Dual Flush System for Toilet

Abstract

The conservation of water is an issue that preoccupies an increasing number of people. Among all domestic appliances, toilet is an appliance that consumes an appreciable quantity of water. The present invention provides a dual flush system that allows to select the volume of water when using a toilet by choosing between two volumes of water. The dual flush system can be easily installed without tools on a toilet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in greater detail below with reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the dual flush system installed in a toilet.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dual flush system in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 to FIG. 5 are side views of the dual flush system, showing the device in a closed, partially opened and completely opened condition, respectively.

FIG. 6 is a cross side view of the dual flush system.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the dual flush system.

FIG. 8 is a cross side view of a first embodiment of the bottom opening of the dual flush system.

FIG. 9 is a cross side view of a second embodiment of the bottom opening of the dual flush system.

FIG. 10 is a top view showing the annular buoyant member.

Claims

1. A dual flush system for use on a toilet of the type having a toilet bowl, a water tank, and a flush actuator, said water tank being connected to the toilet bowl by mean of a flush pipe having a first flush outlet in said water tank and an overflow tube having an overflow tube inlet, said overflow tube connected to said flush pipe at the bottom end of said overflow tube, said first flush outlet being sealed with a tank-ball, said dual flush system comprising a tubular flush pipe extension having a second flush outlet and a bottom opening for coextensively engaging said flush pipe at said first flush outlet.

2. The dual flush system for a toilet of claim 1, wherein said second flush outlet is adapted to sealingly received said tank-ball and wherein the height of said second flush outlet defines a volume of water to be selectively flushed.

3. The dual flush system for a toilet of claim 2, wherein said flush pipe extension comprises an annular buoyant member.

4. The dual flush system for a toilet of claim 3, wherein said annular buoyant member has a vertical axis which is laterally displaced from the vertical axis of the second flush outlet.

5. The dual flush system for a toilet of claim 4, wherein said flush pipe extension is linked to a guide part by a rigid member.

6. The dual flush system for a toilet of claim 5, wherein said guide part is adapted to be movably fit along a substantially vertical element.

7. The dual flush system for a toilet of claim 6, wherein said substantially vertical element is said overflow tube.

8. The dual flush system for a toilet of claim 6, wherein said guide part is a tube.

9. The dual flush system for a toilet of claim 7, wherein said flush pipe extension has a first position in which said bottom opening sealingly engages said first flush outlet.

10. The dual flush system for a toilet of claim 9, wherein said flush pipe extension has a second position in which said bottom opening is spaced from the first flush outlet.

11. The dual flush system for a toilet of claim 10, wherein said first position is reached when said flush actuator is moved from its rest position to a first predetermined position.

12. The dual flush system for a toilet of claim 11, wherein said second position is reached when said flush actuator is moved from said rest position to a second predetermined position.

13. The dual flush system for a toilet of claim 12, wherein said flush pipe extension further comprises an alignment arm projecting downwardly from said bottom opening and extending in said flush pipe.

14. The dual flush system for a toilet of claim 13, wherein said guiding part further comprises pins adapted to receive said tank-ball.

15. A dual flush system for use on a toilet of the type having a toilet bowl, a water tank, a first and a second flush actuator, said water tank being connected to the toilet bowl by mean of a flush pipe having a first flush outlet in said water tank and an overflow tube having an overflow tube inlet, said overflow tube merging with said flush pipe at the bottom end of said overflow tube, said dual flush system comprising a tubular flush pipe extension having a second flush outlet and a bottom opening for coextensively engaging said flush pipe at said first flush outlet, the height of said second flush outlet defining a volume of water to be selectively flushed.

16. The dual flush system for a toilet of claim 15, wherein said flush pipe extension comprises an annular buoyant member.

17. The dual flush system for a toilet of claim 16, wherein said flush pipe extension is linked to a guide part by a rigid member.

18. The dual flush system for a toilet of claim 17, wherein said guide part is adapted to be movably fit along a substantially vertical element.

19. The dual flush system for a toilet of claim 18, wherein said substantially vertical element is said overflow tube.

20. The dual flush system for a toilet of claim 18, wherein said guide part is a tube.

21. The dual flush system for a toilet of claim 19, wherein said flush pipe extension has a first position in which said bottom opening sealingly engages said first flush outlet.

22. The dual flush system for a toilet of claim 21, wherein said flush pipe extension has a second position in which said bottom opening is spaced from the first flush outlet.

23. The dual flush system for a toilet of claim 22, wherein said first position is reached when said first flush actuator is moved from its rest position to a first predetermined position.

24. The dual flush system for a toilet of claim 23, wherein said second position is reached when said second flush actuator is moved from said rest position to a second predetermined position.

25. The dual flush system for a toilet of claim 24, wherein said flush pipe extension further comprises alignment arm projecting downwardly from said bottom opening and extending in said flush pipe.

26. The dual flush system for a toilet of claim 25, further comprising a tank-ball adapted to second flush outlet.

27. The dual flush system for a toilet of claim 26, wherein said guiding part further comprises pins adapted to receive said tank-ball.