IP Library Granted Patent US 11,946,238
Granted Patent B2
US 11,946,238 · App. 17/668,016 · Granted Apr 2, 2024

Adjustable flush valve poppet assembly

Inventors: Ken Nguyen (Huntington Beach, CA); Robert Jensen (East Brunswick, NJ); James Johnson (Lake Forest, CA)
E03D1/304E03D1/14
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,946,238
App. No.
17/668,016
Filed
Feb 9, 2022
Granted
Apr 2, 2024
Kind
B2
Examiner
LE, HUYEN D
Art Unit
3754
USPC
4/378
Abstract

A modular poppet assembly system for a toilet tank flush valve assembly, the modular system comprising a first float portion; and two or more second float portions; wherein, the first float portion is configured to removably attach to each of the two or more second float portions to form two or more poppet assemblies, each of the two or more poppet assemblies comprise a different buoyancy, each of the two or more poppet assemblies allow the toilet tank to fill to substantially a same water volume, and as the poppet assembly buoyancy increases, an increase in flush volume is provided.

Claims (29)

1. A modular poppet system for a toilet tank flush valve assembly, the modular poppet system comprising

an upper float, first lower float, and a second lower float, wherein,

the first lower float and the second lower float are configured to be removably attached to the upper float to provide a first poppet assembly and a second poppet assembly, respectively,

the first poppet assembly comprises a first buoyancy and the second poppet assembly comprises a second buoyancy,

the upper float comprises an upper float surface configured to receive a seal,

the upper float comprises an upper float sidewall extending from the upper float surface,

the first lower float and the second lower float each comprise a lower float sidewall configured to removably couple with the upper float sidewall,

the first lower float and the second lower float each comprise an opening defining a lower sidewall edge,

the second poppet assembly comprises a larger distance between the upper float surface and the lower sidewall edge than the first poppet assembly, the distance measured vertically from the upper float surface to the lower sidewall edge,

the second buoyancy is greater than the first buoyancy, and

the first poppet assembly is configured to provide for a first flush volume, and the second poppet assembly is configured to provide for a second flush volume.

2. The modular poppet system according to claim 1 , comprising the seal, the seal configured to be positioned between the upper float and the first lower float and the second lower float.

3. The modular poppet system according to claim 2 , wherein the flexible seal is substantially annular and comprises an outer diameter of from about 3.0 inches to about 5.0 inches.

4. The modular system according to claim 2 , wherein the seal is flexible.

5. The modular system according to claim 2 , wherein the seal is semi-flexible or rigid.

6. The modular poppet system according to claim 1 , wherein the first flush volume and the second flush volume are provided with a substantially equivalent toilet tank water volume.

7. The modular poppet system according to claim 6 , wherein the first flush volume is about 1.28 gpf and the second flush volume is about 1.6 gpf.

8. The modular poppet system according to claim 1 , wherein the first poppet assembly and the second poppet assembly allow the toilet tank to fill to substantially a same water volume.

9. The modular poppet system according to claim 1 , wherein removable attachment is achieved via rotatably coupling the upper float sidewall to the lower float sidewall.

10. The modular poppet system according to claim 9 , wherein

the upper float comprises one or more upper float fasteners,

the first lower float and the second lower float comprise one or more lower float fasteners, and

the upper float fasteners are configured to be received by and couple to the lower float fasteners.

11. The modular poppet system according to claim 10 , wherein the upper float fasteners comprise tabs or holes, and the lower float fasteners comprise corresponding holes or tabs.

12. The modular poppet system according to claim 1 , wherein

the poppet assembly buoyancy increases as the distance between the upper float surface and the lower float sidewall edge increases.

13. The modular poppet system according to claim 1 , wherein the first lower float opening and the second lower float opening are positioned towards a lower end of the first lower float and the second lower float, respectively.

14. The modular poppet system according to claim 1 , wherein the first poppet assembly comprises a different size and shape than the second poppet assembly.

15. The modular system according to claim 1 , wherein the second poppet assembly is configured to provide a greater flush volume than the first poppet assembly.