Toilet control system

• US 6,877,170 B1
• Filed: 07/21/2003
• Issued: 04/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Niccole Family Trust
• Original Assignee: Niccole Family Trust
• Inventors: Niccole, Devon, Quintana, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, KHOA D
• Application Number:
  US10/624,008
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 442/7, 436/7, 431/3, 435/3, 437/8, 441/7, 440/6, 431/4, 441/5, 137/392, 137/391, 137/312, 137/412, 137/413, 702/51, 702/55, 700/281, 700/282, 340/605, 340/616, 340/623, 733/05, 733/06
• US Class Current: 4/427
• 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 1/20 Cisterns with tiltably-mounted containers for operation, e.g. by the seat E03D5/04
• 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: E03D 5/10 operated electrically E03D5/01, E03D5/12 take precedence, e.g. by a photo-cell; also combined with devices for opening or closing shutters in the bowl outlet and/or with devices for raising/or lowering seat and cover and/or for swiveling the bowl
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 10/30 Flood prevention; Flood or storm water management, e.g. using flood barriers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5762 With leakage or drip collecting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7306 Electrical characteristic sensing

Abstract

A toilet water measuring and flow control system, including leak and overflow detection and prevention elements. The system has inlet and outlet flow sensors operably connected to inlet and outlet control valves and to water level sensors to measure and control water flow to and from the toilet. Water level sensors held in a toilet tank are connected to the system to control the volume of water fed to the toilet tank and passing through the outlet. The toilet tank may be provided with a movable reservoir to more accurately control the amount of water held in the tank and exiting the tank upon flushing.

Claims

1. A control system in combination with a toilet having a toilet tank and a toilet bowl, comprising:

a water measuring and flow control system having a housing held in the toilet tank;

a plurality of water level sensors and overflow sensors mounted in the toilet tank and the toilet bowl;

an operating system held in the housing; and

a flow sensor held in the housing and operatively connected to the operating system, to an inlet control valve and to the plurality of water level sensors and the overflow sensors to measure and control water flow to and from the toilet.

2. The control system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the water level sensors is held in the toilet bowl to detect and prevent overflows from the toilet bowl.

3. The control system of claim 2, further including an outlet flow sensor mounted in an exit housing held in the toilet tank and having an outlet control valve therein;

the outlet flow sensor and the outlet control valve being operatively connected to the operating system.

4. The control system of claim 3, further including a microprocessor and a power supply in the operating system.

5. The control system of claim 4 wherein at least two of the water level sensors are held in the toilet tank to measure high and low levels of water in the toilet tank.

6. The control system of claim 5, further including charging means operated by the flow sensor and the outlet flow sensor for recharging the power supply.

7. The control system of claim 1 wherein the operating system includes a microprocessor, a power supply, an inlet flow sensor and an outlet flow sensor.

8. The control system of claim 7, further including charging generators operated by the inlet flow sensor and the outlet flow sensor for recharging the power supply.

9. The control system of claim 8 wherein at least one of the water level sensors is held in the toilet bowl to detect and prevent overflows from the toilet bowl and the outlet flow sensor is mounted in an exit housing held in the toilet tank and having an outlet control valve therein;

the outlet flow sensor and the outlet control valve are operatively connected to the operating system.

10. The control system of claim 1, wherein at least two of the water level sensors are held in the toilet tank to measure high and low levels of water in the toilet tank and the exit housing is sized and dimensioned to only allow a predetermined amount of water to exit from the toilet tank when the outlet valve is opened.

11. The control system of claim 1, further including means in the toilet tank to control the amount of water exiting from the toilet tank.

12. The control system of claim 11 wherein the means in the toilet tank to control the amount of water exiting from the toilet tank is an exit housing sized and dimensioned to only allow a predetermined amount of water to exit from the toilet tank when the outlet valve is opened.

13. The control system of claim 11 wherein the means in the toilet tank to control the amount of water exiting from the toilet tank is a separate reservoir movably held in the toilet tank and operable when the toilet is flushed.

15. The control system of claim 11 wherein the means in the toilet tank to control the amount of water exiting from the toilet tank is a separate reservoir movably held in the toilet tank for receiving a predetermined amount of water and dispensing the predetermined amount of water upon flushing of the toilet.

16. The control system of claim 11 wherein at least one of the plurality of water level leak detection and prevention sensors is held in the toilet tank to control the amount of water received by the reservoir.

17. The control system of claim 11 wherein the means in the toilet tank to control the amount of water exiting from the toilet tank is an exit housing held in the toilet tank and sized and dimensioned to only allow a predetermined amount of water to exit from the toilet tank when the outlet valve is opened.

18. The control system of claim 17 wherein the operating system includes a microprocessor, a power supply, an inlet flow sensor and an outlet flow sensor;

the outlet flow sensor is held in the exit housing after an outlet control valve; and

the inlet flow sensor and the outlet flow sensor are connected to charging generators for recharging the power supply.

14. A water measuring and flow control system in combination with a toilet having a tank and a bowl, comprising:

a housing held in said toilet tank;

a plurality of water level leak detection and prevention sensors held in the toilet tank;

a plurality of overflow detection and prevention sensors held in the toilet tank and the toilet bowl;

an inlet flow sensor held in said housing and operatively connected to an inlet control valve and to the plurality of water level leak detection and prevention sensors to measure and control water flow into the toilet;

an operating system held in the housing; and

means held in the toilet tank to control the amount of water exiting from the toilet tank when it is flushed.

19. The control system of claim 14, further including an outlet flow sensor operatively connected to an outlet control valve and to the plurality of water level leak detection and prevention sensors to measure and control water flow out of the toilet, and wherein at least one of the water level sensors is held in the toilet bowl to detect and prevent overflows from the toilet bowl;

the outlet flow sensor being mounted in an exit housing held in the toilet tank and sized and dimensioned to only allow a predetermined amount of water to exit the toilet tank upon flushing of the toilet.

20. A water measuring and flow control system in combination with a toilet having a tank and a bowl comprising:

a housing held in said toilet tank;

a plurality of water level leak detection and prevention sensors held in the toilet tank;

a plurality of overflow detection and prevention sensors held in the toilet tank and the toilet bowl;

an inlet flow sensor held in said housing and operatively connected to an inlet control valve;

an outlet flow sensor operatively connected to an outlet control valve;

an operating system held in the housing and connected to a power supply;

the operating system including a microprocessor and operatively connected to the inlet flow sensor and the outlet flow sensor;

charging generators operated by the inlet flow sensor and the outlet flow sensor for recharging the power supply and

an element held in the toilet tank to control the amount of water exiting from the toilet tank when it is flushed.