IP Library Granted Patent US 10,676,905
Granted Patent B2
US 10,676,905 · App. 16/182,497 · Granted Jun 9, 2020

Flow diverter with antisiphon

Inventor: Tuan Le (Fountain Valley, CA)
Assignee: FLUIDMASTER, INC.
E03D1/32B67D7/48E03D1/20E03D1/302E03D3/06E03D5/024E03D5/094F16K1/12F16K1/123F16K7/12F16K11/0856F16K21/20F16K31/1266F16K31/1268F16K31/365E03C1/023E03C2001/026
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,676,905
App. No.
16/182,497
Granted
Jun 9, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A flow diverter for diverting flow between a toilet bowl and a toilet tank, having: a body having an inlet, a first outlet and a second outlet; and a flow adjustment mechanism rotatable within the body to selectively divert different percentages of flow between the first outlet and the second outlet; and an air vent and diaphragm in the body to prevent a siphon flow from the first or second outlet back to the inlet.

Claims (26)

1. A flow diverter for diverting flow between a toilet bowl and a toilet tank, comprising:

a body comprising an inlet and an outlet and a pressure relief vent coupled between the inlet and the outlet; and

a flow adjustment mechanism to selectively divert different percentages of flow between the outlet and the pressure relief vent,

wherein a siphon force draws air into the pressure relief vent.

2. A flow diverter for diverting flow between a toilet bowl and a toilet tank, comprising:

a body comprising an inlet and an outlet and a pressure relief vent coupled between the inlet and the outlet; and

a flow adjustment mechanism to selectively divert different percentages of flow between the outlet and the pressure relief vent, wherein the flow adjustment mechanism is rotatable around the outlet of the body and comprises:

a sleeve received over the outlet, the sleeve having a threaded inner surface that mates with a threaded outer surface of the outlet; and

a stopper that is slidably received into the outlet.

3. The flow diverter of claim 2 , wherein the stopper is moved axially in the outlet as the sleeve is rotated around the outlet to continuously adjust the size of a fluid path through the outlet.

4. The flow diverter of claim 1 , wherein the body is curved such that flow into the inlet is not co-axial with flow out of the outlet.

5. The flow diverter of claim 1 , wherein flow into the inlet is in a direction parallel to flow out of the outlet.

6. The flow diverter of claim 1 , wherein flow from the outlet is diverted to the toilet bowl and flow out of the pressure relief vent is diverted to the toilet tank.

7. The flow diverter of claim 1 , wherein flow from the outlet is diverted to the toilet tank and flow out of the pressure relief vent is diverted to the toilet bowl.

8. A flow diverter for diverting flow between a toilet bowl and a toilet tank, comprising:

a body having an inlet, a first outlet and a second outlet; and

a flow adjustment mechanism moveable within the body to selectively divert different percentages of flow between the first outlet and the second outlet; and

an air vent and diaphragm to prevent a siphon flow from the first or second outlet back to the inlet.

9. The flow diverter of claim 8 , wherein the first outlet diverts flow to a toilet bowl, and a second outlet diverts flow to a toilet tank.

10. The flow diverter of claim 8 , wherein the body has a cylindrical section, and wherein the flow adjustment mechanism comprises a curved rotatable wall portion that can be rotated in the cylindrical section to block flow into either the first outlet or the second outlet.

11. The flow diverter of claim 10 , wherein flow from the second outlet is directed back into the fill valve.

12. The flow diverter of claim 8 , wherein flow from the second outlet is directed back into the fill valve.

13. The flow diverter of claim 8 , wherein the diaphragm in the body is positioned near the top of the body of the flow diverter.

14. The flow diverter of claim 8 , wherein the diaphragm in the body is positioned above the inlet, first outlet and second outlet of the flow diverter.

15. The flow diverter of claim 8 , wherein the diaphragm is positioned under a top cap of the body.

16. The flow diverter of claim 8 , wherein the diaphragm extends around the circumference of the body.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 2, 2023
From: FLUIDMASTER, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064673/0593 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 15, 2018
From: LE, TUAN
To: FLUIDMASTER, INC.
Reel/Frame 047513/0610 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 15426222 · Feb 7, 2017
Continuation In Part PCTUS2016022173 · Mar 11, 2016
Provisional Application 62132400 · Mar 12, 2015
Related Publication 20190071853A1 · Mar 7, 2019