IES83833Y1 - Water saving device for a flushing cistern - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT A water saving device for use in toilet cisterns having siphon-discharge flushing mechanisms comprises a generally inverted U—shaped bracket having an inner and outer lever adapted to sit on a side Wall of a cistern. An actuating rod extends from the inner lever into the cistern and a plunger depends from the actuating rod into an aperture in the siphon chamber. The plunger has a tapered head adapted to seal the aperture and is moveable from engagement with the aperture by moving the outer lever of the bracket.

Description

WATER SAVING DEVICE FOR A FLUSHING CISTERN The present invention relates to a water saving device for use in toilet cisterns More particularly, the invention relates to a water saving device for use in toilet cisterns having siphon-discharge flushing mechanisms.

Toilets with siphon-discharge flushing mechanisms include a siphon chamber within the toilet cistern which draws water from the contents of the cistern and discharges it through an opening in the toilet bowl. A typical siphon chamber comprises a downwardly open chamber and a duct in the form of a U-shaped pipe extending upwardly over the chamber and subsequently downwards along the side of the chamber and into the toilet bowl. A piston located within the chamber and substantially covering the downward opening of the chamber is vertically displaceable by means of a manually operated actuating rod extending up through the top of the chamber. Initially, before flushing, the piston is resting at the downward opening of the chamber. When the toilet is flushed, the piston moves upwards within the chamber forcing the water above it to flow out through the U-shaped pipe. Water continues to flow by siphoning action until the water level within the cistern falls below that of the downward opening of the chamber. At this point, an air gap between the water and the chamber interrupts siphonage.

The main disadvantage of toilets using such flushing mechanisms is that once the toilet is flushed, there is no way to stop the flushing cycle. This can result in a large waste of water, as in many cases, the amount of water required is much less than that used in a full flush.

Water saving devices for use in toilets of the type described are well known in the art and operate on the principle of interrupting the siphon action at an earlier stage. One such known device consists of a simple hole located at some point on the siphon chamber away from the downward opening of the chamber. A stopper is inserted in the hole opening, and by removing the stopper during the flush cycle the air drawn into the chamber interrupts the siphon action. This device has the disadvantage, however, that the cistern cover has to be removed to access the stopper and activate the device. Such a requirement is cumbersome and time—consuming.

Another known device includes use of a valve to switch between a large flush and a small flush. GB 23 79942A discloses a siphon device where a valve is mounted on the side of the U-shaped pipe leading from the downwardly open chamber. The valve has a valve body which is connected via a resilient member to an actuating rod which the user controls. With the actuating rod in its top position, the valve body covers the valve aperture leading to the cistern chamber and a full flush occurs. If a partial flush is required, the user releases the actuating rod which causes the valve body to fall down and expose the valve aperture leading to the cistern chamber. Thus, when the water level in the cistern falls below that of the exposed valve aperture, air is sucked into the U-shaped pipe interrupting the siphon action and the flush. The primary disadvantage of this device is that if a full flush is required, the user must hold the actuating rod in its top position for the duration of the flush. Another disadvantage is that the volume of the partial flush is determined by the height on the U-shaped pipe at which the valve is positioned. In many cases the volume required for different flushes varies, and a partial flush using this device may still provide too much or too little water.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to alleviate the disadvantages of known devices by providing an improved water saving device for use in toilet cisterns having siphon-discharge flushing mechanisms. The improved device is simple in design, easy to use and ideal for fitting to existing cisterns.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a water saving device for use in toilet cisterns having siphon-discharge flushing mechanisms, the device comprising a generally inverted U-shaped bracket having an inner and outer lever adapted to sit on a side wall of a cistern, an actuating rod extending from the inner lever into the cistern and a plunger depending from the actuating rod into an aperture in the siphon chamber, the plunger having a tapered head adapted to seal the aperture, the plunger being moveable from engagement with the aperture by movement of the outer lever of the bracket.

Ideally the plunger comprises an elongate body depending below the tapered head and an annular or loop-shaped member fixed above the head for slideably connecting the plunger to the actuating rod.

In a preferred arrangement, the aperture in the siphon chamber is located at the bend in the U-shaped pipe of the chamber, the plunger body projecting downwards into the U-shaped pipe and having a diameter less than that of the aperture.

Conveniently, the bracket is located intermediate the top of the side wall of the cistern and the cistern lid ; the outer lever acting as a handle for activating the device from outside the cistern.

Spacers may be provided on the side wall of the cistern on either side of the bracket to raise the cistern lid slightly and provide limited movement of the handle when activating the device. Where spacers are provided they may also prevent movement of the bracket along the cistern wall.

An anti-drift rod may be inserted in the cistern to prevent movement of the device within the cistern.

The bracket, actuating rod and the plunger may all be manufactured from stainless steel.

The bracket and actuating rod may be bent into shape by hand to fit in cisterns of different dimensions.

Thus, the present invention provides a water saving device for use in toilet cisterns having siphon—discharge flushing mechanisms. An aperture in the siphon chamber may be provided for example by a drilled hole in the siphon chamber. In normal use, the tapered head of the plunger rests on the siphon chamber and forms an airtight seal with the aperture. This results in the cistern operating as normal and a full flush occurring when the toilet is flushed. A flushing cycle may be interrupted and water saved by depressing the handle of the device at any stage during the flushing cycle. This raises the actuating rod and in turn raises the plunger head from the aperture. The whole plunger is prevented from dislodging from the aperture due to the length of the plunger body extending into the U- shaped pipe and the proximity of the actuating rod to the cistern lid which restricts movement of the rod. Air rushes through the aperture and into the U-shaped pipe interrupting the siphon action of the flush.

Conveniently, the handle is released immediately after depressing. There is no need to keep the handle depressed in order for the device to operate. The weight of the plunger body ensures the plunger returns to its original position.

The toilet may be reflushed immediately after a flush cycle is interrupted using the device.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show by way of example only, one embodiment of a water saving device according to the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side View of a water saving device for use in siphon flushing toilet cisterns; Figure 2 is a plan view of the water saving device of Figure l; and Figure 3a and 3b are side Views of a plunger having a loop shaped and annular shaped connecting member respectively.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1, there is shown a water saving device for use in siphon flushing toilet cisterns. The device 1 has a generally inverted U-shaped bracket 2 with an inner lever 3 and an outer lever 4. The bracket 2 sits on the side wall 5 of a toilet cistern (not shown). An actuating rod 6 is attached to the inner lever 3 and extends horizontally into the toilet cistern and over a siphon chamber 7 contained within the cistern. A plunger 8 is slideably connected to the actuating rod 6 and depends freely in a downward direction.

The plunger 8 passes through a tapered drill hole (not shown) in the siphon chamber and extends downwards into the U-shaped pipe 9 of the chamber. The plunger 8 has a tapered head 10 which abuts the drill hole and forms an airtight seal with the siphon chamber.

Referring now to Figures 3a and 3b, the plunger 8 is shown having a tapered head 10, a body 11 and a connecting member 12. The connecting member 12 slideably connects the plunger 8 to the actuating rod 6 and may be loop shaped (Figure 3a) or annular shaped (Figure 3b).

In Figure 2, spacers 13 are shown located on the side wall 5 on either side of the bracket 2.

The spacers 13 raise the cistern lid (not shown) slightly and permit the necessary movement of the inner and outer levers 3 and 4 to activate the device.

The device will now be described in use. When the toilet is flushed, the resulting siphon action in the chamber 7 causes the contents of the toilet cistern to flow out through the U-shaped pipe 9. If the user observes that sufficient water has flushed, they depress the outer lever 4 of the device once and release it. This causes the inner lever 3 to move in an upward direction lifting the actuating rod 6 and in turn the plunger 8. The tapered head 10 of the plunger 8 dislodges from the drill hole and air is sucked into the U-shaped pipe 9.

The body 11 of the plunger is long enough to ensure it remains projecting through the drill hole when the plunger lifts, however as the diameter of the body 11 is less than that of the drill hole, air is drawn in around it. Air drawn into the U-shaped pipe 9 interrupts siphonage and immediately stops the flush cycle, conserving any unflushed water at that stage. The plunger 8 returns to its original position before the device was actuated under the weight of the body 11.

It will of course be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific details herein described which are given by way of example only, and that various alternations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (5)

CLAIMS:

1. A device for saving water in a toilet cistern of the type having a siphon-discharge flushing mechanism with a siphon chamber, the device comprising a bracket adapted to sit on a wall of a cistern, the bracket having an inner lever disposed internally of the cistern in use and an outer lever disposed externally of the cistern in use, the inner lever being operably engagable with a plunger which extends downwardly into the siphon chamber via an aperture defined therein in use, the plunger being adapted to seal the aperture in a normal rest position and the plunger being moveable from the sealing position by movement of the outer lever of the bracket to break the siphon action of the flushing mechanism during flushing whilst retaining at least a portion of the plunger within the siphon chamber.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the plunger comprises an elongate body depending from a tapered head and an annular or loop-shaped member extending from the head for slideably connecting the plunger to an actuating rod of the inner lever, the plunger body having a diameter less than that of the aperture; optionally, the aperture in the siphon chamber being located at a bend in a U-shaped pipe of the siphon.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the bracket is U-shaped and is located intermediate the top of a side wall of the cistern and the cistern lid, the outer lever acting as a handle for activating the plunger from outside the cistern.

4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which spacers are provided on the wall of the cistern on either side of the bracket to raise the cistern lid slightly and provide limited movement of the bracket when activating the device, the spacers also preventing movement of the bracket along the cistern wall.

5. A device for saving water in a toilet cistern of the type having a siphon—discharge flushing mechanism with a siphon chamber, substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings. MACLACHLAN & DONALDSON Applicant’s Agents