CA1045307A - Toilet-bowl flush system and devices therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A device is provided for converting a single-volume flushing cistern of the type having a water inlet, a water outlet, a valve mechan-ism operationally linked to a float lever for controlling the amount of water flowing into the cistern, a flush actuating means and a flushing mechanism operationally linked to the water outlet, into a selective volume flushing cistern adapted selectively to allow both partial and complete flushing. The device comprises a hollow vessel insertable into the flushing cistern and adapted normally to rest on the bottom of the cistern and at least partially to surround the flushing mechanism and water outlet thereof. The vessel is provided with an opening at its upper end for the entry of water therethrough and with at least one selectively openable port at its lower end. Thus, the vessel is adapted to assume a first normally closed rest position in which the openable port remains closed for partial flushes. At least a portion of the vessel is adapted to be pivotally displaced to assume a second displaced open position in which the openable port is opened to allow complete flushes. The vessel is further characterized in that, upon the insertion of the device in the cistern, the opening of the openable port and the actuation of the flushing mechanism, the displaceable portion of the vessel is adapted, in its dis-placed open position, to engage and to be restrained in that position by a standard water level responsive part of the cistern. In this way, the openable port is maintained in its open position during the entire flushing action and until the completion thereof, and whereafter the portion is released from its displaced position permitting the openable port to be closed. This enables the conserving of flush water when the amount of waste in a toilet bowl is very small.

Description

( l :
The present invention relates to a selective toilet flushing arrangement and more particularly to a device for converting a singlc-volume flushing cistern into a selective volume flushillg cistern.
Single-volu~e flushing cisterns known today have various mech-anisms. Flushing cisterns manufactured and used today include those based on the siphon principle. Cisterns are thus provided having an out-let provided with a flushing valve including a seat and a valve member enga~eable with the seat and liftable therefrom, the valve being of the type utili~ing an air bell~ a buoyant ball valve or a rubber suction cup attachable to the lid of the'cistern by vacuum pressure.' All of the above types of toilet flushing arrangements and others known in the art work in their various ways to achieve t~e same result upon actuation of their respective flushing mechanisms. As is known, upon actuation, the flushing mechanism of a water toilet is arranged to release a predetermined'amount, i.e. substantially all, of water from the water cistern, which water rushes into tlle toilet bowl under the force of gravity and flushes waste materials contained in the bowl over a barrier into a d;scharge conduit that conducts them into a sewer. The amount of water consumed with each such flushing operation is usually substantial.
The cornmon type of cistern contains not less than 6.5 liters of water and frequently 9.5~0.5 liters, and on pressing a lever, pulling or pressing a knob, a lever is actuated which releases'substantially all the quantity of water in the cistern at once into the toilet bowl. The mech-anism and its activating lever have a single~stage action and release substantially the whole quantity of water contained in the cistern at each activation. Frequently, however, the amount of waste in a toilet ; bowl ls very small and in fact in the rnajority of instances the only waste in the toilet bowl is liquid urine waste. Obviorlsly on such instances it is urlneCessary and wasteful to spend at least 6.5 to 9.5 liters, and even up to 5 gallons in larger North American~type cisterns, ~' to flush liquid vaste material from a toilet bowl especially in areas - a- ~

where water is in short supply.

With the increasing shortage of water in almost every coulltry and especially in light of the increased'awareness of the public w;th regard to the importance of the conservation of national resources such as, for example, water, people have sought, and means have been suggested, to reduce the quantity of water used in the flushing operation in general and the quantity of water'used`for flushing do~n liquids in particular. l' Thus, for example in some of the'current flushing cisterns, ~hen the user does not press the lever all the way, only a small portion of the water and not all the water in the'cistern is released, and there are those who customarily release only a portion of the water in this way when flushing urine. This arrangement l~as not considered in the planning or the pro~
duction of the flushing cistern and'it is not efficient because the amount of water released by the partial activation is not fixed or regulated.
If the user is not sufficiently agile the whole quantity of water is released. ~loreover, it has the disadvantage that the user must keep his hand on the lever and wait until the desired quantity has been dispensed.
Some of the means suggested to reduce the amount of water used in general in the flushing operation are exemplified in the descriptions ' ~0 found in U.S. Patents Nos. ~259,918 issued 12 July, 1966 to I~ALKER and 3,732,577 issued 15 May, 1973 to MOON in which cup or box-like vessels are des-cribed adapted to surround the flush valve in a conventional cistern , . .
forming an open-ended water column extending upwardly around the valve assembl~ thereby preventing water stored in the base of the'cistern out- ' 'side the column and below the level of the upper edge or lip thereof from being discharged during flushing. These devices are mainly designed for ::
the North American type cisterns which hold up to 5 gallons of water in order to reduce the excessive amount of water used during every flush and are not useful for the clsterns used in toilets of other countries which initially are designed to hold the minimum amount of water calculated by the regulating authorities'of the'respective countries to be necessary ,.' 53~7 properly and completely to flush solid waste. Sucl~ devices also ha~e the disadvantage of creating an area in the cistern not su~ject to the clean-sing flushing action in which undesirable sediment accumulates. Further-more, such devices, once installed, are not designed to allow selective flushing and in fact déliver a uniform reduced amount of ~later for every flush whether it be for solid or liquid waste.
Dual or selective flushing cisterns have been described in the prior art, e.g., in U.S. Patents Nos. 2,351,672, issued June 20, 1944 to ENGEL ; 2,731 ~ issued January 24, 1956 to GROT~I & WEISZ ; 2,864,095 issued December 16, 1958 to MARTINO ; 3,758,893 issued September 18, 1973 `

to SMOLINSKI ; and 3,766,571 issued 23 October, to ELDER ; and Israel Patent 20018.
These patents, however, all operate on the'same principle which involves replacing or substantially modifying the existing valve mechanism with a new and usually complicated and expensive two-lcvel selective volume valve assembly for providing optional partial and complete flushes.
In contradistinction to the devices of such prior art patents and in accordance with a broad aspect of the present invention, a simple inexpensive device is now provided which permits the conversion of an existing flushing cistern with a single-volume flush mechanism into a selectlve volume flush unit without introducing any alterations into the single flush valve mechanism itself. One of the major advantages of the' devices of aspects of the present invnetion is that they are adapted to ' be simply installed by the'average home owner himself without the need for professional help or expensive tools whereafter the device will act in concert with the e~isting flush mechanism to ~chieve the desired results.
T~o prior art patents describe devices which purport to have a similar object and approach as the device of aspects of the present invention, but which have also been found not to achieve~the desired results.

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10453~7 In Israel Patent Specif:ication No. 22~61 a li~uid flow control device is described and claimed for selectively controlling the quantity of a liquid discharged'through an outlet in a tank, characterized in the provision of a sleeve in the tank surrounding the out].et, and a lifting mechanism for positioning the sleeve either to a lower or to a higher position, the lower'position of the sleeve being such that its 1 .
lower edge is against the bottom of the'tank and its upper edge is below the liquid level in the'tank,'whereby'a partial discharge oE the liquid is produced until its level reaches that of the upper edge of the sleeve, the higher position of the sleeve being such that its lower edge is above the bottom of the tank, whereby a complete discharge of the liquid from the tank is produced through the space bet~een the bottom of the sleeve .', .
and the bottom of the tank. : .
Similarly in U.S. Patent Specification 3~ol~l~63o issued ~ .
3 July, 1962 to WILLIAMS 11 .
a different form of device is described and claimed embodying a water closet'valve comprising a basically cylindrical open-ended housing having one end thereof disposed on the bottom of a water closet tank l: ' and surrounding the flush valve seat therein in substantially concentric ~.
spaced re].ation thereto, the housing being disposed vertically upward ; ' therefrom to a height less than the normal full level of the tank in condition for flushing, a flushing lever positioned above the upper extremity of the housing within the'water rloset tank and communicating :
: with a flushing handle mounted exteriorly of the tank, a buoyant ball '~ :;
'' valve aligned with the flush valve seat and being concentrically disposed ...
wiehin the ~
..
., . ,.' `:
i3E37 housing, a resilient mounting communicating with the said buoyant ball valve and having its uppermost extremity mounted on the flushing lever, and a gate valve pivo~ally mounted proximate the lower extremity of the said housing and opening inwardly thereinto.
As is recognized in the art one of the major problems involved in producing a selective volume flushing cistern is that of finding suitable means for effecting the timely openi*g and the timely and automatic closing of the openable port which is opened to allow the substantially complete discharge of water from the cistern.
In both of the above patents the preferred embodiments described, and in fact the only means described for effecting the automatic closing of the openable port, involve the lowering of ~he sleeve in the Israel Patent and the closing of the ga~e valve in the U.S. patent as a direct result of the a~bomatic descent of the buoyant valve of the flushing mechanism to repo-sition the valve onto the water outlet thereof.
Systems of the above type wherein the openable port is closed as a direct result of the descent of the flushing mechanism valve as described in said two patents or as the result of the descent of a special float of the type described in U.S. patent 3 766 571 have now been found to suffer from the disadvantage of having the openable port prematurally begin to close before substantially all the water has exited from the cistern. This premature partial closing of the openable port results in the restriction of the exit rate of the final portion of water below that necessary to achieve the final surge of water which very often is instrumental in properly and completely flushing substantially all of the solid wasted contained in the toilet bowl over the barrier and into the discharge conduit.

~53~37 Similarly the prior art type of interdependency of the op~nable ..
port and the flushing mechanism or of a float often resulted in a pre- ~ :.
m.~ture substantially complete closing of the openable port before sub- :
stantially all the water had exited from the cistern and the non- I .:
utilization of the remaining water in the flushing process~ . :
Furthermore, none of the devices described in the above- ~.:
described patents are a-dapted for easy installation by the home owner as the Israel Patent requires the complicated taking apart of the bell- l~.
valve for installation and U.S. Fatent 3,041,630 requires the drilling 1 .
of a hole in the flushing lever and installation of a spring mechanism. .
It is an object of an aspect of the present invention to pro-vide a device for converting a single-volume flushing cistern into a ¦ :.
selective volume flushing cistern wherein during the complete discharge -.
of water from the cistern the water exits at a substantially constant , discharge rate and volume which will not fluctuate from use to use and which is not influenced by the clos;ng operation of the flushing mechanism.l:
: An object of another aspect of the present invention is to provide a device which assures that water is not left in appreciably ,:
greater amounts in the cistern after a complete discharge operation than existed during such oyerations before conversion of the cistern.
An object of still another aspect of the present invention is i .
to provide a simple and inexpensive device which is easily ins.tallable and which does not require any special locking latches or bars to affect the vlosing of its openable port.
; Thus in accordance with a broad aspect of the present invention, : a device is now provided for converting a single-volume flushing cistern of the type having a water inlet, a water outlet, a valve mechanism operationally linked to a float lever for controlling the amount of water flowing intb the cistern, a flush actuating means and a flushing m~chanism operationally linke~ to the Yater outlet, ! ~

- ~ ,.

~53~7 into a selective volume flushing cistern adapted selectively to allow both partial and complete flllshing, the device comprising a hollow vessel insertable into the flushing cistern and adapted normally to rest on the bottom of the cistern and at least par-tially to surround the flushing mechanism and water outlet there-of, the vessel being provided with an opening at its upper end for the entry of water therethrough and with at least one selectively openable port at its lower end wherein the vessel is adapted to assume a Eirst normally closed rest position in which the openable port remains closed for partial flushes and wherein at least a portion of the vessel is adapted to be pivotally displaced to assurne a second displaced open position in which the openable port is opened to allow complete flushes, the vessel being further characterized in tha~ upon the insertion of the device in the cistern, the opening of the openable port and the actuation of the flushing mechanism, the displaceable portion of the vessel is adapted in its displaced open position to engage and to be restrained in the position by a standard water level responsive part of the cistern, whereby the openable port is maintained in its open position during the entire flushing action and until the completion thereof, whereafter the portion ;is released from its displaced position permitting the openable port to be closed, :
The term ~standard water-level responsive part Gf the single volume cistern" as used herein i~ intended to refer to those parts of the cistern listed hereinbefore which in fact are responsive -~
to the water level in the cistern. Thus, for example, in the most preferred embo~iments described hereinafter the displaceable .
portion of the vessel is adapted to interact with the water-level ~
responsive float level arrangement, while in a different type of ..
preferred embodiment the displaceable portion of the vessel there- `
of is adapted to interact with a flushing valve mechanism of the ~

type which is responsive to the lowering of the water level in -8~

3~7 the cistern and which i5 adapted upon the emptying of -substantially all the water in the cistern in response thereto to complete the flushing action by reseating a valve closing means over the water outle~ of the cistern.
As will be explained and described in detall hereinafter the function of the float lever as the most preferred retention means in an aspect of the present invention is diametrically opposite from its use in prior art patents wherein the descent of a float during the flushing operation resulted in the closing of the ;
openable port since in broad aspects of the present invention as will be des-cribed ib is the ascent of the float after the ~lushing action `
has ceased and the cistern has begun to refill which results in the closing of the openable port~ -Similarly in the embodiment which interacts with the flushing mechanism as will be described it is only upon comple-tion of the flushing action that the displaced portion is released from its open displaced position thereby overcoming the prior art deficiency of premature partial and even complete closing of the openable port.
For these and other reasons the devices according to aspects of the present inventlon constitute a ma~or advance over prior art devices in reliability) simplicity and operation performance~
As stated hereinbefore devices of aspects of the present invention with minor variations dicatted by the existing flushing mechanism and structure of the cistern in wh~ch they are to be installed, can be adapted for installation in almost all types of existing flusing cisterns.
Thus, for example, a device according to an aspect of the present invention, adapted for interaction with the flushing mechanism of the cistern could be used with any valved mechanism having an upwardly extending member whichl~is adapted to ascend upon ;~
actuation of the flushing mechanism and to descend upon the completion of the flusbing action such as, for example, those cisterns having ._9_ : ~

~453~7 air~bell, bouyant ball or suction cup type flushing mechanism.
Since the air~bell type mechanism is the most co~mon type of mechanism manufactured in Israel today embodiments of aspects of the present invention will be described with reference thereto, it being understood that such reference is illustrative only and non-limitative.
Similarly it will be realized that embodiments of the present invention which are adapted to interact with the float lever could be adapted to operate not only in conjunction with valved flushing mechanisms but also with a siphonic cistern of the type required for use in England and partially in use in Israel, by placing the vessel of the present device around the intake or inlet of the siphon in which case the term ~lushing mechanism and water outlet of the cistern llas used herein is intended to refer to the siphon inletO
The vessel according to aspects of the present invention is mounted in such a way that the lower part of ehe valve mechanism~ or the lower part of the suction section in case of a siphon mechanism, which as is known has no valve, will be inside the vessel. By selective use of the device the user is able, at will, with the aid of the vessel, to fool the flushing mechanism into assuming that the water has already left the flushing cistern and thereby to cause the automatic stopping of any further emptying of the cistern when in fact only the water above and in the vessel have been utilized, as will be explained more fully hereinaf~er, and thereby to achiave partial flushes.
It will be understood that manufactures can readily ~;
produce cis~erns having the devices of aspects of the present invention ;
installed therein and the present invention is also directed to a flushing cistern whenever provided with a device according to aspects of the present invention.

~lQ-~ L53~
The term 'ipartially surround" as used herein with reference to the vessels of aspects of the present invention is intended to denote that the vessel does not have to, and in fact doesn't extend all the way up to, the full height of an upright flushing mecha~ism which;is surrounds, such as, for example, an air bell or suction cup-valve -~
mechanism; need not completely surround a convoluted and horizon-tally extending flushing mechanism such as a siphon, and in fact can be a slotted vessel and therefor by definition not completley circumferentially surround the flushing mechanism.
Furthermore the vessel utilized in the devices of aspects of the present invention may be~-maue o~ any material, although plastic is preferred and its superf~cies may be a cylinder of elliptical cross-section, a truncated cone, a prism of square or rectangular cross-section or any other hollow geometrical shape as well as incomplete geometric shapes such as, for example, slotted hollow tubes although for ease of manufacture vessels of substantially rectangular cross-section are preferred.
As will be described hereinafter in one type of preferred embodiments of the present invention the displaceable portion of the vessel comprises a hinged door seated in the openable port and having a retaining lever mechanism attached thereto. More specifically the retaining lever mechanism comprises a lever arm, attached at one of its ends to the door, wherein the door and the lever arm are adapted to move from a first closed position to a second displaced open position to allow substantially co~plete flushes and wherein the lever mechanism is adapted at its other end to be held ~
and res~rained by interaction with a standard water-level responsive ~ ;
part of the single-volume cistern, whereby the arm is adapted to force the door, once opened, to remain in its open displaced position until after the completion of the flushing action, where-after the arm is released from its displaced position and the door ~ adapted to swing shut to its initial closed position by virtue of its own weight and the influence of gravity ~hereon and to remain closed for partial flushes.

5~7 In yet another type of preferred embodiments of aspects of the present invention, the vessels are characterized in that at least a section of the upwardly-~extending surface area of the vessel is adapted to be tilted and pivotally displaced from its rest position to form a multidirectional opening Eor the rapid passage oE water under the lower ecge of the tiltable section.
As has been found and will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings the provision of a vessel which is adapted to tilt in part or in whole to form a multidirectional opening for the rapid passage of water under the lower edge or edges of the tilted section has many advantages with regard to reliability and simplicity or ~peration heretofor unachievable with prior art devices.
In the latter type of tiltable devices according to aspects of the present invention it is preferred that at least a quarter of the upwardly extending surface area of said vessel be adapted to be tilted and especially preferred are devices wherein at least a third of the upwardly extending surface area of said vessel is adapted to be tilted.
In the most preEerred embodiment of the type oE device which has recently undergone tests at the Israel Institute o~ `
Standards and been given the highest rating of any such device tested to date in Israel, the entire upwardly extending surface area of the vessel is adapted to be tilted and pivotally displaced ;
from its rest position on the bottom of the cistern in which it is installed whereby therè is created~an opening for the rapid passage of water under the lower edge of the vessel.
The tiltable devices are especially adapted to have the tiltable section retained in its open position by interaction with ~he float lever arrangement of the cistern.

,., ., :, ;

-12_ The dev~ces will also preferably comprise a first retalnlng means adapted to effect an initlal retention of the d;splaced tiltable section ~n its open position until the sec~c~on is engaged by the float mechan;sm and restrained thereby. , :, According to yet another variation of an aspect of the present invention, a device is provided incoryorating a vessel as described in combinatlon with a dual actuating means for the flush;ng ~echanism of the clstern ln wh~ch the device is installed, ~Ih~ch dual actua~ing means is adap~ed to replace the regular flush actua'c~ng mearis of the, cistern.
The first of ,the actuating Ineans preferably comprises a mechanism ~or actuating the ~lushing mechanisni and the second of ,the ac~uating means comprises a mechailism adapted to actuate the flushing mecllanisrn and ~o effect the pivotal displacement of tlle hinged door o~ the vessel or to eff2ct the pivotal displace-r ment o~ the tiltable section of said vessel as the-case may be.
In such a deYice . the second actuatin~ means preferably compr7ses a lever coupled at one end to a handle adapted to ac~uate ~he fl~shing rrlechanism and having its other end extending adjacent the hinged door or adjacent a tiltable section o-F said vessel and adapted to push thereagainst and effect the pivotal displacemant thereof.
In order that the invention in its various aspects Day be more fully unde~stood reference should be had to the following illustrati.ve description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings ;n ~Ih;ch:
Fig, 1 is a perspective Yie~l of a preferred tiltable vessel according to an aspect of the present invention with part of its front wall broken a~ay to disclose features of the bottom thereof;
F~g. 2 and 3 are perspective vie~ls of different tiltable vessels according to aspects of the present invention;

~ S3~7 Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a preferred vessel of the type having a hinged door according to an aspec~ of ~he present invention with part of its front and side wall broken away to dis~
close features of the bottom and retaining lever mechanism thereofj Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a different hinged door type ~f prefierred vessel according to an aspect of the present invention with part of its front and side wall broken away to disclose features of the bottomg back and lever mechanis~ thereof;
Figo 6 is a sectional view of a s~andard air bell valve operated cistern into which a vessel as shown in Fig. 1 and a preferred type of tilting and retention means have been incorporated9 Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a standard air bell valve operated cistern into which a vessel as shown in Fig. 1 and a different preferred type of tilting and retention means have been inco~porated; ;~
Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a standard air bell valve operated cistern into which a device according to an aspect of the present invention as~shown in Fig. 4 has beeni-~incorporated; and Fig. 9 is a sectional view of a standard air bell valve operated cistern into which a device according to an aspect of the present invention as shown in Fig. 5 has been incorporated.
With specific reference now to the figures in detail it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful ;~
and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard no attempt is made to show structural details of the devices and the cisterns in which they are installed in more detail than is necessary for a funda-mental understanding of aspects of the invention the description taken with tXe drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of aspects of the invention may be embodied in practice.
~,' ' ' -14- ~

.. , Re~err~ng ~Irst co Flg. l there 1s sho~!n a hollo~J vessel

2 provided ~ith an op2n~ng ~ at its uppen end ~or the en~ry of ~a~er tllerei;hrough. The vessel ~s aclapted to be cilted and pi~otally displaced from i~s rest positlon to the open position sho~ln by virtue of c-~o flanfJes 6 and 8 extending from a side lO
~f the v2ssnl and pivoJcally attached by short pivoc pins 12 and 14 to the ~lalls 16 and 18 of a support base 20 ~hich ~s sho~n as an illtegral part of vessel boJctom 22.
The op~ratlon of such a vessel ~ill be descr;bed hereinafter ~ith re~erence to figures 6 and 7 however it should be noted 'cha~ thé vessel in l~s ~ ed position forms a ~nulti~
directional opening ~or the rapid passage of ~ater under the loh~r edges of the sides 24T~ 26 and 28 of said vessel.
As will be ullflerstood the vessel can be a tubular body open at both ends wherein upon insertion of the ~essel into the c~stern ~he botto-n of -che cistern serves as a common bottom co hoth t;le vessel and the cistern. This possibility is especially envisloned in the cases in wh~ch manu~ac~urers will manufacture cisterns with the devices of aspects of the present invention forming an integral part thereof in ~I~;ch case support base 20 ~Jould be manufactured as part o~ the cistern and vessel bottom 22 would be unnecessary.

Alcernati~ely and as can clearly be seen ~;th re~erence to Figure 1 .vessel 2 can comprise a hingedly attached bottom surface 22 having a water outlet opening 30 therein. .~Tater outlet 30 of the vessel ~s adapted to be of equal or greater area th~n the open~ng of the cistern water outlet so as neither to restrict the flow of ~ater therethrongh nor to restrict the . .

free movement of the valYe of the flushing mechanism ~Ih;ch it surrounds.
:

i ~ ii3~7 When the vessel is manufactured separately from the cistern it is preferable for the vessel to comprise means for affixing the vessel in the cistern. Thus, for example, since the standard cistern illustrated in Figs. 6 9 is manufactured wqth projections 32 extending from the bottom thereof, the vessel shown in Fig~ l was prepared for attachment therein by the provision of complementary apertures 34 in the bottom of the vessel adapted to engage those projections.
~ nother possibility is to manufacture a specially deslgned vessel bottom comprising a downwardly extending connector pipe adapted tightly to fit through the wa~er outlet of the cistern and upwardly extending projections positioned around the water outlet opening of the bottom and adapted to engage and support the bottom of an air-bell flush mechanism provided in the cistern.
While not shown, such a mul~ipurpose bottom should provide - -many advantages including a saving in component parts to manufac-tures;wishing to produce cisterns already incorporating devices according to aspects of the present invention.
Referring naw to Figures 2 and 3 there are shown further embodiments of the device according to an aspect to the present invention which embodiments can be recognized as functional equivalents of the ;
vessel illustrated in Fig. 1 the difference being merely in the amount of upwardly extending surface area of said vessel ;~
adapted to be tilted.
Whilte it has been found to be most advantageous to tilt the entire vessel to achieve a maximizing of the extent of the multidirPctional opening created for the rapid passage of water therethrough, tilting of smaller areas of upwardly extending surfaces of the vessel also achieve satisfactory and acceptable results.
mus, in referring for example to the preferred type of vessel having rectangular cross-section one could characterize such vessels as those wherein at least one upwardly extending side . .

, . , S3~7 of the vessel as well as at least a section of an additional side of the vessel are adapted to be tilted and in combination to form a multidirectional opening for the rapid passage of water into the area initially enveloped by said vessel, upon the til~ing thereof.
Especially preferred are vessels wherein at least one upwardly extending side of the vessel and at least a section of two additional sides of the vessel are adapted to be simultane-ously tilted and in combination to form a multidirectional opening as described hereinafter with reference to illustrative figures 2 and 3. -Referring first to Fig. 2 there is shown a vessel designated by general reference number 36 having a substantially ~ ~ ;
rectangular cross-section and substantially diagonally divided into an upper 38 and lower 40 hingedly connected portion wherein the lower portion 38 is comprised of at least sections o~ two sides 42 and 44 of the vessel and the upper portion is comprised of at least a major section of one side 46 of the vessel and at least minor sections of at least two additional sides 42~, 44~ of the vessel'wherein parts 48 and 54 of the lower edge of the upper portion are adapted in the closed rest position of the vessel to rest on a complementary upper edge 50 of the lower portion and wherein the upper portion of teh vessel is adapted~
to be tilted and pivotally displaced from its rest position whereby there is formed a multidirectional opening for the rapid ,~
passage of water under the lower edges 48, 52, 54 of the tiltable upper portion.
The above description is equally applicable to the vessel illustrated in Fig. 3 wherein like reference numerals have been used and which differs from the vessel illustrated in Fig. 2 only in that the vessel has been horizontally divided into two portions with side ~6 formed as a part of upper portion 38 whose -17_ 53~7 other sides 42' and ~4' do not extend to the bottom of the ~essel~ Of course further variations in the division of the vessel are also possible and included in an aspect of the presen~ invention.
Referring now to Fig. 4 there is shown a device adapted for insertion in a cistern having an air-bell, bouyant ball or suction cup flushing mechanism cf the type having an upwardly extending member which is adapted to ascend upon actuation of , the flushing mechanism and to descend upon the completion of the flushing action. The device comprises a hollow vessel 102 ;-provided with an opening 104 at its upper end for the entry of water therethrough and with at least one openable port 106 at its lower end wherein said openable port comprises a hinged ; door 108 having a retaining lever mechanism 11`0 comprising a lever arm 112 attached at one of its ends~ll4 (as shown in Fig.
8) to the door 108.
The door 108 and the lever arm 112 are adapted to move from a first closed position shown in solid lines to a second displaced open position shown in broken lines and the lever mechanism 110 is adapted at its other end 116 to be held and restrained by interaction with the upwardly extending member of the water-level responsive flushing mechanism as will be des-cribed in detail with reference~to Figure 8.
In preferred embodiments of the present invention, door 108 will be non-buoyant and preferably weighted e.g. ny ';
attachment of a weight 118 as shown, or by manufacture of the ' door itself from a heavy material to assure its abiliLy to ::.., .:
swing shut to its initial closed position by virtue of its own weight and tha influence of gravity thereon.
Preferably the free end 116 of the lever arm is provided as shown with a depending flange 119 which is adapted to abut against and be restrained by said upwardly extending member of the flushing mechanism in its ascended position.

`, "'.., ~-.

-18_ ~V~53~
While the door 108 can be adapted to engage any point of its frame 126, in the preferred embodiment shown the hinged door is adapted when shut to engage the vessel bottom 120 in a tight friction fit. This friction-fit relationship is preferably established by manufacturing the hinged door and frame in such a manner that the vertical distance D from the hinged door~s pivot point 128 to the inner surface (not shown) of the vessel bottom 1~0 is less than the distance from the pivot point 128 to the edge 130 of the free end of the door.
Referring now to Fig. 5 in which likennumerals have been used to designate like parts as those designated in Figo 4 there is shown an especially preferred embodiment of the present inven- -tion wherein the lever mechanism 110 comprises a lever arm 132 attached at one end 133 to the door (as shown in Fig. 9) and a linking arm adapted to be attached e.g., by attaching means 136 to the float lever of the cistern wherein said lever arm 132 and the linking arm 134 are pivotally and slidingly, coupled at their respective ~ree ends 136 and 138 to each other.
This embodiment of a hinged door vessel is more preferred than that described with reference to Fig. 4, since it is controlled by the position assumed by the float lever in such a way that the lever mechanism is adapted to release lever arm 132 and the hinged door 108 from its open displaced position shown in broken lines to enable its return to its initial closed -~
rest position as shown in solid lines upon the refilling of the cistern and the effect of the rise in water level in the cistern on the float lever after the flush ing mechanism has automatically closed the water outlet. This arrangement is especially preferred because it assures that during a desired complete flushing action ~-~
the hinged door remains open not only until the completion of the flushing action but for a period thereafter as well, thus assuring that the openable port door cannot close un~il the cistern has substantially refilled after the completion of the flushing action.

-20~ 53~

Also as showm with reference to Fig, 5, the vessel is preferably provided with at least one constantly open port 139 at its lower end which port is made relatively small and whose ^
main function is to assure that once the water outlet of the ciSeern is closed, the water refilling the cistern will immedi- -ately begin filling the vessel 102 as well, so that it will not be necessary to wait for the water level in the cistern to reach the opening 104 at the upper end of the vessel before the vessel is refilled for partial flushes~ The additional constantly open port also allows the creation of a multidirectional flow into the vessel once the door 108 has been opened which multidirectional flow has been found to be advantageous as explained above. Of course the constantly open port 139 at the lower end of the vessel can be of different shape, size and location from that illustrated.
The action and interaction of the above described vessels will be more fully understood from the following detailed description with reference to Figures 6 and 9.
~ eferring first in general to the figures the reference number 53 designates a standard cistern of a toilet which is covered at the top by a detachable lid 54 ànd which has a water outlet 56 in its bottom 58. The cistern includes an inlet (not shown~ whose outflow into the cistern through depending pipe 6Q is controlled by a valve mechanism 62. When outlet 56 is closed the water flowing into the cistern reaches a level predetermined by a float 64 attached to the end of a lever arm 66 which controls the open- ;
ing and closing of valve mechanism 62~ As is known in normal operation of such cisterns when the float 64 at the end of lever arm 66 reaches a predetermined level, the arm closes valve mechanism 62 and the flow of water into the cistern terminates leaving the cistern filled with water up to the predetermined ~-level. In the cistern shown the flushing mechanism comprises a standard air-bell vaLve 68 seated over the water outlet 56 and having an actuating head 70 adapted to be lifted. When the toilet ..... ~

~5;~7 is to be flushed the outlet 56 is opened thereby permitting the water in the cistern to rush into the toilet bowl (not shown) and to flush waste material contained therein. After substantially all the water has drained from the cistern the vacuum which was created between the two inverted cups which form the air-bell upon the lifting of the actuating head 70, is broken by the entrance of air and the valve thereof automatically reseats itself over outlet 56.
In the interim the cistern already begins to fill up again with water because descent of the float 64 has meanwhile opened the water~supply valve 62.
As stated in the preferred devices according to the present invention there is further provided a dual actuating means for the flushing mechanism which is adapted to replace the regular flush actuating means of the cistern. In the illustrated embodiments the first of said means comprises a mechanism for actuating the flush mechanism as standardly found in such cisterns comprising a flushing knob 72 linked to a flushing lever 74 adapted to lift the actuating head 70 of the air-bell valve.
The second of the actuating means comprises a mechanis~
adapted to actuate the flus hing mechanism and to effect either the pivotal displacement of the tiltable section of the vessel, which in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 constitutes the entire vessel, or to effect the pivoted displacement of the hinged door 108 of the vessel 102 illustrated in Figs 8 and 9 and comprises a lever 76 coupled at one end to flushing handle 7~ and having its other end 80 extending ada~cent the hinged door or tiltable section of the vessel and adapted to push thereagainst and effect the pivotal dis-placement thereof.
The tiltable vessel of an aspect of the present invention once installed in a cistern as illustrated in Fi~s. 6 and 7 can be adapted to -interact with one or more retaining means adapted to retain the tiltable ,~., .

` ~ S3~7 section of the vessel in its tilted open position until after the completion of the flushing action.
In the embodiment shown in ~ig. 63 the retaining means in fact comprise two independent, but functionally complementary, retaining means. The first of the retaining means comprises hook 82 extending from side 10 of vessel 2 which is adapted ~*itially to engage pin 84 extending between walls 16 and 18 of support base 20 (better seen with reference to Fig. 1) when the vessel is first tilted. This retention means is sufficient for initial retention because-of the lifting effect of the water in the cistern on the tilted vessel before a substantial amount of water has emptied from the vessel.
As the water level in the cistern goes down, however, the increasing relative weight of the vessel is adapted to cause resilient hook 82 to disengage from pin 84, Even before the disengagement takes place, however, float 64 is adapted to function as the second retention means since a portio 67 of said tiltable section is adapted in its displaced position to intersect the arc ascribed by the water level responsive float 64 coupled to the cistern's float lever 66 whereby the portion 67 is adapted to be engaged by the float 64 in its downward arc upon the emptying of the cistern and retained in its tilted position as shown until the rising water in the refilling cistern lifts the float away from the section and allows the section automatically to return to its initial closed rest position. `;
In practice when flushing handle 78 is pulled in the direction of the arrow~ lever 76 pivots around pivot point ô6 and a section 88 oE the lever serves to lift the actuating head 70 of the air bell valve while the end 80 of the lever moves to give the vessel 2 (or the tiltable section thereof) a sufficient kick to dislodge it from its rest position and thereby creates a multidirectional opening for the rapid passage of water thereunder.

.~"

', ' ' .~.
, ,~ .

~53~1~
Referring to the above description with reference to Fig. 6 it will now be understood that the arrangement of the device is such that upon insertion of the device in the cistern and upon actuation of the first flush actuation rneans 72, 74 the vessel remains in its rest position and the flushing action mainly utili~es only the water enclosed in the vessel and the water contained in the cistern above the level of the openin~ 4 at the upper end of the vessel, while upon actuation of the second actuating means 78,76,88 and 80 the vessel is tilted and retained in its open position first by retaining means 82,84 and then by float 64 until after the completion of the flushing action, thereby allowing the rapid entrance of the water contained in the cistern under the lower edges of the vessel and out the water outlet of the cistern as well as the water enclosed in the vessel is utilized for the flushing action, whereafter the float 64 is adapted automati-cally to release the vessel from its open position to enable its return to its Dnitial closed rest position.
It is worthwhile to note that the device as described with -reference to the preferred embodiment illustrated in Fig. 6 was submitted for testing to the Israel Institute of Standards. Among the exceptional results achieved by this device according to this aspect of the present invention was the fact that in a set of ten complete flushes and a set of ten partial flushes the deviation~in the amount of water dischar~ed in each set was less than 0.1 liter while the Israel standard for allowable deviation is + O.S liter.
Similarly while the Israel standard requires a minimum dis-charge rates of 1.5 liter per sec~ during the emptying of the initial 80% of water in the cistern the tilted vessel allowed a measured discharge ra~e of 10~7 liter per sec.
For these and other reasons the device according to aspects o the present invention constitutes a major advance over prior art devices in reliabllity, simplicity and operation performance.

3~7 As will be realized the actua~ing mechanism and retention means described with reference to the preferred embodiment illustrated in Fig. 6 are not the only means useable with devices according to Figures 1-3 and ~ariations thereof will now be des~
cribed with reference to Figure 7 Referring now to Figo 7 there is illustrated a device according to an aspect of ~he present invention installed in a standard cistern of the type described with reference to Figure 6 and like numbers have been used to refer-~to llke parts already discussed with reference to said previous Figure. It is to be noted that while in the cistern described in Fig. 6 the water inlet and valve mechanism 62 were situated to the left of the cistern with the float lever 66 and float 64 extending to the right, the presently described device is adapted for insertion in standard cisterns wherein the `
water inle~ and valve mechanism 62 are situated to the right of the cistern with the float lever 66 and float 64 extending to the left.
In effect the only difference between the present embodiment~
and the one previously described is with regard to the retaining means which are specifically adapted for use with air-bell type flush mechanism and the fact that the device is adapted for ~. . . - .
insertion in a cistern having a right-handed water inlet.
Referring to Fig. 7 it can be seen that the first retaining means comprises at least one arm 90 extending upwardly from the vessel and having a flange 92 depending therefrom extending in the direction of the air bell and adapted upon the pivoting of said tiltable section to pivot therewith and extend into the space between dthe actuating head 70 of the air-bell and the lid 5~ of the cistern. The arrangement is such that upon the lifting of the actuating head 70 which ~n fact takes place after the tilting of vessel 2, since in practice leg 80 of lever 76 dis- , ' places the tiltable section of the vessel before section 88 of ' :
.. , '~' IL09~53~7 the lever has traversed the distance necessary to lift actuating head 70, the head 70 is adapted to press against the flange 92 thereby initially forcing the tilted vessel section to remain in its open position.
~ urthermore as shown in the present embodiment the float lever 66 is provided with a hook 9~ positioned so as to be adapted, during the downward arc ascribed by the float 64 upon the emptying of the cistern during the flushing action, to engage the upper lip of tilted wall 10 of said vessel and to .-~
retina it in its tilted position, as shown, until the rising ~ .
water in the refilling cistern lifts the float away from the section and allows the~section automatically to return to its initial closed rest positionO ~:
Referring now to an aspect of the invention with reference to the device illustrated in Figure 4 it will now be understood with specific reference to Fig. 8 that the arrangement of the device is such that upon insertion of the device in the cistern and upon actua~ion of the first flush actuation means 72, 74 the door remains in its closed rest position and the flushing action mainly utilizes only the water enclosed in the vessel and the water con- .
tained in the cistern above the level of said opening 10~ at the upper end of the vessel, while upon actuation of the second actuating means,78, 76 and 80 the door is opened and the free end 116 Oe the lever mechanism 110 is adapted to pass from closed rest position A over the head 70 of the bell valve 68 to position B whereafter the actuation of the flushing mechanism by the lifting effect of section 88 of flush actuating lever 76 on the head 70 results in the complete ascent of the head to the position shown in broken lines and its engagement and blockage of the return of the lever arm 112 by interaction between depending flange llt9 situated at the free end 116 of the lever arm and stem i36~7 71 of the actuating head 70 until the comple~ion of the flus~ing action, l~hereupon the descent of the head at the completion of the flushing action serves only then to release the arm from its displaced position, indicated by broken lines, which in turn, thereafter, permits the door to swing shut under its own weight. i~
While the described device can be used as explained with a flushing mechanism having upwardly extending members without heads~ such as~ for example, buoyant ball mechanisms, when used with mechanisms such as, for example~ the bell valve which has a head 70 on a stem 71, the arm lever is preferably provided with a depending flange 119 which not only is adapted to be held and restrained in its displaced position by the stem 71 of the actuating head 70 but ~hich also `
is adapted to be responsive to and be pushed away from the stem 71 by the head, back to position B, upon the descent of the -head at the completion of the flushing action whereafter the flange is adaptèd to be able to swing ~reely over activating head as the door 108 swings shut to its initial closed position by virtue of its own weight and the influence of gravity thereon.
Thus the flange 119 is adapted and designed to facilitate its sliding out from under the head 70 as the head descends by angling the Elange or by providing a freely rotatable element concentrically mounted on the flange as shown more clearly in ;~
Fig. 4.
Referring now to the preferred embodiments of the present invention which have hin~ed doors but which are adapted for use with cisterns having any type of flushing mechanism and which are adapted to interact with the float lever of the cistern reference is directed to the device illustrated in both Figures 5 and 9.
Assseen in the preferred embodiment illustrated the lever arm 132 is provided with a slot 140 and the linking arm 134 is slidingly and pivotally coupled at its end 138 to the levor arm ~`

slot 140~ Preferably the lever arm is provided with a slot 140 having a notch against which, and preferably against which , ~
' ' ' ,, , 3~7 notch 142, the linking arm is adapted to bear when the door is in its displaced position, which position is shown in broken lines.
The notch 142 when provided is so positioned in the slot 140 and with reference to the door 108 as to assure the transmission of an adequate moment of force along the lever arm 132 to maintain the door in its~open position~O
As will be seen in Fig. 9 the arangement is such that ~hen the door is in its closed position the linking arm 134 is adapted to slide alongside the lever arm 132 when the float lever 66 descends9 while when the door is in its displaced open position as shown in broken lines the linking arm is adapted to bear on thè lever arm whereby the lever arm is adapted to force the door to remain in its~;open displaced position until the ascent of the float lever, and the linking arm attached thereto, upon the re~illing of the cistern allows the release of the lever arm from its displaced position and the closing of the door.
Referring to the above description with reference to Fig. 9 it will now be understood that the arrangement of the device is such that upon insertion of the vdevice in the cistern and upon actuation of the first flush actuation means 72, 74 the door remains in its initial closed rest position and the 1ushing action mainly utilizes only the water enclosed in the vessel and the water contained ln the cistern above the level of the opening io4 at the upper end of the vessel, since in the closed position of the door 103 the linking arm 134 is adapted to slide alongside the lever arm 132 to the position shown in solid lines when the float lever 66 descends and in fact to contribute to~the maintenance of the door in its closed position further assuring the creation of only a partial flushing action for liquid wastes.
Upon actuation, however9 of the second actuating means, lever 76 pivots around pivot point 86 and section 88 of the lever .

~~
` 163~531C~7 serves to lift the actuating head 70 of the air bell valve while the end 80 of the lever simultaneously moves to the position shown in broken lines and gives the hinged door 108 a sufficient kick to dislodge it from its closed position whereafter the door 108 and the aetached lever arm 132 swing open and the end 138 of the linking arm 134 bears against the notch 142 of the slot 140 of the lever arm 132 as a result of the descent of float lever 66 and retains the door in its open position as shown in broken lines. This open position of the door allows the rapid passa~e of the water contained in the cistern through the opening 104 at the upper end of the cistern, through the opened port in the vessel created by the opening of door 108 and via constantly open port 139 and out the water outlet 56 of the cistern whereby substantially all the water contained in the cistern as well as the water enclosed in the vessel is utilized for a complete flushing action.
After substantially all the water has emptied from the cistern the bell valve reseats itself and the cistern begins to refill with water whereafter the ascent of the float lever 66 and the resulting ascent of linking arm 134 attached thereto allows the release of the lever arm 132 from its displaced position and the closing of the door 108 by the virtue of the weight of the door as augmented by weight 118 and the influence of gravity thereon.
Once the door is closed the cistern is once again ready to be selectively used for a partial or a complete flush as described.
While in the preferred embodiment shown the notch 142 is in fact a stepped notch and the arrangement is such that when the ;
door is in its displaced open position the linking arm 134 is slidlngly guided by the slot to bear against the stepped notch, in fact any notch and even no notch in ehe slot will still result in the desired effect since the distribution of vector forces are ~` ~
such that once the door and lever arm are displaced the linking Ir.' ' ~ ' arm will automatically bear against the lever arm and maintain it .

~28-'' "

i3~7 in its displaccd posit;on llpOn the descent of the float lever, although as stated, provision of a notch assures the transMission of an adequate mo~ent of force along the lever arm.

. .. , ~

~.

~ ~ - 29 - l ll

Claims (35)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A device for converting a single-volume cistern of the type having a water inlet, a water outlet, a valve mechanism opera-tionally linked to a float lever arrangement for controlling the amount of water flowing into the cistern, a flush actuating means and a flushing mechanism operationally linked to said water outlet, into selective volume flushing cistern, adapted to selectively allow both partial and complete flushes, said device comprising a hollow vessel insertable into the flushing cistern and adapted to normally rest on the bottom of said cistern and to at least partially surround the flushing mechanism and water outlet thereof, said vessel being provided with an opening at its upper end for the entry of water therethrough and with at least one selectively openable port at its lower end wherein said vessel is adapted to assume a first normally closed rest position in which said open-able port remains closed for partial flushes and wherein at least a portion of said vessel is adapted to be pivotally displaced to assume a second displaced open position in which said openable port is opened to allow complete flushes said vessel being further characterized in that upon the insertion of said device in said cistern, the opening of said openable port and the actuation of the flushing mechanism said displaceable portion of said vessel is adapted in its displaced open position to engage and to be restrained in said position by a standard water level responsive port of said cistern, whereby said openable port is maintained in its open position during the entire flushing action and until the completion thereof whereafter said portion is released from its displaced position permitting said openable port to be closed.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said displaceable portion of said vessel comprises a hinged door having a retaining lever mechanism attached thereto.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said displaceable portion of said vessel comprises at least a section of the up-wardly extending surface area of said vessel which is adapted to be tilted and pivotally displaced from its rest position and which is adapted in said displaced tilted position to be engaged and restrained in said position by the float lever arrangement of the cistern.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein said displaceable portion of said vessel is adapted in its displaced open position to engage, and to be restrained in said open position by the float lever arrangement of the cistern.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein said vessel comprises a hinged door having a retaining lever mechanism comprising a lever arm attached at one of its ends to said door, wherein said door and said lever arm are adapted to move from a first closed position to a second displaced open position to allow complete flushes and wherein said lever mechanism is adapted at its other end to be held and restrained by interaction with a standard water-level responsive part of said single-volume cistern whereby said arm is adapted to force said door, once opened, to remain in its open displaced position until after the completion of the flushing action, whereafter said arm is released from its displaced position and said door is adapted to swing shut to its initial closed position by virtue of its own weight and the influence of gravity thereon.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said door is weighted

7. The device according to claim 5 wherein said lever mechanism is controlled by the position assumed by the float lever of the cistern, the arrangement being such that said lever mechanism is adapted to release said lever arm and the hinged door from its open displaced position to enable its return to its initial closed rest position upon the refilling of the cistern and the effect of the rise in water level in said cistern on said float lever after the flushing mechanism has automatically closed said water outlet.

8. The device according to claim 7 wherein said lever mechanism comprises a lever arm attached to said door and a linking arm adapted to be attached to the float lever of the cistern wherein said linking arm and said lever arm are pivotally and slidingly coupled at their free ends to each other.

9. The device according to claim 8 wherein said lever arm is provided with a slot and said linking arm is pivotally and slidingly coupled to said slot in said lever arm, the arrangement being such that when the door is in its closed position the linking arm is adapted to slide alongside said lever arm when said float lever descends, while when the door is in its displaced open position, said linking arm is adapted to bear on said lever arm during the descent of said float whereby said lever arm is adapted to force said door to remain in its open displaced position, until the ascent of the float, and the linking arm attached thereto, upon the refilling of the cistern, allows the release of said lever arm from its displaced position and the closing of said door.

10. The device according to claim 9 wherein said lever arm is provided with a notched slot against which notch said linking arm is adapted to bear when the door is in its displaced position and which notch is so positioned in said slot and with reference to said door as to assure the transmission of an adequate moment of force along said lever arm to maintain said door in its open position un til after completion of the flushing action.

11. The device according to claim 10 wherein said notch is a stepped notch, the arrangement being such that when the door is in its displaced open position said linking arm is slidingly guided by said slot to bear against said stepped notch.

12. A device according to claim 5 adapted for insertion in a cistern having an air-bell, bouyant ball or suction-cup flushing mechanism of the type having an upwardly extending member which is adapted to ascend upon actuation of the flushing mechanism and to descend upon the completion of the flushing action said device comprising an upwardly extending lever arm attached at one end to said door and having its other free end adapted to pass over the top of said member before the complete ascent thereof upon the opening of said door, whereafter the actuation of said flushing mechanism results in the complete ascent of said member and its blockage of the return of said lever arm until the completion of the flushing action, and the descent of said member serves to release said arm from its displaced position which in turn permits said door to swing shut.

13. A device according to claim 12 wherein the free end of said lever arm is provided with a depending flange which is adapted to abut against and be restrained by said upwardly extending member in its ascended position.

14. A device according to claim 12 adapted for insertion in a cistern having an air bell with an actuating head positioned at the top of an upwardly extending stem wherein the free end of said lever arm is provided with a depending flange which is adapted to be held and restrained in its displaced position by the stem of said actuating head and wherein said flange is further adapted to be responsive to and to be pushed away from said stem by said head upon its descent at the completion of the flushing action whereafter said flange is adapted to be able to swing freely over said actuating head as the door swings shut to its initial closed position by virtue of its own weight and the influence of a gravity thereon.

15. A device according to claim 5 further comprising a dual actuating means for said flushing mechanism adapted to replace the regular flush actuating means of said cistern wherein the first of said means comprises a mechanism for actuating the flushing mechanism and the second of said actuating means comprises a mechanism adapted to effect the pivotal displacement of said hinged door and to actuate the flushing mechanism, the arrangement being such that upon insertion of said device in said cistern and upon actuation of said first flush actuation means said door remains in its closed position and the flushing action mainly utilizes only the water enclosed in the vessel and the water contained in the cistern above the level of said opening at the upper end of the vessel, while upon actuation of said second actuating means said door is opened and said flushing mechanism is activated whereupon said retaining lever mechanism is adapted to retain said door in its open position until after the completion of the flushing action, thereby allowing the rapid entrance of the water contained in the cistern through said door opening and out the water outlet of the cistern whereby substantially all the water contained in the cistern as well as the water enclosed in the vessel is utilized for the flushing action, whereafter said retaining lever mechanism is adapted to automatically release said door from its open position to enable its return to its initial closed rest position.

16. A device according to claim 15 wherein said second actuating means comprises a lever coupled at one end to a handle adapted to actuate the flushing mechanism and having its other end extending adjacent the hinged door of said vessel and adapted to push thereagainst and effect the pivotal displacement thereof.

17. A device according to claim 1 wherein at least a section of the upwardly extending surface area of said vessel is adapted to be tilted and pivotally displaced from its rest position to form a multidirectional opening for the rapid passage of water under the lower edge of said tiltable section.

18. A device according to claim 17 wherein at least a quarter of the upwardly extending surface area of said vessel is adapted to be tilted.

19. A device according to claim 17 wherein at least a third of the upwardly extending surface area of said vessel is adapted to be tilted.

20. A device according to claim 17 wherein the entire upwardly extending surface area of said vessel is adapted to be tilted and pivotally displaced from its rest position on the bottom of said cistern whereby there is created an opening for the rapid passage of water under the lower edge of said vessel.

21. A device according to claim 17 wherein said vessel has a substantially rectangular cross-section and wherein at least one upwardly extending side of said vessel and at least a section of two additional sides of said vessel are adapted to be simultane-ously tilted and in combination to form a multidirectional open-ing for the rapid passage of water into the area initially enveloped by said vessel upon the tilting thereof.

22. A device according to claim 17 wherein said vessel has a substantially rectangular cross-section and is divided into upper and lower hingedly connected portions wherein said lower portion is comprised of at least sections of two sides of said vessel and said upper portion is comprised of at least a major section of one side of said vessel and at least minor sections of at least two additional sides of said vessel wherein a part of the lower edge of said upper portion is adapted in the closed rest position of said vessel to rest on a complementary upper edge of said lower portion and wherein said upper portion of said vessel is adapted to be tilted and pivotally displaced from its rest position whereby there is formed a multidirectional opening for the rapid passage of water under the lower edges of said tiltable upper portion.

23. A device according to claim 17 further comprising a dual actuating means for said flushing mechanism adapted to replace the regular flush actuating means of said cistern wherein the first of said means comprises a mechanism for actuating the flushing mechanism and the second of said actuating means comp-rises a mechanism adapted to actuate the flushing mechanism and to effect the pivotal displacement of the tiltable section of said vessel the arrangement being such that upon insertion of said device in said cistern and upon actuation of said first flush actuation means said section remains in its rest position and the flushing action mainly utilizes only the water enclosed in the vessel the water contained in the cistern above the level of said opening at the upper end of the vessel, while upon actu-ation of said second actuating means said flushing mechanism is activated and said section is tilted to form an opening facing more than one wall of the cistern and said tiltable section is retained in its open position by interaction with said float arrangement of the cistern until after the completion of the flushing action, thereby allowing the rapid entrance of the water contained in the cistern under the lower edge of said section and out the water outlet of the cistern whereby substan-tially all the water contained in the cistern as well as the water enclosed in the vessel is utilized for the flushing action, whereafter said float is adapted to automatically release said tiltable section from its open position to enable its return to its initial closed rest position.

24. A device according to claim 23 wherein said second actuating means comprises a lever coupled at one end to a handle adapted to actuate the flushing mechanism and having its other end extending adjacent a tiltable section of said vessel and adapted to push thereagainst and effect the pivotal displacement thereof.

25. A device according to claim 23 further comprising a first retaining means adapted to effect an initial retention of said section in its tilted position whereupon said float lever arrangement is then adapted to engage said vessel section and retain it in its open position until after the completion of the flushing action.

26. A device according to claim 17 wherein a portion of said tiltable section is adapted in its displaced position to inter-sect the arc ascribed by a water level responsive float coupled to said cistern's float lever whereby said portion is adapted to be engaged by said float in its downward arc upon the emptying of the cistern and to be retained in said displaced position until the rising water in the refilling cistern lifts said float away from said section and allows said section to automatically return to its initial closed rest position.

27. A device according to claim 26 wherein said float lever is provided with a hook positioned so as to be adapted during the downward arc ascribed by the float coupled to said float lever upon the emptying of the cistern during the flushing action to engage said section and retain it in its tilted position until the rising water in the refilling cistern lifts said float away from said section and allows said section to automatically return to its initial closed rest position.

28. A device according to claim 1 wherein said vessel comprises a bottom surface attached thereto which bottom has a water outlet opening therein.

29. A device according to claim 28 wherein said vessel further comprises means adapted for affixing said vessel in said cistern.

30. A device according to claim 29 wherein said means comprise apertures in the bottom of said vessel adapted to engage projections extending from the bottom of said cistern.

31. A device according to claim 28 wherein said bottom surface comprises a downwardly extending connector pipe adapted to tightly fit through the water outlet of said cistern and upwardly extending projections positioned around the water outlet opening of said bottom and adapted to engage and support the bottom of an air-bell flush mechanism provided in said cistern.

32. A device according to claim 1 characterized in that upon insertion of the vessel into the cistern the bottom of the cistern serves as a common bottom to both the vessel and the cistern.

33. A device according to claim 5 wherein said vessel comprises an integral bottom surface having a water outlet opening therein.

34. A device according to claim 33 wherein said hinged door is adapted when shut to engage the vessel bottom in a tight friction fit.

35. A device according to claim 33 wherein the vertical distance from the hinged door's pivot point to the inner surface of the vessel bottom is less than the distance from said pivot point to the edge of the free end of said door.