Pan Type Patents (Class 4/440)
  • Patent number: 8984677
    Abstract: A device for use in a swimming pool includes an insert and a piston having a nozzle. The piston is carried in the insert for reciprocal movement between a lowered position and a raised position in which the piston is in one of a plurality of indexed orientations and the nozzle is above the insert. The piston rotates to an adjacent indexed orientation in response to reciprocation of the piston between the raised and lowered positions in response to the cyclical application of water through the insert. Upper and lower engagement assemblies prevent rotational movement of the piston in the raised and lowered positions. The upper engagement assembly includes upper teeth, lower teeth, and channels formed in the upper teeth which guide the lower teeth through the upper teeth as the piston moves from the lowered position to the raised position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Pool Patch LLC
    Inventor: Thomas V. Lopez
  • Patent number: 8566971
    Abstract: A toilet has an electronic flush assembly operable in either a short or long flush sequence selectable by a user. The long flush sequence includes a pre-rinse cycle and a rinse cycle in which the a supply valve and a flush valve are both opened and closed twice, once each first during the pre-rinse cycle and again during a subsequent rinse cycle. The rim supply valve and the flush valve are opened during the pre-rinse and rinse cycles but are closed at the start and end of each cycle. An electronic control controls operation of the valves as well as water supply control components. Level sensors can also be included to provide feedback to the controller, for example, to prevent overflow conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Joseph Stauber, Peter W. Denzin, Ben Marotz
  • Patent number: 8516623
    Abstract: Tilting Bowl Toilet comprises a frame, a toilet basin, and a tilting bowl. The tilting bowl is supported below the toilet basin to receive and hold water/waste delivered from the toilet basin. The tilting bowl tilts to discharge its content to drainage. The tilting bowl at standby is sustained to stay in a horizontal position by a sustaining turning moment about its support axis. When water is added, the turning moment produced by the tilting bowl with its content becomes larger than the sustaining turning moment, and the tilting bowl moves to a tilted position to discharge its content. As the tilting bowl tilts, the sustaining turning moment is simultaneously reduced to accelerate bowl tilting for efficient discharge of waste to sewage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Inventor: Shu-Ki Yeung
  • Patent number: 8230533
    Abstract: Disclosed are trap valve assemblies for controlling flow from a toilet bowl to a trap way. In one form there is a cartridge unit positionable immediately below a toilet bowl discharge outlet. It has a pivotable gate in a form of a spherical segment. The gate has an eccentric pivoting motion so that it can swing from an open position to a blocking/closing position in which it fully contacts a sealing gasket. The spherical segment has a leading edge which is approximately between +40° and ?40° from vertical when the gate is in an open position, to minimize the energy required to close the gate. In another form a ball and socket connection to the gate valve facilitates sealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Jorsch, Benjamin W. Marotz, Charles R. Kopplin, Jeffrey F. Tempas
  • Patent number: 8065756
    Abstract: Tilting Bowl Toilet comprises a frame, a toilet basin, and a tilting bowl. The tilting bowl is supported below the toilet basin to receive and hold water/waste delivered from the toilet basin. The tilting bowl tilts to discharge its content to drainage. The tilting bowl at standby is sustained to stay in a horizontal position by forces applied to the tilting bowl creating a resultant sustaining turning moment about its support axis. When the turning moment produced by the tilting bowl with its content becomes larger than the sustaining turning moment, the tilting bowl moves to a tilted position to discharge its content. The effective support axis shifts with respect to the tilting bowl as guided by a motion guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Inventor: Shu-Ki Yeung
  • Patent number: 6467101
    Abstract: A toilet flushing and cleaning device includes a reservoir with a cylinder and a mixing tube disposed therein. The cylinder communicates with a water source. A plunger is slidably disposed in the cylinder. A plurality of spray nozzles communicate with the mixing tube. When a flush valve is opened to allow water into the cylinder, the piston is driven upwards. The increase in air pressure drives pressurized air and water into the mixing tube such that the spray nozzles clean the toilet with a burst of air-water mixture. In a further embodiment, a funnel is disposed in the toilet bowl and a bucket is suspended at the lower opening of the funnel. When the piston is driven upwards, the bucket is pivoted to release its contents. Additionally, a blower disposed between the funnel and the toilet bowl may be used to drawing air and odors from inside said funnel and directing air into said toilet bowl for release through the existing drain pipe and vent pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Inventor: Jorge Artola
  • Patent number: 6332229
    Abstract: A gravity drop-toilet uses main water via electronically programmed valves to rinse separate areas of a bowl (71) in sequence via appropriately located and pointing jet orifices (136, 138,140) with about 70% less water than siphon toilets. Electronically timed valve (180) hydraulically causes a pair of bellows (110) to compress and expand and thereby reversibly pivot a mechanical linkage to retain waste in the bowl and drop waste via a vertical waste passageway into a sewer pipe (30). The linkage comprises a transfer arm (118) that pivots a rotating arm of a cup (128) and flap actuating arm (104) to pivot a springy plate (78) upward against a dimple (80) formed on under the side of the flap (30) which thereby aligns itself against the bottom edge (74) of the bowl (71). A urine version of this mechanism uses apertures (174, 175) that they enclose combine to center defecating sitters over a cylinder outlet (48) of the bowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Inventors: Conor O'Malley, Joseph Zappel
  • Patent number: 5933882
    Abstract: A flush toilet for a recreational vehicle has a flush mechanism including a lever that can be either depressed to cause a full flush of the toilet, or raised to rinse the bowl only. The lever operates a linkage that is designed so that, even after a partial failure of the linkage, the linkage can still be operated to introduce water into the bowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Sanitation Equipment Limited
    Inventor: David Charles Robert Fleming
  • Patent number: 4787103
    Abstract: A trapless water flush toilet bowl fixture is disclosed. This fixture has: a water closet cesspool sealing member pivotally supported to shut off a waster water discharge port by impinging from underside upon this port; a sinker imparting a sufficient impingement force applied on a lower surface of the discharge port to the water closet cesspool sealing member to maintain a sealing state while resisting a load created when utilizing the same fixture; and a separating force imparting member manipulated by a manpower which member is capable of separating the sealing member from the discharge port by overcoming the impingement force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Assignee: INAX Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Endo
  • Patent number: 4710988
    Abstract: A flush toilet primarily for use in recreational homes and vehicles is described. A swing drop valve mechanism is used to open and close the outlet of the toilet bowl efficiently and without abrading the seal between the valve and bowl outlet. A flush water inlet valve is mounted in a compartment at the rear of the toilet for easy access for maintenance and is readily removable from the toilet using a minimum of tools. Flushing of the toilet is initiated by a foot pedal connected to the valve mechanism and water inlet valve by cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1987
    Assignee: Sanitation Equipment Limited
    Inventor: John M. Stewart
  • Patent number: 4246666
    Abstract: A flush toilet which includes a concave bowl with a bottom drain port and a closure such as a pan or plate to close the drain port. When a pan is used, it can hold a quantity of water to form a gas seal. When a plate is used, a mechanical seal is employed. The closure is pivotable away from the drain port to permit the bowl to drain. Flushing means is provided which includes a nozzle directing a stream of flushing water tangentially into the bowl, air purging means to purge air from said water stream before a substantial amount of it discharges into the bowl, and a unique combined ball valve and vacuum breaker in the water supply system. The toilet also can include linkage which toggle-locks the closure in its closed position, a break-way lid, and when a mechanical seal is used, a gas-sealing overflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1981
    Inventor: Benjamin H. Stansbury, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4155129
    Abstract: A bottom discharge toilet in which a trap is formed integrally with the toilet base. While the trap plays no role in the flushing action of the toilet itself, it is adapted to receive the discharge from other plumbing fixtures and thereby to serve as a single, common trap for such fixtures. By directing the received discharge through the interior of the toilet, the trap also assists in keeping the toilet outlet line clear. To further reduce the overall cost, the toilet is formed in several interlocking pieces as a kit which can be conveniently shipped and handled, and then assembled on-site. A novel water inlet valve operates in cooperation with a flushing mechanism to clear the toilet and refill the bowl with a minimum of water consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1979
    Inventor: Harold J. Russell