WO1992018727A1

WO1992018727A1 - Container for disinfectants and/or detergents for disinfection and/or cleaning of bathing plants

Info

Publication number: WO1992018727A1
Application number: PCT/SE1992/000248
Authority: WO
Inventors: Björn Georg FRÄNNINGE
Original assignee: Fraenninge Bjoern Georg
Priority date: 1991-04-18
Filing date: 1992-04-15
Publication date: 1992-10-29
Also published as: SE9101163L; SE9101163D0

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container for disinfectants and/or detergents for disinfection and/or cleaning of infected and/or fouled parts of bathing plants (2). In order to permit quick connection without problems of the container (1) when its content (22) shall be withdrawn or discharged and fed to parts of the bathing plant (2) for treatment thereof, and in order to exclude by simple means any unauthorized influence on the content (22) in the container (1), said container (1) can be connected to a withdrawal device (21) forming part of the bathing plant (2) for withdrawing or discharging the content (22) in said container and the container is furthermore designed such that it must be broken up to provide at least one opening (37) adapted to facilitate and/or permit withdrawal or discharge the content therein into the withdrawal device (21), whereby the broken up opening (37) indicates that the container (1) has been used and/or refilling thereof is prevented.

Description

Container for disinfectants and/or detergents for disinfection and/or cleaning of bathing plants.

The present invention relates to a container for disinfectants and/or detergents for disinfection and/or cleaning of infected and/or fouled parts of bathing plants, preferably of the whirlpool type having a pipe system through which jets of water and/or air are supplied to the bath water for generating whirls therein and which pipe system is disinfected and/or cleaned by means of the disinfectant and/or detergent.

Prior art containers of said type are normally filled by pouring the disinfectant and/or detergent into the container by hand from a filler can or the like. Hereby, there is an obvious risk for spilling and thus, cause erosive damages and/or incur oneself to unhealthy gases. There is also a risk for damages if someone not permitted opens the filler can, especially if said can is not handled with care.

Furthermore, there is a risk that the content in the container is not the correct content; that someone has replaced the content or diluted it or completely or partially replaced it with other agents which are cheaper but less effective.

From US,A, 3 552 568 it is previously known to sealingly connect a gas container containing chlorine gas under pressure, to the water system at a pool for chlorinating the water in the pool. Ψhen connecting the gas container, said container is punctured and the gas flows out into the water due to the pressure in the container.

This gas container is not adapted for disinfectants and/or detergents for disinfection and/or cleaning of fouled parts of a bathing plant. Since the gas in said gas container will flow out when the container is opened, there are no possibilities to manipulate the content of the container.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate said problem and provide a container at which there is no risk of coming in contact with the content before and during connection of the container to a fouled part of the bathing plant and there are no possibilities to manipulate the content without it being noticed. This is arrived at while the container has obtained the characterizing features of claim 1.

While the container has obtained said characterizing features, it can be connected without risk such that it communicates with those parts of the bathing plant which shall be cleaned and it is ensured that one at another location than the output or tapping point can see that the container is broken in a not permitted manner.

The invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through a container according to the invention, which container is located in a space in a bathing plant;

fig. 2 illustrates the container according to the invention in the same position as in fig. 1 and with a cap provided thereon;

fig. 3 shows the container according to the invention when said container is in an emptying position in the space and when said cap is in a position wherein it closes the space;

fig. 4 is a partial section through the container and cap of fig. 3;

fig. 5 illustrates the cap of fig. 3 and 4 with a plan view from below and with a lock device set in a release position; and

fig. 6 corresponds with fig. 5 but illustrates the lock device set in a lock position.

The container 1 illustrated in the drawings is adapted for disinfectants and/or detergents for disinfection and/or cleaning of infected and/or fouled parts of bathing plants 2 and preferably those part≤ thereof infected and/or fouled by used bath water.

The bathing plant 2 can be of the whirlpool type 3 with a pipe system 4 including nozzles (not shown) in the wall of the bath tub, through which nozzles jets of water and/or air are discharged or fed to generate "whirls" in the bath water. This type of whirlpool is known from EP, B1, 0 252 435 and it includes a water conduit 5 which is connected to the fresh-water system (e.g. the tapwater system) and which is adapted to feed fresh water to the pipe system 4. The water conduit 5 ends in a distributing valve 6 which distributes water fed through the water conduit 5 to various parts of the pipe system 4.

The disinfectant in the container 1 can be iodine, chlorine or of another suitable type and of the required concentration for effective disinfection of infected parts of the bathing plant 2. The detergent can eventually be used separately if it is sufficient with cleaning only without disinfection and the concentration of the detergent is selected in view of the degree of fouling and how long the detergent may affect the fouled part. Eventually, a suitable mixture of disinfectant and detergent can be used if this is considered desirable.

At the embodiment shown, the upper side 7 of the whirlpool 3 has a hole 8. A sleeve 9 is preferably thread through the hole 8 and the collar 10 of said sleeve engages the upper side 7 from above. The sleeve 9 has outer threads and anothejr sleeve 11 with inner threads is screwed thereon from below, whereby said other sleeve 11 also has a collar 12 which is adapted to engage the upper side 7 from below. By screwing together these sleeves 9, 11, they are attached to the upper side 7 with stability. Down below the sleeve 11 is provided with an inwardly directed edge 13 and the sleeves 9, 11 have such dimensions that a longitudinal sleeve 14 with an outwardly directed edge 15 can be let down therethrough until it through its outwardly directed edge 15 hangs on the inwardly directed edge 13 of the sleeve 11.

The longitudinal sleeve 14 comprises a cylindrical portion 16 which down below transforms into a downwardly tapering portion 17. This is in turn transformed into a thin. downwardly directed cylindrical portion 18, which down below is closed by an end wall 19 which preferably has a drainage opening 20.

A withdrawal device 21 for withdrawing or removing the content 22 from the container 1 and feed the removed content to the pipe system 4 or members connected thereto, preferably comprises a tubular coupling and withdrawal means 23 which protrudes into the cylindrical portion 18 of the sleeve 14 and which is preferably directed vertically and located in said cylindrical portion 18. The coupling and withdrawal means 23 may preferably extend through the end wall 19, be connected thereto and include a member positioned beneath said end wall, onto which member a hose 24 is threaded. This hose 24 forms part of the withdrawal device 21 and it is preferably connected to a pump aggregate 25 which preferably also forms part of said withdrawal device. The withdrawal device 21 preferably also comprises a connecting conduit 26 and a check valve 27, which conduit 26 is adapted to connect the pump aggregate 26 to the distributing valve 6 while the check valve 27 is adapted to prevent flow from said distributing valve 6 into the withdrawal device 21.

Down below in the sleeve 14 there is provided a return means 28 which is adapted to return or reset a container 1 placed in the sleeve 14. The return means 28 is preferably formed as a helical spring 29 which is mounted on the wall 19 and extends upwards along the tubular coupling and withdrawal means 23 some distance into the tapering portion 17 of the sleeve 14. The helical spring 29 preferably also guides the container 1 to its desired position relative to the coupling and withdrawal means 23.

The container 1 is formed such that it can be brought down into the space 30 defined by the longitudinal sleeve 14. For that purpose, the container 1 comprises a longitudinal. cylindrical portion 31, the outer diameter of which is somewhat less than the inner diameter of the sleeve 14. The cylindrical portion 31 is at one end closed by a wall 32 and it transforms at the other end into a tapering portion 33, which at its outer end includes a coupling and withdrawal portion 34 which is adapted to permit connection of the container 1 to the withdrawal device 21 and through which the content 22 of the container 1 can be discharged. At the embodiment shown, the coupling and withdrawal portion 34 includes a valve body 35 which preferably has the shape of a diaphragm and which preferably consists of reclosing material.

The wall 32 of the container 1 has an increase portion directed into said container and preferably consisting of or including a weakened portion wherein at least one opening 37 can be broken up for letting air from above into the container 1 when said container is emptied. The increase portion 36 is formed such that residuals of the content 22 of the container 1, remaining in said container 1 because the tubular coupling and withdrawal means 23 protrudes somewhat into the container 1 when said container is emptied, can not flow out through the opening 37 when the container is turned upside down after emptying thereof.

The container 1 can be brought to its emptying or discharge position in the space 30 by means of a cap 38 which is also adapted to break up the wall 32 and retain the container in its discharge position. The cap 38 comprises a sleeve like portion 39 which fits with the cylindrical portion 16 of the container 1 such that said cap 38 can be placed thereon at the wall 32. The cap 38 further comprises a break-up device 40 for breaking up the opening 37 in the wall 32. This break-up device 40 preferably comprises a plate 41 and at least one point 42 protruding therefrom, said point being able also to protrude into the increase portion 36 for breaking up the opening 37 therein.

The cap 38 also has a lock means 43 with two lock tongues 44 and 45 which are insertable from their lock positions against the action of resilient resetting portions 46, 47 of said lock means 43. When the sleeve like portion 39 of the cap 38 is moved down into the sleeve 9, the lock ton gues 44, 45 can spring inwards and are thereafter brought to once again spring outwards after having passed an inwardly protruding portion of the collar 10 of the sleeve 9. Thus, the cap is locked to the sleeve 9 and one has to use a special key 48 to unlock the lock means 43. The key 48 is moved in between two jaws 49, 50 of the lock means and through turning, a separating portion 51 situated on the key 48 will separate the jaws 49, 50 and (see fig. 5) thereby withdraw the lock tongues 44, 45 such that the cap 38 is released from the sleeve 9. In order to ensure that the cap 38 is not rotated when turning the key, said cap includes at least one gear or tooth portion 52 which cooperates with a corresponding portion (not shown) on the sleeve 9.

The container 1 can be stored and transported in completely sealed condition such that its content 22 is not exposed to the surroundings. Additionally, it can not be opened unintentionally by screwing or tearing off a cap, a capsule or the like. When the content 22 of the container 1 shall be used, the space 30 in the bathing plant 2 is opened by removing the cap 38. Thereafter, the container 1 is turned upside down and moved into the space 30 until said container down below rests on the helical spring 29 (see fig. 1). Then, the cap 38 is placed on top of the container 1 (see fig. 2) and the container is pressed down into the space 30 by means of the cap 38 during compression of the helical spring 29.

When the container 1 is pressed down into the space 30, the tubular coupling and withdrawal means 23 will make a hole in the valve body 35 when this body reaches said means and by continuing pressing the container 1 downwards, the coupling and withdrawal means 23 will protrude somewhat into the container 1 and be sealingly connected thereto at the valve body 35. By this operation, the container 1 has been connected to the withdrawal device 21 completely without exposing the content 22 of the container to the surroundings before, during or after this connecting or coupling procedure and completely without the risk of spilling.

During compression of the helical spring 29 when pressing down the container 1 by means of the cap 38 and/or when the tapering portion 33 of the container abuts the tapering portion 17 of the longitudinal sleeve 14, the point 42 will break up the opening 37 in the increase portion 36. Hereby, an opening for air is provided on top of the container 1 while simultaneously connecting said container to the withdrawal device 21. By breaking up the container 1 in this manner, it is ensured that said breaking up does not cause spillage of the container content. By means of the broken up opening 37, it is also indicated that the container 1 has been used and/or prevented that the container is refilled.

When the container 1 is positioned in the space 30 in the sleeve 14 and said space locked from above by means of the cap 38, the container can be emptied by means of the withdrawal or discharge device 21, i.e. the content of the container can be distributed to the parts of the bathing plant 2 to be disinfected and/or cleaned. This distribution of the content 22 of the container 1 may occur with or without the pump aggregate 25.

For being able to indicate when the content 22 in the container 1 is almost used up without mounting any sensing means inside said container, an indicator device 53 is provided down below on the exterior of the sleeve 14, said indicator device indicating from the outside if the content 22 in the container 1 has sunk to a certain level. The indicator device 53 cooperates through lines 54 with a control device 55 in such a way that said control device generates control signals when said indicator device indicates that the content 22 in the container 1 has sunk to said level. The indicator signals can be fed via a line 56 to a light emitting diod 57 which preferably is provided in the sleeve 9 such that it is clearly seen from above and said light emitting diode 57 normally generates a green light but is transferred to generate a red light when the indicator device 53 indicates that the content 22 in the container has sunk to said level, whereby clear information is given that the container 1 is soon empty and need to be replaced by a new container. If the container is not replaced by a new container, the signal can transform into a flashing light and/or from a light to a sound signal. In combination herewith or as an alternative hereto, the control device 55 is able, via a line 58, to control the pump aggregate 25 to stop its operation such that said pump aggregate ceases to such content 22 from the container 1 and/ /or the control device 55 can control a valve which stops the flow through the conduits of the withdrawal device 21. If the container 1 is connected to a withdrawal or discharge device 21 at whirlpools 3, the control device 55 may e.g. in combination with said signals or as an alternative thereto, break the operation of the pump (not shown) generating the flow or water in the pipe system 4 of the whirlpool 3.

The indicator device 53 may, as indicator means, include one or more photocells 59 which are located on or close to the outside of the sleeve 14, whereby it is ensured that they are not damaged when the container 1 is moved down into or removed from the space 30.

Due to said shape or size of the container 1 and space 30, it is possible to connect only containers having shape and size adapted thereto, to the withdrawal device 21 and it is also required a special type of coupling and withdrawal portion 34 on the container 1 for said connection.

Since the space 30 can be locked by means of a special key 48, it is ensured that no unauthorized person has access to the container 1 when it is positioned in the space 30 and connected to the withdrawal device 21.

When the container 1 located in the space 30 is to be replaced by a new container 1, the lock means 43 of the cap 38 is opened by means of the key 48 and when the cap is released, the helical spring 29 will automatically move the container 1 somewhat upwards, whereby it slides out of engagement with the withdrawal device 21 and whereby it prot rudes upwards somewhat beyond the sleeve 9, such that it is easy to get hold of the container and pull it up. Since the valve body 35 consists of reclosing material, it is ensured that no residuals of the content 22 can flow out therethrough when the container is no longer in engagement with the withdrawal device 21.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and illustrated in the drawings, but may vary within the scope of the following claims. As examples of alternative embodiments one can mention that the container 1 and its content 22 can be used for treating other types of bathing plants than whirlpools and the content can be used for all kinds of interior but eventuelly also exteriour parts of bathing plants; the container 1 can have another shape than shown and be positionable in another space 30 than shown; the space 30 can be defined in a sleeve 14 which can be removed from its position for cleaning or replacement, but the space 30 can also be defined by other members than a sleeve 14; the withdrawal or discharge device 21 for withdrawing or discharging the content of the container 1 can be of another type than shown and it can be positioned in other ways; the container 1 can be visibly breakable in other ways, at other locations and for other purposes and it can be provided with sealing portions which must be broken visibly for being able to connect the container as required; the return or resetting means 28 can be of another type than a helical spring 29; the break-up device 40 can be of another type than shown and be located in other ways than on a cap 38; the indicator device 53 can be located and designed in other ways; the content 22 in the container can be of other types than described above and an alternative content 22 is e.g. acetic acid.

Claims

Claims :

1. Container for disinfectants and/or detergents for disinfection and/or cleaning of infected and/or fouled parts of bathing plants (2), preferably of the whirlpool type (3) having a pipe system (4) through which jets of water and/or air are supplied to the bath water for generating whirls therein and which pipe system (4) is disinfected and/or cleaned by means of the disinfectant and/or detergent in the container (1), c ha r a c t e r i z e d in

that the container (1) can be connected to such a withdrawal or discharge device (21) forming part of the bathing plant (2) which is adapted to permit withdrawal or discharge of the content (22) of said container and to guide the withdrawn material to those parts (4) of the bathing plant (2) which are to be disinfected and/or cleaned;

that the withdrawal device (21) includes a coupling and withdrawal means (23);

that the container (1) can be opened by the coupling and withdrawal means (23) and connected close thereto;

that a break-up device (40) is designed to break up the container (1) in such a way when said container is connected close to the coupling and withdrawal device (23) that air can flow into the container to permit withdrawal or discharge of its content (22) into the withdrawal device (21); and

that the break-up device (40) is designed to break up at least one such opening (37) in the container (1) that said opening indicates that the container (1) has been used and/or prevents refilling thereof.

2. Container according to claim 1, c ha r a c t e r i s e d in that said opening (37) can be broken up in such a wall (32) of the container (1) which is directed upwards when the container (1) down below is connected to the withdrawal device (21).

3. Container according to claim 1 or 2, cha r a c t e r i z e d i n that the break-up device (40) forms part of the bathing plant (2) and is preferably positionable on the container (1) when said container is moved down into a space (30) adapted therefor, for cooperation with the withdrawal device (21).

4. Container according to claim 3, c ha r a c t e r i z e d i n that the break-up device (40) is adapted to maintain the container (1) in connection with the withdrawal device (21) and that said break-up device (40) preferably forms part of a cap (38) which is adapted to close a space (30) in or at the bathing plant (2) when the container (1) is situated in said space (30) and connected to the withdrawal device (21).

5. Container according to any preceding claim, c ha r a c t e r i z e d i n that the coupling and withdrawal portion (34) of the container (1) comprises a valve body (35) and that the coupling and withdrawal means (23) of the withdrawal device (21) is tubular and can be brought to protrude into the interior of the container (1) via said valve body (35).

6. Container according to claim 5, c ha r a c t e r i z e d i n that the container can be moved down into a space (30) with the valve body (35) of the coupling and withdrawal portion (34) directed downwards until the coupling and withdrawal means (23) of the withdrawal device (21) protrudes into the container (1) via the valve body (35).

7. Container according to any preceding claim, c ha r a c t e r i z e d i n that the container (1) in closed condition can be moved down into a space (30) with a coupling and withdrawal portion (34) directed downwards until the coupling and withdrawal means (23) of the withdrawal device (21) protrudes into said container (1).

8. Container according to any preceding claim, c ha r a c t e r i z e d i n that the container (1) comprises a tapering portion (33) including the coupling and withdrawal portion (34) thereof and that said container is designed to be moved, with its tapering portion (33) direc ted downwards, down into a downwardly tapering space (30) in or at the bathing plant (2) until an in said space upwardly directed coupling and withdrawal means (23) of the withdrawal device (21) protrudes into the container (1) and with sealing protrudes through a valve body (35) forming part of the coupling and withdrawal portion (34) of said container.

9. Container according to any preceding claim, c ha r a c t e r i z e d i n that the container (1) cooperates with a return or resetting means (28), e.g. a helical spring (29), which is tightened when said container is moved into a space (30) and in engagement with the coupling and withdrawal means (23) of the withdrawal device (21), that the container (1) can be locked in a position in the space (30) when it is in engagement with the coupling and withdrawal means (23) and that the return means (28) is provided to move the container (1) somewhat out of the space (30) when said container is released from its locked position.

10. Container according to any preceding claim,

c ha ra c t e r i z e d in that the container (1), in order to be opened with and connected to the withdrawal device (21), is positionable in a sleeve (14) which is upwards removably provided in or at the bathing plant (2) and that preferably a drainage opening (20) is provided at the bottom of said sleeve (14).

11. Container according to any preceding claim,

cha ra c t e r i z e d in that the container (1) can be located in a space (30) for being opened with and connected to the withdrawal device (21) such that said space can be closed by means of a cap (38) which is adapted to keep the container (1) in engagement with said withdrawal device (21) and which can be locked for preventing unauthorized access to said space (30).

12. Container according to any preceding claim,

cha r a c t e r i z e d i n that the container (1) is designed to be located relative to an indicator device (53) such that said indicator device, when said container is connected to a withdrawal device (21) for withdrawal or discharge of its content (22), from the outside indicates if the content (22) in the container (1) has decreased to a certain level, whereby the indicator device (53) cooperates with a control device (55) which is activated to generate indicator signals if said indicator device indicates that the content (22) in the container (1) has decreased to said level.

13. Container according to claim 12, c ha r a c t e ¬r i z e d i n that the indicator device (53) generates indicator signals in the form of light and/or sound signals and/or stop signals which break or stop the flow through the withdrawal device (21) and/or the operation of a pump aggregate (25) which sucks the content (22) in the container (1) into said withdrawal device (21) and/or the operation of the bathing plant (2) or members thereof.

14. Container according to claim 12 or 13, c ha r a c t e r i z e d i n that the indicator device (53) as indicating means comprises one or more photocells (59) which is or are provided on the outside of a space (30) wherein the container (1) can be placed for connection to the withdrawal device (21).

15. Container according to any preceding claim, c ha r a c t e r i z e d i n that the container (1) in completely sealed condition can be stored and transported and in this condition movable into engagement with a withdrawal device (21) forming part of the bathing plant

(2).

16. Container according to any preceding claim, c ha r a c t e r i z e d i n that the withdrawal means (23) of the withdrawal device (21) is arranged such that the container (1) can be threaded thereon from above.

17. Container according to claim 15 or 16, c ha r a c t e r i z e d i n that the withdrawal device (21) comprises a pump aggregate (25) which is adapted to suck content from the container (1) through the coupling and withdrawal means (23) and to pump this content (22) into water which is fed to the bathing plant (2) and/or to pump said content (22) into water which is fed to other parts of said bathing plant (2) for treatment.

18. Container according to any preceding claim, cha r a c t e r i z e d i n that the container (1) comprises a tapering portion (17) wherein a coupling and withdrawal portion (34) is provided for connecting said container (1) to a withdrawal device (21) adapted for withdrawal or discharge of the content (22) in said container while simultaneously opening the container (1) by means of the withdrawal device (21) and that in or at the bathing plant (2) there is provided a space (30) into which the container (1) can be inserted for connection to and opening by means of said withdrawal device (21), which space (30) is designed such that the container (1) can be moved thereinto only if it has a tapering portion (33) as defined and also for the rest has a shape and/or size adapted to said space (30).

19. Container according to any preceding claim, cha ra c t e r i z e d i n that the container (1) comprises at least one increase portion (36) directed into said container and mounted on a wall (32) which can be broken up, said wall being directed upwards when the container (1) down below is connected to a withdrawal device (21) for withdrawal or discharge of the content (22) therein and that at least one opening (37) can be broken up in this increase portion (36) and which preferably is weakened for facilitating the breaking up.