Toilet tank water level alarm
OwnerMichael A. Godainventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to plumbing for toilet tanks, and more specifically provides an alarm system for indicating a failure mode in a toilet tank's operation. One preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes a floating magnet and sensors positioned near the top and bottom of the tank which activate an alarm when the magnet becomes sufficiently close to either sensor. The alarm can be audible or visual. In other preferred embodiments, the alarm closes the tank inlet valve or the tank exit valve to control normal operations, or to correct malfunctions.
Claims39
A fluid level monitor for a tank, comprising:
- a buoyant element wherein said buoyant element is located within the tank;
- a first sensing device external to the tank wherein said first sensing device is operable to detect said buoyant element when said buoyant element is in a first predetermined location;
- and
- an alarm associated with said first sensing device wherein said alarm is actuated after said first sensing device detects said buoyant element.
A method, comprising:
- floating a detectable element within a toilet tank reservoir;
- sensing a first position of the detectable element from outside the tank using a first sensor, wherein said first position is a zone proximate to the first sensor wherein an undisturbed state of the first sensor is altered and exceeds a threshold of detection when the buoyant element is disposed in the zone;
- and
- actuating an alarm after said sensing the first position of the detectable element.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a toilet tank reservoir;
- a buoyant member within said toilet tank reservoir;
- an alarm outside said toilet tank reservoir;
- and
- a means for sensing a first position of said buoyant member from outside the tank when said buoyant member is disposed within an appropriate zone relative to a first sensor wherein said sensing results in actuation of said alarm.
A fluid level monitor for a toilet tank, comprising:
- a buoyant magnetic element wherein said buoyant magnetic element is located within the tank;
- a guide member defining a guide path within the tank wherein said buoyant magnetic element is associated with said guide member and said buoyant magnetic element moves along said guide path as the fluid level changes;
- a first sensing device external to the tank wherein said first sensing device detects said buoyant magnetic element when said buoyant magnetic element is in a first position;
- and
- a second sensing device external to the tank wherein said second sensing device detects said buoyant magnetic element when said buoyant magnetic element is in a second position;
- and
- an alarm wherein said alarm is actuated after said first sensing device detects said buoyant magnetic element in said first position or said second sensing device detects said buoyant magnetic element in said second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.