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[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a cordless pedal flush system for a tank-type toilet and more particularly a pedal transmitter flush activation system.
[0003] An additional aspect of the present invention also relates to a receiver control unit that captures the signal and directs an operational current to a motorized flush handle used in activating the flushing of a tank-type toilet.
[0004] 2. Background-Description of Prior Art
[0005] For various and well understood reasons, such as the passage of germs that could lead to sickness, it is generally desirable to flush a toilet without touching the toilet handle with one's hands.
[0006] One way in which the need to make physical contact with the flushing of public toilets has been reduced is the incorporation of automatic flushing systems. Not only are these automatic flushing systems expensive for the average home, but they can be very ineffective and cause such problems as excessive water consumption or unflushed conditions when the detection device malfunctions. Some automatic flushing systems use infrared detection systems. These elaborate systems however, are very expensive and require highly skilled technicians for service and installation.
[0007] Other known features for toilets, which reduce the amount of physical contact, are automatic flushing systems for public facilities. Most systems use an infrared transmitter and detection system to sense the presence of a user so as to automatically flush the toilet after the user has been sensed, and has left the area immediately in front of the toilet bowl.
[0008] These automatic flushing systems provide a number of features that make it a valuable system for limiting physical contact with the toilet.
[0009] Although these automatic flushing systems are great for reducing the amount of physical contact, they fall short in actual practice because they can only work effectively in public restrooms where the toilets are placed in restricted areas for use.
[0010] These automatic-flushing systems wouldn't work well in home bathrooms because of the bathroom configuration. The detection system would be ineffective due to the different movements of the occupant. For example, the infrared detector would activate a flush even if the occupant was passing to get into the shower or bathtub or simply replacing bath towels, etc.
[0011] A search of the prior art brought to light the following U.S. patents, which disclose devices in the same general field of the present invention but without the unique and novel advantages of the present invention.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,127: Issued on Feb. 18, 1997 to Veal: Auto Flush for a Tank Type toilet. This document discloses a infrared Detection Flushing system. This prior art does not offer a discrete cordless pedal flush system more applicable for home bathrooms.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,313,673 issued on May 24, 1994 to SAADI: Electronic Flush Valve Arrangement. This Document discloses a sensor for a flushing device, detailing a radiation detection detection system. This prior art does not offer a discrete cordless pedal flush system, which is less expensive and more applicable for home bathrooms.
[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,146: issued on Jul. 20, 1993 to Martell: Flushing device for toilet. This document discloses an electrically operated flushing system. This prior art device would be a very expensive retrofit for the average home bathroom.
[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 5,187,818: issued on Feb. 23, 1993 to Barrett, Sr.: Flushing system for a water closet. This document discloses a sensor detection system. This prior device does not offer a discrete cordless pedal flush.
[0016] U.S. Pat. No. 5,169,118: issued on Dec. 8, 1992 to Whiteside: Sensor-operated battery powered flush valve. This document discloses a solenoid valve controlled by infrared sensors. This prior art device is not practical for home use.
[0017] U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,215: issued in July 1990 to Liv: Automatic flushing device for a flush toilet. This prior art device does not offer a discrete cordless pedal flush more practical for home use.
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[0028] Reference Numbers in Drawing 10 Toilet 58 Pinion gear 14 Toilet tank 60 Driven gear 22 Flush handle 64 Case frame 24 Shank 68 Power supply cable 26 Flush arm 70 Holding bracket 27 Manual flush handle 72 Locknut 32 Lift chain 74 Anchor leg 34 Lift portion 76 Receiver control unit 38 Flapper valve 82 Battery compartment 40 Valve seat 83 Holding bracket receptacle 44 Pivot end 84 Lock tab push button 48 Gear-train assembly 85 Set screw 50 Output shaft 86 Lock tab 52 Drive gear 88 Access cover 54 Lift motor 90 Plug-in connector 55 Spur gear 92 Cordless pedal actuator 56 Guide groove 94 Position indicator 95 Angle mark 127 Control arm 96 Transmitter circuit 128 Raised arm switch board 97 Bore 130 Receiver circuit board 98 Receiver circuit 135 Case frame enclosure 99 Wedge insert 140 Flush handle stem 100 Contacts 141 Adjustment arm pointer 101 Electrical contacts 142 Adjustment arm 102 Access opening 143 Batteries 103 Electrical conduits 144 Resistors 104 Spring 145 Capacitors 106 Push-button 146 Integrated circuit 108 Base 160 Insertion member 110 Rubber boot 162 Rectangular-shaped aperture 112 Top plate 241 Diodes 114 Cordless pedal 244 Decoder flush system 118 Flush/Trip handle 245 Control module actuator 120 Transmitter circuit 246 Wire conduit 124 Transmitter identification 247 Wire conduit code (TIC) 126 Lower arm switch 248 Antenna
[0029] In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a cordless pedal flush system for a tank-type toilet is disclosed.
[0030] Further, in accordance with this invention, the cordless pedal flush system employs a tank mounted receiver control unit that employs a receiver circuit that captures and decodes a coded command signal transmitted by the cordless pedal transmitter.
[0031] Further, in accordance with this invention, both pedal transmitter and receiver control unit are powered by self-contained DC batteries.
[0032] Further, in accordance with this invention, the cordless pedal actuator employs a microprocessor that reads out an encoded transmitter identification code. The (TIC) uniquely couples both the transmitter and receiver units.
[0033] The receiver control unit circuit includes decoding hardware employed to identify and verify a (TIC) match for each cordless pedal flush system. The cordless pedal flush system is designed to avoid interference when multiple systems are operated within the same general area.
[0034] Further in accordance with this invention, a Flush/Trip handle actuator is installed replacing the conventional manual flush handle employed on most tank-type toilets. The Flush/Trip handle actuator is a motorized gear driven mechanism powered by a small DC motor engaged in gear reduction to rotate and pivot upwards the flush arm to lift the plunger of flapper valve from the valve seat to cause the flushing of a tank-type toilet.
[0035] Further, in accordance with the invention, the Flush/Trip handle actuator also allows for the conventional manual flushing of the toilet.
[0036] Further, in accordance with the invention, the cordless pedal flush system employs a holding bracket mounted on the rim of the toilet tank. The holding bracket is used for connecting the receiver control unit to the system. The holding bracket includes a power supply cable connected between the holding bracket and the flush/trip handle actuator.
[0037] Further in accordance with this invention, the installation and operation of the cordless pedal flush system is designed to be an inexpensive simple system that is affordable to the average household.
[0038] A complete understanding of this invention will be obtained from the detailed description that follows.
[0039] Referring now to the drawing in greater detail, a typical tank-type toilet (
[0040] A Flush/Trip handle actuator (
[0041] Referring to
[0042] The case frame enclosure (
[0043] A holding bracket (
[0044] Referring to
[0045] Now directing ones attention to the receiver control unit (
[0046] A receiver circuit board (
[0047] Referring to
[0048] Now turning to
[0049] Referring to
[0050] Now referring to
[0051]
[0052] Now directing ones attention to the unassembled flush/trip handle actuator (
[0053] The flush/trip handle actuator (
[0054] The receiver control unit (
[0055] The gear-train assembly (
[0056] The case frame enclosure (
[0057] As is known, the cordless pedal actuator (
[0058] Now turning ones attention to the electrical block circuit diagram for the printed wired circuit board for the transmitter circuit (
[0059] The control module (
[0060] Accordingly, the reader will see that the cordless pedal flush system invention can be used to flush a toilet more conveniently and with less effort. In addition to preventing the passage of germs that could lead to sickness, the cordless pedal flush system eliminates the necessity of using ones hands to flush a toilet. The cordless pedal flush system has additional advantages in that: It permits the average household to afford a healthier yet simple means for flushing a toilet without the use of ones hands. It remedies common flush problems associated with tank-type toilets due to worn or misaligned fixtures such as short cycle flushes that require the user to hold down the flush handle in order to get a complete flush. It would also prevent the common problem of the behind the back task of flushing while being seated on a toilet.
[0061] Although the description above contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention.
[0062] Accordingly, the scope of the invention is only to be limited as necessitated by the accompanying claims.