Dual flush handle control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9896830-B2
Application number	US-201514830060-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 19, 2015
Priority date	Nov 22, 2011
Publication date	Feb 20, 2018
Grant date	Feb 20, 2018

Abstract

Disclosed are various embodiments for a dual flush handle system. A first handle lever is configured to rotate in a direction by a first predetermined angle of rotation to initiate a first flush of a toilet. A second handle lever is configured to rotate in the direction about a second predetermined angle of rotation to initiate a second flush of a toilet.

First claim

Therefore, the following is claimed:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a first handle lever that is configured to initiate a first toilet flush corresponding to one of a partial toilet flush or a full toilet flush; and
a second handle lever that is configured to initiate a second toilet flush corresponding to another one of the partial toilet flush or the full toilet flush, wherein the first handle lever is nested in at least a portion of the second handle lever and a damper is retained in the second handle lever.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first handle lever is configured to rotate about an axis, and wherein the second handle lever is configured to rotate about the axis.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first handle lever is configured to rotate in a direction to initiate the first toilet flush, and wherein the second handle lever is configured to rotate in the direction to initiate the second toilet flush.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a spring configured to return the first handle lever to a neutral position after a flush activation.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a spring configured to return the second handle lever to a neutral position after a flush activation.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the second handle lever comprises a stem that extends from an interior side of the second handle lever; and
the first handle lever comprises a post extending into the stem of the first handle lever.

7. A method, comprising:
moving a first handle lever to initiate a first toilet flush corresponding to one of a partial toilet flush or a full toilet flush; and
moving a second handle lever to initiate a second toilet flush corresponding to another one of the partial toilet flush or the full toilet flush, wherein the first handle lever is nested in at least a portion of the second handle lever and a damper is disposed between the first handle lever and the second handle lever.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein moving the first handle lever to initiate the first type of toilet flush comprises rotating the first handle lever; and
wherein moving the second handle lever to initiate the second type of toilet flush comprises rotating the second handle lever.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first type of toilet flush uses less water than the second toilet flush.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein moving the first handle lever to initiate the first toilet flush comprises rotating the first handle lever about an axis; and
wherein moving the second handle lever to initiate the second type of toilet flush comprises rotating the second handle lever about the axis.

11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising returning the first handle lever and the second handle lever to a neutral position after a flush activation.

12. The method of claim 7 , further comprising retaining a post of the first handle lever in a stem of the second handle lever.

13. An apparatus, comprising:
a first handle lever that is configured to rotate to initiate a first toilet flush corresponding to one of a partial toilet flush or a full toilet flush;
a second handle lever that is configured to rotate to initiate a second toilet flush corresponding to another one of the partial toilet flush or the full toilet flush, wherein the first handle is nested in at least a portion of the second handle lever; and
a damper disposed between the first handle lever and the second handle lever.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first handle lever is prevented from rotating more than a first amount; and
wherein the second handle lever is prevented from rotating more than a second amount.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a spring configured to return the first handle lever and the second handle lever to a neutral position after a flush activation.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a spring configured to rotate the first handle lever in response to the second handle lever being rotated.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first handle lever and the second handle lever are configured to rotate about a common axis.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the second handle lever comprises a stem extending from an interior side of the second handle lever; and
wherein the first handle lever comprises a post that extends into the stem of the second handle lever.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the damper is retained in the second handle lever.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the damper is disposed between the first handle lever and the second handle lever.

Assignees

• Danco Inc

Inventors

• Schuster Michael J
• Saunders Douglas C
• Stutzman Duston E A

Classifications

• E03D5/00 Primary

  Special constructions of flushing devices (in motor vehicles or trailers B60R15/00; in railway carriages B61D35/00; in ships B63B29/14; in aircraft B64D11/02), {e.g. closed flushing system} · CPC title

• E03D5/094 Primary

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

• E03D5/09

  directly by the hand · CPC title