WATER FLOW CONTROLLING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20110107506A1
• Filed: 11/06/2009
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Prodius LLC
• Original Assignee: Prodius LLC
• Inventors: NASRALLAH, JEFFREY
• Granted Patent: US 8,387,172 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 4/378
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 1/34 Flushing valves for outlets; Arrangement of outlet valves
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 3/02 Self-closing flushing valves self-closing valves in general F16K21/04
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/094 the flushing element, e.g. siphon bell, being actuated through a cable, chain or the like

Abstract

A system for controlling the duration and volume of a flow of water in a flush of a Toilet, which includes a buoyant flush valve which is non-automated in user actuation thereof to a raised open position. The system includes a converting element, for converting the buoyant flush valve to a non-buoyant flush valve which is non-automated in user actuation thereof to a raised open position. A programming element enables programming of a controlling time, for controlling the duration and volume of flow of water in a flush of a toilet. A controlling element is connected to the programming element and the non-buoyant flush valve, for retaining the non-buoyant flush valve in a raised open position upon non-automated user actuation thereof to the raised open position, and for releasing the non-buoyant flush valve from the raised open position for closing the non-buoyant flush valve, within the controlling time.

Claims

1. A system for controlling the duration and volume of a flow of water in a flush of a toilet, wherein the toilet includes a buoyant flush valve which is non-automated in user actuation thereof to a raised open position, comprising:

a converting element, for converting the buoyant flush valve to a non-buoyant flush valve which is non-automated in user actuation thereof to a raised open position;

a programming element, for enabling programming of a controlling time, for controlling the duration and volume of flow of water in a flush of a toilet; and

a controlling element, connected to the programming element and the non-buoyant flush valve, for retaining the non-buoyant flush valve in the raised open position upon non-automated user actuation thereof to the raised open position, and for releasing the non-buoyant flush valve from the raised open position for closing the non-buoyant flush valve, within the controlling time.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein a toilet includes a flush actuator, which is connected to the non-buoyant flush valve, and wherein user actuation of the flush actuator generates non-automated user actuation of the non-buoyant flush valve to the raised open position.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein the controlling element comprises a control module, which is connected to the programming element and the non-buoyant flush valve.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein the programming element includes a processor.

5. A system as in claim 1, wherein the controlling element includes electro-mechanical elements.

6. A system as in claim 1, wherein the programming element is programmable for a time within the period of the minimum time required to complete a flush of the toilet to the maximum time required to drain all of the water from within a toilet tank.

7. A system as in claim 1, wherein the programming element is programmable for two controlling times.

8. A system as in claim 1, wherein the programming element is positionable at a user-accessible location.

9. A system as in claim 1, wherein the converting element comprises a weighted element, able to be connected to the buoyant flush valve, and a connecting element, for connecting the weighted element to the buoyant flush valve.

10. A system as in claim 1, wherein the programming element comprises a user interface module.

11. A system as in claim 1, wherein the controlling element includes a connecting element, connected at one end to the controlling element and at the other end to the non-buoyant flush valve.

12. A system as in claim 3, wherein a toilet includes a flush actuator, which is connected to the non-buoyant flush valve, and wherein user actuation of the flush actuator generates non-automated user actuation of the non-buoyant flush valve to the raised open position and the control module retains the non-buoyant flush valve in the raised open position, and the control module releases the non-buoyant flush valve from the raised open position for closing the non-buoyant flush valve, within the controlling time.

13. A system as in claim 7, wherein the two controlling times comprise a small flush time and a large flush time.

14. A system as in claim 11, wherein the controlling element further includes a flush actuator, and wherein the flush actuator and the connecting element enable user actuation of the flush actuator to generate non-automated user actuation of the non-buoyant flush valve to the raised open position.

15. A system as in claim 11, wherein the programming element is programmable for a controlling time which comprise a small flush time comprising a controlling default flush time, the flush actuator includes a small flush handle, and user actuation of the small flush handle generates non-automated user actuation of the non-buoyant flush valve to the raised open position.

16. A system as in claim 13, wherein the small flush time comprises a controlling default flush time.

17. A system as in claim 13, wherein the system is programmable to enable user actuation of the large flush time.

18. A system as in claim 13, wherein the programming element comprises a user interface module, and the user interface module includes a sensing element, for sensing the presence of a person and the length of time the person has been using the toilet, and for automatically determining whether to provide a small flush time or a large flush time.

19. A system as in claim 13, wherein the sensing element further includes a time threshold determining element for enabling the user to program a time threshold for the sensing element to determine the type of flush to provide.

20. A system as in claim 14, wherein the flush actuator and the connecting element further enable the controlling element to retain the non-buoyant flush valve in the raised open position upon non-automated user actuation of the non-buoyant flush valve to the raised open position, and further enable the controlling element to release the non-buoyant flush valve from the raised open position for closing the non-buoyant flush valve, within the controlling time.

21. A system as in claim 15, wherein the programming element is further programmable for a further controlling time which comprises a large flush time, the flush actuator further includes a large flush handle, and wherein initial user movement of the large flush handle generates actuation of the large flush time, and further user movement of the large flush handle into engagement with the small flush handle generates non-automated user actuation of the non-buoyant flush valve to the raised open position.

22. A method of controlling the duration and volume of a flow of water in a flush of a toilet, wherein the toilet includes a buoyant flush valve which is non-automated in user actuation thereof to a raised open position, in a system which comprises a converting element, for converting the buoyant flush valve to a non-buoyant flush valve which is non-automated in user actuation thereof to a raised open position, a programming element, for enabling programming of a controlling time, for controlling the duration and volume of flow of water in a flush of a toilet, and a controlling element, connected to the programming element and the non-buoyant flush valve, for retaining the non-buoyant flush valve in the raised open position upon non-automated user actuation thereof to the raised open position, and for releasing the non-buoyant flush valve from the raised open position for closing the non-buoyant flush valve, within the controlling time, wherein the method comprises:

converting the buoyant flush valve to a non-buoyant flush valve which is non-automated in user actuation thereof to a raised open position, by the converting element;

programming a controlling time for controlling the duration and volume of flow of water in a flush of a toilet, in the programming element; and

retaining the non-buoyant flush valve in the raised open position upon non-automated user actuation thereof to the raised open position, and releasing the non-buoyant flush valve from the raised open position for closing the non-buoyant flush valve, within the controlling time, in the controlling element.

23. A method as in claim 22, wherein a toilet includes a flush actuator, which is connected to the non-buoyant flush valve, and wherein user actuation of the flush actuator generates non-automated user actuation of the non-buoyant flush valve to the raised open position, and wherein the method further comprises user actuation of the flush actuator, generating non-automated user actuation of the non-buoyant flush valve to the raised open position.

24. A method as in claim 22, wherein the controlling element in the system comprises a control module, which is connected to the programming element and the non-buoyant flush valve, and wherein retaining and releasing in the method further comprises retaining and releasing the non-buoyant flush valve, by the control module.

25. A method as in claim 22, wherein the programming element in the system includes a processor, and wherein programming in the method further comprises programming the controlling time for controlling the duration and volume of flow of water in a flush of a toilet, in the processor.

26. A method as in claim 22, wherein the controlling element in the system includes electro-mechanical elements, and wherein programming in the method further comprises controlling the duration and volume of flow of water in a flush of a toilet, in the controlling element including the electro-mechanical elements.

27. A method as in claim 22, wherein the programming element in the system is programmable for a time within the period of the minimum time required to complete a flush of the toilet to the maximum time required to drain all of the water from within a toilet tank, and wherein programming in the method further comprises programming the desired time for the flush of the toilet, in the programming element.

28. A method as in claim 22, wherein the programming element in the system is programmable for two controlling times, and wherein programming in the method further comprises programming for two controlling times, in the programming element.

29. A method as in claim 22, wherein the programming element in the system is positionable at a user-accessible location, and wherein the method further comprises positioning the programming element at a user-accessible location.

30. A method as in claim 22, wherein the converting element comprises a weighted element, able to be connected to the buoyant flush valve, and a connecting element, for connecting the weighted element to the buoyant flush valve, and wherein converting in the method further comprises connecting the weighted element to the buoyant flush valve, by the connecting element.

31. A method as in claim 22, wherein the programming element in the system comprises a user interface module, and wherein programming in the method further comprises programming in the user interface module.

32. A method as in claim 22, wherein the controlling element in the system includes a connecting element, connected at one end to the controlling element and at the other end to the non-buoyant flush valve, and wherein controlling in the method further comprises controlling the non-buoyant flush valve, by the controlling element including the connecting element.

33. A method as in claim 24, wherein a toilet includes a flush actuator, which is connected to the non-buoyant flush valve, and wherein user actuation of the flush actuator generates non-automated user actuation of the non-buoyant flush valve to the raised open position and the control module retains the non-buoyant flush valve in the raised open position, and the control module releases the non-buoyant flush valve from the raised open position for closing the non-buoyant flush valve, within the controlling time, and wherein, in the method, controlling further comprises retaining the non-buoyant flush valve in the raised open position, and releasing the non-buoyant flush valve from the raised open position for closing the non-buoyant flush valve, within the controlling time, in the control module.

34. A method as in claim 28, wherein the two controlling times in the system comprise a small flush time and a large flush time, and wherein programming in the method further comprises programming a small flush time and a large flush time.

35. A method as in claim 32, wherein the controlling element in the system further includes a flush actuator, and wherein the flush actuator and the connecting element enable user actuation of the flush actuator to generate non-automated user actuation of the non-buoyant flush valve to the raised open position, and wherein controlling in the method further comprises enabling user actuation of the flush actuator to generate non-automated user actuation of the non-buoyant flush valve to the raised open position, by the controlling element including the flush actuator and the connecting element.

36. A method as in claim 32, wherein, in the system, the programming element is programmable for a controlling time which comprise a small flush time comprising a controlling default flush time, the flush actuator includes a small flush handle, and user actuation of the small flush handle generates non-automated user actuation of the non-buoyant flush valve to the raised open position, and wherein, in the method, programming further comprises programming the programming element for a controlling time which comprises a small flush time comprising a controlling default flush time, and generating non-automated user actuation of the non-buoyant flush valve to the raised open position by user actuation of the small flush handle.

37. A method as in claim 34, wherein the small flush time in the system comprises a controlling default flush time, and wherein controlling in the method further comprises programming the small flush time as the controlling default flush time, in the programming element.

38. A method as in claim 34, wherein the system is programmable to enable user actuation of the large flush time, and wherein programming in the method further comprises enabling user actuation of the large flush time, in the system.

39. A method as in claim 34, wherein the programming element in the system comprises a user interface module, and the user interface module includes a sensing element, for sensing the presence of a person and the length of time the person has been using the toilet, and for automatically determining whether to provide a small flush time or a large flush time, and wherein the method further comprises sensing the presence of a person and the length of time the person has been using the toilet, and automatically determining whether to provide a small flush time or a large flush time, in the user interface module including the sensing element.

40. A method as in claim 34, wherein the sensing element further includes a time threshold determining element for enabling the user to program a time threshold for the sensing element to determine the type of flush to provide, and wherein sensing in the method further comprises enabling the user to program a time threshold for the sensing element to determine the type of flush to provide, in the user interface module including the sensing element and the time threshold determining element.

41. A method as in claim 35, wherein the flush actuator and the connecting element in the controlling element in the system further enable the controlling element to retain the non-buoyant flush valve in the raised open position upon non-automated user actuation of the non-buoyant flush valve to the raised open position, and further enable the controlling element to release the non-buoyant flush valve from the raised open position for closing the non-buoyant flush valve, within the controlling time, and wherein controlling in the method further comprises enabling the controlling element to retain the non-buoyant flush valve in the raised open position upon non-automated user actuation of the non-buoyant flush valve to the raised open position, and further enabling the controlling element to release the non-buoyant flush valve from the raised open position for closing the non-buoyant flush valve, within the controlling time, by the controlling element including the flush actuator and the connecting element.

42. A method as in claim 36, wherein, in the system, the programming element is further programmable for a further controlling time which comprises a large flush time, the flush actuator further includes a large flush handle, and wherein initial user movement of the large flush handle generates actuation of the large flush time, and further user movement of the large flush handle into engagement with the small flush handle generates non-automated user actuation of the non-buoyant flush valve to the raised open position, and wherein, in the method, programming further comprises programming the programming element for a further controlling time which comprises a large flush time, generating actuation of the large flush time by initial user movement of the large flush handle, and generating non-automated user actuation of the non-buoyant flush valve to the raised open position by further user movement of the large flush handle into engagement with the small flush handle.