Abstract:
An apparatus and method to assure that the lid of a toilet is always in the down position when the toilet is flushed. This will prevent the toilet lid being left in an open position. The apparatus comprises a mechanism for connecting the toilet lid to the flushing mechanism of a toilet so that the toilet lid must be in the down position for the toilet to be flushed.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/214,475 filed on Jun. 20, 2008 now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to toilets and, more particularly, is concerned with an apparatus and method for flushing a toilet. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Toilets have been described in the prior art. However, none of the prior art devices disclose the unique features of the present invention. 
     While these toilets may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention discloses a mechanism to assure that the lid of a toilet is always in the down position when the toilet is flushed. This will prevent the toilet lid being left in an open position. The present invention comprises a mechanism for connecting the toilet lid to the flushing mechanism of a toilet so that the toilet lid must be in the down position for the toilet to be flushed. 
     An object of the present invention is to assure that the lid and/or, possibly, the seat of a toilet is always in the down position before the toilet can be flushed. A further object of the present invention is to assure that the toilet lid of a toilet cannot be left in the up position. A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which can be relatively easily and simply manufactured and used. An additional object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism which can be manufactured on a new toilet or retrofit onto an existing toilet. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of portions of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of portions of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of portions of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of portions of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a cut-away perspective view of portions of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an elevation view of portions of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 6A-6D  show the operational steps of portions of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is an elevation view of portions of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 8A-8D  show the operational steps of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view taken from  FIG. 8  of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     With regard to reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the drawings.
           10  present invention     12  toilet     14  bowl     16  tank     18  lid/seat     20  lid attachment mechanism     22  lid axle     24  location of original flush handle     25  flushing mechanism     26  cosmetic cover     28  base of original toilet handle     29  scored edge     30  backplate     32  backplate     34  cover     35  trip pin     36  arm     38  lift shaft assembly     40  internal rod     41  upper mount     42  lower mount     43  wheel     44  mounting pin     45  pin     46  threaded rod     47  tapped tubing     50  mounting plate     51  flexible arm     52  threads     54  tip     56  split end     58  eccentric or cam portion     66  threads     68  tooth     70  arrow     72  arrow     74  lid     76  base     77  washer     78  arm     80  end of arm     82  end of arm     84  slot     86  guide arm     88  upright arm     90  coiled spring     92  receptacle     94  block     96  mounting arm     98  fastener     100  fastener     102  fastener     104  shoulder     105  protrusion     106  shoulder     108  base     109  end of spring     110  end of spring     112  inset edge       

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following discussion describes in detail at least one embodiment of the present invention. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the present invention to the particular embodiments described herein since practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For a definition of the complete scope of the invention the reader is directed to the appended claims.  FIGS. 1 through 9  illustrate the present invention wherein a mechanism for flushing a toilet is disclosed. 
     Turning to  FIG. 1 , therein is shown the present invention  10  mounted on a conventional toilet  12  having a bowl, a tank  16 , a seat/lid  18 , and a mechanism  20  for pivotally attaching the rear of the lid to the rear upper portion of the bowl. Also shown is the flush arm axle  22  which is co-axial with the lid  18  attachment mechanism  20 , connected to the rear mechanism  20  of the lid. Also shown is the original flush handle area/location  24  being replaced with a new flushing mechanism shown generally at  25  with arm  36  mounted on and extending from axle  22  to adjustable lift shaft  38  (not shown but see  FIG. 3 ). A cosmetic plastic cover for protecting the flush mechanism is shown at  26 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 2 , therein is shown a base  28  portion of the original toilet handle which is the remaining portion of the handle after the handle portion has been removed to accommodate the new flush mechanism of the present invention. Base  28  is disposed on the outer front surface of the tank  16  so that wheel  43  (not shown but see  FIG. 5 ) can be adapted for attachment to base  28 . Also shown is a cosmetic cover  26  which attaches to a back plate  30 , which attaches to the front of the toilet tank with an adhesive pad or the like. A mounting plate  32  and cover  34  is also shown illustrating how lower pieces of backplate  30  and cover  26  can be broken along scored edges  29  for easy adaptation to different toilet sizes. 
     Turning to  FIG. 3 , therein is shown the present invention  10  showing the lid  18  on the bowl  14  along with tank  16  showing how raising the lid  18  at arrow  70  lowers the lift shaft at arrow  72  of the flush mechanism. Arm  36  is also shown. 
     Turning to  FIG. 4 , therein is shown the present invention  10  showing the lid  18  on the bowl  14  along with tank  16  showing how closing the lid  18  at arrow  70  raises the lift shaft  38  at arrow  72 . Arm  36  is also shown. 
     Turning to  FIG. 5 , therein is shown the toilet bowl  14 , lid  18 , and tank  16  having an axle  22  connecting to the arm  36  which operates a lift shaft generally shown at  38  wherein the lift shaft is at its lower portion attached to the front of the tank using lower mount  42  and upper mount  41  and at its upper portion it has a flexible arm  51 , which may be spring steel, which contacts a member  43 , being an oval shaped wheel  43 , mounted on a pin  44  having a tooth  68  thereon which wheel  43  is connected to the front base portion  28  of the original toilet handle. The operation of the internal toilet bowl flushing mechanism, i.e. rod  40 , is not affected by attachment of the present invention. Also shown is trip pin  35 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 6 , therein is shown the detailed design of the adjustable lift shaft assembly generally shown at  38  along with mounts  41 ,  42  comprising the threaded rod  46  with threads  66  thereon which is attached at its lower end to an arm  36  (not shown but see  FIG. 5 ) with pin  45 . The threaded rod  46  is inserted into tapped tubing  47  with mating internal threads  52  with the flexible spring steel extension arm  51  thereon. The length of lift shaft assembly  38  is adjustable by rotating rod  46  in tubing  47  so that the assembly can be adapted to fit on variously sized toilet tanks. The wheel  43  with tooth  68  is mounted on the pivot pin  44  which is connected to the internal rod  40  (not shown but see  FIG. 5 ) which releases the water in the toilet tank for flushing when raised. A mounting plate  50  is inserted over pivot pin  44  and behind wheel  43  and has trip pin  35  mounted thereon. Extension arm  51  has an angled upper tip  54  which has an effective length and angle to contact trip pin  35  when rod  46  is raised. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 6A-6D , therein is shown the positions of the lift arm assembly generally shown at  38  during the sequence of operational steps required for flushing the toilet.  FIG. 6A  shows the position of the lift arm assembly  38  with the lid  18  (not shown but see  FIG. 3 ) in the full up position ready for flushing. The spring steel extension  51  is secure below the tooth  68  on the wheel  43  with rod  40  being substantially horizontal. The internal flush mechanism is shown in the normally closed position with rod  40  being substantially horizontal to maintain sufficient flushing water inside the tank filled with water.  FIG. 6B  shows the lift arm assembly  38  raising and rotating wheel  43  counterclockwise as the lid  18  (not shown but see  FIG. 3 ) is beginning to lower. The eccentric or cam portion  58  of wheel  43  with tooth  68  thereon contacts arm  51  moving/deflecting arm  51  away therefrom an effective distance to allow tip  54  to contact trip pin  35  as the internal flush rod  40  is being raised thereby allowing the toilet to flush. Arm  51  is effectively biased toward wheel  43 .  FIG. 6C  shows the lift arm assembly  38  raising so that the tip  54  of arm  51  contacts the trip pin  35 , further deflecting arm  51  away thus releasing the wheel  43  allowing it to rotate clockwise due to the torque caused by rod  40  allowing the internal flush rod  40  to lower to its normally lowered position and refill the toilet tank with water.  FIG. 6D  shows the lift arm assembly  38  in full up position when the toilet lid is in full lowered position and the toilet has been flushed with rod  40  returned to the horizontal position so that the tank can be re-filled with water. Other previously disclosed elements are also shown. 
     Turning to  FIG. 7 , therein is shown a side view of the tapped tubing  47  with arm  51  thereon with a split end  56  at its upper tip  54  that allows it to engage the tooth  68  on the wheel  43  to accomplish the necessary steps of operation as previously disclosed. Other previously disclosed elements are also shown. 
     Turning to  FIG. 8 , therein is shown the preferred embodiment of the present invention  10  mounted on a conventional toilet  12  having a bowl  14 , a tank  16 , a seat  18 , a lid  74 , and a mechanism  20  for pivotally attaching the rear of the lid to the seat and to the rear upper portion of the bowl in the conventional manner. Also shown is the base portion of the original flush handle  76  having attached thereto a member  78 , being an arm  78 , the arm having one end  80  attached to the side of base  76  and an end  82 . Base portion  76  may be a shaft, pivot, or other suitable handle portion, depending on the type of toilet flush handle mechanism is installed on the toilet, to which arm  78  could be attached as would be done in the standard manner by one skilled in the art. End  80  of arm  78  is adapted for connection to the base  76 , and, it is believed that end  80  of arm  78  may be attached to the base  76  using a fastener, e.g., a screw, double-sided tape, or adhesives. Also shown is the lift shaft assembly generally shown at  38 . The base  76  is connected to the internal rod  40  (not shown but see  FIGS. 8A-8D ) which releases the water in the toilet tank for flushing when raised. A mounting plate  50  is inserted behind base  76  for securing the mounting plate to the front of tank  16 ; washer  77  is disposed between plate  50  and base  76 . Mounting plate  50  has a slot  84  cut into its upper end so as to receive base  76  therein. Mounting plate  50  also has a catch member  86  thereon for guiding the upright standing arm  88 . Upright arm  88  has upper and lower ends and is biased counterclockwise by spring  90 . The end of guide arm  86  opposite its base  108  is spaced away from the face of tank  16  to provide a space within which arm  88  can move up, down, clockwise or counterclockwise and to keep arm  88  close to the tank  16  in a position to cooperate with arm  78 . The lower end of arm  88  is mounted in a receptacle  92  mounted onto block  94  which block is attached to the rear of mounting arm  96  which is attached with fasteners  98 , e.g., screws, to the underside of lid  74 . A first fastener  100 , e.g., a nut and bolt, is used to attach the receptacle  92  to block  94  and a second fastener  102 , e.g., a nut and bolt, is used to attached the block  94  to the rear portion of mounting arm  96 . Receptacle  92  is slightly rotatable about fastener  100  to accommodate the movement of arm  88  against the base  108  and the receptacle has a protrusion  105  thereon for receiving one end of coil spring  90  and the other end of the coiled spring contacts the inner side of block  94  so as to bias the receptacle and arm  88  held therein counterclockwise. The upper end of arm  88  has a cutout portion on its left side which forms a first shoulder  104 , a second shoulder  106  and an inset edge  112 . The first shoulder  104  slidingly contacts the base  108  of guide arm  86  and the second shoulder  106  slidingly contacts end  82  of arm  78 . Shoulders  104  and  106  are effectively sized and angled for smooth operation of the lift shaft assembly  38 . Arm  78  is effectively sized to cooperate with the upright arm  88 . 
     Turning to  FIGS. 8A-8D , therein is shown the preferred embodiment showing the positions of the lift shaft assembly generally shown at  38  during the sequence of operational steps required for flushing the toilet.  FIG. 8A  shows the position of the lift arm assembly  38  with the lid  74  in the full up position ready for flushing. The upper end of arm  88  is below the end  82  of arm  78  being fully biased counterclockwise with shoulder  104  below base  108 . The internal flush mechanism is shown in the normally closed position with rod  40  (shown in hidden line) being substantially horizontal to maintain sufficient flushing water inside the tank filled with water.  FIG. 8B  shows the lift shaft assembly  38  raising and rotating arm  78  counterclockwise as the lid  74  is beginning to lower. The end  82  of arm  78  contacts the upper end of arm  88  as the internal flush rod  40  is being raised thereby allowing the toilet to flush. Arm  88  is effectively biased toward arm  78 .  FIG. 8C  shows the lift shaft assembly  38  raising as lid  74  is further lowered so that the base  108  contacts shoulder  104  forcing arm  88  away clockwise to a position to release the end  82  of arm  78  which will allow arm  78  to rotate clockwise due to the torque caused by rod  40  which will allow the internal flush rod  40  to lower to its normally lowered position and refill the toilet tank with water.  FIG. 8D  shows the lift shaft assembly  38  in full up position when the toilet lid  74  is in a nearly lowered position and the toilet has been flushed with rod  40  returned to the horizontal position so that the tank  16  can be re-filled with water. Other previously disclosed elements are also shown. 
     Turning to  FIG. 9 , therein is shown the preferred embodiment showing upright arm  88  in receptacle  92 . The lower end of arm  88  is mounted in a receptacle  92  mounted onto block  94  which block is attached to the rear of mounting arm  96 . A first fastener  100 , e.g., a nut and bolt, is used to attach the receptacle  92  to block  94  and a second fastener  102 , e.g., a nut and bolt, is used to attached the block  94  to the rear portion of mounting arm  96 . Receptacle  92  is slightly rotatable about fastener  100  to accommodate the movement of arm  88  and the receptacle has a protrusion  105  thereon for receiving one end  109  of coil spring  90  and the other end  110  of the coiled spring contacts the inner side of block  94  so as to bias the receptacle and arm  88  held therein counterclockwise.