US3669138A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ball cock construction including horizontal inlet mounting and anti-syphon device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-07-02
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Granted: 1972-06-13
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Expires: 1990-07-02
Abstract
Abstract A horizontally extending water inlet body is mounted through a sidewall of a toilet flush tank above the tank upper water level and an inner end portion thereof is telescoped by a water outlet body with a water valve positioned between inner ends of said bodies. An annular water outlet chamber formed between inner end portions of the inlet and outlet bodies is downwardly connected communicating with a generally vertical water outlet tube projecting downwardly, preferably to below a flush tank lower water level. A float telescopes the water outlet tube guided thereby in upward and downward movement with the flush tank water level, the float controlling the valve through a generally horizontally extending pivotal acuating arm on the valve connected to the float through a vertical connecting link. A water chamber of the float is compacted in the float portion telescoping the water outlet tube to give float balanced movement despite float horizontal projection therefrom and connection to the valve actuating arm horizontally spaced from the water outlet tube guiding. A frusto-conical, resilient material, anti-syphon member is positioned within the annular water outlet chamber of the water outlet body normally sealing inwardly against the water inlet body, but annularly expanding away from the water inlet body upon water under pressure being admitted through the valve into the water outlet chamber and downwardly through the water outlet tube. During such annular expansion of the frusto-conical member, the walls thereof seal air relief openings through the water outlet body communicating with the air in the flush tank above the upper water level thereof, but in non-expanded condition of the frusto-conical member, attempted syphoning air forces against the upstream side of the frusto-conical member may draw air through an air vent opening of said frusto-conical member and from the tank air through the outlet body air relief openings to relieve any syphoning forces upwardly through the water outlet tube.
Inventors
- 👤 Adolf Schoepe
- 👤 Fredric E Schmuck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:42
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K31/00; F16K31/12; F16K31/18; F16K31/20; F16K31/24; F16K31/26; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/3149; Y10T137/3185; Y10T137/3294; Y10T137/3331; Y10T137/7287; Y10T137/7358; Y10T137/7368; Y10T137/7371; Y10T137/7374; Y10T137/7423
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
450 words
In a ball cock usable for controlling the flow of water into and the water level within a toilet flush tank; said ball cock being of the type having a tubular water inlet body adapted for positioning within a flush tank interior communicating with a supply of water from exteriorly of said flush tank interior, a tubular water outlet assembly having a part above a flush tank upper water level spaced outwardly of an inner cylindrical surface forming an annular water outlet passage above said flush tank upper water level about said inner cylindrical surface, valve means having a valve inlet communicating upstream with said water inlet body and a valve outlet communicating downstream with said water outlet assembly and through said annular water outlet passage, said valve being movable between a closed position sealing off and an open position permitting a flow of water therethrough between said valve inlet and valve outlet, float means operably connected to said valve means for moving said valve means between said open and closed positions upon changing water level in said flush tank from and to said flush tank upper water level, and discharge opening means of said water outlet assembly located for discharging water downstream below said flush tank upper water level; the improvements comprising: antisyphon means formed in said water outlet assembly at said annular water outlet passage including a resilient material, annular, generally frusto-conical part projecting generally downstream around said inner cylindrical surface and normally bearing resiliently inwardly sealing around said inner cylindrical surface, said frusto-conical part upstream of said normal sealing around said inner cylindrical surface extending outwardly across said annular water outlet passage and being secured outwardly peripherally sealed with said water outlet assembly, air relief opening means formed through said water outlet assembly normally communicating between said annular water outlet passage and air above said flush tank upper water level, said air relief opening means being positioned intermediate said frusto-conical part downstream projection downstream of said frusto-conical part peripheral sealing with said water outlet assembly and being closed by said frusto-conical part upon a flow of water under pressure from said valve outlet into said annular water outlet passage downstream around said inner cylindrical surface and through said discharge opening means forcing said frusto-conical part away from said inner cylindrical surface against said water outlet assembly over said air relief opening means, air vent opening means through said frusto-conical part spaced away from said inner cylindrical surface in all positions of said frustoconical part, minimum cross-sectional dimensions of said air relief opening means through said water outlet assembly being at least as great as maximum cross-sectional dimensions of said air vent opening means through said frusto-conical part.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
450 words
In a ball cock usable for controlling the flow of water into and the water level within a toilet flush tank; said ball cock being of the type having a tubular water inlet body adapted for positioning within a flush tank interior communicating with a supply of water from exteriorly of said flush tank interior, a tubular water outlet assembly having a part above a flush tank upper water level spaced outwardly of an inner cylindrical surface forming an annular water outlet passage above said flush tank upper water level about said inner cylindrical surface, valve means having a valve inlet communicating upstream with said water inlet body and a valve outlet communicating downstream with said water outlet assembly and through said annular water outlet passage, said valve being movable between a closed position sealing off and an open position permitting a flow of water therethrough between said valve inlet and valve outlet, float means operably connected to said valve means for moving said valve means between said open and closed positions upon changing water level in said flush tank from and to said flush tank upper water level, and discharge opening means of said water outlet assembly located for discharging water downstream below said flush tank upper water level; the improvements comprising: antisyphon means formed in said water outlet assembly at said annular water outlet passage including a resilient material, annular, generally frusto-conical part projecting generally downstream around said inner cylindrical surface and normally bearing resiliently inwardly sealing around said inner cylindrical surface, said frusto-conical part upstream of said normal sealing around said inner cylindrical surface extending outwardly across said annular water outlet passage and being secured outwardly peripherally sealed with said water outlet assembly, air relief opening means formed through said water outlet assembly normally communicating between said annular water outlet passage and air above said flush tank upper water level, said air relief opening means being positioned intermediate said frusto-conical part downstream projection downstream of said frusto-conical part peripheral sealing with said water outlet assembly and being closed by said frusto-conical part upon a flow of water under pressure from said valve outlet into said annular water outlet passage downstream around said inner cylindrical surface and through said discharge opening means forcing said frusto-conical part away from said inner cylindrical surface against said water outlet assembly over said air relief opening means, air vent opening means through said frusto-conical part spaced away from said inner cylindrical surface in all positions of said frustoconical part, minimum cross-sectional dimensions of said air relief opening means through said water outlet assembly being at least as great as maximum cross-sectional dimensions of said air vent opening means through said frusto-conical part.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
204 words
A ball cock as defined in claim 1 in which said air relief opening means includes an annular air relief channel formed in said water outlet assembly generally U-shaped in cross section and opening into said annular water outlet passage adjacent and downstream of said frusto-conical part outward peripheral sealing with said water outlet assembly, at least one air relief opening formed through said water outlet assembly from within said air relief channel communicating between said air relief channel and said air above said flush tank upper water level, said Air relief channel terminating spaced from said frusto-conical part outward sealing with said water outlet assembly in an annular shoulder around said frusto-conical part having an annular sealing surface projecting toward said frusto-conical part and angling downstream from said air relief channel approximately parallel to facing surfaces of said frusto-conical part, said air relief channel being closed by said frusto-conical part upon said flow of water under pressure from said valve outlet into said annular water outlet passage downstream around said inner cylindrical surface and through said discharge opening means forcing said frusto-conical part away from said inner cylindrical surface against said annular sealing surface of said annular shoulder of said water outlet assembly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
235 words
A ball cock as defined in claim 1 in which said air relief opening means includes an annular air relief channel formed in said water outlet assembly generally U-shaped in cross section and opening into said annular water outlet passage downstream and adjacent to said frusto-conical part outward sealing with said water outlet assembly, spaced air relief openings formed through said water outlet assembly from within said air relief channel communicating between said air relief channel and said air above said flush tank upper water level, said air relief channel terminating spaced downstream from said frusto-conical part outward sealing with said water outlet assembly in an annular shoulder around said frusto-conical part having an annular sealing surface angled downstream from said air relief channel approximately parallel to facing surfaces of said frusto-conical part, said air relief channel being closed by said frusto-conical part upon a flow of water under pressure from said valve outlet into said annular water outlet passage downstream around said inner cylindrical surface and through said discharge opening means forcing said frusto-conical part away from said inner cylindrical surface against said sealing surface of said annular shoulder; and in which said frusto-conical part includes an annular reduced thickness portion around said inner cylindrical surface spaced outwardly from said inner cylindrical surface and extending within said annular water outlet passage free of said frusto-conical part outward peripheral sealing with said water outlet assembly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A ball cock as defined in claim 1 in which said frusto-conical part includes an annular reduced thickness portion around said inner cylindrical surface spaced outwardly from said inner cylindrical surface and extending within said annular water outlet passage free of said frusto-conical part outward peripheral sealing with said water outlet assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
94 words
A ball cock as defined in claim 1 in which said frusto-conical part is a unitary part having an annular reduced thickness section spaced outwardly of said inner cylindrical surface around said inner cylindrical surface and extending within said annular water outlet passage free of said frusto-conical part outward peripheral sealing with said water outlet assembly, said frusto-conical part terminating outwardly of said reduced thickness section in an annular collar secured outwardly peripherally sealed with said water outlet assembly and sealing between said water outlet assembly and a separate casing of said valve means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-13 | 1975-12-13 | 1976-06-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-13 | 1979-12-13 | 1980-06-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-13 | 1983-12-13 | 1984-06-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |