Foot operated flushing apparatus and method

Abstract

An apparatus and method for foot actuating a toilet by providing a foot pedal having an enhoused cable extending there from. The cable is attached inside the toilet tank to a flushing means within the tank. Upon a user stepping down on the pedal, dual components of the pedal provide for the amount of cable within the foot pedal to be increased by a factor of two relative to the pedal travel distance. This in turn provides for the cable inside of the tank to be decreased by such amount for lifting a weight and actuating the internal flushing means within the toilet tank. Upon removing the user's foot from the foot pedal, the foot pedal, cable and weight are automatically reset to a starting position allowing the toilet to be reset to its original position for reuse.

1 .- 23 . (canceled)  
   
   
       24 . A method for foot actuated flushing of a toilet comprising: 
 providing a top plate of said pedal;    attaching a first roller to said top plate;    providing a base plate of said pedal;    attaching a second roller to said base plate;    pivotably attaching said top plate to said base plate;    providing a toilet having a tank with an internal release means for flushing said toilet;    positioning a tank clamp on a backside edge of said tank such that a portion of said tank clamp extends into said tank;    positioning a cable by extending a first end of said cable from said base plate, over said first roller of said top plate, around said second roller of said base plate, extending out at least one opening of said base plate and into an interior of said tank at a backside of said toilet, whereby said cable is held in place by said tank clamp and connected at a second end of said cable to said internal release means within said tank; and    applying pressure by foot to said top plate of said pedal whereby said top plate pivots with respect to said base plate to increase a distance between said first and second rollers and thereby increase a length of said cable within said pedal while simultaneously decreasing an amount of cable within said tank by said length to activate said internal release means and effect flushing of said toilet.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24  further including mounting said pedal to a floor adjacent said toilet using a mounting means selected from the group consisting of a mounting bracket, a spring clamp, an adhesive, glue, cement, paste, epoxy resin, bonding agent, double-sided tape, velcro, suction, and non-slip rubber.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24  further including attaching a weight to said second end of said cable within said tank.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26  further including attaching at least two swivel hooks to said second end of said cable within said tank, a first of said swivel hooks connecting said cable to said weight and a second of said swivel hooks connecting said cable to said internal release means within said tank.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 24  wherein said tank clamp assists in directing at least said cable away from internal sidewalls of said tank and toward said internal release means for effecting flushing of said toilet without interruption.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 24  further including resetting said pedal by removing said foot from said top plate whereby said cable returns to an original starting position with said pedal and said tank.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 24  further including integrally forming said pedal and said tank clamp with said toilet such that cable housing and cable are invisible to the naked eye.  
   
   
       31 . A method for flushing a toilet comprising: 
 providing a pedal for actuation;    providing a toilet having a tank with an internal release mechanism residing inside said tank;    attaching a first end of a cable to said pedal and attaching a second end of said cable inside said tank to said internal release mechanism; and    applying pressure to said pedal whereby a length of said cable is increased inside said pedal while simultaneously decreased by said amount inside said tank to activate said internal release mechanism and effect flushing of said toilet.    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31  further including positioning a tank clamp on an edge of said tank such that a portion of said tank clamp extends into said tank, said tank clamp holding said cable in place inside said tank.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein said edge of said tank comprises a backside edge of said tank.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 31  wherein said toilet is selected from the group consisting of a gravity tank toilet, a pressurized tank toilet, and a flush valve operated toilet.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 31  wherein said internal release mechanism comprises a flapper or a pressurized tank push valve.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 31  further including at least one attachment device within said tank connecting said cable to said internal release mechanism.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 31  wherein said pedal is integrally formed with said toilet.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 31  wherein said pedal is mounted to a floor adjacent said toilet.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38  wherein said pedal is mounted to said floor using a mounting means selected from the group consisting of a mounting bracket, a spring clamp, an adhesive, glue, cement, paste, epoxy resin, bonding agent, double-sided tape, hook and loop and non-slip rubber.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 31  wherein said pressure is applied to said pedal by foot for actuating flushing of said toilet by foot.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 31  wherein said pedal comprises a top plate pivotably attached to a base plate to effect pivotal movement of said pedal upon said applied pressure.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 31  further including encasing at least a portion of said cable in a cable housing.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 31  further including attaching said cable to a weight within said tank, whereby upon said flushing of said toilet said weight returns said internal release mechanism to a non-actuated position.  
   
   
       44 . A method for flushing a toilet comprising: 
 providing a pedal for actuation;    providing a toilet having a tank with an internal release mechanism residing inside said tank;    providing a cable having a first end and a second end;    attaching said first end of said cable to said pedal;    attaching said cable at said second end inside said tank to said internal release mechanism using a first attachment device;    attaching said cable at said second end inside said tank to a weight using a second attachment device; and    applying pressure by foot to said pedal whereby a length of said cable increases inside said pedal while simultaneously deaeases by said amount inside said tank to activate said internal release mechanism and effect flushing of said toilet.