APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TREATING OBJECTIONABLE ODORS IN TOILET BOWLS AND THE LIKE
An apparatus for treating objectionable odors in a toilet bowl, the toilet bowl including a seat positioned above the toilet bowl includes a main body having an inlet opening and an airflow exit opening; means for mounting the main body proximal to the toilet bowl with the inlet opening positioned substantially between the bowl and the seat; a drawer removably securable to the main body; an air treatment chamber defined by at least one of the main body, the drawer, and a combination of the main body and the drawer; fan means for drawing gas in the inlet opening, through the air treatment chamber and out the air flow exit opening; a power source; light sensitive control assembly means connected with the fan means and the power means for detecting the presence of a person sitting on the seat and activating the fan means; and, air treatment means positioned within the air treatment chamber for removing odiferous particulates at least when the fan means is drawing gas through the air treatment chamber.
The present invention relates to the field of air treatment devices, and particularly to devices for eradicating objectionable odors from toilet bowls and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONUntil the early 1800's, Europeans and Americans alike relieved themselves in chamber pots, outhouses and alleyways. Eventually, however, indoor plumbing became the standard. In America, the first city with modern waterworks was Philadelphia in 1820; the first city with a modern sewage system was Boston in 1823; and, the first toilet installed in the White House was in 1825 for John Quincy Adams.
A major contributor to the advancement of indoor toilet technology was an Englishman named Thomas Crapper. Through his plumbing fixture company, T. Crapper & Co, Chelsea, London, founded 1861, Mr. Crapper produced many improvements in the fixtures he manufactured. Crapper's name was stenciled on all the cisterns—and later, toilets—that he manufactured. It is likely because of his contributions that he is often accredited with the invention of the toilet. However, it was another Englishman named Alexander Cumming who in 1775 made perhaps the most significant improvement to the indoor toilet. While toilets to that day had emptied directly into a pipe which carried the waste to a cesspool, Cumming improved the device by adding a “stink trap” that kept water in the pipe, thus blocking the backflow of sewage gases. Absent the constant foul-smelling stench of sewer gases wafting through pipes and up into the house, the indoor toilet became an acceptable, and welcomed improvement.
While Cumming's invention addressed foul smelling gases downstream of the stink trap, treating objectionable odors developed in the toilet bowl itself has proven to be a formidable challenge. Many methods have been employed for treating and/or eliminating such odors, such as opening a window, lighting a match, spraying an aerosol deodorizer, and using a range of powered devices. The most common of such devices, the ceiling fan, is often difficult to install, requires ducting to the outside or attic, and has a flow rate that is generally too low to evacuate the odors as fast as most users would like.
One line of development for bathroom odor treatment devices encompasses devices mounted proximal to the toilet bowl and activated to draw the objectionable gases into a chamber, treat them and then exhaust them back to the bathroom area. A number of these and similar devices are disclosed in the following U.S. Pat. Nos.:
While devices disclosed in these patents exhibit a variety of beneficial features for treating and/or evacuating foul odors from a bathroom facility, they also suffer from a variety of drawbacks. For example, the devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,876,748 and 5,727,262 are quite large and unsightly. Other of these patents describe devices that appear to draw the malodorous gases through some type of filter (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,317,242, 5,488,741 and 5,555,572) or that draw the gases over a heating device before expelling them back into the air (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,099,047 and 5,519,897). Further, many of such devices are fairly complex and therefore costly. It is believed that none of these devices achieves an acceptable balance among low consumer cost, ease of use, ease of maintenance, and most importantly, speed and effectiveness of use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONGenerally speaking, there is provided an apparatus for treating and eradicating objectionable odors from toilet bowls and the like. The device is small, easy to use and maintain, and operates in a fast and efficient manner. Moreover, it may be used with a variety of commercially available products to treat and replace the objectionable odors with a wide range of pleasant aromas.
An apparatus for treating objectionable odors in a toilet bowl, the toilet bowl including a seat positioned above the toilet bowl includes a main body having an inlet opening and an airflow exit opening; means for mounting the main body proximal to the toilet bowl with the inlet opening positioned substantially between the bowl and the seat; a drawer removably securable to the main body; an air treatment chamber defined by at least one of the main body, the drawer, and a combination of the main body and the drawer; fan means for drawing gas in the inlet opening, through the air treatment chamber and out the air flow exit opening; a power source; light sensitive control assembly means connected with the fan means and the power means for detecting the presence of a person sitting on the seat and activating the fan means; and, air treatment means positioned within the air treatment chamber for removing odiferous particulates at least when the fan means is drawing gas through the air treatment chamber.
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, and any alterations or modifications in the illustrated device, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
Referring to
Referring to
Main body 15 includes an upper inlet spout 26, a battery shelf 27, a filter shelf 28, a drawer compartment shelf 29, opposing front and back fan support ledges 30 and 31, respectively, bottom wall 32, front wall 33, opposing side walls 34 and 35, and rear wall 36. Upper inlet spout 26 extends forwardly from front wall 33, and itself has top and bottom walls 39 and 40 that define a generally low profile inlet spout that diverges as it extends forwardly from front wall 33 to its wide and low-profile opening 42. Apparatus 10 is to be positioned at toilet bowl 12 with the widening, low profile spout structure positioned at or between the top 41 of bowl 12 and the corresponding toilet seat 13. The widened inlet opening 42 facilitates an unrestricted draw of gases from bowl 12.
An electrical switch 44 is mounted by appropriate means such as screws (not shown) to body 15. A spring metal activation arm 45 extends from switch 44, through spout 26, out opening 42, and forwardly of spout 26. With apparatus 10 in its inactivated and rest condition (as shown in
Filter shelf 28 is juxtaposed a sufficient distance below battery shelf 27, flange 50 and switch 44 to receive a filter 54 thereon. Filter 54 has a wafer shape and is made of any appropriate material that removes odiferous particulates from a gas that flows through such material. In one embodiment, filter 54 is made of a charcoal-based, fibrous material. Filter 54 may be positioned, and thus changed from time to time, simply by sliding it in and onto shelf 28 from the rear of main body 15 when drawer 16 is removed from main body 15 (
Extending inwardly from front and rear walls 33 and 36 are fan support ledges 30 and 31, respectively. A fan 18 is supported upon ledges 30 and 31 within fan chamber 62, fan chamber 62 being defined by drawer compartment shelf 29, bottom wall 32, and front, side and rear walls 33-36. A series of vent slots 61 are defined in bottom wall 32 and extend slightly upward along side walls 34 and 35. Fan 18 is any appropriate fan unit which preferably provides a high fluid flow rate is efficiently powered by battery 48, and is relatively quiet. Fan 18 has an upwardly disposed flow inlet to communicate with the openings 56 in drawer compartment shelf 29 and has a downwardly disposed flow exhaust to communicate with vent slots 61. In the present embodiment, fan 18 is positioned upon ledges 30 and 31 of one body half 19 and is secured within fan chamber 62 upon securing body halves 19 and 20 together. In the assembled condition, with body halves 19 and 20 secured together, battery shelf 27, filter shelf 28, drawer compartment shelf 29 and ledges 30 and 31 extend all the way across main body 15, side wall 34 to side wall 35. An arcuate projection 64 juts inwardly from side wall 34 a similar projection (not shown) juts inwardly from mating side wall 35. Projection 64 is sized to register with a complementary shaped recess in drawer 16.
A thumb switch 65 slides within a slot 66 defined in spout 26 between a forward “on” position (shown in phantom at 69) and a rearward “off” position 70. A downwardly projecting lug 71, extending downwardly from switch 65, moves in and out of engagement with activation arm 45 when thumb switch 65 is moved between the on and off positions. That is, when switch 65 is slid forward to the on position 69, projection 71 engages and pushes arm 45 downwardly at a point close to the connection of arm 45 to switch 44. Further pivoting of arm 45, as by weight being applied to seat 13, will apply sufficient additional torque to arm 45 to close switch 44. Conversely, sliding switch 65 to the off position releases the downward bias to arm 45 at switch 44 which disengages switch 44. That is, because activation arm 45 is made of spring metal or a similar material which allows it to bend somewhat over its length, pivoting of activation arm 45 by applying downward pressure to hump 46 will not transmit sufficient torque through arm 45 to switch 44 to close switch 44 and turn on fan 18 when thumb switch 65 is in the off position. The present invention contemplates the use of any appropriate switch arrangement where a switch may be closed by the slight movement of a member like activation arm 45, but where closure of the switch may be overridden by another switch such as thumb switch 65. Wires 65 extend among switch 44, battery 48 and fan 18 to complete the circuit and power fan 18 when switch 44 is closed.
An alternative embodiment is contemplated wherein thumb switch 65 acts to turn on fan 18 even where there is no input from activation arm 45. That is, when switch 65 is in the “off” position, activation arm 45 may operate as described to engage switch 44 and activate fan 18. However, where a child or very lightweight person is too light, perhaps, to activate arm 45, in view of the composition of seat 13 when sitting on seat 13, thumb switch 65 may be slid to the “on” position to activate switch 44 and turn on fan 18. Another embodiment is contemplated wherein thumb switch 65 may be connected with switch 44 and/or arm 45 to move from an “off” position, completely disabling fan 18, an “on” position, turning on fan 18 and overriding activation arm 45, and an intermediate or “seat” position whereby activation arm 45 is operable through switch 44, to activate fan 18 between on and off positions.
Referring now to
Sponge tree 17 has the configuration as generally shown in
Central post 87 has a generally flat, rectangular configuration in cross-section with arcuate longitudinal humps 91 and 92 extending outwardly from opposing sides of post 87 and all along the length of post 87, from upper retaining wall 86 and down to the base 93 of post 87, except for a small gap 95 where humps 91 and 92 are absent. That is the absence of a section of each hump 91 and 92 on opposing sides of post 87 defines one gap of 95 at the lower section of each hump 91 and 92. The gaps 95 are located the same distance up from base 93. Base 93 has a generally circular cross section with a diameter that is approximately equal to the width of central post 87. Arcuate, longitudinal humps 91 and 92 are together generally circular in cross-section. They may have other cross-sectional shapes, whereby the shape of the corresponding combined enlarged opening (at 109 and 110 in slot 106 as described herein) will be complementary.
A sponge 97 (
Referring to
Sponge shelf 78 further defines a pair of inwardly extending recesses 115 on opposing sides thereof and slightly rearwardly of forward edge 108. Recesses 115 are sized and positioned to register with the mating projections 64 in main body 15. Thus, when drawer 16 is moved into its closed condition (
If desired, drawer 16 may be more firmly secured to main body 16, and even locked thereto to prevent unauthorized opening of drawer 16. This is accomplished by registration between flange 50 and a complementary shaped and positioned slot 116 (
Indentations 123 are provided on opposing sides of drawer 16 to facilitate the movement of drawer 16 relative to main body 15.
In use, sponge 97, is provided either pre-scented at purchase or may be conditioned by applying a desired scent with a commercial product such as an aerosol or pump-spray, auto or room air freshener. Sponge 97 is then applied to sponge tree 17 (
The sponge tree and sponge combination 17/97 also cooperates with drawer 16 to facilitate rinsing or cleaning of the sponge and related components. Upon removal of drawer 16, and without removing sponge tree 17 from drawer 16, the drawer, sponge tree, and sponge combination 16/17/97 may be positioned appropriately under a stream of water or in a container with cleaning solution or water and appropriately cleaned or rinsed. Upon removal from such water or cleaning solution, the user may compress upper retaining wall 86 toward sponge shelf 78, whereby post 87 slides through complementary shaped slot 106 and enlarged opening 104, and sponge 97 is compressed therebetween, which action squeezes the majority of fluid from sponge 97. This procedure may be repeated as many times as necessary to clean and/or rinse sponge 97. This configuration thereby generally permits the user to clean and/or rinse sponge 97 without requiring sponge 97 to be removed from sponge tree 17 and drawer 16, and further minimizing the amount of direct contact between the user's hands and sponge 97. This procedure further permits the sponge to be cleaned and/or rinsed and then for a different fragrance to be applied to sponge 97. If desired, sponge 97 may be replaced with a new sponge simply by reversing the steps for installing the sponge.
Referring not to
Because toilets come in a variety of sizes and shapes, the slot 133 in support arm 14 allows support arm 14 to be adjusted to a variety of positions, and apparatus 10 may be slid along outboard mounting section 131, until apparatus 10 is in the desired position relative to bowl 12. Such desired position is substantially shown in
Support arm 14 and its companion washer, along with main body 15, drawer 16, sponge tree 17 and other components herein are made of any appropriate material such as plastic which can be easily cleaned by the user.
Alternative embodiments are contemplated wherein sponge 97 comprises other materials in other configurations, such other materials and configurations being capable of holding a scented material, or comprising a scented material, which can be released into a surrounding gaseous atmosphere. For example, such other materials and configurations include, but are not limited to, the wide variety of solid air fresheners currently available or to be available in the future. Thus, while the present embodiment describes the scent delivering apparatus as a sponge 97, such scent delivering apparatus is intending to include any material that releases a desired scent into the fan-induced air flow. Where sponge 97 is to be replaced by a solid air freshener, sponge tree 17 is removed from drawer 16 and the solid air freshener is placed directly atop sponge shelf 78. Alternative embodiments are contemplated wherein a solid air freshener is provided with a central tree similar to sponge tree 17 with an appropriate lower shape and configuration that mates with a complementary configuration in sponge shelf 78 to facilitate the insertion of such solid air freshener into drawer 16 without the user having to physically touch the air freshener material.
The present invention contemplates alternative means for mounting apparatus 10 proximal to toilet bowl 12. Support arm 14 is believed to be preferable since it is simple, cost-efficient, easy to use, and incorporates the structure of the standard toilet bowl. However, alternative structures are contemplated so long as inlet opening 42 is positioned as close to the gap between bowl 12 and seat 13 as possible to maximize the draw of gases from within bowl 12. That is, apparatus 10 will naturally draw gases from both inside bowl 12 and from the atmosphere outside of bowl 12 (unless the gap between bowl 12 and seat 13 is completely sealed off except for apparatus 10). The farther that apparatus 10 is positioned from bowl 12 and seat 13, the lower the percentage of toilet bowl gases that will be drawn through apparatus 10 and the less effective apparatus 10 will be. Support arm 14 permits a varied adjustment of the position of apparatus 10 relative to the bowl/seat gap, thereby enabling maximum effectiveness of apparatus 10.
Alternative embodiments are also contemplated wherein apparatus 10, having a generally flat bottom wall 32, may be used at locations other than the bathroom toilet merely by sitting apparatus 10 upon an appropriate surface.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to the exploded view of
Upper inlet spout 218 extends forwardly from front wall 223 and, like apparatus 10, defines a profile shaped to aim its airflow exit opening 228 between the top of the toilet bowl and the lid when mounted to the toilet bowl and to facilitate an unrestricted draw of gases from the bowl. Below inlet spout 218, halves 213 and 214 define a recess 230 configured to receive an outside mounting cushion 231, which is made of any appropriate foam or similar material to provide a cushioned, secure, vibration, and noise dampened mounting of apparatus 200 to the toilet bowl 12. Mounting cushion 231 is affixed to recess 320 by adhesive.
Fan assembly 208 is held by fan support members 221 of body 201 between bottom wall 222 and drawer compartment shelf 219 and operates to draw air through vent slots 233 (inlet opening) defined in bottom wall 222 and up through vent slots 234 defined in drawer compartment shelf 219.
Like drawer 16, drawer 206 includes rear wall 237, opposing side walls 238 and 239 and a filter shelf 240, and its configuration is contoured to mate in the closed position 211 with the contoured forward edges 241 and 242 of side walls 238 and 239 mating with the rearwardly facing edges 244 and 245, respectively, of main body 201. Drawer 206 may thus be slidingly received by main body 201 from the open or removed condition (as shown in
Air treatment assembly includes a primary filter 247 and a secondary filter 248. Primary filter 247 is like filter 54 of apparatus 10, made of any appropriate material that removes odiferous particulates from a gas that flows through such material, such as a charcoal-based, fibrous material. And like filter 54, filter 247 is intended to be positioned, and thus changed from time to time, simply by positioning it onto filter shelf 240 and sliding it and drawer 206 into the rear opening of main body 201. Secondary filter 248 is an antibacterial filter, designed to remove bacteria, viruses, and other harmful and/or poisonous substances from the air. In the present embodiment, secondary filter 248 is a nano silver antibacterial filter, size Ø74*30 mm with a density of 35 ppi commercially available from Dongguan UniClear New-material Col, Ltd., Huangzhuyuan Industrial Estate, Changping, Dongguan, Guangdong, P.R.C. under the name “Nano-Silver Coated Filter”. Filter 248 uses a 35 ppi sponge produced with Nano-silver technology. It is a high-performance filter material with disinfection, antisepsis and antibacterial properties in the range of 98.8%. Like filter 247, secondary filter 248, is also intended to be positioned, and thus changed from time to time, simply by sliding it and filter 247 onto filter shelf 240 and sliding the resulting filter-loaded drawer into main body 201.
The porous material or carrier of the nano silver and carbon filter is contemplated to comprise a porous ‘bio-degradable’ material and/or carrier that, after its life, can be discarded without concern for the environment. Such material may include, but is not limited to any natural material such as coconut shell, bamboo and/or any suitable biodegradable, natural or man made material and the like. The nano silver is contemplated to be applied to the biodegradable/natural material. Control assembly 210 includes a microprocessor board 251, an input button assembly 252, an LED status light 253, and a sensor assembly 254. Sensor assembly includes standard IR emitter 258 and receiver 259, which are housed within windowed housing 260. In its assembled condition (
Power source 209 is a simple battery assembly (also referred to as 209) held in position primarily by battery compartment shelf 220 and a forward battery slot bracket 272 of halves 213 and 214. Battery assembly 209 includes a battery holding bracket 273, which includes a forward battery mounting plate 274 and which holds four batteries 275. Battery mounting plate 274 is received and held by forward battery slot bracket 272. Alternative embodiments are contemplated wherein power source 209 is external as opposed to internal and/or is AC instead of DC. For example, power source 209 may be an external battery pack connected by an appropriate cable. Or, power source 209 may be a standard AC wall outlet connected to apparatus 200 by a standard power cord with an appropriate adapter voltage adapter. Any appropriate power source is contemplated so long as it provides a reliable source of power to run fan assembly 208 and control assembly 210. Various wires (not shown) are provided as appropriate to interconnect fan assembly 208, power source 209 and control assembly 210.
Mounting arm 202 includes an arcuate mounting plate 279 and opposing, parallel and rearwardly extending legs 281 and 282. Mounting plate 279 has a radius of curvature to generally mate with the radius of curvature of a standard toilet bowl at the area of intended mounting (as shown in
In use, apparatus 200 is mounted to a toilet bowl 12 by positioning inner cushion 231 against the outside of the bowl and then pushing mounting arm 202 into opening 228 until inner cushion 283 contacts and compresses the outside of the bowl. The teeth 288 and indention detent system will hold mounting arm 202, and apparatus 200, in position.
In operation, with apparatus 200 mounted to bowl 12 and powered with power source 209 (thus in the on condition), sitting on the seat 13 will be sensed by the IR receiver 259, and control assembly 210 will turn on the fan, pulling air in the bowl 12 through filters 247 and 248 and out exit opening 228. Control assembly 210 will continue sending out signals through emitter 258 (every 2 seconds) until the person stand up, whereupon the IR receiver 259 will detect the absence of mass formally on seat 13, and control assembly 210 will shift into a one minute mode, whereby it will shut off the fan in one minute. The additional one minute of fan operation is to keep the fan running while the toilet is being flushed. Studies have shown that toxins, bacteria, viruses, and/or poisons (collectively, “toxins”) are released into the air during and after use of the toilet. The Nano-silver filter operates to remove up to 98.8% of such toxins from air passed therethrough, thereby reducing the amount of such toxins being inhaled by persons nearby and thus reducing the exposure to and action by such person's autoimmune system. The button may be manually pressed at any time to turn on the fan and it will automatically shut off one minute later. A person may also press the button and turn off a running fan, but upon standing up, the fan will be started again (by virtue of the IR sensor 258 and emitter 259), and stay on for one minute. The times may be adjustable by programming, and alternative embodiments are contemplated wherein the additional switches or button are provided to change the timing and permit a full off mode to save battery life.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrated and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.
Claims
1. An apparatus for treating objectionable odors in a toilet bowl, the toilet bowl including a seat positioned above the toilet bowl, the apparatus comprising:
- a main body having an inlet opening and an airflow exit opening;
- means for mounting said main body proximal to the toilet bowl with the inlet opening positioned substantially between the bowl and the seat;
- a drawer removably securable to said main body;
- an air treatment chamber defined by at least one of said main body, said drawer, and a combination of said main body and said drawer;
- fan means for drawing gas in the inlet opening, through the air treatment chamber and out the air flow exit opening;
- a power source;
- light sensitive control assembly means connected with said fan means and said power means for detecting the presence of a person sitting on the seat and activating said fan means; and,
- air treatment means positioned within the air treatment chamber for removing odiferous particulates at least when said fan means is drawing gas through said air treatment chamber.
2. The apparatus for treating objectionable odors in a toilet bowl of claim 1 wherein said drawer includes a closed condition securing said air treatment means within said air treatment chamber, and an open condition exposing and enabling removal of said air treatment means.
3. The apparatus for treating objectionable odors in a toilet bowl of claim 1 wherein said air treatment means includes a primary filter and a secondary filter.
4. The apparatus for treating objectionable odors in a toilet bowl of claim 3 wherein the primary filter is operable in the path of flowing gases therethrough to remove odiferous particulates from such flowing gases.
5. The apparatus for treating objectionable odors in a toilet bowl of claim 4 wherein the primary filter is a charcoal-based, fibrous material.
6. The apparatus for treating objectionable odors in a toilet bowl of claim 4 wherein the secondary filter is an antibacterial filter for removing at least one of bacteria, viruses, and poisonous substances from gases flowing through it.
7. The apparatus for treating objectionable odors in a toilet bowl of claim 6 wherein the secondary filter is a nano silver antibacterial filter.
8. The apparatus for treating objectionable odors in a toilet bowl of claim 6 wherein the secondary filter has a size of about Ø74*30 mm with a density of about 35 ppi.
9. The apparatus for treating objectionable odors in a toilet bowl of claim 1 wherein said control assembly includes a sensor assembly operable to detect changes in light passing between the toilet bowl and toilet seat.
10. The apparatus for treating objectionable odors in a toilet bowl of claim 9 wherein the sensor assembly includes an IR emitter and receiver aimed between the toilet bowl and toilet seat.
11. The apparatus for treating objectionable odors in a toilet bowl of claim 10 wherein said control assembly further includes input means for manually activating and/or deactivating said fan means.
12. The apparatus for treating objectionable odors in a toilet bowl of claim 9 wherein said control assembly further includes microprocessor means for controlling the activation and/or deactivation of said fan means in response to input from the sensor assembly.
13. The apparatus for treating objectionable odors in a toilet bowl of claim 12 wherein said control assembly further includes input means for manually activating and/or deactivating said fan means.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 27, 2008
Publication Date: Aug 25, 2011
Inventor: Christopher L. Brown (Bethel Park, PA)
Application Number: 12/740,096
International Classification: E03D 9/04 (20060101);