The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 28, 2001
Filed:
Apr. 12, 1999
Peter W. Denzin, Glenbeulah, WI (US);
Michael J. Merritt, Sheboygan, WI (US);
Fred Judson Heinzmann, Los Altos, CA (US);
Kyle L. Petrich, Kowloon, HK;
Jennifer A. Schlee, La Honda, CA (US);
John F. Larkin, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Erik C. Lincicum, La Honda, CA (US);
Peter O. Sorensen, Half Moon Bay, CA (US);
D2M, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A toilet ventilation device includes a housing that defines an air inlet aperture and an air outlet aperture. Within the housing are an air movement apparatus for drawing air into the device, a filter for removing malodorous elements in the air, and a radar sensor for activating the air movement apparatus in response to the presence of a user and, optionally, deactivating the air movement apparatus when the user leaves. The toilet ventilation device is configured and arranged to draw air, using the air movement apparatus, from the toilet, through the air inlet aperture, into contact with the filter, and out the air outlet aperture. In one embodiment, the toilet ventilation device is disposed over the overflow conduit of the toilet to draw air from the bowl of the toilet, through the overflow conduit, and into the toilet ventilation device. The entire toilet ventilation device is preferably disposed within a tank of a toilet.