Abstract:
A toilet bowl lid actuated linkage toilet flushing system wherein a conventional toilet-flushing flapper is actuated by a drain pull chain controlled relative to the positioning of the toilet bowl lid to the toilet. The toilet bowl lid must be moved from an upward position to a downward position to flush the toilet, which a magnetic plastic ribbon actuator mechanism is provided for completion of the toilet flush even when the toilet bowl lid remains in the downward position. Movement of the lid actuates a magnetic flush pull of a plastic ribbon that is linked to a drain pull chain connected to the flapper. An alternate version of the toilet bowl lid actuated linkage toilet flushing system is compatible with flushometer toilets and enables an opening and closing of a valve controlling outflow of a pressurized water source.

Description:
CO-PENDING APPLICATION 
     The present Nonprovisional patent application is a Continuation application of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/805,221 titled “Lid-actuated Toilet Flusher” and filed on Mar. 26, 2013. The present Nonprovisional patent application claims the priority date of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/805,221. Furthermore, Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/805,221 is hereby incorporated into the present Nonprovisional patent application in its entirety and for all purposes. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to plumbing fixtures and more particularly to toilets. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The prior art includes flushing toilets. In the past, it has been suggested to modify such toilets to flush in response to a lowering of the toilet bowl lid toward the bowl of the toilet. This dynamic both reduces air contamination creating by a release of material from within the bowl of the toilet and generated during a flush process, and reduces the incidence of users later sitting down on the toilet when the seat is up. 
     The prior art systems, however, are not optimally adaptable to prior art toilets and preexisting toilet designs. There is thus a long felt need for a device designed to a lowering of the toilet bowl lid acts to trigger a flushing action of the instant toilet and that may be integrated into a wide variety of prior art toilets and toilet designs, including new toilet builds. It is an object of the present invention to couple the lid of a toilet to a mechanism of the same toilet to cause the toilet to flush upon a lowering of the toilet seat. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Towards this object and other objects of the present invention that will be made obvious in light of the present disclosure, an apparatus is provided that detachably couples a toilet bowl lid with a valve control, whereby motion of the toilet bowl lid causes the valve control to release water into a bowl of the toilet and thereby flush out at least most of the fluid and contents of the toilet bowl. 
     In a first preferred embodiment of the present version, an arm is detachably attachable with a lid element. The arm includes a flexible member joined with a coupling end. The coupling end and the lid element are detachably attachable and are magnetically attracted together in certain alternate preferred embodiments of the present invention. The toilet element is preferably securely and durably attached to the toilet bowl lid. 
     The flexible member is coupled with a pull chain of the prior art flush toilet within a water tank of the toilet and the coupling end is detachably coupled with the lid element when the toilet bowl lid is in an open position relative to the toilet bowl. 
     It is understood that the prior art pull chain is typically attached to a prior art flapper, and that the flapper is rotatably coupled within the water tank, wherein the flapper is adapted to alternately permit and block water from proceeding from flowing from the water tank and into the toilet bowl via a toilet tank drain. 
     The arm is dimensioned such that the arm and the flush chain in combination do not allow the coupling end to maintain contact with the lid element when the toilet bowl lid is lowered to substantively cover the toilet bowl (i.e. when the toilet bowl lid is in a lowered or down position relative to the toilet bowl). 
     In typical use, the coupling end is detachably coupled to the toilet bowl lid when the toilet bowl lid is substantively upright and rotated away from the toilet bowl. As a user lowers and rotates the toilet bowl lid toward the toilet seat, the arm is pulled toward an outside of the water tank of the toilet, whereby the flush chain is pulled substantively upwards within toilet tank and the flush chain rotates the flapper and the toilet tank drain is exposed. A water volume flows from the water tank and into the toilet bowl as the flapper is rotated to expose the toilet tank drain. The coupling of the flapper to the toilet tank and the flush chain limit the extent to which the arm can be pulled toward the outside of the water tank. The arm is preferably sized to cause the arm coupling element and the lid element to be pulled apart prior to the lowering of the toilet bowl lid fully into the down position. When the toilet bowl lid is later raised to a fully open position relative to the toilet bowl, the arm coupling end and the lid element are sized, adapted and positioned to cause the arm coupling end and the lid element to resume a detachable coupling. 
     In another alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention, a guide element is provided that guides and supports the arm flexible member in movement and positioning of the flexible member relative to the prior art flush chain, flapper and toilet tank. The guide element may be adapted to be coupled onto a wall of the toilet water tank and is adapted to support a curving of the arm flexible member as instantiated between the toilet tank wall and the flush chain. 
     In still other various alternate embodiments of the present invention, the arm coupling element may be or comprise a ferromagnetic material and the lid or portion of the lid may be or comprise a magnet or magnet material, whereby the arm coupling element and the lid are detachably attachable by magnetic force. 
     In yet other various alternate embodiments of the present invention, the arm coupling element may be or comprise a magnet or magnetic material and the lid or portion of the lid may be ferromagnetic or comprise a ferromagnetic material, whereby the arm coupling element and the lid are detachably attachable by magnetic force. 
     In a yet alternate preferred embodiment of the present version, a second arm is both (a.) durably attached to a flow valve of a tankless toilet comprising a flushometer, and (b.) detachably attached with a second toilet bowl lid. Movement of the second toilet bowl lid toward a toilet bowl of the tankless toilet pulls the second arm and thereby causes the flow valve to release water from a pressurized water source and into a toilet bowl of the tankless toilet. When the second toilet bowl lid is later raised to a fully open position relative to the toilet bowl of the tankless toilet, the arm coupling end and the second toilet bowl lid are sized, adapted and positioned to cause the arm coupling end and the second toilet bowl lid to resume a detachable coupling. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a drawing of a cutaway view of a prior art toilet having a standard flush handle and a water tank (“toilet tank”), with a toilet tank lid removed, within which the present invention is not installed. 
         FIG. 2  is a drawing of a cutaway view of the toilet of  FIG. 1 , with the toilet tank lid and the standard flush handle removed, within which a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprising an actuator linkage with a guide body installed. 
         FIG. 3A  shows a side view of the toilet of  FIG. 1  and a cutaway view of the toilet tank of  FIG. 1  with the toilet bowl lid open and the actuator linkage of  FIG. 2  in the ready-to-use state. 
         FIG. 3 b    shows flushing of the toilet of  FIG. 1  initiated with the flap open and the actuator linkage of  FIG. 2  in contact with the toilet bowl lid as the toilet bowl lid is beginning to be lowered. 
         FIG. 3C  shows the toilet of  FIG. 1  releasing after flush, which the flap is open and the actuator linkage of  FIG. 2  has separated from the toilet bowl lid of the toilet as the toilet bowl lid is lowered past a certain point. 
         FIG. 3D  shows the toilet bowl lid of the toilet of  FIG. 1  in a down position and ready for next use, while the actuator linkage of  FIG. 2  is at rest and the flapper on the tank is closed. 
         FIG. 4A  shows two rear spacers resting on top of the toilet tank of  FIG. 1 , supporting the tank cover allowing space for the actuator linkage of  FIG. 2  to move relative to the toilet tank of the toilet of  FIG. 1  when in use. 
         FIG. 4B  shows the optional use of decorative tape to cover the gap between the toilet tank and the lid of the toilet of  FIG. 1  when the spacers and the guide body of  FIG. 2  are installed on the tank of the toilet of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a line drawing of the actuator linkage of  FIG. 2  in side view as the actuator linkage is shown in the vertical orientation, as it will rest on the top of the toilet tank of the toilet of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the actuator linkage and the guide body of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 7  shows several integral parts of the actuator linkage of  FIG. 2  and several accessory spacers needed for installation, as well as optional decorative tape to cover the gap between the toilet tank and the tank cover when the actuator linkage is installed. 
         FIG. 8A  is a perspective of an alternate flushometer toilet. 
         FIG. 8B  is a perspective of the flushometer toilet with an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8C  is a cut away detailed view of the flushometer toilet with an alternate embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 8B . 
         FIG. 9A  is a top view of a third alternate embodiment of the invented linkage assembly that includes a thin plastic strip within a third arm. 
         FIG. 9B  is a top view of a fourth alternate embodiment of the invented linkage assembly that includes a cord within a fourth arm. 
         FIG. 9C  is a top view of a fifth alternate embodiment of the invented linkage assembly that includes a cable within a fifth arm. 
         FIG. 9D  is a top view of a fourth alternate embodiment of the invented linkage assembly that includes a wire within a sixth arm. 
     
    
    
     The figures depict various embodiments of the present invention for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the invention described herein. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 1 , a standard prior art gravity toilet  10  includes a toilet tank  12  coupled with a flush handle  14  that is attached through a hole  15  of a front tank wall  12 A, as shown in  FIGS. 4 a    and  4 B, toward the top of the toilet tank  12 , to a drain pull chain  18 . The drain pull chain  18  is further connected to a flapper  16  that rests over and alternately covers and releases the toilet tank drain  19  at the bottom of the toilet tank  12 . Manual rotation of the flush handle  14  pulls up the drain pull chain  18 . This in turn pulls the flapper  16  up, so that water in the toilet tank  12  drains out of the toilet tank  12  and into a toilet bowl  22  to flush out contents of the toilet tank  12 . The toilet tank  12  comprises four walls  12 A,  12 B,  12 C &amp;  12 D. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 2 , the method of the present invention removes and replaces the prior art flush handle  14  with an actuator linkage  24 . The removal of the flush handle  14  leaves exposed the tank hole  15 , which can optionally be covered by a sticker (not shown). 
     A first end  24 A of the actuator linkage  24  is coupled to the drain pull chain  18  in place of the flush handle  14 . A second end  24 B of the actuator linkage  24  coupled with a permanent magnet  30 . The magnet  30  may be or comprise a SUPER MAGNET™ neodymium disc magnet marketed by Master Magnets, Inc. of Castle Rock, Colo. or other suitable magnet known in the art. The actuator linkage  26  may be formed to friction fit the magnet  30  into the actuator linkage second end  24 B. 
     A toilet tank clip  26  of a linkage guide body  28  that rests on the top of the front toilet wall  12 A. The linkage guide body  28  is a single piece construction that guides and supports the actuator linkage  24  and couples with a toilet tank front wall  12 A. The actuator linkage  24  includes of a flat, flexible plastic ribbon  24 C that moves forward over the linkage guide body  28  to enable a pulling of the drain pull chain  18 , which in turns enables a lifting of the flapper  16  so that the toilet tank  12  can empty water into the toilet bowl  22  to cause a flushing of the toilet bowl  22 . 
     After the toilet bowl lid  20  is separated from the magnet  30 , the actuator linkage  24  moves back into the toilet tank  12  under the influence of gravity, whereupon the flapper  16  lowers to close over and cover the toilet tank drain  19  and thereby stopping water from proceeding from the toilet tank  12  to the toilet bowl  22 . The linkage guide body  28  supports the weight of the actuator linkage  26  through out the usage cycle of the method of the present invention. The linkage guide body  28  is preferably sufficiently rigid to support the mass of actuator linkage  26  without deforming greater than 5 degrees, and may be made of a rigid material such as a metal a metallic compound, an acrylic plastice, and/or comprise other sufficiently rigid and durable materials known in the art. 
     Between flushing cycles, the second end  24   b  and the magnet  30  of the actuator linkage  24  protrudes outside of toilet tank  12  towards the front of the toilet  10  and preferably beyond the front toilet tank wall  12 A. This positioning of the magnet  30  of the actuator linkage  24  beyond the end of the toilet tank front wall  12 A enables the magnet  30  to engage (connect) with a ferromagnetic disc  34  affixed to the toilet bowl lid  20  when the toilet bowl lid  20  is in the “up” position, as shown in  FIG. 3A . It is understood that the ferromagnetic disk  30  may comprise iron, steel, and/or other ferromagnetic material. 
     In this “initial position” of  FIG. 3A , the toilet  10  is ready for use and the actuator linkage  24  is positioned to pull the drain pull chain  18  to flush the toilet  10  when the toilet bowl lid  20  is lowered to a fully lowered position of  FIG. 3D . As the toilet bowl lid  20  is lowered, the actuator linkage  24  is pulled from its initial position in the direction of the front of the toilet  10  by the magnet  30  in contact with the ferromagnetic disc  34  on the toilet bowl lid  20 . When the toilet bowl lid  20  is lowered past a certain point, the force of magnetic attraction between the magnet  30  and the ferromagnetic disc  34  is overcome by the movement of the toilet bowl lid  20  and magnet  30  and the ferromagnetic disc  34  separate. 
     The actuator linkage  24  thereupon returns to its initial position of  FIG. 3A , wherein the magnet  30  protrudes from the toilet tank front wall  12 A. This action of the actuator linkage  24  moving back to its initial position enables the drain pull chain  18  to also lower by force of gravity and further allows the flapper  16  to close by force of gravity. At that point the toilet tank  12  can fill with water again. 
     The actuator linkage  24  also protrudes over the top of the toilet tank  12  when the toilet bowl lid  20  is down. The toilet bowl lid  20  in  FIG. 2  is shown in the down, or closed position, which is the position between flushing cycles. Shown also on the end of the toilet bowl lid  20  is the ferromagnetic disc  34  that will contact the end of the actuator linkage  24  near the toilet tank  12  wall when the toilet bowl lid  20  is in the up position. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 3A ,  FIG. 3A  is a side view of the toilet  10  with a cutaway of inside the toilet tank  12  when it is filled with water. The toilet tank cover  36  is shown resting atop two rear cylindrical spacers  40 , which rest on the top of a rear wall  12 C of the toilet tank  12 , and the linkage guide body  28 , which also rests on the top front wall  12 A of the toilet tank  12 . The linkage guide body  28  includes two integral cylindrical spacers  42  that exist to support one of three points of contact between the toilet tank  12  cover and the top of the toilet tank  12 . The two rear spacers  40  and the linkage guide body  28  each connect to the top of the toilet back wall  12 C via a respective integral toilet tank clips  44 . It is understood that each spacer  40  includes one individual integrated toilet tank clip  44  as a base. 
     In  FIG. 3A  the toilet bowl lid  20  is raised and the ferromagnetic disc  34  affixed to the toilet bowl lid  20  is in contact with the magnet  30  that is on the end of the protruding actuator linkage  24 . The magnet  30  on the end of the actuator linkage  24  must be a permanent magnet  30  and may be a neodymium magnet  30  or other type of permanent magnet  30 . 
     From the front of the toilet tank  12 , the actuator linkage  24  runs from the magnet  30 , over a front bearing  46  and over a rear bearing  48 , both bearings part of the linkage guide body  28 , to its connection to the drain pull chain  18 . Thus the actuator linkage  24  is suspended between the position of the magnet  30  on one end and the drain pull chain  18  on the other end. For example, when the toilet bowl lid  20  is in the up position, as shown in  FIG. 3A , the position of the magnet  30  end of the actuator linkage is determined by its contact with the ferromagnetic disc  34  on the toilet bowl lid  20 , and remains so as the toilet bowl lid  20  is lowered until such point as the magnet  30  and ferromagnetic disc  34  release one another. When the toilet bowl lid  20  is in the down, or closed position, the position of the magnet  30  end of the actuator linkage is determined, instead, by the magnet retainer  50 . The magnet retainer  50  is a flat plastic piece with horizontal stoppers  52  integral to either side of the magnet retainer  50 , to which the magnet  30  is attached. The stoppers  52  contact the spacers  42  as the magnetic end of the actuator linkage  24  moves back towards the toilet tank  12  after flushing, preventing the magnet  30  end of the actuator linkage  24  from falling down into the toilet tank  12 . 
     The protrusion of the actuator linkage  24  over the top of the toilet tank  12  walls enables the magnet  30  to contact the ferromagnetic disc  34  affixed to the toilet bowl lid  20 . In the configuration shown in  FIG. 3A , the flapper  16  is closed and holding water in the toilet tank  12 , ready for a flush cycle. The toilet seat  38  is down and ready for use, but the toilet seat  38  may also be raised. 
     To operate the actuator linkage  24  in the flushing process, as shown in  FIG. 3B , after use, the toilet bowl lid  20  is beginning to be lowered, which causes the actuator linkage  24  to move over the linkage guide body  28  towards the front of the toilet  10 . The actuator linkage  24  continues to extend further beyond the top front of the toilet tank  12  as the toilet bowl lid  20  is lowered. The action of the ferromagnetic disc  34  affixed to the toilet bowl lid  20  engaged with and pulling the magnet  30  end of the actuator linkage  24  towards the front of the toilet causes the actuator linkage  24  to pull on the drain pull chain  18 . As shown in  FIG. 3B , the drain pull chain  18  raises the flapper  16  to allow water from the toilet tank  12  to flow into the toilet bowl  22 . The toilet begins to flush as the toilet tank  12  drains. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 3C ,  FIG. 3C  illustrates how further lowering of the toilet bowl lid  20  past a certain point causes the magnet  30  on the end of the actuator linkage  24  to ultimately release from the ferromagnetic disc  34  on the toilet bowl lid  20 .  FIG. 3C  further shows how the actuator linkage  24  will move back over the linkage guide body  28  towards its initial position, such that the drain pull chain  18  will lower and the flapper  16  will close. Before the flapper closes, as shown in  FIG. 3C , the toilet tank  12  water has flowed out of the toilet tank  12  and into the toilet bowl  22 , and the flushing cycle has ended. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 3D ,  FIG. 3D  the actuator linkage  24  is shown having returned back to its initial position, with the magnet  30  end of the actuator linkage  24  protruding over the top front of the toilet tank  12 , the flapper closed and the toilet tank  12  refilled. The toilet bowl lid  20  is closed and ready for the next use. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 4A ,  FIG. 4A  shows how the two rear spacers  24  are affixed to the top of the toilet tank  12  to support the toilet tank  12  cover, along with the linkage guide body  28 , which is affixed to the top front of the toilet tank  12  via integral toilet tank clips  26 . This configuration allows space for the actuator linkage  24  to move over the linkage guide body  28 , between the toilet tank  12  cover and the toilet tank  12 , when flushing or releasing. The toilet tank  12  cover is shown suspended above the toilet tank  12  to provide a view of the configuration of the rear spacers and the linkage guide body  28  affixed to the top of the toilet tank  12 . The linkage guide body  28  must be positioned at the center of the top front of the toilet tank  12  such that the magnet  30  end of the actuator linkage  24  will make contact with the ferromagnetic disc  34  on the end of the toilet bowl lid  20  when the lid is in the up position. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 4B , a decorative tape  60  is shown as optional trim being applied to cover the gap between the top of the toilet tank  12  and the toilet tank cover  36  when the actuator linkage  24  is installed. The actuator linkage  24  is shown protruding over the top of the toilet tank  12  and slightly in front of the toilet tank cover  36  towards the front of the toilet. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 5 , the device is shown in side view in vertical orientation as it will rest on the top of the toilet tank  12 . The linkage guide body  28  includes an integral scaffold  54  to extend support from the tank wall clip  44  to the actuator linkage  24 . The actuator linkage  24  runs from a connection to the toilet pull chain  18  over a rear bearing  48  in the linkage guide body  28  to a front bearing  46  to the top of the linkage guide body  28  between the spacers. In one embodiment the front bearing  46  may be fixed, while in another embodiment the front bearing  46  may rotate on the horizontal axis to facilitate smooth movement of the actuator linkage  24  in a back and forth orientation. The front bearing  46  and the rear bearing  48  together facilitate both support and friction to the actuator linkage  24 , enabling it to move smoothly in a forward and backward motion with respect to the front of the toilet, as needed when pulling on or releasing tension on the drain pull chain  18 . The actuator linkage  24  is shown terminating in the round permanent magnet  30 . 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 6  provides a front view of the actuator linkage  24  running over the linkage guide body  28 . On either side of the front of the linkage guide body  28  which mounts on top of the toilet tank  12  are two cylindrical spacers  42 . Between the spacers  42  is shown the round magnet  30  end of the actuator linkage  24 , which is attached to a magnet retainer  50  that is integral with the actuator linkage  24 , such that the actuator linkage  24  is maintained at rest in the initial position. The magnet retainer  50  is shown with two integral stoppers  52  on either side that hit the spacers  42  when the actuator linkage  24  moves back towards the toilet tank  12  after disengaging from the ferromagnetic disc  34  on the toilet bowl lid  20  after flushing. The end of the actuator linkage  24  that runs down into the toilet tank  12  is shown terminating at its connection with the drain pull chain  18 . 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 7 , a self-install kit  700  is shown in  FIG. 7  and includes the linkage guide body  28 , which includes two integral spacers  42 , depicted in side view such that only one spacer  42  is visible. In side view, the spacers  42  are shown as integral with the toilet tank clips  44  and a scaffold structure  54 , also integral to the linkage guide body  28 . The linkage guide body  28  shows the integral rear bearing  48  and front bearing  46  over which the actuator linkage  24  moves. The actuator linkage  24  is shown as a flat semi-stiff plastic ribbon  56 , which is terminated on one end by the magnet retainer  50  and magnet  30  and at the other end by an eye  58  through which the drain pull chain  18  can be hooked. The two separate spacers  40  are shown as necessary accessories to clip onto the toilet tank walls  12 A- 12 D to support the toilet tank cover  36  when the actuator linkage is installed. The ferromagnetic disc  34  is included for affixing to the center end of the toilet bowl lid  20 , positioned such that when the toilet bowl lid  20  is in the up position, the disc fully contacts the magnet  30  on the end of the actuator linkage  24 . The optional decorative tape  60  is included for covering the gap between the toilet tank  12  and the toilet tank cover  36  when the actuator linkage  24  is installed. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C , in typical use of a standard flushometer  800 . As shown in  FIG. 8A , a prior art handle  802  is attached to a vacuum breaker  804  that is connected to a tailpiece  806  that is further connected through a hole in the wall above the flushometer  800 . 
     The present invention as shown in  FIG. 8B  wraps an actuator linkage  808  to a handle  802  and is covered by an encapsulating cover  810  with a ferrous disc  34  affixed to a toilet bowl lid  20  in the “down” position. 
       FIG. 8C  shows an actuator linkage  808  attached to a magnet  30  that is wrapped to a handle  802  covered by an encapsulating cover  810 . In the view water flows from the tailpiece  806  down through a vacuum breaker  804  and a vacuum breaker kit  812 . 
       FIG. 9A  is top view of a third alternate embodiment  900  of the invented linkage assembly that includes a thin plastic strip  902  within a third arm  904 . An arm aperture  906  is adapted to accept coupling with the drain pull chain  18 . An alternate coupling end  908  is a ferromagnetic material that is attracted to a magnetic toilet bowl lid  910  whereby the third arm  904  is detachably attachable to the magnetic toilet bowl lid  910 . An attachment feature  911  durably couples the third arm  904  to the alternate coupling end  908 . 
       FIG. 9B  is top view of a fourth alternate embodiment  912  of the invented linkage assembly that includes a cord  914  within a fourth arm  916 . A first cord loop assembly  918 A of the cord  914  is adapted to enable coupling of the cord  916  with the drain pull chain  18 . The second alternate coupling end  920  is a ferromagnetic material that is attracted to a magnetic portion  922  of a fourth alternate toilet bowl lid  924  whereby the fourth arm  916  is detachably attachable to the fourth alternate toilet bowl lid  924 . A second cord loop assembly  918 B of the cord  914  is adapted to enable coupling of the cord  916  with the second alternate coupling end  920 . 
       FIG. 9C  is top view of a fifth alternate embodiment  926  of the invented linkage assembly that includes a cable  928  within a fifth arm  930 . A cable loop assembly  932  of the cable  928  is adapted to enable coupling of the fifth arm  930  with the drain pull chain  18 . The second alternate coupling end  920  is attracted to a magnetic disc  933 A that is attached to a fifth alternate toilet bowl lid  933 B whereby the fifth arm  916  is detachably attachable to the fifth alternate toilet bowl lid  933 B. 
       FIG. 9D  is top view of a fourth alternate embodiment  934  of the invented linkage assembly that includes a wire  936  within a sixth arm  938 . A wire loop assembly  940  of the wire  936  is adapted to enable coupling of the sixth arm  938  with the drain pull chain  18 . A second weld  942  couples the sixth arm  938  with the magnet  30 . 
     Finally, the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and it may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by any claims that issue on an application based herein. Accordingly, the disclosure of the embodiments of the invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.