Smart Toilet Connection

Abstract

A fill valve for installation into a toilet tank and for connection to a water supply of a building; the fill valve includes a fill valve body, a nut, a quick-connect fitting, and a water supply tube. The quick-connect fitting includes an O-ring and a collet. The water supply tube is connected to a water supply valve at one end and is inserted into the quick-connect fitting at another end and is held in friction with the quick-connect fitting. The fill valve is useful for providing a means of quick connect and disconnect of the water supply to a toilet and prevent leaks associated with conventional connections.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/822,021 filed Mar. 21, 2019, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the field of plumbing of existing art and more specifically relates to toilet fill valves.

RELATED ART

Toilets generally comprise of a commode and a reservoir tank. The reservoir tank holds a predetermined amount of water to flush clean the commode after use. The reservoir tanks are generally connected to a water supply source via a fill valve for refilling the reservoir tank after each use.

Presently, most toilet fill valves have a conventional threaded connection. This connection can split or crack over time, causing thousands of dollar's worth of water damage. Insurance companies are forced to cover the damage in many cases and homeowners often lose valuable personal property. A suitable solution is desired.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,121,594 to Dan E. Molter relates to a toilet valve quick connect system. The described toilet valve quick connect system includes an upper housing having a capture chamber which facilitates the operation of a capture nut with oversized outward peripheral portions to enable it to be turned within the confines of a typical toilet tank. The toilet valve quick connect has a lower section which extends through the hole in a typical toilet tank and is secured in much the same way as a conventional toilet valve fitting. The toilet valve quick connect includes an internal conical sealing member for facilitating the sealed connection with the bottom rim and inside of a conventional toilet valve fitting. A capture housing partially encloses the capture nut to enable it to engage the threaded bottom fitting of a conventional toilet valve and to impress a downward force on the threaded bottom fitting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known toilet fill valve art, the present disclosure provides a novel quick-connect toilet fill valve. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a toilet fill valve including a quick-connection to quickly and easily connect and disconnect the fill valve to a water supply line.

A fill valve is disclosed herein. The fill valve is for installation into a toilet tank and connection to a water supply of a building. The fill valve includes a fill valve body which may include an elongated length configured for vertical orientation in the toilet tank relative to a vertical axis. The fill valve body may have a top end and a bottom end relative to the vertical axis, the bottom end sized for insertion through a tank aperture located in the toilet tank. The fill valve body further may include a refill tube and a float device. A nut may be provided and configured to mate with the bottom end and secure the fill valve body in the toilet tank when the bottom end is inserted through the tank aperture.

Further, a quick-connect fitting may be located at the bottom end of the fill valve body, the quick-connect fitting may include a quick-connect fitting body having an outer shell defining an inner capacity, the inner capacity housing an O-ring configured to create a water tight seal, and a collet. The collet may be moveable inside the inner capacity between a retracted position and an extended position, and the quick-connect fitting body, the O-ring, and the collet may all be concentric relative to the vertical axis.

A water supply tube may be provided and configured for connection to a water supply valve at a first end, and for insertion into the quick connect fitting at a second end. The second end of the water supply tube may be configured for insertion into the collet and held in friction within the inner capacity of the quick-connect fitting body.

According to another embodiment, a method of installing a fill valve into a toilet tank is also disclosed herein. The method includes providing the fill valve as above; placing the fill valve body in the toilet tank; inserting the bottom end of the fill valve body through the tank aperture located in the toilet tank; mating the nut with the bottom end of the fill valve body to secure the fill valve body in the toilet tank; connecting the water supply tube to the water supply valve at the first end; and inserting the second end of the water supply tube into the quick-connect fitting.

For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a quick-connect toilet fill valve, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a side view of the fill valve during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the fill valve of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a cutaway side view of the fill valve of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the fill valve of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of installing a fill valve, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a toilet fill valve and more particularly to a quick-connect toilet fill valve as used to improve the connection between the fill valve and a water supply of a building.

Generally, disclosed is a toilet fill valve assembly with a quick water supply connector. The may toilet fill valve assembly may eliminate the conventional threaded nut connection, which can break down over time. This valve allows the toilet supply line to be connected to the fill valve without the use of a threaded nut, instead you can connect ⅜″ outer diameter water supply line directly into the quick water supply connector. The quick water supply connector includes an O-ring to provide a water tight connection. In some embodiments a metal ring holds the water supply line in the quick water supply connector. The exact specifications may vary.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-4, various views of a fill valve 100.

FIG. 1 shows a fill valve 100 during an ‘in-use’ condition 50, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Here, the fill valve 100 may be beneficial for use by a user 40 to quickly connect a water supply to the fill valve 100. As illustrated, the fill valve 100 may include a fill valve body 110, a nut 120, a quick-connect fitting 130, and a water supply tube 140. The fill valve 100 may be for installation into a toilet tank 5 and for connection to a water supply of a building.

FIG. 2 shows the fill valve 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The fill valve body 110 may include an elongated length 112 configured for vertical orientation in the toilet tank 5 relative to a vertical axis 105. The fill valve body 110 may have a top end 114 and a bottom end 116 relative to the vertical axis 105, the bottom end 116 sized for insertion through a tank aperture 10 located in the toilet tank 5. Further, a nut 120 may be configured to mate with the bottom end 116 and secure the fill valve body 110 in the toilet tank 5 when the bottom end 116 is inserted through the tank aperture 10. Preferably, the bottom end 116 of the fill valve body 110 may include a threaded outer surface 118. In this embodiment, the nut 120 may include a threaded aperture 122 configured to mate with the threaded outer surface 118. Further, as shown, the fill valve body 110 may further include a refill tube 111 and a float device 113.

FIG. 3-4 are side views of the fill valve 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The quick-connect fitting 130 may be located at the bottom end 116 of the fill valve body 110. The quick-connect fitting 130 may include a quick-connect fitting body 132 that is preferably cylindrical. In one embodiment, the quick-connect fitting body 132 may be made from a plastic material. The quick-connect fitting body 132 may include an outer shell 133 defining an inner capacity 131 housing an O-ring 134 configured to create a water tight seal, and a collet 160. The collet 160 may be made from a plastic material. In addition, the fill valve 100 may include an O-ring guide 136 adjacent to the O-ring 134. In one embodiment, O-ring guide 136 may be made from a metallic material. Preferably, the metallic material may be stainless steel to prevent rust build up from contact with water from the water supply.

The collet 160 may be moveable inside the inner capacity 131 between a retracted position and an extended position. Further, the collet 160 may include a cylindrical collet body 161 and a circumferential collar 162 and the cylindrical collet body 161 may include an outer collet surface 163 and an inner collet surface 164. In one embodiment, the inner collet surface 164 may include a gripping means 165 configured to positively grip the water supply tube 140 when inserted into the collet 160.

Further, an inner fitting surface 137 of the quick-connect fitting 130 body may include a stop means 135. The stop means 135 may be configured to block the gripping means 165 from moving into fitting 130 more than called for by op the device's operation and may prevent the collet 160 from falling out of the quick-connect fitting body 132 when pulled into the extended position. This may be particularly useful when the water supply tube 140 is pulled. In this example, the gripping means 165 holds its grip on the water supply tube 140 whilst it's being pulled, and the stop means 135 prevents the collet 160 and the water supply tube 140 from falling out. This may prevent unwanted disconnection of the water supply tube 140 from the quick-connect fitting 130. When a user wants to remove the water supply tube 140 from the quick-connect fitting 130 they may hold down the circumferential collar 162 of the collet 160 to hold it in the retracted position such that the stop means 135 is not engaged, and the water supply tube 140 can be pulled from a grip of the gripping means 165.

Preferably, the fill valve 100 does not comprise a coupling nut to attach the water supply tube 140 to the fill valve body 110 due to the issues that arise from the coupling nut, such as cracking of the coupling nut resulting in leaks and floods. Instead, the water supply tube 140 may be configured for connection to a water supply valve 15 at a first end 144, and for insertion into the quick connect fitting at a second end 146. The second end 146 of the water supply tube 140 may be configured for insertion into the collet 160 and held in friction within the inner capacity 131 of the quick-connect fitting body 132. As above, the gripping means 165 may hold the water supply tube 140 in friction.

The quick-connect fitting body 132, the O-ring 134, and the collet 160 may all be concentric relative to the vertical axis 105. In embodiments including the O-ring guide 136, the O-ring guide 136 is also concentric with the quick-connect fitting body 132, the O-ring 134, and the collet 160. A concentricity of the quick-connect fitting body 132, the O-ring 134 and the collet 160 (and the O-ring guide 136 in embodiments where it is included) may define a tube-passageway 152 having a passage-diameter 153 substantially equal to an outer diameter 142 of the water supply tube 140. Preferably, the water supply tube 140 may include the outer diameter 142 of 3/8 inches.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for installing a fill valve into a toilet tank 500, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, the method for installing a fill valve into a toilet tank 500 may include one or more components or features of the fill valve 100 as described above. As illustrated, the method for installing a fill valve into a toilet tank 500 may include the steps of: step one 501, providing the fill valve as above; step two 502, placing the fill valve body in the toilet tank; step three 503, inserting the bottom end of the fill valve body through the tank aperture located in the toilet tank; step four 504, mating the nut with the bottom end of the fill valve body to secure the fill valve body in the toilet tank; step five 505, connecting the water supply tube to the water supply valve at the first end; step six 506, inserting the second end of the water supply tube into the quick-connect fitting. Further steps may include: step seven 507, pressing a circumferential collar of the collet such that the collet is held in the retracted position; and step eight 508, pulling the water supply tube from the quick-connect fitting to remove. Those with ordinary skill in the art will now appreciate that upon reading this specification and by their understanding the art of plumbing and toilet fill valves as described herein, methods of using and installing a toilet fill valve will be understood by those knowledgeable in such art.

It should be noted that steps seven 507 and eight 508 is an optional step and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method of use 500 are illustrated using dotted lines in FIG. 5 so as to distinguish them from the other steps of method of use 500. It should also be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods for installing a fill valve into a toilet tank are taught herein.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.

Claims

1. A fill valve for installation into a toilet tank and for connection to a water supply of a building, the fill valve comprising:

a fill valve body including an elongated length configured for vertical orientation in the toilet tank, the fill valve body having a bottom end sized for insertion through a tank aperture located in the toilet tank, the fill valve body further including a refill tube and a float device;

a nut configured to mate with the bottom end and secure the fill valve body in the toilet tank;

a quick-connect fitting located at the bottom end of the fill valve body, the quick-connect fitting including a quick-connect fitting body having an outer shell defining an inner capacity, the inner capacity housing an O-ring configured to create a water tight seal, and a collet, the collet being moveable inside the inner capacity between a retracted position and an extended position, and wherein the quick-connect fitting body, the O-ring, and the collet are all concentric relative to the vertical axis; and

a water supply tube configured for connection to a water supply valve at a first end, and for insertion into the quick connect fitting at a second end, wherein the second end of the water supply tube is configured for insertion into the collet and is held in friction within the inner capacity of the quick-connect fitting body.

2. The fill valve of claim 1, wherein the fill valve does not comprise a coupling nut to attach the water supply tube to the fill valve body.

3. The fill valve of claim 1, wherein quick-connect fitting body is cylindrical.

4. The fill valve of claim 1, wherein a concentricity of the quick-connect fitting body, the O-ring and the collet defines a tube-passageway having a passage-diameter substantially equal to an outer diameter of the water supply tube.

5. The fill valve of claim 4, wherein the water supply tube includes the outer diameter of ⅜ inches.

6. The fill valve of claim 1, wherein the collet includes a cylindrical collet body and a circumferential collar.

7. The fill valve of claim 6, wherein the cylindrical collet body includes an outer collet surface and an inner collet surface,

wherein the inner collet surface includes a gripping means; and

wherein the gripping means is configured to grip the water supply tube when the tube is inserted into the collet.

8. The fill valve of claim 7, wherein an inner fitting surface of the quick-connect fitting body includes a stop means.

9. The fill valve of claim 8, wherein the stop means is configured to block the gripping means.

10. The fill valve of claim 9, wherein the stop means is configured to prevent the collet from falling out of the quick-connect fitting body when pulled into the extended position.

11. The fill valve of claim 1, wherein the bottom end of the fill valve body includes a threaded outer surface.

12. The fill valve of claim 11, wherein the nut includes a threaded aperture configured to mate with the threaded outer surface.

13. The fill valve of claim 1, further comprising an O-ring guide adjacent to the O-ring, the O-ring guide being concentric with the quick-connect fitting body, the O-ring and the collet.

14. The fill valve of claim 13, wherein the O-ring guide is made from a metallic material.

15. The fill valve of claim 14, wherein the metallic material is stainless steel.

16. The fill valve of claim 1, wherein the quick-connect fitting body is made from a plastic material.

17. The fill valve of claim 1, wherein the collet is made from a plastic material.

18. A fill valve for installation into a toilet tank and for connection to a water supply of a building, the fill valve comprising:

a fill valve body including an elongated length configured for vertical orientation in the toilet tank relative to a vertical axis, the fill valve body having a top end and a bottom end relative to the vertical axis, the bottom end sized for insertion through a tank aperture located in the toilet tank, the fill valve body installed in the toilet tank when the bottom end is inserted through the tank aperture, the fill valve body further including a refill tube and a float device;

a quick-connect fitting located at the bottom end of the fill valve body, the quick-connect fitting including a quick-connect fitting body having an outer shell defining an inner capacity, the inner capacity housing an O-ring configured to create a water tight seal, an O-ring guide adjacent to the O-ring, and a collet, the collet being moveable inside the inner capacity between a retracted position and an extended position, and wherein the quick-connect fitting body, the O-ring, the O-ring guide and the collet are all concentric relative to the vertical axis; and

a water supply tube configured for connection to a water supply valve at a first end, and for insertion into the quick connect fitting at a second end, wherein the second end of the water supply tube is configured for insertion into the collet and is held in friction within the inner capacity of the quick-connect fitting body; and

wherein the fill valve does not comprise a coupling nut to attach the water supply tube to the fill valve body;

wherein quick-connect fitting body is cylindrical;

wherein a concentricity of the quick-connect fitting body, the O-ring, the O-ring guide and the collet defines a tube-passageway having a passage-diameter equal to a tube-diameter of the water supply tube;

wherein the water supply tube includes an outer diameter of ⅜ inches;

wherein the collet includes a cylindrical collet body and a circumferential collar;

wherein the cylindrical collet body includes an outer collet surface and an inner collet surface;

wherein the inner collet surface includes a gripping means;

wherein the gripping means is configured to grip the water supply tube when inserted into the collet;

wherein an inner fitting surface of the quick-connect fitting body includes a stop means;

wherein the stop means is configured to block the gripping means;

wherein the stop means is configured to prevent the collet from falling out of the quick-connect fitting body when pulled into the extended position;

wherein the bottom end of the fill valve body includes a threaded outer surface;

wherein the nut includes a threaded aperture configured to mate with the threaded outer surface;

wherein the O-ring guide is made from a metallic material;

wherein the metallic material is stainless steel;

wherein the quick-connect fitting body is made from a plastic material; and

wherein the collet is made from a plastic material.

19. A method of installing a fill valve into a toilet tank, the method comprising the steps of:

providing the fill valve including: a fill valve body including an elongated length configured for vertical orientation in the toilet tank relative to a vertical axis, the fill valve body having a top end and a bottom end relative to the vertical axis, the bottom end sized for insertion through a tank aperture located in the toilet tank, the fill valve body installed in the toilet tank when the bottom end is inserted through the tank aperture, the fill valve body further including a refill tube and a float device; a quick-connect fitting located at the bottom end of the fill valve body, the quick-connect fitting including a quick-connect fitting body having an outer shell defining an inner capacity, the inner capacity housing an O-ring configured to create a water tight seal, and a collet, the collet being moveable inside the inner capacity between a retracted position and an extended position, and wherein the quick-connect fitting body, the O-ring, and the collet are all concentric relative to the vertical axis; and a water supply tube configured for connection to a water supply valve at a first end, and for insertion into the quick connect fitting at a second end, wherein the second end of the water supply tube is configured for insertion into the collet and is held in friction within the inner capacity of the quick-connect fitting body;

placing the fill valve body in the toilet tank;

inserting the bottom end of the fill valve body through the tank aperture located in the toilet tank;

mating the nut with the bottom end of the fill valve body to secure the fill valve body in the toilet tank;

connecting the water supply tube to the water supply valve at the first end; and

inserting the second end of the water supply tube into the quick-connect fitting.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

pressing a circumferential collar of the collet such that the collet is held in the retracted position; and

pulling the water supply tube from the quick-connect fitting to remove.