US3624845A

US3624845A - Foot operated toilet flush device

Info

Publication number: US3624845A
Application number: US19797A
Authority: US
Inventors: Otto Vorgang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-03-16
Filing date: 1970-03-16
Publication date: 1971-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 1988-12-07

Abstract

A FOOT OPERATIED TOILET FLUSH, COMPRISING A HOUSING ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON A WALL ADJACENT TO BUT SPACED FROM THE FLOOR, A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING ONEARM LEVER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT ONE END TO THE HOUSING SO AS TO PIVOT IN SUBSTANTIALLY A VERTICAL PLANE, AT LEAST ONE UPWARDLY EXTENDING ARM OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE LEVER AND ADAPTED TO BE SECURED AT ITS UPPER PORTION TO A TOILET FLUSH ARM, AND MEANS DISPOSED WITHIN SAID HOUSING FOR BIASING THE LEVER INTO THE SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING POSITION, CONSTITUTING AN INOPERATIVE REST POSITION.

Description

1971 o. VORGANG FOOT OPERATED TOILET FLUSH DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 16, 1970 INVENTOR Dec. 7, 1971 VQRGANG 3,624,845

FOOT OPERATED TOILET FLUSH DEVICE Filed March 16, 1970 5 Sheets-Sheet I INVENTOR TTO VORGANG BY ATTORNEY.

Dec. 7, 1971 o. VORGANG 3,624,845

FOOT OPERATED TOILET FLUSH DEVICE 7 Filed March 16, 1970 3 Sheets-Shoat I FIG. 8.

J /\/l (D INVENTOR O O VORGANG BY ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,624,845 FOOT OPERATED TOILET FLUSH DEVICE Otto Vorgang, 68 W. 70th St., New York, N.Y. 10023 Filed Mar. 16, 1970, Ser. No. 19,797 Int. Cl. E03d 5/00 U.S. Cl. 4-249 22 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to toilet flush devices, in general, and to foot actuated toilet flush devices, in particular.

Heretofore, foot operated toilet flush devices have comprised double-armed lever foot actuated means connected to the floor or base of the toilet bowl at an intermediate pivot point on the lever and included at its rear end an upwardly extending arm adapted to be connected to the toilet flush arm.

Such devices were subject to water accumulation at the floor or at the bowl connected pivot point, causing corrosion and direct accumulations which were not easy to clean, as well as preventing the floor or bowl adjacent to the connection to be maintained in an easily cleaned and sanitary condition.

Other foot actuated toilet flush devices were connected underneath the floor with only the foot pedal extending from the floor to the surface, which provided obvious disadvantages in installation and repair.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a foot operated toilet flush which avoids the disadvantages of the known toilet flush devices.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a foot operated toilet flush which is an improvement over the known toilet flush devices in ease of installation, assembly, operation and adjustability.

It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a foot operated toilet flush which is readily installed on existing hand-actuated toilet flush devices for conversion thereof, and easily adjustable to the varying positions and sizes of the hand-actuated toilet flush devices, and which is mounted spaced from the floor permitting access to the floor below for cleaning, and simultaneously keeps the device out of liquid accumulations on the floor.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a foot operated toilet flush comprising a housing adapted to be mounted on a wall, adjacent but spaced from the floor, a one-arm lever pivotally mounted at one end to the housing, at least one upwardly extending arm operatively connected to the lever and adapted to be secured at its upper portion to a toilet flush arm, and means disposed within the housing for biasing the lever into a substantially horizontally extending inoperative position.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a foot operated toilet flush in accordance with the above-mentioned objective wherein the biasing means comprises a coil spring connected to the lever and to the housing, respectively, at the ends-thereof.

3,624,845 Patented Dec. 7, 1971 It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a foot operated toilet flush in accordance with the above-mentioned objectives wherein the at least one upwardly extending arm comprises two telescopically adjustable members, and means for fixing the telescopically adjustable members in any desired telescopic position relative to one another, the members being slidably connected to the lever as well as pivotally connected thereto.

It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a foot operated toilet flush in accordance with the above-mentioned objectives wherein the fixing means comprises an annular flange disposed outwardly at one end of one of the telescopic members, one of the telescopic members having an inner diameter substantially complementary to the outer diameter of the other of the members, a threaded bore means radially formed in the annular flange, and a screw disposed in the threaded bore means for locking the members in relative position with respect to each other, axially, as well as relative to one another.

It is further another object of the present invention to provide a foot operated toilet flush in accordance with the above-mentioned objectives wherein the members are slidably connected to the lever by a slide band slidably disposed on the lever and forming two upwardly extending tabs having axially aligned bores, respectively, therein, and being formed with a split adjacent the upper surface of the lever, the lower end of a lower of the members being formed with a lower flat portion having a bore therethrough, and disposed between the tabs with the bores axially aligned, the bores of the tabs being threaded, and screw means disposed through the bores of the tabs threadedly and through the bore of the lower fiat portion of the members. The slide band is formed with a threaded opening therethrough at a portion adjacent the lever, and a screw passes through the latter threaded bore for locking the slide band in a desired fixed position relative to the lever.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent in the following detailed description, the present invention will be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an installed foot operated toilet device designed in accordance with the present invention partly broken away;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the assembled device with the cover removed for clarity of disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the assembled device with the cover removed for clarity of disclosure:

FIG. 4 is a front view of the assembled device with the lever partly broken away and upwardly extending arms not shown for better explanation;

FIG. 5 is an axial section of another embodiment of the telescopic upwardly extending arms;

FIG. 6 is an axial section showing a lengthening connection between the upper arm of the foot actuated toilet device and the hand operated toilet flush lever;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation partly broken away showing another connection of the upper arm to another type of hand operated toilet flush;

FIG. 8 is a front elevation of a connection band for connecting a toilet flush lever to the upper arm of the device of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another connection band for connecting a rectangular cross-sectional shaped toilet flush lever to the upper arm of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly, to FIGS. l-3, a foot operated toilet flush in accordance with the present invention comprises a one-arm lever 1 preferably approximately 20" long, pivotally operatively connected at an end 2 to a wall 3 adjacent to a toilet 4 about a pivot pin 5. The pivot pin 5 passes through a bore 6 horizontally formed in the end 2 of the lever 1, the lever 1 being pivotally mounted by the pin 5 to a housing 6 secured to the Wall 3.

The housing 6' includes a wall plate 7 adapted to be positioned against a wall 3 at a position thereon adjacent but spaced slightly from the floor, preferably approximately 5" or =6 therefrom, either in a recess 8 formed in the wall complementary to the wall plate 7 whereupon the outer surface 7a of the plate 7 may be flush with the surface 3a of the wall, as may be noted from FIGS. 2 and 3, or the wall plate 7 may simply be positioned against the outer surface of the wall 3 without any recess in the wall.

A large screw-threaded shank or screw 9 preferably is welded to the center of the rear surface of the plate 7 and is adapted to be screwed into a threaded bore 10 formed in the center of the recess '8 of the wall 3 in order to secure the plate 7 and thereby the housing 6 to the wall. Other securing means, however, may be used.

A housing plate 11 of a smaller size than that of the wall plate 7 is secured to the wall plate 7 by means of four screws 12 positioned at the corners thereof. Integrally depending from the housing plate 11 are two horizontally disposed side plates or sides 13 laterally spaced apart from each other and parallel to each other and having vertically oriented sides. Between the plates 13, and integrally connected thereto as well as to the plate 11, a step portion 14 is formed which has a bottom or lowermost surface 15 (FIG. 2) flush with the lowermost edge or bottom 16 of the sides 13. The upper surface 17 of the step 14 is approximately positioned at the middle of the height of the sides 13 and is horizontally oriented. The step 14 extends lengthwise to its outermost vertical side 18, which is positioned merely a small fraction of the longitudinal length of the sides 13. The stop 14, sides 13 and the plate 17 may be machined from one piece or integrally welded together.

Axially aligned bores 19 are formed in the side plates 13, respectively, slightly forward of and adjacent the vertical side 18 of the stop 14, in which bores 19 is disposed the pivot pin 5 simultaneously passing through the bore 6 in the end 2 of the lever 1, and constituting the pivot point thereof.

The lover 1 extends at its free end 2 between the sides 13 of the housing 6 to a point closely adjacent the vertical side 18 of the stop 14. The pivot pin 5 is formed with a cylindrical surface 20 which is substantially complementary to the

bores

19 and 6 of the sides 13 and the lever 1, respectively, as well as with an enlarged head 21, which abuts adjacent the outer side surface of one of the sides 13. At its other end the pivot pin 5 is provided with a screw thread 22 on which is disposed a locking nut 23 in order to retain the pivot pin 5 in the housing 6'.

The extreme tip of the lever 1 at the end 2 is rounded slightly and the lever 1 is adapted to pivot upwardly or downwardly about the horizontally disposed pivot pin 5, describing a vertical arc between the sides 13.

A vertically oriented threaded bore '24 is formed through the stop 14 extending from its upper horizontal surface 17 to its lower horizontal surface 15. A threaded screw 25 is screwed into the threaded bore 24 and includes an enlarged cylindrical head 26 extending upwardly from the threaded bore 24 to a position just short of the upper edge of the sides 13. A washer 27 having a cylindrical body 28 formed with an opening slightly larger than the shank of the screw 25 and having an annular upper flange 29 is freely disposed about the threaded screw 25 between the enlarged cylindrical head 26 thereof and the upper surface 17 of the stop 14.

A coil spring 30, preferably made of piano wire for long life, is hooked at one end thereof about the threaded pin 25 between the enlarged head 26 and the annular flange 29 of the washer 27, lying on the surface of the annular flange 27. The other end of the coil spring 30 is hooked about a threaded shank 31 which extends sub- 4 stantially perpendicularly and vertically through the upper and lower surfaces of the lever 1 at the end 2 at a position adjacent but between the ends of the plates 13.

Upon pressing the free end 4 of the lever 1 downwardly, the lever pivots downwardly about the pivot pin 5, and the spring 30 is stretched, causing the spring 30* to provide a return bias force, so that when the lever is released from downward pressing on the free end 4, the spring 30 pulls the upper end of the threaded shank 31 toward the screw 26, causing the lever 1 to return to its initial or return position.

The threaded shank 31 extends downwardly from the bottom of the lever 1 beyond the bottom 16 of the sides 13. An adjusting knob 32 of disc shape is threaded thereon. The adjusting knob 32 is operatively adjustable on the shank 31 so that the knob 32 abuts the lower end 16 of the sides 13 in the return position of the lever 1, constituting a stop for the lever. Accordingly, the lever 1 may be adjusted to a predetermined oriented return position, which may constitute any convenient angularly or horizontal oriented position, by adjustment of the knob 32 along the shank 31. At least one hole 32' is provided in the adjustable knob 32 to prevent accidental rotation.

A locking cap 33 is screwed to the bottom of the threaded shank 31 for preventing the inadvertent removal of the adjusting disc 32 during adjustment. If the return or rest position of the lever is desired to be lowered at its free end 4', the adjusting knob is turned so as to cause the portion of the threaded shank 31 below the adjusting knob 32 to increase, thereby effecting the lowering of the free end 4' of the lever 1 in the rest position. If the lever is desired to be raised at its free end 4', the adjusting knob 32 is turned in the other direction, thereby effectively lowering the position of the knob 32 relative to the threaded shank 31, permitting the spring 30 to lift the lever 1 a further distance upwardly until the adjusting disc 32 abuts the lower end 16 of the sides 13, thereby terminating the raising of the lever 1 and determining the rest position. The rest position may be accordingly varied to the comfort and ease of the user by providing the free end 4 at the optimum position for use, and to provide sufficient leverage for actuating the toilet flush, as will hereinafter be explained.

An L-shaped cover 35 is disposed on the top of the two sides 13, protecting the spring from water and the like. The cover 35 is secured by screws 36 passing through bores 37 in the cover and aligned threaded bores 38 in th forward edges of the sides 13.

The lower edge 35a of the cover 35 serves as the maximum limit abutment position for the lever 1. Beyond this point the lever 1 can not be adjusted upwardly in its rest position. The lower edge 35:11 is preferably disposed above the center height of the sides 13 and when the lever 1 is against the edge 35a it is slightly raised from the horizontal position. The adjustment knob 32 can terminate the raising of the lever to positions lower than that limited by the edge 35a of the cover 35.

A collar slide member or band 39 is provided on the lever 1. The lever is preferably formed with a square cross-section and the collar slide 39 is formed with a complementary square shape for sliding on the lever 1. Adjacent the upper surface 40 of the lever 1, the slide 39 is slit forming a split 41 effecting resiliency of the slide 39 and permitting ease of sliding.

Two parallel upwardly depending tabs 42 spaced from each other extend from the upper portions of the slide 39 adjacent the split 41 and are formed with axially aligned screw threaded openings 43 therein. A rod or upwardly extending arm 44 having a circular cross-section and a flattened end 45 with an enlarged opening 46 therein, extends upwardly with its end 45 disposed between the tabs 42. A screw pivot member 47 passes between the threaded openings 43 and through the opening 46 of the end 45 of the arm 44, thereby pivotally connecting the arm 44 between the tabs 42 about the pivot member 47. The screw pivot member 47 has an enlarged cylindrical portion 48 by which portion one may easily turn the member. The screw pi-vot member 47 also has a screw threaded portion 49 which screws into the threaded openings 43. The member 47 also is provided with an integral washer 49' portion abutting one of the tabs 42. Since the opening 46 is larger than the threaded portion 49, the upwardly extending arm 44 is loosely pivotally mounted thereon. The slide 39 may also be held in a fixed position on the lever 1 by tightening the screw pivot member 47, causing the tabs 42 to be pressed to ward each other clamping the slide 37 on the lever 1.

The bottom of the slide 39 (FIG. 2) is formed with a thickened central portion 50 having a screw threaded opening 51 therein, in which a screw 52 may also be positioned for engaging the bottom surface of the lever 1, thereby permitting the slide to be locked at any predetermined position along the lever 1.

The upwardly extending arm 44 carries an upper arm 53 which preferably has a longitudinal cylindrical bore therethrough complementary to the outer surface of the arm 44, upon which outer surface the upper arm 53 is disposed, telescopically. The bottom of the arm 53 is formed with an outwardly depending annular flange 54 in which a radially oriented threaded bore 54a is provided. A screw member 55, preferably the same as the member 47, is disposed in the threaded bore 54a for locking the

telescopic members

53 and 44 in any desired relative predetermined position, rotationally as well as longitudinally, by the tip of the screw member 55 passing through the threaded bore 54a, holding the members together. The upper end 56 of the arm 53 is flattened and formed with an opening 57. As indicated, the telescopic arm 53 may be rotated relative to the arm 44 and locked in any such position due to the rotationally symmetric structural members so that the flat end portion 56 of the arm 53 may be positioned perpendicular to, or facing directly, the flush arm or flush lever 58 of the toilet 4.

In one particular embodiment, the toilet flush arm 58 may be drilled with a threaded bore 59 and a screw 60 is passed through the hole 57 in the flat portion 56 of the upper arm 53 therethrough and threadingly into the threaded bore 59 of the flush lever 58 of the toilet. A washer 61 may also be provided on the threaded screw 60.

The free end 4 of the lever 1 is formed preferably hollow and a foot pedal member 62 having a shank 63 substantially complementary at its outer surface to the hollow cross-sectional shape of the free end 4 of the lever 1 is adjustably disposed therein. There is provided, further, at another end of the foot pedal member 62 a substantially elliptical flat disc or plate 64, welded at preferably a 45 downwardly inclined angle, suitable for easy actuation of the lever by ones foot. The shank 63 is provided with preferably a plurality of threaded bores 65 each extending from its upper surface to its lower surface, which threaded bores 65 are adapted to be aligned with a threaded bore 66 formed in the free end of the lever 1, when the member 62 is slid telescopically into the free end 4 of the lever 1. A screw 67 secures and holds the foot pedal member 62 to the free end 4' of the lever 1. The plurality of openings 65 and the telescopic formation of the foot pedal member 62 effectively permits the adjustment of the length of the lever as may be desired in particular bathroom applications, depending on the distance the toilet is positioned from the rear wall 3 to which the device of the present invention is to be secured.

In operation, upon stepping down on the plate 64, the lever 1 is tilted downwardly at its free end 4', turning about the pivot pin 5, stretching the spring 30 and cansing the upwardly extending

arms

44 and 53 to move downwardly, thereby pulling the toilet flush arm 58, and actuating the flushing of the oilet. Upon release of the foot pedal member 62 by removing ones foot from the plate 64, the return bias force of the stretched spring 30 causes the lever 1 to be returned to its normal inoperative or rest position, and the

arms

44 and 53 likewise return upwardly releasing the toilet flush arm 58 again to its inoperative position. It should be noted that the rest position of the lever 1 is adjusted such that at the rest position, when the disc 32 abuts the lower end 16 of the plate 3, the toilet flush arm 58 is in its inoperative position. For this purpose, several adjusting means in combination are provided by which the optimum positioning of the device may easily be made; that is, the adjustment of the

telescopic arms

44 and 53 to permit the proper extension from the height of the lever 1 to the toilet flush arm 58; the aforementioned orientation of the lever 1 in its rest position by the adjustment knob 32; and the positioning of the lower end 45 of the arm 44 adjacent the lever 1 by means of the slide 39. In practice, preferably the

arms

44 and 53 are substantially vertical and the slide 39 is positioned adjacent the housing 6, although not limited thereto, and not so shown in FIG. 1 for ease of Niewing.

All parts of the device in accordance with the present invention are made preferably of stainless steel, and are corrosion-resistant.

In accordance with the present invention, replacement of a new spring may easily be effected. The connection between the arm 53 and the toilet flush 58 is removed, as well as the cover plate 35 by unscrewing the appropriate parts. The cap nut 33 is removed as well as the adjusting knob 32 and the lever 1 is raised upwardly to relax the spring 30 which can then easily be removed from the threaded shank 31 and the screw 25, and a new spring replaced thereon. The removed parts are then replaced and the knob 32 is adjusted on the threaded shank 31 until the lever 1 reaches the desired rest position orientation. The connection between the arm 53 and the toilet flush 58 is again made.

Referring now again to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 5, another embodiment for the upwardly extending telescopic arms is illustrated. An upper open ended tube 68, preferably made of brass or other solderable material, is formed with screw threads 69 on its outer surface at the top. A stub tube 70 having inner screw threads -71 is screwed onto the upper end of the tube 68 on the screw threads 69 and is soldered in position thereto at end 72. The stub tube 70 has an upper end 73 formed with a central opening 74 through which a ringed pin 75 preferably made of brass or any other solderable material is loosely positioned. The pin 75 is formed with a threaded shank 76 which is screwed into and then soldered to a sleeve 77 freely disposed within the tube 68 spaced from the walls thereof and having an inner threaded opening 78. The sleeve similarly is formed preferably of brass or other solderable material. The upper end of the pin 75 is formed as an eye ring 79 which is adapted for connection by a screw or the like to the hand actuated toilet flush lever. The lower end of the tube 68 telescopically engages about a lower hollow tube 80 carrying a threaded shank 81, the latter being threaded on an interior threaded surface 82 inside the tube 80, and extending substantially into the tube 68. The end of the tube 80 is soldered to the shank 81. The tube 68 is formed with an inner integral part 83 having an axial threaded bore 84 which engages the shank 81 for rotational and thereby longitudinal relative movement of the

tubes

68 and 80, constituting telescopic members.

-When it is desired to vary the relative longitudinal position of the

tubes

68 and 80, the tubes are rotated relative to each other, causing the threaded shank 81 and threaded opening 84 to turn and longitudinally move relative to one another, thereby changing the longitudinal position of the

tubes

68 and 80 relative to each other. When the desired overall length of the two

tubes

68 and 80 is reached, a screw 85 is inserted into a radial threaded opening 86 formed in an annular strengthening flange 87,

soldered to the lower end of the tube 68, the opening 86 extending through the lower end of the tube 68 adjacent the tube 68, whereby the screw 85 locks the

tubes

68 and 80 in fixed position. The lower end of the tube 80 is formed similar to the lower end of arm 44 (FIG. 1) and is adapted to be connected operatively to the lever 1. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 6, a lengthened connection to the hand toilet lever or toilet flush arm 58 is illustrated comprising a lengthened threaded shank 88 screwed at one end into a threaded bore axially formed in lever 58. The other end of the threaded shank 88 passes through the opening 57 in the arm 53 and a lock nut 61 is disposed thereon. A hollow cylindrical sleeve 89 is positioned on the threaded shank 88 between the hand lever 58 and the arm 53, prior to the insertion of the shank 88 through the opening 57. In this manner, if necessary during installation, the distance of the arm 53 from the hand lever 58 may be adjusted by proper selection of the size of the threaded shank 88 and the sleeve 89. The sleeve 89 further serves to cover the shank 88 providing a cleanesthetic appearance.

Another connection is illustrated in FIG. 7 for another hand flush lever 90. The upper arm 53 here is shown with a slightly modified upper end turned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flush lever 90. A screw 91 connects the arm 53 to the free end of the lever 90 passing through axially aligned bores in the members.

In FIGS. 8 and 9, still another connection is illustrated, using a connection band 92 having a shape complementary to the outer cross-sectioned surface 93 of the hand flush lever or toilet flush arm 94 and formed with two depending parallel spaced tabs 95 formed with aligned openings 96 through which a screw 97 is inserted and about which a lock nut 98 is positioned to resiliently secure the band 92 to the flush arm 94. The screw 96 also passes through the opening in the upper arm 53, whereby the arm 53 is operatively connected to the flush lever 94. FIG. 10 illustrates a connection similar to that of FIGS. 8 and 9, in which, however, the connection band 92' has a rectangular shape complementary to the outer surface of the hand flush lever 94'.

For the orientation of the flat upper portion of arm 53 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the hand flush levers of the embodiments of FIGS. 7-10, the upper arm 53 is rotated relative the lower arm 44 by 90 from the position illustrated in FIG. 1, and the

arms

53 and 44 are then locked in this position by the screw member 55. Also the

telescopic tubes

68 and 80 of FIG. provide for such orientation by the turnable ring pin 75.

While I have disclosed several embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that these embodiments are given by example only and not in a limiting sense.

I claim: 1. A foot operated toilet flush device, comprising: a housing adapted to be mounted on a wall adjacent to but spaced from a floor, I

a substantially horizontally extending one-arm lever pivotally mounted at one end to said housing so as to pivot in substantially a vertical plane, at least one upwardly extending arm operatively connected to said one-arm lever and adapted to be secured at its upper portion to a toilet flush arm, and

means disposed within said housing for biasing said one-arm lever into said substantially horizontally extending position, constituting an inoperative rest position.

2. The foot operated toilet flush device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said means biasing said one-arm lever comprises a coil spring connected to said lever and to said housing, respectively.

3. The foot operated toilet flush device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said at least one upwardly extending arm comprises two adjustable telescopic members,

means for fixing said telescopic members in various desired longitudinal telescopic positions relative to one another, and

said telescopic members being slidably and pivotally connected to said lever.

4. The foot operated toilet flush device, as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

said fixing means comprises, an annular flange disposed outwardly at one end of one of said telescopic members,

said one of said telescopic members having an inner diameter substantially complementary to the outer diameter of the other of said members,

a threaded bore means radially formed in said annular flange, and

a screw disposed in said threaded bore means for locking said telescopic members in various selected longitudinal as well as rotatable positions with respect to each other.

5. The foot operated toilet flush device, as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

one of said telescopic members, constituting the upper of said members, is rotatable relative to said other of said members,

said fixing means for fixing said members rotatably as well as longitudinally relative to each other, and

said upper member being formed with a flattened end at its uppermost portion and having an upper opening therethrough, and

screw means adapted to pass through said upper opening of said upper member and adapted for connection to said toilet flush arm.

6. The foot operated toilet flush device, as set forth in claim 3, further comprising:

a band slidably disposed on said lever and forming two spaced upwardly extending tabs having axially aligned threaded bores, respectively, therein, and said band being formed with a split between said tabs adjacent said lever,

the lower end of a lower of said telescopic members being formed with a lower flat portion having a lower opening therethrough,

said lower flat portion being disposed between said tabs with said lower opening axially aligned with said axially aligned threaded bores of said tabs,

screw pivot means disposed through said axially aligned threaded bores of said tabs threadedly and through said lower opening of said lower flat portion,

said band being formed with a threaded opening therethrough at a portion adjacent said lever, and

a locking screw passing through said threaded opening for locking said band in any desired fixed position along said lever.

7. The foot operated toilet flush device, as set forth in claim 6, wherein:

said lower opening of said flat portion is substantially larger than said axially aligned threaded bores of said tabs.

8. The foot operated toilet flush device, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a pedal member including a shank having a plurality of threaded pedal member openings along its length and including at a forward end thereof a substantially flat plate of curved shape secured thereto at an inclined angle,

said lever having a free end,

said free end of said lever and said shank of said pedal member constituting telescopically adjustable elements,

said free end of said lever formed with an axially directed free end hole therein,

said threaded pedal member openings adapted to be aligned selectively within said free end hole of said lever, and

screw means for locking said telescopically adjustable elements by threadedly passing through said selectively aligned pedal member openings and said free end hole in said lever.

9. The foot operated toilet flush device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said housing includes,

two spaced horizontally extending plates formed with axially aligned bores defining a horizontal pivot axis, a pivot pin extending through said axially aligned bores and pivotally connectnig said one-arm lever at said one end thereof, and

said means for biasing said one-arm lever comprises a coil spring connected operatively to said housing and operatively to the upper side of said one-arm lever.

10. The foot operated toilet flush device, as set forth in claim 9, further comprising:

a step integrally formed between said plates of said housing at the lower portion thereof,

said one end of said lever longitudinally spaced from said step as well as vertically positioned higher than the level of said step,

said step being formed with a substantially vertically oriented threaded bore therein,

a threaded engaging screw disposed in said vertically oriented threaded bore and having an enlarged head extending upwardly substantially above the level of the upper surface of said one-arm lever,

said one-arm lever being formed with a threaded shank bore substantially vertically passing therethrough at said free end between said pivot axis and the other end of said lever and between said two plates of said housing,

a threaded shank disposed in said threaded shank bore of said one-arm lever, extending thereabove, and said coil spring is connected at one end to said threaded engaging screw adjacent said enlarged head thereof and at the other end to the portion of said threaded shank extending above the upper surface of said onearm lever.

11. The foot operated toilet flush device, as set forth in claim 10, further comprising:

a cylindrical washer having an upper annular flange disposed on said engaging screw between said enlarged head of said engaging screw and the Upper surface of said step, and

said one end of said coil spring being disposed about said engaging screw on said annular flange of said cylindrical washer.

12. The foot operated toilet flush device, as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

said threaded shank extends at a bottom portion thereof below the lower surface of said one-arm lever substantially beyond the lower surface of said two plates, and

a threaded knob adjustably rotatably disposed on said bottom portion of said threaded shank for adjustment so as to change its position relative to said bottom portion, and said threaded kno'b abutting operatively the lower surface of said two plates in said inoperative rest position of said one-arm lever.

13. The foot operated toilet flush device, as set forth in claim 12, further comprising:

an L-shaped cover releasably screwed to said two plates of said housing at the upper portion thereof and covering the upper surface of said two plates, said coil spring, said threaded shank, and said threaded engaging screw.

14. The foot operated toilet flush device, as set forth in claim 13, wherein:

said L-shaped cover includes a cover edge disposed at the free end of said two plates and constituting a maximum upper limit abutment for raising of said one-arm lever.

15. The foot operated toilet flush device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said housing includes a plate having a screw Welded thereon for connection into a wall,

a second plate substantially smaller than said first plate,

screw means for securing said first and second plates together,

two horizontally extending side plates spaced from one another and integrally connected to said second plate and including axially aligned bores defining a pivot axis of said one-arm lever, and

a pivot pin extending through said axially aligned bores and said one end of said one-arm lever for pivotally connecting the latter to said housing.

16. The foot operated toilet flush device, as set forth in claim 15, wherein:

said pivot pin has a cylindrical shank and an enlarged head at one end larger than said axially aligned bores and having screw threads on the other end, and

a nut disposed on said threaded end of said pivot pin securing said pivot pin to said housing.

17. The foot operated toilet flush device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said at least one upwardly extending arm comprises two adjustable telescopic members comprising,

an upper hollow tube having an inner screw threaded portion,

a lower hollow tube displaceably disposed within said upper tube and having secured thereto a threaded shank rotatably screwed into said inner screw threaded portion of said upper tube, thereby effecting a longitudinal relative movement of said upper and lower tubes, and

means for locking said upper and lower tubes in a fixed position relative to each other.

18. The foot operated toilet flush device, as set forth in claim 17, further comprising:

a stub tube secured to the upper end of said upper tube and formed with an opening at its upper end,

a screw threaded ring pin extending through said opening, said opening being larger than said pin,

a sleeve freely disposed in said upper tube and screwed onto said pin, and

said pin having an eye ring extending beyond said stub tube.

19. The foot operated toilet flush device, as set forth in claim 18, further comprising:

an annular flange secured to the lower end of said upper tube adjacent said lower tube, said annular flange formed with a radially directed screw threaded opening extending also through said upper tube, and

a locking screw disposed in said screw threaded opening for locking said members together.

20. The foot operated toilet flush device, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

means for connecting said at least one upwardly extending arm to said toilet flush arm and comprising a threaded shank screwed at one end into said toilet flush arm,

said at least one upwardly extending arm having an opening formed at its upper end through which said threaded shank extends, and

a lock nut screwed on the other end of said threaded shank.

21. The foot operated toilet flush device, as set forth in claim 20, further comprising:

a hollow cylindrical sleeve disposed about said threaded shank between said upwardly extending arm and said toilet flush arm.

22. The foot operated toilet flush device, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a flexible band disposed about an end of said toilet flush and a locking nut mounted on said threaded screw securing said threaded screw to said tabs.

References Cited UNITED 10 STATES PATENTS Palmer 4249, 74512 Rehback 4249 X Rothe et al. 4249 Holl 4249, 317 141 15 1 2 9/ 1961 Muradian et al 4249 X 2/1962 Radcliffe 4249, 44 7/ 1962 Gentry 4249 X FOREIGN PATENTS 10/ 1967 Australia 4-249 8/1951 France 4249 9/1938 Italy 4251 10/1942 Sweden 4249 9/ 1936 Switzerland 4-249' 8/ 1936 Switzerland 4249 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner D. A. MASSENBERG, Assistant Examiner