GB1571224A - Chlorine applicator - Google Patents

Description

(54) CHLORINE APPLICATOR (71) We, SUREX SWIMMING POOL PRODUCTS LIMITED, a British Company of 21 Springholm Close, Biggin Hill, Kent, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relate to a chlorine applicator for swimming pools which facilitates the slow and steady application of chlorine to a swimming pool by applying the chlorine from inside a container deposited in the skimmer bowl chamber of a swimming pool where it will be in the flow of water from the surface of the pool to the filter unit of the pool.

While primarily intended for use in the slow feed chlorination of swimming pools the applicator of the present invention can also be used in other forms of water holding tanks and vehicles which utilise a water circulation system in which the applicator may be deposited.

According to the present Invention there is provided a chlorine applicator for swimming pools comprising an open ended container of plastics material, snap-on lid closing the open end of the container and slow dissolving chlorination material within the container, markings being provided on the exterior of the container, to indicate where holes should be punctured through the container in sequence depending upon the rate at which the chlorination material is to be dispensed during use of the applicator immersed in a flow of water to be treated.

Preferably the container is a cylindrical container with markings for punctured holes being spaced longitudinally- thereof. Conveniently the chlorination material may be in the form of a plurality of compressed tablets preferably of trichloroisocyanuric acid, and may suitably be one of a size such that each tablet fits substantially across the cross-sectional area of the container with a plurality of the tablets being stacked within the container.

The invention also relates to a method of applying chlorine to swimming pools which comprises taking an applicator as specified above, puncturing a plurality of holes in the side of the container where indicated by the markings and placing the container in a basket or other chamber of the swimming pool skim- mer unit where it will be in the flow of water from the pool to a filter unit. The holes may also be punctured in the top and/or bottom of the container before it is inserted in the skimmer unit The invention is illustrated, by way of example, with reference to the single Figure of the accompanying drawing which shows a container in its open condition before being filled with slowly dissolving chlorination material to form the complete chlorine applicator.

The illustrated container comprises a main cylindrical portion 1 which has a smaller diameter than a base part 2 and an open ended section 3. The section 3 is connected to the main portion 1 by a shoulder 4 and comprises a frusto-conical portion 10 extending from the shoulder 4 to the open end 5. A lid 8 has an inturned shoulder 7 the free edge 6 of which is of the same diameter as the open end 5. A hole 9 extends centrally through the lid 8.

Conveniently this container can be produced in a blow-moulding operation in which the main container portion and the lid are both blow-moulded as a single unit. Following the blow-moulding operation, which leaves the central hole 9, the lid is separated from the container by a peripheral cut to leave the open edges of the container and lid respectively at 5 and 6.

The outer surface of the container is provided with a series of markings indicated at 11 in the drawing which markings may be numbered sequentially. While one column of markings is shown in the drawing such markings may be located at more than one location circumferentially of the container. Also on the container there are preferably provided in structions, not illustrated, for use of the applicator including directions as to the number and location of holes to be punctured in use of the applicator. The markings may be indented during moulding of the container facilitate subsequent puncturing.

The applicator itself comprises a container shown in the Figure filled with slow dissolving chlorination material and with the lid 8 snap fitted over the opening of the container with the shoulder 7 engaging behind the shoulder 4. The tapered shape of the frustoconical portion 10 facilitates flitting of the lid in that the free edge 6 of the lid can readily ride up the slope before snapping behind the shoulder 4. The slow dissolving chlorination material preferably is in the form of pressed tablets and suitably comprises trichloroisocyanuric acid. While tablets substantially smaller than the container may be used it is preferred that the tablets used have a diameter substantially equal to that of the main portion of the container such that they can be stacked solidly in the container substantially to fill the space therein whereby dissolving of their content from the container is accurately controllable by the number of holes punctured through the container.

While the markings are shown only on the side of the container normally immediately before use of the container as well as certain holes being punctured on the markings 11 additional holes will be punctured in the bottom of the container, and possibly also through the lid.

The applicator is of a size to fit into a skimmer bowl chamber or basket as found in most types of domestic and commercial swimming pools. The skimmer is part of the filtration and cleaning system of the pool and is the outlet by the surface of the pool from which water is drawn to drag surface debris from the pool into the skimmer unit. Water passes from the skimmer unit through a pump and filter unit before being returned to the pool. The applicator of the present invention after having an appropriate number of holes punctured in accordance with the amount of chlorination necessary for the size of pool taking into account the temperature of the water is dropped into the skimmer unit so that the water passing through the skimmer unit flows over the container with some water passing through the punctured holes to take up slowly dissolving chlorination material from the interior of the container. The chlorine fiow rate is determined by the number of punctures made in the container.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A chlorine applicator for swimming pools comprising an open ended container of plastics material, a snap-on lid closing the open end of the container and slow dissolving chlorination material within the container, markings being provided on the exterior of the container to indicate where holes should be punctured through the container in sequence depending upon the rate at which chlorination material is to be dispensed during use of the applicator immersed in a flow of water to be treated.

2. A chlorine applicator according to claim 1, wherein the container is cylindrical with the markings for punctured holes being spaced longitudinally thereof.

3. A chlorine applicator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a hole is provided through the lid.

4. A chlorine applicator as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the chlorination material is in the form of a plurality of compressed tablets.

5. A chlorine applicator according to claim 4, wherein the tablets are of a size to be stacked in the container with each tablet fitting across substantially the entire crosssection of the container.

6. A chlorine applicator according to any preceding claim, wherein the chlorination material comprises trichloroisocyanuric acid.

7. A chlorine applicator according to any preceding claim which has a cylindrical main portion having a diameter smaller than that of a section thereof adjacent the open end, the lid being adapted to fit around said larger diameter section with a flange snap-fitting over the shoulder connecting such larger diameter portion with the main portion of the container.

8. A chlorine applicator according to any preceding claim in which the lid and the container have been simultaneously blow-moulded as a single unit with the lid having been subsequently separated from the container portion to leave said open end.

9. A chlorine applicator according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the larger diameter portion is of frusto-conical shape with the open end of the container being of the same diameter as the edge of the internal flange around the snap-on lid.

10. A chlorine applicator for swimming pools constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

11. A method of applying chlorine to swimming pools which comprises taking an applicator as claimed in any preceding claim, puncturing a plurality of holes in the side of the container where indicated by the markings and placing the container in the basket of the skimmer unit of the swimming pool where it will be in the flow of water from the surface of the pool to a filter unit.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein holes are also punctured in the bottom and or top of the container prior to insertion of the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (13)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. of the applicator. The markings may be indented during moulding of the container facilitate subsequent puncturing. The applicator itself comprises a container shown in the Figure filled with slow dissolving chlorination material and with the lid 8 snap fitted over the opening of the container with the shoulder 7 engaging behind the shoulder 4. The tapered shape of the frustoconical portion 10 facilitates flitting of the lid in that the free edge 6 of the lid can readily ride up the slope before snapping behind the shoulder 4. The slow dissolving chlorination material preferably is in the form of pressed tablets and suitably comprises trichloroisocyanuric acid. While tablets substantially smaller than the container may be used it is preferred that the tablets used have a diameter substantially equal to that of the main portion of the container such that they can be stacked solidly in the container substantially to fill the space therein whereby dissolving of their content from the container is accurately controllable by the number of holes punctured through the container. While the markings are shown only on the side of the container normally immediately before use of the container as well as certain holes being punctured on the markings 11 additional holes will be punctured in the bottom of the container, and possibly also through the lid. The applicator is of a size to fit into a skimmer bowl chamber or basket as found in most types of domestic and commercial swimming pools. The skimmer is part of the filtration and cleaning system of the pool and is the outlet by the surface of the pool from which water is drawn to drag surface debris from the pool into the skimmer unit. Water passes from the skimmer unit through a pump and filter unit before being returned to the pool. The applicator of the present invention after having an appropriate number of holes punctured in accordance with the amount of chlorination necessary for the size of pool taking into account the temperature of the water is dropped into the skimmer unit so that the water passing through the skimmer unit flows over the container with some water passing through the punctured holes to take up slowly dissolving chlorination material from the interior of the container. The chlorine fiow rate is determined by the number of punctures made in the container. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A chlorine applicator for swimming pools comprising an open ended container of plastics material, a snap-on lid closing the open end of the container and slow dissolving chlorination material within the container, markings being provided on the exterior of the container to indicate where holes should be punctured through the container in sequence depending upon the rate at which chlorination material is to be dispensed during use of the applicator immersed in a flow of water to be treated.

2. A chlorine applicator according to claim 1, wherein the container is cylindrical with the markings for punctured holes being spaced longitudinally thereof.

3. A chlorine applicator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a hole is provided through the lid.

4. A chlorine applicator as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the chlorination material is in the form of a plurality of compressed tablets.

5. A chlorine applicator according to claim 4, wherein the tablets are of a size to be stacked in the container with each tablet fitting across substantially the entire crosssection of the container.

6. A chlorine applicator according to any preceding claim, wherein the chlorination material comprises trichloroisocyanuric acid.

7. A chlorine applicator according to any preceding claim which has a cylindrical main portion having a diameter smaller than that of a section thereof adjacent the open end, the lid being adapted to fit around said larger diameter section with a flange snap-fitting over the shoulder connecting such larger diameter portion with the main portion of the container.

8. A chlorine applicator according to any preceding claim in which the lid and the container have been simultaneously blow-moulded as a single unit with the lid having been subsequently separated from the container portion to leave said open end.

9. A chlorine applicator according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the larger diameter portion is of frusto-conical shape with the open end of the container being of the same diameter as the edge of the internal flange around the snap-on lid.

10. A chlorine applicator for swimming pools constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

11. A method of applying chlorine to swimming pools which comprises taking an applicator as claimed in any preceding claim, puncturing a plurality of holes in the side of the container where indicated by the markings and placing the container in the basket of the skimmer unit of the swimming pool where it will be in the flow of water from the surface of the pool to a filter unit.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein holes are also punctured in the bottom and or top of the container prior to insertion of the

container into the skimmer unit.

13. A method of applying chlorine to swimming pools substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.