Replaceable toilet valve lip

Abstract

An outflow valve system for a toilet tank is disclosed, wherein the outflow valve system includes a valve body, a valve opening formed in the valve body, wherein the valve opening is configured to be positioned adjacent a bottom surface of the toilet tank when the outflow valve system is installed in the toilet tank, a removable and replaceable valve cover coupled to the valve body over the primary valve lip, wherein the removable valve cover includes a cover opening in fluid communication with the valve opening and a lip disposed around the cover opening, and a movable sealing member configured to selectively form a seal with the lip.

1 . An outflow valve system for a toilet tank, comprising: 
 a valve body;    a valve opening formed in the valve body, wherein the valve opening is configured to be positioned adjacent a bottom surface of the toilet tank when the outflow valve system is installed in the toilet tank;    a removable and replaceable valve cover coupled to the valve body over the primary valve lip, wherein the removable valve cover includes a cover opening in fluid communication with the valve opening and a lip disposed around the cover opening; and    a movable sealing member configured to selectively form a seal with the lip.    
   
   
       2 . The outflow valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the valve cover is removably coupled to the valve body with a threaded connection.  
   
   
       3 . The outflow valve system of  claim 2 , wherein the valve body includes an outflow tube, wherein the valve opening is formed in an end of the outflow tube, and wherein the valve cover is removably connected to an interior portion of the outflow tube.  
   
   
       4 . The outflow valve system of  claim 2 , wherein the valve body includes an outflow tube, wherein the valve opening is formed in an end of the outflow tube, and wherein the valve cover is removably connected to an exterior portion of the outflow tube.  
   
   
       5 . The outflow valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the valve cover is removably coupled to the valve body via a snap-on connection.  
   
   
       6 . The outflow valve system of  claim 5 , wherein the valve body includes a flange, and wherein the valve cover includes at least one appendage configured to snap around the flange.  
   
   
       7 . The outflow valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the lip is removably coupled to the valve cover.  
   
   
       8 . The outflow valve system of  claim 7 , wherein the lip is removably coupled to the valve cover with a threaded connection.  
   
   
       9 . The outflow valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the valve cover includes at least one of a protrusion and a depression configured to provide a location at which the valve cover is gripped during removal and/or attachment.  
   
   
       10 . The outflow valve system of  claim 9 , wherein the valve cover is coupled to the valve body via a threaded connection, and wherein the valve cover includes a plurality of protrusions to improve grip on the valve cover during removal.  
   
   
       11 . The outflow valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is a flapper.  
   
   
       12 . An outflow valve system for a toilet tank, comprising: 
 a valve body;    a valve opening formed in the valve body, wherein the valve opening is configured to pass water from the toilet tank into the valve body for discharge from the toilet tank; and    a valve cover removably coupled to the valve body, wherein the valve cover includes a cover opening in fluid communication with the valve opening and a lip disposed around the cover opening, and wherein the valve cover includes at least one of a depression and a protrusion configured to provide a location at which the valve cover is gripped during removal.    
   
   
       13 . The outflow valve system of  claim 12 , wherein the valve cover includes a plurality of protrusions.  
   
   
       14 . The outflow valve of  claim 12 , wherein the valve cover is coupled to the valve body via a threaded connection.  
   
   
       15 . The outflow valve of  claim 12 , wherein the valve cover is coupled to the body via a snap-on connection.  
   
   
       16 . The outflow valve of  claim 15 , wherein the valve body includes a flange, and wherein the valve cover includes at least one appendage configured to snap around the flange.  
   
   
       17 . The outflow valve system of  claim 12 , wherein the valve lip is removably coupled to the valve body.  
   
   
       18 . The outflow valve system of  claim 17 , wherein the valve lip is removably coupled to the valve body via a threaded connection.  
   
   
       19 . A valve cover configured to be coupled to a toilet outflow valve system, the toilet outflow valve system including a valve body, a valve opening formed in the valve body, and a sealing member configured to selectively seal against the valve cover, the valve cover comprising: 
 a body configured to be coupled the toilet outflow valve system adjacent the valve opening;    a cover opening defined in the body, wherein the cover opening is configured to pass water through the cover and into the valve opening;    a cover lip disposed around the cover opening, wherein the cover lip is configured to form a seal with the sealing member when contacted by the sealing member; and    a connector configured to connect to a complementary connector on the valve body to removably couple the valve cover to the valve body.    
   
   
       20 . The valve cover of  claim 19 , wherein the connector includes threads configured to connect to complementary threads on the valve body.  
   
   
       21 . The valve cover of  claim 20 , wherein the threads are disposed on an outside surface of the tube segment.  
   
   
       22 . The valve cover of  claim 20 , wherein the threads are disposed on an inside surface of the tube segment.  
   
   
       23 . The valve cover of  claim 19 , wherein the connector includes a snap configured to be coupled to a complementary feature on the valve body.  
   
   
       24 . The valve cover of  claim 23 , wherein the snap includes at least one appendage configured to hook around the complementary feature on the valve body.  
   
   
       25 . The valve cover of  claim 19 , wherein the cover includes at least one of a depression and a protrusion configured to provide a location at which the valve cover is gripped during removal.  
   
   
       26 . The valve cover of  claim 25 , wherein the valve cover includes a plurality of protrusions to improve grip on the valve cover during removal.  
   
   
       27 . A method of repairing a toilet outflow valve system, the toilet outflow valve system including a valve body defining a valve opening, a sealing member configured to selectively cover the valve opening, and a lip removably coupled to the valve body around the valve opening and configured to form a seal with the sealing member when the sealing member covers the valve opening, the method comprising: 
 removing the lip from the valve body; and    attaching a new lip to the valve body.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the lip is disposed on a cover removably attached to the valve body, and wherein removing the lip from the valve body includes rotating the cover to disengage threads on the cover from threads on the valve body.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the lip is disposed on a cover removably attached to the valve body, and wherein removing the lip from the valve body includes disengaging a snap on the cover from a complementary feature on the valve body.