Push button flush activation system for urinal

• US 5,535,781 A
• Filed: 01/04/1995
• Issued: 07/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Speakman Company
• Original Assignee: Speakman Company
• Inventors: Paterson, Graham H., Denham, Willard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US08/368,427
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 137/624.11, 137/624.12, 251/121, 251/129.01, 251/30.01, 4/301, 4/302, 4/303, 4/304, 4/305, 4/309, 4/410, 4/406
• US Class Current: 137/624.11
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 3/00 Flushing devices operated by pressure of the water supply system flushing valves not connected to the water-supply main, also if air is blown in the water seal for a quick flushing
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/10 operated electrically E03D5/01, E03D5/12 take precedence, e.g. by a photo-cell; also combined with devices for opening or closing shutters in the bowl outlet and/or with devices for raising/or lowering seat and cover and/or for swiveling the bowl
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86389 Programmer or timer

Abstract

A flush mechanism is provided for a urinal, wherein the working components are provided within a two-part, sealed housing. A button is provided on the cap portion of the housing to flush the urinal. Depression of the flush button signals a battery-powered solenoid to open for a preset amount of time, allowing water into the mechanism from a supply line. The flow of water in each flush is further regulated by an adjustable flow-control valve. All working components can be accessed for replacement or maintenance with only a minimum of disassembly of the flush mechanism.

Claims

1. A flush mechanism for attachment to a urinal, comprising:

a housing With an external surface which provides water inlet means and water outlet means for, respectively, receiving water from a water supply and for delivering water to the urinal during a flush;

a depressible push-button disposed on the external surface of the housing, the push-button and the housing together forming a substantially sealed and continuous external surface around the flush mechanism;

flush means responsive to the depression of the push button to release a predetermined amount of flush water to the urinal, the flush means comprising a switch responsive to depression of the push button, a battery, a battery-powered solenoid responsive to activation of the switch, an electronic module in the form of a printed circuit which transmits a signal from the switch to the solenoid, and a valve associated with the solenoid which, in response to a signal from the printed circuit, opens for a predetermined time to allow water to pass through the flush mechanism from the inlet means providing said predetermined amount of water to the urinal.

2. The flush mechanism of claim 1, wherein the housing and the push button are composed of a durable resin or plastic material, and the push button, in a non-depressed condition, has a surface which is substantially flush with the surface of the housing to provide the substantially sealed, continuous external surface.

3. The flush mechanism of claim 1, wherein the switch is a membrane switch underlying and in operative contact with the push button such that depression of the push button activates the membrane switch.

4. The flush mechanism of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a base portion and a removeable cap portion, and wherein the push button, the switch, and the battery are disposed within the removeable cap portion.

5. The flush mechanism of claim 4, wherein the water inlet means, solenoid, adjustable flow-control valve, and water outlet means are provided in the base portion of the housing.

6. The flush mechanism of claim 5, wherein the housing is provided with a removeable access plug on the base portion of the housing and the adjustable flow control valve is positioned within the base portion of the housing to be accessible from outside the housing when the removeable access plug is removed, whereby the adjustable flow-control valve may be adjusted from the exterior of the housing by removing the removeable access plug.

7. The flush mechanism of claim 1, wherein the push button contains a germicidal agent.

8. The flush mechanism of claim 1, wherein the battery powering the solenoid is a lithium battery.

9. In combination with a urinal, a flush mechanism provided in a user-accessible position above the urinal to provide flushing water to the urinal, the flush mechanism comprising:

a housing with an external surface which provides water inlet means for receiving water from a water inlet pipe associated with the urinal and water outlet means for delivering water to an outlet pipe which supplies water to the urinal during a flush;

a depressible push-button disposed on the external surface of the housing, the push-button and the housing together forming a substantially sealed, and continuous external surface;

flush means responsive to depression of the push button to release a predetermined amount of flush water to the urinal, the flush means comprising a switch responsive to depression of the push button, a battery, a battery powered solenoid responsive to activation of the switch, a printed circuit which transmits a signal from the switch to the solenoid, and a valve associated with the solenoid which, in response to a signal from the printed circuit, opens for a predetermined time to allow water to pass through the flush mechanism from the inlet means, and an adjustable flow control valve which delivers water to the outlet means, providing said predetermined amount of water to the urinal.

10. The combination of claim 9, wherein the housing and the push button comprise a durable resin or plastic material, and the push button, in a non-depressed condition, has a surface substantially flush-with the surface of the housing to provide the substantially sealed, continuous external surface.

11. The combination of claim 9, wherein the switch is a membrane switch wherein the membrane of said switch is in contact with the push button such that depression of the push button activates the membrane switch.

12. The combination of claim 9, wherein the housing comprises a base portion and a removeable cap portion, and wherein the push button, the switch, and the battery are disposed within the removeable cap portion.

13. The combination of claim 12, wherein the water inlet means, adjustable flow-control valve, and water outlet means are provided in the base portion of the housing.

14. The combination of claim 13, wherein the housing is provided with a removeable access panel on the base portion of the housing and the adjustable flow control valve is positioned within the base portion of the housing to be accessible from outside the housing when the removeable access panel is removed, whereby the adjustable flow-control valve may be adjusted from the exterior of the housing by removing the removeable access panel.

15. The combination of claim 9, wherein the push button contains a germicidal agent.

16. The combination of claim 9, wherein the battery is a lithium battery.