Antiviral toilet

Abstract

The antiviral toilet includes a base structure including a toilet flush bowl having an upper rim, a toilet seat and lid hinge mounted to the base structure, a filter assembly including a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter disposed in a porous metal filter track housing, the filter assembly being mounted to the underside of the toilet lid concentric with the toilet seat and making uniform surface contact at one end with the upper surface of the toilet seat when the toilet seat and lid are closed, electronics for initiating flushing, a power source for powering the electronics, and at least one visual indication for status notification.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross - reference to Related Applications This invention claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 17 / 392,952, titled "Antiviral Commode", filed on August 3, 2021, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Publication No. 63 / 061,642, titled "Anti - Aerosol Toilet Seat", filed on August 5, 2020, and the disclosures of these documents are incorporated herein by reference at least in part.

[0002] This invention relates to the field of pipe - connected excrement collection facilities, and more particularly, to methods and apparatuses for removing contaminants from air replaced in pipe - connected excrement collection facilities.

Background Art

[0003] In the technical field of excrement management, there are numerous facilities and devices designed or otherwise adapted to safely collect human biological excrement and / or to process and reuse human biological excrement. Desirably, these are expected to eliminate or at least reduce potentially harmful biological airborne contaminants and / or potentially harmful airborne synthetic toxins and / or gases. [[ID=十九]]

[0004] Typical systems for recycling biological human excrement such as feces and urine include a collection process that uses, for example, toilets and male urinals to collect excrement. Human excrement can be stored in a collection tank known as a septic tank for periodic collection by vehicle. Human excrement can be collected and pumped into a sewage system and ultimately arrive at one or more treatment facilities where chemicals and specific processes can be applied to the wastewater to disinfect the wastewater from biological and synthetic contaminants. Next, the treated water can be used for other purposes or discharged into a natural water drainage system.

[0005] It is known in the art, and supported by numerous studies, that waste collection facilities such as flush toilets may release airborne particles specific to disease-causing spores, viruses, and other airborne contaminants into the air surrounding the toilet. Such contaminants may remain suspended in the air for a period of time before settling on surfaces around the toilet, including the toilet surface, countertops, sinks, shower units, or bathroom units.

[0006] In the study referenced herein, titled "Potential for Aerosolization of Clostridium difficile after flushing toilets" by Wilcox, Sandoe, and Best, it was found that C. difficile could be recovered from air samples after toilet flushing. Samples obtained were positive for C. difficile 25 centimeters above the toilet seat. Bioaerosols generated by toilet flushing are potentially a contributing factor to environmental contamination in hospitals. Preventive measures (toilet covers) should be evaluated as interventions to prevent toilet-related environmental contamination in clinical settings.

[0007] Other studies have shown that keeping toilets clean is necessary to prevent the transmission of bacteria and pathogens during a new coronavirus pandemic. The health of toilet users may be affected by pathogens contained in airborne aerosol droplets, which can rise to a height of about 1 meter above the toilet seat during flushing and disperse into the air. Each toilet flush can generate approximately 14,000 to 80,000 aerosol droplets, and these droplets may rise higher if the water tank is installed at a high position or if a valve-type flushing system is used.

[0008] The droplets can rise to a height of approximately 1 meter. The study revealed that pathogens can be dispersed in the air by aerosol droplets emitted from toilet flushing, thus contaminating restrooms. Furthermore, the smaller the size of the pathogen, the higher the concentration of the pathogen in the air after flushing. Covering the toilet lid before flushing may help reduce airborne aerosol droplets containing bacteria that can contaminate the air and restrooms. However, an international study by Professor Lai found that bacteria can still be emitted from toilet flushing when there is a gap of several millimeters between the lid and the toilet bowl.

[0009] Multiple washes may not be sufficient to resolve this problem. This is because pathogens can remain on the surface of the toilet bowl for some time and can be transmitted by aerosol droplets. Therefore, when pathogens are dispersed into the air from the washing event, the room walls and all surfaces and surrounding areas become contaminated. As a result, the toilet lid, sink, and even the bathroom floor become contaminated. Typically, recommended bleach or disinfectant solutions include regularly cleaning the toilet bowl with household bleach diluted 1:49 and cleaning all areas of the bathroom with household bleach diluted 1:99. If available, using a ventilation fan for 15-30 minutes after using the bathroom helps to weaken airborne bacteria and viruses. Opening a window also helps to maintain adequate room ventilation.

[0010] In practice, during the flushing of a typical toilet, the air inside the toilet bowl is replaced by additional water flowing into it, the air is returned to the bowl by additional water flushed out of the bowl, and then, after flushing, the air inside the bowl is replaced again by additional water. Normally, the aerosolized plume of biological material is pushed upward. However, if the toilet lid is closed, the plume can also be pushed laterally due to the gaps under the toilet lid and around the rim of the toilet bowl. Scientific findings that sewage may contain viruses and other pathogens such as the SARS-Covid-19 virus support the idea that when an infected person uses a toilet, these pathogens may be present and subsequently aerosolized in the area adjacent to the toilet, and then substantially deposited on all surfaces of that area.

[0011] An obvious problem with devices known in the art is their reliance on sensors, analyzers, collection devices, filters, or disinfection devices known in the art. Prior art devices are non-electric, non-mechanical, and non-movable. Furthermore, these devices are not airtight enough to prevent all aerosols. In addition to the above issues, aerosolized or airborne contaminants, spores, or pathogens may slip around the edges of the product, and they may only be contained within the housing, not sealed from the airspace above and around the toilet.

[0012] Therefore, what is clearly needed in the art is a modular antiviral filter assembly for filtering air replaced from airborne contaminants during the cleaning sequence of excrement collection equipment, and for removing, containing, or eliminating inorganic and organic airborne particles, including the emission of viral pathogens. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0013] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 17 / 392,952 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Provisional Patent Application Publication No. 63 / 061,642 [Non-patent literature]

[0014] [Non-Patent Document 1] Wilcox, Sandoe, and Best, “Potential for Aerosolization of Clostridium difficile after flushing toilets” [Overview of the project]

[0015] According to embodiments of the present invention, an antiviral toilet is provided, the antiviral toilet comprising: a base structure having a toilet flush bowl and an upper rim; a toilet seat hinge mounted on the base structure and oriented concentrically to the upper rim; a toilet lid hinge mounted on the base structure and oriented concentrically to the toilet seat; and a filter assembly comprising a high-performance particulate air (HEPA) filter disposed in a porous, metallic filter track housing, the assembly mounted on the underside of the toilet lid concentrically to the toilet seat, the filter assembly making uniform surface contact at one end with the upper surface of the toilet seat when the toilet seat and lid are closed; an electronics compartment having an internal volume for housing electronics for initiating flushing; a power supply for powering the electronics; and at least one visual indication for status notification.

[0016] With the toilet seat and lid closed, a manually or electronically initiated flushing sequence replenishes the water bowl from a connected water source, causing contaminated air within the toilet flush bowl to rise, pass laterally along the periphery through the filter assembly, and be discharged outside the base structure.

[0017] In one embodiment, a pipe-connected water tank acts as a connected water source, and a flush button is provided in an electronics compartment enabling manual flushing. In another embodiment, a pipe-connected electronic flushing unit acts as a connected water source, and flushing is initiated remotely via a wireless transceiver and remote power switch contained in the electronics compartment. In a variation of this embodiment, flushing is initiated when the closed state of the antiviral toilet is optically detected. In yet another embodiment, flushing is initiated using a tank by the user operating a remote control device.

[0018] The toilet seat includes at least two linear and annular one-way check valves that penetrate the material of the toilet seat and are seated laterally, the check valves allowing outside air to flow into the toilet bowl and preventing air inside the toilet bowl from escaping to the outside of the base structure by returning to the check valves. In one embodiment, visual indication includes two or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted outside the electronics compartment to warn the user of the toilet bowl status, including the amount of water to fill the toilet bowl after a flushing action. In a preferred embodiment, the electronics for initiating flushing include a remotely operated power switch. In one embodiment, the electronics include a microcontroller having instructions for indicating status via one or more LEDs.

[0019] In one embodiment, the antiviral toilet further includes an annular recess having a crossbar inside, which serves as a lifting handle disposed outside the compartment for the electronic device. In one embodiment, the electronic device further includes an electronic device for providing a negative charge to the internal track portion of the filter track housing and for providing a positive charge outside the filter track housing. In one embodiment, the power source is a rechargeable battery, and the electronic device further includes an electronic device for enabling the battery to be recharged. In a variation of this embodiment, the charging electronic device is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port. In one embodiment, the uniform surface contact between the upper lid and the toilet seat is realized via a gasket installed at the free end of the filter assembly. In one embodiment, the antiviral toilet further includes a pair of polymer caps covering the metal porous track housing at each end of the filter assembly.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020] [Figure 1A] FIG. 8 is a front view of the antiviral toilet with the lid lowered according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 1B] FIG. 11 is a front view of the antiviral toilet of FIG. 1A with the lid open. [Figure 2] FIG. 14 is an upper perspective view of the toilet seat assembly of the antiviral toilet according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 17 is a lower perspective view of the toilet seat assembly of the antiviral toilet according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 20 is a front view of the CPAC filter improved for the toilet seat assembly of the antiviral toilet according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the toilet seat assembly of the antiviral toilet according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6A] FIG. 26 is a block diagram showing one of two antiviral toilets used in public facilities according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6B] FIG. 29 is the second toilet of the antiviral toilet used in public facilities according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] A process flowchart showing steps for using an antiviral toilet according to at least one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] A front view of an antiviral toilet with the lid raised according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] A top perspective view of the toilet lid and seat of the toilet in FIG. 8. [Figure 10] A cross-sectional view of the HEPA filter assembly of FIG. 8 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] A block diagram related to the compartment of FIG. 8 and a remote device having a wireless transmission function.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] In various embodiments described as detailed as possible herein, the inventors provide a unique system for eliminating viral or pathogenic plumes emitted from the toilet during cleaning. The goal of the present invention is to reduce or eliminate or contain viruses or other pathogenic microorganisms, spores, and other contaminants in the air forcibly discharged from the toilet bowl during the cleaning operation. Another goal of the present invention is to prevent airborne viruses and other airborne contaminants from unnecessarily spreading to a group of people using the toilet facilities. The present invention will be described using the following examples that may describe two or more related embodiments included within the scope of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 1A is a front view of an antiviral toilet 100 with the lid down, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The antiviral toilet 100 is a household version of the present invention. The toilet 100 includes a base structure 102 which includes a collection sink or bowl having a toilet rim, as all toilet systems have. The toilet 100 includes a water tank 101 located behind the toilet 100 for holding water for flushing purposes. In this embodiment, the toilet 100 is flushed manually using a flushing handle 103 which is connected to a typical internal chain, float, and stopper assembly of a household toilet system. As mentioned in the background art section of this specification, there is a problem when flushing the toilet 100, whether the toilet lid is up or down, when a person who may emit airborne pathogens such as infectious airborne viruses uses the equipment, for example. The problem is that the cleaning process involves releasing water from tank 101 into a bowl inside the base structure 102, so that air moves upward and outward and is discharged into the plume. Any airborne pathogens may be carried in the ejected plume for a considerable period of time and eventually, after a certain period, may settle on surfaces near the equipment. In this case, some pathogenic substances may still retain the ability to infect another person who comes into contact with such bathroom surfaces after one person has used the equipment.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the inventor provides an antiviral lid assembly 104 which can operate to reduce or eliminate pathogens that may be stirred up in the moist air plume forcibly discharged from the toilet bowl flushing process. The assembly 104 includes a toilet seat and lid of a manufactured donut-shaped toilet, which may be modified to support an antiviral filter housing 105, or otherwise, the antiviral filter housing 105 may be installed on the underside of the top lid and can be sealed against the inner edge of the modified donut-shaped toilet seat which rests on the bowl rim of the base structure 102. In this embodiment, the donut-shaped toilet seat may also be modified by adding gasket material to the underside to seal against the upper edge of the collection bowl inside the base structure 102. In one embodiment of the present invention, the assembly 104 may be manufactured and sold to the purchaser as a post-purchase antiviral solution for reducing or eliminating airborne pathogens that may escape from the bowl mechanism, regardless of whether the toilet lid is in the raised or lowered position while flushing is occurring. In such cases, the purchaser may replace the existing toilet seat assembly with the antiviral toilet seat assembly 104. In this case, no modifications to other components of the toilet fixture 100 are required. In one embodiment, the lid of the antiviral toilet seat assembly 104 includes a lifting handle for the user's convenience when raising and lowering the lid that supports the filter housing 105. In another embodiment, the filter housing 105 may be installed in an existing toilet seat assembly that has been modified to the specific modifications necessary to successfully integrate the filter housing into the toilet seat assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the antiviral toilet seat assembly 104 is manufactured and added to an existing toilet fixture to replace the old toilet seat assembly for the user's convenience. However, this is not particularly necessary to make the present invention feasible.

[0024] Figure 1B is a front view of the antiviral toilet 100 of Figure 1A with the lid open. In this view of the toilet fixture 100, the top lid of the antiviral toilet seat assembly is lifted, and the underside of the antiviral filter housing 105 is shown. The filter housing 105 may be molded from a polymer material or polymer rubber composite material having some density and weight, such as an acetal homopolymer material such as Delrin® or a similar compound. The filter housing 105 includes one or more antiviral air filters 106, in this embodiment including three antiviral air filters 106. The antiviral air filters 106 may be sustained positive airway pressure (CPAP) type antifungal / antiviral / antiparticulate filters, which may be modified in this embodiment for use as a filter array within the filter housing 105. It should be noted herein that the underside of the filter housing 105 is not suitable for air to flow upward and pass through it, with the exception of air flowing into and passing through the CPAP filter 106. Furthermore, it should be noted that in this specification, at least a portion of the filter housing 105 above the filter 106 is hollowed out on the inside, allowing filtered air to exit the filter housing and flow out through a lateral vent located at the rear of the housing, which is not shown in this embodiment but may be present. The improved CPAP filter can be considered a bidirectional filter, meaning that air can flow through the filter device in both directions. It is taken into consideration that in the flushing process initiated by the handle 103, as the bowl is filled with water, air may be pushed upward and out of the bowl, and as the water is drained through the bottom of the bowl during the flushing process, air may be drawn back into the bowl. More details regarding improvements to the CPAP filter 106 are described later in this specification. Referring again to Figure 1A, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the filter housing 105 may extend below the donut-shaped toilet seat for a certain distance from the geometric plane in which the filter housing components seal against the inner rim of the donut-shaped toilet seat.In one embodiment, a handle may be provided on the top lid at the central front to assist the user in lifting the lid and the mounted filter housing away from the donut-shaped toilet seat.

[0025] Figure 2 is a top perspective view of the toilet seat assembly 104 of an antiviral toilet 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the antiviral toilet seat assembly 104 includes one or more improvements that may differ from the antiviral toilet seat assemblies of Figures 1A and 1B. However, the same element numbers are assigned to the assembly and filter housing if the overall main function of the assembly is the same. In this embodiment, the filter housing 105 is mounted on the toilet seat assembly lid 200. The lid 200 may have a form that overlaps the filter housing 105 and overlaps the donut-shaped toilet seat 201, and the donut-shaped toilet seat 201 may be improved to seal at the inner edge with respect to the upper rim surface of the toilet bowl and in the form of a peripheral skirt 303 formed in the internal opening of the donut-shaped toilet seat 201, or otherwise formed. The skirt 303 may be formed inward (towards the center) at an angle of approximately 45 degrees from the toilet seat surface, which coincides with a sealing surface (not shown) that occurs on the outer lower periphery of the filter housing 105, the sealing surface being complementary at an angle of 135 degrees and fitting flush with the skirt 303 when the top lid 200 is fully lowered. In one embodiment, the seal is a surface-to-surface seal sufficient to eliminate any potential gaps between the housing filter and the donut-shaped toilet seat. In one embodiment, an O-ring gasket may be provided between the filter housing 105 and the donut-shaped toilet seat 201. It should be noted that the handle described above may assist the user in pulling the lid 200 off the donut-shaped toilet seat 201. In this embodiment, the donut-shaped toilet seat 201 is modified to include, or otherwise formed, a geometric concave mechanism 202 at the top of the donut-shaped toilet seat 201, roughly in the front center. The concave mechanism 202 can function as a symmetrical crevice feature between the toilet seat 201 and the lid 200, allowing the user to lift the lid 200 without using the handle installed on the lid.

[0026] In this embodiment, the antiviral filter housing 105 may hold a single large-diameter antimicrobial / antiviral filter 203 (logically represented by a dashed boundary). In this embodiment, an antiviral assembly 104 may be added for public facilities that are automatically cleaned using wireless sensor technology. In one embodiment, the antiviral toilet seat assembly 104, more specifically the antiviral filter housing 105, may include a wireless electronic control module (WECM) 204, which adapts to near-field wireless communication with an automatic all-electric flushing unit that generates automatic flushing commands based on sensor data describing the state or conditions of the toilet and its operation by the user. The lid 200 includes an array of light-emitting diodes 205 that adapts to inform the user about the state of the antiviral toilet. In one example, flushing does not occur until the lid 200 and the antiviral filter housing 105 are closed and sealed to the donut-shaped toilet seat 201. In such a case, one or more states of the antiviral toilet may be incorporated into a flushing routine optimized for the antiviral toilet. In a simple form, one or more red LEDs may be turned on or flash, preferably indicating that the cleaning process has begun immediately after the user closes the lid 200 supporting the antiviral filter housing 105 on the donut-shaped toilet seat 201. Without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, this action of closing the lid may communicate with a charged electric cleaning unit (not shown) by cleaning its individual toilet bowl in several ways.

[0027] In one embodiment, when a person moves away and closes the lid before washing, the electric washing unit uses an optical sensor to understand when the antiviral filter housing is in proper contact with the donut-shaped toilet seat and to begin washing. In another embodiment, when the lid 200 is raised, a trip sensor located near the hinge connection of the lid and the donut-shaped toilet seat communicates with the electric washing unit. An optical laser may be provided as the trip sensor, with the ray being blocked when the lid is raised and unblocked when the lid is down. Further details regarding the washing process are described later in this specification. In one embodiment, the antiviral toilet seat assembly includes a WECM 204 and / or an LED array 205, and a small power supply (not shown) may or may not be a rechargeable power supply, which may supply the power electronics functions of the antiviral toilet seat assembly 104. A small battery may be housed inside the antiviral filter housing 105. With respect to rechargeable batteries, a charging port may be provided for charging the power supply. In one embodiment, one or a pair of LEDs in the LED array 205 may light up red when the battery level is low and light up green when fully charged.

[0028] In one embodiment, one or a pair of LEDs in the LED array 205 may light up red during flushing (lid opening prohibited) and light up green after flushing when it is safe to open the lid 200. A counter may be used by the electric flushing unit to precisely define the start and end of each toilet usage session, in particular to record the raising and lowering of the lid 200. In one embodiment, the electric flushing unit may have a timer function that enables actions that seem real. For example, a user may not be able to open and close the lid 200 quickly, expecting the flushing process to start each time the lid 200 is closed. Similarly, the electric flushing unit of the public facility version of the toilet seat assembly 104 may include a fallback routine, for example, if a user easily leaves the area and does not close the lid 200, the unit may detect that the lid 200 is not closed and, if no person is detected in the cubicle or the adjacent area around the public facility version, initiate flushing after a set period.

[0029] The top cover 200 includes a number of ventilation openings 206 (three vents are visible) located at the rear end and rear side of the unit. Each ventilation opening 206 may include several parallel through-slots, which are installed through the body of the top cover 200 and through the body of the filter housing 104 in the upper hollow portion of the housing, above the top surface of the filter 203 or the filter array 106 (household version) in Figure 1B. It should be noted that, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, any of the filter designs described above may be used in a public facility version of the toilet or in a general household version of the toilet. In a preferred embodiment of use, air pushed out of the toilet bowl during flushing is forced through the antimicrobial air filter 203 into the hollow above the filter, and the filtered air is then able to be discharged through the ventilation openings 206. The antibacterial filter 203 may be a bidirectional filter, which allows air expelled through the vent 206 to be drawn back through the filter 203 and discharged into the toilet bowl when the water filling the bowl is drained from the bowl during the flushing operation. The filter 203 can be removed and replaced as needed. It is recommended to replace it approximately every six months.

[0030] Figure 3 is a bottom perspective view of the toilet seat assembly 104 of the antiviral toilet 100 according to an embodiment of Figure 1. In this embodiment, the filter design includes three CPAP filters in an array 106. The filters in array 106 may be bidirectional positive pressure airflow (BIPAP) filters, allowing air to flow through the filters in both directions, corresponding to the bidirectional air displacement that occurs in the toilet bowl during the flushing process. The top cover 200 has a downward-facing peripheral wall 301 that may be molded or otherwise formed, and may overlap the periphery of the donut-shaped toilet seat 201 by a certain distance. The filter housing 105 may have a peripheral surface 306 formed at an angle that complements the skirt surface 303, so that when these surfaces are brought together, they fit together and become planes toward each other with a tolerance of about 1 degree or less across the entire mating surface, providing a sealed interface that eliminates the gap that is typically located between the top cover and the donut-shaped toilet seat in unmodified prior art toilet seat assemblies for carrying out the present invention. In one embodiment, the sealing surface may include a circumferential groove mechanism 305 capable of receiving an O-ring gasket 304. The groove 305 may extend circumferentially near the inclined surface of the skirt 306.

[0031] The technique of sealing surfaces is well known in the art, and the effect of the desired seal may vary depending on whether or not an O-ring gasket is provided. However, sealing with a gasket may allow for less precise angular tolerances when manufacturing an inclined interface between the internal skirt 303 and the inclined surface 306 around the lower part of the filter housing 105. In one embodiment, a toilet kit housing an antiviral toilet seat assembly may include two gaskets 300 and 306. In this embodiment, a donut-shaped toilet seat 201 has a flat and wide gasket 300, which is bonded to the underside of the donut-shaped toilet seat and adapted to provide a seal against the upper surface of the toilet bowl rim. The gasket 300 may be bonded to the underside of the donut-shaped toilet seat 201. The gasket 300 may be a silicone rubber gasket material, which is somewhat flexible but also elastic and has sufficient thickness to provide a sealing surface against the toilet bowl rim under the additional load of the top cover 200 resulting from the addition of the filter housing. Gasket 300 eliminates the typical gap between the donut-shaped toilet seat and the upper rim of the toilet bowl, as seen in unmodified toilets with toilet seat assemblies not adapted to carry out the present invention. Gasket 306 provides a similar seal between the lid 200 and the toilet seat 201.

[0032] The purpose of using gaskets and / or sealing surfaces is to ensure that contaminated air from the toilet bowl does not escape into the atmosphere around the toilet through any gap in the system, but instead travels through the filter provided in the filter housing 105. It is noted herein that the top cover 200 should be closed over the donut-shaped toilet seat 201 against the rim of the toilet bowl as quickly as possible after the waste has been collected. The bidirectional nature of the filtering and flushing processes also allows air that might escape before the cover is closed to be drawn back into the system during the flushing process, thereby significantly reducing the amount of contaminants in the air around the toilet that would eventually settle on bathroom surfaces around the toilet.

[0033] Figure 4 is a front view of an improved CPAP filter for a toilet seat assembly 104 of an antiviral toilet 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The filter assembly 106 may be an improved CPAP or BIPAP filter for carrying out the present invention. The filter assembly 106 is adapted as a removable and replaceable filter inserted into an annular cavity provided through the bottom solid portion of the filter housing 105. An array of such filters may be provided such that each filter has its own airflow path. In the embodiment of Figure 1B, there are three filters in the array. However, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, there may be many or few filters incorporated into the filter housing. The filter 106 comprises an annular polymer or plastic casing 400 having a disc-shaped central annular portion, the central annular portion housing a microbial / viral filter 402 (CPAP / BIPAP) and an adjacent pre-filter 403, with respect to the adjacent pre-filter 403, one of which is above the filter material 402 and the other is below the filter material 402.

[0034] In one embodiment, the pre-filter 403 may be manufactured from a cloth or plastic substrate, and consists of alternating concentric metal rings of zinc and copper separated by thin, uniform gaps. The zinc and copper may be printed onto an annular substrate, or otherwise coated, the substrate may be called a nanoplate. The pre-filter 403 may be called an electrostatic precipitator in the art. The electrostatic precipitator may also include an electrostatic sterilization function and is an annular insert in another unmodified CPAP or BIPAP filter assembly 106. The pre-filter 403 is adapted to remove bacteria during the inflow and outflow of airflow in the toilet flushing process. The gaps between the concentric zinc and copper rings (called nanoplates) generate an electric current whenever ionic water is aerosolized during the toilet flushing operation, and this current electrocutes bacteria, viruses, microorganisms, etc. in the generated circuit.

[0035] The dust collector generates a weak electric field in the presence of moisture in the air moving through the CPAP or BIPAP filter device as described above. In addition to the filtration action of the central microbial filter material 402, the pre-filter 403 can remove airborne viruses on the contacts through a weak electrocution process. Zinc is a well-known antimicrobial and antifungal compound, which is incorporated into the cloth material in the form of zinc pyrithione, which in this case may be in the form of rings. Copper salts can be used to form copper rings on the cloth material. Copper is often used for sterilization and has antimicrobial properties. In one embodiment, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the substrate for the zinc and copper rings may be plastic instead of cloth. In another embodiment of the invention, the pre-filter 403 may be a dot matrix printed or otherwise coated on a mixture of cloth, fiber, plastic, or synthetic material, containing zinc and silver metal spots, silver instead of copper, where the silver dots connect each copper dot in the matrix at the four corners. Essentially, the dot matrix functions similarly to a concentric ring in the presence of ionized water or moisture in aerosolized water moving through the filter housing 105 (Figure 1A). In one embodiment, the pre-filter 403 may be a virus-killing nanocopper disc that can be inserted into the filter casing.

[0036] The filter assembly 106 has its own airflow path designed through the casing 400, with both ends open to facilitate airflow, and includes an annular section 401 (short pipe) at the top of the filter assembly. Section 401 makes the inside of the hollow part of the filter housing 105 empty and faces the rear of the housing where the vent 206, further introduced in Figure 2 above, is located. During flushing, the void in the toilet bowl is filled with water, and a plume of air rises vertically through the filter assembly 106 in the direction of the arrow. As the air passes through the airflow path, the air comes into contact with the pre-filter 403 and the antimicrobial / antiviral filter material 402. It is noted herein that after the plume rises due to the pressure from the water filling the bowl immediately before draining, when the excess water is suddenly removed from the bowl, the airflow is reversed, and the filtered air and ambient air flow back through the filter element 402 and come into contact with the pre-filter 403 again. Finally, immediately after draining, the toilet bowl may be refilled to a predetermined depth, and an upward airflow may be reversed again, allowing airborne contaminants to come into full contact with the pre-filter 403 and flow through the filter material 402 located approximately in the center of the vertical channels extending through the filter assembly 106. In one embodiment, the filter housing assembly 105 may include a small air fan that can be powered on during the flushing process, which may help move the rising air through multiple filter channels or one filter channel in the case of a single filter. Such a fan may also be programmed to reverse air into the toilet bowl at precise times as water is drained from the bowl. An LED 205 on the top lid 200 (Figure 5) may light up red at the start of the flushing process and then light up green for a suitable time (5-7 seconds) after flushing, thereby allowing the user to open the lid 200 and release the seal with the skirt 303 (Figure 3) formed near the bottom of the opening of the donut-shaped toilet seat 201 (Figure 3).

[0037] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the toilet seat assembly of the antiviral toilet 104 of Figure 3, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this section view, the hollow portion of the filter housing 105 is shown. In one embodiment, the filter housing 105 and the top cover 200 are molded as a single integrated product. In another embodiment, the filter housing 105 is a separate product mounted on the underside of the top cover 200 in such a manner that it creates a hollow portion of the assembly. The bottom of the filter housing 104 is a thick material that supports the load and also supports a complementary surface 306 (Figure 3) (not shown in Figure 5) that fits flush with the donut-shaped toilet seat 201 on the inclined skirt surface 303. In this section, the filter 106 is shown with one filter casing disassembled, showing the internal architecture for stepwise display of the filter elements. In this view, a single vent 206 is visible. The compartment 501 is provided in this embodiment to house a wireless control module such as the WECM204 in Figure 2 above. In one embodiment, other electronic equipment, such as a battery source for powering the power LED 205 and / or WECM, is provided within the filter housing. In one embodiment, the WECM has an onboard power supply in the form of a rechargeable battery. In further embodiments, a charging port, such as a miniature Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, may be provided for the purpose of remotely charging the unit from an external battery or power source. In this embodiment, the hollow portion of the antiviral filter housing 105 extends along the entire length of the housing and extends down to the contact floor of the housing, and the annular CPAP filter is contained in solid struts that are open at both ends, and the ends are configured not to reach the full height inside the filter housing, allowing air to pass completely through the hollow portion of the filter housing.

[0038] In this embodiment, the gasket 300 seals against the upper rim of the toilet bowl, and the skirt extends below the rim of the toilet bowl. The concave mechanism 202 may provide a convenient place to lift the lid 200, releasing the seal between the filter housing 105 and the donut-shaped toilet seat 201. In a preferred embodiment, air may not pass from the toilet bowl into the filter housing 105 without moving through one or more filters. It may be assumed that the treated air can be discharged from the filter housing 105 through a vent in the filter housing, such as a vent 206. In this embodiment, the WECM may include an onboard battery that can also power the LED panel 205. The lid 200, integrated with the filter housing 105, may be conceivably hinged at the rear to the donut-shaped toilet seat 201 (hinges not shown). In one embodiment, the donut-shaped toilet seat 201 may be made from a solid material such as plastic and molded or otherwise formed.

[0039] Figure 6 is a block diagram showing an antiviral toilet 600 according to an embodiment of the present invention. A public facility 600 may include one, two, or three or more toilets 603, depending on the type of public toilet facility. In a parking area, there may be many toilets 603. On the other hand, in gas station facilities or parking lots, and recreational facilities, there may be fewer toilets 603. In this embodiment, the toilets for public facilities are separated from each other by at least partitions 602 for privacy purposes. Each toilet 603 includes an antiviral toilet seat assembly 104 similar to the assembly 104 in Figure 2, and a single microbial / antiviral / antifungal filter 605 is provided in place of an improved CPAP / BIPAP filter. The filter 605 is similar to the filter 203 introduced in Figure 2 above and is supported by an annular air channel which may be several inches in diameter. Similarly, the total footprint of the air channels of three separate CPAP / BIPAP filters may be similar or several inches in total. Each public facility toilet 603 can be wirelessly paired with a dedicated all-electric flushing unit 601. Tankless toilets are flushed directly through a water supply line (pipes not shown), in contrast to gravity-based tank systems that store gallon-sized amounts of water that fall into the toilet bowl. The flushing unit 601 may be adapted with smart sensor technology to flush the toilet, for example, when the user moves out of the optical recognition range of a step sensor. However, for the invention to be carried out, flushing must be initiated. The toilet seat assembly 104 is closed and sealed to the donut-shaped toilet seat, and further, to the rim of the toilet bowl.

[0040] In one embodiment of the present invention, whenever the toilet seat assembly (lid and antiviral filter housing) is closed and sealed, the flushing unit 601 adapts to flush the toilet bowl 603. This may be achieved by using an optical sensor to determine when the assembly 104 (Figure 2) closes after use, thereby prompting a hands-free flushing sequence that does not require the user to manually flush the toilet bowl. In this embodiment, one toilet bowl shown has the assembly 104 in the raised position. In this case, there is no command or detected evidence to electronically flush the toilet bowl. The other toilet bowl shown has the assembly 104 in the closed position. In this case, the WECM may transmit a radio signal to the electric flushing unit to immediately initiate a hands-free flushing sequence. In a more advanced embodiment, intelligence in the form of a timing function for detected or communicated state events of the toilet bowl 603 may be provided to the all-electric flushing unit to mitigate errors in the flushing process. For example, it may happen that the user does not manually flush the toilet bowl and does not close the assembly 104. In this case, backup routing may be observed, and if the user does not close the lid on the donut-shaped toilet seat after the configured period, the flushing unit 601 may temporarily disable the closed assembly rule and flush the toilet with the lid open.

[0041] In one embodiment, an LED similar to the LED 205 in Figure 2 may be provided to indicate to the user that it is safe to open the toilet lid after the last flush sequence. Typically, the duration is only 5 to 10 seconds, ensuring that no airborne contaminants are still floating around the toilet bowl. In yet another embodiment, a servo unit may be provided, which, by hinge connection with a gas shock component, may automatically close the toilet seat assembly 104 on the donut-shaped toilet seat 201 (Figure 2), enabling a smooth mechanical closing operation, and may begin flushing as soon as the flushing unit is closed and sealed. In one embodiment, there may be a sleep mode for the battery-operated filter housing 104 that is activated to enter operating mode based on a sensor detecting a movement such as the user lifting the assembly 104 in preparation for using the toilet 603. The sensor may be installed in the filter housing 105 or the electric flushing unit 601 without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0042] Figure 7 is a process flowchart 700 illustrating the steps for using an antiviral toilet according to at least one embodiment of the present invention. In step 701, the user opens the installed assembly by pulling up the assembly lid using a handle or ledge mechanism that releases the seal between the filter housing and the toilet donut-shaped seat. In step 702, it may be determined whether the toilet is a household unit or a public facility unit. In step 702, if the unit is a household unit, the user closes the lid when finished, and in step 703, reseals the filter housing against the donut-shaped seat. In step 704, the user flushes the toilet using a provided flushing handle. In this simple household routine, potentially contaminated air is filtered during the flushing process with the lid closed. In one embodiment, the toilet also has a timing function and an LED panel that uses colored light to inform the user when the lid can be opened again.

[0043] If, in step 702, it is determined that the toilet is not a home version, then in step 705, it may be determined whether the user is operating a public facility version of the antiviral toilet. If, in step 705, the toilet is a public facility toilet, then in step 706, the user closes the lid when finished. In step 707, the electric flushing unit initiates a hands-free flushing sequence. In one embodiment, when the user opens the lid, the electric electronics located in the filter housing wake up from sleep mode and communicate with the electric flushing unit to inform the user that the toilet is being operated, and the electric flushing unit may apply a timing function to authenticate the actual use of the toilet. In one embodiment of the method of using the public facility version of the toilet, the timing function is used to flush the toilet with the lid open if the user forgets to close the lid after use and leaves the area. In one embodiment of the public facility version of the toilet, one or more sensors are used to wake the toilet's electronics from sleep mode when the toilet lid is lifted. In this embodiment, when closing the lid again, a counter may be used to associate the opening and closing of the lid with the usage session, and the usage session may be authenticated by a timing function. In one embodiment using the public facility version, the lid is mechanically controlled by an electric cleaning unit using sensors and a timing function to close the lid if the user does not close the lid after use.

[0044] In one embodiment of the present invention, the inventor provides a system that utilizes an elliptical high-performance particulate air (HEPA) filter housed in a conductive metal track housing mounted on the underside of the toilet lid. In this system, two or more one-way check valves are provided and installed horizontally through the toilet seat, and when the toilet is flushed, as the water level drops, it may be possible to allow room air to flow in only one direction into the toilet bowl for a portion of the flushing operation. In this embodiment, air from the toilet bowl is also forced horizontally through the HEPA filter and opposing charged porous metal track housing sections, optimizing the biological and particulate filtration of the forced-out air and providing electronic disinfection of the airflow during a portion of the flushing operation as the water level in the toilet bowl rises. This embodiment will be illustrated using the following example.

[0045] Figure 8A is a front view of an antiviral toilet bowl 800 with the lid raised, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The toilet bowl 800 includes a base structure consisting of a toilet bowl 802 supported by foot forms 811 similar to the base structure 102. This is described herein with respect to Figure 1A of the parent application, which is referred to above and included herein. A water tank 801 is provided to hold flushing water and is similar to the water tank 101 of the toilet bowl 100 in Figure 1A, but in this example differs in that a flushing handle is not provided on the tank. In this example, an electric flushing interface in the form of a flush button 814 is provided on top of an electronics compartment 805, which is integrated into the toilet lid 803 shown above in this embodiment, or in other cases is part of the toilet lid 803. In one embodiment, the electronics compartment 805 may include a concave lid lifting bar 806 for manually lifting the toilet lid 803. In this embodiment, the electronics compartment 805 does not hold any filters or filtering materials, but is dedicated to housing at least one remote power switch electronics receiver 807 and one battery or set of batteries 824. In this embodiment, the battery 808 may be a rechargeable battery or a replaceable battery. The compartment housing the battery 824 may include a microcontroller and may support at least an array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) similar to the LED 205 described with respect to Figure 2 in the parent application included herein by reference.

[0046] Compartment 805 may be accessible for maintenance purposes. Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, compartment 805 may be manufactured from the same material as the toilet lid 803, or from a different material. In one embodiment, the flush button 814 may be operated manually by pressing the button to flush the toilet bowl 800. In the same embodiment, the flush button 814 may also be activated remotely by a wireless signal. In alternative embodiments, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, flushing may be limited to manual operation or limited to operation by a remote signal.

[0047] In this embodiment, an elliptical HEPA filter assembly 804 may be provided, which may be mounted centrally on the bottom surface of the toilet lid 803 so as to be approximately concentric with respect to the electronics compartment 805 and the overall shape of the toilet lid. The HEPA filter assembly 804 may include a HEPA pleated filter 812 (indicated by dashed lines). In this embodiment, the HEPA filter 812 is housed within an elliptical filter housing 813. The filter housing 813 may include an inner section and an outer section formed from a conductive metal that provides a porous cage or housing around the HEPA filter material. The filter housing 813 may include a polymer toilet seat and a polymer cap structure, which includes a central separation wall to separate the inner and outer sections of the housing from contact. For example, the inner metal cage portion forming the inner section and the outer metal cage portion forming the outer section may be electronically charged (inner cage portion: negatively charged, outer cage portion: positively charged) for the purpose of increasing the antiviral effect of the HEPA filter assembly to a degree slightly exceeding the effectiveness evaluation of the filter material itself.

[0048] In one embodiment, the HEPA filter assembly 804 may be sealed to the upper surface of the toilet seat 815 via an elliptical rubber gasket 816. In one embodiment, a bottom polymer cap on top of the metal filter housing 813 is formed to create a surface-to-surface seal with the upper surface of the toilet seat 815. In such embodiments, airflow from the toilet can flow horizontally from inside to outside through the filter assembly and reverse flow from outside to inside through the filter assembly. In another embodiment, semi-rigid rubber and / or polymer materials are provided for use in manufacturing the toilet seat. In this embodiment, the airtight seal is formed using a soft / flexible material for the toilet seat.

[0049] In an alternative embodiment, a plastic housing similar to housing 105 may be provided, which is provided with vents that allow airflow to pass in both directions. In this embodiment, the footprint of the HEPA filter assembly 804 is larger than the footprint of the donut-shaped opening (vertical dashed line) through the toilet seat 815.

[0050] In this embodiment, the toilet seat 815 includes at least two linear, annular, unidirectional airflow check valves, which are referred to herein as check valves 808a and 808b. Check valves 808a and 808b allow outside air to flow into the toilet bowl but prevent backflow from the inside of the bowl and escape to the outside area of ​​the toilet bowl 800. It should be noted herein that outside air may flow freely through the HEPA filter assembly 804 during flushing, at the same time that the inflow occurs at the check valves. Check valves 808a and 808b are installed through the material of the toilet seat 815 and may range in diameter from 1 / 4 inch to about 3 / 4 inch. Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, there may be more check valves 808 than those shown in this example.

[0051] Check valves such as valves 808a and 808b can be effectively arranged at equal intervals and inclined at some point around the toilet seat 815 along the 360-degree periphery of the toilet seat. Without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, check valves 808a and 808b may be electrically operated or mechanically operated spring valves and ball valves. In a preferred embodiment, during the flushing sequence, check valves 808a and 808b open, allowing outside air to flow through them and into the toilet bowl as the water level in the toilet bowl drops. In either an electronically controlled or manual (uncontrolled) embodiment, as one-way valves known in the art, airflow cannot be reversed from the inside of the toilet bowl through the check valves at any time. Check valves 808a and 808b are not particularly necessary for carrying out the present invention, but they provide a mechanism for increasing airflow from the outside into the toilet bowl as water falls during the flushing operation.

[0052] In a typical use case, the toilet bowl 800 may be used to collect excrement. After collection, the user may close the lid 803 over the toilet seat 815. The user may then flush the toilet bowl 800 by manually pressing the flush button 814 to initiate a flushing sequence, or by using a remote device and wireless signals. During flushing, water drains from the toilet bowl, and outside air may flow into the toilet bowl through both the check valve and the HEPA filter assembly. The outside air flowing in through the filter assembly is sterilized by passing through the charged filter housing and pleated HEPA filter. When water flows back into the toilet bowl, all of the replaced inner air is pushed horizontally in all directions through the HEPA filter assembly and discharged to the outside of the toilet bowl 800, where microorganisms and particulate matter are disinfected by the air.

[0053] Figure 9 is a top perspective view of the toilet lid 803 and toilet seat 815 of the toilet bowl 800 of Figure 8. In this embodiment, the toilet lid 803 may be hinged to the toilet seat 815 via a hinge bar set 823. The lid / seat assembly may be fixed to the rear of the toilet bowl rim of the base structure 802 shown in Figure 8 above. The HEPA filter assembly 804 is shown fixed to the underside of the toilet lid 803 (shown by a dashed line). The thickness dimension of the HEPA filter assembly 804 may be about 1 / 2 inch to about 2 inches. The height of the filter assembly 804 may be about 1 / 2 inch to about 5 / 8 inches. In a preferred embodiment, the bottom of the assembly 804 may be adapted to form a seal against the top surface of the toilet seat 815. In this view, the check valve 808b is visible and extends horizontally through the material of the toilet seat 815.

[0054] The lifting bar 806 may be annular concave with a crossbar. The user can grasp the crossbar to pull the lid 803 away from the toilet seat 815. In another embodiment, the lifting bar 806 is absent, and the user can lift the lid 803 at the front center of the lid, as further described above, with respect to Figure 5 of the material rise 202 of the toilet seat 201 according to the parent application. Similarly, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, other types of handles may be provided and installed at any point on the lid 803. The overall height of the electronics compartment 805 is suitable for housing electronic components and batteries and for holding the concave lifting bar mechanism 806.

[0055] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the HEPA filter assembly 804 of Figure 8 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this view, the HEPA filter 812 is housed within a porous metal track housing 813, thereby allowing a horizontal airflow to pass through a negatively charged track section (internal track), pleated HEPA filter material, and a positively charged track section in the direction of the arrows. When water is supplied back into the toilet bowl after flushing, an airflow in the direction of the arrows is generated, pushing the air through the filter assembly. It is also noted herein that a reverse airflow may be generated during the period when the toilet water is draining out of the toilet. In both cases, the air is disinfected as it passes through the filter assembly. In one embodiment, a polymer cap 1001 may be provided with a surface for mounting and contact, thereby preventing the metal of the track structure from contacting the underside of the lid and the upper side of the toilet seat.

[0056] Figure 11 is a block diagram relating to the compartment 805 of Figure 8 and a remote device having wireless transmission capabilities. In this view, the compartment 805 includes a flush button 814, a lifting bar 806, and a battery compartment 808. In this embodiment, the compartment 805 includes a small microcontroller 1101 with a power switch that provides access to the remote device. The microcontroller 1101 can be activated remotely to initiate a flushing sequence for the toilet. The automatic flushing sequence can also be initiated by a dedicated all-electric flushing unit 1105 similar to the flushing unit 601 of Figure 6 introduced above. Similarly, automatic flushing can be initiated by a handheld remote control unit 1104 having a battery for electronics to generate a wireless signal and a button to transmit the wireless signal to a power switch receiver in the compartment 805. Thus, flushing is initiated by pressing button 814, or, in one embodiment, by remotely activating the flush button 814.

[0057] The flushing unit 1105 may include an optical sensor having a line of sight to the toilet lid and capable of determining in real time whether the toilet seat has been opened and then closed. This is as previously described with respect to unit 601. In one embodiment, automatic flushing may be performed locally to the toilet by adding an orientation sensor or other motion sensor to the electronics compartment 805, thereby automatically detecting the position of the toilet lid over a session period associated with typical toilet use. The microcontroller 1101 may be connected to the battery 808, the flush button 814 (if controllable by a signal), and the array of LEDs 1102 (which may be similar to the description of LED 205 in Figure 2 above) using a bus structure or a simple electrical circuit (logical dotted line). In one embodiment, an LED selection module 1103 may be provided so that the microcontroller can select which array of LEDs to illuminate via a firmware routine. In one embodiment, one or more batteries in the compartment 808 are rechargeable, and a universal serial port (USB) may be provided for charging one or more batteries. One or more LEDs 1102 may be dedicated to indicating the charging status. One or more LEDs may be dedicated to activating states such as the lid being closed, the flushing sequence being in progress, and the point at which the toilet can be opened again for the next session. In a preferred embodiment, this period would last from the moment water flows into the bowl again (indicated by one color) until the point at which the water level in the bowl is again at its highest point (indicated by the other color) before the next use. And many different possibilities exist.

[0058] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the antiviral toilet system of the present invention may be provided using some or all of the elements described herein. The arrangement and function of the elements relating to the present invention are described in different embodiments, each of which is an embodiment of the present invention. While the uses and methods are described in as much detail as possible herein, it should be noted that many modifications can be made to the details of the structure and arrangement of the elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The present invention is limited only to the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. It is an antiviral toilet, A base structure including a toilet flush bowl having an upper rim, A toilet seat hinge mounted on the base structure and facing concentrically with the upper edge, A hinge for the toilet lid, mounted on the base structure and facing concentrically with the toilet seat, A filter assembly comprising a high-performance particulate air (HEPA) filter disposed within a porous, metal filter track housing, wherein the filter assembly is mounted concentrically with the toilet seat and beneath the toilet lid, and the filter assembly makes uniform surface contact with the upper surface of the toilet seat at one end when the toilet seat and lid are closed. It comprises an electronic device for initiating cleaning, a power supply for powering the electronic device, and an electronic device compartment having an internal volume for housing at least one visual indicator for status notification, With the toilet seat and lid closed, a flushing sequence initiated manually or electronically removes the contaminated air from the toilet bowl. When refilling the toilet flush bowl from a connected water source, it rises. It moves along the inner edge of the toilet flush bowl and passes through the filter assembly, Discharge laterally outward from the base structure An antiviral toilet characterized by the following features.

2. The antiviral toilet according to claim 1, wherein a pipe-connected water tank functions as a connected water source, and a flush button is provided in the electronics compartment that enables manual flushing.

3. The antiviral toilet according to claim 1, wherein the pipe-connected electronic flushing unit acts as a connected water source, and flushing is initiated remotely via a wireless transceiver and remote power switch contained in the electronic equipment compartment.

4. The antiviral toilet according to claim 3, wherein cleaning is initiated when the closed state of the antiviral toilet is optically detected.

5. The antiviral toilet according to claim 2, wherein the cleaning is initiated by the user operating a remote control device.

6. The antiviral toilet according to claim 1, wherein the toilet seat includes at least two linear and annular one-way check valves that penetrate the material of the toilet seat and are seated laterally, the check valves allowing outside air to flow into the toilet flush bowl, and preventing the air inside the toilet flush bowl from returning to the check valves and escaping to the outside of the base structure.

7. The antiviral toilet according to claim 1, wherein the visual indication includes two or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted outside the electronics compartment to warn the user of the state of the toilet bowl, including the state of the water to be filled into the toilet bowl after a flushing action.

8. The antiviral toilet according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device for initiating the cleaning includes a remotely operated power switch.

9. The antiviral toilet according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes a microcontroller having instructions for indicating a state via one or more LEDs.

10. The antiviral toilet according to claim 1, further comprising an annular recess having a crossbar inside to function as a lifting handle located on the outside of the electronic device compartment.

11. The antiviral toilet according to claim 1, further comprising electronic equipment for providing a negative charge to the internal track portion of the filter track housing and a positive charge to the outside of the filter track housing.

12. The antiviral toilet according to claim 1, wherein the power source is a rechargeable battery, and the electronic device further includes a charging electronic device for enabling the rechargeable battery to be recharged.

13. The antiviral toilet according to claim 12, wherein the charging electronic device is a universal serial bus (USB) port.

14. The antiviral toilet according to claim 1, wherein the uniform surface contact between the upper lid and the toilet seat is achieved via a gasket installed at the free end of the filter assembly.

15. The antiviral toilet according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of polymer caps covering the filter track housing at each end of the filter assembly.

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