US10385561B1

US10385561B1 - Automatic purifier switch cover

Info

Publication number: US10385561B1
Application number: US16/191,606
Authority: US
Inventors: Virginia Hall; John Shields
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-11-15
Filing date: 2018-11-15
Publication date: 2019-08-20
Anticipated expiration: 2038-11-15

Abstract

An automatic purifier switch cover comprises a protective shield configured to be used in conjunction with the Cogswell™ Toilet Air Purifier. The switch cover shields the motion detector of the Cogswell™ Toilet Air Purifier from activation when the toilet is not in use.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

Non-applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to automatic purifier switch covers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The battle to keep bathrooms and public restrooms smelling clean and fresh is an everlasting one. The saturation of the market with air freshening sprays, and deodorizers is strong evidence of this battle. One recent style of product actually reduces the odors emanating from the toilet itself. The Cogswell® Toilet Air Purifier is an example of one such product. It utilizes an electronic motion sensor to activate fan, lights, and other electronics whenever a person uses the toilet.

Unfortunately, its detection range is very large causing activation of the unit whenever someone simply walks by toilet leading to inadvertent operation, unnecessary wear and tear, premature battery depletion and excessive filter replacement. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which electronic motion sensors can be restricted in their range to avoid the problems as described above. The development of the activation prevention device for toilet exhaust 10 fulfills this need.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The principles of the present invention provide for an activation prevention device for a toilet bowl odor control device of a toilet bowl, comprising a suction cup having a top mounted mounting appendage and a rotatable shield having a hemispherical cap and a flange. The flange is planar and is provided with a circular penetration through which the flange is routed, which provides a pivot point around which the rotatable shield moves back and forth along a reciprocating travel path as moved by a person. The suction cup is easily removed for cleaning of the toilet bowl odor control device. The suction cup may also be applied by the person to an upper surface such that the hemispherical cap uniformly covers the proximity sensor.

The hemispherical cap may be connected to the suction cup by use of the flange mounted upon the mounting appendage and once properly positioned to cover the proximity sensor and restrict its detection range. No further manipulation of the activation prevention device is required during its normal use.

The suction cup may be one inch in diameter and one-half inch tall. The rotatable shield encompasses a proximity sensor which provides for activation of the toilet bowl odor control device whenever the person uses the toilet upon which the toilet bowl odor control device is installed. The rotatable shield may cover the proximity sensor and greatly reduces or restricts a sensing range of the proximity sensor and thus prevents activation of the toilet bowl odor control device or only allows activation of the toilet bowl odor control device only when the person is present. The proximity sensor may be selected from the group consisting of an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a capacitance sensor, or a laser-based sensor.

The toilet bowl odor control device is provided with a restricted detection range that provides for operation of the toilet bowl odor control device only if the person is present near the toilet bowl. The toilet bowl odor control device is provided with a restricted detection range that provides for operation of the toilet bowl odor control device if the person is seated upon the toilet bowl and would prevent operation for males that would be standing in front of the toilet bowl for urination, thus further eliminating unnecessary operation of the toilet bowl odor control device and extending its useful operating cycle time.

The rotatable shield is made of plastic in an injection molding process while the suction cup is may be made of silicone or rubber or any other flexible material. The toilet bowl odor control device is provided with a generally planar upper surface upon which the suction cup may be temporarily affixed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the activation prevention device 10 for a toilet bowl odor control device 55, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the activation prevention device 10, attached to a toilet bowl odor control device 55, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bathroom 70, showing the activation prevention device 10 in a utilized state, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the activation prevention device 10, as seen along a line I-I, as shown in FIG. 2, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and,

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the activation prevention device 10, as seen along a line II-II, as shown in FIG. 2, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTIVE KEY

- 10 activation prevention device
- 15 suction cup
- 20 mounting appendage
- 25 rotatable shield
- 30 hemispherical cap
- 35 flange
- 40 circular penetration
- 45 pivot point
- 50 reciprocating travel path “t”
- 55 toilet bowl odor control device
- 60 upper surface
- 65 proximity sensor
- 70 bathroom
- 75 toilet bowl
- 80 conventional detection range
- 85 sink
- 90 tub
- 95 restricted detection range

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within FIGS. 1 through 5. However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one (1) particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims.

The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one (1) of the referenced items.

1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Referring now to FIG. 1, a perspective view of the activation prevention device for toilet exhaust 10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The activation prevention device 10 (herein also described as the “device”) 10, includes two (2) primary components. The first is a suction cup 15 with a top mounted mounting appendage 20. It is envisioned that the suction cup 15 is approximately one inch (1 in.) in diameter and one-half inch (½ in.) tall. The second component of the device 10 is a rotatable shield 25, comprising a hemispherical cap 30 and a flange 35. The flange 35 is planar and is provided with a circular penetration 40 (not shown due to illustrative limitations) through which the flange 35 is routed. Such mounting provides a pivot point 45 around which the rotatable shield 25 moves back and forth along a reciprocating travel path “t” 50 as moved by the user. It is envisioned that the rotatable shield 25 would be made of plastic in an injection molding process. The suction cup 15 would be made of silicone, rubber or similar flexible material, also in an injection molding process.

Referring next to FIG. 2, a perspective view of the device 10, attached to a toilet bowl odor control device 55, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted. The toilet bowl odor control device 55 is shown as a Cogswell™ Toilet Air Purifier for purposes of illustration. However, it is noted that the device 10 can be utilized with other similar devices, and as such, the usage of the device 10 with any particular style of toilet bowl odor control device 55 should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the present invention. As such, the general configuration and overall physical shape of the rotatable shield 25 will vary per the design of the toilet bowl odor control device 55 without affecting the overall claims and teachings of the device 10. The toilet bowl odor control device 55 is provided with a generally planar upper surface 60 upon which the suction cup 15 can temporarily affix. The suction cup 15 can be easily removed for cleaning of the toilet bowl odor control device 55 as necessary. In its installed position as shown, the rotatable shield 25 of the device 10 encompasses a proximity sensor 65 which provides for the activation of the toilet bowl odor control device 55 whenever a person uses the toilet upon which the toilet bowl odor control device 55 is installed. The rotatable shield 25 covers the proximity sensor 65 and thus greatly reduces or restricts the sensing range of the proximity sensor 65 and thus prevents activation of the toilet bowl odor control device 55 or only allows activation of the toilet bowl odor control device 55 only when the user is present. It is envisioned that the proximity sensor 65 would be of the infrared variety, although other types of sensing devices such as ultrasonic, capacitance, laser-based and the like would be equally restricted by the device 10, and as such, the particular usage of any type or style of sensing device should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the present invention. Further description of the range restriction capabilities of the device 10 will be provided herein below.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a perspective view of a bathroom 70, showing the device 10 in a utilized state, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. It is noted that the bathroom 70 is depicted as a typical bathroom 70 as found in a residence, although the device 10 will function in any similar environment such as a public restroom in an equally effective manner. The device 10 is installed upon the toilet bowl odor control device 55 which is in turn installed upon a toilet bowl 75 in a conventional manner. The toilet bowl odor control device 55, without the device 10 installed provides for a normal conventional detection range 80 as shown. It is easily seen that anyone simply walking in the bathroom 70 to use a sink 85 or a tub 90 for example would trigger the operation of the toilet bowl odor control device 55. As such, the internal battery of the toilet bowl odor control device 55 will be unnecessarily depleted as well as unnecessary wear, stress and strain be placed upon other components of the toilet bowl odor control device 55 such as filters, motors, bearings, and the like. With the device 10 installed as shown in FIG. 2, the toilet bowl odor control device 55 is provided with a restricted detection range 95 as shown. This restricted detection range 95 provides for operation of the toilet bowl odor control device 55 only if a person or user is present near the toilet bowl 75. Additionally, the device 10 may be positioned such that operation is allowed only if a user is seated upon the toilet bowl 75 and would prevent operation for males that would be standing in front of the toilet bowl 75 for urination, thus further eliminating unnecessary operation of the toilet bowl odor control device 55 and extending its useful operating cycle time.

Referring next to FIG. 4, a sectional view of the device 10, as seen along a line I-I, as shown in FIG. 2, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. This FIGURE presents the planar upper surface 60 and the proximity sensor 65 as provided as part of the toilet bowl odor control device 55 (as shown in FIG. 2). The suction cup 15 is applied by the user to the upper surface 60 such that the hemispherical cap 30 uniformly covers the proximity sensor 65. The hemispherical cap 30 is thus connected to the suction cup 15 by use of the flange 35 mounted upon the mounting appendage 20. Once properly positioned to cover the proximity sensor 65 and restrict its detection range as shown in FIG. 3, no further manipulation of the device 10 is required during its normal use.

Referring finally to FIG. 5, a sectional view of the device 10, as seen along a line II-II, as shown in FIG. 2, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted. This FIGURE presentation provides additional clarity on the mounting of the suction cup 15 to the upper surface 60 and its relationship with the mounting appendage 20 and the flange 35. It can be seen that the relationship is of a low-profile design and would not interfere with the usage of the toilet bowl 75 (as shown in FIG. 3).

2. OPERATION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. It is envisioned that the activation prevention device for toilet exhaust 10 would be constructed in general accordance with FIG. 1 through FIG. 5. The user would procure the device 10 through normal procurement channels paying particular attention to the manufacturer, make, and model of toilet bowl odor control device 55 upon which the device 10 would be used. It is envisioned that various models of the device 10 would be made available with the only particular variation being the general shape and configuration of the rotatable shield 25.

After procurement and prior to utilization, the device 10 would be prepared in the following manner: the device 10 would be positioned over the toilet bowl odor control device 55 such that the hemispherical cap 30 is centered over the proximity sensor 65; the suction cup 15 be pressed into holding position upon the upper surface 60; and final position adjustments made to the rotatable shield 25 by manipulating it along the reciprocating travel path “t” 50 until the restricted detection range 95 is obtained.

The operation of the toilet bowl odor control device 55 would then commence in a normal manner without the inadvertent operation previously permitted by accidental close proximity to the toilet bowl 75. The device 10 may be removed for cleaning and then subsequently reinstalled following the above-mentioned process as necessary in a cyclical fashion.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Claims

The invention claimed is:

1. An activation prevention device for a toilet bowl odor control device of a toilet bowl, comprising:

a suction cup having a top mounted mounting appendage; and

a rotatable shield having a hemispherical cap and a flange, said flange is planar and is provided with a circular penetration through which said flange is routed, which provides a pivot point around which said rotatable shield moves back and forth along a reciprocating travel path as moved by a person;

wherein said rotatable shield encompasses a proximity sensor which provides for activation of said toilet bowl odor control device whenever said person uses said toilet upon which said toilet bowl odor control device is installed.

2. The activation prevention device according to claim 1, wherein said suction cup is removed for cleaning of said toilet bowl odor control device.

3. The activation prevention device according to claim 1, wherein said suction cup is applied by said person to an upper surface such that said hemispherical cap uniformly covers said proximity sensor.

4. The activation prevention device according to claim 3, wherein said hemispherical cap is connected to said suction cup by use of said flange mounted upon said mounting appendage and once properly positioned to cover said proximity sensor and restrict its detection range, no further manipulation of said activation prevention device is required during its normal use.

5. The activation prevention device according to claim 1, wherein said suction cup is one inch in diameter and one-half inch tall.

6. The activation prevention device according to claim 1, wherein said rotatable shield covers said proximity sensor and reduces or restricts a sensing range of said proximity sensor and thus prevents activation of said toilet bowl odor control device or only allows activation of said toilet bowl odor control device only when said person is present.

7. The activation prevention device according to claim 1, wherein said proximity sensor is selected from the group consisting of an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a capacitance sensor, or a laser-based sensor.

8. The activation prevention device according to claim 1, wherein said toilet bowl odor control device is provided with a restricted detection range that provides for operation of said toilet bowl odor control device only if said person is present near said toilet bowl when the shield covers said proximity sensor.

9. The activation prevention device according to claim 1, wherein said toilet bowl odor control device is provided with a restricted detection range that provides for operation of said toilet bowl odor control device if said person is seated upon said toilet bowl and would prevent operation for males that would be standing in front of said toilet bowl for urination, thus further eliminating unnecessary operation of said toilet bowl odor control device and extending its useful operating cycle time when the shield covers said proximity sensor.

10. The activation prevention device according to claim 1, wherein said rotatable shield is made of plastic in an injection molding process.

11. The activation prevention device according to claim 1, wherein said suction cup is made of silicone.

12. The activation prevention device according to claim 1, wherein said suction cup is made of rubber.

13. The activation prevention device according to claim 1, wherein said suction cup is made of flexible material.

14. The activation prevention device according to claim 1, wherein said toilet bowl odor control device is provided with a generally planar upper surface upon which said suction cup is temporarily affixed.