US20080163414A1 - Method and apparatus for reducing water consumption of a toilet - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for reducing water consumption of a toilet Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20080163414A1 US20080163414A1 US11/619,980 US61998007A US2008163414A1 US 20080163414 A1 US20080163414 A1 US 20080163414A1 US 61998007 A US61998007 A US 61998007A US 2008163414 A1 US2008163414 A1 US 2008163414A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- toilet tank
- standpipe
- toilet
- sidewalls
- escape opening
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
- E03D—WATER-CLOSETS OR URINALS WITH FLUSHING DEVICES; FLUSHING VALVES THEREFOR
- E03D1/00—Water flushing devices with cisterns ; Setting up a range of flushing devices or water-closets; Combinations of several flushing devices
- E03D1/02—High-level flushing systems
- E03D1/14—Cisterns discharging variable quantities of water also cisterns with bell siphons in combination with flushing valves
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a method and associated apparatus for reducing water consumption of a toilet.
- an apparatus for reducing water consumption of a toilet having a toilet tank with a vertical standpipe through which fluids enter the toilet tank and a fluid escape opening through which fluids escape from the toilet tank.
- the apparatus includes a rigid liner body adapted for insertion into the toilet tank to reduce the capacity of the toilet tank while improving flow dynamics.
- the liner body has a bottom and four sidewalls. At least two of the sidewalls converge inwardly toward the bottom.
- the bottom has a drain passageway adapted to overlie the fluid escape opening in the toilet tank.
- One the converging sidewalls has a standpipe passageway adapted to accommodate the standpipe of the toilet tank.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus for reducing water consumption of a toilet constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a side elevation view, in section, of the apparatus for reducing water consumption of a toilet constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, shown in an operative position within the toilet tank shown in FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 3 is a side elevation view, in section, of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 1 a toilet 100 is illustrated having a toilet tank 12 is shown.
- toilet tank 12 has a vertical standpipe 14 through which fluids enter toilet tank 12 , and a fluid escape opening 16 through which fluids escape from toilet tank 12 , when flapper valve 15 is raised by handle 17 .
- FIG. 2 shows a simplified toilet tank, and other components may be included, which are not shown.
- apparatus 10 includes a rigid liner body 18 adapted for insertion into toilet tank 12 to reduce the capacity of toilet tank 12 while improving flow dynamics.
- liner body 18 has a bottom 20 and four sidewalls 22 .
- Sidewalls 22 converge inwardly toward bottom 20 .
- the converging sidewalls improve flow dynamics by directing water to the outlet with increased pressure. It will be understood that not all sidewalls need converge, and this will depend on the design chosen.
- bottom 20 has a drain passageway 24 adapted to overlie fluid escape opening 16 in toilet tank 12 .
- Sidewall 22 on the left is shown as having a standpipe passageway 26 adapted to accommodate standpipe 14 of toilet tail 12 .
- Standpipe passageway 26 as depicted has a depending sleeve 28 that terminates on the same plane as bottom 20 .
- apparatus 10 is provided as described above.
- liner 18 is then inserted into toilet tank 12 , with drain passageway 24 axially aligned with fluid escape opening 16 and standpipe 14 extending up through standpipe passageway 26 and depending sleeve 28 .
- Converging sidewalls 22 are thus able to reduce the amount of water held by toilet tank 12 and also direct water toward fluid escape opening 16 when the toilet tank is flushed by levering handle 17 which raises flapper valve 15 .
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- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
- Sanitary Device For Flush Toilet (AREA)
Abstract
An apparatus for reducing water consumption of a toilet having a toilet tank with a vertical standpipe through which fluids enter the toilet tank and a fluid escape opening through which fluids escape from the toilet tank. The apparatus includes a rigid liner body adapted for insertion into the toilet tank to reduce the capacity of the toilet tank while improving flow dynamics. The liner body has a bottom and four sidewalls. At least two of the sidewalls converge inwardly toward the bottom. The bottom has a drain passageway adapted to overlie the fluid escape opening in the toilet tank. One the converging sidewalls has a standpipe passageway adapted to accommodate the standpipe of the toilet tank.
Description
- The present invention relates to a method and associated apparatus for reducing water consumption of a toilet.
- Current attempts to reduce water consumption of toilets have been directed either at new toilet tank configurations or at apparatus which force the early closure of the flapper valve. To date apparatus which force the early closure of the flapper valve have been preferred, as a less costly solution. Examples of water conserving toilet tank configurations include U.S. Pat. No. 5,363,513 (Blankenburg 1994) entitled Pressurized Flushing Toilet and U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,164 (LaFontaine 2001) entitled Toilet Tank Assembly. The Blankenburg reference discloses a toilet configuration with an interior water chamber with a funnel shaped bottom that directs water toward a fluid escape opening. The LaFontaine reference discloses a toilet configuration with a tapered lower surface to direct water toward a fluid escape opening.
- According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for reducing water consumption of a toilet having a toilet tank with a vertical standpipe through which fluids enter the toilet tank and a fluid escape opening through which fluids escape from the toilet tank. The apparatus includes a rigid liner body adapted for insertion into the toilet tank to reduce the capacity of the toilet tank while improving flow dynamics. The liner body has a bottom and four sidewalls. At least two of the sidewalls converge inwardly toward the bottom. The bottom has a drain passageway adapted to overlie the fluid escape opening in the toilet tank. One the converging sidewalls has a standpipe passageway adapted to accommodate the standpipe of the toilet tank. Using this apparatus in accordance with the teachings of the method that will hereinafter be described permits one to inexpensively convert a standard toilet tank to a water conserving configuration.
- These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to in any way limit the scope of the invention to the particular embodiment or embodiments shown, wherein:
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus for reducing water consumption of a toilet constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. -
FIG. 2 is a side elevation view, in section, of the apparatus for reducing water consumption of a toilet constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, shown in an operative position within the toilet tank shown inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3 is a side elevation view, in section, of the apparatus shown inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown inFIG. 1 . - The preferred embodiment, an apparatus for reducing water consumption of a toilet generally identified by
reference numeral 10, will now be described with reference toFIG. 1 throughFIG. 4 . - Referring to
FIG. 1 , atoilet 100 is illustrated having atoilet tank 12 is shown. Referring toFIG. 2 ,toilet tank 12 has avertical standpipe 14 through which fluids entertoilet tank 12, and a fluid escape opening 16 through which fluids escape fromtoilet tank 12, whenflapper valve 15 is raised byhandle 17. It will be understood thatFIG. 2 shows a simplified toilet tank, and other components may be included, which are not shown. - Structure:
- Referring to
FIG. 2 ,apparatus 10 includes arigid liner body 18 adapted for insertion intotoilet tank 12 to reduce the capacity oftoilet tank 12 while improving flow dynamics. Referring toFIGS. 3 and 4 ,liner body 18 has abottom 20 and foursidewalls 22.Sidewalls 22 converge inwardly towardbottom 20. The converging sidewalls improve flow dynamics by directing water to the outlet with increased pressure. It will be understood that not all sidewalls need converge, and this will depend on the design chosen. Referring toFIG. 2 ,bottom 20 has adrain passageway 24 adapted to overliefluid escape opening 16 intoilet tank 12.Sidewall 22 on the left is shown as having astandpipe passageway 26 adapted to accommodatestandpipe 14 oftoilet tail 12.Standpipe passageway 26 as depicted has a dependingsleeve 28 that terminates on the same plane asbottom 20. - Operation:
- Referring to
FIG. 3 andFIG. 4 ,apparatus 10 is provided as described above. Referring toFIG. 2 ,liner 18 is then inserted intotoilet tank 12, withdrain passageway 24 axially aligned withfluid escape opening 16 andstandpipe 14 extending up throughstandpipe passageway 26 and dependingsleeve 28. Convergingsidewalls 22 are thus able to reduce the amount of water held bytoilet tank 12 and also direct water toward fluid escape opening 16 when the toilet tank is flushed by leveringhandle 17 which raisesflapper valve 15. - In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the words are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the infinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the elements is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.
- It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by claims.
Claims (3)
1. Method for reducing water consumption in a toilet having a toilet tank with a vertical standpipe through which fluids enter the toilet tank and a fluid escape opening through which fluids escape from the toilet tank, comprising the steps of:
providing a toilet tank liner adapted to fit within the toilet tank, the liner having rigid body with a bottom and four sidewalls, at least two of the sidewalls converging inwardly toward the bottom, the bottom having a drain passageway adapted to overlie the fluid escape opening in the toilet tank, at least one of the sidewalls having a standpipe passageway adapted to accommodate the standpipe of the toilet tank;
inserting the liner into the toilet tank with the drain passageway axially aligned with the fluid escape opening and the standpipe extending up through the standpipe passageway, such that the converging of the at least two of the sidewalls reduces the amount of water held by the toilet tank and directs water toward the fluid escape opening when the toilet tank is flushed.
2. An apparatus for reducing water consumption of a toilet having a toilet tank with a vertical standpipe through which fluids enter the toilet tank and a fluid escape opening through which fluids escape from the toilet tank, comprising:
a rigid liner body adapted for insertion into the toilet tank to reduce the capacity of the toilet tank while improving flow dynamics, the liner body having a bottom and four sidewalls, at least two of the sidewalls converging inwardly toward the bottom, the bottom having a drain passageway adapted to overlie the fluid escape opening in the toilet tank, one of the at least two converging sidewalls having a standpipe passageway adapted to accommodate the standpipe of the toilet tank.
3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the standpipe passageway has a depending sleeve that terminates on the same plane as the bottom.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/619,980 US20080163414A1 (en) | 2007-01-04 | 2007-01-04 | Method and apparatus for reducing water consumption of a toilet |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/619,980 US20080163414A1 (en) | 2007-01-04 | 2007-01-04 | Method and apparatus for reducing water consumption of a toilet |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20080163414A1 true US20080163414A1 (en) | 2008-07-10 |
Family
ID=39592988
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/619,980 Abandoned US20080163414A1 (en) | 2007-01-04 | 2007-01-04 | Method and apparatus for reducing water consumption of a toilet |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20080163414A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20110167551A1 (en) * | 2010-01-11 | 2011-07-14 | Garza Lagueera Garza Marcelo Gerardo | Anti-sedimentation tank for water closet |
US20110174825A1 (en) * | 2010-01-20 | 2011-07-21 | Griffin Martin W | Liquid storage system |
US9462913B1 (en) | 2010-01-20 | 2016-10-11 | Griffin Industries LLC | Liquid storage system |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2123782A (en) * | 1936-05-29 | 1938-07-12 | Kelly Carlos Alberto Fiorda | Discharge cistern for water closets and the like |
US3467967A (en) * | 1966-10-17 | 1969-09-23 | Emil G Steinmann | Stop drip |
US3860972A (en) * | 1973-07-09 | 1975-01-21 | Albert D Costello | Toilet flushing assembly |
US5363513A (en) * | 1993-09-22 | 1994-11-15 | Karl Blankenburg | Pressurized flushing toilet |
US6237164B1 (en) * | 1999-07-26 | 2001-05-29 | Lafontaine Joseph A. | Toilet tank assembly |
-
2007
- 2007-01-04 US US11/619,980 patent/US20080163414A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2123782A (en) * | 1936-05-29 | 1938-07-12 | Kelly Carlos Alberto Fiorda | Discharge cistern for water closets and the like |
US3467967A (en) * | 1966-10-17 | 1969-09-23 | Emil G Steinmann | Stop drip |
US3860972A (en) * | 1973-07-09 | 1975-01-21 | Albert D Costello | Toilet flushing assembly |
US5363513A (en) * | 1993-09-22 | 1994-11-15 | Karl Blankenburg | Pressurized flushing toilet |
US6237164B1 (en) * | 1999-07-26 | 2001-05-29 | Lafontaine Joseph A. | Toilet tank assembly |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20110167551A1 (en) * | 2010-01-11 | 2011-07-14 | Garza Lagueera Garza Marcelo Gerardo | Anti-sedimentation tank for water closet |
US20110174825A1 (en) * | 2010-01-20 | 2011-07-21 | Griffin Martin W | Liquid storage system |
US8596489B2 (en) * | 2010-01-20 | 2013-12-03 | Martin W. Griffin | Liquid storage system |
US9462913B1 (en) | 2010-01-20 | 2016-10-11 | Griffin Industries LLC | Liquid storage system |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |