EP0099310A2 - Device for the distribution of a product in the flushing tank of a toilet - Google Patents

Abstract

A dispenser for disinfectant, cleaning agent, coloring agent, deodorant, perfuming agent or the like adapted to be positioned in a toilet tank is formed by thermoforming from synthetic resin foil with a base having cells at least one of which is divided by a partition and has compartments such that the material to be dispensed can be solidified in one of these compartments.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for dispensing a product in a tank of a toilet flush.

The toilets are installations for which it is desirable to have means of cleaning avoiding to the maximum the manual interventions.

Among the automatic processes that can be envisaged, the one which has the most advantages consists in placing disinfectants, detergents, deodorants, dyes, etc. in the tank of the flushing toilet.

To reduce manual intervention, the distribution of products should be done automatically, the replacement of loads should be as far apart as possible, and also quick and easy. For this, it is desirable to have a load contained in a disposable container, easy to manufacture and made of an inexpensive material.

A first solution consists in carrying out the dissolution of a solid product in the entire volume of the flush tank. " ^* Such an arrangement is however not very satisfactory, since the product dissolves relatively easily and that its concentration in the residual volume of water in the toilet bowl is insufficient. It is therefore advantageous to have a device ensuring the discharge of the cleaning product only in the last liters of water discharged from the flush tank, that is, in the volume of water remaining in the bowl.

To obtain such a result, it is known to use a siphoning device, the material embodiment of which results in an orifice or an outlet pipe for the solution situated at the base of the container.

This orifice or conduit must, of course, not be blocked, so that it is not possible with such devices to perform the filling of the load by directly pouring into it a product in the liquid or pasty state. The filler must therefore be introduced in the form of a pellet, a packaged unit filler, or any other solid form.

However, the cleaning, coloring and perfuming charges, do not exist all ready and must be produced by the manufacturer of the cleaning device, by means of a suitable prior forming operation such as pouring into a mold, extrusion, extrusion, etc.

The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks.

To this end, in the device that it relates to, comprising a generally parallelepipedal box intended to be placed vertically in the tank of the flush, and the length of which is arranged in the direction of the height thereof. ci, and constituted by a recessed bottom and a cover, the recessed bottom comprises at least two cells, the first of which extends over the entire length of the housing and communicates with the outside via openings opening at or near its two upper and lower ends, the second of which extends over part of the length of the housing from the upper end thereof includes an internal partition having a passage at at least one of its ends and delimiting a more deep intended to contain the active product which can be introduced by simple pouring at a temperature higher than its point of hardening, and a less deep part which communicates, near its lower end, with the first cell, the openings for connecting the two cells to each other being formed by recesses opening into the walls delimiting the cells in question, and the openings for communicating the first cell to the outside being formed by recesses opening into the walls delimiting the cells considered or by orifices provided in the cover.

The partition separating the cell containing the active product into two parts, and the difference in depth between these two parts, makes it possible to pour a liquid product into the deepest part, without the latter being able to block the communication openings between the shallowest part and the first alveolus. In addition, the partition ensures, during filling and emptying of the cell containing the active product, good circulation of water improving the dissolution of the product.

This device is of simple design since the honeycomb bottom can be easily obtained by thermoforming, and that the honeycomb intended to contain the disinfectant, detergent or deodorant product, can be filled by pouring a liquid or pasty product, which hardens in situ, without requiring passage through a pastillage or the production of a solid bread. After the active material has hardened, the housing is closed by fitting the cover, which is fixed for example by gluing or welding (thermal, high frequency, ultrasound, etc.). This does not exclude the use of a preformed product which then suffices to put in place during filling.

From a practical point of view, when filling the flush tank, the first cell fills completely with water, the air which it initially contains can escape through the opening (s) opening into its the top part.

The second cell containing the active product is only partially filled due to the lack of possibility of air escape at its upper part. When the reservoir is filled, a slow dissolution of the active ingredient occurs, producing a concentrated solution in the second cell.

When emptying the flush, it is only when the level reaches that of the communication orifice between the first and second cells that the solution concentrated in active product passes into the first cell, where is carried out a certain homogenization of the latter and from where it is evacuated at the end of emptying of the flush tank.

The position of the housing in the water of the tank is indifferent and it can therefore be placed at any height without the user having any need to locate its position. The attachment or fixing system for this box can be any; advantageously, this system can be constituted by a tongue integral with the cover of the housing.

The active mass dissolves only in its submerged part, and descends slowly towards the bottom of the cell considered, as and when it is eroded, by dissolution.

In order to prevent the active mass from descending to the bottom of this cell, it is possible to equip it with studs or a step serving to support the product to be dissolved.

It has been discovered that, for this housing to function in good conditions, it is advantageous to respect very precise parameters.

Thus, the distance between the bottom of the cell containing the active mass, and the lowest orifice for placing the latter in communication with the first cell, is preferably less than half the height of this last cell.

The positions and the respective sections of the orifices for placing in communication the cell containing the active mass and the other cell, are preferably such that the liquid volume in which the active mass is concentrated which will spill with each use is understood between 5 and 40 ml.

In addition, the difference in height between the lower walls of the two cells is advantageously between 0.2 and 0.8 times the height of the cell not containing the active product. The free part left by this difference in heights can advantageously be used and shaped to constitute a third cell intended for dispensing a product complementary to the previous one (detergent, disinfectant, deodorant, dye, etc.).

The air bubble forming inside the cell containing the active mass when filling the flush tank makes it possible to adjust the height of the liquid inside it. The volume of this air bubble is in practice between 0.3 and 0.95 times the volume of the cell.

In order to operate in good conditions, the housing is dimensioned so that the volume of the first cell is greater than half the difference between the volume of the second cell and the volume of the air bubble which forms in this when the flush is full. In order to be able to obtain satisfactory volume ratios, it is possible to produce cells whose respective depths are different.

• Figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'une cuvette de WC et de sa chasse d'eau ;
• Figure 2 est une vue en perspective éclatée du boîtier ;
• Figures 3 et 4 en sont deux vues, respectivement, en coupe longitudinale et en coupe transversale passant par l'alvéole contenant la masse active ;
• Figures 5 à 7 sont trois vues en coupe longitudinale par un plan parallèle au fond de ce boîtier disposé à l'intérieur du réservoir d'une chasse-d'eau, respectivement la chasse-d'eau étant remplie, la chasse-d'eau étant en cours de vidange et la chasse-d'eau étant en fin de vidange.

In any case, the invention will be clearly understood with the aid of the description which follows with reference to the appended diagrammatic drawing representing, by way of nonlimiting example, an embodiment of this device:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a toilet bowl and its flush;
• Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the housing;
• Figures 3 and 4 are two views, respectively, in longitudinal section and in cross section passing through the cell containing the active mass;
• Figures 5 to 7 are three views in longitudinal section through a plane parallel to the bottom of this housing disposed inside the tank of a flush, respectively the flush being filled, the flush water being drained and the flushing device being drained.

The device according to the invention comprises a housing (2) which, containing a product, such as disinfectant, detergent, deodorant and / or dye, is intended to be placed in the flush tank (3) associated with the toilet bowl.

The housing (2), shown in more detail in FIG. 2, comprises a bottom (5) which, preferably obtained by thermoforming, delimits three cells. This bottom, of parallelepiped shape, is intended to be placed vertically in the flush, in the direction of its length. The first cell (6) extends over the entire length of the bottom, and communicates with the outside through two openings formed by recesses in the lower wall for the one (7) and in the upper wall for the one (8). A second cell (9) extends from the upper wall of the housing over a part of the height thereof.

This cell consists of a part (9a) of significant depth and a part (9b) shallower, separated by a partition (11) having openings (lla) and (llb) at its ends. The part (9b) of the cell (9) communicates with the cell (6) by means of two openings delimited by two recesses (10) opening into the wall separating the cell (6) from the part (9b ) of the socket (9). The part (9a) of the cell (9) is intended to contain the active mass of a product to be dispensed at the end of the emptying of the reservoir, this mass being able to be poured therein in the fluid state, the housing being arranged at flat under the filling orifice, without having to fear the obstruction of the orifices (10) due to the upper depth of this part (9a).

Below the cell (9) is advantageously provided a cell (12) which, communicating with the outside by openings constituted by recesses (13) opening into the wall limiting the cell with the outside, or in the part of the lid which closes it, contains another product, such as a dye, a deodorant or a disinfectant intended to dissolve in the whole of the mass of water in the tank.

From a practical point of view, the bottom (5) of the housing (2) being placed horizontally, the cells (9) and (12) are filled by simple pouring of the products in the liquid state or in a pasty state in them, without the need for pelletizing. After the products have hardened in the cells (9) and (12), a cover (14) is fixed to the bottom (5) by any suitable method.

The arrangement of the housing thus described does not preclude the use of an active mass introduced in solid rather than fluid form, which could for example allow the use of an existing stock of preformed solid product.

≤h≤

.As shown in particular in FIGS. 5 to 7, the height (h) equal to the difference between the heights, respectively (ha) of the cell (6) and (hb) of the cell (9), must satisfy the condition

≤h≤

.

As shown in Figure 5, when the flush is in the filled position, an air bubble (15) is formed in the upper part of the cell (9). The volume of the air bubble is between 0.3 and 0.95 times the volume of the cell (9).

'According to another characteristic, the volume of the chamber (6) is greater than half the difference between the volume of the second cell (9) and that of the bubble (15).

Figures 5 to 7 show this device during three phases of use. In the embodiment shown, the active product housed in the cell (9) is in the form of a solidified mass

(16) which rests, if desired, on studs (17) formed in the lower part of the cell. Due to the erosion due to the dissolution of a certain quantity of product, the mass (16) has already undergone a certain sliding downwards.

The alveolus (12) contains, for its part, a certain solid mass (18) of a deodorizing, coloring or disinfecting water product, which dissolves directly in the mass of water in the tank.

Figure 5 shows the housing when the flush tank is full. As shown in the drawing, the cell (9) contains a certain amount of water in which the active mass will dissolve.

(16), surmounted by a certain volume of air (15). When emptying the flush tank, the volume of concentrated solution contained in the cell (9) will remain in it as long as the water level does not reach its level in the cell (6), as shown in Figure 6. When continuing to empty the tank, the water will evacuate from the cell (6), and carry with it the volume of concentrated solution contained in the cell (9).

It appears from this arrangement that the solution concentrated in active product will only be diluted in the last liters of water from the tank, that is to say those forming the residual volume remaining in the bottom of the toilet bowl.

As is apparent from the above, the invention brings a great improvement to the existing technique by providing a box intended to contain disinfectants, detergents, deodorants, dyes, etc. for cleaning toilet bowls, a very efficient operation and very simple design since the various products involved can be poured directly into the housing in fluid form, without requiring prior tabletting, as is usually the case, and the position of the housing in the tank does not have to be pinpointed. This device is also very efficient since it acts just as effectively after a prolonged stop of the flush, as during an emptying thereof immediately following its filling.

It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the sole embodiment of this device, described above by way of example; on the contrary, it embraces all of its variant embodiments.

Thus, in particular, this box could not have a cell (12) containing a second active product, and the cell (12) could contain one or more ballast-forming elements and ensuring perfect positioning of the box vertically, or that the respective depths of the different cells could be different from each other, without departing from the scope of the invention.

In addition, it would be possible to manufacture a housing consisting of the assembly of two devices according to the present invention, of identical or different capacities, the advantage of such a system being being able to release, at the same time or at different times emptying the flush tank, several concentrated solutions of different active products in equal or different quantities.

Claims (9)

1. - Device for dispensing a product in a tank of a toilet flush, of the type comprising a box (2) of generally parallelepiped shape intended to be placed vertically in the tank of the flush water, the length of which is arranged in the direction of the height thereof, and consisting of a hollow bottom and a cover, characterized in that the hollow bottom (5) comprises at least two cells, the first of which (6) extends over the entire length of the housing and communicates with the outside via openings (7), (8) opening at or near its two upper and lower ends, and the second (9) of which is extending over part of the length of the housing from the upper end thereof comprises an internal partition (11) having a passage at at least one of its ends, delimiting a deeper part (9a) intended to contain the active product which can be introduced by simple pouring at a temperature above its hardening point ent, and a shallower part (9b) which communicates, near its lower end, with the first cell, the openings for bringing the two cells into communication with each other being formed by recesses (7, 8, 10) opening into the walls delimiting the cells considered, and the openings in communication between the first cell and the outside being formed by recesses opening into the walls delimiting the cells considered or by orifices provided in the cover. 2. - Device according to claim l, characterized in that the cell containing the active mass is equipped at its lower end with studs or a step serving to support the latter. 3. - Device according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the distance between the bottom of the cell (9) containing the active mass (16), and the lowest orifice (10) of placing it in communication with the first cell (6) is less than half the height of this last cell. 4. - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the positions and the respective sections of the orifices (10) for connecting the cell containing the active mass (16) and the other cell (6), are such that the liquid volume in which the active mass is concentrated is between 5 and 40 ml. 5. - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the difference in height between the lower walls of the two cells (6 and 9) is between 0.2 and 0.8 times the height of l cell (6) not containing the active product. 6. - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the volume of air remaining in the cell (9), containing the active mass (16) when the tank is filled with water, is between 0.3 and 0.95 times the volume of this cell. 7. - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the housing is dimensioned so that the volume of the first cell (6) is greater than half the difference between the volume of the second alveolus (9) and the volume of the air bubble that forms therein, when the flush is full. 8. - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the housing comprises a third cell (12) which, communicating through orifices (13) with the interior of the tank of the flush or in the part of the lid which closes the latter, contains another product (18) such as a disinfectant, a deodorant, a perfume, etc. dissolving directly in the entire volume of the tank. 9. - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the housing comprises two juxtaposed devices which make it possible to deliver two different concentrated solutions at the end of emptying of the tank of the toilet.

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