US20080034487A1

US20080034487A1 - Ventilated urinal

Info

Publication number: US20080034487A1
Application number: US11/891,110
Authority: US
Inventors: Glen A. Lehman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-08-09
Filing date: 2007-08-09
Publication date: 2008-02-14

Abstract

A ventilated wall mounted urinal having a ventilation orifices integral to the sidewall of said urinal. Said orifices connected to at least one ventilation channel attached to a ventilation duct. The ventilation duct attached to an exhaust duct within said wall in fluid communication with a ventilation duct. A ventilator attached to the exhaust duct produces a negative pressure that removes odors from the urinal.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/821,852 filed Aug. 9, 2006.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to ventilated toilets and, more particularly, this invention relates to ventilated urinals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, as is generally well known in the prior art, ventilation of urinals was achieved by negative pressure applied to ventilating orifices which were located in a variety of locations. The negative pressure was created by fans that were located under a urinal and the odors were collected in an exhaust duct below the elevation of the urinal. This posed the problem of fouling the ventilation fan or requiring disassembly of the ductwork for cleaning in the event of an overflow. Other previous ventilated urinals relied on passive ventilation that was less effective.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides integral ventilation orifices above urinal liquid containment area. The ventilation orifices in fluid communication with a ventilation channel, ventilation port, ventilation duct and exhaust duct. The exhaust duct has in the preferred embodiment a turbine exhaust fan attached to the exhaust duct. Another embodiment has an electric exhaust fan.
In another embodiment, a plurality of are mounted on a wall with a ventilation duct attached to the end of said ventilation ducts and with a single exhaust opening connected to the exhaust duct. This permits one ventilator to remove the odors of a plurality of urinals.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide ventilated urinal with an exhaust at an elevation above the urinals liquid containment area
Another object of the present invention is to provide a ventilated urinal in which negative pressure is induced by an exhaust outside of the structure housing the urinal.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a ventilated urinal that can operate passively with an exhaust turbine.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system of ventilated urinals with an exhaust system.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a ventilated urinal with an electric exhaust fan.
In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention described with some degree of specificity above it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of the ventilated urinal

FIG. 2 is an elevational side view of the ventilated urinal and exhaust system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components that have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures.
Reference is now made, more particularly, to FIG. 1 a urinal is mounted on a wall. The conventional urinal has a flush water supply valve, not shown, trap and waste drain 4. The urinal also has water discharge ports (not shown) for the introduction of water for a flush cycle. These elements are referred to generally to describe the ventilation elements. It should be noted that the present invention is applicable to all urinals both those including a flush water supply valve and those without such valve.
The urinal, generally designated 10, has a generally vertical first surface 1 and an adjacent generally horizontal generally elongated bowl shaped surface 2.
There is a circumferential sidewall 5. The sidewall projects outwardly from the first and second surfaces. The sidewall has an upper portion 6, opposing sidewall portions 7 and a bowl portion 8. The opposing side portions 7 have an upper and lower portion. The lower portions of the sidewall and the bowl portion form a containment area for water and waste.
The sidewall has an outwardly facing surface and a normal inwardly facing surface. A plurality of water discharge ports are positioned in the upper portion of inwardly facing sidewall surface immediately adjacent to the first generally vertical surface 1.
The upper portion of the sidewall has a plurality of ventilation orifices 9 spaced a predetermined distance from generally vertical surface 1 so as to remain dry. The ventilation orifices 9 are integral to the sidewall and are in fluid communication with a ventilation channel terminating in ventilation port 14. In the preferred embodiment the ventilation port 14 is within the upper sidewall surface 6.
A ventilation duct 11 is in fluid communication and is attached to ventilating port 14. Ventilating duct 11 is attached at is proximal end to ventilating port 14 and at its distal end to exhaust duct 12.
Exhaust duct 12 is positioned within the wall on which the ventilating urinal is mounted and is in fluid communication with ventilating duct 11. Exhaust duct 12 terminates at a predetermined elevation outside of the structure housing the ventilating urinal. In the preferred embodiment exhaust duct 12 terminates above the structure.
An exhaust device 13 creates negative pressure venting odors outside of the structure housing the ventilating urinal. In the preferred embodiment the exhaust device 13 is an electric exhaust fan. In another embodiment the exhaust device is a wind driven turbine exhaust fan. A wind driven exhaust fan can remove odors passively.
In another embodiment, a plurality of ventilated urinals. An elongated collection duct (not shown) with a plurality of openings attached to each urinals ventilation duct. The elongated collection duct is in fluid communication with the ventilation ducts and is attached to and is in fluid communication with exhaust duct 12.
The exhaust duct can be manufactured of plastic or metal. The plastic can be rigid or flexible.
While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A ventilated urinal, having a rear surface wall mounting, top surface, water supply valve, trap and waste drain comprising:

a generally vertical first surface;

a generally horizontal generally bowl shaped channel second surface adjacent to said first surface;

a circumferential sidewall projecting outwardly from and adjacent to said first and second surfaces, said sidewall having an outwardly facing surface, a generally normal interior surface and upper portion, opposing side portions and a bowl portion, said opposing side portion of said sidewall having and upper and lower portion, said sidewall bowl portion forming a containment area;

a plurality of water discharge ports integral to said upper sidewall portion of said sidewall generally adjacent to said first surface and in fluid communication with such water supply valve;

a plurality of ventilation orifices within said sidewall having a predetermined length and width, said ventilation orifices are positioned in said upper portion of said sidewall a predetermined spacing from said water discharge ports and in said upper portion of said sidewall;

at least one ventilating channel integral to such urinal is in fluid communication with said plurality of ventilation orifices and terminates in an exhaust port;

at least one ventilating duct, of a predetermined material, external to such urinal having a proximal and a distal end and in fluid communication with said proximal end of said ventilating duct attached to said exhaust port;

an exhaust duct having a bottom end and a top end and is generally aligned along within such wall upon which such urinal is mounted, said bottom end is attached to and is in fluid communication with said at least one ventilating duct;

a ventilating means having a means producing a negative pressure and is attached to and is in fluid communication with said top end of said exhaust duct, said ventilating means removing odors from such urinal.

2. A ventilated urinal according to claim 1 wherein said exhaust port is disposed within said top of such urinal.

3. A ventilated urinal according to claim 1 wherein said exhaust port is disposed within said rear surface of such urinal.

4. A ventilated urinal according to claim 1 wherein said proximal end of said ventilation duct is attached to said ventilation port and said distal end terminates at the surface of such wall upon which such urinal is mounted and said bottom portion of said exhaust duct is attached to said distal end of said ventilation duct.

5. A ventilated urinal according to claim 1 wherein the said distal end of said ventilation duct terminates within such wall upon which such urinal is mounted.

6. A system of a plurality of ventilated urinals according to claim 1 further having an elongated collection vent within such wall upon which such urinal is mounted, generally horizontal, with a plurality of openings extending from said collection vent each attached to said ventilation ducts and an opening attached to said exhaust duct.

7. A ventilated urinal according to claim 1 wherein said ventilating means is a turbine exhaust fan.

8. A ventilated urinal according to claim 1 wherein said ventilating means is an electrical exhaust fan.

9. A ventilated urinal according to claim 1 wherein said predetermined material of said ventilating duct is of the group of plastic or metal.

10. A ventilating urinal according to claim 9 wherein said predetermined material of said ventilating duct is a plastic of a group that is rigid or flexible.