US20080109950A1

US20080109950A1 - Air filtration device for removing toilet bowl odor air

Info

Publication number: US20080109950A1
Application number: US11/598,505
Authority: US
Inventors: Maximiliano Exiga
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-11-13
Filing date: 2006-11-13
Publication date: 2008-05-15

Abstract

An air filtration device for intake of toilet bowl air, removal of contaminants from the toilet bowl air. The device consisting of an air intake body, conduit and Air Filtration housing that contains the impeller, motor, filter. A motion sensor on the air intake body or a pressure sensor on the toilet seat activates the on and off function of the motor.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This Invention relates generally to the field of machine and more specifically to an Air Filtration Device for removing toilet bowl odor Air.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to air filtration apparatus and, more particularly, to air filtration device that is configured for AC or DC providing power for the device, toilet bowl air odor flowing into an intake on the front surface of the device and filtered air being emitted through vents on the side of the device.
As the toilet bowl odor air in general becomes more polluted and the general population becomes more aware of discomforts with toilet bowl odor air, filtration device of all shapes, types and sizes become more popular. One type of air filtration device provides a small fan for use in the toilet bowl environment. This device typically will include an AC or DC fan contained in a small housing for use, with a filter through which the air is directed for removal of toilet bowl air. These small fans are useful for removing toilet bowl odor air, since they typically take up little space themselves and move a relatively large volume of toilet bowl odor air. Such designs, while effective, leave room for improvement in the areas of air dispersion and filter management.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The advantages of the invention are its hands free operation and its ability to remove contaminated toilet bowl odor where it starts in the toilet bowl, keeping the bathroom atmosphere free of odor, eliminating the odor almost.
An air filtration device provides for an intake of toilet bowl odor air, an device for removal of contaminants from the toilet bowl odor air, expulsion of filtered air and configured for hands free automatic operation the device includes at least an air intake body, a conduit with an air flow path having at least one air outlet a filtration housing containing at least one air intake, and at least one air outlet said air outlet may be formed in the front of the housing with slots for cooperation of filtered air expulsion from said outlet. A filter is mounted to the housing in the air flow outlet and an impeller is provided for moving air through the housing along the air flow path from the air inlet to the air outlet, with the impeller being mounted to the housing.
The air outlet may be formed on at least one side of surface and the air flow path may be defined from the air inlet on the toilet surface through the air conduit through the air flow path and outwardly through the filtered air outlet. An outlet may be flat or curved and the air outlet may be formed as a series of vents along curvature of the outlet. The filter can be formed as a generally planar member selectively removable from the housing and can include a notch formed therein for directing insertion of the filter in a correct orientation with respect to the air flow path. The housing may include a locating surface therein an corresponding with the notch in the filter to orient the filter in the housing.
The air filtration device may include an alternating current or direct current motor for driving the impeller.
The air filtration device may further include an indicator for communicating that the filter should be changed, the indicator providing information after a predetermined period of operation of the air filtration device has passed. An impeller may be alternating current or direct current driven and the indicator may be alternating current or direct current timer circuit operationally associated with the impeller for determining when a predetermined time of impeller operation has passed.
A lamp may be mounted to the housing for illumination when the impeller is in operation, with the lamp in alternating current or direct current communication with the alternating current or direct current timer circuit and configured to provide pulsating illumination when a predetermined time of impeller operation has passed. A reset switch may be provided in alternating current or direct current to selectively reset the alternating current or direct current timer circuit to a zero operational time setting after replacement of the filter.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations on that which is described above may be achieved by addition or omission of the features above described.
Accordingly, an air filtration device is provided for intake of toilet bowl odor air, assistance in removal of contaminants from the toilet bowl odor air, expulsion of filtered air and configurable for hands free automatic operation. The device includes at least an air intake housing, an conduit with an air flow path having at least one air outlet, a filtration housing containing at least one air inlet, and at least one air outlet an air outlet may be formed in the front of the housing with slots for cooperation of filtered air expulsion from said outlet.
The air filtration device may include an indicator for communicating that the filter should be changed; the indicator providing information after a predetermined period of operation of the air filtration device has passed. The impeller may be driven by alternating current or direct current and the indicator may include an alternating current or direct current timer circuit operationally engaged with the impeller for determining when a predetermined timer of impeller operation has passed. The air filtration device also may include a lamp mounted to the housing for illumination when the impeller is in operation, the lamp being in alternating current or direct current communication with the alternating current or direct current timer circuit and configured to provide pulsating illumination when a predetermined time of impeller operation has passed. a reset switch may be provided in alternating current or direct current communication with the alternating current or direct current timer circuit to selectively reset the alternating current or direct current timer circuit to zero operational timer setting after replacement of filter. It should be understood that the above described features may be combined under a single, full-featured unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 Is a perspective view of the embodiment of the invention on an existing toilet.

FIG. 2 Is a prospective view of an air filtration unit free standing with all its pertinent parts in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 Is a prospective view of the air flow path of the invention.

FIG. 4 Is a prospective view of the air intake body with associated motion sensor and electronic connector.

FIG. 5 Is a prospective view of the filtration housing of the invention.

FIG. 6 Is exploded view of the filtration housing and its components.

FIG. 7 Is a prospective view of the base plate for the filtration housing device illustrated in FIG. 5

FIG. 8 Is a prospective view of a new designed of toilet seat and its associated air intake body.

FIG. 9 Is a prospective view of the new toilet with built-in air intake body.

FIG. 10 A prospective view of new toilet connected to a wall mounted filtration unit.

FIG. 11 Is a exploded view of the embodiment of the wall mounted filtration unit of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning now to the drawings and, more particularly to FIGS. 1,2 an air filtration device for intake of toilet bowl odor air, filtration of toilet bowl odor air and emission of filtered air. The general air flow path is illustrated in FIG. 3 which includes at least one intake housing and at least one air duct # 22 and an air filtration housing # 125.
Turning now to FIG. 4 illustrated is an air intake body # 75 with a motion sensor on the side #52, this sensor is at least one method to activate the device of its on and off function. When it detects movement it sends a signal through a electronic connector # 21 to control module # 28 the device which activates the motor.
Turning now to FIGS. 5,6, an air filtration housing, the internal components of the device # 125 are illustrated it will be appreciated that in odor to filter contaminated air, an air flow path is defined through the housing illustrated in FIG. 3 air movement is archived by use of an impeller #29-30. Rotation of the impeller is created by an electric motor # 33 is powered by alternating current or direct current powered by batteries #23-24. With a command from the motion sensor #52 or, command from the pressure sensor #53 a signal is transmitted through the electrical connector # 21 to the control module # 28, the control module activates the motor and cylindrical impeller that draws air from the toilet bowl through the air intake body, conduit, filtration housing and outwardly through the filter #34 and back into the atmosphere.
The control module and motor may be alternating current or direct current operated. The control module # 28 controls the on and off switch which is also connected to a light emitting diode (LED) #27 that blinks when it is time to change the filter. In an Industrial setting the control module # 47 controls the flushing operation of the toilet plus the fan duration and function counter for the filter change.
Turning now to FIG. 7 a base plate that holds the filtration housing in place. The plate is locked down on the toilet body by the existing tie down bolt of the toilet.
Turning now to FIG. 8 a preferred embodiment for a new toilet seat # 201 with built-in pressure sensor # 53 and adjoining electronic connector with the back of the seat containing air slots for adjoining air intake body # 76.
Turning now to FIG. 9 in the preferred embodiment of the invention a new designed toilet body # 300 with built-in air intake housing # 77 illustrated with an air inlet and an air outlet behind the toilet body. in the particular device illustrated in FIG. 10 is a new toilet bowl # 300 connected to preferred embodiment of the wall mounted filtration housing # 126.
Turning now to FIG. 11 exploded view of internal components of wall mounted filtration housing the inner casing # 41 mounted inside the wall and housing all the components. First is the Manuel flush button #P1 which is a pre-existing invention. Next is the motion sensor #72 also pre-existing invention which will send a signal to the control module # 47 that will control the motor and propeller # 43 and #44. It will also control the flush function electronically by means of an electronic valve #p3 which is also a pre-existing invention. The fan and motor mounted inside the support frame # 45 are bolted inside the blower unit body # 46. The front cover # 39 connected by hinges to the filtration door # 40 is mounted to the front of the inner casing # 41. The filtration door # 40 consisting of slots houses the filter #42.

Claims

1. An Air Filtration Device for intake of toilet bowl odor, removal of contaminants from toilet bowl air, expulsion of filtered air said air filtration device comprising:

Air intake body air conduit filtration housing:

Filtration housing defining an air flow path there through and having a separable air intake body, connected by a conduit

2. An air filtration device according to claim 1 wherein said air intake body contains an air flow path there through and having a top surface, side surface and bottom surface. At least one air inlet formed in side front surface body. At least one air outlet formed in said body intermediate.

3. An air filtration device according to claim 2 wherein said air intake body is incorporated into the main body of a new designed toilet. Re-designed toilet comprising of an air inlet inside toilet body, and an air outlet on the exterior back side of the body.

4. An air filtration device according to claim 1 wherein said air intake body is situated on top of existing toilet between toilet seat and water tank, held in place by the toilet seat bolts.

5. An air filtration device according to claim 4 wherein said air intake body plate aligns over existing holes for the toilet seat with toilet seat mounts on top of the plate holes.

6. An air filtration device according to claim 5 and further comprising of a motion sensor with electronic connector mounted on the side of the intake body.

7. An air filtration device for intake of toilet bowl odor, removal of contaminants from the toilet bowl air, expulsion of filtered air said air filtration device comprising of an air duct with at least an air intake and an air outlet. An electric connector formed to said length of conduit, said air inlet connected to the air intake body, said air outlet connected to an air filtration device.

8. An air filtration device for intake of toilet bowl odor, removal of contaminants from the toilet bowl air, expulsion of filtered air said air filtration device comprising of an air filtration housing with a defined air flow path there through having an air inlet and an air outlet.

9. An air filtration device according to claim 8 and further comprising of an impeller of a cylindrical design that draws air from the toilet bowl through an air intake body and through conduit and a filtration housing and outwardly through the filter and back into the atmosphere.

10. An air filtration device according to claim 9 and further comprising of an electric motor that drives the impeller, said motor is supported within filter housing and powered by alternating current or direct current.

11. An air filtration device according to claim 10 and further comprising a control module that sends power from the batteries to the electric motor. The module receives a signal from the pressure sensor on the toilet seat or motion sensor on the air intake body and starts the motor. The module controls the duration of operation cycles of the impeller plus controls timer for filtration change.

12. An air filtration device according to claim 11 and further comprising of a lamp mounted to said housing for illumination when said filter needs replacing, said lamp includes a switch to reset timer to zero and controls power to the control module.

13. An air filtration device according to claim 9 and further comprising an filter located inside air flow path. The housing may include an icon formed at a point corresponding with an notch in the filter for enhanced visual indication of proper filter orientation when the filter is inserted in the housing.

14. An air filtration device according to claim 13 wherein said filter is contained in filter cover located in said front of device, cover may be curved in shape and have series of vents for enhanced dispersion of filter air.

15. An air filtration device according to claim 8 and further comprising an filtration housing base plate. Said plate is permanently attached to toilet by the toilet base tie down bolt; The filtration housing can be easily installed and removed from the base by means of two (2) bolts.

16. An air filtration device for intake of toilet bowl odor, removal of contaminants from the toilet bowl air, and expulsion of filtered air. Said air filtration device comprising of new designed toilet seat with pressure sensors and accompanying electrical connectors built into the body of the new design the toilet seat may contain air slots to aid in the removal of contaminated air. The toilets seat's shape and design will constantly change to fit all manufactures and toilet designs. The accompanying air intake body will also have to change to fit new designs.

17. An air filtration device for intake of toilet bowl odor, removal of contaminants form the toilet bowl air, expulsion of filtered air. Said air filtration device comprising of wall mounted air filtration housing containing an inner casing mounted inside the wall, which houses all the components and to which the front panel bolts onto.

18. An air filtration device according to claim 17 wherein said inner casing conations the Blower Unit Body which houses: fan, motor, support frame. Blower Unit Body has an air inlet and an air outlet. Air inlet is connected by a duct to the new toilet design with a built in air intake body. The air outlet is formed in said housing front which forces air outward through the filter mounted on front cover door which has air slots for easy dispersion of filtered air.

19. An air filtration device according to claim 17, and further comprising of a control module which takes care of all electrical functions associated with the device. A motion sensor detects movement and sends a signal to the control module in turn sending power to the motor and impeller. The module also controls the flushing by means of the electric valve. The device is also equipped with a manual flush.