Toilet Water Saving Device

Abstract

A toilet water saving device comprising a pump, an input pipe, an output pipe and an actuator. The pump removes fluid from the toilet bowl upon activation, taking it in via the input pipe and pumping it out through the output pipe and into the drainage, thereby saving the flushing water. The bowl end of the input pipe may be connected to the bowl and the pump may be protected from solids by a lattice on the bowl end. The device may further comprise a grinder for grinding solids so that they do not damage the pump.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of water saving devices, and more particularly, to a device for saving toilet flushing water.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Water shortage increases steadily and encompasses ever growing parts of the world. Water shortage is due to over exploitation of existing water sources and damage to them on the one hand, and wastage of water on the other hand.

Home water usage is versatile, yet toilet water used to flush bowl content is about a third of the total home water expenditure.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention provide a toilet water saving device comprising: a pump installable on a toilet having a bowl, a drain pipe, and a water container operable by a flushing actuator arranged to control an amount of water released from the water container, an input pipe connected to the pump and connected to a bottom of the bowl such that the input pipe is in fluid communication with fluid in the bowl; an output pipe connected to the pump and in fluid communication with the drain pipe; and an actuator connected to the pump, arranged to activate the pump, further connected to and arranged to activate the flushing actuator, wherein upon activation, the pump is arranged to displace the fluid from the bottom of the bowl through the input pipe and further through the output pipe to the drain pipe, wherein following the displacement, the pump is halted and water is released from the water container, wherein the flushing actuator is arranged to release a reduced amount of water from the container upon activation be the actuator, and wherein the toilet water saving device saves flushing water due to the displacement of the fluid by the pump.

Accordingly, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toilet water saving device, wherein the input pipe is connected to the bottom of the bowl at a bowl end, and wherein the bowl end is covered by a lattice arranged to prevent solids above a predefined size to enter the input pipe and damage the pump.

Accordingly, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toilet water saving device, further comprising a grinder connected to the input pipe and arranged to grind solids entering the input pipe to a size smaller than a predefined size selected such as to avoid damage to the pump.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a water saving system comprising: a toilet comprising a bowl, a drain pipe, and a water container operable by a flushing actuator arranged to control an amount of water released from the water container; a pump integrated in the toilet such that it is electrically isolated from water and fluid in the toilet; an input pipe connected to the pump and connected to a bottom of the bowl such that the input pipe is in fluid communication with fluid in the bowl; an output pipe connected to the pump and in fluid communication with the drain pipe; and an actuator connected to the pump, arranged to activate the pump, further connected to and arranged to activate the flushing actuator, wherein upon activation, the pump is arranged to displace the fluid from the bottom of the bowl through the input pipe and further through the output pipe to the drain pipe, wherein following the displacement, the pump is halted and water is released from the water container, wherein the flushing actuator is arranged to release a reduced amount of water from the container upon activation be the actuator, and wherein the water saving system saves flushing water due to the displacement of the fluid by the pump.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of saving water in operation of a toilet having a bowl, a drain pipe, and a water container, comprising: pumping fluid from a bottom of the bowl down the drain pipe; and releasing a reduced amount of water from the water container, wherein the fluid comprises urine, and wherein the method saves flushing water due to the pumping the fluid from the bottom of the bowl.

These, additional, and/or other aspects and/or advantages of the present invention are: set forth in the detailed description which follows; possibly inferable from the detailed description; and/or learnable by practice of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more readily understood from the detailed description of embodiments thereof made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic illustrations of a toilet water saving device and a water saving system, according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a high level schematic block diagram of a toilet water saving device and a water saving system, according to some embodiments of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a high level schematic flowchart illustrating a method of saving water in operation of a toilet, according to some embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is applicable to other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic illustrations of a toilet water saving device 100 and a water saving system 160, according to some embodiments of the invention. FIG. 2 is a high level schematic block diagram of a toilet water saving device and a water saving system, according to some embodiments of the invention. Toilet water saving device 100 comprises a pump 110 installable on a toilet 90 having a bowl 92, a drain pipe 94, and a water container 96 operable by a flushing actuator 98 arranged to control an amount of water released from water container 96.

Toilet water saving device 100 may further comprise an input pipe 120 connected to pump 110 and connected to a bottom of bowl 92 such that input pipe 120 is in fluid communication with fluid 99 in bowl 92.

Toilet water saving device 100 may further comprise an output pipe 130 connected to pump 110 and in fluid communication with drain pipe 94.

Toilet water saving device 100 may further comprise an actuator 140 connected to pump 110, arranged to activate pump 110, further connected to and arranged to activate flushing actuator 98. Upon activation, pump 110 is arranged to displace fluid 99 from the bottom of bowl 92 through input pipe 120 and further through output pipe 130 to drain pipe 94. Following the displacement, pump 110 is halted and water is released from water container 96. Flushing actuator 98 is arranged to release a reduced amount of water from container 96 upon activation be actuator 140. Toilet water saving device 100 saves flushing water due to the displacement of fluid 99 by pump 110.

According to some embodiments of the invention, fluid 99 may comprise urine. Pumping fluid 99 with urine out of bowl 92 spares flushing water that are usually used to remove urine. Extending toilet water saving device 100 to deal with solids require toilet water saving device 100 to further comprise a grinder 150 (FIG. 2) connected to input pipe 120 and arranged to grind solids entering input pipe 120 to a size smaller than a predefined size selected such as to avoid damage to pump 110. Ground solids may then be pumped by pump 110 to output pipe 130 and drain pipe 94.

According to some embodiments of the invention, input pipe 120 may be connected to the bottom of bowl 92 at a bowl end 122 covered by a lattice 124 (FIG. 1B) arranged to prevent solids above a predefined size to enter input pipe 120 and damage pump 110. Lattice 124 may selected to effectively filter fluid 99 such that solids that may damage pump 110 are kept out of input pipe 120, for example when flushing solids when not using toilet water saving device 100.

According to some embodiments of the invention, input pipe 120 and output pipe 130 enter toilet 90 through drain pipe 94 and not through the bowl 92. This allows an easy installation of toilet water saving devices 100 on existing toilets 90 and also allow a good sealing of the pipe connections. Pump 110 may be situated outside bowl 92 and outside drain pipe 94, such that pump 110 and actuator 140 are isolated from fluid 99 and the water. Actuator 140 may be attached to water container 96 on the outside. Alternatively, actuator 140 may be integrated in or connected to flushing actuator 98.

According to some embodiments of the invention, water saving system 160 comprising toilet 90 comprising bowl 92, drain pipe 94, and water container 96 operable by flushing actuator 98 arranged to control an amount of water released from water container 96; pump 110 integrated in toilet 90 such that it is electrically isolated from water and fluid 99 in toilet 90; input pipe 120 connected to pump 110 and connected to a bottom of bowl 92 such that input pipe 120 is in fluid communication with fluid 99 in bowl 92; output pipe 130 connected to pump 110 and in fluid communication with drain pipe 94; and actuator 140 connected to pump 110, arranged to activate pump 110, further connected to and arranged to activate flushing actuator 98. Upon activation, pump 110 is arranged to displace fluid 99 from the bottom of bowl 92 through input pipe 120 and further through output pipe 130 to drain pipe 94. Following the displacement, pump 110 is halted and water is released from water container 96. Flushing actuator 98 is arranged to release a reduced amount of water from container 96 upon activation be actuator 140. Water saving system 160 saves flushing water due to the displacement of fluid 99 by pump 110.

FIG. 3 is a high level schematic flowchart illustrating a method of saving water in operation of a toilet, according to some embodiments of the invention. The toilet has a bowl, a drain pipe, and a water container the method comprises the following stages: pumping the fluid from a bottom of the bowl down the drain pipe (stage 200); and releasing a reduced amount of water from the water container (stage 210), wherein the fluid comprises urine, and wherein the method saves flushing water due to the pumping the fluid from the bottom of the bowl. The method may further comprise grinding solids in the fluid to a size smaller than a predefined size (stage 220).

Advantageously, toilet water saving device 100, water saving system 160 and the method may allow sparing at least a half of the water currently used to flush toilet 90. In fact, water is only needed to fill back bowl 92, and no flushing water is required, as removal of fluid 99 is carried out essentially by pump 110. Actuator 140 may be fully integrated in flushing actuator 98, be of separate functioning as an additional element., or be partly integrated therein.

Elements of the invention may be selected according to the expected intensity of their usage, for example industrial or public toilets may be equipped with heavy duty pump 110, pipes 120, 130 and actuator 140.

In the above description, an embodiment is an example or implementation of the inventions. The various appearances of “one embodiment,” “an embodiment” or “some embodiments” do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiments.

Although various features of the invention may be described in the context of a single embodiment, the features may also be provided separately or in any suitable combination. Conversely, although the invention may be described herein in the context of separate embodiments for clarity, the invention may also be implemented in a single embodiment.

Reference in the specification to “some embodiments”, “an embodiment”, “one embodiment” or “other embodiments” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments, of the inventions.

It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is not to be construed as limiting and are for descriptive purpose only.

The principles and uses of the teachings of the present invention may be better understood with reference to the accompanying description, figures and examples.

It is to be understood that the details set forth herein do not construe a limitation to an application of the invention.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out or practiced in various ways and that the invention can be implemented in embodiments other than the ones outlined in the description above.

It is to be understood that the terms “including”, “comprising”, “consisting” and grammatical variants thereof do not preclude the addition of one or more components, features, steps, or integers or groups thereof and that the terms are to be construed as specifying components, features, steps or integers.

If the specification or claims refer to “an additional” element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element.

It is to be understood that where the claims or specification refer to “a” or “an” element, such reference is not be construed that there is only one of that element.

It is to be understood that where the specification states that a component, feature, structure, or characteristic “may”, “might”, “can” or “could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included.

Where applicable, although state diagrams, flow diagrams or both may be used to describe embodiments, the invention is not limited to those diagrams or to the corresponding descriptions. For example, flow need not move through each illustrated box or state, or in exactly the same order as illustrated and described.

Methods of the present invention may be implemented by performing or completing manually, automatically, or a combination thereof, selected steps or tasks.

The term “method” may refer to manners, means, techniques and procedures for accomplishing a given task including, but not limited to, those manners, means, techniques and procedures either known to, or readily developed from known manners, means, techniques and procedures by practitioners of the art to which the invention belongs.

The descriptions, examples, methods and materials presented in the claims and the specification are not to be construed as limiting but rather as illustrative only.

Meanings of technical and scientific terms used herein are to be commonly understood as by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention belongs, unless otherwise defined.

The present invention may be implemented in the testing or practice with methods and materials equivalent or similar to those described herein.

Any publications, including patents, patent applications and articles, referenced or mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated in their entirety into the specification, to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein. In addition, citation or identification of any reference in the description of some embodiments of the invention shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present invention.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as exemplifications of some of the preferred embodiments. Other possible variations, modifications, and applications are also within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should not be limited by what has thus far been described, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

1. A toilet water saving device comprising:

a pump installable on a toilet having a bowl, a drain pipe, and a water container operable by a flushing actuator arranged to control an amount of water released from the water container,

an input pipe connected to the pump and connected to a bottom of the bowl such that the input pipe is in fluid communication with fluid in the bowl;

an output pipe connected to the pump and in fluid communication with the drain pipe; and

an actuator connected to the pump, arranged to activate the pump, further connected to and arranged to activate the flushing actuator,

wherein upon activation, the pump is arranged to displace the fluid from the bottom of the bowl through the input pipe and further through the output pipe to the drain pipe,

wherein following the displacement, the pump is halted and water is released from the water container,

wherein the flushing actuator is arranged to release a reduced amount of water from the container upon activation be the actuator, and

wherein the toilet water saving device saves flushing water due to the displacement of the fluid by the pump.

2. The toilet water saving device of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises urine.

3. The toilet water saving device of claim 1, wherein the input pipe is connected to the bottom of the bowl at a bowl end, and wherein the bowl end is covered by a lattice arranged to prevent solids above a predefined size to enter the input pipe and damage the pump.

4. The toilet water saving device of claim 1, further comprising a grinder connected to the input pipe and arranged to grind solids entering the input pipe to a size smaller than a predefined size selected such as to avoid damage to the pump.

5. The toilet water saving device of claim 1, wherein both input pipe and output pipe enter the toilet through the drain pipe and not through the bowl.

6. The toilet water saving device of claim 1, wherein the pump is situated outside the bowl and outside the drain pipe, such that the actuator is isolated from the fluid and the water.

7. The toilet water saving device of claim 1, wherein the actuator is attached to the water container on the outside.

8. A water saving system comprising:

a toilet comprising a bowl, a drain pipe, and a water container operable by a flushing actuator arranged to control an amount of water released from the water container;

a pump integrated in the toilet such that it is electrically isolated from water and fluid in the toilet;

an input pipe connected to the pump and connected to a bottom of the bowl such that the input pipe is in fluid communication with fluid in the bowl;

an output pipe connected to the pump and in fluid communication with the drain pipe; and

an actuator connected to the pump, arranged to activate the pump, further connected to and arranged to activate the flushing actuator, wherein upon activation, the pump is arranged to displace the fluid from the bottom of the bowl through the input pipe and further through the output pipe to the drain pipe,

wherein following the displacement, the pump is halted and water is released from the water container, wherein the flushing

actuator is arranged to release a reduced amount of water from the container upon activation be the actuator, and

wherein the water saving system saves flushing water due to the displacement of the fluid by the pump.

9. The water saving system of claim 8, wherein the input pipe is connected to the bottom of the bowl at a bowl end, and wherein the bowl end is covered by a lattice arranged to prevent solid above a predefined size to enter the input pipe and damage the pump.

10. The water saving system of claim 8, further comprising a grinder connected to the input pipe and arranged to grind solids entering the input pipe to a size smaller than a predefined size selected such as to avoid damage to the pump.

11. A method of saving water in operation of a toilet having a bowl, a drain pipe, and a water container, comprising:

pumping fluid from a bottom of the bowl down the drain pipe; and

releasing a reduced amount of water from the water container, wherein the fluid comprises urine, and

wherein the method saves flushing water due to the pumping the fluid from the bottom of the bowl.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising grinding solids in the fluid to a size smaller than a predefined size.