Active ventilation system for toilet bowls

Abstract

An active ventilation system for a toilet bowl is disclosed. The active ventilation system imparts an airflow to suction the air overlying the water level within the toilet bowl and carries the airflow where it is ejected into the sewer line servicing the toilet bowl. The active ventilation system includes a cavity, an upper airflow conduit having in fluid communication with a rim of the toilet bowl and the cavity, and a lower airflow conduit having an inlet at the cavity and an outlet configured for ejecting the airflow into the sewer line. A ventilation fan contained within the cavity, imparts an airflow that is drawn into the upper airflow conduit and ejected into the sewer line. Each of the cavity, the upper airflow conduit, lower airflow conduit may be cast with a base element of the toilet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An active ventilation system for a toilet bowl, comprising:
 a cavity;   an upper airflow conduit having a first end and a second end, the first end in fluid communication with a plurality of apertures disposed in a spaced apart relation in at least a portion of a rim of the toilet bowl, the second end in fluid communication with the cavity;   a lower airflow conduit having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet in fluid communication with the cavity, the outlet configured for fluid communication with a sewer line connected with a drainpipe of the toilet bowl; and   a ventilation fan contained within the cavity, wherein, when activated, the ventilation fan imparts an airflow that is drawn into the plurality of apertures and ejected into the sewer line.   
     
     
         2 . The active ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity is contained within a base of the toilet bowl. 
     
     
         3 . The active ventilation system of  claim 2 , wherein the upper airflow conduit is contained within the base of the toilet bowl. 
     
     
         4 . The active ventilation system of  claim 3 , wherein the lower airflow conduit is contained within the base of the toilet bowl. 
     
     
         5 . The active ventilation system of  claim 4 , wherein the outlet of the lower airflow conduit is in communication with the drainpipe of the toilet bowl in a downstream position from an S-trap in the base of the toilet bowl. 
     
     
         6 . A toilet bowl adapted for an active ventilation system, comprising:
 a cavity dimensioned to contain a ventilation fan;   an upper airflow conduit having a first end and a second end, the first end in fluid communication with a plurality of apertures disposed in a spaced apart relation in at least a portion of a rim of the toilet bowl, the second end in fluid communication with the cavity; and   a lower airflow conduit carried with a base of the toilet bowl having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet in fluid communication with the cavity, the outlet configured for fluid communication with a sewer line connected with a drainpipe of the toilet bowl; and   wherein the upper airflow conduit, the cavity, and the lower airflow conduit are configured to communicate an airflow drawn into the plurality of apertures and ejected into the sewer line.   
     
     
         7 . The toilet bowl of  claim 6 , wherein the cavity is contained within the base of the toilet bowl. 
     
     
         8 . The toilet bowl of  claim 6 , wherein the upper airflow conduit is contained within the base of the toilet bowl. 
     
     
         9 . The toilet bowl of  claim 6 , wherein the lower airflow conduit is contained within the base of the toilet bowl. 
     
     
         10 . The toilet bowl of  claim 6 , wherein the outlet of the lower airflow conduit is in communication with the drainpipe of the toilet bowl in a downstream position from an S-trap in the base of the toilet bowl. 
     
     
         11 . The toilet bowl of  claim 6 , wherein each of the cavity, the upper airflow conduit, and the lower airflow conduit are cast with the base of the toilet bowl. 
     
     
         12 . An active ventilation system for a toilet bowl, comprising:
 an upper airflow conduit having a first end and a second end, the first end in fluid communication with one or more air inlet apertures disposed in at least a portion of a rim of the toilet bowl,   a lower airflow conduit having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet in fluid communication with second end of the upper airflow conduit, the outlet configured for fluid communication with a drain line servicing the toilet bowl at a downstream position from an S-trap of the toilet bowl; and   a ventilation fan wherein, when activated, the ventilation fan imparts an airflow that is drawn into the one or more air inlet apertures, carried through the upper airflow conduit, the lower airflow conduit, and ejected into the drain line at the downstream position from the S-trap.   
     
     
         13 . The active ventilation system of  claim 12 , wherein the ventilation fan is interposed between the upper airflow conduit and the lower airflow conduit. 
     
     
         14 . The active ventilation system of  claim 12 , wherein the ventilation fan is an axial fan.