U.S. patent number 3,594,828 [Application Number 05/008,517] was granted by the patent office on 1971-07-27 for flush valve operating mechanism.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Wayne Musgrove. Invention is credited to Everett R. Seek.
United States Patent |
3,594,828 |
Seek |
July 27, 1971 |
FLUSH VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM
Abstract
A foot-operated attachment mechanism or "kit" for converting
hand-operated urinal flush valves to remote foot pedal operated
valves. The attachment is characterized by simplicity and ease of
installation on newly installed or existing fixtures. The
construction is economical, rugged and durable and offers the
advantage of sanitation and lessening the spreading of disease
transmitted by the hands.
Inventors: |
Seek; Everett R. (Rockville,
MD) |
Assignee: |
Musgrove; Wayne (Hyattsville,
MD)
|
Family
ID: |
21732044 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/008,517 |
Filed: |
February 4, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
251/294; 251/295;
4/308; 4/310 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03D
13/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E03D
13/00 (20060101); E03d 013/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;4/67,52,108,249 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
278,270 |
|
Oct 1967 |
|
AU |
|
1,020,553 |
|
Feb 1966 |
|
GB |
|
808,938 |
|
Jul 1951 |
|
DT |
|
Primary Examiner: Geiger; Laverne D.
Assistant Examiner: Massenberg; Donald B.
Claims
I claim:
1. A urinal flush valve operating mechanism comprising in
combination with a flush valve having a tiltable stem element and
lateral branch sleeve adjacent the stem element, a rod having a
connection with the stem element to tilt the same when the rod is
reciprocated, bearing support means on said branch sleeve
supporting the rod for reciprocation, a return spring connected
with the rod and urging it to a flush valve closing position such
that the stem element is untilted, a push-pull cable actuator
connected with the rod and extending remotely from the valve, a
floor-mounted support, a foot pedal pivotally mounted upon the
support and having a connection with said cable actuator, a tubular
guide for the cable actuator connected with said bearing support
means and said support near its opposite ends, and resilient means
connected with the foot pedal to return it to a operative position
when pressure is removed therefrom.
2. The structure as defined in claim 1, and said bearing support
means comprising a substantially rigid bearing element having a
bore slidably receiving said rod, a cap element on said lateral
branch sleeve containing said bearing element and having an
enlarged bore, and an annular sealing ring within the bore of the
cap element sealingly engaging the rod.
3. The structure as defined in claim 2, and said return spring
being a coil spring surrounding the rod within said branch sleeve
and having one end engaging said rigid bearing element, and an
abutment element on the rod engaging the other end of said
spring.
4. The structure as defined in claim 3, and said rod having a loop
on its leading end receiving the tiltable stem element
therethrough.
5. The structure as defined in claim 1, and said floor-mounted
support being a boxlike support and the pivot for said foot pedal
being inside of the boxlike support with a portion of the foot
pedal projecting exteriorly of the support, the support having a
wall opening receiving the pedal movably.
6. The structure as defined in claim 1, and said tubular guide for
the cable actuator having an elbow terminal directed upwardly
within the support below the foot pedal and spaced from one side of
the foot pedal pivot, a bolt engaging through an opening of the
foot pedal on said one side of the foot pedal pivot, said bolt
having a transverse opening receiving the lower terminal end of
said cable actuator, a nut on the bolt above the foot pedal and
serving to clamp said terminal end between the bolt and the lower
surface of the foot pedal, and a return coil spring engaging over
the top of the bolt and nut and resting on the foot pedal and
receiving in its upper end a centering lug which is secured to said
support.
7. The structure as defined by claim 6, and a stop element on said
support engageable with the bottom of the foot pedal to positively
limit return movement thereof by said coil spring.
8. The structure as defined by claim 7, and a depending stop
element on the leading end of the foot pedal engageable with the
floor on which the support is mounted to limit depressing of the
foot pedal.
9. A foot-operated plumbing fixture flush valve operating
attachment comprising a support securely anchored to a floor
adjacent the fixture, a foot pedal pivoted to the support for
vertical swinging movement thereon, a return spring and return
limit stop means for the foot pedal on the support, a flexible
cable actuator operating a fixture flush valve extending remotely
from the support and pedal and adapted for connection with the
flush valve of the fixture, said cable actuator having a tubular
guide sheathing connected with the support, and a securing means
anchoring one terminal end of the cable actuator to the foot pedal
on one side of the foot pedal pivot.
10. The structure as defined in claim 9, and said securing means
comprising a bolt engageable through an opening in the foot pedal
and having a transverse through opening receiving said terminal end
of the cable actuator so that the terminal end may be locked
securely against one face of the foot pedal, and a nut on said bolt
at the opposite face of the foot pedal.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Foot-operated flushing means for urinals are known in the prior art
but none of these prior art devices has been totally acceptable for
a variety of reasons. Some such devices require the installation of
additional piping or valve means inside of building walls or the
defacing of walls or floors for mounting the control components.
Also, in general, the prior art devices have tended to be awkward
and unduly complicated and noneconomical and for these reasons have
not been widely accepted. Some examples of the prior art teachings
are in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,483,939; 1,740,860; 653,437; and
1,226,716.
It is the aim of this invention to provide a completely practical,
reliable and economical flush valve operating mechanism which is in
the nature of an attachment kit, applicable to substantially any
conventional urinal flush valve by simply removing the handle
operator and very simply attaching a push-pull cable operator to
the valve which is controlled by a foot pedal on the floor adjacent
to the urinal. The attachment or mechanism is entirely exterior of
the wall upon which the urinal is mounted and requires no cutting
of the wall or floor and no installation of additional pipes,
valves or the like. The invention has obvious sanitary advantages,
is neat and compact, and is virtually indestructible after long,
continuous usage. Other objects and advantages of the invention
will be apparent to those skilled in the art during the course of
the following description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a urinal and the foot-operated
flush valve operating mechanism or attachment embodying the
invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the
mechanism and flush valve, parts broken away.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals designate
like parts, the numeral 10 designates a conventional wall-mounted
urinal having a top mounted flush valve 11 of the general type
shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,633,141, such valves being commonly known
as Sloan valves.
Referring to FIG. 2, the valve 11 has an inlet pipe branch 12 to
admit water under pressure and a depending water outlet pipe 13
leading to the urinal 10. The release of flushing water is under
control of an internal tiltable stem element 14 commonly operated
by a handle means on a lateral branch extension or sleeve 15 of the
valve body. In the present invention, the handle operating means is
removed and discarded and the foot-operated mechanism in the form
of an attachment kit replaces the handle.
The invention proper comprises a floor-mounted pedal support and
housing 16 formed of stainless steel or the like arranged adjacent
one side of the urinal 10 and securely anchored to the floor by a
pair of side angle bars 17 and a suitable number of anchor screws
18, as shown. The boxlike support 16 partially encloses a foot
pedal 19, securely mounted between its ends on a horizontal
transverse rocker shaft 20 within the support 16 and suitably
journaled thereon. The pedal 19 projects forwardly of the support
16 and preferably has a depending floor-engaging limit stop 21
thereon.
On the interior side of the rocker shaft 20, a relatively short
extension 22 of the foot pedal has an opening 23 receiving a bolt
24 which is drilled to provide a transverse opening 25 therein
receiving the terminal end 26 of a push-pull flexible cable
operator or actuator 27. The cable 27 slides through a
substantially rigid guide sheathing 28 and the general construction
and mode of operation of push-pull actuating cables is well known
and need not be dealt with in great detail. At its lower terminus
the guide sheathing 28 has an upturned elbow portion 29 fixedly
anchored within a sidewall opening of the support 16 at the rear
sidewall 30 of the support. The push-pull cable emerges from the
top of this elbow and has its terminal end 26 placed through the
opening 25 of bolt 24 and is securely clamped by the bolt head 31
against the bottom face of the foot pedal. The bolt is secured
above the foot pedal by a nut 32 which serves the dual purpose of
clamping the end of the push-pull cable on the underside of the
foot pedal and centering the lower end of a vertical foot pedal
return coil spring 33 on the upper side of the pedal within the
housing 16 and toward the back of the housing. The top of this
spring is stabilized by a dependent fixed lug 34 on the top wall of
the housing or support. A pedal stop element 35 is preferably
provided on the rear wall 30 to limit the return movement of the
foot pedal at a level position when the foot is removed.
At its upper end adjacent the flush valve 11, the push-pull cable
actuator 27 is firmly anchored as at 36 to a rigid reciprocatory
rod 37 having an eye or loop 38 inside of the valve body receiving
the stem element 14. The rod 37 is urged to a valve closing
position where the stem 14 is vertical by a coil spring 39 having
one end bearing on a flat washer 40 which in turn engages a cross
pin 41 in the rod 37. The other end of the spring 39 rests on a
bearing element 42 recessed into a cap 43, the bearing element 42
also serving to guide the rod 37 as the latter reciprocates. The
cap 43 is clamped to the valve body extension 15 by a nut 44 which
may be a standard component of the flush valve. A water tight seal
around the rod 37 is provided by a light pressure O-ring 45 within
the cap. Only a sufficient seal is required to exclude the passage
of splash water through the bore of the cap 43. The upper terminal
end of the cable guide or sheathing 28 preferably has a
screw-threaded connection at 46 with the cap 43 and is secured by a
lock nut 47.
In operation, when it is desired to flush the fixture, the foot
pedal 19 is depressed with the foot and the spring 33 yields and
the lower terminal end of the cable 27 is pulled upwardly through
the guide elbow 29. This simultaneously causes the rod 37 to be
pulled axially outwardly compressing the spring 39 and tilting the
stem element 14, as shown in dotted lines to release the water for
flushing. When the foot is removed from the pedal, the two springs
39 and 33 return the elements 37 and 19 to their normal positions
and this completes the operation of the device.
The mechanism is virtually foolproof, very easy to install, and
requires practically no maintenance. Its use avoids the necessity
for the hands touching fixtures in public accommodations and the
like and therefore prevents the spread of disease.
The invention mechanism is equally well adapted for use with
certain commodes equipped with hand-operated flush valves and other
like plumbing fixtures. These commodes are frequently abused and
caused to leak around the flushing handle when the user frequently
kicks the handle with the foot. The attachment mechanism of the
invention will completely eliminate this problem.
It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith
shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the
same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement
of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of
the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.
* * * * *