Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Disinfection – With screen
Patent
1991-04-08
1994-06-07
Recla, Henry J.
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Disinfection
With screen
42272, 42274, 42277, E03D 903
Patent
active
053177622
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND
1.0 Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to automatic cleaning devices, and more particularly to such devices comprising a container with a lateral opening to accommodate a solid toilet cleanser which dissolves in water to form an active-substance concentrate.
2.0 Discussion of Related Art
A plastic container for a disinfectant and/or cleanser to be fitted into the water tank of a toilet is described in DE-OS 28 30 965. This known automatic toilet cleaner consists of a plastics material having a specific gravity of more than one and is intended to remain on the bottom of the filled water tank until its contents have been used up. The plastics container of this known automatic toilet cleaner consists of a lower part accommodating the water-soluble cleanser and of an upper part open at its upper end and adjoining the lower part. The known container has a lateral bore immediately above the maximum filling level of the cleanser.
For practical application, the known automatic toilet cleaner may be placed in the cistern of a toilet. Under the effect of its low center of gravity, the toilet cleaner automatically rights itself during immersion so that its opening faces upwards and is slowly filled with water through the lateral bore so that it sinks to the bottom of the water tank. The water in the container dissolves the cleanser so that an active-substance concentrate is formed in the container. During emptying of the water, the concentrate is intended to be dispensed into the remaining water flowing to the toilet after the water level in the tank has fallen to below the height of the container.
In the above-mentioned automatic toilet cleaner known from DE-OS 28 30 965, a circulation can be established through the upper opening and the lateral opening of the container even when the water tank is not in use so that the water in the water tank becomes increasingly concentrated with active substance before flushing. The consumption of cleanser is correspondingly high even when the water tank is not in use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic toilet cleaner device from which active-substance concentrate is only released when the water in the water tank has mostly been emptied. In one embodiment the automatic toilet cleaner device includes a container accommodating the toilet cleanser in its lower part with a lateral outlet opening for the active-substance concentrate. The upper part of the container opposite the lower part accommodating the toilet cleanser comprises a float to enable the automatic cleaner as a whole to float freely in such a way that the exit of the lateral opening always remains below the water level of the filled water tank and in that the lateral opening is safeguarded against outflow of the active-substance concentrate when the water tank is full.
Through the invention, the automatic toilet cleaner always floats when the water tank is full although the single, lateral opening of the container basically provided as an exit for the active-substance concentrate lies below the water surface. In another embodiment, a second container opening for filling or emptying the interior of the container, which is required at least for venting or airing, is always situated above the water surface so that the water in the the water tank is unable to circulate through the container.
In yet another embodiment for producing a safeguard against the unwanted escape of the active-substance concentrate from the lateral opening, the lateral opening is arranged and designed in such a way that the active-substance concentrate, which generally has a higher specific gravity than pure water, is unable to flow out from the lateral opening--on account of the higher density--before the release of active substance is required when the toilet is in use.
In a first alternative of another embodiment of the invention, at least one buoyant element which allows the container to float substantially upright is provided as the float. In a second alterna
REFERENCES:
patent: 4453278 (1984-06-01), Doggett et al.
patent: 4530118 (1985-07-01), Richards
patent: 4534070 (1985-08-01), Hauptmann et al.
patent: 4534071 (1985-08-01), Russomanno
patent: 4764992 (1988-08-01), Delia
patent: 4828803 (1989-05-01), Nicholson et al.
Bongers Bernhard
Horst Bertram
Menke Ronald
Tuerk Erich
Weiss Volker
Eloshway Charles R.
Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien
Jaeschke Wayne C.
Recla Henry J.
Szoke Ernest G.
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