Adjustable toilet valve assembly

Abstract

An outflow valve assembly for a toilet tank is disclosed, wherein the valve assembly comprises a base including an opening for passing water out of the toilet tank, a valve portion including a lower outflow tube section extending upwardly from the base and having a hollow interior, and also including a flush valve for discharging water from the toilet tank when opened, and an upper overflow tube adjustably coupled to and extending vertically upward from the lower outflow tube section. In some embodiments, the flush valve includes a flapper valve disposed on the side of the lower outflow tube section. In other embodiments, the flush valve is formed by a surface of the lower outflow tube section resting against a surface of the base.

1 . An outflow valve assembly for a toilet tank, comprising: 
 a base, the base including an opening for passing water out of the toilet tank;    a valve portion including a lower outflow tube section extending upwardly from the base, and having a hollow interior,    the valve portion also including a flush valve for discharging water from the toilet tank when opened; and    an upper overflow tube section having a position relative to the valve portion,    the upper overflow tube section being adjustably coupled to and extending vertically upward from the lower outflow tube section.    
   
   
       2 . The outflow valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the position of the upper overflow tube section is infinitely adjustable relative to the valve portion.  
   
   
       3 . The outflow valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the upper overflow tube section is slidably coupled to the lower outflow tube section.  
   
   
       4 . The outflow valve assembly of  claim 3 , further comprising a locking collar mounted to the lower outflow tube section for fixing the position of the upper overflow tube section relative to the valve portion.  
   
   
       5 . The outflow valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lower outflow tube section has a longitudinal axis, and the upper overflow tube section has a longitudinal axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lower outflow tube section.  
   
   
       6 . The outflow valve assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the longitudinal axes of the lower overflow tube section and the upper overflow tube section are coincident.  
   
   
       7 . The outflow valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein 
 the lower outflow tube section further includes a side, and    the flush valve includes a flapper valve disposed on the side of the lower outflow tube section.    
   
   
       8 . The outflow valve assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the valve portion further includes a hollow and generally horizontal side tube positioned between the flush valve and the side of the lower outflow tube section.  
   
   
       9 . The outflow valve assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the toilet tank has a bottom, and wherein the side tube is generally parallel to the bottom of the toilet tank.  
   
   
       10 . The outflow valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein 
 the base further includes a surface, and    the lower outflow tube section rests on the base and has a surface configured to rest against the surface of the base such that separating the surface of the lower outflow tube section from the surface of the base discharges water from the toilet tank.    
   
   
       11 . The outflow valve assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the valve portion further includes a lighter-than-water segment.  
   
   
       12 . The outflow valve assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the lighter-than-water segment includes a float having a hollow, air-containing chamber that generally surrounds the lower outflow tube section and that is in fluid communication with the opening in the base.  
   
   
       13 . An outflow valve assembly for a toilet tank, the toilet tank having a bottom, comprising: 
 a base configured to be coupled to the toilet tank, the base including an opening for passing water out of the toilet tank;    a valve portion including a flush valve and a lower outflow tube section, the lower outflow tube section extending upwardly from the base and having a hollow interior and a side,    the valve portion further including a hollow and generally horizontal side tube that joins the flush valve to the side of the lower outflow tube section for discharging water from the toilet tank when opened,    the flush valve including a flapper valve mounted to the side tube, and    the side tube being generally parallel to the bottom of the toilet tank;    an upper overflow tube section having a position relative to the valve portion, the upper overflow tube section being slidingly coupled to and extending vertically upwards from the lower outflow tube section; and    a locking collar mounted to the lower outflow tube section for fixing the position of the upper overflow tube section relative to the valve portion.    
   
   
       14 . An outflow valve assembly for a toilet tank, comprising: 
 a base configured to be coupled to the toilet tank, the base including a surface and an opening for passing water out of the toilet tank;    a cap piece resting on the base including:    a surface configured to rest against the surface of the base such that separating the surface of the cap piece from the surface of the base discharges water from the toilet tank,    a lower overflow tube section disposed integral to the cap piece, the lower overflow tube section having a hollow interior, and    the cap piece also including a lighter-than water segment which has a hollow, air-containing chamber that generally surrounds the lower overflow tube section and that is in fluid communication with the opening in the base;    an upper overflow tube section having a position relative to the cap piece, the upper overflow tube section being slidingly coupled to and extending vertically upwards from the lower overflow tube section; and    a locking collar mounted to the lower overflow tube section for fixing the position of the upper overflow tube section relative to the cap piece.    
   
   
       15 . A toilet including the outflow valve assembly of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       16 . A toilet including the outflow valve assembly of  claim 13 .  
   
   
       17 . A toilet including the outflow valve assembly of  claim 14.