Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to lavatory ventilation systems and, more particularly, to a toilet bowl ventilation system. 
         [0002]    Conventionally, malodorous air is ventilated from lavatories via ceiling fans, which continuously draw air from the lavatory space. However, ceiling mounted fans ventilate foul smelling odors that have already diffused throughout the lavatory. As a result, it is not uncommon for unpleasant smells to adhere to the facilities, and linger long after a person has vacated the premises. In addition, ceiling fans are generally inefficient because they must ventilate large volumes of air from the entire lavatory space, which can be quite large. 
         [0003]    There remains an existent need for providing a ventilation system, which is effective in venting the air from a toilet bowl itself before unpleasant odors penetrate the space of the lavatory room. There is a further need for providing a ventilation system that can be easily installed in existing toilet bowl facilities without the need for major construction. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a toilet bowl ventilation system, which withdraws air directly from the toilet bowl. 
         [0005]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a toilet bowl ventilation system that is configured to be run only when the toilet bowl is in use. 
         [0006]    It is another object of the invention to provide a toilet bowl ventilation system, which is capable of being used with existing toilet bowl installations. 
         [0007]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a toilet bowl ventilation system, which is inexpensive. 
         [0008]    The foregoing and other objects of the invention are realized by a toilet seat ventilation system which includes a toilet bowl and a toilet seat pivotally secured to the toilet bowl to allow it to be selectably raised above the toilet bowl. A ventilation apparatus is interposed between the toilet bowl and the toilet seat, the ventilation apparatus incorporating at least one built-in vent which is coupled to a venting tube. The venting tube can be further connected to an existing venting pipe for drawing air directly from the toilet bowl into the venting pipe. Alternatively, the venting tube can be coupled via a filter to a suction motor which vents the air drawn from the interior of the toilet bowl into the room after malodorous smells have been removed from that air by the filter. 
         [0009]    In accordance with one embodiment, the ventilation apparatus can itself also form the toilet seat. 
         [0010]    Other features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective of a toilet bowl incorporating the air ventilation system of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  shows a conventional prior art raisable toilet seat. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  shows an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  shows further features of the ventilation system of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a cross-section through lines  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a toilet facility ( 10 ) includes a toilet bowl ( 12 ) having a water tank ( 14 ), a raisable toilet seat ( 16 ) with a toilet seat cover ( 18 ), with both the toilet seat ( 16 ) and the cover ( 18 ) being pivotable about the hinge ( 17 ). 
         [0017]    In accordance with the invention, there is also provided a ventilation system ( 20 ) that is coupled to a venting tube ( 22 ) and is also provided with vent openings ( 27 ). When the tube ( 22 ) is lead into a vertically rising venting tube ( 26 ), which is located behind a lavatory wall ( 24 ), the suction force exerted by the fan ( 28 ) will draw air through the vent openings ( 27 ). Thereby, a person sitting on the toilet seat and covering its opening will cause the air from within the air space of the toilet bowl ( 12 ) to be immediately directed behind the wall ( 24 ) and out of the lavatory room. Optionally, odor removing filter ( 19 ) can be provided in the path of the tube ( 22 ) together with motor ( 23 ), in which case the end of the tube ( 22 ) may vent inside the lavatory room (not shown) or into the rinsing tube ( 26 ). The filter ( 19 ) may be located in a removable and periodically replaceable manner, in a slot of the housing of filter device ( 19 ). The motor ( 23 ) may be battery operated, so no special electrical wiring is necessary and the motor ( 23 ) is activated when one sits on the toilet seat, and optionally for a short period, e.g., 1-5 minutes thereafter (by means of a delayed turn-off circuit, e.g., one including a delay timer). 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , shown therein is a conventional toilet seat ( 16 ), which comprises on the bottom side thereof a plurality of spacers ( 16   a,    16   b ), which locate the toilet seat ( 20 ) at some spacing above the rim of the toilet bowl ( 12 ). Openings ( 16   c ) allow bolts to pass through the toilet bowl and thereby fix the toilet ( 16 ) thereto, allowing the toilet ( 16 ) to be raised by being pivoted around the hinge ( 16   d ), all in well known manner. 
         [0019]    A basic arrangement of the toilet bowl ( 12 ) is shown in  FIG. 3 , whereby the toilet bowl ( 12 ) is shown sitting on the lavatory floor, with toilet seat ( 16 ) and its cover ( 18 ) illustrated to be located above the ventilation system ( 20 ) which is coupled via the pipe ( 22 ) to the air vent ( 26 ), as previously described. 
         [0020]    Referring now to a more detailed depiction of the ventilation system ( 20 ) in  FIG. 4 , note that the ventilation system can be generally in the shape of a toilet seat and of similar dimensions, wherein the body of the ventilation system ( 20 ) can be solid, sandwiched between and slightly raising the height of the toilet seat by the thickness dimension of the ventilation system ( 20 ). Incorporated in the ventilation system is a central ventilation tube ( 29 ), which is coupled with other interior tubes, such as air tubes ( 30   a,    30   b,    30   c,    30   d ) each of which is open into the interior of the toilet bowl. When the tube ( 29 ) is coupled to the motor ( 23 ) it will draw the air from the interior of the toilet bowl as previously described. Alternatively, the air will be sucked by the fan motor ( 28 ) shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0021]    Optionally, openings ( 20   a  and  20   b ) are large enough to receive therein the spacers ( 16   a  and  16   b ) shown in  FIG. 2  so that the weight of the person sitting on the toilet seat will be born entirely by the toilet seat ( 16 ), via the spacers ( 16   a,    16   b ) which contact the rim of the toilet bowl via these openings ( 20   a,    20   b ) (without pressing on the ventilation system ( 20 )). Optionally, spacer extensions for the toilet seat may be provided for increasing the height of the spacers ( 16   a  and  16   b ) beyond their original size, for example, by providing small rectangular boxes which are taller than and receive within the spacers ( 16   a ) to increase their height dimension, while still being able to pass through the openings ( 20   a  and  20   b ). 
         [0022]    In accordance with another embodiment, the material of the ventilation system ( 20 ) can be resilient plastic which is somewhat compressed by the weight of the person sitting on the toilet bowl, so that the air spaces between the toilet seat ( 16 ) and the toilet bowl ( 12 ) are sealed, whereby air cannot pass from the toilet bowl to the outside. The openings ( 20   c ) in the ventilation system can be made to accommodate bolts that typically pass through the holes ( 16   c ) in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0023]    A switch ( 21 ) may be provided in the ventilation system, which becomes activated by the weight applied to the ventilation system ( 20 ), providing a turn on signal via wire ( 25 ) to the motor ( 23 ), so that it automatically turns on when a person sits on the toilet seat. The switch ( 21 ) can have a slightly raised component, which allows the switch to become engaged only when the weight of a person bears on the toilet seat. 
         [0024]    In another embodiment, the ventilation system ( 20 ) shown in  FIG. 4  can be made of a hard material and configured to serve both as the toilet seat and the ventilation system. Also, the ventilation apparatus, being shaped generally like a toilet seat may have a pivoting hinge ( 20   e ). 
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a cross-section through the tube ( 29 ) and shows it to be square shaped. However, any shape can be provided with assurances being made that when and if the ventilation system, which may be made of a resilient material body is squeezed, the vent openings therein remain open. 
         [0026]    Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.

Technology Category: 0