GB2597076A - A lavatory ventilation device - Google Patents

Abstract

A lavatory ventilation device 99 for location above a lavatory bowl (100 figure 3), comprises a housing (11, 12 figure 7) with a conduit (105 figure 3) leading from one or more inlets to an outlet. The inlet is located below a lavatory seat 400 and above the lavatory bowl and the outlet removes fumes to a vented area and a fan (199 figure 3) urges the fumes to the vented area which is remote from the bowl. A second smaller fan may be associated with the conduit.

Description

A LAVATORY VENTII ATION DEVICE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a lavatory ventilation device, in particular a device for ventilating a lavatory, and/or reducing dispersal of foul air from the lavatory bowl.

Rackground Increasing populations is a factor in many societies, and space is an issue, particularly in urban areas.

This can mean smaller lavatory spaces for many, as well as increased amounts of people situated near lavatories whilst they are being used.

Deodorising products may not be effective enough for many, and many users may wish to open a window or similar. This may not always be possible for example in communal spaces and/or urban environments.

Prior Art

WO 2012 853 02 (DE MARCO) discloses a device comprising an extraction duct equipped with a fan to cause forced air circulation from inside the toilet toward the exterior of the enclosed space through a first end of said duct. The opposite end of the duct is equipped with a nozzle connected to an access opening that opens onto the inside of the toilet.

US 6 298 500 (SOLLAMI) discloses a ventilated toilet seat comprising: a toilet seat member defining at least one hinge receptor; an outermost riser disposed on a lower surface of said toilet seat member, said outermost riser being configured to form a seal along a top surface of a conventional toilet bowl on which said ventilated toilet seat is mounted when said ventilated toilet seat is lowered into engagement with the toilet bowl.

WO 2001 11 153 (LEE) discloses a toilet, comprising: an openable seat hinged to a top surface of a toilet bowl, said seat consisting of: a cavity defined within said seat; a plurality of odour suction ports formed on a lower wall of the seat so as to suck odour from the toilet bowl into the cavity; and a tubular hinge joint provided at a rear end of 5 the seat for hinging the seat to the toilet bowl, said hinge joint communicating with said cavity through an odour outlet port; a hollow connection pipe rotatably set within the hinge joint, said connection pipe having a first odour inlet port with an externally-toothed engagement part being formed at each end of the connection pipe, with a vertical pipe extending from the passage of the tubular shaft to the atmosphere outside 10 a house.

The present invention arose in order to overcome problems suffered by existing devices.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a lavatory ventilation device for location above a lavatory bowl, comprising: a housing with a conduit leading from one or more inlets to an outlet, where the inlet is located below a lavatory seat and above the lavatory bowl and the outlet removes fumes to a vented area and at least one fan urges the fumes to the vented area which is remote from the bowl.

The vented area may comprise a first fan, or first air movement means.

In some embodiments the inlet, outlet or conduit comprises a smaller second fan, or second air movement means, which is arranged to impel foul air along the conduit to the vented air.

In this way the foul air from the bowl may be taken away as it rises and/or may be prevented from exiting the bowl by suction directly above it.

In some embodiments the device may comprise the lavatory seat.

In some embodiments the device may comprise a hinge.

In other embodiments the housing may comprise a base for the hinge to the seat, for example a separate part, onto or through which the hinge may be secured to the lavatory.

In this way the device may advantageously be used with existing lavatories and seat arrangements.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus comprising a device substantially as described herein and tubing diverting foul air.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus comprising a device substantially as described herein and an extractor fan.

In some embodiments the fan may comprise an extractor fan, for example routing the 15 outlet to an exterior location.

In some embodiments the housing comprises a plurality of internal channels, channels or conduits through which foul air is drawn towards the outlet.

In some embodiments the inlet comprises one or more mouths, which mouths may be envisaged to have inward chamfered perimeters. In some embodiments the inlet may comprise plural mouths, which may be spaced apart. In this way the device may be enabled to provide a robust device with intermediate supporting pillars and/or well-supported conduit.

In some embodiments the outlet comprises a connector, which is located on the housing, onto which connector tubing may be connected.

In some embodiments the connector comprises a standard plumbing fitting metric or 30 imperial dimensioned connector.

In some embodiments the outlet comprises a valve, such that return of air or foul air is not permitted, or limited, from outlet towards the inlet.

For example a valve may be located at the connector.

In some embodiments the valve may comprise a one-way valve. In other embodiments the valve may comprise a resiliently deformable valve, which may be envisaged to displace under urging from an extractor fan comprised in the outlet.

The device of the present invention therefore comprises a part of an extraction apparatus, that integrates with an extractor fan in a room to remove the foul air directly from the bowl to avoid lingering bathroom smells, directly from the source.

The device functions by channelling odour from a very localised area, namely above and behind the bowl, to an extractor fan outlet on a wall or ceiling. This targets the extraction to the source of the smell, resulting in a more efficient system than if the general air in the room was to be extracted. The second smaller fan is associated with and impels foul air through the outlet to the larger first fan associated with the vented area.

Advantageously the device may comprise a part of an apparatus that can be retrofitted to reduce cost.

The device may sit below the seat and be bolted to the lavatory with bolts, where slots 20 may accommodate toilets with different bolt positions.

In some embodiments the apparatus may comprise a bespoke or dedicated fan, similar to that in a personal computer or laptop.

In some embodiments the tubing may be channelled into an extractor housing, for example by cutting into an existing extractor with ducting.

In some embodiments a gasket may be located between the inlet and outlet, for example an overmoulded rubber gasket to seal the device, increasing suction of the 30 inlet and ensuring no air pressure can be lost through the device or its housing.

An attachment system may utilise an extractor already installed within a room, for example covering part of the fan, such that odour can be pulled from the inlet, whereby by covering only part of the extractor, it is still able to extract general air from the room.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which:

Rrief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an isometric view of apparatus incorporating the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figures 5 show a side view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1, and a diagrammatic plan view of a lavatory seat for the embodiment of the apparatus shown 20 in Figure 3; Figures 6 show exploded isometric views of an extractor fan for use in the embodiment of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 7 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 8 shows a reverse exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1 And Figures 9 show isometric views of the embodiment of the extractor fan shown in Figures 6.

Datailed_DascriRta With reference to the figures there is shown an embodiment of the device 99 generally comprising a lavatory seat device for placement between a lavatory seat 400 and a lavatory bowl 100, comprising an inlet and outlet, where the inlet enables suction of fumes from below the lavatory seat hinge with a second smaller fan (not shown) associated with the outlet and above the bowl with the outlet comprises tubing 105 to a first fan 199 remote from the bowl 100.

The device is located in use between a standard lavatory, and a standard lavatory seat.

In particular reference to the pictured embodiment of the device the embodiment comprises a two part substantially flat housing, formed of a top part 11 and a base part 12.

The housing encloses a volume for the fumes and defines an opening for a channel 15 between the top housing part and the base housing part and a top part of the housing comprises a rear raised portion.

The housing is substantially rectangular, and arranged to be located in use laterally to the rear of the bowl. The housing parts are formed in glossy hard plastic such as 20 acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) for ease of cleaning.

The bottom part comprises two elongate resiliently deformable bumpers 21, which extend laterally across the lower surface of the bottom part 12.

A conduit 10 is defined between the parts 11, 12, from two frontmost peripheral slot apertures 7 which are elongate lozenge shaped and spaced to either side of a centreline. The conduit 10 is angled towards a rear corner of the housing, and split to form the two apertures 7 that form the inlet in use.

The top part 11 of the housing includes a moulded form with a raised rear lateral hump, allowing the conduit to extend upwards, and allowing for a connector 5 in a side face of the top part 11, in a rear corner of the housing.

The connector comprises a female connecting part, dimensioned to suit standard 35 plumbing pipe. The pictured embodiment of the apparatus comprises standard plumbing piping 22, and trunking 21, so as to form the tubing 105 that leads to the extractor fan 199, which fan forms the outlet, and is arranged to provide sufficient suction through the tubing to bring in foul air through the inlet.

The top part 11 provides two hinge locators 3, 4 into which the seat's hinges engage.

The base part 12 is secured to the lavatory with two bolts 1, which pass through elongate lozenge shaped slide holes 2.

One of the locators 4 is arranged to coaxially adjust against a spring, so as to provide 10 an easy means to attach the seat hinges.

In Figure 3 an embodiment of an apparatus 299 comprising the device of the present invention is shown, which apparatus comprises a lavatory 100, with the embodiment of the device 99 installed, tubing 105 leading form a connector 5 on the device to an 15 extractor fan outlet 199, which in use is envisaged to lead to outside.

As shown in Figures 6 the extractor fan outlet 199 comprises a vent 41, a larger first fan 42 for this vent, and an inlet 44 from the conduit (not shown). The inlet 43 from the conduit includes a second smaller fan 43 to impel foul air along the conduit to the vent 20 41.

In some further embodiments the second fan 43 may be included within the conduit. For example in this way the conduit may lead to a standard extractor fan vented area.

A microprocessor or printed circuit board allows control of the extraction fan system and may be programmed to control the performance of the new system The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing 30 from the scope of invention as defined by the claims, in particular but not solely combination of features of described embodiments.

Claims (10)

1 A lavatory ventilation device for location above a lavatory bowl, comprising: a housing with a conduit leading from one or more inlets to an outlet, where the inlet is located below a lavatory seat and above the lavatory bowl and the outlet removes fumes to a vented area and at least one fan urges the fumes to the vented area which is remote from the bowl.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the vented area comprises a first fan.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein a second smaller fan is associated with the conduit.

4. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the housing comprises hinge locators for connecting to the lavatory seat.

5. A device according to any preceding wherein the device comprises a two part housing which encloses a volume for the fumes.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the housing defines an opening for a channel between a top housing part and a base housing part.

7. A device according to claim 5 or 6 wherein a top part of the housing comprises a rear raised portion.

8. A device according to any of claims 5 to 7 wherein the top part of the housing comprises a rear corner connection to the conduit leading to the fan.

9. A device according to any preceding claim comprises a connector for connecting the conduit to the fan.

10. A device according to claim 9 wherein the connector and tubing comprise standard plumbing sized devices, connectors and conduits.