GB2243378A

GB2243378A - Dispensing container

Info

Publication number: GB2243378A
Application number: GB9009201A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony John Crabtree; Andrew David Crabtree
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-04-24
Filing date: 1990-04-24
Publication date: 1991-10-30
Anticipated expiration: 2010-04-24
Also published as: GB2243378B; GB9009201D0

Abstract

A container for immersion in a toilet cistern, to dispense eg. disinfectant, comprises a lower exit valve, suitably formed in the container cap 10, and an upper air vent 40. (The cap 10 is shown removed from the container 4, for clarity). The exit valve comprises an elastomeric flap 32 which is seated above an exit port 20, the flap being urged therefrom, to permit liquid to pass through the exit port, when the level of water in the cistern is below the level of liquid in the container. This occurs when the cistern is emptied. When the cistern is full, the water level 43 in the cistern is higher than the level of liquid 44 in the container, even when the container is first introduced, so there is no tendency for the valve to open. <IMAGE>

Description

DISPENSING CONTAINER This invention relates to a dispensing container for immersion in a toilet cistern.

It is well known to provide a disinfectant block for immersion in a toilet cistern. Such blocks are simple to use, although they can be somewhat messy to handle. It would be advantageous to have a container for dispensing a liquid, which could be placed in the cistern.

There have been many proposals for a fluid dispensing device for dispensing controlled doses of a liquid from a container into a cistern, for example as shown in U.K. Patent specifications 2162873A, 2182958A and 2167041A. However, these have been overly complicated devices, somewhat expensive to produce.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a dispensing container for immersion in a toilet cistern, to dispense a liquid from the container into the cistern, the container comprising an exit valve arranged to be substantially lowermost in use, wherein the container is such that, in use when located in the cistern with the exit valve lowermost, the level of water in the cistern, when full, is above or substantially at the level of liquid in the container, when full, wherein the exit valve comprises a flap which is seated above an exit port for the liquid, the valve flap being urged therefrom, to permit liquid to pass through the exit port, when the level of water in the cistern is below the level of liquid in the container.

The size and shape of the dispenser container is preferably such that the dispensing container is locatable within the cistern with the exit valve substantially lowermost in use, and fits snugly between e.g. the walls of the cistern and the syphonic apparatus, so that it remains in that position. The height of the container is suitably slightly less than the height of the water in the cistern. It may be weighted so as not to become buoyant even when empty. It may alternatively be provided with a fastening device such as a clip, retained on the wall of the cistern.

In use, the flap is suitably located somewhat above the base of the cistern, so that it can operate without mechanical hindrance from the base of the cistern. This may be achieved, for example, by clipping the container into a clip of the type described above. It may alternatively be achieved by providing spacing means, for example a rim on the container, to space the valve head from the base of the cistern.

It may be desired, in order that an effective volume of liquid exits the container even when the container is nearly empty, that the container is relatively short in height compared to the cistern height, and located, in use, near the top of the cistern.

The valve may suitably comprise an elastomeric valve flap and a captive valve mounting stem, suitably central to the valve head, and which is also suitably of the same elastomeric material. Such a valve is commonly known as a mushroom valve.

The exit port fluid is preferably narrow, so that the exit of fluid is fairly slow. Typically, the cross sectional area of the exit port is in the range 1-4mm2, preferably 2-3mm2.

In certain embodiments the container comprises a flexible bag, for example as a liner of a more rigid body, which flexible bag progressively collapses as it empties. Thus, no venting is required. In other embodiments, the liquid may be bound by a container with generally rigid walls, so that venting is required, air and/or water, preferably air only, being admitted to replace the liquid dispensed. Preferably, venting does not take place through the exit port, the exit port suitably being narrow, but through a separate venting port through a wall of the container which is uppermost in use. Thus, the top (in use) of the container may extend above the highest level of water in the cistern and have an aperture to permit entry or air.

The dispensing container may be generally bottleshaped. The valve may be located in the neck of the bottle-shaped container, which is inverted in use. The valve may be comprised in a top for the container, for example of the screw-cap type. The valve may be provided in a part which is pushed into the neck, suitably during manufacture, the neck being provided with an internal rim to limit the inward movement of the part. In this embodiment, the bottom wall of the container, which is uppermost in use, could project above the level of water in the cistern, when full, and be open or have an aperture to admit air when liquid leaves the container.

Suitably, the bottom wall may be such that the purchaser may form the aperture. Thus, it may have a weakened portion which can be punctured, for example by a ball-pen point, or may have a peel-off patch covering the aperture. In other embodiments the valve may be located in the bottom wall of a bottle-shaped container, which container is for use in an upright position and the bottle top exposed above the highest level of water in the cistern, which top may be of screw-cap form, removed in use to provide venting.

Suitably, the container is sold containing the liquid and is to be thrown away after use, rather than re-filled.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows, in cross-section, a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 shows, in cross-section, a second embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 3 shows, in cross-section, a third embodiment of the present invention.

The container shown in Fig. 1, of a plastics material, is in the form of a bottle, having a base 2, a cylindrical side wall 4 extending therefrom and leading to a shoulder part 6, leading in turn to the bottle neck 8. The bottle neck has an external screw thread and cooperates with an internally screw threaded cap 10. The cap is shown removed for clarity only.

The cap comprises an internal screw thread 12 leading to a cross wall 13 which carries a valve 14. On the other side of the cross wall 13 is a circular rim 16.

The cross wall has two through-bores, namely a central through bore 18, 4mm in diameter, and a port 20, 1.5mm in diameter.

The central through bore 18 receives the stem of a mushroom or flapper valve 28 of an elastomeric material. The mushroom valve is of conventional shape, having a locating head 30 at the end of the stem, which is able to be deformed in order to be pushed through the bore 18 and, once through, expands to keep the valve captive. At the other end of the stem, it has a valve head 32 of circular shape, 3/4mm in depth, so being flexible. At the edge of the valve head 32 is a rim 34 which locates in a corresponding groove in the end wall.

The valve acts as a one-way valve permitting escape of disinfectant liquid from the container.

The base 2 of the bottle has a weakened zone 40 which may readily be pierced, for example by the point of a ball-pen, to permit venting. From the edge of the base 2 projects a circular rim 42 which serves to protect the weakened zone against inadvertent piercing (unlikely though that would be) when the bottle is stood on its base, for example at the point of sale.

As shown in the drawing, the bottle (with the cap on) would be ready to be used for the first time, the level of disinfectant liquid within the bottle being high. The bottle is of size such that it fits snugly within a cistern, with the level of water within the cistern, when full, being higher than the level of disinfectant liquid within the container, when full.

The bottle is transported and supplied upright.

For use, the bottle is inverted and the weakened zone 40 is pierced to form a venting aperture. The bottle is then placed in the cistern, such that the level of liquid in the cistern, when full, designated 43 in Fig. 1, is above the level of liquid in the container, designated 44, but below the base 2. Thus, when the cistern is full the greater external pressure on the valve head 32 urges it to close the port 20. When the cistern is emptied, the pressure acting on the valve head from the liquid within the bottle is no longer checked by external water pressure and the valve head 32 is displaced to permit the disinfectant liquid to leave the container through the port 20. Air enters the bottle via the aperture in the base wall 2, to replace the disinfectant liquid which exits.

The disinfectant liquid is coloured so that the user can see when replacement of the bottle is required.

In the embodiment of Fig. 2 the same principles are employed but the valve is in the base and, in use, the bottle is upright. Around the valve, projecting downwardly, is an upstanding rim 50 on which a peel-off foil patch is stuck during manufacture. The top of the bottle has a conventional screw cap. To insert the bottle into the cistern, the user may invert the bottle, peel off the patch, place the bottle upright in the cistern and remove the cap.

In the embodiment of Fig. 3, inverted in use, there is within the neck of the bottle a valve block 64 The valve block 64 is a push fit within the neck. It is pushed in until its movement is stopped by a circumferential rim 66 moulded within the bottle neck.

The valve block 64 is of a rigid plastics material and has two through-bores for the purposes described above in relation to the embodiment of Fig. 1.

The block 64 is located in the neck such that the neck provides a rim 68 to space the valve head 32 from the base of the cistern. A conventional screw cap (not shown) is used to close the neck of the bottle prior to use.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A dispensing container for immersion in a toilet cistern, to dispense a liquid from the container into the cistern, the container comprising an exit valve arranged to be substantially lowermost in use, wherein the container is such that, in use when located in the cistern with the exit valve lowermost, the level of water in the cistern, when full, is above or substantially at the level of liquid in the container, when full, wherein the exit valve comprises a flap which is located above an exit port for the liquid, the valve flap being urged therefrom, to permit liquid to pass through the exit port, when the level of water in the cistern is below the level of liquid in the container.

2. A dispensing container as claimed in Claim 1, of weight so as not to become buoyant when empty.

3. A dispensing container as claimed in Claim 1, provided with a fastening device for retention on the wall of a cistern.

4. A dispensing container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the valve comprises an elastomeric valve flap and a captive valve mounting stem.

5. A dispensing container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cross sectional area of the exit port is in the range 1-4mm2.

6. A dispensing container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the container has generally rigid walls containing the liquid, and means for venting.

7. A dispensing container as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the means for venting comprises a venting port in a wall of the container which is uppermost in use.

8. A dispensing container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the container is generally bottle-shaped, with a neck, the valve being located in the neck of the container which is inverted in use.

9. A container as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the valve is comprised in a closure cap for the container.

10. A dispensing container as claimed in-Claim 8, wherein the valve is provided in a part which is pushed into the neck, the neck being provided with an internal rim to limit the inward movement of the part, a closure cap being located over the neck, and removed for use.

11. A dispensing container as claimed in Claim 8, 9, or 10, wherein the bottom wall of the container is so adapted that the user may form the venting port thereon.

12. A dispensing container as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the container is generally bottle-shaped, the container being in an upright position in use and the valve being located in the bottom wall of the container, the container top having a removable cap, the cap being removed for use, and the container top, in use, being exposed above the highest level of water in the cistern to provide venting.

13. A dispensing container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.