Dual fan, solar powered ventilation system for portable toilet enclosures and method of use

Abstract

The dual fan, solar powered fan for a portable enclosure, like a portable toilet structure includes: a first upper fan unit that includes a first main housing for mounting to a sidewall of the portable toilet enclosure. The first main housing consists of: a first backing plate for attaching to an upper section of the sidewall, a first vent hole surround that passes at least partially through a first fan hole in the sidewall, an electrically powered, first motorized fan for positioning over the first vent hole surround to serve as an exhaust fan for the portable toilet enclosure, and a solar panel for affixing to the first backing plate, said solar panel being electrically connected to the first motorized exhaust fan. The second lower fan unit for this invention includes a second main housing for mounting to the same sidewall of the portable enclosure a set distance away from the first fan unit. That second main housing includes: a second backing plate for attaching to a lower section the sidewall the set distance from the first fan unit, a second vent hole surround that passes at least partially through a second fan hole in the sidewall, and an electrically powered, second motorized fan for positioning over the second vent hole surround to serve as an intake fan for the portable toilet enclosure. Lastly, there is included an electrical connection from the solar panel in the first main connection to the second motorized fan of the second main housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A solar powered ventilation system for a portable enclosure comprises:
 (a) a first fan unit that includes a first main housing for mounting to a sidewall of the portable enclosure, said first main housing including:
 a first backing plate for attaching to the sidewall, a first vent hole surround that passes at least partially through a first fan hole in the sidewall, 
 an electrically powered, first motorized fan for positioning over the first vent hole surround, and 
 a solar panel for affixing to the first backing plate, said solar panel being electrically connected to the first motorized fan; 
   (b) a second fan unit that includes a second main housing for mounting to the same sidewall of the portable enclosure a set distance away from the first fan unit, said second main housing including:
 a second backing plate for attaching to the sidewall the set distance from the first fan unit, 
 a second vent hole surround that passes at least partially through a second fan hole in the sidewall, 
 an electrically powered, second motorized fan for positioning over the second vent hole surround, and 
   (c) an electrical connection from the solar panel in the first main connection to the second motorized fan of the second main housing.   
     
     
         2 . The solar powered ventilation system of  claim 1  wherein the portable enclosure is a portable toilet structure. 
     
     
         3 . The solar powered ventilation system of  claim 1  wherein the first fan unit is an air exhaust unit and the second fan unit is a fresh air intake unit for creating an air circulation loop into and out of the portable enclosure. 
     
     
         4 . The solar powered ventilation system of  claim 1  wherein the first fan unit is located closer to a ceiling for the portable enclosure. 
     
     
         5 . The solar powered ventilation system of  claim 1  wherein the second fan unit is located closer to a floor for the portable enclosure. 
     
     
         6 . The solar powered ventilation system of  claim 5  wherein the second fan unit is located between about 12 to 24 inches above the floor for the portable enclosure. 
     
     
         7 . The solar powered ventilation system of  claim 6  wherein the second fan unit is located about 18 inches above the floor for the portable enclosure. 
     
     
         8 . The solar powered ventilation system of  claim 1  wherein the first main housing further includes a first front cover portion for minimizing accidental damage to the first motorized fan and the second main housing further includes a second front cover portion for minimizing accidental damage to the second motorized fan. 
     
     
         9 . The solar powered ventilation system of  claim 8  wherein at least one of the first front cover portion and the second front cover portion includes an air directing hood extension. 
     
     
         10 . The solar powered ventilation system of  claim 1 , which further includes a wire covering over the electrical connection from the solar panel in the first main connection to the second motorized fan of the second main housing. 
     
     
         11 . A dual fan, solar powered ventilation system for a portable toilet enclosure, said ventilation system comprising:
 (a) a first upper fan unit that includes a first main housing for mounting to a sidewall of the portable toilet enclosure, said first main housing including:
 a first backing plate for attaching to an upper section of the sidewall, 
 a first vent hole surround that passes at least partially through a first fan hole in the sidewall, 
 an electrically powered, first motorized fan for positioning over the first vent hole surround to serve as an exhaust fan for the portable toilet enclosure, and 
 a solar panel for affixing to the first backing plate, said solar panel being electrically connected to the first motorized exhaust fan; 
   (b) a second lower fan unit that includes a second main housing for mounting to the same sidewall of the portable enclosure a set distance away from the first fan unit, said second main housing including:
 a second backing plate for attaching to a lower section the sidewall the set distance from the first fan unit, 
 a second vent hole surround that passes at least partially through a second fan hole in the sidewall, and 
 an electrically powered, second motorized fan for positioning over the second vent hole surround to serve as an intake fan for the portable toilet enclosure, and 
   (c) an electrical connection from the solar panel in the first main connection to the second motorized fan of the second main housing.   
     
     
         12 . The solar powered ventilation system of  claim 11  wherein the first fan unit is located closer to a ceiling for the portable toilet enclosure. 
     
     
         13 . The solar powered ventilation system of  claim 11  wherein the second fan unit is located closer to a floor for the portable toilet enclosure. 
     
     
         14 . The solar powered ventilation system of  claim 13  wherein the second fan unit is located between about 12 to 24 inches above the floor for the portable toilet enclosure. 
     
     
         15 . The solar powered ventilation system of  claim 11  wherein the first main housing further includes a first front cover portion for minimizing accidental damage to the first motorized fan and the second main housing further includes a second front cover portion for minimizing accidental damage to the second motorized fan. 
     
     
         16 . The solar powered ventilation system of  claim 15  wherein at least one of the first front cover portion and the second front cover portion includes an air directing hood extension. 
     
     
         17 . The solar powered ventilation system of  claim 11 , which further includes a wire covering over the electrical connection from the solar panel in the first main connection to the second motorized fan of the second main housing 
     
     
         18 . A method for providing improved air circulation into and out of a portable toilet enclosure, said method comprising the steps of:
 a. providing a dual fan, solar powered ventilation system for the portable toilet enclosure, said ventilation system comprising:
 (i) a first upper fan unit that includes a first main housing for mounting to a sidewall of the portable toilet enclosure, said first main housing including: a first backing plate for attaching to an upper section of the sidewall, a first vent hole surround that passes at least partially through a first fan hole in the sidewall, an electrically powered, first motorized fan for positioning over the first vent hole surround to serve as an exhaust fan for the portable toilet enclosure, and a solar panel for affixing to the first backing plate, said solar panel being electrically connected to the first motorized exhaust fan; 
 (ii) a second lower fan unit that includes a second main housing for mounting to the same sidewall of the portable enclosure a set distance away from the first fan unit, said second main housing including: a second backing plate for attaching to a lower section the sidewall the set distance from the first fan unit, a second vent hole surround that passes at least partially through a second fan hole in the sidewall, an electrically powered, second motorized fan for positioning over the second vent hole surround to serve as an intake fan for the portable toilet enclosure, and 
 (iii) an electrical connection from the solar panel in the first main connection to the second motorized fan of the second main housing; 
   b. drilling a first aperture through a sidewall of the portable toilet enclosure, closer to a ceiling of the portable toilet enclosure and inserting the first fan unit into and through the first aperture;   c. drilling a second aperture through a sidewall of the portable toilet enclosure, closer to a floor of the portable toilet enclosure and inserting the second fan unit into and through the second aperture; and   d. electrically connecting the solar panel of the first upper fan unit to the second lower fan unit.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , which further comprises:
 e. covering the electrical connection from the solar panel of the first upper fan unit to the second lower fan unit.