Abstract:
A toilet actuating system includes a flush pedal, at least one seat/lid pedal, a control unit interfacing with the flush pedal and the at least one seat/lid pedal, a toilet flush mechanism engaged by the control unit and at least one of a toilet seat and a toilet lid engaged by the control unit.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates to toilets. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a toilet actuating system for actuating the seat, lid and flush functions of a toilet using foot-actuated pedals. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventionally, toilets require that a user manually lift a toilet lid and seat when necessary. Some toilets require that a flush handle be manually depressed to actuate flushing of the toilet. However, many users of toilets are uneasy about touching these parts of a toilet, particularly in public restrooms, due to fear of contamination. 
     Therefore, a toilet actuating system for actuating the seat, lid and flush functions of a toilet using foot-actuated pedals is needed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure is generally directed to a toilet actuating system. An illustrative embodiment of the toilet actuating system includes a flush pedal, at least one seat/lid pedal, a control unit interfacing with the flush pedal and the at least one seat/lid pedal, a toilet flush mechanism engaged by the control unit and at least one of a toilet seat and a toilet lid engaged by the control unit. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will now be made, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a toilet in implementation of an illustrative embodiment of the toilet actuating system; 
         FIG. 2  is a right side view of the toilet in implementation of an illustrative embodiment of the toilet actuating system; 
         FIG. 3  is a left side view of the toilet in implementation of an illustrative embodiment of the toilet actuating system; and 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of the toilet actuating system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. 
     Referring to the drawings, an illustrative embodiment of the toilet actuating system, hereinafter system, is generally indicated by reference numeral  1 . The system  1  may be fitted to a toilet  20  which may have a conventional design. As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the toilet  1  may include a toilet base  21  with a toilet bowl  22  and a water tank  23  provided on the toilet base  21 . A toilet seat  24  may be pivotally attached to the toilet bowl  22 . A toilet lid  25  may be pivotally attached to the toilet bowl to close the toilet seat  24  and toilet bowl  22 . The water tank  23  may be fitted with a toilet flushing mechanism  26  which facilitates flushing of the toilet bowl  22 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the system  1  may include a flush pedal  3  and a seat/lid pedal  8 . A control unit  2  may interface with the flush pedal  3  and the seat/lid pedal  8 . A flush actuator linkage  5 , a lid actuator linkage  6  and a seat actuator linkage  7  may interface with the control unit  2 . The flush actuator linkage  5  may interface with a flush mechanism (not shown) provided in the water tank  23  of the toilet  20 . The lid actuator linkage  6  and the seat actuator linkage  7  may engage the toilet lid  25  and the toilet seat  24 , respectively, of the toilet  20  typically in a manner which will be hereinafter described. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the control unit  2  (shown in phantom) of the system  1  may be provided in the toilet base  21  of the toilet  20 . The flush pedal  3  may be provided on a flush pedal shaft  4 . The flush pedal shaft  4  may extend into a side of the toilet base  21  of the toilet  20  through a shaft opening  4   a  and engage the control unit  2 . In the toilet base  21 , the control unit  2  may engage the flush actuator linkage  5 , which may extend upwardly through a linkage opening (not shown) provided in the top of the toilet base  21  and extends into the water tank  23  through a linkage opening (not shown). In the water tank  23 , the flush actuator linkage  5  operably engages a flush mechanism (not shown) of the toilet  20 . Accordingly, responsive to depression of the flush pedal  3 , the control unit  2  actuates the flush mechanism  26  in the water tank  23 , which initiates the flush function of the toilet  20 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the lid/seat pedal  8  may be provided on a lid/seat pedal shaft  9 . The lid/seat pedal shaft  9  may extend into a side of the toilet base  21  of the toilet  20  through a shaft opening  9   a  and engage the control unit  2 . In the toilet base  21 , the lid actuator linkage  6  may engage a lid arm  11  which extends from the toilet base  21  through an arm opening  11   a . The seat actuator linkage  7  may engage a seat arm  12  which extends from the toilet base  21  through an arm opening  12   a . The lid arm  11  engages the toilet lid  25 , and the seat arm  12  engages the toilet seat  24 . Accordingly, responsive to depression of the seat/lid pedal  8 , the control unit  2  may be adapted to raise the toilet lid  25  from the toilet seat  24  via the lid arm  11 . Responsive to further depression of the seat/lid pedal  8 , the control unit  2  may be adapted to raise the toilet seat  24  from the toilet bowl  22  via the seat arm  12 . In some embodiments, the control unit  2  may be adapted to automatically close the toilet seat  24  on the toilet bowl and the toilet lid  25  on the toilet seat  24  after flushing of the toilet  20  via actuation of the flush pedal  3 . In some embodiments, the lid arm  11  and the seat arm  12  may be actuated via separate foot pedals according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. 
     In typical operation of the system  1 , a user (not shown) of the toilet  20  raises the toilet lid  25  from the toilet seat  24  and may additionally raise the toilet seat  24  from the toilet bowl  22  by depressing the seat/lid pedal  8  with his or her foot. After using the toilet  20 , the user flushes the toilet  20  by depressing the flush pedal  3 . The control unit  2  may then automatically lower the toilet seat  24  onto the toilet bowl  22  and the toilet lid  25  onto the toilet seat  24  via the seat arm  12  and the lid arm  11 , respectively. Accordingly, the flush functions of the toilet  20 , as well as raising and lowering of the toilet seat  24  and the toilet seat  25 , may be actuated without the need of the user to manually touch any components of the toilet  20 . 
     While the preferred embodiments of the disclosure have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made in the disclosure and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.