Patent US4941214A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4941214A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flush tank water saver
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1989-01-04
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Granted: 1990-07-17
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Expires: 2009-01-04
Abstract
Abstract A flush tank water saver includes a base clamped to the tank overflow pipe and formed with a mechanism base extending over the flapper valve and having a valve operator pivot. This pivot carries an operator extending downward and toward the overflow pipe to a point behind the flapper valve when open. This same pivot also carries a float lever extending past the overflow pipe and having a float on its other side. The operator is spring biased to close the valve and is held in cocked position by a latch on another pivot. This latch is released by a pin on the float lever when the water level lowers to the water saver level. The float lever has a second pin engaged by a blocking surface on the latch when a full flush is desired. At the start of a flush a link with the flush lever moves the operator to cocked position and also moves the latch to float blocking position. If the flush lever is held up until the pin on the float lever is blocked by the blocking surface, a full flush results.
Inventors
- 👤 John L. Harris
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 19:22
CPC Classifications
E; E03; E03D; E03D1/00; E03D1/02; E03D1/14; E03D1/142; E03D1/144
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
283 words
A water saver control for a toilet flush tank having an outlet, an overflow pipe means, a flapper-float type valve for the outlet mounted on pivots on the overflow pipe means and an externally operated flush lever connected to the flapper valve for opening same on upward movement of said lever, said flapper valve being of the type that holds itself open due to its buoyancy until the tank is empty, the combination of, operator pivot means supported in the tank, a flapper valve operator mounted on said operator pivot means, said pivot means being located above the flapper valve and the operator being arranged to extend downwardly from its pivot means to a contact area with the back of the flapper valve when open to push the valve toward closed position against its buoyancy on rocking of the operator in one direction, the pivot means being located relative to said contact area and flapper valve pivots to cause the areas of contact on the flapper valve and operator to travel in general directions similar enough to avoid substantial rubbing to provide for low friction loss in pushing the valve by the operator, operating means including a float constructed and arranged to rock the operator in said one direction to close the valve in response to falling water to a water saving level, a latch pivot spaced from the pivot means, a latch on said latch pivot having a supporting surface arranged to hold the operator in inactive position allowing the flapper valve to remain open, the operator being biased to close the valve, and means operated by the float on reaching the water saver level in the tank for releasing said latch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
283 words
A water saver control for a toilet flush tank having an outlet, an overflow pipe means, a flapper-float type valve for the outlet mounted on pivots on the overflow pipe means and an externally operated flush lever connected to the flapper valve for opening same on upward movement of said lever, said flapper valve being of the type that holds itself open due to its buoyancy until the tank is empty, the combination of, operator pivot means supported in the tank, a flapper valve operator mounted on said operator pivot means, said pivot means being located above the flapper valve and the operator being arranged to extend downwardly from its pivot means to a contact area with the back of the flapper valve when open to push the valve toward closed position against its buoyancy on rocking of the operator in one direction, the pivot means being located relative to said contact area and flapper valve pivots to cause the areas of contact on the flapper valve and operator to travel in general directions similar enough to avoid substantial rubbing to provide for low friction loss in pushing the valve by the operator, operating means including a float constructed and arranged to rock the operator in said one direction to close the valve in response to falling water to a water saving level, a latch pivot spaced from the pivot means, a latch on said latch pivot having a supporting surface arranged to hold the operator in inactive position allowing the flapper valve to remain open, the operator being biased to close the valve, and means operated by the float on reaching the water saver level in the tank for releasing said latch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The combination recited in claim 1 in which the latch is biased to bring the supporting surface into supporting position relative to the operator when the operator is lifted to clear the supporting surface, and means operated by the flush lever for lifting the operator at the start of a flush.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The combination recited in claim 2 in which the latch includes a blocking portion for stopping downward movement of the float when moved into blocking position, and means actuated by the valve operator when lifted by the flush lever for moving the latch to blocking position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
150 words
In a water saver for a toilet flush tank having an outlet flush valve and a manually operated flush lever for opening the valve when moved to flushing position, the combination of, operating means for controlling closure of the valve at a water saving level, said operating means including a float, a rotating latch and latched means held by the latch, the latch being constructed with a pivot and a holding surface facing away from the pivot, said latched means being constructed to bear on said holding surface when latched and to move inward toward the pivot when the latch is rotated to released position where the holding surface is out of contact with the latched means, valve closing means controlled by inward movement of the latched means for closing the valve, and means operated by the float on drop in water level for moving the latch to released position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
150 words
In a water saver for a toilet flush tank having an outlet flush valve and a manually operated flush lever for opening the valve when moved to flushing position, the combination of, operating means for controlling closure of the valve at a water saving level, said operating means including a float, a rotating latch and latched means held by the latch, the latch being constructed with a pivot and a holding surface facing away from the pivot, said latched means being constructed to bear on said holding surface when latched and to move inward toward the pivot when the latch is rotated to released position where the holding surface is out of contact with the latched means, valve closing means controlled by inward movement of the latched means for closing the valve, and means operated by the float on drop in water level for moving the latch to released position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination recited in claim 4 in which the latched means is mounted on a pivot and the valve closing means is a lever mounted on the same pivot.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination recited in claim 5 in which the latched means and valve closing lever are formed of a single integral part.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
151 words
In a water saver for a toilet flush tank having an outlet flush valve and a manually operated flush lever for opening the valve when moved to flushing position, the combination of, operating means for controlling closure of the valve at a water saving level, said operating means including a latch having a supporting surface, and latched means held by the latch supporting surface constructed to cause closure of the valve when released by the latch, means for moving the latched means to a position held by the latch and float means constructed to release the latched means from the latch on drop in water level to a water saving level, said latch having a portion arranged to disable the float means when the latch is moved to a predetermined position for causing a full flush and means operated by the flush lever for moving the latch to said predetermined position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
151 words
In a water saver for a toilet flush tank having an outlet flush valve and a manually operated flush lever for opening the valve when moved to flushing position, the combination of, operating means for controlling closure of the valve at a water saving level, said operating means including a latch having a supporting surface, and latched means held by the latch supporting surface constructed to cause closure of the valve when released by the latch, means for moving the latched means to a position held by the latch and float means constructed to release the latched means from the latch on drop in water level to a water saving level, said latch having a portion arranged to disable the float means when the latch is moved to a predetermined position for causing a full flush and means operated by the flush lever for moving the latch to said predetermined position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination recited in claim 7 in which the means for moving the latched means to a position held by the latch is operated by the flush lever.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination recited in claim 7 in which the latched means includes a driving surface engaging a driven surface on the latch for moving the latch to said predetermined position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination recited in claim 7 in which the latch has a second supporting surface constructed to support the latched means when the latch is moved to the predetermined position disabling the float means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
203 words
A water saver control for a toilet flush tank having an outlet, an overflow pipe means, a flapper-float type valve for the outlet mounted on pivots on the overflow pipe means and an externally operated flush lever connected to the flapper valve for opening same on upward movement of said lever, said flapper valve being of the type that holds itself open due to its buoyancy until the tank is empty, the combination of, a mounting bracket mounted on the overflow pipe means, said bracket including a mechanism support extending from the overflow pipe means above the flapper valve, said support having pivot means extending therefrom above the the flapper valve and generally parallel with the flapper valve pivots; a valve operator lever mounted on said pivot means and extending downwardly toward the overflow pipe means to a contact area with the back of the flapper valve when open to push same toward closed position on rocking of the operator in one direction; and means including a float lever extending from the pivot means toward and beyond the overflow pipe means for rocking the operator in said one direction to close the valve in response to falling water to a water saving level.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
203 words
A water saver control for a toilet flush tank having an outlet, an overflow pipe means, a flapper-float type valve for the outlet mounted on pivots on the overflow pipe means and an externally operated flush lever connected to the flapper valve for opening same on upward movement of said lever, said flapper valve being of the type that holds itself open due to its buoyancy until the tank is empty, the combination of, a mounting bracket mounted on the overflow pipe means, said bracket including a mechanism support extending from the overflow pipe means above the flapper valve, said support having pivot means extending therefrom above the the flapper valve and generally parallel with the flapper valve pivots; a valve operator lever mounted on said pivot means and extending downwardly toward the overflow pipe means to a contact area with the back of the flapper valve when open to push same toward closed position on rocking of the operator in one direction; and means including a float lever extending from the pivot means toward and beyond the overflow pipe means for rocking the operator in said one direction to close the valve in response to falling water to a water saving level.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination recited in claim 11 in which the valve operator and float lever are mounted side by side on a single pivot, the valve operator being adjacent the mechanism support.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination recited in claim 11 including a latch mounted on a pivot spaced from the pivot means and arranged to restrain the operator from closing the flapper valve, and means operated by the float lever for releasing the latch.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
66 words
The combination recited in claim 11 including blocking means carried by the mechanism support for blocking downward movement of the float lever to provide a full flush, means actuated by the valve operator for moving the blocking means into blocking position, and means operated by the flush lever at the start of a flush for moving the valve operator to cause blocking of the float lever.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination recited in claim 14 in which the blocking means is part of the latch.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination recited in claim 15 in which the mechanism support is arranged to limit movement of the valve operator by the flush lever.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
136 words
A water saver control for a toilet flush tank having an outlet, a valve for the outlet arranged to close when the tank is empty and an externally operated flush lever for opening the valve to start a flush, the combination of a valve operator arranged to close the valve, a latch arranged to hold the valve operator in an inactive position when engaged and to allow movement of the operator to close the valve when disengaged means activated by the flush lever on starting a flush for moving the valve operator to inactive position, float means arranged to disengage the latch on drop in water level to an intermediate water saving level, means for disabling the float means to provide a full flush, and means activated by the valve operator for activating said disabling means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
136 words
A water saver control for a toilet flush tank having an outlet, a valve for the outlet arranged to close when the tank is empty and an externally operated flush lever for opening the valve to start a flush, the combination of a valve operator arranged to close the valve, a latch arranged to hold the valve operator in an inactive position when engaged and to allow movement of the operator to close the valve when disengaged means activated by the flush lever on starting a flush for moving the valve operator to inactive position, float means arranged to disengage the latch on drop in water level to an intermediate water saving level, means for disabling the float means to provide a full flush, and means activated by the valve operator for activating said disabling means.
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) | 1993-07-16 | 1994-01-15 | 1994-07-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-07-16 | 1998-01-15 | 1998-07-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-07-16 | 2002-01-15 | 2002-07-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |