Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Disinfection – Chemical holder suspended in bowl
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-27
2003-01-14
Fetsuga, Robert M. (Department: 3751)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Disinfection
Chemical holder suspended in bowl
Reexamination Certificate
active
06505356
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to liquid dispensers and in particular to arrangements for dispensing quantities of liquids, such as cleaning and/or refreshing liquids, from the rim of a lavatory bowl. Such dispensers typically comprise a reservoir in the form of an inverted bottle, which supplies the liquid to a wicking device, such as a porous pad.
One known device of this type is described in published European patent application EP-A-0 785 315. This application acknowledges the problem with such devices that as the liquid level in the bottle falls the rate at which liquid is dispensed falls with time and thereby renders the dispenser less effective.
The solution to this problem suggested by the above reference is to provide a structure between the mouth of the bottle and the wicking device so as to permit both the flow of the liquid from the bottle to the wicking device and also a return flow of air from outside the dispenser to the bottle.
However, the proposed structure is complex and therefore expensive to manufacture. Furthermore, a given dispenser of the type described in this reference can function only with a lavatory system having a predefined relative position of the rim of the lavatory bowl and the stream of flushing water.
A further problem with prior-art liquid dispensers of this type is that, when the consumer causes the bottle to be opened, e.g. by inserting the inverted bottle in a dispensing unit, some of the liquid spurts out as a result of the liquid in the bottle being slightly above atmospheric pressure, possibly because the act of sealing the mouth of the bottle in the factory pressurises the liquid to some extent.
It would therefore be desirable to provide liquid dispensers and methods of filling bottles for such dispensers which overcome, or at least mitigate, one or more of the above disadvantages of the prior-art dispenser.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a liquid dispensing device as defined in claim
1
.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a housing as defined in claim
14
.
In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a liquid dispensing unit as defined in claim
15
.
The wicking device is preferably provided with at least one venting aperture, which when the device is adjustable, are positioned such that there is at least one functioning venting hole for every possible functional position of the adjustable wicking device.
A spillage tray is advantageously positioned in use below the wicking device having formed therein a vent channel arranged in communication with the at least one functioning venting aperture.
In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a liquid dispensing unit as defined in claim
19
.
In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a dispensing unit as defined in claim
20
.
The or each venting aperture may be in the form of a substantially circular hole or an elongate slit.
The unit is preferably so structured as to permit the position of the wicking device to be adjusted between different positions so as to function with lavatory bowls with different shapes and different flushing systems.
The dispensing unit preferably further comprises a conduit for conveying liquid from the reservoir to the wicking device. The conduit may comprise a cylindrical inlet portion of substantially circular cross-section for engaging the circular mouth of a bottle constituting the reservoir and preferably terminates obliquely so as to define a substantially elliptical aperture. The conduit may further comprise a substantially cylindrical outlet portion, e.g. of a D-shaped, circular or substantially rectangular cross-section, having a cross-sectional area substantially less than that of the inlet portion, and the inlet portion of the conduit may be laterally displaced from the outlet portion. Such an arrangement is geometrically particularly advantageous when an adjustable wicking device is provided. When the outlet portion has a D-shaped cross-section, the bar of the “D” can be arranged to coincide with a diameter of the substantially circular inlet portion of the conduit when viewed vertically. The outlet portion of the conduit bears against the wicking device so as to create a substantially liquid-tight seal therebetween.
The outlet portion is preferably at least partially surrounded by a barrier wall, which may be cylindrical and of rectangular cross-section. This serves to prevent ingress of flushing water into the reservoir.
The wicking device preferably comprises a first portion for receiving liquid from the reservoir and a second portion arranged to be positioned in use in a dispensing position. The second portion may be arranged to be positioned in use within the stream of flushing water, in which case the second portion is preferably arranged to be positioned in use between the first portion and the rim of the lavatory bowl.
The dispensing unit is preferably structured such that the position of the wicking device can be adjusted by sliding the first portion thereof against the outlet portion of the conduit.
The wicking device is preferably substantially laminar and may be formed with a depression for receiving the neck of a bottle constituting a said reservoir. The wicking device may be formed with one or more elongate apertures and the housing may comprise a corresponding one or more projections for engaging the elongate apertures so as to define the outermost possible operative position of the wicking device. In this case, the or each projection may comprises a spring finger which is arranged to engage its corresponding aperture in the wicking device when the wicking device is inserted into the housing.
The wicking device may comprise a projection for insertion in the mouth of a said reservoir in use, the projection having formed therethrough a vent channel.
The wicking device preferably comprises a porous pad but may alternatively comprise a plate with channels or circular holes formed therein. The channels may be formed as elongate apertures or elongate channels within the plate and may be arranged in a splayed configuration thereby to convey the liquid from the reservoir in divergent paths. The invention extends to the combination of such a dispensing unit and means for suspending the unit from the rim of a lavatory bowl.
The invention extends to the combination of such a dispensing unit, which is provided with a conduit having an inlet portion of substantially circular cross-section, and a bottle constituting the reservoir, the bottle comprising an opening for dispensing the liquid therefrom, the opening having a substantially circular cross-section greater than that of the inlet portion of the conduit, the opening and the inlet portion of the conduit preferably being so dimensioned as to form a substantially liquid-tight seal when the cylinder is inserted in the reservoir mouth.
The mouth of the bottle is covered prior to use with a frangible seal which is arranged to be broken in use by compressing the seal against the circular inlet portion of the conduit. Such an arrangement is particularly convenient for the user. The cylindrical inlet portion of the conduit preferably comprises opening means for causing the frangible seal to be so broken and retaining means for retaining the frangible seal in a position which does not block the mouth of the bottle.
The seal is preferably substantially rigid and arranged to be pivoted between open and closed positions about one side thereof, the angle through which the seal is moved between said open and closed positions being substantially 90 degrees. The opening means may comprise a projection arranged to bear on the side of the closure member generally opposite to this one side. The retaining means may comprise a further projection arranged to bear on a face of the closure member when in its open position.
The seal is preferably substantially circular, and the opening means and the retaining means may be dispose
Brown Trevor O.
Buhler James E.
Corba Robert E.
Demarest Scott W.
Johnson Marilyn M.
Fetsuga Robert M.
S. C. Johnson & Son Inc.
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