Toilet overflow prevention system and method

Abstract

A system for preventing overflow of a toilet includes a capacitance sensor arrangement as in combination with certain features (e.g., flap valve disablement). The system can detect an overflow flush condition of a toilet by sensing the value of a parameter of one or more normal flush cycles of the toilet and establishing a normal range for the value of the parameter using the sensed value. The system can also store the normal range in a memory for comparison to a value of the parameter during subsequent flush cycles. The system can perform sensing over a predetermined timeframe. The system can include the time frame being sufficient to include the entire push cycle of the toilet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toilet overflow prevention system for use with a toilet, comprising:
 a capacitance sensor arrangement configured to emit a signal indicative of a dielectric constant, said capacitance sensor arrangement including a first and second conductive plate, said first conductive plate is disposed above said second conductive plate;   one or more processors configured to:
 determine a water height based on said signal indicative of said dielectric constant; 
 determine an overflow flush condition based on said determined water height; and 
 generate a control signal in response to determining said overflow flush condition in order to close a valve that stops a flow of water within said toilet.