Toilet actuating mechanism
The actuating mechanism with a cantilevered portion and identifiable objects addresses operability issues for disabled users and engages children by enhancing leverage and providing visual or auditory feedback, improving toilet usability and training.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- US18/794708
- Authority / Receiving Office
- US · United States
- Patent Type
- Applications(United States)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-08-05
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-05
AI Technical Summary
Conventional toilet actuators are difficult for individuals with disabilities to operate and lack engagement for young children, compromising usability and training effectiveness.
An actuating mechanism with a cantilevered portion that projects beyond the tank's dimensions, providing enhanced leverage and incorporating identifiable objects or signals to facilitate operation, including a detectable signal generator for additional feedback.
Enhances operability for individuals with disabilities and engages young children through recognizable designs, improving usability and training experience.
Smart Images
Figure US20260035895A1-D00000_ABST
Abstract
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the Invention
[0001] This invention relates to toilets and, more particularly, to an actuating mechanism operable to cause water to flow from a tank into a bowl on the toilet.Background Art
[0002] Conventional toilets are commonly made with a tank, that is continuously filled from a water supply, and a bowl into which water from the tank is selectively discharged to flush waste deposited in the bowl. Most toilets incorporate a valve assembly with a flapper that in a closed position blocks communication of water from the tank to the bowl and in an open position allows the water in the tank to enter the bowl to effect flushing through an appropriate drain.
[0003] Various mechanisms have been derived to allow the user to selectively reposition the flapper. The actuators for these mechanisms are commonly compact, with a component that may be pushed or pivoted. A goal has been to minimize the visual presence of the actuator while at the same time constructing the actuator to facilitate convenient operation of the valve assembly.
[0004] Common forms of these actuators include pivoting lever arms which generally have lengths no greater than 2-3 inches and push buttons which have a relatively small diameter that is engaged by a user's fingertip(s) to effect operation.
[0005] The focus on aesthetics inherently creates other limitations for these actuators.
[0006] Handicapped persons may have difficulty manipulating these actuators, particularly if limbs are missing or compromised, as by arthritis. A small engageable handle is inherently difficult to grasp and pivoting thereof to operate a valve assembly relies on a relatively short moment arm, which gives limited leverage.
[0007] Conventional actuators are also, by reason of their being unobtrusive, uninteresting in nature, particularly to young children that are toilet training. To such young children, toilet duties are generally onerous and thus the toilet training process is often a challenge.
[0008] In the opinion of the inventor herein, the industry has not adequately addressed the issues associated with operating toilets with any sort of handicap and has additionally failed to intrigue young persons into enthusiastically being engaged in toilet training.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In one form, the invention is directed to the combination of: a bowl for containing a quantity of human waste material; a tank configured to contain a volume of flowable material; a valve assembly changeable between open and closed states; and an actuating mechanism having a starting state and an actuated state. The tank has a top, a front wall, and spaced sides. The valve assembly in the open state allows flowable material from the tank to flow into the bowl. The valve assembly in the closed state blocks flow of flowable material in the tank to the bowl. The actuating mechanism is configured to change the valve assembly from the closed state into the open state as an incident of changing the actuating mechanism from the starting state into the actuated state. The actuating mechanism has an actuator with a cantilevered portion that is engageable by a user and movable from a first position into a second position as an incident of which the actuating mechanism is changed from the starting state into the actuated state. The cantilevered portion projects at least one of: a) to above the top of the tank; b) a distance across the front of the tank to beyond one of the sides of the tank; c) over a distance across one of the sides of the tank and to beyond the front wall of the tank; and d) forwardly at one of the sides of the tank, with the cantilevered portion in at least one of the first and second positions.
[0010] In one form, the actuating mechanism has at least one link member with a portion that extends through the tank and pivots around an axis as the cantilevered portion moves between the first and second position.
[0011] In one form, the axis extends in a fore-and-aft direction.
[0012] In one form, the axis extends through the front wall of the tank.
[0013] In one form, the valve assembly and actuating mechanism are configured so that: a) the actuating mechanism changes from the actuated state into the starting state; and b) the cantilevered portion is caused to move from the second position into the first position, as an incident of the valve assembly changing from the open state into the closed state.
[0014] In one form, at least a part of the cantilevered portion is configured to simulate an appearance of an identifiable object.
[0015] In one form, the actuating mechanism further includes a detectable signal generator and an actuator for the detectable signal generator that sends an actuating signal to the signal generator as an incident of the cantilevered portion moving from the first position into the second position.
[0016] In one form, a signal generated by the detectable signal generator is an audible signal.
[0017] In one form, a signal generated by the detectable signal generator is a visible signal.
[0018] In one form, at least a part of the cantilevered portion projects upwardly relative to the axis.
[0019] In one form, at least a part of the cantilevered portion extends to at least four inches away from the axis.
[0020] In one form, at least a part of the cantilevered portion extends to at least six inches away from the axis.
[0021] In one form, the at least one link member has a first leg that extends through the tank and a distance away from the tank. The cantilevered portion has a second leg that projects angularly away from the first leg and a part that projects away from the second leg at a distance spaced from the first leg.
[0022] In one form, the second leg has an angled offset. The part of the cantilevered portion extends away from the angled offset.
[0023] In one form, the first leg extends through the front wall of the tank and the angled offset projects rearwardly from the second leg.
[0024] In one form, a part of the cantilevered portion is removably connected to another part of the cantilevered portion and releasably maintained on the another part of the cantilevered portion without requiring use of separate fasteners.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a system for collecting and discharging human waste and including an actuating mechanism for a valve assembly, operated through an actuating mechanism, according to the invention;
[0026] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a conventional toilet with exemplary forms of a tank and bowl, as shown schematically in FIG. 1;
[0027] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the actuating mechanism in FIG. 1 and showing additional details thereof;
[0028] FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the tank and a valve assembly in FIG. 1 and showing additional details thereof;
[0029] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of part of the inventive actuating mechanism and showing additional details of the valve assembly in FIGS. 1 and 4;
[0030] FIG. 6 is a view as in FIG. 5 and showing additional details of the cantilevered portion of the actuating mechanism;
[0031] FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, front elevation view of a tank, as shown schematically in FIG. 1, and with one exemplary form of the cantilevered portion of the actuating mechanism, according to the invention;
[0032] FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view of the tank in FIG. 7 in relationship to a portion of the actuating mechanism;
[0033] FIG. 9 is an elevation view of another form of cantilevered portion on an actuating mechanism, according to the invention;
[0034] FIG. 10 is a schematic representation of the cantilevered portion of the actuating mechanism as shown in FIG. 1, and showing additional details thereof;
[0035] FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of an alternative form of actuating mechanism, according to the invention;
[0036] FIG. 12 is a schematic representation of connectors cooperating between one part of the cantilevered portion in FIG. 1 and another part of the actuating mechanism;
[0037] FIG. 13 is a schematic representation showing two interchangeable versions of the one part of the cantilevered portion; and
[0038] FIG. 14 is a fragmentary, side elevation view of another exemplary form of cantilevered portion, according to the invention, and at the side of a tank.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0039] In FIG. 1, a system for handling human waste, usable as part of the present invention, is shown schematically at 10. The system 10 consists of a bowl 12 for containing a quantity of human waste material. A tank 14 is configured to contain a volume of flowable material 16, that is typically water.
[0040] In one exemplary form of the tank 14, as shown on a conventional toilet in FIG. 2, representing one specific form of the system 10, the tank 14 has a top 18 defined by a removable cover 19, a front wall 20, and spaced sides 22, 24.
[0041] Referring again to FIG. 1, the system 10 has a valve assembly 26 changeable between open and closed states. The valve assembly in the open state allows flowable material 16 from the tank 14 to flow into the bowl 12. In the closed state, the valve assembly 26 blocks flow of flowable material in the tank 14 into the bowl 12.
[0042] An actuating mechanism 28 has a starting state and an actuated state. The actuating mechanism 28 is configured to change the valve assembly 26 from the closed state into the open state as an incident of changing the actuating mechanism 28 from the starting state into the actuated state.
[0043] The actuating mechanism 28 has an actuator 30 with a cantilevered portion 32 that is engageable by a user and movable from a first position into a second position, as an incident of which the actuating mechanism 28 is changed from the starting state into the actuated state.
[0044] The cantilevered portion 32 projects at least one of: a) to above the top 18 of the tank 14; b) a distance across the front wall 20 of the tank 14 and to beyond one of the sides 22, 24 of the tank 14; c) over a distance across one of the sides 22, 24 of the tank 14 and to beyond the front wall 20 of the tank 14; and d) forwardly at one of the sides 22, 24 of the tank 14, with the cantilevered portion 32 in at least one of the first and second positions therefor.
[0045] As shown schematically in FIG. 3, the actuating mechanism 28 may include at least one link member 34 with a portion 36 that extends through the tank 14 and pivots around an axis as the cantilevered portion 32 moves between the first and second positions.
[0046] The pivot axis for the portion 36 may extend in any direction relative to the tank 12. In one exemplary form, the axis extends in a fore-and-aft direction.
[0047] In a further exemplary form, the axis extends in a fore-and-aft direction through the front wall 20 of the tank 14, as shown at an exemplary location at 38 in FIG. 2.
[0048] In one alternative form, the axis extends through the side wall 22 at the location 40, as also shown in FIG. 2.
[0049] The schematic depiction of components in FIGS. 1 and 3 is intended to encompass virtually an unlimited number of different forms of each of the components and their interaction. The specific forms described below are exemplary in nature only and should not be viewed as limiting.
[0050] For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the tank 14 may have an opening 42 which is selectively blocked and exposed by a flapper 44 on the valve assembly 26. In common existing designs, at least a part of the flapper 44 is raised with the valve assembly in the open state and lowered with the valve assembly 26 in the closed state. The actuating mechanism 28 effects this raising of the part of the flapper 44.
[0051] The details of the actuating mechanism 28, other than those of the cantilevered portion 32, are not critical to the present invention, with myriad forms currently existing and others capable of being devised readily by one skilled in the art to be usable to practice the invention herein. For purposes of the present invention, what is significant is that the actuating mechanism 28 causes the flapper 44, or other suitable structure, to reposition to thereby change the valve assembly 26 from the closed state into the open state.
[0052] In one exemplary form, as also shown schematically in FIG. 5, the at least one link member 34 has a first leg 46, making up the portion 36 depicted schematically in FIG. 3 that extends through the tank 14 forwardly to a distance away from the tank. In changing the actuating mechanism 28 between its starting and actuated states, the first leg 46, which makes up part of the aforementioned cantilevered portion 32, is pivoted around its lengthwise axis, which is the aforementioned axis for the cantilevered portion 32.
[0053] Within the tank, any suitable structure, identified generically at 48 in FIG. 5, converts the pivoting action of the first leg 46 / cantilevered portion 32 into a force that repositions a portion, or the entirety, of the flapper 44.
[0054] The components described above operate as those in conventional toilets. As the actuating mechanism 28 is changed from its starting state into its actuated state, the valve assembly 26 changes from its closed state into its open state. Once the material / water discharges from the tank 14, the valve assembly 26 will automatically reassume its closed state, which in turn causes the actuating mechanism 28 to be changed back into its starting state, wherein the cantilevered portion 32 is returned to its first position.
[0055] One exemplary form of the link member(s) 34 will be described partially schematically with reference to FIGS. 6-8; from an overhead perspective in FIGS. 6 and 8.
[0056] The link member(s) 34 may be a unitary structure or may be made up of multiple joined, and potentially relatively movable, pieces. As depicted, a unitary construction consists of the first leg 46 which extends through the tank 14 to a distance away therefrom at the front of the tank 14 and is contiguous with a second leg 50 projecting angularly away from the first leg 46. As depicted, but without limitation, the second leg 50 is substantially orthogonal to the first leg 46. The second leg 50 further has an angled offset 52. As depicted, the offset 52 projects rearwardly; but this is not a requirement.
[0057] As depicted, a part 53 of the cantilevered portion 32 of the actuator 30 projects away from the second leg 50, and in this case from the angled offset 52 thereon. A connection location 54 for the part 53 of the cantilevered portion 32 is spaced a substantial distance away from the first leg 46.
[0058] With the first leg 46 directed through the tank 14 at the location 38, the first leg 46 projects forwardly from the tank 14 a distance D. The second leg 50 extends along a length D1 from the axis 56 for the pivoting first leg 46.
[0059] From a front perspective, the second leg 50 extends a distance across the front wall 20 of the tank and, in this case, to beyond the wall 58 at the side 22.
[0060] In FIG. 7, the part 53 of the cantilevered portion 32 is shown to include a paddle-type handle, such as one simulating a handle conventionally used to dispense beer from a keg. In this embodiment, a leg 60 projecting angularly upwardly from the extension 52 connects to a paddle piece 62.
[0061] By grasping the substantial area of the paddle piece 62, the cantilevered portion 32 can be conveniently pivoted from the first, solid line position in FIG. 7, to the second, dotted line position, thereby to change the actuating mechanism 28 from its starting state into its actuated state.
[0062] Once the water discharges from the tank 14, the cantilevered portion 32 moves from the second position back into the first position.
[0063] As depicted, the paddle piece 62 and leg 60 on the cantilevered portion 32 project upwardly relative to the axis 56 with the cantilevered part 32 in the first position. It is contemplated that horizontal projection or a projection between horizontal and vertical may be selected.
[0064] To provide adequate leverage, the moment arm, represented by the distance D1, in one preferred form, is at least four inches and in another preferred form at least six inches. In yet another preferred form, the distance D1 is at least ten inches.
[0065] In FIG. 9, an alternative form of the cantilevered portion 32′ is shown, corresponding to the cantilevered portion 32. In this embodiment, a piece 62′ on the cantilevered portion 32′ coextends with a corresponding second leg 50′. In this case, the piece 62′ on the cantilevered portion 32′ is shaped as a baseball bat.
[0066] The axis 56′ may extend in any direction through the tank 14—at the front wall 20 or sides 22, 24 thereof.
[0067] The extension of the cantilevered portion 32′ away from the axis 56′, identified as D3, is in one preferred form at least four inches and in another preferred form at least six inches. A projection distance D3 less than four inches is also contemplated as is a projection distance of at least ten inches.
[0068] In all embodiments, as shown schematically in FIG. 10, the cantilevered portion 32 may incorporate the shape or appearance of any type of identifiable object 64, with the aforementioned beer tap paddle and baseball bat being exemplary in nature only. For example, the identifiable object 64 may be a doll, a simulated gearshift on a car, a simulation of a handle on a slot machine, etc.
[0069] In another form of the actuating mechanism, as shown schematically at 28″ in FIG. 11, the actuating mechanism 28″ incorporates a detectable signal generator 66 with an actuator 30″ that sends an actuating signal to the signal generator 66 as an incident of a cantilevered portion 32″ moving from a corresponding first position into a corresponding second position.
[0070] The detectable signal may be an audible signal or a visible signal, such as flashing lights, etc.
[0071] A battery 68 on the actuating mechanism 28′ may be used to power the detectable signal generator 66.
[0072] This feature may be incorporated into a design wherein the actuating mechanism uses a “push button” actuator, as opposed to an actuator with the pivoting cantilevered portion, described above.
[0073] As shown in FIG. 12, the actuating mechanism 28 may have a part 70 on the cantilevered portion 32 with a connector 72 that is releasably engageable with a connector 74 on another part 75 of the cantilevered portion 32. The connectors 72, 74 can be releasably engaged without requiring separate fasteners, as by using cooperating threads.
[0074] For example, but without limitation, the connection location may be as shown at 54 in FIG. 7.
[0075] As shown in FIG. 13, separate cantilevered portion parts 70a, 70b, with different constructions / appearance, can be used interchangeably as units through the connecting arrangement described with respect to FIG. 12.
[0076] In one preferred form, the cantilevered portions 32 have at least a portion around which a user's hand can be extended to effect grasping thereof. The components are configured so that the grasped portions can be manipulated without significant interference with other parts of the system 10.
[0077] For example, in FIG. 14, a cantilevered portion 32″ projects forwardly from the pivot axis at the location 44 at the side 22 of the toilet and has a graspable end 76 that simulates the appearance of a gearshift or a handle on a slot machine. The graspable end may have an unlimited number of different shapes. One alternative shape is that of a cartoon character hand 78, as shown in dotted lines. The cantilevered portion 32″ depicted extends over a distance across the tank side 22 and to beyond the front wall 20 of the tank 14. The projecting length away from the pivot axis is preferable as described for the other embodiments, above.
[0078] With the exemplary design in FIG. 7, the cantilevered portion 32 extends both to above the top of the tank and beyond the side 22.
[0079] The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is intended to be illustrative of the broad concepts comprehended by the invention.
Claims
1. In combination:a bowl for containing a quantity of human waste material;a tank configured to contain a volume of flowable material,the tank having a top, a front wall, and spaced sides;a valve assembly changeable between open and closed states,the valve assembly in the open state allowing flowable material from the tank to flow into the bowl,the valve assembly in the closed state blocking flow of flowable material in the tank to the bowl; andan actuating mechanism having a starting state and an actuated state,the actuating mechanism configured to change the valve assembly from the closed state into the open state as an incident of changing the actuating mechanism from the starting state into the actuated state,the actuating mechanism comprising an actuator with a cantilevered portion that is engageable by a user and movable from a first position into a second position as an incident of which the actuating mechanism is changed from the starting state into the actuated state,the cantilevered portion projecting at least one of: a) to above the top of the tank; b) a distance across the front of the tank to beyond one of the sides of the tank; c) over a distance across one of the sides of the tank and to beyond the front wall of the tank; and d) forwardly at one of the sides of the tank with the cantilevered portion in at least one of the first and second positions.
2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the actuating mechanism comprises at least one link member with a portion that extends through the tank and pivots around an axis as the cantilevered portion moves between the first and second position.
3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein the axis extends in a fore-and-aft direction.
4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein the axis extends through the front wall of the tank.
5. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the valve assembly and actuating mechanism are configured so that: a) the actuating mechanism changes from the actuated state into the starting state; and b) the cantilevered portion is caused to move from the second position into the first position, as an incident of the valve assembly changing from the open state into the closed state.
6. The combination according to claim 1 wherein at least a part of the cantilevered portion is configured to simulate an appearance of an identifiable object.
7. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the actuating mechanism further comprises a detectable signal generator and an actuator for the detectable signal generator that sends an actuating signal to the signal generator as an incident of the cantilevered portion moving from the first position into the second position.
8. The combination according to claim 7 wherein a signal generated by the detectable signal generator is an audible signal.
9. The combination according to claim 7 wherein a signal generated by the detectable signal generator is a visible signal.
10. The combination according to claim 2 wherein at least a part of the cantilevered portion projects upwardly relative to the axis.
11. The combination according to claim 2 wherein at least a part of the cantilevered portion extends to at least four inches away from the axis.
12. The combination according to claim 2 wherein at least a part of the cantilevered portion extends to at least six inches away from the axis.
13. The combination according to claim 2 wherein the at least one link member has a first leg extending through the tank and a distance away from the tank and the cantilevered portion has a second leg projecting angularly away from the first leg and a part that projects away from the second leg at a distance spaced from the first leg.
14. The combination according to claim 13 wherein the second leg has an angled offset and the part of the cantilevered portion extends away from the angled offset.
15. The combination according to claim 14 wherein the first leg extends through the front wall of the tank and the angled offset projects rearwardly from the second leg.
16. The combination according to claim 1 wherein a part of the cantilevered portion is removably connected to another part of the cantilevered portion and releasably maintained on the another part of the cantilevered portion without requiring use of separate fasteners.
17. The combination according to claim 16 wherein the cantilevered portion is a first unit and further in combination with a second unit that is different than the first unit, the first and second units interchangeably connectable to the another part of the actuating mechanism.
18. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the cantilevered portion is configured to be engageable by a user's hand extending fully around a part of the cantilevered portion to effect grasping of the part of the cantilevered portion.
19. The combination according to claim 7 further comprising a battery on the actuating mechanism for operating the detectable signal generator.
20. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the valve assembly comprises a movable flapper having at least a portion that is raised and lowered with the valve assembly respectively in the open and closed states.
21. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the cantilevered portion extends over the distance across the front of the tank and to at least three inches beyond the one of the sides of the tank.