MXPA96001404A - Lever arm of operation of toilet with integral absorbent member of ener - Google Patents

Abstract

A toilet operating lever mechanism for use with pressure relief toilets, including a spring-type member integrally formed as part of the lever arm. The spring member acts as a shock absorber during the water discharge process, to obtain the retroactive force during the discharge

Description

LEVER ARM OF DRYING OF TOILET WITH INTEGRAL ABSORBENT ENERGY MEMBER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a drive lever for use with low water consumption toilets, and in particular, to a drive lever for use with pressure assisted toilets. In the past, water discharge mechanisms used in toilet flushing operations generally use one of two different procedures to remove waste material from the toilet bowl. In the first procedure, the siphoning action was used to create a vacuum, which drained the water from the cup and waste water to the drain line and refilled the cup with fresh water. In the second procedure, which was normally used in home applications, a tank in the toilet bowl held a predetermined amount of water, which, when released, generated a high velocity flow, which carried water from the toilet bowl. and the waste to the drain line and refilled the cup with fresh water. The second procedure was based on the weight of the water due to - the severity to discharge the water and replenish the cup. Because the weight of the water alone was used to discharge and replenish the bowl, conventional toilets using this conventional system required approximately 11.35 to 18.92 liters per flush (LPD). In response to the growing concern to conserve water, legislation requiring reduced water consumption in the flushing of toilets was enacted. As of January 1, 1994, toilets must consume less than or equal to 6.05 LPD. As a result, toilet construction has changed to compensate for low water consumption requirements. The changes in the construction have included modifications in the design of the siphon, tank and discharge valves. Pressure-assisted toilets have become more popular as a solution for reduced water consumption requirements. Pressure-assisted toilets typically operate using pressurized air over the water in the tank to forcefully discharge water from the tank into the toilet bowl. Although the air pressure in the tank provides efficient and effective discharge operation, a retroactive force is also transmitted to the user from the discharge drive mechanism as it is actuated and released. This can be quite uncomfortable and inconvenient. The prior art teaches the use of springs in connection with toilet discharge lever discharge arms to absorb the shock or pressure generated during actuation. The US patents for Hapgood (1,457,571), Kurtz (4,624,018) and Opperman (938,018), each teach the use of springs independently connected to the toilet discharge lever arms, to absorb the shock or pressure generated during actuation of the drive lever arm. None of the above techniques use a shock absorber to absorb the pressure generated from the pressure-assisted toilets. None of the above techniques use a conversion mechanism, to convert a pressure push button tank to a lateral actuation lever tank. None of the above techniques show a drive lever arm with an integral energy absorbent member. Thus, it is evident that a new type of lever mechanism for pressure-assisted toilets is desirable, in order to reduce the retroactive force associated with pressure-assisted toilets. It is desirable to provide a lever mechanism for operating a toilet that the mechanism converts the push-button discharge members to laterally actuated lever discharge members.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the invention is to reduce retroactive occurrences during the discharge of water.

Another object of the invention is to incorporate an anti-retroactive member integrally into the lever arm of the unloading system. It is a related objective to convert a tank operated by push button, into a tank driven actuating lever. These and other objects and advantages are attained by the present invention, which provides a spring-like member formed integrally as part of the lever arm, which will act as a shock absorber during the discharge process to absorb the retroactive force occurring during the download.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be more fully appreciated from the following detailed description, when it is considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a top plan view of the drive lever mechanism, according to the claimed invention; Figure 2 is a front elevation view of the drive lever mechanism of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a top plan view of the energy absorbing member of the drive lever mechanism; Figure 4 is a side view of the energy absorbing member of Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a front elevational view of a drive lever mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to Figures 1 and 2, which show a drive lever mechanism 9 connected to a tank 10. Tank 10 can be any of a number of button operated tanks available in the industry, such as a pressure-assisted tank. Tank 10 is placed inside porcelain 12 and includes a drive member in the form of a button 14 placed on top of the tank to initiate discharge. Because the button member 14 is inappropriately positioned for certain users such as handicapped, the actuation lever mechanism of the present invention is incorporated on the button operated tank to convert it to a laterally actuated lever release system. The drive lever mechanism includes a drive member or drive lever arm 16, having an end or user handle 16a positioned externally of the tank 10, which operates in the conventional manner and a hook or coupling end 16b , which interacts with the energy absorbing member 18. The tank 10 may include a series of receptacles 19 molded therein for connection of the member 18 to the tank 10. The receptacles 19 may be positioned on either the left or near left button the right 14, to allow the connection of the member 18 on the left or right side of the tank 10. This in turn allows the left or right lateral positioning of the actuating member 16 on the porcelain 12. As clearly shown in the Figures 3 and 4, the energy absorbing member 18 includes a short end 18a, which exhibits a flattened U-shaped end, and the end of which passes through the button mechanism in its central point. End 18a is pivotally attached to the tank by any of a number of coupling means such as screws, plates, flanges and latches. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate retaining plates 20 and screws 21 secured in plates 20 to hold member 18 in position in the tank . The ing means allow the movement of the end 18a, to pivot its rest position as shown in Figure 2 to its non-depressed state, as shown in FIG.

Figure 5. The energy absorbing member 18 also includes a long end 18b having a hook at one end, which extends perpendicularly to the end 18a and is connected to the end 16b of the actuating lever arm 16. The absorber member energy 18 further includes a spring or helical section 18c of member 18, placed in the middle between ends 18a and 18b. The spring section 18c includes a series of turns, which absorb the force created by the button operation. The energy absorbing member is usually constructed of 0.3175 cm diameter stainless steel wire, although it is not limited to this material or size. Other materials such as copper or coated steel can be used to resist corrosion. In addition, the diameter of the material can vary between 0.254 and 0.4826 cm. The actual operation of the mechanism involves a rotating handle 16a of the drive member 16 downwardly. The hook 16b is raised and interacts with the energy absorbing member 18 and lifts the long end 18b upwards. As the end 18b travels upward, the U-shaped end 18a proceeds downward, about its pivotal axis, thereby ceasing to press the button 14 in the pressure-assisted tank 10. All contents in the tank are released. in this way. Simultaneously, the retroactive force associated with the pressure-assisted tank is - Absorbs by the energy absorbing member 18 through the action of the spring section 18c.

The actuating lever mechanism of the present invention converts the push-button discharge system into a conventional side-operated lever discharge system. It provides convenience and ease for the user, who is not comfortable with the button-operated members, which are placed on top of the tank. It is also allowed to place items on top of the tank cover, which is not otherwise feasible with conventional push-button tanks. Moreover, the discomfort and annoying retroactive force associated with button-operated mechanisms is reduced. Although the illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be made therein by a skilled in the art, without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

Claims (9)

1. A toilet operating lever mechanism for use with a pressure relief toilet, which includes a tank and a button member coupled to said tank, comprising: an energy absorbing member; a discharge drive member coupled to said energy absorbing member; and a coupling means that couples said energy absorbing member to said tank, the energy absorbent member being contiguous to said button member. The toilet drive lever mechanism of claim 1, wherein said energy absorbing member includes a spring section comprising a plurality of turns. The toilet drive lever mechanism of claim 1, wherein said energy absorbing member includes a U-shaped section, a spring-shaped section and a hook section, through said U-shaped section button member and said hook section attached to said discharge drive mechanism. The toilet drive lever mechanism of claim 1, wherein said tank includes receptacles molded therein and said coupling means includes a pair of plates and a set of screws, said screws being secured in the plates and in said receptacles. The toilet drive lever mechanism of claim 4, wherein said energy absorbing member is secured under said plates. The toilet drive lever mechanism of claim 3, wherein said discharge drive member includes an externally positioned handle of said tank, and a hook member coupled to said handle and internally positioned in said tank, being attached the hook member to the hook section of the aforementioned energy absorbing member. The toilet drive lever mechanism of claim 3, wherein said energy absorbing member is made of a material selected from the group consisting of steel or copper. The toilet drive lever mechanism of claim 3, wherein said energy absorbing member has a diameter within the range of 0.254 and 0.4826 cm. 9. The toilet operating lever mechanism of claim 3, wherein said energy absorbing member is made of stainless steel wire with a diameter of 0.3175 cm.