The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
The present invention relates generally to the field of toilet accessories of existing art and more specifically relates to an odor removal system for a toilet.
An unpleasant problem with the use of toilets is the odors associated therewith. As such, many attempts have been made to cover or remove these odors. For example, air fresheners have long been used in bathrooms. Whether automatic air fresheners or manual air fresheners, these means impart a pleasant scent into the ambient air in order to cover unpleasant toilet odors. However, air fresheners are not satisfactory when used alone as they only cover the unpleasant odor, meaning that the odor particles still linger in the ambient air. Other attempts have seen exhaust fans used in the bathroom to remove the odor particles; however, these exhaust fans are also not satisfactory as they are typically unable to remove a majority of the odor particles, and thus, odor remains. As such, a suitable solution is desired.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known toilet accessory art, the present disclosure provides a novel universal toilet odor removal system. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a universal system that is installable onto any toilet and effectively removes odor particles during use of the toilet, thereby substantially preventing the odor particles from dispersing about the room and causing an unpleasant odor in the room.
An odor removal system for a toilet is disclosed herein. The odor removal system may include an odor intake unit, a first conduit assembly, a pump unit, a second conduit assembly and a base. The odor intake unit may include a main body having an inlet, an outlet and an odor intake channel therebetween. The odor intake unit may be configured for attachment about a rear of a bowl of the toilet such that odor particles are directed into the inlet. The first conduit assembly may be configured to connect to the outlet of the odor intake unit and convey the odor particles therefrom. The pump unit may include a housing, a pump, an input and an output and the input may be configured for connection to the outlet of the odor intake unit via the first conduit assembly. The pump may be configured to move the odor particles in through the input and out through the output.
The second conduit assembly may be configured to connect to the output of the pump unit and convey the odor particles therefrom. The base may be configured for installation under a base of the toilet and may include a substantially flat body having a top surface opposite a bottom surface, a sewer pipe aperture, and an odor removal channel. The odor removal channel may be disposed at a side of the base and terminate at the sewer pipe aperture. The odor removal channel may be configured for connection to the output of the pump unit via the second conduit assembly such that the odor particles are directed through the odor removal channel. The sewer pipe aperture may be configured for installation in line with a sewer drainpipe such that the odor particles directed through the odor removal channel are expelled through the sewer pipe aperture and down through the sewer drainpipe.
For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.
The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a universal toilet odor removal system, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.
The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.
As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to toilet accessories and more particularly to a universal toilet odor removal system. Generally, the universal toilet odor removal system may include an exhaust vent that is mountable to a toilet via two existing bolts used for fastening a toilet seat to the toilet. A hose may be attached to an air intake of the universal toilet odor removal system, and to a suction inlet of a pump that in turn vents toilet odors through a flange located on a base and down through a sewer pipe. Preferably, the universal toilet odor removal system is easily installable and fits on any style/size of toilet.
Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in
As shown in
For example, in some embodiments, the odor intake unit 110 may attach to the toilet 5 via existing means used to attach a toilet seat to the toilet 5. As such, in some embodiments, as shown in
The inlet 112 may be disposed at a front side of the odor intake unit 110 and may span an entirely of the front side, ensuring maximum coverage of the bowl 6 in order to intake as much of the odor particles as possible. In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, the outlet 113 may be disposed at a rear side of the odor intake unit 110. The outlet 113 may include a smaller size than the inlet 112. For example, the outlet 113 may include a width of 20 mm. In comparison, the inlet 112 may include a width of 180 mm (again to maximize amount of odor particles captured). As such, the odor intake channel 114 may include a funnel-like configuration to funnel the odor particles into the outlet 113. As shown in
As shown in
The pump unit 130 may include an input 132 configured for connection to the outlet 113 of the odor intake unit 110 via the first conduit assembly 120. Particularly, the first conduit 121 may attach to the first conduit section 124 at one end, and to the input 132 of the pump unit 130 at another end, as demonstrated in
In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, the pump unit 130 may further include a pump stand 134. Particularly, the pump stand 134 may include a stand base 135 and at least one stand arm 136 extending substantially perpendicular therefrom. The stand base 135 may be configured to attach to a surface about the toilet 5. For example, as shown in
Further, in some embodiments, a cover (not illustrated) may be provided for covering the pump unit 130, delivering a discrete, sleek and visually appealing appearance to the pump unit 130 and the odor removal system 100 as a whole. In other embodiments, the pump unit 130 may not include the pump stand 134 and instead may include a configuration that conforms and contours to the bowl 6 of the toilet 5.
To provide power to the pump 138, the pump unit 130 may include a plug for connection to a standard outlet 113 in a building (such as a 120 volt plug). In other embodiments (or in addition to this), the pump unit 130 may include a rechargeable battery (not illustrated). In some embodiments, the pump unit 130 may include a switch for turning the pump unit 130 on and off. Additionally, in some embodiments the pump unit 130 may include a sensor (not illustrated). The sensor may be configured to detect a user sitting on the toilet 5, and when presence is detected, the sensor may signal a controller (such as a microprocessor) in communication with the sensor and electrical circuitry of the pump unit 130 to actuate the pump unit 130. When the user leaves and the sensor does not detect presence after a period of time, the controller may switch the pump unit 130 off.
As shown in
Preferably, the base 150 may be made from a material able to withstand the weight of the toilet 5. Further, it should be appreciated that the base 150 is not limited to the configuration shown in these figures. For example, in some embodiments, the base 150 may include a shape and size equal to the base of the toilet 5, such that the base 150 does not protrude past the base of the toilet 5.
Further, as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
All elements discussed above, particularly the fittings and conduits, are preferably universal so as to fit any toilet 5. As such, it should also be appreciated that the configuration of the odor removal system 100 that is discussed here and shown in these figures is provided as an example and is not meant to limit the configuration of the odor removal system 100. For example, for toilets that are not attached to a floor surface, the base 150 may be attached to the wall. In this example, the base 150 may not attach underneath the toilet 5.
Further, as shown in
The odor removal system 100 may preferably be easily installable. For example, in some embodiments, a method of installing the odor removal system may include the steps of: installing the base 150 about the sewer drainpipe 10 (for example via a nut and bolt combination); inserting the second fitting 142 into the odor removal channel 155; attaching one end of the second conduit 141 to the second fitting 142; installing the toilet; installing the pump unit 130 about the toilet 5; attaching another end of the second conduit 141 to the output 133 of the pump unit 130; installing the odor intake unit 110 at the rear of the bowl 6 of the toilet 5; attaching the first fitting 122 to the outlet 113 of the odor intake unit 110; attaching one end of the first conduit 121 to the first fitting 122; attaching another end of the first conduit 121 to the inlet 112 of the odor intake unit 110; and powering the pump unit 130 to begin suctioning odor particles through the odor intake unit 110, out through the odor removal channel 155 and into the sewer drainpipe 10.
It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods for installing the odor removal system are taught herein.
The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.