US4056856A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Water saver
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-05-10
•
Granted: 1977-11-08
•
Expires: 1996-05-10
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for selectively providing either a full flush or a partial flush of water from the reservoir of a toilet has a standpipe with discharge valves at two different levels. There is a lever for each valve manipulated by a single handle and shaft. The shaft, when rotated in one direction to lift either one of the levers, slides freely with respect to the other lever so that the other lever is undisturbed.
Inventors
- 👤 John Reid
- 👤 Walter W. Stiern
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 18:33
CPC Classifications
E; E03; E03D; E03D1/00; E03D1/02; E03D1/14; E03D1/142; E03D1/145; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A20/00; Y02A20/40; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20732
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
252 words
In a flush tank which has a chamber for water, a float controlled inlet valve and a flush outlet, a flush mechanism comprising a standpipe at the outlet, having a low level discharge passageway, a high level passageway, and a valve element for each passageway, a full flush lever having a captive end means mounted on the flush tank with a free end attached to the low level valve element and a partial flush lever having a captive end means pivotally mounted on the flush tank with a free end attached to the high level valve element, an operating shaft having a pivotal mounting on said flush tank and a handle, a positive drive between said shaft and said full flush lever and a free sliding engagement with said partial flush lever during rotation of said shaft in one direction, said shaft having in the opposite, rotational direction a positive drive with the partial flush lever and a free sliding engagement with the full flush lever, a radially retractable key means on the shaft, the captive end means of one of said levers having a shoulder and an adjacent space with the shoulder facing one side of the key means, the captive end means of the other of said levers having a shoulder and adjacent space with the shoulder facing the opposite side of the key means whereby rotation of the shaft in one direction operates one only of said levers and in the other direction only the other of said levers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
252 words
In a flush tank which has a chamber for water, a float controlled inlet valve and a flush outlet, a flush mechanism comprising a standpipe at the outlet, having a low level discharge passageway, a high level passageway, and a valve element for each passageway, a full flush lever having a captive end means mounted on the flush tank with a free end attached to the low level valve element and a partial flush lever having a captive end means pivotally mounted on the flush tank with a free end attached to the high level valve element, an operating shaft having a pivotal mounting on said flush tank and a handle, a positive drive between said shaft and said full flush lever and a free sliding engagement with said partial flush lever during rotation of said shaft in one direction, said shaft having in the opposite, rotational direction a positive drive with the partial flush lever and a free sliding engagement with the full flush lever, a radially retractable key means on the shaft, the captive end means of one of said levers having a shoulder and an adjacent space with the shoulder facing one side of the key means, the captive end means of the other of said levers having a shoulder and adjacent space with the shoulder facing the opposite side of the key means whereby rotation of the shaft in one direction operates one only of said levers and in the other direction only the other of said levers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A flush mechanism as in claim 1 wherein the low level discharge passageway includes a fitting extending radially outwardly from the standpipe with an upwardly facing discharge orifice and valve seat.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A flush mechanism as in claim 1 wherein the high level discharge passageway comprises an upper end opening of the standpipe.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A flush mechanism as in claim 1 wherein the space in each captive end means has a depth diminishing progressively from a location adjacent the shoulder to a location about 180° therefrom.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A flush mechanism as in claim 1 wherein the captive end means of one of said levers comprises a separate pivot shaft for the lever, a sleeve around the shaft and a gear drive between the sleeve and the lever.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A flush mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said key means comprises projection and resilient elements in engagement with the projection, there being a radially extending recess in the shaft receptive of said projection and resilient elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A flush mechanism as in claim 6 wherein said key means comprises a projection element and a corresponding resilient element for each lever.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A flush mechanism as in claim 1 wherein there are temporary detent elements acting between the shaft and the tank, said detent elements being in rotation restraining engagement when the shaft is at intermediate position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1960864A
Cited
US2237294A
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US2505091A
Cited
US3091775A
Cited
US3487476A
Cited
US3795016A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-11-07 | 1981-05-09 | 1981-11-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-11-07 | 1985-05-09 | 1985-11-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-11-07 | 1989-05-09 | 1989-11-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |