US3036313A

US3036313A - Water saving attachment for flush boxes

Info

Publication number: US3036313A
Application number: US106963A
Authority: US
Inventors: Mark H Jenkins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-05-01
Filing date: 1961-05-01
Publication date: 1962-05-29
Anticipated expiration: 1979-05-29

Description

y 29, 1962 M. H. JENKINS 3,036,313

WATER SAVING ATTACHMENT FOR FLUSH BOXES F'iied May 1, 1961 INVENTOR. \Zd Mark H. Jenkins TTORNE Y5.

United States This invention relates to a device for use witha conventional water closet for the purpose of controlling the water issuing from the latter whereby a substantial savatent O ing of water is obtained each time the water closet is actuated.

In conventional water closets, a predetermined quantity of water is utilized therein and substantially all of the water is utilized each time the water closet is actuated. Over a given interval of time a considerable amount of water is utilized, and in a number of situations it is unnecessary that all of the water be used to accomplish the flushing action of the water closet.

The present invention provides means for controlling the flow of water from the aforementioned water closet so that either a portion of the Water or substantially all of the water, may be utilized during the actuation of the water closet, thus providing a means for conserving water in a situation where all of the water is not required.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide means for controlling the flow of water outwardly from a water closet so that only a portion of the water in the water closet may be utilized when the situation demands the same to thereby effect a considerable saving in the water utilized in the actuation of the water closet.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a means for decreasing the floatability of the flush ball in a conventional water closet, whereby the water issuing from the latter may be controlled to thereby effect a saving in the amount of water used in the actuation of the water closet.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a member of a relatively high specific gravity which may be placed in engagement with the flush ball of a conventional water closet, whereby the member acts as a weight to cause the flush ball to return to the valve closing position thereof at a faster rate than that attained Without the use of the member.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a slot in the aforementioned member which is fitted over the shiftable rod operably coupled to the flush ball, whereby the member may be easily and quickly seated on the flush ball and thus be in condition for immediate use.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent as the following specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional, side elevational view of a water closet in conventional use, and illustrating the flush ball thereof with the device thereon which forms the subject of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, plan view of the device which forms the subject of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional, side elevational view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a retaining element which is adapted to be operably coupled with the shiftable rod secured to the flush ball of a conventional water closet so as to maintain the device of FIGS. 2 and 3 on said flush ball; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side elevational view taken along line 55 of FIG. 4.

The device which forms the subject of the present invention is broadly denoted by the numeral 10 and comprises a disc-like member 12 having a central opening 14 therein, and a radially extending slot 16 spanning the distance between opening 14 and the annular edge 18 of member 12. Member 12 is preferably of a material having a relatively high specific gravity such as cast iron or the like, and may be coated with a material rendering member 12 substantially impervious to the deleterious effects of moisture. An arcuarte web 20 surrounds opening 14 and is integral with one face 22 of member 12, web 20 being provided to add structural rigidity to member 12.

Opening 14 extends through both member 12 and web 20 to present a substantially frusto-conic-al bearing surface 24 as is clear in FIG. 3, the greatest diameter of opening 14 being at the lowermost face 26 of member 12.

Member 12 is adapted to be operably coupled to a flush ball 28 which is secured to a rod 30 at the upper.- most end thereof, it being noted that flush ball 28 is provided with a frusto conical outermost surface 32 which is found in conventional flush balls.

Flush ball 28 is adapted to control the flow of water from a conventional water closet 34 issuing through the open end of a conduit 36 when rod 30 is shifted upwardly by the actuation of a handle 38 operably coupled thereto. Supporting structure 49 within water closet 34, renders rod 30 vertically shifitable so as to shift flush ball 28 into and out of engagement with conduit 36.

Member 12 is installed over flush ball 28 by inserting rod 30 through slot 16 and into opening 14. Thereupon, member 12 is lowered to a position whereby the bearing surface 24 substantially complementally engages the outer surface 32 of flush ball 28. Thus, member 12 decreases the floatability of flush ball 28 by virtue of increasing the efieetive weight of flush ball 28.

A disc-like retaining element 42 illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, is provided with a central opening 44 therein, and a radially extending slot 46 spanning the distance between opening 44 and the marginal edge 48 of element 42. Element 42 is inserted over rod 30 after member 12 has been positioned as shown in FIG. 1, so as to limit the upward travel of member 12 relative to flush ball 28.

Element 42 is provided with a resilient material preferably of hard rubber. Element 42 thus firmly engages rod 30 by virtue of the resilience thereof and remains substantially at a fixed position. As shown in FIG. 1, element 42 is positioned directly above, and in engagement with the apex end of flush ball 28.

In operation, with member 12 disposed on flush ball 28 and element 42 on rod 30, water closet 34 may be actuated by the manipulation of handle 38 to thereby elevate flush ball 28 out of closing relationship to conduit 36. The water within water closet 34 then drains outwardly through conduit 36 so long as flush ball 28 is spaced from the latter.

If handle 38 is immediately released, flush ball 28 thereupon gravitates toward conduit 36 to close the latter in the usual manner. It is clear that only a limited volume of water within water closet 34 is permitted to pass out through conduit 36, since the floatability of flush ball 28 has now been reduced to make the same considerably less buoyant.

Should the user of water closet 34 desire an increased flow of water from water closet 34, handle 38 is manually held by the user so that flush ball 28 is prevented from gravitating toward conduit 36. A greater flow of water then passes through conduit 36 and the amount or volume of the water passing through conduit 36 is determined by the length of time which handle 38 is held by the user.

It is therefore clear that only a portion of the water in water closet 34, or substantially all of the water therein, may be utilized, depending upon the situation. It is further evident that member 12 disposed on flush ball 28, provides a means for saving of water flowing out of flush box 34 and in the interest of economy, this saving amounts to a considerable sum over a given interval of time.

To prevent the unseating of member 12 from flush ball 28, element 42 is provided thereabove to limit the upward travel of member 12 relative to flush ball 28 to aprede- Itermined distance, this distance being such that member 12 is substantially prevented from being removed from flush ball 28 by the swirling action of the 'water passing into conduit 36.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a water-saving device for a flush box having a flush ball suspended from a shiftable rod, a member formed of a material having a relatively high specific gravity and adapted to be operably coupled with said ball to decrease the fioa-tability tzhereof, said member having a central opening therein and a slot extending from said 'opening to one edge thereof, said opening and said slot adapted to receive said rod for positioning said member above said ball with a portion of the latter extending through said opening when the member engages said ball and is supported thereby.

2. In a Water-saving device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said member is provided with a beveled bearing surface adapted to complementally engage the external surface of the flush ball.

3. In a water-saving device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said member is provided with an arcuate web thereon surrounding said opening, the innermost surface of said Web being coextensive with said bearing surface.

4. In a Water saving device as set forth in claim 1, wherein is included means adapted to be positioned on said rod adjacent said flush ball for limiting the movement of said member with respect to said rod.

References'Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hoerig July 4, 19 50 Langdon Mar. 18, 1952