Toilet overflow check system

Abstract

A toilet overflow check system having a toilet bowl rim engagement member, a pivot adjustment upright member extending downward from the rim engagement member, an elongate pivot member having a proximate end portion and a distal end portion, a pivot member float mounted on the distal end portion of the elongate pivot member, and having a centrally located pivot point, and a pivot axle supported by the pivot adjustment upright member. The pivot axle pivotally supports the elongate pivot member at the pivot point, and there is a connecting cord secured to the proximate end portion of the elongate pivot member, the connecting cord being connected to the flap member of a flap valve of the toilet. In operation, upon the float rising upward with water approaching an overflow condition, the elongate pivot pulls the connecting cord, closing the toilet flap valve.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/675,466, filed Apr. 28, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to toilets and waterclosets and, more particularly to devices to stop overflow of clogged toilets.

2. Description of the Related Art

The overflow of water from the toilet bowl after flushing a clogged toilet results in messy cleanup and possible damage to floors and floor coverings in the area of the toilet and water damage to rooms below. Many devices have been proposed for avoiding overflow of a clogged toilet. Some rely on electrical or mechanical sensors activating an electrically operated shut-off mechanism. These are undesirable due to their cost and the danger of the use of electricity near the water operated toilet. Other proposed devices are either expensive or complicated and subject to failure.

Thus an apparatus for stopping toilet overflow solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a toilet overflow check system having a toilet bowl rim engagement member, a pivot adjustment upright member extending downward from the rim engagement member, an elongate pivot member having a proximate end portion a central portion, and a distal end portion, a pivot member float mounted on the distal end portion of the elongate pivot member, the pivot member having a centrally located pivot point, and a pivot axle supported by the pivot adjustment upright member. The pivot axle pivotally supports the elongate pivot member at the pivot point, and there is a connecting cord secured to the proximate end portion of the elongate pivot member, the connecting cord being connected to the flap member of a flap valve of the toilet. In operation upon the float rising upward with water approaching an overflow condition, the elongate pivot member rotates around the pivot, pulling the proximate end of the pivot member downward, and thereby pulling the connecting cord, the connecting cord pulling the flap element downward against the seat of the flap valve of the water tank, thereby stopping flow of water from the toilet tank to the toilet bowl and avoiding overflow of the bowl.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective, partially broken away view of a toilet with the inventive overflow check system install with bowl water at a normal level.

FIG. 2 is an environmental, perspective view similar to that of FIG. 1 with the bowl water approaching an overflow level and the overflow check system activated.

FIG. 3 is an environmental, perspective view of the overflow check system as attached to a water tank flap valve of the toilet of FIG. 1.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is a toilet overflow check system including a mechanical device that is attached to a toilet bowl to stop overflow of water from a clogged toilet that has been flushed.

Referring to the Figures, there is shown in FIG. 1 a perspective view, partially broken away, of a toilet with the water W level in the bowl at a normal level, and in FIG. 2, a similar view with the water level at a high level actuating the device of the present invention to stop water flow into the bowl. Toilet or water closet 10 is of conventional design, having a tank 12 for holding water W above a bowl 14. A flush handle 16 trips a trip lever 18 opening a flap valve 20 by pulling on an interconnecting chain 22. The flap valve 20 has a flap valve member 24 sealing against a valve seat 26. The tank 12 contains a conventional float 28 operating a tank water inlet 30.

The bowl 14 has a conventional annular rim 32 forming an annulus 34 carrying water to flush water vent holes 36 spaced around the upper part of bowl 14 for providing flush water to the bowl upon turning flush handle 16. Flush water is provided by tank 12 through the open flap valve 20 and through flush water conduit 38 to annulus 34 as seen in FIG. 1. The inventive toilet overflow check system 40 includes an elongate pivot member 42 having cord eyelets 43 at an end proximate the tank 12 and a float at its distal end.

A pivot support and adjustment upright member 46 has a plurality of pivot points 48 at differing levels to support pivot axle 50 at one of a plurality of selected levels. The choice of pivot points is made according to the normal level of water in the toilet bowl 14. As seen in FIG. 1, pivot member 42 is about horizontal as determined by float 44. A cord 60 is attached to the proximate end of pivot member 42 by tying through one of the cord eyelets 43 (see FIG. 3) and is threaded through a rear flush water vent hole 36 into annulus 34 and flush water conduit 38 to flap valve 20. The cord 60 extends through the open valve seat 1 8 and ties to flap element 24 such as by a screw eyelet 64 and knot 66. There is little or no noticeable slack in cord 60 in this condition.

Referring to FIG. 2, the water level is shown as high within bowl 14 and rising toward an overflow condition. The float 44 rises with the water level of water W pivoting pivot member 42 around pivot axle 50, the proximate end being forced downward, pulling cord 60 which pulls flap valve 20 closed, thus preventing additional flow of water from tank 12 into the bowl 14 and thereby preventing overflow of the bowl. Upon unclogging the toilet 10, the water W returns to its normal level and the float 44 pivots downward, allowing pivot valve 20 to open upon turning flush handle 16 during normal operation.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a perspective view of the inventive toilet overflow stopping device 40, having an elongate pivot member 42 having cord eyelets along its proximate end and a pivot float on its distal end and pivoting on pivot axle 50 adjustably mounted on upright member 45 at a selected pivot member pivot point 48. Pivot adjustment upright member 46 is integral with and extends downward from rim engagement element 52, which is made of plastic or metal to snap over and engage the bowl rim 32 (see FIG. 2).

Rim engagement element 52 has a lower inward directed portion 54 conforming to the lower edge of rim 32, an inner downward extending vertical portion 56, an outer downward extending vertical portion 57, and an upper horizontal portion 58 extending the width of bowl rim 32 and connecting inner portion 56 and outer portion 57. Outer portion 57 has a thumbscrew 59 for securely mounting rim engagement element 52 to bowl rim 32. Cord 60 is tied through a selected eyelet at cord pivot tie 62 at the proximate end portion of pivot member 42, cord 60 being pulled taut and tied to eyelet screw 64 by knot 66.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A toilet overflow check system, comprising:

a toilet bowl rim engagement member;

a pivot adjustment upright member extending downward from said rim engagement member;

an elongate pivot member having a proximate end portion a central portion, and a distal end portion;

a pivot member float mounted on said distal end portion of said elongate pivot member;

said pivot member having a pivot point in said central portion;

a pivot axle;

said pivot adjustment upright member supporting said pivot axle;

said pivot axle pivotally supporting said elongate pivot member at said pivot point; and

a connecting cord secured to said proximate end portion of said elongate pivot member, said connecting cord being directly connected to the flap member of a flap valve of the toilet; whereby, upon said float rising upward with water approaching an overflow condition, said elongate pivot member rotates around said pivot, pulling said proximate end of said pivot member downward, and thereby pulling said connecting cord, said connecting cord pulling the flap element downward against the seat of the flap valve of the water tank, thereby stopping flow of water from the toilet tank to the toilet bowl and avoiding overflow of the bowl.

2. The toilet overflow check system according to claim 1, wherein said pivot adjustment upright member includes means defining a plurality of pivot points for selective placement of said pivot axle, whereby said pivot member is vertically adjustable, whereby the overflow check system is adjusted to be even with a predetermined, ordinary water level in said toilet bowl.

3. The toilet overflow check system according to claim 1, wherein said elongate pivot member proximate end portion includes means defining a plurality of eyelets therealong and therethrough, for selective attachment of said connecting cord thereto.

4. The toilet overflow check system according to claim 1, wherein said pivot adjustment upright member includes an upper horizontal member extending across a toilet bowl rim, and an outer, depending portion thus to mount said pivot adjustment upright member firmly onto the annular rim of a toilet bowl.

5. The toilet overflow check system according to claim 4, wherein said outer depending portion includes a thumbscrew for securing said depending portion firmly to the annular rim of a toilet bowl.

6. The toilet overflow check system according to claim 4, wherein said pivot adjustment upright member, said upper horizontal member, and said outer depending portion are of one-piece, unitary construction.

7. A toilet overflow check system for use with a toilet having a bowl with an annular, upper rim, a water tank, and a flapper valve assembly at the bottom of the tank for admitting water into the toilet bowl, the flapper valve assembly including a flapper valve and a valve seat therefor, said overflow check system comprising:

an upright member depending into the toilet bowl from the rim of the toilet bowl;

an elongate pivot member pivotally attached to said upright member and having a distal end and a proximate end nearer the flapper valve;

a cord connecting the pivot member proximate end with the flapper valve; and

a float on the pivot member distal end;

whereupon rising of water within the toilet bowl above a predetermined level will cause said pivot member to rotate under urging from said float, to pull said cord and pull the flapper valve down against its seat, thus stopping water flow from the toilet tank into the toilet bowl.

8. The overflow check system according to claim 7, wherein said upright member includes bracket structure for releasably mounting said upright member firmly on the annular rim of a toilet.

9. The overflow check system according to claim 7, said upright member including multiple mounting points vertically therealong for selective mounting of said pivot member.

10. The overflow check system according to claim 7, wherein said pivot member proximate end includes a plurality of attachment holes formed therethrough for selective attachment of said cord.

11. The overflow check system according to claim 7, there further being a screw eye attachment in the flapper valve of the toilet for attachment of the cord thereto.