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  Toilet flush tank water leakage control and water use reductionUSPTO Application #: 20060096025Title: Toilet flush tank water leakage control and water use reduction Abstract: An upwardly open reservoir adapted for placement in a toilet flush tank is described. The reservoir is designed to be positioned directly below the float of a float actuated flush system. Flush water refill tubes and/or an overflow tube supply flush water separately to the flush tank and the reservoir. Under normal, non-leakage conditions an equilibrium water level is maintained in both the flush tank and the reservoir. Under conditions in which water leaks from the flush tank through the flush valve, the reservoir maintains a flush water level that is independent from the flush tank itself, such that the float is elevated to a level and maintained in a position that prevents a further flow of refill water into the flush tank. A secondary reservoir receives water from the overflow tube and provides water to the main reservoir to raise the float sufficiently to shut off water flow when water supply from the overflow tube stops. (end of abstract)
Agent: Kilyk & Bowersox, P.l.l.c. - Warrenton, VA, US Inventors: Vincent Charbonneau, William R. Kolker, Jacques Desroches USPTO Applicaton #: 20060096025 - Class: 004615000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Baths, Closets, Sinks, And Spittoons, Means For Spraying User The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060096025. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/US2004/020175 filed Jun. 23, 2004, which in turn claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(e) of prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/480,948 filed Jun. 24, 2003, both of which are incorporated in its entirety by reference herein. FIELD [0002] The present invention relates to flush toilets. More particularly, the present invention relates to devices and methods for reducing water usage and leakage from toilet flush tanks. BACKGROUND [0003] Untold amounts of potable or otherwise useable water are wasted every day due to water leakage from toilet flush tanks through faulty, malfunctioning, and/or obstructed flush valve assemblies, which typically include a flapper valve, a valve seat, and a conical washer. Improper closure of the flush valve assembly results in unintended flow of stored flush water from the flush tank to the toilet bowl, and then on to the septic or sewage system, apart from a deliberate flush of waste. For float actuated flush systems that are used by most residential toilets, leakage of water from the flush tank through a non-working flush valve is not limited to the amount of water contained in a full flush tank. In a float actuated flush system, flush tank supply or refill water is controlled by a water inlet or fill valve, e.g., ball cock valve, that is actuated by a float assembly in conjunction with the water level in the flush tank. Depending upon the severity of the water leak, i.e., leakage rate, the flush tank water level may fail to reach a designated fill line in which case the float assembly will fail to close the water inlet valve altogether (severe leak). Alternatively, having reached the fill line and closed the water inlet valve, the flush tank water level may drop down below the fill line such that the float assembly reopens the water inlet valve until the flush tank water level is again restored to the fill line (minor leak). In either case, water is wasted in between intended flushes. [0004] Depending upon its severity, a flush tank water leak may go unnoticed or undetected and thus, not fixed for some time, particularly when the flush tank fill line can be reached but not maintained. Even when a water leak is detected, it is likely to go unrepaired if it is supposed that the amount of water being wasted is not worth the time or expense of performing maintenance and/or repair of the flush valve assembly. However, decreasing potable water supply, and increasing costs for water usage, septic, and sewage treatment can, in many cases, result in a substantial economic cost associated with relatively small amounts of wasted water. [0005] Previous attempts to detect and prevent water leakage from flush tanks have primarily included retrofitting existing conventional toilets with devices designed to be installed around existing hardware typically found in flush tanks. However, the retrofits have required extensive modification of existing components, and/or have been comparatively costly or prohibitively complex to install, thereby making the retrofits less desirable or impractical in view of the perceived low costs associated with water usage. [0006] Accordingly, a need exists for a relatively low cost after-market system or device that can reduce the amount of water waste associated with faulty or obstructed flush valves that can readily be installed in existing conventional toilets with a variety of flush assembly designs. In addition, a need exists for a flush tank leakage detection and prevention system designed to be integrally formed in the manufacture of new toilets without significantly increasing the manufacturing costs of such toilets. A further need exists for a flush tank water leakage detection and prevention system which, while preventing substantial water leakage, can also serve to reduce the amount of flush water used under normal (i.e., non-leakage) conditions. SUMMARY [0007] According to various embodiments, a system is provided for detecting and preventing water leakage from a flush tank, with the system being readily installed in the flush tank of a toilet having a float actuated flush system. [0008] A system is also provided for detecting and preventing water leakage from a flush tank, with the system adapted to be integrally formed in the manufacture of a toilet having a float actuated flush system. [0009] According to various embodiments, a further feature is to provide a flush tank leakage detection and prevention system that reduces the amount of flush water used in an intended flush of the toilet. [0010] According to various embodiments, a system is provided for controlling a float actuated water inlet valve that supplies refill water in a flush tank of a toilet. The system can include a reservoir adapted to be disposed within the flush tank, the reservoir having an open top and including at least one side wall and a bottom wall that has a drain hole, the walls defining an interior of the reservoir that is adapted to receive at least a portion of the float; and a drain valve adapted to control water flow through the drain hole, the drain valve being adapted to pivotally mount within the reservoir interior. The system optionally includes a reservoir refill tube or an overflow tube and a flush tank refill tube adapted to supply refill water to the reservoir and the flush tank, respectively, and a connecting tube adapted to supply refill water to the reservoir refill tube and the flush tank refill tube. [0011] According to various embodiments, a float assembly can be provided for use in a flush tank of a toilet having a float actuated system, in which a float and a water inlet valve are coupled by a connecting rod, the connecting rod having a shape that accommodates a portion of a side wall of a reservoir located in the flush tank. [0012] According to various embodiments, a system can be provided for controlling a water inlet valve located in a flush tank of a toilet, which includes a reservoir that suspends from an upright wall of the flush tank, or a reservoir that rests on one or more supports between the reservoir and the flush tank. [0013] According to various embodiments, a system can be provided for controlling a water inlet valve located in a flush tank of a toilet, which includes a reservoir having a drain valve that is placed in an open position due to water pressure created by flush water accumulating in the flush tank. [0014] According to various embodiments, a system can be provided for controlling a water inlet valve located in a flush tank of a toilet, that has a reservoir having a side wall(s) whose top edges extend to or beyond the flush tank water fill line. [0015] According to various embodiments, a system can be provided for controlling a water inlet valve located in a flush tank of a toilet, which includes a reservoir having a drain valve that is an inexpensive, mass-produced, commercially available valve that is typically used as a flush valve. [0016] According to various embodiments, a system can be provided for controlling a float actuated water inlet valve that supplies refill water in a flush tank of a toilet. The system can include a water overflow tube, a primary reservoir adapted to be disposed within the flush tank, the primary reservoir having at least one wall defining an interior of the reservoir, with the interior adapted to receive at least a portion of the float, and the interior adapted to receive a portion of the refill water supplied to the tank, and a secondary reservoir positioned within the flush tank and connected to the water overflow tube, the secondary reservoir also adapted to supply a portion of the refill water to the primary reservoir. [0017] According to various embodiments, a method of controlling a float actuated water inlet valve for supplying refill water in a flush tank of a toilet can include directing a portion of the water flowing through a water overflow tube to a secondary reservoir within the flush tank, and from the secondary reservoir into a primary reservoir also within the flush tank, and when water is not flowing to the secondary reservoir from the water overflow tube, and the water level in the primary reservoir is below the level necessary to shut off the float actuated water inlet valve, directing water from the secondary reservoir into the primary reservoir. [0018] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are intended to provide a further explanation according to various embodiments, as claimed. [0019] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate various embodiments, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles according to various embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0020] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a flush tank of a conventional toilet having a float actuated flushing system. Continue reading... Full patent description for Toilet flush tank water leakage control and water use reduction Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Toilet flush tank water leakage control and water use reduction patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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