Toilet and method of operation

• US 6,981,285 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2004
• Issued: 01/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dometic LLC
• Original Assignee: Dometic Sanitation Corporation
• Inventors: Krieder, Robert D., Miko, Steven L., Sigler, James A., Thomas, Randall, Snyder, Nathan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Justine R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, HUYEN D
• Application Number:
  US10/919,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20050015872A1
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 443/4, 443/5, 443/7, 4438-442
• US Class Current: 4/434
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 35/005 Toilet facilities
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 29/14 Closet or like flushing arrangements; Washing or bathing facilities peculiar to ships
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 1/32 Arrangement of inlet valves devices for reducing noise E03D9/14 ; noise-reducing means E03D11/00
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 3/00 Flushing devices operated by pressure of the water supply system flushing valves not connected to the water-supply main, also if air is blown in the water seal for a quick flushing
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/012 combined with movable closure elements in the bowl outlet bowls with closure elements between bottom or outlet and outlet pipe E03D11/10
• 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

Abstract

A toilet and toilet system suitable for a boat, recreational vehicle, bus or the like is operated via a microprocessor controller to effect a convenient and efficient operation. The toilet includes a base assembly having an electrically-operated flush valve that opens and closes a passage to a waste receiving area. A flush lever assembly has a flush lever displaceable from a neutral position toward one of a “flush” position and an “add water” position. In this context, the flush lever initiates a flush cycle in the “flush” position and initiates an add water cycle in the “add water” position. The controller communicates with a water inlet valve, the flush valve and the flush lever assembly. In operation, the controller opens and closes the water inlet valve and controls a position of the flush valve in accordance with a position of the flush lever.

Claims

1. A toilet for a recreational vehicle comprising:

a bowl;

a flushing mechanism to initiate a flush cycle;

a flush valve for releasing waste from the bowl to a waste receiving area;

a water inlet valve to allow water into the bowl; and

,

a controller having at least two modes and communicating with the flushing mechanism, water inlet valve and the flush valve;

wherein the first mode comprises a flushing mode and the second mode comprises a service mode,

wherein the flush valve remains open in the flushing mode for a time that is different from a time the flushing valve remains open in the service mode,

wherein in the service mode the water inlet valve can be selectively activated.

2. The toilet of claim 1, wherein in the service mode the flush valve is held open until the user deactivates the service mode.

3. The toilet of claim 2, wherein the controller further includes a third mode comprising an add water state wherein the controller operates the water inlet valve to allow water into the bowl.

4. A toilet for a recreational vehicle comprising:

a bowl;

a flushing mechanism to initiate a flush cycle;

a flush valve for releasing waste from the bowl to a waste receiving area;

a water inlet valve to allow water into the bowl; and

,

a controller having at least two modes and communicating with the flushing mechanism, water inlet valve and the flush valve;

wherein the first mode comprises a flushing mode and the second mode comprises a service mode,

wherein the flush valve remains open in the flushing mode for a time that is different from a time the flushing valve remains open in the service mode,

wherein activating the service mode does not automatically activate the water inlet valve.

5. The toilet of claim 4, wherein in the service mode the flush valve is held open until the user deactivates the service mode.

6. The toilet of claim 5, wherein the controller further includes a third mode comprising an add water state wherein the controller operates the water inlet valve to allow water into the bowl.