Adaptation of flush valve for dual flush capability

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9938701-B2
Application number	US-201514935237-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 6, 2015
Priority date	Mar 2, 2009
Publication date	Apr 10, 2018
Grant date	Apr 10, 2018

Abstract

Various apparatuses and methods that facilitate dual flush capability are presented. In one embodiment, an apparatus is provided that includes a dual flush mechanism configured to provide for a dual flush capability in a toilet. The dual flush mechanism can include a basket structure. A gasket can be attached to the dual flush mechanism. The gasket can form a seal between the dual flush mechanism and a flush orifice of a flush valve.

First claim

Therefore, the following is claimed:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
an adapter configured to detachably attach to a flush mechanism at a first end; and
a gasket attached to a second end of the adapter, the gasket configured to form a seal with a flush orifice of a flush valve of a toilet, the seal being maintained between the gasket and the flush orifice during a full flush of the toilet by the flush mechanism.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the gasket comprises a sidewall extending between a first opening of the gasket and a second opening of the gasket, the first opening attached to the second end of the adapter and the second opening within the seal with the flush orifice.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the gasket comprises a pseudo I-beam structure extending around at least a portion of an edge of the second opening.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the pseudo I-beam structure comprises an inner flange portion extending from an inner surface of the sidewall and an outer flange portion extending from an outer surface of the sidewall.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein a side of the outer flange portion adjacent to the outer surface of the sidewall engages with an inner edge of the flush orifice when the gasket forms the seal with the flush orifice.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the pseudo I-beam structure does not extend around a second portion of the edge of the second opening, wherein the sidewall adjacent to the second portion of the second opening is thicker than the sidewall adjacent to the pseudo I-beam structure.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the sidewall of the gasket includes a thinner portion at a first location around the sidewall and a thicker portion at a second location around the sidewall, wherein the sidewall deforms at the thinner portion when the gasket is compressed against the flush orifice of the flush valve.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the gasket includes an inward annular projection around the first opening, the inward annular projection extending into the first opening and configured to engage with an annular recess of the adapter.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the inward annular projection includes annular sealing projections extending outward from opposite sides of the inward annular projection.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the gasket is an adapter ring configured to engage a ring flange on the second end of the adapter, the adapter ring configured to form the seal with a mating surface of flush orifice.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the ring flange comprises annular sealing projections extending outward from an outer surface of the ring flange, the annular sealing projections engaging an inner surface of the adapter ring.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the adapter comprises an annular sealing projection surrounding the ring flange, the annular sealing projection engaging an end surface of the adapter ring adjacent to the adapter.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the adapter comprises a plurality of annular sealing projections surrounding the ring flange, the annular sealing projections engaging an end surface of the adapter ring adjacent to the adapter.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the adapter comprises a mounting extension on the second end of the adapter, where the gasket is a circular gasket surrounding the mounting extension and configured to form the seal with the flush orifice.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the mounting extension configured to mate with an inside surface of the flush orifice and the circular gasket is configured to form the seal between a mating surface of flush orifice and an annular sealing projection surrounding the mounting extension.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the circular gasket is configured to form the seal between an inside surface of flush orifice and an outer surface of the mounting extension.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the adapter comprises a basket structure.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the adapter comprises a mating surface extending around a flush opening at the second end of the adapter, the mating surface configured to engage with a sealing member of the flush mechanism attached to the first end of the adapter.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flush mechanism is a dual flush mechanism configured to provide the full flush of the toilet and a reduced flush of the toilet.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flush orifice is an angled flush orifice.

21. A system, comprising:
a flush mechanism comprising a dual flush canister;
an adapter configured to detachably attach to the flush mechanism at a first end of the adapter; and
a gasket attached to a second end of the adapter, the gasket configured to form a seal with a flush orifice of a flush valve of a toilet, the seal being maintained between the gasket and the flush orifice during a full flush of the toilet by the flush mechanism.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the adapter comprises a lip at the first end, the lip configured to engage a plurality of tabs of the flush mechanism.

23. The system of claim 21 , wherein the adapter includes an alignment tab.

24. The system of claim 23 , wherein the alignment tab engages a notch to facilitate alignment of the gasket on the adapter.

25. The system of claim 21 , wherein the adapter is coupled to an overflow tube.

26. The system of claim 25 , wherein the gasket is aligned with a drain opening of the overflow tube.

27. The system of claim 21 , wherein the gasket is further configured to be disposed against a mating surface of the adapter.

28. An method, comprising:
attaching a gasket to a second end of an adapter;
attaching a first end of the adapter to a flush mechanism; and
installing the flush mechanism with the adapter and the gasket in a toilet tank of a toilet, the gasket configured to form a seal with a flush orifice of a flush value of the toilet, the seal being maintained between the gasket and the flush orifice during a full flush of the toilet by the flush mechanism.

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the adapter is detachably attached to the flush mechanism at the first end.

30. The method of claim 28 , wherein the flush mechanism comprises a dual flush canister.

31. The method of claim 28 , wherein attaching the gasket further comprises mating an inward annual projection of the gasket with an annular recess of the adapter.

32. The method of claim 28 , further comprising securing the adapter to an overflow tube.

Assignees

• Danco Inc

Inventors

• Schuster Michael J
• Stutzman Duston E A
• Porter Dwayne A
• Saunders Douglas C

Classifications

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• E03D1/14 Primary

  Cisterns discharging variable quantities of water (twin or multiple flushing cisterns E03D1/22; flushing devices operated by pressure of the water supply system and discharging variable quantities of water E03D3/12 ){also cisterns with bell siphons in combination with flushing valves} · CPC title

• E03D1/34

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