Dispenser Combined With Hanging Clip For Inverted Support

Abstract

The combination of a liquid dispensing container and a hanging device for suspending the container in an inverted position from the upper interior of a conventional flush tank. The hanging device is adjustable from a storage position to a hanging position and includes means cooperating with a guide groove in the container for facilitating motion of the device between the storage position and the hanging position. The hanging device further includes a ribbed construction for increasing the strength thereof.

Description

This invention relates primarily to flush tank accessories and more particularly to the combination of a hanging device and a liquid dispensing container for use therewith.

Heretofore, it has been extremely difficult to suspend certain types of containers in flush tanks or the like so that they will be supported in a predetermined operating position and to provide sufficient strength for accomplishment of the supporting function.

Generally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hanging device and container which can be readily suspended from a support in a predetermined position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hanging device and container of the above character which is economical to manufacture and of sufficient strength to provide the support without an undesirable increase in material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination hanging device and container of the above character which allows for ready detachability from the flush tank, as well as convenient attachment thereto.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a combination hanging device and container of the above character which is compact in its display, packaged, or storage condition.

These and other objects of the present invention are accomplished in accordance with illustrative embodiments of the present invention by a hanging clip for use in combination with a liquid dispensing container, the hanging clip including means providing slidable attachment to the bottom wall of the container so that the liquid dispensing container can be suspended in an inverted position in a flush tank or the like. Further means are provided in the hanging clip for use in cooperation with stop means defined by the underside surface of the container to provide limits to the sliding action of the hanging clip relative to the container in a display or storage position and a hanging position.

The above brief description as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a container and hanging clip in storage or display position;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the container and hanging clip of FIG. 1 showing the hanging clip in storage or display position and in ghost lines in hanging position;

FIG. 3 is a section view taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2 showing the container and hanging clip and particularly the slidable attachment therebetween;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 2 showing another view of the slidable attachment between the container and hanging clip and further showing the stop means for limiting the sliding action of the hanging clip relative to the container;

FIG. 5 is a bottom isometric view of the container and hanging clip and their relationship with a flush tank or the like from which the container is suspended;

FIG. 6 is a partial bottom isometric view of a further embodiment of the present invention showing particularly a different stop means for limiting the sliding action of the hanging clip with respect to the container.

Referring to the drawings, and in particular FIGS. 1 through 5, a container, generally designated 10, is shown as including a main body portion 12, a neck portion 14, and a cap 16, threadably or otherwise secured to the neck portion 14 of the container 10. The container further includes a bottom wall 18 defining raised end surfaces 20 and a centrally disposed guide groove 24 for reception of the hanging clip, generally designated 22. The front wall 17 of the container 10 defines a hanging clip flange receiving slot 23 and the rear wall 19 defines a further hanging clip flange receiving slot 27, the two slots 23, 27 providing means by which alternate (front to rear) orientations of the hanging clip may be used for assembling the hanging clip 22 with the container 10.

The bottom wall 18 further defines at its central portion a stop slot 34, best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the stop slot having a hanging position stop wall 34a at one of its ends and a storage position stop wall 34b at the other end of its ends (FIG. 4).

The hanging clip 22 includes a main body portion 28 defining strength-providing ribs 32 and a flush tank engaging flange 33 depending from the hanging clip main body portion 28 and generally at right angles thereto. The flange 33 is intended for insertion to one of the hanging clip flange receiving slots 23, 27 in its storage position. The main body portion 28 further defines a depending stop depression 25 for engagement with one of the stop walls 34a, 34b of the container 10. The depending depression 25 is intended for insertion to the slot 34, defined by the bottom wall 18 of the container, so that the hanging clip 22 can be moved along the direction 41 to a hanging position from the storage position. When the hanging clip 22 is in storage position, the stop wall 34b provides a stop means to prevent further motion of the hanging clip in a direction opposite to that designated by arrow 41 in FIG. 2. The stop wall 34a is intended to prevent further motion of the hanging clip, when it is in its hanging position, in the direction designated by arrow 41. The combination of the slot 34 and depression 25 and the further combination of the side edges of the hanging clip 22 and the guide grooves 24 provide a guide for the motion of the hanging clip 22 with respect to the bottom wall 18 of the container 10.

The container 10 and its hanging clip 22 are intended for suspension from the inside top of a wall 44 of a flush tank or the like (FIG. 5) such that the hanging clip does not impede the proper closed position of a flush tank cover 46. Accordingly, the hanging clip 22 is fabricated of a tin plated material such as aluminum or the like which provides sufficient strength for suspension of the container 10 in its inverted position and yet which provides a construction of sufficiently thin dimensions to avoid such interference. The flange 33 of the hanging clip is intended to extend outside of the flush tank wall 44 and yet without protrusion below the skirt of the cover 46. In this way, unsightliness of the installation is avoided.

An alternative form of the present invention is shown in FIG. 6 wherein the hanging clip 22' is provided with a main body portion 28' defining an elongated slot 34'. The slot 34' provides at one of its ends a hanging position limiting stop wall 34a' and at the other of its ends a storage position limiting stop wall 34b'. The bottom wall 18' of the container 10' is shown to define raised end surfaces 20' and a motion limiting, upwardly, protruding stop element 25' extending upwardly from the bottom wall 18'. The element 25' is intended for insertion to the slot 34' of the hanging clip 22' such that it cooperates to act both as a guide and as a stop means for limiting the motion of the hanging clip in direction 41'. In the same way as described previously for the other embodiment, the bottom wall 18' of the container defines guide grooves 24' for guiding the hanging clip in its motion. Also in the same way as described for the other embodiment, flange 33' of the hanging clip is intended for arrangement over the upper part of a flush tank wall to suspend the container 10' in inverted position for dispensation of its liquid or other contents.

In order to facilitate a complete understanding of the construction of the invention herein, a brief description of the operation thereof will now be described. The container and the hanging clip are initially in storage or display in the relative positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the hanging clip flange 33 inserted to the flange receiving slot 23 in the front wall 17 of the container 10. Just prior to installation, the hanging clip 22 is moved in direction 41 to its hanging position, the guide grooves 24 acting as a guide for the motion. The limit of motion in direction 41 is provided by the abutment of the hanging clip depending depression 25 with stop wall 34a of slot 34 in the bottom wall of the container. The cover 46 of the flush tank is removed and the flange 33 draped over the flush tank wall 44 to suspend the container in an inverted position therefrom. The cover 46 is then replaced onto the flush tank. It may be seen that the embodiment of FIG. 6 is similarly used and operated and that in both embodiments the stop means 25, 24 and 25', 34' not only provide limits for motion of the hanging clip, but also provide further guide means for the clip.

Claims

What is claimed:

1. In combination, a container of the liquid dispensing type and a hanging device, said container comprising side walls and a bottom wall, said bottom wall defining guide grooves and first stop means and said hanging device including means cooperating with said guide grooves for facilitating motion of said hanging device relative to said container and second stop means for use cooperatively with said first stop means for limiting said motion, said hanging device further including hanging means having a horizontally extending main body portion and a vertical flange depending from said main body portion, said hanging means suspending said container with an inverted orientation, so that said container hangs with said hanging device at all points lower than said bottom wall.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said first stop means includes a slot and said second stop means includes a depending depression for engaging said slot to limit said motion in at least one direction.

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said first stop means includes a stop element upwardly protruding from said bottom wall and said second stop means includes a slot to which said element is inserted for slidable motion.