Extender for toilet flush activator

Abstract

An extender for a push-button and/or motion sensor toilet flush actuator, has a fulcrum member for mounting on a rim of a tank of the toilet and a sleeve for slidably receiving a rigid extension rod, which has an angular bend between the first rod end and the second rod end. An extender head is connected to one end of the rigid extension rod is adapted to engage the flush actuator. A lever arm is connected to the other end of the rigid extension rod for operation of the extender by a user's upper extremity, so that when the user applies pressure to the second lever end of the lever arm, the rigid extension rod moves to allow the extender head to engage the flush actuator.

I claim: 
     
       1. An extender for a toilet flush actuator for a toilet, the flush actuator selected from a push-button actuator, a motion sensor actuator, or a combination thereof, comprising:
 a fulcrum member having a first fulcrum end adapted to be mounted on a rim of a tank of the toilet and a second fulcrum end, the fulcrum member having a sleeve proximate the second fulcrum end and an opening overlying the flush activator; 
 a rigid extension rod having a first rod end and a second rod end, the rigid extension rod slidably received by the sleeve of the fulcrum member, the rigid extension rod having an angular bend between the first rod end and the second rod end; 
 an extender head connected to the first rod end for engaging the flush actuator; 
 a lever arm having a first lever end and a second lever end, the first lever end adapted to be connected to the second rod end of the rigid extension rod, and the second lever end adapted to be manually operated by a user's upper extremity, so that when the user applies pressure to the second lever end of the lever arm, the rigid extension rod moves to allow the extender head to be slidably received into the opening of the fulcrum member overlying the flush activator to engage the flush actuator. 
 
     
     
       2. An extender according to  claim 1 , further comprising a lever handle connected to the second lever end. 
     
     
       3. An extender according to  claim 1 , wherein the lever arm is connected to the rigid extension rod at an angle in a range of from 80 degrees to 120 degrees. 
     
     
       4. An extender according to  claim 1 , wherein the lever arm is connected to the rigid extension rod at an angle of 90 degrees. 
     
     
       5. An extender according to  claim 1 , wherein the angular bend of the rigid extension rod is at an angle in a range of from 80 degrees to 120 degrees. 
     
     
       6. An extender according to  claim 1 , wherein the angular bend of the rigid extension rod is at an angle of 90 degrees. 
     
     
       7. An extender according to  claim 1 , wherein the lever arm and the rigid extension rod are integrated into a unitary structure. 
     
     
       8. An extender according to  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the lever arm is threadably connected to the second end of the rigid extension rod. 
     
     
       9. An extender according to  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the lever arm and the second end of the extension rod are interconnected by an elbow member. 
     
     
       10. An extender according to  claim 1 , wherein the flush actuator is mounted on a top face of the toilet. 
     
     
       11. An extender according to  claim 1 , wherein the flush handle is mounted on a front face of the toilet. 
     
     
       12. A kit for retrofitting a toilet having a flush actuator selected from a push-button actuator, a motion sensor actuator, or a combination thereof, comprising:
 a fulcrum member having a first fulcrum end adapted to be mounted on a rim of a tank of the toilet and a second fulcrum end, the fulcrum member having a sleeve proximate the second fulcrum end and an opening overlying the flush activator; 
 a rigid extension rod having a first rod end and a second rod end, the rigid extension rod adapted to be slidably received by the sleeve of the fulcrum member, the rigid extension rod having an angular bend between the first rod end and the second rod end; 
 an extender head adapted to be connected to the first rod end for engaging the flush actuator; and 
 a lever arm having a first lever end and a second lever end, the first lever end adapted to be connected to the second rod end of the rigid extension rod and the second lever end adapted to be manually operated by a user's upper extremity, so that when the user applies pressure to the second lever end of the lever arm, the rigid extension rod moves to allow the extender head to be slidably received into the opening of the fulcrum member overlying the flush activator to engage the flush actuator. 
 
     
     
       13. A kit according to  claim 12 , further comprising a lever handle adapted to be connected to the second lever end. 
     
     
       14. A kit according to  claim 12 , wherein the lever arm is adapted to be connected to the rigid extension rod at an angle in a range of from 80 degrees to 120 degrees. 
     
     
       15. A kit according to  claim 12 , wherein the lever arm is adapted to be connected to the rigid extension rod at an angle of 90 degrees. 
     
     
       16. A kit according to  claim 12 , wherein the angular bend of the rigid extension rod is at an angle in a range of from 80 degrees to 120 degrees. 
     
     
       17. A kit according to  claim 12 , wherein the angular bend of the rigid extension rod is at an angle of 90 degrees. 
     
     
       18. A kit according to  claim 12 , wherein the lever arm and the rigid extension rod are integrated into a unitary structure. 
     
     
       19. A kit according to  claim 12 , wherein the first end of the lever arm is adapted to be threadably connected to the second end of the rigid extension rod. 
     
     
       20. A kit according to  claim 12 , further comprising elbow member connectable to the first end of the lever arm and the second end of the rigid extension rod. 
     
     
       21. A kit according to  claim 12 , wherein the flush actuator is mounted on a top face of the toilet. 
     
     
       22. A kit according to  claim 12 , wherein the flush actuator is mounted on a front face of the toilet.