Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION
A flush valve leakage prevention device
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to flush valve leakage prevention device and
more particularly to a flush valve leakage prevention device for a toilet
tank.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventional flush toilets were developed many years ago and are well
known to everybody. Most commonly, a flush toilet comprises a water tank that
is
sealed by a flush valve to maintain a predetermined volume of water in the
tank
until it is needed to flush the toilet.
The main problem with such conventional flush toilets and especially older
models is large water consumption.
One source of water wastage results from the valve typically remaining
open until the tank in fully drained and this even in those frequent instances
where less water would have provided a quite adequate flush therefore wasting
a
significant volume of water.
Another source of water wastage is leakage between the flush valve
flapper and the flush valve seat when it is in the closed position. The volume
of
water so wasted can be 25% or more of the total volume used by the toilet.
Some have attempted to limit water wastage by reducing the capacity of
the water tank by introducing bulky objects in the tank such as bricks, blocks
and
liners. However, the reduced available water volume is insufficient to produce
an
adequate flush in those instances where a heavier flush is required.
Other solutions have been suggested to reduce water consumption and
some of them are described below.
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U.S. Patent No. 4,651,359 issued to Battle on Mar. 24, 1987 disclosed a
dual mode flush valve assembly which includes a flush valve actuator assembly
moving downwards to a lower partial flush position to engage the flush valve
moving it towards the closed position to provide the partial flush mode. While
this
device may be suitable for the particular purpose to which it addresses, the
design of this device is very complex.
U.S. Patent No. 6,571,400 issued to Reid on Jun. 3, 2003 disclosed a toilet
having two reservoirs and a bowl water flow adjustment system that has a
pivotal
retaining arm selectively engaging an upper surface of a flush valve. This
engagement is dependent of a water level via a float mechanism.
U.S. Patent No. 4,224,703 issued to Makhobey on Sep. 30, 1980
disclosed a flush tank valve closer containing a buoyant float that falls with
the
water level of the tank during a flush and applies its weight against the
flush valve
to push the valve prematurely into its seat. It is evident that this device is
not
adaptable for providing partial water draining from the toilet tank when it is
appropriate.
Inventor Gilliland in U.S. Patent No. 4,240,167 issued on Dec. 23, 1980
disclosed a flush valve control apparatus that comprises a control member,
which
is normally in a non-control relationship with the flush valve and may be
rotated
downward by a user until it contacts the top portion of the valve. It allows
an
operator to close the valve at any time; thereby one may manually control the
flush operation thereof to use less than the total tank capacity of water.
This
device needs a special action from user to stop a flush valve leakage.
Thus, there is a need to develop an economical flush valve leakage
prevention device which can be easy installed that also allows a partial water
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draining from the toilet tank when it is necessary and with effective sealing
of a
discharging outlet of a toilet tank between flush cycles.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved
flush valve leakage prevention device that obviates the above-mentioned
disadvantages.
One more object of the present invention is to provide flush valve leakage
prevention device for reduced water consumption by an early stop of the water
draining from the toilet tank when it is deemed appropriate by the user.
Another object of the present invention is to allow a better sealing of a
toilet tank between flush cycles.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a flush valve
leakage prevention device which is compact.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a flush valve
leakage prevention device which is adaptable to different toilet tanks.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a flush valve leakage
prevention device, which can be easily installed.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a flush valve leakage
prevention device, which is easy to manufacture.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a flush valve
leakage prevention device, which is inexpensive.
Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be
obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiments about to be
described and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one
skilled
in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention, a flush valve leakage
prevention device for a toilet tank is provided, which comprises a resilient
closer
having a first portion customized to be attached to the toilet tank and a
second
portion that extends from the first portion.
A fastening member, such as an elastic band may be used to attach the
first portion of the resilient closer in a position which allows to the second
portion
to remain in at least partial resilient contact with a valve flapper, and, in
the
absence of an external force from a flush actuating system of the toilet tank,
to
hold down said flapper to stop a flush cycle and to improve the seal between
the
flapper portion of the flush valve and the seat thereof.
The resilient closer is preferably made from a sheet-like resilient material
such as high density polyethylene. In a preferred embodiment, the first
portion of
the resilient closer is attached to the overflow tube of the toilet tank. It
is
preferable that the first portion be wider than the second portion in order to
at
least partially surround the overflow tube. The second portion has a shape
generally matching at least partially the part of the flapper that is placed
over the
seat of the valve.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of flush
valve leakage prevention for a toilet tank is provided and comprises the steps
of:
a) adjusting a first portion of a resilient closer to the toilet tank, wherein
the
resilient closer has a first portion customized to be attached to the toilet
tank and
a second portion that extends from the first portion; b) adjusting a second
portion
of the resilient closer to remain in at least partial resilient contact with a
valve
flapper of the flush valve; c) attaching the first portion with a fastening
member.
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It is preferable to adjust the first portion of the resilient closer to the
overflow tube of the toilet tank.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, a kit for a flush
valve leakage prevention of a toilet tank is provided and comprises a
resilient
closer having a first portion customized to be attached to the toilet tank and
a
second portion that extends from the first portion, a fastening member adapted
to
attach the first portion of the resilient closer in a position which allows to
the
second portion, upon its deformation, to remain in at least partial resilient
contact
with a valve flapper, and, in the absence of an external force from a flush
actuating system of the toilet tank, to hold down said flapper to stop a flush
cycle
and to seal a valve seat of the toilet tank for the flush valve leakage
prevention.
This kit may also contain installation instructions, describing installation
steps, including: a) turning off water supply; b) flushing the toilet tank to
drain; c)
adjusting a first portion of a resilient closer to the toilet tank, wherein
the resilient
closer has a first portion customized to be attached to the toilet tank and a
second portion freely extended from the first portion; d) adjusting a second
portion to remain in at least partial resilient contact with a valve flapper
of the
flush valve; e) attaching a first portion by a fastening member; f) turning on
water
supply.
It is preferable to adjust the first portion of the resilient closer to the
overflow tube of the toilet tank.
The invention accordingly comprises the construction, combination of
elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the
construction
hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the
claims.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a fuller understanding of the nature and object of the invention,
reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in
connection
with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic side view of the flush valve leakage prevention
device of the present invention when the flush valve is in the closed position
between flush cycles;
Figure 2 is a sectional side view of the flush valve leakage prevention
device of the present invention when the flush valve is opened during the
flush
cycle;
Figure 3 is an isometric view of a resilient closer in accordance with the
invention;
Figure 4 is a side view of the one of the resilient closer shown in figure 3,
and
Figure 5 is a side view of a fastening member (band) shown in figures 1
and 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to the annexed drawings, the preferred embodiments of the
present invention will be herein described for indicative purposes and by no
means as of limitation.
As best shown in Figs. 1 through 5, the present invention relates to a flush
valve leakage prevention device and is generally indicated as 10. The device
10
is used in a toilet tank R assembly.
Referring to Fig 1, the device 10 is illustrated in a normally closed position
during the period of time between the flush cycles when a valve seat 20 is
sealing
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by a valve flapper 30, at what time it is ready to be operated by the user via
applying active forces using an activating system 60 to open a valve flapper
30
for a flushing process.
Device 10 (see Figs. 1 and 2) comprises a resilient closer 40 (see Figs. 3
and 4) and a fastening member 50 (see Fig. 5). The resilient closer 40 has a
first
portion 41 customized to be attached to the toilet tank R and a second portion
43
freely extended from the first portion 41.
The fastening member 50 is adapted to attach the first portion 41 of the
resilient closer 40 in a position which allows to the second portion 43, upon
deformation of the resilient closer, to remain in at least partial resilient
contact
with a valve flapper 30, and, in the absence of an external force from a flush
activating system 60 of the toilet tank R, to hold down the flapper 30 to stop
a
flush cycle and to seal a valve seat 20 of the toilet tank T for the flush
valve
leakage prevention.
As best seen in Figs. 1 and 2, upon actuation of the flush actuating system
60 by an external force (typically the person using the toilet), the resilient
closer
40 is deformed or bent so that the second portion 43 remain in at least
resilient
partial contact with the valve flapper 30 (see Fig. 2). When the external
force is
removed, the resilience of the resilient closer 40 forces the closer 40 to
return to
its original form (see Fig. 1 ), thus forcing down the flapper 30 on the valve
seat,
effectively stopping a flush cycle and sealing the valve seat 20.
Figures 3 and 4 illustrate one of the possible embodiments of the resilient
closer 40 which is made from a sheet-like resilient material and preferably a
material that will not be adversely affected by water. An example of such
material
is high density polyethylene. As is illustrated on Figures 1 and 2 as example,
the
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first portion 41 of the resilient closer 40 is adapted to be attached to an
overflow
tube T of the toilet tank R. The first portion 41 is customized wider than the
second portion 43 for at least partially encompassing the overflow tube T (D>d
as
indicated on Fig.4) to define a better attachment.
The second portion 43 has a shape generally matching at least partially
that of the flapper 30. As example (see Figs. 3 and 4) the second portion has
an
opening 44 adapting a convexity 34 of the flapper 30 for best matching that
allows to the second portion 43, upon the resilient closer 40 deformation, to
hold
down a peripheral area 36 of the valve flapper 30 under uniform pressure for
better sealing of the flush valve.
The fastening member 50 could be made as an elastic retaining band.
Various shapes of such band may be used for fastening. It is also possible to
use
different types of clamping mechanism (not shown) to define the immovable
position of the first end 41.
With reference to Figs 1-4 there a method of flush valve leakage
prevention for a toilet tank R is illustrated and comprises the steps of: a)
adjusting
a first portion 41 of a resilient closer 40 to the toilet tank R, wherein this
first
portion 41 is customized to be attached to the toilet tank R, a second portion
43
of the resilient closer 40 freely extends from the first portion 41; b)
adjusting the
second portion 43 of the resilient closer 40, upon deformation of the
resilient
closer, to remain in at least partial resilient contact with a valve flapper
30 of the
flush valve; c) attaching the first portion 41 by a fastening member 50 such
that
said flapper 30 will be held down by the second portion 43 to seal a valve
seat 20
of the toilet tank R for the flush valve leakage prevention in the absence of
an
external force activated by user.
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Figs. 1 and 2 show an example of the resilient closer 40 attached to an
overflow tube T of the toilet tank R that has the first portion 41 customized
to be
attached to this tube T.
With reference to Figs. 1-4 a kit for a flush valve leakage prevention of a
toilet tank R is illustrated and comprises a resilient closer 40 and a
fastening
member 50. This kit may also include installation instructions, describing
installation steps, including: a) turning off water supply; b) flushing the
toilet tank
R to drain; c) adjusting a first portion 41 of a resilient closer 40 to the
toilet tank R;
d) adjusting a second portion 43 of the resilient closer 40, upon its
deformation, to
remain in at least partial resilient contact with a valve flapper 30 of the
flush
valve; e) attaching the first portion 41 by a fastening member 50 such that
said
flapper 30 will be held down by the second portion 43 to seal a valve seat 20
of
the toilet tank R for the flush valve leakage prevention in the absence of an
external force; f) turning on water supply.
For the toilet tank with an overflow tube T a kit for a flush valve leakage
prevention of a toilet tank R includes a resilient closer 40 having a first
portion 41
customized to be attached to this tube T.
A fastening member 50 adapted to attach the first portion 41 of the
resilient closer 40 in a position which allows to the second portion 43 to
remain in
at least partial resilient contact with a valve flapper, and, in the absence
of an
external force from a flush activating system 60 of the toilet tank R, to hold
down
the flapper 30 to stop a flush cycle and to seal a valve seat 20 of the toilet
tank R
for the flush valve leakage prevention.
The retainer 40 extends from this first end 41 and is at least partially
contacting with the flapper 30 to define a force between the flapper 30 and
the
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valve seat 20 to seal the flush valve and to prevent a water leakage from the
toilet tank R between the flush cycles.
The resiliency of the resilient retainer 40 is enough to stop a flush cycle
and to provide sealing for protection against water leaking through the flush
valve
between flush cycles. At the same time, when the user deactivates the flush by
releasing the flush activating system 60, the resilient retainer 40 forces the
flapper 30 into the sealing position with the valve seat to close water
flushing and
leaking. The resilient retainer 40 may be made from different resilient
materials,
with different shapes and forms which have resilience sufficient to jam the
flapper
30 in a sealing engagement with the valve seat 20 without water leaking
between
them. The resilient retainer 40 is preferably made from lightweight resilient
materials, which have a low cost and are mass producible such as high density
polyethylene. The resiliency range of the retainer 40 illustrated in Figs. 1
to 4 is
dependent of a deformation of the second portion 43 relatively to the attached
first portion 41.
To prevent leakage of a flush valve positioned in a discharge outlet of a
toilet tank R installed before, the retaining device 10 is very useful.
The flush valve leakage prevention device 10 may be used in new toilet
tanks as well as in old toilets.
The installation process is as we described before.
User via any type of a flush activating system 60 produces an external
force to open the flapper 30 to define a water flush from the toilet tank R.
When
user released the activating system 60, a flush valve leakage prevention
device
10 will automatically close the flush valve to reduce the water consumption.
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The drawings and the description attached to it are only intended to
illustrate the idea of the invention. As to the details, the invention may
vary within
the scope of the claims. So, the shape or size of the resilient retainer 40
may be
formed as desired, considering the needs and specific water tank T models.
Although the present flush valve leakage prevention device has been
described with a certain degree of particularity it is to be understood that
the
disclosure has been made by way of example only and that the present invention
is not limited to the features of the embodiments) described and illustrated
herein, but includes all variations and modifications within the scope and
spirit of
the invention as hereinafter claimed.
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