Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
WO 92/03620 ~'~, ~ Z'~',~ J'~. pCT/US91 /05883
1
ENVIRONMENTALLY CONTROLLED TOILET.
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a system for controlling
the environment of toilet bowls used in water flushing
toilets and portable toilets including children training
toilets, and in particular to a system which generates
and maintains a cyclone-type air circulation inside the
toilet bowl in order to~ neutralize the contaminating
agents in the toilet during the use and to confine them
inside the toilet bowl, for controlling the temperature
of the toilet seat, for addressing the noise
contamination associated with toilet use, and for further
comforting the user by controlling the heat transfer
inside of an ergonomically designed toilet seat.
>3ACKGROUND ART
Numerous apparati and methods have been proposed to
address the problems associated wit'.~. the use of a toilet.
The results, however, have been less than satisfactory
because the majority of the prior art apparati are
addressing only one aspect of the environment surrounding
a toilet bowl - the odor. the prior art failed to
recognize the cause of the odor contamination problem,
and therefore use the principle of ventilation to remove
large quantity of air from the toilet bowl and its
vicinity and to discharge it unfiltered into the
atmosphere, or through a filtering system outside the
toilet environment. Other prior art apparatus attempts
WO 92/03620 PCT/US9~/05883
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a >.. .
2
to create on top of the
toilet bowl and underneath
the
toilet seat an air blanket chemically saturated
with
aerosols to neutralize the
offensive odors leaving
the
bowl. To be effective, theseprior art apparati require
relatively powerful blowerswhich generate unpleasant
noise, vibration and air t, are energy inefficient,
draf
complicated, and expensive maintain. As such, none
to of
these prior art apparati
has found any significant
consumer acceptance.
A search of the prior art did not disclose
any
patents that read directly the claims of the instant
on
invention however, the following
U.S. patents were
consider related:
DATENT No. INVENTOR ISSUED
U.S. Patents:
5,008,964 Dean et al. 23
April 1991
4,883,749 Roberts et al.
28 November 1989
4,620,329 Wix 4 November 1986
4,586,201 Todd, Jr. 6~May 1986
4,493,117 Squazzin 15 January 1985
4,433,441 Schroeder 28 February 1984
4,094,023 Smith 13 June 1978
3,887,949 Osmond 10 June 1975
3,887,948 Stamper 10 June 1975
2,526,952 Kraus 24 October 1950
Foreign Patents:
598497 Italy Asquini 2 October 1959
Dean et al. U.S. Patent 5,008,964 teaches a potty
chair for toilet training children, having an automatic
speech and tune producing capability.
Patent 4, 883, 749 issued to Roberts et al. , described
a toilet children device for rewarding the toilet user.
WO 92/03620 PCT/US91/05883
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3
Wix in U.S. Patent 4,620,329 ventilates a toilet
seat by drawing air from the inside of the vent through
a hinge mechanism to a fan where it is vented to
atmosphere.
Todd Jr.'s Patent 4,586,201 teaches a shuttered air
inlet introducing air into a blower then through a
canister which removes odors and discharges the purified
air from the lid.
U.S. Patent 4,493,117 of Squazzin continuously
deodorizes a toilet by drawing air from the toilet bowl
through a hollow member that snaps over the rim under the
seat and is connected to a hose that is in line with a
fan carrying the odor laden gases from the toilet to a
vent.
Patent 4,433,441 issued to Schroeder discloses an
apparatus positioned on top of a toilet bowl and
underneath the toilet bowl seat which generates on top
of the .bowl an air blanket saturated with aerosols in
order to neutralize the offensive odors leaving the bowl.
Osmond°s U.S. Patent disclosed a toilet venting
assembly positioned between the seat and the toilet tank.
Patent 3,887,948 issued to Stamper disclosed a
solid deodorizer for a toilet venting assembly.
Kraus Patent 2,526,952 disclosed a toilet
ventilating system in which a rubber seal is used to seal
the toilet seat to the bowl.
For background purposes and as indicative of the art
to which the invention relates, reference may be made to
the remaining cited patent issued to Smith and the
foreign patent 598497 issued to'Asquini in Italy.
WO 92/03620 PCT/L~S91/05883
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DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The first embodiment of the present invention includes
a flushing toilet bowl having a rim provided with a bowl-
skirt, and a housing positioned on top of toilet bowl in
front of the water tank and behind arid below a toilet
seat, therefore taking advantage of the unutilized space
between the toilet water tank'and the toilet seat. The
housing, contains a sanitizer/conditioner dispensing
means, a motor and a rotor for generating air circulation
inside the bowl, a power means, a switch and a timer.
The bowl-skirt, as an integrated part of the rim, defines
a primary circular air-trapping cavity inside the bowl,
where a cyclone-type air circulation is maintained. The
air flow moving with a peripheral speed inside the
primary air trapping cavity generates centrifugal air
currents which bring the air containing the airborne
contaminants to the toilet bowl walls. A.toilet seat
having an elongated strip and an integrated seat-skirt
is forming with the bowl rim a secondary air-trapping
cavity. The toilet seat and the toilet seat cover are
hingeably attached to the housing on top of the toilet
bowl rim. The housing has inlet apenings, one in position
to withdraw air from the primary air-trapping cavity, and
a second positioned flush with the top surface of the
toilet rim to withdraw air from a secondary air-trapping
cavity. An exhaust passage located within the bowl-skirt,
generates the cyclone-type air circulation inside the
primary air-trapping cavity in the toilet bowl. The
cyclone-type air circulation inside the toilet bowl
lowers the temperature of the air inside the bowl, forces
condensation of contaminated vapors present in the bowl,
sanitizes the inside toilet bowl and its cantent,
conditions the odor and confines the contaminating agents
inside toilet bowl into the primary air-trapping cavity
PCr ~. J 'J ~ .
WO 92/03620 PCT/US91/05883
under the bowl-skirt. A secondary air-trapping cavity
under the seat and seat-skirt recovers and confines the
eventual escapes. A hygienic-shield, made of disposable
5 material and shaped to follow the toilet seat and seat-
skirt upper surface, offers additional protection from
bacteria and virus transfer during the toilet use.
Finally, the first embodiment of the present invention
takes advantage of the suction effect occurring at the
l0 end of the toilet flushing cycle, to purge the
contaminants into the sewer line.
The second embodiment of the present invention is
basically the first embodiment., modified to accommodate
existing public/commercial water flushed toilets, where
by local regulations the toilet seat must be open in the
front. A detachable bowl-skirt positioned on tap of the
toilet bowl rim and extending downwardly into the toilet
bowl forms an air trapping cavity, between the bowl-skirt
and the toilet bowl. A housing, shaped.to fit any
standard toilet bowl in front of the water tank, contains
a sanitizer/conditioner dispensing means, a motor and a
rotor for generating air circulation inside the bawl, a
power means, switch arid a timer. Characteristic for the
second embodiment of the present invention is the
detachable bowl-skirt which is removable attached to the
housing by an attachment means such as a complementary
pair of snap-look fasteners. The detachable bowl-skirt
defines a circular air-trapping cavity inside the bowl,
where a cyclone-type air circulation is maintained. A
toilet seat having a seat-skirt and an open front, and
a toilet seat cover are hingeably attached to the housing
by ~ pair of support brackets pravided with retaining
rods. The housing has two inlet openings positioned to
withdraw air from the air-trapping cavity, and an
exhaust opening. positioned inside the bowl below and
behind the detachable bowl-skirt, to generate the
WO 92/03620 N~, .-~~ ~'~,. PCT/US91/05883
6
cyclone-type air circulation inside the air trapping
cavity in the toilet bowl.
The third embodiment of the present invention is
basically the same as the first embodiment, modified to
accommodate all existing water flushed tailets. A
housing shaped to fit any standard water flushed toilet
bowl on the flat area in front of the water tank. The
housing has a similar construction with the one described
to in the second embodiment of the present invention. A
toilet seat having a downwardly extended seat-skirt, and
a toilet seat cover are hingeably attached to the housing
by a pair of support brackets provided with retaining
rods. The retaining rods are used to snap-in the
assembled toilet seat and cover into the housing. In
this way the assembled toilet seat and cover can be
conveniently snapped out of the housing in order to be
replaced or to be cleaned outside the bowl.
Characteristic of the third embodiment of the present
2o invention is the air-trapping cavity created inside the
bowl under the seat, by the seat-skirt. Therefore, the
seat has a deeper seat-skirt to compensate for the design
of the toilet bowl. The shape of the seat is
erganomically designed to comfort the user's body,
distributing the weight of the body over the entire area
particularly at the user's back.
The fourth embodiment of the present invention is
basically the first embodiment modified to be used in
portable toilet systems characterized by the absence of
3p flushing water. In the forth embodiment the air moved
inside the bawl-structure in a cyclane-type circulation
is cooled by an air cooling agent positioned outside the
bowl-structure. A housing integrated to the bowl-
structure, contains a sanitizer/conditioner dispenser,
an air cooling agent, a motor and a rotor for generating
air circulation inside the housing and the toilet
WO 92/03620 '~~~~~'~ ~-~. PCT/U591/05883
7
structure, a power means and a switch. The air cooling
agent could be cold water, ice, or any other heat
absorbing material stored in a cooling tray inside the
housing in the air circulation path. A toilet seat-
skirt, which defines a circular air-trapping cavity
inside the bowl-toilet, where a cyclone-type air
circulation is maintained, is positioned on top of the
rim of the bowl-structure and is coupled with a toilet
seat cover by two pin-shafts. The housing ':as an inlet
opening positioned to withdraw the air from the air-
trapping cavity inside the bowl-structure and an exhaust
opening connected to the bowl-structure to generate the
cyclone-type air circulation.
The fifth embodiment of the present invention adds
additional features to the previously described
embodiments such as: a passive heater for the toilet
seat, variable speed for the cyclone-type air
circulation, integration of the noise contamination
related to the use of toilet. The toilet seat is fitted
with a low wattage heat generated flexible membrane. A
dedicated microprocessor, controls the heat dissipation
inside the toilet seat and indirectly the heat transfer
from the user to the seat, by activating and deactivating
the seat warming function. The same microprocessor is
used to regulate the speed of the motor based on 'the air
temperature inside the bowl. Using a miniature
microphone positioned in the housing underneath the seat,
the computer is set to detect any embarrassing noise
3o produced during the toilet usage. In response to the
input, the computer will use a speech synthesizer and
miniature speaker positioned in the same housing, to
output a sequence of selected musical chords to integrate
the embarrassing noise. An optional display panel may
inform the user of the status of the environmentally
controlled toilet unit, and deliver customized messages.
WO 92/03620 PCT/US91/05883
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8
In view of the above disclosures is the primary
object of the invention to address aspects of toilet bowl
environmental problems such as: bacteria, odor, and noise
contaminations, in parallel with user's intimate
protection and comforting aspects such as a seat/seat-
skirt protective shield, seat ergonomics and temperature
control.
It is a further obj ect of the invention to condition
the toilet bowl, by generating and maintaining a cyclone
type air circulation inside the bowl. By conditioning,
the . present invention refers to the process of
neutralizing the contaminating elements such as bacteria,
odors, vapors, and other airborne particles present in
the toilet bowl, by mixing them with
sanitizer/conditioner agents.
It is also an obj ect of the invention to confine the
contaminating elements inside the toilet bowl. The
confinement process is premised on the observation that
the contaminating elements present in the toilet bowl are
carried out due to natural convection, by the warmer air
surrounding the odor/bacteria generators inside the bowl.
The cyclone-type air circulation forces the contaminating
elements to move toward the toilet bowl inside walls,
where by coming into contact with the cooler walls their
temperature will be lowered and their potential to leave
the bowl reduced.
Another object of the invention is to increase the
efficiency of the cyclone-type air circulation in
neutralizing and confining the contaminating elements
inside the bowl, by creating a 'circular, air-trapping
volume inside the bowl.
Another object of the invention is to retrofit the
existing water flushed toilet bowls by replacing the
existent toilet seat and cover with the environmentally
controlled toilet seat.
WO 92/03620 ~ ~~ ~, ~r-y,~,,~ PCT/US91 /05883
Q~ ,J,. .
9
Further objects of the invention is to introduce the
seat-skirt for the following purposesz
- to protect the user for being directly exposed to
the draft generated in the toilet bowl by the radial air
currents.
' - to reduce the body heat loss during the toilet
use,
- to allow the use of a disposable seat/seat-skirt
protective shield, that protects the user from bacteria
and virus transfer not only in public places but also in
private homes.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will
become obvious from the description of different
invention embodiments following the accompanying
drawings.
25
35
WO 92/03620 PCT/US91/OS883
1~
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a exploded perspective view of the
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, longitudinal cross-
sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present
invention being connected to a standard sewer line.
FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the preferred
embodiment of the present invention as well as a partial
tog view of the toilet seat, the toilet seat cover and
the housing.
FIGURE 4 is a partial, right-side view of the
preferred embodiment of the present invention taken
substantially upon the planes indicated by section lines
4-4 of FIGURE 3.
FIGURE 5 is a partial, top plan view of housing
taken substantially upon the plane indicated by section
lines 5-5 of FIGURE 4.
FIGURE 6 is a partial right-side view of the
preferred embodiment taken substantially upon the plane
indicate by lines 6-6 of FIGURE 3.
FIGURE 7 is a partial, right-side view of the
preferred embodiment taken substantially upon the planes
5 indicated by section lines 7-7 of FIGURE 3.
FIGURE 8 is a front view of a fifth embodiment of
the present invention, taken substantially upon the
planes ind~,cated by lines 8-8 of FIGURE 3.
FIGURE 9 is a exploded perspective view of the first
30 embodiment, showing a sanitizer/conditioner container
positioned outside the housing.
FIGURE 10 is an exploded perspective view of the
third embodiment, being installed on a conventional water
flushed toilet.
35 FIGURE 11 is an enlarged, longitudinal cross-
sectional view of the third embodiment, being integrated
WO 92!03620
PCT/ US9 i /05883
11
with a conventional water flush toilet.
FIGURE 12 is a top plan view of the third
embodiment, being taken substantially upon the planes
indicated by section lines 12-12 of FIGURE 11.
FIGURE 13 is a partial, right-side perspective view
of the third embodiment, taken substantially.upon the
planes indicated by section lines 13-13 of FIGURE 12.
FIGURE 14 to FIGURE 16 depict three different types
of sanitizer/conditioner cartridges to be employed with
all the embodiments of the present invention.
FIGURE 17 depicts the implementation where
sanitizer/conditioner cartridge of a liquid type is
connected to a pump which discharge it inside the
bowl.
FIGURE 18 is an exploded perspective view of the
second embodiment, being installed on a conventional
water flushed toilet.
FIGURE 19 is an enlarged, longitudinal cross
sectional view of the second embodiment, being integrated
with a conventional water flush toilet.
FIGURE 20 is an exploded perspective view of the
fifth embodiment, being installed into a children
training toilet - potty chair.
FIGURE 21 is a block diagram of an Electronic Remote
Control Unit fox the Environmentally Controlled Toilet.
35
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12
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION.
The present invention relates to a system for
controlling the environment of toilet bowls used in:
water flushing toilets, portable toilets including
children training toilets. In the following description
numerous specific detailed are set forth in order to
provide a thorough understanding of the present
l0 invention. In other instances, well known devices and
elements such as a motor, rotor, timer and switches are
not described in detail in order not to unnecessarily
obscure the present invention. It should be understood
by one skilled in the art that the direction of flow of
air and the placement air passages as well as the
position of sanitizer/conditioner chambers are not
restricted to those described in the figures shown.
THE FIRST EMBODIMENT
FIGURE 1 is a exploded perspective view of the
preferred embodiment of the present invention. A flushing
toilet bowl 70, having a rim 72 and a bowl-skirt 73 as
part of the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, is shown with a housing 20 mounted on top,
and positioned in front of a toilet water tank 60 and
behind and below a toilet seat 82. The housing 20 which
contains a sanitizer/conditioner dispensing means, an
air circulation means, a power means, a switch and a
timer, is attached to the top surface of the bowl 70.
The toilet seat 82 is shown having an elongated strip 86,
a seat-skirt 87 and two brackets 83. A removable toilet
seat cover 84 is shown having two pin--shafts 81 on the
sides of the two brackets 85. A hygienic-shield 100,
made of disposable material and shaped to follow the
toilet seat and seat~skirt upper surface, offers
WO 92/03620 Pi: T/US91 /05883
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13
additional protection from b3cteri~ and virus transfer
during the toilet use. The preferred embodiment of the
present invention is installed in the following manner:
the existing toilet bowl is removed and replaced with the
bowl 70 provided with the rim 72 and the bowl-skirt 73.
Two standard vertically disposed openings provided in the
bowl 70 are used to secure the housing 20 firmly on top
of the rim 72. The toilet seat 82 is then positioned on
top of the rim 72, and the brackets 83 holes are aligned
outside the bracket supports 23; the toilet seat cover
84 is further positioned on top of the toilet seat 82,
with the brackets 85 holes being aligned inside the
bracket supports 23. Once in place, the toilet seat and
the toilet seat cover brackets will be coupled to the
bracket supports 23 of the housing 20 by two pin-shafts
81.
FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, longitudinal cross-
sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present
invention being connected to a standard sewer line 90.
The. toilet bowl 70 is shown having an interior channel
62 for receiving water from the toilet bowl water tank
60, a sewage connecting duct 74, a water seal 65, and the
bowl-skirt 73 provided with an exhaust passage 75 and an
intake window 63. The bowl-skirt 73 as an integrated
part of the rim 72 defines a primary air-trapping cavity
76 inside the bowl 70. The housing 20 is shown being
placed snugly on top of the rim 72 and positioned
adjacent to the toilet water tank 60. Further, the
housing 20 is shown having an exhaust opening 26
connected to the exhaust passage 75 beneath.
Furthermore, the housing 20 is shown having an inlet
opening 32 connected to an inlet window 63 positioned in
the bowl-skirt 73, and a second intake opening 33
positioned flush with the top surface of the toilet rim
72 and facing the bowl-skirt 73. The bowl-skirt 73 has
WO 92/03620 ~,': ~ ~~ i ~ ~, PCT/US9I /05883
14
an exhaust window 77 which is located on the lower end
of the exhaust passage 75,,facing the inside of the bowl
70, below the skirt 73, and above the water seal 65.
Furthermore, the housing 20 is shown detachably coupled
to the toilet seat cover 84, and toilet seat 82 having
a seat-skirt 87, and an elongated strip 86. The seat-
skirt 87 as an integrated part of the toilet seat 82,
defines a secondary air-trapping cavity 88, positioned
below the toilet seat 82. It should be understood by one
skilled in the art that the toilet seat 82 and the toilet
seat cover 84 may be raised vertically. The toilet bowl
of the present invention contains at various times:
water, air, odor/bacteria generators, airborne
contaminants, and sanitizing/conditioning agent. The
airborne contaminants may consist of: vapors,
objectionable odors, bacteria and other airborne
particles. When in use, the air inside the toilet bowl
is warmed by the odor/bacteria generators which by
nature, have higher temperature than the air inside the
bowl: It is further understood that the air inside the
bowl has the tendency due to natural convection, to leave
the bowl and to contaminate the environment surrounding
the toilet~bowl. Therefore, one of the goals iof the
preferred embodiment of the present invention, is to
lower the temperature of the contaminated air while it
is still inside the bowl. Furthermore, another goal of
the preferred embodiment is to sanitize and condition the
contaminated air inside the bowl 70, to confine it into
the primary air-trapping cavity 76 under the bowl-skirt,
and to create a secondary air-trapping cavity 88 under
the seat-skirt in order to recover the eventual escapes.
Further, the present invention takes advantage of the
suction effect occurring at the end of the toilet
flushing cycle, to purge the confined airborne mixture
and its carrier into the toilet sewer line 90.
WO 92/03620 PCT/US91/05883
r~'~ ' ~ '~ d ~~.
FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the preferred
embodiment of the present invention as well of a partial
top view of the toilet seat, the toilet seat cover and
5 the housing. The toilet bowl 70 is shown having a water
tank 60, a rim 72 and a bowl-skirt 73. The air inlet
window 63 positioned in the bowl-skirt 73 connects the
inside of the toilet bowl to the intake opening 32, as
shown in FIGURE 2. Further, the exhaust window 77 is
10 positioned inside the toilet bowl in order to generate
and maintain a cyclone-type air circulation inside the
bowl. In this preferred embodiment, the cyclone-type air
circulation inside the toilet bowl is shown moving the
contaminated air, along the primary air-trapping cavity
15 76 (shown in FIGURE 2). This cyclone-type air
circulation mixes the cooler air, sweeping along the
toilet bowl 70 walls with the warmer and contaminated air
to lower its temperature. Additionally, the cyclone-type
air circulation generates secondary air currents moving
radially from the center of the bowl toward the toilet
bowl walls. These secondary air currents carry the
contaminated air from the center region of the toilet
bowl and mixes it with the cooler air sweeping
tangentially on the inside bowl walls. Also the vapors
in the airborne contaminants will come into contact with
the cooler toilet bowl walls and will condense. The
sanitizer/conditioner agent released inside the housing
20 is mixed with the airborne contaminants and is
continuously sanitizes the inside of the toilet bowl,
reducing bacterial count and conditioning the odor. By
recirculating the air inside the toilet bowl, the present
invention increases the sanitizer/conditioner
concentration in an economically and environmentally safe
way.
FIGURE 4 is a partial, right-side view of the
preferred embodiment of the present invention taken
WO 92/03620 PCT/US91/05883
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16
substantially upon the planes indicated by section lines
4-4 of FIGURE 3. The housing 20 is shown having a pipe
24a connecting the primary inlet window 32 with the air-
s intake opening 63 positioned into the bowl-skirt 73. The
primary inlet window 32 further communicates with a
channel 34 which is further coupled with a
sanitizer/conditioner chamber 30 via Windows 36 and 38.
A sanitizer/conditioner cartridge 31 is shown within the
chamber 30. The sanitizing/conditioning chamber 30
communicates to the low pressure mixing chamber 47, as
shown in FIGURE 5, over a window section 48.
Furthermore, FIGURE 4 shows the housing 20 being secured
to the bowl 70 by the captive holding studs 29 disposed
inside the vertical openings 28. Washers 27 and wing-nuts
21 are used to fasten housing 20 to the bowl 70.
FIGURE 5 is a partial, top plan view of housing 20
taken substantially upon the plane indicated by section
lines 5-5 in FIGURE 4. A motor 50 arid an associated rotor
52 are centrally disposed within the housing 20 for the
purpose of recirculating the air inside the toilet bowl.
The air withdrawn from the bowl by the rotor 52, enters
the housing 20 using two different paths. In the primary
path the air is Withdraw from the primary air-trapping '.
cavity 76, as shown in FIGURE 4, through the inlet
opening 32 into the sanitizer/conditioner chamber 30 via
the intake channel 34 and window sections 36 and 38, as
shown in FIGURE 4. Further, the air is withdrawn from
the chamber 30 through the window section 48 into a low
pressure mixing chamber 47. The size of the window
section 48 is adjustable to provide control over the
amount of sanitizer/conditioner agent dispersed. In the
secondary path, the air is withdrawn from the secondary
air-trapping cavity 88 into the low pressure mixing
chamber 47 through the window section 49, via the inlet
opening 33, the intake channel 35, through a window
WO 92/03620 PCT/US91/05883
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17
section 37, as shown in FIGURE 7. A holding plate 46
secures the motor 50 and the rotor 52 to the housing 20
and separates the low pressure mixing chamber 47 from a
high pressure exhaust chamber 58. Four intake areas 43
in the holding plate 46 allows the rotor 52 to pressurize
the air into the high pressure exhaust chamber 58.
FIGURE 6 is a partial right-side view of the
preferred embodiment taken substantially upon the plane
indicate by lines 6-6 of FIGURE 3. In the housing 20, the
high pressure exhaust chamber 58 is shown connected to
the outlet channel 26 via a window section 24. Further,
the outlet channel 26 is shown connected to the exhaust
passage 75 positioned inside the bowl-skirt 73. It is
the shape and position of the exhaust window 77 at the
end of the exhaust passage 75, which makes the air to be
returned to the toilet bowl environment with high speed
in order to generate and maintain the cyclone-effect.
By positioning the housing 20 above the toilet rim 72 the
preferred embodiment protects the motor 50. against fluid
contamination in case of toilet bowl overflow. The same
protection is offered to the storage battery cells 54
which axe housed in the battery compartment 55 positioned
on top of the higH pressure exhaust chamber 58. A
proximity switch 56 controls the operation of the motor
50. A magnet 57 positioned in the seat cover bracket 85
translates the position of the toilet seat cover 84. A
timer 67 located underneath the control panel 22,
provides the function of de-energizing the ~~otor 50 after
a specific period of time, in case the seat cover 84 is
not closed.
FIGURE 7 is a partial, right-side view of the
preferred embodiment taken substantially upon the planes
indicated by section lines 7-7 of FIGURE 3. The housing
20 is attached to the bowl 70 and is shown having the
second inlet opening 33 positioned flush on top of the
WO 92/03620 ~~. ~,.,~ ~ J~. PCT/US91/05883
18
bowl 70 facing the bowl-skirt 73. The air is withdrawn
from the secondary air-trapping cavity 88 into the low
pressure mixing chamber 47, via the inlet opening 33,
the intake channel 35, and window sections 37 and 49, as
shown in FIGURE 5.
FIGURE 9 is a exploded perspective view of the
preferred embodiment, showing a sanitizer/conditioner
container 64 positioned outside the housing 20b. The
container 64, having a cover 53 and a shut-off valve 51,
is shown hanging on a wall in the proximity of the toilet
bowl 70. A supply line 61 connects the container 64 to
the housing 20b. The container 64 is design to hold
significant more sanitizer/conditioner agent, to be easy
to refill, and will be probably used to replace the
sanitizer/conditioner cartridges when the present
invention is installed in public toilet facilities.
FIGURE 21 a block diagram for an electronic remote
control unit 200 that allows the toilet to be operated
and controlled from a remote lacauon. .The unit 200
comprised of the following major components: a power
switch 202, an ac/dc converter 204, a motion detector
206, a timing module 208, a power input cable 210 and a
unit/to~ilet interface cable 212. The power to the unit
200 is supplied from either the 110 volt a-c or 220 volts
a-c utility power source. The unit may be hard-wired
directly to the power source or, the power input cable
210 may be employed. When the power switch 202 is placed
in the ON position, the a-a power is applied to the ac/dc
converter 204 which converts the a-a power to a low
voltage d-c. The low voltage d-c~ power is applied to the
motion detector 206 and to an AND gate 208b in the timing
module 208. The motion detector is maintained in a
quiescent state. Therefore, when a motion is detected
within the confines of the monitored area, the motion
detector generates a reset signal to the electronic timer
WO 92/03620 PCT/US91 /05883
19
208a also located in the timing module 208. The reset
signal causes the electronic timer to begin timing out
from a preset number of secands. The on-time of the
timer 208a will continue for the preset time unless the
electronic timer is interrupted by a subsequent reset
signal at which time, the preset time commences from the
beginning. During the electronic timer's on-time, a
signal is produced that enables the AND gate 208b. The
enabled gate allows the d-c current to pass on, via the
unit/toilet interface cable 212, to the environmentally
controlled toilet.
THE SECOND EMBODIMENT
The second embodiment of the present invention in
depicted in FIGURE 18 and FIGURE 19 and is basically the
first embodiment, modified to accommodate the existing
bowls of the public/commercial water flushed toilets,
where by local regulations the bowl is of~ an elongated
type and the toilet seat must be open in the front.
FIGURE 18 is an exploded perspective view of the
second embodiment being installed on a conventional water
flushed toilet. A housing 20a, is shaped to fit any
standard water flushed toilet bowl 70a on the flat area
in front of the water tank 60a. A detachable bowl-skirt
73a is shown positioned on top of the toilet rim 72a, in
front of the housing 20a. An open-front toilet seat 82a
is shown having a downwardly extending seat-skirt 87a and
two seat brackets 83a. A removable toilet seat cover 84a
is also shown having a bracket 85a in position to be
integrated with bracket supports 89, seat brackets 83a
and pin-shafts 81a. The second embodiment is installed
in the following manner: the existing toilet seat and
toilet seat cover are removed and the two standard
vertically disposed openings provided in the bowl 70a are
W0 92/03620 ~ <,.i,-, PCT/US91/05883
used to secure the housing 20a firmly on top of the rim
72a in front of the water tank 60a. The detachable bowl-
skirt 73a is installed in front of the housing 20a on top
5 of the toilet rim 72a and attached to the housing 20a by
two snap-lock fasteners 92. The toilet seat 82a and the
toilet seat cover 84a which are first assembled with the
bracket supports 89, are snapped into two vertical
openings provided in the housing 20a.
10 FIGURE 19 is an enlarged, longitudinal cross-
sectional view of the second embodiment being integrated
with a conventional water flush toilet. A housing 20a
is shown being placed snugly on top of the toilet bowl
rim 72a and positioned adjacent to the toilet water tank
15 60a. Further, the housing 20a is shown having an exhaust
tongue 26a extended into the toilet bowl 70. The
detachable bowl-skirt 73a is shown installed on the top
of the rim 72a and below the open-front seat 82a. The
toilet seat 82a is shown having a seat-skirt 87a. It
20 should be understood by one skilled in the.art that the
toilet seat 82a and the toilet seat cover 84a may be
raised vertically. All the goals discussed in the
preferred embodiment are shared by the second embodiment.
Gharacteris~ic for the second embodiment is only one ai~-
trapping cavity created inside the bowl 70a, by the
detachable bowl-skirt 73a positioned in top of the toilet
bowl rim 72a. Also, the housing 20a has the exhaust
tongue 26a positioned in front of the toilet bowl rim
72a, and its exhaust window 27a located deeper inside the
bowl 70a, behind the detachable bowl-skirt 73a.
THE THIRD EMBODIMENT
The third embodiment of the present invention is
depicted in FIGURE 10 through 17 and is basically the
first embodiment, modified to accommodate the standard
WO 92/03520
~°~~~ ~ d°~j',~, PCT/US91/05883
21
bowls of existing water flushed toilets.
FIGURE 10 is an exploded perspective view of the
third embodiment installed on a conventional water
flushed toilet. A housing 20a, is shaped to fit any
standard water flushed toilet bowl 70a. A toilet seat
82b having a downwardly seat-skirt 87b and a seat cover
84b is shown in position to be integrated with two
bracket supports 89. The third embodiment of the present
l0 invention is installed in the following manner: the
existing toilet seat and toilet seat cover are removed
and. the two standard vertically disposed openings
provided in the bowl 70a are used to secure the housing
20a firmly on top of the rim 72a in front of the water
tank 60a. The toilet seat 82b and the toilet seat cover
84b are first assembled with the bracket supports 89.
Two! pin-shafts 81a are used to align toilet seat brackets
83a and seat cover bracket 85b and to sandwich brackets
support 89 between them. Two vertical retaining rods
part of the bracket supports 89, together with the mating
vertical openings 23a in the housing 20a, are used to
snap-in the assembled toilet seat and cover into the
housing 20a. In this way the assembled toilet seat and
cover can be conveniently snapped out of the housing~20a
when it is to be replaced or cleaned outside the bowl.
FIGURE 11 is an enlarged, longitudinal cross-
sectional view of the third embodiment. The housing 20a
is shown being placed snugly on top of the toilet bowl
rim 72a and positioned adjacent to the toilet water tank
60a. Further, the housing 20a is shown having an exhaust
tongue 26a extended into the toilet bowl 70a. The toilet
seat 82b is shown having a seat-skirt 87b extended deeper
inside the toilet bowl 70a, below the rim 72a, for the
purpose of defining an air-trapping cavity 88b. The
shape of the seat 82b is ergonomically designed to
comfort to the user's body distributing the weight of the
WO 92/03620 ~~~'~ ~ t ,.~~'.~, PCT/US91/05883
22
body over the entire area particularly at the user's
back. It should.be understood by one skilled in the art
that the toilet seat 82b and the toilet seat cover 84b
. 5 may be raised vertically. All the goals stipulated in
the preferred embodiment are shared by the third
. embodiment. Characteristic for the third embodiment is
only one air-trapping cavity formed by the seat-skirt 87b
inside the bowl 70a. Therefore, the seat 82b has been
provided with a deeper seat-skirt 87b to compensate for
the design of the toilet bowl 70a. Also, the housing 20a
has the exhaust tongue 26a positioned in front of the
toilet bowl rim 72a, and its exhaust window 27a located
deeper inside the bowl, behind the seat-skirt 87b.
FIGURE 12 is a top plan view of the third embodiment
being taken substantially upon the planes indicated by
section dines 12-12 of FIGURE 11. The housing 20a is
shown having two inlet windows 32a and 33a positioned
flush with the top surface of.the.toilet rim 72a and
facing the interior of the bowl 70a. A motor 50a and a
rotor 52a are centrally disposed within the housing 20a
for the purpose of circulating the air inside the bowl.
The air withdrawn from the air-trapping cavity 88b enters
the housing 20a using two identical paths. In the first
path, the inlet window 32a, is shown communicating via
~an intake channel 34a and a horizantal window 91, with
the sanitizer/conditioner chamber 93. In the second
path, the inlet window 33a is shown communicating via the
intake channel 35a and a horizontal window 92 with a
chamber 94. Two sanitizer/conditioner cartridges 31
positioned in chamber 93 and 94 are releasing sanitizing
and odor conditioning agents into the low pressure mixing
chamber 47a through the window section 48a, respectively
window section 49a. A holding plate 46a secures the
motor 50a and the rotor 52a to the housing 20a and
separates the low pressure mixing chamber 47a from a high
WO 92/03620 ,~ :~~~",1~~ , p~'/U591/05883
a' :o . .
23
pressure exhaust chamber 58a. Four intake openings 43a
in the holding plate 46a allows rotor 52a to pressurize
the air into the high pressure exhaust chamber 58a.
Furthermore, housing 20a has the exhaust tongue 26a
provided with an exhaust window 27a positioned inside the
toilet bowl in order to generate and maintain a cyclone-
type air circulation inside the air-trapping cavity 88b.
FIGURE 13 is a partial, right-side view of the third
embodiment taken substantially upon the planes indicated
by section lines 13-13 of FIGURE 12. The housing 20a,
is shown having an exhaust tongue 26a positioned inside
the air-trapping cavity 88b in front of the toilet rim
72a and behind the seat-skirt 87b. It is the shape and
position of the exhaust window 27a at the end of the
exhaust tongue 26a, which makes the pressurized air to
return into the toilet bowl with high speed in order to
generate and maintain the cyclone-effect.
FIGURES 14 through 16 depict three different types
of sanitizer/conditioner cartridges to be.~employed with'
all the embodiments of the present invention. FIGURE 14
shows a sanitizer/conditioner cartridge 31 in powder form
in a container 97, or simply in block form of the same
shape of a solid media well known in the art and
frequently used as an air deodorizer or freshener.
FIGURE 15 shows a sanitizer/conditioner cartridge 31 in
a liquid form housed in a container 97a with a
horizontally positioned wick 99a designed to draw the
liquid inta an extended surface in the airstream path for
vaporization. FIGURE 16 shows a sanitizer/conditioner
cartridge 31 in a liquid'form housed in a container 97b
with a vertically positioned wick 99.
FIGURE 17 degicts another aspect of the third
eabodiment wherein a liquid form sanitizer/conditioner
cartridge 31a is connected to a liquid pump 66 located
in the housing 20a by a tube 67. The
W092/03620 ~a~:~;.~~~~~~-»~ PCT/U591/05883
(~o . v J d~ ~ " .
24
sanitizer/conditioner agent is dispersed via a tube 68
connecting to the pump 66 to a delivery-manifold 69
positioned in the housing 20 and facing the inside the
toilet bowl, preferably, at the extreme end of the
exhaust tongue 26a. A series of orifices provided on the
delivery-manifold 69 allow the liquid to be sprayed
inside the toilet bowl when the motor 50a starts.
THE Ff~URTH EMBODIMENT
The fourth embodiment of the present invention
depicted in FIGURE 20 is shown applied to portable
toilets including children training toilets - potty
chairs. A cyclone-type air circulation inside the bowl-
structure 170 is facilitated by a circular air-trapping
cavity created by the seat-skirt 173. The circular
shaped bowl-structure 170 has a rim 172 and a bottom 179
and may hold in the center a removable potty 174. A
toilet seat cover 184 attached tp the toilet seat 182 by
a shaft 185, will seal the portable toilet after use
until the potty 174 is removed .for cleaning purposes:
The cyclone-type air circulation inside the bowl-
structure 170 is generated and maintained Y~y a
blower/motor structure 150 installed inside a housing
120: An exhaust opening.126 and an inlet opening 128 axe
positioned inside the bowl-structure 170 for air
circulation 'purposes for the reasons discussed in the
previously described embodiments of the present
invention: The 'inlet opening 128 connects the inside the
bowl-structure 170 with the inside of the housing 120
which also contain the sanitizer/conditioner cartridge
131 and a removable air-cooling tray 134. Characteristic
of the fifi:h embodiment is the air~cooling tray 134 which
contain cooling agents such as: sold water, ice cubes,
or any other heat absorbent substance, for the purpose
WO 92/03620 _ PCT/US91/05883
~~ '~ .err ~a~~~.,
of cooling the air circulated inside the housing 120 and
bowl-structure 170. Further, the housing 120 is sealed
from the exterior by door structure 127. On the upper
5 section of the housing 120 is located a battery
compartment 140 with batteries 141, a cover 144 and a
control panel 145 with a switch 146. Control features
similar with those disclosed in the second embodiment,
can be included in this embodiment. The fifth embodiment
10 is installed in the following manner: the potty 174 is
placed inside the bowl-structure 170, the toilet seat 182
and the attached toilet seat cover 184 is positioned on
top of the rim 172 and the air-cooling tray 134
containing a air cooling agent is positioned inside the
15 housing 120 together with the sanitizer/ conditioner
cartridge 131.
SHE FIFTH EMBODIMENT
20 FIGURE 8 is a front view of a fifth'embodiment of
the present invention, taken substantially upon the
planes indicated by lines 8-8 of FIGURE 3. A housing 20
is shown coupled to two exhaust passages 75a, an
elongated strip 86a is also shown attached to the toilet
25 seat 82a fitted with a heat generated coil 79.
Preferably, the heat generating coil is a flexible
heating membrane which can be integrated with the
elongated strip 86a. A computerized control panel 22a
is located in the housing 20a and behind the toilet seat
82a. It provides control switches for temperature range
selection for the toilet seat, for activating and
deactivating the seat warming function and for regulating
the speed of the rotor 52a. The computerized control
panel 22a further has a noise activated sensor 78 and a
miniature speaker 89 to provide further environmental
control functions.
!'V0 92/03620 PCT/US91/05883
r~'~' ~ ,~, ø ~ 1.
26
The noise activated sensor 78 is computer controlled
and is set to detect the embarrassing noise generated
during toilet use. In response to the input to the sensor
78, the computer uses the miniature speaker 89 to output
a sequence of selected musical chords to integrate the
embarrassing noise. An optional display panel 98 informs
the user of the status of the environmentally controlled
toilet, and delivers customized messages.
The invention as depicted in the drawings previously
described is directed to elements that are added to a
toilet bowl of a new or an existing design. It will be
noted however that the same structural elements relative
to the air distribution system and sanitizer/conditioner
dispensing means may be further 'incorporated into the
toilet bowl structure itself. Therefore, the invention
is not limited to a design that incorporates all of the
elements as thus described.
While the present invention has been particularly
described in several embodiments, it should be understood
that the figures are for illustration purposes only and
should not be taken as limitation on the invention. In
addition, it is clear that the method and apparatus of
the present invention have utility in any toilet system
where the control of the environment - whether it be
bacteria, odor, audio, or temperature - is required. It
is contemplated that many changes and modifications may
be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
disclosed.
