Dual Flush Toilet Mechanism

Abstract

A dual flush toilet system includes a mechanism ( 22 ) that permits the flush handles ( 82,84 ) to be placed at any location on the toilet tank ( 12 ) and even on the top ( 14 ) of the toilet bowl if desired. The dual flush valve itself preferably comprises a prior art mechanism ( 20 ) attached to a pair of exterior handles ( 82,84 ) by means of a cable and wire system ( 60,64 ). Rotation of an outer handle ( 82 ) causes the main float ( 42 ) to rise under the influence of first wire ( 60 ) thereby causing a small, or low, volume flush to occur. Pushing down on both handles ( 82,84 ) simultaneously causes a float lock ( 34 ) to rise which in turn allows a lower float ( 52 ) to lift and engage the bottom rim ( 150 ) of the float mechanism ( 20 ) thereby holding the mechanism ( 20 ) up longer and causing the entire contents of the toilet to flush thereby creating a larger volume flush. A certain predetermined amount of play in the two wires ( 82, 84 ) permits the float connector ( 32 ) and float lock ( 34 ) to be pulled upwards, but does not prevent them from moving downwardly when the spring action ( 110,112 ) of the handles ( 82,84 ) returns the handles ( 82,84 ) to the horizontal position. According to an alternative embodiment ( 180 ) of the invention, spring loaded push buttons ( 182,184 ) can be mounted on the lid ( 14 ) in place of the handles ( 82,84 ).

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
   
   
       18 . A dual flush toilet apparatus, including a hole in the wall or top of a toilet tank, for use with a dual flush valve assembly comprising a vertical tube having a first float and a second float attached thereto, said apparatus comprising:
 a. a first handle means mountable through said hole;   b. a second handle means also mountable through said hole, adjacent to said first handle means, and wherein said first and second handle means have a common axis of rotation when mounted through said hole;   c. a first flexible, inelastic connecting means for connecting said first handle means to said dual flush valve assembly;   d. a second flexible, inelastic connecting means for connecting said second handle means to a means to release said second float,   e. a bracket mountable inside said tank through which said first and second flexible, inelastic connecting means both pass and which serves to guide said first and second flexible, inelastic connecting means;   f. a connector means attachable at one end to said dual flush valve assembly and having a hole therein through which said first flexible, inelastic connecting means loosely passes so that said first flexible, inelastic connecting means can drop below said hole; and,   g. a float lock means for selectively releasing said float and having a hole therein through which said second flexible, inelastic connecting means can loosely pass so that said second flexible, inelastic connecting means can drop below said hole in said float lock means,   wherein actuation of said first handle means causes a low volume flush and actuation of both handles causes a high volume flush and further wherein said handle means can be mounted at more than one location on said toilet tank or top.   
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein said first and second flexible, inelastic connecting means comprise a first and second wire respectively. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein when said first handle means is actuated said first wire pulls up on said connector means and produces a low volume flush of said toilet and further wherein when said first handle means is released said connector means slides along said first wire. 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein when said second handle means is actuated said second wire pulls up on said float lock means releasing said second float so that it can hold up said dual flush valve assembly to produce a high volume flush and further wherein when said second handle means is released said float lock means slides along said second wire. 
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  further comprising:
 h. a first return spring attached to said first handle means for returning said first handle means to its pre-flush condition.   
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  further comprising:
 i. a second return spring attached to said second handle means for returning said second handle means to its pre-flush condition.   
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein said second handle means includes a tab means for engaging said first handle means so that actuating said second handle means also causes said first handle means to be actuated. 
   
   
       25 . A dual flush toilet apparatus including a hole in the tank or top of a toilet tank, for use with a dual flush valve assembly comprising a vertical tube having a first float and a second float attached thereto, said apparatus comprising:
 a. a first actuator means mountable through said hole;   b. a second actuator means also mountable through said hole adjacent to said first actuator means;   c. a first flexible, inelastic connecting means for connecting said first actuator means to said dual flush valve assembly;   d. a second flexible, inelastic connecting means for connecting said second actuator means to a means to release said second float;   e. a bracket mountable inside said tank through which said first and second flexible, inelastic connecting means both pass and which serves to guide said first and second flexible, inelastic connecting means;   f. a connector means attachable at one end to said dual flush valve assembly and having a hole therein through which said first flexible, inelastic connecting means loosely passes so that said first flexible, inelastic connecting means can drop below said hole; and,   g. a float lock means for selectively releasing said float and having a hole therein through which said second flexible, inelastic connecting means can loosely pass so that said second flexible, inelastic connecting means can drop below said hole in said float lock means,   wherein actuation of said first actuator means causes a low volume flush and actuation of both actuator means causes a high volume flush and further wherein said actuator means can be mounted at more than one location on said toilet tank or top.   
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein said actuator means comprise push type actuators. 
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein said actuator means comprise buttons mounted on said top of said toilet. 
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein said actuator means comprise a first and second actuator means mounted on the side of said toilet. 
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein said first and second flexible, inelastic connecting means comprise a first and second wire respectively. 
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 29  wherein when said first actuator means is actuated said first wire pulls up on said connector means and produces a low volume flush of said toilet and further wherein when said first actuator means is released said connector means slides along said first wire. 
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 30  wherein when said second actuator means is actuated said second wire pulls up on said float lock means releasing said second float so that it can hold up said dual flush valve assembly to produce a high volume flush and further wherein when said second actuator means is released said float lock means slides along said second wire. 
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 31  further comprising:
 h. a first return spring attached to said first actuator means for returning said first actuator means to its pre-flush condition.   
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 32  further comprising:
 i. a second return spring attached to said second actuator means for returning said second actuator means to its pre-flush condition.   
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 33  wherein said second actuator means includes a tab means for engaging said first actuator means so that actuating said second actuator means also causes said first actuator means to be actuated.