Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Ventilation – Electric-motor pump
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-12
2001-08-28
Phillips, Charles E. (Department: 3751)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Ventilation
Electric-motor pump
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279173
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to devices and methods for toilet ventilation. In particular, the invention relates to a toilet ventilation device disposed in a tank of a toilet and including a radar sensor, and methods therefor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A variety of devices are used to remove or reduce odors from air in restrooms and bathrooms. Ceiling fans are one example of such devices. Other examples include air filtration devices that remove odors from the vicinity of a toilet, including the bowl of the toilet. Some devices rely on the use of an electrically operated fan or suction apparatus to remove the air. The continuous operation of the fan or suction apparatus is typically not desirable because of the wear on the motor or other mechanical and electrical components of the fan or suction device and/or the continuous use of electricity.
Some conventional air filtration devices are designed for placement outside the toilet or attached to the toilet. One disadvantage of these devices is that the device is exposed and may not be aesthetically acceptable and/or may be subject to tampering. Other conventional air filtration devices are designed for operation in the toilet, however, many of these devices require modification (often extensive) of the toilet and/or a specially constructed toilet. For example, the device may require sealing of the toilet tank, attaching additional hoses or pipes to the toilet, and/or forming sensor windows in the tank or other portion of the toilet. These devices are typically not convenient or suitable for retrofitting existing toilets.
A number of air filtration devices have been developed that utilize switches to turn on and off the fan or suction device. Manual switches may be operated by a user, but are typically inconvenient. Accordingly, devices with automatic switches have been developed. One conventional type of switch is a pressure switch. The switch may be positioned, for example, underneath the toilet seat. The switch is actuated when a user sits on the toilet and released when the user stands up. A disadvantage of this type of pressure switch is that it is exposed and can be damaged, vandalized, or rendered nonfunctional by dirt, dust, or other contaminants.
Another type of conventional switch is an infrared sensor. Infrared light is emitted by an infrared source, such as a light emitting diode (LED), and reflected by a user to an infrared detector, such as a photocell. The use of infrared detection has several limitations. First, infrared radiation cannot penetrate most materials because of the short wavelength of the radiation. Thus, infrared emitters and detectors are typically either exposed or are positioned behind a window made of material that is transparent to infrared radiation. In addition, infrared sensors can be inadvertently or purposefully blocked by the presence of material, such as paper, dust, or cloth, in front of the emitter or detector.
Another disadvantage of infrared detection is that the reflectivity of objects, such as clothing, varies widely. Thus, the infrared detector must be sensitive to a wide variation in the strength of reflected signals. There is a risk that the detector may fail to detect a user with clothing or other articles that absorb or only weakly reflect infrared radiation. Furthermore, conventional infrared sensors do not discriminate with respect to distance of an object from the sensor. Thus, an infrared sensor might not discriminate between a person using a toilet and someone standing close to the toilet. These disadvantages of infrared detectors may cause faulty responses by the toilet ventilation device (e.g., continuous or intermittent operation of the fan or suction device).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Generally, the present invention relates to methods and devices for toilet ventilation using a radar sensor to control the operation of the device in response to presence and, optionally, absence of a user. One embodiment is a toilet ventilation device for disposition within a toilet, for example, in the tank of a toilet. The toilet ventilation device includes a housing that defines an air inlet aperture and an air outlet aperture. Within the housing are an air movement apparatus for drawing air into the device, a filter for removing malodorous elements in the air, and a radar sensor for activating the air movement apparatus in response to the presence of a user and, optionally, deactivating the air movement apparatus when the user leaves. The toilet ventilation device is configured and arranged to draw air, using the air movement apparatus, from the toilet, through the air inlet aperture, into contact with the filter, and out the air outlet aperture. In one mode of operation, the toilet ventilation device is disposed over the overflow conduit of the toilet to draw air from the bowl of the toilet, through the overflow conduit, and into the toilet ventilation device.
Another embodiment of the invention is a toilet ventilation device that includes a housing defining an air inlet aperture and an air outlet aperture, an air movement apparatus, and a radar sensor. The air movement apparatus and radar sensor are electrically coupled to activate the air movement apparatus in response to detection of a user. Both the air movement apparatus and radar sensor are disposed in the housing. The radar sensor includes a transmitter for emitting pulses of rf energy, a gated receiver for receiving reflections of the pulses of rf energy, and a processor for determining, in response to the reflections received by the receiver, whether a user is present.
Yet another embodiment of the invention is a method of removing malodorous elements using a toilet ventilation device disposed in a toilet, for example, in the tank of a toilet. A radar sensor senses whether a person is proximate the toilet. When a person is proximate the toilet, an air movement apparatus is turned on to draw air from a bowl of the toilet into the toilet ventilation device. Malodorous elements in the air are then removed using a filter. The radar sensor, air movement apparatus, and filter are all disposed in the toilet ventilation device.
The above summary of the present invention is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment or every implementation of the present invention. The Figures and the detailed description which follow more particularly exemplify these embodiments.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1997695 (1935-04-01), Nielsen et al.
patent: 2100962 (1937-11-01), Juntunen
patent: 3295147 (1967-01-01), Meyer
patent: 3571824 (1971-03-01), Poister
patent: 3585651 (1971-06-01), Cox
patent: 3626554 (1971-12-01), Martz
patent: 3691568 (1972-09-01), Martz
patent: 3914805 (1975-10-01), Dolan
patent: 4031574 (1977-06-01), Werner
patent: 4044408 (1977-08-01), Pearson
patent: 4141091 (1979-02-01), Pulvori
patent: 4165544 (1979-08-01), Barry
patent: 4166298 (1979-09-01), Pearson
patent: 4251888 (1981-02-01), Turner
patent: 4583250 (1986-04-01), Valarao
patent: 5060323 (1991-10-01), Shaw
patent: 5125119 (1992-06-01), Munoz
patent: 5167039 (1992-12-01), Sim
patent: 5210884 (1993-05-01), Redford
patent: 5231705 (1993-08-01), Ragusa
patent: 5255395 (1993-10-01), Millette
patent: 5257421 (1993-11-01), Rose et al.
patent: 5259072 (1993-11-01), Trombley
patent: 5299326 (1994-04-01), Alexander
patent: 5299327 (1994-04-01), Wilkerson
patent: 5305472 (1994-04-01), Eger
patent: 5321856 (1994-06-01), Gastesi
patent: 5325544 (1994-07-01), Busch
patent: 5333321 (1994-08-01), Redford
patent: 5341521 (1994-08-01), Redford
patent: 5345471 (1994-09-01), McEwan
patent: 5345617 (1994-09-01), Jahner et al.
patent: 5353443 (1994-10-01), Sim
patent: 5355536 (1994-10-01), Prisco
patent: 5355537 (1994-10-01), Redford
patent: 5361070 (1994-11-01), McEwan
patent: 5361422 (1994-11-01), Vincent et al.
patent: 5369810 (1994-12-01), Warren
patent: 5369811 (1994-12-01), Serre
patent: 5369812 (1994-12-01), Trombley
patent: 5369813 (1994-12-01), Goddard et al.
patent: 5386594 (1995-02-01), Hilton
patent: 5388280 (1995-02-01), Sim
patent: 5394569 (1995-03-01), Poir
Denzin Peter W.
Heinzmann Fred Judson
Larkin John F.
Lincicum Erik C.
Merritt Michael J.
D2M, Inc.
Merchant & Gould P.C.
Phillips Charles E.
LandOfFree
Devices and methods for toilet ventilation using a radar sensor does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Devices and methods for toilet ventilation using a radar sensor, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Devices and methods for toilet ventilation using a radar sensor will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2535626