Odor eliminating apparatus for toilets and the like

Abstract

An odor eliminating apparatus for eliminating odorous compounds from a toilet bowl includes a housing with an extension disposed inside the bowl above the headspace of the water. A fan establishes an air flow through the housing to exhaust gases from the bowl. A filter eliminates the odorous compounds and optionally refreshes the air. The apparatus may be portable so that it can be installed onto and removed from the bowl as desired.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An odor eliminating apparatus arranged to eliminate gases accumulated above a water level in a toilet bowl with a circumferential lip having a horizontal lip surface, said apparatus comprising:
 a housing having a gas intake including a horizontal portion extending across said lip surface and an extension having an air inlet below the lip surface and arranged and constructed to collect gases in the headspace of water in the toilet bowl, said housing further including a main chamber with an air exhaust;   a fan disposed in said main chamber and arranged to establish an air flow between said air inlet and said air exhaust; and   a filter in the housing disposed in said air flow.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein filter includes an active filter element arranged to remove odor-producing components from said head space. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said active filter is a carbon filter. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said filter includes a deodorizing element. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said scent filter element includes a gel selectively releasing scented particles. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said housing is arranged and construction for selective attachment to and removal from said lip. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a control element selectively activating said fan. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said control element includes a switch and a microprocessor selectively activated by said switch. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said microprocessor receives a signal from said switch and selectively activates said fan in response. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said microprocessor maintains said fan on for a predetermined time after each use. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said switch senses a person nearby and generates said signal in response. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said switch is a proximity sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising an operational light disposed on said housing and indicating that said apparatus is operational. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 8  further including a battery for providing power to the fan. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the filter may be readily removed from the apparatus. 
     
     
         16 . A toilet assembly comprising:
 a toilet bowl having a bowl outer wall and a toilet bowl lip with a horizontal lip surface, a toilet seat disposed above said horizontal lip surface, said toilet bowl being arranged and constructed to hold water with headspace disposed above said water; and   an apparatus attached to said toilet bowl and including a gas intake disposed inside said bowl, an air exhaust disposed outside said bowl adjacent to said bowl outer wall and a fan arranged to establish an air flow between said air intake and said air exhaust to remove odorous compounds from said head space.   
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 15  wherein said apparatus includes a device housing having a horizontal portion disposed between said toilet seat and said bowl lip, an extension extending downwardly from said lip toward said water and including at least one downwardly oriented opening forming said air inlet and a main chamber with said fan. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 15  further comprising a filter disposed in said air flow and adapted to remove said odorous compounds. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 16  further comprising a controller operating said fan. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 19  wherein said controller includes a proximity switch disposed on said housing laterally adjacent to said seat. 
     
     
         21 . The assembly of  claim 16  further comprising a light disposed on said housing and oriented to illuminate the bowl. 
     
     
         22 . The assembly of  claim 16  further comprising a light disposed on said housing and oriented to disinfect the bowl. 
     
     
         23 . An odor eliminating apparatus arranged to eliminate gases accumulated above a water level in a toilet bowl with a circumferential lip having a horizontal lip surface, said apparatus comprising:
 a first piece defining an open cavity, a second piece having an L-shape with a a first horizontal wall and a first vertical wall; and a third piece having a second and a third vertical wall and a second horizontal wall, said three pieces when assembled forming:   a housing having a gas intake including a horizontal portion extending across said lip surface and an extension having an air inlet below the lip surface and arranged and constructed to collect gases in the headspace of water in the toilet bowl, said housing further including a main cavity with an air exhaust;   said horizontal and portion being defined by said first and second horizontal walls and said extension being defined by said second and third vertical walls, and said main cavity being formed by said first piece and said first vertical wall;   a fan disposed in said main chamber and arranged to establish an air flow between said air inlet and said air exhaust; and   a filter in the housing disposed in said air flow.