Patent Grant
10676904
The present disclosure generally relates to toilet flappers. More specifically, the present disclosure describes toilet flappers having an adjustable length cord.
A toilet is a sanitization fixture that is used for disposal of feces and urine. Nearly every household in the United States has at least one toilet. Moreover, nearly everyone in the United States uses a toilet, in one form or another. As a result, there is a large demand for toilets and accessories for toilets.
People tend to run into simple problems with their toilets. Some of the most common problems involve the toilet flapper. Conventional toilets include a bowl and a water tank mounted on top of a rear portion of the bowl. Inside the water tank, there is often a fill valve, a drain hole, and a toilet flapper. The fill valve is typically connected to a water supply line. The drain hole is typically located at the bottom of the water tank. Unless the toilet is being flushed, the toilet flapper seals the drain hole. When the toilet is flushed the flapper is moved (typically raised) to permit water to flow from the water tank into the bowl.
Typically, the toilet flapper is connected to a flush lever with a chain. Furthermore, the flush lever is typically connected to a handle located on the outside of the water tank. A person can use the handle to pull the chain, thereby moving the toilet flapper off of the drain hole (and flush the toilet by the contents of the tank emptying through the drain hole). Often people encounter problems with their toilets because the chain gets stuck on the flapper. In some instances, this may prevent the toilet flapper from sealing the drain hole, which, in turn, prevents the water tank from filling up. People also encounter similar problems when the toilet flapper and chain get old.
Replacing a toilet flapper can be a frustrating process, in part, because the chain of a new toilet flapper needs to be adjusted before it can be properly installed. Thus, a need exists for a toilet flapper than can be installed easily and quickly.
The present disclosure describes toilet flappers having an adjustable length cord. In some embodiments, in comparison to conventional toilet flappers, the toilet flappers disclosed herein can be installed easily and quickly.
One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a toilet flapper comprising: one or more arms, a body, a cord, and a locking mechanism. A hook is attached to a first end of the cord. The body has a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface comprises a raised portion, wherein the raised portion houses one or more springs and at least a portion of the cord, wherein a second end of the cord is attached to the one or more springs inside the raised portion, wherein a portion of the cord may be pulled out of the raised portion by a user through an opening in the raised portion, and wherein the one or more springs impart a retraction tension on the cord that pulls the cord back into the raised portion. The locking mechanism can impart a locking tension that is equal to or greater than the retraction tension imparted by the one or more springs in the raised portion of the body thereby preventing the one or more springs from pulling a portion of the cord that has been pulled out of the raised portion by a user back into the raised portion.
In some embodiments, a ball connects the first end of the cord to the hook. In some embodiments, the one or more springs inside the raised portion include at least one spiral torsion spring. In some embodiments, the one or more arms are configured to attach the toilet flapper to an overflow pipe in a water tank of a toilet. In some embodiments, a length of the cord is sufficient to connect the hook to a flush lever of a toilet after the toilet flapper has been positioned above a drain hole of a water tank of the toilet such that the toilet flapper seals the drain hole.
In some embodiments, the locking mechanism is housed inside the raised portion of the body. In some embodiments, the locking mechanism comprises a button, and wherein the locking mechanism is oriented and positioned within the raised portion such that a user can press the button by pressing down on the raised portion. In some embodiments, a user can activate or deactivate the locking mechanism by pressing the button.
In some embodiments, the locking mechanism is outside of and separate from the raised portion of the body, and wherein the locking mechanism is attached to a portion of the cord that is outside of the raised portion. In some embodiments, the locking mechanism comprises a button, an inlet, and an outlet, wherein the cord enters the locking mechanism through the inlet and exits the locking mechanism through the outlet, wherein the locking mechanism configured to slide up or down the cord when the button is depressed, and wherein the locking mechanism is configured to resist sliding up or down the cord the button is undepressed.
In some embodiments, the locking mechanism is integrated with the hole in the raised portion of the body. In some embodiments, the locking mechanism comprises a first button and a second button, wherein the locking mechanism is configured such that the one or more springs in the raised portion of the body are prevented by the locking mechanism from pulling a portion of the cord that has been pulled out of the raised portion by a user back into the raised portion when the first button is depressed, and wherein the locking mechanism is configured such that the one or more springs in the raised portion of the body are allowed by the locking mechanism to pull a portion of the cord that has been pulled out of the raised portion by a user back into the raised portion when the second button is depressed. In some embodiments, the first and second buttons are configured such that (a) when the first button is depressed, the second button is pushed outwardly to an undepressed state and (b) when the second button is depressed, the first button is pushed outwardly to an undepressed state.
Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a toilet flapper comprising: one or more arms, a body, a cord, and a locking mechanism. A hook is attached to a first end of the cord. The body has a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface comprises a raised portion, wherein the raised portion houses one or more springs and at least a portion of the cord, wherein a second end of the cord is attached to the one or more springs inside the raised portion, wherein a portion of the cord may be pulled out of the raised portion by a user through an opening in the raised portion, and wherein the one or more springs impart a retraction tension on the cord that pulls the cord back into the raised portion. The locking mechanism comprises a button, an inlet, and an outlet, wherein the cord enters the locking mechanism through the inlet and exits the locking mechanism through the outlet, wherein the locking mechanism configured to slide up or down the cord when the button is depressed, and wherein the locking mechanism is configured to resist sliding up or down the cord the button is undepressed.
In some embodiments, the one or more springs inside the raised portion include at least one spiral torsion spring. In some embodiments, at least a portion of a chamber inside the raised portion extends vertically below the entirety of the top surface of the body, and wherein the one or more springs and the at least a portion of the cord are housed in the chamber. In some embodiments, a length of the cord is sufficient to connect the hook to a flush lever of a toilet after the toilet flapper has been positioned above a drain hole of a water tank of the toilet such that the toilet flapper seals the drain hole.
In some embodiments, the toilet flapper can be used in a method comprising: positioning the toilet flapper of claim 14 above a drain hole of a water tank of a toilet such that the toilet flapper seals the drain hole; attaching the hook of the toilet flapper to a flush lever of the toilet, in part, by pulling a portion of the cord out of the raised portion of the toilet flapper; pressing down on the button of the locking mechanism and simultaneously sliding the locking mechanism down the cord toward the body of the toilet flapper; and releasing the button of the locking mechanism. In some embodiments, the locking mechanism is slid down the cord until it touches the hole in the raised portion of the body of the toilet flapper. In some embodiments, the method further comprises: attaching the toilet flapper to an overflow pipe in the water tank of the toilet.
Embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the drawing figures wherein like reference numerals identify similar or identical elements. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the disclosure, which may be embodied in various forms. Well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the present disclosure in unnecessary detail. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.
In order to install toilet flapper 100, a user can grab hook 130 and pull a portion of cord 150 out of raised portion 114. As shown, cord 150 can be pulled out of raised portion 114 through hole 116. In this embodiment, locking mechanism 160 has a button 162 and a spring (not shown). The spring provides a force that pulls cord 150 into raised portion 114. However, the force of the spring can be overcome by a user pulling cord 150 out of raised portion 114. In some embodiments, the spring may be positioned inside locking mechanism 160 beneath button 162. In some embodiments, the spring may be a spiral torsion spring. In some embodiments, the spring may cooperate with one or more other springs inside locking mechanism in order to provide a force that pulls cord 150 into raised portion 114. After a user has connected hook 130 to, for example, a flush lever, the user can push down on raised portion 114 in order to push down button 162 and activate locking mechanism 160. Pushing down button 162 locks the current length of cord 150 and keeps a slack free line going from toilet flapper 100 to the flush lever. Subsequently, the user can push down on button 162, again, in order to release cord 150 for additional adjustments.
Various modifications can be made to toilet flapper 100. For example, in this embodiment, ball 140 provides a secure connection between hook 130 and cord 150. However, in other embodiments, other types of mechanisms can be used to connect hook 130 and cord 150. As another example, in this embodiment, raised portion 114 is circular and positioned centrally on the top surface 112 of body 110. However, in other embodiments, raised portion 114 can have a different shape or be located in a different position. As yet another example, in this embodiment, cord 150 is positioned in a spiral formation within raised portion 112 and locking mechanism 160 is centrally positioned within raised portion 114. However, in other embodiments, cord 150 and locking mechanism 160 can be positioned differently within raised portion 114.
As shown in
In contrast to the embodiments of
In order to install toilet flapper 300, a user can grab hook 330 and pull a portion of cord 350 out of raised portion 314. As shown, cord 350 can be pulled out of raised portion 314 through hole 316. After the user has connected hook 330 to, for example, a flush lever, the user can push down on button 362 and slide locking mechanism 360 down cord 350 so that it is touching hole 316. Once locking mechanism 360 is touching hole 316, the user can release button 362. By moving locking mechanism 360 down cord 350 so that it is touching hole 316, a user can prevent the spring inside raised portion 314 from pulling more of cord 315 back into raised portion 314. However, in some instances, a user may want the spring inside raised portion 314 to pull some of cord 350 back into raised portion 314. In such instances, a user may only slide locking mechanism 360 down a portion of cord 350 that is outside of raised portion 314. As a result, the portion of cord 350 that is between locking mechanism 360 and hole 316 will eventually be pulled back into raised portion 314 by the spring inside raised portion 314.
The embodiment of
From the foregoing and with reference to the various figure drawings, those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain modifications can also be made to the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the same. For example, in some embodiments, the cord may be stored in a separate device from the toilet flapper. In some embodiments, the separate device may be connected to a flush lever of a toilet. In such embodiments, the cord may be pulled out of the separate device and connected to a toilet flapper. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the separate device may also include a locking mechanism. For example, the separate device may be structured similarly to raised portion 114 of
While several embodiments of the disclosure have been shown in the drawings, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited thereto, as it is intended that the disclosure be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of particular embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/538,771, filed Jul. 30, 2017 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/511,986, filed May 27, 2017, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3903551 | Johnson | Sep 1975 | A |
| 4811432 | Harris | Mar 1989 | A |
| 5924143 | Harrison | Jul 1999 | A |
| 5960482 | Chang | Oct 1999 | A |
| 20100050331 | Sim | Mar 2010 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20180340321 A1 | Nov 2018 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62538771 | Jul 2017 | US | |
| 62511986 | May 2017 | US |
