IP Library Granted Patent US 8,881,319
Granted Patent B2
US 8,881,319 · App. 13/051,742 · Granted Nov 11, 2014

External float extension

Inventors: Michael J. Schuster (Joliet, IL); Duston E. A. Stutzman (Plainfield, IL); Douglas C. Saunders (Plainfield, IL)
Assignee: Danco, Inc.
E03D1/304
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,881,319
App. No.
13/051,742
Granted
Nov 11, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Various methods and systems are provided for external float extensions. In one embodiment, an external float extension includes an external adjustment rod configured to affix to a quick flush float of a dual flush assembly and an external float configured to be positioned on the external adjustment rod. In another embodiment, a dual flush assembly includes a quick flush float, an external adjustment rod affixed to the quick flush float, and an external float positioned on the external adjustment rod.

Claims (28)

1. An external float extension, comprising:

an external adjustment rod configured to fixedly secure to a quick flush float of a dual flush assembly, the quick flush float positioned on an adjustment rod extending along a longitudinal axis of the quick flush float, the quick flush float and the adjustment rod within an assembly housing of the dual flush assembly, where at least a portion of the external adjustment rod is outside the assembly housing of the dual flush assembly; and

an external float configured to be repositioned along a length of the portion of the external adjustment rod with the external adjustment rod fixedly secured to the quick flush float.

2. The external float extension of claim 1 , wherein the external adjustment rod is further configured to be detached from the quick flush float after being fixedly secured to the quick flush float.

3. The external float extension of claim 1 , wherein the external adjustment rod includes at least one tab configured to fixedly secure the external adjustment rod to the quick flush float.

4. The external float extension of claim 3 , wherein the at least one tab is configured to fixedly secure the external adjustment rod to a bottom of the quick flush float.

5. The external float extension of claim 4 , wherein the at least one tab engages with an inner surface of a side wall of the quick flush float, the side wall extending between the bottom and a top of the quick flush float.

6. The external float extension of claim 5 , wherein the side wall includes an opening for engagement with the at least one tab.

7. The external float extension of claim 1 , wherein the external float is external to the assembly housing of the dual flush assembly.

8. The external float extension of claim 1 , wherein the external float is configured to be discretely repositioned along the length of the external adjustment rod with the external adjustment rod fixedly secured to the quick flush float.

9. The external float extension of claim 8 , wherein the external adjustment rod includes a series of notches along the length of the external adjustment rod; and the external float includes a spring-tab assembly configured to engage with at least one of the series of notches to position the external float on the external adjustment rod.

10. A dual flush assembly, comprising:

a quick flush float positioned on an adjustment rod within an assembly housing of the dual flush assembly;

an external adjustment rod fixedly secured to the quick flush float, where at least a portion of the external adjustment rod is outside the assembly housing of the dual flush assembly, where the external adjustment rod is substantially parallel with the adjustment rod; and

an external float positioned on the portion of the external adjustment rod outside the assembly housing of the dual flush assembly.

11. The dual flush assembly of claim 10 , wherein the external adjustment rod is fixedly secured to a bottom of the quick flush float.

12. The external float extension of claim 4 , wherein the external adjustment rod engages with an inner surface of a side wall of the quick flush float to fixedly secure the external adjustment rod.

13. A method, comprising the steps of:

fixedly securing an external float extension to a quick flush float within an assembly housing of a dual flush assembly, the external float extension including an external adjustment rod and an external float, where the external float and at least a portion of the external adjustment rod are outside the assembly housing of the dual flush assembly; and

adjusting a position of the external float along a length of the portion of the external adjustment rod with the external adjustment rod physically attached to the quick flush float.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising the step of:

adjusting a position of the quick flush float within the dual flush assembly before attachment of the external float extension.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the external float extension is fixedly secured to a bottom of the quick flush float.

16. The external float extension of claim 1 , wherein the external float extension is fixedly secured to the quick flush float within the dual flush assembly and extends below the quick flush float outside the dual flush assembly.

17. The external float extension of claim 16 , wherein the external float extension is substantially parallel with the adjustment rod.

18. The external float extension of claim 5 , wherein the external adjustment rod is fixedly secured to the quick flush float by an interference fit between the at least one tab and inner surfaces of the quick flush float.

19. The dual flush assembly of claim 10 , wherein the external float can be repositioned on the portion of the external adjustment rod with the external adjustment rod fixedly secured to the quick flush float.

20. The dual flush assembly of claim 10 , wherein the quick flush float can be repositioned along a length of the adjustment rod.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2013
From: MJSI, INC.; SUSTAINABLE SOURCE, LLC
To: DANCO, INC.
Reel/Frame 031101/0009 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 20, 2011
From: SCHUSTER, MICHAEL J.; STUTZMAN, DUSTON E. A.; SAUNDERS, DOUGLAS C.
To: MJSI, INC.
Reel/Frame 026157/0238 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61315494 · Mar 19, 2010
Related Publication 20110225715A1 · Sep 22, 2011