WO2008128368A1 - Liquid disseminator - Google Patents

Abstract

A device adapted to disseminate volatile liquid into an atmosphere, comprising a source of volatile liquid and a disseminating means therefor, plus a source of air current adapted to cause the dissemination, the air current source comprising an associated container within which a rise in liquid level is adapted to cause the air current. The container may be a cistern, bath or sink, and the device allows for the release of, e.g., fragrance by means of the changing level in the container.

Description

LIQUID DISSEMINATOR

This invention relates to apparatus for disseminating a volatile liquid into an atmosphere, the dissemination being triggered automatically.

There is provided a device adapted to disseminate volatile liquid into an atmosphere, comprising a source of volatile liquid and a disseminating means therefor, plus a source of air current adapted to cause the dissemination, the air current source comprising an associated container within which a rise in liquid level is adapted to cause the air current.

There is also provided a method of disseminating volatile liquid into an atmosphere, comprising causing an air current to act on a volatile liquid disseminating means, the air current being generated by a rising liquid level in an associated container.

The volatile liquid may be any volatile liquid whose presence is desired in an atmosphere. Most commonly, this is a fragrance, for the purposes of air freshening, but this need not be the case, and other desirable liquids, such as odour masking agents, fungicides and disinfectants, may also be used.

The source of volatile liquid is most commonly a reservoir, but it may equally well be a feeding line from a remote source. Equally, the disseminating means may be any suitable such means. For example, it may be a wick of the type well known and widely used by the art in air fresheners. Alternatively, the reservoir may be a pressurised aerosol container and the disseminating means the jet of the aerosol.

By "associated container" is meant a container that is associated with the source/disseminating means, such that a rising liquid level in the container generates a triggering air current. In a particular embodiment, the associated container is a utilitarian container, that is, its primary function is not the generation of an air current, but some other useful function, typically a cleaning or sanitary one. A typical example is a toilet cistern. However, the container may also be, for example, a bath or a sink or any other such container. The conversion of the rising liquid level into an air current may be achieved by any convenient means. For example, in some cases, the container may be sealed and a conduit leading from the container may allow air above the rising liquid level to escape. A conduit of relatively small diameter leading from a container in which the liquid has a relatively large surface area will allow a relatively high air current velocity, even if the liquid level rises relatively slowly. Such a container may be equipped with pressure-equalising means, such as a one-way valve, which will allow air in when the liquid level is falling, but which will close when the level is rising, thus forcing the air to exit through the conduit of relatively small diameter.

In a further embodiment, the air current may be generated by means of a tube having the form of a collapsible concertina-like bellows. The upper end of this tube is fixed and the lower end comprises a float, which floats on the surface of the liquid in the associated container. As the liquid level falls, the tube elongates as the float moves downwards, pressure within the tube being equalised by means of a one-way valve. As the level rises, the float rises, reducing the tube size and pushing the air out of the tube.

In a yet further embodiment, the container may comprise a rigid tube of relatively large diameter that is at least partially immersed in the liquid in the associated container when the liquid is at its maximum level. This tube leads to a conduit of relatively narrow diameter. This tube is equipped with pressure-equalising means, such as a one-way valve, which allows pressure in the tube to be equalised when the liquid level falls and the bottom end of the tube is still under the liquid level. When the level rises again, this pressure- equalising means closes, thus ensuring that any air in the tube can only escape from the tube under the urging of the rising level via the conduit of relatively small diameter. The tube and conduit may be integral with the associated container, or they comprise parts of a separate component, able to be fitted to existing containers, such as sinks, baths and cisterns.

Further description of the invention will be with particular reference to this embodiment, although it is only exemplary, the skilled person using the ordinary skill of the art being able to realise many other ways of carrying the invention into effect, all of which lie within the scope of this invention. The means by which the air current created by the rising liquid level in the associated container is used to trigger dissemination of volatile liquid may be any suitable means, and again the skilled person using the ordinary skill and background knowledge of the art will readily be able to conceive of many different means. One relatively simple means is the utilisation of a reservoir of volatile liquid from which protrudes a porous wick, a structure similar to that of many simple air fresheners. This wick conveys liquid from the reservoir to the atmosphere, and it is positioned such that the air stream caused by the rise in liquid level in the associated container blows directly on it, causing liquid to evaporate and be disseminated into the atmosphere.

One example of a more sophisticated device is one involving a switch movable by an air current, such that it completes an electrical circuit. This in turn, for example, energises a solenoid switch which presses on the valve of an aerosol container, causing it to release volatile liquid contained therein. The electrical circuit may equally well be used with other embodiments, for example, a fan or blower, which blows on a wick. The circuit may include timing means, which regulates for how long the dissemination takes place.

The invention provides a cheap and useful way of disseminating volatile liquid in conjunction with situations where it is needed. Particular examples include the rise and fall of sink, bath and cistern levels in bathrooms. The cistern embodiment is especially effective, as it can result in the emission of liquid, such as fragrance, every time there is a flush. This helps prevent the unpleasant odour that can sometimes be found in untreated bathrooms.

The invention is now further described with reference to the drawings, which depict particular embodiments by way of example only, and which are not intended to be limiting in any way.

Figure 1 represents a schematic part-cross-section through a toilet cistern, showing one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 represents a schematic part-cross-section of part of another embodiment of the invention. In Figure 1, a cistern 1 is equipped with a lid 2 and contains water 3. Over the top of the wall of the cistern is seated a generally inverted U-shaped tube generally indicated as 4. This tube has two sections, a large diameter section 5, which is located inside the cistern and whose lower end is immersed in the water of the unflushed cistern, and a small diameter section 6, which depends outside the cistern and which ends in a substantially horizontal jet 7, which serves to increase the speed of the air flow as it emerges therefrom. The large diameter section 5 narrows prior to reaching the lid 2 and the small diameter section is such that it fits easily between lid and cistern wall, without causing excessive raising of the lid. At the top of the tube, where sections 5 and 6 merge is located a valve 8, adapted to allow air into the tube when the pressure therein falls (i.e., when the water level in the cistern falls) but to close and prevent air from leaving when the pressure rises (i.e., when the water level in the cistern rises).

At the end of the tube adjacent to the jet 7 is located a fragrance emission unit, generally indicated at 9. This has the form of a housing 10 into the bottom of which can be screwed a reservoir 11 containing fragrance 12. From the reservoir protrudes a wick 13, whose lower end is immersed in the fragrance and whose upper end is located directly in the path of the air flow from the jet 7. The housing is provided with a series of vents to the atmosphere 14, which allow fragrance to escape from the housing.

Thus, in operation, when a toilet associated with the cistern is flushed, the water level in the cistern 1 falls. As it does, it causes the pressure in the tube 4 to drop. This causes the valve 8 to open and admit air into the tube. As the cistern starts to fill, the valve 8 closes and the rising water level pressurises the air trapped in the tube, forcing it to flow from the large diameter section 5 into the small diameter section 6 and out through the jet 7. The air flow through the jet causes the fragrance to evaporate and the fragrant air exits from the housing into the atmosphere through the vents 14.

Figure 2 depicts a different fragrant emission unit 9 mounted adjacent to the jet 7. This is an aerosol container 15, containing volatile liquid under pressure. This has a valve 16, which releases liquid when depressed. Depression is achieved by means of a spring-loaded solenoid switch 17, which can be switched on to press directly on the valve 16 against the spring loading. The solenoid switch is switched on by means of a spring-loaded switch 18, which is acted upon by the air coming through the jet 7. This causes it to make contact with an electrical contact 19 and complete an electrical circuit, which draws current from a battery 20 and causes the solenoid switch to press the valve 16 and release liquid. The circuit additionally comprises a control circuit 21.

In operation, when the liquid level in the cistern rises, the resulting air current impinges on the switch 18, whose springing is such that the air current is sufficient to push it into contact with the electrical contact 19. This completes the circuit and activates the solenoid switch 17, which presses down on the valve 16, thus releasing volatile liquid into the atmosphere. The control circuit 21 is adjusted to maintain the solenoid switch in the release position for such time as is desired, and it then deactivates the circuit, allowing the spring loading to bring the solenoid switch back to its "off position.

There are many other variants, which are within the scope of this invention and which can be provided by the skilled person, using only the ordinary skill of the art.

Claims

Claims:

1. A device adapted to disseminate volatile liquid into an atmosphere, comprising a source of volatile liquid and a disseminating means therefor, plus a source of air current adapted to cause the dissemination, the air current source comprising an associated container within which a rise in liquid level is adapted to cause the air current.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which the associated container serves a purpose other than to cause the air current.

3. A device according to claim 2, in which the associated container is selected from a cistern, a sink and a bath.

4. A device according to claim 1 , in which the air current source additionally comprises a rigid tube, at least partially immersed in the liquid of the associated container and whose diameter reduces as it moves away from the liquid.

5. A device according to claim 1, in which the tube is a separate attachment, adapted to be fitted to an existing associated container.

6. A method of disseminating volatile liquid into an atmosphere, comprising causing an air current to act on a volatile liquid disseminating means, the air current being generated by a rising liquid level in an associated container.