US3705428A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flushing apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-05-24
•
Granted: 1972-12-12
•
Expires: 1991-05-24
Abstract
Abstract A flushing apparatus particularly for plumbing fixtures embodies only one main moving part which is adapted alternately to receive water and serve as a weight for closing the main flush valve and to discharge said water and in so doing to become a float for opening the flush valve. The main flush valve is essentially self-cleaning and non-corrosive. The entire apparatus is characterized by simplicity, economy of construction, silent operation and reliability. Maintenance requirements are minimized and the apparatus is adaptable to new or old fixtures.
Inventors
- 👤 James W Braswell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 00:26
CPC Classifications
E; E03; E03D; E03D1/00; E03D1/30; E03D1/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
215 words
A flushing apparatus comprising a tank having a bottom discharge opening, means forming a valve seat adjacent said discharge opening, a fixed upstanding member within said tank extending above the discharge opening, a vertically movable unit engaging telescopically with said fixed upstanding member, said unit comprising a tubular body portion having a cup-like enlargement thereon near its upper end and defining therewith a chamber for ballast water to weight said unit, a seal element on the lower end of said body portion engaging said seat when said unit is lowered and covering said discharge opening, interengaging means on the body portion and upstanding member limiting upward movement of said unit and guiding the unit and retarding movement of the unit upwardly and downwardly, a flexible tubing loop having ends connected with said cup-like enlargement and said body portion below the interengaging means, and manually operable means to normally hold the top of the tubing loop above the level of water in said enlargement and operable to lower the loop to a level where water will flow from the enlargement into the portion to start a flushing cycle, the discharging of water from the cup-like enlargement increasing the buoyancy of said movable unit and causing floatation thereof with said seal element to uncover said discharge opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
215 words
A flushing apparatus comprising a tank having a bottom discharge opening, means forming a valve seat adjacent said discharge opening, a fixed upstanding member within said tank extending above the discharge opening, a vertically movable unit engaging telescopically with said fixed upstanding member, said unit comprising a tubular body portion having a cup-like enlargement thereon near its upper end and defining therewith a chamber for ballast water to weight said unit, a seal element on the lower end of said body portion engaging said seat when said unit is lowered and covering said discharge opening, interengaging means on the body portion and upstanding member limiting upward movement of said unit and guiding the unit and retarding movement of the unit upwardly and downwardly, a flexible tubing loop having ends connected with said cup-like enlargement and said body portion below the interengaging means, and manually operable means to normally hold the top of the tubing loop above the level of water in said enlargement and operable to lower the loop to a level where water will flow from the enlargement into the portion to start a flushing cycle, the discharging of water from the cup-like enlargement increasing the buoyancy of said movable unit and causing floatation thereof with said seal element to uncover said discharge opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The structure of claim 1, and said means forming a valve seat comprising a substantially flat plate member surrounding said discharge opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The structure of claim 2, and said plate member formed of non-corrosive material and having a depending tubular extension lining the bore of said discharge opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The structure of claim 1, and said fixed upstanding member comprising an open-ended tube having a lower end projecting below said valve seat and into said discharge opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The structure of claim 4, and a spider member supporting said tube and being anchored to said tank.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The structure of claim 1, and the top of said tubular body portion terminating below the top of said cup-like enlargement to allow overflowing of water from the enlargement into the top of said body portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The structure of claim 6, and said interengaging means comprising telescopically interfitting parts on sAid body portion and said fixed upstanding member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
The structure of claim 7, and the interfitting part on said body portion comprising an upstanding internal sleeve extension on the body portion connected with the body portion by a bottom wall to form a chamber between the body portion and sleeve extension, said chamber receiving overflow water from said cup-like enlargement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
The structure of claim 8, and the interfitting part on said upstanding member comprising a downwardly opening cylinder engaging telescopically between the wall of the body portion and the upstanding sleeve extension, and an annular enlargement on the lower ends of said cylinder having relatively close fitting engagement in the chamber between the body portion and sleeve extension.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The structure of claim 1, and said seal element comprising an annular resilient seal detachably mounted on said body portion and projecting therebelow.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The structure of claim 10, and said seal flaring toward its lower end and tapering in cross-section downwardly to a thin straight edge normal to the axis of the discharge opening.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
The structure of claim 1, and a pair of attachment nipples for the tubing loop on said movable unit, the uppermost nipple located adjacent the bottom of the cup-like enlargement, there being an annular chamber formed between the upper end portion of the tubular body portion and the side wall of said enlargement.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
The structure of claim 1, and said manually operable means comprising a lever pivoted to said tank and connected with the tubing loop on one side of the lever pivot, and a lever counterweight on the other side of said pivot, whereby only a slight pressure on the lever is required to lower the tubing loop from its normal elevated position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
The structure of claim 1, and water inlet valve means on said tank to fill the tank and to supply make-up water to said cup-like enlargement to weight the movable unit and to establish a water seal in the trap of a fixture with which the flushing apparatus is connected.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
84 words
A flushing apparatus for fixtures comprising a fixed substantially vertical guide member, a vertically movable unit on the guide member including a lower end seal, said unit having a ballast chamber for water to weight the unit for downward movement so that said seal may engage a fixed seat, and movable discharge control means for water in said ballast chamber enabling the chamber to be emptied, whereby said chamber is converted to a float chamber causing said unit to rise for unseating said seal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
84 words
A flushing apparatus for fixtures comprising a fixed substantially vertical guide member, a vertically movable unit on the guide member including a lower end seal, said unit having a ballast chamber for water to weight the unit for downward movement so that said seal may engage a fixed seat, and movable discharge control means for water in said ballast chamber enabling the chamber to be emptied, whereby said chamber is converted to a float chamber causing said unit to rise for unseating said seal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The structure of claim 15, and said ballast chamber being in the form of an upwardly facing cup-like enlargement on the top of said movable unit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The structure of claim 16, and said movable discharge control means comprises a loop of flexible tubing interconnecting said ballast chamber with a lower section of said unit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The structure of claim 15, and said lower end seal comprising an annular resilient downwardly flaring seal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
The structure of claim 15, and interengaging means on said guide member and unit adapted to retard upward and downward movement of the unit and to positively limit upward movement of the unit and to momentarily maintain said unit elevated.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US938294A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-12-12 | 1976-06-12 | 1976-12-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-12 | 1980-06-12 | 1980-12-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-12 | 1984-06-12 | 1984-12-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |