User-controlled water saving toilet

Abstract

Methods and various devices for conserving water during the process of toilet flushing are disclosed. The method herein emphasizes retrofitting a toilet of the type typically having a reservoir, tank float, overflow tube, flush handle, lever arm, and a means of linkage to a flapper valve. Rigid internal components of the means of linkage are the primary improvements presented herein. The disclosed rigid devices replace the chain as the means of linkage in the toilet reservoir and thereby function, throughout the entire flush cycle, as a direct operator of the flapper valve, giving the user proactive control over the amount of water used in flushing. Devices, or kits, utilized in carrying out the water conserving method are disclosed which are easily installable into existing toilets of older design. The inventive concept empowers the user of a toilet to control the sufficiency of the total flush and consequently, the corresponding volume of water used, while operating the toilet with current flush controls.

Description

RELATED U.S. APPLICATION DATA[0001]This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60 / 989,003 filed Nov 19, 2007.CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONSU.S. Patent Documents[0002]U.S. Pat. #DateClassificationInventor3,885,253May 27, 19754 / 67 Overbey, C.4,467,482Aug. 28, 19844 / 393Dyer, A.4,485,501Dec. 4, 19844 / 324Kloner, I.4,928,327May 29, 19904 / 395Kuhn, D.5,185,891Feb. 16, 19934 / 324Rise, L.5,289,594Mar. 01, 19944 / 415Wiewiorowski, T., et al5,341,522Aug. 30, 19944 / 415Munro, J.5,836,021Nov. 17, 19984 / 411Davidson,G., et al.5,996,135Dec. 07, 19994 / 324Hsleh, E.6,151,724Nov. 28, 20004 / 323Klingenstein, R.7,200,877Apr. 10, 20074 / 325Peng, K.U.S. Patent Application Publications[0003]Publication #Pub. DateCalssificationInventor2007 / 0101486May 10, 20074 / 392Torres, A.2007 / 0261158Nov 15, 20074 / 326Kimura, M, et al.Foreign Patent Documents[0004]Not applicable.STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT[0005]There is no federally sponsored research or development in co...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017]The inventive concept presented herein discloses novel methods of preventing unnecessary use of substantial quantities of water in a flush toilet. The thrust of the inventive concept is to give control of the flushing mechanism to a user, particularly under circumstances where there is minimal waste or essentially liquid waste to be flushed. The toilet user is given the option to close the flapper valve early, effectively turning the flush handle into a water valve controlled by the user. The efficacy of the present invention disclosures is such that the control given to the user makes the flush handle more of an instant “on-off” switch for controlling flush water.

Problems solved by technology

Increasing amounts of water weight entering the delay cup causes a delay in the closing of the flush valve, releasing a proportionately greater quantity of water from the reservoir.

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