Toilet Deodorizing Apparatus

Background of the Present Invention

Field of Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a toilet apparatus, and more particularly to a toilet deodorizing apparatus comprising an air discharge assembly which is capable of guiding odor around toilet area to be discharged through an existing sewage passage.

Description of Related Arts

[0002] Odor arising from use of a conventional toilet is usually countered by fragrance released to the restroom. The restroom may also be equipped with some sorts of ventilating devices which aim to provide ventilation to the restroom space. A ventilating fan may be installed on the ceiling or a window of the restroom so as to suck air out from the restroom.

[0003] These traditional method of eliminating odor in restrooms do not generally provide satisfactory results. For example, undesirable odor may have been spread to the entire restroom space before it can be discharged. Users of the restroom may still experience the bad odor from using the toilet.

[0004] Moreover, ventilation devices which aim to discharge odor from toilet may not have an appropriate site to discharge the odor. For example, in a restroom with no window, odor can only be discharged to the attic. However, odor in the attic may enter other spaces in the same building and the odor may affect not only the restroom but also other parts of the building. i [0005] As a result, there is a need to develop a toilet deodorizing apparatus which may effectively discharge odor from the toilet without allowing the odor to be spread to the other parts of restroom or building.

Summary of the Present Invention

[0006] Certain variations of the present invention provide a toilet deodorizing apparatus comprising an air discharge assembly which is capable of guiding odor around toilet area to be discharged through an existing sewage passage.

[0007] Certain variations of the present invention provide a toilet deodorizing apparatus comprising an air discharge assembly which is capable of effectively discharging odor from a toilet without allowing the odor to be spread to the other parts of restroom or building.

[0008] In one aspect of the present invention, it provides a toilet deodorizing apparatus for a toilet assembly comprising a toilet having an upper rim portion and a lower connecting portion, a toilet flange connecting to a sewage passage, the toilet deodorizing apparatus comprising:

[0009] a main housing having an air inlet and an air outlet;

[0010] an air suction assembly comprising an air intake port and an air suction tube, an air intake port supported on the toilet, said air intake port communicating with said air inlet of said main housing through said air suction tube;

[0011] a suction fan mounted in the main housing; and

[0012] an air discharge assembly defining an air discharge passage extending from the air outlet to the sewage passage, the air discharge assembly comprising an air discharge tube embracing the air discharge passage and extending from the air outlet to the sewage passage through the lower connecting portion of the toilet, such that when the suction fan is actuated, air is sucked from the upper rim portion of the toilet to the sewage passage through the air discharge assembly so as to minimize odor spreading from the toilet.

[0013] This summary presented above is provided merely to introduce certain concepts and not to identify any key or essential features of the claimed subject matter.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014] Fig. l is a perspective view of a toilet deodorizing apparatus for a toilet assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Fig. 2 is a side view of the toilet deodorizing apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Fig. 3 is a perspective schematic diagram of the toilet deodorizing apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Fig. 4 a side view of an air guiding member of the toilet deodorizing apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Fig. 5 a sectional side view of a coupling member of the toilet deodorizing apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an air discharge passage of the toilet deodorizing apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating that the coupling member can be omitted according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Fig. 8 is a sectional side view of the air guiding member of the toilet deodorizing apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. [0022] Fig. 9 is an alternative configuration of the air guiding member according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

[0023] The following detailed description of the preferred embodiment is the preferred mode of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in any limiting sense. It is presented for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the present invention.

[0024] It should be appreciated that the terms "install", "connect", "couple", and "mount" in the following description refer to the connecting relationship in the accompanying drawings for easy understanding of the present invention. For example, the connection can refer to permanent connection or detachable connection. Furthermore, “connected” may also mean direct connection or indirect connection, or connection through other auxiliary components. Therefore, the above terms should not be an actual connection limitation of the elements of the present invention.

[0025] It should be appreciated that the terms "length", "width", "top", "bottom", "front", "rear", "left", "right", vertical", "horizontal", "upper", "lower", "exterior", and "interior" in the following description refer to the orientation or positioning relationship in the accompanying drawings for easy understanding of the present invention without limiting the actual location or orientation of the present invention. Therefore, the above terms should not be an actual location limitation of the elements of the present invention.

[0026] It should be appreciated that the terms "first", "second", "one", "a", and "an" in the following description refer to "at least one" or "one or more" in the embodiment. In particular, the term "a" in one embodiment may refer to "one" while in another embodiment may refer to "more than one". Therefore, the above terms should not be an actual numerical limitation of the elements of the present invention. [0027] Referring to Fig. 1 to Fig. 8 of the drawings, a toilet deodorizing apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Broadly, the toilet deodorizing apparatus may comprise a main housing 10 having an air inlet 11 and an air outlet 12, an air intake port 40, a suction fan 20, and an air discharge assembly 30. The toilet deodorizing apparatus may be utilized for a toilet assembly 100 comprising a toilet 101 having an upper rim portion 102 and a lower connecting portion 103, a toilet flange 104 connecting to a sewage passage 300. The toilet deodorizing apparatus of the present invention may guide odor from the toilet 101 to be discharged to the sewage passage 300 so that odor will not spread to other parts of the restroom or other parts of the building in which the restroom is located.

[0028] The suction fan 20 may be mounted in the main housing 10 and may be used to suck air from the air intake port 40.

[0029] The air discharge assembly 30 may define an air discharge passage 31 extending from the air outlet 12 to the sewage passage 300. The air discharge assembly 30 may comprise an air discharge tube 32 embracing at least part of the air discharge passage 31 and extending from the air outlet 12 to the sewage passage 300 through the lower connecting portion 103 of the toilet 101, such that when the suction fan 20 is actuated, air is sucked from the upper rim portion 102 of the toilet 101 to the sewage passage 300 through the air discharge assembly 30 so as to minimize odor spreading from the toilet 101.

[0030] According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the toilet deodorizing apparatus of the present invention may be utilized for an existing toilet 101, which may be securely assembled to the sewage passage 300 by a toilet flange 104 having an opening 1041. One skilled in the art may appreciate that the toilet 101, the sewage passage 300 and the toilet flange 104 do not form part of the present invention.

[0031] Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the main housing 10 may be mounted on a water tank 105 of the toilet 101. The water tank 105 may be supported on top of the toilet 101, wherein the main housing 10 may be mounted on a side portion of the water tank 105. As alternatives, the main housing 10 may be mounted on any side of the water tank 105 or even mounted on a wall or ground of the restroom without being mounted on the water tank 105.

[0032] The suction fan 20 may be mounted in the main housing 10 for drawing air from the air intake port 40 and through the air inlet 11. The air intake port 40 may be supported on the upper rim portion 102 of the toilet 101 or built in the toilet seat 105. In this preferred embodiment, the toilet deodorizing apparatus may further comprise an air suction tube 41 extended between the air inlet 11 and the air intake port 40, wherein air in the vicinity of the upper rim portion 102 of the toilet 101 may be sucked to the main housing 10 through the air suction tube 41.

[0033] The air intake port 40 may provide an opening 401 for communicating with the air suction tube 41. As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the air intake port 40 may be mounted on the upper rim portion 102 of the toilet 101. In this preferred embodiment, the air intake port 40 may comprise an elongated tubular body 41 supported on the upper rim portion 102 of the toilet 101, wherein the opening 401 may be provided in the air intake port 40.

[0034] The toilet deodorizing apparatus may further comprise a control circuitry 50 and a power source 51 mounted in the main housing 10 and electrically connected to the suction fan 20 for controlling an operation thereof.

[0035] It is important to mention that the air discharge passage 31 of the air discharge assembly 30 mentioned above may be constituted by several channels formed by different components. When these components are connected together in a manner described below, the air discharge passage 31 may be completely defined. This configuration may be illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

[0036] Thus, the air discharge tube 32 may be connected to the air outlet 12 of the main housing 10 and may define a first passage channel 311 in the air discharge tube 32 for allowing air to pass through. The first passage channel 311 may constitute at least part of the air discharge passage 31. [0037] The coupling member 34 may define a second passage channel 312 which may be configured as a through passage formed within the coupling member 34. As shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, each of the longitudinal portion 341 and the transverse portion 342 may be hollow in structure wherein the second passage channel 312 may pass through the longitudinal portion 341 and the transverse portion 342. One end of the second passage channel 312 may communicate with the first passage channel 311, while the second end of the second passage channel 312 may communicate with the third passage channel 313.

[0038] Moreover, the air discharge assembly 30 may further comprise an air guiding member 33 mounted in the toilet 101 for connecting with the air discharge tube 32. The air guiding member 33 may be mounted on the toilet flange 104 of the toilet assembly 100 so as to be securely supported within the toilet 101. According to the preferred embodiment, the air guiding member 33 may be configured as having a ring-shape structure as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 of the drawings. Thus, the air guiding member 33 may have an upper annular portion 331 and a lower annular portion 332 wherein an external diameter of the upper annular portion 331 is greater than that of the lower annular portion 332. The air guiding member 33 may further define a third passage channel 313 which may be configured as a through slot formed on the upper annular portion 331 of the air guiding member 33. More specifically, the third passage channel 313 may extend from a side surface 3311 to a bottom surface 3312 of the upper annular portion 331 of the air guiding member, the air guiding member 33 may be configured such that the third passage channel

313 may communicate directly with the opening 1041 of the toilet flange 104. In this situation, air from the second passage channel 312 may pass through the third passage channel 313 and the opening 1041 and may eventually be discharged to the sewage passage 300.

[0039] Moreover, the air guiding member 33 may further define a fourth passage channel

314 which may be configured as a through central opening formed in the air guiding member 33. The fourth passage channel 314 may communicate with the sewage passage 300, preferably through a flange opening 1041 of the toilet flange 104. The third passage channel 313 may communicate with the fourth passage channel 314. Depending on the circumstances in which the present invention is utilized, only the third passage channel 313 or both the third passage channel and the fourth passage channel 314 may constitute the air discharge passage 31. In this preferred embodiment, the air discharge passage 31 may be constituted by first through third passage channels 311, 312, 313.

[0040] Moreover, the air discharge assembly 30 may further comprise a coupling member 34 connecting between the air discharge tube 32 and the air guiding member 33. As shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the coupling member 34 may have a longitudinal portion 341 and a transverse portion 342 transversely extended from the longitudinal portion 341. Each of the longitudinal portion 341 and the transverse portion 342 may be configured to have a tubular structure. An external surface of the longitudinal portion 341 may be threaded to allow easy fixed to the toilet assembly 100 through simple screwing mechanism.

[0041] Thus, the longitudinal portion 341 of the coupling member 34 may be connected to the air discharge tube 32 while the transverse portion 342 of the coupling member 34 may be connected to the upper annular portion 331 of the air guiding member 33. Altogether the first through third passage channels 311, 312, 313 may be combined to constitute the air discharge passage 31 for discharging air sucked by the suction fan 20 to the sewage passage 300, and this air discharge passage 31 may form a path for air containing odor around the toilet 101 to be guided and discharged to the sewage passage 300 without returning to the restroom or other parts of the building in which the restroom is located. This configuration may be graphically illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

[0042] From the forgoing descriptions, one skilled in the art may appreciate that several alternatives may exist due to different constructions of pre-existing toilet assemblies 100, such as wall hung toilet or the toilet without toilet flange mounted.

[0043] For example, the longitudinal portion 341 of the coupling member 34 may be coupled to a mounting hole 1031 at the lower connecting portion 103 while the transverse portion 342 may be connected to the upper annular portion 331 of the air guiding member 33. In this situation, the air discharge tube 32 may be connected to an upper end 3411 of the longitudinal portion 341 of the coupling member 34. Air from the air discharge tube 32 may then be guided to pass through the second passage channel 312 and reach the third passage channel 313.

[0044] In another example, the coupling member 34 may be omitted so that the air discharge tube 32 may be arranged to penetrate through the opening of lower connecting portion 103 or the wall behind the wall hung toilet and directly connect to the upper annular portion 331 of the air guiding member 33. In this situation, the first passage channel 311 may be directly connect to the third passage channel 313 so that the air discharge passage 31 may be constituted by the first passage channel 311 and the third passage channel 313. This may be shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings.

[0045] In another example, as shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, the air guiding member 33 may be configured such that the third passage channel 313 may communicate with the fourth passage channel 314. In this situation, air from the second passage channel 312 may pass through the third passage channel 313 and the fourth passage channel 314 and may eventually be discharged to the sewage passage 300. Thus, the air discharge passage 31 may be constituted by the first passage channel 311, the second passage channel 312, the third passage channel 313 and the fourth passage channel 314. In particular, the third passage channel 313 may extend from the side surface 3311 to communicate with the fourth passage channel 314 which may be configured as the central opening of the air guiding member 31.

[0046] The operation of the present invention may be as follows: when suction fan 20 is actuated, air containing odor around the upper rim portion 102 of the toilet 101 may be sucked into the main housing 10 through the air suction tube 41. The air may then be guided to enter the air discharge tube 32 and pass through the air discharge passage 31 and eventually reach the sewage passage 300. Thus, the odor around the upper rim portion 102 of the toilet 101 may be eventually discharged through the sewage passage 300 and may be prevented from spreading to other parts of the restroom or the building in which the restroom is located. [0047] It is worth mentioning that depending on the circumstances in which the present invention is utilized, the air discharge passage 31 may be constituted by different components. Some of these variations have been mentioned above. Thus, the toilet deodorizing apparatus of the present invention may fit different constructions of toilet assembly 100.

[0048] The present invention, while illustrated and described in terms of a preferred embodiment and several alternatives, is not limited to the particular description contained in this specification. Additional alternative or equivalent components could also be used to practice the present invention.