Digital electronic volume/flow control sensor toilet

• US 7,028,347 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2005
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dilworth D. Sanderson
• Original Assignee: Dilworth D. Sanderson
• Inventors: Sanderson, Dilworth D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fetsuga, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US11/116,315
• Publication Number:
  US 20060041999A1
• Time in Patent Office: 355 Days
• Field of Search: 431/3, 432/4, 432/5, 433/3, 436/6, 436/7, 440/6, 4DI/G 3
• US Class Current: 4/313
• 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 1/18 Cisterns empty when not in action , e.g. with pressure tanks, with swivel-mounted cisterns
• 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: Y10S 4/03 Electric flushing

Abstract

A digital electronic volume/flow control sensor toilet includes a bowl, a water storage tank interconnected with the bowl, and a digital electronic volume/flow control sensor flushing mechanism. The flushing mechanism has components including a volume sensor, a shuttle, a plunger assembly, a motor, a water valve, and a control with a power source and volume/flow control sensor circuitry communicatively interconnecting the components. The volume sensor has a plurality of electrically conductive contact points exposed on a surface and at positions along a length of the side of the volume sensor with a recess, the positions of the contact points corresponding to predetermined volume levels of the flushing mechanism. A plurality of VOLUME SELECTION buttons/switches are mounted on an outer surface of the water storage tank, the VOLUME SELECTION buttons/switches being associated with the contact points. A HOLD button/switch can be mounted on the outer surface of the water storage tank.

Claims

1. A digital electronic volume/flow control sensor flushing mechanism for use with a digital electronic volume/flow control sensor toilet, said digital electronic volume/flow control sensor flushing mechanism having digital electronic volume/flow control sensor components comprising:

a volume sensor including an elongated generally rectangular element with an upper end a lower end, two sides and an elongated recess on one of the two sides;

a shuttle;

a plunger assembly;

a motor;

a water valve; and

a control with a power source and digital electronic volume/flow control sensor circuitry communicatively interconnecting the digital electronic volume/flow control sensor components.

2. The digital electronic volume/flow control sensor flushing mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a container with a lower end, an upper end and four sides interconnecting the lower end and the upper end.

3. The digital electronic volume/flow control sensor flushing mechanism according to claim 2, wherein said ends and sides are formed of a durable, water resistant material.

4. The digital electronic volume/flow control sensor flushing mechanism according to claim 2, wherein said volume sensor has a plurality of electrically conductive contact points exposed on a surface and at positions along a length of the side of the volume sensor with the recess, the positions of the contact points corresponding to predetermined volume levels of the container.

5. The digital electronic volume/flow control sensor flushing mechanism according the claim 4, in combination with a digital electronic volume/flow control sensor toilet having a bowl through which water passes to receive and remove matter, and a water storage tank interconnected with the bowl to replenish water after flushing has emptied the bowl, said digital electronic volume/flow control sensor flushing mechanism further comprising a plurality of VOLUME SELECTION buttons/switches mounted on an outer surface of the water storage tank, the VOLUME SELECTION buttons/switches being associated with the contact points.

6. The digital electronic volume/flow control sensor flushing mechanism according the claim 5, wherein said VOLUME SELECTION buttons/switches include indicia.

7. The digital electronic volume/flow control sensor flushing mechanism according the claim 5, further comprising a HOLD button/switch mounted on the outer surface of the water storage tank, wherein the HOLD button/switch, when activated by a user in combination with one of the VOLUME SELECTION buttons and/or switches, causes water to fill the container to the volume associated with the selected VOLUME SELECTION button/switch.

8. The digital electronic volume/flow control sensor flushing mechanism according the claim 4, wherein said shuttle is configured to slidably move up and down along the volume sensor via appropriately shaped apertures defined through a top and bottom of the shuttle.

9. The digital electronic volume/flow control sensor flushing mechanism according the claim 4, wherein said motor is a reversible DC electric motor.

10. A digital electronic volume/flow control sensor toilet comprising:

a bowl through which water passes to receive and remove matter;

a water storage tank interconnected with the bowl to replenish water after flushing has emptied the bowl;

a digital electronic volume/flow control sensor flushing mechanism having digital electronic volume/flow control sensor components comprising;

a volume sensor including an elongated generally rectangular element with an upper end, a lower end, two sides and an elongated recess on one of the two sides;

a shuttle;

a plunger assembly;

a motor;

a water valve; and

a control with a power source and digital electronic volume/flow control sensor circuitry communicatively interconnecting the digital electronic volume/flow control sensor components; and

a container with a lower end, an upper end and four sides interconnecting the lower end and the upper end.

11. The digital electronic volume/flow control sensor toilet according to claim 10, wherein said ends and sides are formed of a durable, water resistant material.

12. The digital electronic volume/flow control sensor toilet according to claim 10, wherein said volume sensor has a plurality of electrically conductive contact points exposed on a surface and at positions along a length of the side of the volume sensor with the recess, the positions of the contact points corresponding to predetermined volume levels of the container.

13. The digital electronic volume/flow control sensor toilet according the claim 12, further comprising a plurality of VOLUME SELECTION buttons/switches mounted on an outer surface of the water storage tank, the VOLUME SELECTION buttons/switches being associated with the contact points.

14. The digital electronic volume/flow control sensor toilet according the claim 13, wherein said VOLUME SELECTION buttons/switches include indicia.

15. The digital electronic volume/flow control sensor toilet according the claim 12, further comprising a HOLD button/switch mounted on the outer surface of the water storage tank, wherein the HOLD button/switch, when activated by a user in combination with one of the VOLUME SELECTION buttons and/or switches, causes water to fill the container to the volume associated with the selected VOLUME SELECTION button/switch.

16. The digital electronic volume/flow control sensor toilet according the claim 10, wherein said shuttle is configured to slidably move up and down along the volume sensor via appropriately shaped apertures defined through a top and bottom of the shuttle.