Toilet refill bypass diverter

Abstract

A flow diverter accepts a stream of water from a conventional toilet valve and diverts a portion of the flow into the toilet tank, outside the overflow tube. In a first, more rudimentary embodiment of the invention, a flow diverter accepts flow from the toilet tank fill valve and includes a first exit opening for introducing a portion of the flow into the toilet tank overflow tube, and a second portion of the flow into the toilet tank. Providing two exit openings for to split the incoming stream into a first flow of about one third of the input and into a second exit opening to split the remainder of the incoming stream into a second flow of about two thirds of the incoming stream provides significant flow control for the user. In cases where a user's bowl overfills, the user can attach the flow diverter to the end of the conventional toilet tank overflow tube line and position it as needed. The user can (1) attach the diverter to the top rim of the conventional toilet tank overflow tube in a position to deliver one third of the flow into the tube and two thirds of the flow into the toilet tank, (2) attach the diverter to the top rim of the conventional toilet tank overflow tube in a position to deliver two thirds of the flow into the tube and one third of the flow into the toilet tank, (3) all of the flow into the tube or (4) all of the flow into the toilet tank.

1 . A flow diverter for use with a toilet fill valve having a toilet tank overflow tube fill line and comprising: 
 a fluid inlet having an inlet fitting for fitting within a toilet tank overflow tube fill line for accepting a flow of water in addition to the main flow of water for filling a toilet tank;    a first diversion conduit in fluid communication with said fluid inlet for diverting a first portion of fluid entering said fluid inlet;    a second diversion conduit in fluid communication with said fluid inlet for diverting a second portion of fluid entering said fluid inlet, said first and said second diversion conduits separated from each other sufficient to admit an upper edge of a toilet tank overflow tube such that said flow diverter is friction attachable to said may be fixed with respect thereto.    
   
   
       2 . The flow diverter as recited in  claim 1  and further comprising at least one holding structure, adjacent one of said first and said second diversion conduits to facilitate affixing said flow diverter adjacent said upper edge of a toilet tank overflow tube.  
   
   
       3 . The flow diverter as recited in  claim 2  and wherein said holding structure is a clip.  
   
   
       4 . The flow diverter as recited in  claim 2  and wherein said holding structure is a side leg.  
   
   
       5 . The flow diverter as recited in  claim 3  and wherein said clip defines an accommodation space for accommodating at least a portion of said toilet tank overflow tube.  
   
   
       6 . The flow diverter as recited in  claim 3  and wherein said clip is metal, having a base an a plurality of spring metal members extending from said base, said metal clip for providing an enhanced holding force.  
   
   
       7 . The flow diverter as recited in  claim 2  and wherein said clip is located between said first and said second diversion conduit.  
   
   
       8 . The flow diverter as recited in  claim 1  and further including an inlet fitting having a plurality of circumferentially raised lands to facilitiate connection with a toilet tank overflow tube fill line.  
   
   
       9 . The flow diverter as recited in  claim 2  and wherein said first and said second diversion conduit are located adjacent each other and separated by an accommodation space and said clip is located on a side of one of said first and said second diversion conduits opposite said accommodation space between said first and said second diversion conduits.  
   
   
       10 . The flow diverter as recited in  claim 7  wherein said clip is a first clip and including a second clip on a side of the other one of said first and said second diversion conduits opposite said accommodation space between said first and said second diversion conduits.  
   
   
       11 . The flow diverter as recited in  claim 1  wherein said first diversion conduit is sized such that said first portion of fluid is about half of a flow rate of said second portion of fluid.  
   
   
       12 . The flow diverter as recited in  claim 1  which is can be user positioned with respect to said toilet tank overflow tube to admit no flow into said toilet tank overflow tube and flow through said first diversion conduit only into said toilet tank overflow tube and flow through said second diversion conduit only into said toilet tank overflow tube and flow through both said first and second diversion conduits simultaneously into said toilet tank overflow tube.  
   
   
       13 . The flow diverter as recited in  claim 1  and further comprising a third diversion conduit in fluid communication with said fluid inlet for diverting a third portion of fluid entering said fluid inlet, said first, second, and third conduits separated from each other sufficient to admit an upper edge of a toilet tank overflow tube such that said flow diverter is friction attachable to said may be fixed with respect thereto.  
   
   
       14 . The flow diverter as recited in  claim 13  wherein said first diversion conduit is sized such that said first portion of fluid and said second portion of fluid is each about half of a flow rate of said third portion of fluid.  
   
   
       15 . The flow diverter as recited in  claim 13  wherein said first diversion conduit is sized such that said first portion of fluid and said second portion of fluid is each about one third of a flow rate of said third portion of fluid.  
   
   
       16 . The flow diverter as recited in  claim 13  which is can be user positioned with respect to said toilet tank overflow tube to admit no flow into said toilet tank overflow tube and flow through said first diversion conduit only into said toilet tank overflow tube and flow through said third diversion conduit only into said toilet tank overflow tube and flow through both said first and second diversion conduits simultaneously, and flow through both said second and third diversion conduits simultaneously, and flow through all three of said first, second and third diversion conduits simultaneously into said toilet tank overflow tube.  
   
   
       17 . The flow diverter as recited in  claim 13  and further including an inlet fitting having a plurality of circumferentially raised lands to facilitiate connection with a toilet tank overflow tube fill line.