Abstract:
A flush lever comprises a handle and a skirt, or escutcheon plate, both disposed to the exterior of a toilet tank. Within the tank is a flush lever subassembly, the subassembly taking one of two different embodiments and each embodiment comprising means for mechanically linking the flush lever with the subassembly. One portion of the flush lever can be variably adjustable within 360° of rotation and by adjustments every 15° for optimal placement of the flush lever as desired or required. Another portion of the flush lever can be variably adjustable within 180° of rotation as well and by adjustments also every 15°.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/073,389 filed Oct. 31, 2014. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to plumbing fixtures and to the component parts that are used in them. More particularly, it relates to a flush lever of the type that is used in gravity flush toilets. It also relates to such a flush lever that is able to be mounted in a variety of positions relative to the tank of the flush toilet. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventional toilets typically employ a number of essential components. First, a porcelain water tank is mounted immediately above a porcelain bowl from which a quantity of water is rapidly drained in order to flush waste from the bowl into a sewer system. One very common design uses a flapper valve made of an elastomeric material that covers the drain outlet of the tank. When the flush handle on the outside of the tank is manually actuated, typically by pushing the handle downwardly, the flapper valve is lifted by means of a flush lever via a chain or other connecting means. This allows the head of water in the tank to drain through the flush valve and the drain outlet. The flapper valve is typically designed with an inverted air chamber so that it initially floats as it is lifted away from the drain outlet in the bottom of the tank. This allows sufficient flushing water to flow into the bowl even if the user immediately releases the flush handle. When the water level in the tank drops, the tank is automatically refilled through a fill valve connected to a water supply line. 
     Current flush levers used with toilet tanks typically comprise a rotatable handle disposed to the tank exterior, a flush lever disposed within the tank interior and a mechanical coupling disposed between the rotatable handle and the flush lever. The mechanical coupling extends through an aperture defined within a tank wall that separates the tank exterior and the tank interior, the tank interior comprising the vessel for storing that amount of water that is used to flush the toilet upon rotation of the aforementioned rotatable handle. Actuation of the flush lever is accomplished by pushing the end of the rotatable handle downwardly (or rearwardly depending on the handle&#39;s orientation), thereby lifting the flush lever about a central pivot point. All of this mechanical action relies essentially on gravity, the flush lever and flapper valve typically being heavier than the flush handle, and on the flotation of the flapper valve within the tank. 
     In the view of this inventor, there is a need to allow the flush lever and the rotatable handle to be mounted such that it can be operated in a number of different ways. For example, one operational position, the handle is a standard front left mount (as viewed by a user standing and facing the toilet bowl), with the handle being disposed in a horizontal position with handle rotation being downward. Another is the same type of mount, but where the horizontal handle is positioned on the left side of the tank, with handle rotation also being downward. Another is a standard angle mount where the handle is disposed in either a vertical or a horizontal position and can be pushed or pulled depending on the internal configuration of the toilet tank. In any one of the operational positions, it would be desirable that the lever consistently return to its default or neutral position irrespective of the orientation of the handle relative to the tank. That is, it would be desirable to provide a “dual action” for the handle whereby rotation of the handle in two different directions always results in the handle returning to its default position, i.e. horizontal or vertical. 
     There is also a need for such a handle and flush lever such that one portion of the flush lever can be variably adjustable within 360° of rotation and by adjustments every 15° for optimal placement of the flush lever as desired or required. Lastly, there is also a need to provide another portion of the flush lever that can be variably adjustable within 180° of rotation and by adjustments also every 15°. Such would allow the wide variety of handle placements as discussed above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the foregoing, an improved flush lever has been devised by this inventor which accomplishes the goals identified above. As used in this disclosure, the term “flush lever” means the exterior handle, the interior lever and the interposed mechanical coupling. It is also to be understood that use of the improved flush lever with a conventional water tank, for purposes of this disclosure, comprises an “assembly.” 
     More specifically, the flush lever of the present invention comprises a handle and a skirt, or escutcheon plate, both disposed to the exterior of the tank. Within the tank is a flush lever subassembly, the subassembly taking one of two different embodiments and each embodiment comprising means for mechanically linking the flush lever with the subassembly. 
     One embodiment uses a semi-metallic handle and skirt, the semi-metallic handle and skirt having a die cast configuration. In that embodiment, it is to be understood that the semi-metallic structures could be made of brass, aluminum or zinc using the die case process. A second embodiment uses a plastic handle and skirt, the plastic handle being attached by means of a “snap on” configuration such that the handle becomes non-removable once assembled, or snapped on. Further, the plastic chosen for the handle and skirt of the second embodiment can be molded in virtually any color and the plastic chosen can also be painted by the end user to accommodate the user&#39;s liking or decor. Each embodiment uses other components, many of which are common to both. 
     The foregoing and other features of the flush lever and the assembly of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a first preferred embodiment of a flush lever constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross sectioned view of the flush lever shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectioned view of a portion of the flush lever taken along line B-B of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged front elevation view of a portion of the flush lever. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectioned view similar to that shown in  FIG. 2 , but of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like-numbered elements refer to like elements throughout,  FIG. 1  illustrates a top plan view of a first preferred embodiment of the flush lever, generally identified  10 , of the present invention, which flush lever  10  is the type that would be mounted within a toilet tank (not shown). As shown, the flush lever  10  comprises a tank handle  20 , a “skirt” or escutcheon plate  30 , a connector or “tank handle stop”  40 , an adapter  50 , a nut  60 , a lock pin  70 , a “segment” or connecting arm  80 , and a lever  90 . 
     The connecting arm  80  has 360° of rotation and can be adjusted every 15°. The connecting arm  80  is held in place by a retention clip  87 . See also  FIG. 2 . This retention clip  87  must be removed to adjust the position of the connecting arm  80 . On an end of the connecting arm  80 , there is a holder for the clip  87  so that it does not get lost. Similarly, the lever  90  has 180° of rotation and can be adjusted every 15° as well. The lever  90  is held in place by a retention clip  97  as well. This retention clip  97  must be removed to adjust the position of the lever  90 . 
     In this first configuration, the tank handle  20  and the skirt  30  are made of a semi-metallic alloy, which is a first preferred embodiment. Again, in this first embodiment, it is to be understood that the semi-metallic structures could be made of brass, aluminum or zinc using the die case process. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the plastic counterpart  110  of the present invention. This is a second preferred embodiment and its components are slightly different, but not completely, and will be discussed in further detail below. 
     Referring specifically now to  FIG. 2 , it shows a cross-section of the flush lever  10  shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown, the tank handle  20  comprises a proximal handle portion  22 , a distal handle portion  24  and an annular ring  26  disposed about the proximal handle portion  22 , but separated from the proximal handle portion  22  by an annular gap  25 . The proximal handle portion  22  further comprises a shaft  27  that extends inwardly and has an aperture  29  defined in the distal end  28  of the shaft  27 . Again, in this first embodiment, the tank handle  20  and its component parts are preferably made of a single piece of semi-metallic alloy material. 
     Moving inwardly (since the tank handle  20  is intended to be disposed to the exterior of the water tank), it will be seen that an escutcheon or skirt  30  is provided (or, simply, skirt). This skirt  30  comprises a centrally disposed portion  32  having an aperture  31  defined in it. Moving outwardly from the centrally disposed portion  32 , it will be seen that the skirt  30  further comprises an outwardly extending annular ring  35 , which ring  35  is functionally adapted to fit within the annular gap  25  of the handle  20 . This structure maintains the general alignment between the handle  20  and the skirt  30 . Moving outwardly from the center of the skirt  30 , it will be seen that the skirt  30  further comprises a pair of inwardly extending annular arcs  36  and a contoured inwardly extending annular ring  38 . An annular space  39  is disposed between those two structures  36 ,  38 . The contoured annular ring  38  is that portion of the skirt  30  that is visible to the user and is also disposed at the outer surface of the water tank (not shown). Again, in this first embodiment, the skirt  30  and its component elements are preferably made of a single piece of semi-metallic alloy material. 
     Extending from the tank exterior to the tank interior is a centrally disposed connector  40 , which is also referred to herein as a “tank handle stop.” This tank handle stop or connector  40  comprises a central portion  42  having an aperture  41  defined axially within it. At a first end  44  of the connector  40 , which first end  44  extends outwardly of the water tank, a first annular ring  46  is provided as is a second annular ring  48 , although the second annular ring  48  is not a complete ring—it is interrupted, as is shown in  FIG. 3  and discussed below. Further, where a portion of the second annular ring  48  is nonexistent, there is instead a spring rotational stop  49 ; again, see  FIG. 3 . The diameter of the second annular ring  48  is greater than that of the first annular ring  46 . As shown, the first annular ring  46  creates a cavity  47  between it and the first inwardly extending annular ring  36  of the skirt  30 . The second annular ring  48  is disposed within the annular space  39  created between the arcs  36  and ring  38  of the skirt  30 . Inwardly of the connector  40  (relative to the water tank), an outer threaded portion  45  is provided. This threaded portion  45  is provided such that a like-threaded nut  60  can secure the connector  40  to the wall of the water tank from the interior side of the wall. 
     Disposed opposite the nut  60  is a circumferential adapter  50  which allows a tight and water-proof connection of the flush lever  10  to the water tank wall. This adapter  50  is preferably made of rubber and is designed to adapt to the smallest and largest square hole in the tank wall. This allows the assembly (i.e. the lever  10  together with the tank) to remain located in its tightened position which is critical to opening the flapper properly and consistently. Further, the adapter  50  acts as a spring washer when under compression. Accordingly, the use of a low compression set rubber is key to this preferred embodiment. 
     At the distal end  28  of the handle shaft  27  is a lock pin  70  having a first centrally disposed aperture  72  and a second centrally disposed aperture  74 , the diameter of the latter being smaller than that of the former. In this way, a self-tapping screw  75  can be introduced to the handle shaft  27  via the first centrally disposed aperture  72  and the screw  75  can be secured within the second aperture  74  to secure the handle  20  to the lock pin  70 . The lock pin  70  further comprises a circumferential notch  77  about its upper perimeter  76 . The notch  77  is used to receive a retention clip  87  that attaches a proximal portion  82  of the “segment”  80  (which is effectively a 90° elbow) to the lock pin  70 . One of the key features of the preferred embodiment is that this connecting arm  80  has 360° rotation and can be adjusted every 15° to achieve a desired positioning. The connecting arm  80  is held in place by the retention clip  87 . The clip  87  must be removed to adjust the positioning of the connecting arm  80 . Further, on the proximal portion  82  of the connecting arm  80  is a holder for the clip  87  so that the clip  87  does not get lost. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the connecting arm  80  also comprises a distal portion  84  to which is attached the flush lever  90 , the lever  90  having a number of lever holes  92  to allow all types of lanyards, loop chains and beaded chains (not shown) that are connected to a flapper (also not shown) that is disposed at the bottom of the water tank. See  FIG. 4 . More significantly, the lever  90  also has 180° of rotation and it can be adjusted every 15° as well. The lever  90  is likewise held in place by a retention clip  97 . The retention clip  97  must also be removed to adjust the lever  90 . 
     Referring specifically now to  FIG. 3 , it shows a cross-section of the skirt  30  and connector  40  taken along line B-B of  FIG. 1  wherein an additional significant functional feature of the present invention is illustrated. Specifically, a spring  100  is assembled to the tank handle stop  40 . When the spring  100  is so assembled, it has a small amount of preload on it. This allows the lever  90  to return consistently back to the neutral position. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the spring  100  comprises two ends  102  each of which is held to movement within only a portion of the skirt  30  and the tank handle stop  40 . As previously alluded to, a spring rotational stop  49  is also provided. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , it shows a cross sectioned view of the structure  110  of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. The differences in structure are that the handle  120  and skirt  130  are snap fitted together. Prior to snap fitting the handle  120 , a self-tapping screw  102  is inserted into one end of a much longer lock pin  170  to secure the connecting arm  180  and lever  190  to the structure  110 . Once snapped into place, the handle  120  is not intended to be removed. In all other respects, the functionality of the second embodiment is substantially similar to that of the first embodiment.