Abstract:
Various methods and systems are provided for offsetting of flush adapters. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an adapter configured to attach to a flush mechanism configured to provide for a predefined flush capability in a toilet, a gasket attached to adapter, the gasket forming a seal between the flush mechanism and a flush orifice of a flush valve, where the flush valve is configured to seat a sealing member, and means for securing the gasket in position with respect to the flush orifice of the flush valve.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. non-provisional application entitled “OFFSETTING DUAL FLUSH ADAPTER” having Ser. No. 14/951,590, filed Nov. 25, 2015, which is a divisional application of U.S. non-provisional application entitled “OFFSETTING DUAL FLUSH ADAPTER” having Ser. No. 13/096,162, filed Apr. 28, 2011, which claims priority to U.S. provisional application entitled “OFFSETTING DUAL FLUSH ADAPTER” having Ser. No. 61/328,874, filed Apr. 28, 2010, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Most toilets in the United States feature a single flush capability that typically uses more water than is needed to flush urine and tissue. This translates into a colossal waste of water each year. Also, typical flush valves that include a flapper preclude the use of other flush technologies without significant effort needed to remove a toilet tank, remove an existing flush valve, and install a new style flush valve, or result in limited fit or function. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]    Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0004]      FIGS. 1A-1D  are drawings that provide various views of a single flush toilet flush valve with a dual flush adaptor according to various embodiments. 
           [0005]      FIGS. 2A-2C  are drawings that provide various views of another single flush toilet flush valve with a dual flush adaptor according to various embodiments. 
           [0006]      FIGS. 3A-3E, 4A-4B, 5A-5B, and 6A-6D  are drawings that provide various views of a single flush toilet flush valve with other dual flush adaptors according to various embodiments. 
           [0007]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  are drawings that illustrate the coupling of a dual flush canister to the dual flush adaptor of  FIGS. 3A-6D  according to various embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]    With reference to  FIGS. 1A-1D , shown are various views of a toilet flush valve  100  that includes an overflow tube  103 . The flush valve  100  is generally employed in gravity toilets and includes an orifice  106  through which water drains into a toilet bowl during a flush of a toilet as can be appreciated. The orifice  106  is typically sealed using a flapper that hinges upon ears  109  that extend from the sides of the overflow tube  103 . Some flush valves do not use a flapper or have ears  109  as such as might be the case with a ball-type flush valve, but typically include an overflow tube  103 . In any event, the flush valves as described herein are those that are configured to seat a flapper, flush ball, gasket, or other sealing member to ensure that water does not leak into the toilet bowl until a flush is initiated. 
         [0009]    A sealing washer such as a rubber washer or other sealing structure is sandwiched between the flush valve  100  and the bottom of the tank as can be appreciated. The flush valve  100  also includes a retaining nut  113  that is used to secure the flush valve  100  to the bottom of a toilet tank and serves to compress the rubber washer or other sealing structure. The flush valve  100  includes a threaded portion  116  upon which the retaining nut  113  is fastened. Also, another gasket may be employed to seal between the toilet tank and the toilet bowl. 
         [0010]    Also depicted in  FIGS. 1A-1D  is an adapter  133 . The adapter includes a clamp  136  that can be affixed to the overflow tube  103  as shown. To this end, the adapter  133  can move up and down with the clamp  136  sliding up and down the overflow tube until the clamp  136  is tightened as shown. Attached to the adapter  133  is a gasket  139 . The gasket  139  is configured to be compatible with the flush orifice  106  such that it can mate with the junction forming a seal between the gasket  139  and the flush orifice  106 . Also, the gasket  139  is attached to the bottom of the adapter  133  in such a manner that a seal is formed at the junction between the adapter  133  and the gasket  139 . The adapter  133  may be viewed as a basket that includes a flush orifice  143  that is compatible with various flush mechanisms such as dual flush devices, siphonic flush valves, electronically operated dual flush valves, or other flush mechanisms. Although the following discussion mentions dual flush mechanisms, it is understood that the adapter  133  is not limited for use with such dual flush mechanisms, and that other flush mechanisms may be mated with the adaptor  133  as desired. 
         [0011]    The adapter  133  is configured to mate with a flush mechanism such as a dual flush canister so that the dual flush canister can open or close the flush orifice  143  to implement a flush of a toilet. To this end, two different flushes may be implemented. One uses a minimum amount of water to flush urine and tissue down the drain. The second uses an additional amount of water to flush excrement and tissue, etc., down the drain. 
         [0012]    To tighten the clamp  136  on the overflow tube  103 , a carriage bolt  153  extends through holes of ears  156  associated with the clamp  136 . The carriage bolt  153  may include a wing nut or other locking nut  159  that, when tightened, causes the leaves of the clamp  136  to compress the overflow tube  103 . The carriage bolt  153  may include a square portion  163  that mates with a square hole in a given one of the ears  156  to prevent the carriage bolt from rotating when the wing nut  159  is tightened. In other embodiments, the clamp  136  may be tightened on the overflow tube  103  using spring clamps, self-tapping screws, rubber ring, or other appropriate fasteners. For example, a zip tie  166  (or cable tie) may be used to tighten clamp  136  on the overflow tube  103 . 
         [0013]    By virtue of the adapter  133  being mated with the flush orifice  106  by way of the gasket  139 , an existing single flush valve  100  that may already be installed in a toilet can be converted to a dual flush mechanism. To this end, the adapter  133  and the gasket  139  facilitate conversion of existing single flush valves  100  to dual flush mechanisms. Specifically, the adapter is slid down over the overflow tube  103  until the gasket  139  engages the flush orifice  106 . An individual may then press the adapter  133  downward such that the gasket  139  mates properly with the flush orifice  106  and seals the junction therebetween. 
         [0014]    To this end, the gasket  139  may be deformed slightly to provide for a better seal. At this point, the adapter  133  may be held in place until the wing nut  159  is tightened, thereby tightening the clamp  136  onto the overflow tube. In this manner, the adapter  133  is held into place. In addition, when water fills up in a toilet tank, water pressure against the adaptor assembly aids in holding the adapter  133  in the proper position to maintain the seal formed between the flush orifice  106  and the gasket  139 . The flush valve  100  as shown in  FIGS. 1A-1D  is a horizontal style flush valve in that the flush orifice  106  is oriented in a horizontal direction relative to the bottom wall of a toilet tank in which the flush valve  100  is installed. 
         [0015]    With specific reference to  FIGS. 10 and 1D , shown are exploded views of the adapter  133  with the gasket  139  separated. As depicted in  FIG. 1D , the adapter  133  includes an annular recess  173  which mates up with an inward annular projection  176  on the gasket  139  to provide for a seal between the adapter  133  and the gasket  139  as will be described in greater detail. 
         [0016]    With reference next to  FIGS. 2A-2C , shown is a flush valve  200  that includes an angled flush orifice  203 . To this end, the flush valve  200  is much the same as the flush valve  100  except for the fact that the flush orifice  203  is angled to accommodate the type of flapper or sealing member used to contain the water in the toilet tank and operate a flush cycle as can be appreciated. The adapter  133  and the clamp  136  are unchanged. The gasket  139  may be shaped to conform with the orifice  203  to the extent that the orifice  203  is elliptical in nature relative to the gasket  139  due to the angling of the flush orifice  203 . 
         [0017]    With reference to  FIGS. 3A-3E , shown is another arrangement for affixing a dual flush adapter  133  to the overflow tube  103 . The adapter  133  includes at least one arm  303  that extends from the adapter  133 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 3A-3E , two arms  303  extend from the upper rim  306  of the adapter  133 . In other embodiments, the arm(s)  303  may extend from another portion of the adapter  133 , e.g., down members  309 . 
         [0018]    A mounting bracket  313  is affixed to the down tube  103 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 3A-3E , the mounting bracket  313  is clamped to the down tube  103  and secured in position by a bolt  316  using a nut or a threaded opening in the mounting bracket  313 . In other embodiments, securing means such as, but not limited to, screws, tabs, ties, etc. may be used to secure the mounting bracket  313  in position on down tube  103 . 
         [0019]    The arms  303  are configured to engage with the mounting bracket  313 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 3A-3E , arm  303  includes a serrated edge  319  for positioning of gasket  139  within the flush orifice  203 . The mounting bracket  313  includes a corresponding ratchet mechanism  323  that engages with the serrated edge  319  of the arm  303  to secure the adapter  133  and gasket  139  in position.  FIGS. 3D-3E  illustrate the variation in positioning of the adapter  133  and gasket  139  to provide for alignment of the gasket  139  with an orifice  203 . Variations in the location of the orifice  203  with respect to the down tube  103  can be accounted for by movement of the arm(s)  303  within the ratchet mechanism(s)  323 . In some embodiments, the ratchet mechanism  323  may allow for movement of the arm  303  in both directions. Alternatively, the ratchet mechanism may only allow the arm  303  to be adjusted in a single direction unless the ratchet mechanism  323  is disengaged from the serrated edge  319  of the arm  303 . 
         [0020]    In other embodiments, the mounting bracket  313  includes a securing mechanism in place of the ratchet mechanism  323  that engages with the arm  303  to secure the adapter  133  and gasket  139  in position. The securing mechanism may include an adjusting or set screw or other appropriate securing device that, when engaged with the arm  303 , holds gasket  139  in alignment with orifice  203 . Releasing the securing mechanism allows for adapter adjustment. 
         [0021]    Referring next to  FIGS. 4A-4B , shown is another arrangement for affixing a dual flush adapter  133  to the overflow tube  103 . The adapter  133  includes an adjustment arm  403  that extends from the adapter  133 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 4A-4B , the adjustment arm  403  extends from the upper rim  306  of the adapter  133 . In other embodiments, the adjustment arm  403  may extend from another portion of the adapter  133 , e.g., a down member  309 . 
         [0022]    A mounting bracket  413  is affixed to the down tube  103 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 4A-4B , the mounting bracket  413  is clamped to the down tube  103  and secured in position by a bolt  416  using a nut or a threaded opening in the mounting bracket  413 . In other embodiments, securing means such as, but not limited to, screws, tabs, ties, etc. may be used to secure the mounting bracket  413  in position on down tube  103 . 
         [0023]    The adjustment arm  403  is configured to be secured to the mounting bracket  413  using a bolt  419  and nut or other appropriate fastening means. Bolt  419  extends through an extension  423  of the mounting bracket  413  and a slot  426  of the adjustment arm  403 . By rotating the mounting bracket  413  and adjusting the position of bolt  419  within slot  426 , the position of the adapter  133  and gasket  139  may be adjusted to provide for alignment of the gasket  139  with an orifice  203 . 
         [0024]      FIGS. 4A-4B  illustrate the variation in positioning of the adapter  133  and gasket  139  to provide for alignment of the gasket  139  with an orifice  203 . In  FIG. 4A , the mounting bracket  413  and adjustment arm  403  are secured in a first position to align gasket  139  with the orifice  203 . In  FIG. 4B , the orifice  203  is located further away from down tube  103 . Accordingly, the mounting bracket  413  has been rotated on the down tube  103  and bolt  419  has been translated within the slot  426  to align gasket  139  with the orifice  203 . The mounting bracket  413  and adjustment arm  403  are secured in this second position to maintain alignment with orifice  203 . 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5A-5B , shown is another arrangement for affixing a dual flush adapter  133  to the overflow tube  103 . The adapter  133  includes two adjustment arms  403  that extend from the adapter  133 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 5A-5B , the adjustment arms  403  extend from the upper rim  306  of the adapter  133 . 
         [0026]    A mounting bracket  513  is affixed to the down tube  103 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 5A-5B , the mounting bracket  513  is clamped to the down tube  103  and secured in position by a bolt  516  using a nut or a threaded opening in the mounting bracket  513 . In other embodiments, securing means such as, but not limited to, screws, tabs, ties, etc. may be used to secure the mounting bracket  513  in position on down tube  103 . 
         [0027]    The adjustment arms  403  are configured to be secured to the mounting bracket  513  using a bolt  519  and nut or other appropriate fastening means. Bolts  519  extend through a slot  526  in extensions  523  of the mounting bracket  513  and a slot  426  of the adjustment arms  403 . Slots  426  in the adjustment arms  430  and slots  526  in the mounting bracket extensions  523  allow for repositioning of the adapter  133  and gasket  139  for alignment of the gasket  139  with an orifice  203  without rotating the mounting bracket  513 . 
         [0028]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate the variation in positioning of the adapter  133  and gasket  139  to provide for alignment of the gasket  139  with an orifice  203 . In  FIG. 5A , the adjustment arms  403  are secured in a first position to align gasket  139  with the orifice  203 . In  FIG. 5B , the orifice  203  is located further away from down tube  103 . Accordingly, the bolts  519  have been translated within slots  426  and slots  526  to align gasket  139  with the orifice  203 . The adjustment arms  403  are secured in this second position to maintain alignment with orifice  203 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 6A-6D , shown is another arrangement for affixing a dual flush adapter  133  to the overflow tube  103 . In the embodiments of  FIGS. 6A-6D , the adapter  133  includes a mounting flange  603  affixed to the upper rim  306  of the adapter  133 . In other embodiments, the mounting flange  603  may be affixed to another portion of the adapter  133 , e.g., a down member  309 . A mounting ring  606  extends around the down tube  103  and is fastened to the mounting flange  603  to secure the adapter  133  and gasket  139  in position. With openings  609  aligned, the mounting ring  606  may be secured to the mounting flange  603  by bolts and nuts, screws, zip ties, or other suitable fasteners. 
         [0030]    The position of the adapter  133  and gasket  139  may be adjusted using shims  613  and/or rings  606  of various sizes as illustrated in  FIG. 6B . The shims  613  include openings  609  that are aligned with the openings  609  of the mounting flange  603  and mounting ring  606  when secured in position on the down tube  103 .  FIGS. 6C and 6D  illustrate the variation in positioning of the adapter  133  and gasket  139  to provide for alignment of the gasket  139  with an orifice  203 . In  FIG. 6C , a first shim  613   a  is used to align gasket  139  with the orifice  203 . In  FIG. 6D , the orifice  203  is located further away from down tube  103 . Accordingly, a thicker shim  613   b  is utilized to align gasket  139  with the orifice  203 . With openings  609  aligned, the mounting ring  606  and shim  613  may be secured to the mounting flange  603  by bolts and nuts, screws, zip ties, or other suitable fasteners. 
         [0031]    With reference to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , shown is how the adapter  133  mates with a dual flush canister  703  according to various embodiments. The dual flush canister  703  includes mating ears  706  that slide into the grooves  719  and can be rotated within an annular groove. Attached to the dual flush canister  703  is a sealing member  709  that closes the flush orifice  716  of the adapter  133  when the dual flush canister  703  is idle. The sides of the adapter  133  feature water flow openings  713  that allow water to enter into the adapter  133  and flow through the flush orifice  143  when a flush is implemented. A flush is implemented when the mechanisms in the dual flush canister  703  lift the sealing member  709  to allow water to flow into the flush orifice  716  of the adapter and through the flush valve to a toilet bowl. In an alternative embodiment, the adapter  133  may actually be an integrally molded portion of the dual flush canister  703 . Furthermore, the dual flush canister may be similar to the dual flush canister manufactured by OEM toilet manufacturers and suppliers like CRN, LAB, VIB, R&amp;T, WDI and Nison. 
         [0032]    It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure are merely possible examples of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.