Toilet Venting Adapter and Methods for Toilet Ventilation

Abstract

The invention is a simple and economical device and a method combination that adds a venting capability to a conventional tank and bowl toilet. The purpose of the invention is the efficient and safe removal of gaseous matter introduced to the toilet bowl, by extraction of the gas through elements of the original toilet and the elements of the invention, with the advantage of avoiding airborne odors entering the room air from the toilet bowl. Advantages over the prior art are economy of parts and unique safety processes that preclude interference with or creation of unsanitary conditions from the liquid/solid removal processes of the unmodified toilet.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A device for attachment to a conventional tank-and-bowl toilet providing an additional conduit through which gaseous matter is extracted from the bowl assembly of said toilet, comprising:
 a) an inner conduit effectively extending the original channel from the toilet's flush-water hole of the tank assembly to just above and inside the the flush-water hole of the bowl assembly with allowance for space at the lower, bowl-end of said inner conduit for entrance of gaseous material, and   b) an outer conduit surrounding said inner conduit, forming a relatively independent, outer concentric channel of approximately one-quarter inch annular width, and   c) a side-arm conduit with flow-through connection with, and at an angle greater than horizontal moving away from, said outer conduit, and   d) a conduit-end structure at the upper, tank-end, of said device, holding said outer-conduit and said inner conduit in fixed position to one another and as means to maintain separation of materials moving through said conduits.   
     
     
         2 . A method for the extraction, continued separation from liquid and solid materials, and redirection of substantially exclusive gaseous matter from said bowl assembly of said toilet to an external environment, comprising:
 a) providing said device of  claim 1  emplaced between said tank assembly and said bowl assembly of said toilet, such that lower end of said outer conduit is sealed against the surface of said bowl assembly just outside of said flush water hole of said bowl assembly and lower end of said inner conduit maintains adequate space, to approximate outer conduit flow-volume, between outer surface of said inner conduit and the outside edge of said flush-water hole of the bowl assembly, and   b) providing an air-flow pump and appropriate ventilation tube from said side-arm of said device to said pump and from said pump through additional appropriate ventilation tube to said external environment, and   c) providing an electrical switch to said air-flow pump for controlling power to the process, and   d) providing means for protecting said outer conduit, said side-arm, said air-flow pump and said ventilation tube from entrainment of liquid or solid matter, for purposes of sanitary operation, under a variety of anticipated functioning and malfunctioning conditions, comprising:
 1) providing said side-arm and said ventilation tube in greater than horizontal angle moving away from said outer conduit, and 
 2) providing sealed connections wherever independent pieces join, and 
 3) providing a secondary pathway for air from the room to enter through the tank overflow tube for tank assemblies with this structure, becoming the primary pathway for air to enter said outer conduit if the ports and channels of said bowl assembly become immersed with liquid or solid materials.