WO2007090233A1

WO2007090233A1 - Dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO2007090233A1
Application number: PCT/AU2007/000120
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tek Eak Lim
Original assignee: YI NOU
Current assignee: YI NOU
Priority date: 2006-02-07
Filing date: 2007-02-07
Publication date: 2007-08-16
Anticipated expiration: 2008-08-07
Also published as: CN101310082B; CN101310082A

Abstract

A refillable dispenser for dispensing a liquid into a fluid reservoir is described. The dispenser has a container for storing the liquid and an actuating chamber which opens into the reservoir. The dispenser has a buoyant element which rises up as the reservoir is filled, and urges a check valve to seal an outlet through which the liquid flows from the container to the actuating chamber. The dispenser can be fitted inside the reservoir to conserve the fluid.

Description

Dispenser

Field of the Invention

The invention pertains to dispensers and more particularly to a dispenser for liquid toilet bowl cleaning products.

Background of the Invention

A variety of toilet bowl cleansing products are known that are dispensed from containers located either within the toilet bowl or the toilet's reservoir. Many users prefer products that are installed within the toilet's reservoir because they cannot be seen, soiled nor tampered with by users. The present invention seeks to provide an improved dispenser that is easy to use, easy and economical to refill and that also potentially serves to reduce the effective volume of the reservoir, thereby saving water.

Objects and Summary of the Invention

It is an object of the invention to provide a dispenser for liquid toilet bowl cleaning products.

It is another object of the invention to provide a dispenser for toilet bowl cleaning products that can optionally float.

It is another object of the invention to provide a refillable dispenser for toilet bowl cleaning products.

Accordingly, there is provided a refillable dispenser for a fluid reservoir. The dispenser comprising a dispensing container and a dispensing opening is provided in the container. The dispensing opening is fitted with a check valve, above which is located a flow control. An actuating chamber is affixed to the dispensing opening and surrounds the check valve. A free floating buoyant element that is not attached to the check valve is captured within the actuating chamber The buoyant element contacts the check valve to close it.

The buoyant element rises to the top of the actuating chamber and urges the check valve into a fluid flow stopping position. The buoyant element descends as the water level in the reservoir drops and this action allows fluid contained in the dispensing container to flow through the check valve. The rate of flow through the check valve can be adjusted, if required.

Brief Description of the Drawing Figures Figure i is a schematic cross-sectional view of a floating dispenser in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-section of the device depicted in Figure 1 but with the flow from the dispensing chamber blocked by the action of the check valve; and Figure 3 is another preferred embodiment of the invention.

Best Mode and Other Embodiments of the Invention

As shown in Figure 1, a floating dispenser 10 is intended to reside within the water filled reservoir of a toilet. It will be understood that the device has other applications relating to the dispensing of liquids into fluid reservoirs. The dispenser 10 comprises a dispensing container 11 with an optional screw cap or lid 12. The dispensing container 11 may be practically any shape or size, for example, oval in cross-section. For use in toilet reservoirs it is preferred that the container 11 be cylinder or a slightly tapered cylinder and size to appropriately fit within the reservoir of a toilet. In this example, the container's base 13 includes a threaded opening 14 into which is threaded an outlet 15. The outlet 15 includes a mounting flange 16 that may have hexagonal sides for ease of installation. The interior bore of the lower side of the outlet 15 is also threaded. These internal threads receive a check valve assembly 17. The outlet 15 also accepts a flow regulating stem 18. The stem 18 has an upper extremity that forms a preferably "T" shaped grip 19. The other end of the stem 18 includes a slotted and threaded tip above which is located a tapered flow control flange 20 that cooperates with a similarly tapered pilot 20a in the upper side of the outlet 15. Preferably, the stem 18 is concentric with a central axis of the container, and fits within the container 11 when there is a cap or lid on the container. The flow of liquid from the container 11 through the outlet 15 depends on the degree to which the threaded and slotted lower end of the stem 18 is inserted into the outlet 15. Threading the flange toward the pilot 20a reduces the flow through the outlet.

The actuating chamber 21 has a central and upper opening 22 that is threaded onto the exterior of the outlet 15 where it protrudes from the base 13 of the container 11. A buoyant element e.g. a floating sphere 23 is contained within the chamber 21 and is about the same diameter as the internal diameter of the chamber. The buoyant element 23 is retained within the chamber by small screws, pegs or rivets 24 that are inserted through the side walls of the chamber 21 below the buoyant element 23. Outlet- openings 25 are located through the side walls of the chamber 21 near the top of the chamber 21.

The device is used by filling the container 11 with a liquid toilet cleanser or deodoriser etc. and closing the lid 12. The device 10 is then deposited within the reservoir of a toilet. When there is sufficient water in the reservoir, the device will float. As the water level falls, the buoyant element 23 will descend to the lower reaches of the actuating chamber 21 as depicted in Figure 21. In this position, the check valve 17 is deactivated and fluid is able to flow from the container 11, through the gap between the flange and the pilot, down the slots 20, passing through the check valve 17 and into the actuating chamber 21. From within the actuating chamber, the liquid chemical agent, cleanser or deodorant is able to exit into the toilet's reservoir through the openings 25 and, to some extent, around the buoyant element 23 and through the open bottom 26 of the chamber 21.

As the water level is the reservoir rises, the buoyant element 23 of the floating dispenser will rise to the top of the actuating chamber 21 and urge the check valve 17 into a closed position as shown in Figure 2. It does this by urging, for example, the ball of the check valve 17 against its seal thus inhibiting any fluid flow through the outlet 15.

It will be appreciated that the dispenser is adapted to deliver a variable dose of a liquid agent whenever the toilet's reservoir is discharged. The flow of this liquid ceases when the buoyant element 23 rises to the top of the actuating chamber 21 thus activating the check valve 17. The dispenser is adapted to contain a relatively large volume of liquid agent, achieves economy by virtue of the fact that it is refillable over a considerably long lifetime, reduces waste because it is not a disposable product, and reduces the consumption of water in the reservoir because it occupies a volume within that reservoir that would otherwise be occupied with water. A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 3. In this example, the ball type check valve 17 is replaced with a soft polymer insert 50 that is inserted into the lower end of the outlet 15. The insert forms a cylindrical body terminating in a sealing cup 51, like a suction cup with a central bore 52 that is in fluid communication with the bore of the outlet. When the floating ball 23 rises, it is urged into contact with the sealing cup and prevents fluid from escaping the container through the outletis. When the ball 23 descends, fluid escapes through the bore 52. Also note that in this example, the upper opening 22 of the chamber 21 has been lengthened to provide additional threads for the outlet to bind to. In addition, the chamber 21 has been threaded so that it contacts the underside of the container 11.

The embodiment shown in Figure 3 also includes a hook 53 which can be used to suspend the dispenser 10 from a sidewall of the reservoir. This hook is attached to the exterior of the container 11. The hook 53 may for example be attached to a bracket 54 mounted on the exterior of the container, such that the position of the hook may be adjusted for toilets or reservoirs of different sizes.

It will be appreciated that the invention has been disclosed with reference to particular details of construction. These should be understood as having been provided by way of example and not as limitations to the scope or spirit of the invention. In particular, it will be appreciated that the fluid flow adjustment performed in the example above by the threaded stem 18 can be performed in a number of ways, or not at all if the throughput of the outlet is optimised with an internal bore of the appropriate diameter or flow characteristics. It will be also appreciated that the invention is not limited to any particular shape or size and that it is adapted to dispense practically any liquid.

Claims

What is claimed is:

l. A refillable dispenser for a fluid reservoir, comprising:

a dispensing container; a dispensing opening in the container; the dispensing opening fitted with a check valve above which is located a flow control; an actuating chamber affixed to the dispensing opening and surrounding the check valve; a free floating buoyant element captured within the actuating chamber, the buoyant element not being attached to the check valve; the buoyant element contacting the check valve to close it.

2. The dispenser of claim i, wherein,

the flow control comprises a flow regulating stem that is received in an outlet located above the check valve.

3. The dispenser of claim 2, wherein,

the opening receives the outlet, the outlet having a mounting flange.

4. The dispenser of claim 3, wherein,

the outlet has a lower side, and an interior bore on the lower side of the outlet receives the check valve assembly.

5. The dispenser of claim l, wherein,

the check valve is a sphere.

6. The dispenser of claims l or 5, wherein,

the buoyant element is a sphere.

7. The dispenser of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein,

the outlet has a tapered pilot, into which is fitted an end of the flow regulating stem.

8. The dispenser of claim 7, wherein,

the flow regulating stem is concentric with a central axis of the container, and the flow regulating stem is fitted within the container.

9. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein,

a flow control flange, similarly tapered to the pilot, is located above a tip of the regulating stem received by the pilot.

10. The dispenser of any of one claims 1 to 9, wherein,

the dispensing container has a screw cap.

11. The dispenser of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein,

the container is oval-shaped in cross-section.

12. The dispenser of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein,

an outlet protrudes from the container, and the actuating chamber is affixed to the outlet.

13- The dispenser of any one of claims l to 12, wherein,

the buoyant element is retained within the actuating chamber by one or more protrusions into an interior of the chamber below the buoyant element.

14. The dispenser of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein,

the dispenser is adapted to dispense when the buoyant element descends and releases the check valve into an open position.

15. The dispenser of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein,

a hook for suspending the dispenser onto the reservoir is provided on an exterior of the container.

16. The dispenser of claim 15, wherein,

the hook is supported by a bracket affixed to the exterior of the container.

17. The dispenser of any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein,

one or more outlet openings are located in side walls of the actuating chamber.

18. The dispenser of any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein,

the actuating chamber has an open bottom.

19. The dispenser of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein,

the check valve is a soft polymer insert with a cylindrical body terminating in a sealing cup, the sealing cup having a central bore that is in fluid communication with the interior bore of the outlet.