Patent US3731324A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3731324A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Water saving apparatus for water closets
Assignee: MOON WATER SAVER Inc
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Filing: 1971-01-08
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Granted: 1973-05-08
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Expires: 1991-01-08
Abstract
Abstract The amount of water used for bowl evacuation of a water closet is substantially reduced by an apparatus and method dependent on modifying the water tank construction above and around the valve seat either in its original design or by employment of an auxiliary structure whereby the water employed for evacuation and bowl washing is caused to collect as a rather shallow depth rectangular body of water rather than as the usual relatively deep rectangular body of water inherent to the conventional deep, rectangular water tank but without substantially affecting the normal velocity or quality of flow.
Inventors
- 👤 J Moon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 15:52
CPC Classifications
E; E03; E03D; E03D1/00; E03D1/02; E03D1/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
331 words
In a water closet of the type having a tank formed by bottom and side walls and providing a hydraulic head and storage of predetermined height and capacity, having internal tank mechanism including a movable flush valve mounted in the bottom wall of the tank and seated in one end of a conduit connecting the tank to a lower positioned bowl, having manual handle means adapted to open the valve to empty the tank and cooperative water supply means for refilling the tank upon the valve returning to a closed position, the opening of the valve normally causing initiation of flushing and bowl evacuation followed by substantial emptying of the tank and then closing of the valve, the improvement comprising, in combination: a. an auxiliary thin wall imperforate flexible member adapted to be vertically positioned within the tank whereby selected edges of the wall member sealably engage selected interior wall surfaces of the tank and said wall member forms in effect a tubular open top column extending above and immediately around the valve and closed at the bottom by thE tank bottom wall, said column having a predetermined volume and configuration selected such that said wall member adapts to being installed by flexing as required to avoid altering any internal tank mechanism and to form said column in said tank without disturbing the normal functioning of the handle and water supply means or reducing the hydraulic head above the valve; and b. retainer means adapted to fixedly retain said wall member in said column form and with the respective contacting wall member edges and tank wall surfaces in relatively tight sealing engagement to minimize water flow therebetween, said wall member and retainer means thereby being effective upon said valve being opened to prevent on each opening, emptying of said tank below a level substantially equal to the level of said column top end and to cause said valve to seat and said tank to start refilling substantially immediately after said evacuation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
331 words
In a water closet of the type having a tank formed by bottom and side walls and providing a hydraulic head and storage of predetermined height and capacity, having internal tank mechanism including a movable flush valve mounted in the bottom wall of the tank and seated in one end of a conduit connecting the tank to a lower positioned bowl, having manual handle means adapted to open the valve to empty the tank and cooperative water supply means for refilling the tank upon the valve returning to a closed position, the opening of the valve normally causing initiation of flushing and bowl evacuation followed by substantial emptying of the tank and then closing of the valve, the improvement comprising, in combination: a. an auxiliary thin wall imperforate flexible member adapted to be vertically positioned within the tank whereby selected edges of the wall member sealably engage selected interior wall surfaces of the tank and said wall member forms in effect a tubular open top column extending above and immediately around the valve and closed at the bottom by thE tank bottom wall, said column having a predetermined volume and configuration selected such that said wall member adapts to being installed by flexing as required to avoid altering any internal tank mechanism and to form said column in said tank without disturbing the normal functioning of the handle and water supply means or reducing the hydraulic head above the valve; and b. retainer means adapted to fixedly retain said wall member in said column form and with the respective contacting wall member edges and tank wall surfaces in relatively tight sealing engagement to minimize water flow therebetween, said wall member and retainer means thereby being effective upon said valve being opened to prevent on each opening, emptying of said tank below a level substantially equal to the level of said column top end and to cause said valve to seat and said tank to start refilling substantially immediately after said evacuation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
272 words
Water saving apparatus for use with a toilet flush tank of the type having side and bottom walls providing a relatively deep water chamber providing an adequate head for flushing a toilet, having internal tank mechanism and formed with a flush outlet and flush valve in its bottom wall and with a handle for operating the flush valve, said water saving apparatus comprising: a. a member formed of substantially flexible imperforate sheet material having edges which when pressed are sealingly engageable with the interior of said flush tank including the bottom wall in a relationship selected to immediately surround the flush outlet and flush valve without surrounding other selected internal tank mechanism so as to extend upwardly for only a portion of the height of the water chamber in the flush tank and adapted for forming without disturbing any of said mechanism a substantially water tight flexible imperforate walled compartment immediately around the flush valve with a portion of the water in the chamber of the tank being disposed above the said compartment and a portion of the water in the chamber being disposed below the top of the compartment; and b. means for fixedly retaining said sheet material member in said relationship in a relatively fixed position assembled immediately around the flush outlet and flush valve and with said edges pressed in sealing engagement with the interior of the flush tank so that on each occurrence when the flush valve is opened, substantially only the water above the level of the compartment will flow outwardly through the flush outlet and the remainder of the water will remain within the flush tank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
272 words
Water saving apparatus for use with a toilet flush tank of the type having side and bottom walls providing a relatively deep water chamber providing an adequate head for flushing a toilet, having internal tank mechanism and formed with a flush outlet and flush valve in its bottom wall and with a handle for operating the flush valve, said water saving apparatus comprising: a. a member formed of substantially flexible imperforate sheet material having edges which when pressed are sealingly engageable with the interior of said flush tank including the bottom wall in a relationship selected to immediately surround the flush outlet and flush valve without surrounding other selected internal tank mechanism so as to extend upwardly for only a portion of the height of the water chamber in the flush tank and adapted for forming without disturbing any of said mechanism a substantially water tight flexible imperforate walled compartment immediately around the flush valve with a portion of the water in the chamber of the tank being disposed above the said compartment and a portion of the water in the chamber being disposed below the top of the compartment; and b. means for fixedly retaining said sheet material member in said relationship in a relatively fixed position assembled immediately around the flush outlet and flush valve and with said edges pressed in sealing engagement with the interior of the flush tank so that on each occurrence when the flush valve is opened, substantially only the water above the level of the compartment will flow outwardly through the flush outlet and the remainder of the water will remain within the flush tank.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
321 words
In a water closet of the type having a tank formed by bottom and side walls and providing a hydraulic head and storage of predetermined height and capacity, having a movable flush valve mounted in the bottom wall of the tank and seated in one end of a conduit connecting the tank to a lower positioned bowl, having manual handle means adapted to open the valve to employ the tank and cooperative water supply means for refilling the tank upon the valve returning to a closed position, the opening of the valve normally causing initiation of flushing and bowl evacuation followed by substantial emptying of the tank and then closing of the valve, the improvement comprising, in combination: a. an auxiliary thin wall imperforate flexible member adapted to be vertically positioned within the tank and to contact selected surfaces internally of the tank and to form in effect a tubular open top imperforate column extending above and immediately around the valve and closed at the bottom, said column having a predetermined volume and configuration and said wall member having a predetermined flexibility selected such that said wall member adapts to being installed without altering any internal mechanism and to form said column in said tank without disturbing the normal functioning of the handle and water supply means or reducing the hydraulic head above the valve; and b. retainer means adapted to fixedly retain sAid wall member in said column form and with the respective contacting wall member and internal surfaces in relatively tight sealing engagement to minimize water flow therebetween, said wall member and retainer means thereby being effective upon said valve being opened to prevent on all openings thereof, emptying of the water in said tank outside said column below a level substantially equal to the level of said column top end and to cause said valve to seat and said tank to start refilling substantially immediately after said evacuation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
321 words
In a water closet of the type having a tank formed by bottom and side walls and providing a hydraulic head and storage of predetermined height and capacity, having a movable flush valve mounted in the bottom wall of the tank and seated in one end of a conduit connecting the tank to a lower positioned bowl, having manual handle means adapted to open the valve to employ the tank and cooperative water supply means for refilling the tank upon the valve returning to a closed position, the opening of the valve normally causing initiation of flushing and bowl evacuation followed by substantial emptying of the tank and then closing of the valve, the improvement comprising, in combination: a. an auxiliary thin wall imperforate flexible member adapted to be vertically positioned within the tank and to contact selected surfaces internally of the tank and to form in effect a tubular open top imperforate column extending above and immediately around the valve and closed at the bottom, said column having a predetermined volume and configuration and said wall member having a predetermined flexibility selected such that said wall member adapts to being installed without altering any internal mechanism and to form said column in said tank without disturbing the normal functioning of the handle and water supply means or reducing the hydraulic head above the valve; and b. retainer means adapted to fixedly retain sAid wall member in said column form and with the respective contacting wall member and internal surfaces in relatively tight sealing engagement to minimize water flow therebetween, said wall member and retainer means thereby being effective upon said valve being opened to prevent on all openings thereof, emptying of the water in said tank outside said column below a level substantially equal to the level of said column top end and to cause said valve to seat and said tank to start refilling substantially immediately after said evacuation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-07 | 1976-11-06 | 1977-05-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-07 | 1980-11-06 | 1981-05-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-07 | 1984-11-06 | 1985-05-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |