Vented toilet and odor removal system

Abstract

The present invention overcomes each of the disadvantages in the related art by providing a vented toilet and odor removal system having integrated components that require no additional cleaning and that do not interfere with the cleaning of the toilet or toilet bowl.

1 . A vented toilet bowl comprising: 
 a toilet bowl having at least one opening for the removal of gaseous contents from the toilet bowl, the at least one opening being coplanar with an inner surface of the toilet bowl; and    an exhaust channel extending from the at least one opening, to which an exhaust line may be attached.    
   
   
       2 . The vented toilet bowl of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening is positioned above a fluid level of the toilet bowl.  
   
   
       3 . The vented toilet bowl of  claim 1 , further comprising an exhaust line attached to the exhaust channel.  
   
   
       4 . The vented toilet bowl of  claim 1 , comprising at least two openings for the removal of gaseous contents and an exhaust channel extending from each opening.  
   
   
       5 . A toilet bowl odor removal system comprising: 
 a vented toilet bowl having:    a toilet bowl having at least one opening for the removal of gaseous contents from the toilet bowl, the at least one opening being coplanar with an inner surface of the toilet bowl; and    an exhaust channel extending from the at least one opening, to which an exhaust line may be attached;    at least one exhaust line extending from the exhaust channel to an outdoor ventilation space; and    an exhaust device for moving gaseous contents from the toilet bowl to the ventilation space.    
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one opening is positioned above a fluid level of the toilet bowl.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the vented toilet bowl includes at least two openings for the removal of gaseous contents and an exhaust channel extending from each opening.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising a check valve for substantially preventing air flow from the outdoor ventilation space to the toilet bowl.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the check valve is located along the exhaust line.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the exhaust device is an exhaust fan.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising an activation device for activating the exhaust device.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the activation device includes a switch.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the switch includes at least one of the following: a motion-sensitive switch, a light-sensitive switch, and a pressure-sensitive switch.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the switch includes a pressure-sensitive switch at least one of: connected to, mounted beneath, and integrated into a toilet seat attached to the toilet bowl.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising a vent pipe connected to the exhaust device.