Ventilated Toilet
A ventilated toilet includes a toilet bowl having flush holes disposed around a rim of the toilet bowl for discharging water into the toilet bowl, a holding tank for containing a volume of water sufficient to cause the toilet to flush when the volume of water is discharged into the toilet bowl, a flush and refill mechanism for flushing and then refilling the toilet, the flush mechanism controlling a flush valve that covers a drain in a bottom of the holding tank. The toilet also includes a water feed conduit connecting the drain to the holes around the rim of the bowl. A motion-sensitive switch is connected to a movable portion of the flush and refill mechanism for controlling an air ventilation fan that draws malodorous air from the toilet bowl through the flush holes and conduit and then through an air outlet in the toilet bowl.
This is the first application filed for the present technology.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present technology relates generally to toilets and, in particular, to ventilated toilets.
BACKGROUNDFlush toilets use water to dispose of human waste through a drain pipe into a sewer system. Exhausting malodorous air from a toilet is typically done using a ceiling-mounted fan. However, this is inefficient as the malodorous air must be drawn upwardly from the toilet to the fan on the ceiling. In recognition of this problem, a number of ventilated toilets have been developed for evacuating malodorous air in a more efficient manner. Generally, there are three types of ventilated toilets. A first type of ventilated toilet uses a filter or air scrubber to deodorize the malodorous air. The main disadvantages of this first type of ventilated toilet is that the filter or scrubber must be regularly replaced and that the deodorization effect may be ineffectual. A second type of ventilated toilet draws the malodorous air into the drain pipe and sewer. However, this can lead to back pressure especially in a septic system. Furthermore, if air is forced through the drain pipe and into the sewer, there would be no p-trap; as a consequence, there is no way to ensure that there is no back-drafting of sewage water. A third type of ventilated toilet uses a ventilation conduit to exhaust the malodorous air from the toilet. This requires retrofitting of after-market components. The present invention is an improvement on this third type of ventilated toilets. Although a number of different designs of ventilated toilets exist, they are typically complex and/or inefficient. Accordingly, a need remains for an improved ventilated toilet.
SUMMARYIn general, the present invention provides a ventilated toilet that uses a motion-sensitive switch mounted to one movable element of the flush and refill mechanism in order to control an air ventilation fan. The motion-sensitive switch can be used to deactivate the fan when water is discharged through a water feed conduit from the holding tank into the toilet bowl. The conduit thus only conveys water when the toilet is flushed. At all other times, the conduit is filled with air. In other words, the conduit contains air prior to water being discharged through the conduit and again after the water is discharged through the conduit. The ventilated toilet makes use of this water feed conduit to draw malodorous air back through the holes in the rim of the toilet bowl and through this same conduit to an air outlet that is formed in the rear wall of the toilet bowl. The motion-sensitive switch ingeniously deactivates the fan (and thus the rearward suction of air) when the toilet is flushed, i.e. when water flows through the conduit. At all other times, the fan through the conduit and the novel air outlet formed in the back of the toilet bowl.
Thus, a main aspect of the present invention is a ventilated toilet having a toilet bowl having at least one hole disposed around a rim of the toilet bowl for discharging water into the toilet bowl, a holding tank for containing a volume of water sufficient to cause the toilet to flush when the volume of water is discharged into the toilet bowl, a flush mechanism for flushing the toilet, the flush mechanism controlling a flush valve that covers a drain in a bottom of the holding tank, a refill mechanism for refilling the holding tank, a water feed conduit connecting the drain to the at least one hole disposed around the rim of the toilet bowl, and a motion-sensitive switch connected to a movable portion of the refill mechanism for controlling an air ventilation fan, the fan drawing malodorous air from the toilet bowl through the flush holes and the conduit and then drawing the malodorous air out of the toilet through an air outlet in the toilet bowl.
Another aspect of the present invention is a ventilated toilet having a toilet bowl having at least one hole disposed around a rim of the toilet bowl for discharging water into the toilet bowl, a holding tank for containing a volume of water sufficient to cause the toilet to flush when the volume of water is discharged into the toilet bowl, a flush mechanism for flushing the toilet, the flush mechanism controlling a flush valve that covers a drain in a bottom of the holding tank, a refill mechanism for refilling the holding tank, a water feed conduit connecting the drain to the at least one hole disposed around the rim of the toilet bowl, and a motion-sensitive switch connected to a movable portion of the flush mechanism for controlling an air ventilation fan, the fan drawing malodorous air from the toilet bowl through the flush holes and the conduit and then drawing the malodorous air out of the toilet through an air outlet in the toilet bowl.
The details and particulars of these aspects of the invention will now be described below, by way of example, with reference to the attached drawings.
Further features and advantages of the present technology will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which:
It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONIn general, the present invention provides a ventilated toilet that uses a motion-sensitive switch mounted to one movable element of the flush and refill mechanism in order to control an air ventilation fan. The motion-sensitive switch can be used to deactivate the fan when water is discharged through a water feed conduit from the holding tank into the toilet bowl. The conduit thus only conveys water when the toilet is flushed. At all other times, the conduit is filled with air. In other words, the conduit provides a temporary passageway through which malodorous air may pass. The malodorous air may pass through the conduit either (i) before the water is discharged from the holding tank through the conduit into the bowl or (ii) after the water has been discharged through the conduit into the bowl. The ventilated toilet makes use of this water feed conduit to draw malodorous air back through the holes in the rim of the toilet bowl and through this same conduit to an air outlet that is formed in the rear wall of the toilet bowl. The motion-sensitive switch ingeniously deactivates the fan (and thus the rearward suction of air) when the toilet is flushed, i.e. when water flows through the conduit. At all other times, the fan may operate to draw malodorous air from the toilet bowl through the conduit and the novel air outlet formed in the back of the toilet bowl.
As shown in
As will be appreciated, other mechanisms, configurations or arrangements may be implemented for triggering the motion-sensitive switch. It should be understood that any suitable motion-sensitive switch may be connected to any component of the toilet that moves in response to flushing such as, for example, the handle (hand-operated flush lever), the lever that actuates the chain, the chain, the flapper, etc. Mechanisms can be devised to exploit the motion of any of these components to trigger the switch to deactivate the fan. In each of these alternative cases, the switch temporarily deactivates the fan while water flows through the water feed conduit and then reactivates the fan to draw air through this same conduit.
In one embodiment, as illustrated by way of example in
The toilet bowl can be made of porcelain or other suitable ceramic material. A pivoting toilet seat and toilet seat cover are typically mounted to the toilet bowl in a known manner. The toilet seat and toilet seat cover are typically made of a plastic, for example, PVC, ABS or any other suitable polymer.
This new technology has been described in terms of specific examples, embodiments, implementations and configurations which are intended to be exemplary only. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that obvious variations, modifications and refinements can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The scope of the exclusive right sought by the Applicant is therefore intended to be limited solely by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A ventilated toilet comprising:
- a toilet bowl having at least one hole disposed around a rim of the toilet bowl for discharging water into the toilet bowl;
- a holding tank for containing a volume of water sufficient to cause the toilet to flush when the volume of water is discharged into the toilet bowl;
- a flush mechanism for flushing the toilet, the flush mechanism controlling a flush valve that covers a drain in a bottom of the holding tank;
- a refill mechanism for refilling the holding tank;
- a water feed conduit connecting the drain to the at least one hole disposed around the rim of the toilet bowl; and
- a motion-sensitive switch connected to a movable portion of the refill mechanism for controlling an air ventilation fan, the fan drawing malodorous air from the toilet bowl through the flush holes and the conduit and then drawing the malodorous air out of the toilet through an air outlet in the toilet bowl.
2. The ventilated toilet as claimed in claim 1 wherein the air outlet is disposed in a rear wall of the toilet bowl in substantial horizontal alignment with the conduit.
3. The ventilated toilet as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a removable cap for hermetically plugging the air outlet when the ventilated toilet is not connected to an exhaust duct.
4. The ventilated toilet as claimed in claim 1 wherein the motion-sensitive switch is a mercury shut-off switch for deactivating the fan.
5. The ventilated toilet as claimed in claim 1 wherein the motion-sensitive switch is mounted to a float arm that extends between a refill valve and a float.
6. The ventilated toilet as claimed in claim 1 wherein the motion-sensitive switch comprises a delay circuit to delay reactivation of the fan after a predetermined period of time has elapsed.
7. The ventilated toilet as claimed in claim 4 wherein the motion-sensitive switch comprises a delay circuit to delay reactivation of the fan after a predetermined period of time has elapsed.
8. The ventilated toilet as claimed in claim 1 wherein the motion-sensitive switch is connected in a circuit with a wall switch.
9. The ventilated toilet as claimed in claim 7 wherein the motion-sensitive switch is connected in a circuit with a wall switch.
10. A ventilated toilet comprising:
- a toilet bowl having at least one hole disposed around a rim of the toilet bowl for discharging water into the toilet bowl;
- a holding tank for containing a volume of water sufficient to cause the toilet to flush when the volume of water is discharged into the toilet bowl;
- a flush mechanism for flushing the toilet, the flush mechanism controlling a flush valve that covers a drain in a bottom of the holding tank;
- a refill mechanism for refilling the holding tank;
- a water feed conduit connecting the drain to the at least one hole disposed around the rim of the toilet bowl; and
- a motion-sensitive switch connected to a movable portion of the flush mechanism for controlling an air ventilation fan, the fan drawing malodorous air from the toilet bowl through the flush holes and the conduit and then drawing the malodorous air out of the toilet through an air outlet in the toilet bowl.
11. The ventilated toilet as claimed in claim 10 wherein the air outlet is disposed in a rear wall of the toilet bowl in substantial horizontal alignment with the conduit.
12. The ventilated toilet as claimed in claim 10 further comprising a removable cap for hermetically plugging the air outlet when the ventilated toilet is not connected to an exhaust duct.
13. The ventilated toilet as claimed in claim 10 wherein the motion-sensitive switch is a mercury shut-off switch for deactivating the fan.
14. The ventilated toilet as claimed in claim 10 wherein the motion-sensitive switch is affixed to a flapper covering the drain, the motion-sensitive switch being triggered when a chain connected to a flush lever causes the flapper to pivot to uncover the drain.
15. The ventilated toilet as claimed in claim 10 wherein the motion-sensitive switch is wired to act as a shut-off to deactivate the fan when the movable portion of the flush mechanism is moved.
16. The ventilated toilet as claimed in claim 10 further comprising an air exhaust duct connected to the air outlet, the air exhaust duct extending into a wall socket in a wall space of a washroom in which the toilet is situated, the socket being connected to an air exhaust duct through which malodorous air is exhausted outdoors by the air ventilation fan.
17. The ventilated toilet as claimed in claim 10 wherein the motion-sensitive switch comprises a delay circuit to delay reactivation switch comprises a delay circuit to period of time has elapsed.
18. The ventilated toilet as claimed in claim 10 wherein the motion-sensitive switch is connected in a circuit with a wall switch.
19. The ventilated toilet as claimed in claim 16 wherein the motion-sensitive switch comprises a delay circuit to delay reactivation of the fan after a predetermined period of time has elapsed.
20. The ventilated toilet as claimed in claim 19 wherein the motion-sensitive switch is connected in a circuit with a wall switch.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 10, 2009
Publication Date: Oct 14, 2010
Inventor: James Kennedy (Geraldton)
Application Number: 12/422,013