Decorative Flush Lever with Removable Flange

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Over time, some toilet levers become noisy and hard to use due to wear and tear, lacking in durability and ease of maintenance.

Innovation Solution

A toilet lever system comprising a hollow body extending through a toilet wall, a stem with decorative flanges and handles that can be easily attached and detached, allowing for customizable decoration and maintenance without disassembling the main components, featuring a detent mechanism to limit stem rotation and secure the lever arm.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional toilet levers are used, then the basic flushing function is provided, but the levers become noisy and hard to use over time due to wear and tear

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidease of use

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The toilet lever system is divided into separate modular components: a body, a stem, a decorative flange, and a handle. This segmentation allows individual parts to be replaced without disassembling the entire assembly, making maintenance easier and reducing noise from worn components while maintaining reliable flushing function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of repair

If traditional toilet levers are used, then the basic flushing function is provided, but they lack ease of maintenance requiring disassembly of main components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of maintenanceVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lever system is segmented into replaceable modules (handle, decorative flange, stem, body) that can be independently maintained. The decorative flange removably attaches to the body, and the handle attaches to the stem, allowing maintenance of individual components without complex disassembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The body serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, houses the mounting mechanism for the decorative flange, and anchors the stem assembly. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate parts needing maintenance while keeping the system simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If traditional toilet levers are used, then the basic function is provided, but they lack aesthetic versatility for coordination with bathroom fixtures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaesthetic versatilityVSAvoidcomponent complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The decorative flange is separated from the functional stem and body, allowing it to be changed independently for aesthetic purposes. This segmentation enables users to update the appearance by replacing only the decorative element without affecting the functional components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The decorative flange is designed to be removably attached to the body, creating a dynamic system where aesthetic components can be changed over time. This allows the toilet lever to adapt to different decorative preferences and coordinate with updated bathroom fixtures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9169627B2Decorative flush lever

Publication Date: 2015.10.27 LIBERTY HARDWARE MFG CORP

AI summary

A toilet lever system includes a body for extending through a toilet wall, a stem extending through the body for movement relative to the body, a decorative flange covering the stem and removeably attaching to the body, and a handle attaching to the stem.