IP Library Granted Patent US 9,896,830
Granted Patent B2
US 9,896,830 · App. 14/830,060 · Granted Feb 20, 2018

Dual flush handle control

Inventors: Michael J. Schuster (Joliet, IL); Douglas C. Saunders (Plainfield, IL); Duston E. A. Stutzman (Plainfield, IL)
Assignee: Danco, Inc.
E03D5/00E03D5/09E03D5/094
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,896,830
App. No.
14/830,060
Granted
Feb 20, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed are various embodiments for a dual flush handle system. A first handle lever is configured to rotate in a direction by a first predetermined angle of rotation to initiate a first flush of a toilet. A second handle lever is configured to rotate in the direction about a second predetermined angle of rotation to initiate a second flush of a toilet.

Claims (33)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first handle lever that is configured to initiate a first toilet flush corresponding to one of a partial toilet flush or a full toilet flush; and

a second handle lever that is configured to initiate a second toilet flush corresponding to another one of the partial toilet flush or the full toilet flush, wherein the first handle lever is nested in at least a portion of the second handle lever and a damper is retained in the second handle lever.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first handle lever is configured to rotate about an axis, and wherein the second handle lever is configured to rotate about the axis.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first handle lever is configured to rotate in a direction to initiate the first toilet flush, and wherein the second handle lever is configured to rotate in the direction to initiate the second toilet flush.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a spring configured to return the first handle lever to a neutral position after a flush activation.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a spring configured to return the second handle lever to a neutral position after a flush activation.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the second handle lever comprises a stem that extends from an interior side of the second handle lever; and

the first handle lever comprises a post extending into the stem of the first handle lever.

7. A method, comprising:

moving a first handle lever to initiate a first toilet flush corresponding to one of a partial toilet flush or a full toilet flush; and

moving a second handle lever to initiate a second toilet flush corresponding to another one of the partial toilet flush or the full toilet flush, wherein the first handle lever is nested in at least a portion of the second handle lever and a damper is disposed between the first handle lever and the second handle lever.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein moving the first handle lever to initiate the first type of toilet flush comprises rotating the first handle lever; and

wherein moving the second handle lever to initiate the second type of toilet flush comprises rotating the second handle lever.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first type of toilet flush uses less water than the second toilet flush.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein moving the first handle lever to initiate the first toilet flush comprises rotating the first handle lever about an axis; and

wherein moving the second handle lever to initiate the second type of toilet flush comprises rotating the second handle lever about the axis.

11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising returning the first handle lever and the second handle lever to a neutral position after a flush activation.

12. The method of claim 7 , further comprising retaining a post of the first handle lever in a stem of the second handle lever.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

a first handle lever that is configured to rotate to initiate a first toilet flush corresponding to one of a partial toilet flush or a full toilet flush;

a second handle lever that is configured to rotate to initiate a second toilet flush corresponding to another one of the partial toilet flush or the full toilet flush, wherein the first handle is nested in at least a portion of the second handle lever; and

a damper disposed between the first handle lever and the second handle lever.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first handle lever is prevented from rotating more than a first amount; and

wherein the second handle lever is prevented from rotating more than a second amount.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a spring configured to return the first handle lever and the second handle lever to a neutral position after a flush activation.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a spring configured to rotate the first handle lever in response to the second handle lever being rotated.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first handle lever and the second handle lever are configured to rotate about a common axis.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the second handle lever comprises a stem extending from an interior side of the second handle lever; and

wherein the first handle lever comprises a post that extends into the stem of the second handle lever.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the damper is retained in the second handle lever.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the damper is disposed between the first handle lever and the second handle lever.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 15, 2026
From: DANCO, INC.
To: DANCO, LLC
Reel/Frame 075986/0713 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 12, 2015
From: SCHUSTER, MICHAEL J.; SAUNDERS, DOUGLAS C.; STUTZMAN, DUSTON E. A.
To: MJSI, INC.
Reel/Frame 036773/0162 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 12, 2015
From: MJSI, INC.
To: DANCO, INC.
Reel/Frame 036773/0175 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 13302924 · Nov 22, 2011
Related Publication 20150376884A1 · Dec 31, 2015