Retrofit automatic toilet flush apparatus

Abstract

An automatic flush apparatus for converting a manual flush toilet to an automatic flush toilet, and including a sensor for being mounted on an exterior wall of a tank of the toilet for detecting a condition predetermined to initiate a flush operation of the toilet. A signal transmitter conveys a signal indicating the occurrence of the condition, and a motor is provided for being positioned in the tank for receiving an electric current indicative of the condition from the signal transmitter. A flush valve is positioned proximate a bottom wall of the tank and is operatively connected to the motor for being opened by the motor upon receipt by the motor of the electric current.

1 . An automatic flush apparatus for converting a manual flush toilet to an automatic flush toilet, and comprising a sensor for being mounted on an exterior wall of a tank of the toilet for detecting a condition predetermined to initiate a flush operation of the toilet, a signal transmitter for conveying a signal indicating the occurrence of the condition; a motor for being positioned in the tank for receiving an electric current indicative of the condition from the signal transmitter; and a flush valve for being positioned proximate a bottom wall of the tank and operatively connected to the motor for being opened by the motor upon receipt by the motor of the electric current. 
     
     
         2 . The automatic flush apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is adapted to communicate with the motor through a manual flush handle hole in the tank. 
     
     
         3 . The automatic flush apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a motion sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The automatic flush apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor and the motor are powered by at least one electric battery contained in the sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The automatic flush apparatus according to  claim 1 , and including a gear train driven by the motor and a connector connecting the gear train and the flush valve for opening the flush valve upon receipt by the motor of the electric current from the sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The automatic flush apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the gear train includes an eccentrically-mounted rotatable lever to which the connector is connected for being reciprocated between a first position wherein the flush valve is in a closed position and a second position wherein the flush valve is moved to an open position to permitting the toilet to flush. 
     
     
         7 . The automatic flush apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the connector comprises a chain and the lever includes an arcuate outer surface around which the chain is retracted as the flush valve is moved to the open position. 
     
     
         8 . The automatic flush apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the connector is pivotally attached to the gear train at a point on a gear displaced from the center of the gear and wherein the connector moves from a first position wherein the flush valve is closed, to a second position wherein the flush valve opened to permit the toilet to flush, and back to the first position. 
     
     
         9 . The automatic flush apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein the connector comprises a rod portion pivotally attached to the gear and a chain portion attached to the flush valve. 
     
     
         10 . The automatic flush apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a motion sensor adapted to communicate with the motor through a manual flush handle hole in the tank, the sensor and the motor are powered by at least one electric battery contained in the sensor, a gear train is provided for being driven by the motor and a connector is provided for connecting the gear train and the flush valve for opening the flush valve upon receipt by the motor of the electric current from the sensor, the gear train including an eccentrically-mounted rotatable lever to which the connector is connected for being reciprocated between a first position wherein the flush valve is in a closed position and a second position wherein the flush valve is moved to an open position to permitting the toilet to flush. 
     
     
         11 . The automatic flush apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the connector comprises a chain and the lever includes an arcuate outer surface around which the chain is retracted as the flush valve is moved to the open position. 
     
     
         12 . An automatic flush toilet, comprising:
 (a) a toilet bowl, a toilet seat, and a water tank positioned on the bowl for flushing water contained in the tank into the toilet bowl;   (b) a sensor mounted on an exterior wall of a tank of the toilet for detecting a condition predetermined to initiate a flush operation of the toilet,   (c) a signal transmitter for conveying a signal indicating the occurrence of the condition;   (d) a motor positioned in the tank for receiving an electric current indicative of the condition from the signal transmitter; and   (e) a flush valve positioned proximate a bottom wall of the tank and operatively connected to the motor for being opened by the motor upon receipt by the motor of the electric current.   
     
     
         13 . An automatic flush toilet according to  claim 12 , wherein the sensor is adapted to communicate with the motor through a manual flush handle hole in the tank. 
     
     
         14 . The automatic flush toilet according to  claim 12 , wherein the sensor comprises a motion sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The automatic flush toilet according to  claim 12 , wherein the sensor and the motor are powered by at least one electric battery contained in the sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The automatic flush toilet according to  claim 12 , and including a gear train driven by the motor and a connector connecting the gear train and the flush valve for opening the flush valve upon receipt by the motor of the electric current from the sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The automatic flush toilet according to  claim 16 , wherein the gear train includes an eccentrically-mounted rotatable lever to which the connector is connected for being reciprocated between a first position wherein the flush valve is in a closed position and a second position wherein the flush valve is moved to an open position to permitting the toilet to flush. 
     
     
         18 . The automatic flush apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the connector comprises a chain and the lever includes an arcuate outer surface around which the chain is retracted as the flush valve is moved to the open position. 
     
     
         19 . The automatic flush toilet according to  claim 16 , wherein the connector is pivotally attached to the gear train at a point on a gear displaced from the center of the gear and wherein the connector moves from a first position wherein the flush valve is closed, to a second position wherein the flush valve is opened to permit the toilet to flush, and back to the first position. 
     
     
         20 . The automatic flush apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein the connector comprises a rod portion pivotally attached to the gear and a chain portion attached to the flush valve. 
     
     
         21 . An automatic flush toilet, comprising:
 (a) a toilet bowl, a toilet seat, and a water tank positioned on the bowl for flushing water contained in the tank into the toilet bowl;   (b) a motion sensor for detecting a condition predetermined to initiate a flush operation of the toilet, the optical sensor being mounted on an exterior wall of a tank of the toilet and communicating with the interior of the tank through a manual flush handle hole in the tank;   (c) a signal transmitter for conveying a signal indicating the occurrence of the condition;   (d) a motor positioned in the tank for receiving an electric current indicative of the condition from the signal transmitter; and   (e) a gear train driven by the motor and a connector connecting the gear train and a flush valve on the bottom of the tank for opening the flush valve upon receipt by the motor of the electric current from the sensor, the connector including a pivotal attachment to the gear train at a point on a gear displaced from the center of the gear and wherein the connector moves from a first position wherein the flush valve is closed, to a second position wherein the flush valve is opened to permit the toilet to flush, and back to the first position.