Dual flush valve

Claim 2

A flush valve system for use in a flushing tank of a toilet, comprising, in combination: (a) a pair of valve seats arranged at different levels in a liquid reservoir; (b) a pair of valve elements, each mounted for blocking a respective one of the valve seats; and (c) actuator means operating on the valve elements for causing the valve elements to unblock the valve seats independently of one another, the actuator means including in combination: (1) a lever pivotally mounted on a pivot axis disposed between and above the valve seats, the lever having two oppositely directed arms each arranged for moving toward and away from an associated one of the valve seats, with one of the arms being connected to one of the valve elements for operating same and moving the valve element to a position unblocking the associated one of the valve seats; and (2) a crank separate from and operable independently of the lever, the crank pivotally mounted on the liquid reservoir substantially coextensive with the lever, the crank and lever pivoting on parallel axes, and connected to the other of the valve elements for operating same in a first direction of rotation of the crank, the crank being arranged for selectively engaging the other of the arms of the lever in a second direction of rotation of the crank opposite to the first direction for pivoting the lever and causing the one of the valve elements to unblock the associated one of the valve seats wherein the other of the arms of the lever terminates in a U-shaped portion opening away from the valve seats and bent from the extent of the lever for engaging with the crank, the crank engaging the U-shaped portion in the second direction of rotation and pivoting the lever thereby for operating the one of the valve elements, and the crank moving away from and out of engagement with the U-shaped portion of the lever in the first direction of rotation while simultaneously operating the other of the valve elements and unblocking the other of the valve seats.

Claim 3

A structure defined in claim 1, wherein the valve seats are connected together, and the valve system further including an overflow tube mounted on a one of the valve seats arranged at a level higher than the other of the valve seats and extending upwardly away from the valve seats, the lever including a clevis arranged partially around the overflow tube and pivotally mounted on the overflow tube for being supported above the valve seats.

Claim 4

A structure defined in claim 1, wherein the valve seats are connected together, and the valve system further including an overflow tube mounted on a one of the valve seats arranged at a level higher than the other of the valve seats and extending upwardly away from the valve seats, the lever including a clevis arranged partially around the overflow tube and pivotally mounted on the overflow tube for being supported above the valve seats.

Claim 5

In a toilet bowl flush assembly including a tank provided with a wall having an aperture formed therein for receiving a flush handle, a flush handle rotatably mounted on the wall and in the aperture formed therein, a cover removably arranged on the tank, with the tank having a bottom wall provided with an outlet opening, and a flush valve system arranged in the tank in communication with the outlet opening, the improvement wherein the flush valve system comprises, in combination: (a) a pair of valve seats arranged in the tank at different levels from the bottom wall of the tank; (b) a pair of valve elements each mounted for normally blocking a respective one of the valve seats; and (c) actuator means connected to the flush handle and operating on the valve element for causing the valve elements to unblock the valve seats independently of one another, the actuator means including, in combination: (1) a lever pivotally mounted on a pivot axis disposed between and above the valve seats, the lever having two oppositely directed arms each arranged for moving toward and away from an associated one of the valve seats about a pivot axis of the lever, with one of the arms being connected to one of the valve elements for operating same and moving the valve element to a position unblocking the associated one of the valve seats; and (2) a crank separate from and operable independently of the lever, the crank pivotally mounted on the liquid reservoir substantially coextensive with the lever, the crank and lever pivoting on parallel axes, and connected to the other of the valve elements for operating same in a first direction of rotation of the crank, the crank being arranged for selectively engaging the other of the arms of the lever in a second direction of rotation of the crank opposite to the first direction for pivoting the lever and causing the one of the valve elements to unblock the associated one of the valve seats wherein the other of the arms of the lever terminates in a U-shaped portion away from the valve seats and bent from the extent of the layer for engaging with the crank, the crank engaging the U-shaped portion in the second direction of rotation and pivoting the lever thereby for operating the one of the valve elements, and the crank moving away from and out of engagement with the U-shaped portion of the lever in the first direction of rotation while simultaneously operating the other of the valve elements and unblocking the other of the valve seats.

Claim 6

In a toilet bowl flush assembly including a tank provided with a wall having an aperture formed therein for receiving a flush handle, a flush handle rotatably mounted on the wall and in the aperture formed therein, a cover removably arranged on the tank, with the tank having a bottom wall provided with an outlet opening, and a flush valve system arranged in the tank in communication with the outlet opening, the improvement wherein the flush valve system comprises, in combination: (a) a pair of valve seats arranged in the tank at different levels from the bottom wall of the tank; (b) a pair of valve elements each mounted for normally blocking a respective one of the valve seats; and (c) actuator means connected to the flush handle and operating on the valve element for causing the valve elements to unblock the valve seats independently of one another, the actuator means including, in combination: (1) a lever pivotally mounted on a pivot axis disposed between and above the valve seats, the lever having two oppositely directed arms each arranged for moving toward and away from an associated one of the valve seats about a pivot axis of the lever, with one of the arms being connected to one of the valve elements for operating same and moving the valve element to a position unblocking the associated one of the valve seats; and (2) a crank separate from and operable independently of the lever, the crank pivotally mounted on the liquid reservoir substantially coextensive with the lever, the crank and lever pivoting on parallel axes, and connected to the other of the valve elements for operating same in a first direction of rotation of the crank, the crank being arranged for selectively engaging the other of the arms of the lever in a second direction of rotation of the crank opposite to the first direction for pivoting the lever and causing the one of the valve elements to unblock the associated one of the valve seats wherein the other of the arms of the lever terminates in a U-shaped portion away from the valve seats and bent from the extent of the layer for engaging with the crank, the crank engaging the U-shaped portion in the second direction of rotation and pivoting the lever thereby for operating the one of the valve elements, and the crank moving away from and out of engagement with the U-shaped portion of the lever in the first direction of rotation while simultaneously operating the other of the valve elements and unblocking the other of the valve seats.

Claim 7

A structure defined in claim 4, wherein the valve seats are connected together, and the valve system further including an overflow tube mounted on a one of the valve seats arranged at a level higher than the other of the valve seats and extending upwardly away from the valve seats, the lever including a clevis arranged partially around the overflow tube and pivotally mounted on the overflow tube for being supported above the valve seats.

Claim 8

A structure defined in claim 4, wherein the valve seats are connected together, and the valve system further including an overflow tube mounted on a one of the valve seats arranged at a level higher than the other of the valve seats and extending upwardly away from the valve seats, the lever including a clevis arranged partially around the overflow tube and pivotally mounted on the overflow tube for being supported above the valve seats.