With Flush Valve Patents (Class 4/422)
  • Patent number: 11739519
    Abstract: A toilet includes a bowl with a sump and a trapway connecting the sump to an outlet of the toilet. The trapway has a zeta shape and is configured to induce a siphon which provides pressure to suction waste water from the bowl during a flush cycle. A trapway supply conduit is connected to the trapway in a tangential orientation to an upleg region of the trapway. The trapway supply conduit supplies water to the trapway, which follows a contour of the inner surface of the trapway supply conduit and continues in the same direction into the upleg region of the trapway by relying on a fluid flow to follow the curve of a convex surface placed proximate to the flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, Jeremiah J. Rauwerdink, Randal S. Graskamp
  • Patent number: 11486122
    Abstract: A flush toilet includes a toilet main body, a tank device provided behind the toilet main body, and a private part washing device configured to wash a private part of a user, the private part washing device being provided on a rear upper surface of the toilet main body behind the bowl. The tank device includes a water supply part configured to supply flush water supplied from a water supply source, a storage tank for storing the flush water supplied from the water supply part, the storage tank being located behind the private part washing device and above a floor surface, a pump configured to feed the flush water in the storage tank to the toilet main body, and a controller configured to control operation of the water supply part and the pump, and the controller is disposed on an outer upper surface of the storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Yukari Kawazu, Toshiro Umeno, Shu Kashirajima
  • Patent number: 11473282
    Abstract: A flush toilet includes a toilet main body and a tank device, where the tank device includes a water supply part, a storage tank, a small tank, a pump, a float switch, and a controller, a collision part against which flush water that is supplied from the water supply part to the storage tank via the small tank collides is provided in the storage tank, and the collision part is formed to cause the flush water to fall onto a water surface on the float switch side in the storage tank after collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Momoe, Shu Kashirajima
  • Patent number: 11414850
    Abstract: A flush toilet includes a toilet main body and a tank device that supplies flush water to the toilet main body, where the tank device includes a storage tank provided behind the toilet main body and above a floor surface, and a water supply device that supplies the flush water to the storage tank, a capacity of an upper part located at a position higher than a middle height position that equally divides the storage tank into two in an up-down direction is greater than a capacity of a lower part located at a position lower than the middle height position, and the storage tank includes a plurality of upper surfaces with height differences, and a water passage port is provided in a manner penetrating a highest surface among the upper surfaces to allow the flush water supplied from the water supply device to flow into the storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Tone, Shu Kashirajima, Hideo Iwaki
  • Patent number: 11371228
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a water supply assembly of a toilet comprising a water input pipe, a water tank, a water suction pump and a water output pipe; wherein the water input pipe is connected to the water tank; clean water enters the water tank through the water input pipe; the water tank is connected to the water suction pump connected to the water output pipe; the water suction pump pumps the clean water inside the water tank into the water output pipe; the water tank comprises a main water tank portion, an auxiliary water tank portion, and a water equalizing pipe connecting between and through the main water tank and the auxiliary water tank. The present disclosure provides a flushing assembly, a water suction assembly, and a check valve for use in the toilet. The present disclosure provides a method, device, and storage for controlling toilet water consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Junfeng Sun, Yunqing Zang
  • Patent number: 11241128
    Abstract: A toilet assembly includes a toilet with a bowl, a rim surrounding the bowl, and a water inlet pipe extending upward from a rear of the toilet, a toilet seat that rests on the rim and has an opening positioned above the bowl, and an attachment connected to the inlet pipe and the toilet seat. The attachment may include a coupling engaging the inlet pipe and a hinge connection connected to the coupling, where the seat is pivotably connected to the hinge connection of the attachment to pivotably mount the seat on the toilet, such that the seat is pivotable about the hinge connection between a raised position and a lowered position. The coupling may engage the inlet pipe such that the hinge connection is positioned and connected to the seat at a location spaced upward from the top surface of the rear of the toilet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Sloan Valve Company
    Inventor: Ronald J. Vish
  • Patent number: 11118335
    Abstract: A toilet includes a water storage tank, a bowl including a waste receiving basin that includes an upper rim and at least one toilet bowl aperture in a side wall of the waste receiving basin, a water supply plenum operable to receive water from the water tank and channel the water to the bowl, a primary drain operable to connect the basin and a sewer pipe, and a secondary drain fluidly operable to connect the toilet bowl aperture to the sewer pipe and operable to drain the water from the bowl. The secondary drain is separate from the primary drain and includes an auxiliary aperture fluidly connecting the secondary drain to the water supply plenum and operable to drain the water from the plenum. The toilet bowl aperture and the auxiliary aperture are operable to permit the water to bypass the primary drain when the primary drain is clogged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Inventor: Patrick Gerard Stack
  • Patent number: 9951505
    Abstract: A flush toilet is disclosed. The flush toilet includes a bowl having a waste receiving surface, a drainage channel having an inlet connected to a bottom portion of the bowl for discharging waste, and a throat adjacent the waste receiving surface and aligned with the drainage channel The flush toilet also includes a first water cleansing jet for supplying cleansing water onto the waste receiving surface. The first water cleansing jet is disposed within the throat. The flush toilet also includes a second water cleansing jet for supplying cleansing water onto the waste receiving surface. The second water cleansing jet is also disposed within the throat, with the second water cleansing jet being offset from the first water cleansing jet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: SDP IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Shawn D. Bush
  • Publication number: 20130312173
    Abstract: A water-saving siphon toilet has a toilet body and a water tank, a eject water channel used for flushing the bottom of the toilet body and a brushing water channel used for brushing the washable surface of the toilet body are arranged between the toilet body and the water tank, and a siphon channel used for pollution is arranged at the bottom of the toilet body, and a first drain valve and a overflow pipe are arranged in the water tank, the eject water channel is isolated from the outside air, and reserved water is stored in the eject water channel for assisting flush the bottom of the toilet body next time. The eject water channel of the toilet body contacts outside air only at the water seal out of the eject hole when the toilet is at non-working states.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventor: Feiyu LI
  • Publication number: 20130291297
    Abstract: Providing a toilet flushing device and a flush toilet both of which can desirably execute toilet flushing. A toilet flushing device (20) includes a first tank (21) storing flush water, a second tank (22) having a lower opening (22C) communicating with the first tank (21) and having a lower region (22D) and an upper region (22U) with a larger capacity per unit height than the lower region (22D), an air passage (23) communicating between the second tank (22) and a toilet drainage (12) via a position located higher than a maximum storage water level (L) in the first tank (21), a water-supply passage (24) communicating between the first tank (21) and a toilet bowl (11) and a on-off valve (25) which maximizes a flow rate of an air in the air passage (23) with a delay to initiation of supply of flush water stored in the first tank (21) through the water-supply passage (24) into the toilet bowl (11), the air flowing from the toilet drainage (12) side to the second tank (22) side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: LIXIL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Kitamura, Kojiro Watari, Hitomi Yamai, Shuhei Haida, Keisuke Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 8434888
    Abstract: A safety helmet or head piece having an incident light source disposed on the top or the crown of the helmet or head piece, means for controlling the orientation of the light source, wherein light emanates as a beam substantially vertically and upwardly irrespective of the orientation of the helmet or head piece. The light beam is a single or collimated beam comprised by one or more laser light sources of any color or color mix. The light source is mounted on the helmet or head piece so that the beam always emanates in substantially a vertical upwards direction irrespective of the orientation of the helmet or head piece. The invention being directed to the location and rescue of injured workers in poor visibility conditions and to the reduction and prevention of accidents in general.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Inventor: Jeanette Jones
  • Patent number: 8037554
    Abstract: A toilet flush regulator mechanism driving the discharge of water from the flush tank together with the change of geometrical positioning of the curve that forms the toilet siphon; the driving is performed through a system of stems and plates connected among each other by rods, springs and pins joined to the toilet's movable siphon which goal is saving and rationalize the waste of water during the flush. The system works by acting on a driving lever (3) which simultaneously opens the flush storage tank to empty it and moves the curve (10), acting as siphon, to evacuate the toilet bowl into the building's sewer inlet (12) line. While emptying the flush tank the stem with float (1) frees the movement of the other parts joined to it closing the flush tank so it can be filled again, bringing all the mechanism's parts and the curve (10) to the resting initial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Inventors: Amarildo Miranda Melo, Florencio Argemon Neto
  • Publication number: 20080263758
    Abstract: A toilet flush regulator mechanism driving the discharge of water from the flush tank together with the change of geometrical positioning of the curve that forms the toilet siphon; the driving is performed through a system of stems and plates connected among each other by rods, springs and pins joined to the toilet's movable siphon which goal is saving and rationalize the waste of water during the flush. The system works by acting on a driving lever(3) which simultaneously opens the flush storage tank to empty it and moves the curve(10), acting as siphon, to evacuate the toilet bowl into the building's sewer inlet(12) line. While emptying the flush tank the stem with float(1) frees the movement of the other parts joined to it closing the flush tank so it can be filled again, bringing all the mechanism's parts and the curve(10) to the resting initial position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Amarildo Miranda Melo, Florencio Argemon Neto
  • Patent number: 7069604
    Abstract: The present invention provides an open/close valve which contributes the stabilization of the operation responsibility. A housing has a water-in port and a water-out port. Furthermore, a piston which is slidably mounted in the housing in an axial direction by means of an external operation of a shaft, and a pressure offset means for offsetting the pressure which the piston receives from water in the water-out port to the other side are provided. The piston is attached to a seat face of the housing by being slided on one side in an axial direction to close the communication between the water-in port and the water-out port, and the piston is detached to the seat face of the housing by being slided on the other side in an axial direction to open the communication between the water-in port and the water-out port. The pressure offset means comprises a pressure offset room which is formed at the other side of the piston, and a passage for communicating one side of the piston with the pressure offset room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: INAX Corporation
    Inventors: Katsunori Tomita, Kenichi Ito, Koji Miwa, Shingo Morikawa, Yasuhiro Shirai, Masataka Mizutani, Shoichi Nakamura, Hideya Koike, Hidefumi Toyoshi, Atsushi Itoh
  • Patent number: 7036159
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tankless toilet which can realize the reduction of the manufacturing cost without deteriorating the washing ability of water in the inside of a rim channel. The western-style toilet body includes the rim channel which is formed in the inside of a rim and is capable of washing a toilet bowl with water, and a rim water guide passage which is concealed in a rear wall face of the western-style toilet body and is connected to the rim channel from behind. Further, a through hole which is communicated with the rim water guide passage is formed in the rear wall face of the western-style toilet body. A spud is engaged in the inside of the through hole. The rim conduit is communicated with the rim channel by a water supply passage of the spud without passing the rim water guide passage, while an atmosphere communication hole of a water supply device is communicated with the rim water guide passage by means of a water discharge passage of the spud through a tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Inax Corporation
    Inventors: Katsunori Tomita, Yasuhiro Shirai, Koji Miwa, Kenichi Ito, Takanori Idota, Masataka Mizutani, Toshiaki Matushita
  • Patent number: 6823535
    Abstract: A tankless western-style flush toilet having a western-style toilet body and a toilet washing device configured to wash the western-style toilet body with water, the toilet washing device including an open/close valve configured to be directly connected to a city water service pipe to supply water from outside and configured to spout water by being opened and closed electrically. The toilet washing device includes a control portion configured to ensure at least two periods of releasing times of the open/close valve, and a mechanism for switching the control portion in accordance with a pressure of city water in the city water service pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: INAX Corporation
    Inventors: Katsunori Tomita, Kenichi Ito, Koji Miwa, Shingo Morikawa, Yasuhiro Shirai, Masataka Mizutani, Shoichi Nakamura, Hideya Koike, Hidefumi Toyoshi, Atsushi Itoh
  • Patent number: 6718564
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a secondary source of water upstream of a standard flushometer-type valve. The adapter comprises a water inlet, a primary outlet for supplying water to the flush valve and respectively to the toilet, and a secondary outlet for providing a source of water which may be used to rinse out bed pans in the vicinity of the toilet. The water flow to the secondary outlet is independent of that to the primary outlet, providing for less waste of water during use of the secondary source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Inventors: Jack T. Duncan, Jacqueline R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6675399
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tankless toilet which can realize the reduction of the manufacturing cost without deteriorating the washing ability of water in the inside of a rim channel. The western-style toilet body includes the rim channel which is formed in the inside of a rim and is capable of washing a toilet bowl with water, and a rim water guide passage which is concealed in a rear wall face of the western-style toilet body and is connected to the rim channel from behind. Further, a through hole which is communicated with the rim water guide passage is formed in the rear wall face of the western-style toilet body. A spud is engaged in the inside of the through hole. The rim conduit is communicated with the rim channel by a water supply passage of the spud without passing the rim water guide passage, while an atmosphere communication hole of a water supply device is communicated with the rim water guide passage by means of a water discharge passage of the spud through a tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Inax Corporation
    Inventors: Katsunori Tomita, Yasuhiro Shirai, Koji Miwa, Kenichi Ito, Takanori Idota, Masataka Mizutani, Toshiaki Matushita
  • Patent number: 6279176
    Abstract: A low volume high-pressure toilet. When the user sits on the toilet seat, a hydraulic piston pressurizes the water tank, which optimally holds 1.7 liters of water. Water is released at high pressure through the toilet interior rim and a lower waterjet, forcing the wastewater down a waste pipe. To minimize velocity pressures losses that would be caused by a p-trap, the waste is released straight down a pipe. Sewer gases are prevented from traveling back up the pipe by a sealing valve that occludes the cross sectional area of the waste cavity in the bottom of the toilet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: 1:7 Water Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Pedro M. Aviles
  • Patent number: 5803114
    Abstract: A flush toilet system includes a bowl that is drained in a flush operation through a flow path including a trap and a siphon. A bypass passage supplies a back jet of water in the reverse flow direction in the flow path. A back jet valve assembly opens to permit back jet flow during only the first part of the interval during which flush water is supplied to the system from a water supply. The kinetic energy of the back jet is converted to static pressure to block or impede flow of flush water through the flow path. Water level increases in the bowl, and when the back jet flow is discontinued a siphon flush operation proceeds. The back flush valve assembly also releases water after the flushing operation in order to reseal the trap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventor: Dwight N. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5308405
    Abstract: A method is provided for cleaning a toilet bowl and dissolving mineral deposits in the holes under the rim of the toilet which includes the steps of (a) flushing the toilet to empty the tank and to initiate the flow of refill water into the tank; (b) holding down the flush handle to cause the refill water to continuously flow out of the tank and into the toilet bowl; (c) plugging the drain to cause the water level in the bowl to rise towards the rim; (d) releasing the flush handle when the water in the bowl rises to a height proximate to the top of the bowl to prevent the flow of additional refill water into the bowl; (e) adding to the water in the bowl a cleaning agent to cleanse the bowl, including the area of the bowl under the rim; and (f) unplugging the drain and flushing the toilet to rinse the cleaning agent and water mixture from the bowl. The drain can be plugged with a drain stopper which includes a flexible disc swivably attached to a handle by a hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Inventor: John F. McElroy
  • Patent number: 4094327
    Abstract: There is disclosed a liquid level control valve ideally suited for water closets and the like that employs a submersed liquid pressure responsive diaphragm as an actuator for the control valve. The control valve is supported in the tank on a liquid inlet vertical column, above the normal, controlled liquid level thereon. The control valve has a flexible valve closure member that subdivides the control valve housing into main and secondary chambers. A small orifice provides liquid communication through the diaphragm between the chambers and the secondary chamber is provided with a bleed orifice in the housing wall with a closure member therefor carried on an actuator arm which is mechanically coupled through a vent pipe to the diaphragm actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1978
    Inventor: Anthony R. Brandelli