Flush activation system

Abstract

A flush activation system is provided for controlling the drainage of water from a toilet flush tank during a flush. The system comprises a valve assembly; a displaceable flush lever assembly coupled to the valve assembly; at least one auxiliary assembly coupled to the flush lever assembly; and, an actuation assembly coupled to the auxiliary assembly. The valve assembly includes a valve member displaceable for initiating and terminating the drainage of water from the flush tank. The flush lever assembly is adapted to actuate the displacement of the valve member. The auxiliary assembly includes an activating arm having at least one activating float component coupled at a terminal end thereof, and is pivotally displaceable between angularly offset active and inactive positions. The activating arm is biased in orientation at its active and inactive positions in angularly offset manner. It operates in its active position to actuate at least a portion of the flush lever assembly to maintain the valve member in such position to permit the drainage of water at least until the water level within the flush tank drops beyond a predetermined activating water level.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A flush activation system for controlling the drainage of water from a toilet flush tank during a flush comprising: 
 (a) an adjustably operable valve assembly including a valve member displaceable between open and closed positions for respectively initiating and terminating the drainage of water from the flush tank;    (b) a displaceable flush lever assembly coupled to said valve assembly for actuating the displacement of said valve member from said closed position to said open position;    (c) at least one auxiliary assembly coupled to said flush lever assembly, said auxiliary assembly including an activating arm having at least one activating float component coupled adjacent a terminal end thereof, said activating arm being pivotally displaceable between angularly offset active and inactive positions, said activating arm being biased in orientation at said active and inactive positions in angularly offset manner, said activating arm in said active position actuating at least a portion of said flush lever assembly to maintain said valve member in said open position during the drainage of water at least until the water level within the flush tank drops beyond a predetermined activating water level; and,    (d) an actuation assembly coupled to said auxiliary assembly, said actuation assembly being operable in at least one mode to displace said activating arm of said auxiliary assembly to said active position thereof.    
     
     
         2 . The flush activation system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said valve assembly further includes at least one first partial flush float component coupled to said valve member operable to maintain said valve member in said open position during the drainage of water at least until the water level within the flush tank drops beyond a predetermined intermediate water level defined above said predetermined activating water level, said partial flush float component including a bulbous air trap portion having a sidewall defining an air pocket and a bottom opening communicating therewith, said sidewall having formed therein a perforate through hole.  
     
     
         3 . The flush activation system as recited in  claim 2  wherein said air trap portion extends downward from said valve member, said air trap portion being angularly displaceable with said valve member to adjust said predetermined is intermediate water level.  
     
     
         4 . The flush activation system as recited in  claim 2  wherein said air trap portion bottom opening of said partial flush float component is reconfigurable to adjust said predetermined intermediate water level.  
     
     
         5 . The flush activation system as recited in  claim 4  wherein said partial flush float component further includes a plurality of alternative attachments for detachable coupling to said air trap portion bottom opening, each said attachment being configured to obstruct a corresponding portion of said bottom opening.  
     
     
         6 . The flush activation system as recited in  claim 2  wherein said actuation assembly is operable in at least one supplementary mode to displace at least a portion of said flush lever assembly independent of said auxiliary assembly.  
     
     
         7 . A flush activation system for controlling the drainage of water from a toilet flush tank during a flush comprising: 
 (a) an adjustably operable partial flush valve assembly including a valve member and at least one first float component coupled thereto, said valve member being displaceable between open and closed positions for respectively initiating and terminating the drainage of water from the flush tank, said first float component being operable to maintain said valve member in said open position during the drainage of water at least until the water level within the flush tank drops beyond a first predetermined water level, said first float component including a bulbous air trap portion having a sidewall defining an air pocket and a bottom opening communicating therewith, said sidewall having formed therein a perforate through hole;    (b) a displaceable flush lever assembly coupled to said partial flush valve assembly for actuating the displacement of said valve member from said closed position to said open position;    (c) an auxiliary assembly coupled to said flush lever assembly, said auxiliary assembly including an activating arm having at least one second float component coupled adjacent a terminal end thereof, said activating arm being pivotally displaceable between angularly offset active and inactive positions, said activating arm being biased in orientation at said active and inactive positions in angularly offset manner, said activating arm in said active position actuating at least a portion of said flush lever assembly to maintain said valve member in said open position during the drainage of water at least until the water level within the flush tank drops beyond a second predetermined water level defined below said first predetermined water level; and,    (d) an actuation assembly coupled to said flush lever assembly and said auxiliary assembly, said actuation assembly being operable in at least a first mode to displace at least a portion of said flush lever assembly independent of said auxiliary assembly, and in at least a second mode to displace said activating arm of said auxiliary assembly to said active position thereof.    
     
     
         8 . The flush activation system as recited in  claim 7  wherein said air trap portion extends downward from said valve member, said air trap portion being angularly displaceable with said valve member to adjust said first predetermined water level.  
     
     
         9 . The flush activation system as recited in  claim 7  wherein said air trap portion bottom opening of said first float component is reconfigurable to adjust said first predetermined water level.  
     
     
         10 . The flush activation system as recited in  claim 9  wherein said first float component further includes a plurality of alternative attachments for detachable coupling to said air trap portion bottom opening, each said attachment being configured to obstruct a corresponding portion of said bottom opening.  
     
     
         11 . The flush activation system as recited in  claim 7  wherein said activating arm is biased for displacement to said inactive position thereof responsive to the water level within the flush tank dropping below said second predetermined water level, said activating arm being biased in orientation at least partially by the buoyancy of said second float member at each of said active and inactive positions thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The flush activation system as recited in  claim 7  wherein said flush lever assembly includes at least one primary lever arm having longitudinally opposed first and second end portions, said primary lever arm being pivotally displaceable about a pivot axis defined at said first end portion, said second end portion being coupled to said partial flush valve assembly.  
     
     
         13 . The flush activation system as recited in  claim 12  wherein said actuation assembly is operable in both said first and second modes thereof to pivotally displace said primary lever arm for displacing said valve member to said open position, said second float component maintaining said valve member in said open position during the drainage of water at least until the water level drops beyond said second predetermined water level.  
     
     
         14 . The flush activation system as recited in  claim 12  wherein said flush lever assembly further includes at least one auxiliary lever arm coupled to said auxiliary assembly and having longitudinally opposed first and second end portions, said auxiliary lever arm being pivotally displaceable about a pivot axis defined at said first end portion, said second end portion being coupled to said valve member.  
     
     
         15 . The flush activation system as recited in  claim 14  wherein said flush lever assembly further includes an adjustable weighting mechanism coupled to said auxiliary lever arm for adjustably counterbalancing said auxiliary assembly.  
     
     
         16 . The flush activation system as recited in  claim 14  wherein said actuation assembly includes a partial flush portion operable in said first mode to pivotally displace said primary lever arm, and a full flush portion operable in said second mode to pivotally displace said auxiliary lever arm independent of said primary lever arm.  
     
     
         17 . A flush activation system for controlling the drainage of water from a toilet flush tank during a flush comprising: 
 (a) a partial flush mechanism independently actuable to initiate and terminate the drainage of a first volume of water from the flush tank, said partial flush mechanism being operable to maintain the drainage of water at least until the water level within the flush tank drops beyond a first predetermined water level, said partial flush mechanism including a valve portion and a bulbous air trap portion extending therefrom, said air trap portion having a sidewall defining an air pocket and a bottom opening communicating therewith, said sidewall having formed therein a perforate through hole;    (b) a full flush mechanism actuable to initiate and terminate the drainage of a second volume water from the flush tank greater than said first volume of water, said flush mechanism including:    (1) a lever arm pivotally displaceable between opening and closing positions for respectively opening and closing a drain seal of the flush tank;    (2) an activating arm coupled to said lever arm, said activating arm being pivotally displaceable between angularly offset active and inactive positions, said activating arm in said active position maintaining said lever arm in said opening position thereof during the drainage of water at least until the water level within the flush tank drops beyond a second predetermined water level defined below said first predetermined water level, said activating arm being biased to displace to said inactive position thereof responsive to the water level dropping below said second predetermined water level; and, 
 (3) at least one float component coupled adjacent a terminal end portion of said activating arm, said float component buoyantly biasing said activating arm in orientation at said active and inactive positions in angularly offset manner; and,  
   (c) an actuation assembly coupled to said partial and full flush mechanisms for the selective actuation thereof.    
     
     
         18 . The flush activation system as recited in  claim 17  wherein said air trap portion extends downward from said valve member, said air trap portion being angularly displaceable with said valve member to adjust said first predetermined water level.  
     
     
         19 . The flush activation system as recited in  claim 17  wherein said air trap portion bottom opening of said partial flush mechanism is reconfigurable to adjust said first predetermined water level.  
     
     
         20 . The flush activation system as recited in  claim 19  wherein said partial flush mechanism further includes a plurality of alternative attachments for detachable coupling to said air trap portion bottom opening, each said attachment being configured to obstruct a corresponding portion of said bottom opening.