Solid product dispenser

• US 8,313,707 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2011
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: Limback, Scott R., Berg, Thomas P., Williams, Kristine J., Carlson, Brian P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Joyner, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US13/104,332
• Publication Number:
  US 20110210139A1
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 422/264, 221/282, 239/193, 239/194, 222108-111
• US Class Current: 422/264
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4436 in the form of a detergent solution made by gradually dissolving a powder detergent cake or a solid detergent block
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 21/22 using additional holders in conduits, containers or pools for keeping the solid material in place, e.g. supports or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 21/221 comprising constructions for blocking or redispersing undissolved solids
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 21/4021 in the form of tablets stored in containers, canisters or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/24 Mixing of ingredients for cleaning compositions
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/312 with Venturi elements; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/316 with containers for additional components fixed to the conduit
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2115 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2211 Amount of delivered fluid during a period
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/718051 being adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4891 With holder for solid, flaky or pulverized material to be dissolved or entrained

Abstract

A product housing for use with a vacuum breaker, a solid product dispenser, and a solid product having a bottom surface comprises a product holder, an overflow outlet, and a flood plane. The product holder has a bottom and is configured and arranged to receive the solid product with the bottom surface proximate the bottom. The bottom of the product holder is positioned proximate above the solid product dispenser and proximate below the vacuum breaker. The overflow outlet is proximate the bottom, and the flood plane is proximate the overflow outlet.

Claims

1. A product housing for use with a solid product, a solid product dispenser having a nozzle, and a vacuum breaker, the solid product having a bottom surface, comprising:

a product holder having a bottom, the product holder being configured and arranged to receive the solid product with the bottom surface proximate the bottom, the bottom being positioned proximate above the solid product dispenser and the nozzle and proximate below the vacuum breaker;

a railing operatively connected to the product holder proximate the bottom and extending about a portion of the product holder proximate the bottom at a distance from the product holder;

an angled portion operatively connected to the railing and extending upward and inward toward the product holder at an angle;

an overflow outlet proximate the bottom and proximate above the solid product dispenser and the nozzle and proximate below the vacuum breaker, the overflow outlet being a gap formed by at least the angled portion and the product holder; and

a flood plane proximate the overflow outlet and proximate above the solid product dispenser and the nozzle and proximate below the vacuum breaker.

2. The product housing of claim 1, wherein the vacuum breaker is at least approximately 3.50 inches above the flood plane.

3. The product housing of claim 1, further comprising:

an extension flange extending downward from proximate the bottom of the product holder;

a base portion operatively connected to the bottom of the product holder, the base portion including a support flange, the railing, and the angled portion, the support flange configured and arranged to be supported by a top portion of the solid product dispenser, the railing extending upward from proximate the support flange, and the angled portion extending upward proximate the support flange and the railing toward the product holder at an angle and creating the overflow outlet proximate the bottom of the product holder; and

the extension flange and the angled portion configured and arranged to assist in preventing diluent sprayed onto the bottom surface of the solid product by the solid product dispenser from exiting the overflow outlet.

4. The product housing of claim 3, wherein the angle is approximately 38 to 46°

.

5. The product housing of claim 3, wherein the overflow outlet is a slot having a width of approximately 0.020 to 0.045 inch and a height of approximately 0.100 to 0.130 inch.

6. The product housing of claim 3, further comprising a connector interconnecting the extension flange, the railing, and the support flange.

7. The product housing of claim 3, wherein the flood plane is proximate a top of the railing.

8. The product housing of claim 3, the solid product having a first shape and the product holder having a cavity with a second shape corresponding with the first shape of the solid product, the first shape being a smaller scale than the second shape, the cavity being configured and arranged to receive the solid product, the first and second shapes creating a lock-out to assist in preventing another solid product from being placed within the cavity.

9. The product housing of claim 8, wherein the first shape and the second shape are squares.

10. The product housing of claim 9, wherein the solid product is a floor care product.

11. The product housing of claim 8, wherein the first shape and the second shape are pentagons.

12. The product housing of claim 11, wherein the solid product is an all purpose cleaner.

13. The product housing of claim 8, wherein the first shape and the second shape are hexagons.

14. The product housing of claim 13, wherein the solid product is a sanitizer.

15. A product housing for use with a solid product, a solid product dispenser, and a vacuum breaker, the solid product having a bottom surface, comprising:

a product holder having a bottom, the product holder being configured and arranged to receive the solid product with the bottom surface proximate the bottom, the bottom being positioned proximate above the solid product dispenser and proximate below the vacuum breaker;

an extension flange extending downward from proximate the bottom of the product holder;

a base portion operatively connected to the bottom of the product holder, the base portion including a support flange, a railing, and an angled portion, the support flange configured and arranged to be supported by a top portion of the solid product dispenser, the railing extending upward from proximate the support flange, and the angled portion extending upward proximate the support flange and the railing toward the product holder at an angle of approximately 38 to 46° and

creating an overflow outlet proximate the bottom of the product holder, the overflow outlet being a slot having a width of approximately 0.020 to 0.045 inch and a height of approximately 0.100 to 0.130 inch;

a flood plane proximate the overflow outlet, the vacuum breaker being at least approximately 3.50 inches above the flood plane; and

the extension flange and the angled portion configured and arranged to assist in preventing diluent sprayed onto the bottom surface of the solid product by the solid product dispenser from exiting the overflow outlet.

16. The product housing of claim 15, the solid product having a first shape and the product holder having a cavity with a second shape corresponding with the first shape of the solid product, the first shape being a smaller scale than the second shape, the cavity being configured and arranged to receive the solid product, the first and second shapes creating a lock-out to assist in preventing another solid product from being placed within the cavity.

17. A solid product dispensing assembly, comprising:

a vacuum breaker;

a solid product dispenser having a nozzle;

a solid product having a bottom surface; and

a product holder having a bottom, a railing operatively connected to the product holder proximate the bottom and extending about a portion of the product holder proximate the bottom at a distance from the product holder, an angled portion operatively connected to the railing and extending upward and inward toward the product holder at an angle, an overflow outlet proximate the bottom, the overflow outlet being a gap formed by at least the angled portion and the product holder, and a flood plane proximate the overflow outlet, the product holder being configured and arranged to receive the solid product with the bottom surface proximate the bottom, the bottom the overflow outlet, and the flood plane being positioned proximate above the solid product dispenser and the nozzle and proximate below the vacuum breaker, the vacuum breaker being at least approximately 3.50 inches above the flood plane.

18. The solid product dispensing assembly of claim 17, wherein the solid product has a first shape and the product holder having a cavity with a second shape corresponding with the first shape of the solid product, the first shape being a smaller scale than the second shape, the cavity being configured and arranged to receive the solid product, the first and second shapes creating a lock-out to assist in preventing another solid product from being placed within the cavity.

19. The solid product dispensing assembly of claim 17, further comprising:

an extension flange extending downward from proximate the bottom of the product holder;

a base portion operatively connected to the bottom of the product holder, the base portion including a support flange, the railing, and the angled portion, the support flange configured and arranged to be supported by a top portion of the solid product dispenser, the railing extending upward from proximate the support flange, and the angled portion extending upward proximate the support flange and the railing toward the product holder at an angle and creating the overflow outlet proximate the bottom of the product holder; and

the extension flange and the angled portion configured and arranged to assist in preventing diluent sprayed onto the bottom surface of the solid product by the solid product dispenser from exiting the overflow outlet.

20. The solid product dispensing assembly of claim 19, wherein the angle at which the angled portion extends upward is approximately 38 to 46°

and the overflow outlet is a slot having a width of approximately 0.020 to 0.045 inch and a height of approximately 0.100 to 0.130 inch.