FLUSH VALVE ASSEMBLY
A flush valve assembly includes a valve body in which a flexible film, a hollow tubular member and an activation member are received. The flexible film has a weight enclosed therein which includes a neck extending from an underside of the flexible film and the neck is threadedly connected to the hollow tubular member located beneath the flexible film. An annular flange extends from a top of the flexible film and defines a recessed area. A central hole is defined through the flexible film and communicates with the neck. A plurality of ribs extend from an outer periphery thereof and a collar is mounted to the tubular member and rested on a radial flange of the tubular member. A disk of the activation member is engaged with the recessed area and a shank extending from the disk extends through the central hole and tubular member.
The present invention relates to a flush valve assembly with a flexible film which includes a weight enclosed therein and the flexible film is integrated with the tubular member so as to prevent improper deformation during assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONA conventional flush valve assembly used in toilet is shown in
An activation member 34 includes a disk 341 rested on the surface of the recessed area 321 of the positioning member 32 and a shank 342 extends from an underside of the disk 341 and extends through the passage 322, the central hole 312 and is inserted into the tubular member 33. The flexible film 31, the positioning member 32 and the tubular member 33 have to be manufactured individually which increases manufacturing cost. The film 31 is deformed improperly when being sandwiched between the positioning member 32 and the tubular member 33, and the deformed film 31 might leads to result of leakage.
Another valve assembly is disclosed in
The tubular member 42, the positioning member 421, the activation member 43 are received in a valve body 40 which includes a top surface 401 and an engaging surface “B” which is located around a main path 402 as shown in
When the operation device 404 is not yet operated as shown in
When the operation device 404 is operated as shown in
After flush, the disk 431 is again rested on the surface of the recessed area 423 and the water in the main path 402 applies a force to the ring 427 to drag the tubular member 42 as shown in
When the space 406 is formed as shown in
The first conventional flush valve assembly has inherent shortcomings which are that the film 31 is deformed when the positioning member 32 is connected to the tubular member 33, wherein the radial flange 332 of the tubular member 33 applies an upward force to the film 31 which is then deformed as shown in
The second conventional flush valve assembly has its shortcomings which are that the film 41 has to be expanded to be engaged with the engaging groove 412 and the film 41 might be deformed by the expansion as shown in
The present invention intends to provide a flush valve assembly wherein the flexible film is integrated with the tubular member and does not be deformed during assembling processes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a flush valve assembly that comprises a valve body in which a flexible film is integrally connected to a hollow tubular member and an activation member has a disk rested on the flexible film and a shank extends through the flexible disk and the hollow tubular member. The film has a weight enclosed therein which includes a neck extending from an underside of the flexible film and having an outer threaded periphery. An annular flange extends from a top of the flexible film and encloses a recessed area. A central hole is defined through the flexible film and communicates with the neck. The hollow tubular member has an inner threaded periphery which is engaged with the outer threaded periphery. A plurality of ribs extend from an outer periphery thereof. A collar is mounted to the tubular member and rested on a radial flange of the tubular member. The collar is located between the flexible film and the tubular member. The disk of the activation member is engaged with the recessed area and the shank extends through the central hole and tubular member.
The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.
Referring to
The flexible film 11 has a weight 117 enclosed therein which can be a copper piece and includes a neck extending from an underside of the flexible film 11. The neck has an outer threaded periphery 115. An annular flange 112 extends from a top of the flexible film 11 and a recessed area 113 is enclosed by the annular flange 112. A central hole 114 is defined through the flexible film 11 and communicates with the neck. A peripheral flange 111 extends from the top of the periphery of the film 11 and is engaged with the top surface 101 of the valve body 10 as shown in
A hollow tubular member 12 is located in the main path 12 and includes an inner threaded periphery 121 which is engaged with the outer threaded periphery 115, A plurality of ribs 122 extend from an outer periphery thereof and are located at equal distance such that a discontinuous surface is defined by the respective top surfaces 1221 of the ribs 122. A collar 123 is mounted to the tubular member 12 and rested on a radial flange of the tubular member 12. The collar 123 located at a top of the tubular member 12, and between the flexible film 11 and the tubular member 12 to allow the film 11 to have a bottom surface “A” along the top of the hollow tubular member 12 as shown in
An activation member 13 includes a disk 131 and a shank 132 extends from an underside of the disk 131. The disk 131 is engaged with the recessed area 113 and the shank 132 extends through the central hole 114 and tubular member 12. A distal end of the shank 132 extends beyond the lower end of the hollow tubular member 12 such that the operation device 104 can push the shank 132 when flushing. A space 14 is defined between the cover 105 and the film 11.
When the operation device 104 has not yet been operated, the space 14 is filled with air an moisture so as to provide a pressure on the film 11 to let the collar 123 be secured on the top of the main path 102, and the bottom surface “A” is engaged with the engaging surface “B”, such that water from the inlet 103 does not leak from the main path 102. Air is supplied into the space 14 via the through hole 116.
When the operation device 104 is activated, the shank 132 is pushed and the disk 131 tilts as shown in
After flush, the disk 131 is engaged with the recessed area 113 again and the water in the main path 102 applies a force on the top surfaces 1221 of the ribs 122 to drag the hollow tubular member 12. The hollow tubular member 12 is then guided to its original position by its weight and the film 11 is deformed downward to form the space 14. The collar 123 is rested on the top of the main path 402 and air is supplied to the space 14 via the through hole 116 till the pressure in the space 14 is accumulated to engage the bottom surface “A” with the engaging surface “B” as shown in
The weight 117 in the film 11 makes the hollow tubular member 12 be engaged with the top of the main path 102. The annular flange 112 is supported on its inner periphery by the weight 117 and provides sufficient stiffness which ensures that the disk 131 can be securely engaged with the recessed area 113.
The film 11 and the hollow tubular member 112 are integrally connected with each other so that when assembling the film 11, the film 11 does not need to be expanded or deformed. Therefore, the film 11 is avoided from permanent deformation.
Besides, the number of the ribs 122 is sufficient and the top surfaces 1221 of the ribs 122 form a sufficient area to cause the drag force by the water to pull the hollow tubular member 12.
While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A flush valve assembly comprising:
- a valve body (10);
- a flexible film (11) having a weight (117) enclosed therein which includes a neck extending from an underside of the flexible film (11) and the neck having an outer threaded periphery (115), an annular flange (112) extending from a top of the flexible film (11) and a recessed area (113) enclosed by the annular flange (112), a central hole (114) defined through the flexible film (11) and communicating with the neck;
- a hollow tubular member (12) having an inner threaded periphery (121) which is engaged with the outer threaded periphery (115), a plurality of ribs (122) extending from an outer periphery thereof, a collar (123) mounted to the tubular member (12) and rested on a radial flange of the tubular member (12), the collar (123) located between the flexible film (11) and the tubular member (12), and
- an activation member (13) having a disk (131) and a shank (132) extending from an underside of the disk (131), the disk (131) engaged with the recessed area (113) and the shank (132) extending through the central hole (114) and tubular member (12).
2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the weight (117) is made of copper.
3. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ribs (122) are located at equal distance.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 31, 2007
Publication Date: Feb 5, 2009
Inventor: Tsai-Hui Hsieh (Taichung City)
Application Number: 11/831,393