Flush actuator assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10907332-B2
Application number	US-201816102387-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 13, 2018
Priority date	Sep 1, 2017
Publication date	Feb 2, 2021
Grant date	Feb 2, 2021

Abstract

A flush actuator assembly for a plumbing fixture includes a housing, a handle and a lever. The housing is configured to be removably coupled to the plumbing fixture. The handle is pivotally and removably coupled to the housing. The handle includes a stem configured to extend through the plumbing fixture and into the housing. The arm is removably coupled to the stem within the housing. The arm is configured to pivot with the handle. The lever is at least partially disposed in the housing, and is configured to be selectively disengaged from the stem to removably couple the handle to the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A flush actuator assembly for a plumbing fixture,
a housing configured to be removably coupled to the plumbing fixture;
a handle pivotally and removably coupled to the housing, wherein the handle includes a stem configured to extend through the plumbing fixture and into the housing;
an arm removably coupled to the stem within the housing, wherein the arm is configured to pivot with the handle; and
a lever at least partially disposed in the housing, wherein the lever is biased toward the stem by a coil spring, and wherein the lever is configured to be selectively disengaged from the stem to removably couple the handle to the housing.

2. The flush actuator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lever is configured to be selectively disengaged from the stem by applying an upward force to the lever without the use of a tool.

3. The flush actuator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lever is configured to automatically engage the stem to removably couple the handle to the housing by a biasing force of the coil spring.

4. The flush actuator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the arm includes a free end configured to receive a cable for controlling a flush valve of the plumbing fixture.

5. The flush actuator assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a sleeve extending from the housing, wherein the sleeve is configured to receive the stem of the handle therethrough, and wherein the sleeve is configured to be inserted through an opening in the plumbing fixture.

6. The flush actuator assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a first nut configured to couple the housing to the plumbing fixture, wherein the sleeve includes an outer threaded portion, and wherein the first nut is configured to threadably engage the outer threaded portion of the sleeve.

7. The flush actuator assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a second nut configured to threadably engage the outer threaded portion of the sleeve and to sandwich a portion of the plumbing fixture between the first nut and the second nut to removably couple the housing to the plumbing fixture.

8. A flush actuator assembly, comprising:
a housing;
a handle including a stem extending therefrom, wherein the handle is configured to be pivotally and removably coupled to the housing;
an arm disposed in the housing, wherein the arm is configured to receive at least a portion of the stem and to pivot with the handle;
a lever disposed in the housing, wherein the lever is configured to be selectively disengaged from the stem to removably couple the handle to the housing; and
a coil spring positioned between a portion of the lever and the housing, wherein the coil spring is configured to bias the lever toward the stem so as to maintain engagement between the lever and the stem.

9. The flush actuator assembly of claim 8 , wherein the lever is configured to be selectively disengaged from the stem by applying an upward force to the lever without the use of a tool.

10. The flush actuator assembly of claim 8 , wherein the lever is configured to automatically engage the stem to removably couple the handle to the housing by a biasing force of the coil spring.

11. The flush actuator assembly of claim 8 , wherein the arm includes a free end configured to receive a cable for controlling a flush valve of a plumbing fixture.

12. The flush actuator assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a sleeve extending from the housing, wherein the sleeve is configured to receive the stem of the handle therethrough.

13. The flush actuator assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a first nut configured to couple the housing to a plumbing fixture, wherein the sleeve includes an outer threaded portion, and wherein the first nut is configured to threadably engage the outer threaded portion of the sleeve.

14. The flush actuator assembly of claim 13 , further comprising a second nut configured to threadably engage the outer threaded portion of the sleeve and to sandwich a portion of the plumbing fixture between the first nut and the second nut to removably couple the housing to the plumbing fixture.

15. A flush actuator assembly for a plumbing fixture, comprising:
a housing;
a handle including a stem, wherein the handle is configured to be removably coupled to the housing;
an arm disposed in the housing, wherein the arm is configured to receive at least a portion of the stem and to pivot with the handle;
a lever assembly at least partially disposed in the housing, wherein the lever assembly is configured to be selectively disengaged from the stem to removably couple the handle to the housing; and
wherein the lever assembly includes a lever and a separate biasing member that at least partially encircles the lever, the separate biasing member configured to bias the lever toward the stem;
wherein a portion of the lever assembly is accessible at an outer portion of the housing and is configured to be actuated to remove the handle from the housing.

16. The flush actuator assembly of claim 15 , wherein the lever assembly is configured to be selectively disengaged from the stem by applying an upward force to the lever assembly without the use of a tool.

17. The flush actuator assembly of claim 15 , wherein the lever is configured to automatically engage the stem to removably couple the handle to the housing by a biasing force of the biasing member.

18. The flush actuator assembly of claim 17 , wherein the lever assembly further comprises an engagement portion having an engagement surface that is configured to engage a portion of the stem.

19. The flush actuator assembly of claim 18 , wherein the engagement surface has a shape that is complementary to a shape of the portion of the stem.

20. The flush actuator assembly of claim 15 , wherein the arm includes a free end configured to receive a cable for controlling a flush valve of a plumbing fixture.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Lambert Tony
• Halloran Daniel
• Mesun Randy
• Guay Jonathan
• Muellenbach Keith

Classifications

• E03D5/092

  the flushing element, e.g. siphon bell, being actuated through a lever · CPC title

• E03D1/34

  Flushing valves for outlets; Arrangement of outlet valves · CPC title

• E03D5/09 Primary

  directly by the hand · CPC title

• E03D5/094 Primary

  the flushing element, e.g. siphon bell, being actuated through a cable, chain or the like · CPC title