Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Flush closet – Tank only
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-03
2001-01-30
Recla, Henry J. (Department: 3751)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Flush closet
Tank only
C004S324000, C004S325000, C004S326000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06178567
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a water conserving flush system for toilets and, more particularly, to a toilet flush system in which the quantity of water discharged from the flush tank is controllably preselected.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Water conservation has become a critical issue resulting in municipalities imposing temporary water saving measures. Therefore, it is desirable to conserve as much water as possible during our daily activities. Most toilets consume approximately 5 gallons of water during each flush. However, there are many instances when the water consumption can be reduced and remain effective to flush waste from the toilet.
Currently in widespread use are flush systems that either waste water, by using a full tank of water to flush down liquid waste, or are only partially effective because they always use a small quantity of water than the full tank flush toilet. These latter system is suitable for flushing down liquid waste, but the use of the same small quantity of water to flush down solid waste cannot push the solid waste far enough into the sewer line to prevent solid waste clogs from occurring. Another type of flush system uses two flush handles to allow the user to decide between a partial tank flush for liquid waste and a full thank flush for solid waste. Therefore, with the existing systems, the user either cannot select the volume of water used or must choose between two different handles or must activate the handle more than once. It is highly possible that the user will inadvertently waste water or create a clogged sewer line by simply electing the wrong flush. These known flush systems are not efficient because they either waste water or money spent on sewer line service calls.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a system having two flush modes for a toilet of which one flush mode discharges a first, relatively small, amount of water in the flush tank for flushing liquids or small debris from the toilet and a second flush mode which discharges a maximum discharge amount of water for flushing larger debris from the toilet.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a handle assembly embodying a construction and relationship of parts mounted exteriorly of the flush tank for a toilet to insure longevity of operation unaffected by contact with water stored in the flush tank and contaminates such as mineral deposits derived from stored quantities of water.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a flush system for the toilet, the flush system including an elongated discharge pipe having an opening at one end for connection with a flush tank to discharge water to a toilet, the discharge pipe having first and second inlet openings spaced along the length thereof for delivering water from the tank through the bottom opening, each of the first and second inlet openings having a valve member movable between water discharge position and water blocking position, and a flush control handle including an actuator arm joined by flexible lines with the valve member for each of the first and second inlet openings, a mounting stud including a flush control member at one end opposite a fastener for static support by a flush tank, a handle drivingly interconnected with the actuator arm for pivotally support by the mounting stud, the handle having a cavity containing a projecting wall supporting one end of a spring engaging at the opposite end thereof with a moveable piston resiliently positioned by the spring against a stop in the cavity, the flush control member extending into the cavity between the projecting wall and the moveable piston for pivotally controlling the position of the actuator arm in a first position where the valve member for the first inlet opening is moved to the water discharge position while the valve member for the second inlet opening remains in the water blocking position, pivoting of the handle causing compression of the spring between the flush control member and the projecting wall thereby pivotally positioning the actuator arm to a second position wherein the valve member for the second inlet opening is moved to the water discharge position.
The present invention also provides a method for discharging different quantities of water from a water tank for flushing a toilet, the method including the steps of turning a handle and an actuator arm rigidly connected thereto through a first angle into confrontation with a resilient biased abutment such that the actuator arm opens a first valve situated to discharge a minimum quantity of flush water from a flush tank to the toilet, and turning the handle through a second angle greater than the first angle to displace the resiliently biased abutment to a position such that the actuator arm opens the first valve and a second valve situated to discharge a maximum quantity of flush water from the flush tank to flush the toilet.
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patent: 4651359 (1987-03-01), Battle
patent: 4878256 (1989-11-01), Bagwell
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patent: 5175893 (1993-01-01), Navarrete
Huynh Khoa D.
Poff Clifford A.
Recla Henry J.
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