EP1039051A2 - Dispisitif rechargeable en eau pour déodoriser et/ou nettoyer et/ou aromatiser d'une façon contrôlable une cuvette de toilette et son procédé d'activation - Google Patents

Dispisitif rechargeable en eau pour déodoriser et/ou nettoyer et/ou aromatiser d'une façon contrôlable une cuvette de toilette et son procédé d'activation Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1039051A2
EP1039051A2 EP00302265A EP00302265A EP1039051A2 EP 1039051 A2 EP1039051 A2 EP 1039051A2 EP 00302265 A EP00302265 A EP 00302265A EP 00302265 A EP00302265 A EP 00302265A EP 1039051 A2 EP1039051 A2 EP 1039051A2
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
reservoir
trough
check valve
deodorizing
cleansing
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP00302265A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1039051A3 (fr
Inventor
Jerome I. Lindauer
Elizabeth Falabella
Nikki Rodriguez
Andrea L. Meyer
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.)
International Flavors and Fragrances Inc
Original Assignee
International Flavors and Fragrances Inc
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Application filed by International Flavors and Fragrances Inc filed Critical International Flavors and Fragrances Inc
Publication of EP1039051A2 publication Critical patent/EP1039051A2/fr
Publication of EP1039051A3 publication Critical patent/EP1039051A3/fr
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    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
    • E03D—WATER-CLOSETS OR URINALS WITH FLUSHING DEVICES; FLUSHING VALVES THEREFOR
    • E03D9/00—Sanitary or other accessories for lavatories ; Devices for cleaning or disinfecting the toilet room or the toilet bowl; Devices for eliminating smells
    • E03D9/02—Devices adding a disinfecting, deodorising, or cleaning agent to the water while flushing
    • E03D9/03—Devices adding a disinfecting, deodorising, or cleaning agent to the water while flushing consisting of a separate container with an outlet through which the agent is introduced into the flushing water, e.g. by suction ; Devices for agents in direct contact with flushing water
    • E03D9/032—Devices connected to or dispensing into the bowl

Definitions

  • 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.
  • a porous mass is a gel-like substance.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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:
  • 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:
  • process step (1) must be repeated as the deodorizing and/or cleansing and/or aromatizing composition is depleted in the reservoir means.
  • our invention is directed to apparatus useful for deodorizing and/or cleansing and/or aromatizing toilet basins equipped with liquid water flush means comprising:
  • the rate of additive exit from the reservoir is a function of a number of variables including: the density of the reservoir liquid, ⁇ R ; the viscosity of the reservoir liquid, ⁇ R ; the density of the trough liquid, ⁇ T ; the area of the narrowest portion of the reservoir exit, A 0 ; 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, C F 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, C R , 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:
  • 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.
  • 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 D P is the effective diameter of the reservoir exit means ball; and wherein D 0 is the diameter of the lowest smaller of the openings of the check valve and D 1 is the diameter of the larger uppermost opening of the check valve; and wherein ⁇ P is the density of the check valve ball and ⁇ L is the density of the reservoir liquid additive flowing through the check valve.
  • 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.
  • a dye is water soluble and is, for example, COLAUYL BLAU® AR (trademark of Hoechst, A.G. of Germany).
  • Reference numeral 100 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
  • 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 .
  • 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:
  • 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 .
  • 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 .
  • 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
  • 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 R 4 and outer diameter R 3 .
  • 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 .
  • 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.
  • 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:
  • the density inequalty, ⁇ S ⁇ 1 is in units of grams per cubic centimeter. All unidimensional units are in millimeters.
  • the novel check valve of our invention has each part fabricated from high density polyethylene.
  • 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).
  • 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).
  • 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 .
  • 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.
  • 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 .
  • the 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.
  • 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 .
  • the retaining means are resilient strips 309 having inwardly directed projections 310 .
  • 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 .
  • 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.
  • deodorizer and/or cleanser and/or aromatizer at location 140 is fed through line 141 past valve 142 through line 143 into reservoir 144 .
  • flush water from location 153 e.g., tank 18
  • line 154 past valve 155 into catch trough 152 is passed through line 154 past valve 155 into catch trough 152 .
  • 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 .
  • 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 .
  • level controller L 1 (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 .
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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.
  • the resulting mixture is placed into the apparatus of Figures 3A and 3B.
  • the resulting toilet basin 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.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
  • Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
  • Bidet-Like Cleaning Device And Other Flush Toilet Accessories (AREA)
EP00302265A 1999-03-25 2000-03-20 Dispisitif rechargeable en eau pour déodoriser et/ou nettoyer et/ou aromatiser d'une façon contrôlable une cuvette de toilette et son procédé d'activation Withdrawn EP1039051A3 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US27580399A 1999-03-25 1999-03-25
US275803 1999-03-25

Publications (2)

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EP1039051A2 true EP1039051A2 (fr) 2000-09-27
EP1039051A3 EP1039051A3 (fr) 2002-10-02

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EP00302265A Withdrawn EP1039051A3 (fr) 1999-03-25 2000-03-20 Dispisitif rechargeable en eau pour déodoriser et/ou nettoyer et/ou aromatiser d'une façon contrôlable une cuvette de toilette et son procédé d'activation

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2988107A1 (fr) * 2012-03-15 2013-09-20 Eurvest Distributeur de produit d'entretien pour cuvettes de toilettes
FR3032211A1 (fr) * 2015-02-02 2016-08-05 Eto Adolphe Foumane Coussinet permettant la desodorisation de la cuvette de wc lorsque l'usager s'asseoit sur la lunette

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3946448A (en) 1973-11-02 1976-03-30 Mekopharma Dr. Becker & Cie. K.G. Apparatus for disinfection and chemical purification of toilet bowls
US4209864A (en) 1978-11-07 1980-07-01 International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. Cleanser and/or sanitizer and aroma emitting attachment for toilets and process for using same
EP0538957A1 (fr) 1991-10-22 1993-04-28 Sara Lee/DE N.V. Dispositif de nettoyage et rafraîchissement d'une cuvette de W.C.
DE19520145A1 (de) 1995-06-01 1996-12-05 Henkel Kgaa WC-Körbchen für flüssige oder pastöse Wirkstoffzubereitungen

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB251364A (en) * 1925-02-04 1926-05-04 Reginald Humphrey Lee Pennell Improvements in, and relating to, apparatus for mixing and delivering liquids
GB522056A (en) * 1938-12-31 1940-06-07 Max Bernhard Apparatus for the disinfection of water closets
US3874007A (en) * 1971-02-10 1975-04-01 John E Dolan Liquid dispensing apparatus and method for toilet flush tank
DE19637408A1 (de) * 1996-09-13 1998-03-19 Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag Kondenswasser-Auffangschale für eine Klimaanlage eines Kraftfahrzeuges

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3946448A (en) 1973-11-02 1976-03-30 Mekopharma Dr. Becker & Cie. K.G. Apparatus for disinfection and chemical purification of toilet bowls
US4209864A (en) 1978-11-07 1980-07-01 International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. Cleanser and/or sanitizer and aroma emitting attachment for toilets and process for using same
EP0538957A1 (fr) 1991-10-22 1993-04-28 Sara Lee/DE N.V. Dispositif de nettoyage et rafraîchissement d'une cuvette de W.C.
DE19520145A1 (de) 1995-06-01 1996-12-05 Henkel Kgaa WC-Körbchen für flüssige oder pastöse Wirkstoffzubereitungen

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2988107A1 (fr) * 2012-03-15 2013-09-20 Eurvest Distributeur de produit d'entretien pour cuvettes de toilettes
FR3032211A1 (fr) * 2015-02-02 2016-08-05 Eto Adolphe Foumane Coussinet permettant la desodorisation de la cuvette de wc lorsque l'usager s'asseoit sur la lunette

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1039051A3 (fr) 2002-10-02

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