Toilet valve lever interlock

Abstract

A dual flush toilet assembly including a locking mechanism that prevents over travel of a piston, thereby preventing inadvertent full flushing when only a partial flush has been selected, yet permits full flushing when so desired. Specifically, a rotatable locking mechanism that prevents the piston from moving fully upwards into the second latched position when a partial flush is desired, yet rotates to an unlocked position to permit the piston to move fully upwards into the second latched position when full flushing is desired.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A toilet flushing system, comprising:
 a frame;   a piston moveable within the frame;   a lever mounted to the frame, wherein the lever lifts the piston to a first latched position for a first flush and lifts the piston to a second latched position for a second flush; and   a locking mechanism mounted to the frame, wherein the lever lifting the piston causes the locking mechanism to move between a locked position that prevents the piston from moving to the second latched position to an unlocked position that permits the piston to move to the second latched position.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising: an actuator for moving the lever thereby lifting the piston. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the actuator comprises a flush handle connected to a cable connected to the lever. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the piston has a recess into which an end of the locking mechanism is received. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the recess is on a side of the piston. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein lifting the lever moves the end of the locking mechanism into the recess of the piston. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein lifting the lever causes an end of the lever to lift the locking mechanism such that the end of the locking mechanism moves into the recess of the piston. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein a free end of the lever is received under a protrusion on the piston. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising: a track along which the piston moves. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the locking mechanism is V-shaped and rotates around a pivot of the locking mechanism, wherein the lever lifts an end of the locking mechanism causing an opposing end of the locking mechanism into a recess on a side of the piston. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first flush is a partial flush, and wherein a distance travelled by the piston for the first flush is less than a distanced travelled by the piston for the second flush. 
     
     
         22 . The system of claim  1 , wherein the second flush is a full flush, and wherein a distance travelled by the piston for the first flush is less than a distanced travelled by the piston for the second flush.