U.S. patent application number 10/443853 was filed with the patent office on 2004-11-25 for toilet tank fill control.
Invention is credited to King, Dennis.
Application Number | 20040231038 10/443853 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33450513 |
Filed Date | 2004-11-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040231038 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
King, Dennis |
November 25, 2004 |
Toilet tank fill control
Abstract
A fill control for a toilet tank of the type having a water
supply, a fill valve operable to allow water from the water supply
to enter the toilet tank, and a float control for the fill valve
for closing the fill valve when the float control reaches a full
position representing a full condition of the toilet tank, the fill
control comprising: a float control override coupled to the float
control and having an inactive condition allowing the float control
to operate in a conventional way, and an active condition retaining
the float control in the full position; and means for selectively
retaining the float control override in the active condition. This
invention is of particular utility when a first person is utilizing
toilet facilities while a second person is utilizing adjacent
shower facilities, thereby preventing toilet tank refilling and the
undesirable resulting shower water temperature increase.
Inventors: |
King, Dennis; (Ile Des
Chenes, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
AIKINS PATENT COMPANY
30TH FLOOR
360 MAIN STREET
WINNIPEG
MB
R3C 4G1
CA
|
Family ID: |
33450513 |
Appl. No.: |
10/443853 |
Filed: |
May 23, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/353 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03D 1/32 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
004/353 |
International
Class: |
E03D 001/00 |
Claims
Embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A fill control for a toilet tank of the type having a water
supply, a fill valve operable to allow water from the water supply
to enter the toilet tank, and a float control for the fill valve
for closing the fill valve when the float control reaches a full
position representing a full condition of the toilet tank, the fill
control comprising: a float control override coupled to the float
control and having an inactive condition allowing the float control
to operate in a conventional way, and an active condition retaining
the float control in the full position; and means for selectively
retaining the float control override in the active condition.
2. A fill control for a toilet tank of the type having a water
supply, a fill valve operable to allow water from the water supply
to enter the toilet tank, and a float control for the fill valve
for closing the fill valve when the float control reaches a full
position representing a full condition of the toilet tank, the fill
control comprising: a hollow adjustable brace seated on upper
surfaces of the toilet tank; a hook attached to the hollow
adjustable brace; and a cord having a first end connected to the
float control and a second end for connection to the hook, the cord
other than the first and second ends being housed within the hollow
adjustable brace; whereby when the second end is connected to the
hook the cord biases the float control in the full position,
thereby preventing refilling of the toilet tank.
3. An improved toilet tank of the type having a water supply, a
fill valve operable to allow water from the water supply to enter
the toilet tank, and a float control for the fill valve for closing
the fill valve when the float control reaches a full position
representing a full condition of the toilet tank, wherein the
improvement comprises a fill control comprising: a float control
override coupled to the float control and having an inactive
condition allowing the float control to operate in a conventional
way, and an active condition retaining the float control in the
full position; and means for selectively retaining the float
control override in the active condition.
4. An improved toilet tank of the type having a water supply, a
fill valve operable to allow water from the water supply to enter
the toilet tank, and a float control for the fill valve for closing
the fill valve when the float control reaches a full position
representing a full condition of the toilet tank, wherein the
improvement comprises: a hook attached to an exterior surface of
the toilet tank; and a cord having a first end connected to the
float control and a second end for connection to the hook; whereby
when the second end is connected to the hook the cord biases the
float control in the full position, thereby preventing refilling of
the toilet tank.
5. An improved toilet tank of the type having a water supply, a
fill valve operable to allow water from the water supply to enter
the toilet tank, and a float control for the fill valve for closing
the fill valve when the float control reaches a full position
representing a full condition of the toilet tank, wherein the
improvement comprises: a hollow adjustable brace seated on upper
surfaces of the toilet tank; a hook attached to the hollow
adjustable brace; and a cord having a first end connected to the
float control and a second end for connection to the hook, the cord
other than the first and second ends being housed within the hollow
adjustable brace; whereby when the second end is connected to the
hook the cord biases the float control in the full position,
thereby preventing refilling of the toilet tank.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to toilet tanks, and more
particularly to devices to control the refilling of toilet
tanks.
BACKGROUND
[0002] As water supply to various fixtures in homes or other
buildings is often provided through a series of interconnected
pipes, a common problem experienced by persons in those buildings
is that water consumption by one fixture negatively affects water
consumption by another adjacent fixture. One widespread problem is
the impact of the flushing of toilets on the water temperature of
adjacent shower fixtures. By flushing the toilet fixture, cold
water is directed to that purpose, with consequent undesirable
impact on shower water temperature, specifically, the temperature
becomes uncomfortably hot or even dangerously so. Scalding of the
person using the shower facility is not uncommon in such cases.
[0003] While there have been numerous attempts to counter problems
relating to toilet tank refill control, such as where water leakage
is occurring, the matter of the impact of toilet tank refilling on
shower water temperature has not attracted such attention. A number
of commercially available products seek to address the problem by
balancing the cold and hot water levels in response to supply
disruption, but these solutions can be relatively expensive and may
entail significant installation costs including bathroom wall
breach and repair.
[0004] The present invention addresses the problem with an
inexpensive toilet tank fill control that is easy to install and
use. Rather than employing an expensive pressure balancing valve
system, the present invention provides for selective control of the
toilet tank fill valve.
SUMMARY
[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention there is
provided a fill control for a toilet tank of the type having a
water supply, a fill valve operable to allow water from the water
supply to enter the toilet tank, and a float control for the fill
valve for closing the fill valve when the float control reaches a
full position representing a full condition of the toilet tank, the
fill control comprising:
[0006] a float control override coupled to the float control and
having an inactive condition allowing the float control to operate
in a conventional way, and an active condition retaining the float
control in the full position; and
[0007] means for selectively retaining the float control override
in the active condition.
[0008] According to a second aspect of the present invention there
is provided a fill control for a toilet tank of the type having a
water supply, a fill valve operable to allow water from the water
supply to enter the toilet tank, and a float control for the fill
valve for closing the fill valve when the float control reaches a
full position representing a full condition of the toilet tank, the
fill control comprising:
[0009] a hollow adjustable brace seated on upper surfaces of the
toilet tank;
[0010] a hook attached to the hollow adjustable brace; and
[0011] a cord having a first end connected to the float control and
a second end for connection to the hook, the cord other than the
first and second ends being housed within the hollow adjustable
brace;
[0012] whereby when the second end is connected to the hook the
cord biases the float control in the full position, thereby
preventing refilling of the toilet tank.
[0013] According to a third aspect of the present invention there
is provided an improved toilet tank of the type having a water
supply, a fill valve operable to allow water from the water supply
to enter the toilet tank, and a float control for the fill valve
for closing the fill valve when the float control reaches a full
position representing a full condition of the toilet tank, wherein
the improvement comprises a fill control comprising:
[0014] a float control override coupled to the float control and
having an inactive condition allowing the float control to operate
in a conventional way, and an active condition retaining the float
control in the full position; and
[0015] means for selectively retaining the float control override
in the active condition.
[0016] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there
is provided an improved toilet tank of the type having a water
supply, a fill valve operable to allow water from the water supply
to enter the toilet tank, and a float control for the fill valve
for closing the fill valve when the float control reaches a full
position representing a full condition of the toilet tank, wherein
the improvement comprises:
[0017] a hook attached to an exterior surface of the toilet tank;
and
[0018] a cord having a first end connected to the float control and
a second end for connection to the hook;
[0019] whereby when the second end is connected to the hook the
cord biases the float control in the full position, thereby
preventing refilling of the toilet tank.
[0020] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there
is provided an improved toilet tank of the type having a water
supply, a fill valve operable to allow water from the water supply
to enter the toilet tank, and a float control for the fill valve
for closing the fill valve when the float control reaches a full
position representing a full condition of the toilet tank, wherein
the improvement comprises:
[0021] a hollow adjustable brace seated on upper surfaces of the
toilet tank;
[0022] a hook attached to the hollow adjustable brace; and
[0023] a cord having a first end connected to the float control and
a second end for connection to the hook, the cord other than the
first and second ends being housed within the hollow adjustable
brace;
[0024] whereby when the second end is connected to the hook the
cord biases the float control in the full position, thereby
preventing refilling of the toilet tank.
[0025] By employing the present invention, a first person may
utilize the toilet fixture while a second person utilizes the
shower fixture, and the first person can then use the present
invention to prevent refilling of the toilet tank when they flush
the toilet fixture. The negative effect on shower water temperature
is thereby avoided.
[0026] A detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention is given in the following. It is to be
understood, however, that the invention is not be construed as
limited to this embodiment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention:
[0028] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the present invention,
with the toilet tank shown in cross-section to allow a view of the
toilet tank fill control; and
[0029] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the present invention showing
the seating of the adjustable brace.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings, there
is illustrated an exemplary embodiment of the toilet tank fill
control of the present invention, generally referred to by the
numeral 10, for use with a toilet tank 32. The toilet tank 32 is of
the type having a water supply (not shown), a fill valve (not
shown) operable to allow water from the water supply to enter the
toilet tank 32, and a float control (not shown in full) for the
fill valve for closing the fill valve when the float control
reaches a full position representing a full condition of the toilet
tank. The float control comprises a float 12 on a float arm 14.
[0031] The toilet tank fill control 10 comprises a first brace
member 24 and a second brace member 26 which, when joined together
by a pin 28, form an adjustable brace to span the width of the
toilet tank 32. The first and second brace members 24, 26 can be
fitted with a number of holes to allow for adjustment to any
desired variety of toilet tank widths.
[0032] As the adjustable brace is hollow, it can house within it a
cord 18, as can be seen in FIG. 1. Cord 18 has a first end 20 which
is connected to the float arm 14 adjacent the float 12, and then it
enters the second brace member 26 at hole 30 where it is housed
along most of its length until it exits the second brace member 26
at another hole 30, allowing a second end 22 of the cord 18 to
protrude. This second end 22 is provided with a means for being
connected to a hook 16 on the second brace member 26 (in this
embodiment it is a loop structure). In this way, a lid (not shown)
can be fitted to the top of the toilet tank 32 without binding the
cord 18 and limiting its movement.
[0033] The utility of the present invention becomes clear in the
following situation. If a first person desires to use the toilet
facilities but a second person is using the adjacent shower
facilities at the same time, the first person can connect the
second end 22 of the cord 18 to the hook 16, thereby biasing the
float 12 in an upward direction. That way, when the first person
has utilized the toilet facilities and flushed out the water that
was held in the toilet tank 32, the upward biasing of the float 12
will prevent water from refilling the toilet tank 32. The effect of
this for the person using the shower facilities is that there is no
draw on the cold water supply to the bathroom facilities beyond
what is being used for the shower, and there will accordingly be no
undesirable increase in the shower water temperature.
[0034] While a particular embodiment of the present invention has
been described in the foregoing, it is to be understood that other
embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention and are
intended to be included herein. It will be clear to any person
skilled in the art that modifications of and adjustments to this
invention, not shown, are possible without departing from the
spirit of the invention as demonstrated through the exemplary
embodiment. For example, a rigid rod mechanism may be employed
rather than the flexible cord 18, and a hook 16 is not the only
structure capable of retaining the end of the cord 18. Also, the
cord 18 need not travel within the hollow adjustable brace but may
be positioned beside the adjustable brace with the latter acting to
provide a space between the top surfaces of the toilet tank 32 and
the toilet tank lid to allow for movement of the cord 18
therebetween. The invention is therefore to be considered limited
solely by the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *