Automatic flushing device for a flush toilet

• US 4,941,215 A
• Filed: 01/19/1989
• Issued: 07/17/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Su-Haw Liu
• Original Assignee: Su-Haw Liu
• Inventors: Liu, Su-Haw
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fetsuga, R. M.
• Application Number:
  US07/299,037
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 4/406, 4/DIG. 3
• US Class Current: 4/406
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/105 touchless, e.g. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 4/03 Electric flushing

Abstract

An automatic flushing device for a flush toilet comprising an infrared sensor which can sense when the toilet has been used and then give out a signal to command the water in the tank to be flushed out for a pre-set period of time automatically. The infrared sensor is implanted in a cap covering recess centered in the tank lid which houses an electric coil.

Claims

1. An automatic flushing device for a flush toilet having a tank filled with water, the flush toilet being provided with a valve seat and sealing ball to allow draining of the tank to flush the toilet, said flushing device comprising:

a tank lid for a top of the tank, said tank lid including a recess therein;

a rod which is mounted for vertical movement in the tank, said rod being attached at one end to the sealing ball and extending upwards therefrom and through said recess;

a horizontal disc attached to said rod and located in said recess;

a coil located in said recess about said disc;

a cap which covers said recess;

a coil spring located between said cap and said disc which urges said disc toward the valve seat;

a nut provided on top of said cap which is secured to the other end of said rod; and

a control means, including an infrared sensor located above and adjacent said tank lid, for sensing the use of the toilet by a user and for causing energization of said coil after the user leaves for a predetermined period of time, the energizing of said coil causing said disc to be raised and hence said rod to pull said ball from the valve seat so that the toilet is flushed and such that after the predetermined period of time the coil is deenergized so that said coil spring urges said disc and hence said rod downwardly whereby the ball is returned to the valve seat.

2. An automatic flushing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cap includes two holes therein, and wherein said infrared sensor means is received in said holes.