Control device for flush tank discharge valves

Abstract: A control device (1) for flush tank discharge valves, of the type in which a support (2) for the actuating members of a discharge valve is defined by a one-piece body made of polymer material, and has reversible fastening means (6) for connection to a member on a flush tank; the support (2) has a first, a second, and a third seat (11, 12, 13) for respective actuating members (15) connectable to the discharge valve; each seat (11, 12, 13) has connecting means (18, 19, 23, 24, 27, 28) by which a respective actuating member (15) clicks onto and pivots with respect to the support (2) ; and the support (2) is designed to receive from one to three actuating members (15), depending on the type of flush tank, with no alterations required, and with no need for supports specially designed for specific tanks, so that the control device (1) may be used on different types of flush tank.

Description: The present invention relates to a control device for flush tank discharge valves. As is known, flush tanks can be equipped with flush devices designed to operate in different ways, as selected by the user, and come in the following types: single flush, in which only a predetermined amount of water can be discharged from the tank; dual flush, in which all or part of the water in the tank can be discharged selectively; stop-controlled single flush, in which discharge can be arrested. Depending on the type, the tank is provided with a specific discharge valve and a corresponding control device. The control devices comprise actuating members, e.g. levers pivoting on supports and connected to one or more buttons or other elements activated by the user from outside the tank. The control devices, and in particular the supports on which the levers pivot, are designed for use on specific types of tank and are not interchangeable, so that different control devices, and in particular different supports and actuating members, are required for different tank versions. One control device of this type is described, for example, in German Patent DE 195 08 865, and comprises a support fixed removably by a dovetail fitting to a wall of the tank, and the free end of which projects inside the tank. The support has a seat for a square lever connectable to an external control plate, and connected by two arms and respective rods to a rocking control plate by which discharge is activated and arrested by the user. This type of control device can only be fitted to the type of tank, and be operated in the manner, for which it is specifically designed. US-A-6092245 discloses a control device comprising an operating lever having a lever arm shaft which is connected to a pivot on the flush tank and is provided with a plurality of attachment points of different design adapted to receive and retain several different kinds of attachment means. This device, even if suitable for use with different toilet installations, cannot be used for alternatively equipping toilet installations operating with one of the types: single flush, dual flush, stop-controlled single or dual flush. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a control device for flush tank discharge valves, designed to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks. More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a control device which is cheap and easy to produce, can be installed quickly and easily, and can be used indifferently on flush tanks with different operating modes. According to the present invention, there is provided a control device for flush tank discharge valves as claimed in enclosed claim 1. The control device according to the invention can therefore be used, with no major alterations required, on flush tanks with different operating modes; is cheap and easy to produce; and can be assembled and installed quickly and easily. A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows a schematic exploded view in perspective (not to scale) of a flush tank discharge valve control device in accordance with the invention. Number 1 in the accompanying drawing indicates as a whole a control device for known flush tank discharge valves (not shown), and which comprises a support 2 defined by a one-piece body made of rigid polymer material. More specifically, support 2 is substantially L-shaped, and comprises a substantially straight main portion 3, from a first longitudinal end 4 of which projects obliquely a connecting portion 5 having, on a free end, reversible fastening means 6 of any known type for connection to a corresponding known connecting member (not shown) on the tank. For example, reversible fastening means 6 are defined by two parallel guides 7 parallel to main portion 3 and which fit inside respective seats on the connecting member on the tank. Main portion 3 has two opposite faces 8, 9 (in use, top and bottom respectively); and three seats 11, 12, 13 for respective actuating members 15, only one of which is shown for the sake of simplicity. Seats 11, 12 are formed side by side on face 8 and spaced laterally apart; and seat 13 is formed on face 9, beneath seat 11 and offset laterally towards seat 12. Seat 11 is defined by two facing, parallel lateral walls 17, which project perpendicularly from face 8 of main portion 3, are a predetermined distance D1 apart, and have respective aligned through holes 18, and respective lead-ins 19 located at holes 18 and defined by respective converging bevels formed in lateral walls 17 and sloping towards each other from respective top end edges 20 of lateral walls 17. Holes 18 and lead-ins 19 define connecting means by which actuating member 15 clicks onto and pivots with respect to seat 11 and, hence, support 2. Seat 12 is defined by two facing lateral walls 22 parallel to each other and to lateral walls 17, projecting perpendicularly from face 8 of main portion 3, and a predetermined distance D2 apart. Seat 12 also has connecting means by which a respective actuating member 15 clicks onto and pivots with respect to support 2, and which are defined by aligned holes 23 formed through respective lateral walls 22, and by lead-ins 24 located at respective holes 23 and in turn defined by respective converging bevels formed in lateral walls 22 and sloping towards each other from respective top end edges 25 of lateral walls 22. Seat 13 is defined by two facing, parallel lateral walls 26 projecting perpendicularly from face 9 of main portion 3, in the opposite direction to lateral walls 17 and 22, and a predetermined distance D3 apart. Lateral walls 26 also have respective aligned through holes 27, and respective lead-ins 28 located at holes 27; holes 27 and lead-ins 28 define connecting means by which a respective actuating member 15 pivots with respect to support 2; and lead-ins 28 are defined by respective converging bevels formed in lateral walls 26 and sloping towards each other from respective front end edges 29 of lateral walls 26. In the non-limiting example shown, distance D1 between lateral walls 17 is comparable or substantially equal to distance D3 between lateral walls 26; while distance D2 between lateral walls 22 is much greater than distances D1 and D3. Actuating members 15 are of substantially known type, so only one, designed for insertion, in use, inside seat 11, is described and illustrated by way of example. Actuating member 15 comprises a square lever 31, and a head 32 for connection to a user-operated member, e.g. a known threaded rod (not shown). Lever 32 comprises a substantially cylindrical base portion 33 of such an axial length as to fit between lateral walls 17 of seat 11, and having, at opposite longitudinal ends, respective axial pins 34 insertable inside holes 18 in seat 11. A bracket 35 and a rod 36, at a predetermined angle with respect to each other, project radially from base portion 33 and define respective arms of square lever 31. Bracket 35 has two facing supports 37 having respective aligned through holes 38 and respective lead-ins 39 located at holes 38; and lead-ins 39 are defined by respective converging bevels formed in supports 37 and sloping towards each other from respective end edges of supports 37. Rod 36 has a free end 40 opposite a connecting end 41 for connection to base portion 33, and which is connectable in known manner, in use, to a known element (not shown) of the discharge valve. Head 32 is defined by a cylindrical, internally threaded bush having two parallel, diametrically opposite plates 42, from which respective pins 43, insertable inside holes 38, project perpendicularly on opposite sides. Head 32 clicks onto bracket 35 by pins 43 being eased inside holes 38 by lead-ins 39, and so pivots with respect to bracket 35 by means of pins 43 engaging respective holes 38. Similarly, actuating member 15 clicks inside seat 11 by inserting base portion 33 between lateral walls 17, and by pins 34 being eased inside holes 18 by lead-ins 19, so that lever 31 pivots on support 2 by means of pins 34 engaging holes 18. Other actuating members 15 may be inserted similarly inside seats 12 and 13. Seat 11 advantageously houses an actuating member 15 for controlling full discharge of the water from the tank. If necessary, seat 12 may house a partial-flush actuating member, and seat 13 a flush-stop actuating member. Control device 1 according to the invention may therefore be used on flush tanks with different operating modes. Support 2, in fact, is designed to receive from one to three actuating members 15, depending on the type of tank, with no alterations required, and with no need for supports specially designed for specific tanks. Clearly, changes may be made to the control device as described and illustrated herein without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims: A control device (1) for flush tank discharge valves, comprising at least one actuating member (15) for the discharge valve and a fixed support (2) for said at least one actuating member; said support being defined by a one-piece body made of polymer material, and having fastening means (6) for being fixed removably to a member on a flush tank; the control device being characterized in that said support (2) comprises a first, a second, and a third seat (11, 12, 13) for respective actuating members (15) connectable to the discharge valve, said seats (11, 12, 13) being spaced apart from each other so that the support (2) may receive from one to three actuating members (15); said seats (11, 12, 13) having respective connecting means (18, 19, 23, 24, 27, 28) by which said respective actuating members (15) may click onto and pivot with respect to said support (2). A control device as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that said seats (11, 12, 13) are defined by respective pairs of facing, parallel lateral walls (17, 22, 26) projecting perpendicularly from said support (2); said connecting means of each of said seats (11, 12, 13) comprising a pair of respective holes (18, 23, 27) aligned with each other and formed through said lateral walls (17, 22, 26), and a pair of respective lead-ins (19, 24, 28) located at said holes (18, 23, 27). A control device as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that each of said actuating members (15) comprises a square lever (31), and a head (32) pivoting on said lever (31). A control device as claimed in Claim 3, characterized in that said lever (31) comprises a substantially cylindrical base portion (33), from which respective arms (35, 36) of said square lever (31) project radially at a predetermined angle with respect to each other; said base portion being insertable inside a respective seat (11), and having, at opposite longitudinal ends, respective axial pins (34) insertable inside the holes (18) in said respective seat (11).

Inventors: MOURA DE OLIVEIRA ANTONIO MANU, MOURA DE OLIVEIRA, ANTONIO MANUEL
Applicants: OLIVEIRA & IRMAO SA, OLIVEIRA & IRMAO S.A.
Application year: 2001
Main classification: E03D1
IPC codes: E03D5, E03D1