Patent Document

[0001]    This application is related to a prior patent application, now pending, Ser. No. 09/685,411 filed on Oct. 10, 2000 entitled “Ventilation System for Toilets” by the same inventor. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention, in general relates to portable toilets and, more particularly, to devices that vent odors from portable toilets.  
           [0004]    Elderly and infirm people need assistance using a toilet. A portable toilet, hereinafter referred to simply as a “commode” is used for that purpose.  
           [0005]    In use the commode may be placed proximate a bed or some other area where the person having need thereof is disposed.  
           [0006]    A container that is included and is detachably-attached to the commode. During use, fecal matter and urine are normally deposited into a container along with toilet tissue. The container resembles a pail or bucket in appearance and has a handle and it is detachably-attachable to the commode. A small amount of water is normally placed in the bottom of the container prior to using the commode.  
           [0007]    Fecal matter that settles under the water is covered by the water and produces less odor than it would were there no water in the container. After use, the container is later removed from the commode by a caregiver who dumps the contents of the container into a conventional type of a flush-toilet and flushes the fecal matter, tissue, water, and urine away. The interior of the container is cleaned as needed and returned back to the commode.  
           [0008]    As is common with bowel movements, a small amount of fecal matter typically is deposited along the inside surfaces of the container. The water may not cover all of the feces either. Urine mixes with the water and produces unpleasant odors as well.  
           [0009]    Consequently, the commode will begin to develop an unpleasant (i.e., foul) smell after use. If there is an extended time until the caregiver can empty and clean the container, this unpleasant odor is experienced by those having to remain in proximity to the commode.  
           [0010]    This includes, as mentioned hereinabove, the elderly and the infirm. Those suffering or recovering from all manner of maladies may also require the use of a commode. For example, someone who has broken a leg may be confined to a limited area for a period of time and may require the use of a commode.  
           [0011]    Clearly, the odors that arise from the use of a commode are unpleasant. When company visits, no person can feel comfortable after having just had a bowel movement in a commode that is disposed very close, perhaps even next to, the guests. The fear of offending the guests with unpleasant odors will weigh on the person&#39;s mind who has just used the commode.  
           [0012]    Certain types of commodes also permit their placement directly over the top portion of a conventional “flush-type” toilet. Certain of these types of commodes may also function as a walker that the person can use to provide assistance as they walk to the bathroom.  
           [0013]    This general type of commode does not include the container. In use, it is placed over the flush-type toilet after first lifting the cover and, usually, the toilet seat of the flush-type toilet. Urine and fecal matter are deposited during use into the bowl of the flush-type toilet.  
           [0014]    The raised sides of the commode allow the person that is using it to sit down and raise themselves up after use, whereas they might not be able to do so with a conventional type of a flush-toilet. Some people leave this type of a commode straddled over the flush-type toilet at all times.  
           [0015]    While the odors emanating from this type of a commode are generally less severe than emanating from the stand-alone types of commodes (because the waste matter is soon flushed away), there are still odors produced while it is being used and many of these odors linger in the bathroom for some time.  
           [0016]    Accordingly there exists today a need for a portable venting commode that lessens the amount of odor that is produced.  
           [0017]    Clearly, such an apparatus would be a useful and desirable device.  
           [0018]    2. Description of Prior Art  
           [0019]    Commodes are, in general, known. However, the known types of devices are not believed to anticipate the instant invention. While the structural arrangements of the above described devices may, at first appearance, have similarities with the present invention, they differ in material respects. These differences, which will be described in more detail hereinafter, are essential for the effective use of the invention and which admit of the advantages that are not available with the prior devices.  
           [0020]    The above referenced pending patent application Ser. No. 09/685,411 filed on Oct. 10, 2000 by the present inventor, while different from the instant invention, includes information that may be helpful in understanding the benefits and advantages of the instant invention and it is incorporated by reference herein.  
         OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0021]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable venting commode that lessens odor.  
           [0022]    It is also an important object of the invention to provide a portable venting commode that is adaptable for installation of the venting portion in a given area while still being portable.  
           [0023]    Another object of the invention is to provide a portable venting commode that is adaptable to be powered by domestic AC voltage and current.  
           [0024]    Still another object of the invention is to provide a portable venting commode that is adaptable to be powered by a battery.  
           [0025]    Still yet another object of the invention is to provide a portable venting commode that can be placed over an existing flush-type of toilet.  
           [0026]    Yet another important object of the invention is to provide a portable venting commode that includes its own container to accumulate human waste.  
           [0027]    Still yet another important object of the invention is to provide a portable venting commode that includes a device to adjust it for use with different types of toilets.  
           [0028]    Briefly, a portable venting commode of the type that is placed over a conventional flush-type of toilet that is constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention has a toilet seat and straight chute attached to a portable frame of the commode. The toilet seat includes an opening for conducting the vapors disposed under the toilet seat through a flexible hose to a distal location where they are expelled. A brushless DC motor powered fan provides either suction or positive air pressure to conduct the vapors through the flexible hose. A modified chute is disclosed and it includes a tapered cone-like profile. A flexible ring fits over the exterior of the modified chute and provides a seal intermediate the modified chute and a conventional toilet seat. The modified chute includes a hose connection for directly attaching the flexible hose thereto. A modified type of a portable venting commode that is intended for independent use (not for placement over the conventional flush-type of toilet) includes a frame structure that supports a modified toilet seat that is adapted to pivot over a removable container that collects human waste matter. The modified toilet seat includes a container seal. A modified vent is provided to conduct vapors away from the container area. According to a preferred embodiment, a brushless DC motor is attached to the frame structure. The flexible hose is attached to the outlet side of the DC motor and is placed at a distal location where the vapors are discharged under positive pressure. According to an alternative embodiment, the motor is placed distally and negative pressure (suction) is used to conduct the vapors from the modified portable venting commode. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0029]    [0029]FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a portable venting commode that is placed over a conventional type of flush-toilet.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 2 is a plan view of the bottom of the toilet seat portion of the portable venting commode of FIG. 1.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 3 is a view as shown in FIG. 2 as seen along the lines  3 - 3  therein.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 4 is a side view of a modified type of chute that includes a tapered shape.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 5 is a view in perspective of a portion of a modified type of a portable venting commode that is independently used.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 6 is a view in perspective of a child&#39;s portable venting commode. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0035]    Referring to all of the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1 is shown, a portable venting commode, identified in general by the reference numeral  10 .  
         [0036]    The commode  10  is intended to be placed over a conventional flush-type toilet (not shown), of the type that are well known devices which are permanently installed in bathrooms in homes everywhere.  
         [0037]    It includes a frame structure  12  with handles  14  to use in carrying it. It can double as a walker and help a person reach the conventional flush-toilet in the bathroom.  
         [0038]    When reaching the conventional flush-toilet, the conventional toilet cover (not shown) is raised and a conventional toilet seat (see reference numeral  16  shown in dashed lines in FIG. 4) that is attached to the conventional flush-toilet is lowered. The commode  10  is then placed over the flush-toilet so a chute  18  passes through an opening provided in the conventional toilet seat  16 .  
         [0039]    The chute  18  is cylindrical in shape and is open at both ends thereof. It is attached along a first end to a toilet seat  20 . The toilet seat  20  includes a center opening  21  and it is attached to the frame structure  12  of the commode  10 .  
         [0040]    Referring now also to FIG. 2, the chute  18  is omitted from the view to better reveal details of the toilet seat  20 . Its general location (where it is attached) is shown by a dashed circle and by the reference numeral “ 18 ”.  
         [0041]    Within the space encircled by the chute  18 , an opening  22  is formed through the rear of the seat  20  and it extends in the seat  20  to a rear vent assembly, identified in general by the reference numeral  24 .  
         [0042]    The rear vent assembly  24  includes a “T” fitting  26  and it can be used to exhaust vapors from the space inside the chute  18  (when the commode  10  is disposed over the conventional type of a toilet) to an exterior location, as is described in greater detail hereinafter.  
         [0043]    The T fitting  26  includes a first discharge opening  28  and an opposite second discharge opening  30 . The second opening  30  includes a removable plug  32 . The removable plug  30  prevents air from entering the second discharge opening  30  or vapors from exiting at that location. The first and second discharge openings  28 ,  30  include threaded ends to facilitate connection thereto of a vent hose  34 , partially shown in FIG. 2.  
         [0044]    If it is preferable to connect the vent hose  34  to the second discharge opening  30  instead of the first  28 , the plug  32  is removed from the second opening  30 , and a first end  36  of the vent hose  34  is attached to the T fitting  26  at the second opening  30 . The plug  32  is then applied to the first opening  28  to seal it instead.  
         [0045]    Referring now also to FIG. 3, the chute  18  includes an upper taper  38 , as necessary to ensure that it fully covers (i.e., encircles) the opening  22  in the seat  20 .  
         [0046]    The rest of the chute  18  is straight so that when it is placed inside the conventional toilet seat  16 , the outer diameter of the chute  18  forms an effective seal with the inside diameter of the opening provided in the conventional toilet seat  16 .  
         [0047]    As the height of legs  40  of the frame structure  12  can be adjusted to suit the user (not shown), it is not possible to know the exact depth that the chute  18  will penetrate the opening in the conventional toilet seat  16 .  
         [0048]    Accordingly, the straight sides of the chute  18  ensure an effective fit with the opening in the conventional toilet seat  16  regardless of the relative height between the two.  
         [0049]    If desired, an additional layer  42  is added under the seat  20  to cover the opening  22  as it extends toward the rear vent assembly  24 . The additional layer  42  can also be formed integral with the chute  18 , if desired.  
         [0050]    Referring now to FIG. 4, a modified chute  50  is attached to a modified seat  51  that includes a tapered cone-like profile. The modified seat  51  does not include the rear opening  22 . The modified seat  51  is similarly attached to the frame structure  12  in place of the seat  20  and chute  18 , as described hereinabove.  
         [0051]    A flexible ring  52  fits over the exterior of the modified chute  50  and it provides a seal intermediate the modified chute  50  and the conventional toilet seat  16 , regardless of how the legs  40  of the commode  10  are adjusted.  
         [0052]    The flexible ring  52  can expand or contract as desired so that it can be urged up or down over the modified chute  50  along its longitudinal length.  
         [0053]    The modified chute  50  includes an elbow fitting  54  that allows for connection of the vent hose  34  thereto.  
         [0054]    Referring again to FIG. 1, a DC brushless low power motor/fan assembly  56  is attached to the frame structure  12 . A second end of the vent hose  34  is attached thereto.  
         [0055]    A battery pack  58  is attached to the frame structure  12  and it supplies the electrical energy to run the fan assembly  56 .  
         [0056]    A switch  60  is used to turn the fan assembly  56  on and off, as desired. The switch  60  may be a mechanical switch such as a toggle switch or it can be a motion detector, such as an infrared or other type of motion (or presence) detector that scans the area over the seat  20  and turns the fan assembly  56  on while someone is disposed on the seat  20  and possibly for a limited time thereafter, and then shuts it off.  
         [0057]    A second flexible vent hose  62  is attached to the fan assembly  56  at a discharge location thereof and is used to conduct vapors to a location away from the commode  10  where the odor of the vapors will not offend.  
         [0058]    A preferred way to accomplish this is to provide a discharge assembly  64  through an exterior wall of the structure and attach the second hose  62  thereto. Arrows  66  indicate the vapors being discharged away from the commode  10 .  
         [0059]    The second hose  62  can be any preferred length.  
         [0060]    Another preferred way is to eliminate the second hose  62  and to interface to the venting system, identified by the reference numeral  68  and shown in dashed lines. The system  68  is described in greater detail in pending patent application Ser. No. 09/685,411 filed on Oct. 10, 2000 by the same inventor.  
         [0061]    When the system  68  is used, the first vent hose  34  is merely connected to a port  70  that is provided in the system  68  for that purpose. This connection is shown in FIG. 1 in dashed lines.  
         [0062]    The vapors are then sucked out (i.e., by a partial vacuum) by the system  68  motor (not shown) that is distally located. The vapors enter into the port  70  where they are conducted through system piping (not shown) to the system  68  motor for discharge in accordance with the installation of the system  68 .  
         [0063]    If desired, the system  68  need not be used. An alternative way to use the portable venting commode  10  is to attach a remote motor  72  that is shown in dashed lines surrounding the discharge assembly  64 . The remote motor  72  may be installed in the exterior wall or it may be located outside. It is powered by a DC power supply that converts household 120 VAC power into DC to power the DC brushless remote motor  72 .  
         [0064]    All of the preferred embodiments rely upon the use of some sort of a DC brushless motor attached to a fan so as to eliminate sparks from arising when the motor turns on or off that could potentially ignite the vapors.  
         [0065]    Also, these types of motors consume very little electrical energy. Their low power consumption makes them suitable even for continuous duty operation (i.e., being left on all the time) as well as being powered by the battery pack  58 .  
         [0066]    Finally, it is noted that the seat  20  and the modified seat  51  are rigidly attached to the frame structure  12  of the commode  10 , and therefore, do not move in relation thereto.  
         [0067]    Referring now to FIG. 5, when the user is unable to travel to the bathroom and therefore is unable to use the commode  10 , a solution that is disposed nearer to the user must be provided.  
         [0068]    For this purpose, a modified type of a portable venting commode, identified in general by the reference numeral  100 , that is intended for independent use (not for placement over the conventional flush-type of toilet) is provided.  
         [0069]    The modified commode  100  includes a modified frame structure  102  (shown partially in dashed lines) that supports a modified toilet seat  104 .  
         [0070]    Only a portion of the modified toilet seat  104  is shown. The unseen remainder is consistent with other types of toilet seats except for the component parts of the invention and the component parts of the instant invention merely continue as shown so as to extend and to encircle the area that is missing from the view in the FIG. 5 drawing.  
         [0071]    The modified toilet seat  104  includes hinges  106  and it is adapted to pivot about an axis over a removable container  108  that is used to collect human waste matter therein.  
         [0072]    The modified frame structure  102  includes a pair of rails  110  that are used to support and to properly align the container  108  under a toilet seat opening  112  when the modified toilet seat  104  is disposed in a lower position (i.e., over the container  108 ).  
         [0073]    The container  108  resembles a pail and it includes a bottom  114  that can contain fluids and waste matter therein. In normal use, a small quantity of water is placed in the container prior to defecation by the user.  
         [0074]    The modified toilet seat  104  includes a container seal  116  that is attached to the bottom thereof by brackets  118  and screws  120 . The container seal  116  takes up any space intermediate the bottom of the modified toilet seat  104  and the top of the container  108  when the modified toilet seat  104  is disposed in the lower position.  
         [0075]    The container seal  116  includes a seal opening  122  in the rear thereof. A modified rear vent assembly  124  is disposed to the rear of the modified frame structure  102 . The modified rear vent assembly  124  includes a frontal opening  126  that aligns with and abuts the seal opening  122  when the modified toilet seat  104  is disposed in the lower position.  
         [0076]    The modified rear vent assembly  124  is similar to the vent assembly  24  as was described hereinabove for use with the commode  10 . Accordingly, the vent hose  34  is shown attached to the motor/fan assembly  56  proximate the battery pack  58 . The second flexible vent hose  62  is shown attached to the fan assembly  56 .  
         [0077]    Any of the configurations involving location of the motor fan assembly  56 , discharge of vapors, and use of the system  68 , as described hereinabove for use with the commode  10 , apply also for use with the modified commode  100 .  
         [0078]    If the remote motor  72  is used with the modified commode  100 , it may be desirable to leave it running all of the time. This will ensure that even when no one is sitting on the modified toilet seat  104  or using the modified commode  100 , that odors (i.e., vapors) that persist in the container  108  will be removed from the room in which the modified commode  100  is disposed.  
         [0079]    It is also noted that a modified toilet seat cover (not shown) is typically used with the modified commode  100  and it is adapted to pivot as well about the axis and to cover the modified toilet seat  104  and hide the contents of the container  108  from view after waste matter has been deposited in the container  108 .  
         [0080]    When the modified toilet seat cover is disposed in a lower position (i.e., over the modified toilet seat  104 ), it provides a seal that helps to prevent vapors (i.e., odors) from leaving the area proximate the container  108  and entering into the room where the modified commode  100  is located.  
         [0081]    If the remote motor  72  is used and if it is left running all of the time with the modified commode  100 , then virtually no odors can escape or be detected and the modified commode  100  can be left proximate the user (and any visitors) without embarrassment.  
         [0082]    Normally, a caregiver (not shown) will eventually remove the container  108 , empty the contents of the container  108  into a conventional flush-type toilet, clean the container  108  of any residue fecal matter that may adhere to its sides, add more water thereto, and return it to the modified commode  100  for subsequent reuse.  
         [0083]    Accordingly, the modified commode  100  provides for truly portable and independent use by the user. It may be placed proximate the user without causing excessive unpleasant odors.  
         [0084]    The second vent hose  62  may be temporarily placed through an opening provided by partially opening a window (not shown) or a door (not shown), if preferred.  
         [0085]    Referring now to FIG. 6, a child&#39;s portable venting commode  200  is shown in a partially exploded view with a child&#39;s seat  202  elevated above a base  204 . A cup  206  collects waste matter and is removable.  
         [0086]    A channel  208  conducts vapors to a rear fitting  210 . The vent hose  34  (not shown in this view) is attached thereto as are the other component parts as are described hereinabove. Accordingly, it is shown that the instant invention is adaptable to any size as needed.  
         [0087]    The invention has been shown, described, and illustrated in substantial detail with reference to the presently preferred embodiment. It will be understood by those skilled in this art that other and further changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which is defined by the claims appended hereto.

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