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US 6,681,418 B1Granted
Water flow control device
OwnerGary D. Bierend, Paul H. Nicholasinventors
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OwnerGary D. Bierend, Paul H. Nicholasinventors
Estimating the term…
A water flow control valve (10) designed to be installed externally on a toilet tank (108) or as an integral element of a toilet ballcock (110). The valve (10) incorporates a diaphragm (46), a spring (62), a poppet assembly (70), and an inlet port (38) that is connected to a utility water supply (100) and an outlet port (42) that is connected through a pipe (102) to a fitting (106) on the the toilet tank (108). The valve functions by sensing the pressure at the inlet port (38). When no large demands are placed on the water supply (100), the valve (10) remains open, thus allowing the toilet tank (108) to fill. When a shower is turned on, the water pressure drops which reduces the upward force on the diaphragm (46), thus allowing the spring (62) to place the poppet (70) in a closed position which prevents the toilet tank (108) from filling. When the water demand ceases, the water pressure opens the valve (10), which allows the toilet tank (108) to fill.
A water flow control valve that operates in combination with a common utility water supply connected to a first fixture supplying water at a preset flow and temperature, and a second fixture that is operated with cold water, said valve having means for allowing the first device to continue supplying the water at the preset flow and temperature when the second fixture is operated, wherein the first fixture is comprised of a shower and the second fixture is comprised of a toilet assembly having attached a toilet tank, wherein when the toilet assembly is flushed, the water present in the toilet tank allows the toilet assembly to flush and following the flush said valve operates, restricting a flow of water into the toilet tank until the water flow from the shower is turned off, wherein the curtailment of the toilet's cold water flow prevents cold water from being taken from the water mixture of the shower, thus, the water flowing from the shower remains at the preset temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.