Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Flush closet – Tank only
Reexamination Certificate
1994-04-20
2001-04-24
Eloshway, Charles R. (Department: 3751)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Flush closet
Tank only
C137S441000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219856
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to water flow restrictors to reduce water wastage during bowl refill of water closets.
In conventional water closets comprising a bowl and a tank which receives flush water for selectively discharging to the bowl, the bowl is simultaneously refilled with water as the tank is refilled. Since the tank is much larger than the bowl and typically fills at a significantly slower rate, once the bowl fills, added refill water supplied thereto discharges into the water closet discharge plumbing, wasting the water thereafter supplied to the bowl as the tank continues to fill. Since in the United States, at least, the sole water supplies to a community is potable, treated, water, this waste of the excess water, while not considerable for each flush, when multiplied by millions of people, for up to 6-8 flushes per day, amounts to a considerable drain on increasingly precious potable water resources. Chemicals used to treat potable water supplies are discharged to the groundwater, further contaminating natural water supplies. This wastage of significant amounts of potable water thus is expensive both in terms of cost and of harm to the environment.
The prior art recognizes this problem, and several solutions have been offered heretofore. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,764,996 to Pino provides a pinch clamp for restricting flow through the bowl's flexible refill tube, and a threaded metal fitting is attached to the tube for securing an S-shaped wire to secure the refill tube end to the rim of an overflow pipe. However, pinch tubes may not accurately control the water flow rate.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,134,729 to Shaw uses a plurality of flow control inserts which are retained in the refill tube by frictional engagement in the refill tube. These may have the problem that water pressure in the tube may force the inserts out of the refill tube.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,216 to Trayer et al discloses a variable flow control restrictor, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,145,775 to Butler discloses a two piece hollow assembly whose pieces are rotatable relative to each other to vary the flow rate therethrough. Another adjustable valve device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,980,932 to Stemples. However, adjustable devices are relatively costly and may be difficult for the average homeowner to install. Other water closets having adjustable water filling devices are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,074 to Battle, U.S. Pat. No. 4,538,307 to Barnum et al and U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,462 to Mahler.
There is still a need for a simple, low cost restrictor that can be readily installed by a layman and that reduces the amount of water wasted for each flush of a water closet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A conventional water closet includes a toilet bowl, a toilet tank for supplying flush water to the bowl, water supply means for supplying water to fill the tank and bowl refill means including a thermoplastic, flexible tube having a first bore of a given internal diameter. The water supply means supplies fill water to the bowl simultaneously with fill water to the tank, but the bowl fills more rapidly than the tank, and overflows to a water closet discharge. The present improvement comprises, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a restriction member having external threads along its outer periphery and having a second bore smaller than the first bore for insertion into the first bore, thereby restricting the bowl refill rate, and limiting the amount of excess water that overflows into the water closet discharge. The external threads have a tooth crest outer diameter greater than the first bore internal diameter, thereby providing threaded interference engagement between the restriction member having external threads and the refill tube first bore.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, tool receiving means are formed in the tubular restriction member at one end to permit attachment of the external threaded restriction member to the thermoplastic refill tube at a tube end. In a further embodiment, the tool receiving means is a slot for a screw driver tool.
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patent: 5134729 (1992-08-01), Shaw
patent: 5259074 (1993-11-01), Battle
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