AU2005202961B2

AU2005202961B2 - Attachment for a toilet cistern

Info

Publication number: AU2005202961B2
Application number: AU2005202961A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Kenneth Kingsley Palmer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-07-06
Filing date: 2005-07-06
Publication date: 2008-09-18
Anticipated expiration: 2025-07-06
Also published as: AU2005202961A9; AU2005202961A1

Description

Regulation 3.2 Revised 2/98

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act, 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION TO BE COMPLETED BY THE APPLICANT NAME OF APPLICANT: Kenneth Kingsley Palmer ACTUAL INVENTOR: Kenneth Kingsley Palmer ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: Peter Maxwell and Associates Level 6 Pitt Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 INVENTION TITLE: ATTACHMENT FOR A TOILET

CISTERN

DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NO(S): 2004 903 721 6 July 2004 AU The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me:m:\docs\20051034\081425.doc oo00 2 bThis invention relates to an attachment for a toilet cistern which will permit differential actuation of the flushing mechanism of the cistern.

N It is generally accepted that the full flush of the cistern is not always warranted leading to the waste of water on those occasions when less than a IN 5 full flush is necessary. One proposal to overcome this problem was the iintroduction of the half flush/full flush actuating mechanism as original tequipment for the cistern.

There is a need, however, to adapt installed cisterns of the full flush only type to provide, when required, a reduced flush.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an attachment for the operating button of the flushing mechanism of a cistern, said attachment comprising a mounting having a base portion adapted to be secured to the cistern and an upstanding portion adapted to be located adjacent the actuating button, first actuating lever pivotally mounted on the upstanding portion and extending over part of the operating button, a stop adapted to limit the downward movement of the first actuating lever so as to limit the downward movement of the operating button of the cistern, and a second actuating lever pivotally mounted on the upstanding portion of the mounting and extending over another part of the operating button but clear of the stop so that the second actuating lever can depress the operating button of the cistern to its fullest extent.

Preferably, the adjustment mechanism comprises an adjustment member threadingly engaged with the actuating lever. It is also preferred that the actuating lever be height adjustable with respect to the upstanding arm.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:- 20/08/08

I

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an attachment for a toilet cistern according to one embodiment of the invention shown in its normal position, Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the actuating lever effecting a reduced flush, Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the actuating lever clear of the operating button to allow full flush of the cistern, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an attachment for a toilet system according to a second embodiment of the invention.

The attachment 10 for the operating button of a cistern shown in Figs 1 to 3 consists of a mounting 11 having a base 12 and an upstanding arm 13, an actuating lever 14 pivotally connected to the upstanding arm 13 and an adjustable stop 15. The cistern has an upper surface 16 through which projects an operating button 17 held in place by a keeper 18.

In this instance, the base 12 of the mounting 11 has an aperture through which the operating button 17 projects and the base 12 is secured against the upper surface 16 of the cistern by the keeper 18.

The upstanding arm 13, which is spaced from the operating button 17, has a slotted portion near its upper end which receives a fastener connected to a pivot plate 19 to permit height adjustment of the actuating lever 14. At the upper end of the pivot plate 19 there is a hinge 21 by means of which the actuating lever 14 is pivotally connected to the upstanding arm 13.

The adjustable stop 15 consists of a threaded member 22 which is engaged in a nut 23 mounted on the actuating lever 14.

As shown in Fig. 1, the actuating lever 14 is in its normal position overlying the operating button 17. When the actuating lever 14 is pushed downwardly as shown in Fig. 2, its movement is limited by the stop 15 so that 06/07/05 Sthe operating button is only partly depressed leading to a reduced flush of the cistern. When a full flush is required, the actuating lever 14 is pivoted out of the way as shown in Fig. 3 to permit unrestricted access to the operating button 17.

The base 12 can have stiffened edges and the upstanding arm 13 can 0have several tappings to allow for varying heights of operating button 17 which could change according to manufacturer.

The attachment 30 shown in Fig. 4 includes a moulded mounting 31 having a base portion 32 and an upstanding portion 33 having a front 34 and a rear 35. The base portion 32 has an aperture 36 through which the operating button of a cistern can project.

Adjacent the rear 35 of the mounting 31 there is a shaft 36 which supports a first operating lever 37 and a second operating lever 38.

The first operating lever 37 overlies a stop 39 which limits the downward movement of the first operating lever 37 and thus the downward movement of the operating button of the cistern. In this instance, the stop 39 comprises a stud 40 threaded into post 41 so as to be height adjustable.

The second operating lever 37 is clear of the stop 39 so that the second operating lever 37 can depress the operating button of the cistern to its fullest extent.

Various modifications may be made in details of design and construction of the attachment for a toilet cistern without departing from the scope and ambit of the invention.

06/07/05

Claims

1. An attachment for the operating button of the flushing mechanism of a cistern, said attachment comprising a mounting having a base portion adapted 1 to be secured to the cistern and an upstanding portion adapted to be located 0 adjacent the actuating button, a first actuating lever pivotally mounted on the aupstanding portion and extending over part of the operating button, a stop N adapted to limit the downward movement of the first actuating lever so as to limit the downward movement of the operating button of the cistern, and a second actuating lever pivotally mounted on the upstanding portion of the mounting and extending over another part of the operating button but clear of the stop so that the second actuating lever can depress the operating button of the cistern to its fullest extent.

2. An attachment according to claim 1 wherein the stop comprises an adjustment member threadingly engaged with the actuating lever.

3. An attachment according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the actuating lever is height adjustable with respect to the upstanding portion.

4. An attachment according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the first and second actuating levers are mounted on a common shaft supported by the upstanding portion of the mounting.

An attachment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the base portion has an aperture through which the operating button of the cistern projects. 27/08/08 00

6. An attachment for the operating button of the flushing mechanism of a cistern substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 4 of the c accompanying drawings. O\ Dated this 27th day of August 2008 Kenneth Kingsley Palmer C Patent Attorneys for the Applicant PETER MAXWELL ASSOCIATES 27/08/08