GB2306180A

GB2306180A - Chemical dispenser for toilet

Info

Publication number: GB2306180A
Application number: GB9521076A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lin Yu-Mei Tien
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-10-14
Filing date: 1995-10-14
Publication date: 1997-04-30
Also published as: GB9521076D0

Abstract

A chemical dispenser installed in the water tank of a toilet, comprises a container 1 covered with a cover shell 3, the container defining a main chamber 12, which holds a chemical compound 14, and a side chamber 11, and having a syphon mechanism disposed between the main chamber and the side chamber, the cover shell having a top opening 32 for guiding water from the water tank of the toilet into the container to dilute the chemical compound, the side chamber having a water outlet at the bottom, whereby when water is drawn away from the water tank of the toilet, a syphon action is produced at the syphon mechanism to draw chemical dilution from the container to the water tank of the toilet through the transverse water outlet 111.

Description

TITLE: CHEMICAL DISPENSER FOR TOILETS This invention relates to chemical dispensers, and relates more specifically to such a chemical dispenser installed in the water tank of a toilet to automatically dispense a fixed amount of chemical dilution into the water tank of the toilet upon each flushing.

People usually will put a block-like chemical compound in the water tank of a toilet. When the toilet is operated upon each flushing, chemical dilution is carried away from the water tank to clean the bowl.

However, as the chemical compound is directly put in water in the water tank of the toilet, it is quickly dissolved, and the concentration of chemical dilution is high.

Therefore, the chemical compound will be used up within a short period, and must be replenished frequently.

The present invention has been accomplished to provide a chemical dispenser which prevents waste of the chemical compound. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the chemical dispenser installed comprises a container covered with a cover shell, the container defining a main chamber, which holds a chemical compound, and a side chamber, and having a syphon mechanism disposed between the main chamber and the side chamber, the cover shell having a top opening for guiding water from the water tank of the toilet into the container to dilute the chemical compound, the side chamber having a water outlet at the bottom, whereby when water is drawn away from the water tank of the toilet, a syphon action is produced at the syphon mechanism to draw chemical dilution from the container to the water tank of the toilet through the transverse water outlet.According to another embodiment of the present invention, the chemical dispenser comprises a chemical dilution container defining a chemical dilution chamber, which holds a chemical compound; a control chamber having a water access hole; and a syphon tube assembly having one end connected to said control chamber, and an opposite end connected to the chemical dilution chamber of said chemical dilution container at a higher elevation than the water access hole of said control chamber.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists of features of constructions and method, combination of elements, arrangement of parts and steps of the method which will be exemplified in the constructions and method hereinafter disclosed, the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims following.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a chemical dispenser according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a cutaway of the container of the chemical dispenser shown in Figure 1; FIG. 3 is a sectional assembly view of the chemical dispenser shown in Figure 1; FIG. 4 shows the chemical dispenser of Figure 1 installed in the water tank of a toilet; FIG. 5 is a cutaway of an alternate form of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a sectional view along line 6-6 of Figure 5; FIG. 7 is a sectional view along line 7-7 of Figure 5; FIG. 8A is a sectional view showing the chemical dispenser of Figure 5 installed in the water tank; FIG. 8B is similar to Figure 8A but showing the water lever of the water tank of the toilet dropped, and chemical dilution carried away from the chemical dispenser to the toilet;; FIG. 8C is similar to Figure 8B but showing the water lever of the water tank of the toilet increased, and the passage of chemical dilution stopped; and FIG. 8D is similar to Figure 8C but showing water passed into the chemical dilution container through the syphon tube assembly.

For the purpose to promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings. Specific language will be used to describe same. It will, nevertheless, be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alternations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3, a chemical dispenser in accordance with the present invention is generally comprised of a container 1, a flow guide 2, a cover shell 3, and a float 4. The container 1 comprises a main chamber 12, a side chamber 11 in communication with the main chamber 12, a transverse water outlet 111 near the bottom side of the side chamber 11, a first upright partition board 112 inside the side chamber 11, a second upright partition board 113 between the main chamber 12 and the side chamber 11, and a plurality of longitudinal ribs 121 raised from the inside wall of the main chamber 12. The first upright partition board 112 is higher than the second upright partition board 113. The flow guide 2 is mounted inside the main chamber 12 and supported on the longitudinal ribs 121, having a plurality of radial sloping grooves 21 radially spaced around the border.The cover shell 3 comprises an coupling flange 31 around the border at the bottom welded to the topmost edge of the periphery of the container 1 by a highfrequency heat sealing apparatus, a top opening 32 aligned with the main chamber 12 of the container 1, a water chamber 33 at one side aligned with the side chamber 11 of the container 1, a plurality of small drip holes 331 at the bottom side of the water chamber 33, and a downward projecting board 34 inserted into the space between the first upright partition board 112 and the second upright partition board 113. The float 4 is put in the cover shell 3 above the flow guide 2. Before fastening the cover shell 3 to the container 1, a weight 13 and a chemical compound (for example, a solid detergent) 14 are mounted inside the main chamber 12 of the container 1.

Referring to Figure 4, when the chemical dispenser is mounted inside the water tank of a toilet, water enters the container 1 through the top opening 32 of the cover shell 3. When the chemical dispenser is filled up with water, the float 4 is stopped at the top opening 32 of the cover shell 3 to prevent chemical dilution from passing out of the chemical dispenser. When the water level of the water tank drops below the transverse water outlet 111 of the container 1 upon each flushing, the syphon mechanism which is formed of the first upright partition board 112 and the second upright partition board 113 immediately draw chemical dilution from the main chamber 12 out of the transverse water outlet 111 into the inside of the water tank for carrying to the inside of the bowl for killing smell and cleaning the bowl. When water passes from the top opening 32 of the cover shell 3 to the main chamber 12 of the container 1, it is guided by the radial sloping grooves 21 to form a spiral flow of water, therefore chemical dilution is well mixed in the main chamber 12 of the container 1. The drip holes 331 drip water from the water chamber 33 when water is drawn away from the container 1 into the water container of the toilet, therefore air is prohibited from entering the side chamber 11 of the container 1 during the performance of the syphon action.

Figures 5, 6, and 7 show an alternate form of the present invention. This alternate form comprises a chemical dilution container 5 mounted inside the water tank of a toilet, a control chamber 6 at one side of the chemical dilution container 5, and a syphon tube assembly 7 connected between the chemical dilution container 5 and the control chamber 6. The control chamber 6 has a top opening 60 for passing of water between the water container of the toilet and the chemical dilution container 5. The chemical dilution container 5 has a sector-like cross section. The diameter of the chemical dilution container 5 reduces gradually from the top to the bottom. This alternate form requires less installation space. The chemical dilution container 5 has a top open end covered with a lifting cap 50. The lifting cap 50 is mounted with a flexible tube 51.The top end of the flexible tube 51 must be disposed above the high water level of the water container of the toilet, therefore air is allowed to pass from the water tank of the toilet to the inside of the chemical dilution container 5, however water is not allowed to pass from the water tank of the toilet to the inside of the chemical dilution container 5. The chemical dilution container 5 can be made from glass, porcelain, or any suitable material of high specific gravity. If the chemical dilution container 5 is molded from plastics, it must be fixedly secured to the inside of the water tank by pins, screw bolts, or suitable fastening means. The top opening 60 of the control chamber 6 is for permitting water to pass between the water container of the toilet and the chemical dilution container 5.The elevation of the top opening 60 is equal to the lowest water level of the chemical dilution container 5. Therefore, the installation of the control chamber 6 controls the lowest water level of the chemical dilution container 5. The control chamber 6 can be an independent chamber inside the chemical dilution container 5 and connected to the outside of the chemical dilution container 5 by a water tube. The syphon tube assembly 7 comprises a syphon holder 70, an inner tube 71, and an outer tube 72. The syphon holder 70 is an angle board fixedly secured to the inside of the chemical dilution container 5 at the bottom near the border, defining a bottom space 70a. The bottom space 70a is separated from the inside space of the chemical dilution container 5, but disposed in communication with the control chamber 6.The inner tube 71 has a bottom open end fastened to the syphon holder 70 and connected to the bottom space 70a, and an a top open end suspended above the syphon holder 70. The outer tube 72 is mounted around the inner tube 71, having a top close end spaced from the top open end of the inner tube 71 by a gap, and a bottom open end supported on three L-shaped blocks 73, which are mounted on the syphon holder 70 around the inner tube 71.

A drip chamber 52 is defined inside the chemical dilution container 5 near to the lifting cap 50, having a plurality of drip holes 52. A chemical compound M is put in the chemical dilution container 5. When in use, the lifting cap 50 is opened, and water is filled into the chemical dilution container 5 until it flows out of the top opening 60 of the control chamber 6, then the chemical compound M is put in the chemical dilution container 5, and then the lifting cap 50 is closed, and then the chemical dispenser is mounted inside the water tank of the toilet.

Referring to Figures 8A, 8B, 8C, and 8D. When the chemical dispenser is put in the water tank T, little chemical dilution enters the syphon tube assembly 7 (see Figure 8A). When the flushing system is driven to draw water out of the water tank T, a small amount of chemical dilution is drawn from the chemical dilution container 5 to the water tank T through the top opening 60 of the control chamber 6. When the water lever of the water tank T drops below the elevation of the top opening 60 of the control chamber 6 (see Figure 8B), a big amount of chemical dilution is drawn quickly through the outer tube 72 and the inner tube 71 to the water tank T via the control chamber 6 and then carried to the bowl. When chemical dilution is drawn away from the water tank T, fresh water is guided into the water tank T again.As soon as the water level of the water tank T surpasses the elevation of the top opening 60 of the control chamber 6, chemical dilution is stopped from passing out of the chemical dilution chamber (see Figure 8C). At this stage, the chemical dilution exists in the lower end of the chemical dilution container 5, the syphon tube assembly 7, and the control chamber 6; water drops through the drip holes 52a onto the chemical compound M to dissolve its outer layer. When the water level of the water tank T is continuously increased, water is forced by water pressure to pass from the top opening 60 of the control chamber 6 through the inner tube 72 and the outer tube 71 into the inside of the chemical dilution container 5 (see Figure 8D).

The invention is naturally not limited in any sense to the particular features specified in the forgoing or to the details of the particular embodiment which has been chosen in order to illustrate the invention.

Consideration can be given to all kinds of variants of the particular embodiment which has been described by way of example and of its constituent elements without thereby departing from the scope of the invention. This invention accordingly includes all the means constituting technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A chemical dispenser comprising: a container mounted inside the water tank of a toilet, said container comprising a main chamber, which holds a chemical compound, a side chamber in communication with said main chamber at one side, transverse water outlet on said side chamber near a bottom end thereof, a first upright partition board inside said side chamber, a second upright partition board between said main chamber and said side chamber, and a plurality of longitudinal ribs raised from the inside of said main chamber; a flow guide mounted inside said main chamber and supported on said longitudinal ribs, having a plurality of radial sloping grooves radially spaced around the border for guiding water into said main chamber;; a cover shell covered on said container, said cover shell comprising a coupling flange around the border at a bottom side fastened to the topmost edge of the periphery of said container, a top opening on a top wall thereof for guiding water from the water tank of the toilet to said main chamber and said side chamber, a water chamber at one side aligned with said side, and a downward projecting board inserted into the space between said first upright partition board and said second upright partition board, said water chamber having a plurality of small drip holes for dripping of water from said water chamber to said side chamber; and a float put in said container above said flow guide; whereby when water is drawn away from the water tank of the toilet, a syphon action is produced to draw chemical dilution from said container to the water tank of the toilet through said transverse water outlet.

2. The chemical dispenser as claimed in claim 1 further comprises a weight mounted in said container to hold the chemical dispenser in place when the chemical dispenser is installed in the water tank of the toilet.

3. The chemical dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the top wall of said container is a dome having a center opening.

4. A chemical dispenser comprising: a chemical dilution container defining a chemical dilution chamber, which holds a chemical compound; a control chamber having a water access hole; and a syphon tube assembly having one end connected to said control chamber, and an opposite end connected to the chemical dilution chamber of said chemical dilution container at a higher elevation than the water access hole of said control chamber.

5. The chemical dispenser as claimed in claim 4 wherein said control chamber is mounted outside said chemical dilution container.

6. The chemical dispenser as claimed in claim 4 wherein said syphon tube assembly is mounted on a syphon holder installed inside said chemical dilution container, said syphon holder defining a space separated from the chemical dilution chamber of said chemical dilution container and communicating with said control chamber.

7. The chemical dispenser as claimed in claim 4 wherein said syphon tube assembly comprises an inner tube having a bottom open end connected to said control chamber and a top open end suspended in the chemical dilution chamber of said chemical dilution container, and an outer tube covered around said inner tube, said outer tube having a top close end spaced from the top open end of said inner tube by a gap, and a bottom open end suspended inside the chemical dilution chamber of said chemical dilution container.

8. The chemical dispenser as claimed in claim 4 wherein said chemical dilution container further comprises a drip chamber suspended above said chemical dilution chamber, said drip chamber having a plurality of small water drip holes.