IP Library Granted Patent US 6,934,973
Granted Patent B2
US 6,934,973 · App. 10/910,678 · Granted Aug 30, 2005

Dispensing device for dispensing an active-substance fluid into the flushing liquid in a toilet bowl

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,934,973
App. No.
10/910,678
Granted
Aug 30, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A dispensing device for dispensing fluids into toilet flushing liquids. The device has a supply container for an active-substance fluid, the supply container having an outlet-side border, an outlet for dispensing active-substance fluid onto a plate-shaped distributing element. The distributing element has a region of action over which flushing liquid flows during the flushing and a connection region, in which the outlet opening of the supply container is arranged. The border is spaced a small distance from the surface of the distributing element. On the top of the distributing element, on the point of connection and directed away from the region of action, is a ventilating channel that is open on top and closed on three sides at its inner end.

Claims (37)

1. A dispensing device for dispensing an active-substance fluid into the flushing liquid in a toilet bowl, comprising

a supply container ( 2 ) for an active-substance fluid,

the supply container ( 2 ) having an outlet-side border ( 3 ) and an outlet opening ( 4 ) via which the active-substance fluid can be dispensed into the flushing liquid, the dispensing device further comprising

a plate-shaped distributing element ( 6 ), the distribution element having a region of action ( 7 ) over which flushing liquid flows during flushing and a connection region ( 8 ), in which a point of connection ( 9 ) for the outlet opening ( 4 ) of the supply container ( 2 ) is arranged, wherein

the interior of the supply container ( 2 ) is connected permanently to the distributing element ( 6 ) via the outlet opening ( 4 ), and the border ( 3 ) is spaced apart by a small distance from the surface of the distributing element ( 6 ), wherein arranged on the top side of the distributing element ( 6 ), on a side of the point of connection ( 9 ) that is directed away from the region of action ( 7 ), is a ventilating channel ( 12 ) that extends through beneath the border ( 3 ) from the longitudinal border of the distributing element ( 6 ) and is open on the top side, and wherein

the ventilating channel ( 12 ) has its border closed at the inner end, wherein the ventilating channel ( 12 ) is closed at the inner end by a channel border ( 13 ) projecting upwardly from the top side of the distributing element ( 6 ), wherein the interior of the supply container ( 2 ) is connected to the distributing element ( 6 ) via the outlet opening ( 4 ), wherein a means to impede free flow of the active-substance fluid is provided downstream of the interior of the supply container ( 2 ), wherein the means to impede free flow of the active-substance fluid has a spacer arrangement with spacers ( 14 ) that project upwardly from the top side of the distributing element ( 6 ) and on which the border ( 3 ) of the supply container ( 2 ) stands, and wherein the ventilating channel ( 12 ) abuts the spacer arrangement or is located between two spacers ( 14 ) of the spacer arrangement.

2. The dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein the outlet opening ( 4 ) is arranged in a cover ( 5 ) forming the border ( 3 ) and is formed in this cover by an outlet border ( 3 ′) that is offset inward in relation to the border ( 3 ).

3. The dispensing device of claim 2 , wherein the outlet border ( 3 ′) of the outlet opening ( 4 ) in the cover ( 5 ) is spaced apart from the top side of the distributing element ( 6 ) by a greater distance than the border ( 3 ) formed by the cover ( 5 ).

4. The dispensing device of claim 3 , wherein the outlet border ( 3 ′) of the outlet opening ( 4 ) in the cover ( 5 ) is spaced apart from the top side of the distributing element ( 6 ) by approximately 0.5 mm more than the border ( 3 ) formed by the cover ( 5 ).

5. The dispensing device of claim 1 , comprises an opening spike at the point of connection ( 9 ).

6. The dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein the closed end of the ventilating channel ( 12 ) tapers in a V-shape or U-shape.

7. The dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein the spacers ( 14 ) and the channel border ( 13 ) of the ventilating channel ( 12 ) project upward from the top side of the distributing element ( 6 ) to the same extent.

8. The dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein the spacers ( 14 ) project upward from the top side of the distributing element ( 6 ) by approximately 0.7 mm.

9. The dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein the channel border ( 13 ) projects upward from the top side of the distributing element ( 6 ) by approximately 0.7 mm.

10. The dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein the channel border ( 13 ) projects upward from the top side of the distributing element ( 6 ) by a greater extent than the spacers ( 14 ).

11. The dispensing device of claim 10 , wherein the spacers ( 14 ) project upward from the top side of the distributing element ( 6 ) by approximately 0.7 mm, and the channel border ( 13 ) projects upward from the top side of the distributing element ( 6 ) by approximately 0.9 mm.

12. The dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein formed in the connection region ( 8 ), on a side of the point of connection ( 9 ) that directed toward a longitudinal border, is a protective border ( 15 ) that projects slightly upward from the top side of the distributing element ( 6 ).

13. The dispensing device of claim 12 , wherein the protective border ( 15 ) projects upward from the top side of the distributing element ( 6 ) by approximately 0.9 mm.

14. The dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein the ventilating channel ( 12 ) within the border ( 3 ) has a length of approximately 0.6 to 1.5 mm.

15. The dispensing device of claim 14 , wherein the ventilating channel ( 12 ) has a length of 1.0 mm.

16. The dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein the ventilating channel ( 12 ) has a maximum width of 1.0 to 5.0 mm.

17. The dispensing device of claim 16 , wherein the ventilating channel ( 12 ) has a maximum width of 2.5 mm.

18. The dispensing device of claim 17 , wherein the ventilating channel ( 12 ) has a width of approximately 1.0 to 1.5 mm.

19. The dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein the ventilating channel ( 12 ) has a width of approximately 0.5 to 2.5 mm.

20. The dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein the ventilating channel ( 12 ) within the border ( 3 ) has a cross-sectional surface area of approximately 0.2 to 2.2 mm 2 .

21. The dispensing device of claim 20 , wherein the ventilating channel ( 12 ) within the border ( 3 ) has a cross-sectional surface area of approximately 0.5 to 1.0 mm 2 .

22. The dispensing device of claim 1 , comprising a smooth-surfaced strip of the connection region ( 8 ) between the outer border of the point of connection ( 9 ) and the region of action ( 7 ).

23. The dispensing device of claim 1 , further comprising a holder ( 1 ) containing at least two separate supply containers ( 2 ), each supply container ( 2 ) having a dedicated outlet opening ( 4 ) via which its content can be dispensed into the flushing liquid, wherein

the plate-shaped distributing element ( 6 ) is provided jointly for at least two of the supply containers ( 2 ), wherein the plate-shaped distributing element ( 6 ) has points of connection ( 9 ) for the outlet openings ( 4 ) of the supply containers ( 2 ) spaced apart one beside the other in the connection region ( 8 ), in the vicinity of the longitudinal border, and wherein each point of connection ( 9 ) has assigned a dedicated ventilating channel ( 12 ).

24. The dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein the distributing element ( 6 ), in the region of action ( 7 ), has depressions ( 16 ) extending from the border of the connection region ( 8 ) approximately as far as the opposite longitudinal border, these depressions serving for distributing the active-substance fluid or the active-substance fluids into the flushing liquid.

25. The dispensing device of claim 24 , wherein the depressions ( 16 ) in the region of action ( 7 ) extend to just beneath the border of the front wall ( 11 ).

26. The dispensing device of claim 1 , further comprising a holder ( 1 ) having a carrier ( 10 ) that accommodates the supply container or supply containers ( 2 ), a front wall ( 11 ) directed toward the region of action ( 7 ) running along the transition from the connection region ( 8 ) to the region of action ( 7 ).

27. The dispensing device of claim 26 , wherein a small gap is present between the uppermost border of the depressions ( 16 ) in the region of action ( 7 ) and the border of the front wall ( 11 ) of the carrier ( 10 ).

28. The dispensing device of claim 27 , wherein the gap is approximately 0.1 to 0.4 mm wide.

29. The dispensing device of claim 28 , wherein the gap is approximately 0.2 to 0.3 mm wide.

30. The dispensing device of claim 1 , further comprising one or more active-substance fluids accommodated in the supply containers ( 2 ) and having viscosities of 2000 to 5000 mPas.

31. The dispensing device of claim 30 , wherein the active-substance fluids have viscosities of 2500 to 3500 mpas.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 26, 2010
From: HENKEL KGAA
To: HENKEL AG & CO. KGAA
Reel/Frame 024767/0085 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 13, 2004
From: LEHMANN, DETLEF; GRAESSER, LUTZ; MUEHLHAUSEN, HANS-GEORG; MENKE, RONALD; PESSEL, FRANK; BUTTER-JENTSCH, RALPH
To: HENKEL KOMMANDITGESELLSCHAFT AUF AKTIEN (HENKEL KGGA)
Reel/Frame 015243/0890 →