US3358294A - Toilet handle lock - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 19, 1967 M R. NOLAN ETAL 3,358,294

TOILET HANDLE LOCK` Filed Sept. l, 1964 l: i JQINVENTQRS ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,358,294 TOILET HANDLE LOCK Meryl R. Nolan and Gaillard R. Nolan, both of 7513 Spring Lake Drive, Bethesda, Md. 20034 Filed Sept. 1, 1964, Ser. No. 393,707 1 Claim. (Cl. 4-1) This invention relates to movable stops for ush toilet handles. It allows the handles to be selectively immobilized to prevent the accidental ushing of the toilet.

It is particularly useful rst in households with small children who might ush toilets while unsupervised and second in preventing accidental iiushing while using the toilet bowl to soak soiled diapers.

In the accompanying diagrams FIGURE 1 shows a perspective view of a toilets flush handle with the handle lock of the present invention in place.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of the handle lock in place showing it in the locking position in heavy lines and in the unlocked position in the dotted lines.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the handle lock as shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a section of the handle lock taken on lines 4 4 of FIGURE 3.

The lock is composed of three main assemblies: the base 1, the shaft 2, and the body 3. All three elements may advantageously be made of plastic. The base 1 secures the lock to the wall of the toilet beneath the handle. Any means of attachment will work but adhesive attachment is the simplest and is adequate. At the time of manufacture an adhesive may be applied which will become activated by the purchaser moistening the base.

Protruding normally from the base and the side of the toilet when the lock is in place is the shaft 2 on which the body 3 rotates. This body, which is a rotatable stop, is formed in a generally rectangular shape with a hole through the center. This allows the body when in position A, FIG. 2, to immobilize the dush handle and when in position B to allow the handle to flush the toilet.

A lock washer 4 holds the body 3 on the shaft 2. Also included is means to retain the body in either position A or B when it is placed in them. Shown is a spring mounted ice plunger 5 which partially ts in slight indentations 6 in the shaft.

While the drawings show a rotatable stop, it is clear that any other type, for instance a sliding mechanism, would work as well. We do not intend to be limited therefore by the drawings but only by the appended claim.

Having described our invention We claim:

A toilet handle lock for selective immobilization of an externally mounted rotatable toilet handle comprising:

(a) a base section having an adhesive backing for attachment to the wall ofthe toilet;

(b) a shaft protruding normally from the base, and

having spaced indentations;

(c) a generally rectangular body rotatably mounted on said shaft;

(d) a lock washer holding the body on the shaft;

(e) a spring mounted plunger within said body cooperating with said indentations to hold the handle in pre-selected positions whereby said handle lock when disposed beneath the ilush handle with the body in a vertical position immobilizes the ilush handle and when the body is in the horizontal position it allows the handle to llush the toilet.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 617,548 1/1899 Wilson 292-108 618,901 1/1899 Hegel 292-108 1,277,754 9/1918 Reed 292-108 1,558,562 10/1925 Naylor 292-347 2,331,150 10/1943 Whiting 292-288 2,331,403 10/ 1943 Leonard 292-340 2,537,380 1/1951 Travis 292-376 2,963,710 12/1960 Carter 4-67 3,023,601 3/1962 Luikart et al 292-376 FOREIGN PATENTS 705,900 3/ 1954 Great Britain.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner. H. K. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner.

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