Patent US5673440A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5673440A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Add-on dual flush toilet water saver
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1995-10-02
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Granted: 1997-10-07
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Expires: 2015-10-02
Abstract
Abstract A unit for conserving water when flushing the toilet bowl, the unit comprising a vertical back strip from each end of which extends a collar adapted to be clamped about corresponding ends of the overflow pipe of toilet bowl flushing mechanism. To each collar is pivoted a forked end of a dual-forked hinge, and an opposite forked end of each hinge is pivoted to corresponding ends of a vertical bar overhanging the outlet valve of the tank. The bar is adapted to be carried up or down relative to the valve, accordingly as a connected weight floats with the level of water in the tank. In the use of the assembled unit, actuation of the flush handle raises the valve into abutment with the bar, and momentary release of the handle after actuation causes the weighted bar to float down with the level of escaping water to reseat the valve. A small amount of water empties from the tank with this action for a flush of liquid waste. The handle is held actuated to allow emptying of the tank for a flush of solid waste. Means is provided for automatically restraining the bar from reseating the valve until the tank is emptied for a flush of solid waste.
Inventors
- 👤 Angel Garcia Carmona
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:40
CPC Classifications
E; E03; E03D; E03D1/00; E03D1/02; E03D1/14; E03D1/142; E03D1/144; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A20/00; Y02A20/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A unit adapted to be mounted to the vertically standing overflow pipe of a toilet bowl flushing means, the flushing means having an outlet valve, the unit comprising: an upper collar adapted to be mounted about an upper end of the pipe, a lower collar adapted to be mounted about a lower end of the pipe, a vertical strip mounted at an upper end thereof to the upper collar and mounted at a lower end to the lower collar, a vertical bar disposed in spaced relation to the strip, a hinge having a forked rear end pivoted to the upper collar and having an opposite forked end pivoted to an upper end of the bar, a second hinge having a forked rear end pivoted to the lower collar and having an opposite forked end pivoted to a lower end of the bar, and the bar having a bottom end portion thereof depending below the forked connection of the lower hinge with the bar adapted in a mounted condition of the unit to overhang the outlet valve of the flushing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A unit adapted to be mounted to the vertically standing overflow pipe of a toilet bowl flushing means, the flushing means having an outlet valve, the unit comprising: an upper collar adapted to be mounted about an upper end of the pipe, a lower collar adapted to be mounted about a lower end of the pipe, a vertical strip mounted at an upper end thereof to the upper collar and mounted at a lower end to the lower collar, a vertical bar disposed in spaced relation to the strip, a hinge having a forked rear end pivoted to the upper collar and having an opposite forked end pivoted to an upper end of the bar, a second hinge having a forked rear end pivoted to the lower collar and having an opposite forked end pivoted to a lower end of the bar, and the bar having a bottom end portion thereof depending below the forked connection of the lower hinge with the bar adapted in a mounted condition of the unit to overhang the outlet valve of the flushing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
296 words
In a flush water tank having a vertically standing overflow pipe and an outlet to a toilet bowl, a flapper valve pivotable from a normal condition seated over the outlet to a raised condition allowing an outflow of water from the tank to the bowl, and a lever supported by a wall of the tank having a chain connection with the valve, the lever being manually pivotable from a normal unactuated condition to raise the valve from its seat, and the lever together with the valve being gravitationally returnable to normal condition following manual release of the lever, the improvement comprising: a unit mounted to the overflow pipe, the unit comprising an upper collar mounted about an upper end of the pipe, a lower collar mounted about a lower end of the pipe, a vertical strip mounted at one end to the upper collar and at the other end to the lower collar, a vertical bar, a hinge having a forked rear end pivoted to the upper collar and having a forked opposite end pivoted to an upper end of the bar, a second hinge having a forked rear end pivoted to the lower collar and having a forked opposite end pivoted to a lower end of the bar, the bar being disposed in overhanging relation to the valve, a weight mounted intermediately of the ends of the bar and being floatable with the bar up or down with the level obtained by water entering or leaving the tank, and the valve being manually pivotable by the lever and chain to an unseated condition in which it abuts a bottom end of the bar, and the bar being floatable down with the weight against the valve to reseat the valve as water empties from the tank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
296 words
In a flush water tank having a vertically standing overflow pipe and an outlet to a toilet bowl, a flapper valve pivotable from a normal condition seated over the outlet to a raised condition allowing an outflow of water from the tank to the bowl, and a lever supported by a wall of the tank having a chain connection with the valve, the lever being manually pivotable from a normal unactuated condition to raise the valve from its seat, and the lever together with the valve being gravitationally returnable to normal condition following manual release of the lever, the improvement comprising: a unit mounted to the overflow pipe, the unit comprising an upper collar mounted about an upper end of the pipe, a lower collar mounted about a lower end of the pipe, a vertical strip mounted at one end to the upper collar and at the other end to the lower collar, a vertical bar, a hinge having a forked rear end pivoted to the upper collar and having a forked opposite end pivoted to an upper end of the bar, a second hinge having a forked rear end pivoted to the lower collar and having a forked opposite end pivoted to a lower end of the bar, the bar being disposed in overhanging relation to the valve, a weight mounted intermediately of the ends of the bar and being floatable with the bar up or down with the level obtained by water entering or leaving the tank, and the valve being manually pivotable by the lever and chain to an unseated condition in which it abuts a bottom end of the bar, and the bar being floatable down with the weight against the valve to reseat the valve as water empties from the tank.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
In a flush water tank as in claim 2, wherein the weight is a container filled with water.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
In a flush water tank as in claim 2, wherein the collars are split and arms of the collars provided by the split are clamped about the overflow pipe.
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) | 2000-10-06 | 2001-04-07 | 2001-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-10-06 | 2005-04-07 | 2005-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-10-06 | 2009-04-07 | 2009-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |