Patent Publication Number: US-2010122405-A1

Title: Toilet Flush Handle

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED CASE 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/114,518 filed on Nov. 14, 2008 entitled “TOILET FLUSH HANDLE,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Toilet flush handles can become quite dirty over time due to repeated use. Also, toilet flush handles are typically permanent in nature and cannot be changed by the average individual without undue effort. Also, from time to time, it can be difficult to teach young children how to use a toilet. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a drawing of a portion of a toilet tank that depicts a toilet handle according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2A  is a drawing that depicts a linkage of a toilet handle depicted in  FIG. 1  to a flush lever according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2B  is a drawing of a portion of the linkage of  FIG. 2  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a drawing of a toilet handle having active components that may be employed with the toilet tank of  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic block diagram of an active component embedded in the toilet handle of  FIG. 3  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart that depicts one example of the operation of an output system in the active component of  FIG. 4  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , shown is partial view of a toilet tank  100  in which a toilet flush handle  103  is depicted. The toilet flush handle  103  is attached to a lever  106 . In one embodiment, the toilet flush handle  103  is removably attached to the lever  106  to facilitate easy removal and replacement for the purposes of cleaning as will be described. The lever includes various receptacles  109  that facilitate the attachment of a flapper tether  113  to the lever  106 . The receptacles  109  may comprise holes or other structures that are configured to facilitate attachment of the flapper tether  113  to the lever  106 . The opposing end of the flapper tether  113  is coupled to a toilet flapper (not shown) to facilitate a flushing of the toilet of which the toilet tank  100  is a part. The flapper tether  113  may comprise, for example, a chain, string, or other structure. The chain may be constructed from metal, nylon, plastic, or other material. The lever pivots about a pivot point  116  based upon a manipulation of the toilet flush handle  103 . 
     In order to flush a toilet, a user may press on the toilet flush handle  103  causing the lever  106  to lift. The lever  106  pulls the flapper tether  113 , thereby lifting a flapper (not shown) on the bottom of the toilet tank  100 . Alternatively, the flapper tether  113  may be coupled to some other type of valve as can be appreciated. Ultimately, this allows the toilet tank to drain into a toilet bowl, thereby flushing waste down the drain. 
     Embedded within the toilet flush handle  103  is an active component  119  that is configured to generate a user perceivable output in response to a movement of the toilet flush handle  103 . To this end, the active component  119  may include a sensor or switch that senses or detects movement of the toilet flush handle  103 . The active component  119  includes lights  123  and a speaker  126 . The lights  123  may comprise, for example, light emitting diodes or other type of lights. The toilet flush handle  103  includes ports through which the lights  123  are exposed. Also, the toilet flush handle  103  may include a grating or other structure to allow audio generated by the speaker  126  to pass through the toilet flush handle  103 . 
     When a user presses on the toilet flush handle  103  to implement a flush of a toilet, the sensor or switch included in the active component  119  generates a signal that is applied to an appropriate output generating system as will be described. In response, a user perceivable output is generated such as an audio recording, indicator lights, or other output. Such output may comprise a novelty recording and lights to indicate various affiliations of the toilet users. In one embodiment, the recording may be celebratory in nature to provide positive feedback for the use of the toilet by toddlers who are learning to use the toilet the first time. For example, the recording might say “Hurray, you used the toilet!” and may include appropriate music or other sounds. As a consequence, use of the toilet may seem much less of a daunting task by young children, thereby increasing the odds of successful early toilet training. Due to the fact that the toilet flush handle  103  is removable, multiple different toilet flush handles  103  may be used in succession over time as a toddler develops the ability to use the toilet to make sure the incentive provided by the toilet flush handle  103  does not become monotonous. Further, the active component may be configured to re-record a new message from time to time as may be deemed appropriate. 
     In another example, the audio output may comprise a fight song of a school (or an adversary school) that is configured to take advantage of the flush sounds made by the toilet to reflect the sentiment of the user toward the school, etc. To this end, the recording may be any recording as can be appreciated. 
     The toilet flush handle  103  may be constructed of various materials such as metals, plastics, or other materials. In one embodiment, the toilet flush handle  103  includes an anti-microbial agent  129 . In this respect, the toilet flush handle  103  may be partially or wholly constructed from an anti-microbial material such as anti-microbial plastic or other material that includes the anti-microbial agent  129 . Alternatively, the toilet flush handle  103  may be at least partially or wholly covered with a coating that includes the anti-microbial agent  129 . To this end, the coating that includes the anti-microbial agent  129  may cover only a portion of the toilet flush handle  103  that is typically touched by hands or fingers in the process of flushing a toilet. Alternatively, the coating that includes the anti-microbial agent  129  may cover the entire toilet flush handle  103 . Further, the toilet flush handle  103  may include a removable portion such as a shield that may or may not include the anti-microbial agent  129 . The anti-microbial agent  129  may comprise, for example, silver ions that are incorporated by a zeolite carrier as marketed by Agion Technologies of Wakefield, Mass. In addition, other anti-microbial agents may be employed. 
     The anti-microbial agent  129  inhibits the growth of bacteria or other microbes on the toilet flush handle  103 , thereby preventing the transmission of bacteria and other microbes between persons who use the toilet. This is especially important to prevent the transmission of illness and disease among persons, including young children, the elderly, and/or those with low immunity. 
     Turning then to  FIG. 2A , shown is one example of an assembly  153  that facilitates the removable attachment of the toilet flush handle  103  to the lever  106  according to one embodiment. The assembly  153  includes a port structure  153  that includes a thread  159 . A nut  163  is affixed to the thread  159  and facilitates clamping of the wall of the toilet tank  100  ( FIG. 1 ) when the toilet handle  103  is assembled in the toilet tank  100 . A pivot portion of the lever  106  extends through the center of the port structure  153  and terminates into a plug structure  166 . The plug structure  166  includes a flat surface  169  and an annular groove  173  that extends around the periphery of the plug structure  166 . Alternatively, the annular groove  173  may be replaced by discrete indentations at respective locations around the periphery of the plug structure  166 . 
     The toilet flush handle  103  includes a receptacle  176  that is compatible with the plug structure  166 . The receptacle  176  includes hinged grips  179  that press into the annular groove  173  or indentations when the plug structure  166  is fully inserted into the receptacle  176 , thereby attaching the toilet flush handle  103  to the lever  106 . To this end, the hinged grips  179  include an inward projection that engages the annular groove  173 . The flat surface  169  of the plug structure  166  mates with a corresponding flat surface  183  of the receptacle  176 . Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the mating of the flat surfaces  169  and  183  is shown, although the entire structures are not depicted as in  FIG. 2A .  FIG. 2B  depicts a side view of the receptacle  176  that clearly depicts one of the hinged grips  179 . 
     The plug structure  166  and receptacle  176  are shown as examples of the many different types of mating structures that may be employed to removably attach the toilet flush handle  103  to the lever  106 . To this end, other mating structures may be used that employ various fasteners such as screw, clips, and other fastener structures. Alternatively, other mating structures may be employed that use a key or other separating device to make it easier to change the handle given that it is possible that persons will want to make the change who do not have great technical skill and might be afraid of harming the toilet. 
     Referring next to  FIG. 3 , shown is another example of the toilet flush handle  203  according to an embodiment of the present invention. In one example, the toilet flush handle  203  is a decorative handle that depicts a sentiment of an owner regarding a school rivalry. Alternatively, the toilet flush handle  203  may include any decorative theme and may be molded or otherwise embodied in many different shapes and sizes. For example, such shapes may be novelty shapes associated with holidays, toilet training themes, animals, sports themes, or any shape. The toilet flush handle  203  may include indicator lights  123 . Embedded in the toilet flush handle  203  is the active component  119  that generates the user perceivable output in response to a movement of the toilet flush handle  203 . In particular, when the toilet flush handle  203  is pushed down to implement a flush of a toilet, a sensor or switch within the active component  119  detects the movement or vibration and implements the playback of a recording and illuminates the lights  123 . The lights may be continuously illuminated or may blink, etc. The illumination or blinking of the lights and the playback of the recording may last for a predefined period of time as can be appreciated. 
     Referring next to  FIG. 4 , shown is one example of the active component  119  according to one embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, the active component includes a processor circuit. Alternatively, the active component may include dedicated digital logic circuitry, etc. 
     The active component  119  includes a movement sensor  206 . The movement sensor  206  may comprise a vibration sensor, a movement activated switch, or other type of movement sensing device. The movement sensor  206  is in electrical communication with an output system  209 . The output system  209  may include, for example, an audio playback system  213  and a memory  216 . In one embodiment, an audio recording may be stored in the memory and played back by the audio playback system  213  when movement of the toilet flush handle  103  is detected. In addition, the output system  209  may include digital logic circuitry that causes the illumination of the lights  123  as deemed appropriate. In one embodiment, the lights  123  may blink in a pattern, at random, or in some other manner. The active component  119  may further comprise a power source  223  that provides power to the movement sensor  206  and the output system  209 . The power source  223  may comprise batteries or other appropriate power source. 
     When the movement sensor  206  detects motion of the toilet flush handle  103 , an appropriate signal is provided to the output system  209  that causes the playback of a recording or the illumination of the lights  123  as described above. 
     The active component  119  includes a switch  226  that is employed to turn the active component  119  on an off. This allows the device to be turned off in cases where it is desirable to maintain quiet and conserver battery power, etc. 
     Referring then to  FIG. 5 , shown is a flowchart that provides one example of the logic implemented in the output system  209 . The logic may be embodied in the form of digital logic circuitry or firmware executed by a processor circuit. The flow chart of  FIG. 5  may be further viewed as a method implemented in the active component  119 . 
     Beginning with box  303 , the output system  209  waits to determine whether a movement of the toilet flush handle  103 / 203  has occurred. If so, the output system  209  proceeds to box  306  in which the playback of any audio recording, the illumination of the any lights  123 , and any other output is implemented. The playback of the recording and illumination of the lights  123  may last a predefined period of time. In one embodiment, this period of time may be tracked by a timer in the output system  209 . 
     Next, in box  309 , the output system  209  determines whether the playback of the recording, illumination of the lights, or other output is done. This may be determined, for example, by ascertaining whether the recording has finished or by determining whether a predefined period of time has passed based upon a timer as mentioned above. Assuming that this is the case, the output system  209  reverts back to box  303  as shown. 
     It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure are merely possible examples of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.