FR2564502A1 - Soluble chemical compound dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

The device, for discharging a water-soluble compound into flushing water, has a hook, for fastening to the cistern edge, made up from two parts, hinged for folding and unfolding.Each part (27,28) of the hook (12) has a protrusion (34,35), adjacent the hinge (28), opposite the other part. The two protrusions force each other when the device (10) is in position, so as to provide a stiffening organ. This counteracts any bending of the hinge, under the influence of buoyancy force exerted on the submerged container (11).

Description

DEVICE FOR DISPENSING PRODUCTS
WATER-SOLUBLE IN A FLUSH OF WATER.

 The present invention relates to a device making it possible to gradually dissolve in the flushing water at least one water-soluble formulation coming from a box whose maintenance in correct position in the flushing tank is ensured.

 The known devices for the distribution of water-soluble formulations in a toilet flush consist of a housing and a suspension hook making it possible to hang said housing on the rim of a flushing tank. The case internally defines either a single compartment or two compartments; each compartment contains, in its lower part, a water-soluble formulation, two orifices being arranged at different levels above the initial level of the formulation, one allowing the filling of the compartment with flushing water and the passage of the air during the emptying of said compartment, and the other allowing the expulsion of flushing water, which has diluted a fraction of the water-soluble formulation.

 In the case where two compartments are provided for the housing, the first contains a first water-soluble formulation and the second advantageously contains a second water-soluble formulation having a complementary action to the first, the ingredients of the two formulations then being mixed only '' at the time of their distribution, which makes it possible to prevent them from reacting with each other beforehand. Thus, the first compartment can advantageously contain a water-soluble coloring formulation, solid at room temperature, the second compartment then containing a disinfectant which can be a solid product which may consist of sodium dichloroisocyanurate or of trichloroisocyanuric acid, or else be in the form of powdered hypochlorite packaged inside a sachet with a water-soluble wall, for example polyvinyl alcohol.

 The hanging hooks, which are associated with these shoemakers, whether they are single or double compartment, require, for the packaging of the dispensing devices for their commercial distribution, large packages, the hooks having to have a length sufficient for the dispenser to operate. It is essential in fact that in the dispenser use position, the two orifices for passage of the liquid, in each compartment containing a water-soluble formulation, are located between the minimum and maximum levels of the liquid. inside the flush tank, so that during filling of the flush, water can penetrate inside these orifices to dissolve the active product contained in the composition, and that at the time of emptying, the water contained in this compartment above the two orifices can escape from the compartment and mix with the flushing water.

 To make the packaging of these dispensers less bulky, we have adopted hooks capable of taking a folded position for storage, and a deployed position corresponding to the position of use of the dispenser. For example, a hook has been proposed which is produced in two branches, the branch adjacent to the housing being retractable by sliding in a space provided in said housing, and the terminal branch, folded twice at right angles to its free end, so to constitute a U-shaped element allowing the attachment of the device to the flush tank, being foldable around a hinge which connects it to the other branch. Thus, in the storage position, the branch associated with the housing is retracted into that -this and the branch carrying the attachment means is folded around the hinge, so as to be applied against the external lateral wall facing the housing, the U-shaped element being placed around the bottom of the housing or penetrating by its end portion in a housing carried by the bottom of said housing.

 However, when this dispensing device is installed in the flushing water tank, the upward push, which the flushing water exerts on its casing, places it in an incorrect position, as shown in dashed lines on the diagram of FIG. 1 of the attached drawing. Thus, instead of the two branches 1a and 1k of the hook 1 remaining in perfect alignment with each other, the hook 1 and the housing 2, which is associated with it, being arranged substantially parallel to the internal face of a vertical wall 3 of the flushing tank and located near this wall, according to what is shown in solid lines in the diagram of FIG. 1, the housing 2, because it is subjected to the aforementioned thrust force and that the branch ld of the hook 1 is in the hooking position, undergoes, with the branch la associated with it, a tilting movement, which causes the hinge 4 to fold, which deviates from the wall 3. This incorrect position of the housing 2, which is therefore placed in the flushing water tank in a position, on the one hand, higher than the normal position and, on the other hand, inclined with respect to the normal position, risks being a gene for the good dispenser operation. Furthermore, the incorrect position which has just been described is due to oscillations of the hook2 with each use of the flush, the distributor which is there being able to come into contact with the organs which are contained in the flush tank and which are intended to ensure the operation of the latter.

 The present invention overcomes the drawbacks which have just been described. To this end, in order to obtain effective maintenance of the stability of the housing of the dispensing device equipped with a hook of the aforementioned type, provision is made, according to the present invention, for a device for stiffening the hook in the position of use, this device stiffening being constituted by two reinforcing heels, located on either side of the hinge and cooperating with each other when the hook is in the use position, in order to prevent folding of the hinge.

 The present invention therefore relates to the new industrial product that constitutes a device for the distribution of at least one water-soluble formulation in a toilet flush, said device comprising a housing and a suspension hook making it possible to hang said housing on the rim of a flush tank, said housing, intended to be immersed in the water of the flush tank, internally defining at least one compartment which comprises, firstly, in its lower part, a water-soluble formulation, and, secondly location, two orifices arranged at different levels above said water-soluble formulation, the hook, one end of which cooperates with the housing and the other end of which forms the device hooking member on the rim of the flush tank, consisting of two elements articulated by means of a hinge so that the hook can pass, from a folded position corresponding to the storage, to a deployed position placing the di spositif in its position of use, hook element adjacent to the case that can slide relative to the latter to be retracted into the case in the storage position and, on the contrary, protruding above the case in the position of use, the other element of the hook ending, on the side opposite the hinge, by a hooking means intended to cooperate with the rim of the flush tank to ensure the hooking of the device in the tank, characterized in that each hook element that separates the hinge, comprises, near said hinge and on the side opposite to that where the deployment of the hook, a protruding heel, the two heels being kept contiguous to each other when the device is in its position of use to constitute a stiffening member opposing the folding of the hinge under the effect of the upward thrust which is exerted on the submerged case.

 According to a particular embodiment of the device according to the present invention, each heel comprises a latching member complementary to a member carried by the other heel, in order to automatically secure the two heels at the end of deployment of the hook.

 Preferably, the hinge is arranged horizontally in the position of use of the device, the support plane, where the two heels come into contact, then being substantially horizontal.

 According to a particular embodiment of the stiffening member of the device according to the present invention, each heel is carried by a substantially flat wall area of the corresponding hook element, and is delimited, firstly, by a wall bearing on the other heel, which is connected to the hook element near the hinge, secondly, by an inclined wall joining the free edge of said bearing wall to said hook element, and, in third place, by two opposite side walls.

 The two hook elements are advantageously made of plastic, the hinge then being a film hinge.

 The housing advantageously comprises a retaining means intended to cooperate with the means for hooking the hook on the rim of the flushing tank, when said hook is in its folded position and the hook element adjacent to the housing is in its retracted position in said housing.

 Furthermore, the housing advantageously comprises a passage defined for the sliding of the hook element which is adjacent to it, said passage being substantially vertical when the device is in its position of use. In particular, the housing includes a housing opening towards the outside and located at the right of said passage to constitute the means for retaining the attachment means carried by the hook.

 According to another characteristic of the device according to the present invention, the two elements of the hook are substantially flat and each comprise at least one longitudinal reinforcing rib.

 To better understand the object of the present invention, there will be described below, by way of purely illustrative and in no way limiting, an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing.

On this drawing
- Figure 1 is the schematic view described above illustrating the incorrect position that tends to take, when immersed in flushing water a dispenser with a hook consisting of two articulated elements, and that the present invention has for aim to correct;
- Figure 2 is a perspective view of a dispenser according to the invention with double compartment, the hook being in the position of use;
- Figure 3 is a side view of the hook of the device of Figure 2, in a semi-deployed position;
- Figure 4 is an enlarged view of detail D of Figure 3 ;;
- Figures 5A and 5B are partial sectional views of the device of Figure 2 taken along the median plane of the hook, while that is respectively in its storage position and in an intermediate position during its deployment;
- Figure 6 is a schematic elevational view of the device of Figure 2 in place in a flush tank;
- Figures 7A and 7B each show an axial sectional view of a hook hinge according to an alternative embodiment, the hook being in its deployed position.

 Referring to Figures 2 to 6 of the drawing, we see that there is designated by 10, a dispensing device comprising a housing II intended to be suspended by means of a hook 12 on the rim of a flush tank d 'water.

 The housing 11 is constituted by two basins 13, 14, substantially parallelepiped, arranged side by side, interconnected along a common area of their lateral edges, and having a common opening plane closed by a covering film 15 which is arranged substantially vertically when the housing is in the position of use. Each of the bowls 13, 14 defines, with the film 15, a compartment, respectively 16, 17 of the box 11 containing a water-soluble formulation, respectively 18, 19. Furthermore, between the two compartments 16, 17, a defined passage 20 is defined. between the connection zone between the two bowls 13, 14 and the film 15 in this passage 20, of substantially rectangular cross section, is capable of sliding an element of the hook 12, between two extreme positions, the first where it is retracted in the housing 11 and the second where it projects above said housing 11, the extraction of said hook element from the passage 20 being limited, in the aforementioned second position, by abutment against a bearing surface of the housing 11, as this is described below.

 To constitute the bowls 13, 14, two adjacent hollow elements, 13a, 14a, substantially parallelepipedal, the free edges of which are folded square at the periphery, have been formed in a substantially rectangular plastic sheet. a connecting strip between the two hollow elements 13a, 14fui. On each of these, an element has been reported in which two frames 13b, 14k are respectively formed, the lateral edges facing the frames 13but 14b which being connected by a connecting strip coming to be applied against that connecting the two elements in hollow 13q, 14a, and delimiting, with their connecting strip and the covering film 15 to which they are perpendicular, the aforementioned passage 20. From the vicinity of one of the ends of the passage 20, the two lateral edges facing the 13k frames. 14k are more spaced from each other, which provides a housing 21 whose role is indicated below.

 In the example described, the water-soluble formulation 18 contained in the first compartment 16 is a cleaning and coloring product which can be poured hot and is solid at room temperature; the formulation 19 placed in the second compartment 17 is, for example, sodium hypochlorite powder. The hypochlorite is preconditioned in a polyvinyl alcohol sachet and this sachet is placed in compartment 17.

 To allow the dispenser 10 to operate, two orifices provided at different levels are provided in each of the compartments 16, 17, one for filling the flush with flushing water in the compartment in question and for the passage of air during the emptying said compartment, the other, when the flushing liquid passes out of the compartment.

 The inlet orifices, respectively 22 and 23, are formed in the walls of the compartments respectively 16, 17 which happen to be the upper walls when the housing It is in its position of use; they are each formed by a notch formed on the edge of these walls, more precisely on the edge of the side walls of the frames 13k, 14k, and they are then delimited by the edge of this notch and the covering film 15.

 The holes for emptying the flushing liquid out of the compartments 16, 17 are designated respectively by the reference numerals 24 eut ~ 25. They are produced in the form of a siphon, which allows regular dosing of the water-soluble formulations. These orifices 24, 25 are defined by curved troughs formed by deformations of the external lateral walls of the frames 13b, 14b respectively, these troughs each defining, with the covering film 15, a passage which bends which opens out substantially horizontally when the distributor 10 is placed in its position of use, at a certain distance from the upper walls of the housing 11 having the inlet orifices 22 and 23, but above the initial level of the water-soluble formulations 18, 19 in the compartments respectively 16, 17.

 The hook 12, which is associated with the housing II with double compartment, is made of molded plastic. It consists of an elongated flat strip comprising, substantially in the middle, a weakened wall zone disposed substantially in the plane of a flat wall of greater width of the flat strip and constituting a film hinge 26 around which the hook 12 is able to pivot, this hinge being situated in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the hook 12. The hinge 26 divides the hook 12 into two elements 27, 28, one of which (27) is intended to cooperate with the housing 11, and the other (28), to allow the distributor 10 to be hooked onto the rim of a flush tank 29, as shown in FIG. 6.

 The hook element 27 comprises a longitudinal reinforcing rib 30 disposed on its flat wall comprising the hinge 26, from the vicinity thereof to its free end, where is formed, opposite the rib 30, a bead 31 comprising a stop wall 31a, which is substantially perpendicular to the hook element 27 and whose free edge is joined to a wall 31b first perpendicular to the wall 31a, then inclined to join the end proper of the hook element 27 which has a rounded shape.

 The hook element 28 has, in the vicinity of its end opposite to the hinge 26, a width which gradually increases symmetrically, then becomes constant again and finally decreases progressively. This element 28 is folded twice square, on the side comprising the hinge 26 and in the zone of greater width which has just been described, which constitutes two end branches 51, 32, forming, with the main part. of element 28, a U-shaped attachment member. In addition, in the same way as the element 27, the element 28 comprises a longitudinal reinforcing rib 33, this rib 33 being disposed on the wall opposite to that where the hinge 26 is formed and extending over the whole of element 28, excluding terminal parts 51 and 32.

 Each hook element 27, 28 comprises, near the hinge 26 and on the face opposite to that on which said hinge 26 is formed, a projecting heel, respectively 34, 35. Each heel 34, 35 is delimited by a wall d support 34a, 35il, which is connected to the hook element 27, 28, by an inclined wall 34b, 35b joining the free edge of the support wall 34a, 35a to said hook element 27, 28, and by two opposite side walls 34c; 356. The support plane where the two heels 34, 35 make contact, when the elements 27 and 28 are aligned and the distributor 10 is in its position of use, is substantially horizontal.

 To manufacture the distributor 10, the part of the housing comprising the hollow elements 13a and 14a, as well as that comprising the frames 13k and 14b, is produced by thermoforming or injection into thin walls of an appropriate plastic material. These two parts are joined together so as to constitute the bowls 13 and 14. The hook element 27 is then placed in the passage 20 which is reserved for it, the bead 31 lying against the connecting strip between the frames 13b and 14k . The polyvinyl alcohol sachet containing the hypochlorite is introduced into the bowl 14, which constitutes the formulation 19. Next, the film 15 is put in place by heat sealing, which closes the two bowls 13 and 14, as well as passage 20, and at the same time forms the end housing 21. Finally, the cleaning and coloring formulation 18 is poured hot into the compartment 16 by introducing it through the orifice 22. In this position, the element 27 of the hook 12 is capable of sliding in the passage 20, until the wall 31a of the bead 31 comes into abutment against a bearing surface 36 (FIGS. 5A, 5B) of the housing 11, formed by a wall of the element comprising the frames 13k, 14b which is situated substantially in the plane of the orifices 22 and 23, in order to prevent the extraction of the hook 12 from the passage 20.

 For storage, the hook element 28 is folded around the hinge 26, so that this element 28 is placed against the film 15, and that the element 32 penetrates into the housing 21, which therefore constitutes the means of retaining the hook 12. This storage position is illustrated in FIG. 5A, the hook element 27 then being almost completely retracted in the passage 20.

 The implementation of this distributor 10 is very simple since it suffices to deploy the hook element 28 to place it in the extension of the element 27 and to extract the latter until the bead 31 comes into abutment against the range 36 of the housing. In this position1 which consequently corresponds to the position of use, the walls 34a and 35g of the heels 34 and 35 respectively are in abutment one on the other and constitute a stiffening member preventing the folding of the hinge 26, which would place the distributor 10 in the incorrect position shown in phantom in Figure 1.

 FIGS. 7A and 7B each show an alternative embodiment of the hinge 26. In these figures, the various elements bear reference numbers greater by 100 and 200 respectively than those of similar elements of the embodiment which has just been described. .

 According to the variant shown in FIG. 7A, the hook 112 is engaged in the fully extended position of the hook 112, heels 134 and 135, a groove 137 formed on the bearing wall 134a of the heel 134 receiving a latch bead 138 formed projecting from the bearing wall 135 at the heel 135. This ensures in all circumstances a bearing of the heels 134 and 135 in the position of use of the dispenser, which contributes to better maintaining the vertical position correct dispenser.

 In accordance with the variant shown in FIG. 7B, the hinge 226 is no longer located, in the position of use of the dispenser, in alignment with the elements 227, 228, constituting the hook 212, but it is offset from the side where takes place the movement of the element 228, the bearing plane of the walls 234a and 235 of the heels 234 and 235 respectively being, as in the embodiments already described, horizontal in the position of use of the distributor. This displacement of the position of the hinge 226 relative to the position of the hinge 26 and 126, contributes to better support of the heels 234 and 235, and, consequently, to greater stability of the dispenser in this position. Furthermore, the elements 227 and 228 advantageously form, in the position of use of the distributor, no longer an angle 180 ', but an angle slightly less than 180-, if we consider the half-plane carrying the heels 234 and 235 This arrangement improves the desired maintenance.

 It is understood that the embodiment described above is in no way limiting and may give rise to any desirable modifications, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (9)

 1 - Device for dispensing at least one water-soluble formulation (18, 19) in a flush, said device (10) comprising a housing (11) and a suspension hook (12) allowing said housing to be hooked (11) on the rim of a hunting tank (29), said housing (11), intended to be immersed in the water of the hunting tank (29), internally defining at least one compartment (16; 17) which comprises, firstly, in its lower part, a water-soluble formulation (18; 19), and, secondly, two orifices (22-24; 23-25) arranged at different levels above said water-soluble formulation ( 18; 19), the hook (12), one end of which cooperates with the housing (11) and the other end of which forms the attachment member for the device (10) on the rim of the flush tank (29), consisting of two elements (27, 28) articulated by means of a hinge (26), so that the hook (12) can pass, from a folded position corresponding to the st ockage, in a deployed position placing the device (10) in its position of use, the hook element (27) adjacent to the housing (11) being able to slide relative to the latter to be retracted into the housing (11) in the storage position and, on the contrary, projecting above the housing (11) in the position of use, the other element (28) of the hook (12) ending, on the side opposite the hinge ( 26), by an attachment means intended to cooperate with the rim of the flush tank (29) to ensure the attachment of the device (10) in the tank (29), characterized in that each element (27, 28 ) of the hook (12), which separates the hinge (26), comprises, near said hinge (26) and on the side opposite to that on which the deployment of the hook (12) takes place, a projecting heel (34, 35 ), the two heels (34, 35) being kept attached to one another when the device (10) is in its position of use, to constitute a stiffening member op posing at the folding of the hinge (26) under the effect of the upward thrust which is exerted on the submerged case (11).  2 - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that each heel (134, 135) comprises a latching member complementary to a member carried by the other heel, in order to automatically secure the two heels (134, 135) at the end of deployment of the hook (112).  3 - Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the hinge (26) is arranged horizontally in the position of use of said device (10), the support plane, where the contact of two heels (34, 35), then being substantially horizontal.  4 - Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each heel (34,35) is carried by a substantially flat wall area of the corresponding hook element (27,28), and is- delimited, firstly, by its bearing wall (34a, 35g) on the other heel (34, 35), which is connected to the hook element (27, 28) near the hinge (26) , secondly, by an inclined wall (34b, 35b) joining the free edge of said bearing wall (34a, 35a) to said hook element (27, 28) and, thirdly, by two opposite side walls ( 34c, 35c).  5 - Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the two elements (27, 28) of the hook (12) are made of plastic and that the hinge (26) is a film hinge.  6 - Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the housing (11) comprises a retaining means intended to cooperate with the hook attachment means (12) on the rim of the flush tank ( 29), when said hook (12) is in its folded position and the hook element (27) adjacent to the housing (11) is in its retracted position in said housing (11).  7 - Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the housing (11) has a passage (20) defined for the sliding of the hook element t27) which is adjacent to it, said passage (20 ) being substantially vertical when the device (10) is in its position of use.  8 - Device according to claims 6 and 7 taken simultaneously, characterized in that the housing (11) comprises a housing (21) opening outwardly and located at the right of said passage (20), to constitute the means of retaining the attachment means carried by the hook (12).  9 - Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the two elements (27, 28) of the hook (12) are substantially flat and each comprise at least one longitudinal reinforcing rib (30, 33).