Toilet fill valve with valve lock
AssigneeDanco, Inc.
InventorsMichael J. Schuster, Larry L. Schneider
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed are various embodiments of a lockable toilet fill valve and methods according to the present invention. In one embodiment, a toilet fill valve includes a float and arm assembly. The toilet fill valve is closed when the float and arm assembly is disposed in a first position. The toilet fill valve is open when the float and arm assembly is disposed in a second position. A side lever is associated with the float and arm assembly. The side lever includes an unlock position and a lock position. The side lever includes a hook that engages the float and arm assembly to restrict movement of the float and arm assembly when in the lock position and allow movement of the float and arm assembly when in the unlock position.
Claims20
A lockable toilet fill valve, comprising:
- a toilet fill valve comprising a float and arm assembly, the toilet fill valve configured to be closed in response to the float and arm assembly being in a first position, and the toilet fill valve configured to be open in response to the float and arm assembly being in a second position;
- and
- a side lever configured to engage with a cover of the toilet fill valve to secure the side lever in an unlock position and a lock position, the side lever configured to rotate about an axis extending into the cover of the toilet fill valve, the side lever comprising a hook extending radially outward from the axis that engages the float and arm assembly to restrict movement of the float and arm assembly when in the lock position and allow movement of the float and arm assembly when in the unlock position.
A method of operating a toilet fill valve comprising a float and arm assembly and a side lever configured to engage with a cover of the toilet fill valve to secure the side lever in a lock position and an unlock position, the side lever comprising a hook that engages the float and arm assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning the float and arm assembly in a first position to close the toilet fill valve;
- moving the side lever into the lock position, thereby securing the side lever in the lock position by engaging with the cover and restricting movement of the float and arm assembly in the first position;
- moving the side lever into the unlock position, thereby allowing movement of the float and arm assembly from the first position;
- and
- positioning the float and arm assembly in a second position to open the toilet fill valve.
A system comprising:
- a toilet fill valve comprising a float and arm assembly, the toilet fill valve configured to close in response to the float and arm assembly moving to a first position and to open in response to the float and arm assembly moving to a second position;
- and
- a side lever associated with the float and arm assembly, the side lever configured to rotate about an axis extending into a cover of the toilet fill valve, the side lever comprising a hook extending radially outward from the axis that engages the float and arm assembly, wherein the side lever is biased into predefined positions and configured to engage with the cover to secure the side lever in a lock position and restrict movement of the float and arm assembly when the side lever is in the lock position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.