SYSTEM FOR VENTING BAD ODORS FROM A TOILET BOWL

Abstract

The subject matter discloses system for venting bad odors from a toilet bowl comprising an odor suction device integrated with a toilet seat associated with the toilet bowl, adapted to pivotably couple a toilet seat cover to the toilet seat and configured to vent the bad odors emanating from the toilet bowl to a sewage system via a one-way fluid vent system fluidly coupled to said odor suction device. In some cases, the odor suction device comprises a manifold configured to fluidly couple the toilet bowl and said odor suction device and comprising a plurality of fluid flow inlets for venting the bad odors into said odor suction device, and a fluid pump being operative to pump the vented bad odors from said manifold into said one-way fluid vent system.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the venting of bad odors from a toilet bowl.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Objectionable odors produced during normal toilet use are a source of concern and embarrassment to many people. Thus, the elimination or diminution thereof has occasioned a great deal of effort and inventive energy.

There are various conventional ways known to reduce the pollution of unpleasant smells, or odors, from a restroom. Such methods include the use of ceiling fans or exhaust fans which typically discharge the unpleasant smell to the outdoors. Further methods include the introduction to the bathroom of a deodorizer to mask the smell.

There is thus an unmet need in the art to provide an efficient system for removing bad odors from the toilet bowl prior to the unpleasant odor spreads to the restroom.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a system and method for removing bad odors from a toilet bowl by using an odor suction device associated with the toilet bowl such that a user is able to operate the odor suction device prior to the bad odors dissipating within the restroom.

The system of the present invention includes, inter alia, an odor suction device which is integrally molded, by plastic molding techniques, with a toilet seat associated with the toilet bowl, during manufacture of the toilet seat. The toilet seat cover includes a cutaway portion generating a gap between the toilet seat cover and the odor suction device thereby permitting the seat cover to pivot freely about the odor suction device integrated with the toilet seat.

The present invention also includes a plurality of resilient sealing bungs located on the lower surface of the toilet seat and each bung include a pressure switch for detecting the presence of a user sitting on the toilet seat. On detection of the presence of the user, the odor suction device forwards a commence-operation instruction to a fluid pump to commence the procedure of venting the bad odors from the toilet bowl.

The pressure sensitive switches also provide a safety system such that operation of the system is prevented unless the user positions himself/herself on the seat and the bungs are in contact with the rim of the toilet bowl.

In addition, a safety valve is attached to the toilet seat so as to prevent any physical injury and/or damage to the user if a vacuum is generated within the toilet bowl due to the effect of sealing of anyone of the bungs against the rim of the toilet seat. If the pressure drops in the bowl drops below a predefined value due to the pumping effect of the pump, the safety valve opens so as to equalize the fluid pressure in the toilet bowl to ambient. Additionally, an audio and/or visual warning message is displayed to the user on a user notification unit.

There is provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a system for venting bad odors from a toilet bowl including an odor suction device integrated with a toilet seat associated with the toilet bowl and adapted to pivotably couple a toilet seat cover to the toilet seat. The odor suction device is configured to vent the bad odors emanating from the toilet bowl to a sewage system via a one-way fluid vent system fluidly coupled to the odor suction device.

There is provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a system for venting bad odors from a toilet bowl including an odor suction device adapted to pivotably couple a toilet seat cover and a toilet seat, associated with the toilet bowl and configured to vent the bad odors emanating from the toilet bowl to a sewage system via a one-way fluid vent system fluidly coupled to the odor suction device.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the odor suction device includes a housing enclosing a manifold configured to fluidly couple the toilet bowl and the odor suction device and including a plurality of fluid flow inlets for inputting the bad odors into the odor suction device, and a fluid pump being operatively configured to pump the inputted bad odors from the manifold into the one-way fluid vent system. On operating the pump, a low pressure region is generated in the manifold thereby inputting the bad odors into the manifold and subsequently the pump discharging the inputted bad odors from the manifold into the one-way vent system.

Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the toilet seat includes a plurality of resilient sealing bungs located on a lower surface of the toilet seat and each one of the plurality of sealing bungs including a pressure switch, such that a user sitting on the toilet seat, a commence operation signal is forwarded to the pump.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the toilet seat comprises a safety valve for ensuring that the fluid pressure in the toilet bowl remains above a predefined value thereby preventing injury to a toilet bowl user.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the housing cover has an inner surface coated with a coating and the housing base has an inner surface coated with the coating. The coating absorbs noise and mechanical vibrations generated during operation of the fluid pump.

Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the one-way fluid vent system includes a bad odor filter unit located between the toilet seat and the sewage system for filtering the bad odors flowing through the one-way vent system.

There is provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the presnet invention, a system for venting bad odors from a toilet bowl including an odor suction device integrated with a toilet seat associated with the toilet bowl. The odor suction device includes a one-way fluid vent system fluidly coupling the odor suction device to a sewage system. The one-way fluid vent system includes a valve configured to prevent the backflow of the bad odors from the sewage system into the odor suction device and an odor filter unit adapted to filter the bad odors from the bad odor flow flowing through the one-way fluid vent system. In addition, the odor suction device includes a fluid pump being operable to pump the bad odors from the toilet bowl into the one-way fluid vent system. The bad odor flow flowing through the odor filter unit enhances the effectiveness of the odor suction device in removing the bad odors from the toilet bowl.

There is provided in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention a system for venting bad odors from a toilet bowl including an odor suction device integrated with a toilet seat associated with the toilet bowl. The odor suction device includes a housing enclosing a manifold associated configured to fluidly couple the toilet bowl and the odor suction device and comprising a plurality of fluid flow inlets for venting the bad odors into the odor suction device and a fluid pump being operative to pump the vented bad odors from said manifold into the one-way fluid vent system and a noise-and-vibration absorbing coating applied to an internal surface of the housing, such that during operation of the pump, the coating absorbs noise and mechanical vibrations to the toilet seat thereby reducing discomfort to the user of the toilet bowl.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like components are designated by like reference numerals, wherein:

FIG. 1A presents a general view of a system for venting bad odors from a toilet bowl, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B presents a further view of the system in the open configuration, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A presents a top-view of the system in a closed configuration, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2B presents a further top-view of the system in the closed configuration, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2C presents an underside view of the system in the closed configuration, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows details of the base portion of the odor suction device, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows details of the odor suction device, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 presents a cut-away view of the housing and showing the fluid flow therethrough, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and

FIG. 6 shows the lower surface of the toilet seat includes a plurality of resilient sealing bungs, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Reference is now made to FIG. 1A, which presents a general view of a system 10 for venting bad odors 11 from a toilet bowl 12, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The system 10 includes, inter alia, an odor suction device 14, a toilet seat cover 16 and a toilet seat 18. The odor suction device 14 is integrally molded, by plastic molding techniques, with the toilet seat 18 during manufacture of the toilet seat. The system 10 is secured to the toilet bowl 12 by means of at least two securing pins 26 and 28 (FIG. 2A). FIG. 1A shows the system 10 in an open configuration 24.

The toilet seat cover 16 includes a cutaway portion 36 which forms a gap 38 between a housing 40 of the odor suction device 14 and the seat cover 16. The gap 38 permits the seat cover 16 to pivot freely about the odor suction device 14 by means of pivots 32 and 34 (FIG. 2A) protruding from the housing 14, as indicated by an arrow 30.

The odor suction device 14 ingresses the bad odors 11 emanating from the toilet bowl 12 and is configured to vent the bad odors 11 to a sewage system 22 via a one-way fluid vent system 20, fluidly coupled to the odor suction device 14.

In some embodiments, an odor filter unit 29 is included in the one-way fluid vent system 20 for filtering the bad odors 11 from the fluid flow 58 (FIG. 2A). The odor filter unit 29 contains a filter substance 31, such as carbon fibers, for removing the bad odors 11.

The toilet seat 18 fits snugly on an outer rim 25 of the toilet bowl 12. The housing 40 also includes a removable pump cover 114 with air vents 116, as described below.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1B, which presents a further view of the system 10 in the open configuration 24, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B shows that the odor suction device 14 includes, inter alia, the housing 40 having a housing cover 42 and a housing base 44. The base portion 44 includes a plurality of inlet openings 48 for inputting the bad odors 11 into the odor suction device 14, as described below.

The housing cover 42 is fluidly sealed to the base 44 by means of a gasket 46, located between the cover 42 and the base 44 and secured to the housing cover 40 by means of fasteners 90, 92, 94 and 96 (FIGS. 3 and 4). The gasket 46 provides a fluid seal between the housing 42 and the base 44 thereby preventing leakage of ingressed bad odors from the housing 40.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2A, which presents a top-view of the system 10 in a closed configuration 50, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The one-way fluid vent system 20 includes, inter alia, a connecting conduit 52, a valve 54 and a connector 56. The connector 56 protrudes beyond the housing 40 and fluidly couples the conduit 52 to the device 14 via the valve 54 and the bad odors 11 are discharged from the device 14 via the valve 54 into the conduit 52. The valve 54 enables an outward one-way direction flow of the bad odors 11 to the sewage system 22, as indicated by a flow arrow 58. The valve 54 prevents a backflow of objectionable odors into the toilet bowl 12.

In addition, it is seen in FIG. 2A that the securing pins 26 and 28 protrude beyond the housing base 44 for securing the system 10 to the toilet bowl 12, as described above.

For operation of the odor suction device 14, the device 14 is electrically coupled to a power supply 60, such as the mains or a battery, via a wire or wireless electrical link 62. A user activation unit 108 for the user to activate the odor suction device 14 is located in an activation holder 110, located in the base portion 44, as described below.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2B, which presents a further top-view of the system 10 in the closed configuration 50, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2B, the toilet seat cover 16 is closed thereby showing a top view of the housing 40 as well as the locations of the pivots 32 and 34, the gap 38 and the connector 56 relative to the housing 40. FIG. 2B also shows that the bad odors 11 vented from the toilet bowl 12 into the odor suction device 14 are discharged therefrom in the direction indicated by the flow arrow 58.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2C, which presents an underside view of the system 10 in the closed configuration 50, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2C shows that resilient bungs 150, 152, 154 and 156, are attached to a lower surface 64 of the toilet seat 18. The operation of the resilient bungs 150, 152, 154 and 156 is described below.

FIG. 2C also shows the housing base 44 as well as the fluid and electrical connections to the system 10. Fasteners 90, 92, 94 and 96 secure the base 44 to the housing cover 42.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which shows details of the base portion 44 of the odor suction device 14, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 3 shows that the base portion 44 includes, inter alia, the plurality of fluid inlets 48 cut into an external surface 69 of the base 44. The fluid inlet typically includes four fluid inlets 70, 72, 74 and 76 for inputting the odors 11 into the device 14. The fluid inlets 70, 72, 74 and 76 are fluidly coupled to a manifold 88 by means of a plurality of fluid flow channels 78, which includes four fluid flow channels 80, 82, 84 and 86.

The bad odors 11 are vented from the toilet bowl 12 into the manifold 88 by the pumping action of a fluid pump 100, as described below with respect to FIG. 4. The odors 11 are pumped through the odor suction device 14 and are discharged from the system 10 into the sewage system 22 via the valve 54 and the conduit 52.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4, which shows details of the odor suction device 14, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The housing 40 of the device 14 encloses, inter alia, a fluid pump 100 which ingresses the bad odors 11 from the toilet bowl 12 through the plurality of fluid inlets 48 into the fluid manifold 88 via the plurality of flow channels 78. The pump 100 includes a plurality of vanes 103 and typically rotates in a clockwise direction, as indicated by an arrow 105, about a spindle 101. The spindle 101 is coupled to the housing cover 42 and sealed from a flow chamber 106 of the housing 40 by means of a pump enclosure 107 (FIG. 5).

A gasket 102 including a flow orifice 104 is placed over the plurality of channels 78 and the manifold 88 thereby providing a fluid seal between the plurality of channels 78 and the flow chamber 106, as shown below with respect to FIG. 5. The fluid flow from the manifold 88 flows through the orifice 104 and into the flow chamber 106. The odors 11 are pumped from the bowl 12 and flow through into the flow chamber 106 by means of the pumping action of the pump 100. Due to the pumping action of the pump 100, the pumped odors are discharged from the device 14 into the vent system 20 for disposing in the sewage system 22, as described below.

A cutout 112 is included in the base of the housing cover 42 so that the housing cover 42 fits snugly over the pivot 32 without interfering with the pivoting of the toilet seat cover 16 about the device 14. It is appreciated that a further cutout is located on the further side of the housing cover 42 in the sense of FIG. 4 for fitting snugly on the pivot 34. For the sake of clarity, only the cutout 112 is indicated in FIG. 4.

Additionally, a removable pump cover 114 with air vents 116 are included in the housing cover 42. The pump cover 114 provides access to the pump 100 for servicing and the air vents 116 vent hot air generated by the rotation of the pump 100 during the operation of the pump 100.

A further cutout 118 is located in the housing cover 42 to accommodate the removable pump cover 114.

Reference is now made to FIG. 5, which presents a cut-away drawing of the housing 40 and showing the fluid flow therethrough, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. On activation of the odor suction device 14 by the user operating the activation unit 108, the rotary pump 100 commences to rotate clockwise. The rotation of the vanes 103 of the pump 100 creates a low pressure region 139 in the manifold 88 and the odors 11 are drawn into the device 14 through the plurality of inlets 48 and a fluid flow 140 is generated through the manifold 88.

The fluid flow 120 is drawn-up into the flow chamber 106 by the rotation of the pump 100, as shown by a fluid flow arrow 125. The vented odors 124 fill the flow chamber 106 and the continued pumping action of the pump 100 expels the bad odors from the chamber 106 into the conduit 52. The odors are discharged into the sewage system 22 via the conduit 52, as described above.

Reference is now made back to FIGS. 2A, 2C, 3, 4 and FIG. 5, which show that in some embodiments, a noise-and-vibration absorbing coating 71 is applied to an internal surface of the housing cover 42 as well as to an internal surface of the housing base 44. A typical noise-and-vibration absorbing material 71 is Hy-Tech SC#1000®, available from High-Tech Thermal Solutions, P.O. Box 216, Melbourne, Fla. 32902, U.S.A. The coating 71 absorbs noise as well as mechanical vibrations to the seat 18 during operation of the pump 100 so as to reduce discomfort to the user of the toilet bowl 12.

Reference is now made to FIG. 6, which shows the lower surface 64 of the toilet seat 18 includes a plurality of resilient sealing bungs 150, 152, 154 and 156, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Each one of the bungs 150, 152, 154 and 156 include a pressure switch 158, 160, 162, and 164, respectively, such that the user sitting on the toilet seat 18 operates the pressure switches 158, 160, 162 and 164, such that each one of the pressure switches forward a user-pressure signal 166, 168, 170, 172, respectively, to a multiplexer 174. The multiplexer 174 forwards a commence-operation signal 176 to the pump 100, instructing the pump 100 to commence the pumping operation.

The pressure sensitive switches 158, 160, 162 and 164 also provide a safety system such that operation of the system 10 is prevented unless the user positions himself/herself on the seat 18 and the bungs 150, 152, 154 and 156 are in contact with the rim 25 (FIG. 1).

A safety valve 180 is attached to the toilet seat 18 in order to prevent any physical injury and/or damage to the user if a vacuum is generated within the toilet bowl 12 due to the effect of sealing of anyone of the bungs 150, 152, 154 and 156 against the rim 25. If the pressure drops in the bowl 12 drops below a predefined value due to the pumping effect of the pump 100, the valve 180 opens equalizing the fluid pressure in the toilet bowl 12 to the ambient pressure. In addition, an audio and/or visual warning message 182 is displayed to the user on a user notification unit 184.

Claims

1. A system for venting bad odors from a toilet bowl comprising:

an odor suction device integrated with a toilet seat associated with the toilet bowl, adapted to pivotably couple a toilet seat cover to the toilet seat and configured to vent the bad odors emanating from the toilet bowl to a sewage system via a one-way fluid vent system fluidly coupled to said odor suction device.

2. The system for venting bad odors from a toilet bowl according to claim 1, wherein said odor suction device comprises:

a manifold configured to fluidly couple the toilet bowl and said odor suction device and comprising a plurality of fluid flow inlets for venting the bad odors into said odor suction device, and

a fluid pump being operative to pump the vented bad odors from said manifold into said one-way fluid vent system, wherein operating said pump, a low pressure region is generated in said manifold thereby drawing-in the bad odors into said manifold and subsequently said pump discharging the drawn-in bad odors from said manifold into said one-way vent system.

3. The system for venting bad odors from a toilet bowl according to claim 1, wherein the toilet seat includes a plurality of resilient sealing bungs located on a lower surface of the toilet seat and each one of said plurality of sealing bungs including a pressure switch, such that a user sitting on the toilet seat, a commence operation signal is forwarded to said pump.

4. The system for venting bad odors from a toilet bowl according to claim 1, wherein the toilet seat comprises a safety valve for ensuring that the fluid pressure in the toilet bowl remains above a predefined value thereby preventing injury to a toilet bowl user.

5. A system for venting bad odors from a toilet bowl comprising:

an odor suction device integrated with a toilet seat associated with the toilet bowl comprising;

a one-way fluid vent system fluidly coupling said odor suction device to a sewage system, said one-way fluid vent system comprises: a valve configured to prevent the backflow of the bad odors from the sewage system into said odor suction device, and an odor filter unit adapted to filter the bad odors from the bad odor flow flowing through said one-way fluid vent system, and

a fluid pump being operable to pump the bad odors from the toilet bowl into said one-way fluid vent system,

wherein the bad odor flow flowing through said odor filter unit enhance effectiveness of said odor suction device in removing the bad odors from the toilet bowl.

6. A system for venting bad odors from a toilet bowl, comprising:

an odor suction device integrated with a toilet seat associated with the toilet bowl, said odor suction device comprises:

a housing enclosing: a manifold associated configured to fluidly couple the toilet bowl and said odor suction device and comprising a plurality of fluid flow inlets for venting the bad odors into said odor suction device, and a fluid pump being operative to pump the vented bad odors from said manifold into said one-way fluid vent system,

a noise-and-vibration absorbing coating applied to an internal surface of said housing,

wherein during operation of said pump, said coating absorbs noise and mechanical vibrations generated by operation of said pump to the toilet seat thereby reducing discomfort to the user of the toilet bowl.