Toilet with overflow protection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10995481-B2
Application number	US-201916289701-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 1, 2019
Priority date	Mar 13, 2012
Publication date	May 4, 2021
Grant date	May 4, 2021

Abstract

A flush toilet includes a bowl, a tank coupled to the bowl, a flush valve positioned within the tank, and a flush device configured to initiate a flush cycle. The automatic toilet further comprises an electronic sensing assembly having a sensing member positioned on the bowl for detecting an overflow condition of the bowl, an overflow device operably coupled to the flush device, and a controller in electronic communication with the electronic sensing assembly and the overflow device for controlling the flush device in response to a condition of the toilet.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A toilet, comprising:
a bowl;
a tank coupled to the bowl;
a flush valve positioned within the tank;
a handle assembly configured to initiate a flush cycle and positioned at least partially outward of the tank, and the handle assembly includes a handle member and a lever arm;
a clutch mechanism configured to operate the handle assembly and positioned inside the tank, the clutch mechanism has a first clutch plate and a second clutch plate operably coupled to the first clutch plate, and the lever arm is positioned adjacent at least one of the first or second clutch plates;
an electronic sensing assembly having a sensing member positioned on the bowl for detecting an overflow condition of the bowl;
an overflow device operably coupled to the flush valve; and
a controller in electronic communication with the electronic sensing assembly and the overflow device for controlling the flush valve in response to a condition of the toilet.

2. The toilet of claim 1 , wherein the first clutch plate includes detents configured to frictionally mate with detents of the second clutch plate.

3. The toilet of claim 1 , wherein the second clutch plate includes a channel angled relative to a rotational axis of the handle assembly.

4. The toilet of claim 3 , wherein the channel is perpendicular to the rotational axis.

5. The toilet of claim 3 , wherein the lever arm is operably coupled to the flush valve and the lever arm is received within the channel.

6. The toilet of claim 1 , wherein the lever arm is operably coupled to the flush valve and configured to be directly coupled to the handle member along an axis of rotation of the handle assembly.

7. The toilet of claim 6 , wherein the handle assembly further comprises a blocking assembly configured to prevent rotation of the handle member when an overflow condition is sensed by the electronic sensing assembly.

8. The toilet of claim 1 , wherein the flush valve has a flapper configured to move between an open position wherein water flows into the bowl from the tank and a closed position wherein water remains in the tank, the flapper being operably coupled to the handle to move the flapper to the open position.

9. The toilet of claim 1 , wherein the lever arm is received within an opening of the at least one of the first or second clutch plates.

10. An automatic flush toilet, comprising:
a bowl;
a tank coupled to the bowl and supporting a quantity of water;
a fill valve assembly positioned in the tank and including at least one electrically-operable valve assembly;
a flush actuator assembly fluidly coupled to the fill valve assembly;
a water supply in fluid communication with the fill valve assembly;
a flush valve assembly having a flapper configured to move between an open position wherein water flows into the bowl from the tank and a closed position wherein water remains in the tank, the flapper being operably coupled to the flush actuator assembly to move the flapper to the open position;
a housing supported by the tank, and the flush actuator assembly and the fill valve assembly are supported by the housing; and
an overflow device in communication with the at least one electrically operable valve assembly, wherein the overflow device is configured to prevent water from the water supply from entering the tank, and the overflow device is configured to retain the flapper in the closed position.

11. The toilet of claim 10 , wherein a pressure applied to the flush actuator assembly for operating the flush valve assembly is constant.

12. The toilet of claim 10 , wherein the fill valve assembly defines an upper portion of the housing and the flush actuator assembly is supported by a lower portion of the housing.

13. The toilet of claim 10 , wherein the housing is at least partially vertically aligned with the flapper.

14. The toilet of claim 10 , further comprising:
a handle assembly configured to initiate a flush cycle and positioned at least partially outward of the tank; and
a clutch mechanism configured to operate the handle assembly and positioned inside the tank.

15. The toilet of claim 14 , wherein the clutch mechanism has a first clutch plate and a second clutch plate operably coupled to the first clutch plate.

16. The toilet of claim 15 , wherein the first clutch plate includes detents configured to frictionally mate with detents of the second clutch plate.

17. The toilet of claim 15 , wherein the second clutch plate includes a channel angled relative to a rotational axis of the handle assembly.

18. The toilet of claim 15 , wherein the handle assembly includes a handle member and a lever arm, the lever arm is operably coupled to the flush valve and configured to be directly coupled to the handle member along an axis of rotation of the handle assembly.

Assignees

• Delta Faucet Co

Inventors

• Veros Michael J
• Thomas Kurt Judson
• Rodenbeck Robert W
• Marty Garry Robin
• Brown Derek Allen

Classifications

• E03D1/00

  Water flushing devices with cisterns {; Setting up a range of flushing devices or water-closets; Combinations of several flushing devices} · CPC title

• E03D1/34

  Flushing valves for outlets; Arrangement of outlet valves · CPC title

• E03D11/13

  Parts or details of bowls; Special adaptations of pipe joints or couplings for use with bowls {, e.g. provisions in bowl construction preventing backflow of waste-water from the bowl in the flushing pipe or cistern, provisions for a secondary flushing, for noise-reducing} · CPC title

• E03D5/105 Primary

  touchless, e.g. using sensors · CPC title

• E03D5/026

  Devices preventing overflow or locks inhibiting the use of the flushing system (devices preventing overflow of the bowl contents and seals for the bowl outlet E03D11/00); Devices preventing sucking-up of sealing and flushing water · CPC title