GB2352739A

GB2352739A - Odour extractor and optional fragrance dispenser for use in ventilating a toilet

Info

Publication number: GB2352739A
Application number: GB0018403A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph Steven Kelly
Original assignee: KELLAIR SYSTEMS Ltd
Current assignee: KELLAIR SYSTEMS Ltd
Priority date: 1999-07-30
Filing date: 2000-07-28
Publication date: 2001-02-07
Also published as: WO2001009442A1; GB0018403D0; GB9917946D0; AU6172900A

Abstract

An odour extractor is disclosed for use in a toilet, said toilet having a syphon with a water-directing unit for flushing water from a cistern of the toilet to a bowl of the toilet, the odour extractor comprising a pump (10) for drawing odours from a toilet bowl via a tube (11) extending from the pump and through a length of the water-directing unit (7) of the syphon. A flush activated fragrance dispenser may also be located within the cistern.

Description

2352739 TOILETS The present invention relates to toilets.

It is a well known problem that use of a toilet can leave an unpleasant odour in the immediate vicinity. Due to the usually small nature of the room accommodating the toilet, this odour often takes some time to disperse and can therefore be disconcerting to subsequent users. Known solutions to this difficulty include deodorant sprays, extractor fans and opening windows. However, these require the initial user to take the necessary action at the time. As the odour is usually less apparent to the source thereof, this is not always achievable. Furthermore, extractor fans and windows may not always be pract ical to provide, depending on the internal arrangement of the building. This is particularly so in large offices and in residential buildings which are divided into individual flats or apartments.

The present invention therefore provides a fume extractor for use in a toilet, said toilet having a syphon with a water-directing unit for flushing water from a cistern of the toilet to a bowl of the toilet, the fume extractor comprising a pump for drawing fumes from the toilet bowl via a tube extending from the pump and through a length of the waterdirecting unit of the syphon.

2 The outlet of the extractor is preferably connectable to the overflow pipe of the toilet system. Thus, the pump can draw air from the toilet bowl, via the pipe within the water-directing unit of the syphon, and subsequently expel the air out of the overflow pipe and onwards out of the room.

Typically, the pump is located within the cistern of the toilet, and therefore is unobtrusive.

Preferably the pump is adapted to be activated by either a light switch, or motion, heat, proximity or other sensors.

Preferably, a flush activated fragrance dispenser is located within the cistern of the toilet. Such a dispenser is typically activated by a system of floats attached to levers that force an aerosol can against an actuator as the water level rises within the cistern following a flush.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, by the following non-limiting embodiment as illustrated by the accompanying darwings, in which:

3 Figure 1 represents a schematic view of a fume extractor according to an embodiment of the present invention within a toilet cistern; and Figure 2A and 2B illustrate a flush activated fragrance dispenser that is present in another embodiment of the present invention.

In Figure 1, a cistern (1) is shown having a water inlet supply pipe (2) which allows the cistern to be filled with incoming water (3) to a maximum level (4). The maximum level (4) of water, is maintained by a ballcock system (not shown).

In normal use, the toilet is flushed by depressing a handle (5), which is connected by connecting means (not shown) to a main unit (6) of a syphon, that subsequently allows water in the cistern (1) to be flushed down a water-directing unit (7) of the syphon in a downward motion (8), and hence out of the cistern (1) towards (9) a bowl (not shown) of the toilet.

A pump (10) is situated within the cistern (1) above the maximum level (4) of water and, when activated, the pump (10) draws air up through a tube (11) which extends from the pump (10) down a length of the waterdirecting unit (7). Thus, the pump (10) is able to draw air from the bowl of the -toilet up through the tube (11) and so extract fumes from the bowl of the toilet.

4 Preferably, the pump (10) is attached via a second tube (13) to an overflow pipe (14) of the cistern (1) and hence extracted fumes may be expelled outwards (15) from the cistern (1) and ultimately out of the room.

Because the tube (11) extending downwards from the pump (10) extends down a length of the water-directing unit (7) water does not directly flow into the pump (10) during flushing of the toilet.

Further the strength of the pump is relatively weak, enabling it to draw only air up the pipe (11) that extends down the water-directing unit (7), without having the power to draw water upwards into the pump (10) during flushing.

The volume of air to be extracted by the pump (10) is typically not large, giving another reason why the pump (10) need not be powerful. As a result the noise associated with a room extractor fan need not be encountered.

. 4.

The cistern may, as shown in Figures 2A and 213, also contain a flush activated fragrance dispenser. Figure 2A depicts the non-activated position of the dispenser, in which no fragrance is dispensed into the room having the toilet. By contrast, once the toilet is flushed, the water level (4) falls then rises, so raising floats (17) as shown in Figure 2B. As the floats (17) rise, so levers (18) are acted upon to force the aerosol Gan (15) (holding the fragrance) upwards within a housing (16) and against a spray actuator (19), -thus releasing a measurable dose of fragrance in a spray (20) into the room.

It will be appreciated that the invention provides a simple and straightforward solution to the earlier described problems in a way which is unobtrusive and can be installed in any toilet comprising a syphon. It will also be appreciated that the described embodiment is purely illustrative and that many variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

I- " 6

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A fume extractor for use in a toilet, said toilet having a syphon with a water- directing unit for flushing water from a cistern of the toilet to a bowl of the toilet, the fume extractor comprising a pump for drawing fumes from a toilet bowl via a tube extending from the pump and through a length of the waterdirecting unit of the syphon.

2. An extractor of claim 1, wherein the outlet of the extractor is connectable to the overflow pipe of the toilet system.

3. An extractor as claimed in either of claims I or 2, wherein the pump is located within the cistern of the toilet, and therefore is unobtrusive.

4. An extractor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the pump is adapted to be activated by any one or more of: a light switch, a motion sensor, a heat sensor and a proximity sensor.

5. An extractor as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a flush activated fragrance dispenser located within thd cistern of the toilet.

7 6. An extractor as claimed in claim 5, wherein the dispenser is adapted to dispense a spray of fragrance by way of a system of floats attached to levers that force an aerosol can (holding the fragrance) against a spray actuator as the water level rises within the cistern following a flush of the toilet.

7. An extractor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and/or as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings.