Device to secure toilet flush lever arm to effect a partial flush

Abstract

An improvement for a dual flush mechanism which permits a partial flush of a toilet in addition to the full flush. When the operator pushes the partial flush handle down, the partial flush mechanism lifts the flapper valve off the annular valve seat a small distance by raising the connected flush lever arm a similarly small distance. The improvement is a flush lever arm holder adapted to suspend the flush lever arm in the slightly raised partial flush position after the operator has released the partial flush handle. More particularly, a rotatable cam resides on a plate secured to the toilet tank wall, the cam, operably attached to a float, engages the underside of the flush lever arm such that the float holds the rotatable cam under the flush lever arm to secure it in the raised position during the partial flush. As the water level in the toilet tank falls, the float begins to fall with the water and lowers the cam holding up the flush lever arm. The flush lever arm descends allowing the flapper valve to cover the annular valve seat, terminating the partial flush. The toilet tank begins to refill and the float again urges the cam against the underside of the flush lever arm, but is insufficiently buoyant to raise the flapper valve off the valve seat. It sits there awaiting the operator to push the partial flush handle again.