WO1996016235A1

WO1996016235A1 - Dispensing apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1996016235A1
Application number: PCT/AU1995/000772
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul Edward Hart
Original assignee: Paul Edward Hart
Priority date: 1994-11-23
Filing date: 1995-11-22
Publication date: 1996-05-30

Abstract

Dispensing apparatus (10) for dispensing a product into a reservoir including: support means (13) for supporting said product (15); and control means (12) responsive to the level of fluid in said reservoir for controlling the dispensing of said product (15).

Description

"DISPENSING APPARATUS"

This Invention relates to dispensing apparatus. This Invention has particular but not exclusive application to dispensing apparatus for dispensing toilet blue style cleansing agents and for Illustrative purposes reference will be made to such application. However It Is to be understood that this Invention could be used In other applications such as for dispensing nutrients to livestock or purifiers to water supplies. Toilet blue type cleansing agents are typically placed in either the toilet bowl or the cistern. The presently known cistern type dispensers are immersed all of the time while the cistern is full and dispense slowly into the cistern. Consequently the period of time between toilet flushes determines the amount of cleansing agent which enters the toilet bowl with each flush. Furthermore, because the dispenser is almost always immersed and therefore almost continually dispensing, excessive amounts of the cleansing agent enter the toilet bowl and are effectively wasted. The known toilet bowl mounted dispensers on the other hand are only immersed during the flush cycle and therefore generally dispense only a limited amount of cleansing agent. However such dispensers are unsightly and are also generally unpleasant to remove and replace. Furthermore they interfere with the flow of the water around the bowl and in some cases provide an environment for the growth of bacteria and the collection of dust and other undesirable elements. It will also be appreciated that such dispensers do not apply a cleansing agent to the water prior to it reaching the upper parts of the bowl. The present invention aims to alleviate at least one of the aforementioned disadvantages and to provide dispensing apparatus which will be reliable and efficient in use.

With the foregoing in view this invention in one aspect resides broadly in dispensing apparatus for dispensing a product into a reservoir including: support means for supporting said product; and control means responsive to the level of fluid in said reservoir for controlling the dispensing of said product. Preferably, the control means controls the position and/or attitude of the support means relative to the reservoir. It is also preferred that the control means be arranged to maintain the support means in a dispensing position and/or attitude for a pre-determlned period of time. Preferably such pre-determlned period of time is dependent on the rate of flow of fluid into the reservoir and may be varied by varying that rate of flow. However, the predetermined period of time may be dependent on other parameters such as the time taken for a weighting chamber to fill. Preferably the control means includes attachment means for attachment to a wall of the reservoir. It is also preferred that such attachment means be adjustable such that the apparatus may be utilised with different reservoirs and may be adjusted to account for different water levels in reservoirs.

Preferably the support means is adapted to support a product which is dispensed whilst in contact with the fluid contained in the reservoir. For example, the product may be a block which dissolves or mixes in part with the fluid whilst immersed or alternatively the product may be contained in a housing which allows discharge of the product whilst the support means is in a particular position. In order that this invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a pictorial representation of dispensing apparatus according to the invention in a non-dispensing attitude.

Fig. 2 is a pictorial representation of the apparatus of Fig. 1 in a dispensing attitude.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of an alternative dispensing apparatus according to the invention in a non-dispensing attitude.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the apparatus of Fig. 3 in a dispensing attitude.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the apparatus of Fig. 3 in the non-dispensing attitude.

Fig. 6 is a pictorial representation of another dispensing apparatus according to the invention. Fig. 7 is a pictorial representation of the float assembly of the apparatus of Fig. 6. Figs. 8(a) to 8(f) are a series of partial elevations illustrating the movement of the float assembly of the apparatus of Fig. 6 as the cistern empties and refills. The dispensing apparatus 10 illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 includes a float assembly 11 of generally duck shaped cross section which has a sealed chamber 12 forming the lower part of the duck for providing buoyancy and a dispensing chamber 13 forming the head portion of the duck. The dispensing chamber 13 has a slightly rearwardly facing opening 14 through which a cleansing agent block 15 can be placed in and removed from the chamber. The opening is positioned such that the cleansing block cannot escape from the chamber 13 during normal use and can be easily removed and replaced when the duck is in the non-dispensing (duck horizontal) attitude as shown in Fig. 1. Furthermore, the chamber 13 includes a plurality of slots 20 formed in the forward face thereof for allowing the passage of water into the chamber.

The float assembly is pivotly mounted between a pair of spaced apart brackets 17 by pivot pins 16 extending outwardly from the lower portion of the float assembly. The brackets extend from a hanger 18 having a hook member 21 which is hooked to the upper edge of the toilet cistern 19.

In use, a blue style cleansing agent block 15 or other suitable form of cleanser is placed in the chamber 13 through the opening 14. The block may be placed in the chamber before the apparatus is hung on the side wall of the toilet cistern or after if desired. When the cistern is at its maximum level the float assembly is in the "duck horizontal position" as illustrated in Fig. 1 and the dispensing chamber 13 is clear of the water. Upon flushing of the toilet the water level in the cistern falls relative to the float assembly and the float pivots about the pivot pins 16 to the duck vertical position illustrated in Fig. 2 wherein water can enter the chamber 13 through the slots 20. As the water level in the cistern rises the chamber 13 containing the cleansing block 15 becomes fully immersed dissolving some of the cleansing agent which then diffuses into the water. When the water level in the cistern reaches a level determined by the shape of the float assembly, its centre of gravity, its centre of buoyancy and the position of the pivot pins 16, the float assembly pivots about the pivot pins to the duck horizontal position wherein the chamber 13 rises clear of the water and the block 15 being clear of the water, ceases dispensing cleansing agent. As will be understood from Figs. 1 and 2, the duck remains in the duck vertical position until the water rises to a level at which the upward moment about the pivot pins 16 caused by the buoyancy forces is greater than the downward moment caused by the weight of the duck at which time the duck pivots to the duck horizontal position. The duck remains in the duck horizontal position until the reverse situation occurs as the water level falls. It will be appreciated that the block 15 is immersed for a period of time determined by the length of time required for the water level to rise sufficiently to move the float from the duck vertical position to the duck horizontal position. Consequently the dosage of cleansing agent to the cistern remains substantially constant irrespective of the cycle time of the toilet flushing (that is, the time between flushes).

The bracket 18 may be adapted to suit cisterns of varying depth and varying water level settings wherein the duck is in the duck horizontal position when the cistern is full and the cleansing block is clear of the water. For example a plurality of spaced hook members 21 may extend outwardly from the hanger plate 22 and be suitably scored for easy removal upon selection of the desired hook member or alternatively the hook member 21 may be slidably connected to the hanger plate 22.

The dispensing apparatus 30 illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 includes a frame assembly 31 for mounting to the side of a cistern and a float assembly 32 which is movable up and down relative to the frame assembly. The frame assembly includes two spaced apart side walls 33 and 34 each of which has two spaced apart slots 36 and 37 provided therein which guide the movement of the float assembly. The slot 37 includes a long vertical upper portion 37a and a short horizontal portion 37b extending from its lower end which connects to a short vertical portion 37c extending downwardly therefrom and substantially equal in length to the diameter of the pin 39 described hereinafter. The slot 36 includes a vertical upper portion 36a and a curved lower portion 36b which is described about a centre moving along the horizontal portion 37b and the vertical portion 37c. The curved portion terminates vertically below the vertical portion 37c.

The float assembly 32 comprises a buoyancy portion 41 and a holding portion 42 providing a chamber 43 for holding a block of cleansing agent such as block 15 described in relation to Fig. 1. A plurality of slots 44 extend about the chamber 43 through which water may enter to dissolve a portion of the cleansing block when immersed. Two slide/pivot pins 38 and 39 extend outwardly from the opposed side walls of the float assembly and slidingly engage in the slots 36 and 37 respectively.

In use the apparatus is mounted to a cistern in a manner similar to that described in relation to Fig. 1. When the reservoir is full the float assembly 32 floats such that the chamber 43 and the cleansing block contained therein are clear of the water. When the toilet is flushed the level of water in the cistern falls and the float assembly 32 slides down the slots 36 and 37. When the pin 39 reaches the lower end of the slot 37 the pin 38 travel down the curved portion 36b forcing the pivot pin 39 along the horizontal slot 37b and into the vertical slot 37c. This movement causes the float assembly to partially invert wherein the product chamber 43 moves to a position below the float portion 41. As the cistern refills the chamber 43 and the product contained therein become immersed in the water until the water level reaches a position wherein the buoyancy forces force the float assembly 32 to pivot about the pivot point 39 in the reverse direction and the product holding portion is pivoted out of the water in a reverse action to that previously described. The float assembly continues to rise with the rising water level and the chamber 43 remains out of the water until the toilet is next flushed. It will be appreciated that the chamber 43 and its cleansing block are immersed for a short period of time only whilst the float assembly is in the inverted attitude.

The dispensing apparatus illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8(a) to 8(f) operates in a manner similar to that described in relation to the apparatus of Figs. 3 to 5. The dispensing apparatus 50 illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8(a) to 8(f) includes a frame assembly 51 and a float assembly 52 mounted therein for movement up and down relative to the frame assembly. The frame assembly includes two spaced apart side walls 53 and 54 each of which has a slot 55 provided therein which guide the movement of the float assembly. The slot includes an upper vertical portion 55a and a lower vertical portion 55b which are connected to a substantially horizontal mid portion 55c by curved portions 55d and 55e respectively. The float assembly 52 comprises a buoyancy portion 61 and a holding portion 62 providing a chamber 63 for holding a block of cleansing agent such as block 15 described in relation to Fig. 1. A plurality of slots 64 extend about the chamber 63 through which water may enter to dissolve a portion of the cleansing block when immersed. A substantially rectangular slide/pivot pin 56 extends outwardly from each of the opposed side walls of the float assembly and slidingly engages in the slots 55 formed in the opposed side walls 54 respectively.

In use the apparatus is mounted to a cistern in a manner similar to that described in relation to Fig. 1 and Figs. 3, 4 and 5. When the reservoir is full the float assembly 52 floats such that the chamber 63 and the cleansing block contained therein are clear of the water. When the toilet is flushed the level of water in the cistern falls and the float assembly 52 slides down the slots 55. It will be seen that each pin 56 travels down the vertical portion 55a and around the curve portion 55d. Movement of the float assembly is almost interrupted as the pin travels into the horizontal portion 55c. Movement of the pin 56 along the next curved section 55e is in an almost reverse downward direction and causes a partial inversion of the float assembly such that the chamber 63 moves to a position below the float portion 61 as the float assembly travels down the curved section 55e and the lower vertical portion 55b. As the cistern refills the chamber 63 and the product contained therein become immersed in the water and remain immersed until the float assembly travels back up the curved portion 55e to the horizontal portion 55c wherein a partial reversion takes place and the float assembly travels back to the upper vertical portion 55a. At this stage the float assembly floats on the water and the chamber 63 remains out of the water until the toilet is next flushed. It will of course be realised that the above has been given only by way of illustrative example of the invention and that all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as is defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. Dispensing apparatus for dispensing a product into a reservoir including: support means for supporting said product; and control means responsive to the level of fluid in said reservoir for controlling the dispensing of said product.

2. Dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control means controls the position and/or attitude of the support means relative to the reservoir.

3. Dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control means is arranged to maintain the support means in a dispensing position and/or attitude for a pre-determlned period of time.

4. Dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pre-determlned period of time is dependent on the rate of flow of fluid into the reservoir.

5. Dispensing apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control means includes attachment means for attachment to a wall of the reservoir.

6. Dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the attachment means is adjustable.

7. Dispensing apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support means is adapted to support a product which is dispensed whilst in contact with the fluid contained in the reservoir.

8. Dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the product is a block which dissolves or mixes in part with the fluid whilst immersed.

9. Dispensing apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the control means includes a float and the support means includes a housing forming a dispensing chamber for supporting the product in or attached to said float.

10. Dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the float is of generally duck shaped cross section and has a sealed chamber forming the lower part of the duck for providing buoyancy and a dispensing chamber forming the head portion of the duck.

11. Dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the dispensing chamber has an opening through which a cleansing agent block can be placed in and removed from said dispensing chamber.

12. Dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the opening is positioned such that the cleansing block cannot escape from the dispensing chamber during normal use.

13. Dispensing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the float is pivotly mounted between a pair of spaced apart brackets by pivot pins extending from the lower portion of the float.

14. Dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the brackets extend from a hanger adapted for removable mounting to the upper edge of a toilet cistern.

DATED THIS TWENTY-SECOND DAY OF NOVEMBER, 1995.

PAUL EDWARD HART

PIZZEY AND COMPANY PATENT ATTORNEYS