Normally Empty Tank Patents (Class 4/333)
  • Patent number: 9139992
    Abstract: Clamp or clip on tensioning attachments, devices, apparatus and methods that mount to a toilet water tank reservoir. The tensioning attachments place downward pressure and tension on the toilet handle arm inside of the tank to prevent the internal flapper from being stuck in a raised position which causes the toilet to be constantly running after being flushed and also keeping tension on the handle arm which keeps the arm rigid not allowing it to loosen which in turn can cause the flapper chain to get hung up in the arm when the arm is lose causing the flapper not to seal as intended. Cleaner adapters can hang from the tensioner devices to clean water inside of the toilet bowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Dream Innovation Designs, INC.
    Inventor: Darrell Price
  • Patent number: 7028347
    Abstract: A digital electronic volume/flow control sensor toilet includes a bowl, a water storage tank interconnected with the bowl, and a digital electronic volume/flow control sensor flushing mechanism. The flushing mechanism has components including a volume sensor, a shuttle, a plunger assembly, a motor, a water valve, and a control with a power source and volume/flow control sensor circuitry communicatively interconnecting the components. The volume sensor has a plurality of electrically conductive contact points exposed on a surface and at positions along a length of the side of the volume sensor with a recess, the positions of the contact points corresponding to predetermined volume levels of the flushing mechanism. A plurality of VOLUME SELECTION buttons/switches are mounted on an outer surface of the water storage tank, the VOLUME SELECTION buttons/switches being associated with the contact points. A HOLD button/switch can be mounted on the outer surface of the water storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Inventor: Dilworth D. Sanderson
  • Patent number: 6385787
    Abstract: An inlet valve and a discharge valve are operatively coupled by a coupling element so that when the discharge valve is closed, the inlet valve is open, and when the inlet valve is closed, the discharge valve is open. A biasing element biases the inlet valve closed. Upon closure of the discharge valve, a releasable retaining element retains the inlet valve open and the discharge valve closed against the action of the biasing element, thereby enabling the inlet valve to fill a tank with a fluid. A float responsive to the level of fluid in the tank engages and releases the retaining element when the tank is full, thereby enabling the biasing element to close the inlet valve and open the discharge valve, thereby discharging the fluid from the tank. In one aspect, the retaining element comprises a clamp mechanism that releasably clamps either the coupling element, the inlet valve, or the discharge valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Inventor: Kurt L. VanVoorhies
  • Patent number: 5832546
    Abstract: A flush toilet (10) is operated by a flushometer (14) which passes water to a water chamber (36). The chamber is sized to assure that the bottom (48) of the toilet bowl and waste outlet (22) are resealed against sewer gas backup. The chamber has outlets (30) and (32) that direct water to a jet outlet (20) and a rim rinse outlet (21) to flush the toilet and provides drainage of water after the flushometer is closed to reseal the toilet bowl (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Metcraft, Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Inch
  • Patent number: 5036553
    Abstract: A toilet includes a toilet bowl fluidically connected to a water storage tank. A control circuit is mounted on the storage tank and a water level sensor circuit is mounted on the bowl. A control panel is manually set to set the amount of water used in a flush cycle, and a fluid pump is used to move water from a source to the storage tank and to the bowl. Operation of the fluid pump is controlled by the water sensing circuit in the storage tank and the water level sensing circuit in the bowl. A solenoid-like plunger is used to control opening and closing of an outlet valve in the storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Inventor: Dilworth D. Sanderson
  • Patent number: 4601071
    Abstract: A flushing system for rapidly delivering a given volume of water supplied to an accumulating chamber (5) from an automatically or manually operated valve (6) has a float-controlled discharge valve (19) which is arranged to be opened when said given volume of water has been delivered to the accumulating chamber (5) and the float is located at a corresponding level in said chamber. A supply pipe (13) extends downwardly in the accumulating chamber (5) towards the outlet (3), and a valve housing (19) is slidably arranged, together with the float, on the water supply pipe. In a closing position of the valve housing, the lower edge part of the valve encircles the outlet. In an opening position of the valve housing, with water in the accumulating chamber, the valve housing is lifted from the seating. The lower end of the supply pipe is formed with a valve body (17) arranged, together with the valve housing, to form a pressure chamber (24) having a leakage opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1986
    Inventor: Bengt A. Persson