AU598087B2 - Additive device for toilet flush water - Google Patents

Description

CO0M MO0NW EA L TH OF A USTitALIA PATENT ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECI FICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE CLASS INT. CLASS Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: Related Art-: Cfla NAME OF APPLICANT: 'NICHOLAS- KIWI (PACIFIC) ,PTY. LTD.

44 A L4) ADDRESS OF ALPPLICANT: 699 Warriga. Road, Chads tone, Victoria 3148, Australia.

NAME(S) OF INVENTOR(S) COLIN LESLIE SAVILLE ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: DAVIES COLLISON, Patent Attorneys 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR THE INVENTION ENTITLED: "ADDITIVE DEVICE FOR TOILET FLUSH WATER" The following statement is a f ull description Of this invention* including the best method of performing it known to~ us- -1- -I 1A ADDITIVE DEVICE FOR TOILET FLUSH WATER This invention relates to a device for placing within the bowl of a flush toilet for the purpose of imparting an additive to the flushing water. Such devices are well known and it is conventional to incorporate a replaceable block of an additive substance, such as cleaning agent, colouring agent and/or a disinfecting agent, the device being disposed above the normal water level and positioned so as to catch some of the flushing water which flows about the block and dissolves some of the agent, and thereafter flows down into the water remaining after completion of the flushing operation.

It can happen that residual water, possibly containing high concentration of the agent, continues to drip down off the block and then down the side of the toilet bowl, thereby risking unsightly temporary or permanent staining of the inside of the bowl.

s It is the object of the present invention to 2n provide an improved additive device wherein fresh water, distinct from that which flow about the block of agent, is taken up by a reservoir and is used for dilution of any such residual agent-bearing water before being discharged from the device.

According to the present invention an additive -2device, for toilet flush water, comprises: a receptacle bounding an additive chamber to contain a quantity of additive material, said receptacle having an opening to the chamber for intake of water during flushing, a lateral opening from said chamber for outflow of agent-bearing water therefrom, and an outlet at a lower level than said lateral opening for drainage of residual agent-bearing water from the chamber; a reservoir, for fresh water, disposed at least partially below the level of said outlet and communicating therewith, said reservoir having an opening for intake of fresh water during flushing and a lower discharge opening; and means for locating the device within a toilet bowl to receive flush water entering said bowl, the arrangement being such that, agent-bearing water passing through the outlet of the receptacle into the reservoir and is there diluted by the fresh water I t before passing through the lower discharge opening.

The reservoir may have its lower discharge opening arranged at a level somewhat above its lowest part, thereby to ensure that at least some water 4 always remains in the reservoir. In a preferred form rIItr4 4 4

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-3of construction, the discharge opening of the reservoir is included in a siphon. Where the receptacle includes a base wall for the additive chamber, the siphon may be disposed below said base wall, or partially above and partially below said base wall. The siphon may consist, for example, of a discharge tube on the reservoir structure, and a surrounding spaced sleeve on said base wall.

To ensure that any residual agent-bearing water in the receptacle will pass towards the outlet, the receptacle preferably has a base wall which is inclined downwardly towards the outlet.

It is particularly advantageous if the flow of fresh water, in the reservoir, is delayed relative to the outflow of treated water from the additive chamber. Thus, according to a preferred further feature, the reservoir comprises flow regulating means for that purpose. In a convenient arrangement, the reservoir is divided into upper and lower zones by a t Ir 20 wall having one or more flow-regulating openings therein.

In an economic form of construction, the reservoir chamber is defined between the receptacle and a reservoir wall spaced externally of the receptacle.

L 4 The receptacle may include means, such as internal flanges or apertured walls, for positioning of a block of the additive material in the additive chamber.

For mounting of the device within the rim of a toilet bowl, there may be provided a suspension clip on the receptacle. In a preferred construction, the clip comprises a hook portion and a stem portion, and the stem being adjustably engaged in a sleeve on the receptacle to permit alteration of the height of the receptacle within the bowl. The stem portion may include end stop means to prevent withdrawal of the stem from the sleeve.

In order that the nature of the invention may be readily ascertained, two embodiments of additive device for toilet flush water are hereinafter particularly described with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure I is a part side elevation and part central vertical section of a first embodiment; Figure 2 is a part rear elevation and part central vertical section, taken on a plane at a right angle to that of Figure 1, of the first embodiment; Figure 3 is a central vertical section of a second embodiment; Figure 4 is a partial front elevation and partial I t 5 section of the second embodiment; Figure 5 is a plan view of the second embodiment, with suspension clip omitted.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, an additive device for toilet flush water comprises a container body 1 and a suspension clip 2.

The device as a whole is intended to be placed within the rim of a toilet bowl at a level at which the container body will receive over it part of the ,i 10 flow of the usual flushing water supply of the bowl.

The suspension clip is made of a resiliently bendable material and is formed at its upper part with a hook portion 3 having one of its angles reinforced by a central rib 4. The hook portion 3 can be opened out manually for engagement over the rim of the bowl, and will grip onto the rim by its refilience. At its lower part, the suspension clip is formed with a stem which is provided with a series of ratchet-like teeth 6, and an end stop tooth 7.

20 The container body has a front wall 8 on a *central zone of which is provided a sleeve 9 through which the toothed stem 5 of the suspension clip is engaged. The stem 5 can be adjusted longitudinally through the sleeve 9, to any selected one of a number of positions of adjustment determined by engagement of the teeth 6 with the sleeve 9 or with an internal lug

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6 6 (not shown) in the sleeve 9. This permits the height of the container body 1 to be adjusted within the toilet bowl to a suitable level to be' within the flushing water flow,, The end stop tooth 7 limits outward movement of the stem 5, to prevent the container body 1 being inadvertently disengaged off the stem.

The container body 1 has a rear wall 10 and a base wall 11, and these together with the front wall 8 and two end walls 12, 13 bound an additive chamber 14 which is open at the top to receive flushing water.

Within the additive chamber 14 there can be placed a block 15 of a water-soluble additive material, such as a colorant and/or disinfectant.

The front wall 8 is provided with a series of elongate openings 16 so that when the additive chamber S14 is filled with flushing water, the water dissolves ji some of the block 15 and then passes out through the openings 16 to pour into the toilet pan. Internal flanges or apertured walls 17 are provided at spaced S« positions within the chamber 14 to retair. the black at a general centralised position therein.

The base wall 11 is inclined downwardly from one end towards the other, so that any remaining additive-treated water which has not passed out through the openings 16 passes along the base -7wall 11 towards an outlet 18.

The container body 1 has a further external reservoir wall 19 which extends at a spacing from walls 12 and 13 at the ends of the body and also at a spacing below the base wall 11, so as to bound therewith a fresh water reservoir chamber Internal flow-control walls 21, 21 each have a flow-control opening 22 for passage of water from the upper part of the reservoir chamber, at each end, down into the lower part of the reservoir chamber.

Centrally in the lowest part of the reservoir wall 19 there is provided a tube 23 which extends both H 1above and below the wall 19, and concentrically at a spacing about the tube 23 there is provided a sleeve 24 depending from the base wall 11. The tube 23 and the sleeve 24 together form a siphon.

The operation of the additive device is as follows: A block 15 of additive material is located in the chamber 14, and the device is suspended within the rim 4 1k of a toilet bowl. When the toilet is flushed, part of (i the flushing water enters the additive chamber 14 and washes over the block 15 and dissolves additive from it. The treated water flows out through the openings 16 and into the bowl, e.g. by flowing down the side of the bowl. For example, the block may be of a

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-8colourant material, to '-lour the water remaining in the bowl after flushing.

Water in the chamber 14 below the height of the lower end of the openings 16 flows along the inclined base wall 11 and out of the outlet 18 into the lower part of the reservoir chamber 20. This remaining water may, for example, tend to be more highly treated than the general bulk of water which has flowed out through the openings 16, as a result of remaining longer in the chamber 14. Treated water will also drip down off the block 15 for some time after operation of the flush. Such residual treated water is undesirable in that it may tend to leave coloured streaks down the inside of the wall of the bowl.

During the flushing operation, some fresh flushing water passes into the reservoir chamber and down through the flow-control openings 22 to mingle with treated Water which has passed through the outlet 18. Outflow through the openings 16 is much more rapid than downward flow through the flow-control openings 22, so that the bulk of re!srvoir water will arrive in the lower part of the chamber 20 after the main bulk of treated water has left the chamber 14.

This fresh water from the reservoir dilutes the 9 residual treated water in the chamber 20. Initially, there is sufficient water in the lower part of the reservoir chamber 20 to flow over the upper lip of the siphon tube 23, and flow of water out through the siphon tube 23 continues until such time as the level of water in the chamber 20 drops to below the level of the lower end of the sleeve 24.

I 1Thus, two advantages are gained: S(i) residual treated water from chamber 14 is diluted by reservoir water in the chamber 20, before i flowing down into the bowl, and I(ii) any still further residual treated water, dripping down later from the block 15 and from i the walls of the chamber 14 merely collects in the lowest part of the chamber 20, and can rise 1 up to the level of the upper lip of the tube 23 of the siphon without flowing out. At the next time of operation, the residual diluted treated water collected in the lower part of the chamber 20 is washed out with the next flow of water.

SFor convenience of manufacture, the container 2 body may have an upper component and a lower component which are simply snap-fitted, or secured by adhesive or welding, at a joint 10 In the embodiment described above, the siphon 23, 24 is disposed wholly below the level of the base wall i 11 bounding the additive chamber 14.

Referring now to Figures 3, 4 and 5, there is shown a second embodiment of additive device for toilet flush water.

With the exception of significant constructional differences which are detailed below, the construction (and operation) of this embodiment are substantially l 10 the same as have been described with respect to the i first embodiment above, and parts having similar functions have been denoted by the same *eference numerals and letters with the addition of the suffix S"a".

A first significant difference of construction is that the base wall lla of the additive chamber 14a has I a central raised portion 25 which, together with a jdepending tubular portion 26 replaces the siphon sleeve 24 of the first embodiment. Secondly, the siphon tube 23a is made much longer at its upper part, it .I 20 so as to extend into the relatively elongated sleeve portions 25, 26.

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To be accommodated in the somewhat narrowed and elongated chamber 14a, the block 15a is made rectangular and extends nearly to the end walls 12a and 13a.

In this embodiment, the container body is again iii i_ Cr~ r p.

11 preferably made in two portions "Aa" and "Bb" connected at a joint "Cc".

The siphon 25, 26, 23a in this embodiment is positioned partially above the level of the base wall lla, and partly below it but is still retained within the overall dimensions of the container body, Due to the greater height of the siphon 23a, the diluting fresh water flow must rise to a greater height before the siphon commences to operate, and there is a longer delay before the diluting fresh water is dispensed.

It will be appreciated that the invention is not restricted to the particular detail- described abovo with reference to and as shown in the drawings. In particular, numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. For example, the siphon could be located outside the container body and/or the upper part c.f the reservoir located at the rear of the additive chamber.

Claims (3)

1. An additive device, for toilet flush water, comprising: a receptacle bounding an additive chamber to contain a quantity of additive material, said receptacle having an opening to the chamber for intake of water during flushing, a lateral opening from said chamber for outflow of agent-bearing water tferefrom, and an outlet at a lower level than said lateral opening for drainage of residual agent-bearing water from the chamber; a reservoir, for fresh water, disposed at least partially below the level of said outlet and i communicating therewith, said reservoir having an |j 15 opening for intake of fresh water during flushing and a lower discharge opening; and i means for locating the device within a toilet i bowl to receive flush water entering said bowl, the arrangement being such that agent-bearing water passing through the outlet of the receptacle into the reservoir is then diluted by the fresh water before passing through the lower discharge opening. 4 2. An additive device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the discharge opening of the reservoir is included in a siphon.

3. An additive device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said receptacle includes a base wall for the odditive chamber and wherein said siphon is disposed L

13- below said base wall. 4. An additive device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said receptacle includes a base wall for the additive chamber, and wherein said siphon is disposed partially above and partially below said base wall. An additive device, as claimed in either of claims 1 3 and 4, wherein said siphon comprises a discharge tube 3i on said reservoir, and a surrounding spaced sleeve on said base wall. 6. An additive device as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein said receptacle has a base wall which is j inclined doc nwardly towards said outlet. 7. An additive device as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 5, wherein the base wall of said receptacle is inclined downwardly towards said outlet. 8. An additive device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said reservoir comprises flow regulating means to delay flow of fresh water relative to the outflow of treated water from the additive i 20 chamber. 1i 9. An additive device as claimed in any one of the fI preceding claims, wherein said reservoir is defined ii between said receptacle and a reservoir wall spaced externally of the receptacle. -14- An additive device as claimed in any one of the 1 preceding claims comprising means in said receptacle for positioning a block of additive material therein. 11. An additive devic as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising a suspension clip on said receptacle for hooking over a rim of a toilet bowl. 12. An additive device, for toilet flush water, substantially as described herein with reference to i PFigures 1 and 2, or Figures 3 to 5, of the accompanying drawings. ii Dated this 30th day of January, 1990 j DAVIES COLLISON, I DPatent Attorneys for i NICHOLAS KIWI PTY. LTD. i F I L -L