Toilet overflow prevention system and method

Abstract

A system for preventing overflow of a toilet includes a sensor, a processor and an actuator. The sensor senses a parameter caused by fluid dynamics within the toilet during a flush cycle. The parameter may involve vibration, sound, pressure, fluid flow rate or other detectible characteristics of the toilet. The processor uses information regarding the parameter that is gathered by the sensor to evaluate the condition of the flush cycle to determine if an impeded flush condition exists. In the event of an impeded flush condition, the processor directs the actuator to close a valve, which may be the toilet flapper valve in some embodiments. Also disclosed are methods for preventing toilet overflow, detecting an impeded flush condition and calibrating the system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toilet overflow prevention system for use with a toilet, comprising:
 a sensor capable of detecting vibration of the toilet during a flush cycle, said sensor generating a signal indicative of said vibration;   a processor that receives said signal from said sensor, processes said signal to determine if said vibration is indicative of an impeded flush condition and generates a control signal in response to an impeded flush condition; and   an actuator that receives said control signal from said sensor and in response to said control signal operates to close a valve, which stops a flow of water within the toilet.