# US 5,704,389 A · Waste line stoppage detector and automatic water shutoff system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,704,389 A - Document ID: US5704389A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/602,146 - Filed: 1996-02-15 - Granted: 1998-01-06 - Earliest claimed: 1994-06-30 - Assignees: Direct Plumbing, Heating & Rooter, Inc. - Inventors: David Bouzaglou - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5704389A ## CPC - E03C 1/122: Pipe-line systems for waste water in building (pipe-line systems in general F17D) - E03B 7/071: {Arrangement of safety devices in domestic pipe systems, e.g. devices for automatic shut-off} - E03C 1/30: Devices to facilitate removing of obstructions in waste-pipes or sinks {(for use in sewer pipes or both in waste and sewer pipes E03F9/00)} - E03F 7/00: Other installations or implements for operating sewer systems, e.g. for preventing or indicating stoppage; Emptying cesspools - Y02A 20/15: Leakage reduction or detection in water storage or distribution - Y10T 137/2536: Float controlled weir or valve - Y10T 137/6969: Buildings - Y10T 137/7368: Servo relay operation of control - Y10T 137/7761: Electrically actuated valve - E03C: DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER (not connected to either water-supply main or to waste pipe A47K; devices of the kind used in the ground E03B, E03F); SINKS - E03B: INSTALLATIONS OR METHODS FOR OBTAINING, COLLECTING, OR DISTRIBUTING WATER (drilling wells, obtaining fluids in general from wells E21B; pipe-line systems in general F17D) - E03F: SEWERS; CESSPOOLS - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A waste line stoppage detector and automatic water shutoff system is utilized to prevent the overflow of raw sewage from a plumbing fixture. Electronic shutoff valves are electronically connected to a waste line stoppage detector. One application involves using an electronic waste line stoppage detector. Another application involves using a diaphragm and switch waste line stoppage. A further application involves using a float ball and switch waste line stoppage detector. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A water supply and drainage system for a multilevel structure comprising: a. a lower level plumbing system comprising: (1) a first and second fixture; (2) a first and second water supply line for supplying water to said first and second fixture respectively; (3) a first and second waste line for draining waste water from said first and second fixture respectively; (4) an overflow prevention system for automatically shutting off said first water supply line independent of the water flow of said second water supply line in response to a detected backup in said first waste line, said overflow prevention system comprising: (a) a waste line stoppage detector attached to said first waste line for detecting a backup therein; and (b) an automatic shutoff valve in said first water supply line for shutting off water flow through said first water supply line in response to said stoppage detector detecting a backup in said first waste; b. an upper level plumbing system comprising: (1) a first and second fixture, (2) a first and second waste line for draining waste water from said first and second fixture respectively, and said first and second waste line connected to said lower level first and second waste line respectively; and (3) a first and second water supply line for supplying water to said first and second fixture respectively, and said first and second water supply line connected to said lower level first and second water supply line respectively. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein said stoppage detector is selected from the group comprising: two electrodes suspended in a housing, a float and sensor switch, and a diaphragm and sensor switch. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein said fixture is selected from at least one of the group comprising: a sink, a bathtub, a shower, a toilet, a urinal, a jacuzzi and a bidet. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein said first fixture is a kitchen sink. ### Claim 5 A water supply and drainage system for a multilevel structure comprising: a. a lower level plumbing system comprising: (1) a first and second fixture; (2) a first and second water supply line for supplying water to said first and second fixture respectively; (3) a first and second drain for draining waste water from said first and second fixture respectively; (4) a first and second waste line attached to said first and second drain respectively; (5) a first and second upright Y fitting, said first upright Y fitting attached to said first waste line below said first drain, and said second upright Y fitting attached to said second waste line below said second drain; (6) an overflow prevention system for automatically shutting off said first water supply line independent of the flow of said second water supply line in response to a detected backup in said first waste line, said overflow prevention system comprising: (a) a waste line stoppage detector attached to said first waste line for detecting a backup therein, said first stoppage detector located in a relative position between said first drain and said first upright Y fitting; and (b) an automatic shutoff valve in said first water supply line for shutting off water flow through said first water supply line in response to said first stoppage detector detecting a backup in said first waste line; and b. an upper level plumbing system comprising: (1) a first and second fixture; (2) a first and second drain for draining waste water from said first and second fixture respectively; (3) a first and second waste line attached to said first and second drain respectively, and to said lower level first and second waste line respectively; and (4) a first and second water line for supplying water to said first and second fixtures respectively, and said first and second water line attached to said lower level first and second water line respectively. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5 wherein said stoppage detector is selected from the group comprising two electrodes suspended in a housing, a float and sensor switch, and a diaphragm and sensor switch. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5 wherein said fixture is selected from at least one of the group comprising a sink, a bathtub, a shower, a toilet, a urinal, a jacuzzi and a bidet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5 wherein said first fixture is a kitchen sink. ### Claim 9 A water supply and drainage system for a multilevel structure comprising: a. a plurality of lower level plumbing systems, each said system located on the same level and comprising: (1) a first and second fixture; (2) a first and second water supply line for supplying water to said first and second fixture respectively, said first and second water supply line respectively connected to a first and second water supply line of a plumbing system located in the level immediately above said lower level plumbing system; (3) a first and second waste line for draining waste water from said first and second fixture respectively, said first and second waste line respectively connected to a first and second waste line of a plumbing system located in the level immediately above said lower level plumbing system, (4) an overflow prevention system for automatically shutting off said first water supply line in response to a detected backup in said first waste line independent of the flow of water of said second water supply line and independent of the flow of water through every other lower level plumbing system, said overflow prevention system comprising: (a) a waste line stoppage detector attached to said first waste line for detecting a backup therein; and (b) an automatic shutoff valve in said first water supply line for shutting off water flow through said first water supply line in response to said first stoppage detector detecting a backup in said first waste line; a plurality of upper level plumbing systems, each said system comprising: (1) a first and second fixture; (2) a first and second water supply line for supplying water to said first and second fixture respectively, said first and second water supply line respectively connected to said lower level first and second water supply line; and (3) a first and second waste line for draining waste water from said first and second fixture respectively, said first and second waste line respectively connected to said lower level first and second waste line. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 wherein said stoppage detector is selected from at least one of the group comprising: two electrodes suspended in a housing; a float and sensor switch, and a diaphragm and sensor switch. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 wherein said fixture is selected from at least one of the group comprising: a sink, a bathtub, a shower, a toilet, a urinal, a jacuzzi and a bidet. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 wherein said first fixture is a kitchen sink. ### Claim 13 A water supply and drainage system for a multilevel structure comprising: a. a plurality of lower level plumbing systems, each said system located on the same level and comprising: (1) a fixture; (2) a water supply line for supplying water to said fixture; (3) a waste line for draining waste water from said fixture; (4) an overflow prevention system for automatically shutting off said water supply line of each said lower level plumbing system in response to a detected backup and independent of and every other lower level plumbing system; said overflow prevention system comprising: (a) a waste line stoppage detector attached to said waste line for detecting a backup therein; and (b) an automatic shutoff valve in said water supply line for shutting off water flow through said water supply line in response to said stoppage detector detecting a backup in said waste line; b. a plurality of upper level plumbing system, each said system located on the same level and comprising: (1) a fixture; (2) a water supply line for supplying water to said fixture, and said water supply line connected to said lower level water supply line; and (3) a waste line for draining waste water from said fixture, and said waste line connected to said lower level waste line. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13 wherein said stoppage detector is selected from at least one of the group comprising: two electrodes suspended in a housing; a float and sensor switch, and a diaphragm and sensor switch. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13 wherein said fixture is selected from at least one of the group comprising: a sink, a bathtub, a shower, a toilet, a urinal, a jacuzzi and a bidet. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13 wherein said fixture is a kitchen sink.