US3308481A

US3308481A - Toilet construction

Info

Publication number: US3308481A
Application number: US393686A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert F O'brien; Kenneth A Milette
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-09-01
Filing date: 1964-09-01
Publication date: 1967-03-14
Anticipated expiration: 1984-03-14

Description

l March 14, 1967 R. F. o'BRn-:N ETAL 3,308,481

TOILET CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. l. 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Milan/yf TOILET CONSTRUCTION 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed sept. 1, 1964 March 14, 1967 R. F. OBRIEN ETAL 3,308,481

TOILET CONSTRUCTION 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. l, 1964 March 14, 1967 RV F. oBRu-:N ETAL 3,308,481

TOILET CONSTRUCTION Filed sept. 1, 1964 s sheets-sheet 4 March 14, 1967 R. F. oBRn-:N ETAL TOILET CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. l, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 14, 1967 R. F. oBRn-:N ETAL 3,308,481

` TOILET CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. `l, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 United States Patent O 3,308,481 TOILET CONSTRUCTION Robert F. OBrien, 1802 Sunview Drive, Orange, Calif.

92667, and Kenneth A. Milette, 16103 Lear Court, Valinda, Calif. 91744 Filed Sept. 1, 1964, Ser. No. 393,686 20 Claims. (Cl. 4-79) This invention relates to fiush type toilets and is particularly directed to the problem of minimizing the amount of water required for the operation of such toilets.

The invention is broadly applicable for its purpose whether or not a water shortage exists, but has special utility where conservation of the available water is of utmost importance. Thus the invention has special advantages for mobile installations in house trailers, campers and the like, and for permanent stationary installations in communities where water is scarce.

A conventional flush toilet uses a fixed quantity of water 4for each flushing operation and the fixed quantity must be liberazl because it must Ibe effective for heavy flushing loads as well as for light flushing loads. When a serious water shortage is confronted that prohibits the use of so much water for all fiushing loads, however, the usual tlushing operation is prohibitive an-d the ushing mechanism is bypassed by cutting off water to the toilet and simply introducing water into the bowl as needed from an out-side source.

One common expedient for this purpose is to use a hose with a shower head thereon, the hose being connected to a faucet for the purpose of flushing the bowl with a minimum quantity of water from the shower head. This emergency procedure is a serious health hazard because it is only too likely to result in contamination of the shower head and there is no safeguard such as anti-Siphon device or vacuum |breaker to prevent consequent contamination of the water source to which the hose is connected.

The present invention meets this situation by providing a flushing operation which is flexible in the sense of permitting the amount of water lfor the ushing operation to be varied in accord with the flushing lload for most eicient use of the available water. Thus if only a minimum quantity of water is required to flush the toilet bowl in a particular instance the control mechanism of the toilet of the present invention is readily manipulated for the minimum quantity. If, and only if, a larger quanti-ty is actually required is the control mechanism manipulated to make a larger quantity available.

In the cycle of operation of a `conventional pedal-operated toilet, initial depression of the foot pedal opens the bowl outlet and further depression turns on the water. Since at the end of a flushing operation a predetermined residual quantity of water must be trapped in the bowl to form a water seal, it is necessary to employ a water valve that operates with delayed action so that after the foot pedal is released and the bowl outlet closed, a predetermined amount of water is introduced to form the water seal,

A feature of the present invention is the concept of reversing this cycle for the achievement of exceptional economy in the use of water. In the new flushing cycle the control mechanism that is operated by the foot pedal is movable from a normal position through a first range and a second range in sequence. In the first range the water valve is opened and the toilet bowl outlet remains substantially closed; in the second range the toilet bowl outlet is opened and the water valve remains open. It is apparent that with such a cycle of operatic-n the release of the foot pedal to permit the control means to return through its two ran-ges results in trapping of water in the ibowl to form a water seal because when the control rof practical importance.

mechanism returns through the first ra-nge the water valve remains open and the bowl outlet closes to retain water in the bowl. Thus the reversal in the operating cycle makes it unnecessary to employ the usual type of Water supply valve that operates with delayed action.

A conventional delay-action water valve only too readily gets out of order because a small orifice is relied upon to create the time delay. When the small orifice becomes clogged by particles, for example, particles of sand, the valve fails to shut olf with consequent flooding of the toilet bowl. rl`he invention completely eliminates this source of trouble.

The new control .arrangement makes possi-ble different procedures to employ different quantities of water selectively for different flushing loads. More often than not the foot pedal will simply be depressed and released to employ a minimum quantity, say a pint of Water for a light fiushing load. As the pedal moves downward into its first ran-ge the water valve opens to add water to the residual water in the lbowl for the flushing action and as the pedal passes through its second range the Valve for the bowl outlet opens fully and the flushing action is continued 'by additional water from the open water valve. When the foot pedal is promptly released the bowl outlet is promptly closed and water continues `to flow into the bowl as the foot pedal returns through its first range to its starting position, the continued flow providing the required residual water rto seal off the bowl outlet.

To prepare for a heavy flushing load, the foot pedal is depressed to near the end of its first range to cause the water valve to open while the toilet bowl outlet is closed or substantially closed. The foot pedal may be maintained in this position to cause as much water as desired lto accumulate in the toilet -bowl and then the foot pedal may tbe released to return to its normal position. Subsequently for the actual flushing operation the foot pedal is fully depressed and then released. When the foot pedal now passes from its first range into its second range the previously accumulated water in the bowl plus the water added by the newly opened water valve provides a heavy flushing operation. When the foot pedal is released to return to its normal position, the usual residual quantity of water is trapped.

In another procedure where prolonged flushing operation is desired, the foot pedal is simply depressed to the maximum and held there to cause water to be introduced into the bowl as long as necessary with the bowl outlet wide open.

As will be explained, the invention has further features One feature is the use of two cams operated by the foot pedal for controlling the water valve and the bowl outlet valve respectively with the two cams so designed as to require minimum physical effort to depress the foot pedal. Spring means must be employed lto return the foot pedal to its normal position but the two cams are designed to m-ake possible a relatively light spring means for this purpose.

Another feature is the provision of detent means to indicate to the operator when the foot pedal reaches the end of its first range of movement. Thus to introduce water into the bowl without opening the bowl outlet, the operator merely presses the foot pedal until the increased resistance at the detent is sensed -at the end of the first range of movement.

Another featureV of the invention is that the springloaded valve for the bowl outlet is a poppet-type valve that is mounted with a limited range of universal pivotal movement to permit the poppet valve member to conform to the cooperating valve seat in a snug sealing manner in response to the pressure of the preloading spring.

Still another feature is the provision of a water valve having a valve core which may be removed whenever desired by simply removing an easily accessible holding means. When the foo-t pedal is then depressed the valve core is expelled from the valve body.

Certain features of the invention facilitate the fabrication of the toilet and facilitate accessibility of the working parts for service and repair when required. In this regard an important feature of the invention is that the toilet as a Whole is made up of two separate sections, one section being an outer structure which comprises the toilet bowl and a hollow support pedestal united therewith, the other section being `an inner housing that is removably mounted inside the hollow pedestal.

All of the working parts involved in the flushing operation are mounted on the inner housing. Thus all of the parts of the working mechanism may be assembled to the inner housing in advance and then, as a final step, the inner housing may be simply inserted and secured in the hollow pedestal of the outer structure. In the preferred practice of the invention the foot pedal is connected to the control mechanism through an aperture in the wall of the hollow pedestal and the foot pedal is removable to permit the foot pedal to beinstalled after the inner housing is installed in the hollow pedestal.

In the preferred practice of the invention, a large part of the structure of the usual overflow passage for the toilet bowl including the usual U-shaped Water trap, is provided by the inner housing and in addition the inner housing forms a discharge passage for the waste material from the bowl outlet. It is apparent that in such a construction sealing means must be provided between the inner housing and the toilet bowl of the outer structure around the discharge passage and further sealing means must be provided at the juncture at the portion of the overflow passage that is provided by the toilet bowl and the portion of the overflow passage that is provided by the inner housing.

The invention solves this sealing problem by providing resilient sealing means for both sealing purposes and by providing means to intersect the outer structure and -the inner housing in such manner as to keep the sealing means under constant pressure. In the preferred practice of the invention the inner housing has a bottom flange which is concealed by an overlying bottom ange of the toilet bowl pedestal and these two flanges are connected by screws which may be tightened for the required sealing action.

It is apparent that the described construction not only facilitates fabrication of the toilet with resultant lowering of cost `but also simplifies such repair and replacement as may be necessary. Merely removing the inner housing from the hollow pedestal makes all of the working parts of the flushing mechanism fully accessible.

It is essential that the U-shaped water trap of the overflow passage of the toilet bowl be removable for inspection and repair. In the preferred practice of the invention the Ushaped water trap is removably mounted on the inner housing by frictional engagement therewith and adequate space is provided between the inner housing and the -surA rounding wall of the hollow pedestal to make the water trap accessiblefrom the bottom of the pedestal. Thus, the U-shaped water trap may be removed for inspection without the necessity of removing the inner housing from the hollow pedestal.

The preferred embodiment of the invention further includes a vacuum breaker or anti-Siphon device of advantageous construction. Structural failure of the device such as might result in contamination is promptly indicated by conspicuous drainage to the exterior of the device.

The various features and advantages of the invention may be understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, which are to be regarded as merely illustrative FIG. l is a front perspective View of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective View with parts broken away to reveal concealed structure;

FIG. 3 is a simplified side elevational view of the inner housing with both the water valve rand the poppet valve for the bowl outlet shown in section and with the foot pedal at its normal starting position;

FIG, 4 is a View similar to FIG. 3 with the foot pedal depressed to a point near the end of its first range of movement with consequent opening of the water valve while the poppet valve for the bowl outlet remains closed;

FIG. 5 is a similar view showing the foot pedal fully described with the water valve still open and with the poppet valve for the toilet bowl outlet swung to full open position; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the inner housing with the movable parts of the mechanism omitted.

The gener-al arrangement of the structure may be understood by referring to FIGS. 2 and 3. The selected embodiment of the invention has what may be termed an outer structure comprising a toilet bowl 10 with a waste outlet 12 and a hollow pedestal 14 that support-s the bowl and is formed with a base flange 15. This outer structure may be a one-piece body of vitreous china or suitable plastic. The bowl is provided with the usual seat 16 and cover 18.

The rim of the toilet bowl is hollow to form the usual Water passage 20 for supplying water to the bowl, the water passage having distributed openings (not shown) which are smaller than usual for projecting jets of water against the inner surface of thel bowl at higher velocity than usual. The rim of the bowl has a rearward extension 22 which forms part of the water passage 20` and which carries an upwardly extending anti-Siphon device or vacuum breaker 24.

The toilet bowl 10 has the usual overflow port 25 which communicates with an overow passage that functions in the usual manner in the event that water tends to accumulate in the bowl by continuous leakage at the water supply valve. The overflow port 25 communicates with a passageway 26 which is formed by the bowl and which leads to a lower port 28.

Concealed inside the hollow pedestal 14 of the outer bowl structure is an inner housing 30 which may be made of plastic material or may be made of aluminum with a suitable plastic coating and which is best shown -in FIG. 6 and this inner housing carries all of the moving parts of the mechanism for flushing the toilet bowl. -In addition the inner housing forms an upright waste passage 32 for placing the waste outlet 12 of the bowl in communication with a sewer or other disposal means and the inne-r housing further provides additional structure to continue the overflow passage from the overflow port 25. The additional passage structure includes a U-shaped member 34 to trap water to form a gas seal. The U-shaped water trap 34 is frictionally retained by the inner housing Imember 30 and therefore may be easily manually separated for inspection or service. The up leg of the water trap 34 communicates with a passageway 35 which is in the form of a depression on the upper side of the inner housing as best shown in FIG. 6. The depression 35 has two spaced bottom openings 36 which lead to the waste passage 32. The usual prime port 37 (FIG. 2) permits water from the Water passage 20 to replenish the water in the U-shaped water trap 34.

Since the inner housing 30 forms the waste passage 32 and also forms part of the overflow passage, suitable sealing means is required at the juncture of the inner housing wit-h the outer structure. For this purpose a relatively thick sheet 38 of resilient elastomeric material is .interposed between the inner housing and the outer structure. The elastomeric sheet 38 is formed with a circular opening 40 at the Waste outlet 12 of the bowl, as sho-wn in FIG. 3, and is further formed with a circular aperture 42 at the bottom port 28 of the bowl overflow passageway 26.

As best shown in FIG. 3, a rim 44 of the inner housing 30 extends around the upper end of the waste passage 32 and places the resilient sheet 38 unde-r sea-ling press-ure. In the region of the circular aperture 42 in the elastimeric sheet, the upper wall of the -inner housing 30 is formed wi-th a circular rib 45 (FIG. 6) which is in sealing contact with the elastomeric sheet 38. The elastomeric sheet 38 extends across the upper wall of the inner housing 30 and for a further sealing purpose a continuous rib 46 is -under pressure against the elastomeric sheet around the overflow recess 35.

As shown in FIG. 6, an overhanging portion of the upper wall of the inner housing 30 .is formed with a nipple 48 inside the circular rib 45 and is formed a second nipple 50 that communicates with the overflow recess 35. As shown in FIG. 2, the two legs of the U-shaped water trap 34 fric-tionally telescope into the two

nipples

48 and 50 in an easily removable manner.

As shown in FIG. 6, the inner housing 30 is formed with a base flange 52 and the base flange is provided with two screw holes 54 on opposite sides of the housing. These four screw holes of the inner housing register with four corresponding screw holes in the base flange 15 of the hollow pedestal 14. This arrangement permits the use of one screw 55 (FIG. l) on each side of the pedestal to interconnect the base flange 52 of the .inner housing and the base flange 15 of the pedestal for the dual purpose of securing the inner housing and of clamping the elastomeric sheet 38 under pressure between the bowl structure and the inner housing. The arrangement also permits the use of a second screw 56 on each side of the pedestal to anchor the pedestal to the floor.

The inner housing 14 mounts a water valve 53 (FIGS. 2 and 3) having a removable inlet bushing 60 which extends through an aperture (not shown) in the wall of the pedestal 14 for connection to a pressurized water source. The outlet of the water valve 58 is connected by a removable tube 62 with the up leg 64 of the previously mentioned vacuum break 24. A feature of the invention is that the up 4leg 64 and the down leg 65 of the vacuum breaker are separated by an intervening upright passage 66 and the lower end of this passage is provided with a drain port 68 to the exterior of the toilet structure. Thus .if any structural failure occurs `in the walls of the two

legs

64 and 65 of the vacuum breaker, the consequent leakage of water into the upright passage 66 and drippipg of the water from the drain port 68 gives immediate warning of the structural failure to reduce the possibility of such a structural failure leading to contamination of the water supply.

As heretofore noted, a feature of the invention is that all of the working parts for carrying out the flushing cycle are mounted on the inner housing 30. The working parts include the previously mentioned water valve 58, a poppet valve 70 for the waste outlet 12 of the bowl and a control means including a foot pedal 72 for actuatin-g the water valve and the poppet valve in the previously described sequence. The control means for the two valves includes: an upwardly extending arm 74 mounted on the same shaft as the foot pedal; a cam 75 xedly mounted on the arm 74 to operate the water valve 58; a coil spring 76 that biases the arm 74 to maintain the foot pedal 72 at is normal upper position; an arm 78 carrying the poppet valve 78, the arm being carried by a cross shaft 8); a second arm 82 lixedly carried by the cross shaft 80 and carrying at `its outer end a follower 84 in the form of a roller; and a cam generally designated 85 of channel-shaped cross section integral with the arm 74 for cooperating with and controlling the follower 84.

A cylindrical valve seat 86 for cooperation with the poppet valve 70 may be made of a suitable rigid plastic and may rest on a surrounding ange `88 of the inner housing '30 in sealing contact with the previously mentioned elastomeric sheet 38. It is contemplated that the poppet valve 70 which will be made of elastomeric material will be mounted on the arm 78 in a yielding and floating manner for the dual purpose of giving the poppet valve freedom to align itself with the valve seat 86 and to maintain the poppet valve under pressure against the valve seat.

In the construction shown the poppet valve 70 has an integral stem 90 internally reinforced by a headed pin 92 and this stern is free to rock in all directions in a ring 94 that is integral with the arrn- 78 at the outer end thereof, the ring being slightly flared as shown to permit the rocking action. The end of the stem 90 has an enlargement 95 which serves as a stop to limit withdrawal of the stem from the ring. A suitable coil spring 96 surrounds the stem 9G and is normally under axial compression to create pressure for holding the poppet valve 70 in sealing contact with the valve seat 86 when the foot pedal 72 is in its normal starting position. When the poppet valve 70 is swung awa-y from the valve seat 86, the coil spring 96 expands to the limit permitted by abutment of the stem enlargement 90 against the ring 94.

The channel-shaped cam 8S that movably contines the follower 84 has a dwell 85a concentric t-o the pivot axis of the larm '74 to avoid operation of the poppet valve 70 as long as the follower 84 is in the dwell. When the arm- 74 is swung leftward as viewed in FIG. 3 by depression of the foot pedal 72, the follower 84 eventually enters a rise 85b that turns upward abruptly for the purpose of opening the poppet valve abruptly, Thus the extent of movement of the foot pedal and the control means that is operated thereby is divided into two ranges of movement, the first range being the range in which the follower 84 is in the dwell 85a and the Asecond range being the range in `which the dwell is in the follower 84 throughout the first range to maintain the poppet valve spring 96 under normal compression, as indicated in FIG. 3, and the deten-t shoulder 100 increases the compression of t-he poppet valve spring. The purpose of the detent shoulder 100 is to cause localized resistance to the movement of the foot pedal 72 which -may be sensed by the user and thus indicate when the foot pedal is at approximately the end of the first range -of movement of the control means.

In the rst range of movement -of the foot pedal and the control means, the arm 74 swings from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 4 to bring the follower 84 to the detent shoulder 100 without opening the poppet valve. If the operator depresses the pedal slightly further to carry the follower 84 past the detent shoulder 188 the poppet valve may open slightly but not to a significant degree. When the downward movement of the foot pedal is continued through the .second range of movement of the control means, the arm 74 shifts leftward from the position shown in FIG. 4 to the position shown in FIG. 5 with the consequence that the follower 84 is lifted abruptly to swing the poppet valve to the wide open position indicated in dotted lines at 70a in FIG. 5. On the other hand when the control means is moved in this manner through its first range from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 4, a rise 75a of the cam 75 progressively opens the water valve 58, the water valve being opened to its second range from the position shown in FIG. 4 to the position shown in FIG. 5, a dwell 75b that is concentric to the pivotal axis of the arm 74 keeps the water valve 58 fully open. Thus the Water valve is open in both of the ranges but the bowl outlet is open only in the second range.

The water valve 58 may be of the construction shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The valve 58 has a cylindrical body 102 into which the previously mentioned inlet bushing 60 is normally thread-ed, the end of the bushing cooperating with the valve body to conne a tubular valve core 104 which is sealed by two O-rings 1015. In the construction shown the inner end of the inlet bushing 6i) abuts the outer end of the valve core 104 and a forward shoulder 106 of the valve core abuts a .stop shoulder 107 of the valve body. Thus the valve core lmay be removed by first removing the inlet bushing 60.

The inner end of the valve core 104 forms `a valve seat 110 which, as shown in FIG. 3, is normally closed by a valve head 112. The valve head 112 is carried by a valve stem 114 which is slidingly mounted in the valve core and which is slidingly sealed by a suitable O-ring 115. The valve head 112 is urged towards its closed position by a suitable coil spring 116 which acts in compression between the valve core 104 and a washer 118 that abuts a snap ring 120 on the valve stem 114.

It is apparent that when the cam 75' is shifted from the position yshown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 4, the rise 75a `of vthe cam 75 acting on the outer end of the valve stem 114 unseats the valve head 112. In this regard a feature of the invention is that if it is desired to inspect or service the water valve 58, the inlet bushing 60 may b-e removed and then lthe foot pedal 72 may be depressed to cause the cam 75 to retract the valve 4stem 114. Since the inlet bushing 60 is removed the valve core 104 also retracts in response to the pressure of thel spring 116. Thus merely stepping on the foot pedal 72 with the inlet bushing 60 removed results in retraction of the valve core 104 to a position where it is fully accessible for removal and inspection.

The manner in which the invention serves its purpose may be readily understood from the foregoing description. More often than not the minimum quantity of water is adequate to flush the toilet and for this purpose the operator merely depresses the foot pedal to the maximum and immediately releases it for return to its n-ormal position. As the foot pedal moves through its first range, the poppet valve 70 remains in its closed position and the water valve 50 progressively opens to the maximum for fiushing action and the water valve remains open for flushing action when the foot pedal travels through its second range for `swinging the poppet valve to its fully open position. The return movement of the foot pedal by the spring 76 causes abrupt closing of the poppet valve 70 fwith continued flow of water after the poppet valve closes to supply the desired normal or residual quantity of water in the bowl.

When a more effective flushing action is required, a preliminary step of adding water to the bowl may be taken by depressing the foot pedal 72 to the end of its first lrange, i.e. until the increased resistance caused by the detent shoulder 160 is felt by the operator. The foot pedal is maintained at this position long enough for the desired additional quantity of water to be introduced into the bowl. The actual flushing cycle is carried out later when needed by depressing the foot pedal 72 to the limit and then releasing the foot pedal. For prolonged fiushing action thereafter the foot pedal may be held at its lower limit position as long as `desired for continued iiow of water into the bowl with the poppet valve wide open.

In the fabrication procedure, all of the moving parts except the foot pedal 72 and the inlet bushing 60 of the water valve 58 are assembled to the inner housing 30. Thereafter the inner housing is inserted into the hollow pedestal 14 and is anchored therein by the two screws 55 on opposite sides of the base flange of the pedestal, the screws being suitably tightened to place the elastomeric sheet 38 under sealing pressure. After the inner housing 30 is assembled in this manner to the outer bowl structure, the foot pedal 72 is connected to the control mechanism through a corresponding aperture (not shown) in the wall of the pedestal 14 and the core 104` of the water valve 518 and the inlet bushing 60 of the water valve are assembled through another aperture (not shown) in the wall of t'he pedestal.

After the toilet is installed and put into service, the water valve 58 may be dismantled for inspection by simply removing the inlet bushing 60 and stepping on the foot pedal 72 to cause the valve core along with the valve head and valve stem to be retracted into accessible position. When it is desired to inspect the water trap 34, the inlet valve 58 is disconnected from the water system and the two screws 56 are removed to release the base flange of the pedestal from the fioor. The toilet is then turned over to make the U-shaped water trap 34 accessible through the open bottom of the pedestal. The U-shaped water trap 34 may then be withdrawn manually without the necessity of taking the further trouble of removing the two screws 55 for releasing the inner housing 3f) from the pedestal 14.

Our description in specific detail of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention will suggest various changes, substitutions and other departures from our disclosure Iwithin the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim: 1. In a toilet of the character described for economical use of water, the combination of: a bowl having a discharge outlet; control means operable from a normal position through a first range and a second range;

means including a first valve to introduce water into the bowl, the valve being responsive to the control means to open when the control means is in both of said ranges; and

a second discharge valve normally closing the discharge outlet of the bowl and being responsive to the control means to open when the control means is in its second range,

whereby the control means may be moved quickly through both of its ranges and returned quickly to cause a flushing operation using a relatively small quantity of water and with a quantity of water retained in the bowl after the flushing operation,

and whereby for a heavier fiushing action the control means may be moved into the first range and held therein for as long a time period as necessary to introduce a desired relatively large quantity of Water into the bowl with the second valve substantially closed and later the control means may be moved through the two ranges in sequence and returned to its normal position to flush the bowl through the outlet with the relatively large quantity of water and with a quantity of the water retained in the bowl after the flushing operation.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 which includes means t0 increase the resistance to movement of the control means near the end of the first range thereby to inform the operator of approximately where the first range ends.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which both of the two valves are normally held closed under pressure by the force of two corresponding springs;

in which the control means includes a first cam to open the first valve and a second cam to open the second valve; and

in which the second cam has a steep rise for quick opening of the discharge valve.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 3 in which said second cam has a dwell dimensioned to stress the spring of the second valve to hold t'he second valve tightly closed at the normal position of the control means.

S. In a toilet of the character described for economical use of water, the combination of:

a bowl having a discharge outlet;

control means operable in one direction from a normal position through a first range and a second range in sequence;

means including a first valve to introduce water into the bowl, said first valve being responsive to the control means to open when the control means moves out lof its normal position into its first range;

a second valve normally closing the discharge opening of the bowl and loosely connected to the control means to be opened thereby when the control means moves into its second range;

spring means to apply sealing pressure to the second valve;

a cam operatively connected to the control means and having a portion to stress said spring to apply sealing pressure to the second valve when the control means is in its normal position,

said cam having a dwell to maintain the spring pressure while the control means is in its first range.

6. A combination as set forth in claim in which said cam has a detent shoulder to increase the spring pressure near the end of the first range thereby to increase the resistance to movement of the control means to indicate that the control means is near the end of its first range.

7. In a toilet of the character described for economical use of water, the combination of:

a bowl having a discharge outlet;

control means operable from a normal position through a first range and a second range in sequence;

means including a rst spring-loaded normally closed valve to introduce water into the bowl;

a second valve normally closing the discharge outlet of the bowl, said second valve having a pivoted operating arm;

a first cam operatively connected to the control means for operating the first valve, said first cam having a rise to open the lrst valve when said operating means is in its first range and having a dwell to keep the first valve open when the control means is in its second range; and

a second cam operatively connected to the control means to actuate said arm to control the second valve, said second cam having a dwell to permit the second valve to remain closed when the control means is in its first range and having a rise to open the second valve when the control lmeans is in its second range.

8. A combination as set forth in claim 7 in which said second valve includes a valve member to close the discharge outlet of the bowl, said valve member being connected to said arm with freedom for a limited range of movement relative to the arm;

and in which spring means acting in stress between the valve member and the arm exerts pressure on the valve member to hold the valve member closed when the control means is in its normal position.

9. A combination as set forth in claim 8 in which said outlet of the 'bowl is formed with a valve seat;

and in which said valve member is a poppet valve member connected to the arm with freedom for limited universal pivotal movement relative to the arm to permit the poppet valve member to seat against the valve seat with even pressure.

10. In a toilet of the character described for economical use of water, the combination of:

fixed structure including a bowl having a discharge outlet;

means including a first valve mounted on the fixed structure to introduce water into the bowl;

spring means urging the first valve to closed position, the working parts of said first valve being retractable for removal in response to the pressure of the spring means;

a second valve normally closing the discharge outlet of the bowl and being responsive to the control means to open when the control means is in its second range;

a cam operative by the control means to open the first valve in opposition to said spring means thereby to increase the pressure of the spring means; and

means normally holding the working parts of said first valve against retraction, said holding means being releasable to permit retraction of the first valve by the pressure of said spring in response to operation of said cam by said control means.

11. In a toilet of the character described, the combination of an outer structure comprising a bowl with a discharge outlet therein and a hollow support pedestal unitary with the bowl;

an inner housing inside said pedestal forming a waste passa-ge from said outlet to the bottom of the pedestal;

control means;

means including a first normally closed valve to introduce water into the bowl, the valve being responsive to the control means; and

a second valve normally closing the discharge outlet of the bowl, the second valve being responsive to the control means,

said control means, first valve and second valve being .mounted on said inner housing to permit a fabrication procedure in which the control means, first valve and second valve are assembled to the inner housing and then the inner housing is assembled to the outer structure.

12. A combination as set forth in claim 11 which -includes a foot pedal outside of the hollow pedestal to actuate the control means, the foot pedal being connected to the inner housing through an aperture in the support pedestal and 4being separate from the inner housing whereby the foot pedal may be 4connected to the inner housing after the inner housing is assembled to the outer structure.

13. A combination as set forth in claim 12 in which the toilet -bowl is provided with an overflow passage including a U-shaped passage member to trap water to serve as a water seal, said U-shaped member being carried by the inner housing.

14. A combination as set forth in claim 11 which includes sealing means interposed between the bowl and the inner housing to seal the juncture between the bowl and the inner housing around said waste passage;

and which further includes releasable means interconnecting a lower portion of the inner housing with a lower portion of the support pedestal to maintain said sealing means under sealing pressure.

15. In a toilet of the character described, the combination of:

an outer structure comprising a bowl with a discharge outlet therein and a hollow support pedestal united with the bowl;

an inner housing inside the pedestal forming a waste passage from said outlet to the bottom of the pedestal;

control means; l

means including a first normally closed valve responsive to said control means to introduce water into the bowl;

a valve member normally closing the discharge outlet of the bowl, said valve member being responsive to the control means to be operated thereby; and

an overflow passage for the bowl including a first passageway formed in the wall of the bowl, further including a U-sha-ped water trap having one leg in communication with said first passageway of the bowl and further including a second passageway placing the other leg of the trap in communication with said waste passage,

said control means, rst valve and second valve being mounted on the inner housing to permit a fabrication procedure in which the control means, rst valve and `second valve are assembled to the inner housing and then the inner hou-sing is assembled to the outer structure,

said U-shaped trap and said second passageway being incorporated in the inner housing.

16. A combination as set forth in claim which includes resilient sealing means at the juncture at said waste passage with the bowl and at the juncture of said one leg of the water trap with said rst passageway of the bowl;

and which further includes releasable means interconnecting a lower portion of the inner housing with a lower portion of the support pedestal to maintain said sealing means under sealing pres-sure.

17. A combination as set forth in claim 15 which includes a foot pedal on the exterior of said outer structure to actuate said control means, said foot pedal being connected to the control means through an aperture in the support pedestal and being separate from the control means to permit the foot pedal to be assembled after the inner housing is assembled to the outer structure.

18. In a toilet of the character described having a bowl and means to supply water to the bowl including a normally closed water valve and an anti-Siphon device having an up leg connected to the water valve and a down leg connected to the bowl, the improvement comprising:

the two legs of said anti-Siphon device being formed by a unitary body, said unitary body having a vertical passage intermediate the two legs with a drain hole .from the passage to the exterior of the body whereby a structural failure of the body such as might place the two legs in direct communication with each other would be made evident by seepage of water from the drain hole.

19. In a toilet of the character described, the combination of:

an outer structure comprising a 4bowl with a discharge outlet therein and a hollow support pedestal united with the bowl;

control means;

means including a rst normally closed valve responsive to said control means to introduce water into the bowl;

a valve member normally closing the discharge outlet of the bowl, said valve member 4being responsive to the control means to be -operated thereby; and

an overflow passage -for the Ibowl including a first passageway formed in the wall of the bowl, a Ushaped water trap having one leg in communication with said irrt passageway of the bowl and including a second passageway placing the other leg of the trap in communication with said waste passage,

said U-shaped water trap being releasably mounted on the inner housing,

the outer hollow support pedestal and the inner housing being dimensioned to provide space between the wall of the pedestal and the inner housing for access to the U-shaped water trap to permit the U-shaped water trap to be removed and replaced through the bottom of the pedestal.

20. In a toilet of the character described, the combination of: f

an outer structure comprising a bowl with a discharge outlet therein and a hollow support pedestal united with the bowl; I v

an overflow passage from the -bowl to the waste passage with a first part of the overflow passage unitary with the bowl and a second part of the overflow passage provided by the inner housing;

sealing means interposed between the bowl of the inner housing t-o seal the juncture of the bowl and the housing around said waste passage and to seal the juncture between the first and second parts of the overow passage;

means to releasably connect the inner housing to the outer structure to maintain said sealing means under sealing pressure;

control means operable from a normal position through a first range and a second range in sequence, said control means including a foot pedal yfor applying operating force thereto together with an upwardly extending arm operable about a pivotal axis by the Ifoot pedal;

lirst spring means to urge the control means to a normal starting position;

a lever having two arms;

a poppet valve normally closing said bowl outlet, -said poppet valve being loosely mounted on one arm of the lever with yfreedom for relative axial movement of the poppet valve and freedom for relative universal rocking movement of the poppet valve;

second spring means in stress between said poppet valve and the corresponding arm of the lever to create sealing pressure between the poppet valve and the bowl outlet;

a follower on the other arm ofthe lever;

a channel-shaped cam on said upwardly extending arm confining said -follower 4from opposite rsides for operation of the lever, said cam having a lirst dwell portion concentric to the pivotal axis of the upwardly extending arm to maintain the poppet valve closed during said rst range of the operating means, said dwell being dimensioned to maintain said second spring means under stress `for sealing pressure against the bowl outlet when the control means is at its normal starting position, said cam having a second portion to operate said lever for opening of the poppet valve when the control means is in its second range,

said cam further having a detent shoulder near the end of the first range to create resistance to indicate that the follower is at the shoulder;

a spring loaded normally closed water valve to supply water to the bowl; and

a second cam on said upwardly extending arm to control said water valve, said second cam having a rise to open the water valve during the first range of movement of the control means and lhaving a dwell concentric to said pivotal axis to keep the water valve open during said second range of the control means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,166,944 7/1939 Duner 4-76 2,210,630 8/1940 Duner 476 3,038,169 6/1962 OBrien 4-79 3,217,337 11/1965 OBrien 4-79 3,247,525 4/1966 OBricn 44-79 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

K. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner,

Claims

1. IN A TOILET OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED FOR ECONOMICAL USE OF WATER, THE COMBINATION OF: A BOWL HAVING A DISCHARGE OUTLET; CONTROL MEANS OPERABLE FROM A NORMAL POSITION THROUGH A FIRST RANGE AND A SECOND RANGE; MEANS INCLUDING A FIRST VALVE TO INTRODUCE WATER INTO THE BOWL, THE VALVE BEING RESPONSIVE TO THE CONTROL MEANS TO OPEN WHEN THE CONTROL MEANS IS IN BOTH OF SAID RANGES; AND A SECOND DISCHARGE VALVE NORMALLY CLOSING THE DISCHARGE OUTLET OF THE BOWL AND BEING RESPONSIVE TO THE CONTROL MEANS TO OPEN WHEN THE CONTROL MEANS IS IN ITS SECOND RANGE, WHEREBY THE CONTROL MEANS MAY BE MOVED QUICKLY THROUGH BOTH OF ITS RANGES AND RETURNED QUICKLY TO CAUSE A FLUSHING OPERATION USING A RELATIVELY SMALL QUANTITY OF WATER AND WITH A QUANTITY OF WATER RETAINED IN THE BOWL AFTER THE FLUSHING OPERATION,