Odorless toilet

Abstract

A toilet ventilation apparatus attachable to a toilet of conventional design. In one illustrative embodiment, the ventilation apparatus comprises a housing having an intake port and an outlet port. Flanges disposed on opposing sides of the housing are utilized to mount the apparatus on the toilet utilizing the same fasteners that secure the hinge support assemblies for the toilet lid and seat. When installed, a thin front portion of the apparatus fits in the gap formed between the toilet bowl rim and the seat bottom. Elongated holes in the flanges allow the apparatus to be adjustably position to provide optimum placement of the intake port. The ventilation apparatus may include a switch for controlling a fan or vacuum pump.

1 . An apparatus for ventilating noxious odors from a toilet, the toilet having a pair of holes whereby hinge support assemblies for a seat are attached thereto by a pair of fasteners, the apparatus comprising: 
 a housing comprising front, middle, and rear portions, wherein the front portion comprises an intake port and a downwardly extending outlet port is disposed on the rear portion; and    a fluid communication path passing through the middle and rear portions of the housing for connecting the intake port and outlet port;    wherein the apparatus is configured such that the front, middle, and rear portions of the housing have the same thickness and at least a portion of the fluid communication path passes between the pair of fasteners securing the hinge support assemblies for the seat to the toilet when the apparatus is installed onto the toilet.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a sealed passageway, the sealed passageway leading from the outlet port to a fan or vacuum pump.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a switch, said switch sending a control signal to a fan.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising two outwardly extending flanges disposed on opposing sides of the apparatus, each of the flanges having a hole extending from a top surface of the flange to a bottom surface of the flange.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein each of the flanges is configured for being interposed between the toilet and one of the hinge assemblies when the apparatus is installed onto the toilet.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein each of the holes in the flanges is elongated front-to-back, thereby allowing the intake port to be adjustably positioned in an interior portion of the toilet.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface being substantially flat and configured for engaging an upper surface of a bowl rim when the apparatus is installed onto the toilet.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the intake port is unobstructed and is disposed between the upper surface and the lower surface.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus for ventilating noxious odors from a toilet, the toilet having a pair of holes whereby hinge support assemblies for a seat are attached thereto by a pair of fasteners, the apparatus comprising: 
 a housing of uniform thickness, the housing comprising an unobstructed intake port and an outlet port;    a fluid communication path connecting the intake port and outlet port;    at least one hole disposed in the housing for mounting the apparatus to the toilet; and    wherein the apparatus is configured to be coupled to the toilet by at least one of the fasteners securing the hinge support assemblies when the apparatus is installed onto a toilet.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the apparatus is configured such that at least a portion of the fluid communication path passes between the pair of fasteners securing the hinge support assemblies for the seat to the toilet when the apparatus is installed onto the toilet and then downward through the outlet port.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising at least one flange, each of the at least one holes being disposed on one of the flanges.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the at least one hole comprises two holes.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the holes are elongated front-to-back and are disposed on opposing sides of the apparatus.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the fluid communication path does not pass between the pair of fasteners.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a sealed passageway, the sealed passageway leading from the outlet port to a fan or vacuum pump.  
   
   
       16 . An apparatus for ventilating noxious odors from a toilet, the toilet having a seat connected thereto by a pair of hinge support assemblies, a fastener securing each of the assemblies to the toilet, the apparatus comprising: 
 a housing of uniform thickness, the housing comprising an unobstructed intake port and an outlet port;    a fluid communication path connecting the intake port and outlet port; and    a pair of mounting holes disposed in the housing, wherein each of the pair of mounting holes is elongated front-to-back;    wherein the apparatus is configured to be coupled to the toilet by the fasteners securing the hinge support assemblies for the seat when the apparatus is installed onto a toilet, each of the pair of fasteners passing through one of the pair of mounting holes.    
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the apparatus is configured such that at least a portion of the fluid communication path passes between the pair of fasteners securing the hinge support assemblies for the seat to the toilet when the apparatus is installed onto the toilet and then downwardly through the outlet port.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising a sealed passageway disposed on the housing, the sealed passageway leading from the outlet port to a fan or vacuum pump.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising a pair of flanges disposed on the housing, each of the flanges being interposed between the toilet and one of the hinge assemblies when the apparatus is installed onto the toilet.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein each of the flanges comprises a top surface, and wherein each of the hinge assemblies is positioned on the top surface of one of the flanges when the apparatus is installed onto the toilet.  
   
   
       21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising a sealed passageway disposed on the housing, the sealed passageway leading from the outlet port to a filter.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a sealed passageway, the sealed passageway leading from the outlet port to a filter.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a sealed passageway disposed on the housing, the sealed passageway leading from the outlet port to a filter.