CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
Not Applicable
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a foot pedal which is designed to be attached to an existing hand flush toilet to allow it to be flushed by foot, rather than by hand.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The Covid-19 pandemic has made people more aware of hand transfer and germs, and therefore people would like to be able to flush public toilets without touching the flush handle with their hands.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the simplest form, the invention is a foot shaped metal plate which is secured to the flush hand lever, to allow the foot shaped plate to be pushed by a foot, to flush the toilet.
An alternative embodiment is also disclosed which provides a valve body and valve lever which are designed to fit over a flush lever
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows the side of the inventive foot pedal which is pressed by the foot to flush a toilet.
FIG. 2 shows another view of the inventive foot pedal side.
FIG. 3 shows the clamp which is connected to the foot pedal or plate and which is used to removably secure the foot pedal to the hand lever of a toilet.
FIG. 4 shows another view of the attachment device.
FIG. 5 shows the inventive foot pedal attached to a hand lever, with a foot pressing the foot pedal to flush the toilet.
FIG. 6 shows a different view of the inventive foot pedal attached to a hand lever.
FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the invention with a valve body and valve lever connected to the toilet over the hand flush lever.
FIG. 8 shows another view of FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 shows another view of FIG. 7.
FIG. 10 shows another view of FIG. 7.
FIG. 11 shows a schematic view of the valve body.
FIG. 12 shows a top view of FIG. 11, with a cross section taken at lines A-A.
FIG. 13 shows the cross-section view of FIG. 12, taken at lines A-A.
FIG. 14 shows the dimensions of one side of the valve body.
FIG. 15 shows the dimensions of another side of the valve body.
FIG. 16 shows a perspective view of the valve lever.
FIG. 17 shows a front view of FIG. 16.
FIG. 18 shows the dimensions of the through hole which allows the lever to fit over the hand flush lever of a toilet.
FIG. 19 shows the dimensions of the tap which is used to secure the valve lever to the hand flush lever.
FIG. 20 shows an end view of the valve body.
FIG. 21 shows the other end of the valve body and valve lever.
FIG. 22 shows shows a perspective view of the valve body.
FIG. 23 shows the valve body mounted over the hand flush lever and secured to the toilet with a set screw.
FIG. 24 shows the valve lever slide over the hand flush lever prior to being secured to the valve body.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
While this invention may be embodied in many forms, there are described in detail herein specific embodiments of the invention. This description is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated.
For the purposes of this disclosure, like reference numerals in the figures shall refer to like features unless otherwise indicated.
FIG. 1 shows the side of the inventive foot pedal 10 (also referred to as a foot plate) which is pressed by the foot to flush a toilet.
FIG. 2 shows another view of the inventive foot pedal side 10.
FIG. 3 shows the clamp 12 which is connected to the foot pedal or plate at 14 and which is used to removably secure the foot pedal to the hand lever of a toilet.
FIG. 4 shows another view of the attachment device.
FIG. 5 shows the inventive foot pedal attached to a hand lever, with a foot pressing the foot pedal to flush the toilet.
FIG. 6 shows a different view of the inventive foot pedal attached to a hand lever.
In operation, the metal foot bracket apparatus 10 with mounting mechanism 12 is attached to a hand lever commercial toilet. Foot bracket 10 has center counter sink holes drilled for rear mounting. 2 flush mount screws ¼-20×¾ FH TORX are used to attach front foot metal plate 10 to a ⅜″ coated ceiling plate 14. The footplate 10 is painted with textured metallic paint, parts are painted with metallic aluminum paint. The texture provides a non-slip surface to push against.
The plate 10 and ceiling plate 14 are connected to the hand flush lever, making sure to rotate the plate 10 towards the front of the toilet, for ease of access for flushing.
FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the invention with a valve body 16 and valve lever connected to the toilet over the hand flush lever.
FIG. 8 shows another view of FIG. 7 which shows the valve lever 18 in more detail.
FIG. 9 shows another view of FIG. 7.
FIG. 10 shows another view of FIG. 7.
FIG. 11 shows a schematic view of the valve body.
FIG. 12 shows a top view of FIG. 11, with a cross section taken at lines A-A.
FIG. 13 shows the cross-section view of FIG. 12, taken at lines A-A.
FIG. 14 shows the dimensions of one side of the valve body.
FIG. 15 shows the dimensions of another side of the valve body.
FIG. 16 shows a perspective view of the valve lever.
FIG. 17 shows a front view of FIG. 16.
FIG. 18 shows the dimensions of the through hole which allows the lever to fit over the hand flush lever of a toilet.
FIG. 19 shows the dimensions of the tap which is used to secure the valve lever to the hand flush lever.
FIG. 20 shows an end view of the valve body.
FIG. 21 shows the other end of the valve body and valve lever.
FIG. 22 shows a perspective view of the valve body.
FIG. 23 shows the valve body mounted over the hand flush lever and secured to the toilet with a set screw.
FIG. 24 shows the valve lever 18 slide over the hand flush lever 20 prior to being secured to the valve body 16.
Patent Grant
11549251
