Toilet ventilation system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing restroom ventilation systems are inefficient in removing odors from around a toilet, as they draw air from large volumes, leading to lingering smells, energy inefficiency, and difficulty in cleaning, with filter-based systems failing to effectively eliminate odors and requiring frequent filter replacements.
Innovation Solution
A toilet bowl ventilation system with a housing within the toilet's interior cavity, featuring a ventilation inlet and outlet connected by a fan, which exhausts air directly from the toilet area to the outside, powered by a controller and equipped with a sensor for automatic operation, allowing for efficient odor removal and easy maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If wall or ceiling-mounted ventilation systems are used to exhaust air from the restroom, then the system can ventilate the entire room, but the system fails to efficiently remove odors from the toilet area and requires large fan capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the ventilation function specifically for the toilet area by installing a dedicated exhaust system within the toilet bowl structure. The exhaust inlet is positioned to draw air directly from the toilet bowl interior and surrounding area, separating this localized ventilation need from general restroom ventilation. This allows the system to target and remove odors at their source without requiring to ventilate the entire room volume.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional restroom ventilation systems ventilate large quantities of air to remove odors, then odor removal may be effective, but energy consumption increases and conditioned air is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the exhaust function specifically at the toilet area rather than distributing ventilation throughout the entire restroom. The exhaust inlet is strategically positioned within the toilet bowl structure to target the localized odor source. This localized approach reduces the total air volume that needs to be moved and conditioned, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective odor removal.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If filter-based ventilation systems are installed to remove odors from around the toilet, then some odor filtration is achieved, but the system requires mounting additional components that create cleaning difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests the exhaust system within the existing toilet bowl structure. The housing is received within the interior cavity of the toilet base, and the exhaust inlet is integrated into the toilet bowl structure. This nesting approach eliminates the need for separate mounted components that would create cleaning obstacles, as the exhaust system components are positioned within the existing toilet structure that is already accessible for cleaning.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively exhausts odors directly from the toilet area, improving user comfort, reducing energy consumption, and simplifying cleaning by focusing air exchange within the toilet's volume rather than the entire room, while minimizing the need for frequent filter replacements.
Implementation Method 1
a fan enclosed by the housing to move air from the area proximate to the toilet bowl through the housing and exhaust the air to an area exterior to the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A toilet bowl ventilation system exhausts air in and around the toilet bowl to an area adjacent to the room in which the toilet is located. The toilet bowl ventilation system includes an odor exhaust system which is configured to be installed within the interior cavity of a toilet. The odor exhaust system includes a fan positioned within a housing. The system further includes a controller that regulates power to the fan. Upon activation, the system is operable to transport air from in and around the toilet bowl, through the housing, and to an area adjacent to the room in which the toilet is located (e.g. outdoors).