WO1990002231A1

WO1990002231A1 - Toilet deodorizer device

Info

Publication number: WO1990002231A1
Application number: PCT/EP1989/000994
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joseph Gross; David Lifschitz
Original assignee: Joseph Gross; David Lifschitz
Priority date: 1988-08-30
Filing date: 1989-08-23
Publication date: 1990-03-08
Also published as: JPH03501988A; IL87612A0; AU4201089A; EP0387327A1

Abstract

A deodorizer device (10) is suspended over the side of the tank of a flushing toilet. The device (10) has a housing (12) supporting a cartridge of deodorizer material (22). The device contains a battery powered fan (32) and a water level sensor consisting of a pair of electrodes (146) which hang over the side of the tank and into the water. When the toilet is flushed the drop in water level is sensed and the fan (32) energized. This has the effect of vaporizing some of the deodorizer material (22).

Description

TOILET DEODORIZER DEVICE

The present invention relates to a toilet deodorizer device, and particularly to a device which includes a dispenser for dispensing deodorizable material in order to deodorize or mask the unpleasant odours in a toilet.

Many forms of toilet deodorizers have been proposed and are now in use. The conventional device is in the form of an aerosol can which produces a spray of the deodorizable material when manually actuated. It has also been proposed to include dispensers which are automatically actuated by the closing of the door in the toilet.

An object of the present invention is to provide a toilet deodorizer device which is automatically actuated but in response to the flushing of the toilet.

According to the present invention, there is provided a toilet deodorizer device comprising a housing adapted to receive a quantity of a deodorizer material; dispenser means actuatable to dispense deodorizer material from the housing; and a sensor sensing the flushing of the toilet for automatically actuating the dispenser means to dispense deodorizable material from the housing. Several embodiments of the invention are described below for purposes of example. In two described embodiments, the device includes attaching means for attaching the housing to the water tank of the toilet. In these described embodiments, the sensor comprises electrode means located on the housing so as to be immersed in the water at the upper part of the water tank when the water tank is full, and an electrical circuit effective to actuate the dispenser means when the water starts to recede in the water tank as a result of flushing the toilet. In these embodiments, the dispenser means includes an electrical motor which is energized to dispense the deodorizer material.

In one of the described embodiments, the electrical circuit also includes a timer which is actuated when the water is flushed, and which energizes the electrical motor for a predetermined time interval thereafter. In a second described embodiment, the refilling of the water tank is used as the timer, i.e., the electrical circuit energizes the electrical motor when the water level in the water tank drops below that of the electrode means, and deenergizes the electrical motor when the water level in the water tank rises to again immerse the electrode means during the refilling of the water tank. A further embodiment is described wherein the sensor comprises a microphone which senses sounds produced by the flushing of the water from the water tank, and an electrical circuit which actuates the dispenser means in response to the sensing of the sounds.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description below.

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 illustrates a toilet equipped with one form of toilet deodorizer device constructed in accordance with the present invention:

Fig. 2 is a sectional view illustrating the toilet and the deodorizer device of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view more particularly illustrating the construction of the toilet deodorizer device of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a. front plan view of the device illustrated in Fig. 3;

Figs. 5 and 6 are schematical diagrams illustrating two electrical circuits which may be used for controlling the dispenser means in the deodorizer device of Figs. 1-4; Fig. 7 illustrates a toilet equipped with a second form of deodorizer device constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figs. 8 and 9 are sectional and front views, respectively, more particularly illustrating the deodorizer device of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 10 is a schematical diagram illustrating the circuit controlling the dispenser means in the deodorizer device of Figs. 7-9.

With reference first to Fig. 1 , there is illustrated a toilet bowl 2 and a water tank 4 for containing the water to be used in flushing the toilet. The water tank further includes a flush lever 6 which is manually operated in order to flush the toilet, and a lid 8 which is removable in order to provide access into the interior of the water tank. The foregoing elements may be of conventional construction.

Fig. 1 also illustrates a toilet deodorizer device, generally designated 10, which is attached to the water tank 4 and which contains deodorizer material to be dispensed in order to deodorizer or mask unpleasant odours.

As shown particularly in Figs. 2-4, deodorizer device 10 comprises a housing 12 secured to a pair of metal blades 14, 16, of inverted-ϋ configuration, such that each blade includes a short leg (e.g., 14a, Fig. 3) secured to the back wall of housing 12 and a long leg (14b) spaced from and joined to the short leg by a web (14c). As shown particularly in Fig. 2, the two metal baldes 14, 16 are used for removably attaching housing 12 to the top of the water tank 4. Blades 14, 16, being of metal, are also used as electrodes for sensing the flushing of the toilet in order to cause the deodorizer device 10 to dispense deodorizer material.

As shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 4, housing 12 is of cylindrical configuration, including a cylindrical side wall 18, a circular back wall 20, and a front wall which is substantially open and which supports a cartridge 22 of deodorizer material. Cartridge 22 is also of cylindrical configuration, being supported by a cartridge holder 24 in the form of an annular flange centrally of the front wall and mounted to the housing side wall 18 by a plurality of radially-extending ribs 26. The front wall of housing 12 is thereby substantially open by the spaces 28 between the ribs 26.

Disposed within housing 12 is an electrically-driven fan 30, including an electrical motor M driving a plurality of blades 32 located within the housing in alignment with spaces 28 and the cartridge holder rib 24. When electrical motor M is energized, its blades 32 force air through spaces 28, and also through the cartridge 22 received within the cartridge holder 24, thereby dispensing deodorizer material from the cartridge.

Housing 12 further includes a compartment 32 for holding a battery 34, and a further compartment 36 for holding an electrical circuit 38 to control electrical motor M.

Fig. 5 illustrates one form of electrical circuit which may be used in the deodorizer device of Figs. 1-4. This electrical circuit includes an amplifier A controlling motor 19, via a manual switch- MS, two relays R.. , R_, and a timer T, in response to the flushing of the toilet.

Fig. 5 illustrates the initial condition of the electrical circuit, particularly the contacts of the relays R.. and R_, and of the timer T, e.g., when the device 10 is not yet attached to the water tank 4, and therefore, the two electrodes 14, 16 are not immersed in water. It will be seen that in this initial condition, even though the manual switch MS is closed, the two relays R., R~, the timer T, and the motor M are all not energized.

When the device is attached to the water tank 4, and the tank is full with water so that the two electrodes 14, 16 are immersed in the water within the tank, it will be seen that relay R.. is energized, causing it to close its contacts R.. and to open its contacts H_1b- Closing contacts R. energizes relay R-, and opening contacts R... further interrupts the circuit to timer T., so that the timer remains unenergized.

Energization of relay R_ closes its contacts R, , thereby establishing a holding circuit to that relay; it also closes its contacts R_, in the circuit to timer T, but the timer still remains unenergized because contacts R., are still open.

When flush lever 6 is actuated to flush the water from tank 4 into the toilet bowl 2, the water level WL, Fig. 2, within the tank immediately drops to expose the two electrodes 14, 16. This deenergizes relay R₁ , which thereby opens its contacts R-, and closes its contacts R_1t. Opening contacts R₁ does not deenergize relay R_ because of its own holding circuit established by contacts R __ca, but closing contacts R.I..D energizes the timer T because of the previous closing of contacts H_2b*

Energization of timer T opens its contacts T which thereby deenergizes relay R., and closes its contacts T, which thereby energizes motor M. Accordingly, in this time interval during which timer T is energized, motor M will rotate the fan blades 32 to force air through spaces 28 and also through the cartridge 22, thereby dispensing deodorizer material from the cartridge.

After a predetermined time interval, e.g., 1-5 minutes, preferably about 2 minutes, the time of timer T runs out, whereupon it opens its contacts T. , thereby deenergizing motor M, and closes its contacts T , thereby placing relay R, in condition for energization by relay R. during the next flushing of the toilet.

Fig. 6 illustrates another electrical circuit which may be used in the device 10 of Figs. 1-4. The circuit of Fig. 6 is considerably more simple than that of Fig. 5, since it uses the time of refilling the water tank 4 for energizing the motor M driving the blades 32.

The circuit illustrated in Fig. 6 thus includes an amplifier A which controls a single relay R, the latter relay including only a single pair of contacts R controlling the energization of motor M. Contacts R are normally in the illustrated closed position, when relay R is not energized, so that the manual switch MS should be in the illustrated open position in order to prevent the operation of the motor M when the device is not attached to the water tank.

When a device is attached to the water tank, and the water tank is full, electrodes 14, 16 are immersed in the water, closing manual switch MS immediately energizes relay R. Energization of relay R opens its contacts Rcl. so that the motor M remains unenergized. Now, after flush lever 6 has been actuated to flush the water, the water level within tank 4 drops below electrodes 14, 16, thereby deenergizing relay R. As soon as this occurs, its contacts R return to their normally-closed positions to energize motor M. As the tank begins to refill, electrodes 14, 16 are then again immersed in the water, thereby energizing relay R, to open its contacts Rcl, which denenergizes the motor M.

It will thus be seen that the motor M in the circuit illustrated in Fig. 6 is energized to dispense deodorizer material from cartridge 24 during the interval starting from the time the water level within tank 4 drops below the level of the two electrodes 14, 16, and ending with the time in which the water level again rises to immerse the two electrodes. The simplified system illustrated in Fig. 6 thus utilizes the time required by the tank to first empty and then to refill as a timer for energizing the motor M in order to dispense deodorizer material.

Figs. 7-10 illustrate a further embodiment of the invention including a toilet deodorizer device, generally designated 110, which uses a microphone in order to automatically dispense the deodorizer material. The mechanical structure of deodorizer device 110 may be similar to that of the deodorizer device 10 described in Figs. 1-4 except that it need not be attached to the water tank 104, but may merely rest on its upper lid 108. In- addition, deodorizer device 110 in Figs. 7-10 includes a microphone, generally designated 114 (Fig. 9), which is adapted to sense the sounds of the flushing water as it flows from the water tank 104 into the toilet bowl 102 and out through the discharge outlet of the toilet bowl, in order to actuate the device 110 to dispense deodorizer

_* material therefrom.

The internal construction of the housing 112 of deodorizer device 110 in Figs. 7-9 may be similar to that described above with respect to Figs. 1-4, including a holder 124 for the deodorizer cartridge 122, ribs 126 for supporting the cartridge holder centrally of the front wall of the housing, and fan blades 126, driven by the motor M and located in alignment with spaces 128 surrounding the cartridge holder 124. In this case, housing 112 is supported by a flat base 130 so as to rest stably on lid 108. The device illustrated in Figs. 7-9 further includes a compartment 132 for holding a battery 134, and a compartment 136 for holding the electrical circuit 138 to control motor M.

One form of electrical circuit is illustrated in Fig. 10. It includes the microphone 114, an amplifier A, and two timers T. , T_ for controlling the motor M. The circuit illustrated in Fig. 10 operates as follows:

Motor M is normally deenergized so that no deodorizer material is dispensed from the cartridge 122.

When the toilet is flushed, the sounds of the flushing water are picked up by microphone 114 and are amplified in amplifier A. Timer T-. disables the energizing circuit to electric motor M for a predetermined time interval, in order to assure that the senses sounds are indeed sounds emanating from the flushing of the toilet, and not from extraneous causes, such as from the closing of a door, or the dropping of a lid. When timer T₁ runs out, and if the sound persists, timer T- energizes timer T-,, which latter timer energizes motor M for dispensing deodorizer material from cartridge 122. After the elapse of a predetermined time interval, timer T_ deenergizes motor M, thereby terminating the dispensing of deodorizer material from the cartridge 122.

As one example, timer T- may be set for a predetermined time interval of 1-5 seconds, e.g., 2 seconds; whereas timer T_ may be set for a predetermined time interval of 1-5 minutes, e.g., 2 minutes.

While the invention has been described with respect to several preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many other variations, modifications and applications of the invention may be made.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A toilet deodorizer device, comprising: a housing adapted to receive a quantity of a deodorizer material; dispenser means actuatable to dispense deodorizer material from the housing; and a sensor sensing the flushing of the toilet for automatically actuating said dispenser means to dispense deodorizable material from the housing.

2. The device according to Claim 1, wherein the device includes attaching means for attaching the housing to the water tank of the toilet; and wherein said sensor comprises: electrode means located on the housing so as to be immersed in the water at the upper part of the water tank when the water tank is full, and an electrical circuit effective to actuate said dispenser means when the water starts to recede in the water tank as a result of flushing the toilet.

3. The device according to Claim 2, wherein said dispenser means includes an electrical motor which is energized to dispense the deodorizer material.

4. The device according to Claim 3, wherein said electrical circuit includes a timer which is actuated when the water is flushed, and which energizes the electrical motor for a predetermined time interval thereafter.

5. The device according to Calim 3, wherein said electrical circuit energizes the electrical motor when the water level in the water tank drops below that of the electrode means, and deenergizes the electrical motor when the water level in the water tank rises to immerse the electrode means during the refilling of the water tank.

6. The device according to any one of Claims 2-5, wherein said electrode means comprises a pair of electrodes spaced from a wall of the housing such as to enable the housing to be removably attached to the top of the water tank with the electrodes immersed in the water when the water tank is full of water.

7. The device according to Claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises a microphone which senses sounds produced by the flushing of the water from the water tank, and an electrical circuit which actuates said ϊ- dispenser means in response to the sensing of said sounds.

8. The device according to Claim 7, wherein said dispensing means includes an electrical motor which is energized to dispense the deodorizer material, and wherein said electrical circuit includes a first timer which energizes the electrical motor if the sounds sensed by the microphone persist for a predetermiend first time interval, and a second timer which deenergizes the electrical motor after the elapse of a second predetermined time interval from the time energized.

9. The device according to Claim 8, wherein said first predetermined time interval is 1-5 seconds, and said second predetermined time interval is 1-5 minutes.

10. The device according to any one of Claims 1-9, wherein said housing includes a holder for receiving a cartridge containing the deodorizer material, and said dispensing means comprises an electrically-driven fan which is energized to dispense said deodorizer material from the cartridge.

11. The device according to Claim 10, wherein said holder for the cartridge is located centrally of an end wall of the housing and is secured thereto by a plurality of ribs defining spaces around said cartridge holder, said electrically-driven fan being disposed within the housing in alignment with said spaces.

12. The device according to either of Claims 10 or 11, wherein said housing further includes.a battery holder for holding a battery to drive said fan.

13. A toilet deodorizer device substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in any of the accompanying drawings.