US2297035A - Automatic toilet bowl ventilating system - Google Patents

Description

Sept 29, 3.9 32. F. SVEC 2,297,035

AUTOMATIC TOILET BOWL VENTILATING SYSTEM Filed March 21, 1941 2 Sheets-Sneet l I Sept 29, 1942. F. svEc AUTOMATIC TOILET BOWL VENTILATING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 21, 1941 gHAJM Vl'D D Era/mid Vea a M a 4 a W W w W //A//////////// A \m I W. 1 p 7/? 7/ tatenied enie AUTOMATE TGHJET BQWL YENTELA'EING EBYSTEM 4 Elaims.

This invention relates to ventilating devices and more particularly to a ventilating means for a toilet bowl which is actuated by weight on the seat.

An object of this invention is to provide a ventilating means of this type which can be used a an attachment for a conventional toilet bowl and seat, and which may be embedded in an adjacent wall of the room so as to withdraw the air from the toilet bowl and discharge the same exteriorly of the building.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatically operable ventilating means of this type and a soundproof operating means for the suction ian which is adapted to be positioned within a wall.

A further object of this invention is to provide in combination with a ventilating means of this type, means whereby the cold air from the exterior of the building is prevented from entering the room when the device is not in operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved means for coupling the fan structure with the outlet air duct.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a device of this type which is so constructed that if desired, the outlet from the fan may be extended directly to the exterior of the building or may be extended upwardly within the wall and in a position to discharge at a point above the roof.

To the foregoing objects and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein are shown embodiments of the invention, but it to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a detail side elevation of a device constructed according to an embodiment of this invention. connected with a toilet bowl and seat, the wall or the building being shown in vertical section.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line t-b of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view partly in section of the electric circuit embodied in this invention.

Figure 8 is a detail front elevation of the escutcheon plate used with this device.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical section showing the extension of the outlet to the roof of the building.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral It designates generally a toilet bowl which is provided at the upper edge thereof with a rim l2.

A seat H is hingedly secured to the rear portion of the rim i2 by means of binge members 13 and it. The hinge members it are constructed in the form of a pair of rearwardly projecting arms formed with eyes it which engage hinge bolts l 6 carried by the upwardly projecting hinge arms it. A bolt I! is fixed relative to the hinge arms 84 and is extended downwardly through the rear portion of the rim 12. A flushing tank it is in the present instance positioned adjacent the rear of the bowl Ell being secured to the inner side is of the adjacent wall and the tank It is connected to the bowl Ill by means of a pipe 29. The structure hereinbefore described is a conventional structure and it will be understood that the invention hereinafter described may be combined with any suitable type of toilet bowl and flushing means, the particular type of toilet bowl and. seat here shown being merely illustrative of one form of toilet bowl and seat with which this invention may be used.

A forwardly directed horizontally disposed, suction nozzle generally designated as 2! has the forward portion thereof interposed between the seat It and the rim l2 and is adapted to be connected to a suction means as will be hereinafter described. The said forward portion of nozzle 2i extends beyond the rear inner edge of the rim 52. The nozzle 2! is of flared contour and so disposed relative to the bowl whereby its forward or intake end will be of greater length than its rear or outlet end. The forward or intake end of the nozzle is open throughout and this statement applies to the said rear or outlet end. The nozzle 2! is formed with an upper wall 22, a lower wall 23 and side walls 24. The upper wall 22 is formed of a pair of frustrotriangular portions 25 and 2b, which are integral with each other, the frustro-trlangular portion 26 being smaller in size at the base thereof than the base of the forward frustro-triangular per" tion 25.

The side walls 2% are formed with a pair of obtusely related portions as shown in Figure 4,, and the lower wall 23 is of similar construction. to the upper wall 22 with the exception that the forward or inner edge of the lower wall 23 is formed with a concave or cut-out portion "2?, which is adapted to substantially follow the curvature of the inner edge of the rim. ill, at the rear of the latter as shown in Figure 4%. The frustro-triangular portion 25 is parallel with the bottom wall and as shown in Figure 5, the frustro-triangular portion 26 is inclined up wardly and rearwardly relative to the bottom wall 23 so as to form the top wall of an enlarged suction chamber 23 in proximity to the rear end of the nozzle.

Obtusely related side wall portions ti l of the side walls 2-3 in side elevation are of substantially triangular configuration and provide the side walls of the chamber 2%. The said portions 2 merge into a nipple or coupling member 29 which also merges with the bottom wall 23 and the upwardly and rearwardly inclined top wall portion 26. The rear part of the wall 23 forms the bottom of chamber 28. The nozzle 2i is adapted to be fixedly secured relative to the bowl is by means of a pair of laterally extending arms so which as shown in Figure 4 are formed at their outer ends with slot-s 3i through which the fastening bolts i? are adapted to engage.

A suction pipe 32 is adapted to be connected as at 33 to the coupling member or nipple 2b and in the present instance the forward portion 33 of the pipe 32 is disposed at an obtuse angle to the longitudinal axis of the intermediate portion 3 3 so that the intermediate portion 3% of the pipe 32 may extend at one side of the connecting pipe 26. The pipe 32 is also formed at the opposite or rear end thereof with an L- shaped part 35 which is adapted to extend through an opening 36 formed in a closure plate or escutcheon 2 The plate 31? engages against the outer edge of a housing generally designated as 35 which is adapted to be positioned inthe space between the inner wall i9 and the outer wall as of the dwelling.

The housing 3% is formed of a bottom well it, a top wall. ii, a rear wall 32 and opposite side walls 13. ihe walls of the housing 3b are adapted to be constructed of sound insulating or absorb ing material so that the sounds or vibrations generated within the housing 38 will be absorbed or deadened. The housing 38 at its forward or inner side may be formed with a marginal flange it to which the plate Bl may be secured by fastening devices 65. An electric motor 56 is mounted within the housing 38, being secured to the bottom wall db and a fan blade structure ll which is mounted in a fan housing 68 is adapted to be directly connected to the drive shaft 69 of the motor $6. The housing d8 of the fan structure has its intake axially of the blade structure ill, and an intake nipple so is carried by the end wall i of the housing d3.

One leg of the L 35 of the pipe 32 is adapted to be connected to the intake nipple 56 by means of a flexible sleeve or coupling member 52. In this manner, the vibrations of the fan structure and the motor d6 will not be communicated to the pipe 32. The fan housing 38 is provided with an outlet nipple 53 and this outlet nipple Eli is adapted to be connected to a short pipe section 5:3 by means oi a second yieldable or rubber aesvgoso coupling sleeve 55. The pipe section 5 3 at its upper end is formed with a U-shaped channelled coupling means 5E which is also provided with a flange Elli. The flange 51 is adapted to be secured by fastening means 58 to the top wall M of the housing 38. A horizontally disposed outlet pipe 59 is adapted to be extended through an opening 5% in the outer wall 39, and the inner end of the outlet pipe 59 is formed with an arcuate portion 8i. The arcuate portion 68 is provided with a. U-shaped flange 62 which is adapted to engage in the U-shaped member 56 so that the outlet pipe 5% may be coupled with the vertical pipe section to by inserting the outlet pipe so inwardly through the outer wall 39.

The outer end of the outlet pipe 59 is provided with a flange 63 and a downwardly directed hood generally designated as M is secured to the flange 6E. The hood 6t includes an outer downwardly and outwardly inclined wall 65, a pair of triangularly-shaped side walls 66 and a flange 57 which is adapted to engage behind the flange 6B and may be secured thereto in any suitable manner. The hoodstructure 56 provides a means whereby the air being discharged outwardly through the outlet pipe 59 will be directed downwardly and any moisture from the outside will be prevented from entering the outer end of the pipe b9. A gravity closing check valve '58 is hingedly secured as at (id-to the outer end of the outlet pipe 59 and is adapted when in closed position to prevent any air from the exterior of the building from entering the outlet pipe 53. A secondcheck valve id is hingedly mounted as at 'H in the pipe section 5% at a point closely adjacent the inner or lower end of the pipe section 54 and the check valve iii is adapted to engage on a seat 12 carried lnteriorly of the pipe section 5 3.

The check valve 10 is a downwardly and inwardly closing check valve which closes by gravity and is adapted to be opened when the fan plate structure il is in operation.

The motor 36 is adapted to be connected to a suitable source of electric supply, being connected at one side by means of a conductor 73 to the current supply source. A second conductor i4 is adapted to be connected at one end to the supply source and the other end of the conductor '16 is connected to one part T5 of an electric connector. A conductor "56 is adapted to be detachably connected at one end to the connector E5 and the opposite end of the conductor 16 is connected to a terminal ill. The terminal Tl is mounted within a resilient button or housing 18 which is adapted to be fixedly secured beneath the seat H and is adapted to normally engage the upper side of the rim H. A resilient contact member 19 is secured at one end to the terminal ill and the opposite end of the contact member '59 is free and confronts the free end of a second resilient contact member which is also mounted within the chamber Bl formed within the yicldable housing H8. The second contact memher 3% is connected to a second terminal 82, which is insulated by an insulating member 83 from the terminal ll. A conductor 84 is connected at one end to the terminal 82 and the opposite end of the conductor 64 is formed with a connector means, which is adapted to engage a second connector member 85.

The two connector members l5 and 85 are conventional connector members of the resilient type and the conductors it and M have secured thereto a plug structure including a pair of connector members 36 and ill which are detachably engageable with the connector members it and lit. The connector member is connected by means of a conductor $8 to the opposite side of the motor 66. By providing the detachable connector structure 86 and 87 which is engageable with the connector members iii and 85, the switch structure mounted within the yieldable housing 38 may be quickly and easily disconnected from the motor iii. In practice the two connector members it and 85 are mounted in an opening 89 formed in the plate l'] lwlow the pipe opemng 3b as shown in Figure 8.

in. Figure there is disclosed a slightly modiform of invention wherein the housing 3 is mounted within the wall structure in the same manner as shown in Figures 1 and 2, but in this instance, the fan housing is is connected to a vertically disposed outlet pipe 98 which extends vertically in the space St between the inner and outer walls 15 and W of the building. The lower end of the outlet pipe 96 is formed with a coupling means similar to that shown in Figures 3 and 6 which is adapted to engage a U-shaped coupling member 52 similar in every detail to the structure shown in Figures 3 and 6. The outlet pipe Ell is adapted to be extended upwerdly through the sheathing 92 and through the roof The upper end of the outlet pipe tit terminates in an arcuate discharge member 96 which is adapted to direct the discharging air outwardly and downwardly relative to the roof 93. A flashing member 95 is disposed about the upper end or the outlet pip-e so and engages the roof 93 so as to prevent any water from leaking downwardly through the opening at which is formed in the roof 93 and in the sheathing 92. A gravity closing check valve '3? is carried by the arcuate discharge member lit and is adapted to normally engage a valve seat 93 which is fixed within the discharge member 9 3. It will be understood that the fan housing th is also provided with a check valve similar to the valve iii shown in Figure 3 and the lower end of the outlet pipe iii? is connected by means of a flexible sleeve 55 to the housing 38.

in order to provide a means whereby the interior of the housing 338 may be maintained in a relatively cool condition, the plate 3? has formed therein a plurality of louvres as so that air may freely enter the interior of the housing 3%.

in the use and operation of this device, the housing is adapted to be mounted within a wall of the dwelling or if desired may be positioned at any other suitable point as for instance the housing 33 may be positioned beneath the floor supporting the bowl to. The fan housing at -is connected to the bowl ill by the pipe 32 which is connected to the suction nozzle ti. This nozzle 25 is secured to the bowl id by disconnecting the bolts 3? and inserting these bolts 3? through the slots 3! of the supporting arms til for the nozzle 2i.

The switch housing '83 may be positioned at the forward portion or" the switch it being secured to the underside of the seat and may serve as one of a pair of rubber buttons beneath the seat ii. The two conductors l6 and 86 may be mounted in a single casing ltd which may be ecured by clips or other suitable fastening means to the underside of the seat 1! i.

The conductors i6 and be may normally be connected with the connectors l and 35. When weight is placed on the seat ii, the housing lit will be compressed sufficiently to bring the conl9 and 8t into engagement with each other and thus close the electric circuit from the conductcrs i i, 76, contacts l9 and 8B and conductors es and it to one side of the motor 56. The other side of the motor it being connected directly to the source of current supply by the conductor 73 when the contacts it and 38 are in contacting relation, the motor it will .be operated so as to operate the fan blade structure ll.

As the air is being drawn out from the interior of the bowl it by the fan structure, the two check: valves iii and 68 will be swung to an open position so as to permit the discharge of the air through the hood 6 3. By mounting the motor and fan structure in a sound absorbing housing 38, the vibrations of the motor and fan will be deadened and by connecting the fan structure on the intake and outlet sides thereof with the intake and outlet pi es by means of rubber sleeves or connectors, the vibrations of the fan will not be communicated to a point outside of the housing d3.

A relatively'fi all power motor may be used with the fan structure so that when the motor $8 is in operation, it will run very quietly,

Furthermore, while I have shown a pressure operated switch between the seat and the top of the bowl, it will be understood that under certain circumstances a manually operated switch, such as a toggle switch, may be substituted for the pressure operated switch, the manual switch being positioned at any convenient location with respect to the bowl.

What I claim is:

1. In a toilet bowl of the type embodying a bowl and a seat, a bowl ventilating means comprising a soundproof housing disposed adjacent to the rear of said bowl, a suction fan in said housing, on electric motor connected to said fan and disposed in said housing, a forwardly directed horizontally disposed tapered suction nozzle having a suction chamber at its rear formed with a rearwardly directed outlet nipple, means mounting said nozzle between the toilet seat and the upper portion of the bowl, a pipe connecting said nipple with the suction side of said fan, a yieldable coupling interposed between said pipe and said fan for absorbing the vibrations of said fan, an outlet pipe extending from said housing, a second yieldable coupling connecting said outlet pipe with the outlet side of said fan for alesorbing the vibrations of said fan, said outlet pipe comprising a vertical pipe section, a flange carried by the upper end of said vertical pipe section, engageable with the upper side of said housing, a channelled coupling means carried by said flange, an upper horizontal pipe section including a downwardly directed rear part, a horizontal flange carried by said rear part engageable in said channelled coupling means, a downwardly directed outlet hood'carried by the outer end of said upper pipe section, a pair of spaced gravity closing check valves correlated with said outlet pipe, and a normally open switch fixed to the seat and connected to said motor for closing the electric circuit to said motor when a weight is disposed on said seat.

2. In a toilet bowl and seat ventilating device, a sound-proof housing, a suction fan in said housing, an intake pipe extending into the housing, a rubber coupling means for connecting said intake pipe to said fan, an outlet pipe, an outlet nipple within and extended from the housing, a rubber coupling means between said outlet nip pie and the outlet side of said fan, a forwardly ass-nose opening U-shaped chanelled coupling member carried by said nipple, and e flanged coupling member canied by said outlet pipe engegee'oie with said channelled coupling member.

3. In a toilet bowl and seat ventilating device, a housing, a. suction fan in said housing, an ie'itake ipe extending into the housing, a rubber coupling means for connecting said intake pipe to said fan, an outlet pipe, an outlet nipple within and extended from the housing, a rubber coupling means between said outlet nipple and the outlet side of said e forwardly opening "ii-shaped channelled coupling member carried by said nippie, 2, flange-cl coupling member carried by said outlet pipe engageeble with said channelled conpling member, a. downwardly directed discharge hood carried by the outer end of said outlet pipe, and a gravity closing check valve between said hood and the outer end of said outlet pipe.

In a toilet bowl and seat ventilating device, is housing, e suction fan in said housing, an inseize pipe extending into the housing, a rubber ccepling means for connecting said intake pipe to ism, an outlet pipe, an outlet nipple within end extended from the housing, 1:. rubber coupling meens between. said outlet nipple and the outlet side of said fan, a forwardly opening U-sheped channelled cmzpilng member carried by said nippie, is flanged coupling member carried by said outlet pipe cngageable with said channelled coupling member, a downwardly directed discharge hood earned by the outer end of said outlet pipe, 2. gravity closing check valve between said hood and the outer end of said outlet pipe, and. a. downward closing check valve carried by said outlet nipple,

mANK SV'EC.

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