System and method for flushing a toilet

Abstract

A system and method is provided for flushing a toilet wherein the duration of the flush, and thus the amount of water used, is selectable by a user. In an embodiment, the system includes a controller and a non-buoyant flush valve that are coupled together via a linkage. The controller opens the flush valve for a time period set by a user. Once the time period has lapsed, the flush valve is closed.

1 . A system comprising:
 a toilet bowl;   a toilet tank attached to the toilet bowl so that when a toilet flush occurs, the flush water from the tank drains into the toilet bowel, the tank comprising a bottom surface having a tank drain that includes a valve seat, a flush valve removably mounted on the valve seat made of a resilient material and having a hollow interior with an opening therethrough and having on its upper end an attachment point, and a weight inserted loosely into the flush valve opening where the weight modifies the flush valve so its combined weight exceeds the specific gravity of water to make the valve non-buoyant, wherein the weight is sized to allow a clearance between the circumferential perimeter of the weight and the inner surface of the flush valve so that the flush valve remains resilient near its lower perimeter to allow the valve to conform to and seal against the contour of the valve seat when the valve is in its seated position;   a controller attached to the toilet tank to select a period of time to open the flush valve;   a linkage coupled to the controller and the flush valve; and,   wherein the controller automatically releases the linkage to close the flush valve once the period of time has lapsed.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , the controller comprising a housing. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , the controller housing containing a mechanical timer. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , the controller comprising a knob. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , the controller comprising a spring. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , the controller comprising a pulley. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , the controller comprising a touchpad. 
   
   
       8 . A system comprising:
 a toilet bowl;   a toilet water tank attached to the toilet bowl so that when a toilet flush occurs, the flush water from the tank drains into the toilet bowl, the tank comprising a bottom surface having a tank drain that includes a valve seat, a modified flush valve removably mounted on the valve seat made of a resilient material and having a hollow interior with an opening therethrough and having on its upper end an attachment point operatively connected to the flush handle, and a weight inserted loosely into the flush valve opening and having a radial slot that facilitates the insertion of the weight into the opening where the weight modified the flush valve so its combined weight exceeds the specific gravity of water to make the valve non-buoyant.   a controller attached to the toilet tank to select a period of time to open the flush valve;   a linkage coupled to the controller and the flush valve; and,   wherein the controller automatically releases the linkage to close the flush valve once the period of time has lapsed.   
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , the controller comprising a housing. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , the controller housing containing a mechanical timer. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 8 , the controller comprising a knob. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 8 , the controller comprising a spring. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 8 , the controller comprising a pulley. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 8 , the controller comprising a touchpad. 
   
   
       15 . A method of modifying a toilet flushing system to allow the quantity of water available in a toilet water tank for a toilet flush to be selected by a user, where said system incorporates a standard flush valve having an opening on one end, the method comprising the steps of:
 removing the existing said flush valve from the toilet water tank;   obtaining a weight sized to loosely fit inside the flush valve;   inserting the weight through the opening in the flush valve;   reinstalling the flush valve in the toilet tank.   attaching a controller to the toilet tank;   coupling a linkage to the flush valve from the controller;   selecting a period of time to open the flush valve; and,   automatically releasing the linkage to close the flush valve once the period of time has lapsed.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , the controller comprising a housing. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , the controller comprising a knob. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , the controller comprising a spring. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , the controller comprising a pulley. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15 , the controller comprising a touchpad.