FIELD

The subject matter of the present application is in the field of manual pump marine toilets, in particular devices for lubricating the toilet pump mechanisms.

BACKGROUND

Toilets used on boats and other recreational vehicles often use a manual pump flush mechanism. The plastic, rubber, and metal seals and moving parts require regular lubrication to function properly. Many of these parts remain submerged in fresh or salt water for long periods, which tends to dissipate lubricants more quickly and shortens the maintenance interval for needed lubrication.

A problem with lubricating manual flush pumps in such toilets is that the toilets are often installed in the smallest space possible, given the high premium on efficiency and space in less-than-palatial boats and RVs. Disassembling a toilet flush pump mechanism for lubrication in such tight quarters can be difficult and messy.

A further problem with lubricating such manual flush pumps when used in marine toilets or “heads” on boats is the fact that the boats are in the water when the toilets are being used the most, and accordingly require the most frequent lubrication. Disassembling a flush pump for lubrication in a floating boat can be more difficult than if it were stationary and out of the water, especially if the water intake that feeds the pump is below the waterline.

Accordingly, one of the most common techniques for lubricating the manual flush pump on a marine or RV type toilet is to simply pour oil into the toilet bowl, and then operate the pump (i.e, flush the toilet) to draw oil through the pump via the wastewater. A problem with this practice is that oil only comes into contact with the outlet or “wastewater” side of the pump mechanism, leaving the inlet or “supply” water side un-lubricated.

Devices for injecting or otherwise introducing additives into marine and RV-type toilets in various ways are known.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,501,510 to Gross, Jr. shows a marine toilet with external grease cups for lubricating various shafts in the operating mechanism. These lubricated shafts appear to be sealed relative to water moving through the toilet.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,262,372 to Ryder shows a fluid powered pump system useful for injecting a non-lubricant liquid additive such as deodorizing or cleaning fluid into a main stream of liquid flowing through the pump in a pressurized flush toilet of the RV type. This system does not involve a manual flush pump, and is designed for a toilet with a pressurized flush water supply.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,707 to Prue shows a unit for injecting a disinfectant, deodorant or the like into the inlet stream of flush water as it is pumped into the bowl of a tankless marine toilet. Prue also discloses an access for introducing fresh water into the vessel's plumbing system for cleaning, and/or to introduce cleaning, lubricating, or winterizing materials into the plumbing system in the off-season to simplify maintenance. However, Prue's access is basically a large plumbing “T” reservoir surrounding a region of holes drilled in the water inlet line to the pump. The access reservoir could not be safely opened when the boat is in the water and the water intake is below water level. Further, the access reservoir is primarily designed for receiving a dropped-in water soluble deodorant cake or detergent. Delivering an accurate, repeatable amount of non-water-soluble lubricant oil to the pump by pouring it in the reservoir chamber around the drilled holes would be difficult or impossible, even if it were safe to open the access reservoir.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,250 to Oldfelt et al. shows a vacuum toilet system with a reagent container (deodorizer or cleaning agent) connected to a nozzle for rinsing the bowl in timed relationship to a flush. The reagent may have a lubricating effect for a vacuum discharge valve downstream of the toilet bowl.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,663,931 to Withrington shows a marine toilet sanitizing/deodorizing device with a reservoir of sanitizing fluid, an electronic dose controllable pump for discharging a predetermined dose of sanitizing fluid from the reservoir into a water inlet conduit of a marine toilet system, a flow detector for detecting the flow of water within the water inlet conduit, and a controller for controlling the dose controllable pump upon flow detection by the flow detector. The electrical and space demands of this system are significant for small boats and marine heads, as well as the likely cost of such a system. This electronic system would also be difficult to add to an existing marine toilet, may be prone to failure in a maritime environment, and is non-functional for boats that do not have electrical capabilities.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2005/0241055 A1 to Mullett et al. shows a portable toilet chemical additive charging system, with a control valve injecting a pre-determined amount of additive to the flush water when flush water is flowed through the control valve to the toilet bowl.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present invention is a manual lubrication system for a manual flush pump in a marine or RV type toilet, hereafter “manual” toilet. The system is easily added to existing manual toilets in very tight spaces, uses no power, operates equally well at sea, on land, and in storage, and is precise, inexpensive, and reliable. The inventive system further lubricates the entire toilet pump without any disassembly, is user-controllable as to the timing and amount of lubrication added, and is immune to back-flow issues.

The manual lubrication system comprises a lubricant reservoir affixed in parallel to the housing of a manual flush pump. The lubricant reservoir is at least partially translucent so that lubricant level can be visually gauged. The lubricant reservoir includes a manual lubricant pump generally aligned in parallel with the toilet flush pump handle's operating axis, the lubricant pump having a movable pump head that reciprocates relative to the lubricant reservoir and the manual flush pump on the toilet. The movable pump head has a lubricant outlet connected by a flexible, movable lubricant feed line to a T-fitting spliced into the flush water feed line for the manual flush pump.

The lubricant feed line is sufficiently translucent so that lubricant pumped from the reservoir to the water feed line for the toilet pump can be gauged visually, and further so that any backflow of water from the water feed line to the lubricant reservoir can be seen. The lubricant feed line further includes a positive, manual ball-type shutoff valve that can be selectively placed in a closed, no-flow position to prevent the risk of lake or sea water backfilling or flooding the toilet area.

In a further form, the lubricant pump is mounted to the manual flush pump housing on the toilet with an offset bracket that locates the lubricant pump head below the manual flush pump handle.

In still a further form, the lubricant pump is provided as a kit that is easily added to an existing manual flush pump toilet installed in a boat.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description below, in light of the accompanying drawings.

