阅读说明：本技术 桶内分配装置 (In-barrel dispensing device ) 是由 K·卡维尔 杰西·德尔吉甘特 H·M·L·弗莱彻 J·K·海恩斯沃思 I·C·史密斯 A· 于 2018-06-05 设计创作，主要内容包括：公开了一种桶内分配装置,该桶内分配装置被设计成在马桶桶体冲洗完成之后分配组合物。以这种方式,将组合物保留在马桶桶体中,直到下一个使用者冲洗马桶桶体为止。(An in-can dispensing device is disclosed that is designed to dispense a composition after flushing of a toilet bowl is complete. In this manner, the composition is retained in the toilet bowl until the next user flushes the toilet bowl.)

1. A device (30) for dispensing a composition (2) into a toilet bowl after flushing, the device (30) comprising:

a) a container (1) containing a composition (2) suitable for dispensing into a toilet bowl;

b) a support cage (6) supporting the container (1), the support cage having a delivery device (21) for delivering the composition to a dosing cup (12);

c) a lever arm (16), the lever arm (16) being pivotally connected to the support cage by a pivot point (17); the lever arm (16) comprises the dosing cup (12), the dosing cup (12) preferably being arranged on the lever arm (16) remote from the pivot point (17);

d) a reservoir (18) for temporarily retaining a portion of the water flow during a toilet flush; a biasing device (20) in contact with the lever arm (16); wherein the reservoir (18) comprises one or more discharge apertures (19); and

e) a suspension device (5) for suspending the support cage from a portion of the toilet bowl to place the support cage (6) in a flow of water during a toilet flush such that at least a portion of the flow of water is directed into the reservoir (18) during the toilet flush; and is

Wherein, during a toilet flush, the weight of flush water retained in the reservoir (18) causes the lever arm (16) to rotate from its initial biased position about the pivot point (17) and move the composition from the container to the dosing cup; and further wherein at the end of the toilet flush, the lever arm (16) is biased by the biasing means (20) about the pivot point (17) to an initial position of the lever arm (16) and causes the composition (2) to be dispensed from the dosing cup (12) into the toilet bowl.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the composition (2) provides a fragrancing benefit.

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the composition (2) provides a fragrancing benefit and/or provides a barrier layer to the surface of water in the toilet bowl.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the delivery device is a liquid flow lumen (21).

5. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the composition (2) is a liquid composition.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the dosing cup (12) comprises a drip point (15).

7. Device according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir (18) comprises two or more discharge orifices (19).

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the lever arm (16) further comprises a deflection ramp (23).

9. The device according to claim 5, wherein the liquid flow chamber (21) further comprises a piercing structure.

10. The device of claim 5, wherein a ratio of a cross-sectional area of a liquid flow lumen to a length of the liquid flow lumen is at least about 2.5: 1.

11. A composition (2), the composition (2) being suitable for use with a device (30) according to any one of the preceding claims, the composition (2) comprising:

1) 20% -90% of water;

2) 5% -50% of a barrier component;

3) 5% -40% of perfume; and

4) 0-20% of optional ingredients.

12. The composition according to claim 11, wherein the composition (2) is a liquid.

13. The composition of claim 11 or 12, wherein the viscosity is from 1 centipoise to 400 centipoise.

14. The composition of any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the barrier layer component is a PEG or PPG compound.

15. The composition according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the optional ingredients are selected from the group consisting of dyes, preservatives, antimicrobial agents, thickeners, bleaches, surfactants and pH adjusters.

16. A method of automatically adding a composition (2) to a toilet bowl after flushing, the method comprising placing the device (30) of any of claims 1 to 10 on the inner rim of the toilet bowl.

17. The method of automatically adding a composition to a toilet bowl according to claim 16, wherein the added composition (2) is a composition according to any one of claims 11 to 15.

Background

An in-bowl dispensing device (ITB) for use with a toilet is provided.

The ITB of the present invention is preferably designed to dispense the composition into the toilet bowl at specific intervals. The composition is preferably dispensed at the end of the toilet bowl flush or shortly after the flush is complete. After the flush is complete, the composition will remain in the toilet bowl until the next flush, preferably to provide benefits such as fragrancing and/or odor reduction or elimination.

When a person enters a toilet to use the toilet bowl, they prefer that the air in the toilet be free of odors. This problem may occur, particularly in the case where a previous user of the toilet has defecated into the toilet bowl, even if the previous user has flushed the toilet bowl after use. The ITB of the present invention provides a solution to this problem.

Disclosure of Invention

A device for dispensing a composition into a toilet bowl after flushing, the device comprising:

a) a container, preferably a bottle, containing a composition suitable for dispensing into a toilet bowl;

b) a support cage supporting the container, the support cage having a delivery device for delivering the composition to the dosing cup;

c) a lever arm pivotally connected to the support cage by a pivot point; the lever arm comprises a dosing cup, preferably arranged on the lever arm remote from the pivot point; and

d) a reservoir for temporarily retaining a portion of the water flow during a toilet flush; the biasing device is in contact with the lever arm; wherein the reservoir comprises one or more discharge apertures;

e) a suspension device for suspending the support cage from a portion of the toilet bowl to place the support cage in the flow of water during toilet flushing such that at least a portion of the flow of water is directed into the reservoir during toilet flushing; and wherein, during a toilet flush, the weight of the flush water retained in the reservoir causes the lever arm to rotate from its initial biased position about the pivot point and move the composition from the container to the dosing cup; and further wherein at the end of the toilet flush, the lever arm is biased by the biasing means about the pivot point to an initial position of the lever arm and causes the composition to be dispensed from the dosing cup into the toilet bowl.

After the rinsing operation is stopped or nearly completed, the present invention releases the composition into the tub. Preferably, the composition is a liquid composition. In a preferred embodiment, the liquid composition comprises, in part, a fragrance and an oil that floats on the surface of the water remaining in the tub. In this way, the toilet bowl is provided with flavouring benefits and a barrier is formed over the water surface.

When the user subsequently defecates into the toilet bowl, the odor associated with the feces is trapped under the oil barrier, thereby eliminating or reducing the amount of odor emanating from the feces into the air in the lavatory. In addition, more fragrance is released into the air by virtue of turbulence created within the toilet bowl water. In this way, in preferred embodiments, the ITB provides odor elimination or reduction and/or fragrancing benefits.

The ITB of the present invention can provide this dual benefit by using a container (e.g., a bottle) of a liquid fragrance and oil (or barrier oil) composition. In a preferred embodiment, the bottle of perfume composition is inverted. By "inverted" is meant that the spout is in a downward position facing in the general direction of the bottom of the toilet bowl. The bottle is preferably removably attached to a support cage which in turn is suspended from the rim of the toilet bowl by suspension means (e.g. hooks) so as to be in the path of the flushing water. When the bottle is inserted into the support cage, one or more closures covering the mouth of the bottle may be opened by a piercing structure or other means for opening the bottle. Thus, the contents of the inverted bottle are exposed to atmospheric pressure while retained in the support cage and can flow out of the inverted bottle through the liquid flow chamber, which may comprise part of the piercing structure.

Associated with the support cage is a lever arm that is rotatable about a pivot point that is also associated with and part of the support cage. The lever arm is optionally but preferably fitted at one end with a reservoir for temporarily capturing and retaining a portion of the flush water during a toilet flushing operation. The reservoir preferably has one or more discharge holes for releasing the portion of the washing water temporarily captured by the reservoir entirely or mostly back into the toilet bowl for a period of time exceeding a time for completing a washing operation of the toilet bowl. Also associated with the lever arm is a displacement element, which may be in the form of a cup, for example. These displacement elements are hereinafter referred to as "dosing cups". The dosing cup is in fluid communication with a bottle of fragrance composition.

In contact with the lever arm and abutting the support cage is a biasing element (such as a spring) that biases the lever arm to a position about the pivot point such that the dosing cup can move in an upward position and a downward position relative to the liquid flow chamber of the bottle of cleaning fragrance composition.

The operation of the preferred embodiment of the ITB of the present invention is described below.

In the initial or pre-flush position of the ITB, no liquid is dispensed from the ITB into the toilet bowl. The lever arm is spring biased to a generally horizontal position. The dosing cup in the pre-flush position effectively prevents the contents of the liquid flow chamber from entering the toilet bowl when the closure of the bottle of fragrance composition is pierced.

In the second or flush position, when the user flushes the toilet, a portion of the flush water contacts the deflection ramp. The deflection ramp may be part of the lever arm, but may alternatively be associated with the support cage. The deflection ramp directs a portion of the flush water to a reservoir located at one end of the lever arm. This portion of the flush water is temporarily retained in the reservoir. The weight of the retained flush water biases the lever arm partially about the pivot point against the force of the spring, moving the reservoir in a downward direction toward the bottom of the toilet bowl.

This movement or tilting of the lever arm moves the dosing cup downwardly away from the liquid flow chamber associated with the bottle containing the composition. By moving towards this position, the available volume in the dosing cup increases and the fluid communication between the dosing cup and the liquid flow chamber for the perfume composition is temporarily interrupted. Thus, air is allowed to enter the bottle containing the perfume composition, and as a result, additional amounts of perfume composition can flow down through the liquid flow chamber into the second dosing cup. This continues until an equilibrium is reached between the contents of the bottle of perfume composition and the level of perfume composition in the second dosing cup. Similarly, factors that affect this balance include gravity, the surface tension and viscosity of the fragrance composition, the geometry of the liquid flow chamber, and the geometry of the dosing cup. All of these factors are taken into account so that the level of perfume composition in the dosing cup is below the top of the dosing cup.

In the flushing state, no discharge takes place from the dosing cup.

The discharge orifice is preferably located in the reservoir. Preferably, the discharge aperture in the reservoir is specifically dimensioned such that the flushing operation of the toilet bowl is completed or nearly completed when all or almost all of the flushing water temporarily captured by the reservoir has been released back into the toilet bowl. In this way, the weight of the captured flush water is reduced or removed from the lever arm, which in the third or post-flush position is spring biased about a pivot point in a manner that causes the dosing cup to move back down to its initial pre-flush.

As the dosing cup moves upward in this manner, a certain amount of composition is displaced from the second dosing cup via a drop point (drop point) on the dosing cup. This displacement is again due to archimedes' principle. Due to its oily nature and the fact that the flushing operation of the toilet bowl has stopped or nearly stopped, the displaced perfume composition (microemulsion) is able to provide a fragrancing benefit to the toilet bowl and spread over the entire surface of the water remaining in the toilet bowl to provide a barrier to the odor emanating from the toilet bowl when the user subsequently uses the toilet bowl. In this way, odor reduction and flavoring benefits are provided.

In addition to alternative embodiments of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 shows a top view of an embodiment of the ITB of the present invention suspended within a toilet bowl.

Fig. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of the ITB of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a top view of an embodiment of the ITB of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a three-quarter view of an embodiment of a support cage and deflection ramps.

Fig. 5 to 7 are line drawings of an embodiment of the ITB of the present invention.

Fig. 8-13 are functional diagrams of embodiments of the present invention during a flush cycle.

Detailed Description

Various exemplary embodiments are described herein for the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the principles and features of various embodiments of the present invention. While exemplary embodiments of the invention have been explained in detail, it should be understood that other embodiments are contemplated. Therefore, it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the specification, drawings, or examples. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.

As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, reference to one element is also intended to include a combination of elements. References to compositions containing "an" ingredient are intended to include other ingredients in addition to the recited ingredient.

In describing the exemplary embodiments, terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. Each term is intended to encompass the broadest meaning as understood by those skilled in the art and includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.

With respect to components of an ITB, ranges may be expressed herein as from "about" or "approximately" or "substantially" one orientation and/or to "about" or "approximately" or "substantially" another particular orientation. When such a range is expressed, other exemplary embodiments include from one particular orientation and/or to another particular orientation.

"comprising" or "comprises" or "comprising" means that at least the named method step is present in the method, but does not exclude the presence of other method steps, even if these method steps have the same function as the named function.

It should also be understood that the mention of one or more method steps does not preclude the presence of additional method steps or intervening method steps between those steps expressly identified. Similarly, it will also be understood that reference to one or more ingredients in the composition does not preclude the presence of additional ingredients other than those explicitly identified.

The materials described as making up the various elements of the present invention are exemplary only and not limiting. Many suitable materials that perform the same or similar function as the materials described herein are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. Such other materials not described herein may include, but are not limited to, materials developed after the development time of the present invention.

The apparatus described hereinafter makes use of the well-known physical phenomenon that atmospheric pressure acting on a surface area of a liquid bath can support a liquid column in an inverted vessel or container (such as a bottle) with its open end submerged in the liquid bath. The volume of the pool of liquid accumulated in the dosing cup depends on the height of the liquid, which in turn depends on a number of factors including the annular surface area of the pool, the viscosity of the liquid composition, the surface tension of the liquid, etc. The ITB of the present invention can be readily adapted for use with a wide variety of liquid compositions having a viscosity in the range of 1 to 4,000 centipoise at 25 ℃, more preferably 1 to 400 centipoise, most preferably 1 to 40 centipoise to meet different criteria in terms of color, foam formation, odor release, desired number of rinse operations per bottle, and other considerations.

The ITB 30 of the present invention is intended to be positioned in the toilet bowl TB by a hook 5 or other suspension device. See fig. 1.

The ITB of the present invention (such as shown in fig. 2-7) comprises a single container or bottle 1 located within a support cage/chassis 6. At least a portion of the support cage is arranged to divert, in use, the flow of flushing water towards the deflecting ramp 23. More specifically, the deflection ramp 23 may form a portion of the reservoir 18 and/or the lever arm 16. The bottle comprises composition 2 for dosing into the toilet bowl after flushing. The bottle 1 is preferably constructed of a transparent plastic material compatible with the chemistry of the composition 2. Preferably, the bottle 1 is transparent so that the consumer can easily see when the contents are empty and need to be replaced. It is also preferred that the support cage 6 comprises a piercing structure, preferably located in the liquid delivery device 21 to open the top of the bottle 1 when inserted into the support cage 6. The plastic is preferably polyethylene terephthalate. Nor is the scope of the invention limited to the materials of construction of the various components of the invention. Preferably, however, such components are constructed from a plastic such as polyethylene. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the many different plastics that may be used.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an in-bowl dispensing device for automatically dispensing a composition into a toilet bowl after flushing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a composition suitable for addition to a toilet bowl after flushing.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of automatically adding a composition to a toilet bowl after flushing. The method comprises the following steps: attaching the dispensing device of the first aspect of the invention to a portion of the toilet bowl TB such that the device is located inside the toilet bowl; and flushing the toilet to release the composition into the toilet after the flush cycle is complete or near completion. Preferably, the composition released is a composition according to the second aspect of the invention. Preferably, the composition is released only after the completion of the rinse cycle.

The use and operation of the ITB of the present invention will now be described.

Fig. 8 to 13 disclose the working sequence of the device 30 during a flushing cycle.

In the initial or pre-flush position, as shown in fig. 8, composition 2 is not dispensed from the ITB into the toilet bowl TB. The lever arm 16 is biased to a generally horizontal orientation by a spring 20. The cleaning composition dosing cup 12 surrounds a portion of the liquid flow chamber 21 (including its outlet) and is in fluid communication with the bottle 1 containing the composition 2. Composition dosing cup 12 is partially filled with composition 2 to the following level: an equilibrium is reached between the contents of the bottle containing the composition 1 and the atmospheric pressure on the surface of the composition in the dosing cup. The outlet of the liquid flow chamber 21 is submerged in the cleaning composition within the composition dosing cup 12. Factors that affect this balance are gravity, the surface tension and viscosity of the composition 2, the geometry of the liquid flow lumen 21, and the geometry of the composition dosing cup 12. The distance from the bottom of the composition dosing cup 12 to the outlet of the liquid flow chamber 21 is also considered. I.e. the volume of the composition dosing cup 12 not occupied by the liquid flow chamber 21.

In the initial or pre-flush position, no discharge from the composition dosing cup 12 into the toilet bowl occurs.

At the beginning of the second or flushing position, when the user flushes the toilet, a portion of the flushing water FW comes into contact with the deflecting ramp 23. See fig. 9 and 10. The deflecting ramp 23 slopes downwardly towards the reservoir 18, thus directing this portion of the flush water into the reservoir 18 disposed at one end of the lever arm 16.

This portion of the flush water is temporarily retained in the reservoir 18.

The weight of the retained flush water FW biases the lever arm 16 about the pivot point 17 against the force of the spring 20, moving the reservoir 18 downward toward the bottom of the toilet bowl TB. See fig. 10.

This movement of the lever arm 16 about the pivot point 17 simultaneously moves the fragrance composition dosing cup 12 downwardly and further away from the outlet of the liquid flow chamber 21 associated with the bottle 1 of composition 2. By moving in this position, the volume of the composition dosing cup 12 not occupied by the composition flow chamber 21 is increased and the fluid communication between the fragrance composition dosing cup 12 and the liquid flow chamber 21 for the composition is temporarily interrupted. Thus, air is allowed to enter the bottle 1 containing the composition 2, and as a result, an additional amount of the composition 2 can flow downwardly through the liquid flow chamber 21 and into the dosing cup 12. This continues until an equilibrium is reached between composition 2 in bottle 1 and composition 2 in fragrance dosing cup 12. In this position, no discharge occurs from the dosing cup 12.

The one or more discharge holes 19 in the reservoir 18 are of a particular size to slowly release the portion of flush water retained in the reservoir 18 to the toilet. As the flush water retained in the reservoir 18 is slowly released back into the toilet bowl (see fig. 11), the weight of the flush water in the reservoir 18 is reduced and removed from the lever arm 16.

In the third or post-flush position (see fig. 12), when the weight of the flush water in the reservoir 18 has been sufficiently reduced, preferably when all of the flush water in the reservoir has been released, the lever arm 16 is biased by the spring 20 about the pivot point 17 as follows: the cleaning composition dosing cup 12 is moved upwards while the volume of the fragrance composition dosing cup 12 not occupied by the liquid dose 21 is reduced, so that a quantity of composition 2 is expelled from the dosing cup 12 via the drop point 15 (see fig. 12).

The geometry and surface area of the drip point 15 is matched to the surface tension and viscosity of the portion of the perfume composition that is discharged from the perfume composition dosing cup 12 such that a displaced portion of the composition 2 will drip from the drip point 15 into the water in the toilet bowl TB towards the end of the flushing operation or after completion of the flushing operation. The device then returns to its initial position (fig. 13). Preferably, composition 2 enters the toilet bowl once the flush operation is complete.

In this way, the entry of the replacement dose of perfume composition into the toilet bowl is delayed until the flushing operation is about to end or preferably after the flushing operation is complete. Due to its essential oil properties and the fact that the flushing operation of the toilet bowl has stopped, the replacement dose of perfume composition is able to spread and float on the surface of the water remaining in the toilet bowl to form a barrier. When the user subsequently defecates into the toilet bowl, the odor associated with the feces is trapped under the essential oil barrier, thereby eliminating or reducing the amount of odor emanating from the feces into the air in the lavatory. Thus, the essential oil barrier provides both odor reduction and fragrance enhancement benefits.

The device 30 of the present invention allows for consistent and repeatable dosing of composition 2 into the toilet bowl after flushing. Although the present invention is not limited to a specific amount of the composition being dosed into the toilet bowl, in a preferred embodiment, the replacement dose of the perfume composition is preferably between about 0.05mL to about 5mL, more preferably between about 0.1mL to about 1.0mL, most preferably between 0.2mL to 0.5 mL. The device of the invention can be varied so that in principle any desired dosage can be achieved.

Composition comprising a metal oxide and a metal oxide

The present invention is not limited to a particular formulation. The device is capable of dosing any composition into the toilet bowl. Particularly preferred formulations include perfume formulations. In particular, the perfume formulation further comprises a layer component that forms a barrier or film on water.

The compositions of the present invention may be natural products such as essential oils. These compositions contain both the desired perfume and the layer ingredients that form the oil barrier.

Essential oils are not without problems. Generally, essential oils contain ingredients that are irritating to human tissues.

Artificial perfume compositions are also preferred. The artificial or synthetic compositions of the invention are preferably aqueous. Preferred compositions of the invention preferably comprise from 20% to 90% by weight water, more preferably from 30% to 70% by weight water, most preferably from 40% to 60% by weight water.

The composition preferably comprises from 5% to 50% by weight of the perfume composition, more preferably from about 10% to 40% by weight of the perfume composition, more preferably from about 25% to 35% by weight of the perfume composition.

The composition preferably comprises from about 5% to 40% by weight of the barrier layer component, more preferably from 10% to 30% by weight of the barrier layer component, most preferably from about 15% to 25% by weight of the barrier layer component.

Any chemical capable of forming a layer on the surface of water in a toilet bowl may include a barrier component. Particularly preferred barrier layer components include PEG and PPG.

The compositions of the present invention may further comprise additional minor ingredients. These additional minor ingredients may include dyes, preservatives, surfactants, bleaches, hydrogen peroxide, quaternary ammonium compounds and other active ingredients effective against microorganisms common in the toilet bowl environment, antimicrobial agents, thickeners, disinfectants, pH adjusters, and the like. Preferably, the minor ingredients are from about 0 to 20% by weight.

The following table details particularly preferred compositions for use in the devices and methods of the present invention.

Conclusion

In the preceding description, numerous features and advantages have been set forth, along with details of structure and function. Although the present invention has been disclosed in various forms, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications, additions, and deletions can be made therein, particularly in matters of liquid composition and shape, size, and arrangement of parts, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and its equivalents as set forth in the following claims. Accordingly, other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein may be particularly reserved since they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims herein appended.