Toilet overflow prevention system and method

• US 8,370,969 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2011
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Limit, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Limit, Inc.
• Inventors: Bowcutt, Kevin, Shishegar, Ahmed, Ibarra, Matthew, Corbin, Daniel L., Repp, Dennis, Connell, Robert M., Dufau, Oscar, Blake, Gregory, Iravantchi, Sam
• Primary Examiner(s): NOLAND, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US13/117,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20120023654A1
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 431/3, 440/6, 442/7, 4DI/G 3
• US Class Current: 4/427
• 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 5/00 Special constructions of flushing devices in motor vehicles or trailers B60R15/00; in railway carriages B61D35/00; in ships B63B29/14; in aircraft B64D11/02, e.g. closed flushing system
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/026 Devices preventing overflow or locks inhibiting the use of the flushing system devices preventing overflow of the bowl contents and seals for the bowl outlet E03D11/00; Devices preventing sucking-up of sealing and flushing water
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/0007 for discrete indicating and measuring G01F23/02 - G01F23/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/80 Arrangements for signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/802 Particular electronic circuits for digital processing equipment
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/804 containing circuits handling parameters other than liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/806 Particular electronic circuits for handling non-digital processing equipment
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/808 containing circuits handling parameters other than liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 25/20 of apparatus for measuring liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 10/30 Flood prevention; Flood or storm water management, e.g. using flood barriers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 4/09 Methods

Abstract

A system for preventing overflow of a toilet includes a sensor, a processor and an actuator. The sensor senses a parameter caused by fluid dynamics within the toilet during a flush cycle. The parameter may involve vibration, sound, pressure, fluid flow rate or other detectable characteristics of the toilet. The processor uses information regarding the parameter that is gathered by the sensor to evaluate the condition of the flush cycle to determine if an impeded flush condition exists. In the event of an impeded flush condition, the processor directs the actuator to close a valve, which may be the toilet flapper valve in some embodiments. Also disclosed are methods for preventing toilet overflow, detecting an impeded flush condition and calibrating the system.

Claims

1. A toilet overflow prevention system for use with a toilet, comprising:

a sensor capable of detecting vibration of the toilet during a flush cycle, said sensor generating a signal indicative of said vibration;

a processor that receives said signal from said sensor, processes said signal to determine if said vibration is indicative of an impeded flush condition and generates a control signal in response to an impeded flush condition; and

an actuator that receives said control signal from said sensor and in response to said control signal operates to close a valve, which stops a flow of water within the toilet.

2. The toilet overflow prevention system of claim 1, wherein said processor compares a value of a parameter of said signal to a normal range of said value stored in a memory associated with said processor to make said determination of an impeded flush condition.

3. The toilet overflow prevention system of claim 2, wherein said processor compares said value of said parameter to said normal range over a period of time.

4. The toilet overflow prevention system of claim 3, wherein said period of time is sufficient to include an entire push cycle of the flush cycle.

5. The toilet overflow prevention system of claim 3, wherein said processor makes said determination of an impeded flush condition if said value is continuously outside of said normal range for a time interval.

6. The toilet overflow prevention system of claim 2, wherein said normal range is preprogrammed.

7. The toilet overflow prevention system of claim 2, wherein said normal range is determined through a calibration cycle.

8. The toilet overflow prevention system of claim 1, wherein said sensor is secured to a body of the toilet to directly sense vibration of the toilet.

9. The toilet overflow prevention system of claim 8, wherein said sensor is an accelerometer.

10. The toilet overflow prevention system of claim 8, wherein said sensor is secured to a fastener that connects a tank to a bowl of the toilet.

11. The toilet overflow prevention system of claim 1, wherein said actuator closes a flapper valve of the toilet.

12. The toilet overflow prevention system of claim 11, wherein said actuator comprises a weighted member, said weighted member being releasable to fall onto the flapper valve in order to close the flapper valve.