Abstract:
A toilet with a flushable overflow drain includes a bowl and a primary drain connected to the bowl to receive fluid therefrom and having a primary drain trap. An overflow drain including an overflow drain trap is connected to the bowl at one end thereof and is connected at a second end to the primary drain at a location downstream of the primary drain trap. An overflow drain flush passage is connected to the overflow drain at a position upstream of the overflow drain trap. Accordingly, water can be directed through the overflow drain flush passage and into the overflow drain to flush the overflow drain and the overflow drain trap free of debris to prevent clogging.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/999,983, filed Aug. 12, 2014, the entire of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to toilets, and more particularly, relating to a toilet having a flushable overflow drain. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is known to provide a toilet with an overflow drain to prevent the toilet from overflowing when the primary drain becomes clogged. Typically, the overflow drain is configured to bypass the p-trap of the primary drain. Accordingly, to prevent sewer gases from passing through the overflow drain, the overflow drain may also include a p-trap. The overflow drain p-trap is prone to clogging by the accumulating of debris and residue, especially during an overflow event where the contents of the toilet bowl are directed through the overflow drain. However, unlike the primary drain p-trap, which is typically cleared during each flush, the overflow drain trap is not similarly flushed to clear any accumulated debris and residue. Accordingly, there is a need and desire for a new toilet construction that includes a flushable overflow drain. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing problems with conventional toilets having overflow drains, embodiments of the present invention provide a toilet with a flushable overflow drain to permit flushing the overflow drain to remove accumulated debris and to prevent clogging of the overflow drain. 
     In general, in one aspect, a toilet with a flushable overflow drain is provided that includes a bowl and a primary drain connected to the bowl to receive fluid therefrom and having a primary drain trap. An overflow drain including an overflow drain trap is connected to the bowl at one end thereof and is connected at a second end to the primary drain at a location downstream of the primary drain trap. An overflow drain flush passage is connected to the overflow drain at a position upstream of the overflow drain trap. Accordingly, water can be directed through the overflow drain flush passage and into the overflow drain to flush the overflow drain and the overflow drain trap free of debris to prevent clogging. 
     In general, in another aspect, the toilet may include a first valve at a first junction between the overflow drain and the overflow drain flush passage and a second valve at a second junction between the overflow drain and the primary drain. 
     In general, in another aspect, the toiler may include a water tank connected to the overflow drain flush passage and a flush valve disposed within the tank and connected to the coupling between the water tank and the overflow drain flush passage. 
     In general, in another aspect, a toilet with a flushable overflow drain is provided that includes a bowl and a primary drain connected to the bowl and to receive fluid therefrom and having a primary drain trap. An overflow drain including an overflow drain trap is connected to the bowl at one end thereof and is connected at a second end to the primary drain at a location downstream of the primary drain trap. An overflow drain flush passage is connected to the overflow drain at a position upstream of the overflow drain trap and a toilet bowl flush passage is connected to the bowl. The overflow drain flush passage and the toilet bowl flush passage are separately connectable to a supply of water. 
     In general, in another aspect, a water tank is separately connected to the overflow drain flush passage and the toilet bowl flush passage. A first flush valve disposed within the tank and connected to the coupling between the water tank and the toilet bowl flush passage and a second flush valve disposed within the tank and connected to the coupling between the water tank and the overflow drain flush passage. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. 
     Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following drawings illustrate by way of example and not limitation. For the sake of brevity and clarity, every feature of a given structure is not always labeled in every figure in which that structure appears. Identical reference numbers do not necessarily indicate an identical structure. Rather, the same reference number may be used to indicate a similar feature or a feature with similar functionality, as may non-identical reference numbers. No attempt is made to show structural details of the embodiments in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic front elevation view of a toilet with flushable overflow drain constructed in accordance with the principles of an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the toilet of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the toilet of  FIG. 1 , shown installed in a tankless configuration; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic front view of the toilet of  FIG. 1 , shown with a water tank; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the toilet of  FIG. 1 , shown with a water tank; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the toilet of  FIG. 1 , shown with a water tank and operating in a typical flush operation; 
         FIG. 7  is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the toilet of  FIG. 1 , shown with a water tank and in an overflow situation; 
         FIG. 8  is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the toilet of  FIG. 1 , shown with a water tank and in an overflow drain flushing operation; and 
         FIG. 9  is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a toilet with flushable overflow drain constructed in accordance with the principles of another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIGS. 1-2 , diagrammatically shown therein and designated by the reference number  10   a  is a first embodiment of the present toilet with flushable overflow drain. In the embodiment shown, toilet  10   a  is conventionally configured with a pedestal  12 , a toilet bowl  14  that is supported upon the pedestal, and a seat  16  that is pivotally attached to the toilet. 
     In the depicted embodiment, toilet  10   a  includes a primary drain  18  with p-trap  20 , an overflow drain  22  with a p-trap  24 , toilet bowl flush passage  26 , and an overflow drain flush passage  28 . The primary drain  18  conventionally connects the bottom of the toilet bowl  14  to a waste line (not shown) via flange  30  to discharge waste from the bowl to the waste line. The overflow drain  22  connects the toilet bowl  14  to the primary drain  18 , by-passing the p-trap  20  of the primary drain. More particularly, one end of the overflow drain  22  is connected to the bowl  14  at a position above the primary drain  18  and the other end of the overflow drain is connected to the primary drain at a position downstream of p-trap  20  at junction  25 , thus by-passing p-trap  20 . While not shown here, in other embodiments, the overflow drain  22  may be connected to the waste line separate from the primary drain  18 . 
     The toilet bowl flush passage  26  is fitted at one end with a coupling  32  for connection to a source of water and is connected at the opposite end to the toilet bowl  14  by one or more discharge openings  34 . To this end, water flowing through the toilet bowl flush passage  26  is discharged into the toilet bowl, such as, for example, during flushing. The overflow drain flush passage  28  is fitted at one end with a coupling  36  for connection to a source of water and is connected at the opposite end to the overflow drain  22  at junction  38 . A valve  40 , such as, for example, a flap valve is provided at junction  38 . Valve  40  operates alternately to seal the overflow drain passage  28  from the overflow drain  22  when fluid flows through the inlet  42  of the overflow drain and to seal the inlet and direct water flowing in the overflow flush passage  28  into the overflow drain, rather than being discharged into the toilet bowl  14  through the inlet. Further, inlet  42  may be fitted with a grill  43  to block large debris from flowing into the overflow drain  22 . 
     Similarly, in the depicted embodiment, junction  25  is provided with a directional valve  44 , such as, for example, a flap valve. Valve  44  operates alternately to seal the overflow drain  22  from the primary drain  18  when fluid flows through the primary drain and to seal the primary drain from the overflow drain when fluid flows through the overflow drain. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 3 , toilet  10   a  is representatively shown installed in a first configuration. In the depicted configuration, toilet  10   a  is connected in a tankless configuration where coupling  32  of the toilet bowl flush passage  26  and coupling  36  of the overflow drain passage  28  are connected to a source of pressurized water  54  by separate flush valves  46  and  48 , respectively, via supply piping  50  and  52 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , toilet  10   a  is representatively shown installed in a second configuration. In the depicted configuration, toilet  10   a  includes a water tank  56  that is connected and supported upon the toilet. While not shown, water tank  56  would conventionally include a fill valve that is connected to the water supply via a supply tube to fill the tank with water. 
     In the depicted configuration, the toilet bowl flush passage  26  is connected to the water tank  56  by coupling  32 . A main flush valve  58  is disposed within the tank and is connected to the coupling between the water tank and the toilet bowl flush passage. The main flush valve  58  is connected to a flush lever  60  via chain  62 , such that rotating lever  60  causes the valve  58  to open, thereby causing water  64  contained in the tank  56  to flow through the toilet bowl flush passage  26 . Further, in the depicted configuration, the overflow drain flush passage  28  is connected to the water tank  56  by coupling  36 . A secondary flush valve  66  is disposed within the tank and is connected to the coupling between the water tank and the overflow drain flush passage. The secondary flush valve  66  is connected to a lever  68  by link  70 , such that operation of the operator causes the valve  66  to open, thereby causing water  64  to flow through the overflow drain flush passage  28 . As further depicted, secondary flush valve  66  is elevated higher than main flush valve  58  by a longer stand pipe  72 , which has the effect to using less water when flushing the overflow drain  22 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 6-8 , operation of toilet l 0   a  will be described, with initial reference to  FIG. 6 . In  FIG. 6 , toilet l 0   a  is shown in a typical flushing operation where the primary drain  18  is free and open (i.e., not clogged). Like a conventional toilet, in the normal flushing operation, a user operates lever  60  to open main flush valve  58  and discharge water  64  from the water tank  52  through toilet bowl flush passage  26  and into the bowl  14 . The contents  72  of the bowl  14  are then subsequently discharged through primary drain  18  and into waste line  74 . Further, as depicted, the flow of contents  72  through the primary drain  18  closes valve  44  and seals the overflow drain  22  from the primary drain. 
     In  FIG. 7 , toilet  10   a  is shown in an overflow situation where the primary drain  18  is blocked by blockage  76 . Here, upon operating lever  60  to flush the bowl  14 , as described above, the blockage  76  prevents contents  72  from flowing through the primary drain  18 . Accordingly, overflow is prevented by fluid  78  flowing through the overflow drain  22  into the primary drain  18  by-passing p-trap  20 , and then from the primary drain into the waste line  74 . As further depicted, fluid  78  flowing through the overflow drain  22  operates valve  40  and seals the overflow drain from the overflow drain flush passage  28 . Similarly, fluid  78  flowing through the overflow drain  22  operates valve  40  to connect the overflow drain with the primary drain  18 . 
     In  FIG. 8 , toilet  10   a  is shown in a typical overflow drain flushing operation. Here, a user operates lever  68  to open secondary flush valve  66  and discharge water  64  from the water tank  52  through overflow drain flush passage  28  and into the overflow drain  22 . The water  64  continues to flow through the overflow drain  22 , flushing debris from the overflow drain and its p-trap  24  into the primary drain  18 , where it then flows into the waste line  74 . As further depicted, water flowing from the overflow drain flush passage  28  operates valve  40  and seals the inlet  42  of the overflow drain  22  and connects the overflow drain flush passage and the overflow drain. Similarly, water  64  flowing through the overflow drain  22  operates valve  40  to connect the overflow drain with the primary drain  18 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 9 , diagrammatically shown therein and designated by the reference number  10   b  is a second embodiment of the present toilet with flushable overflow drain. In this depicted embodiment, toilet  10   b  has substantially the same construction and operation of toilet  10   a , except that valve  44  is eliminated and junction  25  is replaced with junction  80 . As depicted, junction  80  includes a downwardly angled section  82  of the overflow drain  22  that connects to the primary drain  18 . The downwardly angled section  82  prevents fluid flowing through the primary drain  18  from upwardly flowing into the overflow drain  22 , and thus eliminates the need for valve  44 . Further, this structure prevents siphoning of water from the p-trap  20  during downward movement of flush water from the toilet bowl. 
     A number of embodiments of the present invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.