Toilet Trip Lever Assembly with Annular Bushing Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trip lever assemblies in toilets often suffer from issues such as rattling, sloppy feel, and difficulty in actuation, which negatively impact the perceived quality of the fixture.
Innovation Solution
A trip lever assembly featuring a handle with an axially extending stem and a bushing that provides cooperative engagement through annular surfaces, allowing smooth rotation and limiting the range of motion, thereby enhancing the operational feel and aesthetic appeal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional trip lever assembly is used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to rattling and sloppy feel
Solution Approach 1:
A bushing is introduced as an intermediary component between the handle and the tank. The bushing includes bearing surfaces that cooperate with corresponding surfaces on the handle to provide stable rotational support, eliminating rattling and sloppy feel while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Reliability
If loose tolerances are used in trip lever assembly, then ease of manufacture is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to sloppy feel and lateral movement
Solution Approach 1:
The bushing features bearing surfaces with precision tolerances at the critical rotational interface, while other portions of the bushing and handle can be manufactured with standard tolerances. This localized application of high precision only where needed eliminates lateral movement and sloppy feel without significantly increasing overall manufacturing difficulty.
3Ease of operation
If handle is made easy to actuate, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to rattling and instability
Solution Approach 1:
The bushing acts as a mediator that provides stable rotational support to the handle, eliminating rattling while maintaining smooth actuation. The bearing surfaces within the bushing ensure consistent rotational movement without lateral instability.
4Reliability
If range of motion is not limited, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to excessive lateral movement
Solution Approach 1:
The bushing includes bearing surfaces with precise dimensional relationships that limit lateral movement and define the range of motion, while allowing smooth rotational movement. This localized constraint mechanism ensures operational precision without significantly restricting user operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a more precise and smooth flushing mechanism, reducing lateral movement and enhancing the overall perception of quality by addressing issues like rattling and difficulty in actuation.
Implementation Method 1
The handle defines at least two annular handle surfaces that are configured to cooperatively engage at least two annular bushing surfaces for rotation of the handle relative to the bushing about the axis
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly for initiating flushing of a toilet includes a handle and a bushing. The handle includes an axially extending stem that defines an axis of rotation. The bushing is configured to rotatably couple the handle to a tank of the toilet and includes a passage with the stem of the handle received therein. The handle defines two or more annular handle surfaces that are configured to cooperatively engage two or more annular bushing surfaces for rotation of the handle relative to the bushing about the axis.