U.S. patent application number 10/658903 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-10 for water saving toilet device.
Invention is credited to Bayer, Seth.
Application Number | 20050050625 10/658903 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34226876 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050050625 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bayer, Seth |
March 10, 2005 |
Water saving toilet device
Abstract
A water saving toilet device is provided which allows the user
to select one of two flush modes at the time of use. A low volume
flush mode is selected by turning the handle counter clockwise and
a high volume flush mode is selected by turning the handle
clockwise. The device can be retrofitted to accommodate existing
toilets.
Inventors: |
Bayer, Seth; (Boulder,
CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Ruth Eure
4795 Edison Avenue
Boulder
CO
80301
US
|
Family ID: |
34226876 |
Appl. No.: |
10/658903 |
Filed: |
September 10, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/325 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02A 20/40 20180101;
E03D 1/142 20130101; E03D 5/09 20130101; Y02A 20/412 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
004/325 |
International
Class: |
E03D 001/14; E03D
003/12 |
Claims
1. A float arm device comprising: a) a mounting block; b) a flush
control arm having a first end and a second end and the flush
control arm is mounted to the mounting block near the first end of
the flush control arm; and c) a float rod having a first end and a
second end and the float rod is mounted to the mounting block near
the first end of the float rod at a predetermined distance from the
mounting of the first end of the flush control arm.
2. The float arm device of claim 1 wherein the flush control arm
comprises two essentially parallel sides.
3. The flush control arm of claim 1 further comprising: a) an
opening at a predetermined distance from the first end for
receiving a secondary pivot axis shaft; and b) a channel near the
second end opposite the first end, for receiving a barrel; and c)
the flush control arm further having a lobe near the first end.
4. The float rod of claim 1 further comprising: a) a first end and
a second end opposite the first end, b) the first end having an
opening for receiving a primary pivot axis shaft, c) and the second
end opposite the first end having a shelf and a catch.
5. A water saving toilet device comprising a float arm comprising:
a) a mounting block; b) a flush control arm having a first end and
a second end and the flush control arm is mounted to the mounting
block near the first end of the flush control arm; and c) a float
rod having a first end and a second end and the float rod is
mounted to the mounting block near the first end of the float rod a
predetermined distance from the mounting of the first end of the
flush control arm, and d) the capability of evacuating two specific
volumes of water.
6. The water saving toilet device of claim 5 comprising a float arm
further comprising the capability of being installed in existing
toilets.
7. The water saving toilet device of claim 5 comprising a float arm
further comprising: the flush control arm having two essentially
parallel sides.
8. The water saving toilet device of claim 7 wherein the flush
control arm having two essentially parallel sides, each side being
essentially identical and each side having a first end and a second
end, and each side further comprising: a) an opening at a specific
distance from the first end for receiving a secondary pivot axis
shaft and b) a channel in the second end opposite the first end,
for receiving a barrel; and c) at least one side having a lobe near
the first end.
9. The water saving toilet device of claim 5 the float rod further
comprising the first end having an opening for receiving a primary
pivot axis shaft and the second end opposite the first end having a
shelf and a catch.
10. The water saving toilet device of claim 9 having the capability
of evacuating two specific volumes of water.
11. The water saving toilet device of claim 8 further comprising a
handle and a cam for engaging the lobe on the flush control arm so
that clockwise rotation of the handle causes counter clockwise
rotation of the flush control arm.
12. The water saving toilet device of claim 8 further comprising a
handle so that counter clockwise rotation of the handle causes
counter clockwise rotation of the float rod.
13. The water saving toilet device of claim 5 wherein the flush
control arm has a first end and a second end and further
comprising: a) an opening at a specific distance from the first end
for receiving a secondary pivot axis shaft and b) a channel in the
second end opposite the first end, for receiving a barrel; and c) a
lobe near the first end.
14. The water saving toilet device of claim 13 further comprising a
handle and a cam for engaging the lobe on the flush control arm so
that clockwise rotation of the handle causes counter clockwise
rotation of the flush control arm.
15. The water saving toilet device of claim 13 further comprising a
handle so that counter clockwise rotation of the handle causes
counter clockwise rotation of the float rod.
16. A method of saving water utilizing the device of claim 15
comprising: selecting low flush volume and rotating the handle
counter clockwise causing counter clockwise rotation of the float
rod and eventual evacuation of a low volume of water from the
toilet.
17. A method of saving water utilizing the device of claim 14
comprising selecting high flush volume and rotating the handle
clockwise causing counter clockwise rotation of the flush control
arm and eventual evacuation of a high volume of water from the
toilet.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention pertains to the field of water-saving
devices, and more particularly to the field of water saving
toilets.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Clean water has become a precious commodity in recent years.
This can be attributed to increases in population and climatic
variabilities causing severe drought to populated areas. The
average American uses about 42 gallons of water per day for
domestic living. More water is used for toilet flushing than for
any other domestic water application. The present invention offers
an elegant and economical solution to the problem of water wastage
by providing a new device which can be installed in most toilets
already in existence or can be installed in newly constructed homes
and businesses. The device of the present invention allows the user
to select a low volume flush mode for flushing liquid and a higher
volume flush mode for flushing semi-solid waste.
[0003] The art has put forth several designs to accomplish similar
objectives, however, none has achieved this objective in the same
manner as the device of the present invention. Some of the more
pertinent references are discussed below.
[0004] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,452 to Hsiao describes a
water saving toilet which offers variable flush volume. In Hsiao's
device this is accomplished by providing two intake water ports at
two different levels, each having an independent chain and flapper.
Hsiao's device is not suitable for retrofitting the millions of
toilets currently in use. In contrast, the present invention
provides a float arm which can be retrofitted to existing toilets
and permits variable flush volume from a single intake water port,
chain and flapper mechanism.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,513 to Burrowes describes a toilet
handle device which can be retrofitted to existing toilets. The
handle of Burrowes comprises a cam which allows water to flow into
the intake water port as long as the handle is depressed. In
contrast, the device of the present invention does not require the
handle to be held in place to allow the water to flow for either
volume discharged.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,594 to Wiewiorowski et al describes a
water saving toilet flush control system which comprises a
non-buoyant flapper and an eyelet through which passes a flexible
line attached to a buoyancy means. In this device, once the
buoyancy means has been adjusted, only one flush volume is
available. In contrast, the device of the present invention
utilizes a buoyant flapper, and makes two discreet flush volumes
available to the user.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,881,279 to Harney describes a dual volume
flush toilet. The device described by this patent has two separate
handles, one for each flush mode. An advantage of the present
invention over this device is that a single handle moving in
opposite directions affects the two flush volumes of the present
invention as opposed to the two separate handles described by the
Harney device.
[0008] After a review of the prior art, Applicant asserts that none
of the prior art describes, either in whole or in combination, a
device which accomplishes the same result in the same way as the
present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel
mechanism for controlling the flush volume of a toilet.
[0010] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
novel mechanism which can be adapted to almost any toilet now in
use.
[0011] It is a still further object of the invention to provide a
novel mechanism which allows the user of a toilet to easily select
at the time of use either a high volume flush or a low volume flush
by turning the handle clockwise or counter-clockwise,
respectively.
[0012] The present invention provides a modified float arm which
permits the user to choose a low volume flush by turning the handle
counterclockwise, or a high volume flush by turning the handle
clockwise. The low volume flush can be used to effectively evacuate
liquid waste from the toilet bowl, while the high volume flush is
sometimes needed to evacuate solid waste material from the toilet
bowl. By selecting the appropriate volume of water to flush, a
significant amount of water is saved.
[0013] The modified float arm of the present invention comprises a
float rod which has on its distal end two protrusions, one of which
is movable, for controlling the length of time and distance that
the flapper is open. In addition to the float rod, is a flush
control arm which moves with the float rod, but at a different
pivot axis. The float rod and the flush control arm move
simultaneously to control the length of time the flapper opens and
thereby controlling the amount of water discharged. In one
embodiment, the flush control arm comprises two essentially
parallel sides, although a single piece construction is also
contemplated. If the flush control arm has two essentially parallel
sides, the float rod travels between the two essentially parallel
sides of the flush control arm and serves to control the movement
of the barrel and tether. If the flush control arm is constructed
of one piece, the float rod travels alongside of the flush control
arm. The flush volume is selected by directional variance of the
handle. Rotation in one direction directly moves the float rod
upward, like is commonly known. Rotation in the opposite direction
actuates a cam mechanism which rotates the flush control arm.
[0014] The actual mechanism of the invention is described in more
detail in the Detailed Description of the Invention, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the device of the present
invention shown in the "closed" position.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the device of the present
invention shown in the "open" position for low volume flush.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the device of the present
invention shown in the "open" position for high volume flush.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a side view of the flush control arm.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a side view of the float rod.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a cutaway front view of the mounting block.
[0021] FIG. 7 is a sequence showing the movement of the barrel in
the flush control arm past the upper catch in the float rod for the
open high volume flush position.
[0022] FIG. 8 is a detailed view of the offset mounting positions
of the flush control arm and the float rod, and also showing the
cam mechanism.
[0023] FIG. 9 is a side view of the cam.
[0024] FIG. 10 is a side view of the offset mounting positions of
the flush control arm and the float rod on the mounting block.
[0025] FIG. 11 is a schematic view of the invention showing
completion of the high volume flush discharge.
[0026] FIG. 12 is a detail of the float rod showing the pin and
slot on the primary pivot axis shaft.
[0027] FIG. 13 is a detail of the barrel and tether controlling end
of the flush control arm showing the single piece embodiment of the
flush control arm.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0028] The present invention permits the user to flush the toilet
in either of two flush volumes. The two flush volumes are low
volume flush for evacuation of liquid waste from the toilet bowl,
or high volume flush for evacuation of solid waste from the toilet
bowl. The actual volume of both of these flush modes is
predetermined by adjusting the placement of the float 20 on the
float stem 18, and held in place by float clip 50. This is shown in
FIG. 1. If the float is placed lower on (or more distally on) the
float stem, the greater will be the volume of water evacuated when
the toilet is flushed.
[0029] Although the following discussion describes the operation of
the instant device having a flush control arm comprised of two
essentially parallel sides, one-piece construction is also
envisioned. This one-piece flush control arm is depicted in FIG.
13, which shows additionally, an arcuate gap 106 to accommodate the
tether 10. In one-piece construction, the float rod travels
alongside the flush control arm. In the case of a two-sided flush
control arm, the float rod travels between the two sides of the
flush control arm.
[0030] LOW VOLUME FLUSH--See FIGS. 2, 10 and 12. This is the
primary flush mode for the invention and is the flush mode selected
when operating the toilet by turning the handle 28 in a counter
clockwise direction. When handle 28 is rotated in a counter
clockwise direction, the shaft 30 rotates as constrained by the
bearing surface 52 of the primary pivot axis 24, then shaft 30
engages the pin 32, which causes float rod 4 to rotate also.
Bearing surface 52 is shown in FIGS. 6 and 10. Shaft 30 is
described herein as being a thin-walled tube creating a hollow
shaft, but this feature is not critical to the instant invention
and a solid shaft can also be used in the present invention. Pin 32
intersects float rod 4 through apertures 60,62. Shaft 30 passes
through float rod 4 through opening 64. This is shown in FIG. 12.
Apertures 60,62 are positioned in float rod 4 so that pin 32 is
orthogonal to both shaft 30 and primary pivot axis 24. Pin 32
passes through shaft 30 at slots 36, 37. Slots 36,37 in shaft 30,
circumferentially describe the outer surface of the shaft for
approximately 90 ninety degrees on opposing outer surfaces of shaft
30. See FIG. 12. This arrangement allows shaft 30 to engage pin 32
when shaft 30 is rotated counter clockwise, but to not engage pin
32 when the shaft is rotated clockwise. This counter clockwise
rotation causes float rod 4 to move upward until it contacts stop
block 34. Float rod 4 travels between two essentially parallel
sides of flush control arm 2. This can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3. As
the float rod 4 moves upward it carries with it the barrel 14, the
tether 10 and flapper 12. Flapper 12 remains open until the level
of the water falls below the buoyancy capability of the float 20
which then causes float rod 4 to rotate clockwise and downward as
the water drains to a level at which the flapper 12 closes. Once
the flapper 12 closes, the water reservoir inside the toilet
refills until the high water level control float reaches its stop
in the customary fashion. When the high water level control float
reaches its stop, the water flow ceases and the toilet is ready to
be flushed again. The high level control float is not shown in the
drawings in order to clarify the actual novel features of the
present invention, but is contemplated to be a high level control
float as is commonly utilized in toilets.
[0031] FULL (HIGH) VOLUME FLUSH (Note that the high volume flush
does not drain the reservoir, but dispenses the legal maximum of
approximately 1.6 gallons per flush)--This is the flush mode to be
used for evacuating solid or semi-solid waste from the toilet bowl
and is brought about by turning the handle 28 in a clockwise
direction, as shown in FIG. 3. When the handle 28 is rotated in a
clockwise direction, the shaft 30 rotates clockwise about primary
pivot axis 24. This rotation has no effect on the float rod 4
because there are slots 36,37 on the primary pivot axis shaft 30
which allows the float rod 4 to rotate counter clockwise with
respect to shaft 30 without engaging pin 32 which pin 32 passes
through slots 36, 37 in the shaft 30 that intersects the shaft 30
and is perpendicular to the primary pivot axis 24. These features
are depicted in FIG. 12. Clockwise rotation of shaft 30 has no
effect on the float rod 4 because slots 36, 37 in shaft 30 allow
shaft 30 to rotate clockwise with respect to the float rod 4
without engaging pin 32. Cams 38, 40 are fixed to the primary pivot
axis shaft 30 so that by rotating the shaft 30 clockwise, the lobes
42, 44 on the flush control arm are engaged which causes the flush
control arm 2 to rotate in a counter clockwise direction, which
pivots about the secondary pivot axis 26 as constrained by the
secondary pivot axis shaft 48. This is shown in FIG. 6. The above
description of the invention refers to two cams 38, 40 for
two-piece construction of the flush control arm and two lobes 42,44
to engage the cams. However, one-piece construction of the flush
control arm would have only one lobe 42, and therefore only one cam
38 to engage lobe 42. As with the low volume flush mode, float rod
4 travels in between the two essentially parallel sides of flush
control arm 2. Movement of the flush control arm 2 in a
counterclockwise direction raises the barrel 14, which is connected
to the tether 10 and the flapper 12, thereby lifting flapper 12. At
the same time the flush control arm 2 moves upward, the float rod 4
also moves upward due to its buoyancy created by float 20. Float
rod 4 moves upward until it reaches stop block 34 located on
mounting block 22. Continued manual clockwise rotation of the
handle 28 causes continued counter-clockwise rotation of flush
control arm 2 about the secondary pivot axis 26 until the cams 38,
40 contact the stop 56 which limits the clockwise rotation of the
handle 28. Stop 56 is a protrusion located on either one or both
lobes 42, 44. This feature is shown in FIG. 4. Continued rotation
causes the barrel 14 to move up past the upper catch 6 on float rod
4. When barrel 14 moves upward, it contacts the lower surface of
upper catch 6 and causes upper catch 6 to rotate counter clockwise.
This rotation of upper catch 6 permits the barrel 14 to move past
the upper catch 6. This is shown in FIG. 7. Spring 16 returns upper
catch 6 to its original position, thereby preventing the downward
movement of barrel 14. Barrel 14 always travels inside slot 46 on
float rod 4. Due to kinematic constraints the tether 10 is required
to be elastic and of a spring constant sufficient to be able to
lift the flapper 12 and overcome the hydrostatic forces of the
water without too much elongation, but of a small enough spring
constant so that it can stretch the length necessary to allow the
barrel 14 to move past the upper catch 6 without appreciable
resistance. For example, a tether having a spring constant defined
by force/distance of approximately 6 to 10 pounds per inch is
suitable for use in the present invention. When barrel 14 moves up
past the upper catch 6, upper catch 6 is forced down by means of
spring 16. The movement of upper catch 6 by spring 16 prevents the
barrel 14 from moving down. This mechanism holds the flapper 12
open to allow evacuation of the toilet bowl. At this point, the
handle is released and the return spring 58 (shown in FIG. 6)
returns the handle 28 to its original position. The flapper 12
remains open until the water level drops to the point of the limit
of the buoyancy capability of the float 20. At that point, both
float rod 4, flush control arm 2, and the flapper 12 start rotating
clockwise as the water level drops. The float rod 4 and flush
control arm 2 have different pivot axes. Primary pivot axis 24 is
the pivot center for the float rod 4, and secondary pivot axis 26
is the pivot center for the flush control arm 2. The offset pivot
centers of the primary pivot axis 24 and secondary pivot axis 26 is
critical to the instant invention. Although the present invention
is described with respect to a specific relationship between the
pivot axes, other relationships have been contemplated and are
considered to be included in the scope of this invention. For
example, the relationship can be optimized for a variety of
applications, such as manufacturing considerations, or different
toilet reservoir shapes.
[0032] In the present embodiment, as the water level drops, the
difference between the arc scribed by the float rod 4 at the upper
catch 6 and the arc scribed by the flush control arm 2 at the
channel 46 causes a gap between the distal end of the upper catch
6, and the distal end of the channel 46 of the flush control arm 2
which allows the barrel 14 to slide off the end of the upper catch
6 on the float rod 4 and onto shelf 8. At this point, the barrel 14
is no longer restrained by the upper catch 6 because the upper
catch 6 is rotating away from the distal end of the channel 46 of
the flush control arm 2. The force from flapper 12 on the barrel 14
via the tether 10 has a component toward the distal end of the
upper catch 6. This results in the barrel 14 always being located
at the distal end of the upper catch 6. The barrel 14 moves freely
within the channel 46 on the flush control arm 2. When barrel 14
slides off upper catch 6 onto shelf 8, the flapper 12 is relieved
from the restraint holding the flapper 12 open and flapper 12
closes. Similarly the float rod 4 is relieved of the of the weight
of the flapper when the barrel 14 drops from the upper catch 6 and
therefore rotates counter-clockwise due to the buoyancy of the
float 20 until the lower shelf 8 is restrained by the barrel 14,
tether 10 and flapper 12 which is held closed by the hydrostatic
force of the water.
[0033] Once the flapper 12 closes, the water reservoir inside the
toilet refills until the high water level control float reaches its
stop in the customary fashion. When the high water level control
float reaches its stop, the water flow ceases and the toilet is
ready to be flushed again.
[0034] Although this invention has been described with respect to
specific embodiments, it is not intended to be limited thereto and
various modifications which will become apparent to the person of
ordinary skill in the art are intended to fall within the spirit
and scope of the invention as described herein taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
* * * * *