Foot actuated flushing apparatus and method

Abstract

An apparatus and method for flushing a toilet by foot that includes a foot pedal integral with a flushing system within a toilet base. When pressure is applied to the foot pedal, the flushing system is activated to generate an upward pressure that is applied to an underside of a flapper of a toilet tank for flushing the toilet. The flushing system may be a pressurized flushing system that includes a first pressurized cylinder connected by a pressurized line to a second pressurized cylinder. The second pressurized cylinder has a rod protected by a bellows seal, which when pressure is applied to the second pressurized cylinder, the rod is forced up against the flapper pushing up on the flapper to flush the toilet. Upon removing the user's foot from the foot pedal, the foot pedal and the pressurized flushing system are automatically reset for reuse.

1 . A foot actuated toilet flushing apparatus comprising: 
 a toilet having a toilet base and a flushing release means;    at least one foot pedal within said toilet base;    at least one flushing system within said toilet base attached to said foot pedal having an actuating means for pushing up on an underside of said flushing release means to effect flushing of said toilet.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said flushing release means is selected from the group consisting of a flapper, a valve and a release button.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said flushing system is integral with and resides entirely within said toilet base.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said flushing system comprises a mechanical flushing system.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said flushing system comprises a pressurized flushing system.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said pressurized flushing system comprises a first hydraulic cylinder connected to a second hydraulic cylinder via a hydraulic line.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said pressurized flushing system comprises a first pneumatic cylinder connected to a second pneumatic cylinder via a pneumatic line.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said pressurized flushing system further comprises: 
 said foot pedal attached to a pivot bracket;    a first pressurized cylinder having a first spring attached to said pivot bracket;    a pressurized flushing component; and    a pressurized line connecting said first pressurized cylinder to said pressurized flushing component.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said pressurized flushing component further comprises: 
 a second pressurized cylinder having a second spring, said second pressurized cylinder being connected to said first pressurized cylinder via said pressurized line;    a rod extending from a base plate of said second pressurized cylinder toward said flushing release means of said toilet tank;    a first seal protecting said second pressurized cylinder; and    a flexible second seal at least protecting said rod.    
   
   
       10 . A foot actuated toilet flushing apparatus comprising: 
 a toilet having a toilet base and a flushing release means;    a foot pedal within said toilet base; and    a flushing system within said toilet base, wherein said flushing system comprises; 
 a first pressurized cylinder within said toilet base connected to a second pressurized cylinder within said toilet base via a pressurized line that traverses through said toilet base;  
 a rod of said second pressurized cylinder being in contact with an underside of said flapper; and  
 a flexible seal attached to said rod for protecting a portion of said rod and said underlying second pressurized cylinder.  
   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said first and second pressurized cylinders comprise first and second hydraulic cylinders connected to each other via a hydraulic pressurized line.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said first and second pressurized cylinders comprise first and second pneumatic cylinders connected to each other via a pneumatic pressurized line.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 10  further including a second foot pedal and a second flushing system within said toilet base for effecting flushing of a dual-flush toilet.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said flushing release means is selected from the group consisting of a flapper, a valve and a release button.  
   
   
       15 . A method for flushing a toilet by foot comprising: 
 providing a toilet having a toilet base and a flushing release means;    applying downward pressure to a foot pedal attached to said toilet base to effect a force; and    transferring said force to a flushing system residing within said toilet tank for applying an upward pressure to an underside of said flushing release means for pushing up said flushing release and effecting flushing of said toilet.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said flushing system comprises a pressurized flushing system, said step of transferring said force to said pressurized flushing system residing within said toilet tank further comprises: 
 transferring said force from said foot pedal to a first pressurized cylinder of said pressurized flushing system;    forcing a pressurized component from said first pressurized cylinder through a pressurized line and into a second pressurized cylinder of said pressurized flushing system; and    applying an upward pressure to an actuating means of said second pressurized cylinder via said pressurized component, whereby said actuating means is forced upward against said underside of said flushing release means such that said flushing release means is pushed up for flushing said toilet.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said pressurized component is selected from a pressurized liquid or a pressurized gas.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said actuating means comprises a rod of said second pressurized cylinder having attached thereto a flexible seal for protecting both a portion of said rod and said second pressurized cylinder from contaminants.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said flushing release means comprises a flapper having a receiving means for receiving said actuating means, said receiving means enabling said actuating means to easily push open said flapper.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15  further including the step of releasing pressure from said foot pedal to automatically reset said foot pedal and said flushing system for reuse.