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

[0012] It is another object of the present invention to provide a foot actuated flushing system and method that significantly reduces hand-spread germs, disease and contaminants.

[0013] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a foot actuated flushing system and method that is easy to use such that it assists and reduces the risk of injury to both users with back problems and the elderly.

[0014] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a foot actuated flushing system and method that is easy and economically efficient to manufacture within a cistern toilet.

[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide a foot actuated flushing system and method that is inexpensive, attractive and operates in an efficient and economical manner.

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 are also expensive, can make it difficult to flush the toilet by hand, and can be cumbersome by adding on a foot operated flushing mechanism to the flushing lever or handle at the front of the toilet tank.

Again, these and other arrangements taught in the art typically suffer from one or more significant disadvantages.

In particular, they are often require user installation, may be both difficult and time consuming to install, expensive, unattractive, awkward to use, difficult to clean, cumbersome and subject to tampering, vandalism, or undue maintenance requirements.

Images