US2921319A

US2921319A - Drip tray for toilet tank

Info

Publication number: US2921319A
Application number: US676596A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stanley E Kivela
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-08-06
Filing date: 1957-08-06
Publication date: 1960-01-19
Anticipated expiration: 1977-01-19

Description

Jan. 19, 1960 s, KNELA 2,921,319

DRIP TRAY FOR TOILET TANK Filed Aug. 6, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig- 7 STan/ey E. Kive/a INVENTOR.

Jan. 19, 1960 s. E. KIVELA DRIP TRAY FOR TOILET TANK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 6, 1957 INVEN TOR Stanley E. K Ive/a States Patent Ofiice 2,921,319 Patented Jan. 19, 1960 DRIP TRAY FOR TOILET TANK Stanley E. Kivela, Fond du Lac, Wis.

Application August 6, 1957, Serial No. 676,596

9 Claims. (Cl. 4-10) This invention relates to a drip tray for a water closet tank and more particularly to a tray which collects the liquid condensate from a water closet tank and returns it to the overflow tube of the toilet or flush tank mechamsm.

Water condenses on the exterior of water closet tanks and causes an appreciable problem in that the condensate drips on the floor. An object of this invention is to provide a tray for the collection of such condensate and to have means connected with the tray that operate antomatically for the emptying of the tray. This automatic operation takes place each time that the toilet flush mechanism is operated, at which the refill water, either passing through the refill tube or passing through the supply pipe into the toilet tank, provides the motive force for drawing the condensate from the tray into the toilet flush tank.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment for a toilet flush tank which has a tray conforming generally to the shape of the toilet and flush tank,

and which has a novel configuration providing a sump for the collection of water that is subsequently discharged into the flush tank, and having a handy and easily operated structure for clamping the tray onto the toilet flush tank.

Other objects and features of importance such as mechanical simplicity and commercial practicability of the invention, will become apparent in following the description of the illustrated form of the invention.

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a standard toilet and flush tank, the flush tank provided with an attachment constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the tray in addition to a part of the clamping means to hold the tray mounted beneath the flush tank of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a part of the flush mechanism in the flush tank and showing the aspirator for drawing liquid condensate from the tray of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of an aspirator used in connection with and constituting a part of the invention;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the clamps of the invention;

Figure 8 is another clamp;

Figure 9 is an additional clamp;

Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of another aspirator which can be used in place of the aspirator of Figure 6, Figure 10 and Figure 6 illustrating that various changes may be made in the structure without departing from the principles of the invention; and

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view of a modification of the clamp in Figure 9.

In the accompanying drawings there is an ordinary toilet bowl 10 and flush tank 12. These are operatively connected in the usual manner and represent either the unit closet where the toilet has the tank mounted on the bowl or the separate bowl and tank assembly. Flush mechanism 14 is in the flush tank and among the other structures of mechanism 14 are water supply pipe 16, tank supply pipe 18 which extends from the valve of mechanism 14, and the bowl refill water supply pipe 20 directed into the overflow tube 22. Pipe 16 is the water inflow conductor for the valve, while

pipes

18 and 20 are water outflow conductors for the same'valve. The

normal operation of the flush mechanism 14 is unaltered by the presence of the invention.

Tray- 24 is shown as a one-piece plastic construction, although other materials of construction may be adopted.

For example, enameled aluminum, stainless steel or chrome plated metal would make an excellent choice of materials for hospital use. Tray 24 has a bottom 26 formed with upwardly opening channels 28 leading to and tapering downward toward sump 30 that is formed by a pocket 32 in the rear center part of the tray 24. An upstanding side wall 34 extends completely around the edge of the bottom 26 and is used for retaining certain clamps and brackets enabling a quick attachment and disconnection of the tray to the flush tank .12.

There are various models of toilet bowls and tanks and therefore, the shape and size of tray 24 will vary to conform to the various sizes and styles as well as manufacturers make of plumbing fixture. Or, the tray may be made of an average composite shape to fit all popular 'fixtures. In the illustrated form of the invention there is a forwardly opening recess'38 at the front center of the tray to accommodate the rear protrusion of toilet .bowl 10. The recessed part of the tray may have a special brace (not shown) beneath it and resting on the fixture,

but this is an optional feature. There is a rearwardly opening recess 40 constructed like the recess 38 but of a different size and in order to accommodate the water supply pipe 42 that depends from the bottom of the particular make of fiush tank 12 that isshown in the drawing. Each recess is formed by having a part of the side Wall 34 shaped to form it.

Tray 24 is held in place on theflush by two

clamps

44 and 46, each identical inv construction (Figure 7 or 11). The clamp 44 is made of an elongate flat strip that has a downwardly opening hook 48 at its upper end to engage over the upper edge of the tank 12 beneath its cover 13. An angular offset 50 is formed near the lower end of the elongated strip 47 of clamp 44 and cooperates with the lateral leg 52 that is atapproximate right angles to the elongate strip 47 in order to form a seat within which the tray 24 is accommodated. The offset 50 forms. a spring latch for the rearpart of the side Wall of tray 24,

and it also carries condensate down the strip into the tray..

For greater strength, loop 51 (Figure 11) may be formed at the junction of strip 47 and leg 52. The front part of the tray is gripped by the downwardly opening hook I 54 on the short upstanding leg 58 at the outer extremity of leg 52. Leg 52 is arranged to extend transversely beneath the bottom 26 of the tray (Figure 2) and the;

clamp 46 engages'the tray in an identical manner but near the opposite end of the tray. v

Clamp 60 (Figure 8) consists of a flat strip with two U-shaped

reverse bends

61 and 62 forming a down- I wardly opening pocket withinwhich the side wall 34' fitted (Figure 2). The upstanding part of the clamp. 60 contacts a small area of the front surface of flush tank 12,

and helps to keep the flush tank fastened firmly in place, and centered.

Clamp 66 is made very similar to clamp 60 involving two

reverse bends

67 and 68. The downwardly open-- ing pocket formed by reverse bend 68 is fitted over the back center part of the side wall 34, while the opposite end of the clamp 66 protrudes laterally as a flat car 70 in which there is a hole 71. Flexible tubing 72 extends through the hole 71 and is attached to an opening at the bottom of sump 32 to conduct water from the sump and into the flush tank 12 Therefore the tube 72 extends into the Hush tank and for this purpose there may be a notch 74 formed in the upper edge of the tank and below its cover 13. The end of tube 72 is operatively connected with an aspirator 76 or an aspirator 78, either beingoperable to serve the intended function of drawing a vacuum in tube 72 which will withdraw all the water from sump 30 and elevate it for deposit into. the flush tank 12. Aspirator 76 is made of a body 79. The body has a venturi 80 within which the short length of tubing 81 proceeds. The nozzle 82 at the end of tubing 81 faces the direction, of travel of, Water through venturi 80, and the opposite end of the tubing 81 provides a part of a coupling by which to. connect the tubing 72 'As' shown in Figure 5 aspirator 76 is interposed in the line 20 extending from the valve and. discharging into the tube 22. Therefore the ends of; the body 79 are shaped to receive and hold the spaced confronting ends of the parts of the line 20. It is to be understood that the aspirator need not be in line 20 but maybe in line, 18 or some other water conducting line.

Reference to Figure shows that aspirator 78. is constructed somewhat in the same manner as the. aspirator of Figure 6. However, body 88 of aspirator. 78 is formed with a more sophisticated venturi 90,, which is more effective. Here too, the aspirator may be interposed in line or some other water conductor.

In operation, every time that the flush tank mechanism is operated, there is a corresponding operation of the means for withdrawing water from the tray 24. This is accomplishedby the water rushing through the venturi 80 or the venturi 90 and drawing a vacuum throughtube 721 which is connected as described, namely, to the sump 3 Tray 26 is constructed in a manner to be reasonably unobtrusive when applied to a toilet flush tank but yet, in a manner that it is capable of collecting all of the moisture which drips fromthe flush tank 12, particularly in, the summer months. After collecting, the moisture will flow toward thelower area of the tray 24, namely sump 30.

It is understood that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the scope of the following claims.

What isclaimed as new is as follows:

1. An attachment for the flush tank of a toilet assembly having a water inflow valve, an inflow water conductor connected. to the valve, and an outflow conductor connected to the valve, said attachment comprising a tray located beneath said flush tank and extending at least to the outer lower edges of the tank, clamps attached to said tray and having means by which to hook over the upper edge of the flush tank, said tray having a sump within which to accumulate liquid condensate that drips from the toilet flush tank, a tube connected at one end to said sump, an aspirator operatively connected with said outflow conductor and operated by the water passing through the outflow conductor, said aspirator having a venturi, and means connecting the opposite end of said tube with said venturi todraw a vacuum in said tube and sump from said venturi.

2. The attachment of claim 1 wherein said tray has a bottom, a pocket in said bottom and constituting said sump, a side wall. extending around and rising upwardly fromthe outer edges; of said bottom of said tray bottom, said clamps. including strips, legs. protruding from said strips at approximately right angles to the strips and underlying the tray bottom, and means at the ends of tray a'fixed position.

3. The attachment of claim 2 wherein there are additional clamps on the side wall of said tray and contacting a surface of the tank to further hold the tray steady in a fixed position beneath the tank.

4. In a toilet flush tank which is subject to accumulation of water condensate and which has water inflow means connected therewith, said inflow means including a valve and an outflow conductor connected with the valve, a condensate collection attachment comprising a tray having a bottom and a wall along the edge thereof, a sump in said bottom, a tube connected to said sump to withdraw liquid from said sump, and means connected with said outflow conductor and responsive to the passing of water therethrough for applying a suction to said tube and thereby withdrawing liquid from said sump.

5. In a toilet flush tank which is subject to accumulation of water condensate and which has a water inflow valve connected therewith together with a water outflow conductor attached to the valve, a condensate collection attachment comprising a tray which has a bottom and a wall along the outer edges thereof, a sump in said bottom, a tube, connected to said sump to withdraw liquid from said sump, means operatively connected with said outflow conductor and responsive to the passing of water therethrough for applying suction to said tube and thereby withdrawing liquid from said sump, said suction applying means including an aspirator which is operatively connected with said outflow conductor, and means for holding the tray beneath the flush tank.

6. The attachment of claim 5 wherein said means for holding the tray beneath the flush tank include at least one clamp attached to said tray, and said tray having a recess therein by which to accommodate and conform to a part of the flush tank assembly.

7. A new article of manufacture comprising an attachment for a flush tank to collect condensate which drips from the tank and wherein the tank has a water inflow pipe, a valve connected with the water inflow pipe, and a valve outflow pipe connected with the valve, said attachment including a tray having a bottom and a side wall rising upwardly from, said bottom, a sump in said tray and within which to accumulate liquid condensate from the tank and which falls into saidtray, a tube extending from said sump and communicating with the interior of said sump, means responsive to the flowing of water through said valve outflow pipe for withdrawing the liquid from the sump to said tube, and clamp means attached to said tray and adapted to connect with said tank for holding said tray in position beneath the tank.

8. A new article of manufacture comprising an attachment for a flush tank to collect condensate which drips from the tank and wherein. the tank has a water inflow pipe, a valve connected with thewater inflow pipe, and a valve outflow pipe connected: withthe valve, said attachment including a tray having a bottom. and a side wall rising upwardly from said bottom, a sump in said tray and within which to accumulate liquid condensate from the tank and which falls into said tray, a tube extending from said sump and communicating with the interior of said sump, means responsive to the flowing of water through said valve outflow pipe for withdrawing the liquid from the sump to said tube, clamp meansattached to said tray and adapted to connect with said tank for holding said tray in position beneath thetank, said clamp means including a plurality of clamps, a first of said: clamps attached to the upper edge of the tank and fitting in part beneath the tray, and a second of'said clamps attached to said tray and operatively connected with another part of the flush tank.

9. In combination; a water inflow valve having a valve outflow pipe, a toilet flush tank serviced by said pipe, a drip tray having an opening in the bottom thereof and a condensate water conductor attached in registry with said opening, means mounting said tray beneath said tank to collect the moisture condensate which accumulates on and drops from the exterior of said tank, an aspirator connected with said valve outflow pipe on the downstream side of said valve and connected with said conductor for drawing a vacuum in said conductor in response to the flow of water through said valve outflow pipe and thereby Withdrawing the accumulated liquid from said tray.

References fitted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 818,940 Davis Apr. 24, 1906 6 Bailey Nov. 23, 1909 Glauber Dec. 27, 1927 Forrest May 19, 1931 Curtis Oct. 31, 1933 Bautz Aug. 13, 1940 Bodan Sept. 14, 1948 Peterson July 31, 1951 Rubner Nov. 13, 1951 Matthews July 14, 1953