WO2010094908A1

WO2010094908A1 - Methods and devices for fragrancing toilets

Info

Publication number: WO2010094908A1
Application number: PCT/GB2010/000214
Authority: WO
Inventors: Diane Joyce Burt
Original assignee: Reckitt Benckiser Inc.; Reckitt Benckiser (Uk) Limited
Priority date: 2009-02-17
Filing date: 2010-02-05
Publication date: 2010-08-26
Also published as: GB0902613D0

Abstract

Methods and devices for providing a fragrance or other volatile material to toilet bowls, and to the ambient environment in the near proximity of a toilet bowl are disclosed. A fragrance emanator is placed within the interior of the cistern (10) whereby the fragrance emanator is positioned either above the maximum level of water (A, B), coincident with the level of water (D), at a level between maximum level and minimum level (C) or below the minimum level (F)

Description

METHODS AND DEVICES FOR FRAGRANCING TOILETS

The present invention relates to methods for fragrancing toilets and their proximate environment, as well as devices for use in such methods.

Since the advent of sanitary appliances and in particular modern flush toilets, there has been a continuing need in the art to provide effective ways to maintain these appliances in a satisfactory condition between uses. The art is replete with devices which are intended to be used as "in the bowl" (or ITB) in order to provide a coloring and/or cleaning and/or fragrancing and/or sanitizing effect to such sanitary devices, particularly toilets. Providing a fragrancing benefit is particularly advantageous and desirable. A natural consequence of the use of laboratory devices and in particular toilets, urinals, and other sanitary appliances are the potential for buildup of undesirable malodors within the lavatory appliance and/or within the mere proximity, that is to say the ambient environment adjacent to the lavatory appliance. The primary undesirable malodors are fecal and urine malodors, which, particularly in warmer and/or humid ambient environments be particularly pungent and disagreeable. Thus, many ITB devices are known to the art, such as liquid or solid compositions intended to be dispensed into the interior of a toilet bowl (or other lavatory appliance) frequently include among its constituents a fragrance constituent. Thus, upon each use of such ITB devices a fragrancing benefit is delivered to the toilet bowl, which is intended to counteract undesirable malodorous within the lavatory appliance and/or within its proximity. Such treatments have been found to be effective as during use, such ITB devices and/or liquid compositions supplied to the interior of the toilet bowl are generally open to the ambient environment, and thus, the benefit of the fragrance can emanate from the interior of the toilet bowl (or other lavatory appliance) to the proximity of the toilet bowl and does provide perceptible fragrancing benefits and/or malodor making and/or malodor counteraction to a consumer. Such is facilitated by the open design of the toilet bowl, which is typically uncovered and thereby permitting for the release of volatile materials into the ambient environment of the toilet bowl.

With regard to the operation of a conventional toilet, typically such a toilet includes two major operative parts, the tank or cistern which is used to collect and store a quantity of water at a level above the level of the second major operative part, and a base which includes the toilet bowl. As is well known the bowl is used to collect bodily wastes and/or other materials, which remain there until water is released from the tank or cistern which passes downwards through a fluid tight coupling, into the interior of the toilet bowl, and flushes the collected bodily wastes and/or other materials down through a drain within the toilet bowl, typically near the bottom therefrom. The quantity of water containing these collected bodily wastes and/or other materials that are typically flushed out from within the base and to a soil pipe and thereafter to a sewage system, septic tank, or other of waste disposal means. The above operation is typically referred to as a "flush cycle" and is governed by the operation of the cistern's refill valve and the cistern's flush valve, the former of which controls the ingress of water from a suitable supply and into the interior of the cistern, and the latter which controls the egress of water from the interior of the cistern and into the base and toilet bowl. Such devices are per se, notoriously old in the art and are well known.

In most toilets, the cistern sits atop a rear portion of the base, and rearwardly of the toilet bowl, and frequently is a generally rectangular shaped cistern (tank) formed of a vitreous or other non-porous material suitable for containing water over a long interval of time. The cistern includes a base from which upwardly extends a continuous sidewall which terminates and which defines an open top, upon which is fitted a cover. The cover is typically also made of the same vitreous or other non-porous material as the cistern. Access to the interior of the cistern by consumer is generally easily accomplished by lifting the cover which allows for access into the interior of the tank.

The flush cycle of a toilet is initiated by opening a flush valve via the intervention of the user of the toilet bowl. Conventionally, the movement of a small lever handle _τ which extends outwardly from a portion of the sidewall of the cistern is effectuated, which typically raises a lever within the interior of the cistern, the distal end of the lever being attached by a flexible chain or other linkage to a part of the flush valve near the base of the cistern. Such permits for the rapid release of the standing water within the cistern to flow past to this flush valve and down really where in it is delivered to the toilet bowl. The decrease in the quantity of water within the cistern also drops the water level within the cistern, which in turn permits for a refill mechanism, often referred to as a refill valve to initiate refilling of the cistern. Typically, the refill valve includes an element which floats when a sufficient quantity of water is present within the cistern. The position of the float, and its relative movement within the cistern also is used to control the ingress of water from a suitable water supply via the refill valve. This, when the quantity of water within the cistern is depleted, the float falls causing the refill valve to permit for the ingress of water into the interior of the cistern and conversely, when the float rises to a suitable level, the supply of water entering the cistern is shut off. Such a flush valve is reliable, simple, and provides for the automatic refilling of the cistern during a flush cycle. Typically, most of the flush valve, except for the float and other movable elements required to control the ingress of water a stationary with respect to the cistern. During the ingress of water via the flush valve, the quantity of water entering is typically divided into two streams, a first refill stream what exits the flush valve and is directed directly into the interior of the cistern, and an overflow stream which is usually directed via a fluid conduit, typically a flexible plastic tube, and is directed from a portion of the refill valve into the interior of a standing overflow tube which forms part of the flush valve. Such an overflow tube is also, per se, known in the art and is widely present in many modern toilets. The overflow tube is essentially a vertical standing tube having an open end near the top of the cistern, but below the level of the cover and typically has a vertical height which it is slightly above the maximum height of water presence within the cistern during the normal operation of the refill valve. The other end of the overflow tube is near the base of the cistern, and terminates within the interior of the housing of the flush valve, which housing includes a larger opening sealed by a moveable flapper or ball. When this flapper or ball is in contact with the housing of the flush valve, it forms a liquid tight seal therewith, and thereby denies passage of water from the cistern, through the flush valve and into the toilet bowl, but when displaced, such as by lifting responsive to user intervention, e.g., being displaced by being pulled upwardly by virtue of the chain or other linkage discussed previously, water and a quantity of air present within the cistern flow relatively quickly through the housing of the flush valve and into the toilet bowl. The overflow tube provides two ancillary functions. First, during the refilling of the cistern via the operation of the fill valve, water provided as the overflow stream passes downwardly within the overflow tube, and into the housing of the flush valve from whence it passes into the toilet bowl. As there are no fluid obstructions between the open end of the overflow tube and the exit of the flush valve, such permits for the passage of the water of the overflow stream to enter the toilet bowl. Such it is advantageous as a means to resupp lying the level of water within the toilet bowl, after the moveable flapper or ball has dropped to reseal the larger opening of the flush valve during the refilling of the cistern by the refill valve, and subsequent to refilling but prior to the next flush cycle. The second ancillary function provided by the overflow tube is that it provides a safety means to minimize the likelihood of undesired flooding or overfilling of the cistern should the fill valve fail to close properly. The dimensions of the overflow tube are typically such that, any quantity of water being supplied by the defective fill valve to the cistern can be easily drained out from the cistern by flowing downwardly through the overflow tube, through the flush valve housing and an into the toilet bowl from whence it can continuously drain.

The arrangement of this cistern, and the mechanism within this cistern as well its operation typically has been thought to be a generally closed system which has dictated that the delivery of fragrances (and/or other volatile substances) is only effective when provided either upon the exterior of the toilet bowl (or other lavatory appliance) or within the toilet bowl from which such a fragrance can emanate and be delivered to the toilet bowl as well as to its ambient environment.

The present inventor has surprisingly found that this is not wholly accurate, as it has been discovered in fact an effective fragrancing benefit, and/or the delivery of other volatile substance to the ambient environment proximate to a toilet bowl (or other lavatory appliance) can be achieved by a providing a fragrance emanator and/or volatile substance emanator within the closed cistern of a toilet bowl. The inventor has surprisingly found that, during the flush cycle of a toilet bowl (or other lavatory appliance) a useful fragrance in benefit can be perceived by a consumer following a flush cycle wherein the fragrance emanator and/or volatile substance emanatorhad been previously placed within the closed cistern of a toilet bowl. This result is unexpected as it had been previously expected that the nearly continuous presence of water within the cistern of a toilet bowl provided an effective vapor-barrier which denied for the transit of a fragrance or other volatile material so to effectively exit the cistern during or after the flush cycle, and in particular to enter the toilet bowl. This has surprisingly been discovered to be incorrect as the present inventor has observed that the placement of a fragrance emanator or volatile substance emanatorwithin the interior of the cistern can have a noticeable effect. It will not wishing to be bound by the following, it is hypothesized that one or both of the following mechanisms of transmission of the fragrance material and/or other volatile material is responsible for this effect. The first mechanism which is believed to be effective is that, notwithstanding the prior prejudice in the art, it has been found that the rapid release of water from the cistern, past the displaced flapper or ball and through the a larger opening in the housing of the flush valve entrains an appreciable amount of air which had been previously present within the cistern and by a Venturi-like effect draws or forces a quantity of fragranced air (or air containing other volatile substances) into the toilet bowl, and thereafter perceived by a consumer. The second mechanism believed also to be effective is where, prior to a flush cycle, a source of a fragrancing material or other volatile material present within the interior of the cistern between flush cycles, releases fragrance or other volatile material into the air present within the cistern, typically referred to as the "headspace" present above the top of the water present within the cistern prior to a flush cycle and below the cover. This volume of trapped air can absorb a quantity of the released fragrance or other volatile material until either a maximum saturation of the headspace is attained and/or, a flush cycle is initiated by a user. During this flush cycle, as the level of the water within the cistern crops, the refill valve also provides a jet of overflow water directly into the hollow interior of the overflow tube. Due to the rapid speed of this jet of overflow water, it is believed that a Venturi-like effect is generated which draws the headspace air containing the emanated fragrance or other volatile material into the interior of the overflow tube and directs it downwardly through the housing of the flush valve and into the toilet bowl. Of course, both of the above mechanisms may be responsible in providing the perceived effect.

In one aspect of the present invention provides a method for providing a fragrance or other volatile material to a toilet bowl.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method for providing a fragrance or other volatile material to the ambient environment in the near proximity of a toilet bowl.

In a still further aspect of the invention is provided a device for providing a fragrance or other volatile material to a toilet bowl.

In a yet further aspect of the invention there is provided a device for providing a fragrance or other volatile material to the ambient environments in the near proximity of a toilet bowl.

According to the present invention, the methods of the invention require the placement of a fragrance emanator, and/or a source of other volatile material within the cistern of a toilet bowl. The fragrance emanator or other volatile material source can be positioned at any place within the interior of the cistern and can be above the maximum level of water within the cistern, can be placed coincident with the level of water within the cistern, (such as by the provision of a device which floats upon the surface of the level of water within the cistern,) can be placed so that it is partially immersed within the water within the cistern, which level of water can be at any level between the maximum level and the minimum level, as well as can be placed such that it is completely immersed within the water within the cistern while the water within the cistern is at the maximum level, but which is above the level of water within the cistern when the water within the cistern is at the minimum level.

The fragrance emanator and/or source of other volatile material can be an article or a device which serves solely the aforesaid function, or can be a part of an assembly which provides at least one further function in addition to providing a fragrancing benefit and/or delivery of other volatile material to a toilet, and in particular to the cistern of a toilet. For example, a device including a housing containing a water treatment composition such as a surfactant, an/or anti-limescale agent, and/or bleach, and/or sanitizing agent, and the like in either a solid, gel, or liquid form can be provided wherein the housing further contains the fragrance emanator and/or source of other volatile material. Alternately the article or device may be a composition of matter, such as tablet or block which contains both a water treatment composition and concurrently a fragrance or other volatile material which form an integral part or discrete part of the tablet or block.

The fragrance emanator and/or source of other volatile material may be used to deliver one or more constituents selected from: perfumes, fragrances, odor masking constituents, odor counteracting constituents, odor neutralizing constituents, air sanitizing/disinfecting constituents (such as one or more glycols, and in particular triethylene glycol) insecticides, or pesticides.

The fragrance emanator can take a variety of forms, and it is only required that the fragrance emanator function as a source of fragrance or other volatile material. For example, the fragrance emanator may be a mass of material which over the course of time, is consumed and releases the fragrance or other volatile material therefrom. For example, a block, tablet, and the like which is intended to be dissolved when contacted with water such as water from the cistern, or which reduces its mass due to volatilization of fragrance components or other volatile materials are contemplated to be useful. Further useful forms of fragrance emanator include a substrate upon which a quantity of a fragrance or other volatile material it is supplied. Such can be for example a porous wick, plate, pad, film and the like which has been previously at least partially impregnated with a quantity of a volatile material or fragrance. Further examples of useful fragrance emanators include polymers which includes a quantity of volatile materials or fragrances which may emanate therefrom. Non-limiting examples of such materials include those currently marketed under the tradename Auracell® (ex. Rotuba Extruders) which are based on fragranced cellulosic polymers, as well as PolylFF® (ex. International Flavors and Fragrances Inc.), as well as Tenite® (ex. Eastman Chemical Co.). Such may be in any form which is moldable or otherwise formable from the polymers, e.g., tablets, prills, powders, beads, plates, tapes and the like.

Still further examples of useful fragrance emanators useful in the delivery of fragrance or other volatile materials include gels which permit for the volatilization of any of volatile constituent therefrom. By way of nonlimiting example, a useful gel system can be formed by a variety of components known to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, it can be formed from absorbents, starch based systems, modified celluloses, natural gums and other materials which can form a gel when the fragrance composition, aforementioned gel components, and water or hydrophilic solvents are mixed together. A particularly advantageous gel system as it is described in United States Patent No. 5,780,527, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. A yet further form of a useful fragrance emanators are polymer films which may be provided with a quantity of a volatile material or fragrance from which the volatile material or fragrance may emanate. By way of non-limiting examples, suitable polymer film materials include those described in US Patent 3351495, and US Patent 6139795 the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. Further examples of suitable polymer film materials are disclosed in WO 03/086490 Al . Particularly preferred polymer materials for use in the fragrance emanators are those currently marketed as "DARAMIC polyethylene battery separator material", which is described to be a porous filled polymer comprising 54-67%wt. of an amorphous silica, 8 - 22%wt. of an oil, and 20-26%wt. of a polyethylene polymer, which is currently commercially available from Daramic LLC (Owensboro, Kentucky, USA). The fragrance emanator may be formed of a single piece or layer of material, or may be formed by lamination of two or more materials, one of which is necessarily the fragrance emanator which is capable of containing and releasing a fragrance or other volatile material therefrom. For example, it is contemplated that a laminated form of a fragrance emanator may be formed of two or more layers each of which are materials which are capable of containing and releasing a fragrance or other volatile material therefrom. Alternately, is contemplated that a laminated form of a fragrance emanator can be formed of two or more layers, at least one of which are materials which are capable of containing and releasing a fragrance or other volatile material therefrom, with a least one further layer which does not provide such a function, i.e., can be a barrier layer such as an impervious foil layer, metallized plastic layer, or any other material which retards or denies absorption off the air treatment material within. In the case of the latter, such provides for a contraction of the fragrance emanator which essentially emanates the air treatment composition substantially from one surface face. Advantageously the other surface may include an adhesive which may be used to apply and adhere the fragrance emanator to a part of the cistern.

In a particularly preferred embodiments, the fragrance emanator includes a fragrance. Preferably, the fragrance or air freshener is a fragrance comprising one or more volatile organic compounds which are available from perfumery suppliers such as Givaudan Corp, Firmenich Inc., International Flavors & Fragrances Inc., Takasago Inc., Quest Co., and Robertet Inc.

Methods according to the invention, and schematic representation of fragrance emanators according to the invention are described with reference to figures 1 and 2.

Figure 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view a cistern 10 of a conventional toilet. As is visible there from, the cistern includes a base 12 and upstanding sidewalls 12, 14 which terminate at an open top 16. The open top 16 is capped by a cover 18 which rests upon the upstanding sidewalls 12, 14. There may be present a slight gap between the upstanding sidewalls 12, 14 and that the cover 18. The interior of the cistern 10 is also illustrated and depicts a fill valve 20, as well as a flush valve 30. The fill valve 20 comprises a central pillar 22, a movable float 24 surrounding a part of the pillar 22, a fill valve assembly 26 at the top of the pillar 22, a control arm 27 and a control rod 28. A portion of the control 28 is affixed to a part of the movable float 24, and one end of the control rod 28 is pivo tally mounted to the control arm 27. While not illustrated in this figure, the relative positioning of the float 24 with respect to the fill valve 20 and in particular its distance to the fill valve assembly 26 is used to control the respective positions on the control arm 27 and the control rod 28 which in turn, controls the supply of water from a suitable supply source (not shown) through the fill valve 20 and into the interior 15 of the cistern 10. As has been discussed previously, water supplied to the cistern via the fill valve 20 is split into two streams, a first stream being supplied directly to the interior 15 of the cistern 10, with the second, overflow stream being supplied via a fluid conduit 29, here a plastic tube, from the fill valve 20 directly into the hollow interior of an overflow tube 32. The flush valve 30 includes an overflow tube 32 which is substantially hollow within its interior, and includes a top open end 33 which is above the level of the water within the interior 15 of the cistern, and the other end of the overflow tube 32 terminates within that the housing 34 of the flush valve 30. It is to be understood that any fluids, such as liquid or gases which enter through the open top end 33 of the overflow tube 32 can pass unobstructed downwardly and into the housing 34, and thereafter through the outlet end 36 of the flush valve 30. While not specifically illustrated in the figure, it is nonetheless to be understood that the interior of the housing 34 and open end 36 of the flush valve 30 are upstream of and in fluid communication with the toilet bowl (not shown) such that any fluids entering the interior of the housing 34 past downwardly and into the toilet bowl. A portion of the housing 34 also includes a flapper seat 35 which forms a liquid tight seal with the flapper 37 which is pivotally or hand gently mounted to a part of the housing 34. When the flapper 37 is displaced with respect to the housing, such as being withdrawn upwardly and away from the flapper seat 35, such permits for the volume of water "W" contained within the interior 15 of the cistern 10 to rapidly pass into the interior of the housing 34, downwardly through the open and 36 and into the toilet bowl. This also rapidly depletes the quantity of water contained within the interior 15 of the cistern 10 and essentially empties it during the flush cycle, in order to provide the majority of flush water supplied to the toilet bowl during the flush cycle. The displacement of the flapper 37 can be by any suitable means and typically it is via the use of any flexible chain, line, or the like having one end affixed to a part of the flapper 37 and the other end to a lever, the latter elements of which is not shown but which is widely included in the construction of a conventional known-art toilet bowl cistern. Depicted on figure 1 is in the quantity of water of a cistern which is to be considered as "full" and immediately prior to a flush cycle, or between flush cycles having been refilled by the normal operation of the fill valve 20. For the sake of convenient reference, this level is denoted as "Ll" with respects to the level of the base 12 of the cistern 10.

Figure 1 also illustrates various embodiments of a fragrance delivery device according to various possible aspects of the invention, and their respective placement within the cistern and with respects to the water level of the "full" cistern, Ll, prior to a flush cycle.

Fragrance emanator A is affixed to, such as being adhered to, or suspended by a suitable clip or hanger (not shown) upon a part of the interior of the side wall of the cistern 10, and above Ll; during the flush cycle, and following the conclusion of the flush cycle the fragrance emanator A always remains above the level of the water W present within the cistern 10. During its use, fragrance emanator A releases its fragrance or other volatile material to the headspace "H" above water W and the cover 18.

Fragrance emanator B is affixed to, such as being adhered to or suspended by a suitable clip or hanger (not shown) upon a part of the cover 18, here the underside of the cover 18. during the flush cycle, and following the conclusion of the flush cycle the fragrance emanator A always remains above the level of the water W present within the cistern 10. During its use, fragrance emanator B releases its fragrance or other volatile material to the headspace "H" above water W and the cover 18.

Fragrance emanator C is affixed to, such as being adhered to, or suspended by a suitable clip or hanger (not shown) upon a part of the interior of the side wall of the cistern 10, within the water W and below water level Ll. Prior to the flush cycle, the fragrance emanator C remains immersed in the water W, but during the flush cycle as the water W empties out of the cistern 10, the fragrance emanator C is exposed to air and may release its fragrance or other volatile material to the headspace above water level Ll . When the cistern 10 is refilled at the conclusion of a flush cycle via the operation of the fill valve 20, fragrance emanator C is reimmersed in the water W.

Fragrance emanator D is approximately coincident with the water level Ll and may take the form of a floating mass, or of a floating article, e.g., tray or raft, which bears the fragrance emanator D, such that fragrance or other volatile material is released into the headspace H within the interior of the cistern 10 between the cover 18 and the water level Ll. This form of fragrance emanator may rise and fall with the varying water level within the cistern 10, before, during, and subsequent to a flush cycle.

Fragrance emanator E rests upon, or is affixed to, such as being adhered to or a fixed by a suitable clip or hanger (not shown) upon a part of the fill valve 20, here's specifically the top of the fill valve assembly 26. As, during normal operation the top of the fill valve assembly 26 remains above the water level Ll, during the flush cycle, and following the conclusion of the flush cycle the fragrance emanator E always remains above the level of the water W present within the cistern 10. During its use, fragrance emanator E releases its fragrance or other volatile material to the headspace H above water W and the cover 18. Fragrance emanator F forms an element of a dispensing device which is positioned within the interior 15 of the cistern 10. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the fragrance emanator F is positioned at the top of the dispensing device, and prior to a flush cycle, remains immersed within the water W present within the cistern 10. During the flush cycle as the water W empties out of the cistern 10, the fragrance emanator F is exposed to air and may release its fragrance or other volatile material to the headspace above water level Ll. When the cistern 10 is refilled at the conclusion of a flush cycle via the operation of the fill valve 20, fragrance emanator F is reimmersed in the water W.

Fragrance emanator G is comprised of two discrete fragrance emanators, namely Gl and G2. These can be differentiated in their position relative to the cistern 10 and in particular to the overflow tube 32 from which they are suspended, and are also understood that they may include different types of fragrances and/or volatile materials, although, they can also comprise the same such fragrances and/or or volatile materials. As is seen on Fig. 1, both fragrance emanators Gl and G2 are discrete elements, which separately depend from a hook, and wherein at least a part of fragrance emanator Gl is seen to be only partially immersed such that at least a part of it remains above the water level Ll prior to a flush cycle and thereby, may permit for the release of fragrance or other volatile material into the headspace H of the cistern 10. The other fragrance emanator G2 is positioned beneath fragrance emanator Gl, and remains immersed within the water W prior to a flush cycle. During the flush cycle, as the water level Ll falls downwardly, all of fragrance emanator Gl becomes exposed to the air within the cistern, and fragrance emanator G2 is also exposed to the air within the cistern and made us release fragrance or other volatile material therefrom into this airspace.

With regard to each of the foregoing embodiments of fragrance emanators, it is to be understood is that during the flush cycle, at least part of the air containing fragrance or other volatile material which is present within the cistern, such as within the headspace H pass downwardly through the outlet end 36 of the flush valve 30 either via the overflow to 32, or pass the flapper 37 and valve seat 35, or both and are thereby delivered downstream to the toilet bowl. Fragrance emanators F and G also suggest further embodiments of articles to be understood as falling within the scope of this invention. With regard to fragrance emanator F, it is to be understood a portion of the depicted (in schematic) device includes a housing containing a water treatment composition such as a surfactant, an/or anti- limescale agent, and/or bleach, and/or sanitizing agent, and the like in either a solid, gel, or liquid form wherein the housing further contains the fragrance emanator and/or source of other volatile material, or alternately the fragrance emanator F may be a formed article or mass, such as a table, cake or gel which includes both water treatment composition as noted above, concurrently with a fragrance and/or other volatile material. Similarly, fragrance emanator G suggest a two-part article, wherein part of the article, e.g. Gl is a fragrance emanator, while another part, G2 may be housing containing a water treatment composition such as a surfactant, an/or anti-limescale agent, and/or bleach, and/or sanitizing agent, and the like in either a solid, gel, or liquid form wherein the housing optionally further contains the fragrance emanator and/or source of other volatile material, or alternately the fragrance emanator F may be a formed article or mass, such as a table, cake or gel which includes a water treatment composition as noted above, optionally concurrently with a fragrance and/or other volatile material.

These principles apply to any of the other embodiments of fragrance emanators described herein. It is also to be understood that further embodiments of useful fragrance emanators, although not specifically depicted in any of the accompanying figures, but which fulfill the principles of the invention, are also considered as falling within the scope of the present invention.

Figure 2 illustrates the cistern 10 and elements thereof of Fig. 1 and approximately when nearly all of the water W has been released from the interior 15 of the cistern 10. As can be seen there from, due to release of water W, the new level of the water L2 approaches that of the base B, and the moveable float 24 of the fill valve 20 causes the control arm 27 to cause the fill valve assembly 26 to initiate refilling of the cistern 10. The placements of the various embodiments of fragrance emanators with respects to the new water level L2, and the increased headspace H present within the cistern is now more readily apparent especially when comparing these two figures.

Claims

Claims:

1. A method for providing a fragrance or other volatile material to a toilet bowl, or to the ambient environment in the near proximity of a toilet bowl, the method comprising the step of placing a fragrance emanator or other volatile material source is placed within the interior of the cistern such that: a) the fragrance emanator or other volatile material source is positioned above the maximum level of water within the cistern, or, b) the fragrance emanator or other volatile material source is placed coincident with the level of water within the cistern, or, c) the fragrance emanator or other volatile material source is placed so that it is partially immersed within the water within the cistern, which level of water can be at any level between the maximum level and the minimum level, or, d) the fragrance emanator or other volatile material source is placed such that it is completely immersed within the water within the cistern while the water within the cistern is at the maximum level, but which is above the level of water within the cistern when the water within the cistern is at the minimum level.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the fragrance emanator or other volatile material source is positioned above the maximum level of water within the cistern.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the fragrance emanator or other volatile material source is placed coincident with the level of water within the cistern.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the fragrance emanator or other volatile material source is placed so that it is partially immersed within the water within the cistern, which level of water can be at any level between the maximum level and the minimum level.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fragrance emanator or other volatile material source is placed such that it is completely immersed within the water within the cistern while the water within the cistern is at the maximum level, but which is above the level of water within the cistern when the water within the cistern is at the minimum level.

6. A device for providing a fragrance or other volatile material to a toilet bowl, or to the ambient environment in the near proximity of a toilet bowl, the method comprising the step of placing a fragrance emanator or other volatile material source is placed within the interior of the cistern such that: a) the fragrance emanator or other volatile material source is positioned above the maximum level of water within the cistern, or, b) the fragrance emanator or other volatile material source is placed coincident with the level of water within the cistern, or, c) the fragrance emanator or other volatile material source is placed so that it is partially immersed within the water within the cistern, which level of water can be at any level between the maximum level and the minimum level, or, d) the fragrance emanator or other volatile material source is placed such that it is completely immersed within the water within the cistern while the water within the cistern is at the maximum level, but which is above the level of water within the cistern when the water within the cistern is at the minimum level, wherein the device includes a fragrance emanator or other volatile material source.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the device includes a housing containing a water treatment composition such as a surfactant, an/or anti-limescale agent, and/or bleach, and/or sanitizing agent, and the like in either a solid, gel, or liquid form can be provided wherein the housing further contains the fragrance emanator and/or source of other volatile material.