Two-level toilet flush system

• US 4,080,669 A
• Filed: 05/17/1976
• Issued: 03/28/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William L. Biggerstaff
• Original Assignee: William L. Biggerstaff
• Inventors: Biggerstaff, William L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Aegerter, Richard E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schmidt, Frederick R.
• Application Number:
  US05/687,242
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 4/34, 4/67 A, 4/67 R, 4/57 R, 4/57 P, 4/63, 4/56 PCF
• US Class Current: 4/325
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 1/144 having a single flush outlet and an additional float for delaying the valve closure

Abstract

A toilet flush control is provided which is capable of dispensing different amounts of water and which comprises a rod flexibly attached to the outlet valve and loosely confined at its upper end. A floating ball slides down the rod as the water level falls and pushes the valve closed for a short flush. In a particular embodiment the ball is held at the top for full flush when the toilet seat is down and is released when the toilet seat is raised.

Claims

1. In a toilet mechanism having a seat selectably positioned between a lowered position and a raised position and a flush tank, the flush tank including means for filling the tank to a predetermined level, an outlet valve adapted to remain open when actuated until said tank is substantially empty to provide a full flush of said tank, and actuating means for opening said outlet valve to flush said tank, means for aborting a full flush of said tank comprising:

a guide member attached to said outlet valve and constrained in a generally vertical position, a buoyant body adapted when unrestrained to slide freely on said member and to descend while the water level in said tank lowers, and a fixed-length connector coupled between the toilet seat and said buoyant body and adapted to transmit a restraining force from said seat to said buoyant body when said seat is in its lowered position for preventing the descent of said buoyant body along said guide member as the water level in said tank decreases thus allowing a full flush of said tank and adapted to be relaxed when said seat is in its raised position for permitting the descent of said buoyant body as the water level in said tank decreases to provide a closing force on said valve when said seat is in its raised position which force closes said valve sooner than it would for a full flush condition of said tank to provide for less than a full flush of said tank.

2. In a toilet system having a waste receptacle, a water reservoir, water inlet means for filling said water reservoir to a predetermined level, a water outlet passage in said reservoir, sealing means for normally sealing the outlet passage, flush control means connected to the sealing means for opening the outlet passage for permitting said reservoir to drain and flush the waste receptacle, and a seat in operative association with the waste receptacle and having a raised and a lowered position, the improvement comprising:

water saver means comprising a buoyant body within said reservoir adapted to exert force upon said sealing means during a toilet flush to seal said outlet passage sooner than normal, and

a fixed-length connector attached to said buoyant body and to said seat and constrained in a path such that said seat holds said connector under tension when in said lowered position to stop said buoyant body from exerting force upon said sealing means and allows slack when in said raised position to permit said body to exert said force upon said sealing means,

whereby less water is used to flush said waste receptacle when said seat is in said raised position than when said seat is in said lowered position.

3. In a toilet system having a waste receptacle, a water reservoir, water inlet means for filling said water reservoir to a predetermined level, a water outlet passage in said reservoir, sealing means for normally sealing the outlet passage, flush control means connected to the sealing means for opening the outlet passage for permitting said reservoir to drain and flush the waste receptacle, and a seat in operative association with the waste receptacle and having a raised and a lowered position, the improvement comprising:

water saver means including a buoyant body within said reservoir, means for guiding said body along a path which intercepts said sealing means, and a fixed-length connector coupling said body to said seat, said connector being held under tension when said seat is in said lowered position but not when in said raised position permitting said body to travel along said path to make contact with said sealing means when both (1) the water level of said reservoir is decreasing as a result of activation of said flush control means and (2) said seat is in said raised position but not in said lowered position, to thereby allow said body to exert a closing force component upon said sealing means only when said seat is in said raised position whereby less water is utilized to flush said receptacle when said seat is in said raised position than in said lowered position.

4. In a toilet comprising a toilet seat selectively positionable horizontally and vertically, a toilet flush tank provided with means for filling to a predetermined level and outlet means for normally emptying said tank into said toilet, THE COMBINATION OF:

means for aborting the action of said outlet means whereby a predetermined amount of water is retained in said tank; and

inactivating means comprising a fixed length connector connected to said aborting means and to said seat and held taut by said toilet seat in said horizontal position but not in said vertical position for selectively inactivating said aborting means when seat is in said horizontal position and permitting said aborting means to abort the flush when said seat is in said vertical position whereby less water is used to flush said toilet when said toilet seat is in its vertical position.

5. A kit for converting a toilet having a standard toilet flush tank into a two-level flush system, comprising:

a member adapted when installed to extend substantially upwardly from the outlet valve of said tank;

means for attaching said member to said outlet valve;

means for supporting the upper end of said member;

a buoyant body adapted, when unrestrained, to slide freely on said member for descending along said member while said tank is emptying for providing a closing force on said outlet valve before said tank is completely emptied; and

a string and means for attaching a suitable length of said string between said body and the seat of said toilet for selectively controlling the ability of said body to descend along said member by said seat holding said string more tightly when said seat is in a lowered position than when it is in a raised position.