Electric-motor Pump Patents (Class 4/213)
  • Patent number: 11885112
    Abstract: A toilet infectious airborne particulate filtration and disinfection system is provided. The system includes a modified toilet seat assembly, with circumferentially arranged grooves on an underside of the modified toilet seat assembly. The system also includes a seat air filtration unit configured to mate with the grooves. The system further includes a modified toilet lid assembly, with grooves on an underside of the lid. The system includes a lid air filtration unit configured to mate with the grooves. The system also includes an internally arranged disinfectant dispersing mechanism, with a disinfectant fluid reservoir, positioned internally to a toilet bowl enclosure. The system also includes a plurality of spray nozzles positionable about the toilet bowl enclosure and a plurality of disinfectant fluid delivery tubes positioned internally to the toilet bowl. The system includes a disinfectant propellant mechanism and activation control device. System is adaptable to a urinal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Inventor: Clayton Punnett
  • Patent number: 11834819
    Abstract: A system for removing odors from a toilet includes a ventilated seat assembly, a powered exhaust system, and one or more vent couplers coupled between the ventilated seat assembly and the powered exhaust system, wherein the powered exhaust system is configured to draw air from the ventilated seat assembly through the one or more vent couplers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Inventor: Scott Tiefenthaler
  • Patent number: 11739969
    Abstract: A portable conditioner to cool or heat an internal space separate from an external space includes a control and command unit configured to determine at least the enthalpy difference between the internal space and the external space, and to regulate the quantity of air exchanged with the external space in relation to the enthalpy difference determined with respect to an expected value of enthalpy difference corresponding to a conditioning temperature and to a defined conditioning relative humidity. The present invention also concerns a method to regulate the portable conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: DE' LONGHI APPLIANCES S.R.L. CON UNICO SOCIO
    Inventors: Giuseppe De' Longhi, Stefano Vit, Ivano Callegaro
  • Patent number: 11634899
    Abstract: A toilet and bathroom exhaust system of the present invention provides a single system that handles both the removal of noxious air in an around the toilet and dehumidification of the air in the entire room. An intake manifold may be configured to be 1) attached to the bottom of the toilet lid; 2) attached to the top of the toilet rim; or 3) integrated into the toilet rim with the water drainage supply lines for flushing. The noxious air can be routed via an exhaust fan outside the house. The exhaust fan may also be configured to route noxious air into the trap area in the toilet. Proximity and humidity sensors may be used for further control and automation of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Inventor: Ervin E. Salazar
  • Patent number: 11591783
    Abstract: A toilet bowl ventilation system exhausts air in and around the toilet bowl to an area adjacent to the room in which the toilet is located. The toilet bowl ventilation system includes an odor exhaust system which is configured to be installed within the interior cavity of a toilet. The odor exhaust system includes a fan positioned within a housing. The system further includes a controller that regulates power to the fan. Upon activation, the system is operable to transport air from in and around the toilet bowl, through the housing, and to an area adjacent to the room in which the toilet is located (e.g. outdoors).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Inventors: Akmal Payziev, Umidjon Payziev, Shukhrat Akromov
  • Patent number: 11577836
    Abstract: Provided is a toilet exterior structure of an aircraft lavatory unit. A shroud mount in an upper end outer peripheral plate portion is provided in a lower surface of a main body plate portion. The shroud mount includes space portions extending in the width direction of the main body plate portion between partition walls provided in the main body plate portion. Where the body plate portion is placed in the upper end outer peripheral plate portion, a plurality of air communication passages communicating a space inside of the upper end outer peripheral plate portion in the width direction and a space outside of the upper end outer peripheral plate portion in the width direction are formed by the space portions. Where the main body plate portion is stepped on by a foot, the plurality of partition walls are positioned inside of a contour of the foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuji Taguchi
  • Patent number: 11568994
    Abstract: Improved toilet apparatus and accessories are provided. The smart toilet system comprises components to enhance the functionality and use of existing toilets or new toilets. The smart toilet system comprises components designed to be fit in, on, above, or under a toilet seat, or to replace a toilet seat, bidet components, health monitoring components, ventilation or hygiene components, and communications and/or control components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Inventor: Russell Sebastian Glover, Sr.
  • Patent number: 11560702
    Abstract: A touchless actuation system for a toilet includes a touchless sensor, a motor assembly, and a processing circuit. The touchless sensor is located within a closed reservoir of the toilet. The processing circuit is configured to receive a signal from the touchless sensor and to detect an object within a detection region based on the signal. The detection region is external to the closed reservoir. The processing circuit is configured to facilitate flushing of the toilet through interaction with the motor assembly when the object is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Peter W. Denzin, Jeffrey C. Hildebrand, Brian D. Renzelman, Clayton C. Garrels, Joseph L. Stauber, Eric M. Plate
  • Patent number: 11534040
    Abstract: A modular antiviral air filter assembly for filtering displaced air in a toilet has a ventilated filter housing having a bottom sealing surface, a peripheral side wall, and a top lid, the filter housing fixed to or formed contiguously to the underside of the top lid of the toilet, at least one antiviral filter disposed within the filter housing having contact with the displaced air from the bowl of the waste collection utility. The antiviral filter assembly closes and seals against the donut rim seat after use and remains sealed during flush operation of the waste collection utility wherein the displaced air from water filling the collection bowl is filtered through the one or more antiviral filters before egress out of the ventilated portion or portions of the filter housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Inventor: Henry Beneda
  • Patent number: 11486127
    Abstract: Provided is a toilet ventilation system and a method of ventilating a toilet bowl. In one configuration, the toilet ventilation system includes a raised seat assembly including ventilation tubing secured to the undersurface thereof, the seat being removably securable to a toilet pedestal shelf and positionable on top of a rim of the toilet bowl, with a ventilation system coupled therewith. In another embodiment a short elbow pipe is secured with an end within the bowl area, affixed to a ventilation system. The ventilation system includes a pipe tee having a delivery pipe in fluid communication with a suction pump, such as a wet-dry vacuum. By operating the motor of the suction pump, the suction pump draws odorous air out of the toilet bowl, through the ventilation system, and delivers the same into the outside environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Inventor: Shahrooz S. Jamie
  • Patent number: 11473286
    Abstract: An assembly for filtering toilet bowl odors including a first housing respectively disposed in spaced relation to and in fluid communication with the toilet bowl. A conduit connects interiors of the first and second housings in fluid communication with one another. A fan assembly is mounted within said first housing in fluid communicating relation with second housing, via the conduit, and is disposed and structured to define a path of fluid flow extending from an inlet of said second housing, through said conduit and a filter assembly, disposed in the first housing and/or second housing, to the exterior of said first housing, concurrent to activation of the fan assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: HOUND TECH LLC
    Inventors: Brian L. Machovina, Eileen McHale-Machovina
  • Patent number: 11377832
    Abstract: A toilet seat cover is configured to fit over a corresponding toilet seat, forming an air tight seal around the toilet seat at a lower edge of the toilet seat cover when the toilet seat cover is in a lowered position. The toilet seat cover provides a seat channel in the underside of the toilet seat cover in which the seat resides when the toilet seat cover is lowered. There is a gap between the toilet seat and the underside of the toilet seat cover in the seat channel to allow air to flow between the seat and the underside of the toilet seat cover. The toilet seat cover includes a fluid channel and a plurality of nozzles along the fluid channel which spray the toilet seat with a cleaning or sanitizing fluid when the toilet seat cover is in the lowered position. After stopping the spraying of sanitizing fluid, the toilet is flushed using suction, lowering the air pressure under the toilet seat cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Auto Cleaning Toilet Seat USA, L.L.C
    Inventors: Nuri Dorra, Maximo Dorra
  • Patent number: 11253118
    Abstract: An extractor device to extract unwanted odors from a conventional toilet may include a seat mounting device configured to mount on a toilet seat of the conventional toilet; an input noise reduction muffler assembly connected to the seat mounting device to eliminate noise transmitted from the seat mounting device; a vacuum device in fluid connection with the seat mounting device; the vacuum device including a ring compression blower to generate a vacuum; an output noise reduction assembly to reduce noise from the vacuum device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Inventor: Richard Claudio
  • Patent number: 11155986
    Abstract: A toilet odor elimination device that resides below a water tank lid of a water tank includes a housing with an intake chamber, a filter chamber in operational relationship to a micro fan chamber, a tubular exhaust tube and an at least one battery storage chamber. The toilet odor elimination device is activated by an on/off switch that resides in an electrical relationship to a power source located in the at least one battery storage chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Inventor: Aliese Phillips
  • Patent number: 11105080
    Abstract: A toilet space deodorizing device includes an intake part forming an intake port; an exhaust part forming an exhaust port; a fan device intaking air through the intake port; a water deodorizing part provided inside a deodorizing air channel, the deodorizing air channel linking the intake port and the exhaust port and allowing air to flow, the water deodorizing part using water to deodorize the suctioned air; a water supply part supplying water to the water deodorizing part; and a drainage part forming a drainage port, the drainage port draining water from the water deodorizing part into a drainage receptacle. The drainage port is positioned between the water deodorizing part and the water supply part. The water supply part supplies the water to the water deodorizing part via the drainage port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyotake Ukigai, Yuya Otowa, Shoko Uemoto, Shunichi Nakamichi, Kanako Isono
  • Patent number: 11047121
    Abstract: A toilet space deodorizing device includes an intake port part forming an intake port, an exhaust port part forming an exhaust port, a fan device, a water collecting part provided inside a deodorizing air channel, a water supply part supplying water to the water collecting part, a drainage part forming a drainage port, a negative pressure generation device forming a negative pressure in the water collecting part, and a controller controlling a driving of the negative pressure generation device. The controller dries the negative pressure generation device to generate a negative pressure. The water supplied from the water supply part is collected in the water collecting part due to air flowing into the water collecting part and pushing on the water supplied from the water supply part by the negative pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyotake Ukigai, Yuya Otowa, Shoko Uemoto, Shunichi Nakamichi, Kanako Isono
  • Patent number: 10975557
    Abstract: An odor removal device for quick and efficient removal of odorous gas from a toilet, without causing the gas to be breathed in by the user of the toilet and without releasing any undesired heat onto the user of the toilet. As the odorous gas is being removed from the toilet by an evacuation assembly, it is transferred to an exhaust fan assembly where it is heated and forced upwards to a ceiling fan. The odorous gas is maintained at an elevated position away from the user of the toilet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Inventor: Bradley Finkbeiner
  • Patent number: 10760801
    Abstract: A ventilator includes a body part with a box shape, an adapter plate provided on one surface of the body part, a blowing part, and an adapter provided on the adapter plate. The adapter includes a connection surface connected to the adapter plate, and a cylindrical outer peripheral wall rising perpendicularly from the connection surface. The adapter plate includes a first hook part, a second hook part, a first caulking joint part, and a second caulking joint part. The first hook part and the second hook part restrict the connection surface to slide in a horizontal direction, while restricting the connection surface to move in a direction away from the adapter plate in the restriction condition. The adapter plate and the connection surface are overlapped with each other to be joined by the first caulking joint part and the second caulking joint part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuaki Shima, Daisuke Kanematsu, Shogo Maeda
  • Patent number: 10724220
    Abstract: Disclosed is a water seal device for removing odour of a toilet. The water seal device is mounted in a toilet tank, and consists of an exhaust assembly, a water seal backflow assembly and an electronic control assembly. The device is provided with a powerful exhaust electric motor. After starting, the electronic control assembly supplies power to the exhaust electric motor, and the exhaust electric motor can inhale a gas in a bowl into the tank. Water in a U-shaped trap water seal is pushed and pressed out by means of the gas pressure. When the toilet discharges sewage, the electronic control assembly automatically cuts a power supply, and the exhaust electric motor stops working, and the U-shaped trap water loses the pressure to block gas return.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: XIAMEN JIJIE SANITARY WARE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jianping Liu
  • Patent number: 10690372
    Abstract: An occupant-tracking fan apparatus is provided with a source of forced air such as a fan nozzle in a movable support with multi-axis positioning and a controller with sensors controlling the moveable support directing forced air toward a target detected by the sensors. Targeting in real-time can be through camera imaging or with an array of ultrasonic transmitters/receivers that can identify occupant shape, range and thermal profile, even when the occupant is moving. The targeting fan cools by aiming a stream of air at the occupant increasing skin convection. The apparatus can also target thermal extremes and de-stratify air temperature gradients. Settings can be individualized by remote control, RFID tag or even prescribed gestures interpreted by the camera and controller. The apparatus may be part of a building wide system with a central controller that monitors sensors, controls each fan and the building HVAC systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Edward A. Arens, Hui Zhang, George Anwar
  • Patent number: 10669706
    Abstract: A floor standing and wall mountable toilet assemblies having one or more auxiliary features including an odorous air pathway to remove odors from the toilet bowl and deliver them to the waste outlet, a foot stool movable between a stored position with the toilet bowl base and an extended in-use position in front of the toilet bowl, and a toilet roll holder attached to the bowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: 3S Renovations, LLC
    Inventors: Souksavanh Phonethepswath, Sakon Sinthone Phonethepswath
  • Patent number: 10563389
    Abstract: A system for removing malodors from a toilet is described herein. The system has a seat base that is placed on top of a toilet bowl, and an air purifying device fluidly coupled to the seat base. An air drawing component of the air purifying device suctions the malodors, which flow through a channel into an air intake of the seat base, exits through an air outtake, and is directed into an air filtration component. The air filtration component filters the malodors to produce filtered air that is released into the surrounding environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Inventor: Jose A. Casarez
  • Patent number: 10542937
    Abstract: The health monitoring toilet system includes an extendable, retractable, and rotatable wand with sensors on the head section. The sensors may include a variety of cameras and gas sensors for inspecting a user's urogenital, perineal, and anal region for health assessment. The wand may comprise a bidet wand. The bidet wand may also dispense cleansing and therapeutic substances. The toilet system may include a controller which may store the sensor readings as well as protocols for moving the wand to acquire optimal sensor readings. The controller may be accessible by a healthcare provider for diagnostic and treatment purposes. The toilet system may identify each user to store sensor reading acquired for different users in the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Hall Labs LLC
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Joe Fox
  • Patent number: 10480168
    Abstract: The automated toilet comprises a toilet with a motorized pump in line with the drain pipe, a sensor, a control box, and a flush valve actuator. The sensor detects the presence of a user in front of the toilet and notifies the control box. When a user arrives, the control box starts the pump to draw air through the rim and into the sewer line, which removes odors while the toilet is being used. When the user leaves, the control box activates the flush valve actuator, causing the toilet to flush. The control box may run the pump for a predetermined time interval so that the pump may assist in emptying the bowl. When the bowl has emptied, the pump may continue to draw odors from the bowl until the control box shuts the pump off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Inventor: Frank Cox
  • Patent number: 10455817
    Abstract: We disclose a medical toilet that comprises one or more medical devices and a control for the metrics they collect. The medical devices may be used to collect metrics relevant to a user's health status. The medical toilet further comprises a conduit through which volatile organic compounds travel from the toilet bowl to the environment outside the toilet. An animal trained to identify the scent of bodily waste collected from a user that is afflicted with a disease perceives the scent of the user's bodily waste traveling through the conduit and performs a defined act upon perceiving the disease scent. The metric collected by the medical device(s) may be used to diagnose the same disease as that which the animal is trained to identify. The diagnosis provided by the animal by way of the conduit acts as a control for the metric collected by the medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Hall Labs LLC
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Joe Fox, Terrece Pearman
  • Patent number: 10456736
    Abstract: The invention discloses methods and apparatus(es) for the removal and control of pollutants such as gases and suspended particulates in the air of an enclosed space or an outdoor environment by passing the air through absorbent media. The absorbent media includes any liquid, solid or combination of liquid and solid media that is capable of absorbing a material in which it comes in contact. In one aspect of the invention, formaldehyde is removed by air sparging through a liquid such as water, optionally containing additional scavenging agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Paloza LLC
    Inventor: Peter C. Zhu
  • Patent number: 10450733
    Abstract: A toilet that includes a water tank having a vent hole; a bowl; and a system having a valve body connecting the tank and a fluid channel; a housing moveable relative to the valve body during a flush cycle to pass water from the tank into the bowl through the fluid channel, the housing having a bore that connects with the fluid channel; a fan in the bore that operates in first and second modes; a motor in the bore for rotating the fan in each mode; and a vent having an inlet fluidly connected with the bore and an outlet fluidly connected with the vent hole. In the first mode, the fan moves air from the bowl to the vent hole through the bore and vent; and in the second mode, the fan moves air from outside the tank to the bowl through the vent hole and bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Michael Luettgen, William Kuru, Clayton Garrels, Peter Denzin
  • Patent number: 10268219
    Abstract: An adapter to connect an industry standard low-voltage thermostat to a central HVAC system with a mains-voltage fan coil unit. The adapter detects the operating conditions of the thermostat, and only switches a power connection to the fan coil unit on if it is capable of heating while in heating mode or cooling while in cooling mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Inventor: Oliver Markus Haynold
  • Patent number: 10238990
    Abstract: Contaminants are filtered from a fluid flow stream and the filter is regenerated by a process including steps of: providing a filter material comprising both carbon and potassium iodide; passing a contaminated fluid stream in contact with the filter material; adsorbing contaminants from the fluid stream onto surfaces in the filter material; passing an electric current through the filter material with adsorbed contaminant thereon; disassociating contaminant from the surfaces of the filter material; and removing disassociated contaminant from the filter material by carrying away the disassociated contaminant in a fluid flow mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Code
  • Patent number: 10208470
    Abstract: A method for removing odors produced in a toilet main unit of a toilet is made available. Specifically, a deodorizing unit having an air expulsion port and an air suctioning port is provided in a rear portion of the toilet main unit, and air is circulated by expelling air through the expulsion port such as to laterally swirl the air along an inner surface of the toilet's bowl, and by suctioning swirled returning air via the suctioning port. Deodorization is carried out in the course of circulating the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Lixil Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiko Komatsu, Hiroaki Watanabe, Yasuyuki Furutani, Dai Goto, Takuma Uchiyama, Kensaku Hiraoka, Tomoya Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10188246
    Abstract: An odor-removing hinge system and method of use for withdrawing noxious odors from toilets and portable commodes is disclosed. The present seat hinge system includes an integrated housing that functions as a portion of an exhaust pathway for noxious gases expelled within the toilet bowl. The present hinge system includes at least one hollow bolt disposed in fluid communication with the housing, which is used to secure the toilet seat to the toilet. In one embodiment the noxious gases within the toilet bowl are carried by convection or vacuum via connective tubing to an exhaust conduit installed in an adjacent wall. In other embodiments the noxious gases are directed through a detachable air filter assembly secured to the housing and the odorless filtered air is recirculated. In a method of use the present hinge system is retrofitted to existing toilets and portables commodes in replacement of standard toilet seat hinges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Inventor: Egor Ciotic
  • Patent number: 10168679
    Abstract: A system for toilet ventilation, includes a ventilatable toilet, including a toilet body with a flush cavity; a ventilatable toilet seat, including a lid component, a ventilatable seat component with a ventilation channel and a ventilation aperture; a ventilation line; a ceiling ventilation unit, including a ventilation fan; a ventilation pump; and a ventilation control unit, including a processor, a non-transitory memory, an input/output component, a ventilation manager, and a data bus; such that the ventilation fan ventilates a bathroom; and the ventilatable toilet seat ventilates the toilet to reduce emission of odors. Alternatively, the toilet body can be ventilatable and mounted with a conventional toilet seat. The system can further include a ventilation control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Inventor: Darrin P. Tyson
  • Patent number: 10161123
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a unique ventilated toilet assembly. The toilet assembly includes a base with a central opening, the opening defining a toilet bowl. The toilet assembly includes a first annular ring above the base, the first annular ring having means for delivering water to the toilet bowl and a second annular ring surrounding the first annular ring. The second annular ring having side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall, the walls defining a conduit for exhausting air through the second annular ring and the second annular ring having exhaust ports for exhausting air from the toilet bowl. The ventilation member includes the combination of the second annular ring, the conduit, and the exhaust port for exhausting air working cooperatively to capture and remove waste air from the toilet bowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Inventor: Donald Campbell
  • Patent number: 10139381
    Abstract: A toilet is disclosed which, in general, includes a toilet bowl and a housing. The toilet bowl includes multiple apertures and a blower, wherein the blower is fluidly connected to one or more of the apertures. The housing is fluidly connected to the blower. The housing includes a gas permeable substrate and a gas chemical sensor. The gas permeable substrate comprises a first side, a second side, intercalated sorbent media, and a rapid desorption heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Dan Allen, Steven Butala, Andrew Davis, Justin Robinson
  • Patent number: 10081936
    Abstract: A flush toilet apparatus includes: a toilet main body portion, a reservoir tank portion, a discharge valve apparatus including a valve body for opening and closing a discharge opening in the reservoir tank portion, and an automatic flush drive unit for driving the discharge valve apparatus portion to open and close the valve body; wherein the drive unit includes a drive unit main body portion including an actuator for electrically driving the discharge valve apparatus portion, and an elongated operating member for connecting a discharge valve apparatus portion and a drive unit main body portion and operating the opening and closing action of a valve body by driving an electrically powered drive portion; and wherein the toilet main body includes an attaching portion disposed on the back surface side thereof, to which the drive unit main body portion is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Mayu Okubo, Yoshitaka Tsuru
  • Patent number: 9957703
    Abstract: An extraction system for removing unpleasant odor includes a housing having front and rear walls and side walls interconnecting the front and rear walls. The depth of the housing from the front to the rear wall is substantially less than distances across the front and rear walls from one side to the other thereof. A centrifugal fan is mounted to the housing with an axis of the fan being perpendicular to the rear wall. The fan has an axial air inlet located centrally of the front wall for receiving odor-laden air and an air outlet from the fan is tangential to the fan and coupled to discharge air to atmosphere from the extraction system. An absorbent filter unit is located within the housing downstream of the fan and includes an absorbent mass and a perfume source. Air discharged to atmosphere is both substantially free of the odor and scented via the absorbent filter unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Washroom Wizard Ltd.
    Inventor: Patrick Porter
  • Patent number: 9957702
    Abstract: An odor elimination device for a toilet is provided. The device includes a ā€œUā€-shaped piece, a ā€œZā€-shaped piece, and a plurality of sealing gaskets. The ā€œUā€-shaped piece is configured to be connected with a water inlet of the toilet, and the ā€œZā€-shaped piece is configured to be connected with an exhaust tube. The ā€œUā€-shaped piece has a central orifice configured to be connected to the toilet and has two rectangular, parallel outlets separated by a recess in communication with the central orifice. The ā€œZā€-shaped piece has two rectangular, parallel inlets configured to fit into the corresponding outlets of the ā€œUā€-shaped piece and are sealed by gaskets at a hollow vertical structure of the ā€œZā€-shaped piece. A back face of the hollow vertical structure is configured to be connected to the exhaust tube via an outlet tube. The sealing gaskets sealing the ā€œUā€-shaped piece between the toilet and the flush tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Inventor: MaurĆ­cio Santos Da Silva
  • Patent number: 9938705
    Abstract: This invention pertains to an internally exhausted toilet bowl which employs basic principles of fluid flow to provide reliable, more efficient, and more effective removal of noxious toilet odors while reducing energy consumption when compared to current art. This is accomplished during all conditions of normal operation. In case of toilet overflow or condensate buildup, the impact on the vent exhaust path from these upset conditions can be resolved easily, and normal operation can be restored without damage to any components. Additionally, this invention includes maintenance features that would provide means for back flushing the annulus vent line and orifices if clogging ever were to occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Inventor: Wayne Darnell
  • Patent number: 9890529
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved sanitary toilet bowl capable of protecting a human body against bacteria and giving a comfortable environment to a toilet by sucking and removing bad smell and bacteria. The sanitary toilet bowl includes a valve unit mounted to open or close a top of the overflow tube according to a water level in the water tank, an air suction tube installed to communicate with the overflow tube through the valve unit, a circulating pump installed in water of the water tank and having a circulating water suction tube and a circulating water discharge tube respectively provided at both ends thereof to suck the water stored in the water tank and discharge the sucked water for circulation, and a Venturi tube installed on the circulating water suction tube or the circulating water discharge tube and connected to the air suction tube perpendicularly to generate an Venturi effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Inventor: Sang-Gu Kim
  • Patent number: 9880138
    Abstract: Many diseases are difficult to diagnose or present with no symptoms that would suggest that medical diagnosis is needed until significant bodily damage has occurred. We disclose a medical toilet that may be used to diagnose disease. The toilet comprises a conduit through which volatile organic compounds travel from the toilet bowl to the environment outside the toilet. The invention includes methods that comprise the steps of training an animal to identify the scent of bodily waste collected from a user that is afflicted with a defined disease. A user's bodily waste is deposited into the medical toilet and the animal is then exposed to the volatile organic compounds traveling through the conduit on the medical toilet. The animal performs an act that signals that the animal has perceived the smell associated with the disease. Thus, we disclose a novel device for diagnosing disease and methods of user thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Joe Fox, Terrece Pearman
  • Patent number: 9877623
    Abstract: A filtration system to filter air from a waste vessel includes: a fan assembly having a fan and an air flow channel in fluid communication with the waste vessel to draw air from the waste vessel; a housing interposing the waste vessel and the fan assembly, the housing having a filter receptacle to receive a filter unit therein, the received filter unit being in fluid communication with the air flow channel wherein the fan assembly draws air through the filter unit to exhaust the air out of the air flow channel; an activator to activate the fan assembly; and, a decimator for killing or eliminating particulate matter in the air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Inventor: Jimmie L. Sollami
  • Patent number: 9809965
    Abstract: A toilet having a built-in odor evacuating system has a toilet body wherein a tank portion contains a module further comprised of a turbine member that is powered by a DC motor, and triggered by a motion sensor. The turbine member takes air from openings located inside a bowl portion of the toilet body, and pumps the air through a first pipe, forming part of the module. Once passed the turbine member, the air is directed into a second pipe directing the air into a ā€œPā€ trap extending integrally from the bowl portion so that odors are blocked by water inside the bowl portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Inventor: Robert Trudel
  • Patent number: 9756996
    Abstract: The ventilated toilet seat is a toilet seat with built in ventilation holes and channels. Gases accumulating within a toilet basin are collected within the ventilation holes and channels and are routed to an exhaust duct. Ideally, the exhaust duct is vacated using a fan. The ventilated toilet seat comprises a toilet seat, a plurality of ventilation holes and channels, a first seat hinge, a second seat hinge, a first lid hinge, a second lid hinge, a main seat exhaust, a first exhaust tube, a second exhaust tube, an end cap, and an elbow joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Inventor: Hernaldo Ruiz
  • Patent number: 9745732
    Abstract: A toilet odor control device according to the present invention has an air filtration unit and a mounting and air intake unit that allows the two units to be separated from and reattached to one another by sliding the air filtration unit relative to the mounting and air intake unit. This feature allows convenient access to the air filtration unit to change filter cartridges and batteries in the air filtration unit without removing the entire device from a toilet. The mounting and air intake unit is provided with adjustable members for receiving fasteners for fastening the mounting and air intake unit to a toilet at a location intermediate of a toilet seat and the rim of a bowl of a toilet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Inventor: Roger Lendsey Suggs
  • Patent number: 9644360
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a unique ventilated toilet assembly. The toilet assembly includes a base with a central opening, the opening defining a toilet bowl. The toilet assembly includes a first annular ring above the base, the first annular ring having means for delivering water to the toilet bowl and a second annular ring surrounding the first annular ring. The second annular ring having side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall, the walls defining a conduit for exhausting air through the second annular ring and the second annular ring having exhaust ports for exhausting air from the toilet bowl. The ventilation member includes the combination of the second annular ring, the conduit, and the exhaust port for exhausting air working cooperatively to capture and remove waste air from the toilet bowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Inventor: Donald Campbell
  • Patent number: 9587390
    Abstract: An adapter and base plate that may be retrofitted to existing industry standard toilets to provide a capability to vent foul odors from bodily waste deposited into the toilet bowl. The toilet includes a bowl having flush holes disposed around a rim of the bowl for discharging water into the bowl, a water tank for containing a volume of water sufficient to cause the toilet to flush when the volume of water is discharged into the bowl, a flush and refill mechanism for flushing and then refilling the toilet, the flush mechanism controlling a flush valve that covers a drain at the bottom of the water tank. The adapter is fitted between the water tank and bowl with a first opening receiving the flush valve and a second opening connected to an exhaust fan by plumbing. The base plate may be translucent to allow LED lighting mounted to adapter to be cast about the bowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Inventor: Peter Fishering
  • Patent number: 9532687
    Abstract: A filtration system for a toilet including a fan assembly having an air flow channel in fluid communication with a toilet bowl, a housing interposing the toilet bowl and the fan assembly to receive a filter unit therein such that the filter unit is in fluid communication with the air flow channel. A controller can selectively activate the fan assembly in response to various signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Inventor: Jimmie L. Sollami
  • Patent number: 9512604
    Abstract: A toilet odor removal system and method of use uses an air intake member connected to an air exit member with a fan member attached to the air exit member. When installed, the air intake member is inside the toilet tank and the air exit member is outside of the toilet tank so that the air in the toilet tank and toilet bowl may be evacuated therefrom by activating the fan member to draw the air from both the toilet tank and toilet bowl via the passageway from the toilet tank to the toilet bowl or water overflow tube in communication with a toilet tank. A toilet tank water supply line runs through the air intake member and air exit member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Inventor: Richard Allen Hunter
  • Patent number: 9481990
    Abstract: A filtration system to filter air from a toilet bowl includes: a fan assembly having a fan and an air flow channel in fluid communication with the toilet bowl to draw air from the toilet bowl; a housing interposing the toilet bowl and the fan assembly, the housing having a filter receptacle to receive a filter unit therein, the received filter unit being in fluid communication with the air flow channel wherein the fan assembly draws air through the filter unit to exhaust the air out of the air flow channel; an activator to activate the fan assembly; and, a decimator for killing or eliminating particulate matter in the air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Inventor: Jimmie L. Sollami
  • Patent number: 9456719
    Abstract: A universal flushing lever for a toilet that can be mounted on different areas of the toilet tank, during flushing action, triggers the closing of the toilet seat cover and or seat using magnetic fields. A magnet is attached to a universal flushing lever as well as the seat cover and/or seat. When the flushing lever is actuated it uses the magnet's fields to trigger the cover and/or seat closure. The magnets can be positioned to use the magnetic fields in two ways, repulsion or attraction individually or in conjunction. In the repulsion scenario, the magnets, one positioned on the flushing lever and one on the cover and or seat, once in proximity forces the closure of the adjacent cover and or seat. In the attraction scenario, the magnets, one positioned on the flushing lever and one on the cover and or seat, once away from proximity allows the closure of the adjacent cover and or seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Inventors: Erik Robertson Foster, Benjamin Robert Gardner