KR20250129616A - antiviral toilet - Google Patents

Abstract

An antiviral toilet comprises a base structure including a toilet bowl having a top rim, a seat and an upper lid hingedly mounted to the base structure, and a filter assembly including a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter disposed within a porous and metal filter track housing, wherein the filter assembly is mounted on the underside of the toilet upper lid and is concentric with the toilet seat, and wherein the filter assembly has one end in uniform surface contact with an upper surface of the toilet seat when the toilet seat and the toilet lid are closed, and includes an electronic device for initiating a flush, a power device for supplying power to the electronic device, and at least one visual indicator for status notification.

Description

antiviral toilet

This invention claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/392,952, filed March 8, 2021, entitled "ANTI-VIRAL TOILET" and U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/061,642, filed May 8, 2020, entitled "ANTI-AEROSOL TOILET SEAT", the disclosures of which are at least herein incorporated by reference.

The present invention relates to the field of plumbed waste collection facilities, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for removing contaminants from displaced (moved) air in a plumbed waste collection facility.

Waste management technologies include many facilities and equipment designed or otherwise adapted to safely collect and/or treat and recycle human biological waste (excrement), in the hope that this will eliminate or at least reduce potentially hazardous biological airborne pollutants and/or potentially hazardous synthetic airborne toxins and/or fumes (gases).

A typical system for recycling biological human waste (excrement), such as feces and urine, involves a collection process, such as collecting waste from toilets and urinals. The waste may be stored in collection tanks known as septic tanks for periodic collection by vehicles. The collected waste may then be pumped into a sewer system, ultimately reaching one or more treatment facilities where chemicals and specific processes are applied to the wastewater to clean it of biological and synthetic contaminants. The treated water may be used for other purposes or discharged into the natural water distribution system.

It is well known in the art, and numerous studies have confirmed, that waste collection systems, such as flush toilets, can disperse certain airborne particles, including disease-causing spores, viruses, and other airborne contaminants, into the air surrounding the flush toilet. These contaminants can remain airborne for a period of time before settling on surfaces surrounding the flush toilet, including the surface of the toilet bowl, countertops, sinks, shower heads, or bathtubs.

The study cited herein, titled "Aerosolization Potential of Clostridium difficile Following a Toilet Flush," by Wilcox, Sandoe, and Best, found that Clostridium difficile could be recovered from air samples following a toilet flush. Samples collected from a point 25 cm above the toilet seat tested positive for Clostridium difficile. Bioaerosol generated by toilet flushing is a potential source of hospital-acquired environmental contamination. Preventive measures (e.g., toilet lids) should be evaluated as interventions to prevent toilet-related environmental contamination in clinical settings.

Other studies suggest that toilets should be kept clean to prevent the spread of bacteria and pathogens during the novel coronavirus pandemic. Toilet users' health may be affected by pathogens contained in airborne aerosol droplets, which can rise up to a meter from the toilet seat during flushing and disperse into the air. Each flush can generate approximately 14,000 to 80,000 aerosol particles, and these droplets can rise even higher if the cistern is installed in a high position or a valve-type flushing system is used.

Aerosol droplets can rise up to a meter. Studies have shown that pathogens can be dispersed into the air through aerosol droplets released from toilet flushes, contaminating washrooms. Furthermore, the smaller the pathogen, the higher the concentration in the air after flushing. Closing the toilet lid before flushing can help reduce the airborne aerosol droplets containing bacteria from contaminating the air and the toilet; however, Professor Lai noted that international studies have shown that flushing can still release bacteria because there is a few millimeters of space between the lid and the toilet bowl.

Because pathogens can remain on the toilet bowl surface for a while and be transmitted through aerosol droplets, multiple flushes may not help eliminate the problem. Therefore, indoor walls, all surfaces, and surrounding areas can become contaminated when the flushing event spreads pathogens into the air. As a result, the toilet seat, toilet, and even the toilet floor can become contaminated. Generally, the recommended bleach or disinfectant solution is to regularly clean the toilet bowl with a 1:49 diluted household bleach solution and to clean all areas of the toilet with a 1:99 diluted household bleach solution. If possible, running an exhaust fan for 15 to 30 minutes after using the toilet will help dilute (weaken) bacteria and viruses in the air. Opening windows also helps maintain adequate indoor ventilation.

In fact, a typical toilet flush involves displacing air inside the bowl as additional water enters the bowl, then returning the air to the bowl as the additional water is expelled, and then the additional water after the flush causes the air inside the bowl to move back out. Typically, the plume of aerosolized biological material is pushed upwards, but if the toilet lid is closed, the gap between the underside of the toilet lid and the rim of the bowl may cause it to be pushed laterally. The scientific discovery that sewers can contain other pathogens, as well as viruses like the SARS-CoV-19 virus, confirms that when an infected person uses the toilet, these pathogens are present, can be aerosolized in the immediate area of the toilet, and over time can settle on virtually any surface in the immediate area of the toilet.

A clear problem with devices known in the art is their reliance on known sensor analyzers, collectors, filters, or sterilizers. These devices are non-mechanical, non-moving, and non-airtight. Furthermore, they are not airtight, blocking all aerosols. In addition to the aforementioned challenges, aerosolized or airborne contaminants, spores, or pathogens may be retained within the housing and may bypass the edges of the described article, which may not be sealed from the top and surrounding hollow spaces to the toilet.

Therefore, what is clearly needed in the art is a modular antiviral filter assembly for filtering airborne contaminants from displaced air during the flushing sequence of a waste collection facility to remove, prevent (suppress), or eliminate inorganic and organic airborne particles, including shed viral pathogens.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device and method for removing pollutants from displaced (moved) air in a pipe-type waste collection facility.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an antiviral toilet (for indoor use) comprises a base structure having a toilet water bowl and an upper bowl rim, a toilet seat hingedly connected to the base structure and oriented concentrically with the upper bowl rim, a toilet top lid hingedly connected to the base structure and oriented concentrically with the toilet seat, and a filter assembly comprising a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter disposed within a porous and metal filter track housing, the filter assembly being mounted on the underside of the toilet top lid and concentrically with the toilet seat, the filter assembly having one end in uniform surface contact with an upper surface of the toilet seat when the toilet seat and the toilet lid are closed, and an electronics compartment having an internal volume containing electronics for initiating a flush, a power supply for supplying power to the electronics, and at least one visual indicator for status notification.

When the flush sequence is initiated manually or electronically with the toilet seat and lid closed, contaminated air within the toilet bowl rises as the water bowl is refilled from the connected water supply (source) and escapes laterally along the periphery of the toilet bowl through the filter assembly and out of the base structure.

In one embodiment, a plumbed water tank serves as a connected water supply source, and a flush button is provided in the electronics compartment to enable manual flushing. In another embodiment, a plumbed electronic flush unit serves as a connected water supply source, wherein flushing is remotely initiated via a wireless transceiver and a remote power switch included in the electronics compartment. In a variation of this embodiment, flushing is initiated as a result of optically detecting the closed state of the antiviral toilet. In another embodiment utilizing a tank, flushing is initiated by a user operating a remote control device.

In one embodiment, the toilet seat includes at least two linear and annular one-way check valves disposed laterally through the material of the toilet seat, the check valves allowing outside air to enter the toilet bowl and preventing air inside the toilet bowl from leaking back out through the check valves to the base structure. In one embodiment, the visual indicator includes two or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted on the exterior of the electronics compartment to indicate to the user the status of the toilet, including the status of the toilet bowl filling with water after a flush action. In a preferred embodiment, the electronics for initiating a flush include a remotely operated power switch. In one embodiment, the electronics include a microcontroller having instructions for indicating the status via one or more LEDs.

In one embodiment, the antiviral toilet further comprises an annular recessed portion having a cross bar therein for acting as a lift handle disposed outside the electronics compartment. In one embodiment, the electronics further comprises an electronic device for providing a negative charge to the inner track portion of the filter track housing and a positive charge to the outer portion of the filter track housing. In one embodiment, the power supply is a rechargeable battery, and wherein the electronics further comprises an electronic device for allowing the battery to be charged. In a variation of this embodiment, the electronic device for charging is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port. In one embodiment, uniform surface contact between the top lid and the toilet seat is achieved through a gasket installed at the free end of the filter assembly. The antiviral toilet further comprises a pair of polymer caps for covering the metal porous track housing at each end of the filter assembly.

The device according to the present invention can remove and reduce viruses and other contaminants contained in the air moving in a pipe-type waste collection facility.

Figure 1a is a front view of an antiviral toilet with its lid down according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 1b is a front view of the antiviral toilet of Figure 1a with the lid open.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view from above of a seat assembly of an antiviral toilet according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the seat assembly of an antiviral toilet according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from below.
FIG. 4 is a front view of a modified CPAP filter for a seat assembly of an antiviral toilet according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view of an antiviral toilet seat assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6A is a block diagram illustrating one of two antiviral toilets used in a public facility according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6b is the second of the anti-viral toilets used in public facilities according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a process flow diagram illustrating steps for using an antiviral toilet according to at least one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 8 is a front view of an antiviral toilet with the toilet lid raised according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the toilet lid and seat of the toilet of Fig. 8 as seen from above.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the HEPA filter assembly of FIG. 8 according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a compartment of FIG. 8 and a remote device having wireless transmission capabilities.

In various embodiments detailed herein, the inventors provide an inventive system for removing viral or pathogenic plume generated during a toilet flush. It is an object of the present invention to reduce, eliminate, or prevent (suppress) viruses or other pathogenic microorganisms, spores, and other contaminants from the air escaping from a toilet bowl during a toilet flushing operation. Another object of the present invention is to prevent the unnecessary spread of airborne viruses and other airborne contaminants among users of toilet facilities. The present invention is illustrated using the following examples, which may illustrate one or more related embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

Figure 1A is a front view of an antiviral toilet facility (100) with the lid down according to an embodiment of the present invention. The antiviral toilet (1000) is a household version of the present invention. The toilet (100) includes a base structure (102) that includes a collection container or bowl with a toilet rim, as is common in all toilet systems. The toilet (100) includes a water tank (101) installed behind the toilet to hold water for flushing purposes. In this embodiment, the toilet (100) is manually flushed using a flush handle (103) connected to an internal chain, float, and stopper assembly typical of household toilet systems. As mentioned in the background section of this specification, when a person who can shed airborne pathogens, such as contagious airborne viruses, uses the toilet facility and flushes the toilet (100), problems may occur during the flushing process, regardless of whether the toilet lid is up or down. The problem is that during the flushing process, the water in the tank (101) pours into the bowl inside the base structure (102), moving air upward and outward in a plume. Airborne pathogens Within the discharged toilet, contaminants can be transported for a period of time and eventually settle on surfaces near the facility after a certain period of time. In this case, some pathogenic agents may still retain the ability to infect others who come into contact with the toilet surfaces after using the facility.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the inventors provide an anti-viral lid assembly (104) operable to reduce or eliminate pathogens that may be wind up in the moist air plume escaping from a toilet bowl during a toilet flushing process. The assembly (104) comprises a donut-shaped toilet seat and a lid, which are modified or otherwise constructed to support an anti-viral filter housing (105), which can be installed on the underside of the upper lid and can be pressed against an inner rim of a modified donut-shaped seat that rests on the bowl rim of a base structure (102). Although not shown in this embodiment, the donut-shaped seat can be modified by adding gasket material to its underside surface to seal against the upper rim of the collection bowl within the base structure (102). In one embodiment of the present invention, the assembly (104) may be manufactured and sold to consumers as an aftermarket antiviral solution to reduce or eliminate airborne pathogens that may escape from the bowl feature during a flush, whether the toilet lid is in the raised or lowered position. In such a case, the consumer may replace an existing seat assembly with the antiviral seat assembly (104). This does not require any modifications to other components of the toilet fixture (100). In one embodiment, the top lid of the antiviral seat assembly (104) includes a lift handle for the user's convenience when raising or lowering the top lid that supports the filter housing (105). In another embodiment, the filter housing (105) may be installed onto an existing seat assembly with certain modifications necessary to successfully integrate the filter housing into the toilet seat assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the antiviral seat assembly (104) is manufactured and added to an existing toilet fixture, replacing the existing seat assembly for the user's convenience. However, this is not specifically required to implement the present invention.

Figure 1B is a front view of the antiviral toilet of Figure 1A with the lid open. In this drawing of the toilet facility (100), the lower portion of the antiviral filter housing (105) is visible with the upper lid of the antiviral seat assembly raised. The filter housing (105) may be molded from a polymer material having a certain density and weight, such as an acetal homopolymer material such as Delrin™ or a similar composite material, or a polymer-rubber composite. The filter housing (105) comprises one or more, in this case three, antiviral air filters (106). The antiviral air filters (106) may be continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) type antibacterial/antiviral/antiparticulate filters, which may be modified in this embodiment for use as a filter array in the filter housing (105). It may also be noted that the lower portion of the filter housing (105) is not adapted for upwardly flowing air, but is of course oriented to allow air to enter and pass through the CPAP filter (106). It may also be noted that at least a portion of the filter housing (105) is hollow inside above the filter (106), such that filtered air can flow out of the filter housing through a side vent located at the rear of the housing, which is not visible in this embodiment but may be assumed to be present. The modified CPAP filters may be considered bi-directional filters, meaning that air can flow through the filter device in both directions. It should be noted that the flushing process initiated by the handle (103) may force air upwards and out of the bowl as the bowl fills with water, and may also draw air back into the bowl as water drains through the bottom of the bowl during the flushing process. Further details regarding modifications to the CPAP filter (106) are provided later in this specification. Referring again to FIG. 1A, the filter housing (105) may extend below the donut-shaped seat by a distance from the geometric plane in which the filter housing components seal against the inner rim of the donut-shaped seat without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In one embodiment, a handle may be provided at the center front of the upper lid to assist the user in lifting the lid and the mounted filter housing from the donut-shaped seat.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from above of a seat assembly (104) of an antiviral toilet (100) according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the antiviral seat assembly (104) includes one or more modifications that may differ from the antiviral seat assembly of FIGS. 1A and 1B. However, since the overall main function of the assembly is the same, the assembly and the filter housing are assigned the same component numbers. In this embodiment, the filter housing (105) is mounted to the seat assembly upper lid (200). The upper lid (200) may have a molded shape that overlaps the filter housing (105) and may have a molded shape that overlaps the donut-shaped seat (201), wherein the upper lid is modified or otherwise formed to seal against an inner rim in the form of a perimeter skirt (303) formed in the upper surface of the rim of the toilet bowl and an interior opening of the donut-shaped seat (201). The skirt (3030) may be formed inwardly (towards the center) at an angle of about 45 degrees from the plane of the sheet that conforms to a sealing surface (not shown) created on the outer lower perimeter of the filter housing (105), the sealing surface having a complementary angle of 135 degrees, and is engaged adjacent to (in contact with) the skirt (303) when the upper lid (200) is fully lowered. In one embodiment, the seal is a surface-to-surface seal sufficient to eliminate a potential gap between the housing filter and the donut-shaped sheet. In one embodiment, an O-ring gasket may be provided between the filter housing (105) and the donut-shaped sheet (201). It is noted that the handle mentioned above may assist the user in pulling the lid (200) from the donut-shaped sheet (201). In this embodiment, the donut-shaped sheet (201) includes a geometric depression (202) at the top of approximately the front center of the donut-shaped sheet (201). The recessed portion (202) may function as a symmetrical crevasse feature between the sheet (201) and the upper lid (200), allowing the user to lift the upper lid (200) without using the handle installed on the upper lid.

In this embodiment, the antiviral filter housing (105) can accommodate a large diameter single antibacterial antiviral filter (203) (logically represented by the dashed line border). In this embodiment, the antiviral seat assembly (104) can be added to a public toilet that automatically flushes using wireless sensor technology. In one embodiment, the antiviral seat assembly (104), and more specifically, the antiviral filter housing (105), can include an automated all-electric flush unit and a wireless electronic control module (WECM) (204) suitable for near field communication that generates an automatic flush command based on sensor data describing a user-initiated state or condition associated with the toilet and the corresponding toilet operation. The top lid (200) includes a light emitting diode array (205) adapted to inform the user of the status of the antiviral toilet. In one example, the flush does not occur until the top lid (200) and the antiviral filter housing (105) are closed and sealed against the donut-shaped seat (201). In such cases, one or more states of the antiviral toilet may be incorporated into a flush routine optimized for the antiviral toilet. In a simple form, a red LED or LEDs may illuminate or blink to indicate the start of the flushing process, preferably immediately after the user closes the lid (200) supporting the antiviral filter housing (105) over the donut-shaped seat (201). This act of closing the lid may be transmitted to an electric flush unit (not shown) responsible for flushing the individual toilet in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In one embodiment, when a person steps back and closes the top lid before flushing, the electric flush unit uses an optical sensor to detect this and initiates flushing when the antiviral filter housing is in the correct interface with the donut-shaped sheet. In another embodiment, when the top lid (200) is raised, a trip sensor installed near the hinge connection of the top lid and the donut-shaped sheet signals to the electric flush unit that the lid is raised. An optical laser may be provided as the trip sensor, in which case the laser line may be broken when the lid is raised and may not be broken when the lid is lowered and positioned. Further details regarding the flushing process are provided later in this specification. In one embodiment, the antiviral sheet assembly includes a WECM (204) and/or an LED array (205), in which case a small power supply (not shown), which may or may not be rechargeable, may be provided to power the electronic functions of the antiviral sheet assembly (104). A small battery may be accommodated within the antiviral filter housing (105). In the case of a rechargeable battery, a charging port may be provided for charging the power supply. In one embodiment, one or a pair of LEDs in the LED array (205) may light red when the battery is low and light green when fully charged.

In one embodiment, one or a pair of LEDs of the LED array (205) may be illuminated red during the flushing process (do not open) and green when it is safe to open the top lid (200) after the flush. The electric toilet flush unit uses a counter to accurately define the start and end of every usage session of the toilet to determine usage, and in particular, to determine usage of the raising and lowering of the top lid (200). In one embodiment, the electric toilet flush unit may have a timer function that allows the user to determine if the operation is genuine, for example, to prevent a user from rapidly opening and closing the top lid (200) expecting that the flushing process will be initiated each time the top lid (200) is closed. Likewise, the electric toilet flush unit in the public version of the toilet seat assembly (104) may include fall back routines, such as if the user simply walks away and does not close the top lid (200), the unit may detect that the top lid (200) is not closed, and initiate a flush after a set period of time upon detecting that no one is present inside the stall or in the area adjacent to the public version.

The upper lid (200) includes several air vents (206) (three air vents are shown) arranged at the rear end and rear side of the unit. Each of the air vents (206) includes several parallel through-slots arranged through the body of the upper lid (200) and the body of the filter housing (104) in an upper hollow portion of the housing above the upper plane of the filter (203) or the filter array (106) of FIG. 1B (domestic version). It should be noted that either filter design described herein may be used in a public version of the toilet or a consumer domestic version of the toilet without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, air forced out of the toilet bowl during flushing passes through the antibacterial air filter (203) into the hollow space above the filter, and the filtered air exits through the air vents (206). The antibacterial filter (203) may be a two-way filter, which allows air that has escaped through the outlet (206) to be drawn back through the filter (203) and discharged into the toilet bowl when the water filled in the toilet bowl is drained from the toilet bowl during the flushing operation. The filter (203) can be removed and replaced as needed: approximately every six months of operation.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view from below of a seat assembly (104) of an antiviral toilet (100) according to the embodiment of FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the filter design includes three CPAP filters in an array (106). The filters in the array (106) may be bi-directional positive airflow (BIPAP) filters, meaning that air may flow through the filters in both directions to match the bi-directional air movement that occurs in the toilet bowl during the flushing process. The top lid (200) may be molded or otherwise formed to have a peripheral downward wall (301) that may protrude a predetermined distance beyond the perimeter of the donut-shaped seat (201). The filter housing (105) can have a perimeter surface (306) formed at a complementary angle to the skirt surface (303) such that when the surfaces mate with each other, they provide a sealing interface with a tolerance of less than or equal to about 1 degree across the mating surfaces, thereby eliminating an air gap typically located between the top lid and the donut-shaped seat in prior art seat assemblies that are not modified to practice the invention. In one embodiment, the sealing surface can include a perimeter groove (305) capable of receiving an O-ring gasket (304). The groove (305) can extend perimeterally relative to the angled surface of the skirt (306).

Surface-to-surface sealing techniques are well known in the art and can achieve the desired sealing effect with or without an O-ring gasket; however, a gasketed seal allows for less stringent angular tolerances when manufacturing the angled surface interface between the angled (sloped) surface (306) around the lower portion of the filter housing (105) and the inner skirt (303). In one embodiment, a toilet kit including an antiviral seat assembly may include two gaskets (300 and 306). In this embodiment, a donut-shaped seat (201) has a flat, wide gasket (300) attached to the underside of the donut-shaped seat and is adapted to provide a seal against the upper surface of the toilet bowl rim. The gasket (300) may be adhered to the underside of the donut-shaped seat (201). The gasket (300) is a somewhat flexible, yet resilient, silicone rubber gasket material and is thick enough to provide a sealing surface against the toilet rim under the additional weight of the top lid (200) resulting from the addition of the filter housing. The gasket (300) eliminates the typical gap between the donut-shaped seat and the top rim of the toilet bowl found in unmodified toilets having a seat assembly that is not suitable for practicing the present invention. The gasket (306) provides a similar seal between the top lid (200) and the seat (201).

The purpose of using gaskets and/or sealing surfaces is to ensure that contaminated air from the toilet bowl does not leak into the atmosphere surrounding the toilet through any gaps in the system, but instead passes through the filter provided in the filter housing (105). It should be noted that the top lid (200) should be closed over the donut-shaped seat (201) so that the top lid (200) touches the toilet bowl as soon as possible after the waste has been collected. The bidirectional nature of the filter and the flushing process ensures that any air that has leaked before the lid is closed is drawn back into the system during the flushing process, thereby at least significantly reducing the amount of contaminants in the air surrounding the toilet, and preventing these contaminants from eventually settling on bathroom surfaces surrounding the toilet.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a modified CPAP filter for a seat assembly (104) of an antiviral toilet (110) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The filter assembly (106) may be a modified CPAP or BIPAP filter for practicing the present invention. The filter assembly (106) is implemented as a removable and replaceable filter that is inserted into an annular cavity provided through the bottom rigid portion of a filter housing (105). An array of such filters is provided, each filter having its own airflow channel. In the embodiment of FIG. 1B, there are three filters in the array; however, more or fewer filters may be included in the filter housing without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The filter (106) comprises an annular polymer or plastic casing (400) having a central annular portion in the shape of a disk that accommodates a microbial/virus filter (402) (for CPAP/BIPAP) and adjacent to it are prefilters (403) positioned one above and one below the filter material (402).

In one embodiment, the prefilter (403) may be fabricated from a fabric or plastic substrate having alternating concentric metal rings of zinc and copper separated by thin, uniform gaps. The zinc and copper may be printed or otherwise deposited on an annular substrate, called a nanoplate. The prefilter (403) may be referred to in the art as an electrostatic precipitator. An electrostatic precipitator may include an electrobacterial function and is otherwise an annular insert that is inserted into an unmodified CPAP or BIPAP filter assembly (106). The prefilter (403) is adapted to remove bacteria during the inlet and outlet airflow of the toilet flushing process. The gaps between the concentric zinc and copper rings, called nanoplates, generate an electric current whenever ionic moisture is aerosolized during the toilet flushing operation, which electrocutes bacteria, viruses, and microorganisms within the generated circuit.

As mentioned above, the dust collector generates a weak electric field when the air passing through the CPAP or BIPAP filter device contains moisture. In addition to the filtering action of the central microbial filter material (402), the prefilter (403) can remove airborne viruses upon contact through a weak electrocution process. Zinc is a well-known antibacterial and antifungal compound and can be incorporated into the fabric material in the form of zinc pyrithione, in this case in the form of a ring. Copper salts can be used to form copper rings in the fabric material. Copper is frequently used in disinfectants and has antibacterial properties. In one embodiment, the substrate of the zinc and copper rings may be plastic instead of fabric, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In another embodiment of the present invention, the prefilter (403) may comprise metallic spots of silver and zinc in the form of a dot matrix printed or otherwise deposited on cloth, fabric, plastic or a synthetic composite material, the silver replacing the copper, the silver dots in the matrix bounding the four corners of each copper dot . Essentially, the dot matrix acts in the same manner as concentric rings in the presence of ionized moisture or humidity within the aerosolized water moving through the filter housing (105) (see FIG. 1A). In one embodiment, the prefilter (403) may be a virus-killing nano copper disk insertable into the filter casing.

The filter assembly (106) has its own airflow channel designed through the casing (400) and is open at both ends to facilitate airflow, including an annular section (401) (short pipe) at the top of the filter assembly. Section (401) empties out inside the hollow portion of the filter housing (105) and is directed towards the rear of the housing where the air outlet (206) introduced previously in FIG. 2 is located. During a flush operation, water fills the space of the toilet bowl and an air plume rises vertically through the filter assembly (106) in the direction of the arrow. As the air passes through the channel, it contacts the pre-filter (403) and the antibacterial/antiviral filter material (402). Note that after the plume rises due to the pressure from the water filling the bowl just before the flush, the sudden removal of excess water from the bowl reverses the air flow direction, allowing the filtered air and the ambient air to flow back through the filter element (402) and back into contact with the pre-filter (403). Finally, immediately after the toilet bowl is flushed, when it is filled with water again to the planned depth, the air flow reverses upwards again, allowing airborne contaminants to pass through the pre-filter (403) and the filter. through the filter material (402) approximately in the center of the vertical channel extending through the assembly (106). In one embodiment, the filter housing assembly (105) may include a small air fan operable during the flushing process to help move rising air through the filter channels, or channels in the case of a single filter. This fan may also be programmed to reverse the airflow back into the toilet bowl at an appropriate time for the water to drain from the toilet bowl. The LEDs (205) (FIG. 5) in the top lid (200) may illuminate red at the start of the flushing process and then illuminate green at an appropriate time (after 5 to 7 seconds) after the flush, thereby allowing the user to open the lid (200) while releasing the seal with the skirt (303) (FIG. 3) formed at the bottom of the opening of the donut-shaped seat (201) (FIG. 3).

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the antiviral toilet seat assembly (104) of FIG. 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this cross-sectional view, the hollow portion of the filter housing (105) is shown. In one embodiment, the filter housing (105) and the top lid (200) are molded as a single continuous piece. In another embodiment, the filter housing (105) is a separate piece that is mounted to the underside of the top lid (200) in a manner that creates the hollow portion of the assembly. The bottom portion of the filter housing (104) is made of a thick material capable of supporting weight, and a complementary surface (306), not shown, is joined to the angled skirt surface (303) of the donut-shaped seat (201). This section depicts the filter (106) by cutting open one of the filter casings to reveal the internal structure for deploying the filter elements. A single outlet (206) is visible in this drawing. In this embodiment, a compartment (501) is provided to accommodate a wireless control module, such as the WECM (204) of FIG. 2 above. In one embodiment, LEDs (205) and/or other electronics, such as a battery power source for powering the WECM, are provided within the filter housing. In one embodiment, the WECM has an onboard power supply in the form of a rechargeable battery. In a further embodiment, a charging port, such as a mini Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, may be provided for the purpose of remotely charging the device from an external battery or power source. In this embodiment, the hollow portion of the antiviral filter housing (105) extends the entire length of the housing to the interfacing bottom of the housing, wherein the annular CPAP filter is contained within solid pillars that are open at both ends, the pillars not extending the entire height of the interior of the filter housing, thereby allowing air to pass completely through the hollow portion of the filter housing.

In this embodiment, the gasket (300) seals against the upper rim surface of the commode bowl, and the skirt extends below the rim surface of the commode bowl. The recessed portion (202) may provide a convenient location to release the seal between the filter housing (105) and the donut-shaped seat (201) and to lift the top lid (200). In a preferred embodiment, no air can enter the filter housing (105) from the commode bowl without first passing through the provided filter or filters. It may be assumed that treated air can escape from the filter housing (105) through an outlet, such as an outlet (206), of the filter housing. In this embodiment, the WECM may include an onboard battery capable of powering the LED panel (205). It may be recalled that the upper lid (200) integrated with the filter housing (105) is hingedly connected to a donut-shaped sheet (201) at its rear (hinge not shown). In one embodiment, the donut-shaped sheet (21) is made of a rigid material such as plastic and may be molded or formed in a variety of ways.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a public facility (600) of an antiviral toilet according to an embodiment of the present invention. The public facility (600) may include one, two, or more toilets (603), depending on the type of public restroom. A rest area facility may have multiple toilets (603), while a gas station facility or a park and recreation facility may have fewer toilets (603). In this embodiment, the public toilets are separated from each other by at least a partition (602) for privacy. Each toilet (603) includes an antiviral seat assembly (104), similar to the assembly (104) of FIG. 2, wherein a single microbial/antiviral/antifungal filter (605) is provided in place of a modified CPAP/BIPAP filter. The filter (605) is supported in an annular airflow channel, similar to the filter (203) introduced in FIG. 2 above, and has a diameter of several inches. Likewise, the total airflow channel area (footprint) of the three individual CPAP/BIPAP filters can be similar or in aggregate several inches. Each public toilet (603) can be wirelessly paired with a dedicated electric flush unit (601). Tankless toilets, in contrast to gravity-based tank systems, do not store a gallon or so of water that is then dropped into the toilet bowl, but instead flush directly through a water supply line (pipes not shown). The flush unit (601) can incorporate smart sensor technology to flush the toilet, for example, when the user steps out of the sensor's optical recognition range; however, for the present invention to be practical, flushing must be initiated when the seat assembly (104) closes and seals against the donut-shaped seat, which then seals against the toilet bowl rim.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the flushing unit (601) is adapted to flush the toilet (603) whenever the seat assembly (top lid and anti-viral filter housing) is closed and sealed. This can be achieved by using an optical sensor that determines when the assembly (104) (Fig. 2) is closed after use, thereby triggering a hands-free flushing sequence without requiring the user to manually flush the toilet. One of the toilets depicted in this embodiment has the assembly (104) facing upward. In this case, there is no electronic command or sensed evidence to flush the toilet. The toilets depicted in the other drawings have the assembly (104) closed or in a closed position. In this case, the WECM sends a wireless signal to the electric flushing unit to immediately initiate the hands-free flushing sequence. In a more robust embodiment, intelligence in the form of timing functions for detected or transmitted status events of the toilet (603) may be provided to the electric flush unit to mitigate errors in the flushing process. For example, a user may not manually flush the toilet and close the assembly (104). In this case, if the user fails to close the top lid over the donut-shaped seat, the backup routing will be followed after a set period of time, allowing the flushing unit (601) to ignore the rule that the assembly is operated with the lid open and flush the toilet.

In one embodiment, LEDs similar to the LEDs (205) of FIG. 2 may be provided to indicate to the user that it is safe to open the toilet top lid after the final flush sequence. Typically, this period of time is about 5 to 10 seconds, to ensure that no airborne contaminants are still floating in the toilet bowl. In another embodiment, a servo device may be provided to automatically close the seat assembly (104) over the donut-shaped seat (201) (FIG. 2) by means of a hinged connection with a gas shock component, thereby enabling a smooth mechanical closing operation, such that when the seat assembly is closed and sealed, the flush unit initiates a flush. In one embodiment, there may be a sleep mode for the battery-powered filter housing (105) that wakes up into an operational mode based on a sensor detecting a motion, such as a user lifting the assembly (104) while preparing the toilet (603) for use. The sensor may be located in the filter housing (105) or the electric water flushing unit (601) without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a process flow diagram (700) illustrating steps for using an anti-viral toilet according to at least one embodiment of the present invention. In step 701, the user opens the set assembly by lifting the top lid of the assembly using a handle or ledge feature to break the seal between the filter housing and the donut-shaped seat of the toilet. In step 702, the user can determine whether the toilet is a domestic or public unit. In step 702, if the unit is a domestic unit, the user closes the top lid after use and reseals the filter housing against the donut-shaped seat in step 703. In step 704, the user manually flushes the toilet using the provided flush handle. In this simple household routine, with the top lid closed, potentially contaminated air is filtered during the flushing process. In one embodiment, the toilet has a timing function and an LED panel with colored lights to indicate to the user when the top lid can be reopened.

In step 702, if it is determined that the toilet is not a household version, it may be determined in step 705 whether the user is operating (using) the public version of the anti-viral toilet. In step 705, if the toilet is a public toilet, in step 706, the user closes the lid when finished using it. In step 707, the electric flush unit initiates a hands-free flushing sequence. In one embodiment, when the user opens the top lid, the drive electronics in the filter housing wake up from sleep mode and communicate with the electric flush unit that the user is operating the toilet, and the electric flush unit may apply a timing function to authenticate actual use of the toilet. In one embodiment of the method of using the public version of the toilet, the timing function is used to flush the toilet with the top lid open if the user walks away after use and forgets to close the top lid. In one embodiment of the public version of the toilet, one or more sensors are used to wake the toilet electronics from sleep mode when the top lid of the toilet is lifted. In this embodiment, when the top lid is closed again, a counter can be used to associate the closing and opening of the top lid with a usage session, and the usage session can be authenticated through a timing function. In one embodiment using the public version, the top lid is mechanically controlled by an electric water flush unit using a timing function and a sensor that closes the top lid if the user fails to close the lid after use.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the inventors provide a system utilizing an oval-shaped high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter housed in an electrically conductive metal track housing mounted under the toilet lid. In this system, two or more one-way check valves are provided and installed horizontally through the toilet seat to allow room air to flow unidirectionally into the toilet bowl during the flushing operation, during the portion of the flushing operation where the water level in the toilet bowl is lowered. Furthermore, in this embodiment, air from the toilet bowl is forced horizontally through the HEPA filter and the oppositely charged porous metal track housing sections, thereby providing optimal biological and particulate filtration and electronic sanitization (sterilization) for the air being forced out during the flushing portion of the flushing operation where the water level in the toilet bowl is rising. This embodiment is illustrated using the following examples.

FIG. 8A is a front view of an antiviral toilet (800) with the toilet lid raised according to an embodiment of the present invention. The toilet (800) includes a base structure comprising a toilet bowl (802) supported by a foot form (811) similar to the base structure (102) described in connection with FIG. 1A of the prior application referenced above and incorporated herein. A water tank (801) is provided to contain (retain) water for flushing and is similar to the water tank (101) of the toilet (100) of FIG. 1A, except that in this example the tank is not provided with a flush handle. An electronic flushing interface in the form of a flush button (814) in this example is provided integrated into the upper portion of an electronic compartment (805) of the toilet lid (803) that is raised in the embodiment, or is otherwise provided as a portion of the toilet lid. The electronics compartment (805) may, in one embodiment, include a depressed lid lift bar (806) for manually raising the toilet lid (803). In this embodiment, the electronics compartment (805) does not house any filter or filtering material, but is dedicated to containing at least a remote power switch electronics receiver (807) and a battery or battery set (824). In this embodiment, the battery (808) may be a rechargeable or replaceable battery. The compartment housing the battery (824) may include a microcontroller and may support a light emitting diode array (LED) similar to the LEDs (205) described in connection with at least FIG. 2 of the original application, which is incorporated herein by reference.

The compartment (805) may be accessible for maintenance. The compartment (805) may be made of the same material as the toilet lid (803), or may be made of a different material without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In one embodiment, the flush button (814) may be manually operated by pressing the button to flush the toilet (800). In the same embodiment, the flush button (814) may be remotely activated via a wireless signal. In alternative embodiments, flushing may be limited to manual or remote signal activation without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In this embodiment, an oval-shaped HEPA filter assembly (804) may be provided, and the filter assembly may be mounted in the center of the bottom surface of the toilet lid (803) in a manner that is substantially concentric (circular) with the electronics compartment (805) and the overall shape of the toilet lid. The HEPA filter assembly (804) may include a HEPA pleated filter (812) (indicated by a dashed line). In this embodiment, the HEPA filter (812) is housed within an oval-shaped filter housing (813). The filter housing (813) may include an inner section and an outer section formed of a conductive metal that provide a porous cage or housing around the HEPA filter material. The filter housing (813) may include a polymer sheet and a polymer cap structure that includes a central dividing wall to isolate the inner section and the outer section housing from contact with each other. For example, the inner metal cage portion forming the inner section and the outer metal cage portion forming the outer section may be inversely electronically charged (inner cage portion -, outer cage portion +) to boost the antiviral effectiveness of the HEPA filter assembly slightly above the effectiveness rating of the filter material itself.

In one embodiment, the HEPA filter assembly (804) may be sealed to the upper surface of the toilet seat (815) via an oval rubber gasket (816). In one embodiment, the bottom polymer cap over the metal filter housing (813) is contoured to create a surface-to-surface seal with the upper surface of the toilet seat (815). In this embodiment, airflow from the toilet may flow horizontally from the interior to the exterior through the filter assembly and back again from the exterior to the interior through the filter assembly. Another embodiment provides a semi-rigid rubber and/or polymer material used in the manufacture of the toilet seat. In this embodiment, the airtight seal is formed through the soft/flexible material of the toilet seat.

In an alternative embodiment, a plastic housing similar to housing (105) may be provided with an exhaust port to allow for two-way airflow. In this embodiment, the footprint of the HEPA filter assembly (804) is larger than the area of the donut-shaped opening (vertical dashed line) passing through the sheet (815).

In this embodiment, the toilet seat (815) includes at least two linear and annular one-way airflow check valves, referred to herein as check valves (808a) and check valves (808b). The check valves (808a and 808b) allow outside air to flow into the toilet bowl, but prevent air from leaking from inside the bowl back into the exterior area of the toilet (800). It should be noted that while the check valves allow inflow, outside air can still flow freely through the HEPA filter assembly (804) during the flushing process. The check valves (808a and 808b) are positioned through the material of the toilet seat (815) and may vary in diameter from 1/4 inch to approximately 3/4 inch. There may be more check valves (808) than are depicted in this example without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Check valves, such as valves (808a and 808b), may be strategically positioned anywhere around the toilet seat (815) at equal intervals and angles along the 360-degree perimeter of the toilet seat. Check valves (808a and 808b) may be electronically actuated, or, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, may be mechanical spring and ball valves. In a preferred embodiment, during the flushing process, as the water level in the toilet bowl drops, check valves (808a and 808b) open to allow outside air to flow through the valves into the toilet bowl. In either electronically controlled or manually (non-controlled) embodiments, no airflow from the interior of the toilet bowl is permitted to flow back through the check valves for any period of time relative to one-way valves known in the art. Check valves (808a and 808b) are not specifically required to practice the present invention, but provide a mechanism for more airflow from the outside into the toilet bowl when the water level drops (lowers) during a flush operation.

In a typical use case, the toilet (800) can be used to collect waste. After collection, the user can close the top lid (803) against the toilet seat (815). The user can then flush the toilet (800) by manually pressing the flush button (814) or by initiating a flush sequence using a remote device and a wireless signal. During toilet flushing, water drips into the toilet bowl, and outside air is drawn into the toilet through the check valve and the HEPA filter assembly. The outside air drawn through the filter assembly is sterilized by the charged filter housing and the pleated HEPA filter. As the water returns to the toilet bowl, all the air inside the toilet is forced horizontally in all directions through the HEPA filter assembly, thereby sterilizing (sanitizing) the air of microorganisms and particulates.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view from above of a toilet lid (803) and a seat (815) of a toilet (800) of FIG. 8. In this embodiment, the toilet lid (803) may be hingedly connected to the toilet seat (815) via a hinge bar set (823). The lid/seat assembly may be secured to the rear of the toilet bowl rim of the base structure (802) depicted in FIG. 8 above. A HEPA filter assembly (804) is depicted as logically secured to the underside of the toilet lid (803) (shown by a dashed line). The thickness dimension of the HEPA filter assembly (804) may be about 1/2 inch to about 2 inches. The height of the filter assembly (804) may be about 1/2 inch to about 5/8 inch. In a preferred embodiment, the bottom of the assembly (804) may be adapted to form a seal against the upper surface of the toilet seat (815). In this drawing, A check valve (808b) is visible and extends horizontally through (across) the material of the seat (815).

The lift bar (806) may be an annular recessed portion having a cross bar that a user can grasp to lift the top lid (803) by pulling it upward from the toilet seat (815). In another embodiment, there is no lift bar (806), and the user can lift the top lid (803) at the front center of the lid, as described above with respect to FIG. 5 with respect to the material relief (202) on the seat (201) of the original application. Similarly, other handle types may be provided and may be installed anywhere on the top lid (803) without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The overall height of the electronics compartment (805) is suitable to accommodate the electronic components and the battery, and the included lift bar feature (806).

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the HEPA filter assembly (804) of FIG. 8 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this drawing, the HEPA filter (812) is contained within a porous metal track housing (813), wherein horizontal airflow passes through the negatively charged track section (inner track) in the direction of the arrow, through the pleated HEPA filter material, and through the positively charged track section. The airflow in the direction of the arrow occurs when air is pushed through the filter assembly after flushing the toilet and the water is transferred back to the toilet bowl. It should also be noted that reverse airflow may occur during the time that toilet water falls into the toilet bowl. In both cases, the air is disinfected as it passes through the filter assembly. In one embodiment, a polymer cap (1001) may be provided on the mounting and contact surfaces to prevent the metal of the track structure from contacting the underside of the upper lid and the upper surface of the toilet seat.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the compartment of FIG. 8 and a remote device having wireless transmission capabilities. In this drawing, the compartment (805) includes a flush button (814), a lift bar (806), and a battery compartment (808). In this embodiment, the compartment (805) includes a miniature microcontroller (1101) having a power switch accessible to the remote device. The microcontroller (1101) can be remotely booted to initiate a flushing sequence for the toilet. The automatic flushing sequence can be initiated by a dedicated electric flushing unit (1105) similar to the flushing unit (601) of FIG. 6 introduced above. Likewise, automatic flushing may be initiated by a handheld remote control (1104) having a battery for power, electronics for generating a wireless signal, and a button for transmitting the wireless signal to a power switch receiver in the compartment (805), such that passing the button (814) activates flushing, thereby enabling the flush button (814) to be actuated remotely in one embodiment.

The flush unit (1105) may include an optical sensor in line with the toilet top lid that can determine in real time whether the seat is open or closed, as previously described with respect to unit (601). In one embodiment, automatic flushing may be implemented locally on the toilet by adding a direction sensor or other motion sensor to the electronics compartment (805) to automatically detect the position of the toilet top lid over a session duration of time associated with typical toilet use. The microcontroller (1101) may be connected using a bus structure or simple electrical path (logical dashed line) to a battery (808), a flush button (814) (if controllable via a signal), and an array of LEDs (1102), which may be similar to the description of LEDs (205) of FIG. 2 above. In one embodiment, an LED selection module (1103) may be provided to allow the microcontroller to select which LED array to light via a firmware routine. In one embodiment, the battery or batteries within the compartment (808) may be rechargeable, and a universal serial bus (USB) port may be provided for charging the battery or batteries. One or more LEDs (1102) may be dedicated to a charging status. One or more LEDs may be dedicated to an operational status, such as indicating that the lid is closed, that a flush sequence is in progress, and when the toilet is reopened for the next session. In a preferred embodiment, this period is from the moment water flows back into the bowl, indicated by one color, until the water level in the toilet reaches the top level again before the next use, indicated by another color. There are many different functionalities.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the antiviral toilet system of the present invention can be provided using some or all of the components described herein. The arrangement and function of the components associated with the present invention are described in various embodiments, each of which is an example of an implementation of the present invention. While the application and method are described in detail herein, it should be noted that considerable changes can be made in the details of the configuration and arrangement of the components without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The present invention is limited only by the scope of the claims below.

Claims (15)

In antiviral toilets,
A base structure comprising a toilet bowl having a top rim;
A toilet seat hinged to the base structure and oriented concentrically to the upper rim;
A toilet top lid hingedly mounted to the base structure and oriented concentrically to the toilet seat;
A filter assembly comprising a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter disposed within a porous and metal filter track housing; and - the filter assembly is mounted on the underside of the toilet top lid and is concentric with the toilet seat, and the filter assembly has one end in uniform surface contact with the upper surface of the toilet seat when the toilet seat and toilet lid are closed.
An electronics compartment comprising an internal volume containing electronics for initiating a flush, a power supply for supplying power to the electronics, and at least one visual indicator for status notification;
An antiviral toilet characterized in that when a flush sequence is manually or electronically initiated with the toilet seat and lid closed, contaminated air within the toilet bowl rises as the water bowl is refilled from a connected water supply source, and escapes laterally along the periphery of the water bowl through the filter assembly and out of the base structure. In the first paragraph,
An antiviral toilet characterized by having a plumbing water tank connected to the water supply source and a flush button provided in the electronic device compartment to enable manual flushing. In the first paragraph,
An antiviral toilet characterized in that the plumbing electronic flushing unit acts as a water source connected thereto, and the flushing is remotely initiated via a wireless transmitter/receiver and a remote power switch included in the electronics compartment. In the third paragraph,
An antiviral toilet characterized in that flushing is initiated as a result of optical detection of the closed state of the antiviral toilet. In the second paragraph,
An antiviral toilet characterized in that the flushing is initiated by the user operating a remote control device. In the first paragraph,
An antiviral toilet characterized in that the toilet seat includes at least two linear and annular one-way check valves installed laterally through the material of the toilet seat, the check valves allowing outside air to enter the toilet bowl and preventing air inside the toilet bowl from leaking back out of the base structure through the check valves. In the first paragraph,
An anti-viral toilet characterized in that the visual indicator comprises two or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted on the exterior of the electronic device compartment to inform the user of the toilet status, including the status of the toilet bowl filling with water after a flush action. In the first paragraph,
An antiviral toilet characterized in that the electronic device for initiating flushing comprises a remotely operated power switch. In the first paragraph,
An antiviral toilet characterized in that the electronic device includes a microcontroller having commands to display a status via one or more LEDs. In the first paragraph,
An antiviral toilet further comprising an annular recessed portion having a cross bar therein for acting as a lift handle disposed outside the electronic device compartment. In the first paragraph,
An antiviral toilet characterized in that the electronic device further includes an electronic device providing a negative electric charge to an inner track portion of the filter track housing and providing a positive electric charge to an outer portion of the filter track housing. In the first paragraph,
An anti-virus toilet characterized in that the power supply is a rechargeable battery and the electronic device further includes an electronic device that enables the battery to be charged. In Article 12,
An antiviral toilet characterized in that the electronic device for charging is a universal serial bus (USB) port. In the first paragraph,
An antiviral toilet characterized in that uniform surface contact between the upper lid and the toilet seat is achieved through a gasket installed at the free end of the filter assembly. In the first paragraph,
An antiviral toilet characterized by further comprising a pair of polymer caps for covering the metal porous track housing at each end of the filter assembly.