Toilet modular system with ventilation and automation devices

• US 7,380,292 B1
• Filed: 11/06/2007
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Marion Harris
• Original Assignee: Robert Marion Harris
• Inventors: Harris, Robert Marion
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips; Charles E
• Application Number:
  US11/935,672
• Time in Patent Office: 210 Days
• Field of Search: 4213-217, 42461-2465, 4347-352
• US Class Current: 4/213
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 13/10 Devices for raising and lowering, e.g. tilting or lifting mechanismsthereby controlling flushing valves E03D5/04; Collapsible or rotating seats or covers
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 13/307 Seats with ventilating devices
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/10 operated electrically E03D5/01, E03D5/12 take precedence, e.g. by a photo-cell; also combined with devices for opening or closing shutters in the bowl outlet and/or with devices for raising/or lowering seat and cover and/or for swiveling the bowl
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 9/052 using incorporated fans

Abstract

A modular multifunction device designed to take full advantage of its strategic placement as mounted on a toilet'"'"'s water tank to automate various toilet area functions of which any one or number of its capabilities can be utilized. The apparatus can either be attached to an existing toilet in a structure as an aftermarket product or manufactured in combination with a toilet. The modular nature of this invention allows a wide range of configuration options which helps make it universally applicable to virtually any toilet and any bathroom. One primary function of its modular case is to function as an automatic toilet ventilator, which vacuums objectionable odor from the toilet bowl and exhausts it to the sewer discharge line or to other optional depositories. A unique seat and seat lid is designed to function as an inconspicuous ventilation duct that draws the air from the circumference the toilet bowl to a vacuum pump that is camouflaged as mounted inside a modular case which is shaped to blend in with the existing toilet design. Other functions of this invention include the mechanisms and the automatic electronic control circuitry for features such as motors and related linkage to open and close the toilet seat and seat lid, automatic flush control, automatic ventilator control and convenience power outlet control.

Claims

1. A multifunction toilet apparatus for use with a toilet having a water tank and bowl that is designed to automate various toilet area functions and can operate using any one or number of its features, comprising:

a) a modular case assembly mounted onto said water tank having a front side, back side, top side with a rimmed edge and bottom side with a mounting guide and defining an interior space and exterior surface for mounting of components and having an inlet duct aperture located on the said front side of said case and an outlet duct aperture located on said back side of said case comprising;

i) a ventilation apparatus that vacuums air inside said front side of said case and exhausts it to said rear of said case comprising;

(1) a fan and fan housing with an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture as disposed within said case interior space;

(2) an intake passage duct as protruding from said front of said case inlet aperture and connected to said fan inlet aperture through which said fan draws air from the outside of the said front of said case and into said fan;

(3) a U-shaped tube with a bottom end that contains a small orifice which said tube is mounted inside said case with one end of said tube attached to said fan outlet aperture to communicate air from said fan into said U-shaped tube and said U-shaped bottom end portion of tube protrudes down through said bottom side of said case to be disposed below said case low enough so as to enter the water contained inside said water tank and for said bottom end of said tube to be submerged in said water thereby filling said tube with said water through said orifice to completely fill said tube to block gas migration, whereby the water will be blown out of said tube to allow airflow through said tube once said fan is activated and will refill with water using said orifice once said fan is deactivated for sewer gas backflow prevention;

(4) a second sewer gas backflow prevention apparatus that is a three chamber device where the first chamber is a short straight and horizontally mounted tube that is open on both ends;

a second chamber that is also a short tube and is in line with said first chamber but has a larger diameter and ramps upwards at a slight angle where the lower end of said tube is open and connected to said first chamber tube to communicate air from said first chamber tube and the other higher end of said second chamber tube is closed;

a ball that resides within said second chamber tube that has a diameter slightly less than said second chamber tube'"'"'s diameter so that said ball is allowed to freely move up and down the length of said tube and normally rolls to a rest at the bottom of said second chamber device but cannot enter said first chamber tube because of its larger diameter;

a round exhaust aperture located in the bottom side of the lower end of said second tube that has less diameter than said ball of which said ball rests on said aperture to seal the opening closed;

a third chamber that is a duct that has an exhaust aperture on one side and an aperture on the top end farthest from said exhaust aperture on the side and is aligned below said second chamber so that said top duct aperture is matched with the aperture in the bottom end of said second chamber thus providing a fluid communication of air through all three chambers;

whereby said ball normally rests on said aperture with gravity to seal the passage of air through said ducting device and whereby said ball rolls up off the orifice into said ramped tube to allow airflow through said orifice once said fan is activated and will roll back into place onto said orifice once said fan is deactivated a backup measure for sewer gas backflow prevention;

(5) an outlet duct that connects to said second sewer gas backflow prevention apparatus to said outlet aperture and extends outside of said backside of said case thereby allowing air to flow from said sewer gas apparatus to exit said case;

(6) a magnetic switch disposed in said front of said case, actuated when encountering a magnetic field from a magnet that is inserted into the top edge of said toilet seat lid as said seat lid fully opens and said magnet activates said magnetic switch;

(7) an electronic control module that contains circuitry for multiple purposes including the purpose of controlling the activation and deactivation of the ventilation system;

(8) whereby completing an air communication channel from said front of said case to said back of said case providing two means of sewer gas backflow prevention and whereby having a means from said magnetic switch and said control module to provide automation;

ii) an apparatus for motion control of a typical toilet seat and seat lid that allows said seat and seat lid to mechanically open and close, comprising;

(1) a motor and clutch assembly comprising;

(a) an electric motor;

(b) a gearbox with a gearbox drive shaft;

(c) a linear actuator output shaft;

(d) a long semi-rigid flexible rod that is coupled to said linear actuator output shaft;

(e) a clutch mechanism comprising;

 

(i) means whereby turning of said gearbox drive shaft causes said linear actuator output shaft to move linearly, resulting in a linear movement of said flexible rod;

 

(ii) means whereby said gearbox drive shaft can slip and become uncoupled from said linear actuator output shaft once a predetermined amount of force is exerted on said flexible rod;

(f) a modular housing for said motor, gearbox and clutch mechanism with an external modular contact terminal port for the electrical connection of said motor to a power source with said electrical terminals protruding thereof;

(g) a latching mechanism on said housing that will allow said housing to snap into and remain in place as disposed into a receiving socket;

(h) a guide tube that is open on both ends whereby one end is rigidly fixed into said modular housing of said motor and clutch assembly and whereby said guide tube extends a predetermined length from said housing whereby said flexible rod resides internally of said tube whereby a predetermined length of said rod protrudes from the open end of said tube opposite of said housing;

(i) whereby said electric motor and said gearbox causes said gearbox output shaft to rotate whereby said clutch mechanism provides a means for linear motion and a clutch action to said linear actuator shaft whereby said linear actuator shaft then actuates said flexible rod that is positioned inside said guide tube whereby said rod can move and have linear motion as protruding from said tube;

(2) two sockets, one for said seat lid motor assembly and one for said seat motor assembly, disposed on said back side of said case exterior comprising;

(a) a means for detachably mounting said seat lid motor and said seat motor assemblies into said sockets allowing said motors to be easily installed and removed;

(b) a means for electrical circuit connectivity between said case sockets and said motor assemblies that allows an instant electrical connection as said motors are installed into said sockets;

(3) an electronic control module mounted inside said case that contains circuits to control the said seat and seat lid motor assemblies and to provide automation;

(4) a proximity sensor mounted on said front exterior of said case that senses the occupancy and vacancy of said toilet and is connected to said electronic control module for automation control of said seat lid and said seat;

(5) a switch panel mounted on said front exterior of said case to allow control of said seat lid and seat motors;

(6) a household power supply inlet jack mounted on said back side of case to provide standard household power to the circuitry and components inside said case;

(7) whereby said switch panel provides a signal to said electronic control module whereby said power is applied to said motor and clutch assemblies thereby causing movement to open said seat and seat lid and whereby said proximity sensor can sense the occupancy and vacancy of said toilet and to provide a signal to said control module whereby said control module will apply said power to said motor assemblies to automatically close said seat and said seat lid;

iii) a sound generation module that is detachably mounted to said front of said case comprising;

(1) a speaker element for the generation of sound;

(2) an apparatus that contains a signal amplifier and circuits to store and select a variety of recorded sounds and for volume control;

(3) a means to allow a user to control said device to vary the volume and to select the said variety of recorded sounds, including control to power on and off said apparatus;

(4) a grill so that sound may travel from said speaker to the outside of said case;

(5) an electronic control module that is connected to said apparatus for the purpose of automatic control;

(6) whereby said sound generation module can automatically produce a variety of sounds at a controlled volume;

iv) a toilet flushing apparatus comprising;

(1) an apparatus that is detachably mounted inside of said case capable of exerting enough lifting force on said toilet'"'"'s existing flush handle actuator lever to flush said toilet;

(2) a means of attachment of said apparatus to said flush handle actuator lever that is easily detachable;

(3) a proximity sensor mounted on said front panel of said case to sense the occupancy and vacancy of said toilet;

(4) an electronic control module;

(5) whereby said electronic control module uses said proximity sensor as an input signal to provide toilet occupancy and vacancy data thereby said circuit provides intelligent logic and timing for a flush action to be initiated thereby activating said flushing apparatus that exerts lifting force on said flush actuator lever so that said toilet can be automatically flushed;

v) a proximity sensor mounted on said front panel of said case that is free of interference from the opening and closing of said toilet seat lid for the purpose of detecting the use of said toilet to activate automation devices;

vi) a motion detector disposed on said front exterior of said case that is free of interference from the opening and closing of said toilet seat lid for the purpose of detecting any motion in the vicinity of said toilet to activate automation devices;

vii) at least one power receptacle mounted on said side of said case and electronic control module to provide automatic switchable power to said receptacle;

viii) an electric transformer disposed inside said case and a power outlet jack installed on said backside of said case and to supply low voltage power to an available product such as a seat and seat lid warming device;

ix) an electronic control module disposed inside said case that has electrical connectivity to the various components utilized with said case that contains circuits that provide monitoring and control said components thereby providing a means for automatic control of said components;

x) said rimmed edge that allows the original tank lid to be utilized thereof;

xi) said rimmed edge that allows other devices to be mounted thereof;

b) a ventilation apparatus for removal of toilet bowl odors for use with a typical toilet having a water tank and bowl comprising;

i) a normally horizontal vented toilet seat having a forward end portion and a rearward end portion and an inside seat rim with a plurality of inlet apertures therein for drawing odorous air from the vicinity of said seat rim inside the seat to be communicated with an outlet opening at the rearward end portion of said seat forming an air passageway from said inlet apertures to the outlet opening at said rearward end portion of said seat;

ii) a hinged open and upright toilet seat lid having a top edge portion and a bottom edge portion and having an tubular interior space that communicates an inlet aperture at said bottom edge of said lid to an outlet aperture at said top edge of said seat lid thereby forming a ductwork completely through said seat lid from said bottom edge to said top edge;

iii) a joint that is formed when said seat lid is hinged open in an upright position and said bottom edge portion of said seat engages and mates with said rearward end portion of said seat to perfectly complete an air duct channel from said plurality of inlet apertures in said seat rim to said top edge portion of said seat lid;

iv) a joint that is formed when said seat lid is hinged open and said top edge portion of said seat lid engages and mates with said intake passage duct as it protrudes from said case to perfectly complete an air duct channel from said seat lid interior to the fan thus completing an air duct channel from said plurality of inlet apertures in said seat rim to said fan;

v) an exhaust manifold adapted to be mounted under said toilet bowl base, between said toilet bowl base and a sewer drain, said exhaust manifold having a through passageway communicating air from an exterior inlet aperture at the top back end of said manifold through said passageway to said sewer drain;

vi) an exhaust duct that connects said case outlet duct on said back side of said case to said exhaust manifold inlet aperture at said top back end of said manifold to complete the air communication channel from said case to said sewer drain;

c) said apparatus for motion control of a typical toilet seat and seat lid that allows said seat lid and seat to mechanically open and close comprising;

i) a hinged lever mechanism as mounted to said seat lid such that by pivoting the lever, said seat lid can be hinged opened and closed;

ii) a hinged lever mechanism as mounted to said seat such that by pivoting the lever, said seat can be hinged opened and closed;

iii) a guide tube that extends from each of said motor assemblies on the outside said back of said case, one guide tube that extends to the close vicinity of said seat lid hinged lever mechanism and the other guide tube that extends to the close vicinity of said seat hinged lever mechanism;

iv) two brackets that that are each attached to said toilet using the same fasteners that said seat and said lid hinged lever mechanisms use to attach said seat lid and seat, one of said brackets mounts on one side of said hinged lever mounting fastener for the seat lid and the other said bracket using said hinged lever mounting fastener for the seat whereby the brackets become rigid to said toilet and are used to function as an attachment and anchoring point for said guide tubes;

v) a linear actuator rod that is installed inside said guide tubes and are each connected each to the motor assembly at one end and protrudes from said guide tube with a means to engage said hinged lever mechanisms where said rod can move inside said guide tube to transfer motion from said motor assembly through said guide tube to said hinged mechanism;

vi) whereby activation of said lid motor assembly causes said rod to move inside said guide tube thereby actuating said lid lever thereby opening or closing said seat lid;

vii) whereby activation of said seat motor assembly causes said rod to move inside said seat guide tube thereby actuating said seat lever thereby opening or closing said seat;

viii) whereby said electronic control module and said proximity sensor provides a means for automation;

d) an air filtration apparatus that can be utilized with said modular case ventilation apparatus comprising;

i) a modular housing that can be installed onto said modular case and having a front side, back side, top side with a rimmed edge and bottom side with a mounting guide and defining an interior space having two compartments comprising an upper compartment and a lower compartment comprising;

(1) an inlet aperture disposed on the back of said housing allowing an aperture into said lower compartment for receiving odorous air;

(2) a drawer in said housing disposed between said two compartments for mounting an air filter and providing an air communication path to said top compartment through said drawer cavity and through said air filter;

(3) an air filter removably inserted within said air filter drawer;

(4) air outlet vents disposed on said front and said sides of said housing in fluid communication with said top compartment;

(5) whereby completing an air communication channel from said inlet aperture disposed on the back of said housing through said filter and then ventilated outside said housing through said air outlet vents;

ii) a duct to connect said outlet duct on said modular case to said inlet aperture on said air filtration apparatus;

iii) said rimmed edge to connect other components to said top of said housing;

iv) said mounting guide to mount said air filter housing to said modular case;

v) whereby said air filtration provides for its own mounting onto said modular case and provides for an air passageway from said modular case through said filter mounted therein to process odor filled air thereby discharging clean air into the bathroom.

2. The invention of claim 1 whereby said case is shaped to match and blend in with said toilet tank thereby disguising itself and its internal components in order to make the apparatus inconspicuous and aesthetically pleasing.

3. The invention of claim 1 whereby said intake passage duct as protruding from said front of said modular case inlet aperture is made to be retractable so that it becomes flush with said modular case while said ventilation apparatus is off for aesthetics and to automatically extend upon activation of said ventilation apparatus.

4. The invention of claim 1 whereby a water valve is disposed inside the bottom of said U-shaped tube over the top of said orifice to plug off said orifice during the ventilation operation for the benefit of keeping the orifice clean and to prevent water leakage back into said tube during operation that is achieved by the force of air pressure on said water valve inside said tube during operation that pushes the water valve down against the orifice thus closing it and whereby in the absence of air pressure in said tube allows said water valve to float up away from said orifice so that said tube can refill with water.

5. The invention of claim 1 whereby said toilet seat and lid motion control panel includes two proximity switches that can be activated when a finger is within close proximity of said switch without the need to actually touch said switch thereby providing a completely hands free and sanitary means of raising and lowering said seat lid and said seat.

6. The invention of claim 1 whereby said electronic control module provides electronic circuit connections externally from said case in order to transmit data with external devices.

7. The invention of claim 1 whereby said seat rim ventilation apertures are formed when a flat removable cover on said bottom of said seat having a raised edge along the inside rim with apertures along the topside of said rim and is removably fitted onto the bottom of said seat where a cavity is then formed and with said apertures allowing fluid communication of bowl air into said cavity for the purpose of ease of cleaning.

8. The invention of claim 1 whereby the ventilation system can be configured to use a standard remotely mounted, fanless air filtration unit that is attached to said exhaust duct of said modular case with a duct.

9. The invention of claim 1 whereby the ventilation system can be configured to use a standard remotely mounted fan powered air filtration unit that is attached to said exhaust duct of said modular case with a duct.

10. The invention of claim 1 whereby said ventilation system can be configured to use an existing bathroom fanless exhaust vent by attaching a duct from said exhaust duct of said modular case to said exhaust vent.

11. The invention of claim 1 whereby said ventilation system can be configured to use an existing bathroom fan powered exhaust vent by attaching a duct from said exhaust duct of said modular case to said exhaust vent.

12. The invention of claim 1 whereby the stock seat and seat lid can be retained while still using said ventilation system by the use of a ventilation duct which is a thin vertical tube with an aperture at the bottom end of said tube and an aperture at the top end of said tube and is shaped to draw odorous air from said toilet bowl up to said intake duct from said front of said modular case and can be detachably mounted on the water closet.

13. The invention of claim 1 whereby said air filtration apparatus is combined with said ventilation system into a single housing.

14. The invention of claim 1 whereby any of components in part or in total is manufactured in combination with a new toilet.