Abstract:
The present invention provides for an improved bathroom fixture for flushing bodily waste materials. This fixture includes a secondary drain that communicates liquid that is backing up during a potential overflow situation into a conventional drainage sewer without any modification to that sewer.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to an improved bathroom fixture for flushing bodily waste materials into a drainage or sewer system. More particularly, this invention is a bathroom fixture having a secondary drainage system that prevents the fixture from overflowing. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Traditional bathroom fixtures, such as toilets and urinals, may become blocked or plugged-up resulting in the flushing water and waste to overflow when the fixture is flushed. Obviously, this overflow of water and waste materials is undesirable and there is therefore a need for an improved bathroom fixture that prevents these overflows from occurring. 
     There have been previous attempts to prevent a blocked toilet from overflowing. These prior art anti-overflow devices are often complicated and require modification to existing plumbing within the house or building. 
     Some prior art references pertaining to toilet overflow devices and systems include U.S. Pat. No. 3,411,162 issued Nov. 19, 1968 to Norbert J. Palmer for “Toilet Bowl Construction”; U.S. Pat. No. 4,204,285 issued May 27, 1980 to Ian T. Pak for “Overflow Protection Apparatus”; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/426,201 filed May 1, 2003 by Chris Giesken et al. for “Toilet Overflow Prevention System”; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/419,756 filed Apr. 22, 2003 by Samsam U. Turkman for “Stink-Free Non-Overflow Automatic Toilet”. 
     Generally such prior art fail to provide for a simple and cost-effective means for preventing bathroom fixtures from overflowing while being readily installed in place of an existing model toilet or urinal without modification to the plumbing of the building. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The broad purpose of the present invention is to provide an improved bathroom fixture that will not overflow if a blockage occurs in the fixture&#39;s primary drain system. 
     Since most toilets and urinals become blocked in the trap or at the discharge port of the fixture, this invention provides an improved bathroom fixture having a secondary drainpipe which bypasses the primary waste drain of traditional fixtures. When the primary waste drain of the fixture is blocked, the wastewater will back up in the fixture&#39;s basin until the water level reaches a plurality of secondary discharge holes formed in the upper region of the fixture&#39;s basin. The rising water flows through these discharge holes and through the secondary drain which is in fluid connection with the building&#39;s drainage/sewer system. In this manner, this invention eliminates the chance that a blockage in the fixture&#39;s primary drain will result in the fixture overflowing. 
     This improved bathroom fixture also provides an advantage over other toilets incorporating an anti-overflow system because this invention may be easily substituted in the place of an older toilet without any modification to the current plumbing or bathroom construction (e.g., flooring or walls). Other systems require modification to the current plumbing or additional plumbing to be installed to permit the new system to be effective. In other words, the present invention is a “drop-in” replacement for existing toilets or urinals that provides the benefit of eliminating overflows and does not require any additional modification to the bathroom or lavatory prior to replacement. 
     Another advantage the present invention has over other anti-overflow systems is that the present invention does not have any moving parts and is therefore cost effective and easy to maintain. Prior art systems oftentimes incorporate complicated and expensive sensors and electronic components that can break or malfunction. 
     Still further objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, upon reference to the following detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The description refers to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a partial cross-sectional side view of an anti-overflow fixture according to the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial cross-sectional front view of the anti-overflow fixture shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is bottom view of the anti-overflow fixture shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a view through section  4 - 4  shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial cross-sectional side view of an anti-overflow fixture according to an alternate embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a view of the secondary drain of an anti-overflow fixture according to alternate embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, improved bathroom fixtures  10 ,  110  for flushing bodily waste materials into a sewer system, hereinafter referred to as “bathroom fixture” or “fixture,” are shown. 
     Each fixture  10  has a traditional primary drain  20  and a secondary anti-overflow drain  30 . Similarly, each fixture  110  has a traditional primary drain  120  and a secondary anti-overflow drain  30 . 
     With the exception of the novel secondary anti-overflow drain  30 , the fixtures  10 ,  110  are substantially the same in size, shape, configuration, and operation as a conventional toilet or urinal respectively. 
     Particularly, each fixture  10 ,  110  includes the following standard features commonly found in conventional toilets and urinals: a structural body or base  11  containing a generally annular-shaped bowl or basin  12  that receives the waste material and a respective primary waste drain system  20 ,  120  that is in fluid communication with the basin  12 . Each drain  20 ,  120  is configured having a series of bends that form a liquid trap  22 . This trap  22  operates to cause an amount of water to remain within the basin  12  after each time the fixtures  10 ,  110  are used or flushed. It should be appreciated that the waterline  17 , i.e., the height of the amount of water left in the basin  12  after each flush, is determined by the relative volumes of the basin  12  and the primary drain pipes  20 ,  120  and the height that trap  22  extends upward relative to the basin  12 . 
     It should be readily apparent that in the embodiment of the invention depicted in  FIGS. 1-4 , the body  11  of bathroom fixture  10  is a toilet and in  FIG. 5 , the body  11  of bathroom fixture  110  is a urinal. 
     A tank or source of flushing water (not shown) of conventional design is fluidly coupled to the fixtures  10 ,  110  to provide the water needed to flush the contents of fixtures  10 ,  110 . The tank may be located in substantially any position relative to the fixtures  10 ,  110 . For example, the tank may be physically mounted directly to the fixtures  10 ,  110  or at a remote position. Similarly, a pressurized water line and a check valve system may be employed in place of the tank system as a source of flushing water. 
     Further, each fixture  10 ,  110  also includes a rim  13  which define the upper edge of basin  12 . Rim  13  includes a plurality of flush water outlets  14 . These flush water outlets  14  are fluidly coupled to a source of flushing water, such as the above-described tank. The outlets  14  are oriented to direct an amount of flushing water to cascade down the basin  12  each time the fixtures  10 ,  110  are flushed. As the rim  13  and outlets  14  are conventional they will not be discussed in any greater detail. 
     Openings  18  for fastening the body  11  of the fixture are formed through the portion of the body  11  in close proximity to the bathroom&#39;s mounting surface (i.e., the floor or wall). These openings  18  permit conventional hardware or fasteners to fixedly hold the body  11  to that bathroom surface. 
     It should be appreciated that in the fixture  10 , which has its body  11  configured as a toilet, a seat (not shown) is normally mounted upon the rim  13 . 
     With respect to fixture  10  and as is best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , drain  20  terminates at a primary discharge port  24  located in close proximity to the bottom edge  15  of the fixture  10 . Primary discharge port  24  includes a cylindrical collar  25  that is sized to slide into the opening of a standard sanitary line or plumbing  5  that is normally found beneath a bathroom floor  7 . It should be appreciated that plumbing  5  is a length of conventional pipe that is usually orthogonal to the floor and terminates either even with or projects slightly above the level of floor  7 . In combination with a conventional sealing material, such as a wax ring, the primary discharge port  24  and plumbing  5  are fluidly coupled to enable drain  20  to act as the primary means for flushing waste material down the fixture  10 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the preferred embodiment of the bathroom fixture is configured as a toilet. Fixture  10  includes a secondary drain  30  that is fluidly coupled to the basin  12  through a plurality of inlet holes  32  formed in the back wall of the basin  12 . These holes  32  are formed in the basin  12  at a location that is above the typical waterline  17  of the fixture  10 . Each of the inlets  32  are located below the flush water outlets  14  found in the rim  13 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the invention, there are three to five inlet holes  32  that are each approximately ⅜ inch in diameter. In one embodiment, the holes  32  are disposed in a line that is substantially parallel to the waterline  17  and located approximately one to three inches beneath the rim  13 . This location of the holes  32  ensures that waste water will not enter holes  32  unless there is a blockage (i.e., when waste water backs up toward the top of the basin  12 ), while concomitantly receiving a small amount of the water being emitted from the flush water outlets  14  during each flush to keep the drain  30  relatively clean and preventing the water in the drain  30  from becoming stagnant. 
     The location, quantity, size, shape and orientation relative to each other of the inlet holes  32  may vary and holes  32  need only be disposed below the outlets  14  and above the waterline  17  to operate as inlets for secondary drain  30 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the invention, secondary drain  30  also includes an overflow reservoir  34 . Reservoir  34  is an enclosed generally rectangular member that is disposed in the body  11  of fixtures  10 ,  110 . Reservoir  34  has a front side  33  that is in fluid communication with each of the inlet holes  32 . The bottom or floor  36  of reservoir  34  angles downward away from front side  33  and inlets  32  and terminates at an outlet hole  35  located at the lowest point of reservoir  34 . As shown, reservoir  34  is shaped to receive any liquid from inlets  32  and funnel that liquid toward the outlet hole  35  formed in the bottom of the reservoir. 
     Drain  30  further includes an overflow drain tube  38 . In the preferred embodiment of the invention, drain  38  is approximately one-half inch in inside diameter and is fluidly coupled to the outlet hole  35 . 
     Drain  38  extends down the body  11  to a secondary discharge port  40 . As shown best in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , secondary discharge port  40  passes through an aperture formed in the collar  25  and extends approximately one-half to one inch beyond the collar  25 . When coupled to a standard drain  5 , the extended length of port  40  beyond the collar  25  causes the secondary drain  30  to physically project into the plumbing  5  beyond the primary discharge port  24  of primary drain  20 . 
     Drain tube  38  is configured having a series of bends that form a liquid trap  39 . This trap  39  is disposed along the length of tube  38  between the outlet hole  35  and the secondary discharge port  40 . Trap  39  operates to cause an amount of water to remain within the drain tube  38  after each time fixtures  10 ,  110  are used or flushed. This trapped water in drain tube  38  prevents sewer gases and odors from passing through the secondary drain  30  into the lavatory. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , an alternative embodiment of the invention is shown whereby the body  11  of the fixture  110  is shaped as a urinal. With the exception of the shape of the body  11  and the following changes due to the normal wall mounting of a urinal instead of the conventional floor mounting of a toilet, the components, configuration, and operation of the invention is identical to that described above with like parts having like reference numbers. 
     In fixture  110 , the primary drain  120  terminates at a primary discharge port  124  located in close proximity to the back edge  115  of the fixture  110 . Primary discharge port  124  includes a cylindrical collar  125  that is sized to slide into the opening of a standard sanitary line or plumbing  5  that is normally found behind a bathroom wall  9 . It should be appreciated that plumbing  5  is a length of conventional pipe that is usually orthogonal to the wall and terminates either even with or projects slightly beyond the wall  9 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the drain tube  38  extends down the body  11  to a secondary discharge port  140 . Secondary discharge port  140  passes through an aperture formed in the collar  125  and extends approximately one-half to one inch beyond the collar  125 . When coupled to a standard drain  5 , the extended length of port  140  beyond the collar  125  causes the secondary drain  30  to physically project into the plumbing  5  beyond the primary drain  120 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , an alternative embodiment of the secondary drain  30  is shown wherein the reservoir  34  is eliminated and is replaced by a pipe union  44 . Union  44  is fluidly coupled to each of the inlet holes  32  at one end and to the drain tube  38  at the other. 
     In operation, when the primary drains  20 ,  120  become obstructed or blocked, the flushing water and waste material will begin to back up toward the top of the basin  12 . The secondary drain  30  redirects the backed-up liquid back to the sewer  5  in the following manner: 
     Once the liquid backs up to the height of the inlet holes  32 , the liquid will flow through these inlets  32  and collect in the reservoir  34 . The angled shape of reservoir  34  causes the liquid to flow down through the outlet  35  into the overflow drain tube  38 . The liquid flows through the drain tube  38  and passes out of the secondary drain  30  through the respective secondary discharge port  40 ,  140  that extends into the sewer plumbing  5  beyond the obstructed primary drains  20 ,  120 . 
     Thus it is understood that I have described an improved bathroom fixture having a secondary anti-overflow drain which may be readily installed in place of substantially any previous fixture (i.e., toilet or urinal) without any modification to the current plumbing or sewer system. 
     It should be appreciable to one skilled in the relevant art that the above described improved bathroom fixture may be made from various materials and be configured in various shapes and sizes without going beyond the scope and intent of the present invention. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the fixture is made from a ceramic material such as porcelain. In other embodiments the fixture may be formed from other hard, durable, and waterproof materials, such as plastic or metal. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the secondary drain  30  is integrally formed within the body structure  11  of the fixture. For example, the drain  30  could be cast directly into the mold of a body  11  made of porcelain. 
     In other embodiments, however, the secondary drain  30  may be a system of components separate from the structural body  11  of the fixture. That is, secondary drain  30  may be removably coupled to the basin  12  and body  11  to facilitate ease of manufacture or cost considerations. In this alternative preferred embodiment, drain  30  may be partially formed from conventional pipe material such as metal or plastic pipe. 
     In still other embodiments, some components of the secondary drain  30  may be integrally formed with the body  11 , such as inlets  32 , while other portions of the secondary drain, such as reservoir  34 , overflow drain tube  38 , and secondary discharge ports  40 ,  140  may be coupled to the body  11  to define the fixture. 
     In still yet other embodiments, the drain tube  38  and trap  39  may be mounted external to the body  11  and wherein a first end of the drain tube  38  extends through the body  11  to fluidly communicate with the inlet means  32 , and the opposite end of the overflow drain tube  38  also extends through another aperture formed in the body  11  to fluidly communicate with the discharge port  40 ,  140 . 
     In still yet other embodiments, the secondary drain  30  may be provided as separate components that are disposed within openings and passages formed within the body  11 , effective to hide the secondary drain  30  within the body  11 .