GB2212827A

GB2212827A - Lavatory bowl extraction apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2212827A
Application number: GB8728169A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Selwyn Morris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-12-02
Filing date: 1987-12-02
Publication date: 1989-08-02
Also published as: GB8728169D0

Abstract

An air extraction apparatus for a lavatory having a bowl 3 comprises means for positively drawing air from the bowl 3 to carry away odours. The means for ventilating the bowl 3 preferably comprises an air pipe 18 having air extraction means inside a box 6 to draw air through the pipe 18 attached to one end of the pipe 18, with the other end of the pipe 18 in communication with the inside of the bowl 3. The air pipe 18 may be inserted into the bowl 3 through a down pipe 4 which connects the cistern 2 to the bowl 3. <IMAGE>

Description

Air Extraction Apparatus for Lavatories This invention relates to air extraction apparatus for lavatories.

Foul odours in rooms with lavatories are usually dealt with by opening a window to ventilate the room, which can be inconvenient especially in cold weather, or by using pleasant odour releasing chemicals which act to counter or overcome the foul odours. The latter method is also inconvenient since a continuous supply of odour releasing chemicals is required.

The apparatus of the present invention overcomes or at least reduces the aforementioned problems.

According to the present invention there is provided an air extraction apparatus for a lavatory having a bowl comprising means for positively drawing air from the bowl to carry away odours.

The means for ventilating the bowl preferably comprises an air pipe having air extraction means to draw air through the pipe attached to one end of the pipe, with the other end of the pipe in communication with the inside of the bowl. The air pipe may be inserted into the bowl through a down pipe which connects the cistern to the bowl.

The air extraction means preferably comprises a fan within a tube which is connected to the air pipe.

The air drawn through the air pipe is preferably exhausted into the cistern overflow pipe or into the lavatory waste pipe.

Alternatively the air may be passed through an air filter.

The air extraction means are preferably mounted on the inside of the cistern, and the extraction means are preferably switched on while the lavatory is in use.

Two preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a first embodiment of air extraction apparatus; and Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of a second embodiment of air extraction apparatus.

A lavatory 1 is shown in Figures 1 and 2, having a cistern 2, a bowl 3 and a down pipe 4 connecting the cistern 2 to the bowl 3.

In Figure 1 a box 6 is shown in side view, attached to the top of the inside of a lid 7 on the cistern 2. Inside the box 6 are air extraction means comprising a fan 8 within a tube 9 having an inlet 10 and an outlet 11. On top of the box 6 extending through the lid 7, is an on/off switch 12, an on/off indicator LED 13 and a variable speed control 14 for the fan 8. The fan 8 is driven by power supplied from an electricity mains outlet (not shown).

Attached to the inlet 10 is an air pipe 16 which is connected by a-rubber connector 17 to a second length of air pipe 18 which extends through a hole in the bottom of the cistern 2 which is sealed. The air pipe 18 is also attached to a connector 19 in the down pipe 4 and the air pipe 18 extends through the down pipe 4, to the exit of the down pipe 4 in the bowl 3, where the air pipe 18 terminates with an open end. Attached to the outlet 11 is a third length of air pipe 21 which extends into an overflow pipe 22 via a second rubber connector 23. The rubber connectors 17 and 23 allow the lid 7 to be removed from the Cistern 2.

In Figure 2 the box 6 as hereinbefore described is shown in plan view mounted beside the down pipe 4. A fourth length of air pipe 24 extends from the inlet 10 on the box 6 into a connector 19 in the down pipe 4 and through the down pipe 4 into the bowl 3 as hereinbefore described. A fifth length of air pipe 25 extends from the outlet 11 and is terminated with an air filter 26.

When the lavatory 1 is used in the first embodiment, the fan 8 is switched on to ventilate the bowl 3 by drawing air into the air pipe 18 from the bowl 3 and then via the box 6 through the air pipe 21, so that any foul odours from the bowl 3 are exhausted into the overflow pipe 22. In the second embodiment the bowl is again ventilated when the fan 8 is switched on but this time the foul odour from the bowl 3 is removed by the air filter 28.

When the air extraction means is turned on, a time switch may be provided to automatically turn the fan 8 off after a certain length of time. In a further arrangement a pressure switch is arranged to switch on the fan 8 when a seat on the lavatory is pressed down.

It is envisaged that the air pipe from the inlet of the air extraction means can simply be inserted into the down pipe to draw air from the bowl. It would-then be preferable for a valve such as a float valve to be attached to the end of the air pipe inside the down pipe, to prevent water being sucked into the air extraction means while the lavatory is flushed.

The air extraction apparatus provides an attractive solution to the problem of foul odours, in for example, bathrooms or public conveniences.

Claims

1. An air extraction apparatus for a lavatory having a bowl comprising means for positively drawing air from the bowl to carry away odours.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the means for ventilating the bowl comprises an air pipe having extraction means to draw air through the pipe attached to one end of the pipe, with the other end of the pipe in communication with the inside of the bowl.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the air pipe is inserted into the bowl through a down pipe which connects the cistern to the bowl.

4. Apparatus according to claims 2 or 3, in which the air extraction means comprises a fan within a tube which is connected to the air pipe.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the air drawn through the air pipe is exhausted into the cistern overflow pipe.

6. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 4, in which the air is exhausted into the lavatory waste pipe.

7. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 4, in which the air is passed through an air filter.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the air extraction means are mounted on the inside of the cistern.

9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the extraction means are switched on while the lavatory is in use.

10. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to any one or more of the figures of the accompanying drawings.