Commode ventilation system

Claim 1

A commode ventilator for attachment to the upper edge of a commode bowl comprising a housing having a vertically extending outer portion for disposition alongside of the exterior of the upper portion of a commode bowl and an inwardly extending intermediate portion to extend between the upper edge of the commode bowl and a seat on the commode and an inner portion having a terminal end for disposition interiorly of the commode bowl and having an opening therein defining an intake, fan means in said housing for intake of air and odors into the housing, heating means in said housing engaged by the air and odors for neutralizing and deodorizing the odors, said housing including a discharge opening at the lower end of the vertically disposed outer portion for discharging the deodorized air into the ambient air in the bathroom, clamp means secured to the intermediate portion of said housing and including an adjustment means for clamping the clamp means to the upper rim of a commode bowl, thereby anchoring the ventilator thereto, the inner portion of said housing being downturned, and terminating in an open lower end providing an intake for air and odors, said intermediate portion including a top wall having a pivital acess door therein providing access to the interior of the intermediate portion, a lint screen mounted on the access door and forming a screen for incoming air, said fan means including an axial flow fan and motor supported in the vertically disposed outer portion of said housing, said heating means including an electric resistance type heating wire formed into a coil disposed in the flow path of air and odors passing through the vertical outer portion of said housing, a screen in the discharge opening at the lower end of the vertical portion of said housing to prevent access to the heating means, a timer control for said fan means and heating means to operate the ventilator for a predetermined time period and automatically deenergize the ventilator at the end of such a period, said clamp means being in the form of a downwardly opening channel-shaped member having generally parallel vertical leg portions extending downwardly from a generally horizontal web, a screw threaded clamp screw extending through the outer leg portion and including a clamp plate for engagement with the outer surface of the upper rim of the commode bowl in opposition to engagement of the inner leg portion with the inner surface of the upper rim of the commode bowl, said web including an upstanding screw threaded stub extending through a bottom wall of the intermediate portion of the housing and including a retaining nut on the upper end thereof, said access door in the upper wall of the intermediate portion providing access to the retaining nut to enable assembly and disassembly of the clamp means therewith.