A toilet fill valve in a toilet typically includes a water outlet that provides water for refilling a toilet bowl during a flush cycle. Unfortunately, the water flowing out of such conventional water outlets to fill a toilet bowl provide much more water than is necessary to fill the average toilet bowl. Consequently, much of the water that flows into a toilet bowl during the average flush cycle is lost down the drain. This translates into a loss of millions of gallons of water each year.
The invention can be understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale. Also, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
With reference to
The bowl fill valve 109 is integral with the toilet fill valve 100. In this respect, the term “integral” refers to the fact that the bowl fill valve 109 and the toilet fill valve 100 comprise a single structure. In this respect, the bowl fill valve 109 may be included within the body of the toilet fill valve 100 as a portion of the toilet fill valve 100 in a single piece construction. Specifically, the bowl fill valve 109 may be molded as a portion of the toilet fill valve 100 or it may be snapped or clamped into place, or it may be attached to the toilet fill valve 100 in some other manner, etc.
Within the toilet fill valve 100, the bowl fill valve inlet 113 is operatively coupled to the water inlet 103. In this respect, when the toilet fill valve 100 is open and water flows from the water inlet 103 to the water outlets 106 and into a toilet tank, an amount of water is also supplied to the bowl fill valve inlet 113 that flows through the bowl fill valve 109 and out the bowl fill valve outlet 116. By virtue of the manual setting of the handle 119 of the bowl fill valve 109, the flow of water through the bowl fill valve 109 is regulated. In this manner, the flow of water is regulated so that enough water flows out of the bowl fill valve 109 to fill a toilet bowl without wasting any water down a drain.
Thus, the bowl fill valve 109 is configured to supply an adjustable flow of water out of the bowl fill outlet 116 that is directed to a toilet bowl during a flush cycle of a toilet to fill the toilet bowl. The flow of water is adjusted so that just enough flows out of bowl fill valve 109 so as to fill the toilet bowl without wasting any water.
The toilet fill valve 100 includes a float 123 that is operatively coupled to an actuating arm (not shown) by a translating stem 126. The float 123 floats on the water within a toilet tank and, depending on the location of the float 123 along the toilet fill valve 100, the toilet fill valve 100 is open or closed as can be appreciated by those with ordinary skill in the art. The bowl fill valve 109 and the actuating arm (not shown) are each located on the toilet fill valve 100 so as to prevent any interference between the bowl fill valve 109 and the translational stem 126 or the actuating arm as will be discussed.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the bowl fill valve 109 may include a number of biased positions. In this respect, the movement of the handle 119 may cause the bowl fill valve 109 to move from one predefined biased position to other predefined biased positions. In this respect, various mechanisms such as tabs, snaps, or other position biasing structures may be employed. The biased positions of the bowl fill valve 109 help ensure that the bowl fill valve 109 remains in a given setting selected by a user by a manual manipulation of the handle 119 during the normal course of operation of the toilet fill valve 100. Thus, by virtue of the biased positions, the bowl fill valve 109 is prevented from moving out of a desired position set by a user over a long period of use due to vibration and other factors as can be appreciated by those with ordinary skill in the art.
The bowl fill valve 109 may be, for example, a ball valve, a gate valve, a globe valve, a plug valve, a diaphragm valve, a butterfly valve, a needle valve, a sliding gate, a quick turn valve, a knife valve or any other appropriate type of valve as can be appreciated by those with ordinary skill in the art.
To operate the toilet fill valve 100, the toilet fill valve 100 is first installed within a toilet tank. When a toilet is flushed and the tank is drained, the float 123 moves downward along the toilet fill valve 100 and, consequently, the toilet fill valve 100 opens to allow water to flow from the water inlet 103 and out the water outlets 106 into a toilet tank. At the same time, water flows into the bowl fill valve inlet 113 and out the bowl fill valve outlet 116 through the bowl fill valve 109. Based on the setting of the handle 119, the bowl fill valve 109 determines the precise flow rate of the water that flows out the bowl fill valve outlet 116. A tube is typically employed to direct the water flowing out the bowl fill valve outlet 116 to an overflow tube in the toilet tank. In this respect, the water flowing out the bowl fill valve outlet 116 refills the toilet bowl of the respective toilet.
Referring next to
With reference to
A tube 146 is coupled to the bowl fill valve outlet 116 and is directed into the overflow tube 149 of the toilet tank 143. The tube 146 directs water that flows out of the bowl fill valve outlet 116 into the overflow tube 149 and refills the toilet bowl associated with the toilet tank 143 as can be appreciated by those with ordinary skill in the art. The bowl fill valve 109 is configured to supply the adjustable flow of water out the bowl fill valve outlet through the tube 146 and into the overflow tube 149 for filling the toilet bowl during the flush cycle of the toilet. In this respect, no pressure is seen within the tube 146. Specifically, the fact that the bowl fill valve 109 is integral with the toilet fill valve 100 prevents the creation of a pressure head in the tube 146 as would be the case if the bowl fill valve 109 were included in the middle of the tube 146. The fact that a pressure head is not created in any portion of the tube 146 prevents the tube 146 from working its way off of the bowl fill valve outlet 116 over time.
When installed, the bowl fill valve 109 is calibrated for the particular flush cycle of the toilet within which the toilet fill valve 100 is installed. To calibrate the bowl fill valve 109, a user first determines the water level in the toilet bowl when the toilet bowl is full of water. This gives the user a starting and an ending point for determining when the toilet bowl of the respective toilet is full. Next, the bowl fill valve handle 109 is adjusted so that the bowl fill valve 109 is placed in a predefined position that allows a predefined flow of water to refill the toilet bowl. In this manner, one adjusts the actual flow of water that refills the toilet bowl. Thereafter, the user flushes the toilet itself. Next, the user determines if the flow of water into the toilet bowl by virtue of the adjustments made to the bowl fill valve 109 is adequate to refill the toilet bowl during the flush cycle. This may be determined, by identifying whether the level of the water in the toilet bowl reaches the full level determined at the beginning of the bowl fill valve calibration above.
The flow of water from the bowl fill valve 109 should be set so as to ensure that the water level in the toilet bowl reaches the full level at about the same time that the flush cycle ends. In other words, the level of water in the toilet bowl should reach its highest level at the same time that the flush cycle ends. This prevents any water from being lost down the drain associated with the toilet.
If the amount of water that flows into the toilet bowl is inadequate to refill the toilet bowl during the flush cycle as described above, then one should repeat the steps of adjusting the bowl fill valve, flushing the toilet, and then once again determining if the flow of water into the toilet bowl is adequate to refill the toilet bowl during a flush cycle.
Ultimately, during use of the toilet that includes the toilet fill valve 100 and the toilet tank 143, a user flushes the toilet and a predetermined flow of water exits the bowl fill valve outlet 116 and is directed into the toilet bowl. After the toilet tank has drained during the flush cycle, a flapper closes in the toilet tank and the toilet tank refills. During the refilling of the tank, the water supplied by the bowl fill valve 109 fills the toilet bowl itself. The amount of water supplied by the bowl fill valve in the time it takes to refill the toilet tank should be approximately equal to the amount of water needed to fill the toilet bowl. By virtue of the fact that the bowl fill valve 100 is integrated within the toilet fill valve 100, a pressure head is prevented from being created due to any potential pinching of the tube 146 or other similar adjustment mechanism.
With reference to
The toilet fill valve 200 also includes a bowl fill outlet port 206 that radially extends from a portion of a body 209 of the toilet fill valve 200. In this respect, the bowl fill outlet port is operatively coupled to the water inlet 103. In particular, when the toilet fill valve 200 is in an “on” state, water that flows in the water inlet 103 flows out of both the water outlets 106 and the bowl fill outlet port 206. The water flowing out of the bowl fill outlet port 206 flows through the bowl fill valve 203 as will be described.
The bowl fill valve 203 includes a bowl fill valve inlet port 213 and a bowl fill valve outlet port 216. The bowl fill valve inlet port 213 is compatible with the bowl fill outlet port 206, where the bowl fill valve inlet port 213 is coupled to the bowl fill outlet port 206 when the bowl fill valve 203 is coupled or affixed to the toilet fill valve 200. The bowl fill valve inlet port 213 is compatible with the bowl fill outlet port 206 in the sense that both the bowl fill valve inlet port 213 and the bowl fill outlet port 206 comprise various structures that couple together when the bowl fill valve 203 is connected to the bowl fill outlet port 206 as will be described. In particular, various embodiments of the coupling between the bowl fill valve inlet port 213 and the bowl fill outlet port 206 are described herein.
The bowl fill valve 203 also includes a handle that may be adjusted by hand to adjust a flow of water through the bowl fill valve 203 during a flush operation of a toilet in which the toilet fill valve 200 is installed. Typically, the handle 219 is initially adjusted to a desired position when the toilet fill valve 200 is installed and generally remains in such position for the continued operation of the toilet fill valve 200. During the life cycle of the bowl fill valve 203, it may be possible that the bowl fill valve 203 is adjusted to take into account various changes in the operation of the toilet fill valve 200 such as, for example, changes in pressure or other operational changes.
The bowl fill valve 203 also includes a nipple 223. The nipple 223 is adapted to mate with a tube that extends from the bowl fill valve outlet port 216 to the overfill tube 149 (
In some embodiments, the bowl fill outlet port 206 may comprise a female receptacle and, correspondingly, the bowl fill valve inlet port 213 may comprise a male end compatible with the female receptacle. Alternatively, the bowl fill valve inlet port 213 may comprise a female receptacle and the bowl fill outlet port 206 may comprise a male end compatible with such female receptacle.
The toilet fill valve 200 further includes an actuating arm (not shown) that extends in a radial direction that is orthogonal relative to a longitudinal axis of the toilet fill valve 200 in a manner similar as that described with reference to the toilet fill valve 100 (
In addition, the bowl fill valve 203 may be constructed with a number of biased positions that help prevent the bowl fill valve 203 from moving out of adjustment over time when the force of pressure develops therein. Also, the biased positions aid a user in actual adjustment of the bowl fill valve 203 as can be appreciated.
The toilet fill valve 200 provides an advantage in that the body 209 of the toilet fill valve 200 may be constructed with the bowl fill outlet port 206 using a molding process that is much less complex than attempting to mold the entire bowl fill valve 203 within the structure of the body 209 as a single molded construction as was described with reference to one embodiment of the toilet fill valve 100. In this regard, the bowl fill valve 203 may be constructed as a separate component to the body 209 of the toilet fill valve 200 and assembled for distribution to end users.
Due to the fact that the bowl fill valve 203 is affixed to the toilet fill valve 200 through the coupling of the bowl fill outlet port 206 with the bowl fill valve inlet port 213, then a pressure head that develops within the bowl fill valve 203 due to the adjustment of the handle 219 during operation of the toilet fill valve 200 will not cause the bowl fill valve 203 to fall off of the toilet fill valve 200. Thus, when the toilet fill valve 200 is installed in a toilet tank 143, a user may adjust the opening of the bowl fill valve 203 by adjusting the handle 219 until a desired flow of water flows out of the bowl fill valve outlet port 216 into a tube and into the overflow tube 149 of a toilet. This flow of water is typically established to refill a toilet bowl of a toilet. In this regard, the flow of the water into the overflow tube 149 that refills the toilet bowl during a toilet flush operation may be regulated or adjusted so as to minimize or eliminate the amount of water that is lost down the drain of a toilet due to over filling of the toilet bowl during a flush cycle of a toilet. In one embodiment, the bowl fill valve 203 is adjusted until the filling of the toilet bowl of the toilet coincides with the end of the flush cycle, thereby resulting in little or no loss of water.
Referring next to
The bowl fill valve inlet port 213a also includes an annular protrusion 246 that extends from the side wall 239 of the bowl fill valve inlet port 213a. Correspondingly, an annular groove (not shown) in the side wall 243 of the bowl fill valve outlet port 206a is provided that mates up with the annular protrusion 246 when the bowl fill valve inlet port 213 is inserted into the bowl fill outlet port 206a. In this respect, the annular protrusion 246 is snap fit into the annular groove (not shown), thereby affixing the bowl fill valve 203a to the bowl fill valve outlet port 206a.
Turning then to
Also, the fit between the annular protrusion 246 is a snug fit that forms a seal between the bowl fill outlet port 206a and the bowl fill valve inlet port 213a that prevents the leakage of water from the coupling 233 during a flush cycle. Alternatively, a snug fit may occur between other mating surfaces of the bowl fill outlet port 206a and the bowl fill valve inlet port 213a that prevents leakage of water from the coupling 233.
With reference to
Referring next to
With reference to
With reference to
The sealing ring 276 is seated against a portion of the bowl fill outlet port 206b. In one embodiment, this portion is a seating face 283 of the bowl fill outlet port 206b. Also, a portion of the bowl fill valve inlet port 213b is mated against the sealing ring 276. In one embodiment, this portion of the bowl fill valve inlet port 213b is an end face 286 such that the sealing ring is clamped between the seating face 283 and the end face 286 when the bowl fill valve inlet port 213b is inserted fully into the bowl fill outlet port 206b. The clamping or compression of the sealing ring 276 pushes the locking ears 266 into the locking position 279 of the locking grooves 269 once the bowl fill valve 203 is rotated accordingly. In this respect, the compressive force of the sealing ring 276 helps keep the bowl fill valve inlet port 213b of the bowl fill valve 203 mated with the bowl fill outlet port 206b. Also, the sealing ring 276 forms a seal between the bowl fill outlet port 206b and the bowl fill valve inlet port 213b that prevents leakage of water from the coupling 263 between the bowl fill outlet port 206b and the bowl fill valve inlet port 213b.
The locking positions 279 of the locking grooves and the locking ears 266 are located such that when the bowl fill valve 203 is rotated thereby positioning the locking ears 266 in the locking positions 279, the bowl fill valve 203 is substantially upright. In addition, the bowl fill outlet port 206b includes structural ribs 289 that provide greater structural stability for the bowl fill outlet port 206b and its attachment to the portion of the body 209 of the toilet fill valve 200 (
Referring next to
Referring next to
Referring then to
With reference to
Referring next to
In addition, referring back to
Although the invention is shown and described with respect to certain embodiments, it is obvious that equivalents and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of the specification. The present invention includes all such equivalents and modifications, and is limited only by the scope of the claims.
The present patent application is a Continuation Application of, and claims priority to, U.S. patent application entitled “Toilet Fill Valve with Adjustable Bowl Fill Flow” filed on May 25, 2010 and assigned Ser. No. 12/786,904, which is a Continuation Application of, and claims priority to, U.S. Pat. No. 7,743,436 entitled “Toilet Fill Valve with Adjustable Bowl Fill Flow” filed on Oct. 5, 2004, which is a Continuation-in-Part Application of, and claims priority to, U.S. Pat. No. 6,823,889 entitled “Toilet Fill Valve with Adjustable Bowl Fill Flow” filed on Mar. 11, 2004.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
136128 | Bralley | Feb 1873 | A |
994746 | Dwyer et al. | Jun 1911 | A |
996743 | Yancey | Jul 1911 | A |
1113057 | Schumann | Oct 1914 | A |
1787601 | Swanberg | Jan 1931 | A |
2087503 | Clemmons | Jul 1937 | A |
2465866 | Gaines | Mar 1949 | A |
2512176 | Shaffer | Jun 1950 | A |
2736037 | Hardie | Feb 1956 | A |
2791235 | Smith | May 1957 | A |
2799865 | Schuster | Jul 1957 | A |
3040769 | Lamb | Jun 1962 | A |
3086546 | Brown | Apr 1963 | A |
3172128 | Ducey | Mar 1965 | A |
3321972 | Goldtrap | May 1967 | A |
3457947 | Fitzgerald | Jul 1969 | A |
3744064 | Preston | Jul 1973 | A |
3762395 | Taylor | Oct 1973 | A |
3986216 | Davis et al. | Oct 1976 | A |
3994628 | Kemper | Nov 1976 | A |
4007498 | Pearson | Feb 1977 | A |
4017916 | Pearson | Apr 1977 | A |
4032822 | Un | Jun 1977 | A |
4090532 | Story, Jr. | May 1978 | A |
4134164 | Sanmartin Rial | Jan 1979 | A |
4145775 | Butler | Mar 1979 | A |
4351071 | Clar | Sep 1982 | A |
4392260 | Bensen | Jul 1983 | A |
4420845 | Antunez | Dec 1983 | A |
4505231 | Syler | Mar 1985 | A |
4527295 | Lacore | Jul 1985 | A |
4700413 | Lopez | Oct 1987 | A |
4707867 | Kawabe et al. | Nov 1987 | A |
4764996 | Pino | Aug 1988 | A |
4770388 | Carman | Sep 1988 | A |
4793588 | Laverty, Jr. | Dec 1988 | A |
4898124 | Granberg et al. | Feb 1990 | A |
4918764 | Haselswerdt et al. | Apr 1990 | A |
4980932 | Stemples | Jan 1991 | A |
5007452 | Antunez | Apr 1991 | A |
5036553 | Sanderson | Aug 1991 | A |
5052060 | Makita et al. | Oct 1991 | A |
5083323 | Cannan | Jan 1992 | A |
5134729 | Shaw | Aug 1992 | A |
5228152 | Fraley | Jul 1993 | A |
5232011 | Royalty | Aug 1993 | A |
5245710 | Haselswerdt et al. | Sep 1993 | A |
5327931 | Royalty | Jul 1994 | A |
5362026 | Kobayashi et al. | Nov 1994 | A |
5432959 | Ellsworth et al. | Jul 1995 | A |
5442820 | Becker | Aug 1995 | A |
5469586 | Tsutsui et al. | Nov 1995 | A |
5542448 | Campbell et al. | Aug 1996 | A |
5624073 | Mueller et al. | Apr 1997 | A |
5708991 | DeMarco | Jan 1998 | A |
5715860 | Horad | Feb 1998 | A |
5742951 | Wright et al. | Apr 1998 | A |
5775366 | Ray | Jul 1998 | A |
5794279 | Schwartz | Aug 1998 | A |
5862537 | Osmond | Jan 1999 | A |
5926868 | Bjerke | Jul 1999 | A |
6047725 | Gish et al. | Apr 2000 | A |
6202227 | Gurowitz | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6209576 | Davis | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6219856 | Alles | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6263519 | Parsons et al. | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6295660 | Schuster | Oct 2001 | B1 |
6385788 | Wasielewski | May 2002 | B1 |
6409221 | Robinson et al. | Jun 2002 | B1 |
6560790 | Saar et al. | May 2003 | B2 |
6823889 | Schuster | Nov 2004 | B1 |
20020092090 | Johnson | Jul 2002 | A1 |
20020162166 | Saar et al. | Nov 2002 | A1 |
Entry |
---|
US Patent 6,823,889, File History, 2004-2005 (Great-Grandparent Patent to this Application). |
US Patent 7,743,436, File History, 2004-2010 (Grandparent Patent to this Application). |
US Patent 8,104,105, File Hisory, (2010-1212) (Parent to this Applicaton). |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 12786904 | May 2010 | US |
Child | 13346355 | US | |
Parent | 10958797 | Oct 2004 | US |
Child | 12786904 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 10798606 | Mar 2004 | US |
Child | 10958797 | US |