Odor-free toilet

Abstract

An odor extracting system for a toilet bowl of a toilet pedestal, coupleable to a water supply via a flush conduit leading to flush outlets under a rim of the bowl; the bowl being coupleable to a sewage pipe via a U shaped trap; the odor extracting system comprising: an air bypass extending substantially through the pedestal, the air bypass for bypassing the U shaped trap, that is coupled to air intake ports around the toilet bowl, and to the sewage pipe downstream of the U shaped trap; an air pump for pumping air and vapors out of toilet bowl to sewage pipe via the air bypass, and a light weight air valve upstream of the air pump, the air valve to seal the air bypass when said pump is not in use to prevent escape of smells from the sewage pipe to the toilet bowl; said system further comprising a sealing lid coupled to the toilet pedestal, allowing access to the air valve and air pump, whilst preventing escape of odors from the bypass.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention is directed to providing a toilet including an odor extracting system for removing odors.BACKGROUND[0002]Human excrement smells unpleasant and, unless carefully disposed of, transmits diseases. A major development in the disposal of human excrement was Sir Thomas Crapper's water closet, which has hardly changed unto this day.[0003]Essentially, excrement is deposited into a bowl of water coupled to a sewage pipe by a U shaped tube. The sudden emptying of a large quantity of water into the bowl causes the contents thereof to be flushed through the U tube into the sewage pipe. The U tube remains full of water and prevents noxious smells from the sewage pipe from permeating back into the water closet.[0004]Unfortunately, users of water closets or toilets, themselves, may release quantities of gases together with waste products. Additionally, if the toilet is not flushed frequently, as may be the case during water shortages, and the like,...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0037]It is an aim of the invention to provide a bowl ventilation system for incorporating within a toilet or for retrofitting thereto, wherein the mechanism is inherently reliable due to its simplicity and ruggedness, comprising simple valves and a simple electrical air fan.

[0042]It is a yet further aim of preferred embodiments, that the pump and valves are easily accessed for maintenance, cleaning or replacement.

[0043]In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided An odor extracting system for a toilet bowl of a toilet pedestal, coupleable to a water supply via a flush conduit leading to flush outlets under a rim of the bowl; the bowl being coupleable to a sewage pipe via a U shaped trap; the odor extracting system comprising: an air bypass extending substantially through the pedestal, the air bypass for bypassing the U shaped trap, that is coupled to air intake ports around the toilet bowl, and to the sewage pipe downstream of the U shaped trap; an air pump for pumping air and vapors out of toilet bowl to sewage pipe via the air bypass, and a light weight air valve upstream of the air pump, the air valve to seal the air bypass when said pump is not in use to prevent escape of smells from the sewage pipe to the toilet bowl; said system further comprising a sealing lid coupled to the toilet pedestal, allowing access to the air valve and air pump, whilst preventing escape of odors from the bypass. In one embodiment, the air intake ports is incorporated into a seat of the toilet for sucking air and odors from vicinity of said seat to said sewage main.

[0054]In yet another preferred embodiment, the air bypass comprises: vents around a hollow toilet seat, the seat coupled to the toilet pedestal via a hinge; a vent in the hinge; the light air valve comprising a normally closed air valve, coupled to the vent in the hinge, for preventing sewage vapors from sewage main flowing out of toilet seat, and the air pump downstream of said normally closed air valve.

Problems solved by technology

Human excrement smells unpleasant and, unless carefully disposed of, transmits diseases.

Unfortunately, users of water closets or toilets, themselves, may release quantities of gases together with waste products.

Additionally, if the toilet is not flushed frequently, as may be the case during water shortages, and the like, or until flushed, the contents thereof may release foul smells into the air within the generally small confines of the toilet.

In practice, this is not always possible, and often, to save space, toilets are positioned under staircases and in other places, where windows are not possible.

The problem with both windows and such extractor fans is that the gases have to diffuse, typically by Brownian motion, throughout the small confines of the toilet.

Particularly in public places where the number of users of toilets is large, windows or extractor fans of the types discussed hereabove are not ideal solutions.

It will be noted that pot-pourri, sprays and other, so called, air fresheners, merely disguise the smells and do not prevent inhalation of gases, odors and possibly air-borne germs.

The system is designed for use with monoblock type toilets, and has a relatively complicated mechanism for venting odors to the sewage line after the u shaped trap.

The mechanism described includes sensors and electromagnets and is complicated and not too reliable.

The system described by Sowards is complicated and ugly.

It requires an under-floor tank and has external piping that is difficult to keep clean, particularly when used by younger males with poor aim.

However, the solution is complicated and inherently unreliable.

It requires extensive alternation to the conventional flushing mechanism, and is inherently unreliable.

Although providing a solution for monoblock toilets with the bowl and tank in a single unit, the system is inappropriate for toilets with concealed tanks hidden within the wall, such as are particularly popular in public conveniences.

The system though reliable, is unaesthetic since it modifies the external appearance of the toilet.

This makes the system not applicable to every location.

The solution described is a fairly complicated system situated inside the water tank of a toilet.

This requires the tank to be larger than would otherwise be the case, or to have a reduced capacity, reducing the effectiveness of the flushing thereof.

When the external unsightly unit is coupled to a toilet bowl, the result is inelegant.

Such systems with active charcoal filters also require frequent maintenance.

The mechanism is fairly complicated and thus inherently unreliable.

Such a usage will not enable flushing at all.

For the above reasons and others that will occur to the reader, the above system has limited effectiveness.

The system described is complicated and prone to failure, and may require extensive maintenance.

Having movable components in the seat fixed to immovable components in the bowl does not provide a reliable long term solution.

The solution to Toth described hereinabove is not a reliable, low maintenance solution such as would be desirable for public conveniences.

Despite the numerous attempts to provide odor removing systems for toilets, none of them is truly satisfactory and there is room for improvement in this crowded art.

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