Toilet seat

Abstract

A toilet seat ( 1 ) comprises an annular seat member ( 2 ) having two air filters ( 16 ) for deodorising foul air from a toilet pan, each arranged in ducting ( 22 ) extending around the annular seat member ( 2 ) between an inlet ( 21 ) for receiving foul air from the toilet pan and an outlet disposed adjacent the air filter ( 16 ). A fan ( 23 ) is mounted in the seat member ( 21 ) to draw air in through the inlet ( 21 ) and create separate air flows in parallel through the ducting ( 22 ) over the two air filters ( 16 ). An air flow splitter ( 24 ) is arranged to split the air blown by the fan ( 23 ) into the separate air flows. On the opposite side of the air filters ( 16 ) from the fan ( 23 ) there is arranged a common cavity communicating with the ducting ( 22 ) for both air filters ( 16 ). The cavity ( 25 ) serves to reduce back pressure and hence improve the filtering efficiency.

1 - 6 . (Cancelled)  
   
   
       7 . A toilet seat comprising: 
 an annular seat member having internal ducting which provides two ducts, each duct extending in parallel around the annular seat member between an inlet for receiving foul air from the toilet pan and an outlet;    two air filters for deodorising foul air from a toilet pan, each arranged in a respective one of the two ducts; and    fan means arranged in the ducting to create separate air flows in parallel in the two ducts through the two air filters.    
   
   
       8 . A toilet seat according to  claim 7 , wherein the two ducts have a common inlet, the fan means is arranged to blow air through the air filters and the toilet seat further comprises a flow splitter arranged to split air blown by the fan into the separate air flows.  
   
   
       9 . A toilet seat according to  claim 8 , wherein the fan means is arranged to blow air in a direction radially across the seat member.  
   
   
       10 . A toilet seat according to  claim 9 , wherein the fan means is arranged to blow air in a direction radially outwardly across the seat member.  
   
   
       11 . A toilet seat according to  claim 9 , wherein the flow splitter comprises a pair of arcuate surfaces meeting at an edge which faces the fan means and curved in opposite senses to deflect air blown by the fan means around the toilet seat in opposite directions as said separate air flows.  
   
   
       12 . A toilet seat according to  claim 7 , wherein the filters, the ducting and the fan means are symmetrically arranged in the toilet seat to provide a balanced air flow through both filters.  
   
   
       13 . A toilet seat according to  claim 7 , wherein the two ducts on the opposite side of both air filters from the fan means communicate with a common cavity.  
   
   
       14 . A toilet seat according to  claim 7 , wherein the toilet seat member comprises a base and a cover fixed together and the ducting has side walls formed integrally with the base.  
   
   
       15 . A toilet seat according to  claim 14 , wherein the base and the cover member are moulded.  
   
   
       16 - 27 . (Cancelled)  
   
   
       28 . A toilet seat according to  claim 7 , wherein each duct has a respective outlet.  
   
   
       29 . A toilet seat according to  claim 8 , wherein the two ducts have a common inlet, the fan means is arranged to blow air through the air filters and the toilet seat further comprises a flow splitter arranged to split air blown by the fan into the separate air flows.  
   
   
       30 . A toilet seat according to  claim 8 , wherein the filters, the ducting and the fan means are symmetrically arranged in the toilet seat to provide a balanced air flow through both filters.  
   
   
       31 . A toilet seat according to  claim 10 , wherein the flow splitter comprises a pair of arcuate surfaces meeting at an edge which faces the fan means and curved in opposite senses to deflect air blown by the fan means around the toilet seat in opposite directions as said separate air flows.