Ventilated Toilet Apparatus and Dual Function Toilet Seat

Abstract

A ventilated toilet apparatus includes a toilet seat assembly ( 1 ), a hinge assembly ( 3 ) and an air purification system ( 102 ). The toilet seat assembly comprises a number of intake apertures ( 5 ), air passageways ( 11 ), pivots ( 14 ), and an exhaust conduit ( 6 ). The hinge assembly comprises a receptive opening ( 15 ) and an axial post ( 17 ). The receptive opening receives the pivot which is attached to the toilet seat assembly. The axial post allows an airflow communication between the toilet seat assembly and the suction device ( 4 ). Addition of a heating unit to a toilet seat body provides a dual function apparatus which can be warmed to several temperature settings. The air purification system includes a filter ( 104 ) for arresting odorous smells, a blower ( 110 ) for drawing the noxious odors from the toilet bowl, and a UV lamp ( 122 ) for killing harmful bacteria and viruses.

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 O-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 comprises a notch and 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 of hinge further comprises a pin hole that accepts a pin across the notch of hollow hinge tube. 
   
   
       18 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the distance between the axis of the receptive opening and the axis of the axial post is in the range of about 1.5 to about 2.0 centimeter. 
   
   
       19 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the axis of the receptive opening meets the axis of the axial post at right angle in a plane. 
   
   
       20 . 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. 
   
   
       21 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 20 , 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. 
   
   
       22 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 21 , 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. 
   
   
       23 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 20 , 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. 
   
   
       24 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 20 , further comprising a suction device that is connected to the hinge assembly, wherein the suction device sucks air through the hinge assembly. 
   
   
       25 . 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. 
   
   
       26 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the suction device comprises a filter unit that removes foul odor and a blower unit that passes air through the filter unit, wherein purified air exits the filter unit toward the blower unit. 
   
   
       27 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the filter unit comprises a filter that contains activated charcoal, a filter cage that encloses the filter, and a filtercage cap that is adapted to receive a connection hose. 
   
   
       28 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the blower unit comprises a blower that induces air flow and a blower cage that encloses the blower, wherein the air exiting the blower circulates inside the blower cage. 
   
   
       29 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the suction device further comprises a lamp unit that kills microorganisms, wherein the lamp unit comprises a UV lamp. 
   
   
       30 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the suction device further comprises a switch unit that turns on and off the suction device. 
   
   
       31 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the switch unit comprises a time delay device that deactivates the blower and the lamp unit after a predetermined time after activation. 
   
   
       32 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the switch unit comprises a foot switch that is adapted to be operated by the foot of a user of the ventilated toilet apparatus. 
   
   
       33 . The ventilated toilet apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the suction device further comprises a warm seat switch knob that turns on and off resistive wires that are adapted to heat a toilet seat.