TOILET BOWL OVERFLOW PREVENTION AND WATER CONSERVATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20100242160A1
• Filed: 06/08/2010
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: H2O Connected, LLC
• Original Assignee: Eric L. Canfield, James Canfield, Scott Soma
• Inventors: Canfield, Eric L., Soma, Scott, Canfield, James
• Granted Patent: US 8,166,996 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 4/314
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 1/00 Water flushing devices with cisterns ; Setting up a range of flushing devices or water-closets; Combinations of several flushing devices
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 11/00 Other component parts of water-closets pipe-joints or couplings in general F16L , e.g. noise-reducing means in the flushing system noise-reducing means in combination with flushing valves E03D9/14, flushing pipes mounted in the bowl, seals for the bowl outlet, devices preventing overflow of the bowl contents; devices forming a water seal in the bowl after flushing, devices eliminating obstructions in the bowl outlet or preventing backflow of water and excrements from the waterpipe
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 10/30 Flood prevention; Flood or storm water management, e.g. using flood barriers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7297 With second diverse control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7329 With supplemental or safety closing means or bias
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7727 Excessive flow cut-off

Abstract

A system and method for conditionally interfering with the operation of a conventional toilet tank fill valve prevents toilet overflow and conserves water. A single self-contained apparatus, located completely within the toilet tank, detects and prevents a toilet overflow and/or conserves water by conditionally interfering with or overriding the normal operation of a toilet tank fill valve to prevent a further flush. Exemplary illustrative non-limiting steps include removing the toilet tank lid to provide access to said toilet tank fill valve within the tank, manually snapping an assembly onto said fill valve protective cap, and automatically and conditionally actuating said assembly to cause the assembly to selectively interfere with or override the operation of said toilet tank fill valve. An exemplary illustrative non-limiting device comprises an attaching structure for manual attachment to said fill valve cap, and a control mechanism supported by said attaching structure. The control mechanism acts to conditionally interfere with the operation of the toilet tank fill valve assembly in response to abnormal detected toilet tank water level over time, thereby preventing a further flush. The overflow and water conservation feature can be designed into a fill valve at time of manufacture and/or added in the field by an end user.

Claims

1-6. -6. (canceled)

7. A device for use with a toilet tank fill valve assembly of the type comprising a float, a water valve that operates in response to the position of said float, said water valve selectively admitting water into a toilet tank, and a protective cap that at least in part covers said water valve, said device comprising:

an attaching structure supported by said fill valve cap;

an interfering mechanism supported by said attaching structure, said interfering mechanism acting to conditionally interfere with the operation of said toilet tank fill valve assembly in response to said float position, and

wherein said device further includes an electrical actuator that actuates said interfering mechanism to conditionally interfere with the operation of said toilet tank fill valve assembly in response to an electrical control signal.

8-9. -9. (canceled)

10. A device for use with a toilet tank fill valve assembly of the type comprising a float, a water valve that operates in response to the position of said float, said water valve selectively admitting water into a toilet tank, and a protective cap that at least in part covers said water valve, said device comprising:

an attaching structure supported by said fill valve cap; and

an interfering mechanism supported by said attaching structure, said interfering mechanism acting to conditionally interfere with the operation of said toilet tank fill valve assembly in response to said float position, and

wherein said interfering mechanism includes a filament.

11-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A device for use with a toilet tank fill valve assembly of the type comprising a float, a water valve that operates in response to the position of said float, said water valve selectively admitting water into a toilet tank, and a protective cap that at least in part covers said water valve, said device comprising:

an attaching structure supported by said fill valve cap; and

an interfering mechanism supported by said attaching structure, said interfering mechanism acting to conditionally interfere with the operation of said toilet tank fill valve assembly in response to said float position, and

wherein said interfering mechanism includes a solenoid.

14-24. -24. (canceled)

25. A toilet fill valve assembly for use within a toilet tank, said fill valve assembly comprising:

a water valve that selectively admits water into said tank;

a float operatively coupled to said water valve, said float being buoyant within water in said tank, said float position indicating water level within said tank; and

a water conservation mechanism operatively coupled to said float, said water conservation mechanism conditionally, at least in response to water level within said tank, reducing the quantity of additional water said fill valve admits into said tank when said float is not floating, and

wherein said water conservation mechanism selectively interferes with the normal operation of said water valve responsive to said float position.

26-28. -28. (canceled)

29. A method of conserving water comprising:

(a) electronically monitoring the level of fluid within a toilet tank over time;

(b) electronically detecting, in response to said electronically monitoring, when the fluid level over time is inconsistent with a normal operation of the toilet; and

(c) in response to said detecting, hydraulically acting on a refill valve float within the tank to cause the float of said refill valve to rise and stay in an upward position thereby reducing or preventing further inflow of fluid into said tank.

30. A system for conserving water in a toilet having a tank and a flush handle, said system comprising:

(a) a sensor that monitors the level of fluid within a toilet tank;

(b) an electronic processor coupled to said sensor, said processor being structured to detect, in response to said monitoring, when the fluid level over time is inconsistent with normal toilet operation; and

(c) a mechanical override mechanism coupled to said processor, said mechanism preventing manual operation of a flush handle from causing a flush of said toilet,

wherein said above-mentioned sensor, processor and mechanical override mechanism components are disposed entirely within said toilet tank.