TOILET BOWL VENTILATION SYSTEM ODOR EXTRACTOR

Abstract

A toilet odor elimination system is provided. The toilet odor elimination system is adapted to direct airflow from a toilet space circumscribed by toilet bowl for discharge the directed airflow into an external space, preventing the toilet odor from escaping the toilet space by directly eliminating the toilet odor there from.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/283,961, filed 16 Sep. 2015, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to ventilation systems and, more particularly, to a ventilation system adapted to direct airflow from a toilet bowl for discharge outside, preventing any odorous airflow from escaping from the toilet bowl by eliminating odor from the source.

[0003] Flush toilets, it goes without say, have for long been a source of malodorous odors. Current bathroom ventilation systems incorporate exhaust fans designed to discharge such toilet odor only after it has filled the bathroom or area surrounding the toilets. The effect is to expose a user of the toilet to foul-smelling, pungent and rank odors, as a matter of course, and then noisily and inefficiently expelling the odor. Further extending exposure time to such toilet odor lingers as they can cling to surrounding surfaces, including the clothing fabric of the user.

[0004] As can be seen, there is a need for a ventilation system adapted to direct airflow from a toilet bowl for discharge outside, preventing any odorous airflow from escaping from the toilet bowl by eliminating odor from the source.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In one aspect of the present invention, a system for venting odors from a toilet space circumscribed by a toilet bowl, wherein the toilet bowl provides a pivotally connected toilet seat movable from an open condition to a closed condition adapted for seating a user on the toilet seat, said system includes a seat gasket attached to an underside of the toilet seat so as to create a seal between the toilet bowl and the underside of the toilet seat in the closed condition; a vent duct fluidly interconnecting the toilet space and an external space; a cutout provided by the seat gasket, wherein the cutout is dimensioned and adapted to snugly receive the vent duct; and a pump or vacuum selectively connected to the vent duct for urging an airflow therethrough.

[0006] In another aspect of the present invention, the system may include a seat switch disposed between the vent duct and the toilet seat, wherein the seat switch is configured to operate the pump or vacuum, wherein the seat switch is configured to selectively operate the pump or vacuum only when seating the user on the toilet seat.

[0007] In yet another aspect of the present invention may include a toilet spacer interconnecting the seat gasket and the underside of the toilet seat for accommodating the seat switch; a manual switch disposed near toilet seat, wherein the manual switch is configured to operate the pump or vacuum; a remote switch configured to remotely operate the pump or vacuum; a duct opening provided by the vent duct, wherein the duct opening is disposed in the toilet space; a urine guard disposed along a portion of the duct opening; a vacuum chamber interconnecting the vent duct and the exterior space; at least one exhaust duct interconnecting the vacuum chamber and the exterior space; or a filter disposed in the vacuum chamber or the at least one exhaust duct.

[0008] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in use;

[0010] FIG. 2 is an enlarged front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

[0012] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

[0013] FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

[0014] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

[0016] Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a toilet odor elimination system adapted to direct airflow from a toilet space circumscribed by toilet bowl for discharge into an external space, preventing any odorous airflow from escaping the toilet space by eliminating odor from the source.

[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 6, the present invention may include a ventilation system 10 adapted to direct airflow from a toilet space to an external space. The toilet space is the area generally circumscribed by a toilet bowl 12 or a toilet having a pivotally connected toilet seat 13 movable from an open condition to a closed condition adapted for seating a user on the toilet seat 13.

[0018] The ventilation system 10 may include a seat gasket 15 dimensioned and adapted to attach along a toilet seat spacer 14 (or along the underside of the toilet seat 13) so as to maintain a first predetermine distance between a toilet bowl rim 11 and the underside of the toilet seat 13 and/or toilet seat spacer 14. It should be understood that the toilet seat spacer 14 may be pre-existing to a toilet seat 13, making the present invention adaptable for pre-existing toilets. The toilet seat spacer 14, alternatively, may be part of the present invention that is attached along the underside of the toilet seat 13 so as to maintain a second predetermine distance between a toilet bowl rim 11 and the underside of the toilet seat 13. The seat gasket 15 may provide a cutout dimensioned and adapted snugly receive a vent duct 18 so that when the toilet seat 13 is in a closed condition an airtight seal is formed between the toilet bowl rim 11, the seat gasket 15, the toilet seat 13 and/or toilet seat spacer 14 and the vent duct 18.

[0019] The vent duct 18 may provide a duct opening 19. The vent duct 18 may have a height less than or equal to the first predetermine distance so as to protrude through the cutout and above the toilet space so that the duct opening 19 is fluidly connected to the toilet space. The vent duct may also be fluidly connected to a vacuum chamber 20. The vacuum chamber 20 is connected to at least one exhaust duct 24, 33 that directs an airflow 60 and discharges the airflow 60 out through an exhaust vent 34 disposed in an exterior space 30, typically far removed from the space housing the toilet bowl 12, preferably to an outside environment. A vent pump/vacuum 36 may be fluidly connected, directly or indirectly, to the vacuum chamber 20 so to provide sufficient pressure to urge the airflow 60 of airborne odors disposed in the toilet space through the vent duct 18, and then through the exhaust duct 24, 33 and the exhaust vent 34. The exhaust ducts 24, 33 may be part of a system of exhaust ducts interconnected and adapted to operatively engage a plurality of toilet bowls 12.

[0020] The vacuum chamber 20 may include end caps 22 to provide access thereto. In certain embodiments, the vacuum chamber 20 may provide a removable cover 32 so that the vacuum chamber 20 may be accessed for, among other things, disposing a filter 56, therein. Alternatively, the filter 56 may be disposed along the exhaust duct 24, 33. The filters 56 may be able to filter out any odor associated with the airflow 60.

[0021] In certain embodiments, a urine guard 19 may be disposed along a periphery of the duct opening 19 so as to shield the duct opening 19 from liquids having a downwardly or straightforward trajectory.

[0022] In certain embodiments, a seat switch 16 may be disposed between the vent duct 18 and the underside of the toilet seat 13 (second predetermined distance) so that while in the closed condition, the ventilation system 10 would be operative. Alternatively, the seat switch 16 may be adapted to operate the ventilation system 10 only when sufficient mass, such by a user of the toilet 12, is disposed on the toilet seat 13. In certain embodiments, a manual switch 35 may be disposed so as to be operable by the user on the toilet seat 13. Each switch 16 and 35 may provide appropriate wiring 29 so that they may electromechanically may operate the vent pump/vacuum 36. Alternatively, a wireless transmitter 48 coupled to a remote control switch 52 may be adapted to interface with a wireless receiver 50 coupled to the vent pump/vacuum 36 so as to remotely and/or programmably operate the ventilation system 10, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0023] A method of using the present invention may include the following. The ventilation system disclosed above may be provided. When a user of the toilet bowl 12 assumes a seated position on the toilet seat 13 in the closed condition a general seal is formed by the user, the toilet seat 13 and the toilet rim 11 of the space circumscribed by the toilet bowl 12 (toilet space) so that when the vent pump/vacuum 36 is selectively engaged by at least one of switches 16, 35, or 52, the airflow within such toilet space is urged through the vent duct 18 and directed to the external space 30, preventing any odorous airflow from escaping from the toilet space by eliminating odor directly therefrom.

[0024] It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A system for venting odors from a toilet space circumscribed by a toilet bowl, wherein the toilet bowl provides a pivotally connected toilet seat movable from an open condition to a closed condition adapted for seating a user on the toilet seat, said system comprising: a seat gasket attached to an underside of the toilet seat so as to create a seal between the toilet bowl and the underside of the toilet seat in the closed condition; a vent duct fluidly interconnecting the toilet space and an external space; a cutout provided by the seat gasket, wherein the cutout is dimensioned and adapted to snugly receive the vent duct; and a pump or vacuum selectively connected to the vent duct for urging an airflow therethrough.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a seat switch disposed between the vent duct and the toilet seat, wherein the seat switch is configured to operate the pump or vacuum.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the seat switch is configured to selectively operate the pump or vacuum only when seating the user on the toilet seat.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising a toilet spacer interconnecting the seat gasket and the underside of the toilet seat for accommodating the seat switch.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a manual switch disposed near toilet seat, wherein the manual switch is configured to operate the pump or vacuum.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a remote switch configured to remotely operate the pump or vacuum.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a duct opening provided by the vent duct, wherein the duct opening is disposed in the toilet space.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a urine guard disposed along a portion of the duct opening.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a vacuum chamber interconnecting the vent duct and the exterior space.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising at least one exhaust duct interconnecting the vacuum chamber and the exterior space.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a filter disposed in the vacuum chamber or the at least one exhaust duct.

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