The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 31, 2011
Filed:
Dec. 17, 2009
Kevin Bowcutt, Aliso Viejo, CA (US);
Ahmed Shishegar, Woodland Hills, CA (US);
Matthew Ibarra, Lakewood, CA (US);
Daniel L. Corbin, Irvine, CA (US);
Dennis Repp, Newport Beach, CA (US);
Robert M. Connell, Villa Park, CA (US);
Oscar Dufau, San Clemente, CA (US);
Gregory Blake, Irvine, CA (US);
Sam Iravantchi, Fountain Valley, CA (US);
Kevin Bowcutt, Aliso Viejo, CA (US);
Ahmed Shishegar, Woodland Hills, CA (US);
Matthew Ibarra, Lakewood, CA (US);
Daniel L. Corbin, Irvine, CA (US);
Dennis Repp, Newport Beach, CA (US);
Robert M. Connell, Villa Park, CA (US);
Oscar Dufau, San Clemente, CA (US);
Gregory Blake, Irvine, CA (US);
Sam Iravantchi, Fountain Valley, CA (US);
Limit, Inc., Newport Beach, CA (US);
Abstract
A system for preventing overflow of a toilet includes a sensor, a processor and an actuator. The sensor senses a parameter caused by fluid dynamics within the toilet during a flush cycle. The parameter may involve vibration, sound, pressure, fluid flow rate or other detectible characteristics of the toilet. The processor uses information regarding the parameter that is gathered by the sensor to evaluate the condition of the flush cycle to determine if an impeded flush condition exists. In the event of an impeded flush condition, the processor directs the actuator to close a valve, which may be the toilet flapper valve in some embodiments. Also disclosed are methods for preventing toilet overflow, detecting an impeded flush condition and calibrating the system.