US4080667A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Water saving device
Assignee: AQM CORP
•
Filing: 1972-06-20
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Granted: 1978-03-28
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Expires: 1992-06-20
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus is provided for installation in the water tank of a toilet to reduce the quantity of water discharged from the tank during flushing while maintaining a satisfactory flushing action. The apparatus comprises a pair of flat, flexible partition elements which extend in a bowed manner between the front and rear walls of the tank on opposite sides of the tank-drain. A bead of deformable gasket material extends along the side and bottom edges of each partition, and the bead is urged into frictional engagement with the walls by the tendency of the partition to straighten from its bowed position. The partition elements form pockets on each side of the drain for containing water near the bottom of the tank while permitting water above the drain and the pockets to flow down the drain when the toilet is flushed.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert M. Walsh
- 👤 John V. Droughton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 21:12
CPC Classifications
E; E03; E03D; E03D1/00; E03D1/02; E03D1/14; E03D1/22; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A20/00; Y02A20/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
In combination with a toilet having a water tank with a bottom, a drain located in the bottom, and upstanding walls, the improvement comprising: dike means in said tank for limiting the quantity of water exiting the drain during flushing while maintaining a pressure head adequate to initiate and maintain a siphon action in the toilet, said dike means including a pair of flexible upstanding partition elements having upright side edges engaging opposite tank walls, said partition elements projecting upwardly in bowed relation from said bottom and terminating in edges a spaced distance from said bottom, said partition elements extending between said walls and being spaced from said drain to define a pair of pockets remote from said drain for retaining water below said edges each time the toilet is flushed while permitting water above the drain and pockets to exit the drain for establishing the siphon action, each of said partition elements including a metal member extending between said side edges and a layer of corrosion-resistant material on opposite sides of said metal member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
In combination with a toilet having a water tank with a bottom, a drain located in the bottom, and upstanding walls, the improvement comprising: dike means in said tank for limiting the quantity of water exiting the drain during flushing while maintaining a pressure head adequate to initiate and maintain a siphon action in the toilet, said dike means including a pair of flexible upstanding partition elements having upright side edges engaging opposite tank walls, said partition elements projecting upwardly in bowed relation from said bottom and terminating in edges a spaced distance from said bottom, said partition elements extending between said walls and being spaced from said drain to define a pair of pockets remote from said drain for retaining water below said edges each time the toilet is flushed while permitting water above the drain and pockets to exit the drain for establishing the siphon action, each of said partition elements including a metal member extending between said side edges and a layer of corrosion-resistant material on opposite sides of said metal member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said walls include front and rear tank walls spaced apart a predetermined dimension and wherein each partition element has a dimension between said side edges greater than said predetermined dimension of said tank between said front and rear walls so that said partition elements bow in an upright plane when said partition elements are disposed in the tank with their upright side edges engaged with the front and rear walls of the tank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each partition has a bottom edge adapted to engage the bottom of the tank, and including means providing a gasket along said upright edges and said bottom edge of each partition element, whereby leakage of water from the pockets behind the partition elements is prevented during draining and subsequent filling of the tank.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said gasket means is composed of deformable friction material and said partition elements are bowed outwardly of said drain, whereby the partition elements are secured in position by friction applied along said gasket means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said metal member is fabricated of spring steel and said corrosion-resistant material is plastic molded around said spring steel member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said metal member is fabricated of steel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said corrosion-resistant material is polyvinyl chloride.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
160 words
For use in a toilet tank having front and rear walls and a bottom with a drain, a flexible dike element adapted to be installed in said tank between said front and rear walls to form a water pocket on one side of said drain, said dike element having top and bottom edges and side edges, said dike element having a predetermined widthwise dimension between said top and bottom edges and having a lengthwise dimension between said side edges greater than the distance between said tank walls so that said dike element bows when installed between said walls, said dike element comprising a flexible metal member extending lengthwise between said side edges, a layer of corrosion-resistant material on opposite sides of said metal member, and gasket means extending along said side edges and bottom edge of said dike element for engaging said tank walls when the dike element is installed in the tank to minimize leakage from the water pocket.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
160 words
For use in a toilet tank having front and rear walls and a bottom with a drain, a flexible dike element adapted to be installed in said tank between said front and rear walls to form a water pocket on one side of said drain, said dike element having top and bottom edges and side edges, said dike element having a predetermined widthwise dimension between said top and bottom edges and having a lengthwise dimension between said side edges greater than the distance between said tank walls so that said dike element bows when installed between said walls, said dike element comprising a flexible metal member extending lengthwise between said side edges, a layer of corrosion-resistant material on opposite sides of said metal member, and gasket means extending along said side edges and bottom edge of said dike element for engaging said tank walls when the dike element is installed in the tank to minimize leakage from the water pocket.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A dike element according to claim 8 wherein said dike element has a substantially rectangular shape with its lengthwise dimension being greater than its widthwise dimension.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A partition element according to claim 9 wherein said widthwise dimension is about 5 inches and said lengthwise dimension is about 71/2 inches.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
A partition element according to claim 8 wherein said metal is steel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
A partition element according to claim 11 wherein said steel is spring-type steel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
A partition element according to claim 8 wherein said corrosion-resistant material is a plastic molded around said metal member to cause said metal member to be embedded therein and thereby protected from corrosion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A partition element according to claim 13 wherein said plastic corrosion-resistant material includes polyvinyl chloride.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A partition element according to claim 8 wherein said gasket is fabricated of resiliently deformable friction material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
A particion element according to claim 15 wherein said friction material includes polyurethane.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
A dike element according to claim 8 wherein said metal member is of spring steel and said layer of corrosion-resistant material is provided by a substantially rectangular plastic body encasing said metal member and mounting said gasket means along said edges thereof.
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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) | 1981-03-27 | 1981-09-26 | 1982-03-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-03-27 | 1985-09-26 | 1986-03-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-03-27 | 1989-09-26 | 1990-03-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |