TOILET BOWL ASSEMBLY WITH AIR ASPIRATION AND FILTRATION

Abstract

mprising a base fixed to a bowl, provided with a toilet seat and a device for aspirating air from the bowl. The base comprises an extension that has its upper part provided with a presence detection window directed to above the seat and forming an aspiration channel opening into the bowl. A circuit for controlling the function of the aspirating device with an infrared detector situated in the detection window to detect a presence on the seat and with an electric power supply for the circuit and the aspirating device.

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001]1. Field of the Disclosure

[0002]The present disclosure relates to a toilet bowl assembly comprising a base fixed to the bowl, provided with a toilet seat and a device for aspirating air from the bowl, the underside of the seat being provided with a seal by which the seat is supported on the rim of the bowl, said seal being open to the front and to the rear to allow air to pass towards the aspirator through aspiration opening formed in the base, the aspirating device comprising a rotor driven by an electric motor to aspirate air and circulate it through a filter that discharges from the housing.

[0003]2. Discussion of the Background Art

[0004]Such an assembly is already known from the document EP 0 934 720, for instance. However, the toilet bowl lid proposed in this document has the drawback of controlling the function of the aspirating device through a switch that is operated either manually or automatically under the weight of a user, and therefore the bowl is provided with a detector. These two solutions have a certain number of drawbacks. The manual control has the drawbacks of all manual controls, all with respect to the installation, the maintenance and the use; the manual control has to be mounted at a position within reach. The place has to be visible so that a person unfamiliar with the device can find it easily. Further, the user has to remember actuating the control.

[0005]Due to these different drawbacks, the functioning of the manually controlled aspirating device is not satisfactory.

[0006]The detector mounted to the seat and reacting under the weight of the user on the seat, has the drawback that requires a detector under the seat and a connection between the detector and the control circuit in a housing of the stationary part.

[0007]The pivoting movement of the seat being lifted will necessarily adversely affect the electric connection that therefore has to be replaced from time to time. In addition, the presence of the detector under the seat requires particular caution so that the detector is not exposed to liquids or during the cleaning of the seat.

[0008]Finally, the installation of this seat requires a connection between the detector and the electric or electronic circuit controlling the aspirating device. The housing accommodating the aspirating device and the control circuit thus has to be assembled to the seat from the beginning so that there will be no contact problems, the more so since the transition zone between the mobile seat and the stationary part of the aspirating device have to be realized in a protected manner.

[0009]This installation is therefore subject to failures or requires maintenance action from time to time.

[0010]It is the object of the present disclosure to overcome the drawbacks of the known solutions and to provide a toilet assembly allowing to aspire air from the bowl to filter the same and discharge the filtered air in trying to achieve a comfortable use of toilets. The disclosure aims at providing a device that is simple to manufacture and reliable in function, requiring practically no maintenance and not being subject to failures due to the degradation of an electric connection between the presence detector and the aspirating device.

SUMMARY

[0011]To this end the present disclosure refers to a device as defined above, characterized by [0012]a base comprising an extension that has its upper part provided with a presence detection window directed to above the seat and forming--beneath the detection window--an aspiration channel with the upper side of the rear of the bowl and opening into the bowl, and [0013]a circuit for controlling the function of the aspirating device with an infrared detector situated in the detection window to detect a presence on the seat and with an electric power supply for the circuit and the aspirating device, said circuit managing the functioning of the aspirating device, its timing and the display of the functional state such as its availability, its orderly functioning and the supply condition as well as the necessity to recharge the supply.

[0014]The realization of the assembly of the disclosure is simple as are its mounting and its maintenance. This assembly may be substituted for a conventional toilet seat without any transformation. It is sufficient to choose the mounting position of the base in order to position the assembly, as will be shown hereunder.

[0015]Since the electric, electronic and mechanic elements are all grouped in the base and the housing, there is no function-related link between the movement or the position of the seat and the aspirating device. The detection is exclusively effected via the detection window situated in the front of the housing above the seat. This detection allows the function of the assembly to be managed by the control circuit in order to guarantee the long-term operational reliability without exhausting the supply formed by batteries in the most simple and most practical case of installation of the assembly.

[0016]According to an advantageous feature [0017]the air aspiration channel is in the shape of a V open towards the bowl and its outlet towards the aspirating device is offset in the direction of circulation of the air aspirated by the rotor of the aspirating device, [0018]and the seat is supported on the bowl by means of a seal formed by two symmetrical branches which at the rear ends extend to either side of the inlet of the aspiration channel and, in prolongation by the sides of the same, abut against the front side of the extension on either side of the entry of aspiration channel.

[0019]Since the seat does not comprise any presence detector to react to the seat contacting the bowl or to the weight of a user applied to the seat, it is possible to realize a particularly efficient, i.e. tight sealing between the seat and the bowl to create an air aspiration space that is as tight as possible so that the air aspirated arrives only via the opening at the front of the seal between the two front ends of the two branches of the seal, the top face of the bowl and the underside of the front of the seat. The mechanical connection and, possibly, the hinged connection between the seat and the assembly may be relatively tight in order to avoid any aspiration of parasitic air directly present at the inlet of the aspiration channel without this air coming from the bowl.

[0020]According to another advantageous characteristic, one branch of the seal is formed by a support provided with projections to be clipped into clip openings provided in the underside of the seat in order to fix the support in a releasable manner, said support having a front end and a rear end of the seal section, and a soft material is molded on the support portion between the ends, forming the seal.

[0021]This embodiment of the seal facilitates the realization of the seat, since the branches of the seal are independent elements that are manufactured separately. Since each branch is itself formed of at least two parts, i.e. the support and the softer seal material, the manufacture is facilitated, allows for an adaptation to a large number of parameters and materials, and simplifies the replacement of seals possibly worn or defective without having to replace the seat, thus also contributing to the proper functioning of the assembly.

[0022]The maintenance is also facilitated since removing the branches of the joint makes it possible to profoundly clean the entire assembly.

[0023]According to another feature, [0024]the base has a thickness at least equal to the height of the seal of the seat, and a front edge, [0025]the seat is connected to the base by an articulation formed by two hinges whose axis is displaced on the base beyond the front edge of the base, [0026]when the seat rests on the bowl, the rear edge of the seat and the front edge of the base show practically no gap.

[0027]Since the base has a thickness substantially equal to at least the height of the seal and the front face thereof serves as a support for the rear face of the seat, an excellent tightness is obtained there, the more so since the offset of the hinge axes of the seat allows for a tilting that eventually ends in a slight compression, whereby tightness is guaranteed.

[0028]According to another advantageous feature [0029]two passages extend through the base on either side of the extension and terminate in the underside, [0030]each hinge has a fastening bracket of a section and position corresponding to one of said passages and being provided with a threaded opening to engage into said passage and to be blocked there by a screw passing into the passage from the lower face of the base.

[0031]This embodiment of the articulation between the seat and the base, and possibly the lid should the same be provided and installed on the same hinges, substantially facilitates the mounting and still allows for a possible replacement of the seat/lid part with respect to the base and the housing.

[0032]The manufacture and the packaging are also simplified, since the housing that includes the fragile elements of the assembly, i.e. the mechanical part and the electronic part, can be packed separate from the seat and the lid, while the mounting is done before the installation of the assembly on a bowl. Further, the hinge plates are advantageously protected by the seal. Since, moreover, the hinges are situated above the base the humidity possibly present on the top face of the bowl will not penetrate into the articulation, the more so since the same, due to its offset and its structure, is situated clearly above even the surface of the base.

[0033]According to another advantageous feature, the rear end of each branch of the seat seal is truncated at the rear edge of the seat so as to abut against the front edge of the base on either side of the inlet of the aspiration channel.

[0034]According to a further advantageous feature, it comprises a lid articulated on each hinge of the seat and having a rear edge provided with a cutout facing the base in order to ride over the extension of the base when the lid is lifted.

[0035]According to another advantageous feature, the underside of the base is formed by a plate at the rear end of the bowl and provided with mounting slots adjustable from the base, the plate being covered by a soft coating that forms a seal.

[0036]The plate advantageously closes the compartment of the housing that accommodates the electronic part and allows access to the connections of the motor and the detector. This tightly closed part effectively protects the electric and electronic components of the assembly, in particular the control circuit and the detector as well as possible display means.

[0037]Covering the plate with a soft coating on the one hand facilitates the manufacturing of the assembly and, on the other hand, guarantees the tight contact of the plate on the top surface of the bowl, avoiding the migration of humidity and water into the interface between the plate and the bowl which is not accessible for cleaning.

[0038]According to another advantageous feature,

the housing is divided into compartments and comprises [0039]in the middle, a compartment forming a passage for air flowing therethrough from the bottom to the top, the compartment being situated above the end of the aspiration channel occupied by the rotor of the aspirating device, [0040]a removable filter being mounted above said compartment, said filter being formed by a rigid casing containing a filtering mass, [0041]wherein said compartment is bordered on either side by a compartment, at least one of which accommodates a battery supplying the aspirating device and the control circuit, [0042]a cover covering the compartments while separating them in a relatively tight manner, said cover being perforated in the zone above the outlet of the filter.

[0043]This realization of the air passage channel creates an efficient direct air circulation allowing to reduce pressure losses due to deviations from the circulation path to a minimum, the major part of the pressure losses being created only by the passage through the filter.

[0044]The compartments on either side of the central compartment serving as a passage for the aspirating device and the air advantageously form a receptacle for one or two batteries or a battery and a reservoir of a fragrance. This unit is protected from water used for cleaning the assembly even if the cleaning is done without caution, while it is still easily accessible for replacement of the batteries or the filter.

[0045]According to another advantageous feature, [0046]the housing has a circumferential wall provided with a beading, [0047]the cover has a transversely bulged upper side, descending from the centre occupied by its perforated part, and a circumferential wall descending to join the beading of the housing.

[0048]This structure enhances the tightness of the interior of the housing.

[0049]According to another feature, the cover is provided with a cap covering the perforated part while leaving a gap with respect to the top of the cover so as to form a circumferential air outlet slot. This circumferential air outlet forms an air outlet that is silent and distributes the air well, which is also advantageous for avoiding any preferred air path through the filer.

[0050]According to another advantageous feature, [0051]the connection between the edge of the upper side of the cover and its circumferential wall, [0052]the connection between the housing and the base [0053]are established by transition surfaces with a large radius of curvature.

[0054]According to another feature, the detection window is provided with an infrared detector.

[0055]The infrared detector is a very efficient solution that consumes little current and therefore guarantees the longevity of the battery power supply.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056]The present disclosure will be described hereinafter with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

[0057]FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a toilet bowl assembly according to one embodiment of the disclosure, with the lid closed,

[0058]FIG. 2 shows the assembly of FIG. 1 with the cap of the housing cover removed,

[0059]FIG. 3 is a top plan view on the rear part of the assembly,

[0060]FIG. 4 illustrates the rear part with the seat and the lid lifted,

[0061]FIG. 5 illustrates, in its parts 5A, 5B, a branch of the seat joint in a top plan view and a bottom view,

[0062]FIG. 6 is a perspective illustration of the housing of the assembly, illustrating in more detail the connection of the housing and the rear part of the lid,

[0063]FIG. 7 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 6, with the cap of the cover being removed,

[0064]FIG. 8 illustrates, in its parts 8A, 8B, 8C, respectively, the cover with the cap, the underside of the cover and the underside of the cap,

[0065]FIG. 9 illustrates the open housing with the cover removed,

[0066]FIG. 10 illustrates the open housing with the two receptacles on either side of the motor,

[0067]FIG. 11 illustrates, in its parts 11A, 11B, the upper side and the underside of the filter,

[0068]FIG. 12 is a perspective view on a variant of the filter,

[0069]FIG. 13 is a side view on a battery.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0070]According to FIG. 1, the disclosure refers to a toilet bowl assembly formed by a base 1 fixed to the non-illustrated bowl and bearing a hinged seat 2 covered by a lid 3 also hinged, as well as an aspirating device situated in the housing 4 of the base.

[0071]The lower side 21 of the seat 2 (FIG. 2) is provided with a seal 5 with two branches 51, 52, open to the front and the rear to allow the passage of air from the outside and across the bowl towards an aspiration opening 11 formed in the base 1 and ending in the aspirating device 6 formed by a rotor 61 provided with an electric motor that draws air and conveys it across a filter 62 ending outside the housing 4.

[0072]The operation of the assembly is controlled by a control circuit situated in the extension 12 of the base 1. This circuit controls the operation of the aspirating device 6 as a function of the presence detected by the presence detector, in particular an infrared presence detector, the timing of the operation, as well as the display of functions such as the battery charge condition or, more generally, the functionality of the aspirating device.

[0073]More specifically, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the air aspiration channel 14 has the shape of a V open to the bowl at the level of the extension 12 of the base; its outlet, i.e. its small end, is oriented towards the inlet of the aspirating device 6. This shape is offset in the direction of air circulation so as to enhance the circulation of air at the rotor 61 and across the same. The seal 5 by which the seat is supported on the upper side of the bowl and which is formed by two symmetrical branches 51, 52, defines the channel and the aspiration zone of the bowl. Each branch 51, 52 is formed by a relatively rigid support on which a softer coating is molded. In the different figures, only the support is illustrated, but not the coating; for the sake of simplification of the illustrations, the support bears the same reference numeral as the branch provided with the coating.

[0074]With reference to FIGS. 2 and 5A, 5B, only the left branch 51 will be described, since the two branches 51, 52 are symmetric. The branch 51 comprises a front end 511 and a rear end 512. The front end 511 borders the air inlet between the seat 2 and the bowl; the rear end 512 is truncated; it is situated substantially in the connecting plane between the seat 2 and the base 1 and abuts against the front face 17 of the extension 12 of the base 1.

[0075]The front end 511 and the rear end 512 have a section corresponding to that of the seal provided with the coating. The support 51 has a curvature corresponding to the curvature from the front to the rear of the seat 2 and its underside 21 comprises clip-in projections 513 to be engaged into appropriate openings 22 in the underside 21. FIG. 4, with the seat 2 and the lid 3 lifted, illustrates one side of the support 52 installed and, on the other side, the openings 22 for receiving the projections 513 of the support 51 not installed.

[0076]Between the front end 511 and the rear end 512 which have the section of the seal 5, the support 51 has a relatively flat base provided with bosses 514 and openings 515 so as to receive and engage the coating by overmolding, which coating forms the part of the seal whose material is soft.

[0077]The top plan view of FIG. 5A shows this form of support 51 receiving the coating and FIG. 5B, which is a view from below, shows the part not occupied by the coating with the projections 513 to be fixed in the corresponding openings of the underside 21 of the seat 2. Each branch 51, 52 of the seal is thus fixed removably to the underside 21 of the seat and may be released for a profound cleaning or be replaced in case of wear. The illustration in FIG. 5B shows that the ends 511 of the branch 51 are not solid, but are formed by cavities with webs.

[0078]The installation of the two branches 51, 52 illustrated without their coating is clearly visible in FIG. 2 and, at their rear ends, these branches extend in prolongation of the V-shaped opening of the aspiration channel 14.

[0079]The view from below illustrated in FIG. 3 shows the plate 15 forming the underside of the base 1. This plate 15 has grooves 151 with larger openings 152 for receiving the heads of screws and allowing the mounting of the base 1 on the upper side at the rear of a toilet bowl. The different grooves 151 and their transversal length allow for an adjustment to put the seat 2 exactly in the middle of the bowl as required by the different dimensions of such bowls.

[0080]As illustrated in FIG. 4, the base 1 has a thickness substantially equal to the height of the seal 5 of the seat. The base 1 is provided with a straight front edge 16 facing to the bowl on either side of the opening 11 of the aspiration channel 14.

[0081]Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the seat 2 is connected to the base 1 by an articulation formed by two hinges 7. The axes of the hinges and thus the axis of the articulation of the seat 2 to the base 1 are shifted to above the base beyond the rear edge 23 of the seat such that it allows a quasi gapless reunion of the rear edge 23 of the seat 2 and the front edge 16 of the base 1 when the seat rests on the bowl.

[0082]As shown in FIG. 4, the base 1 is crossed by two passages 17 situated on either side of the extension 12. These passages 17 terminate in the underside of the base 1 and the plate 15; each hinge 7 comprises a mounting bracket 71 of a section corresponding to that of the passage 17. The bracket 71 is provided with an threaded opening (not illustrated) such that when set into a passage 17 of the base 1, the bracket can be fixed there by means of a screw 72 introduced into the passage 17 and into the bracket from below (FIG. 3). As shown by a comparison of the right and left parts of FIG. 4, the plate 73 for mounting the hinges 7 to the seat is covered by the rear end 512, 522 of each branch 51, 52 of the seal 5. This facilitates the installation and, if need be, the replacement of the seat and/or the lid.

[0083]As is visible in FIG. 2, the rear end 512, 522 of the two branches 51, 52 of the seal is truncated and substantially corresponds to the plane of the rear edge of the seat 2 and to the plane of the front edge 16 of the base 1. The offset of the axis of both hinges 7 of the seat 2 to above the base 1 allows for a pivoting movement of the seat, practically guaranteeing a contact between the rear edge 23 of the seat 2 and the front edge 16 of the base 1.

[0084]The articulations 7 of the seat 2 also carry the lid 3.

[0085]FIGS. 1 and 6 illustrate that the rear side of the lid is provided with a cutout substantially corresponding to the contour of the extension when the lid is lifted around its axis.

[0086]In more detail, FIGS. 1, 6 to 10 show the structure of the base 1 and the housing 4 of the assembly.

[0087]Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6, the base 1 carries the housing 4 accommodating the mechanical and electric/electronic components of the assembly. The housing 4 is covered by a cover 8 where the outlet 8 for the filtered air is formed by a penetrated zone 83 on which a cap 81 is arranged whose fixation is protected by a blind 82. The central part of the base 1, provided with the window 13 of the presence sensor and the display elements, is visible in the cutout 31 in the rear of the lid 3.

[0088]In FIG. 6, the central part of the cover 8 above the air passage of the base 1 forms a bulged part and the overall cover itself has a bulged shape descending to the sides.

[0089]The upper side of the cover 8 rejoins its lateral wall 84 by a curve with a very sharp curvature that is much sharper than a corner arc. The connection between the different parts of the base 1, that is the base proper, its extension 12 and the housing 4, follows very sharply curved transition shapes not similar to a simple corner arc, such that the flow of water during cleaning is enhanced and avoiding the forming of nooks hard to access for cleaning.

[0090]The perforated part 83 (FIG. 7) forming the air outlet is covered by the cap 81 that extends beyond the perforated part and leaves a gap with respect to the same (FIG. 6). The air outlet 83 above the filter is formed by lenticular radial slots 831 and the centre 832 is provided with a thread for receiving a fixing screw for the cap 81. On either side of the air outlet 83 generally occupying a circular surface, two seats 833 are provided forming passages and receiving two screws seated in corresponding passages of the housing to fix the cover to the housing. These two seats also allow to receive pins 811 protruding from the lower side of the cap 81 and serving to lock the same against rotation.

[0091]FIG. 8A shows the cover 8 with its cap 81, its screw 84 for fixing to the cover and the blind 82 pivoted fore access to the screw 84.

[0092]FIG. 8B illustrates the structure of the lower side of the lid 8 and especially two ribs 834 closing the underside so as to cooperate with partitions of the housing 4. On the side of the air outlet zone 83, these ribs 834 bordered by the two passages or seats 833 for the screws intended to fix the lid 8 to the housing 4.

[0093]FIG. 8c shows the underside of the cap 81 with its radial ribs 812 that are homologue to the radial branches 835 separating the lenticular openings 831 of the air outlet 83 of the cover 8.

[0094]The radial ribs 812 projecting from the bottom of the cap 81 abut on the branches 835 separating the lenticular openings 831 of the perforated part 83 of the cover 8.

[0095]FIG. 9 shows the housing 4 in an open condition without the cover.

[0096]The housing 4 is divided into three compartments 41, 42, 43. The central compartment 41 forms the air passage from the bottom to the top and is situated above the end of the aspiration channel 14. In the lower part, this air passage is occupied by the rotor 61 and its motor (FIG. 2). Above the same, the passage is occupied by a removable air filter 9 formed by a rigid casing of a rectangular horizontal section with a flat bottom 93 and a bulged upper side 92 (FIGS. 9, 10, 11A, B). FIGS. 9, 10, 11A, B and 12 illustrate two variant forms of the filter 9, 9'.

[0097]At least one of the two seats 42, 43 on either side of the compartment 41 receiving the filter 9 is occupied by the housing of a battery 19. The other compartment may receive a volume of a diffusing and scenting matter or another battery.

[0098]In more detail, and as illustrated in FIG. 10, the housing 4 defines the three compartments by its peripheral wall 44 and two partitions 45 bordering the central compartment 41 of the air passage. The upper side of the peripheral wall 44 is in the form of a beading 441 and the contour is not included in a horizontal plane but has a curved shape starting from a high point in the middle, seen in the transversal direction of the housing, to descend towards the sides following a pronounced slope.

[0099]The height of the peripheral wall 44 of the housing 4 corresponds to only a fraction, for instance one half, of the height of the components placed in the three compartments 41, 42, 43.

[0100]The upper side of the housing 4 is closed by the lid 8, whose edge in the form of a beading extending in three dimensions has a shape complementary to that of the beading 441 of the housing so as to cover the same. Thus, the edge of the lid 8 and that of the housing 4 descend from the centre to the sides.

[0101]In FIG. 10, the partitions 45 separating the battery compartments 42, 43 and the air passage compartment 41 are provided with one or a plurality of cylindrical vertical passages 451 intended to receive the fixing screws of the cover 8 via screw passages 433 at homologue positions.

[0102]In the example illustrated in FIG. 10, four passages 451 are provided in the central compartment 41 and thus, there are four openings in the cover 8. This variant of the cover is not illustrated. However, this number could be reduced to two openings 833 at transversely symmetrical positions on either side of the vertical axis of the air passage, as illustrated in FIG. 7.

[0103]These passages also serve to hold and centre the filter 9 which has grooves 91 of a complementary shape receiving the passages 451.

[0104]The filter 9 is placed into the compartment 41 by a form-fit engagement practically preventing any movement other than its being installed or removed in the direction of the passages 451.

[0105]Referring to FIGS. 11A, 11B, the casing of the filter 9 has its two sides provided with grooves 91 to engage by translation and slide on the two passages of the partitions 45 of the central compartment 41 of the housing.

[0106]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a filter 9' with four grooves 91.

[0107]The upper side of the filter (9, 9') is bulged and provided with perforations, while the bottom (93) is flat. The filter, or more precisely its casing, contains a filtering mass, such as active coal, for instance.

[0108]FIG. 13 is a side view of a battery 10. The upper side of the battery that corresponds to the cover here underlines the sharp slope of the cover 8.

[0109]The control circuit managing the operation of the assembly is installed, as described, in a protected manner in the extension 12 of the base 1 such that the control circuit is simultaneously in immediate proximity of the presence sensor behind the window 13, the electric power supply 10 and the motor of the aspirating device 6. As such, all components are protected against humidity or water splashes and are not subject to any movement-related wear since the connections between the control circuit, the detector, the display elements behind the window 13 and the motor are static connections integrate in the base 1 and the housing 4.

[0110]The control circuit detects a presence on the seat 2 or near the same in order to trigger the aspirating device 6, possibly with timing. The circuit limits the operation time of the aspirating device to a fixed or set time. At the end of the use of the toilet, the circuit may possibly control the operation of the aspirating device for a limited time.

[0111]In all these cases and regardless of the mode of use of the assembly, the operation of the aspirating device is protected and limited to a maximum fixed time so that the power supply is not exhausted.

[0112]The level of the batteries is preferably displayed by a display behind the window 13. The display may indicate the need to recharge the batteries or the need to replace the filter. The filter is preferably controlled by summing up the times of use, so that a known time limit of the filter indicates the need for a replacement thereof on a display behind the window 13.

[0113]The control circuit may also manage the power supply of the aspirating device by successively using two batteries in this case, one after the other, and by indicating the need to recharge the battery that has been exhausted.

[0114]Charging or replacing the batteries is done in a very simple manner by accessing the battery compartment after having lifted the cover.

[0115]In a variant not illustrated, the electric supply comes directly from the mains and with consideration to the regulations regarding electric installations in bathrooms or the like.

[0116]Finally, the assembly of the present disclosure is quite simple to mount on existing bowls as a replacement of the seat. The space occupied by the housing 4 is very limited, and the housing, which practically corresponds to the mounting plate or board of a conventional seat, may easily be installed without difficulty before the tank in the case of a bowl mounted on the rear of a tank.

Claims

1. A toilet bowl assembly comprising a base fixed to a bowl, provided with a toilet seat and a device for aspirating air from the bowl, the underside of the seat being provided with a seal by which the seat is supported on the rim of the bowl, said seal being open to the front and to the rear to allow air to pass towards the aspirator through aspiration opening formed in the base, the aspirating device comprising a rotor driven by an electric motor to aspirate air and circulate it through a filter that discharges from the housing, characterized bya base comprising an extension that has its upper part provided with a presence detection window directed to above the seat and forming, beneath the detection window, an aspiration channel with the upper side of the rear of the bowl and opening into the bowl, anda circuit for controlling the function of the aspirating device with an infrared detector situated in the detection window to detect a presence on the seat and with an electric power supply for the circuit and the aspirating device, said circuit managing the functioning of the aspirating device, its timing and the display of the functional state such as its availability, its orderly functioning and the supply condition as well as the necessity to recharge the supply.

2. The toilet bowl assembly of claim 1, whereinthe air aspiration channel is in the shape of a V open towards the bowl and its outlet towards the aspirating device is offset in the direction of circulation of the air aspirated by the rotor of the aspirating device, andthe seat is supported on the bowl by a seal formed by two symmetrical branches which at the rear ends extend to either side of the inlet of the aspiration channel, and, in prolongation by the sides of the same, abut against the front side of the extension on either side of the entry of aspiration channel.

3. The toilet bowl assembly of claim 2, whereinone branch of the seal is formed by a support provided with projections to be clipped into clip openings provided in the underside of the seat in order to fix the support in a releasable manner, said support having a front end and a rear end of the seal section, and a soft material is molded on the support portion between the ends, forming the covering of the seal.

4. The toilet bowl assembly of claim 1, whereinthe base has a thickness at least equal to the height of the seal of the seat, and a front edge,the seat is connected to the base by an articulation formed by two hinges whose axis is displaced on the upper side of the base beyond the front edge of the base,when the seat rests on the bowl, the rear edge of the seat and the front edge of the base show practically no gap.

5. The toilet bowl assembly of claim 4, whereintwo passages extend through the base on either side of the extension and terminate in the underside,each hinge has a fastening bracket of a section and position corresponding to one of said passages and being provided with a threaded opening to engage into said passage and to be blocked there by a screw passing into the passage from the lower face of the base.

6. The toilet bowl assembly of claim 4, wherein the rear end of each branch of the seat seal is truncated at the rear edge of the seat so as to abut against the front edge of the base on either side of the inlet of the aspiration channel.

7. The toilet bowl assembly of claim 1, wherein it comprises a lid articulated on each hinge of the seat and having a rear edge provided with a cutout facing the base in order to ride over the extension of the base when the lid is lifted.

8. The toilet bowl assembly of claim 1, wherein the underside of the base is formed by a plate at the rear end of the bowl and provided with mounting slots adjustable from the base, the plate being covered by a soft coating that forms a seal.

9. The toilet bowl assembly of claim 1, whereinthe housing (4) is divided into compartments and comprisesin the middle, a compartment forming a passage for air flowing therethrough from the bottom to the top, the compartment being situated above the end of the aspiration channel occupied by the rotor of the aspirating device,a removable filter being mounted above said compartment, said filter being formed by a rigid casing containing a filtering mass,wherein said compartment is bordered on either side by a compartment, at least one of which accommodates a battery supplying the aspirating device and the control circuit,a cover (8) covering the compartments while separating them in a relatively tight manner, said cover being perforated in the zone above the outlet of the filter.

10. The toilet bowl assembly of claim 9, whereinthe housing has a circumferential wall provided with a beading, andthe cover has a transversely bulged upper side, descending from the centre occupied by its perforated part, and a circumferential wall descending to join the beading of the housing.

11. The toilet bowl assembly of claim 9, wherein the cover is provided with a cap covering the perforated part while leaving a gap with respect to the top of the cover so as to form a circumferential air outlet slot.

12. The toilet bowl assembly of claim 4, whereinthe connection between the edge of the upper side of the cover and its circumferential wall, andthe connection between the housing and the base are established by transition surfaces with a large radius of curvature.

13. The toilet bowl assembly of claim 1, wherein the detection window is provided with an infrared detector.