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US 8,522,371 B2Granted
Dump bucket tank insert for new and used toilets
OwnerGlenn E. Bevan, Ryan D. Saffelsinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tank insert for converting a conventional flush toilet into a flapperless, dump bucket-style toilet. The tank insert is sized and shaped to be snugly received within a water tank of the toilet, and includes a water reservoir pivotably received within a catch basin. The water reservoir is filled by the toilets water valve and the toilet's handle actuates the water reservoir to flush the toilet. Upon actuation, water within the water reservoir is discharged into the catch basin, and from there into the toilet bowl, which is effectively cleared.
Claims27
A tank insert for a toilet, comprising:
- a) a water reservoir including a longitudinal axis of rotation, wherein said water reservoir is sized and shaped to receive a quantity of water from a fill valve system of the toilet and having a dump side;
- and
- b) a catch basin sized and shaped to be received snugly within a water tank of the toilet and including an upper interior portion adapted to pivotably receive said water reservoir therein, a lower interior portion sized and shaped to receive the quantity of water from said water reservoir, and an inwardly extending splash guard mounted on an interior surface of said catch basin beneath the water reservoir opposite the water reservoir dump side, said splash guard including a concave upper surface and a concave lower surface, said splash guard being adapted to substantially direct water exiting the water reservoir toward said lower interior portion;
- c) a mounting subassembly adapted to pivotably attach said water reservoir to said upper interior portion;
- and
- d) an actuation subassembly adapted for pivoting said dump side of the water reservoir along said longitudinal axis of rotation, so as to discharge the quantity of water from said water reservoir and into said lower interior portion.
3 more elements
A method of converting a toilet with a flapper valve flush system to a flapperless toilet, comprising:
- a) removing the flush valve and flapper system from the toilet tank;
- b) inserting a dump bucket insert into the toilet tank;
- c) fluidly connecting said dump bucket insert to a flush channel of the toilet;
- d) fluidly connecting a water reservoir of said dump bucket insert to a fill valve of the toilet;
- and
- e) connecting said water reservoir of said dump bucket insert to a flush handle of the toilet, whereby actuation of the flush handle tilts said water reservoir;
- and
- f) securing a splash guard to extend outwardly from the tank and beneath the dump bucket wherein the splash guard has an upper concave surface closely spaced with respect to the dump bucket and a lower concave surface.
5 more elements
The method of claim 22, wherein step b) of claim 23 includes:
- inserting a catch basin into the toilet tank and securing the splash guard to the catch basin;
- and installing the water reservoir into the catch basin;
- providing the dump bucket with a curved lower surface such that a curved outer surface of the water reservoir is in spaced relationship an inwardly bowed and closely spacing the dump bucket lower surface to the upper surface of the splash guard.
A tank insert for a toilet, comprising:
- a) a water reservoir including a longitudinal axis of rotation, wherein said water reservoir is sized and shaped to receive a quantity of water from a fill valve system of the toilet and having a dump side;
- the water reservoir having a lower convex curvature bottom:
- and
- b) a catch basin sized and shaped to be received snugly within a water tank of the toilet and including an upper interior portion adapted to pivotably receive said water reservoir therein, a lower interior portion sized and shaped to receive the quantity of water from said water reservoir, and an inwardly extending splash guard mounted on an interior surface of said catch basin beneath and in close proximity to the water reservoir opposite the water reservoir dump side, said splash guard being adapted to substantially direct water exiting the water reservoir toward said lower interior portion;
- the splash guard has a concave upper surface such that, when the water reservoir is dumped, the water reservoir bottom and the splash guard upper surface are in a mating relationship and closely spaced;
- c) a mounting subassembly adapted to pivotably attach said water reservoir to said upper interior portion;
- and
- d) an actuation subassembly adapted for pivoting said dump side of the water reservoir along said longitudinal axis of rotation, so as to discharge the quantity of water from said water reservoir and into said lower interior portion.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.