U.S. patent application number 10/964135 was filed with the patent office on 2006-04-13 for foot actuated flushing apparatus and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to Foot Flush International, Inc.. Invention is credited to Eric Herbst.
Application Number | 20060075545 10/964135 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36143780 |
Filed Date | 2006-04-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060075545 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Herbst; Eric |
April 13, 2006 |
Foot actuated flushing apparatus and method
Abstract
An apparatus and method for flushing a toilet by foot that
includes a foot pedal integral with a flushing system within a
toilet base. When pressure is applied to the foot pedal, the
flushing system is activated to generate an upward pressure that is
applied to an underside of a flapper of a toilet tank for flushing
the toilet. The flushing system may be a pressurized flushing
system that includes a first pressurized cylinder connected by a
pressurized line to a second pressurized cylinder. The second
pressurized cylinder has a rod protected by a bellows seal, which
when pressure is applied to the second pressurized cylinder, the
rod is forced up against the flapper pushing up on the flapper to
flush the toilet. Upon removing the user's foot from the foot
pedal, the foot pedal and the pressurized flushing system are
automatically reset for reuse.
Inventors: |
Herbst; Eric; (North Haven,
CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DELIO & PETERSON
121 WHITNEY AVENUE
NEW HAVEN
CT
06510
US
|
Assignee: |
Foot Flush International,
Inc.
|
Family ID: |
36143780 |
Appl. No.: |
10/964135 |
Filed: |
October 13, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/249 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03D 5/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
004/249 |
International
Class: |
E03D 5/00 20060101
E03D005/00 |
Claims
1. A foot actuated toilet flushing apparatus comprising: a toilet
having a toilet base and a flushing release means; at least one
foot pedal within said toilet base; at least one flushing system
within said toilet base attached to said foot pedal having an
actuating means for pushing up on an underside of said flushing
release means to effect flushing of said toilet.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flushing release means is
selected from the group consisting of a flapper, a valve and a
release button.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flushing system is
integral with and resides entirely within said toilet base.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flushing system comprises
a mechanical flushing system.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flushing system comprises
a pressurized flushing system.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said pressurized flushing
system comprises a first hydraulic cylinder connected to a second
hydraulic cylinder via a hydraulic line.
7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said pressurized flushing
system comprises a first pneumatic cylinder connected to a second
pneumatic cylinder via a pneumatic line.
8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said pressurized flushing
system further comprises: said foot pedal attached to a pivot
bracket; a first pressurized cylinder having a first spring
attached to said pivot bracket; a pressurized flushing component;
and a pressurized line connecting said first pressurized cylinder
to said pressurized flushing component.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said pressurized flushing
component further comprises: a second pressurized cylinder having a
second spring, said second pressurized cylinder being connected to
said first pressurized cylinder via said pressurized line; a rod
extending from a base plate of said second pressurized cylinder
toward said flushing release means of said toilet tank; a first
seal protecting said second pressurized cylinder; and a flexible
second seal at least protecting said rod.
10. A foot actuated toilet flushing apparatus comprising: a toilet
having a toilet base and a flushing release means; a foot pedal
within said toilet base; and a flushing system within said toilet
base, wherein said flushing system comprises; a first pressurized
cylinder within said toilet base connected to a second pressurized
cylinder within said toilet base via a pressurized line that
traverses through said toilet base; a rod of said second
pressurized cylinder being in contact with an underside of said
flapper; and a flexible seal attached to said rod for protecting a
portion of said rod and said underlying second pressurized
cylinder.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said first and second
pressurized cylinders comprise first and second hydraulic cylinders
connected to each other via a hydraulic pressurized line.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said first and second
pressurized cylinders comprise first and second pneumatic cylinders
connected to each other via a pneumatic pressurized line.
13. The apparatus of claim 10 further including a second foot pedal
and a second flushing system within said toilet base for effecting
flushing of a dual-flush toilet.
14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said flushing release means
is selected from the group consisting of a flapper, a valve and a
release button.
15. A method for flushing a toilet by foot comprising: providing a
toilet having a toilet base and a flushing release means; applying
downward pressure to a foot pedal attached to said toilet base to
effect a force; and transferring said force to a flushing system
residing within said toilet tank for applying an upward pressure to
an underside of said flushing release means for pushing up said
flushing release and effecting flushing of said toilet.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein said flushing system comprises a
pressurized flushing system, said step of transferring said force
to said pressurized flushing system residing within said toilet
tank further comprises: transferring said force from said foot
pedal to a first pressurized cylinder of said pressurized flushing
system; forcing a pressurized component from said first pressurized
cylinder through a pressurized line and into a second pressurized
cylinder of said pressurized flushing system; and applying an
upward pressure to an actuating means of said second pressurized
cylinder via said pressurized component, whereby said actuating
means is forced upward against said underside of said flushing
release means such that said flushing release means is pushed up
for flushing said toilet.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein said pressurized component is
selected from a pressurized liquid or a pressurized gas.
18. The method of claim 16 wherein said actuating means comprises a
rod of said second pressurized cylinder having attached thereto a
flexible seal for protecting both a portion of said rod and said
second pressurized cylinder from contaminants.
19. The method of claim 16 wherein said flushing release means
comprises a flapper having a receiving means for receiving said
actuating means, said receiving means enabling said actuating means
to easily push open said flapper.
20. The method of claim 15 further including the step of releasing
pressure from said foot pedal to automatically reset said foot
pedal and said flushing system for reuse.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Aspects of the present invention are related to subject
matter disclosed in co-pending application entitled "Foot Operated
Flushing Apparatus and Method," U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/773,630, filed on Feb. 6, 2004, and assigned to the assignee of
the present invention, the subject matter of which is hereby
incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a foot actuated flushing
apparatus in contact with a bottom surface of an internal flushing
means of a toilet tank and a method of flushing a toilet using such
apparatus.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Conventional approaches for flushing cistern toilets
generally require the user to flush the toilet by hand. In so
doing, the toilet user actuates a lever on the toilet tank by hand,
whereby an internal component or system within the tank is
activated for flushing the toilet. However, it has been recognized
that flushing a toilet by hand often leads to the spread of germs,
disease and contaminants, as well as being difficult to operate for
those with back problems or for the elderly who are at an increased
risk of falling or becoming injured as a result of bending and/or
stretching to flush a toilet by hand.
[0006] To avoid the above problems, prior art has been directed at
providing toilets with foot operated flushing apparatus. Yet, these
conventional foot operated flushing apparatus often require user
installation, which may be difficult, such as those that entirely
replace the lever or handle of the toilet. Conventional foot
operated flushing apparatus are also expensive, can make it
difficult to flush the toilet by hand, and can be cumbersome by
adding on a foot operated flushing mechanism to the flushing lever
or handle at the front of the toilet tank.
[0007] For instance, the prior art apparatus of Seek, U.S. Pat.
Nos. 3,594,828 and 3,594,829, replace a conventional flush
handle/lever with a cable connected to a foot-operated pedal or a
hydraulically operated transmission tube connected to a
foot-operated pedal for flushing the toilet, respectively. U.S.
Pat. No. 4,847,924 to Samaniego discloses a toilet flushing
mechanism comprised of a member that is disposed over the flush
handle and is brought into engagement therewith by operation of a
foot pedal. U.S. Pat. No. 4,868,931 to Schneeweiss includes a
bracket assembly that is secured to the flush valve handle and is
operatively connected to a foot lever. The apparatus described in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,708 to Johnson et al. includes a flushing
handle of a toilet being connected to a foot lever by a chain
linkage. A number of other references, such as U.S. Pat. Nos.
4,847,924; 4,007,499; 5,170,513 and 5,339,468, focus on flushing
control mechanisms connected to a lever or handle of a toilet or
urinal for flushing thereof. U.S. Pat. No. 6,089,542 to Caravella
et al. discloses a foot-pedal connected by a cable to an integrated
drive bar disposed to engage a plunger to effect actuation of a
flushing element.
[0008] Again, these and other arrangements taught in the art
typically suffer from one or more significant disadvantages. In
particular, they are often require user installation, may be both
difficult and time consuming to install, expensive, unattractive,
awkward to use, difficult to clean, cumbersome and subject to
tampering, vandalism, or undue maintenance requirements.
[0009] Thus, a need continues to exist in the art for eliminating
the above problems by providing improved methods and systems that
avoid flushing of a toilet by hand, and thereby decrease the spread
of germs, disease and contaminants.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Bearing in mind the deficiencies of the prior art, it is an
object of the present invention to provide a flushing control
system and method that is integrally formed and self-contained
within a toilet such that the toilet can be dual operated.
[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a foot
actuated flushing system and method that actuates flushing of the
toilet by applying pressure to the underside of the tank flapper
such that the toilet tank and its internal components remain
intact.
[0012] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
foot actuated flushing system and method that significantly reduces
hand-spread germs, disease and contaminants.
[0013] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
a foot actuated flushing system and method that is easy to use such
that it assists and reduces the risk of injury to both users with
back problems and the elderly.
[0014] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
foot actuated flushing system and method that is easy and
economically efficient to manufacture within a cistern toilet.
[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide a foot
actuated flushing system and method that is inexpensive, attractive
and operates in an efficient and economical manner.
[0016] Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in
part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the following
specification.
[0017] The above and other objects, which will be apparent to those
skilled in art, are achieved in the present invention, which is
directed to in a first aspect, a foot actuated toilet flushing
apparatus. The apparatus includes a toilet having a toilet base and
a toilet tank, whereby the toilet tank has an internal release
means, such as a flapper. A foot pedal is within the toilet base,
as well as a flushing system within the toilet base. The flushing
system is attached to the foot pedal, whereby the flushing system
has an actuating means for pushing up on an underside of the
internal release means to effect flushing of the toilet.
[0018] In accordance with the invention, the flushing system may be
a pressurized flushing system that includes a first hydraulic
cylinder connected to a second hydraulic cylinder via a hydraulic
line, or a first pneumatic cylinder connected to a second pneumatic
cylinder via a pneumatic line. The pressurized flushing system is
preferably integral with and resides entirely within the toilet
base. This pressurized flushing system may further include the foot
pedal being attached to a pivot bracket, which in turn, is attached
to a first pressurized cylinder having a first spring. The first
pressurized cylinder is attached to the pressurized flushing
component via a pressurized line. This pressurized flushing
component may further include a second pressurized cylinder
connected to the first pressurized cylinder via the pressurized
line. A rod extends from a base plate of the second pressurized
cylinder toward the internal release means of the toilet tank,
whereby a first seal protects the second pressurized cylinder and a
flexible second seal at least protects the rod.
[0019] In another aspect, the invention is directed to a foot
actuated toilet flushing apparatus that includes a toilet having a
toilet base and a toilet tank, which has a flapper. A foot pedal
resides within the toilet base, whereby a first pressurized
cylinder, within the toilet base, is connected to a second
pressurized cylinder, within the toilet base, via a pressurized
line that traverses through such toilet base. A rod of the second
pressurized cylinder is in contact with an underside of the
flapper, and a flexible seal attached to the rod protects a portion
of the rod as well as the underlying second pressurized cylinder.
The first and second pressurized cylinders may be either hydraulic
cylinders or pneumatic cylinders. The rod is preferably made of a
water-resistant material having attached thereto a flexible bellows
seal.
[0020] In still another aspect, the invention is directed to a
method for flushing a toilet by foot. The method includes providing
a toilet having a toilet base and a toilet tank, whereby the toilet
tank has an internal release means. Downward pressures are applied
to a foot pedal attached to the toilet base to effect a force,
which is transferred to a flushing system residing within the
toilet tank. This transferred force enables the flushing system to
apply an upward pressure to an underside of the internal release
means for pushing up such internal release and effecting flushing
of the toilet. Wherein the flushing system is a pressurized
flushing system, the step of transferring the force to the
pressurized flushing system may be accomplished by transferring the
force from the foot pedal to a first pressurized cylinder, which
forces a pressurized component from the first pressurized cylinder
through a pressurized line and into a second pressurized cylinder
of the pressurized flushing system. An actuating means of the
second pressurized cylinder is then forced upward, via the
pressurized component, against the underside of the internal
release means such that the internal release means is pushed up for
flushing the toilet. The pressurized component may be pressurized
liquid or pressurized gas. The method may further include releasing
pressure from the foot pedal to automatically reset the foot pedal
and the flushing system of the invention for reuse.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The features of the invention believed to be novel and the
elements characteristic of the invention are set forth with
particularity in the appended claims. The figures are for
illustration purposes only and are not drawn to scale. The
invention itself, however, both as to organization and method of
operation, may best be understood by reference to the detailed
description which follows taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0022] FIG. 1 is a side view of the foot actuated apparatus and
system of the invention showing the foot pedal and the remaining
system components in the non-actuated position, as well as the foot
pedal in its actuated position (dashed line)
[0023] FIG. 2 is an exploded side view showing the foot pedal of
FIG. 1 in the non-actuated mode.
[0024] FIG. 3 is an exploded side view showing the pressurized
flushing component of FIG. 1, in its non-actuated position, which
is located under the bottom surface of a toilet tank flapper.
[0025] FIG. 4 is a backside view of the foot actuated apparatus and
system of the invention in the non-actuated position.
[0026] FIG. 5 is an exploded side view showing the foot pedal of
FIG. 1 in the actuated or flushing position, whereby water is
released into the toilet bowl for flushing the toilet.
[0027] FIG. 6 is an exploded side view showing the pressurized
flushing component of FIG. 1, in its actuated position, whereby the
toilet tank flapper is pushed up to allow water to be released from
the toilet tank and into the toilet bowl for flushing the
toilet.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0028] The invention will be better understood in accordance with
the below description making reference to FIGS. 1-6, which show a
preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it should be
appreciated and understood to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and alterations, which are covered by the present
invention, will be apparent in accordance with the foregoing
preferred embodiment of the invention.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 1, a cistern toilet 100 is shown that
includes a toilet tank 10 having a flapper 13, and a toilet base 11
having a toilet bowl 12. As is shown, the foot actuated apparatus
and system is preferably encompassed entirely within the toilet
base 11 of the cistern toilet 100, such that the toilet bowl 12
remains substantially intact and unchanged. Alternatively,
components of the present foot actuated apparatus and system may
remain external to the cistern toilet 100 for ease of access,
repair and/or replacement. In the preferred embodiment, the foot
actuated apparatus and system includes a foot pedal and a flushing
system within the toilet base. The flushing system may be a
pressurized flushing system, such as a closed pressurized system,
that includes a pivot bracket 30, a first pressurized cylinder 40,
a pressurized line 50, and a pressurized flushing component, which
includes a second pressurized cylinder 60, rod 70, first seal 80
and second seal 90. Alternatively, the flushing system may be a
mechanical flushing system that activates flushing in accordance
with the invention, whereby a mechanical means (e.g. a rigid and/or
flexible stable structure) pushes up on an underside of the
internal release means of a toilet tank to effect flushing of such
toilet.
[0030] For ease of understanding the invention, the preferred
description makes reference to the flushing system being a
pressurized flushing system within a cistern type toilet. However,
it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the
present flushing system may have many modifications or variations,
whereby an essential feature of each flushing system is that it be
capable of pushing up on an underside of an internal release means
of a toilet tank to effect flushing of the toilet. The invention is
for use on any type of toilet including, but not limited to,
cistern type toilets, jet operated toilets, pressure assisted
toilets, ultra-low flow toilets, dual-flush toilets (which have two
levers--one lever to flush for liquids and the other for solids),
and the like. For instance, wherein the internal release means of
the toilet tank is a button, such as a button or valve within a
pressure assisted toilet tank, the invention is capable of pushing
up on the underside of this button or valve within such tank.
Further, wherein the toilet is a dual-flush toilet, two of the
present foot actuated apparatus and systems of the invention may be
integrally formed or provided within the toilet base.
[0031] During the process of fabricating the cistern toilet 100,
the toilet is preferably molded such that cavities are formed
within the toilet for receiving the components of the foot actuated
apparatus. Once the toilet fabrication process is complete, the
components of the foot actuated apparatus may be provided and
secured within the formed cavities of the toilet, and thus the
present foot actuated apparatus and system are integral with and
are preferably substantially contained entirely within the toilet
100.
[0032] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the foot pedal 20 of the
invention in the non-actuated position. The pedal 20 may be formed
of a variety of shapes including, but not limited to, circular,
oval, square, rectangular, and the like, as well as having
differing design shapes that are esthetically appeasing. The foot
pedal is preferably of a rigid material, such as plastic, stainless
steel, ceramic, and the like, to provide the foot pedal with
sufficient strength to prevent cracking, damage or breaking
thereof, when pressure is applied to the pedal by a user's foot.
The foot pedal 20, pivot bracket 30, and first pressurized cylinder
40 are provided within a first cavity at the front of the toilet
base 11, whereby the foot pedal 20 is positioned partially outside
the toilet base 11 for foot actuation by a user of the invention,
and partially inside the toilet base 11 for activating the present
system.
[0033] A pivot bracket 30 is attached to the foot pedal 20 via a
pivot point 32, which may be a pivot cylinder or any other known
pivotable attachment means. The pivot point 32 enables pivoting of
the foot pedal 20 with respect to the pivot bracket 30 for
effecting flushing of a toilet in accordance with the invention.
The pivot bracket 30 may be an L-bracket, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2
and 5, or alternatively, any known pivotable device for applying
pressure to the first pressurized cylinder 40. The pivot bracket is
connected to, or in direct contact with, a base plate 42 of the
first pressurized cylinder 40. This first pressurized cylinder 40
may be either a hydraulic or a pneumatic cylinder, preferably a
closed system hydraulic or a pneumatic cylinder. It preferably
includes any known mechanism for returning the first pressurized
cylinder 40 to its original, non-actuated position (shown in FIG.
2), such as a spring 44. The spring 44 is preferably attached to
the base plate 42 of the first pressurized cylinder, at an opposite
side of such base plate as compared to the pivot bracket. Wherein
the first pressurized cylinder 40 is a hydraulic cylinder it has an
empty cavity filled with a fluid, such as oil, water and the like,
contained under pressure. Alternatively, wherein the first
pressurized cylinder 40 is a pneumatic cylinder it has an empty
cavity filled with a gas, such as air, contained under
pressure.
[0034] The invention also includes a pressurized line 50 contained
within the ceramic of the toilet base 11. The pressurized line 50
is preferably either a hydraulic hose or a pneumatic hose
(depending upon the framework of the first pressurized cylinder)
connected to the first pressurized cylinder 40 at a first end
thereof. The pressurized line then traverses through the bottom of
the toilet base, up the backside of the toilet base, and is
connected to the second pressurized cylinder 60 at a second end
thereof. The toilet is preferably fabricated such that a channel or
empty hose line is cast into the toilet mold, whereby this channel
or empty hose line is adapted for receiving and securing the
pressurized line 50 in position within the toilet base.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 3, an exploded view of the pressurized
flushing component of the present foot actuated apparatus and
system is shown in the non-actuated position. This pressurized
flushing component is contained within the toilet base at a
backside thereof (FIG. 4). Optionally, the toilet base 11 may have
an access panel molded therein for gaining access to and entry into
the cavity that retains the pressurized flushing component. In
accordance with the preferred embodiment, the pressurized flushing
component of the invention includes the second pressurized cylinder
60, rod 70, first seal 80 and second seal 90, as discussed more
fully below.
[0036] The second pressurized cylinder 60 is also a hydraulic or
pneumatic cylinder (also depending on the framework of the first
pressurized cylinder) and has a mechanism for returning such second
pressurized cylinder to its original, non-actuated position (shown
in FIG. 3), such as a spring 64. This second pressurized cylinder
60 includes a base plate 62 adjacent to a bottom side thereof, a
top plate 66 at a top side thereof, and a spring 64 which is
attached to the base plate. The pressurized line 50 is attached to
the bottom of the second pressurized cylinder for introducing the
pressurized gas or liquid into a cavity 68 of the second
pressurized cylinder 60. This cavity resides between the bottom of
the pressurized cylinder and the base plate 62 within such cylinder
60. The second pressurized cylinder 60 is positioned such that it
resides within and is held in position by the first seal 80. This
first seal 80 is preferably a stationary seal that also provides a
liquid tight seal to prevent water from contacting both the
underlying second pressurized cylinder 60 and the dry backside
portion of the toilet base.
[0037] Also attached and secured to the base plate 62 within the
second pressurized cylinder 60 is rod 70. This rod 70 is preferably
composed of a rigid material, such as a plastic or metal (e.g.
stainless steel) so that the rod is provided with sufficient
strength when pressure is applied thereto. The rod 70 traverses
through the spring 64, is held in position by both the top plate 66
and the first seal 80, extends beyond both the second pressurized
cylinder 60 and the seal 80 towards the toilet flapper 13, and is
partially surrounded by the second seal 90. The second seal 90 is
preferably a flexible seal composed of a water resistant material,
such as rubber, more preferably the second seal 90 is a rubber
bellows seal. This second seal 90 is attached at a first end to the
first seal 80 and at a second end to the rod 70. In so doing, the
flexible second seal expands and contracts as the rod 70 moves up
and down, as well as prevents any water, debris, dirt, rust and the
like, from entering or coming into contact with both the underlying
second pressurized cylinder 60 and the dry backside portion of the
toilet base.
[0038] FIGS. 5 and 6 show the present foot actuated apparatus and
system in the actuated mode. In operation, once a user of the
invention applies pressure by foot to the foot pedal 20, such pedal
is forced downward, as is shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. This downward
force on the pedal is transferred to the pivot bracket 30 via pivot
point 32 to force the horizontal arm of the pivot bracket against
the base plate 42 of the first pressurized cylinder 40. In so
doing, the force is transferred to the first pressurized cylinder
40 so that the internal cavity of the first pressurized cylinder,
and the spring 44 therein, are compressed for forcing the
pressurized liquid or gas into and through the pressurized line 50
(FIG. 5), and then into the cavity 68 of the second pressurized
cylinder 60 (FIG. 6). In the preferred embodiment, the cavity of
the first pressurized cylinder 40 retaining the pressurized liquid
or gas must be sufficiently larger in size than cavity 68 of the
second pressurized cylinder 60 which receives and retains such
pressurized liquid or gas, since this pressurized liquid or gas is
forced through the pressurized line 50 and into cavity 68, such
that it will reside in both the pressurized line and cavity 68
during the actuated mode. That is, the volume of the liquid or gas
within the cavity of the first pressurized cylinder 40 must be
sufficient enough so that it completely fills the pressurized line
50 and the smaller cavity 68 of the second pressurized cylinder
60.
[0039] In the actuated mode, the cavity 68 of the second
pressurized cylinder fills with the pressurized liquid or gas to
force the base plate 62, rod 70 attached thereto, and second seal
90 attached to the rod, up toward the flapper 13 of the toilet
tank. The flexible second seal 90 extends up toward the flapper
along with the rod 70 to prevent any water, debris, dirt, rust and
the like, from entering into this flexible second seal 90, as well
as from coming into contacting the underlying second pressurized
cylinder 60 and its internal components, as well as the dry
backside of the toilet base. Upon applying pressure to the base
plate 62 via the pressurized air or liquid, the spring 64 within
the second pressurized cylinder is compressed.
[0040] During the actuated mode of the invention, the rod 70 pushes
up on the underside of the flapper 13, forcing the flapper to open,
and breaking the seal between the toilet tank 10 and toilet base 11
to release water from the toilet tank 10. This effects flushing of
the toilet 100. The rod 70 may contact and move along any location
of the flapper's underside for flushing the toilet. Preferably, the
rod contacts a substantially central portion of the flapper
underside and moves toward the flapper hinge as the flapper is
pushed open in accordance with the invention. Referring to FIG. 4,
the flapper may optionally be fabricated with a receiving means,
such as a channel 17, to receive and allow the rod 70 smoothly push
open the flapper from its underside.
[0041] Upon completion of the user pressing the foot pedal 20, and
thereby the flapper 13 being pushed up or open from its underside
to effect flushing of the toilet 100, as the user takes his foot
off of the foot pedal 20, the system is instantaneously and
automatically returned to its original, non-actuated position, as
is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In so doing, the spring 64 of the second
pressurized cylinder 60 retracts and forces the base plate 62 to
its non-actuated position, thereby forcing the pressurized air or
liquid from cavity 68, back through the pressurized line 50, and
into the cavity of the first pressurized cylinder 40. The forces
applied to the base plate 62 via spring 64 also return the rod 70,
and the flexible second seal 90 attached thereto, to their
respective original, non-actuated positions. As such, the flapper
13 is allowed to close and provide a seal between the toilet tank
10 and the toilet base 11 for refilling the toilet tank 10 with
water for reuse. At the same time, the spring 44 of the first
pressurized cylinder 40 also retracts and forces the base plate 42
to its non-actuated position, which in turn, applies force to the
horizontal arm of the pivot bracket 30 forcing both the pivot
bracket and the foot pedal back to their respective non-actuated
positions. The pressurized air or liquid is then forced back into
and fills the cavity within the first pressurized cylinder 40,
thereby fully resetting the present foot actuated apparatus and
system of the invention for reuse.
[0042] While the present invention has been particularly described,
in conjunction with a specific preferred embodiment, it is evident
that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be
apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing
description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims
will embrace any such alternatives, modifications and variations as
falling within the true scope and spirit of the present
invention.
* * * * *