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.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] Aspects of the present invention are related to subject matter disclosed in co-pending application entitled “Foot Operated Flushing Apparatus and Method,” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 773,630, filed on Feb. 6, 2004, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention, the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a foot actuated flushing apparatus in contact with a bottom surface of an internal flushing means of a toilet tank and a method of flushing a toilet using such apparatus. [0004] 2. Description of Related Art [0005] Conventional approaches for flushing cistern toilets generally require the user to flush the toilet by hand. In so doing, the toilet user actuates a lever on the toilet tank by hand, whereby an internal component or system within the tank is activated for flushing the toilet. However, it has...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0020] In still another aspect, the invention is directed to a method for flushing a toilet by foot. The method includes providing a toilet having a toilet base and a toilet tank, whereby the toilet tank has an internal release means. Downward pressures are applied to a foot pedal attached to the toilet base to effect a force, which is transferred to a flushing system residing within the toilet tank. This transferred force enables the flushing system to apply an upward pressure to an underside of the internal release means for pushing up such internal release and effecting flushing of the toilet. Wherein the flushing system is a pressurized flushing system, the step of transferring the force to the pressurized flushing system ma

Problems solved by technology

However, it has been recognized that flushing a toilet by hand often leads to the spread of germs, disease and contaminants, as well as being difficult to operate for those with back problems or for the elderly who are at an increased risk of falling or becoming injured as a result of bending and/or stretching to flush a toilet by hand.

Yet, these conventional foot operated flushing apparatus often require user installation, which may be difficult, such as those that entirely replace the lever or handle of the toilet.

Conventional foot operated flushing apparatus ar

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