System and method for touchless actuation of a toilet
AssigneeKohler Co.
InventorsJohn Lipinski, Clayton Garrels, Timothy Waack
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A trip lever assembly for a toilet includes a body and an infrared sensor. The body is configured to be mechanically coupled to a flush valve assembly of the toilet. The infrared sensor is coupled to the body, and is configured to be electrically coupled to the flush valve assembly. The body is configured to be manually actuated to control the flush valve assembly. The infrared sensor is a time-of-flight sensor configured to detect the distance of an object in a detection region of the infrared sensor to control the flush valve assembly.
Claims13
An actuator assembly for a toilet flush valve, the actuator assembly comprising:
- a housing;
- a motor disposed in the housing;
- a gear coupled to an output shaft of the motor, wherein the gear is configured to rotate about a first longitudinal axis;
- a camshaft rotatably coupled to the housing, wherein the camshaft is in rotational engagement with the gear, and wherein the camshaft is configured for rotation about a second longitudinal axis that is parallel to the first longitudinal axis;
- an actuator rod engaged with the camshaft, wherein the actuator rod is configured to be coupled to the toilet flush valve and to translate in a longitudinal direction relative to the camshaft in response to rotational movement of the camshaft to control the toilet flush valve;
- and
- a sensor configured to detect the rotation of the camshaft for identification of a flush cycle.
An actuator assembly for a toilet flush valve, the actuator assembly comprising:
- a housing;
- a motor disposed in the housing;
- a gear coupled to an output shaft of the motor, wherein the gear is configured to rotate about a first longitudinal axis;
- a camshaft rotatably coupled to the housing, wherein the camshaft is in rotational engagement with the gear, and wherein the camshaft is configured to rotate about a second longitudinal axis that is parallel to the first longitudinal axis;
- an actuator rod engaged with the camshaft, wherein the actuator rod is configured to be coupled to the toilet flush valve and to translate in a longitudinal direction relative to the camshaft in response to rotational movement of the camshaft to control the toilet flush valve, wherein the toilet flush valve includes a canister, wherein the actuator rod lifts the canister to control the toilet flush valve;
- and
- an arm slidably engaged with a bottom portion of the canister, wherein the actuator rod lifts the arm to lift the canister.
An actuator assembly for a toilet flush valve, the actuator assembly comprising:
- a housing;
- a motor disposed in the housing;
- a gear coupled to an output shaft of the motor, wherein the gear is configured to rotate about a first longitudinal axis;
- a camshaft rotatably coupled to the housing, wherein the camshaft is in rotational engagement with the gear, and wherein the camshaft is configured to rotate about a second longitudinal axis that is parallel to the first longitudinal axis;
- an actuator rod engaged with the camshaft, wherein the actuator rod is configured to be coupled to the toilet flush valve and to translate in a longitudinal direction relative to the camshaft in response to rotational movement of the camshaft to control the toilet flush valve;
- a cam follower coupled to the actuator rod, wherein a portion of the cam follower extends through the slot to slidably engage the camshaft, and wherein the cam follower is configured to translate in a longitudinal direction relative to the camshaft in response to rotational movement of the camshaft;
- and
- a spring disposed around a portion of the actuator rod, wherein the portion of the actuator rod extends through the housing, and wherein the spring is configured to bias the actuator rod away from the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.