Water-closet bowl automatic flushing system

• US 5,455,971 A
• Filed: 06/10/1993
• Issued: 10/10/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: INAX Corporation (LIXIL Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: INAX Corporation (LIXIL Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Takagi, Shigeru, Sakakibara, Shigeru
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Charles E.
• Application Number:
  US08/074,357
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 4/304, 4/313, 4/DIG. 3, 251/129.04
• US Class Current: 4/313
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/105 touchless, e.g. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 4/03 Electric flushing

Abstract

An automatic toilet flushing system which detects when a user sits on the toilet for use and, instead of operating a flush handle for flushing, performs flushing in association with the user'"'"'s action of standing up to leave the toilet. A forced flushing sensor is also provided so that water can be flowed for flushing through deliberate action of the user.

Claims

1. An automatic toilet flushing system for use with a toilet, comprising:

a position detection sensor disposed at a rear of said toilet which operates at two sensor lengths;

a start switch disposed at the rear of said toilet, wherein said start switch is turned on to perform preliminary flushing of said toilet when a user of said toilet is within a first position detection sensor length in relation to said toilet, wherein said position detection sensor is switched from one of said two sensor lengths to another of said two sensor lengths when said start switch is turned on; and

a finish switch disposed at the rear of said toilet, wherein said finish switch is turned on to perform full flushing of said toilet when the user of said toilet is outside of a second position detection sensor length in relation to said toilet.

2. An automatic toilet flushing system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising means for preliminary flushing said toilet when said start switch is turned on.

3. An automatic toilet flushing system as set forth in claim 2, further comprising means for full flushing said toilet;

wherein said means for preliminary flushing said toilet starts preliminary flushing after a first time period measured from when said start switch is turned on, and wherein said means for full flushing said toilet starts after a second time period measured from when said finish switch is turned on, said second time period being longer than said first time period.