AU748234B2

AU748234B2 - A ventilation apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU748234B2
Application number: AU37953/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Antoni Trawinski
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-07-03
Filing date: 1999-07-02
Publication date: 2002-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 2019-07-02
Also published as: AU3795399A

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT (Original) APPLICATION NO:

LODGED:

.4 4 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION LODGED:

ACCEPTED:

PUBLISHED:

RELATED ART: NAME OF APPLICANT: ACTUAL INVENTOR(S): ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: INVENTION TITLE: ANTONI TRAWINSKI

APPLICANT

LORD COMPANY Patent Trade Mark Attorneys 4 Douro Place West Perth, Western Australia, 6005

AUSTRALIA.

"A VENTILATION APPARATUS" DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NO'S: Australian Provisional Patent Application Number PP4458 filed on July 3, 1998.

The following Statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me/us:

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2

TITLE

"A VENTILATION APPARATUS" The present invention relates to a ventilation apparatus for ventilation of a toilet pan.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a ventilation apparatus for a toilet pan, the apparatus including a hollow base portion adapted to locate, in use, adjacent an upper surface of pan of a toilet, and a hollow seat portion pivotably connected to the base portion such that, in use, the seat portion is pivotable between a raised position and a lowered position, the base portion being provided *o* with a base cavity and at least one base aperture in communication with the base S: 10 cavity, and the seat portion being provided with a seat cavity, at least one first seat a .i.

aperture in communication with the seat cavity, and at least one second seat aperture in communication with the seat cavity, wherein the at least one second seat aperture is located relative to the seat portion such that, in use, the at least one second seat aperture locates adjacent the toilet pan when the seat portion is in the lowered S 15 position, and the at least one first seat aperture is located relative to the seat portion *."and is adapted to engage with the at least one base aperture when the seat portion is in the lowered position such that a substantially enclosed passage is provided between the base cavity and the seat cavity when the seat portion is in the lowered position.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a toilet seat of a ventilation apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is an upper plan view of the toilet seat shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a lower plan view of the toilet seat shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic exploded perspective view of the toilet seat shown in Figures 1 to 3; Figure 5 is a diagrammatic exploded perspective view of a flue assembly of ventilation apparatus in accordance with present invention; Figure 6 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view taken along the line VI VI in Figure in the direction of the arrows; Figure 7 is a diagrammatic exploded perspective view of an alternative flue assembly of a ventilation apparatus in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 8 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view taken along the line VIII VIII in 10 Figure 7 in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Figures 1 to 4 a toilet seat 10 of a ventilation apparatus in accordance with the present invention, the toilet seat including a base portion 12, and a seat portion 14 pivotably connected to the base portion 12 by a hinge 16.

The base portion 12 includes an upper base web 18 and a lower base web *connected to each other to form the base portion 12.

The upper base web 18 includes two upstanding annular members 22 which define two first apertures 23, two first upstanding dividing members 24, a second upstanding dividing member 26 and a first upstanding boundary member 28 extending substantially around the periphery of the upper base web 18.

The lower base web 20 includes two second apertures 30 and two indented portions 32, each indented portion 32 having a frangible membrane 34.

The arrangement is such that when the upper base web 18 and the lower base web are connected together, four base apertures 36 are defined by the upper and lower base webs 18, 20, the first upstanding dividing members 24, the second upstanding dividing member 26 and the first upstanding boundary member 28. The four base apertures 36 are disposed in a linear configuration adjacent and substantially parallel to the hinge 16. The arrangement is also such that when the upper base web 18 and the lower base web 20 are connected together a base cavity is defined between the upper base web 18 and the lower base web 20 and an enclosed passage is defined between the base cavity and the base apertures 36.

In use, at least one of the frangible membranes 34 is broken so as to thereby allow an exhaust pipe to be connected to the base member 12 and thereby achieve fluid 10 communication between the pipe and the base cavity of the base portion 12 The seat portion 14 includes an upper seat web 38 and a lower seat web 40, the upper seat web 38 and the lower seat web 40 being connected together to form the seat oportion 14.

The upper seat web 38 includes a substantially oval shaped third aperture 42 located substantially centrally of the upper seat web 38, third upstanding dividing members 44, a fourth upstanding dividing member 46, a second upstanding boundary member 47 extending substantially around the periphery of the upper seat web 38, and supporting members 48 for ensuring that the lower seat web 40 is spaced from the upper seat web 38 when the upper seat web 38 and the lower seat web 40 are connected together.

The lower seat web 40 includes a substantially oval shaped fourth aperture 50 located substantially centrally of the lower seat web 40 and four upstanding lip members 52 extending substantially perpendicular to the hinge 16.

The arrangement is such that when the upper seat web 38 and the lower seat web are connected together the upper and lower seat webs 38, 40, the fourth upstanding dividing member 46, the third upstanding dividing members 44 and the second upstanding boundary member 47 define four first seat apertures 54, and the upper and lower seat webs 38, 40 and the third upstanding dividing members 44 define second seat apertures 56. The arrangement is also such that when the upper seat web 38 and the lower seat web 40 are connected together, a seat cavity is defined between the upper seat web 38 and the lower seat web 40 and an enclosed passage is defined between the first seat apertures 54 and the second seat apertures 56.

10 The lip members 52 together with adjacent protruding portions of the third upstanding dividing members 44, the fourth upstanding dividing member 46, and the second upstanding boundary member 47 serve to define a seal member which provides a seal between the base apertures 36 and the first seat apertures 54 when the seat portion is in a lowered position.

Also provided on the upper base web 18 and the upper seat web 38 are first and second hinge portions 58 and 60 respectively, the first and second hinge portions 58, being configured so as to form a hinge 16 when the base portion 12 is connected to the seat portion 14. The hinge 16 includes a pin 61 which extends through the first hinge portion 58 and the second hinge portion 60 so as to fix the base portion 12 relative to the seat portion 14 and allow the seat portion 14 to pivot relative to the base portion 12 between a raised position and a lowered position.

The toilet seat 10 operates such that when the toilet seat 10 is in the lowered position and the base portion 12 and the seat portion 14 lie substantially in the same plane, the base apertures 36 and the first seat apertures 54 align so as to thereby provide a substantially enclosed passage from the base cavity through the seat cavity to the second seat apertures 56. When the toilet seat is in the raised position and the seat portion 14 is at an angle to the base portion 12, the base apertures 36 and the first seat apertures 54 do not align, as shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, there is shown a flue assembly 62 of the ventilation apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

The flue assembly 62 includes a flue base member 64, a flue cover member 66, an upper flue cap 68 in fluid communication with the atmosphere and a lower flue cap having an annular upstanding member 72 defining a flue aperture 74.

:10 The flue base member 64 is shaped so as to be complimentary to the shape of a corner portion of an interior wall of a building and the flue base member 64, the flue cover member 66, and the upper and lower flue caps 68, 70 are connected together to form the flue assembly 62 in a conventional way.

The annular upstanding member 72 is connected to the base portion 12 of the seat assembly 10 by a pipe (not shown), the pipe being connected to the base portion 12 so that the interior of the pipe is in communication with the base cavity by breaking one of the frangible membranes 34 and attaching the pipe to the indented portion 32 such that the pipe and the indented portion form a hermetic seal. The desired point of connection and corresponding frangible membrane to break is chosen depending on the side of the base portion 12 to which it is more readily possible to form a connection between the base portion 12 and the pipe.

In Figures 7 and 8, there is shown an alternative flue assembly 76 which includes a flue base member 78, a flue cover member 80, an upper flue cap 82 in fluid communication with the atmosphere and a lower flue cap 84 having an upstanding annular member 86 defining a flue aperture 88. Operation of this flue assembly is the same as the flue assembly shown in Figures 5 and 6, except that this flue assembly is adapted for connection to a flat surface of a wall of a building and not to a corner wall portion. However, it will be appreciated that other shaped flue assemblies could equally be provided, the shape of connecting elements of the flue assembly being determined by the shape of the wall to which the flue assembly is to be attached.

The flue assembly 62, 76 may also be provided with a fan for actively moving gas through the ventilation apparatus from the second seat apertures to the atmosphere.

In use, the base portion 12 is connected to an upper surface of a toilet pan (not shown) 10 such that the upper base web 18 is disposed upwardly of the lower base web 20, the oooo first and second apertures 23, 30 receiving suitable fixing means (not shown). The toilet seat 10 is oriented relative to the toilet pan such that the third and fourth apertures 42, 50 of the seat portion 14 locate substantially centrally of the toilet pan when the seat portion 14 is in the lowered position. It will be understood that in this position the second seat apertures 56 locate adjacent the toilet pan. The base portion 12 of the toilet seat 10 is connected to a suitable flue assembly 62, 76 by a pipe extending between the flue assembly 62, 76 and the base portion 12, the pipe being connected the base portion 12 by breaking one of the frangible membranes 34 and sealably fixing the pipe to the corresponding indented portion 32. In this way, a substantially enclosed passage is formed between the flue assembly and the second seat apertures 56 when the toilet seat 10 is in the closed position, thereby allowing undesirable gasses to escape from the toilet pan to the atmosphere.

Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A ventilation apparatus for a toilet pan, the apparatus including a hollow base portion adapted to locate, in use, adjacent an upper surface of pan of a toilet, and a hollow seat portion pivotably connected to the base portion such that, in use, the seat portion is pivotable between a raised position and a lowered position, the base portion being provided with a base cavity and at least one base aperture in communication with the base cavity, and the seat portion being provided with a seat cavity, at least one first seat aperture in communication with the seat cavity, and at least one second 10 seat aperture in communication with the seat cavity, wherein the at least one second S•seat aperture is located relative to the seat portion such that, in use, the at least one 0000 second seat aperture locates adjacent the toilet pan when the seat portion is in the lowered position, and the at least one first seat aperture is located relative to the seat portion and is adapted to engage with the at least one base aperture when the seat 15 portion is in the lowered position such that a substantially enclosed passage is provided between the base cavity and the seat cavity when the seat portion is in the lowered position.

2. A ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base portion includes an upper base web and a lower base web connected to the upper base web.

3. A ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the seat portion includes an upper seat web and a lower seat web connected to the upper seat web.

4. A ventilation apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the base portion includes a plurality of upstanding base members adapted to define the said at least one base aperture.

5. A ventilation apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the seat portion includes a plurality of upstanding seat members adapted to define the said at least one first and second seat apertures.

6. A ventilation apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the seat portion includes a substantially oval shaped seat aperture substantially centrally disposed relative to the seat portion and the said at least one second seat "aperture is disposed adjacent the substantially oval shaped aperture. •o

7. A ventilation apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further including at least one seal member, each seal member being associated with a base aperture and with a first seat aperture, the at least one seal member extending at least partially around the periphery of the base aperture and the first seat aperture when the seat portion is in the lowered position so as to thereby provide a seal between the base aperture and the first seat aperture when the seat portion is in the lowered position.

8. A ventilation apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further including a hinge disposed between the seat portion and the base portion for facilitating pivotal movement of the seat portion relative to the base portion.

9. A ventilation apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base portion includes a frangible membrane.

A ventilation apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further including a flue assembly in fluid communication with the base cavity and in fluid communication with the atmosphere.

11. A ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the flue assembly includes a flue member adapted to conform to a surface of an interior wall.

12. A ventilation apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS 2 ND DAY OF JULY 1999. 15 ANTONI TRAWINSKI By his Patent Attorneys LORD COMPANY PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA.