User-controlled water saving toilet

Abstract

Methods and various devices for conserving water during the process of toilet flushing are disclosed. The method herein emphasizes retrofitting a toilet of the type typically having a reservoir, tank float, overflow tube, flush handle, lever arm, and a means of linkage to a flapper valve. Rigid internal components of the means of linkage are the primary improvements presented herein. The disclosed rigid devices replace the chain as the means of linkage in the toilet reservoir and thereby function, throughout the entire flush cycle, as a direct operator of the flapper valve, giving the user proactive control over the amount of water used in flushing. Devices, or kits, utilized in carrying out the water conserving method are disclosed which are easily installable into existing toilets of older design. The inventive concept empowers the user of a toilet to control the sufficiency of the total flush and consequently, the corresponding volume of water used, while operating the toilet with current flush controls.

1 . An improved flush valve mechanism for a toilet of the type typically having a water reservoir, an orifice for water outflow from the reservoir, a drain valve communicating between said orifice and a passageway to a toilet bowl, an overflow tube, a tank float, a pivotally-operated flapper valve, an external flush handle, a lever arm connected at its proximal end to said flush handle and connected at its distal end to a means of linkage, and said means of linkage further connected to said flapper valve, the improvement residing in the means of linkage, which comprises
 a vertically-oriented, rigid member having an upper end and a bottom end, and having a length approximately equal to the distance between the distal end of said lever arm and the top surface of said flapper valve when said flapper valve is in the closed position;   a means of connecting the upper end of said rigid member to the distal end of said lever arm; and   a means of connecting the bottom end of said rigid member to said flapper valve.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the means of connecting the upper end of said rigid member to the distal end of said lever arm comprises any of a type of mechanism selected from the group consisting of a short length of chain, a spring, a hook, an elastomeric connector, or a corresponding opening in said rigid member. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the means of connecting the bottom end of said rigid member to said flapper valve comprises any of a type of mechanism selected from the group consisting of a short length of chain, a spring, a hook, or an elastomeric connector. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein the means of connecting the upper end of said rigid member to the distal end of said lever arm further comprises
 at least one opening in the upper end of said rigid member, said opening of sufficient structure and dimensions as to allow   a) insertion of the distal end of said lever arm; and   b) accommodation of a retaining mechanism for securing the distal end of said lever arm within the confines of said opening.   
   
   
       5 . The apparatus as in  claim 3 , wherein the means of connecting the upper end of said rigid member to the distal end of said lever arm further comprises
 at least one opening in the upper end of said rigid member, said opening of sufficient structure and dimensions as to allow   a) insertion of the distal end of said lever arm; and   b) accommodation of a retaining mechanism for securing the distal end of said lever arm within the confines of said opening.   
   
   
       6 . The apparatus as in  claim 2  or  claim 4 , wherein the means of connecting the bottom end of said rigid member to said flapper valve comprises any of a type of mechanism selected from the group consisting of a short length of chain, a spring, a hook, or an elastomeric connector. 
   
   
       7 . An improved flush valve mechanism for a toilet of the type typically having a water reservoir, an orifice for water outflow from the reservoir, a drain valve communicating between said orifice and a passageway to a toilet bowl, an overflow tube, a tank float, a pivotally-operated flapper valve, an external flush handle, a lever arm connected at its proximal end to said flush handle and connected at its distal end to a means of linkage, and said means of linkage further connected to said flapper valve, the improvement residing in the means of linkage, which comprises
 a rigid tube encompassing a chain, further comprising   a) said rigid tube having (i) a length slightly less than the distance between the distal end of said lever arm and the top surface of said flapper valve when said flapper valve is in the closed position and (ii) an inner diameter sufficient to slidingly accommodate the outside diameter of each link of said chain;   a means of connecting one end of said chain to the distal end of said lever arm; and   a means of connecting the opposite end of said chain to said flapper valve.   
   
   
       8 . The apparatus as in  claim 7 , further comprising
 a suitable means of attachment whereby said rigid tube is affixed to said chain.   
   
   
       9 . An apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the means of linkage further comprises
 said rigid member having a transverse cross-sectional area of such dimension as to allow said rigid member to be inserted through sequentially alternating links of a chain;   a link chain having a length slightly greater than said rigid member and further, each link of an inner diameter capable of acceptance of the longitudinal cross-sectional area of said rigid member;   said chain having at its upper end, a means of attachment suitable for fastening to the distal end of said lever arm; and   said chain having at its lower end, a means of attachment suitable for fastening to said flapper valve.   
   
   
       10 . An apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the means of linkage further comprises
 said rigid member having regularly-spaced holes along its length;   a chain having a length slightly greater than said rigid member and further, said chain being inserted, in a lengthwise fashion, through said holes in said rigid member;   said chain having at its upper end, a means of attachment suitable for fastening to the distal end of said lever arm; and   said chain having at its lower end, a means of attachment suitable for fastening to said flapper valve.   
   
   
       11 . An improved flush valve mechanism for a toilet of the type typically having a water reservoir, an orifice for water outflow from the reservoir, a drain valve communicating between said orifice and a passageway to a toilet bowl, an overflow tube, a tank float, a pivotally-operated flapper valve, an external flush handle, a lever arm connected at its proximal end to said flush handle and connected at its distal end to a means of linkage, and said means of linkage further connected to said flapper valve, the improvement residing in said flapper valve, which comprises
 materials and structure such that said flapper valve manifests a specific gravity greater than one (1.0).   
   
   
       12 . An apparatus as in any one of claims I through  4 , wherein said rigid member further comprises
 a means of structurally adjusting, in suitable increments, the length of said rigid member.   
   
   
       13 . An improved flush valve mechanism for a toilet of the type typically having a water reservoir, an orifice for water outflow from the reservoir, a drain valve communicating between said orifice and a passageway to a toilet bowl, an overflow tube, a tank float, a pivotally-operated flapper valve, an external flush handle, a lever arm connected at its proximal end to said flush handle and connected at its distal end to a means of linkage, and said means of linkage further connected to said flapper valve, the improvement residing in the means of linkage, which comprises
 a chain constructed of a length slightly greater than the vertical dimension between the distal end of said lever arm and the top surface of said flapper valve when said valve is in the closed position, such that when said lever moves downward, the excess length of chain rests upon the top surface of said flapper valve, causing said flapper valve to close; and   any of a variety of fastening mechanisms by means of which said chain may be attached at its upper end to the distal end of said lever arm and, at its lower end, to said flapper valve.   
   
   
       14 . An apparatus as in any of  claims 1  through  4 , or any of  claims 7  through  9 , further comprising
 a flapper valve comprised of materials and structure such that said flapper valve manifests a specific gravity greater than one (1.0).        installing a means of linkage comprising a vertically-oriented rigid member, said rigid member having an upper end and a bottom end, with said upper end having an opening;   inserting the distal end of said lever arm into said opening in the upper end of said rigid member;   attaching a lever arm retention mechanism proximate the distal end of said lever arm; and   connecting the bottom end of said rigid member to said flapper valve by any of the means selected from the group consisting of a short length of chain, a spring, a hook, a pin, or an elastomeric connector.   
   
   
       20 . A method for conserving the use of water during the flush cycle of a toilet, said toilet typically having a water reservoir, an overflow tube, an orifice for water outflow from the reservoir, a drain valve communicating between said orifice and a passageway to a toilet bowl, an overflow tube, a tank float, a pivotally-operated flapper valve, an exterior flush handle, a lever arm connected at its proximal end to the flush handle and connected at its distal end to a means of linkage, said means of linkage further connected to the flapper valve, the method comprising the steps of
 removing the existing means of linkage; and   installing a means of linkage comprising a chain having a length in excess of the vertical dimension between the distal end of said lever arm and the top surface of said flapper valve when said valve is in the closed position and further, having the weight of said excess chain length greater than the weight of said flapper valve, so as to impart the quality of negative buoyancy to said flapper valve.