Dispensing device

• US 6,510,561 B1
• Filed: 05/18/2001
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Reckitt Benckiser UK Ltd (Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Reckitt Benckiser UK Ltd (Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC)
• Inventors: Poile, Steven, Hammond, Geoffrey Robert, McKechnie, Malcolm Tom
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TUAN N
• Application Number:
  US09/807,527
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 422/2, 422/3, 422/4, 423/1
• US Class Current: 4/231
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 9/032 Devices connected to or dispensing into the bowl

Abstract

A dispensing device comprising a body defining first and second compartments, separated by a flexible impermeable membrane. The second compartment is closed off by a semi-permeable membrane adjacent which a water container is disposed. An apertured delivery tube leads from the first compartment. The device may be used to dispense a cleaning, disinfectant and/or fragrancing gel into a toilet bowl. On flushing, water enters the container and migrates through the semi-permeable membrane, increasing the pressure in an osmotic agent or swellable hydrogel contained in the second compartment. This imposes a pressure on the flexible impermeable membrane to displace a gel from the first compartment into the toilet bowl through apertures in the tube.

Claims

1. A dispensing device for dispensing a product into a toilet bowl, the device comprising:

a first compartment in which product to be dispensed is to be disposed,

a second compartment adjacent the first compartment in which an osmotic agent or swellable hydrogel is to be disposed,

a partition disposed between the first and second compartments,

a container disposed adjacent the second compartment,

a semi-permeable membrane disposed between the second compartment and the container through which fluid may migrate from the container to the second compartment to increase, in operation, pressure in the second compartment, which pressure may be transmitted through the partition to displace product to be dispensed from the first compartment,

wherein the dispensing device has means for securement to the toilet bowl in such a manner that flush water charges the container.

2. The dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, in which the partition comprises a flexible impermeable membrane.

3. The dispensing device as claimed in claim 2, in which a tube is connected to the first compartment, through which tube product may be dispensed.

4. The dispensing device as claimed in claim 3, in which the tube comprises a plurality of apertures.

5. The dispensing device as claimed in claim 2, in which a drain is provided in the container, through which drain liquid in the container may be drained.

6. The dispensing device as claimed in claim 5, in which the drain has a breachable seal.

7. The dispensing device as claimed in claim 6, in which a plurality of such drains of varying sizes are provided.

8. The dispensing device as claimed in claim 2, in which the means for securement is a bracket adapted to engage the rim of a toilet bowl so as to position the housing within the bowl.

9. The dispensing device as claimed in claim 2, in which the container is upwardly open.

10. The dispensing device as claimed in claim 2, adapted to deliver a charge of said product after each time the toilet is flushed.

11. The dispensing device as claimed in claim 2, in which the first compartment contains said product and the second compartment contains said osmotic agent or swellable hydrogel.

12. A method for delivering a product into a toilet bowl, said method comprising securing on a toilet bowl, a device comprising:

a first compartment in which product to be dispensed is to be disposed,

a second compartment adjacent the first compartment in which an osmotic agent or swellable hydrogel is to be disposed,

a partition disposed between the first and second compartments,

a container disposed adjacent the second compartment,

a semi-permeable membrane disposed between the second compartment and the container through which fluid may migrate from the container to the second compartment to increase, in operation, pressure in the second compartment, which pressure may be transmitted through the partition to displace product to be dispensed from the first compartment,

such that the container receives flush water and thereby causes said product to be dispensed intermittently or continuously into the toilet bowl.