Water-saving device for toilets
US5375269A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 26, 1993 |
| Grant date | Dec 27, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 26, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02A20/40
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
The water-saving devices for a toilet is of the type which float up and down on the overflow tube, where downward movement of the device brings it into contact with the flapper valve at the bottom of the toilet tank in order to close it prematurely, thereby reducing the amount of water used for the flush. Upper and lower opposing cup shapes are integrally mounted around respective cylindrical sleeves, the sleeves being adapted to slide one within the other to adjust the spacing between the opposing cup shapes. One sleeve has an inset area with a longitudinal row of spaced holes or indentations. The other sleeve has an elongated tongue having a raised dimple which engages one of the spaced holes or indentations to set the spacing between cup shapes. A number of ribs or vanes are molded as part of the upper cup, and act to deflect the float rod to reduce any possibility of the float rod catching under the upper cup. The cup shades are not cylindrical, but instead have flat vertical surfaces relatively close to the sleeves, so that the device can still be installed in tanks where the overflow tube is close to the tank wall. A C-shaped shell snaps onto the lower cup and is rotatable be…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.