Toilet ventilation system

Abstract

A ventilation system for a toilet having a toilet bowl, a toilet seat for supporting a user of the toilet, and a tank mounted on the toilet bowl for holding water used in flushing the toilet. The ventilation system includes a fan adapted for connection to the toilet bowl to draw odorous air from the toilet bowl into the fan and to discharge the odorous air from the toilet. A fan water supply line is adapted for fluid communication with the fan wherein water from the water supply line is adapted to power the fan to evacuate the odorous air from the toilet.

1 . A ventilation system for a toilet comprising a toilet bowl, a toilet seat for supporting a user of the toilet, and a tank mounted on the toilet bowl for holding water used in flushing the toilet, said ventilation system comprising: 
 a fan adapted for connection to the toilet bowl to draw odorous air from the toilet bowl and to discharge the odorous air from the toilet,    a fan water supply line adapted for fluid communication with the fan wherein water from said water supply line is adapted to power said fan to evacuate the odorous air from the toilet.    
   
   
       2 . The ventilation system of  claim 1  wherein said ventilation system is free from any electrical circuitry and is operable based on pressure and flow of said water exiting the fan water supply line.  
   
   
       3 . The ventilation system of  claim 1  wherein the fan is sized for mounting in the toilet.  
   
   
       4 . The ventilation system of  claim 1  wherein said fan comprises a water-powered motor adapted for communication with said fan water supply line and fan blades driven by said water-powered motor.  
   
   
       5 . The ventilation system of  claim 1  wherein said ventilation system comprises an air inlet conduit for drawing odorous air into said fan and an air outlet conduit for discharging odorous air from said toilet.  
   
   
       6 . The ventilation system of  claim 5  wherein said air inlet conduit is adapted for connection to a plenum in fluid communication with openings spaced around the toilet bowl in fluid communication with an interior space of the toilet bowl, the fan being adapted to draw odorous air from the interior space of the toilet bowl through said openings and the plenum.  
   
   
       7 . The ventilation system of  claim 6  wherein said air inlet conduit includes a check valve for the control of air flow into said fan.  
   
   
       8 . The ventilation system of  claim 6  wherein said air outlet conduit is adapted to convey air from an outlet of said fan to a drain of said toilet to discharge odorous air from the toilet.  
   
   
       9 . The ventilation system of  claim 5  wherein said fan is adapted to be supported in said tank by the air inlet conduit and the air outlet conduit.  
   
   
       10 . The ventilation system of  claim 1  further comprising a water saving container for receiving and storing water discharged from the fan.  
   
   
       11 . The ventilation system of  claim 10  wherein said water saving container comprises a drain valve operable based on the level of water in said toilet tank.  
   
   
       12 . The ventilation system of  claim 1  further comprising a control valve in said fan water supply line controlling the flow of water to said fan, said control valve comprising an actuator operable upon the application of pressure to said toilet seat.  
   
   
       13 . The ventilation system of  claim 12  wherein said actuator is a push-button actuator adapted to be in contact with the toilet seat in a lowered position of said toilet seat and moveable between a first position in which the valve is closed and no water is supplied to the fan and a second position in which the valve is open and water is supplied to the fan to evacuate air from the toilet.  
   
   
       14 . A ventilated toilet system comprising: 
 a toilet comprising a toilet bowl and a tank for storing flush water of the toilet,    a water-driven fan disposed for being impinged by water supplied to the toilet, said water-driven fan being adapted to draw odorous air from the toilet bowl and to discharge said odorous air to a location remote from the toilet bowl.    
   
   
       15 . The ventilated toilet system of  claim 14  wherein said water-driven fan comprises a water-powered motor adapted for communication with a water supply line and fan blades driven by said water powered motor to evacuate odorous air from the toilet.  
   
   
       16 . The ventilated toilet system of  claim 15  wherein the motor is disposed in the tank and is adapted for communication with the same water supply line that supplies flush water to the tank.  
   
   
       17 . The ventilated toilet system of  claim 16  wherein said water-driven fan is disposed in the tank and is free from any electrical circuitry.  
   
   
       18 . The ventilated toilet system of  claim 15  wherein said water-driven motor has vanes adapted to be impinged by water supplied to the fan and said fan blades being operatively connected to said vanes.  
   
   
       19 . The ventilated toilet system of  claim 18  further comprising an air inlet conduit for drawing odorous air into said fan and an air outlet conduit for discharging odorous air from said toilet.  
   
   
       20 . The ventilation system of  claim 19  wherein the toilet bowl has a drain, a plenum, and openings spaced around the toilet bowl in fluid communication with the plenum, and wherein the air inlet conduit is in communication with the plenum and the fan, said air outlet conduit being mounted in the tank in fluid communication with the fan and the drain of the toilet bowl.  
   
   
       21 . A ventilated toilet system comprising: 
 a toilet comprising a toilet bowl having a drain, a plenum, and openings spaced around the toilet bowl in fluid communication with the plenum, a tank for storing flush water of the toilet, and a toilet seat mounted on the toilet bowl,    a water-driven fan disposed for being impinged by water supplied to the toilet, said water-driven fan being adapted to draw odorous air from the toilet bowl and to discharge said odorous air to a location remote from the toilet bowl, the water-driven fan comprising a water-powered motor adapted for communication with a water supply line and fan blades driven by said water powered motor to evacuate odorous air from the toilet,    an air inlet conduit in communication with the plenum and the fan for drawing odorous air into said fan,    an air outlet conduit mounted in the tank and connected to the fan, the air outlet conduit comprising a passage in the toilet bowl in fluid communication with the drain of the toilet bowl for discharging odorous air from said toilet,    a fan water supply line adapted for fluid communication with the fan wherein water from said water supply line is adapted to power said fan to evacuate odorous air from the toilet, and    a control valve in said fan water supply line controlling the flow of water to said fan, said control valve comprising an actuator operable upon the application of pressure to said toilet seat to permit operation of the fan.