Bottom mount fill valve

Abstract

A system for mounting a fill valve in a toilet with a pivotable reservoir is disclosed. The pivotable reservoir is disposed inside the toilet tank. A fill valve is secured in the tank and designed to deliver water to the pivotable reservoir from an external water supply, wherein the fill valve is secured by a valve support mechanism to a lower portion of the tank. The fill valve support mechanism comprises a fluid line support mechanism and a fluid line. The fluid line support mechanism routes the fluid line away from and around the space through which the pivotable reservoir moves when actuated. A plurality of fasteners connect the fluid line to the fluid line support mechanism and the fill valve mechanism to the toilet tank and water supply.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for mounting a fill valve in a toilet with a pivotable reservoir, the system comprising:
 a fill valve mounted inside a toilet tank and designed to deliver water to the pivotable reservoir from an external water supply, and   a fill valve support mechanism which supports the fill valve from the lower portion of the toilet tank, wherein the fill valve support mechanism comprises a fluid line support mechanism and a fluid line.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the fill valve support mechanism further comprises a plurality of fasteners which secure the fill valve support mechanism to the toilet tank and to the fill valve. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid line support mechanism is rigid and the fluid line is flexible. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid line support mechanism routes the fluid line around the space through which the pivotable reservoir rotates when actuated to avoid impinging the fluid line and interfering with movement of the pivotable reservoir. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion of the toilet tank is the lower surface, 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid line is in fluid communication with the fill valve and a water supply. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein the fluid line is secured by a plurality of fasteners. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid line support mechanism further comprises a channel portion in which the fluid line is disposed. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid line support mechanism further comprises a portion that at least partially envelopes the fluid line. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid line support mechanism further comprises a sleeve portion which substantially encircles the fluid line. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid line support mechanism further comprises at least one substantially horizontal member, at least one substantially diagonal member, and a plurality of substantially vertical members. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of substantially vertical members are connected by the at least one substantially diagonal member and wherein the substantially horizontal member extends from one of the plurality of substantially vertical members. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid line is supported by the fluid line support mechanism through one or more fluid line curves or bends. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the fill valve support mechanism further comprises an externally threaded fastener to removably fasten the fluid line support mechanism to the tank, and wherein the water supply is delivered to the fluid line through the externally threaded fastener of the fluid line support mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . A method of mounting a fill valve in a toilet tank with a pivotable reservoir, the method comprising:
 A step of moving the pivotable reservoir through its pivot axis to access a lower portion of the toilet tank,   a step of fastening a proximal end of a fill valve support mechanism to a lower portion of the toilet tank, wherein a the fill valve support mechanism comprises a fluid line support mechanism and a fluid line,   a step of installing the fluid line into the fluid line support mechanism, wherein the fluid line support mechanism routes the fluid line around the space through which the pivotable reservoir rotates when actuated to avoid impinging the fluid line and interfering with movement of the pivotable reservoir, and   a step of securing a fill valve inside the toilet tank by fastening the fill valve to the distal end of fill valve support mechanism, wherein the fill valve delivers water to the pivotable reservoir.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising a step of fastening the fill valve support mechanism to the lower portion of the toilet tank using a bolt. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising a step of connecting a water supply line to a fastener of the fill valve support mechanism. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising a step of securing a fill valve fastener to the fill valve support mechanism at the distal end by a collar. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising a step of installing the fluid line into the fluid line support mechanism by fasteners at a distal end and a proximal end of the fluid line. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising a step of protecting the fluid line by disposing it at least partially within the fluid line support mechanism.