U.S. patent application number 10/569431 was filed with the patent office on 2007-01-11 for device and method for supplying cleaning material to a toilet.
Invention is credited to Ran Sagy.
Application Number | 20070006369 10/569431 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32697111 |
Filed Date | 2007-01-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070006369 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sagy; Ran |
January 11, 2007 |
Device and method for supplying cleaning material to a toilet
Abstract
A device for supplying cleaning material for the automatic
cleaning of a flush toilet having a tank with an auxiliary aperture
comprising: a tube adapted for holding the cleaning material and
adapted for insertion into the auxiliary aperture, the tube having
a first portion adapted to allow it to pass through the auxiliary
aperture, and a second portion designed to be external to the tank
when installed therein. The device further includes a dosage
mechanism disposed in the first portion of the tube for dosing a
quantity of cleaning material, adapted for dispensing the quantity
of the cleaning material into the tank upon flushing of the
toilet.
Inventors: |
Sagy; Ran; (Hadera,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NATH & ASSOCIATES
112 South West Street
Alexandria
VA
22314
US
|
Family ID: |
32697111 |
Appl. No.: |
10/569431 |
Filed: |
August 18, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
August 18, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IL04/00754 |
371 Date: |
February 23, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/227.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03D 9/037 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
004/227.1 |
International
Class: |
E03D 9/02 20060101
E03D009/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 26, 2003 |
IL |
157574 |
Claims
1-15. (canceled)
16) A device for supplying cleaning material for the automatic
cleaning of a flush toilet having a tank with an auxiliary aperture
comprising: a tube adapted for holding said cleaning material and
adapted for insertion into said auxiliary aperture, the tube having
a first portion adapted to allow passage of said first portion
through the auxiliary aperture, and a second portion designed to be
external to the tank when installed therein; and a dosage mechanism
disposed in the first portion of the tube for dosing a 10 quantity
of cleaning material, adapted for dispensing said quantity of said
cleaning material into said tank upon flushing of said flush
toilet.
17) The device according to claim 1, wherein said device further
comprises a fixing arrangement associated with the first portion
and adapted to fit in the auxiliary aperture to provide stable
mounting of the device.
18) The device according to either of claim 1, wherein the fixing
arrangement comprises a mushroom seal.
19) The device according to either of claim 1, wherein the fixing
arrangement comprises a sleeve-shaped seal.
20) The device according to either of claim 1, further comprising a
reservoir adapted for connection to the second portion of the tube
for storing additional cleaning material.
21) The device according to claim 1, wherein the dosage mechanism
comprises a float designed to float in water and control the
dosing.
22) The device according to claim 1, wherein the tube is
flexible.
23) The device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning material
is a liquid.
24) The device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning material
is comprised of pellets.
25) The device according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary aperture
is in a sidewall of the tank.
26) The device according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary aperture
is in a bottom portion of the tank.
27) The device according to claim 5, wherein the reservoir is
adapted to be replaceable.
28) A method for supplying cleaning material for automatically
cleaning a flush toilet having a tank with an auxiliary aperture
comprising: providing a device for supplying said cleaning
material, the device comprising a tube adapted for holding said
cleaning material and adapted for insertion through said auxiliary
aperture, the tube having a first portion dimensioned to allow
passage of said first portion through the auxiliary aperture, and a
second portion designed to be external to the tank when installed
therein, and a dosage mechanism disposed in the first portion of
the tube for dosing a quantity of cleaning material, adapted for
dispensing said quantity of said cleaning material into said tank
upon flushing of said flush toilet; and installing the device in
the auxiliary aperture.
29) A method according to claim 13, further comprising providing a
replaceable reservoir for supplying the cleaning material into the
device.
30) A replaceable reservoir for use with the device according to
claim 1.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a device and method for supplying
cleaning material to a flush toilet, in particular for the
automatic cleaning thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Numerous devices exist for the automatic cleaning,
disinfecting, deodorizing, etc. (hereinafter "cleaning") of flush
toilets.
[0003] Many of these devices are attachable to the bowl of the
toilet while others are attached or inserted in the tank of the
toilet.
[0004] FR 2648169, to Dugay, discloses a device mounted in an
aperture in the side of a toilet tank for permitting the diffusion
of a disinfectant and coloring substance into a toilet bowl. The
device comprises a flexible plastic tube having a portion internal
to the tank with soap cylinders therein and perforations for
permitting the diffusion of the substance. The release of the
substance is actuated by a ring that slides on the outside of the
end of the tube, the ring being of a size that precludes
installation via the aperture.
[0005] FR 2770863, to Hassani, discloses an arrangement consisting
of a container attached to the outside of a toilet tank by a hollow
threaded rod inserted in a side aperture in the tank. The container
has a lid, an inner compartment for solid or liquid disinfectant, a
float with a stopper for stopping flow of disinfectant into the
tank when the tank is full and a regulator to the control the flow
rate. A supple tube passes through the hollow rod for dispensing a
controlled amount of disinfectant each time the toilet is flushed.
The container is fastened to the tank using a nut and a washer,
larger than the aperture and disposed inside the tank, thus
requiring opening of the tank during installation.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 2,320,128, to Hall, discloses a device for the
automatic measurement, dilution and distribution of concentrated
liquid disinfectant discharged by gravity flow into a tank having a
removable cover. A reservoir holding the disinfectant is located on
top of the tank's cover and secured thereto by inter-engaging
screwed portions. A pipe depending from the reservoir depends into
the tank and contains a chamber for measuring the disinfectant
supplied to the tank.
[0007] GB 421,193, to Stanwell, discloses a fluid mixing device
screwed to the cover of a flushing tank comprising a mixing fluid
chamber holding a mixing fluid and a small bore tube. A large bore
dip pipe extends down into the tank and upon flushing, the downward
movement of the flushed water produces a piston effect drawing an
amount of mixing fluid into the tank.
[0008] Devices of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,320,128 and
GB 421,193, being designed for installation on the cover of the
tank, interfere with removal of the tank cover or at least make
removal thereof more difficult thereby hindering normal maintenance
of the tank.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention relates to a device and method for
supplying cleaning material for the automatic cleaning of a flush
toilet having a tank. Toilet tanks are commonly manufactured with
two apertures, one on either side of the tank, for allowing
flexibility of installation of a water inlet pipe, depending upon
which aperture proves most convenient. It is an idea of the present
invention to use the unused aperture for mounting therein the
device of the present invention without the necessity of opening
the tank.
[0010] The tank may be outfitted with an additional aperture, for
example for installation of piping as part of a bidet, wherein this
additional aperture is typically located at the bottom of the tank.
The unused aperture, or apertures, is typically plugged.
[0011] If no unused aperture exists in a tank, one can be formed,
for example, by drilling. Such an aperture in a toilet tank,
whether already existing in the tank when installed or one formed
therein afterward, is hereinafter in the specification and claims
referred to as an "auxiliary aperture".
[0012] The device of the present invention comprises: a tube
adapted for holding cleaning material and adapted for insertion
through an auxiliary aperture, the tube having a first portion
adapted to allow passage thereof through the auxiliary aperture,
and a second portion designed to be external to the tank when
installed therein; and a dosage mechanism disposed in the first
portion of the tube for dosing a quantity of cleaning material,
adapted for dispensing the quantity of the cleaning material into
the tank upon flushing of the toilet.
[0013] The method of the present invention comprises: providing a
device for supplying cleaning material to a toilet tank, the device
comprising a tube adapted for holding the cleaning material and
adapted for insertion through an auxiliary aperture, the tube
having a first portion dimensioned to allow passage of this first
portion through the aperture, and a second portion designed to be
external to the tank when installed therein, and a dosage mechanism
disposed in the first portion of the tube for dosing a quantity of
cleaning material, adapted for dispensing the quantity of the
cleaning material into the tank upon flushing of the toilet; and
installing the device in the auxiliary aperture.
[0014] Advantages of the device of the present invention include:
[0015] The device is adapted for locating at the toilet tank and
not the toilet bowl where cleaning material has a tendency to stain
the wall of the bowl and dosage of the cleaning material is
dependent on the flow characteristics of the flushing water upon
flushing. [0016] Installation of the device at the tank precludes
an installer from coming in contact, or close to contact, with the
toilet bowl which is potentially unhygienic. [0017] Supplying
cleaning material into the tank prior to the toilet bowl
facilitates an even distribution of cleaning material. [0018]
Supplying cleaning material into the tank and in a manner that does
not require close contact with the material, allows the use of high
strength cleaning. [0019] Refilling of cleaning material for the
device does not require touching the toilet bowl. [0020] The device
can be installed without removing the tank cover. [0021] The device
does not provide any hindrance to opening the tank cover if
desired, for example, for tank maintenance. [0022] The device is
very easy to install.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] In order to understand the invention and to see how it may
be carried out in practice, some embodiments will now be described,
by way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0024] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a toilet tank
and a device according to an embodiment of the present invention,
installed therein for cleaning a flush toilet;
[0025] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion designated as II in
FIG. 1;
[0026] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a fixing arrangement for
the device of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of a
toilet tank and a device installed therein for cleaning a flush
toilet according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0028] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of an alternate tube for the
device in FIG. 4;
[0029] FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate examples of reservoirs, and
holders therefor, for the device of the present invention; and
[0030] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a dosage mechanism for the
device of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0031] Referring first to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a
standard toilet tank T of a flush toilet (not shown in its
entirety). For clarity, the float assembly typically associated
with such toilet tanks for controlling tank-water refill, is not
shown. The tank T has a cover C, side walls S1 and S2 and a bottom
B. The tank T further comprises a water outlet O in the bottom B,
wherefrom water exits the tank upon flushing of the toilet and two
apertures in the side walls S1 and S2. One of these apertures
serves as a water inlet I and the other is an auxiliary aperture A
which is typically formed in toilet tanks to provide flexibility of
installation.
[0032] Fixed at the auxiliary aperture A of the tank T is a device
10 of the present invention for supplying cleaning material 12 for
the automatic cleaning of a flush toilet.
[0033] The device 10 can be designed as a one-time use item wherein
it is replaced when the cleaning material 12 has been depleted.
Alternatively, the device 10 can further comprise a reservoir 14
containing additional cleaning material and allowing the refilling
thereof via a lid 16.
[0034] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of a portion designated as II
in FIG. 1, whereby details of the device 10 are noticeable.
[0035] The device 10 comprises a tube 20 having a first portion 21
dimensioned to allow passage through the auxiliary aperture A and a
second portion 22 designed to be external to the toilet tank T when
installed therein. Thus the device 10 can be easily installed
without opening of the cover C of the tank T.
[0036] The device 10 also comprises a dosage mechanism 24 disposed
in the first portion 21 for dosing and dispensing a quantity of the
cleaning material 12 upon flushing of the toilet. One option for
the design of such a dosage mechanism is illustrated. In this
example, the tube 20 comprises a wider portion 26 housing a float
28--shown as a ball although it may be of other suitable shapes, as
will be understood. The tube 20 and the disposition of the dosage
mechanism 24 are such that when flushing water collects in the tank
T, the dosage mechanism is submerged in the water.
[0037] The float 28 is of a density such that when there is
flushing water in the tank T it floats upward and is sealably held
against an upper narrow portion 30 of the dosage mechanism 24 and
when the water is flushed the float drops to sealably associate
with a lower narrow portion 32 of the dosage mechanism. Thus, an
amount of cleaning material 12 that collects inside the dosage
mechanism 24 is supplied to the tank T upon flushing of the
toilet.
[0038] The tube 20 can be integral with the dosage mechanism 24 or
attachable thereto. By one aspect, the tube 20 could be made of a
flexible material with the weight of the dosage mechanism 24
enabling the downward positioning of the mechanism.
[0039] The tube 20 can be adapted to facilitate a pressure fit to
fix the device 10 at the auxiliary aperture A as the device is not
heavy and thus does not require a strong connection; nor is a
sealable connection necessary if auxiliary aperture A is above the
tank water line, as is typical. For such a fit, the tube 20 is
preferably designed to taper adjacent its second portion 22 so that
the tube is suitably held at auxiliary aperture A.
[0040] However, instead of, or in conjunction with, the pressure
fitting, the device 10 may further comprise a fixing arrangement 34
for fixing the tube 20 at the auxiliary aperture A. The fixing
arrangement 34 shown in FIG. 2 comprises a flexible mushroom type
seal 36 which can be pushed through the auxiliary aperture A and
opens to its normal state upon passing the aperture to thereby fix
the device 10 at the sidewall S1. This is particularly useful if
the auxiliary aperture A is below the waterline, especially in
cases where it is located in the bottom B of the tank T and the
fixing arrangement 34 needs to provide a relatively strong sealing
connection. A nut 35 tunable on a threaded portion 37 can be used
to tighten the fixing arrangement 34.
[0041] Alternatively, or in combination with design of the
above-described fixing arrangements, the fixing arrangement 34 can
comprise a cylindrical sealing sleeve 38, preferably tapered, as
shown in FIG. 3.
[0042] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the present invention wherein
the auxiliary aperture A is in the bottom B of the tank T--which
may, for example, be intended to allow the installation of piping
for a bidet. To install a device 10a as shown, the water inlet to
the tank T is first shut, the water in the tank is drained by
flushing it and then a tube 20a is installed through the auxiliary
aperture A. It is noticed that the tube 20a bends back on itself in
order to provide an orientation for the dosage mechanism 24 as
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0043] To allow passage through the auxiliary aperture A, the tube,
in whatever configuration, must not be too wide to pass
therethrough. One example for accomplishing this is by providing a
narrow tube 20a such that even in the portion where is folded back
on itself (presumably the widest portion) it is still dimensioned
to allow passage through the auxiliary aperture A.
[0044] In another example, illustrated in FIG. 5 there is a tube
20b having dimensions as in FIGS. 1 and 2, however a portion 40 of
the tube is flexible, thereby allowing it to fold back on itself
thus allowing the dosage mechanism 24 to be oriented as in FIGS. 1,
2 and 4.
[0045] Reverting to FIG. 4, the reservoir 14 is attached to the
second portion 22 of the tube 20 via an extended hose 42. A hose of
this nature can be used to allow arranging the reservoir in various
locations as desired and which may prove convenient based on space
limitations adjacent the tank T. The reservoir 14 can be further
stabilized by fixing to an adjacent wall of the bathroom (not
shown).
[0046] The extended hose 42 is also beneficial in the case where
the tank T is of the hidden type--typically behind an adjacent
wall--wherein the reservoir 14 can be arranged in a location
convenient for refilling the cleaning material 12.
[0047] FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate reservoir arrangements which are
suitable for use with any of the above-described embodiments. FIG.
6A shows an example of a reservoir 14a in combination with a holder
46 such as those used with water coolers. Such an arrangement
allows for the addition of cleaning material 12 without the need
for opening a lid or the pouring of the cleaning material.
Optionally, the reservoir may regardless comprise a lid 16a to
enable refilling.
[0048] FIG. 6B shows another example of a reservoir 14b in
combination with a holder 48. Again the attachment of the reservoir
is analogous to that of water coolers. However, the holder 48
comprises an arm 50 which can function to additionally hold the
reservoir 14b from the side and, if made of a clear material can
act as a site glass for determining the level of the cleaning
material 12 in the reservoir. Thus, the reservoir 14b itself need
not be of a clear material for the user to determine when to
replace the reservoir (or optionally to refill it if provided with
a lid 16b).
[0049] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a dosage mechanism 24a for
dispensing a cleaning material in the form of pellets, capsules,
powder and the like (hereinafter in the specification and claims:
"pellets"). The dosage mechanism 24a comprises a flap 52 within a
tube 20c and a float 28a having an upwardly facing wand 54. When
the tank T is full of water the float 28a rises to stopper the tube
20c at its upper narrowed portion 30a and such that its wand 54
pushes the flap 52 upward thereby releasing a quantity of pellets
56. When the water is flushed, the float 28a drops and releases the
pellets 56.
[0050] A device of the present invention intended for dispensing
pellets 56 can be of a one-time use type or adapted to allow
recharging of pellets in a variety of ways. For example, the
proximal end 22 of the tube 20c could be openable to allow an
injector appliance, or the like, to inject pellets.
[0051] It should be understood that while the device and method of
the present invention has described in relation to toilets, the
present invention can be used with any suitable tank, domestic or
industrial.
[0052] Those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains
will readily appreciate that numerous changes, variations and
modifications can be effectuated without departing from the true
spirit and scope of the invention as defined in and by the appended
claims.
* * * * *