Urinal

Abstract

The object of the present invention is a urinal apparatus fitted, in particular, with a special connection to which a duct is connected in order to extract the aerosol generated during its use, by means of an electric exhaust unit that expels the aerosol outside the bathroom, thus preventing it from being diffused inside the room.

Claims

1. An improved urinal apparatus, comprised of: a urinal fitted with a urine collection basin, a duct for the passage of wash water from the urine collection basin to a discharge duct connected to a sewage system, wherein the improved urinal apparatus also includes: at least one exhaust inlet suitable for extracting bad odors and gas containing bacteria/virus aerosol from the urine collection basin during use; and at least one duct linked to an exhaust unit.

2. The improved urinal apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one duct is connected to the urine collection basin via the at least one exhaust inlet, the at least one exhaust inlet being positioned in place above the urine collection basin wherein the at least one duct is connected to the at least one exhaust inlet, and the at least one duct is, in turn, connected to the exhaust unit, wherein the exhaust unit is an electrical unit that powers the extraction of the bacteria/virus from the urine collection basin into the inlet.

3. The improved urinal apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one exhaust inlet is connected to the urine collection basin is positioned at a location suitable to allow the suction of the bacteria/virus aerosol inside urine collection basin.

4. The improved urinal apparatus of claim 3, wherein there are multiple exhaust inlets present in the urine collection basin.

5. The improved urinal apparatus of claim 1, wherein there are multiple exhaust inlets present in the urine collection basin.

6. The improved urinal apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a photocell connected to the urinal apparatus, in which the photocell detects a presence of a user and activates the exhaust unit.

7. The improved urinal apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a photocell connected to the urinal apparatus, in which the photocell detects a presence of a user and activates the exhaust unit.

8. The improved urinal apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a photocell connected to the urinal apparatus, in which the photocell detects a presence of a user and activates the exhaust unit.

9. The improved urinal apparatus of claim 6, wherein a timer has been fitted, in which the timer is configured to prolong an operation of the exhaust unit for a specified period of time after the urinal apparatus has ceased to be used.

10. The improved urinal apparatus of claim 8, wherein a timer has been fitted, in which the timer is configured to prolong an operation of the exhaust unit for a specified period of time after the urinal apparatus has ceased to be used.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The urinal apparatus of the present invention is described below in an illustrative yet not limiting way by reference to the attached drawings in which:

[0017] FIG. 1 shows the longitudinal section of the urinal apparatus made according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] With reference to said figures, the urinal apparatus object of this invention is comprised of a basin (1) for the collection of urine, said basin has, in its lower part, a drain (5) connected to the sewage system and usually, in its upper part, a wash water supply duct (7).

[0019] Inside the basin (1) of the urinal, at least one exhaust inlet (2) is provided, located in the place (3) made in the urinal apparatus and connected to the exhaust unit (not shown) by means of a duct (4).

[0020] The exhaust unit may be comprised of a power source (e.g., battery or directly connected to a power outlet), a motor, and a fan to enable the operation of the exhaust unit. The exhaust unit may also be equipped with one or more air-cleaning devices such as some air purifier or air sanitizer given the odor that is suctioned through the inlet exhaust inlet (2) and duct (4). Furthermore, the exhaust unit may be equipped with a hardware-based memory device that stores computer-executable instructions executed by a dedicated controller or processor. The processor may, for example, trigger the operation of the exhaust unit's fan and suction features when, for example, a user is present.

[0021] If each individual urinal apparatus is fitted with several exhaust inlets (2) positioned inside the basin (1), there is a duct connecting each exhaust inlet (2) to the conduit (4) and consequently to the exhaust unit.

[0022] The operation of the exhaust unit is controlled, in one possible embodiment, by a photocell (6) installed either on or near the urinal apparatus itself and in any case, at a point where the presence of the user positioned in front of the urinal apparatus can be reliably detected. The photocell (6) may be operatively connected to the exhaust unit, such as to the exhaust unit's controller, thereby triggering the unit's fan and air suction features.

[0023] A photocell (6) (or photoresistor) is a sensor that changes its resistance when light shines on it. The resistance generated varies depending on the light striking at its surface. A high intensity of light incident on the surface will cause a lower resistance, whereas a lower intensity of light will cause higher resistance. Such resistance affects the photocell's operation and is used as an indicator that a user is present, that is, in front of the urinal. There are various types of photocells and other sensors that can detect the presence or absence of a user, and the use of the photocell discussed herein is exemplary only.

[0024] In order to optimize the operation of the exhaust unit, there may be a timer that prolongs the switching on of the exhaust unit for a certain period of time after the urinal apparatus has stopped being used, such as by a user. The timer may be a distinct timing device that operates in tandem with the exhaust unit's processor or may be a timing function that is programmatically set into the instructions of the exhaust unit's memory. Thus, for example, the timer may be activated responsive to the exhaust unit's switching on. The exhaust unit may stay activated until the timer reaches zero. The timer may last, for example, two seconds, five seconds, 10 seconds, etc.