CA1046705A - Dispensation of concentrated solution into toilet flush tank - Google Patents

Dispensation of concentrated solution into toilet flush tank

Info

Publication number
CA1046705A
CA1046705A CA253,022A CA253022A CA1046705A CA 1046705 A CA1046705 A CA 1046705A CA 253022 A CA253022 A CA 253022A CA 1046705 A CA1046705 A CA 1046705A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
air
container
water
tube
concentrated solution
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA253,022A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
John E. Dolan
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA253,022A priority Critical patent/CA1046705A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1046705A publication Critical patent/CA1046705A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Landscapes

  • Bidet-Like Cleaning Device And Other Flush Toilet Accessories (AREA)

Abstract

DISPENSATION OF CONCENTRATED SOLUTION INTO TOILET FLUSH TANK

Abstract of the Disclosure Toilet disinfectant liquid is dispensed from an inverted container suspended within a toilet tank. As the toilet tank is refilled at the conclusion of a flush cycle, an inverted cup entraps air which then enters the container through a narrow elongated passage which prevents tank water from entering the container. When the water level in the tank falls during the succeeding flush cycle, disinfectant liquid passes through the narrow elongated passage and into the toilet tank. Bubbles formed in the elongated passage prevent continued dispensation of the disinfectant.

Description

~o46705 Back~round and Summary o~ the Invention This invention relates to the dispensation o~ a disinfectant or deodorant solution into the contents of a toilet flush tank. Devices of this general type are well-known and commercially available and operate on several different principles. In some, a solid water soluble dis-infectant is positioned at the bottom of a flush tank where it is dissolved by the water in the flush tank. Other dis-pensers pro~ide a concentrated solution, typically a disin-fec~ant or deodorant solution, which is rcleased periodically into the contents of the toilet flush tank. Release of the concentrated solution may be produced by a float-operated pump, pressure created by air rising in an air-entrapment chamber, external pressure reduction caused by a receding water level during the flush phase of the toilet flush-and-refill cycle or other means. Liquid has been dispensed through spouts, perforations or tubes, an example of the latter being found in U.S. patent 2,688,754 which also uses an air entrapment chamber.
This invention is an improvement to the device shown in my earlier U.S. paten-t 3,874,oo7 which disclosed an inverted air entrapment chamber supporting a vertical stem which carried a dilution vessel at its lower end. The improvement relates to ~h provision of sn air-inflow, liquiù-outflow passage in the container.
It is an object of this invention to provide a simple, inexpensively manufactured means for dispensing a concentrated solution into the contents of a toilet flush tank. According to the invention, a downwardly-open air-entrapment chamber is located in the ou-tlet opening of the container for the concentra-ted solution. A tube extends upwardly from the upper end of the air entrapment chamber into the container. A plug pro~ided with elongated grooves is snugly fit within the tube, the elongated grooves pro-viding narrow elongated passages between the tube and the plug, these passages admitting air into the container as the water level rises in a toilet tank, and permitting dis-pensation of concentrated liquid as the water level falls.
Preferably, the lower end o~ the plug is provided with a tip portion whicl1 supports a decending film of the concentrated solutionj serving to delay introduction of the concentrated solution into the toilet tank water.
The invention herein may take many forms, but a preferred one is shown in the following drawings and description.

Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 i5 an elevational view of the preferred 1~46705 form of a toilet disinfectant dispenser in its operative position;
~ ig. 2 is an exploded view of the elements ~rhich produce the desired dispensing activity, Fig. 3 shows the elements of Fig. 2 in their assembled position in the neck of a disinfectant container;
~ ig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in Fig. 3.

Brief Description of a Preferred Embodiment Fig. 1 shows a dispenser 2 having a disinfectant container 4 in an operative inverted orientation, as it is held in a toilet tank by means of a conventional hook or clip attached to the bottle in any known manner. The container may be flexible or rigid, plastic or glass, but it preferably is a blow-molded polyethylene bottle.
At the lower end of the container 4, there is an enlarged neck portion 6 with threads 8 for engaging the internal threads of a cap which seals the container during transportation and storage prior to installation in a toilet tank. A reduced neck portion 10 at the lower end of the container 4 provides the outlet opening through which disinfectant ma-terial is dis-pensed.

10467~5 The dispensation of disinfectant material is governed by three interconnected members which are inserted in the reduced neck portion 10 of the bottle. These members are the stem 12, the cup-and-tube mernber 1l~ and the optional dilution cup 16. The assembled and operative relationship between these members is best illustrated in Fig. 3 where it will be seen that the cup and tube member 14 is held in the ou-tlet opening of container 4, the upper end of the stem is retained by the upper tube portion of member 1~l, and the dilution cup 16 is supported on the lower end of the stem 12.
The integral cup-and-tube member 14 is sealingly engaged within the outlet opening 32 at the lower portion of the container 4. The member 14 has a radial flange 34 at its lower end to establish its position in the neck of the con-tainer. A cylindrical wall 36 and a conical wall 38 form an inverted cup defining a downwardly open air-entrapment chamber 40 in the outlet opening of the container. Chamber 40 entraps air as the water level rises in toilet tank. The conical wall 38 of the cup converges upwardly to the tube section 42 of the member 14 so that rising water in a toilet tank is prevented from entering the tube 42 when any air remains entrapped in the chamber 40.
At the upper end of the stem 12 there is an enlarged head 18, stop means 20 and a plug section 22 provided with two diametrically opposed vertically elongated grooves 24. The tem 1 lso has en elongeted tlp portion 26 ~hich is lon~er 104~705 than the plug section 22 a~d has an exterior surface extending downwardly from the lower end of the groove 2L~ to support a downwardly moving fi1m of disinfectant when the water in the toilet tank recedes. An enlarged head 28 at the lower end of the tip portion 26 supports the upper end of a cen~ral sleeve 30 of the dilution vessel 16. The dilution vessel is slidable on the tip portion 26 to enable the dispensing assembly to collapse for size-reduction during shipment and storage.
The plug section 22 of the stem 12 is frictionally engaged in the tube portion 42 of member 14, so that the grooves 24 provide a narrow elongated passage between the upper portion of the air entrapment chamber 40 and the interior of the container. The width of each of the grooves 24, measured circumferentially of the plug 22 is about .01 inch (.25 mm) and preferably is .oo8 inch (.2 mm). It should be no more than about~02 inch. The length of the elongated passage formed by the grooves is at least about 0.2 inch (5 mm) and is preferably 0.25 inch (6 mm).
In order to assure tha~ the upper ends of the elongated grooves 24 remain in communication with the interior of the container 4, the stops 20 abut the upper end of the tube 42 at a point which is laterally offset from the upper ends of the grooves. This placement of the stops 20 does not impede the flow of fluid to the grooves 24. The lower end of the elongated passage formed by groove 24 between the plug s portion and tube ~ is at an eleva tion at least as higl as the uppermost end of the inverted cup to prevent rising water from entering the groove 24.
One function of the elongated tip 26 of the stem 12 is to delay the release of disinfectant solution into the toilet tank water, to avoid dispensation of all disinfectant during the flush phase of the cycle rather than during the refill phase of the cycle. Dispensation is also delayed by the provision of the optional dilution cup 16 supported by head 28 at the lower end of the tip portion 26. The complete function of such a dilution vessel is discussed in my earlier U.S.
patent 3,874,oo7. The dilutlon vessel 16 is oriented to retai~ a quantity of toile~ tank water after the water level recedes below the disinfectant dispensing device. As the water level drops, dispensed disinfectant runs down the stem 26 into the vessel 16. Then, when the water level rises again to the dis-infectant dispenser, the toilet tank contents will come into communication and mix with the diluted disinfectant solution in the vessel 16.
When the device is first inverted when placed in a toilet tank, a quantity of concentrated solution will flow downwardly through the grooves 24 to create a partial vacuwn within the container 4. In operation, the elements of the device always appear as shown in Fig. 3, except that on occasions the dilution cup 16 may slip upwardly on the tip portion 26 of the stem 12. When the toilet tank is substantially empty at ..
- 7 - !

the end of a flush cycle, the toilet flush valve will close and the refill valve will open, commencing the refill cycle when water is introduced into the toilet tank. The water level will rise to the level of the dilution vessel 16, causing any dilu-ted disinfectant on tip 26, head 2~ or in the vessel 16 to mix with the toilet tank water. When the water level rises to the lower end of the member 14, air will be entrapped within the chamber 40. As the water level continues to rise, the pressure of the entrapped air will increase, causing some air to be driven through the groove 24 to reduce the partial vacuum and equalize the pressure.
The elongated passage resists the movement of air there-through, and the air will assume the form of bubbles surrounded by any disinfectant solution remaining in the groove 24.
These bubbles prevent concentrated solution from being dis-pensed and prevent water from entering the container to dilute the solution. Access of water to the groove is also detered by the upward convergence of the inclined wall 38 of the air entrapment chamber which causes a portion of the entrapped air to be directed to the lower end of the passage formed by grooves 24 When the toilet is again flushed, the water level in the toilet tank recedes~ reducing the pressure in the air entrapment chamber 40 and causing disinfectant to flow down-wardly through the groove 24. The volume of disinfectant solution dispensed is dependen-t upon the slze~ length and number of passages formed by grooves 24, and is independent of the volume of the chamber 40. The disinfectant flows along the tip portion 26 of stem 12 and into the dilution cup 16.
Even when the dilution cup 16 is eliminated from the device;
at least a major portion of the disinfectant solution will remain on the stem 12 as its rounded lower end 28 provides an enlarged surface area with no edges which would cause the release of droplets. Bubbles of air remaining within the groove 24 prevent undue dispensation of disinfectant after the water level recedes below the lower edge of the air entrapment chamber 40.
Persons skilled in this art will realize that the invention may be practiced by many means other than the specific ones disclosed herein. Therefore, it is emphasized that the invention is not limited only to the sole disclosed embodiment, but encompasses modifications thereto and varia-tions thereof within the scope and spirit of the claims which ~ollow. In the interest of clarity rather than limitation, the claims describe the elements in their positions of normal use, i.e. with the container in its inverted orientation.
The claims encompass such devices in other orientations which they may assume during storage and shipment.
.,

Claims (14)

CLAIMS:
1. A device for dispensing a concentrated solution into a toilet flush tank comprising a container for said concentrated solution, said container having an outlet opening at a lower portion thereof, a downwardly-open air-entrapment chamber in said outlet opening for entrapping air as the water level rises in the toilet tank, and a tube extending upwardly from the upper portion of the air-entrapment chamber, a plug snugly fitted within the tube, a groove providing a narrow elongated passage between said tube and said plug communicating between an upper portion of the air-entrapment chamber and the interior of said container to prevent water from entering the container as the water level rises.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the lower end of said elongated passage is at an elevation at least as high as the uppermost end of said inverted cup to prevent rising water from entering the passage.
3. The device of claim 1 having a stem which includes said plug, said stem having radially enlarged stop means abutting the upper end of said tube at a point laterally offset from the upper end of said groove whereby the upper end of the groove is in communication with the interior of the container.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein the air-entrapment chamber has an upper portion which is inclined and converges upwardly to the lower end of said tube, whereby rising water in a toilet tank is prevented from reaching said tube when any air remains within said air-entrapment chamber.
5. The device of claim 1 having a stem which includes said plug, said stem having an elongated tip portion extending downwardly from said plug, said tip portion having an exterior surface extending downwardly from said groove to provide a surface for supporting a downwardly-moving film of concentrated solution when the level of water in the toilet tank recedes.
6. The device of claim 5 having an upwardly-open dilution vessel supported on the lower end of said stem to receive concentrated solution for mixture with water retained by said dilution vessel.
7. The device of claim 1 wherein the transverse dimension of the elongated passage is no more than about 0.02 inch whereby said elongated passage resists the upward flow of air therethrough and causes air in the elongated passage to form bubbles with the concentrated liquid therein.
8. The device of claim 7 wherein the air-entrapment chamber has an upper portion which is inclined and converges upwardly to the lower end of said tube, whereby rising water in a toilet tank is prevented from reaching said tube when any air remains entrapped in said air-entrapment chamber.
9. The device of claim 7 wherein the lower end of said elongated passage is at an elevation at least as high as the uppermost end of said inverted cup to prevent rising water from entering the passage.
10. The device of claim 9 wherein the air-entrapment chamber has an upper portion which is inclined and converges upwardly to the lower end of said tube, whereby rising water in a toilet tank is prevented from reaching said tube when any air remains entrapped in said air-entrapment chamber.
11. The device of claim 7 having a stem which in-cludes said plug, said stem having radially enlarged stop means abutting the upper end of said tube at a point laterally offset from the upper end of said groove whereby the upper end of the groove is in communication with the interior of the container.
12. The device of claim 7 wherein said stem has an elongated tip portion extending downwardly from said plug, said tip portion having an exterior surface extending downwardly from said groove to provide a surface for supporting a downwardly-moving film of concentrated solution when the level of water in the toilet tank recedes.
13. The device of claim 12 having an upwardly-open dilution vessel supported on the lower end of said stem to receive concentrated solution for mixture with water retained by said dilution vessel.
14. A method of dispensing a concentrated solution from a container into a toilet tank comprising the steps of positioning an empty inverted cup in the path of rising water in a toilet tank, raising the water level into the tank beyond the inverted cup to entrap air in the inverted cup, moving air so entrapped into and through a narrow-elongated passage into the container, said elongated passage containing concentrated solution causing air in the narrow elongated passage to form bubbles therein, lowering the water level in the tank to reduce the pressure at the lower end of the narrow elongated passage and to move said bubbles surrounded by concentrated solution into the inverted cup for release into the toilet tank water, retaining at least one of said bubbles in said narrow elongated passage to prevent gravitational discharge of con-centrated solution from the container into the toilet tank.
CA253,022A 1976-05-20 1976-05-20 Dispensation of concentrated solution into toilet flush tank Expired CA1046705A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA253,022A CA1046705A (en) 1976-05-20 1976-05-20 Dispensation of concentrated solution into toilet flush tank

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA253,022A CA1046705A (en) 1976-05-20 1976-05-20 Dispensation of concentrated solution into toilet flush tank

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1046705A true CA1046705A (en) 1979-01-23

Family

ID=4106012

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA253,022A Expired CA1046705A (en) 1976-05-20 1976-05-20 Dispensation of concentrated solution into toilet flush tank

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1046705A (en)

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US2839763A (en) Dispenser for flush tank deodorant bottle
NZ196929A (en) Dispensing metered liquid into lowering water level
JP5469093B2 (en) On-tank toilet dispenser
US2967310A (en) Liquid dispensing apparatus
US4251012A (en) Passive liquid dosing dispenser
US4346483A (en) Float controlled liquid dispenser
US3945062A (en) Toilet chemical dispenser
US4285074A (en) Refillable dispensing apparatus
CA1291599C (en) Automatic toilet bowl cleaner dispenser
US3874007A (en) Liquid dispensing apparatus and method for toilet flush tank
US20070039087A1 (en) Dispensing apparatus
US5353957A (en) Apparatus and method for controlled dispensing of a liquid
US4066187A (en) Valve unit for liquid dispensers
US4131958A (en) Dispensation of concentrated solution into toilet flush tank
US8826859B1 (en) Animal drinker
CA1046705A (en) Dispensation of concentrated solution into toilet flush tank
US6691328B2 (en) Fluid dispensing bottle having a refillable reservoir and a metering section
US6820287B2 (en) Down-stroke dispenser
AU660792B2 (en) Liquid dispensing apparatus and method
US3019451A (en) Dispenser for disinfectant and the like
US3895739A (en) Dispenser for flush tank
EP0222607A2 (en) Fluid dispenser
US20070240253A1 (en) Fluid Dispensing Device
US5850972A (en) Liquid dispenser and method
US4142260A (en) Chemical dispenser for flush type water tank toilets