Toilet odor elimination

[0001] Provisional Patent Application No. 62/606,986 Filing Date Oct. 16, 2017 with confirmation number 5457

[0002] The present invention relates to a device that removes malodorous odors associated with the disposal of human waste in a toilet bowl. More particularly to an air filtering device which is attached to an existing toilets water tank said tank being interconnected with the said bowl and thereupon capable of filtering the malodorous odors without infringing or disrupting the water tanks and bowl operation or function.

[0003] Flushing toilet bowls which are typically used release malodorous odors beyond the toilet bowl into the adjacent air space. The traditional solution is an actuated electrical fan to remove the odors, the fan is located in the same room as the toilet, the problem with this practice is the malodorous orders have already diffused into the rooms air space accompanying with saturating the occupants skin, clothes and and hair with these odors. Some of the previous inventions are discussed following:

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,606,747 to Dupont dated Mar. 4, 1997 discloses a device attached to the overflow tube containing an housing fan charcoal filter. This device has no apparent way of changing the filter and possible conflicts with the water tanks float and working mechanisms. U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,130 to Wilson dated Oct. 8, 1991 discloses a deodorizer attached to the exterior of the water tank. U.S. Pat. No. 6,279,173 B1 to Assignee D2M Inc. dated Aug. 28, 2001 discloses fan attached to interior of water tank using air up flow through tube then air filtered and exhausted in the water tank. This device is apparently not used in conventional flush toilets using a float actuated system nor does appear to have replaceable filters and with the size of the fan and operating motor may produce unwanted noise. U.S. Pat. No. 4,583,250 to Valarao dated Apr. 22, 1986 discloses large filtering unit attached to the top of toilet with supply air flow hook up on the fill tube that pulls air up through the device and forced out of the device through the filter to exist into room. This device is a large usitely addition to a toilet in order solve the malodorous air problem, it is a possible electrical hazard due to its location, also this device can not fit all toilets. U.S. Pat. No. 4,318,192 to Williams dated Mar. 9, 1982 discloses device which is placed in the water tank, this device will take up space reserved for water storage in the tank which will can cause the toilet to have inadequate volume of water to move the waste in the bowl through the waste line also does not appear able to installed on conventional flush toilets using a float actuated system, this device appears to jeopardize the toilets siphon abilities to remove the waste due to the device be tapped into the waste line. U.S. Pat. No. 7,849,523 B2 to Smith dated Dec. 14, 2010 discloses fan device mounted inside the water tank and the flush tube being capped to supply the device with malodorous air from the bowl and treat the air the device discharges the air to a line directly tapped into toilets waste line which may cause a siphon problem, also this device requires the manufacturer to place a discharge line in its production. U.S. Pat. No. 8,161,579 to Denkewicz dated Apr. 24, 2012 discloses devices which is attached internally of the water tank to the stand pipe with two (2) alternate designs both of which appear not to be used with a conventional float system, also the devices take up storage area for the water which may impede the removal of waste in the bowl due to not meeting the designed water volume.

[0005] The invention is a device that can be installed in any conventional toilet's water tank regardless of the size or shape. This is a device that removes malodorous odors from the toilet bowl by pulling odors up through the holes in the bowl's rim by fans located in the device's housing, which is secured in the interior of the water tank above the water line. After flowing from the holes then up the fill tube, which is in direct communication with said holes, the malodorous air exits the fill tube and then is confined in the water tanks presently sealed air space. The device's fans then pulls the confined malodorous air into the housing's intake chamber which is connected to the sealed filter tube. Then entering and flowing through filter tube, which is removing malodorous odors, the cleaned air then flows out of the filter tube and pulled into the airtight fan chamber by the fans. Then after flowing across the fans, the cleaned air is pushed by the fans into the sealed exhaust tube. The cleaned air is then pushed by the fans out of the exhaust tube and the clean filtered air flows into the adjacent space. The device is operated by a panel containing an on/off switch and a charging port which is secured to the exterior of the water tank for easy access.

[0006] Other features and details of this device will become clear and apparent upon examination of the following detailed description and drawings where like reference numbers to like parts are used throughout.

[0032] It is to be pointed out that the reference numbers used in this description are not restricted to an individual figure and may be used throughout the drawings and description. These reference numbers will always be used to denote the same component throughout.

[0033] FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a conventional toilet referenced by numbers: water tank lid (5), water tank (6), fill tube (7), rubber flapper (8), toilet bowl (9), bowl rim (11), rims openings (12), activating handle (13) chain (15) waste line (16) and the main components of this device drawn and numbered as such: housing (1), support bracket arm (1a) riser (3), and the enclosure (4), this enclosure is an option which is not detailed due to the different styles colors which are undeterminable at this time, all these are referenced in order to define the location of this embodiment within the toilet. The air flow (15) direction generated from this device also the upper water level (2) and bowls and waste line water level (2a). The conventional toilet operates as such:

[0034] With the tank lid (5) in place a person pivots the actuating handle (13) this in turn puts upward tension on the chain (14) resulting in the action of removing the rubber flapper (8) from its seeded position allowing the store water (2) in the water tank (6) to flow into the toilet bowl (9) to remove the human waste via the toilets waste line (16) and this actuation also initiates the water supply to flow down the fill tube (7) and then entering the toilet bowls rim (11) egressing through spaced holes (12) into the toilet bowl rim (11) with the result of removing the human waste and rinsing toilet bowl (9). After the removal of the waste and the rubber flapper (8) reseeds itself the fill tube (7) replenish the water level in the toilet bowl (9) and its water tank (6) to its previous level (2) and (2a). The main devices structural components that are drawn in FIG. 1 is for reference only in order to become familiar of this devices approximate size and location. This device utilizes the airflow direction (15) that is generated by this device more particularly described as follows: After the previously explained flush operation is complete the fill tube (7), which is in direct communication with the toilet bowl (9), is an open airway to said bowl. This allows the device to pull the malodorous air out of the toilet bowl (9) upwards through the fill tube (7) into the confined air space that is located between the water level (2) in the water tank (6) and the sealed tanks lid (5) upon activation of this device. The device components being specifically described as follows:

[0035] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the layout of the riser (3) and a general device layout, said riser (3) consisting of: FIG. 4 A thin caulking tape (34), the tape being a fraction narrower than conventional water tank (6) wall thickness, having adhesive on the top and bottom will be secured to the entire perimeter of the water tanks (6) walls. The riser (3) component is then placed on the caulking tape (34) with the horizontal member of the riser (3) adhered to the caulking tape (34) simultaneously holding the lower portion of the vertical member of the riser (3) flush to the inside of the water tank (6) wall. The riser as shown in FIG. 4 also depicts other components the bracket support (19), bracket support header (20) and foam seal (31), which will be discussed later. As seen in FIG. 2 you will see the four corners (16) of the riser (3) the horizontal member are cut perpendicular to the vertical member into small segments which are centered several inches on each side of calculated corner distances to allow the riser (3) to fit all toilets and their different radiuses, sizes and shapes. This segmentation is sealed on top of the horizontal surface with a caulking tape (16a) each having a length to cover the segmented corners (16) and again being a fraction less of the walls width. This caulking is to fill any all voids in the riser (3) made by the differences between the cut segments chords distances and the tanks walls (6) radius ensure the water tank (6) remains a confined air space. Referring to FIG. 2 you will observe the four locations that the pairs of bracket supports (19) and the bracket support headers (20) are intended to be placed. Both (19) and (20) are made of thin non corrosive lightweight durable material. The two bracket supports (19) for holding the fixed support component under the exhaust tube (30) are centered equal distance each way of the center of the adjacent water tank wall. Center each way means: width of fixed support component plus three quarters of an inch divided by two equals distance to place one of the bracket support bracket (19) each way of the centerline of the adjacent water tank (6) wall. All the brackets supports (19) are permanently attached to the devices side of the vertical member of the riser (3) during production of the riser (3). The length of this bracket support header (20) is distance between corresponding bracket supports (19) plus one quarter of an inch. This additional length will keep the bracket support header (20) from sliding along with giving additional space for the placement of the support brackets end cap (20a) which are permanently secured to the the bracket supports (20). The exact side locations will be given at a later date to which will allow the manufacturer to determine the best location for manufacturing process. Reference to beginning point (!7) of riser (3) this is the manufactured beginning of the riser (3) also being the ending of the riser (3) which is achieved by cutting the riser (3) during installation on site. Component flexible tape (18) is a thin single sided adhesive and is placed on the inside covering this cold joint made on site in order to adhere both segments of the riser (3) together and also to ensure the riser (3) remains air tight. The location of the tubular exhaust pipe (30) which is also referenced on FIG. 2. Now looking at the figures on page 3 of 9 beginning with FIG. 3. This is a cross sectional view at the center of the previously mentioned bracket support header (20) which are used to support the devices supporting arms and are placed over two (2) bracket support (19). FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view in the riser (3) detailing the riser (3) and all adjacent components. These components are listed as follows: The water tank lid (5), foam sealer (31), said foam sealer is suggested to be made of a foam type material which will compress from the weight of the tank lid (5) another characteristic of the foam sealer (31) is maintain the area between the water level (2) water tank lid (5) and inside the tanks walls (6) air tight. This foam sealer (31) is permanently adhered to the riser (3). The bracket supports (19) are suggested to be made from a thin high tensile strength material which non corrosive and permanently adhered to the riser (3). These brackets aid in the supporting of the water tank lid (5) and are permanently adhered to the riser (3). The last components shown, and their respective mode of seating onto the support bracket header (20), to be observed on this figure are the partial segment of the devices supporting arms (1 a&b) and the fixed supporting arm, the fixed supporting arm being a modified segment of the devices housing (1), the vacuum release (60) which is installed on the tubular exhaust to avoid the possible “air lock” which may happen during the flush cycle. The focus now is in respect to FIG. 6 displayed on sheet 4 of 9. This drawing is of a plan view of the entire devices housing (1), numerous individual components and the individual chambers. These chambers are designated as: intake chamber (26) filter chamber (27) battery storage chamber (28) micro fan chamber (29) also drawn is the tubular exhaust tube (30). After the installation of the air tight riser (3) and all corresponding components, previously mentioned, you will proceed to place this device to its final operating position. The direction of airflow generated by this device may be determined by the reference number air flow (15) which displays the direction of air flow by a pointed arrow and is found throughout these drawings. The fixed supporting arm arm located at the outlet side of this device shall be attached to its corresponding bracket support header (20) concurrently inserting the exhaust tube (30) into opening in the riser (3) shown in FIG. 13, FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, then pivoting on this previously said bracket support (20), this device is then lowered to secure the three remaining male adjustable supporting arms two (2) of (1a) on the sides and one (1) (1b) on the opposite end of the tubular exhaust (30), over their appropriate bracket support header (20) and secure them with their appropriate bracket support headers (20). With the three, previously mentioned, male components of the adjustable supporting arms (1 a&b) having been previously inserted into the corresponding female component referenced (1a)—total of two components on the sides of the device—also (1b)—total of one component at the opposite end from the exhaust tube (30) all three being a part of the housing. These mentioned arms are now placed over and secured into their corresponding support bracket header (20) see FIG. 4. Now referring to page 7 of 9 and FIG. 13 FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 At this stage the exhaust tube (30) will be secured into the riser (3) with all the displayed components in order to ensure the exhaust tube (30) is also airtight. The drawing FIG. 13 defines the components to achieve this airtightness. Please note that all of these components are made of the same lightweight durable non corrosive material used throughout this device, unless otherwise noted. These components are more particularly described as follows: foam sealer (31), previously the material was defined, tubular exhaust header (32), flexible tape (18), centerline of screw hole (33), the screw is a small diameter stainless phillips head screw with adequate length to secure the tubular exhaust header (32) to the riser columns (3a). The riser columns are manufactured as part of the riser (3) they are located vertically perpendicular to riser (3) horizontal member previously defined, said pier columns (3a) being flush with the edge of the hole in the riser (3), this omission of the riser (3) material at this location is for the insertion of the tubular exhaust pipe (30) thus becoming part of the riser, and as it has been specified throughout this detailed description ensuring the air is confined inside the water tank. The securing of the tubular header (32) with screwing the screws into the screw holes (33), this secures the tubular exhaust header (32) concurrently compresses the gasket (24), which is manufactured permanently around the entire perimeter of the tubular exhaust pipe (30) (see FIG. FIG. 16 for details), again ensuring this to be airtight. Then a thin piece of flexible tape (18) is adhered to the all the cold joint areas of the vertical member of the tubular exhaust header (32). This covering of all cold joints means the flexible tape (18) should lap the cold joint and adhere onto both sides of all the cold joints. Now referring FIG. 14 this drawing is a cross sectional view on the inside of the tubular exhaust pipe (30), including bracket supports (19) bracket header (20) for reference only, this is a list of the components and their primary function. Foam sealer (31) assurance of air space in device area continue to being airtight, Tubular exhaust header (32) locking tubular exhaust pipe (30) to final position compressing the gasket (24), Flexible tape (18) sealing all cold joints Gasket (24) ensuring to be airtight, Tubular exhaust pipe (30) an enclosed tube that allows the filtered air that is being pushed by the micro fans a structure to exit from the confined space Riser (3) seal the confined malodorous air in the desired space, and it horizontal member is a platform for the compression of the gaskets (24), Caulking tape (34) secures the riser to the water tank (6) Bracket support (19) to give a platform for the bracket support headers (20) to be placed on and concurrently strengthen the Riser (3) Bracket support headers (20) to give the supporting arms (1 a & b) and the fixed arm a place to carry their respective loads and secure this device, Air flow (15) drawn depicting proposed air flow direction, Housing (1) this is the devices main structure. FIG. 15 this is a plan view of the of the previous detailed areas drawn in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14. Referring to FIG. 16 on page 8 of 9, this is an side view of the tubular filter (23) with the permanently attached gasket (24) shown. FIG. 17 this is an end view, (the end view is identical for each end), of the tubular filter (23) this drawing also notes the mess (25) which to is permanently adhered to the tubular filter (23) this mess is to ensure confinement of the air filtering material inside of the tubular filter. The mess is made up of material recommended by the manufacturer of the tubular filter (23) Working in conjunction with the micro fans allows pulled malodorous air to enter in one end of said tube. The air traveling the entire length of said tube which is being filtering, by the filter material confined inside the said tube. The air which has been removed of the malodorous odors exiting the downstream end of the said tube odorless. FIG. 18 is a drawing of the larger swing arm (22b), swing arm hook (40) and the manufactured gasket seeding grove (22c). FIG. 19 is a drawing of the smaller swing arm (22a), swing arm hook (40) and the manufactured gasket seeding grove (22c). FIGS. 20 and 21 are general plan view of the securing and sealing device, which is mirrored at the opposite end of the tubular filter (23) except for the width of the swing arm, for the tubular filter (23). FIG. 20 is displaying the following components: Devices housing (1), tubular filter (23), gasket (24), swing arm hook (40), swing arm lock (43), and the gasket seeding grove (22c) The suggested gasket sealing device for (22a) and (22b) is basically similar to a fruit preservative jars locking device. This is operated as such: After the tubular filter (23) has been installed in it correct location within the device the swing arms (22a or 22b), depending which end you start with is rotated in a radius, the center of radius being the hinge (44), to a closed position on top of the housing. This in turn inserts the gasket (24), located around the tubular filter (23), into the seeding grove (22c) which grove is the full length of the swing arm. At this point the bail wire of the locking attachment is secured over the swing arm bail hook (40) which in turn moves to swing arm handle (42) to an upwards position. Then with a downward motion of the swing arms handle (42) locking the mechanism which is turns places the filter cartridge (23) in its functioning position also sealing the filter cartridge This action also keeps the malodorous air in its previously mentioned confined space prior filtering process. At this point we are looking at sheet 9 of 9 which includes FIG. 22, FIG. 23, and FIG. 24 These figures display the suggested electrical wiring schematic and includes all the associated components which are being referenced with the following numbers: On/off switch (46), charging port (47), panel (48) electrical wires (49) sealed access hole (50) and unsealed access hole (50a) double sided adhesive strip (51) Note all these electrical components should be installed during the manufacturing process unless noted. The materials used are determined by the manufacturer. The electrical wires, which have been previously installed during production of this device, basically following this suggested route: The panel (48) is located on the same end as the tubular exhaust pipe (30) the electrical wire (49) is placed internally in the cavity of the tubular exhaust pipe (30) and installed to a point close where the tubular exhaust pipe (30) is sealed and joined to the housing (1) during manufacturing. The wire then is turned downward existing the tubular exhaust pipe (30) and passing through the bottom of the tubular exhaust pipe (30) passing through a sealed hole (50) this hole has been sealed during manufacturing after the electrical wires (49) have been installed then continuing passing through a sealed hole (50) in the devices housing (1) the electrical wires (49) are located at the underside of this device. The electrical wires (49) may be attached to the bottom of housing (1) then continuing till the wires splice to feed the micro fan chamber (29), this splice travels upwards and enters through a sealed hole (50), this hole has been sealed during manufacturing, to become the power supply in the micro fan chamber (29) then continuing, in both directions on after splitting, in order to feed the two (2) battery chamber (28) entering through a hole (50a) in the bottom of the housing (1) and also being the bottom of the two battery chambers (28).

[0036] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the main device FIG. 7 is an right side view if the device. Note all the dashed lines drawn in FIG. 7 are shown to denote hidden chambers in order to allow for easier reference of the chambers. All the reference numbers have been detailed throughout this documents except for the following: filter chamber gasket (45) and micro fan cap (1c) this cap may be applied to the housing (1) at two different times and it would be better suited for the manufacturer to determine when the cap shall be secured to the housing due to the installation of the micro fans in the micro chamber (29). These drawings will be referenced in order to define the operation of this device. After installation has been completed and this device is ready to be “turned on” the air movement (15) will better be defined. Upon switching the on/off toggle switch located on the exterior of the water tank (6) direct communication is initialized between the power source, batteries in the battery chambers (28) and the micro fans located in the sealed micro fan chamber (29). This initialization of said fans produces an negative pressure on everything upstream of the said fans and a positive pressure downstream of said fans. This pressure will make the confined air in the water tank (6) be pulled into the intake chamber of this device gaining access through the three air holes (21) in the intake chamber (26) accompanying these is the housings unenclosed top over the air intake chamber (26) itself. The malodorous air is then pulled into the filter tube (23) the tube has a gasket (24) which is compressed by the action of locking the swing arm (22a) with its corresponding locking mechanism (43) thus ensuring the confined malodorous air is pulled directly into the air filter tube (23) through the mess (25) confining the filter material therein. The continued pulling moves the malodorous air through the entire length of the filter tube (23), this said filter material removes the malodorous odor associated with human waste. This air which has been cleared of the malodorous smells exits the opposite end of the filter tube (23) it entered and passes through the permanently attached mess (25) which confines the filter material within the filter tube (23). This outlet end of the filter tube (23) is in confined sealed area. This area has been sealed to avoid the filtered air being mixed with any outside malodorous air confined inside the water tank (6). This sealing is accomplish by locking the swing arm (22b) this action also compresses the gasket (24) and compresses the filter chamber gasket (45) which is a gasket located near the top of the outlet end of the filter pipe (23) on the three unsealed walls of the housing to ensure no malodorous enters this closed system. The filtered air is then pulled from the sealed downstream end of the filter tube (23) and into the sealed fan chamber (29) the air then moves across the micro fans and now it is being pushed being in a positive pressure. The pushed air leaves the fan chamber (29) and enters into the tubular exhaust pipe (30), this pipe has been adhered to the housing previously during manufacturing, the pushed air then exits the tubular exhaust pipe (30) through the tubes open end, see FIG. 14, which terminates beyond the installed riser (3).