Systems and method for ventilating a toilet

Abstract

A ventilation system for a toilet includes a seat that forms a substantially airtight seal with an upper rim of a bowl, an aperture extending from the inner surface to the outer surface, and a conduit coupled to the bowl outer surface at a first end and forming a substantially airtight seal with the aperture. The conduit is coupled at a second end to a vent pipe, wherein the vent pipe is positioned within a wall adjacent the toilet.

1 . A ventilation system for a toilet, said toilet comprising a seat and a lid coupled to a bowl having an inner surface, an outer surface and an upper rim that extends therebetween, said ventilation system comprising:
 a first seal element extending between the seat and the upper rim of said bowl and forming a substantially airtight seal therebetween;   a second seal element extending between the seat and the lid and forming a substantially airtight therebetween;   an aperture extending from the inner surface to the outer surface; and   a conduit comprising a first end and a second end, said conduit coupled to said bowl outer surface at said first end and forming a substantially airtight seal with said aperture, said conduit coupled at the second end to a vent pipe, the vent pipe positioned within a wall adjacent said toilet.   
     
     
         2 . A ventilation system in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a shield coupled to the bowl inner surface and positioned adjacent to said aperture such that fluid within toilet is substantially diverted from entering said aperture. 
     
     
         3 . A ventilation system in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said shield is one of a quarter-sphere shaped element or a screening element configured to substantially diverted fluid within toilet from entering said aperture. 
     
     
         4 . A ventilation system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said substantially airtight seal comprises a seal element that extends between the seat and the upper rim of said bowl. 
     
     
         5 . A ventilation system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said aperture is positioned on the bowl inner surface at a location above a waterline of said toilet. 
     
     
         6 . A ventilation system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said conduit forms a substantially airtight seal between said toilet and the vent pipe such that fouled air is evacuated from the bowl using suction created within the vent pipe. 
     
     
         7 . A ventilation system in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a valve positioned on said conduit and configured to substantially close conduit during periods of non-use. 
     
     
         8 . A toilet comprising:
 a bowl having an inner surface, an outer surface and an upper rim that extends therebetween;   a seat forming a substantially airtight seal with the upper rim of said bowl;   a lid forming a substantially airtight seal with the seat; and   a ventilation system comprising:
 an aperture extending from the inner surface to the outer surface; and 
 a conduit comprising a first end and a second end, said conduit coupled to said bowl outer surface at said first end and forming a substantially airtight seal with said aperture, said conduit coupled at the second end to a vent pipe, the vent pipe positioned within a wall adjacent said toilet. 
   
     
     
         9 . A toilet in accordance with  claim 8  further comprising a shield coupled to the bowl inner surface and positioned adjacent to said aperture such that fluid within toilet is substantially diverted from entering said aperture. 
     
     
         10 . A toilet in accordance with  claim 9  wherein said shield is one of a quarter-sphere shaped element or a screening element configured to substantially diverted fluid within toilet from entering said aperture. 
     
     
         11 . A toilet in accordance with  claim 8  wherein said substantially airtight seal comprises a seal element that extends between the seat and the upper rim of said bowl. 
     
     
         12 . A toilet in accordance with  claim 8  wherein said aperture is positioned on the bowl inner surface at a location above a waterline of said toilet. 
     
     
         13 . A toilet in accordance with  claim 8  wherein said conduit forms a substantially airtight seal between said toilet and the vent pipe such that fouled air is drawn from the bowl using suction created within the vent pipe. 
     
     
         14 . A toilet in accordance with  claim 8  further comprising a valve positioned on said conduit and configured to substantially close conduit during periods of non-use. 
     
     
         15 . A method for ventilating a toilet, said method comprising:
 providing a toilet including a bowl having an inner surface, an outer surface and an upper rim that extends therebetween;   forming a substantially airtight seal between a toilet seat and the upper rim of the bowl and between the seat and a lid of the toilet;   extending an aperture from the inner surface to the outer surface;   coupling a conduit to the bowl outer surface at a first end and forming a substantially airtight seal with the aperture; and   coupling the conduit at a second end to a vent pipe, wherein the vent pipe is positioned within a wall adjacent to the toilet.   
     
     
         16 . A method in accordance with  claim 15  further comprising positioning a shield upon the bowl inner surface and adjacent to the aperture such that fluid within the toilet is substantially diverted from entering the aperture. 
     
     
         17 . A method in accordance with  claim 15  wherein forming a substantially airtight seal between a toilet seat and the upper rim of the bowl further comprises extending a first seal element between the seat and the upper rim of the bowl and extending a second seal element between the seat and the lid. 
     
     
         18 . A method in accordance with  claim 15  wherein extending an aperture from the inner surface to the outer surface further comprises positioning the aperture on the bowl inner surface at a location above a waterline of the toilet. 
     
     
         19 . A method in accordance with  claim 15  further comprising channeling fouled air from the bowl using suction created within the vent pipe. 
     
     
         20 . A method in accordance with  claim 15  further comprising positioning a valve on the conduit, wherein the valve is configured to substantially close the conduit during periods of non-use.