the fan housing being in further communication with an air outlet defined by the seat.  
         [0061]    An alternative manufacturing process can be provided by supplying a toilet seat; defining within the toilet seat a cavity; inserting within the cavity a cartridge, the cartridge defining an air passage in communication with an air inlet defined by a cartridge surface, the air inlet and air passage being in further communication with a filter element, the filter element being positioned within an air plenum or passage defined within the cartridge and operatively engaged by a blower motor, the blower motor positioned within the air plenum and adapted for directing a discharge of air through an air outlet defined by the cartridge; the cartridge further defining a power source such as a re-chargeable battery for operating the blower motor, the blower motor responsive to a switch for selectively engaging the blower motor.  
         [0062]    As discussed, this type of cartridge, having all of the necessary components and passageways pre-defined, can be inserted into a conventional toilet seat in which an appropriate cavity is milled, molded, or otherwise provided. Such a unitary cartridge insert can be used with virtually any type of toilet seat construction, including plastic seats which are molded so as to inter-engage the cartridge insert.  
         [0063]    Although desired embodiments of the invention have been described using specific terms, materials, and methods, such description is for illustrative purposes only. The words used are words of description rather than of limitation. It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention which is set forth in the following claims. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the various embodiments may be interchanged, both in whole or in part.

Technology Category: 1