Water-Saving Toilets and Methods of Using the Same

Abstract

A method of operating a toilet includes: (1) providing a toilet including: (a) a bowl; (b) a tank having first and second flush modes, wherein a first volume of water is flushed from the tank to the bowl in the first flush mode, and wherein a second volume of water greater than the first volume of water is flushed from the tank to the bowl in the second flush mode; (c) a flush mode mechanism for selecting between the first and second flush modes of the tank, wherein the flush mode mechanism is biased toward selecting the first flush mode; (2) optionally actuating the flush mode mechanism to select the second flush mode; and (3) flushing either the first volume of water or the second volume of water from the tank to the bowl responsive to the selected flush mode.

1 . A method of operating a toilet, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a toilet including: (a) a bowl; (b) a tank having first and second flush modes, wherein a first volume of water is flushed from the tank to the bowl in the first flush mode, and wherein a second volume of water greater than the first volume of water is flushed from the tank to the bowl in the second flush mode; and (c) a flush mode mechanism for selecting between the first and second flush modes of the tank, wherein the mechanism is biased toward selecting the first flush mode;   optionally actuating the flush mode mechanism to select the second flush mode; and   flushing either the first volume of water or the second volume of water from the tank to the bowl responsive to the selected flush mode.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bowl defines first and second water levels, wherein the second water level is higher than the first water level, and wherein the toilet includes a bowl water level mechanism for selecting between the first and second water levels in the bowl, the bowl water level mechanism being biased toward selecting the first water level, the method further comprising:
 optionally actuating the bowl water level mechanism to select the second water level in the bowl at substantially the same time as optionally actuating the flush mode mechanism.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the bowl water level mechanism is actuated by a first actuator and the flush mode mechanism is actuated by a second actuator that is different than the first actuator. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the bowl water level and flush mode mechanisms are actuated by a common actuator. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the common actuator is configured to be actuated in a first manner and a second manner that is different than the first manner, wherein actuating the bowl water level mechanism and actuating the flush mode mechanism comprise actuating the actuator in the first manner, and wherein flushing either the first volume of water or the second volume of water comprises actuating the actuator in the second manner. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the common actuator is configured to be actuated in first and second opposite directions, wherein actuating the bowl water level mechanism and actuating the flush mode mechanism comprise actuating the actuator in the first direction, and wherein flushing either the first or the second volume of water comprises actuating the actuator in the second direction. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the common actuator comprises a handle pivotable in first and second opposite directions, wherein actuating the bowl water level mechanism and actuating the flush mode mechanism comprise pivoting the handle in the first direction, and wherein flushing either the first or the second volume of water comprises pivoting the handle in the second direction. 
     
     
         8 . A method of operating a toilet, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a toilet including: (a) a bowl defining first and second water levels, wherein the first water level is suitable for receiving liquid waste and the second water level is higher than the first water level and suitable for receiving solid waste; (b) a tank having first and second flush modes, wherein a first volume of water suitable for disposing of liquid waste is flushed from the tank to the bowl in the first flush mode, and wherein a second volume of water greater than the first volume of water and suitable for disposing of solid waste is flushed from the tank to the bowl in the second flush mode; and (c) a first mechanism for selecting between the first and second water levels in the bowl and a second mechanism for selecting between the first and second flush modes of the tank, wherein the mechanisms are biased toward selecting the first water level and the first flush mode;   selecting between the first water level in the bowl and the second water level in the bowl, wherein selecting the second water level in the bowl comprises actuating the first mechanism;   selecting between the first flush mode and the second flush mode, wherein selecting the second flush mode comprises actuating the second mechanism;   flushing either the first volume of water or the second volume of water from the tank to the bowl responsive to the selected flush mode; then   automatically selecting the first water level in the bowl by flowing water from the tank to the bowl; and   automatically selecting the first flush mode.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first mechanism is actuated by a first actuator and the second mechanism is actuated by a second actuator that is different than the first actuator. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second mechanisms are actuated by a common actuator. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the common actuator is configured to be actuated in a first manner and a second manner that is different than the first manner, wherein actuating the first mechanism and actuating the second mechanism comprise actuating the actuator in the first manner, and wherein flushing either the first volume of water or the second volume of water comprises actuating the actuator in the second manner. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the common actuator is configured to be actuated in first and second opposite directions, wherein actuating the first mechanism and actuating the second mechanism comprise actuating the actuator in the first direction, and wherein flushing either the first volume of water or the second volume of water comprises actuating the actuator in the second direction. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the common actuator comprises a handle pivotable in first and second opposite directions, wherein actuating the first mechanism and actuating the second mechanism comprise pivoting the handle in the first direction, and wherein flushing either the first volume of water or the second volume of water comprises pivoting the handle in the second direction. 
     
     
         14 . A toilet comprising:
 a bowl;   a tank having first and second flush modes, wherein a first volume of water is flushed from the tank to the bowl in the first flush mode, and wherein a second volume of water greater than the first volume of water is flushed from the tank to the bowl in the second flush mode; and   a flush mode mechanism for selecting between the first and second flush modes of the tank, wherein the flush mode mechanism is biased toward selecting the first flush mode, and wherein the flush mode mechanism is configured to be actuated to select the second flush mode;   wherein the toilet is configured to flush either the first volume of water or the second volume of water from the tank to the bowl responsive to the selected flush mode.   
     
     
         15 . The toilet of  claim 14 , wherein the bowl defines a first water level and a second water level that is higher than the first water level, the toilet further comprising a bowl water level mechanism for selecting between the first and second water levels in the bowl, wherein the bowl water level mechanism is biased toward selecting the first water level, and wherein the first mechanism is configured to be actuated to select the second water level. 
     
     
         16 . The toilet of  claim 15 , wherein the bowl water level and flush mode mechanisms are configured to be actuated by a common actuator. 
     
     
         17 . The toilet of  claim 16 , wherein the common actuator is configured to be actuated in a first manner and a second manner that is different than the first manner, wherein the actuator is configured to be actuated in the first manner to actuate the bowl water level and flush mode mechanisms, and wherein the actuator is configured to be actuated in the second manner to flush either the first volume of water or the second volume of water responsive to the selected flush mode. 
     
     
         18 . The toilet of  claim 16 , wherein the common actuator comprises a handle pivotable in first and second opposite directions, wherein the handle is configured to be pivoted in the first direction to actuate the bowl water level and flush mode mechanisms, and wherein the handle is configured to be pivoted in the second direction to flush either the first volume of water or the second volume of water responsive to the selected flush mode. 
     
     
         19 . The toilet of  claim 15 , wherein the first water level corresponds to a volume of less than about 1 liter. 
     
     
         20 . The toilet of  claim 14 , wherein the first volume of water is less than about 1.5 liters.