US20200141104A1

US20200141104A1 - Toilet vacuum assembly

Info

Publication number: US20200141104A1
Application number: US16/177,827
Authority: US
Inventors: Eddie Caulder
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-11-01
Filing date: 2018-11-01
Publication date: 2020-05-07

Abstract

A toilet vacuum assembly includes a toilet that has a bowl, a pedestal, a tank and a sewer trap. The bowl includes a plurality of weep holes that is each in fluid communication with the tank. A flapper valve is positioned in the tank and the flapper valve is positionable between an open position and a closed position for flushing the toilet. The flapper valve has an air conduit is integrated therein. A hose is coupled between the pedestal and the tank. A blower is coupled to the toilet and the blower is fluidly coupled between the hose and the air conduit in the flapper valve. The blower urges air inwardly through the bowl, through the air conduit in the flapper valve and outwardly through the hose when the blower is turned on. Thus, the blower suctionally removes odors from the bowl.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The disclosure and prior art relates to toilet vacuum devices and more particularly pertains to a new toilet vacuum device for suctionally removing odors from a toilet.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a toilet that has a bowl, a pedestal, a tank and a sewer trap. The bowl includes a plurality of weep holes that is each in fluid communication with the tank. A flapper valve is positioned in the tank and the flapper valve is positionable between an open position and a closed position for flushing the toilet. The flapper valve has an air conduit is integrated therein. A hose is coupled between the pedestal and the tank. A blower is coupled to the toilet and the blower is fluidly coupled between the hose and the air conduit in the flapper valve. The blower urges air inwardly through the bowl, through the air conduit in the flapper valve and outwardly through the hose when the blower is turned on. Thus, the blower suctionally removes odors from the bowl.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective phantom view of a toilet vacuum assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a right side phantom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a left side phantom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a top phantom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new toilet vacuum device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the toilet vacuum assembly 10 generally comprises a toilet 12 that has a bowl 14, a pedestal 16 and a tank 18. The bowl 14 includes a plurality of weep holes 20 that is each in fluid communication with the tank 18. The tank 18 has an outlet 22 that is fluidly coupled to an inlet 24 of the bowl 14 and the pedestal 16 has a sewer trap 26 therein that is in fluid communication with the bowl 14. The toilet 12 may be a toilet of any conventional design, including residential toilets, commercial toilets and institutional toilets. Moreover, the pedestal 16 has an inlet hole 28 cut therethrough such that the inlet hole 28 intersects the sewer trap 26 and the tank 18 has an outlet hole 30 is cut therethrough. Each of the inlet 28 and outlet 30 holes may be cut into existing toilets or be the result of manufacturing.
A flapper valve 32 is provided and the flapper valve 32 is positioned in the tank 18. The flapper valve 32 replaces existing flapper valves in existing toilets, or the flapper valve 32 may be installed during manufacturing of the toilet 12. The flapper valve 32 is positionable between an open position and a closed position for selectively opening and closing the outlet of the tank 18 for flushing the toilet 12. Additionally, the flapper valve 32 has an air conduit 34 is integrated therein.
The flapper valve 32 comprises a tube 36 that has a bottom end 38, a top end 40 and an outer wall 42 extending therebetween, and the tube 36 is vertically oriented in the tank 18. A venturi 44 is positioned within the tube 36 and the venturi 44 has a bottom side 46. A cage 48 is provided that has an upper end 50 and a lower end 52. The lower end 52 is closed and the cage 48 is elongated between the upper 50 and lower 52 ends such that the cage 48 forms a tubular shape. The upper end 50 is coupled to the bottom side 46 of the venturi 44 having the cage 48 being vertically oriented in the tube 36.
A ball 54 is slidably positioned within the cage 48. The ball 54 is comprised of a buoyant material to float in water when the water enters the tube 36. Additionally, the ball 54 engages the bottom end 38 of the venturi 44 when the ball 54 is floated upwardly in the cage 48 having the ball 54 forming a fluid impermeable seal with the venture. In this way the ball 54 inhibits water from passing outwardly through the top end 40 of the tube 36 in the event of an overflow condition in the tank 18.
A fitting 56 is fluidly coupled to and extends laterally away from the outer wall 42 of the tube 36 such that the fitting 56 is in fluid communication with an interior of the tube 36. Thus, the fitting 56 and the tube 36 define the air conduit 34 in the flapper valve 32. The fitting 56 has a bottom end 58 and a top end 60, and each of the top 60 and bottom 58 ends is open and is in fluid communication with the interior of the tube 36. The bottom end 58 of the fitting 56 engages the outlet 22 of the tank 18 such that the tube 36 is in fluid communication with the plurality of weep holes 20 in the bowl 14.
A flush valve 62 is pivotally coupled to the tube 36. The flush valve 62 is positionable in a closed position to engage the top end 60 of the fitting 56 and closing the top end 60 of the fitting 56. In this way the tank 18 can retain water therein for flushing the toilet 12. The flush valve 62 is positionable in an open position to disengage the top end 60 of the fitting 56 for releasing the water into the bowl 14 for flushing the toilet 12. The flush valve 62 may be a flapper valve common to flushing toilets.
A hose 64 is coupled between the pedestal 16 and the tank 18. Moreover, the hose 64 is fluidly coupled between the inlet hole 28 in the pedestal 16 and the outlet hole 30 in the tank 18. A screen 66 is positioned within the hose 64 and the screen 66 is aligned with the outlet hole 30. The screen 66 is comprised of a fluid permeable material for filtering particles out of the air passing through the hose 64.
A blower 68 is coupled to the toilet 12 and the blower 68 is positioned in the tank 18. The blower 68 is fluidly coupled between the hose 64 and the air conduit 34 in the flapper valve 32. The blower 68 urges air inwardly through the bowl 14, through the air conduit 34 in the flapper valve 32 and outwardly through the hose 64 when the blower 68 is turned on. In this way the blower 68 suctionally removes odors from the bowl 14 when the toilet 12 is being used.
The blower 68 comprises an exhaust conduit 70 that has a primary end 72 and a secondary end 74. The secondary end 74 is fluidly coupled to the outlet hole 30 in the tank 18. The blower 68 includes a housing 76 has an intake 78 and an exhaust 80, and the housing 76 is mounted to an inside surface of the tank 18. The intake 78 is fluidly coupled to the top end 40 of the tube 36 of the flapper valve 32 and the exhaust 80 is fluidly coupled to the primary end 72 of the exhaust conduit 70.
A motor 82 is positioned within the housing 76 and the motor 82 is electrically coupled to a power source. The power source may be a power cord and a complementary electrical outlet or at least one battery being positioned in the housing 76. A fan 84 is rotatably coupled to the motor 82 such that the motor 82 rotates the fan 84 when the motor 82 is turned on. The fan 84 urges air inwardly through the intake 78 of the housing 76 and outwardly through the exhaust 80 of the housing 76 when the motor 82 is turned on. Thus, the fan 84 draws the odors outwardly from the bowl 14 and urges the odors outwardly through the sewer trap 26.
A pressure switch 86 is coupled to a bottom side 87 of a seat 88 of the toilet 12 and the pressure switch 86 is in electrical communication with the motor 82. The pressure switch 86 is turned on when the seat 88 is compressed against the toilet 12 thereby detecting the weight of a user when the user sits on the seat 88. The switch is turned off when the seat 88 is not compressed against the toilet 12. The motor 82 is turned on when the switch is turned on, the motor 82 is turned off when the switch is turned off and the pressure switch 86 is electrically coupled to a power source. The motor 82 may include a radio frequency receiver and the pressure switch 86 may include a radio frequency transmitter. In this way the pressure switch 86 may be in wireless electrical communication with the motor 82. Alternatively, a conductor may extend between the pressure switch 86 and the motor 82 and the pressure switch 86 may include at least one battery that is positioned within the pressure switch 86.
In use, the pressure switch 86 is turned on when the user sits on the toilet 12 seat 88. Thus, the motor 82 is turned on thereby rotating the fan 84, thereby urging air inwardly through each of the weep holes 20 in the bowl 14 and outwardly through the sewer trap 26 in the pedestal 16. In this way the fan 84 inhibits odors in the bowl 14 from escaping the bowl 14 thereby reducing the likelihood that other individuals will smell the odors. The switch is turned off when the user is no longer sitting on the toilet 12 seat 88, thereby turning the motor 82 off. The toilet 12 can be flushed in the existing, conventional manner of plumbed toilets.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Claims

1. A toilet vacuum assembly being configured to suctionally remove odors from a toilet during use, said assembly comprising:

a toilet having a bowl, a pedestal and a tank, said bowl including a plurality of weep holes each being in fluid communication with said tank, said tank having an outlet being fluidly coupled to an inlet of said bowl, said pedestal having a sewer trap therein being in fluid communication with said bowl, said pedestal having an inlet hole being cut therethrough such that said inlet hole intersects said sewer trap, said tank having an outlet hole being cut therethrough;

a flapper valve being positioned in said tank, said flapper valve being positionable between an open position and a closed position for selectively opening and closing said outlet of said tank for flushing said toilet, said flapper valve having an air conduit being integrated therein, said flapper valve comprising

a tube having a bottom end, a top end and an outer wall extending therebetween, said tube being vertically oriented in said tank,

a venturi being positioned within said tube, said venturi having a bottom side, and

a cage having an upper end and a lower end, said lower end being closed, said cage being elongated between said upper and lower ends having said cage forming a tubular shape, said upper end being coupled to said bottom side of said venturi having said cage being vertically oriented in said tube;

a hose being coupled between said pedestal and said tank, said hose being fluidly coupled between said inlet hole and said outlet hole; and

a blower being coupled to said toilet, said blower being positioned in said tank, said blower being fluidly coupled between said hose and said air conduit in said flapper valve, said blower urging air inwardly through said bowl, through said air conduit in said flapper valve and outwardly through said hose when said blower is turned on wherein said blower is configured to suctionally remove odors from said bowl, said blower comprising

an exhaust conduit having a primary end and a secondary end, said secondary end being fluidly coupled to said outlet hole in said tank, and

a housing having an intake and an exhaust, said housing being mounted to said tank by a pair of spaced hooks such that said housing is positioned against an inside surface of said tank, said pair of spaced hooks supporting said housing over a maximum water level within said tank, said intake being fluidly coupled to said top end of said tube of said flapper valve, said exhaust being fluidly coupled to said primary end of said exhaust conduit.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a ball being slidably positioned within said cage, said ball being comprised of a buoyant material wherein said ball is configured to float in water when the water enters said tube, said ball engaging said bottom end of said venturi when said ball is floated upwardly in said cage having said ball forming a fluid impermeable seal with said venturi wherein said ball is configured to inhibit water from passing outwardly through said top end of said tube.

5. The assembly according to claim 4, further comprising a fitting being fluidly coupled to and extending laterally away from said outer wall of said tube such that said fitting is in fluid communication with an interior of said tube, said fitting having a bottom end and a top end, said bottom end engaging said outlet of said tank such that said tube is in fluid communication with said plurality of weep holes in said bowl.

6. The assembly according to claim 5, further comprising a flush valve being pivotally coupled to said tube, said flush valve being positionable in a closed position having said flush valve engaging said top end of said fitting for closing said top end of said fitting wherein said tank is configured to retain water therein for flushing said toilet, said flush valve being positionable in an open position having said flush valve disengaging said top end of said fitting wherein said tank is configured to release the water into said bowl for flushing said toilet.

7. (canceled)

8. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising:

a motor being positioned within said housing, said motor being electrically coupled to a power source; and

a fan being rotatably coupled to said motor such that said motor rotates said fan when said motor is turned on, said fan urging air inwardly through said intake of said housing and outwardly through said exhaust of said housing when said motor is turned on wherein said fan is configured to draw the odors outwardly from said bowl and urge the odors outwardly through said sewer trap.

9. The assembly according to claim 8, further comprising a pressure switch being coupled to a seat of said toilet, said pressure switch being in electrical communication with said motor, said pressure switch being turned on when said seat is compressed against said toilet wherein said pressure switch is configured to detect the weight of a user, said switch being turned off when said seat is not compressed against said toilet, said motor being turned on when said switch is turned on, said motor being turned off when said switch is turned off, said pressure switch being electrically coupled to a power source.

10. A toilet vacuum assembly being configured to suctionally remove odors from a toilet during use, said assembly comprising:

a flapper valve being positioned in said tank, said flapper valve being positionable between an open position and a closed position for selectively opening and closing said outlet of said tank for flushing said toilet, said flapper valve having an air conduit being integrated therein, said flapper valve comprising:

a tube having a bottom end, a top end and an outer wall extending therebetween, said tube being vertically oriented in said tank;

a venturi being positioned within said tube, said venturi having a bottom side;

a ball being slidably positioned within said cage, said ball being comprised of a buoyant material wherein said ball is configured to float in water when the water enters said tube, said ball engaging said bottom end of said venturi when said ball is floated upwardly in said cage having said ball forming a fluid impermeable seal with said venturi wherein said ball is configured to inhibit water from passing outwardly through said top end of said tube;

a fitting being fluidly coupled to and extending laterally away from said outer wall of said tube such that said fitting is in fluid communication with an interior of said tube, said fitting having a bottom end and a top end, said bottom end engaging said outlet of said tank such that said tube is in fluid communication with said plurality of weep holes in said bowl; and

a flush valve being pivotally coupled to said tube, said flush valve being positionable in a closed position having said flush valve engaging said top end of said fitting for closing said top end of said fitting wherein said tank is configured to retain water therein for flushing said toilet, said flush valve being positionable in an open position having said flush valve disengaging said top end of said fitting wherein said tank is configured to release the water into said bowl for flushing said toilet;

a hose being coupled between said pedestal and said tank, said hose being fluidly coupled between said inlet hole and said outlet hole;

a blower being coupled to said toilet, said blower being positioned in said tank, said blower being fluidly coupled between said hose and said air conduit in said flapper valve, said blower urging air inwardly through said bowl, through said air conduit in said flapper valve and outwardly through said hose when said blower is turned on wherein said blower is configured to suctionally remove odors from said bowl, said blower comprising:

an exhaust conduit having a primary end and a secondary end, said secondary end being fluidly coupled to said outlet hole in said tank;

a housing having an intake and an exhaust, said housing being mounted to said tank by a pair of spaced hooks such that said housing is positioned against an inside surface of said tank, said pair of spaced hooks supporting said housing over a maximum water level within said tank, said intake being fluidly coupled to said top end of said tube of said flapper valve, said exhaust being fluidly coupled to said primary end of said exhaust conduit;

a motor being positioned within said housing, said motor being electrically coupled to a power source;

a fan being rotatably coupled to said motor such that said motor rotates said fan when said motor is turned on, said fan urging air inwardly through said intake of said housing and outwardly through said exhaust of said housing when said motor is turned on wherein said fan is configured to draw the odors outwardly from said bowl and urge the odors outwardly through said sewer trap; and

a pressure switch being coupled to a seat of said toilet, said pressure switch being in electrical communication with said motor, said pressure switch being turned on when said seat is compressed against said toilet wherein said pressure switch is configured to detect the weight of a user, said switch being turned off when said seat is not compressed against said toilet, said motor being turned on when said switch is turned on, said motor being turned off when said switch is turned off, said pressure switch being electrically coupled to a power source.