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  Toilet ventilation systemUSPTO Application #: 20060085897Title: Toilet ventilation system Abstract: A ventilation system for a toilet having a toilet bowl, a toilet seat for supporting a user of the toilet, and a tank mounted on the toilet bowl for holding water used in flushing the toilet. The ventilation system includes a fan adapted for connection to the toilet bowl to draw odorous air from the toilet bowl into the fan and to discharge the odorous air from the toilet. A fan water supply line is adapted for fluid communication with the fan wherein water from the water supply line is adapted to power the fan to evacuate the odorous air from the toilet. (end of abstract)
Agent: Senniger Powers - St Louis, MO, US Inventor: David Birdsong USPTO Applicaton #: 20060085897 - Class: 004213000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Baths, Closets, Sinks, And Spittoons, Ventilation, Electric-motor Pump The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060085897. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates generally to a ventilation system and more particularly to a ventilation system for ventilating unpleasant odors from a toilet. [0002] A variety of ventilation systems are common in the art to dissipate unpleasant odors present in a restroom or lavatory facility. Most commonly, ceiling ventilation fans have been used to continuously withdraw air from the restroom when the toilet is in use. However, ceiling ventilation fans only ventilate unpleasant odors after they have already diffused throughout the restroom facility. Consequently, ceiling fans are ineffective in eliminating odors before they are generally noticeable throughout the restroom. Also, ceiling fans are inefficient because they require venting large volumes of air from within the restroom in order to adequately vent the odorous air. [0003] Ventilation systems have been provided that ventilate air directly from a toilet bowl. However, such systems are complicated and difficult to assemble. Further, such systems typically require electrical power to drive a motorized fan. As such, electrical wiring must be mounted in or near the toilet so that the electrical components are in frequent contact with water used in the toilet. The components of an electrically powered ventilation system mounted inside a toilet frequently short or fail making the use of electrical powered toilet ventilation systems expensive to supply, maintain, and repair. [0004] Therefore, a need exists for a ventilation system that ventilates air from a toilet that is easy to install and reliable to operate. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] Among the several objects of this invention may be noted the provision of a ventilation system that is easy to install and operate; the provision of such a ventilation system that is efficient; the provision of such a ventilation system that is free from electrical componentry; the provision of such a ventilation system that can be retrofitted into an existing toilet; and the provision of such a ventilation system that is disposed, at least in part, in a toilet. At least one of the preceding objects is met in whole or in part by the present invention described herein. [0006] In general, a ventilation system for a toilet having a toilet bowl, a toilet seat for supporting a user of the toilet, and a tank mounted on the toilet bowl for holding water used in flushing the toilet comprises a fan adapted for connection to the toilet bowl. The fan draws odorous air from the toilet bowl and discharges the odorous air from the toilet. A fan water supply line is adapted for fluid communication with the fan wherein water from the water supply line is adapted to power the fan to evacuate the odorous air from the toilet. [0007] In another aspect of the invention, a ventilated toilet system comprises a toilet having a toilet bowl and a tank for storing flush water of the toilet. A water-driven fan is disposed for being impinged by water supplied to the toilet. The water-driven fan is adapted to draw odorous air from the toilet bowl into the fan and to discharge the odorous air to a location remote from the toilet bowl. [0008] In yet another aspect of the invention, a ventilated toilet system comprises a toilet with a toilet bowl having a drain, a plenum, and openings spaced around the toilet bowl in fluid communication with the plenum, a tank for storing flush water of the toilet, and a toilet seat mounted on the toilet bowl. A water-driven fan is disposed for being impinged by water supplied to the toilet. The water-driven fan is adapted to draw odorous air from the toilet bowl and to discharge the odorous air to a location remote from the toilet bowl. The water-driven fan comprises a water-powered motor adapted for communication with a water supply line and fan blades driven by said water powered motor to evacuate odorous air from the toilet. An air inlet conduit is in communication with the plenum and the fan for drawing odorous air into the fan. An air outlet conduit is mounted in the tank and connected to the fan. The air outlet conduit comprises a passage in the toilet bowl in fluid communication with the drain of the toilet bowl for discharging odorous air from said toilet. A water supply valve in the fan water supply line controls the flow of water to the fan. The water supply valve has an actuator operable upon the application of pressure to the toilet seat to permit operation of the fan. [0009] Other objects and features of the present invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] FIG. 1 is a front perspective of a toilet having a ventilation system of the present invention; [0011] FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a tank of the toilet partially broken away to show details of the ventilation system; [0012] FIG. 3 is a back perspective of the toilet showing the tank partially broken away to reveal details of the ventilation system; [0013] FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the toilet; [0014] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective of a fan of the ventilation system; [0015] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the fan; [0016] FIG. 7 is a cross-section taken along the plane including line 7-7 of FIG. 6. [0017] Corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference numbers throughout the drawings. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0018] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a ventilation system of the present invention is designated in its entirety the reference numeral 1 and is shown installed on a toilet, generally designated 5. The toilet 5 has a base, generally designated 9, a toilet bowl 13 having a moveable toilet seat 15 for supporting a user of the toilet, and a tank 19 mounted on the toilet bowl for storing water used to flush the toilet. It is understood that the ventilation system 1 of the present invention may be supplied as part of the toilet 5 or as part of a retrofit kit for an existing toilet. The ventilation system 1 is operable to remove odorous air from the toilet bowl 13 prior to detection by a user of the toilet 5. [0019] A handle 25 mounted on the exterior of the tank 19 is operatively connected to a flush valve 29 located in the bottom of the tank to control the flow of water from the tank to the toilet bowl 13. As shown in FIG. 3, the handle 25 is operatively connected to the flush valve 29 by a lever 33 extending from the handle and connected to a chain 37 attached to the valve 29. The pivoting movement of the handle 25 causes the toilet 5 to flush by raising the end of the lever 33 connected to the flush valve 29 to pivot the valve away from its seat and allow water to flow from the tank 19 into toilet bowl 13. In the illustrated embodiment, the flush valve 29 is shown in the closed position to seal against the flow of water from the tank 19 to the toilet bowl 13. A toilet water supply line 43 is connected to a manually operated water valve 47 that provides on/off control of the toilet water supply from a main water source (not shown). Typically, this would be, for example, a municipal water supply. [0020] As shown in FIG. 4, the toilet bowl 13 comprises a plenum 55 having a rear portion below the tank 19 and a front portion defined by a hollow rim 61 of the bowl. The plenum 55 receives flush water from the tank 19 upon opening of the flush valve 29 and directs the water from the tank into the toilet bowl 13 to create the flushing action of the toilet 5. The plenum 55 has a plurality of openings 65 spaced around the hollow rim 61 to allow flush water to be discharged from the plenum into the toilet bowl 13 when the toilet 5 is flushed. When the flush valve 29 is closed, the plenum 55 is substantially free of water so that air from within the toilet bowl 13 may flow into the plenum through the openings 65 in the hollow rim 61. The toilet bowl 13 has an interior space 69 and a bottom opening 73 leading to a drain 77 in the base 9 of the toilet 5. The drain 77 has an outlet 81 for connection with sewer piping (not shown) below the toilet 5. Continue reading... Full patent description for Toilet ventilation system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Toilet ventilation system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Toilet ventilation system or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Swim goggles Next Patent Application: Toilet ventilation system Industry Class: Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Toilet ventilation system patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.63408 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Tyco , Unilever , Warner-lambert , 3m |
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