Abstract:
An indicator that the cartridge is draining slowly is placed on top of the cartridge. When slow draining causes urine to pool on top of the cartridge, liquid enters a float housing, causing an indicator to change color. The indicator is visible through a lens in a diverter. The indicator may be a disk that undergoes a chemical reaction to change color or a float that flips over to reveal a side having a different color. When the cartridge is operating properly, the float displays a first color. Flipping of the float reveals a second color to the observer. A color change indicates, such as by signaling, that the cartridge needs to be replaced.

Description:
This application claims benefit of provisional applications No. 60/741,748 filed Dec. 2, 2005 and No. 60/752,861, filed Dec. 21, 2005. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Waterfree urinals (urinals that do not require flushing with water to block odors from emitting from the drain) utilize a cartridge attached to a drain, the drain leading to a sewer or septic system. Within the cartridge is a trap to contain liquid to prevent gases coming through the drain and escaping through the cartridge. Over time, precipitants from urine slow the draining ability and capacity of the cartridge. Over time, the cartridge drains too slowly to be useful, causing urine to back-up onto the top of the cartridge, as comprising an excessive amount of liquid. At this point, the entire cartridge must be replaced. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a waterfree cartridge having a visual indicator to signal the end of its useful life. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a waterfree cartridge having an indicator that may be removed and reused with a new cartridge. 
     These and other objects of the invention will become apparent to one of ordinary skill after reading the disclosure of the invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An indicator that the cartridge is draining slowly is placed on top of the cartridge having a first condition when dry and a second condition when exposed to a sufficient amount (e.g., an excessive amount) of liquid. When slow draining causes urine to pool on top of the cartridge, such excessive amount of liquid enters a float housing, causing a signaling indicator to change conditions, e.g., a signal such as color. The indicator is visible through a lens in a diverter. The indicator may be a disk, that undergoes a chemical reaction to change color or a float that flips over to reveal a side having a different color. When the cartridge is operating properly, the float displays a first color. Flipping of the float reveals a second color to the observer. A color change indicates or signals that the cartridge needs to be replaced. When flipping in response to liquid build-up, not only does the float operate not simply to sense the passage of waste water passing into the trap but also it remains flipped even after the water recedes, to notify the janitor or other observer of the existence of such excessive amount of liquid. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the waterfree cartridge; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the indicator useful in conjunction with the cartridge illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom cross-sectional perspective view of the indicator; 
         FIG. 4  is a top perspective cross-sectional view of the indicator; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a second embodiment of the indicator; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the indicator; 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom perspective view of the diverter in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom perspective view of the lens used in the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom perspective view of the indicator foot with attachment stem; 
         FIG. 10  is a top perspective view of the indicator foot; and 
         FIG. 11  is a bottom perspective view of the indicator cover. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  depicts a cartridge  20  which may be housed within a urinal  21  and used with an indicator  28  as depicted in  FIG. 2  et seq. The cartridge  20  has a housing  22  and a funnel-shaped top  24 . The top  24  is provided with at least one drain hole  26  which is configured as a central cartridge top aperture. The cartridge housing  22  connects to a drain and has a trap, as is conventional, to prevent sewer gases from escaping through the cartridge. 
     An exploded view of the indicator is seen in  FIG. 2 . A urine diverter  30  to prevents any stream of liquid from being directed straight into the indicator. A central aperture allows a user visual access to the float  40  and lens  38  covers the central aperture. The float  40  has a float rotation axle  42 , a flat top  44 , which is a first condition, e.g., a signal such as the color green, and a rounded bottom  46 , which is a second condition, e.g., a signal such as the color red. The float  40  rests within a float housing  50 . An attachment stem  52  extends downwardly from the float housing and fits within a central aperture in the cartridge top  24  to secure the signaling indicator to the cartridge. A reset button  60  engages the bottom of the housing, as will be described later. The bottom also has apertures to allow the egress of liquids. 
     The engagement between the float housing  50  and the diverter  30  is clearly seen in  FIG. 3 . An attachment collar  32  depends from the bottom surface of the baffle and secures the float housing in place. The top of clear lens insert and axle stop assembly  38 , as comprising the clear lens  38   a  is sandwiched between the top of the float housing  50  and diverter  30 . Air vents are provided at the top of the side wall of the housing to allow air to escape as liquid enters the float housing. The diverter is also provided with air vents  34  having baffles  36 . 
       FIG. 4  clearly depicts the float axle  42  fitting within a cradle formed within the float housing allowing the float to rotate or pivot about this axle. After attachment of the float housing to the diverter, the reset button is retracted to allow free float movement. The diverter is manipulated until the float exposes its top flat side  44  to the clear observation lens  38   a . Once the float is in the proper position, the reset button is closed to lock the float in place. In the non-actuated position, with the green-colored flat side up, the float is in a stable position. The float is further maintained in this position by tabs  43  resting on the top surface of the reset button. When the cartridge approaches the end of its useful life, it begins to drain slower and slower. 
     Eventually, the point is reached where urine backs up onto the top of the cartridge to a height sufficient to allow urine to enter housing  50  through openings in the bottom of the float housing  50 . The float will rise until the axle  42  contacts the bottom of the posts  48  extending from the clear lens insert and axle stop assembly  38 . The float has positive buoyancy and, in an effort to rise further, will rotate or pivot about the axis  42  to expose the red side of rounded bottom  46  to the lens  38   a , known as the actuated position. With slow draining, the level with decrease and the float will slowly sink until the tabs  43  again contact the top surface  49  of the reset button  60 . The float then maintains the actuated position even if the cartridge completely drains. When the rounded bottom red side is visible, it is an indication that the cartridge must be replaced. The diverter and indicator may be reused. 
     A second embodiment of the indicator can be seen in  FIG. 5  with a cartridge housing  120  having top wall  124  having a central cartridge top aperture  126  and drain holes  127  (see also  FIG. 6 ). A diverter  130  with vent holes  134  is dome-shaped and covers the remaining parts of the indicator to prevent a urine from being directed straight into the indicator and into the cartridge. 
     The indicator foot  150  provides a housing for the float  140 . Similar to the first embodiment, the float  140  has a flat top surface of one color, e.g., a signal such as green and a rounded bottom surface which is a second color, e.g., a signal such as red. The float is hollow to create positive buoyancy and will rotate about the axis  142  when exposed to liquid. 
     The indicator foot has an attachment stem  152  extending from a rounded bottom  151  accommodating the rounded bottom  146  of the float. The indicator foot  150  fits within a central indicator cover aperture of a generally ring-shaped indicator cover  160 , and the attachment stem has a friction fit within the central cartridge top aperture  126 . Rounded bottom surface  151  of indicator foot  150  is disposed to reside within and be supported by cover  160 . 
     The interengagement of the parts can clearly be seen in  FIG. 6  with the cartridge  120  supporting the indicator. The float  140  rests within the indicator foot  150  and the cover  160  is connected to the indicator  150  by any conventional means, such as by gluing. The indicator foot also connects to the diverter by any conventional means, such as ultrasonic welding. Also seen in this view is the lens insert and axle stop assembly  138  having a central portion supporting clear lens  138   a  fitting within central (diverter) aperture  132  of the diverter  130  to give visual access to the float. Depending posts  139  of the clear lens insert and axle stop assembly  138  serve to retain the axle  142  of the float  140  between these posts  139  and rounded bottom  151  of the indicator foot  150 , allowing rotation or pivoting of the float under the proper signaling conditions. 
       FIG. 7  shows the underside of the diverter  130 . The perimeter of the diverter is provided with tabs  133  to keep the edge of the diverter spaced above the top surface of the cartridge  120  and allows liquid to pass underneath the diverter. Two sets of flanges  136  and  137  depend from the diverter. The first set of flanges  136  are arcuate sections, such as four, separated from one another. The second set of flanges  137  is located radially outwardly from the first set. The middle of each of flanges  137  is provided with a central arcuate portion  137   a  to space the flange from the vent holes  134  so that surface tension between the liquid and the flange will not cause the air vents  134  to be blocked. The air vents provide escape from air from underneath the diverter in response to rising liquid levels. 
     The clear lens insert and axle stop assembly  138  is more clearly seen in  FIG. 8  with a raised central portion which supports transparent lens  138   a  and will fit within the central diverter aperture  132 . Also seen is the pair of posts  139  having a generally T-shaped cross section. 
     The indicator foot  150  is depicted in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . The exterior surface of the foot  150  is provided with outwardly extending panels  158 . These panels provide a surface for the cover  160  (see  FIG. 11 ) to attach. Along each side of the panels  158  are slots  153  allowing the passage of liquid. 
       FIG. 10  shows details of the inner surface of the indicator foot. The inner surface is provided with four posts. Two of the posts  154  have a groove to accommodate the T-shaped lens post  139  whereas the other two posts  155  pass a smooth inner surface. A wall  156  extends between the posts, this wall  156  having a height which is less than the height of the post. As liquid backs up onto the top surface  124  of the cartridge, due to slow draining, liquid, as an excessive amount thereof, passes through the slots  153 . When the liquid level rises above the height of the wall  156 , it fills the arcuate bottom of the indicator foot where the float is housed, causing the float to rotate about the axis  142 . The indicator foot cannot drain and the float is maintained in its actuated position. 
       FIG. 11  shows the indicator cover  160  having a series of panels  162  which, as described earlier, are attached to the panels  158  on the exterior of the indicator foot. Indicator cover  160  also includes an aperture  161  which provides a seat for rounded bottom  151  of indicator foot  150 . 
     The invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments. Variation and modification would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and the invention encompasses such variations and modifications. For example, the float and its housing can be located under the cartridge top wall, at a level where liquid is not expected to rise. A lens or other means of allowing visual inspection of the float are then formed in the cartridge top wall. Also, a float and its housing assembly can be incorporated into a conventional ceramic urinal by again placing it at a level where urine is next expected to rise under proper working conditions.