Systems and Apparatus for Toilet Odour Removal

Abstract

An odour removal apparatus for a toilet is described wherein the toilet has a bowl, a cistern for supplying water to the bowl, a flushing valve of a flushing mechanism within the cistern and an internal overflow in fluid and/or gaseous communication with the inside of the cistern and an area in the vicinity of the bowl. The apparatus includes an inlet adapted to be in fluid and/or gaseous communication with the bowl via the internal overflow and/or the flushing mechanism when installed. The apparatus also includes a gases extraction means for drawing gases and entrained odours from the area in the vicinity of the bowl, to the inlet, via the internal overflow and/or the flushing mechanism. The gases and entrained odours may then be passed to a filter to remove odours therefrom.

1 . An odour removal apparatus for a toilet, the toilet having a bowl, a cistern for supplying water to the bowl, a flushing valve of a flushing mechanism within the cistern and an internal overflow in fluid and/or gaseous communication with the inside. of the cistern and an area in the vicinity of the bowl, the apparatus comprising:
 an inlet adapted to be in fluid and/or gaseous communication with the bowl via the internal overflow and/or the flushing mechanism when in use;   an outlet; and   a gases extraction means in fluid and/or gaseous communication with the inlet and the outlet,   whereby, in use, the gases extraction means is adapted to substantially remove odours from the area in the vicinity of the bowl by inducing a flow of gases and entrained odours from the area in the vicinity of the bowl to the outlet, via the internal overflow and/or the flushing mechanism, and   wherein, in use, the apparatus is solely supported by the internal overflow and/or the flushing mechanism of the toilet.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising an adaptor coupled to the gases extraction means and in fluid and/or gaseous communication with the inlet and the outlet. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein a first end of the adaptor is coupled to an inlet of the gases extraction means comprises fan means. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein a second end of the adaptor is configured for coupling to the internal overflow and/or the flushing mechanism. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the apparatus is solely supported by the internal overflow and/or the flushing mechanism by the coupling between the adaptor and the gases extraction means and the coupling between the adaptor and the internal overflow and/or flushing mechanism. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the adaptor is configured to fit over the end of the internal overflow and/or the flushing mechanism inside the cistern such that the second end of the adaptor is below the surface of the water in the cistern and the end of the internal overflow and/or the flushing mechanism inside the cistern is above the surface of the water in the cistern, in use, when the water level in the cistern is at a normal filled height, thereby creating a seal between the adapter and the internal overflow and/or the flushing mechanism. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the adaptor includes means for engaging internal overflows of one or more types and/or flushing mechanisms of one or more types. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the means for engaging includes an insert that is adapted to be inserted in, and removed from, the second end of the adaptor. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the insert is adapted to be inserted in a plurality of orientations relative to the second end of the adaptor thereby providing for different orientations of the adaptor when coupled to the internal overflow and/or the flushing mechanism. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the insert includes one or more passages, each passage being adapted to slidably engage an internal overflow and/or flushing mechanism of a toilet. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , including an adjuster configured for insertion in one of the passages of the insert so as to reduce the internal dimensions thereof. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , including filter means in fluid and/or gaseous communication with the inlet and the outlet. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , including a receiver that is adapted to receive signals from a wired or wireless transmitter for controlling the operation of the gases extraction means. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , including a detection sensor for controlling operation of the gases extraction means based thereon, wherein the detection sensor detects the presence of a user. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gases extraction means includes:
 a housing;   a DC motor within the housing; and   an impellor within the housing and coupled to the motor so that operation of the motor imparts rotational energy to the impellor.   
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the gases extraction means is adapted to generate a sufficient reduction in pressure so as to remove substantially all odours from the area in the vicinity of the bowl without compromising user comfort, when in use. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , including means for manually and/or automatically activating and/or deactivating the gases extraction means. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is adapted to be fully contained within the cistern. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet is fluidly coupled to an aperture provided in a wall or lid or inside the cistern. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet is provided outside of the cistern. 
   
   
       21 . An odour removal apparatus for a toilet, the toilet having a bowl, a cistern for supplying water to the bowl, a flushing valve of a flushing mechanism within the cistern and an internal overflow in fluid and/or gaseous communication with the inside of the cistern and an area in the vicinity of the bowl, the apparatus including:
 an inlet adapted to be in fluid and/or gaseous communication with the bowl via the internal overflow and/or the flushing mechanism when in use;   an outlet; and   a gases extraction means in fluid and/or gaseous communication with the inlet and the outlet,   whereby, in use, the gases extraction means is adapted to substantially remove odours from the area in the vicinity of the bowl by inducing a flow of gases and entrained odours from the area in the vicinity of the bowl to the outlet, via the internal overflow and/or the flushing mechanism, wherein:   the apparatus penetrates a wall of the cistern so as to allow for gases to pass from the inside to the outside of the cistern; and   the airspace in the cistern is closed, except for the outlet provided for the apparatus and the inlet from the internal overflow and/or the flushing mechanism, the internal overflow and/or the flushing mechanism being in communication with the inlet of the apparatus via the airspace in the cistern.   
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the gases extraction means is adapted to create at least a partial vacuum in the cistern airspace so as to induce the flow of gases and entrained odours. 
   
   
       23 . A filter unit adapted for sealably fitting to a portion of the apparatus of  claim 1 , the filter unit including:
 a main body for housing a filtering medium;   a circumferential interfacing bevelled edge; and   one or more interlocking lugs,   wherein the circumferential interfacing bevelled edge and the one or more interlocking lugs are adapted to cooperate with a corresponding bevelled edge and one or more interlocking lugs of said portion of the apparatus.   
   
   
       24 . An insert for use with the apparatus of  claim 1 , the insert including:
 one or more passages, each passage being adapted to slidably engage an internal overflow and/or a flushing mechanism of a toilet; and   means for engaging a cooperating portion of the apparatus.   
   
   
       25 . The insert of  claim 24 , wherein the insert is configurable in a plurality of positions inside the cooperating portion of the apparatus. 
   
   
       26 . The insert of  claims 24 , including a removable adjuster configured for insertion in one of the passages of the insert so as to reduce the internal dimensions thereof. 
   
   
       27 . The insert of  claim 24 , including a slit along the entire length a wall defining at least one of the passages, the slit being in the direction of the passage. 
   
   
       28 . An odour removal apparatus for a toilet, the toilet having a bowl, a cistern for supplying water to the bowl, a flushing valve of a flushing mechanism within the cistern and an internal overflow in fluid and/or gaseous communication with the inside of the cistern and an area in the vicinity of the bowl, the apparatus including:
 an inlet adapted to be in gaseous communication with the bowl via the airspace inside the cistern and the internal overflow and/or the flushing mechanism when in use;   an outlet; and   a gases extraction means in fluid and/or gaseous communication with the inlet and the outlet,   whereby, in use, the gases extraction means is adapted to substantially remove odours from the area in the vicinity of the bowl by inducing a flow of gases and entrained odours from the area in the vicinity of the bowl to the outlet, via the internal overflow and/or the flushing mechanism,   wherein the apparatus is configured to be coupled to a wall of the cistern such that the entrained airflow is substantially parallel to the said wall while passing through at least a portion of the apparatus from the inlet to the outlet.   
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the entrained airflow is substantially parallel to the wall of the cistern to which it is coupled during substantially its entire passage from the inlet to the outlet. 
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , configured to couple to the wall of the cistern such that the major axis of the apparatus is substantially in the same plane as the wall of the cistern. 
   
   
       31 - 64 . (canceled)