Toilet tank water level alarm

Abstract

The present invention relates to plumbing for toilet tanks, and more specifically provides an alarm system for indicating a failure mode in a toilet tank's operation. One preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes a floating magnet and sensors positioned near the top and bottom of the tank which activate an alarm when the magnet becomes sufficiently close to either sensor. The alarm can be audible or visual. In other preferred embodiments, the alarm closes the tank inlet valve or the tank exit valve to control normal operations, or to correct malfunctions.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A fluid level monitor for a tank, comprising: 
 a buoyant element wherein said buoyant element is located within the tank;    a first sensing device external to the tank wherein said first sensing device is operable to detect said buoyant element when said buoyant element is in a first predetermined location; and    an alarm associated with said first sensing device wherein said alarm is actuated after said first sensing device detects said buoyant element.    
     
     
         2 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein said buoyant element is magnetic.  
     
     
         3 . The invention of  claim 2  wherein said alarm emits an audible signal.  
     
     
         4 . The invention of  claim 2  wherein said alarm emits a visual signal.  
     
     
         5 . The invention of  claim 2  further comprising: 
 a fluid transport member wherein said fluid transport member is in fluid communication with the tank, and actuation of said alarm arrests the flow of fluid through the fluid transport member.  
 
     
     
         6 . The invention of  claim 2  further comprising: 
 a second sensing device external to the tank wherein said second sensing device is operable to detect said buoyant element when said buoyant element is in a second predetermined location; and,  
 said alarm is actuated after said second sensing device detects said buoyant element.  
 
     
     
         7 . The invention of  claim 6  further comprising: 
 a guide member associated with said buoyant element defining a guide path within the tank wherein said buoyant element is confined to movement along said guide path.  
 
     
     
         8 . The invention of  claim 7  further comprising: 
 a mounting member wherein said guide member and said first and second sensing devices are mountable to said mounting member, and said mounting member is disposed on said toilet.  
 
     
     
         9 . The invention of  claim 7  wherein 
 said first predetermined location is near the top of the tank and said second predetermined location is near the bottom of the tank.  
 
     
     
         10 . The invention of  claim 7  further comprising: 
 an energy source coupled to said first and second sensing devices and coupled to said alarm wherein said energy source supplies power to said alarm.  
 
     
     
         11 . The invention of  claim 7  further comprising: 
 a timer associated with said alarm wherein said timer causes a time delay between said first sensing device detecting said buoyant element and actuation of said alarm.  
 
     
     
         12 . The invention of  claim 11  wherein 
 said timer causes a time delay between said second sensing device detecting said buoyant element and actuation of said alarm.  
 
     
     
         13 . A method, comprising: 
 floating a detectable element within a toilet tank reservoir;    sensing a first position of the detectable element from outside the tank using a first sensor, wherein said first position is a zone proximate to the first sensor wherein an undisturbed state of the first sensor is altered and exceeds a threshold of detection when the buoyant element is disposed in the zone; and    actuating an alarm after said sensing the first position of the detectable element.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the detectable element is magnetic.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising: 
 sending at least one signal from the sensor to the alarm.  
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said actuation is accomplished by transmitting an audible signal from the alarm.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said actuation is accomplished by transmitting a visual signal from the alarm.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising: 
 transporting fluid into the toilet tank reservoir; and  
 arresting the flow of fluid into the toilet tank reservoir after actuation of the alarm.  
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising: 
 transporting fluid from the toilet tank reservoir; and  
 arresting the flow of fluid from the toilet tank reservoir after actuation of the alarm.  
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising: 
 sensing a second position of the detectable element from outside the tank using a second sensor, wherein said second position is a zone proximate to the second sensor wherein an undisturbed state of the second sensor is altered and exceeds a threshold of detection when the buoyant element is disposed in the zone.  
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein 
 said first position is located near the top of the toilet tank reservoir and the second position is located near the bottom of the toilet tank reservoir.  
 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 constraining the movement of the detectable element along a predetermined path; and,    powering the proximity sensors and the alarm.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising: 
 sending at least one signal from at least one of said two or more sensors to the alarm when said detectable element is sensed in the first or second position.  
 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 constraining the movement of the detectable element along a predetermined path.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 delaying said actuating of the alarm after sensing the position of the detectable element.    
     
     
         26 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a toilet tank reservoir;    a buoyant member within said toilet tank reservoir;    an alarm outside said toilet tank reservoir; and    a means for sensing a first position of said buoyant member from outside the tank when said buoyant member is disposed within an appropriate zone relative to a first sensor wherein said sensing results in actuation of said alarm.    
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein said buoyant member is magnetic.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , and, 
 a fluid supply member connected to and transporting fluid to said toilet tank reservoir wherein the transportation of fluid to said toilet tank reservoir is selectively arrested by actuation of said alarm.    
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , and, 
 a fluid extraction member connected to and transporting fluid from said toilet tank reservoir wherein the transportation of fluid from said toilet tank reservoir is selectively arrested by actuation of said alarm.    
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 28  further comprising: 
 a timer associated with said alarm wherein said timer causes a time delay between said sensing and the arresting of the flow of fluid to said toilet tank.  
 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 29  further comprising: 
 a timer associated with said alarm wherein said timer causes a time delay between said sensing and the arresting of the flow of fluid to said toilet tank.  
 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein, 
 said alarm emits an audible signal after said first position of said buoyant magnetic member is sensed.    
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32  further comprising: 
 a timer associated with said alarm wherein said timer causes a time delay between said sensing of said first position of said buoyant member and actuating said alarm.  
 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 32  further comprising: 
 a timer associated with said alarm wherein said timer causes a time delay between an absence of said sensing of said first position of said buoyant member and actuating said alarm.  
 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 33  further comprising: 
 a means for sensing a second position of said buoyant magnetic member from outside the tank wherein said sensing results in actuation of said alarm.  
 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein, 
 said actuation device emits a visual signal after said first position of said buoyant magnetic member is sensed.  
 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 36  further comprising: 
 a timer associated with said alarm wherein said timer causes a time delay between said sensing of said first position of said buoyant member and actuating said alarm.  
 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 36  further comprising: 
 a means for sensing a second position of said buoyant magnetic member from outside the tank wherein said sensing results in actuation of said alarm.  
 
     
     
         39 . A fluid level monitor for a toilet tank, comprising: 
 a buoyant magnetic element wherein said buoyant magnetic element is located within the tank;    a guide member defining a guide path within the tank wherein said buoyant magnetic element is associated with said guide member and said buoyant magnetic element moves along said guide path as the fluid level changes;    a first sensing device external to the tank wherein said first sensing device detects said buoyant magnetic element when said buoyant magnetic element is in a first position; and    a second sensing device external to the tank wherein said second sensing device detects said buoyant magnetic element when said buoyant magnetic element is in a second position; and    an alarm wherein said alarm is actuated after said first sensing device detects said buoyant magnetic element in said first position or said second sensing device detects said buoyant magnetic element in said second position.