GB2516834A

GB2516834A - Dispensing device

Info

Publication number: GB2516834A
Application number: GB1313668.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew James Ruddock
Original assignee: JANE CHRISTINE RUDDOCK
Current assignee: JANE CHRISTINE RUDDOCK
Priority date: 2013-07-31
Filing date: 2013-07-31
Publication date: 2015-02-11
Also published as: GB201313668D0

Abstract

This invention relates to a dispensing device 1 for holding a chemical block 18 for mounting in a toilet bowl or urinal. The dispensing device comprises a main body 2 for retaining the chemical block. A hanger 4 extends from the main body, and has an elongate stem 6 with securing means in the form of a hook 8 for securing the dispensing device to a rim of the toilet bowl. The stem extends between the securing means and the main body, and may be adjustable in length. The device main body has a suction cup 32 for attaching the dispensing device to an internal surface of the toilet bowl. A later embodiment relates to a method of installing the dispensing device.

Description

Dispensing Device

BACKGROUND

a. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a dispensing device for holding a chemical block for mounting in a toilet bowl or urinal.

b. Related Art It is well known to provide a dispensing device for a chemical block that is mounted under a rim of a toilet bowl. These dispensing devices comprise a main body for containing the chemical block and a hanger that is attachable to the rim.

The dispensing devices are designed such that the main body is suspended from the rim by the hanger and is located just below the rim of the toilet bowl.

As a toilet is flushed the water passes through the cage-like main body of the dispensing device and contacts the chemical block. The composition of the chemical block is such that it slowly dissolves, releasing active ingredients such as disinfectants and deoderisers.

To work effectively, the dispensing devices must be suspended close to and just below the rim of the toilet bowl so that the water passes over and through the main body of the device when the toilet is flushed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved dispensing device for mounting in a toilet bowl.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a dispensing device for a chemical block for mounting in a toilet bowl or urinal, the dispensing device comprising: -a main body for retaining said chemical block; -a hanger extending from the main body, the hanger comprising an elongate stem and securing means for securing the dispensing device to a rim of the toilet bowl or urinal, the stem extending between the securing means and the main body; and -attachment means for attaching the dispensing device to an internal surface of the toilet bowl or urinal, the attachment means being provided on the main body.

Preferably the length of the stem between the main body and the securing means is adjustable. In this way the position of the main body relative to the rim of the toilet may be varied.

Preferably the stem is slidably connected to the main body. The stem may be slidable between discrete points along the length of the stem.

Preferably a plurality of detents is provided on the stem for engagement with a part of the main body.

To simplify the manufacture of the dispensing device, the securing means is preferably integrally formed with the stem.

In preferred embodiments the attachment means comprises a suction cup.

Preferably the main body comprises a cover having a plurality of apertures, and a mounting post to which the chemical block is secured in use.

Preferably, in embodiments in which the attachment means comprises a suction cup, the suction cup is attached to an end of the mounting post. In this way the suction cup retains the chemical block on the mounting post According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of installing a dispensing device in a toilet, the dispensing device being according to the first aspect of the present invention, and the method comprising the steps of: -inserting a chemical block into the main body; -securing the device to a rim of the toilet bowl using the securing means; and -attaching the main body of the device to an internal surface of the toilet bowl using the attachment means.

Preferably the length of the stem between the main body and the securing means is adjustable, and the method comprises adjusting the distance between the main body and the securing means so that the main body is at a desired distance from the rim of the toilet bowl, before attaching the main body of the device to the toilet bowl using the attaching means.

Preferably the attachment means comprises a suction cup, and the method comprises drying a part of the internal surface of the toilet bowl to which the suction cup will be attached, and pressing the suction cup onto said dried surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be further described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from the front of a dispensing device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view from the rear of the dispensing device of Figure 1;and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the dispensing device of Figure 1 along a central longitudinal axis of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figures 1 to 3 show a preferred embodiment of a dispensing device 1 of the present invention.

The dispensing device 1 comprises a main body 2 and a hanger 4. The hanger 4 comprises an elongate stem 6 and securing means 8 at a first end 10 of the stem 6. In this embodiment the stem 6 and the securing means 8 are integrally formed from a strip of plastics material.

The securing means 8 comprises a hook or clip portion 12 that is designed to secure over and around a rim of a toilet bowl or urinal (not shown). Clip portions 12 such as that illustrated in this embodiment are well known to persons of skill in the art. Securing the clip portion 12 over the rim allows the dispensing device ito be suspended from the rim within the toilet bowl or urinal.

The stem 6 has a front surface 7 and a rear surface 9. The stem 6 is slidably connected to the main body 2. In this way, the length of the stem 6 extending between the main body 2 and the securing means 8 may be varied. This allows the main body 2 to be located at different distances from the clip portion 12 when the clip portion 12 is secured over the rim of the toilet, thereby allowing the main body 2 to be positioned at a required distance above the water line in the toilet bowl, as described further below.

The main body 2 includes a cover 14 and a mounting post 16. The cover 14 is generally teardrop shaped having a wider portion 19 defining an internal volume or receptacle for receiving the chemical block 18, indicated by a dashed outline in Figure 3, and a narrower portion 20 to which the hanger 4 is connected. The cover 14 is a single piece and includes a side wall 22 and a curved, front face 24.

The free edge 23 of the side wall 22 defines an open rear face of the cover 14.

Substantially the whole of the rear face of the cover 14 is open such that the cover 14 forms a bowl-like receptacle.

The mounting post 16 extends from an internal surface 26 of the front face 24 towards the rear of the main body 2. In this example the post 16 extends substantially perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis 28 of the dispensing device 1.

In use a chemical block is pressed onto this post 16 so that the block is retained within the internal volume of the cover 14.

The dispensing device 1 also comprises attachment means 30 for attaching the device 1 to an internal surface of the toilet bowl. In this embodiment the attachment means 30 comprises a suction cup 32, shown most clearly in Figure 3.

The suction cup 32 is attached to the free end 34 of the mounting post 16.

The suction cup 32 comprises a substantially conical mounting portion 36, a stem 38 extending centrally from a rear surface 40 of the mounting portion 36, and a removal tab 42 extending from a part of the circumferential edge 44 of the mounting portion 36. The stem 38 is tubular and an internal diameter of the stem 38 is sized such that there is a push fit of the stem 38 over the free end 34 of the mounting post 16 to secure the suction cup to the main body 2.

The front face 24 of the cover 14 includes apertures 46 that enable water, or other liquids, to flow through the cover and onto the chemical block during use of the dispensing device 1.

Proximate an end 48 of the narrower portion 20 of the cover 14 retaining rails 50 span across the width of the cover 14, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 28. In this embodiment two rear rails 50a are located in the same plane as the free edge 23 of the cover 14, and the two rear rails 50a are spaced apart along the longitudinal axis 28 of the device 1. A third, front rail 50b is positioned between the two rear rails 50a in a direction along the longitudinal axis, and is spaced apart from the two rear rails 50a in a direction towards the front face 24 of the cover 14.

As such a gap is defined between the rear rails 50a and the front rail 50b, through which the elongate stem 6 of the hanger 4 extends.

A plurality of detents 52 project from the rear surface 9 of the stem 6. The detents 52 are spaced apart along the length of the stem 6. In this embodiment the detents 52 are raised features formed as part of the moulding of the plastics hanger 4. The dimensions of the elongate stem 6 and detents 52 are such that as the stem 6 is drawn through the gap between the rails 50a, 50b, the detents catch on the rear rails 50a so that a greater force is required to pull the stem 6 through the gap past each of the detents 52. As such, in use, the stem 6 may be drawn through the gap until a chosen one of the detents 52 contacts one of the rails 50a.

The distance between the main body 2 and the securing means 8 is then fixed by the engagement of the detent 52 with the rail 50a.

A projection or barb 54 extends from a second end 56 of the stem 6, as shown in Figure 2. This projection 54 preferably prevents the hanger 4 being fully withdrawn and separated from the main body 2 as the projection 54 is unable to pass through the gap between the rails 50a, SOb. In other embodiments the projection may have a generally triangular or tapered shape such that the hanger 4 can be easily inserted between the rails 50a, 50b in a first direction to assemble the dispensing device 1, but cannot be easily withdrawn from the main body 2 in a second, opposite direction.

In use, the suction cup 32 is removed from the end 34 of the post 16 and a chemical block 18 is pressed onto the post 16. The suction cup 32 is then re-attached by pressing the stem 38 of the suction cup 32 over the end 34 of the post 16. In this way the attachment means 30 is arranged to retain the chemical block 18 in the main body 2 of the device 1.

To mount the dispensing device 1 in a toilet, the clip portion 12 of the hanger 4 is pressed over a rim of the toilet bowl such that the main body 2 of the device 1 is suspended within the toilet bowl. Preferably the securing means 8 is clipped over a front pad of the rim of the toilet bowl.

The length of the stem 6 of the hanger 4 between the securing means 8 and the main body 2 is then adjusted so that the main body 2 of the device 1 is positioned at a desired distance above the water line in the toilet. This is achieved by sliding the main body 2 along the stem 6 of the hanger 4 until the required detent 52 engages a rail 50a. Preferably the distance above the water line is about 20 mm.

The attachment means 30 is then used to secure the main body 2 of the device 1 to the internal surface of the toilet bowl in the required position. In a preferred embodiment, in which the attachment means comprises a suction cup 32, at least a part of the internal surface of the toilet bowl is dried at the location of the attachment means 30 to enable the suction cup 32 to be secured to the dried surface.

The dispensing device 1 is preferably used to hold a chemical block comprising surfactants. Preferably the chemical block comprises a disinfectant, a limescale remover and/or a perfume.

The dispensing device 1, together with a suitable chemical block, may be used to save water, by reducing the need to flush the toilet. Once the dispensing device 1 has been installed as described above, the toilet should be used as normal for about two days. In this time, as the toilet is flushed, the water passes through the apertures 46 in the cover 14 and softens the chemical block so that the block starts to release its active ingredients.

After these initial two days it is possible to use the toilet, for urine, without needing to flush afterwards, because the chemical block continues to release active ingredients that neutralise the urine. In addition, specifically passing urine over and through the device, during use, keeps the chemical block wet and allows it to work most effectively. In general, however, it will still be necessary to flush after a few uses to fully remove the urine and to ensure that the chemical block remains wet.

The present invention, therefore, provides an improved dispensing device for mounting in a toilet bowl that is able to retain a chemical block in a desired location relative to the rim of the toilet bowl and relative to a water line in the toilet bowl.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A dispensing device for a chemical block for mounting in a toilet bowl or urinal, the dispensing device comprising: -a main body for retaining said chemical block; -a hanger extending from the main body, the hanger comprising an elongate stem and securing means for securing the dispensing device to a rim of the toilet bowl or urinal, the stem extending between the securing means and the main body; and -attachment means for attaching the dispensing device to an internal surface of the toilet bowl or urinal, the attachment means being provided on the main body.
2. A dispensing device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the length of the stem between the main body and the securing means is adjustable.
3. A dispensing device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the stem is slidably connected to the main body.
4. A dispensing device as claimed in Claim 3, wherein a plurality of detents is provided on the stem for engagement with a pad of the main body.
5. A dispensing device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the securing means is integrally formed with the stem.
6. A dispensing device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the attachment means comprises a suction cup.
7. A dispensing device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the main body comprises: -a cover having a plurality of apertures; and -a mounting post to which the chemical block is secured in use.
8. A dispensing device as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the attachment means comprises a suction cup and the suction cup is attached to an end of the mounting post.
9. A method of installing a dispensing device in a toilet, the dispensing device being as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 8, and the method comprising the steps of: -inserting a chemical block into the main body; -securing the device to a rim of the toilet bowl using the securing means; and -attaching the main body of the device to an internal surface of the toilet bowl using the attachment means.
10. A method as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the length of the stem between the main body and the securing means is adjustable, and the method comprises adjusting the distance between the main body and the securing means so that the main body is at a desired distance from the rim of the toilet bowl, before attaching the main body of the device to the toilet bowl using the attaching means.
11. A method as claimed in Claim 9 or Claim 10, wherein the attachment means comprises a suction cup, and the method comprises: -drying a part of the internal surface of the toilet bowl to which the suction cup will be attached; and -pressing the suction cup onto said dried surface.
12. A dispensing device substantially as herein described with reference to or as shown in the accompanying drawings.
13. A method of installing a dispensing device in a toilet substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.