Stench eliminating apparatus of a toilet bowl

Abstract

A toilet bowl, the toilet bowl including a body in which feces are contained and a seat plate on which bottoms of a user directly touch, wherein the apparatus comprises: a plurality of suction inlets formed underneath the seat plate for sucking in air within the body; a suction passage formed along a margin of the seat plate for collecting the air sucked in through the plurality of suction inlets to discharge same thereafter; a blower mounted in communication with the suction passage; and a drain passage communicating with a discharge outlet of the blower, such that stench generated while a user relieves himself or herself is eliminated to be discharged through a drain pipe such that displeasure in and out of the toilet room can be removed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a stench eliminating apparatus of a toilet bowl.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Toilet bowls are widely used in toilet rooms these days in preference to the old uncomfortable squatting style.

[0005] A known toilet bowl is disposed thereon with a seat plate where bottoms of a user directly touch and the seat plate is covered thereon with a lid. Body of the known toilet bowl is placed with a water tank at a rear side thereof. The lid and the seat plate are hinged therebetween at a portion near to the water tank.

[0006] In known toilet bowl is disposed thereon with a seat plate where bottoms of a user directly touch and the seat plate is covered thereon with a lid. Body of the known toilet bowl is placed with a water tank at a rear side thereof. The lid and the seat plate are hinged therebetween at a portion near to the water tank.

[0007] In the toilet bowl thus described, a user flips open the lid, sits on the seat plate and relieves nature, after which the user presses a handle (not shown) to flush the water in the water tank for cleaning the toilet bowl.

[0008] However, there is a problem in the know toilet bowl thus described in that, although feces are flushed with water, there still remains and lingers stench thereof inside a rest room and its vicinity, causing in convenience to other persons.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention is disclosed to solve the aforementioned problem and it is an object of the present invention to provide a stench eliminating apparatus of a toilet bowl by which stench out of feces can be removed, thereby eliminating unpleasantness.

[0010] In accordance with the object of the present invention, there is provided a stench eliminating apparatus of a toilet bowl, the toilet bowl including a body in which feces are contained and a seat plate on which bottoms of a user directly touch, wherein the apparatus comprises:

[0011] a plurality of suction inlets formed underneath the seat plate for sucking in air within the body;

[0012] a suction passage formed along a margin of the seat plate for collecting the air sucked in through the plurality of suction inlets to discharge same thereafter;

[0013] a blower mounted in communication with the suction passage; and

[0014] a drain passage communicating with a discharge outlet of the blower.

[0015] An exhaust duct is disposed between the discharge outlet of the blower and the drain passage while the exhaust duct is coupled to air blocking means for opening and closing the exhaust duct in response to operation of the blower.

[0016] The exhaust duct may communicate with the drain passage of the toilet bowl or drain passage of washbasin.

[0017] The suction passage is a pipe coupled along a bottom margin of the seat plate while the suction inlet may be formed at the pipe.

[0018] The body is formed thereon with an inlet communicating with the blower and bottom surface of the seat plate may communicate with the suction passage to be accommodated into the body, forming an outlet which fits into the inlet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] For fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a stench eliminating apparatus in a toilet bowl according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1;

[0022] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 2;

[0023] FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing of a duct coupled to air blocking means in the stench eliminating apparatus in the toilet bowl according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 5 is a perspective view for illustrating how the air blocking means is operated in FIG. 4;

[0025] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a duct when an air passage is blocked in FIG. 4;

[0026] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a duct when the air passage is opened in FIG. 4;

[0027] FIG. 8 is a schematic drawing of a stench eliminating apparatus in a toilet bowl according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] FIG. 9 is a front view of a stench eliminating apparatus in a toilet bowl according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] FIG. 10 is a plan view of FIG. 9;

[0030] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a stench eliminating apparatus in a toilet bowl according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a rear part where a toilet seat is placed and covered by a lid in FIG. 11;

[0032] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a stench eliminating apparatus in a toilet bowl according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 13;

[0034] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a body of FIG. 13 as seen from thereunder; and

[0035] FIG. 16 is a perspective view for illustrating how a toilet seat is received by the body of FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a stench eliminating apparatus in a toilet bowl according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a toilet bowl body 10 is installed on a floor of a toilet room and the body 10 is mounted thereon with a toilet seat plate 12 where bottoms of a user directly touch.

[0037] The seat plate 12 is mounted thereon with a lid 14 for covering the upper side of the body 10 when toilet bowl is not used. The body 10 is coupled near to a wall (W) and at an upper rear side thereof to a water tank 16 for storing water to be supplied to an interior of the body 10. Between the seat plate 12 and the water tank 16 there is installed a blowing unit 18 for sucking in inner air of the body 10 to send same to a drain passage.

[0038] A drain outlet 20 in the body 10 communicates with a rising passage 22 so that water can be collected at a predetermined height after water from the water tank 16 is drained out with feces. The passage 22 where water rises is curved to communicate with a drain passage 24.

[0039] The drain passage 24 includes one part formed inside the body 10 and another part formed by a separate drain pipe 26, where the drain pipe 26 is connected to a still another drain pipe 28 installed inside the wall (W). The drain pipe 28 is connected to a septic tank (not shown)

[0040] The seat plate 12, as illustrated in FIG. 2, is hinged to an upper part of body in the vicinity of the blowing unit 18, the shape of which being of a ring opened at a front side thereof. FIG. 2 is not illustrated with the lid 14.

[0041] Furthermore, the seat plate 12 is inwardly protruded at an upper inner side thereof as illustrated in FIG. 3 and the protruded portion is formed along the margin of the seat plate 12 with a plurality of air inlets 30 for allowing the air in the inner space of the body 10 to be inducted while the air introduced through the air inlets 30 enters the interior of the blowing unit 18 through the suction passage 32 formed at an inner area of the seat plate 12. The suction passage 32 is formed along the margin of the seat plate 12.

[0042] The lid 14 is hinged to an upper side of the body 10 with the seat plate 12, which is a known art. The water tank 16 is also a known art. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the blowing unit 18 is a blower which includes a case 33, a fan 34 mounted inside the case 33 for allowing the air to be tangentially introduced and to be axially discharged, a motor 36 for driving the fan 34 and a battery 38 for supplying a power to the motor 36. The blowing unit 18 is mounted with an exhaust duct 40 at an air discharge side.

[0043] The exhaust duct 40 is formed thereunder with a discharge outlet 42 at a predetermined distanced place from the blowing unit 18 and is coupled therein to air blocking means 44 for opening and closing the discharge outlet 42 in response to operation of the blowing unit 18. The discharge outlet 42 is connected to an exhaust pipe 46 communicating with the drain passage 24.

[0044] The case 33 of the blowing unit 18 is connected to a suction duct 48 communicating with the suction passage 32. The battery 38 is replaceable with an alternating current power source. The blowing unit 18 is coupled to an operation switch (not shown). The operation switch is preferred to be an automatic switch which is operated to detect a man.

[0045] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the air blocking means 44 includes a first opening and closing member 50 for opening and closing an upper portion of the exhaust pipe 46 which is the discharge outlet 42, a blocking member 42 dividing the interior of the exhaust duct 40 into an upper part and a lower part and blocking the lower part, and a second opening and closing member 54 hinged and rotated at one end of the blocking member 52 to open and close a water passage.

[0046] The first opening and closing member 50 has an approximately round plate shape and a midsection thereof is hinged at a lop-sided point to the discharge outlet 42. A right part 50a (smaller part) of the first opening and closing member 50 has a radius of curvature, the size of which is appropriate enough to enter into the exhaust pipe 46 about a first hinge line (H1) while a left part 50b (larger part) has a radius of curvature, the size of which is appropriate enough to be hitched at an upper end surface of the exhaust pipe 46. A left tip end of the left part 50b is formed with a hole 50c through which a band 56 is inserted and tied.

[0047] The blocking member 52 includes a horizontal plate part 52a and a vertical plate part 52b, each having a cross-sectional shape of “┐” where the vertical plate part 52b is half in height thereof compared with an inner height of the exhaust duct 40 while a left tip end of the horizontal plate part 52a is secured with a bridge 53 for supporting the horizontal plate part. Furthermore, a mid left side of the horizontal plate part 52a is formed with a slit 52c toward the water passage. Breadth of the blocking member 52 is the same as an inner breadth of the exhaust duct 40.

[0048] The second opening and closing member 54 includes an opening and closing plate part 54a hinged to a left end of the horizontal plate part 52a of the blocking member 52 along a second hinge line (H2) for opening and closing an upper water passage of the blocking member 52, and a quarter disc part 54b vertically erected from a midsection of the opening and closing plate part 54a relative to the opening and closing plate part 54a while protruded from a hinge part of the opening and closing plate part 54a to be connected to the first opening and closing member 50 via the band 56.

[0049] The quarter disc plate part 54b passes the slit 52c and is guided to be rotated about the second hinge line (H2). The opening and closing plate part 54a is rotated in response to rotation of the quarter disc part 54b to thereby block the water passage. The quarter disc part 54b is integrally made with a reinforcement piece 54c which is in turn fixed to a midsection of the opening and closing plate part 54a.

[0050] The air blocking means 44 may be a damper controlled by control means (not shown) or may be an opening and closing valve operated by a solenoid.

[0051] In the stench eliminating apparatus of a toilet bowl according to the first embodiment of the preset invention thus constructed, when a user sits on the seat plate 12 to switch on a switch (not shown), or when a user just sits on the seat plate 12, a switch is turned on by control means which receives a signal from a detection sensor (not shown) to rotate the fan 34 is response to operation of the motor 36

[0052] The air remaining in a space of the body 10 is sucked into the fan 34 through the air suction inlet 30 along the suction passage 32 and the suction pipe 48 in response to the rotation of the fan 34 to thereby be discharged into the exhaust duct 40.

[0053] The air discharged into the exhaust duct 40 flows toward arrow B in FIG. 6 to push the opening and closing plate part 54a of the second opening and closing member 54, by which the opening and closing plate part 54a is horizontalized to open the water passage as shown in FIG. 7. At this time, the opening and closing plate part 54a is rotated counterclockwise about the second hinge line (H2) to simultaneously raise the quarter disc plate 54b along the slit 52c, where the first opening and closing member 50 connected by the band 56 is rotated clockwise about the first hinge line (H1) to allow a water passage to be opened to the exhaust pipe 46.

[0054] The air discharged to the exhaust pipe 46 sequentially passes the drain passage 24 formed in the body, drain pipe 26 and another drain pipe 28 to the septic tank.

[0055] According, stench generated by a user who relieves nature is continuously discharged to the septic tank, thereby preventing the stench from being dispersed out of the rest room.

[0056] When a user finishes relieving nature to turn off a switch (not shown), or when the user stands up from the seat plate 12, the switch receives a signal from a detection sensor to be turned off by control means, thereby stopping the operation of the motor 36.

[0057] As a result, the opening and closing plate part 54a of the second opening and closing member 54 loses the pushing power to make the left side 50b of the first opening and closing member 50 heavier, such that the first opening and closing member 50 is rotated counterclockwise about the first hinge line (H1). At the same time, the second opening and closing member 54 is rotated clockwise about the second hinge line (H2) to thereby close the water passage as illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0058] FIG. 8 is a schematic drawing of a stench eliminating apparatus at a toilet bowl according to a second embodiment of the present invention, where a discharge outlet 42′ formed at a exhaust duct 40 is connected to an exhaust pipe 60 communicating with a drain pipe 26 connected to outside of a toilet bowl. The discharge outlet 42′ is preferred to be formed at a side surface of the exhaust duct 40.

[0059] FIGS. 9 and 10 are respectively front view and plan view of a stench eliminating apparatus at a toilet bowl according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, a blowing unit 118 and an exhaust duct 140 are mounted to an outside of a toilet bowl, and a suction passage 32 of seat plate 12 is connected to a suction inlet of the blowing unit 118 via a suction pipe 148. A discharge outlet of the exhaust duct 140 communicates with a drain pipe 164 of a washbasin 162 through an exhaust pipe 126. At this location, the exhaust pipe 126 is preferred to be connected to a bottom area of U-shape portion of the exhaust pipe 126.

[0060] FIGS. 11 and 12 are perspective views of a stench eliminating apparatus of a toilet bowl according a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0061] As illustrated, a body 210 of the toilet bowl is disposed thereon with a seat plate 212 directly touching bottoms of a user.

[0062] The seat plate 212 is disposed thereon with a lid 214 for covering an upper side of the seat plate when the toilet bowl is not used. The body 210 is coupled at an upper rear side thereof to a water tank 216 for storing water to be supplied into the body 210.

[0063] The seat plate 212 and the lid 214 hinged by hinge means 217 coupled to the body. The hinge means 217 is a known structure where a hinge axle for connecting two flanges is inserted by protruders of the seat plate and the lid. The hinge means is formed at a midsection thereof with an inlet 266 of suction pipe 248 which communicates with a blower (not shown) or a blowing unit.

[0064] Furthermore, a hose-like pipe 232 is coupled along an inner bottom marginal area of the seat plate 212 to form a suction passage and the pipe 232 is formed with a plurality of holes 230 to constitute suction inlets.

[0065] The pipe 232 is blocked at both ends 232a thereof and is formed at a midsection thereof with an outlet 268 for being fitted into the inlet 266 when the seat plate 212 is received at an upper surface of the body 210. The outlet 268 is a holes through which air introduced via the hole 230 into the suction passage is discharged.

[0066] The suction pipe 248 is mounted between the seat plate 212 and the water tank 216 by way of an elbow 270. The suction pipe 248 may be installed with backflow prevention means for preventing the air discharging into exhaust passage from flowing backward when a blower is not working. The backflow prevention means a blower is not working. The backflow prevention means may be similar to air blocking means in the first embodiment or a damper controlled by control means or an opening and closing valve operated by a solenoid. The backflow prevention means serves to prevent stench from being backflowed in the exhaust passage.

[0067] In the stench eliminating apparatus of a toilet bowl thus constructed according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, when the seat plate 212 is placed on an upper surface of the body 210, the outlet 268 formed at the pipe 232 is fitted to inlet 266 of the suction pipe 248. When a blower (not shown) is activated, the air in the body 210 is collected in the interior of the pipe 232 through the hole 230 to be discharged to a drain passage (not shown) through the section pipe 248.

[0068] FIG. 13 is a perspective view for illustrating a stench eliminating apparatus of a toilet bowl according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 13, a body 310 is disposed thereon with a seat plate 312 that directly touches bottoms of a user and the seat plate 312 is installed thereon with a lid 314 for covering an upper side of the seat plate when the toilet bowl is not used. The body 310 is coupled at an upper rear side thereof to a water tank 316 for storing water for being supplied to the interior of the body 310.

[0070] The body 310 is coupled at a side thereof to a blowing unit 372 which has a built-in blower (described later) and is formed thereon with an inlet 374 communicating with the blower. The lid 314 and the seat plate 312 are hinged by hinge means 317 coupled to the body. The hinge means 317 is a known structure where a hinge axle for connecting flanges of both sides is inserted by protruders of the seat plate and the lid.

[0071] The seat plate 312 has a similar shape as that of the first embodiment of the present invention. In other words, the seat plate 312 has a ring shape with its front side opened while an inner portion of the seat plate 312 is protruded from an inner upper side of the body 310. The protruded portion is formed along the margin of the seat plate 312 with a plurality of air inlets 330 to allow the air in the inner space of the body 310 to be introduced. The seat plate 312 is formed thereunder with an outlet 376 which is fitted into the inlet 374 as the body 310 is received. Furthermore, the seat plate 312 is formed therein with a suction passage (not shown) such that air introduced via the air inlets 330 is collected to pass through the outlet 376.

[0072] The blowing unit 372 communicates with the inlet 374 through a flexible tube 378, and as illustrated in FIG. 14, a blower 406 is installed at one side of a space (S1) in a case 404 having a space partitioned into two areas by a compartment 402. The case is mounted at the other side of a space (S2) in the case 404 with a battery 408 for supply power to the blower 406.

[0073] The case 404 and the body 310 are formed thereunder with holes through which pipes 412 can pass.

[0074] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the body 310 seen from thereunder. As illustrated in FIG. 15, periphery of drain passage 424 formed at the body 310 is formed with a drain pipe 426 which in turn is closely secured to a floor surface of the body 310. The drain pipe 426 is formed at an outside thereof with a compartment 428 for encompassing the pipe 412 to depict a closed curvature. The drain pipe 426 is formed with an opening 430 to allow the air from the pipe 412 to be discharged into the drain passage 424.

[0075] A marginal bottom surface 310a of the body 310 and an another bottom surface of the compartment 428 are on the same level where the drain passage 424 includes a flange 432 protruded from a central bottom surface of the body 310. The flange 432 is protruded in the drain pipe 426 such that dirty water flowing through the drain passage 424 does not overflow through the opening 430.

[0076] The flexible pipe 378 or the pipe 412 may be coupled to backflow prevention means for preventing the air discharging into the drain passage from flowing backward when the blower is not operated. The backflow prevention means may be similar to the air blocking means of the first embodiment, a damper controlled by control means or an opening and closing valve activated by a solenoid.

[0077] The backflow prevention means serves to prevent stench from flowing backward in the drain passage. The backflow prevention means may be installed at an area where the compartment 428 is slenderized. It is preferred that the backflow prevention means is a damper.

[0078] In the stench eliminating apparatus of a toilet bowl according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention thus constructed, when the seat plate 312 is placed on the upper surface of the body 310, the outlet 376 formed at the seat plate 312 is fitted into the inlet 374 formed at the body 312. When the blower is activated, the air in the body 310 is collected along a suction passage (not shown) through the air inlet 330, passes the flexible pipe 378 via the inlet 374, passes again the blower 406 and pipe 412 and flows out into the drain pipe through the opening 430 at the drain pipe 426.

[0079] FIG. 16 is a schematic drawing for illustrating how the seat plate 312 is placed on the body 312.

[0080] It will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0081] As apparent from the foregoing, there is an advantage in the stench eliminating apparatus of a toilet bowl according to the present invention thus described in that stench generated while a user relieves himself or herself is eliminated to be discharged through a drain pipe such that displeasure in and out of the toilet room can be removed.

Claims

1. A stench eliminating apparatus of a toilet bowl, the toilet bowl including a body in which feces are contained and a seat plate on which bottoms of a user directly touch, wherein the apparatus comprises:

a plurality of suction inlets formed underneath the seat plate for sucking in air within the body;

a suction passage formed along a margin of the seat plate for collecting the air sucked in through the plurality of suction inlets to discharge same thereafter;

a blower mounted in communication with the suction passage; and

a drain passage communicating with a discharge outlet of the blower.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein an exhaust duct is disposed between the discharge outlet of the blower and the drain passage while the exhaust duct is coupled to air blocking means for opening and closing the exhaust duct in response to operation of the blower.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the exhaust duct communicates with the drain passage of the toilet bowl.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the exhaust duct is connected to the drain passage of washbasin.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the suction passage is a pipe coupled along a bottom margin of the seat plate while the suction inlet is formed at the pipe.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the body is formed thereon with an inlet communicating with the blower and bottom surface of the seat plate communicates with the suction passage to be accommodated into the body, forming an outlet which fits into the inlet.