EP2391779A2

EP2391779A2 - Auxiliary device for introducing a cleaning tablet into a reservoir of a toilet unit and cleaning tablet

Info

Publication number: EP2391779A2
Application number: EP10702356A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Arjen Smit; Marcel Bernardus Gerhardus Geels
Original assignee: A&M Shine Design
Current assignee: FRESCO BLUE INTERNATIONAL B. V.
Priority date: 2009-02-01
Filing date: 2010-01-20
Publication date: 2011-12-07
Also published as: WO2010087700A2; WO2010087700A3; NL2002473C2

Abstract

The invention relates to an auxiliary device intended and adapted to be added to the built-in flushing water reservoir of a toilet unit, which reservoir comprises: a tank, of which a wall and/or a cover is accessible from outside; which auxiliary device comprises: - a tubular first holder which extends in transverse direction through the wall or the cover, wherein the inner end of the first holder is situated at a position above the maximum flushing water filling level of the reservoir such that a tablet of cleaning agent can be introduced into the first holder from outside, and can leave the first holder on the other side and drops into the flushing water present in the reservoir; - a cover for covering the open outer end of the first holder; fragrance means with a second holder for receiving a tablet comprising aromatic substances.

Description

Auxiliary device for introducing a tablet cleaning means into the built-in flushing water reservoir of a toilet unit, toilet unit provide with such an auxiliary device, and cleaning tablet

The invention relates to provisions for cleaning toilet bowls and the associated flushing water reservoirs.

Flushing water reservoirs are known in various embodiments, and particularly as built-in reservoir, which is built into a wall behind the toilet bowl and operated by a valve cover. This valve cover comprises one or two spring- loaded pushbuttons which serve to operate the control of the outflow valve. Another known flushing water reservoir forms part of a so-called close-coupled toilet, which is not built in but disposed openly in the toilet space, for instance as a part mounted above a porcelain or plastic toilet bowl, or fixed to the relevant wall. Such a type does not form part of the invention.

Known is the use of toilet blocks or toilet capsules which are suspended in the toilet bowl in any suitable manner and serve to clean the toilet bowl via the flushing water. It is also known to place blocks or capsules of cleaning agent in the flushing water in the flushing water reservoir. This is only possible in the case of a reservoir which is accessible for this purpose, so separate and not built in, the added cover of which can be lifted for this purpose, whereby the inner space of the flushing water reservoir is accessible.

The known toilet bowl blocks are inconvenient and extremely unhygienic, while their effectiveness also leaves something to be desired. The blocks or capsules in the reservoir can be deemed a good solution per se, but such blocks or capsules cannot be used for a built-in reservoir, since the interior thereof is not accessible, except in the case special tools are used and on the basis of specific skill.

The invention relates to provisions which make it possible to place blocks of cleaning agent in a flushing water reservoir, for instance a built-in reservoir or a separate or top-mounted reservoir.

The invention provides in this respect an auxiliary device intended and adapted to be added to the flushing water reservoir of a toilet unit built into a structural wall, which reservoir comprises: a tank, at least one wall of which and/or a cover added thereto is accessible from outside after mounting in the structural wall; which auxiliary device comprises

^• - a tubular first holder which is adapted to be mounted on one of said walls or the possible cover of the tank such that the first holder extends in at least more or less transverse direction through the wall or the possible cover, wherein the inner end of the first holder is situated at a position above the maximum flushing water filling level of the reservoir such that at least one tablet of cleaning agent can be introduced into the first holder from outside, and can leave the first holder on the other side and drops into the flushing water present in the reservoir; and

- a removable and fixable cover for covering the open outer end of the first holder; wherein a pusher is added to the cover for pushing at least one tablet after introduction thereof in the first holder, such that the tablet leaves the first holder prior to the cover being brought into its covering position; wherein the first holder has a flange on its front end zone; wherein fragrance means are added to the auxiliary device, comprising a second holder for receiving a tablet comprising aromatic substances, which second holder has openings for passage of evaporated aromatic substances/ and wherein the part of the first holder connecting to the inlet zone is dimensioned such that the cleaning tablets can pass through this part with some clearance. The tubular first holder can be placed in a hole arranged for this purpose in the wall or the cover and be fixed thereto, for instance by means of a screw connection with screw flanges, by means of a mastic connection or in other suitable manner. A mass of cleaning agent can be embodied in the form of a tablet, or a capsule, optionally in an envelope of so-called hydrofoil, a polymer foil which dissolves in water and prevents the user from bringing their skin in contact with the rather aggressive cleaning substance. In addition to cleaning agent, the cleaning mass can for instance also comprise a descaling agent.

The fixing of the cover can take place by means of a generally usual screw connection, a bayonet fitting, a releasable snap coupling or the like. In the case of a built-in reservoir the inventors consider it most practical to place the inlet of the first holder in the vicinity of or on the valve cover. In the case of a top-mounted reservoir the front wall, a side wall or the cover can be used for this purpose. In the case of a horizontal cover the first holder will extend at least more or less vertically. When the cover is placed, a placed capsule drops directly into the water present in the reservoir. A flange is a highly suitable auxiliary means for firmly securing the first holder to a reservoir wall or a cover, for instance via mastic or for co-action with a nut on the other side of the wall or the cover of the reservoir. In order to prevent improper use or use by unauthorized persons, the auxiliary device can advantageously have the special feature that the cover has a form such that it can only be removed or placed using a tool of a complementary form. An important embodiment has the feature that at least the inlet zone of the first holder has a chosen form, in particular a form varying from a round form, and the cleaning tablets are elongate and have a cross-sectional form corresponding to said chosen form such that they can pass through the inlet zone with some clearance.

If desired, this latter embodiment can have the feature that the part of the first holder connecting to the inlet zone is dimensioned such that the cleaning tablets can pass through this part with clearance. The invention also relates to a toilet unit comprising a flushing water reservoir, to which is added an auxiliary device according to one of the above specifications .

The invention also relates to a valve cover for a toilet unit, to which is added an auxiliary device according to the invention.

The invention further relates to a cleaning tablet intended and adapted for use with an auxiliary device, which cleaning tablet is elongate and has a cross-sectional form corresponding to said chosen form of the inlet zone of the first holder such that it can pass with some clearance through the inlet zone of the first holder. According to yet another aspect, the invention provides a cleaning tablet intended and adapted for use with an auxiliary device according to any of the specifications given above or a toilet unit according to the invention, which cleaning tablet comprises aromatic substances which are released after the tablet dissolves in water, particularly from the water flushed from the water reservoir into a toilet bowl connecting thereto.

A cleaning tablet or capsule can be of the time- released type from which a certain amount of cleaning agent dissolves in the water, particularly in the case of a water flow during refilling of an emptied water reservoir. A tablet can for instance thus dispense cleaning agent for a more or less fixed number of flushes, for instance several dozen, before a new tablet must be introduced into the flushing water reservoir.

An embodiment in which the tablet is of the time- released type has the advantage that the tablet dissolves gradually in the flushing water, and a certain stability of the concentration of the active substances in the water is thus realized.

Another embodiment, in which the tablet comprises a water-soluble foil envelope, has the advantage that the tablet can be handled by a user without him/her coming into contact with the active substances.

Yet another embodiment, in which the tablet comprises a blue colouring agent, has the advantage that the liquid which has flowed out of the reservoir has a certain blue colouring, this giving an indication of the activity of the substances present in the tablet.

With yet another embodiment, in which the tablet comprises a foaming agent, for instance a soap, the advantage is obtained that the active constituents of the tablet present in the toilet bowl have an optically recognizable cleaning effect in that some foaming occurs.

With yet another variant, in which the tablet comprises a disinfecting component, the advantage is obtained that the interior of the toilet bowl is bacterially cleaned.

According to yet a further variant, in which the tablet is free of components toxic to humans, the advantage is obtained that when a tablet is ingested accidentally, for instance by small children, no toxic effects occur. Of great importance from an environmental viewpoint is an embodiment in which all components of the tablet are biodegradable.

Under determined conditions it is not necessary to use the full concentration of the active components. In order to allow the dosage to be for instance halved, use can be made of an embodiment in which the tablet has a notched line along which the tablet can be separated into two parts by exerting a bending moment. Connected to a toilet bowl and accessories are couplings which comprise rubber and/or rubber-like materials. In order to ensure that these cannot be affected by the active components of the tablet, use can advantageously be made of an embodiment in which the tablet is free of components which adversely affect rubber and/or rubber-like materials.

A tablet with a foil envelope can advantageously be embodied such that the foil envelope has an informative marking. This marking can for instance give an indication of the aromatic substances present in the tablet, for instance specific types of flower or essential oil. The marking can also indicate the concentrations of specific active components of the tablet. In the embodiment in which the tablet comprises a colouring agent the tablet can have the special feature that the concentration of the colouring agent is indicative of the concentrations of the active components of the tablet. A tablet which it is anticipated will be applied frequently is for instance suitable for about 120 flushes. In this respect it is possible to envisage a lifespan of the tablet of about seven days. A tablet of the same size can for instance have a concentration of the active components which makes the tablet suitable for for instance 10-25 flushes. Such a tablet could be designated a one-day tablet. The stated markings, be they arranged on or into a foil envelope, as the colour of a foil envelope and/or the colour of the tablet, could provide the appropriate concentration coding.

The invention will now be elucidated with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: figure 1 shows a perspective view of a wall toilet unit with a later added auxiliary device which, for the sake of conciseness of the figure, is drawn at three possible locations; figure 2 show a cross-section through a preferred embodiment according to figure 1; figure 3 shows an auxiliary device in plastic embodiment with a professional closure for public spaces; figure 4 shows a perspective view of the associated tool; figure 5 shows an exploded view of the auxiliary device according to figure 3; figure β shows a longitudinal section through the auxiliary device according to figure 3, to which a fragrance capsule is added; figure 7 shows the cross-section VII-VII of figure 6; figure 8 shows the cross-section VIII-VIII of figure 6; figure 9A shows an end view of a cleaning tablet which is suitable for the previous embodiment; figure 9B shows a side view of this capsule; figures 1OA, 1OB, 1OC, 1OD and 1OE show five different cross-sectional forms of a cleaning capsule; figure 11A shows a valve cover with a factory- fitted auxiliary device; figure HB shows a variant of the valve cover according to figure HA; figure 12 shows a screw cover with pusher in accordance with the invention as according to figure 5, particularly for private use, and a space for accommodating a fragrance capsule; and figure 13 shows a central longitudinal section through the cover according to figure 12. Figure 1 shows a toilet space 1 with a wall 2 on which a porcelain toilet bowl 3 is suspended. Accommodated in wall 2 is a flushing water reservoir, which can be seen in figure 2. A so-called valve cover 5 is situated on the side of wall 2 facing into toilet space 1. This is a control panel with a spring-loaded pushbutton 6 for releasing the flushing action by activating the associated valve, whereby flushing water present in reservoir 4 is carried via a conduit 7 to bowl 3, flushes clean the interior thereof and subsequently leaves bowl 3 via a discharge conduit 8. Figure 2 shows that a device 9 according to the invention which can be accessed from toilet space 1 is arranged adjacently of valve cover 5. Figure 1 also shows alternatives, wherein the device is arranged respectively on another side wall or an upper surface of wall 2. These positions are designated with 9' and 9' ' . Device 9 will be discussed hereinbelow.

Figure 3 shows device 9. This device comprises a tube 10 which is provided on its front side with a flange

11, which in this embodiment is square, which is provided in the manner shown in figure 5 with internal screw thread 12 for co-action with external screw thread 13 of a cover 14, to which an elongate pusher 15 is connected. In the opened position shown in figure 5 a cleaning capsule 17 as shown in figures 9A and 9B can be inserted via a feed opening 16 to be^* further described hereinbelow. Once this capsule has been inserted or optionally a plurality of capsules has been inserted, pusher 15 is inserted into feed opening 16 and pushed such that the foremost capsule falls into the flushing water present in reservoir 4 and dissolves therein. Screw threads 12 and 13 then come into contact with each other, after which cover 14 can be tightened. In this professional embodiment use is made for this purpose of a tool 18 as shown in figure 4, which has three pins 19 which can co-act in force-transmitting manner with correspondingly placed recesses 20 in the outer surface of cover 14. Using tool 18 the cover can thus be displaced from its closed position, as shown in figure 3, to its opened position in which the cover can be removed as according to figure 5, and vice versa.

It is important to note that feed zone 16 has a more or less oval shape. As shown in figure 9A, the shape of the capsule is adapted thereto. Figure 6 shows that pusher 15 takes a hollow form and bounds a space 21 in which a fragrance capsule 22 can be placed. Such a capsule is a compressed tablet with aromatic substances which are released into the air. Fragrance capsule 22 can release its aromatic components to toilet space 1 via openings 23 in a cover 14.

Device 9 can be attached to wall 2 or the wall of a separate reservoir 4 according to figure 14 by means of a mastic connection via a hole present therein, which can for instance be prearranged by an installer or has already been factory-made. Flange 11 could also co-act with the other side of the structural wall or the wall of the reservoir, for instance be screwed fixedly thereto. Figures 1OA, 1OB, 1OC, 1OD and 1OE show a number of random alternative cross-sectional forms of a cleaning capsule, while the cleaning capsule of figure 9A has a more or less oval shape.

Figure 1OA shows a more or less elliptical shape, figure 1OB a triangular shape, figure 1OC a rectangular shape, figure 1OD the shape of a symmetrical cross and figure 1OE a star shape with four points, wherein all the ribs display a certain rounding.

Figure HA shows a valve cover 24 with which a device according to the invention is integrated. The valve cover therefore has on its front side the closing cover 14 of device 9 according to the above specification.

Figure HB shows a valve cover 25 which is likewise provided with a device 9 integrated therewith for dispensing one or more cleaning capsules in dosed manner and with some regularity, for instance once a week. Valve cover 25 has a relatively large pushbutton 26 for delivering the maximum amount of water per flush and a smaller pushbutton 27 for delivering a limited amount of water per flush. Figure 12 shows a cover 28 which can be provided on its front side with a logo 29.

Figure 13 shows that cover 28 bounds an annular space 30, in which an annular fragrance capsule 31 is accommodated. Other than in the embodiment according to figure 6, which can only be opened by making use of tool 18, cover 28 can be easily grasped by means of relatively large control button 32 in order to be rotated between its closed and its open position. Present in the edge of this button are holes 33 for passage to and release into space 1 of the aromatic components of fragrance capsule 31.

A cleaning capsule can be combined with a fragrance capsule, particularly for a public application, i.e. a capsule comprises both cleaning agents and fragrance means, optionally in combination with descaling agents, such that the still water in the toilet bowl also provides for a fresh fragrance in toilet space 1.

The device can be manufactured from any suitable material. Metal and plastic are good options.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described in the foregoing and shown in the drawings. Diverse modifications to the components and their mutual relationship are possible without thereby departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Auxiliary device intended and adapted to be added to the flushing water reservoir of a toilet unit built into a structural wall, which reservoir comprises: a tank, at least one wall of which and/or a cover added thereto is accessible from outside after mounting in the structural wall; which auxiliary device comprises

- a tubular first holder which is adapted to be mounted on one of said walls or the possible cover of the tank such that the first holder extends in at least more or less transverse direction through the wall or the possible cover, wherein the inner end of the first holder is situated at a position above the maximum flushing water filling level of the reservoir such that at least one tablet of cleaning agent can be introduced into the first holder from outside, and can leave the first holder on the other side and drops into the flushing water present in the reservoir; and

- a removable and fixable cover for covering the open outer end of the first holder; wherein a pusher is added to the cover for pushing at least one tablet after it has been introduced into the first holder, such that the tablet leaves the first holder prior to the cover being brought into its covering position; wherein the first holder has a flange on its front end zone; wherein fragrance means are added to the auxiliary device, comprising a second holder for receiving a tablet comprising aromatic substances, which second holder has openings for passage of evaporated aromatic substances; and wherein the part of the first holder connecting to the inlet zone is dimensioned such that the cleaning tablets can pass through this part with some clearance.

2. Auxiliary device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover has a form such that it can only be removed or placed using a tool of a complementary form.

3. Auxiliary device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein at least the inlet zone of the first holder has a chosen form, in particular a form varying from a round form, and the cleaning tablets are elongate and have a cross-sectional form corresponding to said chosen form such that they can pass through the inlet zone with some clearance.

4. Toilet unit comprising a flushing water reservoir, to which is added an auxiliary device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims.

5. Valve cover for a toilet unit, to which is added an auxiliary device as claimed in any of the claims 1- 3.

6. Cleaning tablet intended and adapted for use with an auxiliary device as claimed in claim 3, which cleaning tablet is elongate and has a cross-sectional form corresponding to said chosen form of the inlet zone of the first holder such that it can pass with some clearance through the inlet zone of the first holder.

7. Cleaning tablet intended and adapted for use with an auxiliary device as claimed in any of the claims 1-3 or a toilet unit as claimed in claim 4, which cleaning tablet comprises aromatic substances which are released after the tablet dissolves in water, particularly from the water flushed from the water reservoir into a toilet bowl connecting thereto.

8. Cleaning tablet as claimed in claim 6 or 7, which tablet is of the time-released type.

9. Cleaning tablet as claimed in any of the claims

6-8, wherein the tablet comprises a water-soluble foil envelope.

10. Cleaning tablet as claimed in any of the claims 6-9, wherein the tablet comprises a blue colouring agent.

11. Cleaning tablet as claimed in any of the claims 6-10, wherein the tablet comprises a foaming agent, for instance a soap.

12. Cleaning tablet as claimed in any of the claims 6-11, wherein the tablet comprises a disinfecting component .

13. Cleaning tablet as claimed in any of the claims 6-12, wherein the tablet is free of components toxic to humans.

14. Cleaning tablet as claimed in any of the claims 6- 13, wherein all components of the tablet are biodegradable.

15. Cleaning tablet as claimed in any of the claims 6-14, wherein the tablet has a notched line along which the tablet can be separated into two parts by exerting a bending moment .

16. Cleaning tablet as claimed in any of the claims 6-15, wherein the tablet is free of components which adversely affect rubber and/or rubber-like materials.

17. Cleaning tablet as claimed in claim 9, wherein the foil envelope has an informative marking.

18. Cleaning tablet as claimed in claim 10, wherein the concentration of the colouring agent is indicative of the concentrations of the active components of the tablet.