Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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AUTO~IATIC TOILET BO~L CLEAi~ER ~ID AIR FRESHENER
sAcI~GRo~ ~ OF T~E INVE2lTIO~
This invention relates generally to the art-of
sanitizing and more particularly to the art of dispensing
toilet bowl cleaners and bathroom odorants.
Various apparatus have been provided or adding cleaner
to the tank of a flush toilet. ~ne such example is disclosed
in U.S. Patent No. 2,967,310. A dosing system is disclosed
wherein a container having a liquid cleaner therein is
inverted within the reservoir tank of a flush toilet. The
container is provided at its opening with an insert having a
hollow plunger to interact with the rise and fall of the
water within the tank. When the tank level is at its full
level the hollow plunger floats upward to close the opening
of the container. Upon flushing the toilet and lowering of
the water level within the re~ervoir tank, the hollow insert
is lowered to open the container and permit flow of liquid
cleaner into the water of the tank until such time as the
water level rises to cause the hollow insert to float
upwardly and close the opening of the container.
U.S. Patent No. 4,358,860 discloses a room air freshener
within the confines of the reservoir tank of a flush toilet.
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The apparatus involves the use of a hollow bell-shaped member
which rises and falls with the water level of the tank. The
hollow bell-shaped member is in communication with an aerosol
spray can, which spray can is in communication with the
surrounding bathroom atmosphere through a conduit. ~pon the
lowering of the water level, the bell-shaped member actuates
the aerosol which causes air freshener to flow through the
conduit out of the reservoir ~ank t~ be emitted in.o the
bathroom atmosphere.
U.S. Patent ~o. 4,168,550 discloses an apparatus for
dispensing an aromatizing liquid both into the water of a
reservoir tank~of a flush toilet and through a conduit from
that tank into the surrounding exterior atmosphere. The
apparatus disclosed utilizes heating coils within the device
to maintain the aromatizing substance at an appropriate
te~perature.
Nhile these various prior art devices have been operable
and somewhat satisfactory for their intended purpose, there
still exists significant room for advancement in the
dispensing of toilet bowl cleaner and bathroom odorants.
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SUMr~RY OF ~EIE I~E2~TI02T
It is thus an object of this invention to provide a
novel treatment apparatus for a bathroom environment.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a
combined automatic toilet bowl cleaner and air freshener for
use within the reservoir tank of a flush toilet.
It is a further and more particular object of this
invention to provide such an apparatus which simultaneously
provides a cleaning chemical to the flush water of a toilet
reservoir tank and odorant for the air in the envi~onment of
the toilet~
These as well as other objects are accomplished by an
apparatus for cleaning and odorizing the environment of a
toilet bowl having a reservoir tank. The apparatus is
formed of a container having two compartments. ~he first
compartment is adapted to contain a liquid toilet bowl
cleaning chemical which is in communication with means for
per~itting release of cleaning chemicals into ~he water
reservoir tank as the water is utilized to flush the toilet
and to preclude release when the reservoir is at its full
level. A volatile odorant is provided in the second
co~partment which is located above the full water level line
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to provide a volatile odorant to the air within the
reservoir tank which is displaced during the refilling
of the tank into the surrounding environment.
More particularly, the invention resides in an
apparatus for cleaning and odorizing the environment of
a flush toilet bowl communicating with a water reservoir
tank comprising:
a container having a first compartment and a
second compartment separate from and in non-fluid
communication with said first compartment within said
container;
said first compartment being adapted to contain
a liquid toilet bowl cleaner;
means in communication with said first compart-
ment to permit release of said cleaner into said water
reservoir tank as said water is utilized to flush said
toilet bowl and to preclude release when said reservoir
is at its full level.
a volatile deodorant in said second compartment
adapted to be located above the full water level of said
tank said odorant being in vapor communication with the
entire air volume of said tank;
said container defining vents between said
second compartment and said reservoir tank above said
full water level for continued release of said volatile
odorant whereby, upon flushing, said entire air volume
within said reservoir tank sorbs odorant from said
volatile odorant through said vents and upon refilling
of said reservoir tank with water, said entire air
volume within said tank displaced by water refilling
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said tank and which contains said odorant is moved by
the displacement thereof into the room environment
adjacent to the toilet.
Furthermore, the invention resides in a process
for simultaneously cleaning toilet flush water and
odorizing the environment within the bathroom surround-
ing said flush toilet comprising the steps of:
placing with a water reservoir tank of a flush
toilet an apparatus including
a container having a first compartment and a
second compartment separate from and in non-fluid
communication with said first compartment within said
container,
said first compartment adapted to contain a
liquid toilet bowl cleaning chemical/
means of communication with said first compart-
ment to permit release of said cleaning chemical into
said water reservoir tank as said water is utilized to
flush said toilet bowl and to preclude release when said
reservoir is at its full level,
a volatile odorant in said second compartment
at a level above the full level of said reservoir tank
said volatile odorant being in vapor communication with
the entire air volume of said tank,
said container defininq vents between said
compartment and said reservoir tank above said full
level for continued release of said volatile odorant to
said entire air volume;
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flushing said toilet and thereby lowering the
water level in said reservoir tank, the lowering of said
water level thereby releasing said cleaning chemical
into said water reservoir tank as said water level is
lowering;
diluting concentrated odorant within said
entire air of said tank as said water level is lowering;
raising said water level and thereby forcing
diluted odorant from the air within said reservoir tank
out of said reservoir tank into the surrounding environ-
ment;
continuing to raise said water level to said
full level and thereby precluding further release of
cleaning chemical to said reservoir tank.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Figure 1 is a rear view of the apparatus in
accordance with this invention.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus
ofFig. 1 in the inverted position showing the front
thereof.
Figures 3 and 4 are partial cutaway views along
the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 illustrating the apparatus within
the reservoir tank of a flush toilet.
Figure 5 is an assembly view of the Fig. 2
apparatus.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the second
compartment illustrated in Fig. 5.
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Figure 7 illustrates the apparatus installed
within the flush tank reservoir of a flush toilet.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In accordance with this invention it has been
found that an apparatus can be provided to simultan-
eously provide cleaning chemicals to the water within a
reservoir of a flush
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tank and provide volatile odorant to the atmosphere of a
bathroom upon the flush and refill of the toilet reservoir
~ank. It has been found that this can be brought about with
the ùtilization of but a single container placed within the
reservoir tank to communicate with the air an2 water therein.
Various other advantages and features will become apparent
from a reading of the following descriptlon given with
reference to the various figures of drawing.
Figure 1 of the drawings illustrates the apparatus 1 in
accordance with this invention. The aparatus has an upper or
first compartment 3 and a lower or second compartment 5
illustrated at Fig. 1 as being separated by a part line 7.
As illustrated in Fig. 1 the apparatus appears as a container
9 having a closure lid 11. The apparatus 1 appears in Fig. 1
as it might appear on the back surface thereof on a retail
shelf in a vertical orientation.
In actual operation within a toilet reservoir tank the
apparatus would be inverted as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the
drawings without the lid closure 11. As will be further
de~onstrated, the first compartment 3 is operable through
opening 15 which is otherwise closed by lid closure 11 for
communication with the water within the reservoir tank of a
flush tank toilet while second compartment S is operable for
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communic2tion with the air volume within the reservoir tank
of the flush toilet. Means 17 in the form of a hook are
provided for appropriately positioning the apparatus 1 within
such reservoir tank as is best illustrated in Fig. 7 ~he
operation and cooperation of the two compartments when the
apparatus is appropriately positioned will become apparent
from further descriptlon.
Figure 3 of the drawing is a partial cutaway along the
line 3-3 of Fig. 2 of the drawings illustrating the apparatus
1 within a reservoir tan~ 21 with opening 15 submerged below
water level 23. First compartment 3 contains a cleaning
liquid chemical 25 adapted to flow through opening 15 and
generally controlled by means 27 which is in communication
with the first compartment 3 to permit release of cleaning
chemical 25 when the water in the reservoir tank is utilized
to flush ~ toilet bowl and to preclude release when the
reservoir is at its full level as illustrated in Fig. 3.
Fig. 4 of the drawings is a view generally similar to Fig. 3
but with the water level reduced to level 29. For clarity of
understanding of the operation of the means 27 reference is
made to both Figures 3 and 4. Fur~her description of the
means 27 may be had from U.S. Patent IJo. 2,9G7,310 which
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6~693-4256
substantlally dlscloses the means 27.
Means 27 comprises a statlonary insert member 31 wlthin
neck 33 of contalner 9. Insert 31 deflnes a sklrt portlon 35
nested wlthin the neck 33. Insert 31 also deflnes an orlflce 37
whlch ls ln fluld communlcatlon wlth flrst compartment 3.
A moveable member 41 ls moveable wlthln statlonary
member 31 and defines a floatatlon bell 43 which moves downwardly
upon lowerlng of the water level as lllustrated ln Flg. 4 due to
the loss of floatatlon thereof and which permlts release of the
cleanlng chemical ll~ul~llquld 25 through orlflce 37 from the
~irst compartment and whlch floats upwardly upon refllllng of the
tank as illustrated in Fig. 3 to preclude further communlcatlon
through orlflce 37. While the term "cleaning chemlcal" or
"cleaner" has been used throughout thls speclflcation lt ls
understood that such term encompasses detergent disinfectants,
sanltizers and the llke.
Flg. 5 is an assembly vlew of the apparatus 1 showlng
statlonary member insert 31 wlth moveable member 41 as lt ls
poslt~oned to pass through orlflce 37 and as stationary lnsert ls
~0 posltloned to be placed wlthin neck 33 of contalner 9. Compart-
ment 5 ls lllustrated as belng partlally removed from compartment
3 as is hanger cllp 17. Second compartment 5 ls lllustrated as
forming a housing for a source of
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volatile material 51. The source is illustrated herein as
being a conventional blotter material which sorbs and emits
the volatile odorant. ~he source may also be other
conventional sources such as impregnated beads and gels or
other releasing systems. The housing within second
compartment 5 communicates with the e~terior environment
through vents 53 so that the volatile odorant passes through
vents 53 and into the surrounding air.
Fig. 6 is an interior view of second compartment 5
illustrating a housing 55 therein for containing source of
volatile material 51. Also illustrated in Fis. ~ is a
closure for housing 55 in the nature of â seal 57. It is
understood that seal 57 will close housing 55 and preclude
gaseous communication between the volatile material therein
and the surrounding environment. This is for the purpose of
shelf and marketing storage until the apparatus 1 reaches the
consumer. ~he consumer would then remove seal 57 to
establish communication between the interior of the housing
55 and the surrounding atmosphere through vents 53. I~ is
understood, however, that housing 55 and seal 57 are merely
preferred with other housings and seals such as a shrin~ wrap
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label about vents 53 being equivalent.
The actual operation of the apparatus 1 and particularly
o~ second compartment 5 may be best understood by referring
to Fig. 7. As illustrated in Fig. 7 tank 21 is covered with
cover 61 leaving a gap 63 for gaseous communication with the
environment surrounding the flush toilet. Other means for
communication with the exterior environ~ent frequently exist
within such tanks. When in the full level as illustrated at
65, a volume of air e~is_s between the le~Jel 65 ar.d the lid
61 which becomes heavily concentrated with the volatile
odorant continually emitted through the vents 530 Upon
flushing the toilet the water level drops to a low level
which brings air through gap 63 and dilutes the concentrated
odorant within the tank 21. Upon the return of the water
level to the full level 65 the diluted volatile odorant
within the tank 21 is forced through gap 63 into the
surrounding environment.
From the previous description it is readily apparent
that while the water level movement is contributiny to
volatile odorant dispersion into the environment surrounding
the flush toilet, the water movement also causes the chemical
cleaner from the lower or first compartment 3 to pass through
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the opening 15 into the water of the reservoir tank 21 and
thus into the toilet bowl being flushed.
It is thus seen that the apparatus of this invention
provides not only an apparatus for use within a toilet tank,
but also provides a novel process for both dispensing
cleaning chemicals into the water of a flush toilet while
simultaneously dispensing odorant to the surrounding air
environment. As many variations will become apparent from a
reading of the foregoing description, such variations are
included within the spirit and scope of this invention as
defined by the following appended claims.
