Abstract: A case top for the housing of a mouse-type computer pointing device is made of a single piece of plastic. The case top includes securing arms which engage securing hooks extending from a case bottom of the housing, allowing the case top to be releasably fastened to the case bottom with a single screw. The case top includes two user actuable buttons attached to a main body by two spring arms, all formed as a single one-piece case top. The two buttons actuate an integrated switch package having two momentary switches within the package. The integrated switch package consists of two pieces: a switch case and a switch spring. The switch package is mounted on a printed circuit board. The switch case engages the case bottom to help secure both the switch package and the printed circuit board. User actuation of the switch package causes the switch spring to flex and make momentary electrical contact with contacts on the printed circuit board.

Abstract: An ergonomic pointing device, such as a mouse, includes a wheel to provide an input signal in addition to X and Y position signals provided by a rotatable ball of a standard mouse. The wheel extends from an upper surface of the pointing device and may be rotated and depressed by the finger of the user, the wheel being positioned and configured to allow a user to activate the wheel while maintaining a finger in a biomechanically neutral position. The wheel and associated structure, as well as the forces required to rotate and depress the wheel, are configured to reduce inadvertent actuation and to provide a user with tactile feedback, thereby allowing the user to accurately and intuitively activate the pointing device without exceeding an acceptable extension and range of motion for the user's finger and wrist.The mouse is coupled to a computer having a visual display device.

Abstract: A z-encoder for a computer input device includes a wheel button that is supported on an axle or spindle within the housing of the input device. The axle is supported in the housing by spaced-apart axle supports. The axle supports are configured to allow one end of the axle to move in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the wheel button such that the wheel button may be depressed, tilting the axle sightly. A spring mounted within the housing is arranged to resist depression of the wheel button.An optical encoder may be positioned on the axle for rotation with the wheel button. A light source and a light sensor may be mounted within the housing so as to sense the motion of the optical encoder to provide a positioning signal. A microswitch may be mounted within the housing, and a switch engager on the axle may be arranged to depress the microswitch when the wheel button is depressed, thereby providing a button signal.

Abstract: A case top for the housing of a mouse-type pointing device in a computer system, including two user actuable buttons on the case top, is made of a single piece of plastic. The case top includes securing arms which engage securing hooks extending from a case bottom of the housing, allowing the case top to be releasably fastened to the case bottom with a single screw. The buttons are attached to a main body of the case top by two spring arms concurrently formed with the case top. The two buttons actuate an integrated switch package having two momentary switches within the package. The integrated switch package consists of two pieces: a switch case, and a switch spring positioned therein. The switch package is mounted on a printed circuit board positioned within the interior of the housing of the pointing device. The switch case engages the case bottom of the housing to help secure both the switch package and the printed circuit board therein.

Abstract: An assembly is provided for replacing part or all of a toilet flush valve, which facilitates mounting in a variety of toilets and which enables saving of water. The assembly includes an adapter (30, FIG. 6) for mounting on older types of overflow tubes, which includes a ring member (70) having a gap (72) and a leaf spring (80) extending across the gap. After the adapter is moved down along the overflow tube and lies at its base, the spring is pushed in to cause a hook (84) at one end to ride along a ramp (90) from a second tooth (88) to a third tooth (92) and engage the third tooth, to tightly clamp the ring member in place to prevent turning. A closing delay cup (116, FIG. 9) that can be used on a valve member, includes a plurality of holes and at least one plug (126) that is molded to the cup and can be cut off and used to plug one of the holes (120) to adjust the amount of water saved in each flushing. A valve member includes a tank ball having an enlargement (160, FIG.

Abstract: An assembly is provided for replacing part or all of a toilet flush valve, which facilitates mounting in a variety of toilets and which enables saving of water. The assembly includes an adapter (30, FIG. 6) for mounting on older types of overflow tubes, which includes a ring member (70) having a gap (72) and a leaf spring (80) extending across the gap. After the adapter is moved down along the overflow tube and lies at its base, the spring is pushed in to cause a hook (84) at one end to ride along a ramp (90) from a second tooth (88) to a third tooth (92) and engage the third tooth, to tightly clamp the ring member in place to prevent turning. A closing delay cup (116, FIG. 9) that can be used on a valve member, includes a plurality of holes and at least one plug (126) that is molded to the cup and can be cut off and used to plug one of the holes (120) to adjust the amount of water saved in each flushing. A valve member includes a tank ball having an enlargement (160, FIG.

Abstract: An assembly is provided for replacing part or all of a toilet flush valve, which facilitates mounting in a variety of toilets and which enables saving of water. The assembly includes an adapter (30, FIG. 6) for mounting on older types of overflow tubes, which includes a ring member (70) having a gap (72l ) and a leaf spring (80) extending across the gap. After the adapter is moved down along the overflow tube and lies at its base, the spring is pushed in to cause a hook (84) at one end to ride along a ramp (90) from a second tooth (88) to a third tooth (92) and engage the third tooth, to tightly clamp the ring member in place to prevent turning. A closing delay cup (116, FIG. 9) that can be used on a valve member, includes a plurality of holes and at least one plug (126) that is molded to the cup and can be cut off and used to plug one of the holes (120) to adjust the amount of water saved in each flushing. A valve member includes a tank ball having an enlargement (160, FIG.

Abstract: Improved ballcock float structures are provided including a molded, plastic, hollow body formed of cup-like lower and reverse cup-like upper parts. The parts are retained together by snap engagement between the extremities of the parts with positioning abutments for additional stability. A float guide extends vertically through the body having a vertical opening for receiving a ballcock or the like to be controlled by the float. Control of the float for controlling the ballcock is provided by two, tubular liquid vents secured in and extending upwardly from the lower part bottom wall and a similar liquid vent projecting downwardly through and from the upper part top wall. The liquid and air vents project into the interior of the body, but terminate spaced apart and the relative positions thereof determines the performance of the float.

Abstract: The pressure activated cleaner discharge device is used in a standard toilet water tank, the tank having a ballcock for discharging water to fill the tank from a minimum water level to a maximum water level. The tank also includes a flush valve connected to a toilet bowl for flushing water therein from the tank, and an overflow pipe projecting above the maximum water level having a ballcock refill tube connected thereto for directing a pressure flow of tank water to refill the toilet bowl after said flushing. The cleaner discharge device includes a container in the tank having an inlet and outlet, an inlet water tube connected between the refill tube and the container inlet, and an outlet cleaner tube connected between the container outlet and the refill tube downstream of the inlet water tube connection. The refill tube and its connections and the container and its connections are all liquid-tight from the ballcock to the refill pipe substantially throughout the downstream flow of water therein.