US 5,488,741 A · Toilet bowl ventilating and deodorizing apparatus · patentgrep

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Abstract

A toilet bowl ventilating and deodorizing apparatus comprises an odor collector for extracting air from a toilet bowl, a filter assembly for deodorizing the air extracted from the toilet bowl, and a neck coupling the filter assembly to the odor collector, with the odor collector and the neck supporting the filter assembly adjacent the toilet bowl. The odor collector includes a base attachable to the toilet bowl, an air intake carried by the base and positionable adjacent an interior of the toilet bowl, and a sleeve carried by the base in gaseous communication with the air intake. The filter assembly includes an air duct, an impeller assembly for providing air flow through the apparatus, the air duct is coupled to the filter assembly, and a filter is carried between the impeller assembly and the air duct. A switch is carried by the odor collector for activating the filter assembly, a power source for supplying power to the impeller assembly, and a power circuit coupling the power source to the impeller assembly and the switch.

Drawings

Claims16

Dependent claims

A toilet ventilating and deodorizing apparatus for extracting and filtering air from a toilet bowl, said apparatus comprising:

an odor collector for extracting air from said toilet bowl, said odor collector including:
a base having attachment means for attaching said base to said toilet bowl;
an air intake carried by said base and positionable adjacent an interior of said toilet bowl;
and
a sleeve having an open end for slidably receiving a neck, carried by said base in gaseous communication with said air intake;
a filter assembly for deodorizing the air extracted from said toilet bowl, said filter assembly having:
an air duct having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet coupled to said neck;
an impeller assembly for providing air flow through said apparatus, coupled to said outlet of said air duct;
and
a filter carried between said impeller assembly and said air duct;
said neck adjustably coupling said filter assembly to said odor collector, said neck supporting said filter assembly adjacent said toilet bowl and providing
gaseous communication between said filter assembly and said odor collector;
switch means carried by said odor collector for activating said filter assembly;
a power source for supplying power to said assembly;
and
a power circuit coupling said power source to said filter assembly and said switch means, said power circuit having internal leads, extending from said impeller assembly, said power source and internally through said air duct, said neck and said odor collector, to said switch means;
a contact assembly mounted within said sleeve electrically coupled to said switch means;
and
corresponding contacts mounted on said neck, engagable and disengagable with said contact assembly, said corresponding contacts engagable with said contact assembly over an extended range, permitting inward and outward adjustments of said neck within said sleeve while maintaining electrical contact.

16 more elements

A toilet ventilating and deodorizing apparatus for extracting and filtering air from a toilet bowl, said apparatus comprising:

an odor collector for extracting air from said toilet bowl;
a filter assembly for deodorizing the air extracted from said toilet bowl, said filter assembly including:
an air duct having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet coupled to a neck;
an impeller assembly for providing air flow through said apparatus, coupled to said outlet of said air duct, wherein said impeller assembly includes:
a housing having an inlet and an outlet, coupled to said air duct with said inlet in gaseous communication with said outlet of said air duct;
a fan carried within said housing for producing the air flow;
actuator means for rotating said fan, carried within said housing;
and
a socket extending from said housing about said inlet, for receiving said filter and for coupling said housing to said air duct;
said neck adjustably coupling the inlet of said filter assembly to said odor collector, said neck supporting said filter assembly adjacent said toilet bowl and providing gaseous communication between said filter assembly and said odor collector;
switch means carried by said odor collector for activating said filter assembly;
a power source for supplying power to said assembly;
a power circuit coupling said power source to said filter assembly and said switch means;
a filter assembly housing having an inlet, an outlet, and an access port;
said outlet of said air duct coupled to said inlet of said filter assembly housing;
and
said filter assembly housing carrying said impeller assembly with said socket engaging said outlet of said air duct, and said filter assembly housing carrying said power source.

14 more elements

A toilet ventilating and deodorizing apparatus for extracting and filtering air from a toilet bowl, said apparatus comprising:

an odor collector for extracting air from said toilet bowl, said odor collector including:
a base having attachment means for attaching said base to said toilet bowl;
an air intake carried by said base and positionable adjacent an interior of said toilet bowl;
and
a sleeve having an open end, carried by said base in gaseous communication with said air intake;
a filter assembly for deodorizing the air extracted from said toilet bowl, said filter assembly including:
an air duct having an inlet and an outlet;
an impeller assembly for providing air flow through said apparatus, coupled to said outlet of said air duct;
and
a filter carried between said impeller assembly and said air duct;
a neck having a first end removably and slidably received through said open end of said sleeve, and a second end coupled to said inlet of said air duct, said odor collector and said neck supporting said filter assembly adjacent said toilet bowl;
switch means carried by said odor collector for activating said filter assembly, said switch means including:
a switch housing formed in said base;
a pressure switch carried by said base within said switch housing;
and
a cap covering said switch housing and engaging said switch;
a power source for supplying power to said impeller assembly;
and
a power circuit coupling said power source to said impeller assembly and said switch means.

16 more elements

A toilet ventilating and deodorizing apparatus for extracting and filtering air from a toilet bowl, said apparatus comprising:

an odor collector for extracting air from said toilet bowl, said odor collector including:
a base having attachment means for attaching said base to said toilet bowl;
an air intake carried by said base and positionable adjacent an interior of said toilet bowl;
and
a sleeve having an open end, carried by said base in gaseous communication with said air intake;
a filter assembly for deodorizing the air extracted from said toilet bowl, said filter assembly including:
an air duct having an inlet and an outlet;
an impeller assembly for providing air flow through said apparatus, coupled to said outlet of said air duct, wherein said impeller assembly includes:
a housing having an inlet and an outlet, coupled to said air duct with said inlet in gaseous communication with said outlet of said air duct;
a fan carried within said housing for producing the air flow;
actuator means for rotating said fan, carried within said housing;
and
a socket extending from said housing about said inlet, for receiving said filter and for coupling said housing to said air duct;
a filter carried between said impeller assembly and said air duct;
a neck having a first end removably and slidably received through said open end of said sleeve, and a second end coupled to said inlet of said air duct, said odor collector and said neck supporting said filter assembly adjacent said toilet bowl;
switch means carried by said odor collector for activating said filter assembly;
a power source for supplying power to said impeller assembly, wherein said power source is a battery contained within a battery case;
and
a power circuit coupling said power source to said impeller assembly and said switch means, wherein said power circuit includes internal leads, extending from said actuator means, internally to said battery case, and through said air duct, said neck and said odor collector, to said switch means.

16 more elements

A toilet ventilating and deodorizing apparatus for extracting and filtering air from a toilet bowl, said apparatus comprising:

an odor collector for extracting air from said toilet bowl, said odor collector including:
a base having attachment means for attaching said base to said toilet bowl;
an air intake carried by said base and positionable adjacent an interior of said toilet bowl;
and
a sleeve having an open end, carried by said base in gaseous communication with said air intake;
a filter assembly for deodorizing the air extracted from said toilet bowl, said filter assembly including:
an air duct having an inlet and an outlet;
an impeller assembly for providing air flow through said apparatus, coupled to said outlet of said air duct, wherein said impeller assembly includes:
a housing having an inlet and an outlet, coupled to said air duct with said inlet in gaseous communication with said outlet of said air duct;
a fan carried within said housing for producing the air flow;
actuator means for rotating said fan, carried within said housing;
and
a socket extending from said housing about said inlet, for receiving said filter and for coupling said housing to said air duct;
a filter carried between said impeller assembly and said air duct;
a neck having a first end removably and slidably received through said open end of said sleeve, and a second end coupled to said inlet of said air duct, said odor collector and said neck supporting said filter assembly adjacent said toilet bowl;
switch means carried by said odor collector for activating said filter assembly;
a power source for supplying power to said impeller assembly;
and
a power circuit coupling said power source to said impeller assembly and said switch means;
a filter assembly housing having an inlet, an outlet, and an access port;
said outlet of said air duct coupled to said inlet of said filter assembly housing;
and
said filter assembly housing carrying said impeller assembly with said socket engaging said outlet of said air duct, and filter assembly housing carrying said power source.

20 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description10,840 words

Summary1,366 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#This invention relates to devices for cleaning air.

#More particularly, the present invention relates to air cleaning devices in close association with toilets, for removing malodor from the air.

Brief description of the drawings51 figures

#The foregoing and further and more specific objects and advantages of the instant invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view, showing a toilet with the lid in a raised position, and a toilet ventilating apparatus constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, mounted thereon;

#FIG. 2 is a partial exploded perspective view, illustrating how the toilet ventilating apparatus is mounted on a toilet;

Detailed description8,594 words

#Turning now to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is first directed to FIG. 1 which illustrates a toilet generally designated 10, onto which a toilet ventilating and deodorizing apparatus 12 is mounted. Toilet 10 may be substantially any toilet, and includes a base 13 supporting a toilet bowl 14 having a front 15 and back 17. Front 15 and back 17 of toilet 10 will provide directional reference throughout the ensuing descriptions. A toilet seat 18 and lid 19 are coupled to a top surface 20 of toilet bowl 14 by hinges at back 17 of toilet bowl 14. This hinge arrangement permits seat 18 and lid 19 to be lowered to a horizontal position with respect to top surface 20 of toilet bowl 14 or raised to an upright position with respect to top surface 20. The movement of seat 18 and lid 19 may be accomplished independently. A water tank 22 having a front surface 23, extends upward adjacent back 17 of toilet bowl 14.

#Still referring to FIG. 1, toilet ventilating and deodorizing apparatus 12 includes an odor collector 24 mounted on top surface 20 of toilet bowl 14 at back 17, and a filter assembly 25 coupled to odor collector 24 and extending downwardly proximate back 17 of toilet bowl 14, partially concealed by water tank 22. In FIG. 1, seat 18 is in the lowered position wherein it rests on a pair of switches 27 and 28, only one of which is visible, extending from odor collector 24. Lid 19 is shown in the upright position, resting against front surface 23 of water tank 22. To operate toilet ventilating and deodorizing apparatus 12, a person sits on seat 18, compressing at least one of switches 27 and 28, thereby starting operation of filter assembly 25.

#The detail of FIG. 2 illustrates the coupling of seat 18, lid 19 and odor collector 24 to toilet bowl 14. A pair of hinge posts 29 and 30 having threaded ends 32 and 33 respectively, are affixed to toilet bowl 14 by inserting threaded ends 32 and 33 through openings 34 and 35 (not visible) in toilet bowl 14 and securing them with nuts (not shown). A pin 37 passes between hinge posts 29 and 30 through a set of seat hinges 38 and a set of lid hinges 39 so that seat 18 and lid 19 may be independently rotated thereabout. The hinge arrangement as depicted is intended to be typical and is not provided as a limitation on the means for practicing the invention.