System and method for fixing a toilet overflow

Abstract

A basin may comprise a wall wherein the wall may be circumscribed about a bowl of a toilet. The wall circumscribed about the bowl of the toilet may define a cavity which may catch or contain waste water overflowing from the toilet. Further, the bowl may be modified with a notch at a rear portion of a rim of the bowl. The notch may operate to direct overflowing waste water therethrough and into the basin or in the alternative into a bucket. In another embodiment of the present invention, a bowl may be modified with a threaded aperture. The threaded aperture may be large enough for an instrument or hand to pass therethrough so as to aid in removing debris from a siphon passageway. In another embodiment of the present invention, a bowl of a toilet may be fabricated with a built in plunger. The built in plunger may have a head that is disposed within the siphon passageway. The head may have a non actuated position which allows the toilet to operate as normal and an actuated position which traverses the head from the non actuated position to an actuated position. The traversing from the non actuated position to the actuated position may force debris trapped within the siphon passageway back into the bowl of the toilet.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to improved toilets and toilet modifications, and more particularly, a basin or absorbent member to contain overflow water of the toilet, a conventional toilet modified with an aperture to remove debris from a siphon passageway of the toilet, and a built in plunger to push debris trapped within the siphon passageway back into a bowl of the toilet.

Gravity toilet tanks are well known and the most commonly utilized toilets in residences today. A common problem with gravity toilet tanks, as well as other types of toilets known in the art is overflowing wastewater. In particular, when toilets become clogged, then the water level in the bowl of the toilet may over flow and cause damage to the floor and other nearby structures. Manufacturers and engineers typically design the bowl to hold one full tank of water such that a single flush will not cause the toilet bowl water to overflow. Nonetheless, toilet bowls still overflow. One reason may be that a refill mechanism of the toilet bowl may be broken. In this regard, manufacturers and designers still attempt to provide for additional measures to deal with overflowing waste water and its associated causes.

The damage caused by overflowing wastewater may be expensive. For example, the waste water may stain adjacent dry wall, and carpeting, and damage nearby structures such as cabinets and furniture. Moreover, the damage caused by overflowing wastewater may be magnified if the toilet is located in multi floor apartment building. In particular, the overflowing wastewater may flow down into other floors of the building and cause water damage to carpet, furniture, dry wall and other associated structures of the apartment building. Accordingly, the damage caused by overflowing waste water may be widespread and extremely expensive to repair.

One solution to overflowing waste water is to redirect overflowing waste water to a central drainage system such that the overflowing waste water does not damage the floor or nearby structures. For example, the floor upon which the toilet sits may be water impervious and contoured such that any overflowing waste water will run into the central drain which may lead to a sewer. Accordingly, overflowing waste water does not remain on the floor so as to damage the floor and nearby structures. This method of preventing damage to the floor and nearby structures is typically found in public area restrooms such as at restaurants, airports, and the like. This method accomplishes the task of preventing damage to the floor and nearby structures but is very costly because it requires that the floor be specially contoured such that overflowing waste water will be centrally directed to a central drainage. Further, the floor must be water impervious and as such is only useful in certain commercial environments. Moreover, this method requires that there be a central drainage system. This central drainage system is an additional expense above the drainage system for the toilet itself. Simply put, this solution is expensive and unattractive.

Another solution related to overflowing waste water is clog-removal, typically via the use of a plunger. The plunger does not address the overflowing waste water itself such as in the central drainage system discussed above; rather, the plunger unclogs a siphon passage way of the toilet so as to prevent overflowing waste water. For example, the toilet may have an excess of toilet paper such that the excess becomes trapped within the siphon passageway. In this regard, the plunger may be used on the toilet to create a sufficient amount of pressure within the siphon passageway so as to force the excess therethrough into the sewer. However, this solution does not solve all types of causes for clogged toilets. For example, if an object too large for the siphon passageway were to become trapped therein, then no amount of increased pressure would be sufficient to force the hair brush through the siphon passage way.

One solution to remove such oversized objects would be to use a toilet auger. However, the toilet auger is inconvenient to use and the homeowner typically has to rent such equipment thereby causing additional expense with respect to both time and money. Moreover, the toilet auger may require special skill to use because of the danger of damaging the inner surface of the siphon passageway. As such, the homeowner may have to hire a plumber thereby further adding to the expense to unclog the toile both with respect to time and money.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a device which is easy to install as well as inexpensive to further address the problems associated with overflowing waste water. Moreover, there is a need in the art for a device which may remove items that have become trapped within the siphon passage way but is too large to pass therethrough.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The deficiencies in the prior art are addressed by the device of the present invention. In this regard, although reference to the deficiencies are made in this brief summary, this reference is not meant to limit the scope of the present invention in any respect but rather the references to the deficiencies in the prior art are meant to illustrate by way of example only the benefits of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a basin which may contain or catch waste water that may overflow from a toilet. In particular, the basin may comprise a wall that surrounds or circumscribes the entire circumference of a bowl of the toilet. The wall along with the bowl may form a cavity that is capable of catching waste water that overflows from the bowl. As such, in the event that the toilet does overflow, the waste water is contained within the cavity and the waste water cannot damage the floor or surrounding structures. To facilitate the ability of the wastewater contained within the basin to be easily disposed of, it is contemplated that a valve may be provided through which such water can be drained through the existing plumbing network. In this respect, it is contemplated that such optional valve will tie into the toilet's existing plumbing line to thus enable the wastewater to be quickly and easily eliminated using the existing plumbing infrastructure. Hence, the extensive damages that may be caused by overflowing waste water as identified in the background are mitigated by the device of the present invention.

Further, the basin may be fabricated so as to be attachable to the bowl of the toilet while the bowl is in place on the floor (i.e., without removing the bowl from the floor). This may be accomplished by pre-forming a wall that is circumscribable about the bowl of the toilet. In this regard, the wall may be flexible such that the same may be wrapped around the bowl of the toilet. Moreover, the wall may define first and second distal ends which may overlap and be attached to each other once the wall is wrapped around the bowl. Accordingly, the basin which is one aspect of the present invention is easy and inexpensive to install yet may prevent damage to the floor and adjacent structures that costs exponentially more than the cost to install the basin.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the toilet and more particularly, the bowl of the toilet may be modified to have a notch. The notch may be formed in a rim of the bowl and preferably, the notch may be formed at a rear portion of the rim so as to prevent any inconvenience to a user of the toilet. The notch may operate to direct overflowing waste water through the notch instead of completely over the entire circumference of the rim of the bowl. A bucket adjacently positioned to the bowl and preferably positioned adjacent to the notch and below the notch may operate to catch or contain the overflowing waste water directed through the notch. In this regard, the bowl modified with the notch and the bucket in combination therewith provide an inexpensive solution to the problem of waste water overflowing from the toilet bowl.

In a variation of such embodiment, a plastic toilet rim having a notch formed thereon, the latter in alignment with a bucket either integrally formed therewith or attachable to such rim is provided to thus enable such embodiment to be utilized with conventional toilets to thus direct the overflow of wastewater to such external bucket, as opposed to spilling about the floor of the toilet as would otherwise occur. Such embodiment will preferably be configured to be able to attach to any or most existing toilet bowls, typically via apertures configured to align and interconnect with the holes provided in most toilets for interconnecting a conventional toilet seat. In this respect, it is contemplated that by integrating the embodiment between the toilet and toilet and further forming a water tight seal utilizing a known sealant, an existing toilet can be easily modified that is adapted to catch the water from an overflowing toilet.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the bowl may be modified to have an aperture. The aperture may be strategically positioned above an elbow of a siphon passageway of the toilet. In this regard, instruments and, if the aperture is sized large enough, a human hand may enter the aperture to remove debris from the siphon passage way by pushing debris back into the bowl. This allows removal of debris too large to pass through the siphon passageway from the siphon passageway. Or, debris may be pushed further into the siphon passageway to force debris through the toilet drainage system. When the aperture is not used to clear debris from the siphon passageway, a screw may be threadingly engaged to the aperture so as to allow the siphon passageway to operate normally.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the toilet may be modified to have a built in plunger. The built in plunger may have a head disposed within the siphon passageway of the toilet, and may have a non actuated position and an actuated position. The head, when in the non actuated position, may conform to an inner surface of the siphon passageway. When the head is traversed to the actuated position, the head enters the siphon passageway and proceeds through an entrance of the siphon passage way. This is operative to force waste water and debris back into the bowl. Further, the head may be actuated between the non actuated and actuated positions with a foot pedal that may be depressed. Upon depression of the foot pedal, the head may be traversed to the actuated position from a non actuated position. This aspect of the present invention illustrates a convenient for clearing debris trapped within the siphon passageway.

In combination with the aforementioned embodiment may be utilized a disposable, single-use band of absorbent material that is operative to absorb any wastewater spilling over the toilet rim to thus serve to catch or collect the same before spilling about the floor immediately surrounding the toilet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An illustrative and presently preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toilet with a wall circumscribed about a bowl of the toilet;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional side view of the toilet and wall of FIG. 1 illustrating a lower edge of the wall abutting a base of the bowl;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional side view of the toilet of FIG. 1 with a lower edge of a wall disposed between a bowl of the toilet and floor, and illustrating a liner for providing a barrier between the wall and bowl, and overflowing waste water;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a toilet with a notch in a rim of the toilet, and a wall circumscribed about a bowl of the toilet operative to contain waste water overflowing through the notch;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the toilet of FIG. 4, and a bucket adjacent to the notch to contain overflowing wastewater flowing through the notch;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a toilet with an aperture formed on an upper surface of a bowl of the toilet and positioned above an elbow of a siphon passageway of the toilet;

FIG. 7 is a side cross sectional view of a toilet modified with a built in plunger in a non actuated position;

FIG. 8 is a side cross sectional view of the toilet of FIG. 7 with the built in plunger in an actuated position, and further showing the use of an optional absorbent ring to absorb overflowing wastewater;

FIG. 9 is a top view of a pre-fabricated toilet rim having a bucket formed therewith that is operative to be attached to an existing conventional toilet;

FIG. 10 is a frontal view of the pre-fabricated toilet rim of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 a side view of the pre-fabricated toilet rim of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 12 is a side view of a conventional toilet with the pre-fabricated toilet rim of FIG. 9 being affixed thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The drawings referred to herein are for the purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention and not for the purpose of limiting the same. For example, FIGS. 1-8 illustrate various embodiments or aspects of the present invention, and more particularly, FIG. 1 illustrates a basin 10 which is an aspect of the present invention circumscribing a toilet bowl 12 of a gravity tank toilet 14 for the purpose of containing overflow waste water (not shown). In this regard, although the present invention is described with respect to a typical gravity tank toilet 14, it is also contemplated that the basin 10 which is one aspect of the present invention may also be practiced with other types of toilets such as a tankless toilet.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the basin 10 is provided. The basin 10 may circumscribe the bowl 12 of the gravity tank toilet 14, as shown in FIG. 1. The basin 10 may extend from a base 16 (see FIG. 2) of the bowl 12 and extend upwardly toward a rim 18 of the bowl 12, and more preferably, the basin 10 may also extend outwardly. This upward and outward extension of the basin 10 from the base 16 of the bowl is illustrated in FIG. 2. The basin 10 circumscribing the bowl 12 along with the outer surface 20 of the bowl 12 define a cavity 22. The cavity 22 may be operative to catch or contain waste water that may overflow from the bowl 12. In other words, as the waste water overflows from the bowl 12, the overflowing waste water may fall or drop into the cavity 22 and prevent the waste water from accumulating onto the floor 24 and damaging the floor 24 and nearby structures (not shown). Further, the cavity 22 may be sized to contain at least one tank full of water.

Now a greater detailed discussion of the basin will be discussed. In particular, the basin 10 may comprise a wall 26. The wall 26 may circumscribe the bowl 12 to form the basin. A lower edge 28 of the wall 26 when circumscribed about the bowl 12 may form a first aperture 30. The first aperture 30 may abut the bowl, as shown in FIG. 2. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the lower edge 28a abuts the bowl 12 at the junction where the bowl 12 is attached to the floor 24. In the alternative, the lower edge 28b may be tucked under the bowl 12, as shown in FIG. 3. It is also contemplated that the lower edge 28 may abut the bowl 12 at a level higher than floor level. In all three examples, to provide for a water tight seal at the junction between the lower edge 28 and the bowl 12, the junction may be caulked or otherwise sealed such as with silicone.

The wall 26 may also define an upper edge 32. The upper edge 32 may be wider compared to the rim 18 of the bowl 12 so as to catch waste water overflowing from the rim 18. It is also contemplated that the upper edge 32 may be smaller compared to the rim 18 of the bowl 12 yet be able to catch waste water that may overflow from the rim 18. As will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, the height of the upper edge 32 may be selectively chosen so that the volume defined by cavity 22 is sufficient to capture a maximum amount of wastewater, typically the contents of an entire flush of the toilet tank, as would be encountered for a given toilet. As such, it will be understood that the height of upper edger 32 may be considerably lower depending upon the amount of overflow wastewater that may be anticipate for a particular toilet.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the basin 10 as being wrapped about the bowl. And, in another aspect of the present invention, FIG. 3 illustrates the bowl 12 resting on top of the lower edge 28. In this regard, a discussion of the basin 10 being wrapped about the bowl 12 will be followed by a discussion of the bowl 23 resting on the lower edge 28 of the wall 26. With respect to the basin 10 wrapped about the bowl 12 (see FIG. 2), the wall 28 may be preformed such that the wall 28 may extend upwardly and outwardly as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and may additionally define first and second distal ends 34, 36 (see FIG. 1). As stated above, the junction where the lower edge 28 of the wall 26 abuts the bowl 12 may be caulked to provide a water tight seal therebetween. Similarly, the first and second distal ends 34, 36 may overlap as shown in FIG. 1. The first and second ends 34, 36 when the wall 26 is installed may be lined with hooks and loops (e.g., commonly sold under the trademark VELCRO), respectively to hold the ends 34, 36 in place. Thereafter, the junction between the first and second ends 34, 36 may be caulked to additionally to provide a water tight seal therebetween. In this way, the wall 26 works in conjunction with the bowl 12 to form the cavity 22; and the cavity 22 may be operative to catch and contain overflowing waste water.

With respect to the bowl 12 that rests on the lower edge 28 of the wall 26, the wall 26 may be preformed as a unitary piece. In this regard, the wall 26 may resemble a bucket with an aperture 30 (see FIG. 3) through its bottom. The aperture 30 may be sized and configured to fit between the bowl 12 and the floor 24. In this regard, the bowl 12 should be removed from the floor 24 to install the basin 10. In particular, the bowl 12 may be removed. Thereafter, the wall 26 may be positioned on the floor 24 such that the aperture 30 is aligned with the bowl 12. The bowl 12 may then be attached to the floor 24 to complete the installation of the wall 26 to the toilet 14. Further, to provide a water tight seal between the wall 26 and the bowl 12, the junction where the wall 26 abuts the bowl 12 may be caulked 38 which is illustratively shown in FIG. 3.

Although the basin 10 of the present invention has been described as being caulked to provide a water tight seal between the wall 26 and the bowl 12, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the wall 26 does not have to be caulked to provide the water tight seal between the wall 26 and the bowl 12. For example, it is contemplated that the wall 26 is fabricated from a resilient rubbery material. The rubber wall 26 may be preformed such that the bowl 12 rests on the lower edge 28 of the rubber wall 26 as discussed above. When the bowl 12 rests on the rubber wall 26, then a water tight seal may be formed therebetween. In the alternative, the rubber wall 26 may be formed such that aperture 30 may be slightly smaller. In this regard, the aperture 30 may squeeze itself about the bowl 12 to provide a water tight seal thereabout.

The wall 26 discussed above may be fabricated from plastic, galvanized steel, rubber or combinations thereof. Preferably, the wall 26 is fabricated from material that does not corrode and is soft such that people will not be harmed if they bump into the wall 26. It is likewise contemplated that the wall 26 will be formed to be disposable in nature following a single use thereof.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, the basin 12 may further comprise a liner 40. The liner is illustratively shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the liner may completely cover the inner surface 42 of the wall 26 and the outer surface 20 of the bowl 12. In this regard, the liner 40 may provide a water tight barrier between the bowl 12 and basin 10, and the waste water. As such, when the waste water overflows and is contained by the basin 10, only the liner 40 requires replacement or cleaning. This aids in providing a convenient method of cleaning overflowing waste water. Although the liner 40 has been described in relation to the wall 26 where the lower edge 28 is tucked under the bowl 12, it is contemplated that the liner 40 may be combined with the other aspects of the present invention. For example, although not shown, the liner 40 may cover the inner surface 42 of the wall 26 and the outer surface 20 of the bowl 12 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Simply put, the liner 40 may be combined with the various aspects of the present invention to prevent waste water from contaminating areas surrounding the bowl 12.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, the bowl 12 may be modified such that overflowing waste water may be directed into a basin 10 (see FIG. 4) or bucket 46 (see FIG. 5). In FIG. 4, the bowl 12 is modified with a notch 44 in the rim 18 of the bowl 12. The notch 44 may be fabricated anywhere about the rim 18 but is preferably fabricated along a rearward portion 46 of the rim 18 such that users of the toilet 14 are not inconvenienced by the notch 44. The notch 44 may operate to direct overflowing waste water through the notch 44 such that in the event of overflowing waste water, the waste water does not contaminate the complete circumference of the rim 18. Rather, the waste water will contaminate only the notch 44 which is easier to clean.

In an optional modification for use in any of the embodiments discussed herein with respect to FIGS. 1-4, there may be provided a separate valve or drain, shown as 21 in phantom in FIG. 2 that is operative to serve as a passageway through which the wastewater can drain through the toilet's existing plumbing line. In this regard, it is contemplated that such valve 21, which may take any valve known in the art, such as a manually actuated valve and the like, can be deployed to thus enable the contents held within the cavity 22 to be disposed of easily and quick, and especially without having to transfer the contents held within the basin to an another site (such as another toilet). In one contemplated embodiment, the valve 21 will be formed form a dissolvable material such that over a certain amount of time, the waste water held within cavity 22 will be operative to dissolve such valve 21 and thus automatically drain through the toilet's existing plumbing line without ever having to reroute or otherwise come into contact with such wastewater.

As shown in FIG. 5, there is shown a variation of the embodiment of FIG. 4 wherein the basin 10 may be replaced with the bucket 46. The bucket 46 may define an upper edge 48. And, at least a portion of the upper edge 48 may be attached to the outside surface 20 of the bowl 12, although this attachment between the upper edge 48 and bowl 20 is not required. Preferably, the upper edge 48 attaches to the outside surface 20 of the bowl 12 underneath the notch 44 formed in the rim 18. As such, the waste water that overflows through the notch 44 may be contained in the bucket 46. Furthermore, the bucket 46 may be provided with a liner 40 such that cleaning of the bucket 46 is simple and efficient.

In a variation of such embodiment depicted in FIGS. 9-12, it is contemplated that a pre-fabricated toilet rim having bucket attached or integrally formed therewith may be provided that can be utilized with existing toilets. As is illustrated in FIG. 9, it is contemplated that such structure 100 may be formed as a unitary plastic piece defined by an annular rim 102 that complements a rim of a conventional toilet seat. In this respect, annular rim 102 will define an aperture 104 to thus enable the toilet bowl to be accessed. Formed rearward of annular rim 102 is planar surface 106, the latter having apertures 108 formed thereon that are operative to align with existing apertures within the toilet for receiving screws to interconnect the toilet seat, as shown in FIG. 1. A channel 110 is formed that extends from annular rim 102 and across planar surface 106 to overflow tank 112. As per the above embodiments, it is contemplated that channel 110 will direct the overflowing toilet water to overflow tank 112 to thus prevent the overflowing water from spilling about the toilet.

Referring now to FIG. 10, there is shown a frontal view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9 that shows the structure of the pre-fabricated toilet rim and how the same is designed to rest upon existing rim of a conventional toilet. In this regard, it is expressly contemplated that such embodiment will serve as a retrofit, via apertures 108, and may be formed from relatively inexpensive materials, such as plastic and the like, to thus enable conventional toilets to avoid causing the damage sought to be prevented through the improvements of the present invention. To achieve that end, it will likely be necessary to employ the use of a seal or sealant 114 to form a watertight seal between the rim 112 and toilet bowl rim.

Such application is illustrated in FIG. 11 which shows how the embodiment 100 will be positioned beneath a toilet seat and lid 116 (shown in phantom) to thus enable the embodiment 100 to be integrated within a conventional toilet without causing the toilet to become substantially modified from its original design. In this regard, the embodiment 100 is expressly configured to be interconnected using the existing apertures 108 provided in most conventional toilets. As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, however, it is contemplated that in order to form a waterproof seal, annular rim 102 will necessarily need to be sealed, illustrated as 114 in FIG. 10, to the conventional toilet rim using a conventional sealing agent well-known to those skilled in the art.

Such embodiment 100 is further more clearly depicted in FIG. 12 which shows how the embodiment 100 is integrated within an existing toilet structure 120. As shown, the annular rim 120 is sandwiched between the conventional toilet lid and seat 116 (shown in phantom) and rim of the toilet with the recovery bucket 112 being shown in phantom. In use, to the extent an overflow occurs, the overflowing water will be directed through channel 110 and into the bucket so the same may be captured. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, it is contemplated that the embodiment 100 may be formed to be either a permanent structure or detachably fastenable to the toilet for either disposal after single use or for cleaning and reuse.

In another aspect of the present invention, the bowl 12 may be modified with an aperture 50, as shown in FIG. 6. The aperture 50 may be located above a siphon passageway 52, and preferably is located above an elbow 54 of the siphon passageway 52. Moreover, the aperture 50 may be located on a top surface 56 of the bowl 12 such that the toilet 14 may be used normally by a person. The aperture 30 may be sized to fit a long slender instrument such as a toilet auger or in the alternative; the aperture 30 may be sized to fit an adult human hand. The aperture 30 may additionally be threaded so as to receive a complementary threaded screw 58. The threaded screw 58 as shown in FIG. 6 is shown to resemble a wing nut to remove the screw 58 from the threaded aperture 50; however, it is contemplated that the screw 58 may be fabricated to receive a phillips screw driver to remove the screw or other types of tightening or loosening mechanisms. The screw 58 may be fabricated from material such as plastic, rubber, steel, composite material or combinations thereof. Preferably, the screw 58 is fabricated from material that will not damage the bowl 12 and will be able to withstand suction created within the siphon passageway 52 when the toilet 14 is flushed. Further, between the screw 58 and the aperture 50, an O-ring 60 may be provided such that a water tight seal may be formed therebetween.

In use, the threaded screw 58 may be screwed onto the threaded aperture 50 and the toilet 14 may function normally. However, when the siphon passageway 52 becomes clogged with debris such as excess toilet paper, the screw 58 may be unthreaded and a toilet auger or other instrument may be placed therethrough to aid in removing debris or excess toilet paper trapped inside of the siphon passageway 52.

As stated above, the aperture 50 may be positioned above the elbow 54 of the siphon passageway 52. In this regard, the aperture 50 is strategically located such that debris trapped within the siphon passageway 52 may be forced back into the bowl 12 for removal by a plumber or homeowner. Or, in the alternative, the debris may be forced through the home drainage system.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a built in plunger 62 is provided. The built in plunger 62 may be integral with the toilet 14 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7 illustrates the built in plunger 62 in a non actuated position, whereas, FIG. 8 illustrates the built in plunger 62 in an actuated position. The built in plunger may comprise a head 64, a cable 66, and a foot pedal 68. The head 64 may be fabricated to have the same shape as a conventional plunger head. Preferably, the head 64 when the built in plunger 62 is in a non actuated position conforms to an inner surface 70 of the siphon passage 52, as shown in FIG. 7. In this regard, the siphon passageway 52 may be allowed to function as in a typical gravity tank toilet 14. The cable 66 may comprise a sheath 72 and a wire 74 disposed within the sheath 72. The sheath 72 and the wire 74 may be disposed at least partially within the bowl of the toilet, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The wire 74 may traverse along a length of the sheath 72. The wire 74 may define a first distal end 76 and second distal end 78. The first distal end 76 may be attached to the head 64; and the second distal end 78 may be attached to the foot pedal 68. The foot pedal 68 may be affixed to the floor 24; and be rotateable in relation to the floor. In this regard, the second distal end 78 may be attached to the foot pedal 68 at an outer radius such that rotational movement of the foot pedal 68 may operate to traverse the wire 74 within the sheath 72 and the head from the non actuated position to the actuated position.

In use, the toilet 14 may function as a typical gravity tank toilet 14. However, when the toilet 14 becomes clogged, the user may traverse the foot pedal 68 from the non actuated position to the actuated position, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, respectively. Traversing the foot pedal 68 to the actuated position may be operative to move the head 64 into the siphon passageway 52, as shown in FIG. 8. The head 64 may be sized and configured to the siphon passageway 52 such that the head 64 may force debris from the siphon passageway 52 back into the bowl 12. The head 64 may force debris from the siphon passageway 52 back into the bowl 12 by creating pressure within the siphon passageway 52, and/or the head 64 may physically contact the debris to push the debris back into the bowl 12. As such, debris that may be trapped within the siphon passageway 52 may be pushed back into the bowl 12.

To provide further protection, there is further illustrated in FIG. 8 an optional band of absorbent material 80 that is positioned about the perimeter of the toilet bowl. Such band of absorbent material 80 may be fabricated from a wide-variety of materials well-known in the art, such as cross linked polyacrylimide materials operative to absorb hundreds of times its own weight in water. Such band of absorbent material is believed to compliment the functioning of the present invention by providing further protection against damage caused to flooring and the like from the overflow of toilets. In this respect, it is contemplated that the band of absorbent material 80 will be operative to absorb the wastewater overflowing from a toilet until such time as the clog or cause for the overflow is remedied. Accordingly, it should be understood that such band of absorbent material 80 is yet a further aspect of the novel systems disclosed herein and deemed to fall within the scope of the present invention.

This description of the various embodiments of the present invention is presented to illustrate the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and other inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed. The appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations except insofar as limited by the prior art.

Claims

1. A basin for a toilet, the toilet having a bowl and a tank, the bowl defining an outside surface and rim, and the tank being fillable with water, the basin comprising,

a. a wall being circumscribable about the bowl, the wall and bowl defining a cavity capable of containing overflowing waste water.

2. The basin of claim 1 wherein the wall defines a lower edge, the lower edge being abbutable with the outside surface of the bowl at a lower portion of the bowl.

3. The basin of claim 2 wherein the abutment of the lower edge and the base of the bowl is caulked.

4. The basin of claim 1 wherein the wall is removeably attachable to the bowl.

5. The basin of claim 4 wherein the wall defines first and second distal ends, the first distal end being removeably attachable to the second distal end.

6. The basin of claim 5 wherein the first and second distal ends are lined with hooks and loops, respectively.

7. The basin of claim 1 further comprising a liner to provide a barrier between the wall and bowl, and overflowing waste water.

8. The basin of claim 1 wherein the wall is sized and configured to the bowl such that the cavity is capable of containing at least one tank of water.

9. A toilet comprising a bowl, the bowl defining a rim wherein the rim is notched for directing overflowing wastewater through the notch.

10. The toilet of claim 9 wherein the notch is formed on the rim at a rear portion of the rim.

11. The toilet of claim 9 further comprising a bucket adjacent to the notch for containing the overflowing wastewater directed through the notch.

12. The toilet of claim 10 wherein the bucket defines an upper edge, and at least a portion of the upper edge is sized and configured to an outer surface of the bowl under the notch.

13. A toilet comprising,

a. a siphon passageway, the siphon passageway defining an elbow;

b. a bowl defining an upper surface with an aperture for inserting instruments to remove debris trapped within the siphon passageway.

14. The toilet of claim 13 wherein the aperture in the upper surface is positioned above the elbow of the siphon passageway.

15. The toilet of claim 13 wherein the aperture is threaded, and further comprises a screw removeably engageable with the threaded aperture.

16. The toilet of claim 15 further comprising an O ring seated between the screw and the upper surface to provide a water tight seal therebetween.

17. A toilet comprising a head disposed inside of a siphon passageway of the toilet, the head being traverseable between a non actuated position and an actuated position, the head being operative to push debris trapped within the siphon passageway back into a bowl of the toilet upon being traversed from the non actuated position to the actuated position.

18. The toilet of claim 17 wherein the head is normally in the non actuated position.

19. The toilet of claim 17 further comprising,

a. a cable, the cable having a sheath and a wire disposed within the sheath, the wire defining first and second distal ends, the first distal end being attached to the head;

b. a foot pedal affixed to a floor, the foot pedal attached to the second distal end of the wire, the foot pedal being operative to traverse the head from the non actuated position to the actuated position upon depressing the foot pedal.

20. The toilet of claim 17 wherein the head is flush with an inner surface of the siphon passageway.

21. The toilet of claim 17 wherein said toilet further comprises a band of absorbent material extending thereabout, said band of absorbent material being operative to absorb wastewater overflowing from said toilet.