Toilet Valve Refill Water Adjuster

Abstract

A toilet bowl refill water adjuster, including: a frame; a refill tube inlet and a refill tube outlet in the frame; a pair of opposing grooves in the frame, the opposing grooves having a series of positioning detents therein; and a roller moveable along in the pair of opposing grooves, wherein the frame is dimensioned to receive a toilet bowl refill tube passing through the refill tube inlet and outlet in the frame such that movement of the roller along in the pair of opposing grooves causes the roller to move in a direction to pinch the toilet bowl refill tube and thereby restrict flow through the toilet bowl refill tube, and wherein there is a linear relationship between the position of the roller in the pair of grooves and the flow rate through the toilet bowl refill tube.

1 . A toilet bowl refill water adjuster, comprising:
 a frame;   a refill tube inlet and a refill tube outlet in the frame;   a pair of opposing grooves in the frame, the opposing grooves having a series of positioning detents therein; and   a roller moveable along in the pair of opposing grooves, wherein the frame is dimensioned to receive a toilet bowl refill tube passing through the refill tube inlet and outlet in the frame such that movement of the roller along in the pair of opposing grooves causes the roller to move in a direction to pinch the toilet bowl refill tube and thereby restrict flow through the toilet bowl refill tube, and wherein there is a linear relationship between the position of the roller in the pair of grooves and the flow rate through the toilet bowl refill tube.   
     
     
         2 . The adjuster of  claim 1 , wherein the roller is moveable along in the pair of opposing grooves to positions that progressively pinch the toilet bowl refill tube. 
     
     
         3 . The adjuster of  claim 2 , wherein the roller moves in a path at an angle to the toilet bowl refill tube to progressively pinch the toilet bowl refill tube. 
     
     
         4 . The adjuster of  claim 1 , wherein there is a linear relationship between the position of the roller in the pair of grooves and the cross section of the toilet bowl refill tube adjacent to the roller. 
     
     
         5 . The adjuster of  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a refill tube bottom support surface positioned opposite to the roller. 
     
     
         6 . The adjuster of  claim 5 , wherein the refill tube bottom support surface has a longitudinally curved and laterally flattened portion. 
     
     
         7 . The adjuster of  claim 5 , wherein the longitudinally curved and laterally flattened portion is tapered. 
     
     
         8 . The adjuster of  claim 5 , wherein the refill tube bottom support surface is curved to support the toilet bowl refill tube passing in a curved orientation through the frame. 
     
     
         9 . The adjuster of  claim 1 , wherein the roller moves in a path at an angle to the toilet bowl refill tube. 
     
     
         10 . The adjuster of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a toilet bowl refill tube passing through the refill tube inlet and outlet in the frame.   
     
     
         11 . The adjuster of  claim 10 , wherein the toilet bowl refill tube is positioned between the roller and a refill tube bottom support surface. 
     
     
         12 . The adjuster of  claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of opposing grooves extend in a curved path along the frame. 
     
     
         13 . The adjuster of  claim 1 , wherein the refill tube inlet and refill tube outlet are positioned on opposite ends of the frame. 
     
     
         14 . A system for adjusting the volume of refill water in a toilet bowl, comprising:
 (a) a toilet, comprising:
 a toilet tank, 
 a toilet bowl, 
 a flush valve for passing water from the toilet tank into the toilet bowl, and 
 a toilet bowl refill tube on the flush valve for passing water from the toilet tank into the toilet bowl when the toilet tank is refilling; and 
   (b) a toilet bowl refill water adjuster positioned to receive the toilet bowl refill tube therethrough, wherein the toilet bowl refill water adjuster comprises a pinch roller mechanism that restricts water flow through the toilet bowl refill tube, and wherein there is a linear relationship between the position of the roller in the pinch roller mechanism and the water flow rate through the toilet bowl refill tube.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the toilet bowl refill water adjuster comprises:
 a frame;   a refill tube inlet and a refill tube outlet in the frame;   a pair of opposing grooves in the frame, the opposing grooves having a series of positioning detents therein; and   a roller moveable along in the pair of opposing grooves, wherein the frame is dimensioned to receive a toilet bowl refill tube passing through the refill tube inlet and outlet in the frame such that movement of the roller along in the pair of opposing grooves causes the roller to move in a direction to pinch the toilet bowl refill tube and thereby restrict flow through the toilet bowl refill tube.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the positioning detents hold the roller in position regardless of water pressure changes in the toilet bowl refill tube.