Toilet overflow sensor and pump apparatus

Abstract

A device for preventing overflow of a toilet, the device comprising a pump, a moisture sensor and a circuit for receiving a signal from the moisture sensor and activating the pump. The pump is associated with the toilet and attached to an inlet pipe to receive liquid from the toilet bowl of the toilet. The pump is further attached to an outlet pipe for discharging liquid from the toilet bowl. The fluids removed from the toilet can be discharged into an expandable receptacle, a drain line or the discharge line in the base of the toilet. The moisture sensor senses an overflow condition in the toilet.

1 . A device for preventing overflow of a toilet bowl, the device comprising: 
 a pump capable of placement in association with a toilet having a bowl, the pump being configured to remove material from the toilet bowl; and    a sensor associated with the pump, the sensor being adapted to detect an overflow condition in the toilet bowl, the sensor further being adapted to activate the pump;    wherein the sensor activates the pump to remove material from the toilet bowl when the sensor detects an overflow condition in the toilet bowl.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising an alarm, the alarm being associated with the sensor and adapted to sound when the sensor detects an overflow condition in the toilet bowl.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a shut-off valve positioned along the water line that supplies water to the toilet, the shut-off valve being associated with the sensor and adapted to interrupt the flow of water to the toilet when the sensor detects an overflow condition in the toilet bowl.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein the shut-off valve is electronically controlled.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the material being removed from the toilet bowl by the pump is discharged directly into a sewer line.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein at least one component of the device is manufactured integrally with the toilet.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6  wherein the sensor is positioned on an inside lip of a rim of the toilet bowl.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising an outlet pipe associated with the pump, the outlet pipe being U-shaped and adapted to support the pump on the outside of the toilet bowl when the outlet pipe is positioned to hang over the rim of the toilet bowl.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein the outlet pipe further comprises a retaining tab that extends under the rim of the toilet bowl to maintain the outlet pipe a predetermined position.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9  further comprising an inlet pipe associated with the pump, the inlet pipe having an inlet end, wherein the sensor is positioned adjacent the inlet end of the inlet pipe.  
   
   
       11 . A device for preventing overflow of a toilet bowl, the device comprising: 
 a pump adapted to placement in association with a toilet having a bowl, the pump being configured to remove material from the toilet bowl;    a sensor associated with the pump, the sensor being adapted to detect an overflow condition in the toilet bowl, the sensor further being adapted to activate the pump; and    an expandable receptacle associated with the pump, the expandable receptacle being adapted to receive the material removed from the toilet bowl by the pump;    wherein the sensor activates the pump to remove material from the toilet bowl and transfer said material into the expandable receptacle when the sensor detects an overflow condition in the toilet bowl.    
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 11  wherein the expandable receptacle is detachable.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 12  wherein the expandable receptacle is disposable.  
   
   
       14 . The device of claim  111  further comprising a housing to contain the expandable receptacle.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 11  wherein the pump and the expandable receptacle are positioned in proximity to one another.  
   
   
       16 . A method for preventing overflow of a toilet bowl, the method comprising: 
 a. associating a pump with a toilet having a bowl, the pump being configured to remove material from the toilet bowl;    b. associating a sensor with the pump, the sensor being adapted to detect an overflow condition in the toilet bowl, the sensor further being adapted to activate the pump; and    c. activating the pump to remove material from the toilet bowl when the sensor detects an overflow condition in the toilet bowl.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step of associating an expandable receptacle with the pump, the expandable receptacle receiving the material removed from the toilet bowl by the pump when the sensor detects an overflow condition in the toilet bowl.  
   
   
       18 . A device for preventing overflow of a toilet bowl, the device comprising: 
 a pump adapted to placement in association with a toilet having a bowl, the pump being configured to remove material from the toilet bowl;    a sensor associated with the pump, the sensor being adapted to detect an overflow condition in the toilet bowl, the sensor further being adapted to activate the pump;    an expandable receptacle associated with the pump, the expandable receptacle being adapted to receive the material removed from the toilet bowl by the pump;    an alarm, the alarm being associated with the sensor and capable of sounding when the sensor detects an overflow condition in the toilet bowl; and    a shut-off valve positioned along the water line that supplies water to the toilet, the shut-off valve being associated with the sensor and adapted to interrupt the flow of water to the toilet when the sensor detects an overflow condition in the toilet bowl;    wherein when the sensor detects an overflow condition in the toilet bowl, the sensor sounds the alarm, activates the shut-off valve to interrupt the flow of water to the toilet, and activates the pump to remove material from the toilet bowl and transfer said material into the expandable receptacle.