Ventilated Toilet Apparatus and Dual Function Toilet Seat

Abstract

A ventilated toilet apparatus includes a toilet seat assembly, a pivot, a hinge assembly. The toilet seat assembly comprises a number of intake apertures, air passageways, and an exhaust conduit. The pivot is a hollow tube having a plurality of apertures in the middle section. The hinge assembly comprises a receptive opening and an axial post. The receptive opening receives the pivot, which is firmly attached to the toilet seat assembly. The axial post allows an airflow communication between the toilet seat assembly and the suction device. The toilet seat assembly, pivot, and hinge assembly are disposed in communication with a suction device to eliminate foul air. Addition of a heating unit to a toilet seat body provides a dual function apparatus which can be warmed to several temperature settings. Incorporation of ventilation and warm seat functions in a single unit would provide the bathroom users maximum comfort and enjoyment.

1 . A ventilated toilet apparatus comprising:
 a) a toilet seat assembly that comprises a seat body that comprises an upper surface, which is adapted to contact the body of a user, and a lower surface which is adapted to be positioned adjacent to a toilet bowl;   b) a hinge assembly; and   c) a pivot device with which the toilet seat assembly is pivotally attached to the hinge assembly;   
     wherein the toilet seat assembly further comprises a pivot receiving part that is formed in the seat body, and a plurality of intake apertures that are provided on the lower surface. 
   
   
       2 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an exhaust conduit provided in the pivot receiving part, and a cleaning port that is provided below the exhaust conduit and communicates with the exhaust conduit, and a plurality of air passageways that connects the intake apertures and the exhaust conduit, wherein the pivot receiving part encloses the pivot device. 
   
   
       3 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a cleaning port cap that seals the cleaning port airtight. 
   
   
       4 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the intake apertures are substantially vertical to the lower surface, and the air passageways are substantially parallel to the lower surface. 
   
   
       5 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the exhaust conduit comprises a junction to which the air passageways are connected, a tubular opening that is connected to the junction, wherein the tubular opening receives the pivot device. 
   
   
       6 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the pivot device comprises a hollow pivot tube. 
   
   
       7 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the pivot tube is made of copper, copper alloy, polymeric resin or plastics. 
   
   
       8 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the pivot tube is fixed in the tubular opening of the exhaust conduit. 
   
   
       9 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the junction comprises a junction opening that is open rearward of the toilet seat assembly, and a junction cap that seals the junction opening airtight. 
   
   
       10 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the exhaust conduit comprises a junction, to which the air passageways are connected, two tubular openings that are connected to the junction, wherein the tubular openings receive the pivot device. 
   
   
       11 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the pivot tube comprises a hollow pivot tube and a plurality of pivot apertures, wherein the pivot apertures are provided in the middle section of the pivot tube, wherein the pivot tube is fixed in the tubular openings of the exhaust conduit. 
   
   
       12 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the seat body comprises a bumper that is provided on the lower surface and is adapted to contact the toilet bowl, wherein the bumper surrounds the intake apertures. 
   
   
       13 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the hinge assembly comprises a hollow hinge case, a receptive opening that receives the pivot device, and an axial post that is adapted to fix the hinge assembly to the toilet bowl. 
   
   
       14 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the pivot device is rotatably received in the receptive opening, wherein the hinge assembly further comprises an  0 -ring that is provided in a groove formed in the receptive opening. 
   
   
       15 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the axial post comprises a hollow hinge tube. 
   
   
       16 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the hinge tube is threaded whereby the hinge assembly is fixed to the toilet tube by fastening a nut with the tube. 
   
   
       17 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the axial post further comprises an O-ring provided between the hinge tube and the hinge case. 
   
   
       18 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a suction device that is connected to the hinge assembly, wherein the suction device sucks air through the hinge assembly. 
   
   
       19 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a heating unit with which the seat body is heated, an air passageway that connects the intake apertures and the pivot device, wherein the seat body comprises a hollow space between the upper surface and the lower surface. 
   
   
       20 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the heating unit comprises a resistive wire that is attached below the upper surface in the hollow space, an electrical cord that connects the resistive wire to a control device, a sensor that reads the temperature of the seat body, and a sensor cord that connects the sensor to the control device, wherein the control device receives information from the sensor and controls the amount of electricity flowing to the resistive wire. 
   
   
       21 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 20 , further comprising a cord fastener that secures the electrical cord and the sensor cord within the hollow space of the seat body, and a grommet that secures the electrical cord and the sensor cord within the hinge assembly. 
   
   
       22 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the seat body comprises two tubular openings that receives the pivot device, and at least one bumper that is provided on the bottom surface and is adapted to contact the toilet bowl, wherein the bumper surrounds the intake apertures. 
   
   
       23 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising a suction device that is connected to the hinge assembly, wherein the suction device sucks air through the hinge assembly.