Dual flush system for toilets

Claim 1

An improved dual flush system providing a partial flush in addition to the usual complete flush for toilets of the type having an upper water holding tank and a lower waste receiving bowl, the water holding tank having a valve seat situated in the lower portion thereof connective to a water discharge port operably connecting to the bowl, a main valve operably situated on said valve seat adapted to be lifted off a sufficient distance to become buoyant and thereby become fully open and pass all water held in the tank into the water discharge port and into the bowl for the complete flush, an overflow pipe situated proximate the valve seat, and a main flush handle and lever pivotally attached to the tank and operably connected to the main valve, the improvement to effect a partial flush comprising: means to open the main valve to permit water to flow into the discharge port and into the bowl; and means to limit the opening of the main valve to prevent the main valve from becoming buoyant and fully open, said means including (1) means to lift the main valve off the valve seat a predetermined distance including a cord having a length with first and second ends and capable of lengthwise travel, said cord first end attached to the main valve, the main valve lifted off the valve seat by lengthwise travel of said cord; and (2) means to limit the lengthwise travel of said cord to said predetermined distance including an arm operably attached to the overflow pipe, said arm having an opening therethrough receiving and passing said cord through said arm, and a stop positionally attached to said cord between said cord first end and said arm, said stop so positionally attached to said cord as to strike said arm after said predetermined lengthwise travel of said cord to terminate further lengthwise travel whereby the main valve is lifted off the valve seat said predetermined distance by said cord lengthwise travel in order that the main valve does not become buoyant and will return to the valve seat when the main valve is no longer being held up by said cord thereby only a partial flush of the bowl is effected and not a complete flush by retaining control over the opening of the main valve in order that the main valve may be closed prior to a complete flush.