Utility valve extension

A control apparatus for use with utility control valves is disclosed. The control apparatus is in the form of an extension attached to the utility control valve in a variety of applications, such as the water shutoff valve in a toilet tank, sink, or water heater, or a gas valve to a dryer. The extension allows the user to turn off the utility valve without bending, stooping are trying to fit within tight or limited spaces. The extension has provisions to adjust the length to fit a particular application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to devices for controlling the flow of liquids and gases, and more particularly to a device for use with utility control valves in residences and other structures.

2. General Background and State of the Art

On an almost daily basis, people need to control the flow of water or gas to an appliance in their residences. People must be able to turn on and off water to the toilet, dishwasher, clothes washer, hot water heater and other appliances, as well as needing to turn on and shut off the flow of gas to a clothes dryer, for example. In many of these situations, access to the on/off flow control valve is limited because of lack of space. For persons with disabilities or old age, bending down and contorting themselves to access such a valve may be difficult or almost impossible.

There exist valve systems that can automatically stop a toilet tank from overflowing. U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,725 to Gish discloses a valve for controlling the water level in a toilet tank.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,299 to Dalfino discloses a shutoff device for an inlet valve preventing leaks and overflowing water from a toilet tank.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,280 to Wodeslavsky discloses an inlet and outlet control valve for a toilet.

None of these patents addresses the issue of providing a device that can be used by almost any person, regardless of age, height, or physical condition, for a wide variety of appliances found in a residence to easily shut off the flow of water or gas to the appliance.

There exists, therefore, a need for a device for use in conjunction with utility control valves on appliances to enable the manual opening and closing of the control valve.

There also exists a need for a control device for use in conjunction with utility control valves that provides easy access to any utility control valve, regardless of the valve's location.

There also exists a need for a control device for use in conjunction with utility control valves that can easily be adjusted in length to adapt the device for many situations.

There also exists a need for a control device for use in conjunction with utility control valves that are of durable and reliable construction.

There also exists a need for a control device for use in conjunction with utility control valves that may be easily and efficiently manufactured.

There also exists a need for a control device for use in conjunction with utility control valves that are affordable for elderly and disabled market segments.

None of the known control methods and devices for use in conjunction with utility control valves, either by themselves or in combination, is seen to anticipate or suggest the method and apparatus disclosed and claimed herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a control device for use in conjunction with utility control valves that requires a minimum of storage space that is readily adjustable to accommodate access problems and physical conditions of various people.

It is another object of the invention to provide a control device for use in conjunction with utility control valves that may be easily and efficiently manufactured.

It is another object of the invention to provide a control device for use in conjunction with utility control valves that is durable and reliable in construction.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a control device for use in conjunction with utility control valves that can be used with a variety of utility control valves.

Another object of the invention is to provide a control device for use in conjunction with utility control valves that may be used by almost anyone, especially those with physical limitations.

These and other objectives are achieved by the present invention, which, in a broad aspect, provides the user with an extension attached to the utility control valve in a variety of applications, such as the water shutoff valve in a toilet, sink, or water heater. The extension would makes it much easier for a user to manually turn on and off the water supply to a particular appliance or system in a quick manner. Alternatively, the utility control valve could also be a gas valve or another type of utility control valve.

The present invention is embodied in an extension device that includes a hollow sleeve in which is inserted a shaft. The sleeve includes a number of openings allowing the shaft, and therefore the shaft/sleeve assembly, to be adjusted in length by means of a spring having a button in it that protrudes through one of the openings for when the extension is of the desired length for the immediate application.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, there is a flexible coiled section at the end of the shaft that is inserted in an adapter head that can be fitted to a utility control valve. By turning a handle at the end of the sleeve, the sleeve, shaft and flexed coil are caused to rotate and turn the valve on or off, as desired.

The sleeve and shaft may be cylindrical, rectangular, or a variety of other shapes.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a pivoting arm constructed in a manner similar to that of the sleeve and shaft of the preferred embodiment, takes the place of the flexible coil. This embodiment of the invention can be adjusted to fit a nearly limitless number of situations to access utility control valves.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments, which, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, will illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

In the following description of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof, and in which are shown, by way of illustration, exemplary embodiments illustrating the principles of the present invention and how it may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized to practice the present invention and structural and functional changes may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

An extension device according to the present invention is generally referred to by the reference numeral10.FIG. 1illustrates a perspective view of extension10in use with a toilet40.FIG. 1Ashows an exploded view of extension10. Extension10includes sleeve12having first end14and second end16, and shaft18having first end20and second end22. First end20of shaft18is slidably inserted in second end16of sleeve12. Sleeve12also includes a plurality of holes24arrayed in a row. Within shaft18is located spring28having a plurality of legs and also having a button26which can be used to temporarily fix the position of sleeve12relative to shaft18. WhileFIGS. 1,1A,2,3and4depict sleeve12and shaft18to be cylindrical, those skilled in the art will recognize that sleeve12and shaft18could take on several other shapes, such as rectangular, without departing from the scope of the invention.

First end14of sleeve12has a handle30that is connected to sleeve12by means of pin44extending through holes46through handle30, and holes48through sleeve12. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, when shaft18is fully extended outside of sleeve12, extension10is about 30 to 36 inches in length.

As illustrated inFIG. 1A, second end22of shaft18has a tip coupling50, which attaches via female insert52in flex coil32. At the other end of flex coil32is male insert60which connects to adapter54, which may be connected to a water control valve34located behind toilet40. Adapter54is secured to water control valve34by means of openings56in adapter54and pins58.

By turning handle30, the user causes extension10and flex coil32to rotate and to ultimately turn handle30to the right or left, as desired. This action turns the water supply to toilet40on or off, depending which way handle30is turned.

Mount36and hook38hold sleeve12to the side of the toilet tank, providing support to extension10and allowing it to remain in an upright position. Hook38loops over the inside of the tank on toilet40, while mount36is either a cylindrical ring or loosely fit holder that allows extension10to rotate when handle30is rotated. In the absence of hook38, mount36could be attached to a fixed object.

FIG. 1also shows water level indicator142attached to the side of toilet40. Indicator142is attached to a water level sensor (not shown) located in the toilet bowl, by cord144. When the water level inside toilet40gets too high, the water level sensor will indicate this condition and will trigger indicator142to emit an alarm or beeping noise so that those present know that the water should be turned off.

FIG. 2illustrates a perspective view of extension10in use with a sink42. This application of extension10allows a user to turn on and turn off the water flow to sink22much more easily than with any device known in the existing art. In this application, flex coil32would not be needed because extension10would be in a “straight line” configuration with some of the existing plumbing already under sink22. Mount36holds extension10in place.

FIG. 3illustrates a perspective view of extension10in use with a stove or gas dryer. In this application, extension10is used to regulate the flow of natural gas, rather than the flow of water. Valve68is a gas control valve rather than a water control valve.

FIG. 4illustrates a perspective view of extension10in use with a water heater64. In this application of the invention, extension10functions in essentially the same way as it does when used with the sink. In this application, it would be preferable to have two extensions10in use, one in the hot water line and the other with the cold water line. A mount36holds extension10in place.

FIGS. 5,6and7illustrate an alternative embodiment80of the invention. In this embodiment of the invention, flex coil32is replaced by a pivot arm82. Pivot arm82resembles the combination of sleeve12and shaft18, as will be described, and allows another way for the invention to be adjusted to fit a particular application.

Pivot arm82includes pivot arm sleeve84and pivot arm shaft104. Sleeve84includes a pivoting connection at second end22of shaft18. Yoke90on second end22includes openings for pivot pin92to link to pivot pin receptacle94. Yoke96on the first end86of pivot arm sleeve84includes openings for pivot pin98, which links yoke96to pivot pin94. This construction provides a connection between pivot arm sleeve84and shaft18that allows the connection to be manipulated in a variety of ways that allows extension80to provide the user with a versatile, powerful tool that can be used for a variety of applications regardless of accessibility problems.

Pivot arm82may be adjusted in length in a manner similar to sleeve12and shaft18. First end106of shaft104is slidably inserted sleeve84at second end88. Within shaft104is located a spring (not shown) having a button105which can be used to temporarily fix the position of sleeve84relative to shaft104.

At second end108of shaft104is yoke110. Yoke110includes openings through which is inserted pivot pin112, which provides a pivotable connection to pivot pin receptacle114. An adapter insert116includes yoke118, located near second end108, and also includes openings for pivot pin120for connection to pivot pin receptacle114. This configuration provides a pivotable connection between adapter insert116and shaft104.

Adapter insert116provides a connection to adapter54, similar to the way in which flex coil32is connected to adapter54in the embodiment of the invention represented by extension10. Adapter54is secured to gas control valve66by means of openings56in adapter54and pins58. Adapter54could be adapted to attach with many other types of utility control valves as well.

FIG. 8illustrates extension80showing sleeve12, shaft18and pivot arm82are shown configured as being rectangular in shape, whileFIGS. 5–7illustrate that extension80may take on a cylindrical shape. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other configurations for extension10and extension80are possible, without departing from the scope of the invention.

FIGS. 9 and 10illustrate an alternative feature that can be incorporated with the present invention. Instead of adapter54for attaching to a utility control valve, fitted cover130, which is designed to fit most common water control-valves34or gas control valves66can be used without the necessity of any pins58.

The foregoing description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been presented for purposes of enablement, illustration, and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive of or to limit the present invention to the precise forms discussed. There are, however, other configurations for utility valve extensions not specifically described herein, but with which the present invention is applicable. The present invention should therefore not be seen as limited to the particular embodiments described herein; rather, it should be understood that the present invention has wide applicability with respect to utility valve extensions. Such other configurations can be achieved by those skilled in the art in view of the description herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is defined by the following claims.