EP1141492B1 - Device for introducing active substances into the flushing water of a toilet pan or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for introducing active substances into the flushing water of a toilet pan or the like. The inventive device is made up of a holder which can be fixed to the edge of a toilet pan or the like. Said device is provided with a first chamber for receiving the active substance and a second chamber for enabling the flushing water to be flushed through. At least one connecting opening, a connecting slit or the like is provided between the two chambers so that the active substance can be introduced into the second chamber. A device is provided between the two chambers for maintaining a predetermined water level in the second chamber.

Description

The invention relates to a device for dispensing active ingredients in the rinse water of a toilet bowl or the like according to the preamble of claim 1.

A device of the type mentioned is known from US-A 4,168,551. A first chamber of this device, the is above a second chamber, serves to receive a solid drug block. In case of solid blocks of active substances the disadvantage that the concentration of the coloring agent in the course the time increases and is in the side wall of the toilet bowl Color stripes form as the active ingredient after rinsing drips.

In DE 195 20 145 is a device for dispensing active ingredients described in the flushing water of a toilet bowl, having a container for a gel-like substance, the permeable to aqueous liquids in the lower area is, but not for the gelatinous substance. With this Device is intended to be a dripping of the gel-like substance between the flushing processes are avoided, also the so called "sump effect" by the partial permeability of the lower Be excluded area, that is an uncontrolled Dispensing of the active substance during the subsequent rinsing process by dissolving the active substance should by the partial permeability excluded from the bottom of the container be.

A disadvantage of the known device is the training of the drug receiving container such that in lower area a permeability to liquids, but not secured against the gel substance should be, as this constructive significant expenses are to be taken and thereby the production of such Device not only complicated, but also expensive becomes. Since such devices are mass-produced These are anything but costly and complicated be.

The invention is therefore based on the object, a device of the above in particular, with a controlled release of active substance gelförmiger substances is achieved with the simplest possible structure of Device and at low cost of the device itself.

This object is achieved by the specified in claim 1 Characteristics solved.

Further embodiments of the device according to the invention will be apparent from the Dependent claims.

The invention provides a device for delivery of active ingredients in the Rinse water of a toilet bowl or the like, consisting essentially of two juxtaposed chambers, of which a chamber for Recording a gel-like substance is used and the other chamber for Carrying out the rinsing water and for dissolving the gel-like substance. The Both chambers are defined by a substantially vertical Partition separated from each other. There is at least one opening in the partition Foot area of the two chambers formed, through which the gel-like substance can enter the second chamber in a metered manner and then through the dissolved the second chamber running rinse water and delivered to the toilet bowl can be.

In the second chamber, a device is provided in the bottom area, the purpose serves, after completion of a rinsing process to a predetermined water level To define rinse water within the second chamber and the complete To prevent emptying of the second chamber.

According to the invention, the gel-like substance does not become dependent on the rinsing water rinsed out of the housing to different degrees, but the gel-like substance is Dosed evenly into the second chamber, is there by the rinse water activated and delivered to the toilet bowl. That way, one becomes Overdose of the active ingredient against the rinse water prevented.

The second chamber serves as an activation chamber for a concentrated gel Substance, i. the gel substance is inside the second chamber absorbed and dissolved by the incoming or flowing rinse water and then with the help of a siphon device or the like dosed to the toilet bowl delivered in a diluted manner. The second chamber continues to that always the same amount of gel-like substance after the rinsing process in her remains and in the already diluted way at the next rinse can be rinsed out again.

By the device according to the invention is further ensured that a Permanter outflow and the dripping of gel mixed with water avoided and thus also gel traces in the toilet bowl are excluded.

Figur 1

eine perspektivische, explosionsartige Darstellung einer ersten Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung,

Figur 2

eine Seitenschnittansicht der Vorrichtung gemäß Figur 1, und

Figur 3

eine abgewandelte Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung.

The device according to the invention will be described below with reference to the drawing to explain further features and advantages. Show it:

FIG. 1

a perspective, exploded view of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention,

FIG. 2

a side sectional view of the device according to Figure 1, and

FIG. 3

a modified embodiment of the device according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows in exploded perspective view of a preferred first embodiment of the device according to the invention. According to FIG the device is a designated 1 on housing, preferably made of plastic or translucent plastic, within which two are substantially parallel mutually extending chambers 2, 3 are defined. The chambers 2, 3 are in essentially side by side and have according to Figure 1 and 2 preferably part-circular cross-section, i. a roughly circular bottom. The Shape of the housing 1 can be arbitrarily changed, for example, too be rectangular or square, without affecting the function of the invention becomes.

For fixing the first and second chambers 2, 3 is between the chambers in Housing 1, a partition wall 4 is provided which extends substantially vertically and thereby the housing 1 in two chambers, for example, the same volume divided. If necessary, the chambers 2, 3 also with different widths be designed, whereby they receive different volume to each other.

According to the invention, the first chamber 2 serves to receive a gel-like or gel-like substance as active substance, while the second chamber 3 is provided, in order to dissolve or dissolve the active substance obtained from the chamber 2, to dose and in metered quantity to the toilet bowl, not shown in the figures leave.

In the partition 4 at least one connection opening 5 is provided by which the gel substance located in the first chamber 2 in the second Chamber 3 passes in a metered manner. This means that the opening cross-section the connection openings is chosen so that not as much gelatinous Substance enters the chamber 3, but the gel-like substance dosed into the Chamber 3 is performed.

The chamber 3 has at its lower side, i. in the area designated by 6 Soil a siphon 8 on. This siphon device is according to FIG. 2 from an inner tube 9 and an outer tube 10. The outer tube 10 has a opposite the inner tube 9 larger cross section or diameter and a relative to the inner tube 9 slightly greater height, while the inner tube. 9 is carried down through the bottom 6 of the chamber 3. The outer tube 10 sits on the floor 6 and stands up.

The outer tube 10 is further provided with a closure 10a, i. with a Lid, which closes the outer tube 10 upwards relative to the chamber 3.

To a passage of liquid through the siphon device 9, 10 to allow either the outer tube 10 at its lower end is slight spaced from the bottom 6, in which case the outer tube 10 through shown in Figure 2 webs 11 is supported relative to the inner tube 9. On the other hand, the outer tube 10 can also stand up directly on the floor 6, wherein however, circumferentially around the outer tube 10 near the bottom 6 individual Provide openings to the liquid passage from the chamber 3 in the Interior of the outer tube 10 to allow the inner tube 9.

The outer tube 10 thus has cup-shaped shape and encloses or covers largely the inner tube 9.

The provided with lid 10 a tube 10 thus defined in the vicinity of the bottom. 6 either a circumferential slot or a circumferential opening or it is in the pipe wall 10 near the bottom 6 circumferentially and preferably to each other spaced openings formed in Figure 2 by the reference numeral 10b are indicated.

The top of the two chambers 2, 3 is by a cover 12 or a Covered similar closure, wherein the lid 12 is provided with openings 13, 14 may be, through which the rinse water can enter the chamber 2 and / or 3. In the area of the lid 12 are preferably located laterally of the chambers 2, 3 and preferably in the same height overflow openings 16, 17. The overflow openings 16, 17 cause during the flushing process, a drainage of rinse water from both the chamber 2 as well as from the chamber 3, as soon as that through the overflow openings 16, 17 defined level of the chambers 2, 3 is exceeded by rinse water. The Overflow openings 16, 17 are thus also the dosage of rinse water in Relationship to the gel-like substance, which is located in the chamber 2.

On the cover 12 or elsewhere in the housing 1, a holder 19 is provided, which serves the device at the edge of a toilet bowl to be able to fix. The holder 19 is preferably designed such that the gel-like Substance-containing chamber 2 with respect to the vertical edge of the pool is spaced, while the rinse water receiving chamber 3 as close as possible comes to rest on the approximately vertically extending pool wall, creating a sufficient rinsing effect of the second chamber 3 with rinse water is guaranteed.

As is apparent from Figures 1 and 2, there is the connection opening 5, which also may be slit-shaped or formed by a plurality of such openings can be in the lower part of the chamber 2.

The design of the holder 19 is known per se and therefore requires none further explanation.

The operation of the device according to the invention, as described with reference to FIG and 2 is described as follows:

The first chamber 2 serves to receive the gel-like drug substance, which Metered through the connection opening 5 is discharged to the chamber 3. To a rinsing process remains rinse water in the second chamber 3, in the through the bottom 6 and through the bottom 6 on the one hand and through the pipe section 10 on the other hand defined space. In this rinse water gelatinous active ingredient to enter from the chamber 2 via the connection opening 5 and thus becomes already dissolved after the rinsing process, i. the remaining in the chamber 3 Rinse water is already enriched with the active ingredient. In a following Flushing occurs fresh rinse water through the opening 13 in the second chamber. 3 and mixes with the existing there, containing active ingredient rinse water and is the siphon 8 consisting of the pipe sections 9, 10, 10a in the Toilet bowl rinsed out. During the flushing process becomes gelatinous at the same time Substance via the connection opening 5 dosed to the rinse water within the Chamber 3 discharged and occurs together with the outflowing rinse water from the Chamber 3 off. After completion of the rinsing process, the rinse water flows from the Chamber 3 as far as until the space above the pipe end of the tube 10 is free. The remaining rinse water whose level through the upper end of the tube. 9 is in turn enriched with gelatinous substance, which over the Connection opening 5 is supplied in a predetermined extent.

By the siphon 8 further ensures that the withdrawal of the Rinse water over the inner tube 9 a steady dripping is prevented because the Inner tube 9 with its upper end is lower than the outer tube 10. So be the undesirable in such devices drug traces after completion a flushing process within the toilet bowl avoided.

The use of the siphon device has the particular advantage that an overdose the drug delivery is prevented in the toilet bowl while at the same time ensures that already leached in the second chamber 3 Active ingredient is available at the beginning of a rinsing process and not only during the rinsing process from the chamber 2 must be deducted.

From the above description it follows that the metered release of active ingredient in the device according to the invention is substantially independent of the Design or form of the chambers 2 and 3. As far as the dripping of Rinse water with drug addition can not be excluded, according to the invention the outer tube 10 with lid 10a omitted in the chamber 3, since in In this case, the remaining water level by the height of the inward facing the chamber 3 reaching tube 9 is ensured.

The lid 12 is in the inventive device preferably via a with 21 designated hinge on the housing part 1 pivotally hinged.

FIG. 3 shows a modification of the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2 Embodiment. The device shown in Figure 3 also consists of a first chamber 2 and a second chamber 3. The two chambers 2, 3 are in arranged substantially parallel to each other. The chamber 2 serves to accommodate the gel-like drug substance, while the chamber 3 mainly for Implementation of rinse water is used and at its bottom 6 with at least one tubular device 9 is provided, the predetermined height with respect to the Floor protrudes upwards and for the purpose of a targeted discharge of the rinse water is also extended towards the bottom 6 down through the bottom 6, as represented by the reference numeral 9a. Through the tube 9 is thus a Discharge of rinse water from the chamber 3 achieved while maintaining a residual rinse water, its level through the upper opening of the tube 9 in the second Chamber 3 is defined.

Different from the embodiment of Figure 1 and 2 is in particular the different height of the chambers 2, 3. The chamber 3 is opposite to the Chamber 2 extended down, while the chambers 2, 3 at this Embodiment define a common top horizontal plane and optionally covered by a lid, not shown.

The partition wall 4 located between the first and second chambers 2, 3 is in the Near the bottom of the first chamber 2 with at least one Opening, a slot or the like, which is denoted by 5 or and has the same function as the connection opening 5 in the embodiment according to Figure 1 and 2. The connection opening 5 or each connection opening 5 has such a cross-section that a metered feeding of gel from the first Chamber 2 is ensured in the second chamber 3.

At the top of the chambers 2, 3 are corresponding inlet openings 13, 14th provided and laterally along the chambers 2, 3 are overflow openings 16, 17th formed as in connection with the embodiment of Figure 1 and 2 is described. Thus, the same parts with respect to Figure 1 and 2 are the same Provided with reference numerals.

In the apparatus of Figure 3, the gel chamber 2 is also preferably spaced from the toilet bowl wall provided while the second Chamber 3 is placed as close to the Toilettenbeckenwandung to a ensure strong flushing of the second chamber 3 with rinse water. The Holder which holds the device within the toilet bowl is shown in FIG. 3 also not shown.

During a rinsing process, according to the embodiment of FIG. 1 and 2 already located within the chamber 3 residual rinse water, which with the gel-like substance is dispensed through the tubular device 9 down, wherein during the rinsing process further rinse water with out of the connection opening 5 supplied drug is provided and continue and in the Followed by the already enriched with active ingredient rinse water to the Toilet bowl is dispensed. The flushing water supplied via the openings 14 remains after the flushing process to a level within the second chamber 3, which is defined by the pipe end 9 and is after Termination of the rinsing process with the active ingredient via the connection opening or Connecting openings 5 fed in a metered manner, so that the active ingredient dosed is discharged to the remaining in the second chamber 3 rinse water.

The gelatin substance receiving first chamber 2 is preferably with a Fill opening 23 provided to allow the refilling with active ingredient. The Filling opening 23 is preferably located in the upper region of the first chamber. 2 and is shown in Figure 2 with respect to the first embodiment.

Instead of concentric tube sections 9, 10 and the lid 10a existing siphon device in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 and instead of the pipe section 9, 9a in the embodiment of Figure 3, a typical, substantially U-shaped siphon tube may be provided which from the floor 6 over a predetermined height according to the embodiments protrudes upward in the chamber 3, while the U-shaped according to Figure 1 to 3 Siphonrohrabschnitt approximately at or below the bottom 6 is formed. One Such siphon effects a removal of the in the chamber 3 after the rinsing process Rinse water with enrichment of active ingredient up to a level that the corresponds to the upper end of the siphon tube, and that until the siphon tube no Water attracts more, but only air. Subsequently, remains in the U-shaped Siphonrohrabschnitt a small amount of drug-enriched Rinse water, so that about still dripping water from the chamber 3 in the Siphonrohr section is stopped and prevents leakage into the toilet bowl. The siphon thus causes a withdrawal of rinse water from the chamber. 3 to the level defined by the upper end of the Sipbon tube and Moreover, that a slight Nachfließen of rinse water in the Siphon pipe section is absorbed by the siphon and thus leakage into the siphon Sink is avoided in minor Nachfließen of rinse water. at the same time causes the projecting into the chamber 3 pipe section that a predetermined Quantity of rinse water enriched with active substance in the chamber 3 remains and rinsed immediately during the next rinse or dispensed into the toilet bowl becomes.

All embodiments is therefore common that already at the beginning of the Rinsing process a mixture of rinse water with active ingredient is available and not until the end of the flushing of this mixture to the toilet bowl is delivered.

Claims (15)

1. A device to dispense active substances into the rinse water of a toilet bowl or the like with a holder to affix it to the edge of a toilet bowl or the like,
   with a first chamber (2) to receive active substance and a second chamber (3) for the passage of rinse water,
   wherein between the two chambers (2, 3) there is at least one connecting opening or slot (5) or the like to introduce the active substance into the second chamber (3), and with a device (8, 9, 10) to maintain a predetermined water level in the second chamber (3),
   characterized in that
   the first and second chambers (2, 3) are essentially parallel and adjacent,
   the first chamber (2) is provided to receive a gelatinous substance as an active agent, and
   further said connecting opening (5) is arranged in the bottom area of the first chamber (2) and is opening to the second chamber (3),
   wherein said second chamber is provided to disintegrate or dissolve, respectively the gelatinous substance of said first chamber (2).
2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second chamber (3) extends downward beyond the bottom (6) of the first chamber (1).
3. A device according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the first and/or second chamber (2, 3) have inlets (13, 14) for the rinse water.
4. A device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two chambers (2, 3) are separated by an essentially vertical wall (4).
5. A device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cross-section of the connecting opening(s) (5) between the two chambers (2, 3) is such that the active substance can be dosed from the first chamber (2) into the second chamber (3).
6. A device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and/or second chamber (2, 3) are provided with overflow openings (16, 17).
7. A device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, the device (8, 9, 10) to maintain a predetermined water level in the second chamber (3) is a siphon.
8. A device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two chambers (2, 3) are in a common housing (1).
9. A device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two chambers (2, 3) are closed by a lid (12).
10. A device according to claim 9, characterized in that the lid (12) is articulated to the housing (1).
11. A device according to at least on of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lid (1) has inlet openings (13, 14).
12. A device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holder (19) is on the lid (12).
13. A device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a gelatinous substance can be placed in the first chamber (2) as the active substance.
14. A device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the siphon (8) consists of at least two essentially concentric tube sections (9, 10) of which the outer tube section (10) is provided with a seal (10a), and the outer tube section (10) has openings (10b) close to the bottom (6) of the chamber (3).
15. A device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer tube section (10, 10a) is at a distance from the bottom (6) of one chamber (3).

Images