Patent Abstract:
A toilet actuation apparatus. An illustrative embodiment of the apparatus includes a lever support, at least one pedal lever pivotally carried by the lever support, at least one pedal carried by the at least one pedal lever on a first side of the lever support, at least one actuation lever pivotally carried by the at least one pedal lever on a second side of the lever support, at least one toothed actuation rack carried by the at least one actuation lever and at least one toothed actuation pinion engaging the at least one toothed actuation rack.

Full Description:
FIELD 
     The present invention relates to toilets. More particularly, the present invention relates to a toilet actuation apparatus for actuating at least one of a toilet lid, a toilet seat and a flush lever using foot-actuated pedals. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A conventional toilet includes a toilet bowl on which is pivotally mounted a toilet seat and a toilet lid. A water tank provided on the toilet bowl includes a typically hand-actuated flush lever. The toilet lid and toilet seat can be selectively raised and lowered manually. Many persons have concerns regarding manual operation of a toilet due to the potential for germ contamination. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is generally directed to a toilet actuation apparatus. An illustrative embodiment of the apparatus includes a lever support, at least one pedal lever pivotally carried by the lever support, at least one pedal carried by the at least one pedal lever on a first side of the lever support, at least one actuation lever pivotally carried by the at least one pedal lever on a second side of the lever support, at least one toothed actuation rack carried by the at least one actuation lever and at least one toothed actuation pinion engaging the at least one toothed actuation rack. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the toilet actuation apparatus, fitted to a toilet, with the toilet seat and toilet lid shown in a lowered position; 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the toilet actuation apparatus, fitted to a toilet, with the toilet lid shown in a raised position; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view, taken along section lines  3 - 3  in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view, taken along section lines  4 - 4  in  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of an enclosure component of an illustrative embodiment of the toilet actuation apparatus, more particularly illustrating an exemplary technique which facilitates raising and lowering of a toilet seat and toilet lid on the toilet. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the drawings, an illustrative embodiment of the toilet actuation apparatus, hereinafter apparatus, is generally indicated by reference numeral  1 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-4  and will be hereinafter described, the apparatus  1  is adapted to operate a toilet  34  which may be conventional. The toilet  34  typically includes a toilet bowl  35 . A toilet seat  36  has a toilet seat axle  37 , and a toilet lid  38  has a toilet lid axle  39 , which are pivotally attached to the toilet bowl  35 . A water tank  42  is provided on the toilet bowl  35  and is fitted with a flush lever  43 . 
     The apparatus  1  includes an enclosure  2 . In some embodiments, the enclosure  2  has a base portion  3  and an extended portion  4  which extends from the base portion  3 , in generally perpendicular relationship thereto. As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the enclosure  2  has an enclosure interior  5 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a lever support  30  is provided in the enclosure interior  5  of the base portion  3 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , in some embodiments an elongated lid pedal lever  9  is pivotally attached to the lever support  30  at a pivot point  31 . The lid pedal lever  9  extends through a lever slot (not shown) provided in the base portion  3  of the enclosure  2 , where a lid pedal  8  is provided on the lid pedal lever  9 . As further shown in  FIG. 4 , an elongated lid actuation lever  10  is pivotally attached to the lid pedal lever  9  and extends through the enclosure interior  5  of the extended portion  4 . A toothed lid actuation rack  11  extends from the lid actuation lever  10 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , a toothed lid actuation pinion  12  is provided on the toilet lid axle  39 . A toothed lid guide pinion  13  is rotatably attached to the enclosure  2  adjacent to the lid actuation pinion  12 . The lid actuation rack  11  extends between and meshes with the lid actuation pinion  12  and the lid guide pinion  13 . Accordingly, upon depression of the lid pedal  8 , the lid pedal lever  9  ( FIG. 4 ) pivots with respect to the pivot point  31  and raises the lid actuation lever  10  in the enclosure interior  5 . The lid actuation rack  11  rotates the lid actuation pinion  12 , which in turn rotates the toilet lid axle ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). This facilitates lifting of the toilet lid  38  from the closed position shown in  FIG. 1  to the raised position shown in  FIG. 2 . Conversely, release of the lid pedal  8  facilitates lowering of the toilet lid  38  back to the closed position in  FIG. 1 , typically by the falling action of the toilet lid  38 , as the lid actuation pinion  12  rotates in the opposite direction; the lid actuation rack  11  is lowered between the lid actuation pinion  12  and the lid guide pinion  13 ; and the lid pedal lever  9  pivots back to the original position in the enclosure interior  5 . 
     As further shown in  FIG. 4 , in some embodiments an elongated seat pedal lever  17  is pivotally attached to the lever support  30  at the pivot point  31 . The seat pedal lever  17  extends through a lever slot (not shown) provided in the base portion  3  of the enclosure  2 , where a seat pedal  16  is provided on the seat pedal lever  17 . As further shown in  FIG. 4 , an elongated seat actuation lever  18  is pivotally attached to the seat pedal lever  17  and extends through the enclosure interior  5  of the extended portion  4 . A toothed seat actuation rack  19  extends from the seat actuation lever  18 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , a toothed seat actuation pinion  20  is provided on the toilet seat axle  37 . A toothed seat guide pinion  21  is rotatably attached to the enclosure  2  adjacent to the seat actuation pinion  20 . The seat actuation rack  19  extends between and meshes with the seat actuation pinion  20  and the seat guide pinion  21 . Accordingly, upon depression of the seat pedal  16 , the seat pedal lever  17  ( FIG. 4 ) pivots with respect to the pivot point  31  and raises the seat actuation lever  18  in the enclosure interior  5 . The seat actuation rack  19  rotates the seat actuation pinion  20 , which in turn rotates the toilet seat axle  37  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). This facilitates lifting of the toilet seat  36  from the closed position shown in  FIG. 4  to a raised position (not shown). Conversely, release of the seat pedal  16  facilitates lowering of the toilet seat  36  back to the closed position, typically by the falling action of the toilet seat  36 , as the seat actuation pinion  20  rotates in the opposite direction; the seat actuation rack  19  is lowered between the seat actuation pinion  20  and the seat guide pinion  21 ; and the seat pedal lever  17  pivots back to the original position in the enclosure interior  5 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , in some embodiments an elongated flush pedal lever  25  is pivotally attached to the lever support at the pivot point  31 . The flush pedal lever  25  extends through a lever slot (not shown) provided in the base portion  3  of the enclosure  2 , where a flush pedal  24  is provided on the flush pedal lever  25 . As further shown in  FIG. 4 , an elongated flush actuation lever  26  is pivotally attached to the flush pedal lever  25  and extends from the enclosure interior  5  of the extended portion  4  through a lever slot (not shown). The distal or extending end of the flush actuation lever  26  is attached to the flush lever  43  of the toilet  34  according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. Accordingly, upon depression of the flush pedal  24 , the flush pedal lever  25  pivots with respect to the pivot point  31  and raises the flush actuation lever  26 , thereby actuating the flush mechanism (not shown) in the water tank  42 . Upon release of the flush pedal  24 , the flush pedal lever  25  pivots back to the original position and lowers the flush actuation lever  26 . 
     In typical use of the apparatus  1 , the lid pedal  8  is actuated to selectively raise and lower the toilet lid  38 ; the seat pedal  16  is actuated to selectively raise and lower the toilet seat  36 ; and the flush pedal  24  is actuated to selectively actuate the flush lever  43  of the toilet  34 . This renders unnecessary manual contact of the toilet lid  38 , toilet seat  36  and/or flush lever  43  by the user (not shown) of the toilet  34 . 
     While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0