Odorless commode

Abstract

A plumbing fixture, representatively a commode, is provided with a bowl odor-eliminating ventilation system having an exhaust fan portion which draws odor-causing fumes from the commode bowl through a closed inlet path and then discharges the fumes via a closed discharge path into the water side of the main trap structure of the commode beneath the surface of trap water therein. Fumes discharged into the trap water bubble upwardly therethrough into the air side of the trap for flow to the sanitary sewer line to which it is connected. Representatively, the exhaust fan is disposed in a water-tight chamber in the commode tank.

1 . A plumbing fixture comprising: 
 a bowl adapted to hold a quantity of water and having an outlet passage through which the water may outwardly pass for entry into a sewer line to which the plumbing fixture is operatively connected;    a trap structure having a water portion interposed in said outlet passage; and    a ventilation system operative to exhaust odor-causing fumes from said bowl and discharge the fumes into said water portion of said trap structure beneath the normal upper water surface level therein.    
   
   
       2 . The plumbing fixture of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said plumbing fixture is a commode.    
   
   
       3 . The plumbing fixture of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said trap structure is a main trap structure.    
   
   
       4 . The plumbing fixture of  claim 1  wherein said ventilation system includes: 
 an exhaust fan operative to exhaust odor-causing fumes from said bowl through a closed inlet path and discharge he fumes through a closed discharge path into said water portion of said trap structure beneath said normal upper water surface level therein.    
   
   
       5 . The plumbing fixture of  claim 4  wherein: 
 said closed inlet and discharge paths are disposed externally of said bowl.    
   
   
       6 . The plumbing fixture of  claim 4  wherein: 
 said plumbing fixture further comprises a tank adapted to hold a quantity of water selectively flowable into said bowl, and    said exhaust fan is disposed within said tank.    
   
   
       7 . The plumbing fixture of  claim 6  wherein: 
 said tank has a waterproof chamber therein, and    said exhaust fan is disposed within said water proof chamber.    
   
   
       8 . the plumbing fixture of  claim 7  wherein: 
 said waterproof chamber is submerged within water disposed within said tank.    
   
   
       9 . The plumbing fixture of  claim 4  wherein: 
 said exhaust fan has an inlet and an outlet,    said bowl has an open top side,    said closed inlet path includes an air inlet plenum structure disposed adjacent said open top side for receiving fumes from said bowl, and    a conduit connected between said air inlet plenum structure and said inlet of said exhaust fan.    
   
   
       10 . The plumbing fixture of  claim 9  wherein: 
 said conduit is a length of flexible hose.    
   
   
       11 . The plumbing fixture of  claim 4  wherein: 
 said exhaust fan has an inlet and an outlet, and    said closed discharge path includes at least one discharge fitting externally secured to said trap structure water portion, each of said at least one discharge fitting being coupled by a conduit to said outlet of said exhaust fan, each conduit being disposed externally of said bowl.    
   
   
       12 . The plumbing fixture of  claim 11  wherein: 
 each of said at least one discharge fitting has a generally L-shaped configuration defined by a horizontal leg coupled to said water portion of said trap structure below said normal upper water surface level therein, and a vertical let portion having a top end extending above said normal upper water surface level and connected to its associated conduit.    
   
   
       13 . The plumbing fixture of  claim 11  wherein: 
 said closed discharge path includes two of said discharge fittings operatively connected to opposite sides of said water portion of said trap structure.    
   
   
       14 . A ventilated commode comprising: 
 a bowl adapted to hold a quantity of water and having an outlet passage through which the water may outwardly pass for entry into a sewer line to which said ventilated commode is operatively connected;    a trap structure having a water portion interposed in said outlet passage;    a tank adapted to hold a quantity of water selectively flowable into said bowl;    an exhaust fan having an inlet and an air outlet;    an intake structure for receiving odor-causing fumes from said bowl;    an intake conduit coupled between said intake structure and said inlet of said exhaust fan; and    a discharge conduit coupled between said outlet of said exhaust fan and said water portion of said trap below the normal upper water surface level therein.    
   
   
       15 . The ventilated commode of  claim 14  wherein: 
 said exhaust fan is disposed within said tank.    
   
   
       16 . The ventilated commode of  claim 15  wherein: 
 said exhaust fan is disposed within a submerged, waterproof chamber within said tank.    
   
   
       17 . The ventilated commode of  claim 14  wherein: 
 said intake and discharge conduits are disposed externally of said bowl.    
   
   
       18 . The ventilated commode of  claim 14  wherein: 
 said ventilated commode has a seat pivotable between horizontal and vertical orientations, and    said air intake structure extends beneath a portion of said seat in said horizontal orientation thereof.    
   
   
       19 . The ventilated commode of  claim 14  wherein: 
 said discharge conduit is coupled to said water portion of said trap structure by a hollow discharge fitting externally connected to said water portion of said trap structure.    
   
   
       20 . The ventilated commode of  claim 19  wherein: 
 said discharge fitting has a horizontal leg externally connected to said water portion of said trap structure, and a vertical leg connected to said discharge conduit and extending upwardly beyond said normal upper water surface level of said water portion of said trap structure.    
   
   
       21 . The ventilated commode of  claim 14  wherein: 
 said air intake structure is a hollow plenum structure with an inlet opening forwardly facing an upper side portion of said bowl and having top and bottom side edges, said bottom side edge being rearwardly offset from said top side edge.