Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a toilet flushing device, particularly to a toilet flushing device which is both automatically and manually operated and provided with a filter grid and a scent box for filtering, disinfection, eliminating bad odor and adding scent. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In contemporary life, automatically and manually operated toilet flushing devices are indispensable for restoring a used toilet to a clean state. 
         [0003]    Conventional toilet flushing devices are either manually or automatically operated, but not both. A manual toilet flushing device requires contact of a user&#39;s hand, implying risk of transmitting germs or infection. An automatic toilet flushing device does not work upon failure of power supply or other defects, so that the toilet remains unclean and unhygienic after use. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a toilet flushing device which is both automatically and manually operated. 
         [0005]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a toilet flushing device which is connected to a flushed water pipe and provides desinfection, eliminating of bad odor and adding of scent. 
         [0006]    Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the toilet flushing device of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the toilet flushing device of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the valve assembly of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 4   a - 4   c  are sectional views of the movement of the valve assembly of the present invention during flushing. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 5   a - 5   c  are sectional views of the movement of the scent box of the present invention during flushing. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0012]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the toilet flushing device of the present invention comprises: a valve assembly  20 , connected with a water supply apparatus  11  and a toilet bowl  12 ; an automatic control device  50 ; a manual control device  60 ; a filter grid  70 ; and a scent box  80 . The water supply apparatus  11  and the toilet bowl  12  are conventional art and do not need further explanation. The automatic control device  50 , upon receiving of a signal, drives opening of the valve assembly  20  to release water and to flush the toilet bowl  12 . The manual control device  60  manually drives opening of the valve assembly  20 . Thereby flushing of the toilet bowl  12  is activated in two ways, so that, if the automatic control device  50  fails, manual flushing of the toilet bowl  12  is still possible. The filter grid  70  and the scent box  80  provide desinfection, eliminating of bad odor and adding of scent. In the following, a detailed description is given. 
         [0013]    For convenient installation on the toilet bowl  12 , the valve assembly  20 , the automatic control device  50  and the manual control device  60  are housed in an outer case  15 . 
         [0014]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the valve assembly  20  comprises: an inlet pipe  22 , connected with the water supply apparatus  11 ; an outlet pipe  23 , connected with the toilet bowl  12 ; and a valve  30 . The valve  30  further comprises: a fixing tube  31 ; a first magnet  33 ; a rubber base plate  35 ; a second magnet  41 ; and a second spring  42 . Upon opening of the valve  30  of the valve assembly  20 , water is allowed to flow through the outlet pipe  23  into the toilet bowl  12 . The rubber base plate  35  is placed between the inlet pipe  22  and the outlet pipe  23 , having an inlet opening  36  and an outlet opening  37 . The fixing tube  31  has an inside with a pressure chamber  38 , as shown in  FIG. 4   a . The first magnet  33  is movable in a vertical movement inside the pressure chamber  38 , with an amplitude of the vertical movement being determined by a length and a weight of the first magnet  33 . The first magnet  33  further has higher end leaning against a first spring  34  and and lower end carrying a silicon tip  39 . The first spring  34  presses the first magnet  33  downward, so that the silicon silicon tip  39  closes the outlet opening  37  of the rubber base plate  35 . The second magnet  41  is mounted on an-upper side of the fixing tube  31 . When driven by the automatic control device  50  or the manual control device  60 , the second magnet  41  pulls the first magnet  33  upward, enabling outflow of water. Afterwards, the second spring  42  pulls the second magnet  42  away from the first magnet  33 , so that outflow of water is stopped. Of the first and second magnets  33 ,  41 , either both are made of magnetic material or one is made of magnetic material and one is made of magnetizable material. 
         [0015]    For adjusting the length and the weight of the first magnet  33 , an extension pin  331  is placed between the first magnet  33  and the silicon tip  39 . The extension pin  331  is preferably made of PVC. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 4   a - 4   c , letting out of water is achieved in the following way. As shown in  FIG. 4   a , in a closed state of the valve  30 , the first magnet  33  closes the outlet opening  37  of the rubber base plate  35 . In this state, pressures on upper and lower sides of the rubber base plate  35  are equal, and the valve  30  is closed, so that no water flows out through the outlet pipe  23 . As shown in  FIG. 4   b , in an opened state of the valve  30 , the second magnet  41  pulls the first magnet  33  upward, against pressure from the first spring  34 , opening the outlet opening  37  of the rubber base plate  35 . In this state, pressure on the lower side of the rubber base plate  35  exceeds pressure on the upper side thereof, and the valve  30  is opened, so that water flows out through the outlet pipe  23 . As shown in  FIG. 4   c , when the second magnet  41  is removed from the first magnet  33  by the second spring, the first spring  34  pushes the first magnet  33  downward, closing again the outlet opening  37  of the rubber base plate  35 , so that the closed state of the valve  30  is assumed again and no water flows out through the outlet pipe  23 . 
         [0017]    Referring again to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the automatic control device  50  comprises: a sensor  51 , receiving an external signal; a coil  52 , mounted on the upper side of the fixing tube  31  and generating a magnetic field when flown through by an electric current; a control circuit  53 , connected with the sensor  51  and the coil  52 ; and a shifting assembly  54 , having an upper plate  55  and a lower plate  57 , which is made of magnetizable material. The upper plate  55  is fastened to the coil  52 . The lower plate  57  has a lower edge fastened to the second magnet  41 . The control circuit  53  is connected with an electrical power source  58 . When the sensor  51  receives an external signal, the control circuit  53  causes electric current to flow through the coil  52 , which in turn attracts the lower plate  57 , so that the second magnet  41  is brought close to the first magnet  33 , causing water to flow out through the water outlet pipe  23 . 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIG. 4   a , for holding the second magnet  41 , a connecting assembly  43  connects the second magnet  41  with the lower plate  57 . The connecting assembly  43  has a first lobe  44 , fastened to the second magnet  41 , a second lobe  45 , fastened to the lower plate  57 , and a pin  46 , passing through the first and second lobes  44 ,  45 . 
         [0019]    The control circuit  53  works as follows: A. The sensor  51  receives an external signal for about 6 seconds. B. The coil  52 , passed through by electric current, causes water to be released for 3 seconds. C. The sensor  51  having for 4 seconds received a continuous external signal, goes into a standby state. D. The sensor  51  receives no external signal. E. The coil  52 , passed through by electric current, causes water to be released for 3-6 seconds. 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the power source  58  is a regular power source, a solar panel or an energy-storing device, providing electrical power for the automatic control device  50 . 
         [0021]    As further shown in  FIG. 4   a , the manual control device  60  comprises: a casing  61 , housing the valve assembly  20 ; a rod  62 , which passes through the casing  61 , having an inner end  63 , which is connected with the second magnet  41 , and an outer end  64 , which projects from the outer case  15 ; and a third spring  65 , connected with the casing  61  and the rod  62  at a certain location thereof. When the rod  62 , by pressure on the outer end  64  thereof, is manually pushed inward, the second magnet  41  is moved close to the first magnet  33 , causing outflow of water through the outlet pipe  23 . With no pressure on the outer end  64  of the rod  62 , the third spring  65  presses the rod  62  outward into an original position. 
         [0022]    For assessing a need to use the manual control device  60 , the automatic control device  50  has a light indicator  56 , signalling a defect thereof or a lack of electrical power, so a user knows that the manual control device  60  has to be employed for flushing. 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 5   a , for ensuring a pleasant scent, a scent box  80  is mounted on the outlet pipe  23 . The scent box  80  has a container  81 , having an upper side with an inlet  82  and a lower side with an outlet  83  and containing a scenting liquid  85 , which has a desinfecting effect. The scent box  80  further has an adjusting device  91 , which further comprises: a chamber  92 , having a rectangular cross-section and being connected with the outlet  83 , further having an upper end with a central hole  93  and a lower end with a connecting channel  921 , which has a far end with a snout  922  that reaches into the outlet tube  23 ; an adjusting screw  94 , passing through the central hole  93  and having a lower end and a middle section with a thread  95 ; an upper block  96 , placed inside the chamber  92  next to the outlet  83 , silicon tip, while being not turnable against the chamber  92 , and engaging with the thread  95  of the adjusting screw  94 ; and a lower block  97 , mounted below the lower end of the adjusting screw  94 , keeping an adjustable distance  98  to the upper block  96 . Turning of the adjusting screw  94  vertically shifts the upper block  96 , varying the distance  98 , thereby varying a flow rate of the scenting liquid  85 . The lower block  97  has a via hole  971 , through which an I-shaped rod  972  passes. The I-shaped rod  972  has an upper plate  973 , a lower plate  974  and a connecting rod  975 , which connectes the upper and lower plates  973 ,  974 , passes through the via hole  971  and is longer than the via hole  971 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 5   a - 5   c , the scent box  80  works as follows. As shown in  FIG. 5   a , in a normal state of the scent box  80 , the upper block  96  closes the outlet  83 , so that no scenting liquid  85  enters the chamber  92 . As shown in  FIG. 6   b , when the valve assambly  20  opens to release flushing water, flushing water enters the chamber  92  through the connecting channel  921 . Then the lower and upper blocks  97 ,  96  float upward, and the I-shaped rod  972  moves upward, closing the via hole  971 . Subsequently, scent liquid  85  enters the chamber  92  between the upper and lower blocks  96 ,  97 . As shown in  FIG. 5   c , upon closing of the valve assembly  20 , no flushing water flows out. Then the lower and upper blocks  97 ,  96  move downward, and the I-shaped rod  972  moves downward, briefly opening the via hole  971 , so that scent liquid  85  enters the chamber  92  below the lower block  97  and flows out through the connecting channel  921 . 
         [0025]    Referring again to  FIG. 2 , for monitoring how much scenting liquid  85  is left in the container  82 , the outer case  15  carries a transparent plate  16 . 
         [0026]    While preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Category: e