A semi-flush flapper valve apparatus is provided for use in a toilet and consists of a two position operable flush handle on the toilet tank. A main flapper valve has a bleeder valve pivotally mounted thereto. The operating handle is rotated in a first direction to operate the main flapper valve normally thereby causing a conventional full flush cycle in the toilet tank. The operating handle is rotated in a second direction to open the bleeder valve and operate the main flapper valve together thereby venting air from the main flapper valve so as to make the main flapper valve close faster causing a semi-flush cycle in the toilet tank.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The instant invention relates generally to toilet flush valve systems and 
more specifically it relates to a semi-flush flapper valve apparatus. 
Numerous toilet flush valve systems have been provided in the prior art 
that are adapted to regulate the volume of water discharged for flushing 
when evacuating toilet bowls. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,325,828 to 
Alexander; 4,483,024 to Trosh; 4,502,984 to Burns 4,620,331 to Saguelo and 
4,910,912 & 4,969,218 to Comparetti all are illustrative of such prior 
art. While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose to which 
they address, they would not be as suitable for the purpose of the present 
invention as hereafter described. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a semi-flush 
flapper valve apparatus that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior 
art devices. 
Another object is to provide a semi-flush flapper valve apparatus that 
includes an operating handle rotatively mounted to the toilet tank such 
that said operating handle can rotate in a first direction to cause a full 
conventional flush and in a second direction to cause the tank to empty 
only partially. 
An additional object is to provide a semi-flush valve apparatus that is 
simple to install as a replacement for a more conventional device and yet 
easy to use. 
A still further object is to provide a semi-flush flapper valve apparatus 
that is economical in cost to manufacture. 
Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may 
be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, 
attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are 
illustrative only and that changes may be made in the specific 
construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended 
claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference 
characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the 
figures illustrate a semi-flush flapper valve apparatus 10 for use in a 
toilet 12 of the type having a tank 14, a flush port 16, a valve seat 18 
and an overflow tube 20. The apparatus 10 consists of an operating handle 
22 rotatively mounted to the toilet tank so that the operating handle can 
rotate in a first direction and in a second direction. The operating 
handle 22 is secured to the shaft 24 by means of a set screw. The shaft 24 
is constructed having two cams, each of which will alternately operate one 
of the two lift arms respectively as the shaft is rotated in a first 
direction or in a second direction. A main flapper valve 28 has a chamber 
30 for holding air 32 therein and a top air release hole 34. The main 
flapper valve 28 is pivotally mounted at one end 36 to the overflow tube 
20, so as to normally sit upon the valve seat 18 over the flush port 16. A 
bleeder valve 38 is oppositely pivotally mounted at one end 40 onto the 
main flapper valve 28 to normally cover the top air release hole 34. When 
the bleeder valve 38 is opened, it will release the air 32 from the 
chamber 30 in the main flapper valve 28. A first mechanism 42 is coupled 
between the operating handle 22 and the main flapper valve 28, for causing 
a conventional full flush cycle in the toilet tank 14, when the operating 
handle 22 is rotated in a first direction on the toilet tank 14, so as to 
normally open and close the main flapper valve 28 on the valve seat 18. A 
second mechanism 44 is coupled between the operating handle 22 and the 
bleeder valve 38, for causing a semi-flush cycle in the toilet tank 14. 
When the operating handle 24 is rotated in a second direction on the 
toilet tank 14, it causes to open the bleeder valve 38 and simultaneously 
pulls up the main flapper valve 28, allowing the main flapper valve 28 to 
close faster onto the valve seat 28 because air is vented out of the 
bleeder valve 38 as previously indicated. 
The first mechanism 42 includes a first lift arm 46 pivotally mounted to 
shaft housing 21 and resting in close proximity to the first cam 23 on 
shaft 24. This first lift arm 46 will be pushed upward by the cam 23 when 
the operating handle 22 is rotated in a first direction. A first flexible 
lanyard 48 is connected between an end of the first lift arm 46 and a loop 
50 on the main flapper valve 28 oppositely from the pivotally mounted end 
36 thereof. 
The second mechanism 44 includes a second lift arm 52 also pivotally 
mounted to the shaft housing 21 and resting in close proximity to the 
second cam 25 on the shaft 24. This second lift arm 52 will be pushed 
upward by the second cam 25 when the operating handle 22 is rotated in a 
second direction. A second flexible lanyard 54 is connected between an end 
of the second lift arm 52 and a loop 56 on the bleeder valve 38 oppositely 
from the pivotally mounted end 48 thereof. The main flapper valve 28 and 
the bleeder valve 38 are both fabricated out of flexible durable 
waterproof material, such as rubber or soft plastic. 
The size of the top air release hole 34 will determine how soon the main 
flapper valve 28 will return to the valve seat 18 and hence the amount of 
water that flushes through the toilet 12. The bleeder valve 38 is fitted 
to the main flapper valve 28 in such a way that when the tank 14 is full 
the water pressure will press the main flapper valve 28 to seat firmly. 
When the first flexible lanyard 48 is pulled for a full flush the bleeder 
valve 38 will remain closed so that the full flash is achieved. 
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and 
described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood 
that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details 
of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those 
skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.