Multi-stage flush apparatus for a flush toilet tank

Abstract

A multi-stage flush apparatus includes a water conduit having upper and lower buoyed valves and corresponding valve openings and seats. The buoys on the valves are hollow and have openings in their lower ends. The water conduit has an upper end and an opposite lower end. The lower end is mounted into fluid communication with a water drainage aperture in the floor of a flush toilet tank. The water conduit has upper and lower valve seats on the corresponding upper and lower valve openings. A selectively adjustable stop is mounted over the lower valve seat to prevent the lower buoyed valve from rotating to a point where the air in the corresponding buoy would escape.

1 . A multi-stage flush apparatus for a flush toilet tank comprising: 
 a water conduit having an upper end and opposite lower end, said lower end mountable into fluid communication with a water drainage aperture in the floor of a flush toilet tank,    said water conduit having upper and lower valve seats on corresponding upper and lower apertures formed in said water conduit, a selectively adjustable stop mounted over said lower valve seat,    an upper flap valve assembly pivotally mounted to said upper end of said conduit so as to pivotally seat onto said upper valve seat, a lower flap valve assembly including a hollow open-ended buoy and pivotally mounted to said lower end of said conduit for pivoting in a substantially vertical plane about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation between an open position and a closed position so as to pivotally seat onto said lower valve seat when in said closed position, and so as to rest buoyed by said buoy against said stop when in said open position,    wherein said buoy has an opening aperture at a lower end thereof, and wherein said stop inhibits upward rotation of said buoy so as to retain a buoyant air pocket substantially filling said buoy when said upper flap valve assembly is in said open position,    first and second means for a user to selectively upwardly pivot, respectively, said upper and lower flap valve assemblies.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said stop is an elongate deformable member which may be bent to adjust a stop attitude of said stop.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said stop is a bar mounted so as to be generally vertically disposed from said conduit above said lower valve seat.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said bar is metal.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said lower flap valve assembly includes a planar resilient sealing flange mounted around said buoy, and wherein said buoy is disposed downwardly through said flange so as to downwardly dispose said opening aperture in a plane substantially co-planar with said flange.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said upper flap valve assembly is substantially identical to said lower flap valve assembly.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein an upper end of said buoy protrudes above said flange and contacts said stop when in said open position.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said bar forms a stop angle inclined from the vertical.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said stop angle is in the range of substantially 30-45 degrees.  
   
   
       10 . A multi-stage flush apparatus comprising: 
 a flush toilet tank,    a water conduit having an upper and opposite lower end, said lower end mounted into fluid communication with a water drainage aperture in the floor of said flush toilet tank,    said water conduit having upper and lower valve seats on corresponding upper and lower apertures formed in said water conduit, a selectively adjustable stop mounted over said lower valve seat,    an upper flap valve assembly pivotally mounted to said upper end of said conduit so as to pivotally seat onto said upper valve seat, a lower flap valve assembly including a hollow open-ended buoy and pivotally mounted to said lower end of said conduit for pivoting in a substantially vertical plane about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation between an open position and a closed position so as to pivotally seat onto said lower valve seat when in said closed position, and so as to rest buoyed by said buoy against said stop when in said open position,    wherein said buoy has an opening aperture at a lower end thereof, and wherein said stop inhibits upward rotation of said buoy so as to retain a buoyant air pocket substantially filling said buoy when said upper flap valve assembly is in said open position,    first and second means for a user to selectively upwardly pivot, respectively, said upper and lower flap valve assemblies.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said stop is an elongate deformable member which may be bent to adjust a stop attitude of said stop.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said stop is a bar mounted so as to be generally vertically disposed from said conduit above said lower valve seat.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said bar is metal.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said lower flap valve assembly includes a planar resilient sealing flange mounted around said buoy, and wherein said buoy is disposed downwardly through said flange so as to downwardly dispose said opening aperture in a plane substantially co-planar with said flange.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said upper flap valve assembly is substantially identical to said lower flap valve assembly.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein an upper end of said buoy protrudes above said flange and contracts said stop when in said open position.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said bar forms a stop angle inclined from the vertical.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said stop angle is in the range of substantially 30-45 degrees.