Toilet flushing assembly

Abstract

A toilet flushing assembly ( 500 ) comprising an actuating device ( 600 ) installable within the toilet tank ( 200 ) and an initiating device ( 700 ) accessible from outside the toilet tank ( 200 ). The flush-actuating device ( 600 ) comprises an electric motor ( 610 ) that converts a passageway ( 620 ) between a rest condition and a flush condition. The flush-initiating device ( 700 ) initiates operation of the flush-actuating device ( 600 ), preferably in either a light-flush mode or heavy-flush mode, depending upon the deposit made in the toilet bowl.

1 . A flush-actuating device for a toilet tank comprising an electric motor installable within a reservoir of the toilet tank;
 wherein activation of the electric motor converts a passageway between a flush condition, whereat liquid within the tank reservoir is conveyed therethrough to a toilet bowl receptacle, and a rest condition, whereat liquid within the tank reservoir is not conveyed through the passageway to the toilet bowl receptacle; and   wherein the electric motor is battery-powered.   
     
     
         2 . A flush-actuating device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the electric motor is reversible and comprises a rotating shaft that can rotate in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. 
     
     
         3 . A flush-actuating device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the passageway has an inlet for communication with the tank reservoir and an outlet for communication with the toilet bowl receptacle; and wherein:
 when the passageway is in the flush condition, the inlet is situated in a flush position whereat liquid is received from the tank reservoir and conveyed through the passageway to the outlet; and   when the passageway is in the rest condition, the inlet is situated in a rest position whereat liquid is not received from the tank reservoir.   
     
     
         4 . A flush-actuating device as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the inlet moves generally downward as the passageway is converted from the rest condition to the flush condition;
 wherein the inlet moves generally upward when the passageway is converted from the flush condition to the rest condition;   wherein the inlet is situated above the fill line in the toilet tank reservoir when in the rest position; and   wherein the inlet is situated below the fill line in the toilet tank reservoir when in the flush position.   
     
     
         5 . A flush-actuating device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the passageway is formed by an extendable-retractable conduit;
 wherein when the inlet is in the rest position, the conduit is extended; and   wherein when the inlet is in the flush position, the conduit is retracted.   
     
     
         6 . A flush-actuating device as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the conduit comprises a bellowed tube having pleats that contract during retraction and expand during extension. 
     
     
         7 . A flush-actuating device as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a drive screw which is rotated by the electric motor;
 wherein the drive screw rotates one direction when the motor is converting the passageway from the rest condition to the flush condition and rotates an opposite direction when the motor is converting the passageway from the flush condition to the rest position.   
     
     
         8 . A flush-actuating device as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the drive screw extends through the passageway. 
     
     
         9 . A flush-actuating device as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a fitting, a pedestal, and a podium;
 wherein the fitting has an upstream nib attached to an outlet of the passageway and downstream nib for attachment to a flush-water exit port in a toilet tank.   wherein the pedestal extends between the fitting and the podium and forms a corridor for the conversion of the passageway between the rest and flush conditions; and   wherein the podium is situated so as to be above the fill level of the toilet tank reservoir and has a compartment for the electric motor and battery station for receipt of motor-powering batteries.   
     
     
         10 . A flush-actuating device as set forth in  claim 9 , further comprising a drive screw which is rotated by the electric motor in one direction when the motor is converting the passageway from the rest condition to the flush condition and rotates an opposite direction when the motor is converting the passageway from the flush condition to the rest position. 
     
     
         11 . A flush-actuating device as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a controller programmed so that, upon initiation, the electric motor converts the passageway from the rest condition to the flush condition and then, after a predetermined time period, returns the passageway to the rest condition. 
     
     
         12 . A flush-actuating device as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein predetermined period of time is one of a plurality of flush-magnitude time periods, including:
 a light-flush time period which allows conveyance of less than 3 gallons of water through the passageway; and   a heavy-flush time period allows conveyance of more gallons through the passageway than the light-flush time period.   
     
     
         13 . A flush-actuating device as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the heavy-flush time period allows the conveyance of at least twice as many gallons through the passageway than the light-flush time period. 
     
     
         14 . A toilet flushing assembly comprising the flush-actuating device set forth in  claim 1 , and a flush-initiating device for initiating operation thereof, wherein the flush-initiating device is installable outside the toilet tank reservoir and includes a trigger which, upon input, initiates operation of the flush-actuating device. 
     
     
         15 . A toilet flushing assembly as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the flush-initiating device includes a plurality of triggers which, upon input, initiate operation of the flush-actuating device at respective flush-magnitude operations;
 wherein the flush-magnitude operations include:
 a light-flush operation, whereat the electric motor converts the passageway from the rest condition to the flush condition and then, after a/the light-flush time period, returns the passageway to the rest condition, and 
 a heavy-flush operation, whereat the electric motor converts the passageway from the rest condition to the flush condition and then, after a/the heavy-flush time period, returns the passageway to the rest condition; and 
   wherein the heavy-flush time period is longer than the light-flush time period.   
     
     
         16 . A toilet tank comprising:
 a tank reservoir;   the flush-actuating device set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the electric motor is installed within the tank reservoir; and   a flush-initiating device at least partially installed outside the tank reservoir.   
     
     
         17 . A toilet comprising:
 a toilet tank including a reservoir;   a toilet bowl having a receptacle for connection to a flush-water exit port of the toilet tank;   the flush-actuating device set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the electric motor is installed within the reservoir; and   a flush-initiating device is at least partially installed outside the tank reservoir.   
     
     
         18 . A method of using the toilet set forth  claim 17 , comprising the steps of:
 depositing a light-flush deposit in the toilet bowl and instigating a light-flush trigger to initiate the flush-initiating device to activate the flush-actuating device in a light-flush mode; and   depositing a heavy-flush deposit in the toilet bowl and instigating a heavy-flush trigger to initiate the flush-initiating device to activate the flush-actuating device in a light-flush mode.   
     
     
         19 . A method of installing the flush-actuating device set forth in  claim 1  on an existing toilet, said method comprising the steps of:
 removing an existing flush-actuating device from the tank of the toilet; and 
 installing the flush-actuating device. 
 
     
     
         20 . A method of installing the toilet flushing assembly of  claim 10  on an existing toilet, said method comprising the steps of:
 removing an existing flush-actuating device from the tank of the toilet; 
 installing the flush-actuating device; 
 removing an existing flush-initiating device from the tank of the toilet; and 
 installing the flush-initiating device.