WO2018091858A1

WO2018091858A1 - A toilet seat for reducing the spread of foul air from a person seated on a toilet

Info

Publication number: WO2018091858A1
Application number: PCT/GB2017/000163
Authority: WO
Inventors: Timothy Philip CROSS
Original assignee: Cross Timothy Philip
Priority date: 2016-11-21
Filing date: 2017-11-07
Publication date: 2018-05-24
Also published as: EP3541257A1; GB201619760D0; AU2017360115A1; EP3541257B1; AU2017360115B2

Abstract

A toilet seat (2) for reducing the spread of foul air from a person (4) seated on a toilet, the toilet seat (2) comprising: (i) a mounting formation (8) for mounting the toilet seat (2) on a toilet bowl (10); (ii) a seat portion (12) on which the person (4) sits; (iii) a lid (14); (iv) a filter (16) for filtering the foul air; (v) a fan (18) for causing the foul air to be circulated through the filter (16); vi) timer means (20) for controlling the duration of operation of the fan (18); (vii) activation means (22) for causing activation of the timer means (20); (viii) a first sealing arrangement (24) for forming a first seal between the seat portion (12) and the toilet bowl (10) when the seat portion (12) is in a down position on the toilet bowl (10); and (ix) a ducting system (26) for receiving the foul air from the toilet bowl (10), directing the foul air to the filter (16), and recycling filtered air to the toilet bowl (10), and the toilet seat (2) being such that: (x) in use the foul air from the person (4) seated on the seat portion (12) is caused by the fan (18) to be sucked from the toilet bowl (10) and passed through the ducting system (26) and the filter (16); and (xi) air that has passed through the filter (16) is caused by the fan (18) to be blown through the ducting system (26) and into the toilet bowl (10) for further recirculation from the toilet bowl (10) and through the ducting system (26) and the filter (16) until the timer means (20) causes the fan (18) to cease operating.

Description

A TOILET SEAT FOR REDUCING THE SPREAD OF FOUL AIR FROM A PERSON SEATED ON A TOILET

This invention relates to a toilet seat and, more especially, this invention relates to a toilet seat for reducing the spread of foul air from a person seated on a toilet.

If a person is seated on a toilet and is defecating, then the defecation is invariable accompanied by foul air. The foul air is unpleasant to subsequent users of the toilet. The problem is well known and there are many known types of different apparatus for reducing the spread of the foul air. Invariably the known types of apparatus require modification to a room containing the toilet. For example the room containing the toilet may require a fan, ducting and an outlet to be installed in the walls of the room. Also, the known apparatus invariably treats the air in the entire room containing the toilet, and thus the volume of air to be treated is substantial. This in turn requires the use of relatively powerful fans, which in turn may be noisy and require mains electricity.

It is an aim of the present invention to reduce the above mentioned problems.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a toilet seat for reducing the spread of foul air from a person seated on a toilet, the toilet seat comprising: (i) a mounting formation for mounting the toilet seat on a toilet bowl;

(ii) a seat portion on which the person sits;

(iii) a lid;

(iv) a filter for filtering the foul air;

(v) a fan for causing the foul air to be circulated through the filter;

(vi) timer means for controlling the duration of operation of the fan;

(vii) activation means for causing activation of the timer means;

(viii) a first sealing arrangement for forming a first seal between the seat portion and the toilet bowl when the seat portion is in a down position on the toilet bowl; and

(ix) a ducting system for receiving the foul air from the toilet bowl, directing the foul air to the filter, and recycling filtered air to the toilet bowl, and the toilet seat being such that:

(x) in use the foul air from the person seated on the seat portion is caused by the fan to be sucked from the toilet bowl and passed through the ducting system and the filter; and (xi) air that has passed through the filter is caused by the fan to be blown through the ducting system and into the toilet bowl for further recirculation from the toilet bowl and through the ducting system and the filter until the timer means causes the fan to cease operating.

The toilet seat of the present invention is advantageous in that it collects the foul air from the area of concentration of the foul air, namely the toilet bowl. Thus the foul air is collected at its source area where the foul air is at maximum concentration. The foul air is not allowed to spread throughout a room containing the toilet, for example a bathroom, a cloakroom, or a public convenience containing a plurality of toilets in cubicles.

Also advantageously, the filtered air is re-circulated for further purification by the filter. Furthermore, the air that has been filtered by the filter is re-circulated to the toilet bowl, which again ensures that the purified air from the filter is directed to the place where it is most required, namely the toilet bowl. When in the toilet bowl, the air from the filter is able to be re-circulated until such time as the timer means causes the fan to cease operating. The filtered air from the filter is not simply directed into an entire room, where recirculation of the filtered air would take longer, and be less effective.

Also advantageously, the toilet seat of the present invention is only dealing with a relatively small volume of air from the toilet bowl. Thus the toilet seat is able to be one in which the fan is of a lower power than would be the case if the fan were required to deal with the volume of air in an entire room containing the toilet.

Also advantageously, the first sealing arrangement helps to minimise the escape of the foul air from the toilet bowl when the seat portion is in the down position on the toilet bowl, and the person is seated on the seat portion.

The ducting system used in the toilet seat of the present invention may be of various configurations. Preferably, the mounting formation includes part of the ducting system.

The filter may be mounted where desired on the toilet seat. Preferably the filter is mounted in the mounting portion.

Preferably, the first sealing arrangement is a single flexible seal. Other types of first sealing arrangement may be employed so that, for example, the first sealing arrangement may be formed of a plurality of separate seals. The or each seal may be in the form of a hollow tube, a flap, or other configurations.

The toilet seat may include a second sealing arrangement for forming a second seal between the seat portion and the lid.

When the toilet seat includes the second sealing arrangement, then the second sealing arrangement is preferably a flexible seal. Usually the second sealing arrangement will be of the same type of construction as the first sealing arrangement. However, if desired, the second sealing arrangement may be of a different construction to the first sealing arrangement.

Preferably, the filter is a carbon filter. Other materials for the filter may be employed. The toilet seat of the present invention may be such that it comprises one only of each of the components such for example as the fan or the filter. However, if desired, multiples of the components may be employed so that, for example, there may be two of the fans and/or two of the filters. The or each filter may be in an easily replaceable form, for example in modular form.

The mounting formation may be a push fit mounting formation for easy fitting and removal purposes. This enables the toilet seat quickly and easily to be removably mounted on the toilet bowl. This advantageously enables the toilet seat to be removed from the toilet bowl for cleaning purposes and/or filter replacement.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a toilet seat of the present invention with the toilet seat comprising a seat portion and a lid, and with the seat portion and the lid being in an up position on a toilet bowl;

Figure 2 is a view like Figure 1 but shows the seat portion in a down position on the toilet bowl;

Figure 3 is a view like Figure 2 but without the toilet bowl;

Figure 4 is a side view showing a person seated on the toilet seat as shown in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a top view of the toilet seat in the position shown in Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the toilet seat as shown in Figure 1 but with the seat portion and the lid in a down position on the toilet bowl; Figure 7 shows the toilet seat in the position shown in Figure 1 but without the toilet bowl;

Figure 8 is a front view of the toilet seat as shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a front view of the toilet seat as shown in Figure 5;

Figure 10 is a front view of the toilet seat in a down position;

Figure 11 is a side view of the toilet seat as shown in Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a rear view of the toilet seat as shown in Figure 10;

Figure 13 is an underneath view of the toilet seat;

Figure 14 is a top view of the toilet seat;

Figure 15 is a perspective view from the top and one side of the toilet seat in a down position;

Figure 16 is a view like Figure 15 but shows the lid part only of the toilet seat;

Figure 17 shows the inside of the toilet seat as shown in Figure 16; Figure 18 is an enlarged detail of part of the toilet seat as shown in Figure 17;

Figure 19 shows a power pack forming part of the toilet seat as shown in Figure 16;

Figure 20 is an underneath view of the power pack shown in Figure 19; Figure 21 shows the power pack of Figure 19 in an outer cover;

Figure 22 is an underneath view of the outer cover as shown in Figure

21 ; Figure 23 shows the opposite site of the cover shown in Figure 22 and illustrates how the cover is able to house an electronic circuit and two sets of batteries for forming the power pack;

Figure 24 shows a top part of a mounting formation for mounting the toilet seat on the toilet bowl;

Figure 25 shows a bottom part of the mounting formation;

Figure 26 is a perspective view of the mounting formation;

Figure 27 is a view like Figure 26 but without a cover and shows internal workings of the mounting formation;

Figure 28 shows a ducting formation which is in the mounting formation and which forms part of the ducting system in the toilet seat;

Figure 29 illustrates in more detail how the ducting shown in Figure 8 is located in the mounting formation as shown in Figure 27;

Figure 30 is a top perspective view of the seat portion of the seat;

Figure 31 is an underneath view of the seat portion as shown in Figure 30 and illustrates how the seat portion includes apertures forming part of the ducting system, and how the seat portion also includes a first sealing arrangement for forming a first seal between the seat portion and the toilet bowl;

Figure 32 is a perspective view of an insert for forming part of the seat portion as shown in Figure 30;

Figure 33 is a plan view of the insert shown in Figure 32;

Figure 34 is an underneath view of part of the seat portion and illustrates ducts forming part of the ducting system; Figure 35 is a plan view of the seat portion and its ducting as shown in Figure 34;

Figure 36 is an enlarged view showing an inlet for air in the seat portion;

Figure 37 is an enlarged perspective view of the inlet shown in Figure 36 and its related ducts; and

Figure 38 is a horizontal cross section through a toilet seat of the present invention, and shows air flow in the toilet seat.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a toilet seat 2 for reducing the spread of foul air from a person 4 seated on a toilet 6. The toilet seat 2 comprises a mounting formation 8 for mounting the toilet seat 2 on a toilet bowl 10. The toilet seat 2 also comprises a seat portion 12 on which the person 4 sits. The toilet seat 2 further comprises a lid 14.

The toilet seat 2 has a filter 16 for filtering the foul air. A fan 18 causes the foul air to be circulated through the filter 16. Timer means 20 controls the duration of operation of the fan 18. Activation means 22 causes activation of the timer means 20.

The toilet seat 2 comprises a first sealing arrangement 24 for forming a first seal between the seat portion 12 and the toilet bowl 10 when the seat portion 12 is in a down position on the toilet bowl 10 as shown in Figure 1. There is provided a ducting system 26 for receiving the foul air from the toilet bowl 10, directing the foul air through the filter 16, and re-circulating filtered air to the toilet bowl 10.

The toilet seat 2 is such that in use, the foul air from the person 4 seated on the seat portion 12 is caused by the fan 18 to be sucked from the toilet bowl 10 and passed through the ducting system 26 and the filter 16. The toilet seat 2 is also such that air that has passed through the filter 16 is caused by the fan 18 to be blown through the ducting system 26 and into the toilet bowl for further re-circulation from the toilet bowl 10, through the ducting system 26 and the filter 16 until the timer means 20 causes the fan 8 to cease operating.

The ducting system 26 is provided in various parts of the toilet seat 2 as will be appreciated from the drawings. Thus, for example, the mounting formation 8 includes part of the ducting system 26. As shown in Figure 1 , the mounting formation 8 has three apertures 28. The central aperture 28 is an inlet and the outer two apertures 28 are outlets. The apertures 28 enable the foul air in the toilet bowl 10 to be sucked into the mounting formation 8 and be filtered by the filter 16 which is positioned in the mounting formation 8. As can be appreciated from a comparison of Figures 1 and 2, when the seat portion 12 is in the down position and resting on the toilet bowl 10 then the apertures 28 are not visible, but they are available for receiving foul air from the toilet bowl 10 which is sucked in by the fan 18.

Also shown in Figure 1 are outlets 27 for the filtered air. The outlets 27 are on the underside of the seat portion 12. The outlets 27 are positioned as shown towards the front of the seat portion 12. The outlets 27 are thus positioned a substantial way from the apertures 28. This minimises the chances of freshly filtered air getting sucked back into the ducting system 26 before the freshly filtered air has mixed properly. Also, the positioning of the outlets 27 encourages air swirling for better mixing of filtered air with foul air. As shown in Figure 1 , the first sealing arrangement 24 comprises a single flexible seal 30 which is located in a groove 32 in the underside face 34 of the seat portion 12. The filter 16 is an activated carbon or activated charcoal filter.

The toilet seat 2 includes a second sealing arrangement 36 as shown in Figure 2. More specifically, the second sealing arrangement 36 is for forming a second seal between the seat portion 12 and the lid 14. The second sealing arrangement 36 comprises a single flexible seal 38 located in a groove 40 in an underside face 42 of the lid 14.

The toilet bowl 10 may be of any known design. As shown, the toilet bowl 10 is a pedestal mounted toilet bowl 10 having a waste outlet 44.

In the down position of the seat portion 2 on the toilet bowl 10 as shown in Figure 2, it will be noticed that the seat portion 12 has an inlet 46 which forms part of the ducting system 26. The inlet 46 is able to receive foul air from the interior of the toilet bowl 10.

When the person 4 in Figure 4 has ceased defecating, then the person 4 will stand up. The lid 14 should be replaced on the seat portion 12 as soon as possible during the flushing procedure for flushing the toilet 6. This enables a maximum of the foul air to be contained within the toilet bowl 10. The second sealing arrangement 36 helps to prevent leakage of foul air from the interior of the toilet bowl 10 and between the lid 14 and the seat portion 12. In order to encourage prompt replacement of the lid 14, the lid 4 is provided with the illustrated sign 48 which reads Please Close The Lid. The sign 48 is a printed sign 48 which is on the inside surface of the lid 14. The sign 48 may alternatively be a flashing illuminated sign or a continuously illuminated sign. Alternatively or additionally there may be an audible message saying for example, Please Close the Lid.

Any suitable and appropriate activation means 12 may be employed for activating the timer means 20. Thus, for example, the activation means 22 may be a pressure sensitive switch which operates only under the weight of the person 4 when the person 4 is seated on the seat formation 12. This enables the seat portion 4 and the lid portion 14 to be raised to the position shown in Figure 1 for the purpose of the person 4 being a male and simply wishing to urinate into the toilet bowl 10. Alternatively, the activation means may be an optical sensor switch such for example as an infrared sensor switch, for sensing when the person 4 is seated on the seat portion 12.

Figure 7 - 12 illustrate how the mounting formation 8 includes a pair of bolts 50 having wing nuts 52. The bolts 50 pass through apertures in a rear part of the toilet bowl 10 and enable the toilet seat 2 of the present invention to be retrofitted to existing toilet bowls 10. The bolts 50 and the wing nuts 52 operate in the same manner as similar bolts 50 and wing nuts 52 on known toilet seats comprising a seat portion and a lid.

Figures 14 - 23 illustrate an optional and preferred form of the toilet seat 2 in which the toilet seat 2 includes a power and control pack 54 for providing electricity for electrically-operated components of the toilet seat 2, for example the fan 18 and the activation means 22.

The power and control pack 54 is housed in a two-part enclosure. The lower part is a recessed tray 68 which is mounted on the lid 14. The lower recessed tray 68 contains the sign 48. The upper part is a removable cover plate 58. The cover plate 58 is located at one end by means of a pair of male lugs 60 as shown in Figure 20 that mate with suitable receptacles 62 as shown in Figures 22 and 23. The receptacles 62 are formed in the body of the lower recessed tray 68. The other end of the cover plate 58 is held in place by means of a captive screw 66 which mates with a thread 67 in a raised boss 69 formed in the body of the lower recessed tray 68.

The power and control pack cover plate 58 contains an array of light cells in the form of a single plate solar panel 56. The solar panel 56 is able to generate electricity on reception of natural and/or artificial light. The solar panel 56 is secured to the cover plate 58 as shown in Figure 19.

The power and control pack 54 contains a set of batteries 70. There are ten of the batteries 70 in the set which are arranged in two rows of five and are fitted in the lower recessed tray 68. The batteries 70 provide the primary electrical power source for the electrical and electronic components of the toilet seat 2 such for example as the fan18, the timer means 20 and the activation means 22. The batteries 70 are rechargeable batteries and they are able to be recharged by removing them from the power and control pack 54, and then using a suitable commercially available external standard battery charger. The batteries 70 are also able to be recharged by the solar panel 56.

An electronic circuit board 71 is mounted in the lower recessed tray 68. This controls the timer means 20 and also the charging of the batteries 70 when they are being charged by electricity generated by the solar panel 56. The cover plate 58 contains two captive push-button actuators 64 that physically interface with electrical switches mounted on the electronic circuit board 71. These are to allow optional functional parameters to be set or activated by the user, for example to enable/disable fans.

Figure 7, 8, 9, 13, 17 and 31 show seat supports that are configured to support the seals.

Figures 24 and 25 show an optional and preferred part of the mounting formation 8. More specifically, Figure 24 shows a gasket 72 and fixing means 74. Figure 25 shows a mounting plate 76 having a receiving formation 78 which is easily able to receive the fixing means 74. The mounting formation 8 shown in Figures 24 and 25 enables the toilet seat 2 easily to be removed from the toilet bowl 10 for cleaning purposes, and then easily able to be replaced once the cleaning has been completed.

Figures 26 - 29 show an optional and preferred mounting formation 8 which comprises a cover 80 and securing tabs 82. The mounting formation 8 includes part of the ducting system 26. More specifically, Figures 26 - 29 show how the inlets 28 are formed in a plastics moulding 84 which contains ducts forming part of the ducting system 26. A chamber 85 is positioned between the filter 16 and the fans 18. The chamber 85 has a thin dividing wall 83. The dividing wall 83 avoids the possibility that two of the fans 18 might adversely affect each other and cause energy losses. Without the dividing wall 83, the fans 18 would share an inlet, and this may be less efficient. Figures 30 - 33 show how the seat portion 12 is able to be formed of a main seating portion 86 and an insert 88 containing apertures 90 forming part of the ducting system 26.

Figures 34 - 37 show how the seat portion 12 is able to be provided with various passages 92 forming part of the ducting system 26.

Figure 38 is a horizontal cross section showing air circulation for a toilet seat 94 of the present invention. Similar parts are in previous Figures have been given the same reference numbers for ease of comparison and understanding.

It will be appreciated that the toilet seat 2 as described above, both in its basic form and in its various optional and preferred forms, is able to operate efficiently. More specifically, the air that is filtered is the small amount of air that is in the toilet bowl 10. This filtered air is re-circulated to the toilet bowl 10. The toilet seat 2 does not filter air from an entire room in which the toilet 6 is placed. This means that the fan 18 may be smaller than would be required to filter adequately foul air from an entire room. The toilet seat 2 does not require modifications to the room containing the toilet 6. The toilet seat 2 is able to be retrofitted to existing toilets in place of existing toilet seats. The toilet seat 2 is also able to be provided as part of a new toilet. For retrofitting, the preferred mounting formation 8 is easily installed, and it enables easy removal of the seat portion 12 and the lid 14 for cleaning purposes and/or placement of the filter 16.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, more than one filter 16 and/or more than one fan 18 may be employed if desired. Other types of mounting formation may be employed. Other types of first and second sealing arrangements 34, 36 may be employed. As shown in the drawings, contoured surfaces are used whenever possible in order to minimise air speed circulation losses due to friction. The toilet seat 2 may be made of a plastics material having anti-bacterial properties. Alternatively, the toilet seat 2 may be coated with a material having anti-bacterial properties. The seat portion 12 and the lid 14 may be lifted and/or closed by powered actuators. Air freshening substances may be dispensed. The air freshening substances may be perfumes or other substances. Individual components shown in the drawings are not limited to use in their drawings and they may be used in other drawings and in all aspects of the invention.

Claims

1. A toilet seat for reducing the spread of foul air from a person seated on a toilet, the toilet seat comprising:

(i) a mounting formation for mounting the toilet seat on a toilet bowl;

(ii) a seat portion on which the person sits;

(iii) a lid;

(iv) a filter for filtering the foul air;

(v) a fan for causing the foul air to be circulated through the filter;

(vi) timer means for controlling the duration of operation of the fan;

(vii) activation means for causing activation of the timer means;

(ix) a ducting system for receiving the foul air from the toilet bowl, directing the foul air to the filter, and recycling filtered air to the toilet bowl, and the toilet seat being such that: (x) in use the foul air from the person seated on the seat portion is caused by the fan to be sucked from the toilet bowl and passed through the ducting system and the filter; and

(xi) air that has passed through the filter is caused by the fan to be blown through the ducting system and into the toilet bowl for further recirculation from the toilet bowl and through the ducting system and the filter until the timer means causes the fan to cease operating.

2. A toilet seat according to claim 1 in which the mounting formation includes part of the ducting system.

3. A toilet seat according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the filter is in the mounting formation.

4. A toilet seat according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first sealing arrangement is a single flexible seal.

5. A toilet seat according to any one of the preceding claims and including a second sealing arrangement for forming a second seal between the seat portion and the lid.

6. A toilet seat according to claim 5 in which the second sealing arrangement is a flexible seal.

7. A toilet seat according to any one of the preceding claims in which the filter is a carbon filter.

8. A toilet seat according to any one of the preceding claims in which the mounting formation is a push fit mounting formation for easy fitting and removal purposes.