BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
-
Devices that attach to the toilet bowl that dispense
cleansing agents and/or aromatizing agents and/or deodorizing
agents have been in use in commerce for a substantial period of
time. Up until the last five years, such devices were of solid
nature, composed of either paradichlorobenzene or solid
surfactants. The paradichlorobenzene products are not
environmentally friendly and have basically been discontinued.
The solid surfactant blocks are still in use and are available.
One of the disadvantages of these surfactant blocks is that the
user must manually manipulate the plastic container containing
the surfactant blocks that is attached to the toilet basin in
order to replace or refill the products with the detergent
block. During the past five years, there have been introduced
into the marketplace devices that are refillable that are either
gel or liquid in physical form. Such devices are described and
claimed in, for example, Published European Patent Application
No. 538,957 filed on October 21, 1992 and German
Offenlegungsschrift No. 19520145 filed on June 1, 1995 and
published on December 5, 1996 (corresponds to PCT Application
No. 96/38637) as well as United States Design Letters Patent No.
370,710 issued on June 11, 1996.
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Published European Application No. 538,957 dislcoses a
cleansing and/or freshening unit capable of being suspended from
the rim of a toilet bowl for the twofold purpose of spreading a
fresh odor in the toilet room and introducing active substances
into the flushing water with each flush. According to the
invention of European Application No. 538,957, the unit
comprises a reservoir for active substance such as a liquid
containing cleansing and air freshening agent with the reservoir
having its contents in constant communication with a porous mass
which is arranged in the path of the flushing water when the
unit has been suspended in a toilet bowl. Such a porous mass is
a gel-like substance. U.S. Design Letters Patent No. 370,710
discloses a dispenser for cleanser compositions capable of being
suspended from the rim of a toilet bowl.
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PCT Application 96/38637 discloses a wash closet holder
consisting of a container for an active agent preparation to be
fitted beneath the rim of a toilet basin and rinsed over when
the toilet is flushed, with at least one inlet and outlet for
the flush water and a strap for securing it to the toilet bowl
edge. At least a part of the lower region, when in the position
of use, of the wall limiting the compartment for active agent
preparation is penetrable by aqueous fluids with viscosities of
up to 3,000 milipascals, but not by tenside-containing paste
with viscosities of over 3,000 milipascals. The holder of the
device of PCT Application 96/38637 releases the same quantity of
active agents every time the toilet is flushed, and they are
uniformly distributed in the bowl.
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U.S. Letters Patent No. 3,946,448 issued on March 30, 1976
discloses apparatus for disinfection and chemical purification
of toilet bowls, comprising a storage container spaced from the
bowl and containing a purifying and a disinfecting liquid, and a
valve capsule mounted on the cavity of the bowl edge near the
water inlet opening of the bowl. The valve capsule is provided
with a check valve and a flap actuated by the flush flow so as
to open the check valve under the pressure of the flush flow.
Fluid conveying means is provided for feeding the disinfecting
and purifying liquid to the valve capsule from the storage
container.
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U.S. Letters Patent No. 4,209,864 issued on July 1, 1980
discloses a detachably affixable and refillable attachment for
toilet basins comprising a perfume and/or deodorant bearing
material which is a solid or which is in gel form at ambient
conditions (and, optionally, an additional perfume and/or
deodorant liquid proximate to or in contact with said solid)
which produces a cleanser and/or sanitizer and/or deodorant
and/or aromatizing solution with the water stored in the flush
tank and which produces an emission into the atmosphere
surrounding the flush tank of an aromatizing and/or deodorizing
substance. The attachment is substantially contained within the
flush tank of the toilet and is actuated in response to the
level of the water in the tank.
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Nothing in the prior art, however, discloses the novel and
useful refillable apparatus using flushing water and having flow
and diffusion control features for deodorizing and/or cleansing
and/or aromatizing a toilet basin (or process for operation of
same) of our invention.
THE INVENTION
-
Our invention is directed to apparatus for deodorizing
and/or cleansing and/or aromatizing a toilet basin having at
least one inside wall which uses flushing water comprising:
- (1) means for conveying deodorizing and/or cleansing
and/or aromatizing compositions into reservoir means;
- (2) reservoir means equipped with deodorizing and/or
cleansing and/or aromatizing composition first exit
means for controllably gravity diffusing deodorizing
and/or cleansing and/or aromatizing compositions into
a finite fraction of flushing water with the first
exit means being engaged and activated on contact with
said flushing water and being disengaged and
deactivated on removal of said flushing water;
- (3) second conveying means for conveying the finite
fraction of flushing water into trough means for
holding the finite flushing water; and
- (4) trough means for (a) holding the finite fraction of
flushing water and (b) receiving deodorizing and/or
cleansing and/or aromatizing composition from the
first exit means of the reservoir means whereby the
finite fraction of flushing water is admixed with the
deodorizing and/or cleansing and/or aromatizing
composition emanating from the first exit means of the
reservoir means, with the trough means being equipped
with the flush water-deodorizing and/or cleansing
and/or aromatizing compositions second exit means for
controllably gravity diffusing flush water-deodorizing
and/or cleansing and/or aromatizing composition into a
toilet basin,
with the apparatus being removably attached to an inner wall of
the toilet basin. -
-
Our invention is further directed to a repeating process
for deodorizing and/or cleansing and/or aromatizing a toilet
basin which uses flushing water which process consists
essentially of the steps of:
- (1) conveying a deodorizing and/or cleansing and/or
aromatizing composition into a reservoir means which
is equipped with a first exit means for controllably
gravity diffusing the deodorizing and/or cleansing
and/or aromatizing composition into flush water;
- (2) conveying flush water into trough means;
- (3) controllably gravity diffusing deodorizing and/or
cleansing and/or aromatizing composition through the
first exit means into the trough means as a result of
conveying into the trough means flush water which
activates and engages the first exit means;
- (4) conveying the flush water-deodorizing and/or cleansing
and/or aromatizing composition in the trough means
through second exit means for controllably gravity
diffusing the flush water-deodorizing and/or cleansing
and/or aromatizing composition into the toilet basin;
and
- (5) repeating at least steps (2), (3) and (4).
-
-
From time to time, process step (1) must be repeated as the
deodorizing and/or cleansing and/or aromatizing composition is
depleted in the reservoir means.
-
More specifically, our invention is directed to apparatus
useful for deodorizing and/or cleansing and/or aromatizing
toilet basins equipped with liquid water flush means comprising:
- (1) a substantially fully enclosed reservoir container for
containing a deodorizing and/or cleansing and/or
aromatizing liquid having an upper reservoir section
and communicating therewith a lower reservoir section
wherein the reservoir container is capable of
containing deodorizing and/or cleansing and/or
aromatizing liquid to a height hα above the lowest
extremity of the reservoir container;
- (2) a trough container having an inner void and having a
longitudinal dimension greater than that of the
reservoir container, surrounding at least the lower
reservoir section of the reservoir container with the
reservoir container being fixedly mounted within the
trough container and with the outer walls of the
reservoir or container being spaced from the walls of
said trough container;
- (3) deodorizing and/or cleansing and/or aromatizing
composition refill means in the form of a hollow tube
mounted in the upper reservoir section of said
reservoir container and communicating with said upper
reservoir section;
- (4) at least one reservoir container exit orifice having
an effective diameter DR located substantially at the
lowest extremity of the lower reservoir section of
said reservoir container, communicating with the inner
void of said trough container;
- (5) inserted through and fixedly fitting said reservoir
exit orifice(s) a check valve means comprising:
- (a) a vertically disposed hollow check valve tube
having an upper end having at least two separate
upper end openings and a lower end having one
lower end opening; and
- (b) contained within the hollow check valve tube a
check valve ball (i) having a substantially solid
outer shell and a solid, liquid or gaseous inner
volume and (ii) having an effective diameter less
than the internal diameter of said hollow check
valve tube and greater than the effective
diameter of any of said separate upper end
openings and of said one lower end opening;
- (6) at least one trough container exit orifice located
substantially at the lowest extremity of the trough
container having an effective diameter DT ; and
- (7) fluid trough container feeding means for controllably
feeding flush water during the flush period of the
flush cycle into the trough container to a level hβ
intermediate between the level of the reservoir
container exit orifice, hδ and a level of said lower
reservoir section of said reservoir container below
the height hα ;
the check valve component dimensions and check valve ball
physical properties being such; and the trough outlets being so
designed that (a) the quantity of reservoir additive released
into said trough per flush is substantially between about 1% by
weight and about 10% by weight of the initial quantity of
reservoir additive present in the reservoir; and (b) the
quantity of trough liquid which back diffuses into the reservoir
liquid, per flush, is less than 5% of the initial quantity of
reservoir liquid. -
-
Thus, if the rate of flush water entering the trough is:
and the rate of additive exiting from the reservoir
is:
and the rate of flush water-additive composition
exiting from the trough into the toilet bowl is:
then
according to our invention:
-
The rate of additive exit from the reservoir, however, is a
function of a number of variables including:
the
density of the reservoir liquid,
ρR ; the viscosity of the
reservoir liquid,
µR ; the density of the trough liquid,
ρT ; the
area of the narrowest portion of the reservoir exit,
A0 ; and the
rates of change with respect to time of the viscosity and
density of reservoir liquid and trough liquid, to wit:
shown thusly:
-
The final concentration of additive in the trough,
CF , is a
function of the time that the exit means from the reservoir is
engaged (for example, the time that the check valve is open),
CV , as well as the concentratin of additives in the reservoir,
CR , and the rate of change of concentration of additives in the
reservoir with respect to time,
as well as the rate of flow
of additive from the reservoir through the reservoir exit means
into the trough means when the exit means is engaged,
and is shown thusly:
-
Furthermore, the change of concentration of additive in the
trough means then is shown by the following equation:
where the flow rate is the product of density, exit area and
flow velocity, to wit:
More specifically, the
change in concentration of additive in the trough is shown by
the equation:
where
v is the additive flow velocity of fluid from the
reservoir into the trough.
-
With respect to the reservoir exit means when that exit
means is in the form of a check valve, the check valve ball
design is critical to the timing of when the reservoir exit is
engaged and when it is disengaged. The reservoir exit is
engaged when the check valve is open or when the check valve
ball is in a floating mode, and the reservoir exit is disengaged
when the check valve ball is flushed against the bottom orifice
of the check valve tube. The velocity of flow through the
reservoir orifice is then shown by the equation:
where
g is the acceleration due to gravity; and wherein
DP is
the effective diameter of the reservoir exit means ball; and
wherein
D0 is the diameter of the lowest smaller of the openings
of the check valve and
D1 is the diameter of the larger
uppermost opening of the check valve; and wherein
ρP is the
density of the check valve ball and
ρL is the density of the
reservoir liquid additive flowing through the check valve.
-
When the reservoir exit means (e.g., check valve) is
engaged, diffusion of additive into flush water occurs as does
diffusion of flush water into additive (thereby diluting the
additive in the reservoir container). The diffusion equations
that govern this process are shown thusly:
and
wherein
CR is the concentration of
additive in the reservoir;
CT is the concentration of additive
in the trough;
ηAB is the diffusivity of reservoir additive into
flush liquid; and
ηBA is diffusivity of flush water into
reservoir liquid.
-
As shown in Figures 2A, 2B,2C, 2D, 2E, 2F and 2G, the
trough exit means may be controlled by means of an electronic
timing device, and the height of the fluid level in the trough
may be controlled by a liquid level control device as is
disclosed in U.S. Letters Patent No. 5,069,243 issued on
December 3, 1991. Other liquid level control devices are
specified in U.S. Letters Patent No. 4,216,554 issued on
August 12, 1980. Other liquid level control devices are
disclosed in U.S. Letters Patent No. 3,777,778 issued on
December 11, 1973. The presence of such a liquid level control
device is shown in Figure 2G, described in detail, infra.
-
The additive used in our invention can also include a dye
for indicating the presence of the additive in the flush water
portion held in the trough after the level of the flush water
rises to the height which causes engagement of the check valve.
Such a dye is water soluble and is, for example, COLAUYL BLAU® AR
(trademark of Hoechst, A.G. of Germany).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
-
- Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the apparatus
of our invention, having a clip mechanism that attaches the
device to the rim of a toilet basin such that the reservoir and
attached trough are located underneath the rim directly
underneath the holes in the toilet basin from which the flush
water enters.
- Figure 1A is an enlargement of the reservoir exit means of
the apparatus of Figure 1, showing a check valve in
disengagement mode (a closed check valve).
- Figure 1B is an enlargement of the reservoir exit means of
the apparatus of Figure 1, showing the reservoir exit means in
engagement mode (that is, the check valve is "open" and additive
fluid is diffusing into flush water).
- Figures 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F and 2G show cutaway side
elevation schematic diagrams of the apparatus of Figure 1 in
various stages of operation.
- Figure 2A shows the apparatus of Figure 1 without any
additive fluid in the reservoir tank and without any flush water
in the trough tank and showing the reservoir exit means in
disengaged mode and the trough exit means closed.
- Figure 2B shows the reservoir tank being filled with
additive liquid through the refill means in the form of a hollow
tube mounted in the upper reservoir section of the reservoir
container (Stage II).
- Figure 2C shows the reservoir container partially full of
additive liquid (Stage III).
- Figure 2D shows flush liquid entering the trough container,
thereby causing the reservoir exit means (the check valve) to
become engaged and open.
- Figure 2E shows the trough liquid admixed with additive
liquid leaving the trough tank through orifice 6 and entering
the toilet basin. At this stage, Stage V, the reservoir exit
means (check valve) becomes disengaged (closed).
- Figure 2F shows a situation where the flush liquid rises to
the upper level of the reservoir liquid, thereby causing total
admixture of flush liquid and reservoir liquid and causing total
dilution of additive liquid.
- Figure 2G shows the use of a liquid level controller during
flush liquid additive while the reservoir exit means is engaged
(open) and while the trough exit means is engaged (open).
- Figures 3A and 3B are cutaway side elevation schematic
views of the apparatus of Figure 1 wherein the trough exit means
is not an electronically controlled exit orifice as is the case
with the apparatus of Figure 2, but is an open narrow orifice
designed so that there is a continuous flow of flush water-additive
mixture into the toilet basin.
- Figure 3A shows the situation where flush water is flowing
into the trough container and the flush water level is so high
that the reservoir exit means (check valve) is engaged (the
check valve is in an open position) so that the flush water is
mixing at the reservoir exit orifice location with the additive
fluid. Simultaneously, flush water-additive mixture is exiting
from the trough means into the toilet basin.
- Figure 3B shows the level of the additive-flush water
mixture to have dropped to such a point that the reservoir exit
means (check valve) is disengaged (closed); however, the
additive-flush water mixture still continues to exit from the
trough into the toilet basin.
- Figures 4A and 4B are schematic cutaway side elevation
views of the reservoir exit means (check valve).
- Figure 4A shows the reservoir exit means in disengaged
position (the check valve is closed).
- Figure 4B shows the reservoir exit means in engaged
position whereby the flush water level is at a such a height
that the check valve ball is in a floating mode whereby the
flush water is diffusing with the additive in the reservoir
tank.
- Figures 5 and 6 are front cutaway elevation views of the
apparatus of Figure 1. Figure 5 shows the apparatus of Figure 1
without flush water in the trough tank, but with additive in the
reservoir tank and with the reservoir exit means disengaged (the
check valve is closed).
- Figure 6 shows the reservoir tank containing additive and
flush water in the trough tank to such a height that the
reservoir exit means (check valve) is engaged (the check valve
is open) whereby flush water is admixing with additive.
- Figures 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, 7E, 7F and 7G show cutaway side
elevation schematic views of the detail of the reservoir exit
means (the check valve) in various embodiments.
- Figure 7A shows a disengaged check valve in the shape of a
conical frustum containing a spherical ball.
- Figure 7B shows a cylindrical check valve with a spherical
ball.
- Figure 7C shows a check valve in the shape of a conical
frustum and containing a hollow sphere as the float ball.
- Figure 7D shows the hollow float ball of Figure 7C in
cutaway side elevation view indicating the inner diameter as R4
and the outer diameter as R3 .
- Figure 7E shows another embodiment of the reservoir exit
means (check valve) wherein the shape of the check valve is a
conical frustum and the check valve ball is a spherical ball
having numerous voids therein (e.g., "sponge-like").
- Figure 7F shows a reservoir exit means (check valve) in the
shape of a skewed conical frustum and a cylindrical hollow
float.
- Figure 7G shows a reservoir exit means (check valve) in the
shape of a conical frustum with a spherical ball.
- Figures 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, 8E, 8F and 8G also show cutaway
side elevation views in detail of the reservoir exit means of
the apparatus of our invention and also show in diagrammatic
form the transition from disengagement to engagement as flush
water fills the trough tank causing the ball within the check
valve body to float upwards towards the upper orifice of the
check valve.
- Figure 8A shows a check valve having an outer shape of a
conical frustum with a spherical ball.
- Figure 8B shows a check valve with a cylindrical body and a
spherical ball.
- Figure 8C shows a check valve with a conical frustum and a
hollow spherical ball.
- Figure 8D shows a conical frustum with a spherical ball
having numerous voids therein (e.g., a sponge-like ball).
- Figure 8E shows the ball of Figure 8C in detail with the
outer diameter being R3 and the inner diameter being R4 .
- Figure 8F shows a skewed conical frustum as the check valve
body and a cylindrical float therein.
- Figure 8G shows the check valve body as a conical frustum
with a spherical ball therein.
- Figures 9A, 9B and 9C set forth views of a novel check
valve of our invention useful as part of the reservoir tank of
our invention.
- Figure 9A is a schematic perspective view of the novel
check valve of our invention, which is cylindrical in shape
containing a spherical float ball (engaged) and containing an
inner cylindrical checking means at the upper end of the check
valve.
- Figure 9B is a perspective schematic view of the check
valve of Figure 9A in disengaged mode (the check valve is
closed).
- Figure 9C is a cutaway side elevation view of the check
valve of Figure 9A in engaged mode, showing the spherical ball
checked by the upper inner cylinder.
- Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view through a bowl edge
illustrating a connecting pipe for the water feed pipe and the
inserted valve capsule as well as the distributing flap to be
actuated by the flush flow, all of which are shown in elevation
of prior art, U.S. Letters Patent No. 3,946,448 issued on
March 30, 1976.
- Figure 11 is a schematic cutaway side elevation view of the
unit in the service position sometime after a flush of the
apparatus of European Published Application No. 538,957.
- Figure 12 shows the unit of Figure 11 directly after a
flush.
- Figure 13 shows a refillable bottle for liquid containing
active substances for use in the practice of European Published
Application No. 538,957.
- Figure 14 is a block flow diagram showing the process of
our invention in schematic form.
- Figure 15 is a block flow diagram of the process of our
invention where the process steps are individually controlled by
means of electronic program controller (electronic data
processing) and where market input and feedback information and
data is fed into and received from the electronic program
controller so that various flow rates and fragrance components
and ratios, for example, are optimized as a result of market
input and feedback.
- Figure 16 is a schematic block flow diagram setting forth a
software program specifically designed to operate with the
apparatus and process of our invention, the purpose of which is
to optimize process variables so that the process and apparatus
of our invention will be accepted by the marketplace.
-
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
-
Referring to Figure 1, the apparatus thereof is shown by
reference numeral 100. Reference numeral 1 sets forth a refill
opening for refill tube 20 which communicates with reservoir 3
intended to contain deodorizing composition and/or cleansing
composition and/or aromatizing composition. Reservoir 3 is
contained within trough 4. Reservoir 3 also has at its lower
extremity reservoir exit means (check valve) 5. The trough tank
4 also has at its lower extremity an exit means 6 shown by an
electronically controlled valve operated via mechanism 16.
Figures 1A and 1B show, respectively, check valve 6 in
disengaged form (Figure 1A) and in engaged mode (Figure 1B).
The lower orifice of the check valve is indicated by reference
numeral 18, and the upper openings of the check valve are
indicated by reference numerals 8 and 38, with the diameter of
opening 8 being lesser than the outside diameter of the check
valve ball 7. The outer body of the check valve is indicated by
reference numeral 5.
-
Operation of the apparatus of Figure 1 is set forth in
Figures 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, 5 and 6.
-
Thus, the apparatus for deodorizing and/or cleansing and/or
aromatizing a
toilet basin 22, which uses flushing water
(emanating from
tubes 28 and from tank
18) comprises:
- (1) gravity conveying means 20 (in the form of an inlet
tube) for conveying deodorizing composition and/or
cleansing composition and/or aromatizing composition
12 into reservoir means 3;
- (2) reservoir means 3 equipped with deodorizing
composition and/or cleansing composition and/or
aromatizing composition first exit means (in the form
of a check valve) 5 for controllably gravity diffusing
deodorizing composition and/or cleansing composition
and/or aromatizing composition 12 into a finite
fraction of said flushing water 21 (as is shown in
detail in Figure 4B); with said first exit means 5
being engaged and activated on contact with said
flushing water 21 and being disengaged and deactivated
on removal of said flushing water (as shown in Figure
2E) with the level of the flushing water/additive
mixture being shown by reference numeral 41 and the
level of the additive in the reservoir being shown by
reference numeral 40; and
- (3) trough means 4 for (a) holding the finite fraction of
flushing water 21 and (b) receiving deodorizing
composition and/or cleansing composition and/or
aromatizing composition 12 from said first exit means
5 of said reservoir means 3 whereby said finite
fraction of flushing water 21 is admixed with said
deodorizing composition and/or cleansing composition
and/or aromatizing composition emanating from said
first exit means 5 of said reservoir means at orifice
18, said trough means 4 being equipped with flush
water-deodorizing and/or cleansing and/or aromatizing
compositions second exit means 6 for controllably
gravity diffusing flush water-deodorizing and/or
cleansing and/or aromatizing compositions into toilet
basin 22 with the contents of the toilet basin being
indicated by reference numeral 21a. The trough exit
valve 6 may be electronically controlled by device 16
and timer 17 which also operates to control the flush
water from tank 18. In addition, the fluid level
controller 27, operated via device 26, controls and
times the level of flush water in the trough tank (as
shown in Figure 2G) in coordination with the timing of
the flush from tank 18 through tubes 28.
-
-
Referring to Figure 2F, Figure 2F shows the full admixture
of all of the additive fluid with flush water. The composition
is shown by reference numeral 21-12. The height of the fluid in
both the reservoir tank and the trough tank is the same and is
shown by reference numeral 40-41. The reservoir tank is shown
to be held in position by holding bars 30.
-
The apparatus of Figures 3A and 3B is shown by reference
numeral 200. The trough exit valve, not electronically operated
but continuously in operation, is shown by reference numeral 36.
The empty section of the reservoir tank 3 is shown by reference
numeral 11 with the additive shown by reference numeral 12 and
the level of additive shown by reference numeral 40. By the
same token, in Figure 5 the empty portion of the trough tank is
indicated by reference numeral 31 and the flush water in the
trough is indicated again by reference numeral 21 with the upper
level of the flush fluid indicated by reference numeral 41.
-
Referring to the check valves shown in Figures 7A, 7B, 7C,
7D, 7E, 7F, 7G, 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, 8E, 8F and 8G, the check valve
bodies are shown by reference numeral 5. The lower orifice of
each of the check valves is shown by reference numeral 18, and
the upper openings of the check valve are indicated by reference
numeral 8 and reference numeral 38. The orifice indicated by
reference numeral 8 has a diameter less than the diameter of the
check valve ball, indicated by reference numeral 7. Openings 38
are necessary in order to enable continuous diffusion of the
additive liquid with the flush water, even though the check
valve ball 7 is checked at orifice 8. The check valve ball
indicated by reference numeral 7a is a "sponge-like" ball. The
check valve ball indicated by reference numeral 7b in Figure 7C
is a hollow ball having an inner void 71 and a shell 72 and
having inner diameter R4 and outer diameter R3 . The check valve
cylinder in Figure 7F is indicated by reference numeral 7d and
the check valve ball in Figure 7G is indicated by reference
numeral 7c.
-
Referring to the novel check valve shown in Figures 9A, 9B
and 9C, ribs 49 hold in place check cylinder 39 having a lower
orifice 8a and an upper orifice indicated by reference numeral
8. The spacing between ribs 49 is indicated by reference
numeral 38. The diameter of check valve ball 7 is greater than
either the greatest dimension of orifices 38 or the diameter of
orifice 8a. The body of the check valve of Figure 9A is
indicated by reference numeral 5a. The lower orifice of the
check valve of Figure 9A is indicated by reference numeral 18.
The diameter of the lower orifice 18 is less than the diameter
of the check valve ball 7 in order to prevent the check valve
ball from falling out of the check valve.
-
The check valve as specifically set forth in Figures 9A, 9B
and 9C is in and of itself a novel article. Specifically the
check valve comprises:
- (a) a substantially conical frustum outer hollow shell
having an open top, having a substantially circular
surface of diameter DU and an open bottom having a
substantially circular orifice of diameter DB and a
length of LF ;
- (b) a concentric hollow circular or elliptic cylinder
fixedly mounted within said hollow frustum having a
common top with said hollow frustum and having a
diameter DC and length LC ; and
- (c) a substantially spherical or ellipsoidal ball having
an outer solid surface and internal solid, liquid or
gaseous volume located within said frustum, bounded by
the lower bottom of said frustum and the lower bottom
of said cylinder, having an effective diameter DS and
density ρS , said ball being freely moving in the
vertical direction, bounded by the outer hollow shell
of said conical frustum, the bottom orifice of said
concentric cylinder, and the bottom orifice of said
conical frustum shell, further limited by the
following inequalities:
-
-
The density inequalty, ρS < 1, is in units of grams per
cubic centimeter. All unidimensional units are in millimeters.
-
Preferably, the novel check valve of our invention has each
part fabricated from high density polyethylene. However, other
materials of construction are also useful. Thus, the ball of
the check valve may be fabricated from materials other than high
density polyethylene, for example, low density polyethylene or
ethyl cellulose. The body of the check valve and all parts
thereof can also be fabricated from teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene).
-
The novel check valve article of our invention as stated,
supra, is useful in the apparatus of Figures 1, 2 or 3 and is
particularly useful in cases where a fluid level controller is
used (as is illustrated in Figure 2G, described, supra).
-
Referring to Figure 10 which sets forth the flushing
mechanism of prior art, U.S. Letters Patent No. 3,946,448, when
the flushing mechanism is actuated, the flushing water, flowing
under pressure through the terminal pipe connection 201 for the
water supply into the cavity 202 defined by the bowl edge 203,
acts upon the left side of the top surface of a distributing
flap 204 which is thereby pivoted about a hinge 206 which is
positioned at the right end of the distributing flap 204 and
secured to the casing of a valve capsule 205. The downward
pivoting movement of the flap 204 is against the bias of the
spring pressure of a valve spring (not shown) mounted in the
valve capsule. In this process, the valve cone 208, rigidly
connected to the distributing flap 204, moves downward and
therefore away from its seat in the bottom wall of the casing of
valve capsule 205. When the valve cone 208 is unseated,
purifying and disinfecting liquid is discharged through the
valve opening, with the liquid being continuously fed under
light pressure through a thin hose 209 communicating with the
upper area of the valve capsule from the storage container (not
shown), preferably, according to U.S. Letters Patent No.
3,946,448, arranged at a higher level for gravity flow of the
liquid.
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Referring to Figure 11, the cleansing and freshening unit
of European Published Patent Application No. 538,957, the unit
is essentially composed of a container 301 having a suspension
hook 302, a bottle 303 with cleansing and odorizing liquid and a
spongy liquid permeable closure 304B. In the operative position
shown in Figures 11 and 12 in which the bottle is inverted, the
closure 304B is in liquid-transmisive contact with a generally
disk shaped, porous member 304A of a porous substance, which
member 304A is arranged on the bottom 305 of the container.
Thus, with respect to Figure 11, the container 301 has a bottom
305 with perforations or aperatures 306 and an upright sidewall
307 in which passages 308 may be formed. Extending from the
bottom 305 are retaining means 309 and 310 for securing a liquid
reservoir or bottle 311. In the embodiment shown in European
Published Application No. 538,957, the retaining means are
resilient strips 309 having inwardly directed projections 310.
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Referring to Figure 13, the bottle 303, which is
refillable, comprises a mouth or neck 311 with two rings 312 and
313 formed on the exterior thereof and capable of being closed
by means of a cap 314 having a ring 315 extending inwards from
the surface thereof, which ring 315 is capable of being snapped
between the bottle neck rings 312 and 313. Figure 13 further
shows an annular label 316 which can be removed after undoing
cap 314. Arranged in the bottle neck 311 is the spongy closure
member 304B. Further referring to Figure 13, fitting a full
bottle 303 in the container 301 is effected by removing the cap
314 and the label 316 and moving the bottle in inverted position
into the container 301 with projections 310 of the resilient
retaining strips 309 snapping between the rings 312 and 313
formed on the bottle neck 311. In the mounted condition of the
bottle, the axial positions of the rings 312, 313 and the
projection 310 as well as the axial dimensions of the porous
masses 304A and 304B are such that when the bottle 303 has been
fitted in the container 301, the members 304A and 304B are in
fixed mutual contact. Furthermore, bottle 303 comprises radial
gripping ribs 317. The bottom of the bottle 303 is convex so as
to prevent water from being retained on the bottom of the bottle
in the service position.
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Referring to Figure 14, the block flow diagram illustrating
the process of our invention, deodorizer and/or cleanser and/or
aromatizer at location 140 is fed through line 141 past valve
142 through line 143 into reservoir 144. Subsequently, flush
water from location 153 (e.g., tank 18) is passed through line
154 past valve 155 into catch trough 152. When the flush water
in the catch trough reaches the height of the check valve which
is part of the reservoir means, flush water diffuses into the
aromatizing composition and/or deodorizing composition and/or
cleansing composition located in the reservoir 144, through line
149 past valve 148. The resulting mixture of flush water and
aromatizing composition and/or deodorizing composition and/or
cleansing composition is then passed through line 158 past valve
156 into toilet basin 157. All of the flush water may be
conveyed through line 154 past control valve 155 into the catch
trough, but more preferably and practically, a fraction of the
flush water proceeds from the flush water source at location 153
to the trough 152. Such a fraction may vary between about 10%
and 20% of the entire flush water rate. The remainder of the
flush water goes directly to the toilet through line 161 past
control valve 160.
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Referring to Figure 15, the aromatizing composition and/or
deodorizing composition and/or cleansing composition may be
varied according to specific ingredients and quantity and
concentration of composition components using electronic program
controller 400 via control line 140c. The overall data
processing system is indicated by reference numeral 400c.
Market input and feedback (401) is indicated by lines 401c
(feedback) and line 400c (input). The rate of flow of
aromatizing composition and/or deodorizing composition and/or
cleansing composition through line 141 past control valve 142 is
controlled via control line 142c. The level of aromatizing
composition and/or deodorizing composition and/or cleansing
composition in the reservoir using level controller L1
(indicated by reference numeral 174) and the level of the flush
water in the trough and rate of change of such level in the
trough 152 controlled by level controller 172 is optimized via
control line 172c. Both levels are optimized in unison and in
combination with one another via control line 176c. The rate of
flow and rate of diffusion between the additive in the reservoir
and the flush water in the trough is controlled via CAD
techniques via control line 150c so that, if necessary, the
check valve designs and number of check valves can be changed as
a result of market input and feedback. The rate of flow and
design of exit means from the trough into the toilet past valve
156 through line 158 is controlled via control line 156c, which
also controls the timing of opening and closing the exit means
from the trough (when such timing exit means is part of the
design). The rate of flush water fraction being conveyed into
the trough versus the rate of flush water fraction proceeding
directly into the toilet is controlled through control lines
155c and 160c, respectively. The diffusion of flush water from
the trough back into the reservoir is a function of flush water
rates as well as check valve designs and check valve numbers in
the reservoir wall, and the rates and design of the check valves
and location thereof are controlled via control lines 146c and
148c.
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Referring to the software program designed for use in
conjunction with the design of the apparatus and process of our
invention, the program starts at location 501 with additive
composition including nature of additives and quantity of
components being set at location 502. This is followed by
setting the rate of additive flowing into the trough from the
reservoir and the computer assisted design of the check valve(s)
at location 504. The partial flush water rates and ratio of
flush water going into the trough versus flush water going
directly into the toilet are set at location 505 with the trough
exit rate being set at location 506. The instruction for the
operation of the system is set out at location 507 with the
ascertainment of whether the market "likes" the fragrance being
done at location 508. An answer of "yes" at location 510 (based
on scaled market research input data, for example, on a scale of
1-100) means that the next question at location 511 is raised,
to wit: "Does the market "like" the system?" An answer of "no"
to the question, "Does the market like the fragrance?" requires
a redesign at location 509 of the additive composition and ratio
of component types as well as composition. Whether the market
"likes" the system (again on a scale of 1-100) is a function of
a series of variables, not only concerning the additive
components and ratios thereof, but also the design of the check
valves; the rates of additive into the trough from the
reservoir; the ratio of flush water going into the trough versus
flush water going directly into the toilet; as well as the
trough exit rate. Thus, an answer of "no" at location 514
requires a redesign of the entire system at location 515. An
answer of "yes" to the question, "Does the market like the
system?" gives rise to an actual marketing of the system at
location 513.
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It is to be understood that in all cases where a particular
rate is "set" or market research data is examined in order to
answer the question (on a scale of 1-100): "Does market like
fragrance?" the data is stored in a computer hardware memory.
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The following examples serve to illustrate embodiments of
our invention as it is now preferred to practice it, with
reference to using cleansing and/or aromatizing and/or
deodorizing additives. It will be understood that these
examples are illustrative and that the invention is to be
considered restricted thereto only as defined in the appended
claims.
EXAMPLE I
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The following perfume oil is prepared:
Ingredients | Parts by Weight |
Para cresol |
| 1 |
Acetyl methyl anthranilate | 20 |
Farnesol | 4 |
Nerolidol | 30 |
Indol | 30 |
Eugenol | 15 |
Benzyl alcohol | 20 |
Methyl linoleate | 40 |
Jasmin lactone | 40 |
Dihydromethyl jasmonate | 10 |
Linalool | 150 |
Benzyl acetate | 400 |
Abietyl alcohol | 150 |
cis Jasmone | 50 |
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The following formula is prepared using the above perfume
composition:
Ingredients | Parts by Weight |
Perfume composition of this Example as shown above. | 1.0 |
Octylphenoxypolyethoxy ethanol | 6.0 |
Parts water | 93 |
Red beet dye | 0.05 |
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The resulting product is added to the apparatus of Figure 1
through tube 20.
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The apparatus of Figure 1 is engaged whereby flush water is
passed into trough 4. The apparatus of Figure 1 is used to
aromatize and/or cleanse and/or deodorize a toilet basin, and
the toilet basin is effectively deodorized and/or aromatized
and/or cleansed using the apparatus of Figure 1 and the
composition of Example 1.
EXAMPLE II
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The following mixture is prepared:
Ingredients | Parts by Weight |
DeodIFF® perfume oil, as set forth in Example I, supra | 1.5 |
Sodium dodecyl diphenyloxide disulfonate | 10.0 |
Ethyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride | 0.3 |
Water | 88.2 |
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The resulting mixture is placed into the apparatus of
Figures 3A and 3B. On engagement of said apparatus using the
mixture as set forth in this Example, supra, the resulting
toilet basin is aromatized in an esthetically pleasing manner;
is deodorized and cleared of malodors; and is appropriately
cleansed.
EXAMPLE III
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The following mixture is prepared:
Ingredients | Parts by Weight |
Perfume oil of Example I | 2.0 |
Polyoxyethylene (20) stearyl ether | 10.0 |
Hydroxyethyl cellulose (80,000 molecular weight) | 2.0 |
Water | 86.0 |
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When the above formulation is placed in the reservoir of
the apparatus of Figure 2G and used to aromatize and/or cleanse
and/or deodorize a toilet basin, the formulation of this Example
III worked efficiently and efficaciously in cleansing and/or
deodorizing and/or aromatizing the toilet basin upon which the
operation was carried out.
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The features disclosed in the foregoing description, in the
following claims and/or in the accompanying drawings may, both separately
and in any combination thereof, be material for realising the invention
in diverse forms thereof.