US2788043A - Cover for toilet flush tank - Google Patents

Description

Ap 9, 1957 s. s. DoLNlcK covER FoR TOILET FLUSH TANK Filed Oct. 4, u1956 IN V EN TOR.

COVER FR TOHIET FLUSH TANK Seymour S. Dolnick, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Rhea Manufacturing Company, a corporation ot' Wisconsin Application October 4, 1956, Serial No. 613,848

2 Claims. (Cl. 1511-52) This invention relates to jackets or covers for toilet ush tanks or the like.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a new and improved jacket or cover of the character described.

Most indoor toilets constructed according to modern plumbing standards are provided with a ilush tank adapted to contain a supply of water by which the toilet may be liushed. As is well known, such flush tanks are usually provided with a water supply or inlet pipe projecting from the bottom of the tank through which fresh water is supplied to the tank, and are also provided with a discharge pipe projecting from the bottom of the tank through which the water is conducted to the toilet bowl adjacent thereto. Water ilowing to the flush tank through the supply pipe from underground lines or supplies is usually quite cool, or at least, substantially below the surrounding bathroom temperature with the result that the temperature of exposed walls of the tank 4tend to approach that of the incoming water. This gives rise to a very annoying problem, unless corrective measures are taken, in that moisture in the room air condenses on the cold, exposed wall surfaces of the ilush tank and drips onto the floor therebeneath, thereby creating a condition uusightly in appearance and injurious to some oor constructions.

A number of measures have been proposed either to prevent or remedy these undesirable conditions, the most etcient and desirable of which appears to be the provision of a jacket or cover for the exposed walls of the ilush tank which may serve both a decorative and a utilitarian purpose. Such jackets may be comprised of a porous water absorbent material such as turkish towelling or the like of a decorative design. Jackets of this nature function to absorb whatever condensate is formed during periods in which the toilet is in use, as the waking hours, and to permit free evaporation of condensate, particularly during periods of non-use such as the sleeping hours. A jacket of this type is disclosed in the Armstrong Patent No. 2,652,874.

Jackets of the character described have had certain disadvantages, however. For example, toilets of the vtype having Wall mounted ush tanks usually include a relatively small diameter discharge pipe projecting from the bottom of the tank and leading to the adjacent toilet bowl, while toilets of the type having free standing flush tanks include a relatively large diameter discharge pipe leading from the bottom of the tank to the toilet bowl or, at least the discharge pipe is surrounded by a relatively large diameter structure suiciently strong to support the tank from the bowl. Since jackets of the character described substantially cover the exposed bottom Wall of the tiush tank, a jacket having an opening of one size in the bottompanel is required to accommodate the discharge pipe projecting from the bottom of a wall mounted tank and a jacket having an opening of a larger size is required to accommodate the relatively largeV discharge pipe projecting from the bottom of a free standing tank.

nited States Patent 'i 2,788,043 Patented Apr. 9, 1957 rice This has required that the manufacturer must make and supply the jackets in at least two different styles. Similarly, the seller must purchase and stock the jackets in two different styles. Also, housewives who usually purchase such jackets, almost never know when purchasing such items what type of toilet they have, with the result that about half the time they purchase the wrong style of jacket only to become dissatisfied.

With the above and other considerations in mind, it is a more specic object of this invention to provide a new .and improved jacket of the character described which is adapted for use with either a wall mounted ilush tank or a free standing flush tank, thereby eliminating the requirement that the manufacturer make and supply jackets of two diderent styles, eliminating the necessity that the seller acquire and maintain inventories of two dierent styles, and eliminating the necessity of a decision on the part of a purchasing housewife subsequently dissatisfied.

Other objects and advantages will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l illustrates a jacket embodying the principles of the present invention in use with a flush tank of the wall mounted type;

Figure 2 illustrates a jacket embodying the principles of the present invention in use with a flush tank of the free standing type;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary rear view of the free standing ilush tank illustrated in Figure 2 having a jacket of the present invention mounted in place thereon;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the bottom of the tank and jacket illustrated in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view, looking downwardly into the rear of a jacket embodying the principles of the present invention; and

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, illustrating the jacket after it has been modified in a manner rendering it suitable for use with a free standing flush tank.

While an illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings and will be described in detail herein, the invention is susceptible of embodiment in many diierent forms, and it should be understood that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exempliiication of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to Figure l, I have illustrated a toilet having a ilush tank of the wall mounted type, including a bowl i@ constructed of suitable ceramic or metallic materials and supported on the floor il of a bathroom or other enclosure. Toilets of this type include a water closet or flush tank, generally designated l2, mounted on and supported entirely by the vertically disposed wall 13. A water supply or inlet pipe i4 projects from the bottom of the ilush tank i2 and is connected with a suitable source of fresh water for filling the ush tank l2. A discharge pipe 15 of a relatively small diameter also projects from the bottom of the flush tank i2 and is suitably connected with the bowl l@ to supply water from the tank l2 for ilushing the toilet. A handle lo is conventionally provided on the tlush tank l2 to facilitate liushing, yand the tank i2 usually is provided with a removable cover 17 which permits access to the interior of the tank.

Referring to Figure 2, l have illustrated a toilet having a ilush tank of the free standing type, including a bowl 20 which may be similar to the bowl lo, suitably supported on the floor 2l. Toilets of this type include a ilush tank 22 generally similar to the tank l2, mounted adjacent a vertically disposed wall 23 and provided with a Water 3 supply or inlet pipe 24 projecting from the bottom of the tank. The tank 22 is not mounted on the wall 23, but is supported by a discharge pipe 25, or suitable structure of ceramic or metallic materials surrounding the discharge pipe, projecting from the bottom of the ilush tank and suitably connected with the bowl 20 and` of sufficient strength to support the tank 22 from the bowl 20. The rear wall of the flush tank 22 may conveniently be disposed immediately `adjacent the wall 23, but the Principal support for the flush tank is derived from the discharge pipe 25 or suitable structure surrounding the discharge pipe, so that of necessity the discharge pipe or the surrounding structure must be of a relatively large diameter as compared to the discharge pipe l in Figure l in order to provide sufficient strength to support the tank. The tank 22 illustrated in Figure 2 may be provided with a handle 26 and a cover 27 similar to the handle and cover provided with the tank in Figure l.

While the flush tanks illustrated in Figures l land 2 differ in certain respects, namely, in the relative size of the respective discharge pipes and 25, they also are similar in many respects, namely, they are provided with similar water supplyl or inlet pipes 14 and 24 which may be similarly located, they are provided with similar handles 16 and 26 similarly located, they are provided with similar covers 17 and 27, and they both include exposed front, side, and bottom walls which are subject to condensation which gives rise to the problems alluded to above. ln the case of both ush tanks, the rear wall is mounted closely adjacent the vertically disposed wall of an enclosure and is thereby insulated to some extent so as to avoid condensation and, secondly, is not exposed to admit of corrective measures.

Referring now particularly to Figures 5 and 6, according to the present invention, I have provided a cover or jacket 30 adapted for use with flush tanks of either the wall mounted type or the free standing type. The jacket illustrated is of one piece construction and includes a front panel 3l, side panels 32 and 33, and a bottom panel 34. The panels 31--34 are desir-ably made of a porous water absorbent fabric such as chenille or turkish towelling and function to absorb condensation that forms during periods when the toilet is in use, and functions particularly during periods when the toilet is not in use to permit free evaporation of the condensate.

The front panel 31 is of a sufficient width to reach across the exposed front wall of the flush tank and is of a sutlcient length or height to reach from the bottom of the tank at least to the normal level of water in the tank. As illustrated, the front panel is of a sufficient length to extend entirely from the bottom to the top of the tank, and includes near one upper corner an aperture or slit 35 adapted to accommodate a handle on the tiush tank such as that illustrated at 16 or 26.

The side panels 32 and 33 are of a length or height similar to that of the front panel 31 and are of a Suthcient width to cover the exposed side walls of the ush tank. In order to aid in holding the jacket in place on the ilush tank, it may include attaching or securing means such as an elastic band 36 connected to the upper rear free corners of the side panels 32 and 33 and adapted to t over the upper edge of the rear wall of the ush tank.

The front and side panels ofthe jacket may conveniently consist of a single piece of material of suitable size.

The bottom panel is of a width and length suicient to cover the major portion of the exposed bottom wall of the tank and may be suitably joined at its side and front edges to the adjacent edges of the side and front panels by means of sewed seams illustrated at 37 and 38.

As best seen in Figures 5 and 6, the bottom panel 34 of the jacket is provided, adjacent the side panel 33 with an aperture 39 provided to accommodate a water inlet pipe, such as those illustrated in 14 and 24, projecting from the bottom of a ush tank. The aperture 39 extends rearwardly to the rear free edge of the bottom panel Gil 34 in order to permit installation of the jacket, and excess material is provided adjacent the mouth of the aperture in the form of overlapping flaps /ltl and 41 which include cooperating connectable and disconnectable fastening means 42 to permit closure of the mouth of the aperture about the inlet pipe to aid in holding the jacket in place on the flush tank.

The bottom panel 3d also includes a second aperture 45, centrally located lengthwise of the panel for accommodating a relatively small diameter discharge pipe such as that illustrated at 1S. rlhe aperture 45 also extends rearwardly to the rear free edge of the bottom panel 34, and excess material is provided adjacent the mouth of the aperture in the form of overlapping flaps 46 and 47 which also include cooperating connectable and disconnectable fastening means #i8 and 49 for closing the mouth of the aperture about the discharge pipe to aid in maintaining the jacket in place on the tank.

As explained hereinabove, considerable diiculty would be encountered in fitting the jacket as illustrated in Figure 5 on a tank of the free standing type, such as that illustrated in Figure 2, because the aperture is not of a suflicient size to accommodate enlarged discharge pipes or Ithe enlarged supporting structure surrounding discharge pipes projecting from tanks of the free standing types. Accordingly, the bottom panel 34 is provided with an enlarged area 5i. surrounding the relatively small diameter aperture 45 which may be cut out of the bottom panel by means -such as scissors conventionally found in the household. The enlarged area 51 which may be cut out of the bottom panel is defined by a line of stitching 52 and by the seam 3S so that after the material has been cut out 'the stitching and the seam serve to prevent unraveling of the material at the edges of the enlarged aperture. A guide to indicate the line along which the material should be cut may be provided in the form of a strand of :thread sewed on the bottom panel as illustrated at S3. After the enlarged area of material S1 is removed the bottom panel then contains an enlarged aperture 54, illustrated best in Figure 6, of `suficient size to accommodate a relatively large discharge pipe such as that illustrated at 25 in Figure 2.

The fastening means 48, previously referred to, is located outside the enlarged area 51, and the fastening means 49 is located within the area 51. Thus, regardless of whether the bottom panel of the jacket is fitted about a relatively small discharge pipe or about a relatively large discharge pipe the mouth of the aperture accommodating such pipe may be snugly closed to provide a secure t of the bottom panel.

l claim:

l. As an article of manufacture for use with a toilet flush tank of either the wall mounted type or the free standing type having exposed front, side and bottom walls, a jacket comprising a rectangular front panel of a width to reach across the front of a Hush tank and of a height to extend from the bottom of the tank to above the normal level of water in the tank, similar rectangular side panels joined to the opposite side edges of said front panel and having a height equal thereto but being narrower in width to correspond substantially to the width of the side walls of the flush tank, attaching means connected with the side panels and engageable with the flush Vtank for holding the jacket in place on the tank, a bottom panel joined to the lower edges of the front and side panels and of a size and shape to cover the major portion of the exposed bottom wall of the tank, said 4bottom panel having an aperture ltherein spaced from the rear free edge of the panel to accommodate a relatively small diameter discharge pipe projecting from the bottom of a wall mounted type tank, the portion of the :bottom panel extending rearwardly from the aperture to the rear free edge being disconnected so as to form a mouth for the aperture opening to the rear free edge of the panel, and cooperating fastening means on the bottom panel adjacent the disconnected edges of the mouth of the aperture, connectable to substantially close the mouth of the aperture around the discharge pipe to 4aid in holding the jacket on the tank, said bottom panel having a line of stitching defining an area surrounding said aperture adapted to be cut out of the panel to form an enlarged opening spaced from the rear free edge of the 1bottom panel adapted to accommodate a relatively large discharge pipe projecting from the bottom of a free standing type tank, at least one set `of cooperating connectable fastening means lon said bottom panel and located outside said surrounding area.

2. As an article of manufacture for use with a toilet .ush tank of either the wall mounted type or 4the free standing type having exposed front, side and bottom walls, a jacket comprising a rectangular front panel lof porous, water absorbent fabric of a width to reach across the front of a flush tank and of a height to extend from the bottom of the tank substantially to the top of the tank, an aperture in the front panel adjacent one upper corner for accommodating a handle on Athe tank for diushing the toilet, similar rectangular side panels of porous water absorbent fabric joined to the Iopposite side edges of said front panel and having a height equal `thereto but being narrower in width to correspond substanti-ally to the width of side walls of the iiush tank, attaching means connected with the side panels and engageable with the flush tank for holding lthe jacket in place on a ush tank, a bottom panel of porous water absorbent fabric joined to the lower edges of the front and side panel-s and of a size and shape to cover the major portion of the exposed bottom Wall of the tank, said bottom panel having a rst aperture therein adjacent one end opening to the rear free edge of the panel for accommodating an inlet pipe projecting from the bottom of a tlush tank, cooperating fastening means on the bottom panel at opposite sides of the aperture and near the rear free edge of the panel connectable to substantially close the mouth of the aperture around the inlet pipe to aid in holding the jacket in place on the tank, said bottom panel having a second aperture therein centrally located lengthwise of the panel and spaced from the rear free edge of the panel to accommodate a relatively small diameter discharge pipe projecting from the bottom of a wall mounted type tank, the portion of the bottom panel extending rearwardly from the second aperture to the rear free edge being disconnected so as to form a mouth for the aperture opening to the rear free edge of the panel, and cooperating fastening means on the bottom panel adjacent the disconnected edges of the mouth of the second aperture, connectable to substantially close the mouth of the aperture around the discharge pipe to aid in holding the jacket on the tank, said bottom panel having a line of stitching defining an `area surrounding said second aperture adapted to be cut out of the panel to form an enlarged opening spaced from the rear free edge of the panel adapted to accommodate a relatively large discharge pipe projecting from the bottom of a free standing type tank, said stitching functioning, after said surrounding area is cut out, to prevent unraveling of the fabric adjacent the aperture, at least one set of said last mentioned cooperating con nectable fastening mean-s being located in said bottom panel within said surrounding area and at least one set being located outside said surrounding area.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,652,874 Armstrong Sept. 22, 1953 2,652,875 -Puste Sept. 22, 1953 2,705,519 Kaiser .k...-. Apr. 5, 19.55

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