Retrofit cartridge system with controlled flow, for converting traditional urinal into hybrid

Abstract

A cartridge formed to fit in the drain of a urinal is presented. The cartridge has an orifice formed therein to regulate a flow of flushing water so that the flushing water rises to come in contact with a chemical volume, thereby becoming chemically infused. The orifice may be adjustable to determine a height to which the flushing water rises in the urinal bowl. The orifice comprises a screw adjustment system, an orifice occlusion system, or a shaft and cap system. A flushing water source having an adjustable orifice is also presented. The flushing water source orifice can be adjusted to determine a height to which flushing water rises in the urinal bowl when the urinal is flushed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cartridge system comprising:
 a cartridge formed to fit into the drain of a urinal, the cartridge having an orifice formed therein to regulate a flow of flushing water in a bowl of the urinal in a controlled manner such that the flushing water rises to a predetermined level and drains at a predetermined rate within the bowl when the urinal is flushed.   
     
     
         2 . A cartridge system as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a chemical volume disposed within the bowl of the urinal, whereby when the urinal is flushed and the flushing water rises to the predetermined level within the bowl, the flushing water contacts the chemical volume and becomes chemically infused.   
     
     
         3 . A cartridge system as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the chemical volume is attached with the cartridge. 
     
     
         4 . A cartridge system as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the chemical volume is detachably attached with the cartridge. 
     
     
         5 . A cartridge system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the orifice is adjustable to adjust the flow rate of the flushing water therethrough. 
     
     
         6 . A cartridge system as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the orifice is selected from a group consisting of:
 a screw adjustment system comprising a screw, a regulator body, and a cover surface, where the screw threadably passes through at least one of the regulator body and the cover surface such that when the screw is rotated, a gap between the regulator body and the cover surface is adjusted to adjust the flow rate of the flushing water therethrough;   an orifice occlusion system comprising an orifice-containing surface having an orifice with an area formed therethrough and a cover surface disposed thereon:
 where the cover surface occludes at least a portion of the orifice, and where at least one of the cover surface and orifice-containing surface can be moved relative to the other to adjust the area of the orifice to adjust the flow rate of the flushing water therethrough; and 
   a shaft system comprising a shaft attached with a cap and an interior of the cartridge where the shaft is moveable to adjust a height of the cap relative to the drain of the urinal to adjust a gap therebetween to adjust the flow rate of the flushing water therethrough.   
     
     
         7 . A cartridge system as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein in the orifice occlusion system, the orifice-containing surface contains an orifice consisting of:
 a single orifice where the cover surface can be moved to cover a portion of the orifice; and   a plurality of orifices where the cover surface can be moved to cover a portion of the plurality of orifices.   
     
     
         8 . A urinal flushing system comprising:
 a flushing water source having an adjustable flushing water output; and   a cartridge formed to fit into the drain of a urinal, the cartridge having an orifice formed therein to regulate a flow of flushing water from the flushing water source in a bowl of the urinal in a controlled manner such that the flushing water rises to a predetermined level and drains at a predetermined rate within the bowl when the urinal is flushed.   
     
     
         9 . A urinal flushing system as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein flushing water source includes an adjustable flushing water orifice to adjust flushing water output. 
     
     
         10 . A urinal flushing system as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the chemical volume is attached with the cartridge. 
     
     
         11 . A urinal flushing system as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the chemical volume is detachably attached with the cartridge. 
     
     
         12 . A urinal flushing system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the flushing water orifice is adjustable to adjust the flow rate of the flushing water therethrough. 
     
     
         13 . A urinal flushing system as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the flushing water orifice is selected from a group consisting of:
 a screw adjustment system comprising a screw, a regulator body, and a cover surface, where the screw threadably passes through at least one of the regulator body and the cover surface such that when the screw is rotated, a gap between the regulator body and the cover surface is adjusted to adjust the flow rate of the flushing water therethrough;   an orifice occlusion system comprising an orifice-containing surface having an orifice with an area formed therethrough and a cover surface disposed thereon:
 where the cover surface occludes at least a portion of the orifice, and where at least one of the cover surface and orifice-containing surface can be moved relative to the other to adjust the area of the orifice to adjust the flow rate of the flushing water therethrough; and 
   a shaft system comprising a shaft attached with a cap and an interior of the cartridge where the shaft is moveable to adjust a height of the cap relative to the drain of the urinal to adjust a gap therebetween to adjust the flow rate of the flushing water therethrough.   
     
     
         14 . A urinal flushing system as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein in the orifice occlusion system, the orifice-containing surface contains an orifice consisting of:
 a single orifice where the cover surface can be moved to cover a portion of the orifice; and   a plurality of orifices where the cover surface can be moved to cover a portion of the plurality of orifices.   
     
     
         15 . A cartridge system kit comprising:
 a cartridge formed to fit into the drain of a urinal, the cartridge having an orifice formed therein to regulate a flow of flushing water in a bowl of the urinal in a controlled manner such that the flushing water rises to a predetermined level and drains at a predetermined rate within the bowl when the urinal is flushed.   
     
     
         16 . A cartridge system kit as set forth in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a chemical volume disposed within the bowl of the urinal, whereby when the urinal is flushed and the flushing water rises to the predetermined level within the bowl, the flushing water contacts the chemical volume and becomes chemically infused.   
     
     
         17 . A cartridge system kit as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the chemical volume is attached with the cartridge. 
     
     
         18 . A cartridge system kit as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the chemical volume is detachably attachable with the cartridge. 
     
     
         19 . A cartridge system kit as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the orifice is adjustable to adjust the flow rate of the flushing water therethrough. 
     
     
         20 . A cartridge system kit as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein the orifice is selected from a group consisting of:
 a screw adjustment system comprising a screw, a regulator body, and a cover surface, where the screw threadably passes through at least one of the regulator body and the cover surface such that when the screw is rotated, a gap between the regulator body and the cover surface is adjusted to adjust the flow rate of the flushing water therethrough;   an orifice occlusion system comprising an orifice-containing surface having an orifice with an area formed therethrough and a cover surface disposed thereon:
 where the cover surface occludes at least a portion of the orifice, and where at least one of the cover surface and orifice-containing surface can be moved relative to the other to adjust the area of the orifice to adjust the flow rate of the flushing water therethrough; and 
   a shaft system comprising a shaft attached with a cap and an interior of the cartridge where the shaft is moveable to adjust a height of the cap relative to the drain of the urinal to adjust a gap therebetween to adjust the flow rate of the flushing water therethrough.   
     
     
         21 . A cartridge system kit as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein in the orifice occlusion system, the orifice-containing surface contains an orifice consisting of:
 a single orifice where the cover surface can be moved to cover a portion of the orifice; and   a plurality of orifices where the cover surface can be moved to cover a portion of the plurality of orifices.   
     
     
         22 . A urinal flushing system kit comprising:
 a flushing water source having an adjustable flushing water output; and   a cartridge formed to fit into the drain of a urinal, the cartridge having an orifice formed therein to regulate a flow of flushing water from the flushing water source in a bowl of the urinal in a controlled manner such that the flushing water rises to a predetermined level and drains at a predetermined rate within the bowl when the urinal is flushed.   
     
     
         23 . A urinal flushing system kit as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein flushing water source includes an adjustable flushing water orifice to adjust flushing water output. 
     
     
         24 . A urinal flushing system kit as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein the chemical volume is attached with the cartridge. 
     
     
         25 . A urinal flushing system kit as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein the chemical volume is detachably attachable with the cartridge. 
     
     
         26 . A urinal flushing system kit as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein the flushing water orifice is adjustable to adjust the flow rate of the flushing water therethrough. 
     
     
         27 . A urinal flushing system kit as set forth in  claim 26 , wherein the flushing water orifice is selected from a group consisting of:
 a screw adjustment system comprising a screw, a regulator body, and a cover surface, where the screw threadably passes through at least one of the regulator body and the cover surface such that when the screw is rotated, a gap between the regulator body and the cover surface is adjusted to adjust the flow rate of the flushing water therethrough;   an orifice occlusion system comprising an orifice-containing surface having an orifice with an area formed therethrough and a cover surface disposed thereon:
 where the cover surface occludes at least a portion of the orifice, and where at least one of the cover surface and orifice-containing surface can be moved relative to the other to adjust the area of the orifice to adjust the flow rate of the flushing water therethrough; and 
   a shaft system comprising a shaft attached with a cap and an interior of the cartridge where the shaft is moveable to adjust a height of the cap relative to the drain of the urinal to adjust a gap therebetween to adjust the flow rate of the flushing water therethrough.   
     
     
         28 . A urinal flushing system kit as set forth in  claim 27 , wherein in the orifice occlusion system, the orifice-containing surface contains an orifice consisting of:
 a single orifice where the cover surface can be moved to cover a portion of the orifice; and   a plurality of orifices where the cover surface can be moved to cover a portion of the plurality of orifices.