Patent US4364129A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4364129A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Water saving flush system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1977-12-12
•
Granted: 1982-12-21
•
Expires: 1997-12-12
Abstract
Abstract A toilet flush system designed for manual control of the amount of water used for a toilet flush cycle uses a tank ball, flapper valve, or other type valves to control the closing of a reservoir outlet at selected times prior to or upon completion of the normal flush cycle. The tank ball or flapper valve is modified to overcome its buoyancy such that it rapidly closes the tank reservoir to thereby terminate the flush cycle when the handle of the toilet is released. By maintaining the handle in the operated position, the individual flush cycle can be controlled dependent on the waste to be disposed of, thus permitting a significant saving in fresh water. The buoyancy of the valve is overcome by utilizing a water absorbing material such as sponge material within the valve which, when primed, increases the weight of the valve.
Inventors
- 👤 John S. Schonger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 16:49
CPC Classifications
E; E03; E03D; E03D1/00; E03D1/02; E03D1/14; E03D1/142; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A20/00; Y02A20/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A toilet tank flushing assembly operable to discharge a controlled volume of water from a flush tank into a toilet bowl in accordance with the quantity and nature of the waste material to be flushed from the bowl comprising, in combination, a flush tank, a handle mounted on said flush tank, a valve seat disposed in the exit port of said tank, a flush valve adapted to engage said valve seat and thereby close said tank exit port, said flush valve having a substantially hollow interior portion with an opening in the bottom thereof, said interior portion of said flush valve including a water absorbing material adapted to modify the weight of said valve by controlling the amount of water admitted through said bottom portion of said flush valve, and a manually operated lever assembly connecting said handle to said flush valve, said modified flush valve being adapted to control the buoyancy of said float valve when said float valve is lifted from said valve seat and thereby control the reseating of said flush valve when said handle is released.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A toilet tank flushing assembly operable to discharge a controlled volume of water from a flush tank into a toilet bowl in accordance with the quantity and nature of the waste material to be flushed from the bowl comprising, in combination, a flush tank, a handle mounted on said flush tank, a valve seat disposed in the exit port of said tank, a flush valve adapted to engage said valve seat and thereby close said tank exit port, said flush valve having a substantially hollow interior portion with an opening in the bottom thereof, said interior portion of said flush valve including a water absorbing material adapted to modify the weight of said valve by controlling the amount of water admitted through said bottom portion of said flush valve, and a manually operated lever assembly connecting said handle to said flush valve, said modified flush valve being adapted to control the buoyancy of said float valve when said float valve is lifted from said valve seat and thereby control the reseating of said flush valve when said handle is released.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device of the character claimed in claim 1 wherein said water absorbing material comprises a spongy material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device of the character claimed in claim 2 wherein said flush valve comprises a tank ball.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device of the character claimed in claim 2 wherein said flush valve comprises a flapper valve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device of the character claimed in claim 1 wherein said opening in the bottom of said float valve is adapted to prime the water absorbing material within said valve with water to thereby overcome said buoyancy of said float valve.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1718744A
Cited
US3059242A
Cited
US3036313A
Cited
US3438064A
Cited
US3812545A
Cited
US3894299A
Cited
US3908203A
Cited
US3955218A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-12-20 | 1986-06-21 | 1986-12-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-12-20 | 1990-06-21 | 1990-12-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-12-20 | 1994-06-21 | 1994-12-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |