Valve Patents (Class 4/227.3)
  • Patent number: 11739515
    Abstract: An automatic toilet cleaning device for placement inside a cistern of a flush toilet. The device comprises at least a first and second chamber, the second chamber storing a cleaner concentrate, the first chamber formed as a tapered vault. The second chamber having a first end communicative with the first chamber and a second end enclosed by a first barrier defining a gap; a pipe extending from and sealing the gap in the first barrier forming a water channel and a buoyant actuator coupled by a tether to a stopper, the tether disposed in the water channel. In use, as the water levels in the cistern fall and rise, a dosed amount of cleaning solution is released into the cistern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Inventor: Mahdi Ghodrati
  • Patent number: 11613882
    Abstract: Toilet assemblies having various embodiments of a cleaning system are described herein which include a toilet assembly and a cleaning system. The toilet assembly has a toilet bowl, a toilet tank, a flush valve, a rim inlet port and a rim flow path (which may be an isolated rim path) extending from an outlet of the flush valve to the rim inlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: AS America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christophe Bucher, David Grover, Ronald Barndt, Frank Seggio, James McHale, Chris Cicenas, Matthew O'Kelly, Scott J. Rote, Cameron Harder, Christopher Helmstetter, Nathan J. Wicker, Matthew C. Morris
  • Patent number: 11434632
    Abstract: An automatic toilet cleaning apparatus that discharges cleaning fluid into the water of a tank of a toilet during each flush. The apparatus includes a container having an extendable bladder therein that successively fills with water during each flush thereby successively pushing out a small amount of cleaning fluid into the water of the toilet tank to clean the bowl of the toilet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Inventor: James M. Irion
  • Patent number: 10214888
    Abstract: The device includes a replaceable reservoir (1) of a product, and a predetermined quantity of the product is supplied to an interior of a toilet bowl. The device includes first (3) and second (4) housings, interconnected therebetween, the first housing (3) being connected to the replaceable reservoir (1) and mixing the toilet flush water and the product in the second housing (4). The device further includes a valve (5) movable between two positions, including a position in which the communication between said first and second housings (3, 4) is closed and a position in which the communication between the first and second housings (3, 4) is open. The device makes it possible to dose a predetermined quantity of product mixed with the toilet flush water in the interior of a toilet bowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: ZOBELLE ESPANA, S.A.
    Inventors: Dominic Doyle, Fernando Mayor Sans, Julio Cesar Ruiz Ballesteros, Joaquin Llorente Alonso
  • Patent number: 9822519
    Abstract: A toilet apparatus provides intelligent bidet dispensing. Dynamic dispensing according to a bidet wand position, type of substance dispensed, user preferences, user gender, and user identification is disclosed. Cleansers, surfactants, moisturizers, medicines, deodorants, and fragrances are dispensed through a bidet wand to a user and are stored reservoirs which are contained in a tank area of the toilet. In other embodiments, reporting of levels of reservoir substances is automated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Dan Allen, Ben Swenson, Josh Larsen, Jared Reynolds
  • Patent number: 8166580
    Abstract: A dispensing means (10) for delivering a dose of a first liquid into a second liquid is provided, the dispensing means comprising an enclosure (12) for the first liquid, and valve means (16), the dispensing means being operable such that raising a level (114) of a second liquid relative to the dispensing means so as to subject the dispensing means to hydrostatic pressure causes a dose of the first liquid to be displaced from the enclosure (12) to establish a column (118) of the first liquid that acts on the valve means, and subsequent lowering of the level (114) of the second liquid relative to the dispensing means so as to reduce the hydrostatic pressure acting on the valve means (16) causes the valve means to deliver the dose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Trade Corporation Limited
    Inventor: Brian Parry Slade
  • Patent number: 7003813
    Abstract: A two-way flow control valve for repeatedly dispensing a limited amount of liquid. A float valve is linked to a second valve and storage chamber such that one valve is closed when the other is opened, and vice versa. The chamber fills when the float valve is closed, and empties when the float valve is opened. The assembly is useful for dispensing a liquid cleaner into a toilet tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Inventor: Clifford G. Krause
  • Patent number: 6820287
    Abstract: A dispenser is provided for dispensing cleaning chemicals such as toilet bowl cleaners. It has a dosing chamber containing therein a floating shuttle that seals a lower opening in the dosing chamber and floats up there from as an aliquot of chemical is prepared for release during the next cycle. There is also a float controlled external valve head at a lower end of the dispenser for alternately opening and closing a lower opening in the dosing chamber. The level of water in the toilet tank controls the movement of the valve head, and dispensing of the cleaner chemical controls movement of the floating shuttle. A grommet provides a valve seat for both the floating shuttle and valve head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard P. Harbutt, David C. Snow, Peter T. M. Nott, Simon M. Conway, Kevin Harrity, Steven A. Zach, Nancy J. Sedlar
  • Publication number: 20040172740
    Abstract: A stool detergent releasing device comprises detergent releasing device installed within a water storage tank. The detergent releasing device being installed with a seat. The seat is communicable to the water storage tank. An upper interior of the seat is installed with a detergent container for receiving detergent; and a bottom of the seat has a ballcock. When the stool is flushed; the ballcock descends with the level of water in the water storage tank so that the detergent flows out from a bottom of the detergent container. When level of water in the water storage tank rises, the ballcock rises to resist against the bottom of the seat so as to stop the drainage of the detergent. Thus the detergent mixes with water in the water storage tank with a predetermined ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventor: Yan Te Yang
  • Patent number: 6748610
    Abstract: A toilet tank cleanser dispenser has a receiving holster suitable to receive an inverted container of cleaning composition and suitable to dose liquid from the container. The adapter has an internal dosing shuttle for metering an aliquot of cleanser through an opening at the bottom of the adapter defining a valve seat. A float can move up and down with respect to the liquid level in the tank to drive an outlet valve against an outlet of the adapter. The valve head can have a balloon-like structure driven by the float. For example, a low density thin wall polyethylene valve head can be supported by a trapped air pocket to reduce leakage, permit some flexibility, and avoid permanent deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Zach, Kevin Harrity
  • Patent number: 6738989
    Abstract: A dispenser for use in a toilet tank is disclosed. There is a replaceable bottle There is also an upwardly open holster for receiving the bottle in inverted fashion. A valve is associated with the holster that controls the dispensing of cleaner from the container, and/or a mounting hook is provided on the holster that can pivot between a storage position in a bottle recess and a mounting position snap locked on the holster (or is integrally linked to the holster).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard P. Harbutt, David C. Snow, Peter T. M. Nott, Simon M. Conway, Kevin Harrity, Steven A. Zach
  • Publication number: 20040078879
    Abstract: A toilet tank cleanser dispenser has a receiving holster suitable to receive an inverted container of cleaning composition and suitable to dose liquid from the container. The adapter has an internal dosing shuttle for metering an aliquot of cleanser through an opening at the bottom of the adapter defining a valve seat. A float can move up and down with respect to the liquid level in the tank to drive an outlet valve against an outlet of the adapter. The present invention focuses on the balloon-like structure of a valve head driven by the float. For example, a low density thin wall polyethylene valve head can be supported by a trapped air pocket to reduce leakage, permit some flexibility, and avoid permanent deformation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventors: Steven A. Zach, Kevin Harrity
  • Patent number: 6496987
    Abstract: Water-saving and automatic detergent supplier for toilet bowl, including: a detergent receptacle disposed in a water tank of the toilet bowl, the detergent receptacle being a container having an upper opening for containing a detergent; a quantitative reservoir connected with a bottom of the detergent receptacle and immersed in the water contained in the water tank, a top end of the quantitative reservoir being formed with a detergent inlet, while a bottom end of the quantitative reservoir being formed with a detergent outlet; and a buoyant piston structure connected at the detergent inlet and detergent outlet. The buoyant piston structure is subject to water buoyancy, whereby depending on the existence of water in the water tank or vacancy of the water tank, the buoyant piston structure is operable to release the detergent from the quantitative reservoir into the water tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Inventor: Ming-Hsiung Chou
  • Patent number: 6240573
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing detergent into a toilet cistern includes a container, a membrane, a floating body, and a casing. The membrane has two sides that face an entrance of the container and are connected with the floating body, respectively. The floating body is surrounded by the casing, which in turn is connected to the entrance of the container. The floating body is movable up and down within the casing and moves according to a buoyant force due to the water level in the cistern resulting in a variation of the pressure difference inside and outside the container. Thus a well-defined quantity of cleaning liquid is released from the container, as determined by the movement of the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Inventor: Yu-Chi Tsai
  • Patent number: 6212692
    Abstract: An automatic quantitative regulator for dissolvent in water tank, wherein an inverted jar is clamped on the standing rod in the water tank. An upper float ball is set in the jar mouth shrunk at the bottom, and a bottom float ball is set outside of the jar mouth. Two float balls are joined together by an inner bulgy circle of the fixing coat, and the fixing coat connects with the jar mouth. The two float balls with opposite awl-shape necks are wedged to the aperture formed by inner bulgy circle. The two float balls can be adjusted clearance. When the upper float ball is moved up, the liquid in the jar will flow out gradually. As the upper float ball is moved down, the aperture will be closed. A heavy article is connected with the bottom float ball to accelerate pulling down. Furthermore, a fixed position cup is hooked on the jar, and the bottom of the fixed position cup has a perforated colander.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Inventor: Chao-Yun Hu