GB2257722A

GB2257722A - Disinfectant dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2257722A
Application number: GB9115082A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hang Meow Tan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-07-11
Filing date: 1991-07-11
Publication date: 1993-01-20
Anticipated expiration: 2011-07-11
Also published as: GB9115082D0; GB2257722B

Abstract

An auto dispenser is fully submerged inside and at the base of a toilet cistern tank. During filling of the tank, water enters the dispenser through two openings (24) in the side wall of a cap member (20), and fills up the enclosed space. Water-soluble chemical contained in the dispenser diffuses and dissolves in water producing an active solution. During (10) flushing, only a controlled amount of active solution is released from the unit into the flushing water. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE: An improved auto dispenser FILED OF INVENTION The invention relates generally to an apparatus for distributing a water-soluble chemical to surrounding water, and more particularly to a toilet cleaner unit for distributing a chemical to water therein a toilet cistern tank.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION: Prior art toilet cleaners are widely used. A simple Prior art toilet cleaner (50) is illustrated in Figure (1). This prior art toilet cleaner (50) takes the shape of an elongated open top cylinder (55), which is partially filled with a quantity of a solid watersoluble cleansing and sanitising chemical (54).

Chemicals normally carry blue pigment, so that it will impart a blue colour to the flushing water when the chemical disolves. At the throat of the cylinder (55) is a small opening (51), which is located roughly three quarters of the height of the cylinder (55) from the base. The level of the chemical medium can preferrably be at the same level, or is at a distance below the level where the opening (51) at the throat is located. The top of the cylinder (55) gradually narrows to form an opening (52) of a smaller diameter than that of the base cylinder (55). At a position on the rim of this top opening (52), which is diametrically opposite to the position of the opening (51) at the throat, there is provided is a lip ( not shown ), by which the cylinder (55) can be suspended from an edge of a cistern tank using a length of flexible element ( not shown).

The prior art toilet cleaner (50) can thus be positioned so that the level where the opening (51) at the throat is located is at a distance below the actual water level (53) in the cistern tank. Most toilet cleaner manufacturers indicate a water level marking (56) on the cylinder (55) above the opening (51) at the throat. Some brands of toilet cleaners prefer to submerge the entire cylinder (55) so that the open top (52) is placed approximately 10 to 20 mm below the actual water level (53). Water enters the cylinder through the opening (51) at the throat, and also through the open top (52) if it is fully submerged. The water-soluble chemical then dissolves in it to form an active solution with bluish colouration. The intensity of the blue colour indicates the strength of the chemical dissolved in the flushing water.

With the prior art toilet cleaners, there is no indication of the actual length of time that each cleaner can last. The active solution flow is not monitored. At times, there will be unnecessary discharge of the active solution resulting in a deep blue colour of the flushing water. ' As the chemical content gradually depletes with use, the active solution so formed may become chemically weak or it may not be displaced from the toilet cleaner unit.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION: A principal object of the present invention is to dispense only a controlled amount of the active solution in each flushing of the cistern tank, therefore economising the use of the chemical.

A particular and an associated object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for dispensing a chemical medium at a controlled and consistent rate over the useful life of the apparatus as represented in a stated number of flushings.

All parts of construction for the present invention are preferably made from a synthetic plastic material by inject ion moulding method. However other materials that will not corrode when in contact with water and other formation methods can be used.

To these and other ends, the present invention comprises, in its broadest from : an open top container (40) , cylindrical in shape, containing a water-soluble solidified chemical medium (43); a round cap member (20), adapted with a centrally placed funnel (25), embedded in its top surface and two openings (24) in its side wall, and used to cap the top openings of the said container (40); a circular flat diaphragm (30) , with a central opening (32) wich covers the top opening of the said container (40) and is placed in position between the round edges of the cap member (20) and the container (40) ; and a thin walled conically shaped plug insert (10) to engage a drain opening (22) fo the funnel (25) in the exposed top surface of the cap member (20).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing objectives, features and other adventages of the invention will be further understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure (1) is a cross sectional view of a prior art toilet cleaner unit; Figure (2) is an assembly view of the various parts making up a dispenser unit according to the invention; Figure (3) is a perspective view of the assembled dispenser unit according to the present invention; Figure (4) is a top plan view of the dispenser unit according to the present invention ( shown without the plug insert ); and Figure (5) is a cross section view of the assembled dispenser unit according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention is in the environment of an apparatus for distributing water soluble chemical medium to water contained therein a toilet cistern tank. It will be understood that the invention is considered to have a broader application in this particular environment.

With reference to Figure (2), the auto dispenser unit comprises a plug insert (i0), engaging in a drain opening (22) of a funnel (25) formed in the top of a round cap member (20) . capping a base container (40), carrying a chemical medium. The base container (40) can be covered by a circular diaphragm (30) engaged and trapped circumferentially between the edges of the cap member (20) and the container (40).

The container (40) is substantially an open-topped tub (41). The essential feature of this container is that the diameter (D) must be greater than the height (H) of the dispenser unit. The complete dispenser unit is meant to be placed fully submerged inside at the base of the toilet cistern tank. Active chemical ingredients are to be filled at the bottom part (43) of the container At the base of the container (41), there is a cylindrical protrusion (44a) onto which a ring-like metal washer (44) is tightly secured, Such arrangement is to make sure that the dispenser unit will not float under its own buoyancy and will not topple sideway to spill out active chemical ingredients unnecessary. At such, the dispenser unit will remain in substantially vertical position irrespective of the movement of the water inside the cistern tank.

Referring to Figures (2) and (5) , the lower open mouth of the cap member (20) enlarges to a circular skirt (27a) of a larger diameter. Positioned inwardly of the skirt (27b) , there is a plurality of equally space vertical retainer studs (23) , which collectively form a circle of smaller diameter than the inside diameter of the skirt (27b) . A prefered number is eight while in the Figure (2) , four has been shown. The annular gap between these two diameters of the retainer studs (23) and the skirt (27b) engages in interference fit with the upper rim of the base container (41). With this clip-on arrangement, the cap member (20) removably covers the top opening of the container (40).

Two diametrically opposite slots (24) are formed in the lower portion of the side wall (27a) of the cap member (20), at vacant to the circular skirt (27b).

A funnel (25), formed centrally in the cap member (20), opens onto the top surface with an annular rim (29) surrounding the formed opening of the funnel (25).

On the annular rim (29) is formed at least one or a plurality of four equally spaced air venting holes (21). The funnel (25) carries an elongated nozzle (26) which extends downward into the base conatiner (40). A drain opening (22) through the funnel (25), and the opening therein the nozzle (26) defines a fluid passageway (28).

A flat diaphragm (30) can be optionally used to cover the top open end of the container (40). The diaphragm can be engaged and trapped in position between the edges of the cap member. (20) and the hase container (40) by the clip-on arragement of the retainer studs (23). The removable diaphragm (30) can be used to divide the enclosed space within the container (40) into an enclosed space (31) taking a contoured shape formed by the underside convex surface of the funnel (25). the sloping surface of the nozzle (26) and the diaphragm (30); and another enclosed space (42) taking the shape formed by the diaphragm (30) the tub (41) and the chemical medium (43).

On the outer circumference of the diaphragm (30) is a plurality of four equally spaced circular notches (31). A circular hole (32) is cut at the centre of the diaphragm (30) . The diameter of this centre hole (32) determines the diffusion rate of the chemical medium (43) carried in the base container (40) , when the dispenser unit is resting under water. The larger this diameter is, the greater will be the diffusion rate.

During the flushing operation, this diaphragm (30) stabilises the fluid flow within the auto dispenser unit, and prevents an excessive loss of the chemical through the turbulence of the fluid, caused by the flushing action.

Another feature of the auto dispenser unit present is the use of a thin walled conically shaped plug insert (i0). The plug insert (10) is adapted to engage the drain opening (22) of the funnel (25) on the top of the cap member (20). The elongated opening inside the plug insert (10) defines a fluid passageway (12). When so engaged, the plug insert (10) forms an extended fluid passageway as defined by (28) and (12) The height of the protruding part of the plug from the neck of the funnel (25a) will determine the amount of water that drain into and displace a volume of active ingredient from the enclosed space (24). The following description is now particarly given to show how the auto dispenser unit work.

Consider a situation where the auto dispenser unit is placed at the base of the cistern tank and the flushing water is filling up the tank. Water will enter the unit through the apertures (24) in the side wall (27a) of the cap member (20), and into the enclosed spaces (31) and (42). As water comes in contact with the chemical medium (43), active solution is formed and water turns blue.

Some active solution will move upward through the fluid passageway (28) and (12), into the concavity of the funnel (25), The amount of active solution so formed is determined by the volume of the enclosed spaces (31) & (42).

During flushing, when the actual water level inside the cistern tank comes below that level of the apertures (24) in the sidewall, the water contained on the concavity of the funnel (25) will move down by gravity through the drain opening (22) and the fluid passageway, displacing active solution of similar amount from the enclosed space (42) into (31) and flows out of the dispenser via the opening (24) into the surrounding water subsequently.

While the invention has deen described in relation to a particular embodiment, those skilled in the art will recognise modifications of materials, structure and the like as coming within the scope of the present invention now claimed.

Claims

1) An auto dispenser unit for dispensing a chemical medium for use in a toilet cistern tank characterised by an open top container, carrying the said chemical in solld form, with the diameter of its base larger than the height of the unit; bearing a wight at the base and a cap member, adapted for removable attachment to the said container, and having a funnel, which opens onto its top surface, and which includes a nozzle extending downwards into the container, and having an air venting means formed in said top surface, and having apertures formed in its side wall.

2) An auto dispenser unit according to claim (1) wherein a flat diaphragm with a hole at its centre, covers the open top end of the container, and is engaged and trapped in position by the edges of the cap member and the container.

3) An auto dispenser unit according to claim (1) or Claim (2) wherein a thin walled and conically shaped plug insert engages the drain opening of the funnel, therefore extending the fluid passsageway defined in the nozzle of the funnel and the nose of the plug insert.