Toilet bowl overflow prevention and water conservation system and method

• US 8,166,996 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2010
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: H2O Connected, LLC
• Original Assignee: Nth Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Canfield, Eric L., Soma, Scott, Canfield, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Schneider, Craig
• Application Number:
  US12/796,437
• Publication Number:
  US 20100242160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 137/389, 137/400, 137/460, 137/456, 441/5, 442/7
• US Class Current: 137/389
• 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 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: Y02A 10/30 Flood prevention; Flood or storm water management, e.g. using flood barriers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7297 With second diverse control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7329 With supplemental or safety closing means or bias
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7727 Excessive flow cut-off

Abstract

A system and method for conditionally interfering with the operation of a conventional toilet tank fill valve prevents toilet overflow and conserves water. A single self-contained apparatus, located completely within the toilet tank, detects and prevents a toilet overflow and/or conserves water by conditionally interfering with or overriding the normal operation of a toilet tank fill valve to prevent a further flush. Exemplary illustrative non-limiting steps include removing the toilet tank lid to provide access to said toilet tank fill valve within the tank, manually snapping an assembly onto said fill valve protective cap, and automatically and conditionally actuating said assembly to cause the assembly to selectively interfere with or override the operation of said toilet tank fill valve. An exemplary illustrative non-limiting device comprises an attaching structure for manual attachment to said fill valve cap, and a control mechanism supported by said attaching structure. The control mechanism acts to conditionally interfere with the operation of the toilet tank fill valve assembly in response to abnormal detected toilet tank water level over time, thereby preventing a further flush. The overflow and water conservation feature can be designed into a fill valve at time of manufacture and/or added in the field by an end user.

Claims

1. A device for use with a toilet tank fill valve assembly of the type comprising a float, a water valve that operates in response to the position of said float, said water valve selectively admitting water into a toilet tank, said device comprising:

a fill valve cap including projections that engage with the fill valve assembly to provide a snap-fit that interlocks the fill valve cap with the fill valve assembly to retain the cap on the fill valve assembly and at least in part cover said water valve;

an interfering mechanism supported by said fill valve cap, said interfering mechanism acting to conditionally interfere with the operation of said toilet tank fill valve assembly in response to said float position, and

wherein said device further includes an electrical actuator operatively coupled to the interfering mechanism that actuates said interfering mechanism to conditionally interfere with the operation of said toilet tank fill valve assembly in response to an electrical control signal.

2. A device for use with a toilet tank fill valve assembly of the type comprising a float, a water valve that operates in response to the position of said float, said water valve selectively admitting water into a toilet tank, said device comprising:

a fill valve cap including projections that engage with the fill valve assembly to provide a snap-fit that retains the fill valve cap on the fill valve assembly to at least in part cover said water valve; and

an interfering mechanism supported by said fill valve cap, said interfering mechanism acting to conditionally interfere with the operation of said toilet tank fill valve assembly in response to said float position, and

wherein said interfering mechanism includes a filament.

3. A device for use with a toilet tank fill valve assembly of the type comprising a float, a water valve that operates in response to the position of said float, said water valve selectively admitting water into a toilet tank, said device comprising:

a replacement fill valve cap including projections that engage with the fill valve assembly to provide a snap-fit that interlocks the replacement fill valve cap onto the fill valve assembly to at least in part cover said water valve; and

an interfering mechanism supported by said replacement fill valve cap, said interfering mechanism acting to conditionally interfere with the operation of said toilet tank fill valve assembly in response to said float position, and

wherein said interfering mechanism includes a solenoid.

4. A toilet fill valve assembly for use within a toilet tank, said fill valve assembly comprising:

a fill valve housing containing a water valve that selectively admits water into said tank;

a float operatively coupled to said water valve, said float being buoyant within water in said tank, said float position indicating water level within said tank, said float moving to a lower position when water drains from said tank and having a buoyancy that causes the float to move from the lower position to an upper position as water is admitted into said tank;

a fill valve cap that mates with the fill valve housing and/or the water valve to provide a snap-fit that mechanically engages the fill valve cap with the fill valve housing so that the fill valve housing supports and locates the fill valve cap within the tank; and

a water conservation mechanism supported by the fill valve cap and operatively coupled to said float, said water conservation mechanism conditionally reducing the quantity of additional water said fill valve admits into said tank, said mechanism being structured to activate conditionally in response to water flow in said tank over time, and

wherein said water conservation mechanism is structured to selectively interfere with the normal operation of how said water valve responds to said water flow in said tank over time in response to float position indicating water level within said tank by selectively, automatically forcing the float to non-buoyantly move from the lower position to the upper position and to retain the float in the upper position irrespective of water level in the tank to thereby selectively prevent the water valve from admitting water into the tank.