Apparatus and method for prolonged active agent in aqueous systems
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for the controlled release of an active agent into an aqueous system, the apparatus comprising:
- at least one active agent portion, said active agent portion comprising a body, said body defining a first side, a second side, and a third side;
a container, said container comprising a first polymeric layer spaced apart from a second polymeric layer, said first polymeric layer comprising a first inside surface, said second polymeric layer comprising a second inside surface, said active agent portion retained within said container, said active agent portion held between said first and second polymeric layers with said first inside surface contacting said first side of said active agent portion and said second inside surface contacting said second side of said active agent portion, said container defining a reservoir adjacent said third side;
an inlet opening defined in the container, said inlet opening extending through the container and into the reservoir, said inlet opening configured for fluid connection with a fluid source, thereby enabling a supply of fluid to flow into the reservoir from the fluid source to dissolve a portion of said active agent from said third side of said active agent portion thereby creating a solution, wherein said supply of fluid dissolves said portion of said active agent from said third side before dissolving said first or second sides; and
an outlet opening defined in the container, said outlet opening extending through the container and into the reservoir, said outlet opening configured for allowing the solution to flow out of the reservoir and into said aqueous system.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for the controlled release of an active agent into an aqueous system for a prolonged duration of time are provided. Some embodiments provide an apparatus for controlling the dissolution of at least one active agent to enable an increase in active agent lifetime.
28 Citations
31 Claims
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1. An apparatus for the controlled release of an active agent into an aqueous system, the apparatus comprising:
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at least one active agent portion, said active agent portion comprising a body, said body defining a first side, a second side, and a third side; a container, said container comprising a first polymeric layer spaced apart from a second polymeric layer, said first polymeric layer comprising a first inside surface, said second polymeric layer comprising a second inside surface, said active agent portion retained within said container, said active agent portion held between said first and second polymeric layers with said first inside surface contacting said first side of said active agent portion and said second inside surface contacting said second side of said active agent portion, said container defining a reservoir adjacent said third side; an inlet opening defined in the container, said inlet opening extending through the container and into the reservoir, said inlet opening configured for fluid connection with a fluid source, thereby enabling a supply of fluid to flow into the reservoir from the fluid source to dissolve a portion of said active agent from said third side of said active agent portion thereby creating a solution, wherein said supply of fluid dissolves said portion of said active agent from said third side before dissolving said first or second sides; and an outlet opening defined in the container, said outlet opening extending through the container and into the reservoir, said outlet opening configured for allowing the solution to flow out of the reservoir and into said aqueous system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for the controlled release of an active agent having antimicrobial properties into a toilet, the apparatus comprising:
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at least one active agent tablet, said active agent tablet comprising a generally cylindrical body defining a first end, a second end, and a side; a container, said container comprising a first polymeric layer spaced apart from a second polymeric layer, said first polymeric layer comprising a first inside surface, said second polymeric layer comprising a second inside surface, said active agent tablet retained within said container, said active agent tablet held between said first and second polymeric layers with said first inside surface contacting said first end of said active agent tablet and said second inside surface contacting said second end of said active agent tablet, said container defining a reservoir adjacent said side of said active agent tablet; an inlet opening defined in the container, said inlet opening extending through the container and into the reservoir, said inlet opening configured for fluid connection with an inlet opening connecting to a toilet tank water fill valve via a first length of tubing, thereby enabling a supply of water to flow into the reservoir from the toilet tank water fill valve to dissolve a portion of said active agent from said side of said active agent tablet thereby creating a solution, wherein because said first inside surface contacting said first end prevents said water from dissolving said first end, and because said second inside surface contacting said second end prevents said water from dissolving said second end, said supply of water dissolves said portion of said active agent from said side before dissolving said first or second ends; and an outlet opening defined in the container, said outlet opening extending through the container and into the reservoir, said outlet opening configured for allowing the solution to flow out of the reservoir, into a second length of tubing, and into a toilet tank overflow tube of said toilet. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus for the controlled release of an active agent having antimicrobial properties into a toilet, the apparatus comprising:
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a stack of active agent tablets, said stack comprising a generally cylindrical body defining a first end, a second end, and a side; a container, said container comprising a first polymeric layer spaced apart from a second polymeric layer, said first polymeric layer comprising a first inside surface, said second polymeric layer comprising a second inside surface, said stack of active agent tablets retained within said container, said stack of active agent tablets held between said first and second polymeric layers with said first inside surface contacting said first end of said stack of active agent tablets and said second inside surface contacting said second end of said stack of active agent tablets, said container defining a reservoir adjacent said side of said stack of active agent tablets; an inlet opening defined in the container, said inlet opening extending through the container and into the reservoir, said inlet opening configured for fluid connection with an inlet opening connecting to a toilet tank water fill valve via a first length of tubing, thereby enabling a supply of water to flow into the reservoir from the toilet tank water fill valve to dissolve a portion of said active agent from said side of said stack of active agent tablets thereby creating a solution, wherein because said first inside surface contacting said first end prevents said water from dissolving said first end, and because said second inside surface contacting said second end prevents said water from dissolving said second end, said supply of water dissolves said portion of said active agent from said side before dissolving said first or second ends; and an outlet opening defined in the container, said outlet opening extending through the container and into the reservoir, said outlet opening configured for allowing the solution to flow out of the reservoir, into a second length of tubing, and into a toilet tank overflow tube of said toilet. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An apparatus for the controlled release of an active agent having antimicrobial properties into a toilet, the apparatus comprising:
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a stack of active agent tablets, said stack comprising a generally cylindrical body defining a first end, a second end, and a side; a container, said container comprising a first polymeric layer spaced apart from a second polymeric layer, said first polymeric layer comprising a first inside surface, said second polymeric layer comprising a second inside surface, said stack of active agent tablets retained within said container, said stack of active agent tablets held between said first and second polymeric layers with said first inside surface contacting said first end of said stack of active agent tablets and said second inside surface contacting said second end of said stack of active agent tablets, said container defining a reservoir adjacent said side of said stack of active agent tablets, wherein said first and second polymeric layers comprise a heat-shrinkable material, wherein the shrinking of said heat shrinkable material results in said stack of active agent tablets being held between said first and second polymeric layers with said first inside surface contacting said first end of said stack of active agent tablets and said second inside surface contacting said second end of said stack of active agent tablets; an inlet opening defined in the container, said inlet opening extending through the container and into the reservoir, said inlet opening configured for fluid connection with an inlet opening connecting to a toilet tank water fill valve via a first length of tubing, thereby enabling a supply of water to flow into the reservoir from the toilet tank water fill valve to dissolve a portion of said active agent from said side of said stack of active agent tablets thereby creating a solution, wherein because said first inside surface contacting said first end prevents said water from dissolving said first end, and because said second inside surface contacting said second end prevents said water from dissolving said second end, said supply of water dissolves said portion of said active agent from said side before dissolving said first or second ends; and an outlet opening defined in the container, said outlet opening extending through the container and into the reservoir, said outlet opening configured for allowing the solution to flow out of the reservoir, into a second length of tubing, and into a toilet tank overflow tube of said toilet. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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Specification