Ventilated toilet

Abstract

A ventilated toilet for removing odors from the toilet base includes a unitary molded tank assembly with an integral ventilation cavity formed along the base and the back inside of the water tank. At least one water channel connects a water inlet chamber of the base to the water tank and is configured to channel water into the base when released from the tank, as well as to provide an airflow conduit for odors present in the base to be removed from the base via the ventilation cavity. A flush valve extends through the ventilation cavity to connect the tank and the base, and is sealed in attachment to eliminate egress of odors. The system permits substantial elimination of odors at flush volumes of 1.6, 1.3 or 0.8 gallons per flush by virtue of the enhanced seals and unitary construction. A toilet tank assembly in accordance with the invention is also disclosed.

1 . A ventilated toilet for location within an enclosure and permitting egress of odors from within the toilet to the atmosphere outside of the enclosure, said toilet comprising:
 a. a unitary molded water tank comprising:
 i. a tank discharge opening through a bottom of the tank; 
 ii. a ventilation discharge opening extending through a rear wall of the tank above the bottom of the tank, for connection to a ventilation conduit; 
 iii. a water inlet disposed above the tank discharge opening; 
 iv. a unitary fluid chamber for containing a volume of water that can be released by a user through the tank discharge opening; 
 v. an integral ventilation cavity defined by a molded cavity partition of at least partial tank width, said ventilation cavity extending from the tank discharge opening to the ventilation discharge opening; and 
 vi. a downward-facing attachment face of the tank in the bottom thereof for engaging a base; 
   b. a base comprising:
 i. a water inlet chamber; 
 ii. an upward-facing attachment face of the base for connection to the corresponding attachment face of the tank to retain the two components in relation to each other; 
 iii. at least one water channel connecting the water inlet chamber to the water tank and configured to channel water into the base when released from the tank, as well as to provide an airflow conduit for odors present in the base to be removed from the base via the ventilation cavity; and 
 iv. a sewer-connected bowl capable of flushing upon actuation of the toilet; 
   c. a flush valve moveable between a closed position and an open position, said flush valve comprising:
 i. a tubular connector body of sufficient length to define a fluid pathway connecting the discharge opening to the at least one water channel of the base, extending from a valve intake at an intake end of the tubular connector body positioned at the upper surface of the molded cavity partition to a valve discharge at the bottom outer surface of the tank, and comprising a plurality of enlarged vents extending therethrough along the section disposed within the ventilation cavity creating an atmospheric airflow pathway permitting airflow from the at least one water channel of the base through the connector body into the ventilation cavity in the absence of water; 
 ii. a valve intake at the intake end of the tubular connector body mounted in sealed attachment to the surface of the molded cavity partition, said valve intake capable of permitting ingress of water from the fluid chamber into and through the tubular connector body when the valve is in the open position; 
 iii. a discharge opening at the discharge end of the tubular connector body mounted in sealed attachment to an attachment face on the outer surface of the bottom of the tank; and 
 iv. an actuator comprising a trip lever connected to the valve intake and configured to move the flush valve from the closed position to the open position; 
   wherein:   the sealed attachment of the valve intake and the discharge ends of the flush valve to the tank restrict any odors from escaping either seal into the enclosure; and   upon connection of the ventilation discharge opening to the ventilation conduit and connection of the toilet to standard water and sewer service:
 on moving the actuator from the closed position to the open position the volume of water contained within the tank will be discharged into the toilet bowl, resulting in a toilet flush; and 
 at any time other than during flushing, odors within the base can be actively or passively discharged to the atmosphere outside of the enclosure by movement of said odors through the at least one water channel to the discharge end of the ventilation conduit. 
   
     
     
         2 . The ventilated toilet of  claim 1  wherein the valve intake comprises a flapper valve moveable from the closed position to the open position by the actuator, and wherein the flapper valve returns to the closed position in response to gravity as the water in the fluid chamber is released into the water inlet chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The ventilated toilet of  claim 1  wherein the discharge opening of the valve further comprises a gasket operative to seal the connector body to the base. 
     
     
         4 . The ventilated toilet of  claim 1  wherein the ventilation conduit further comprises a fan operative to draw odors from the base through the ventilation conduit and to expel the odors outside the enclosure. 
     
     
         5 . The ventilated toilet of  claim 1  wherein the volume of the fluid chamber permits the discharge of any of 1.6, 1.3 or 0.8 gallons per flush of the toilet at which flush volume and flow rate odors are substantially removed from the base. 
     
     
         6 . A unitary molded toilet water tank assembly for use in conjunction with a toilet base comprising:
 a. a water inlet chamber;   b. an upward-facing attachment face of the base for connection to the corresponding attachment face of the tank to retain the two components in relation to each other;   c. at least one water channel connecting the water inlet chamber to the water tank and configured to channel water into the base when released from the tank, as well as to provide an airflow conduit for odors present in the base to be removed from the base via the ventilation cavity; and   d. a sewer-connected bowl capable of flushing upon actuation of the toilet;   said water tank assembly comprising:   a. a unitary molded water tank comprising:
 i. a tank discharge opening through a bottom of the tank; 
 ii. a ventilation discharge opening extending through a rear wall of the tank above the bottom of the tank, for connection to a ventilation conduit; 
 iii. a water inlet disposed above the tank discharge opening; 
 iv. a unitary fluid chamber for containing a volume of water that can be released by a user through the tank discharge opening; 
 v. an integral ventilation cavity defined by a molded cavity partition of at least partial tank width, said ventilation cavity extending from the tank discharge opening to the ventilation discharge opening; and 
 vi. a downward-facing attachment face of the tank in the bottom thereof for engaging the toilet base; 
   b. a flush valve moveable between a closed position and an open position, said flush valve comprising:
 i. a tubular connector body of sufficient length to define a fluid pathway connecting the discharge opening to the at least one water channel of the base, extending from a valve intake at an intake end of the tubular connector body positioned at the upper surface of the molded cavity partition to a valve discharge at the bottom outer surface of the tank, and comprising a plurality of enlarged vents extending therethrough along the section disposed within the ventilation cavity creating an atmospheric airflow pathway permitting airflow from the at least one water channel of the base through the connector body into the ventilation cavity in the absence of water; 
 ii. a valve intake at the intake end of the tubular connector body mounted in sealed attachment to the surface of the molded cavity partition, said valve intake capable of permitting ingress of water from the fluid chamber into and through the tubular connector body when the valve is in the open position; 
 iii. a discharge opening at the discharge end of the tubular connector body mounted in sealed attachment to an attachment face on the outer surface of the bottom of the tank; and 
 iv. an actuator comprising a trip lever connected to the valve intake and configured to move the flush valve from the closed position to the open position; 
   wherein:   the attachment face of the tank can be attached to the corresponding attachment face of the base to retain the tank assembly and base in relation to each other; and   the sealed attachment of the valve intake and the discharge ends of the flush valve to the tank restrict any odors from escaping either seal.   
     
     
         7 . The tank assembly of  claim 6  wherein the valve intake comprises a flapper valve moveable from the closed position to the open position by the actuator, and wherein the flapper valve returns to the closed position in response to gravity as the water in the fluid chamber is released into the water inlet chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The tank assembly of  claim 6  wherein the discharge opening of the valve further comprises a gasket operative to seal the connector body to the base. 
     
     
         9 . The tank assembly of  claim 6  wherein the volume of the fluid chamber permits the discharge of any of 1.6, 1.3 or 0.8 gallons per flush of the toilet at which flush volume and flow rate odors are substantially removed from the base. 
     
     
         10 . A unitary molded toilet water tank for use in conjunction with a toilet base, said tank comprising:
 a. a tank discharge opening through a bottom of the tank;   b. a ventilation discharge opening extending through a rear wall of the tank above the bottom of the tank, for connection to a ventilation conduit;   c. a water inlet disposed above the tank discharge opening;   d. a unitary fluid chamber for containing a volume of water that can be released by a user through the tank discharge opening;   e. an integral ventilation cavity defined by a molded cavity partition of at least partial tank width, said ventilation cavity extending from the tank discharge opening to the ventilation discharge opening; and   f. a downward-facing attachment face of the tank in the bottom thereof for engaging the toilet base;   wherein said tank can be used in conjunction with a flush valve moveable between a closed position and an open position, said flush valve comprising:   i. a tubular connector body of sufficient length to define a fluid pathway connecting the discharge opening to the at least one water channel of the base, extending from a valve intake at an intake end of the tubular connector body positioned at the upper surface of the molded cavity partition to a valve discharge at the bottom outer surface of the tank, and comprising a plurality of enlarged vents extending therethrough along the section disposed within the ventilation cavity creating an atmospheric airflow pathway permitting airflow from the at least one water channel of the base through the connector body into the ventilation cavity in the absence of water;   ii. a valve intake at the intake end of the tubular connector body mounted in sealed attachment to the surface of the molded cavity partition, said valve intake capable of permitting ingress of water from the fluid chamber into and through the tubular connector body when the valve is in the open position;   iii. a discharge opening at the discharge end of the tubular connector body mounted in sealed attachment to an attachment face on the outer surface of the bottom of the tank; and   iv. an actuator comprising a trip lever connected to the valve intake and configured to move the flush valve from the closed position to the open position;   and wherein the attachment face of the tank can be attached to a corresponding attachment face of a base to retain the tank assembly and base in relation to each other; and   the sealed attachment of the valve intake and the discharge ends of the flush valve to the tank restrict any odors from escaping either seal.