Patent Publication Number: US-10309087-B2

Title: Stacked type quantitative toilet cleaning agent dispenser

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to toilet cleaning agent dispensing technology and more particularly, to a stacked type quantitative toilet cleaning agent dispenser. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Generally, a household toilet cleaning agent is a solid block. When in use, it is put the toilet cleaning agent in the toilet water tank and dissolved in water. When the user flushes the toilet, the dissolved toilet cleaning agent forms a coating layer on the inner surface of the toilet bowl to prevent dirt and urine adhesion, maintaining the toilet cleaning. However, when the toilet cleaning agent is put in the toilet water tank and kept in contact with the water in the toilet water tank, it is continuously dissolved in water till that the toilet cleaning agent is completely dissolved out. However, when the toilet is being flushed continuously within a short time, the toilet cleaning agent is not well dissolved in water, thus, the toilet cleaning agent content in water will be insufficient, leading to a low toilet antifouling effect. On the contrary, if the toilet is not flushed for a considerable period of time, the toilet cleaning agent will be excessively dissolved water, thus, the concentration of toilet cleaning agent in water will be excessively high, resulting in waste of the toilet cleaning agent and causing pigment stains. 
     In view of the above-stated problems, Taiwan Patent Publication Number 344389 discloses a utility design; the utility design is to put a toilet cleaning agent in a shell inside the toilet water tank. Before flushing the toilet, the water in the toilet water tank flows through a water inlet in the top side of the shell into the inside of the shell. When the user flushes the toilet, the water level in the toilet water tank is lowered. Subject to the effect of liquid surface difference, a predetermined amount of toilet cleaning agent solution flows out of the shell through a water outlet that is disposed below the elevation of the water inlet, and the dispensed toilet cleaning agent solution is mixed in the flow of water that flows out of the toilet water tank into the toilet bowl. Thus, this design is adapted to solve the problem caused by unequal length of toilet cleaning agent dissolving time. However, according to this prior art utility design, the toilet cleaning agent can simply be dissolved in the limited amount of water in the shell between the water inlet and the water outlet by means of diffusion, thus, the toilet cleaning agent concentration in the dispensed water during each toilet flushing operation is insufficient, resulting in poor toilet cleaning effect. 
     Further, China Patent No. 2098526 discloses a measure of improving the problem of prior art designs that are unable to qualitatively and quantitatively dispense a toilet cleaning agent. According to this design, a container is provided with a water inlet on a cover thereof and a discharge hole on the periphery thereof, and a funnel-shaped quantitative release port is located at the bottom side of the cover for flipping the detergent that is deposited on the bottom of the container so as to achieve the effect of quantitative dispensing of toilet cleaning agent. However, if the toilet cleaning agent is a fluid, it does not need to flip the deposition. If the toilet cleaning agent is a solid material, the water outlet at the bottom side of the container will be blocked by the solid toilet cleaning agent and prohibited from discharging water. If the toilet cleaning agent is made in granules or flakes, the toilet cleaning agent will be dissolved to form a toilet cleaning solution with a dilute layer in the upper side and a thick layer in the lower side, at this time, the water outlet in the bottom side of the container can be clogged by the thick layer of toilet cleaning solution. Further, this prior art utility design simply provides one accommodation chamber for accommodating a toilet cleaning agent, it has no room for accommodating other chemicals (such as fragrance compound or deodorant). 
     In general, the aforesaid toilet cleaning agent dispensing techniques still have drawbacks and need to improve. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a stacked type quantitative toilet cleaning agent dispenser, which provides two or more accommodation spaces for the filling of the toilet cleaning agent and other chemicals, enabling each agent or chemical to be dispensed quantitatively. 
     To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a stacked type quantitative toilet cleaning agent dispenser comprises a housing, an inner box and a cover. The housing is shaped like a barrel having an open top side and an opposing closed bottom side for positioning on a surface. The inner box is mounted in the housing in such a manner that a bottom chamber is defined within the housing between an outer bottom surface of the inner box and an inner bottom surface of the housing, and an aisle is defined between an inner perimeter of the housing and an outer perimeter of the inner box and disposed in communication with the bottom chamber. The cover covers the inner box with a top thereof exposed on the outside of the housing. Further, the cover comprises a first water inlet and a second water inlet. The first water inlet is disposed in communication with the space inside the inner box. The inner box comprises an open end tube. The open end tube has one end thereof connected to the cover and disposed in communication with the second water inlet, and an opposite end thereof inserted through the inner box and disposed in communication with the bottom chamber to keep the second water inlet and the bottom chamber in communication with each other and to isolate the second water inlet and the bottom chamber from the inner box. The stacked type quantitative toilet cleaning agent dispenser further comprises a first water outlet located in the cover and the inner box for allowing communication between the space inside the inner box and the space outside the inner box. The first water outlet is disposed below the elevation of the first water inlet. The aisle is disposed in communication with the space outside the housing through a second water outlet. The second water outlet is disposed below the elevation of the second water inlet. 
     Thus, the invention provides two or more accommodation spaces for the filling of the toilet cleaning agent and other chemicals, enabling each agent or chemical to be dispensed quantitatively. 
     Other advantages and features of the present invention will be fully understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference signs denote like components of structure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an oblique top elevational view of a stacked type quantitative toilet cleaning agent dispenser in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the stacked type quantitative toilet cleaning agent dispenser in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic sectional view of the stacked type quantitative toilet cleaning agent dispenser in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic applied view of the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a toilet cleaning agent put in the bottom chamber and a fragrance compound put in the inner box. 
         FIG. 5  is another schematic applied view of the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the stacked type quantitative toilet cleaning agent dispenser installed in a toilet water tank and a cord member tied to the mounting portion of the housing and extended over the topmost edge of the peripheral wall of the toilet water tank. 
         FIG. 6  corresponds to  FIG. 4 , illustrating the predetermined dispensing amount of saturated toilet cleaning agent solution corresponding to the height difference between the top edge of the recess and the second water outlet. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of a stacked type quantitative toilet cleaning agent dispenser in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic sectional view of the stacked type quantitative toilet cleaning agent dispenser in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a stacked type quantitative toilet cleaning agent dispenser  10  in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The stacked type quantitative toilet cleaning agent dispenser  10  comprises a housing  11 , an inner box  21  and a cover  31 . 
     The housing  11  is shaped like a barrel having an open top side and an opposing closed bottom side for positioning on a surface (for example, the inner bottom surface of a toilet water tank). 
     The inner box  21  is mounted in the housing  11  in such a manner that a bottom chamber  12  is defined within the housing  11  between an outer bottom surface of the inner box  21  and an inner bottom surface of the housing  11  and an aisle  14  is defined between the inner perimeter of the housing  11  and the outer perimeter of the inner box  21  and disposed in communication with the bottom chamber  12 . 
     The cover  31  covers the inner box  21  with the top thereof exposed on the outside of the housing  11 . The cover  31  comprises a first water inlet  33  and a second water inlet  35 . The first water inlet  33  is disposed in communication with the space inside the inner box  21 . 
     Further, the inner box  21  comprises an open end tube  26 . The open end tube  26  has one end thereof connected to the cover  31  and kept in communication with the second water inlet  35 , and an opposite end thereof inserted through the inner box  21  and disposed in communication with the bottom chamber  12 , thus, the second water inlet  35  is kept in communication with the bottom chamber  12  but not disposed in communication with the inner box  21 . 
     Further, a first water outlet  23  is located in the cover  31  and the inner box  21  for allowing communication between the space inside the inner box  21  and the space outside the inner box  21 . Further, the first water outlet  23  is disposed below the elevation of the first water inlet  33 . In the present first embodiment of the present invention, the first water outlet  23  is located in the cover  31 , however, in actual application, the first water outlet  23  can be located in the peripheral wall of the inner box  21 , but this is only a change in the location, it can be directly understood by the text, and therefore we do not show it schematically. 
     Further, the aisle  14  is disposed in communication with the space outside the housing  11  through a second water outlet  15 . This second water outlet  15  is disposed below the elevation of the second water inlet  35 . 
     In this first embodiment of the present invention, instead of covering over the inner box  21 , the cover  31  can be configured to cover the top open side of the housing  11 . In this case, the second water outlet  15  is located in the cover  31 . The cover  31  further comprises a recess  36  inwardly curved from a top surface thereof. The first water inlet  33  and the second water inlet  35  are respectively located in a bottom wall of the recess  36 . The cover  31  further comprises a partition plate  361  located on the top surface of the bottom wall of the recess  36  and dividing the recess  36  into two sub-recesses  362  that are respectively disposed corresponding to the first water inlet  33  and the second water inlet  35 . These two sub-recesses  362  are isolated from each other. In actual application, the cover  31  can be configured without the aforesaid recess  36  and partition plate  361 , allowing the first water inlet  33  and the second water inlet  35  to admit water. The arrangement of the recess  36  and the partition plate  361  can effectively guide water from the recess  36  into the first water inlet  33  and the second water inlet  35 . Further, the arrangement of the partition plate  361  can achieve the effect of water control. 
     In the first embodiment of the present invention, the stacked type quantitative toilet cleaning agent dispenser  10  further comprises a decorative lid  39  covered on the cover  31 . The decorative lid  39  has a plurality of openings  391  for allowing water to pass therethrough to the cover  31 . Further, the housing  11  comprises a mounting portion  111  located at the periphery thereof for the mounting of a cord member  98  (see  FIG. 5 ). 
     After understanding of the structural details of the first embodiment of the present invention, the application of the first embodiment is outlined hereinafter. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , before using the stacked type quantitative toilet cleaning agent dispenser  10 , fill a toilet cleaning agent  91  in the bottom chamber  12  and a fragrance compound  92  in the inner box  21 . The toilet cleaning agent  91  and the fragrance compound  92  are solid at room temperature. Thus, the stacked type quantitative toilet cleaning agent dispenser  10  can be used in the toilet after the filling of the toilet cleaning agent  91  and the fragrance compound  92 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5  and  FIGS. 1-3  again, in application, put the stacked type quantitative toilet cleaning agent dispenser  10  in the inner bottom side of the toilet water tank  99 , and tie a cord member  98  to the mounting portion  111  and extend it over the topmost edge of the peripheral wall of the toilet water tank. Thus, the user can pull the cord member  98  to take the stacked type quantitative toilet cleaning agent dispenser  10  out of the toilet water tank  99 . When the toilet water tank  99  is filled up with water and the water level is above the elevation of the stacked type quantitative toilet cleaning agent dispenser  10  in the toilet water tank  99 , water will flow through the multiple openings  391  of the decorative lid  39  into the two sub-recesses  362 , and then flow through the first water inlet  33  into the inner box  21  and also flow through the second water inlet  35  and the open end tube  26  into the bottom chamber  12 . At this time, the fragrance compound  92  in the inner box  21  will be continuously dissolved in water, causing the water in the inner box  21  to be brought to a saturated state. When the water in the inner box  21  is saturated, the fragrance compound  92  is no longer dissolved. At the same time, the toilet cleaning agent  91  in the bottom chamber  12  is also continuously dissolved in water, causing the water in the bottom chamber  12  to be brought to a saturated state. When the water in the bottom chamber  12  is saturated, the toilet cleaning agent  91  is no longer dissolved. 
     When the user flushes the toilet after use, the water level in the toilet water tank  99  drops to the lower limit position, and then the toilet water tank  99  is filled up with water again. At the time the water level in the toilet water tank  99  drops below the elevation of the first water inlet  33  and the elevation of the second water inlet  35 , the saturated fragrance compound solution in the inner box  21  flows out of the housing  11  through the first water outlet  23  into the toilet water tank  99 , and the saturated toilet cleaning agent solution in the bottom chamber  12  flows out of the housing  11  through the second water outlet  15  into the toilet water tank  99 . After the water level dropped below the elevation of the first water outlet  23  and the elevation of the second water outlet  15 , the saturated fragrance compound solution between the first water inlet  33  and the first water outlet  23  continuously flows out till that the water level of the saturated fragrance compound solution drops below the elevation of the first water outlet  23 , and the saturated toilet cleaning agent solution between the second water inlet  35  and the second water outlet  15  also continuously flows out till the water level of the saturated toilet cleaning agent solution drops below the elevation of the second water outlet  15 . When the toilet water tank  99  is filled up with water again to cause a rise in water level over the topmost edge of the recess  36 , the water flows through the first water inlet  33  and the second water inlet  35  into the inner box  21  and the bottom chamber  12  again, causing the fragrance compound  92  and the toilet cleaning agent  91  to be dissolved to the saturated state. 
     In the process the water flows through the first water inlet  33  and the second water inlet  35 , the two sub-recesses  362  of the cover  31  are configured to achieve water separation and guiding effects. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , as can be seen from the above description, after every toilet flush, the stacked type quantitative toilet cleaning agent dispenser  10  dispenses a predetermined amount of saturated fragrance compound solution corresponding to the volume of water between the top edge of the recess  36  and the first water outlet  23  and a predetermined amount of saturated toilet cleaning agent solution corresponding to the volume of water between the recess  36  and the second water outlet  15 , as the height difference H indicated in  FIG. 6  between the top edge of the recess  36  and the second water outlet  15 . It can be seen that the invention provides two or more accommodation spaces for the filling of the toilet cleaning agent  91  and other chemicals, enabling each agent or chemical to be dispensed quantitatively. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , a stacked type quantitative toilet cleaning agent dispenser  40  in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. This second embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid first embodiment with the exceptions as follows: 
     The stacked type quantitative toilet cleaning agent dispenser  40  of this second embodiment further comprises a middle box  71  positioned in the bottom chamber  42  and attached to the bottom side of the inner box  51 . The middle box  71  comprises a connection tube  76 . The connection tube  76  has one end thereof inserted into the open end tube  56  and kept in communication with the open end tube  56 , and an opposite end thereof inserted into the middle box  71  and kept in communication with the bottom chamber  42  so that the second water inlet  65  and the bottom chamber  42  can be kept in communication with each other by means of the open end tube  56  and the connection tube  76  without being disposed in communication with the inner box  51  or the middle box  71 . The middle box  71  comprises a third water outlet  77 . The third water outlet  77  enables the space inside the middle box  71  to be communicated with the space outside the middle box  71 . Further, a middle aisle  74  is defined between the outer perimeter of the middle box  71  and the inner perimeter of the housing  41 . In application, a deodorant  93  can be filled in the middle box  71 . 
     The cover  61  comprises a third water inlet  67  located in the bottom side of the recess  66 ; the partition plate  661  divides the recess  66  into three sub-recesses  662  respectively disposed corresponding to the first water inlet  63 , the second water inlet  65  and the third water inlet  67 . 
     The inner box  51  further comprises a second open end tube  57 . The second open end tube  57  has one end thereof connected to the cover  61  and disposed in communication with the third water inlet  67 , and an opposite end thereof inserted through the inner box  51  and disposed in communication with the middle box  71 , and thus, the third water inlet  67  and the middle box  71  are disposed in communication with each other but not kept in communication with the inner box  51 . Further, the inner box  51  has a lifting partition plate  58  mounted therein. The lifting partition plate  58  is vertically movably accommodated in the inner box  51  and attached onto the open end tube  56 . Further, the lifting partition plate  58  covers over 90% and up of the cross-sectional area of the inner box  51 . Further, the lifting partition plate  58  comprises a plurality of through holes  581 . The lifting partition plate  58  can cover the fragrance compound  92 , enabling the fragrance compound  92  to be kept in contact with water through the through holes  581 . Since the fragrance compound  92  is a fast-evaporating substance, the covering of the lifting partition plate  58  reduces the rate of consumption of the fragrance compound  92 , allowing the fragrance compound  92  to last longer. Further, since the lifting partition plate  58  is vertically movably accommodated in the inner box  51 , the lifting partition plate  58  can be lowered with the consumption of the fragrance compound  92  and kept covered on the fragrance compound  92 . 
     In this second embodiment, the open end tube  56  is shaped like a sweet cone with the inner diameter made gradually increased from the top side toward the bottom side; the connection tube  76  is also shaped like a sweet cone with the inner diameter made gradually increased from the top side toward the bottom side. This conical inner diameter design facilitates alignment and connection between the connection tube  76  and the open end tube  56 . 
     The bottom chamber  42  has a counterweight  49  mounted therein. In the implementation of the present invention, the counterweight  49  can be a glass bead. Further, the bottom wall of the housing  41  is a downwardly curved spherical wall. In order to hold the counterweight  49  in place, the housing  41  is configured to provide a plurality of extension walls  421  protruded from an inner peripheral wall thereof within the bottom chamber  42  and abutted against the counterweight  49  to hold the counterweight  49  at the center of the bottom chamber  42 . Subject to the design of the downwardly curved spherical wall of the housing  41  and the arrangement of the counterweight  49  in the bottom chamber  42 , the stacked type quantitative toilet cleaning agent dispenser  40  of this second embodiment acts as a tumbler that will not fall down. No matter whether the water level in the toilet water tank  99  rises or drops, the stacked type quantitative toilet cleaning agent dispenser  40  will stand up and rely on the center of gravity for stability. When the stacked type quantitative toilet cleaning agent dispenser  40  shakes due to a change in the buoyancy, the water in the inner box  51 , the middle box  71  and the bottom chamber  42  enables the fragrance compound, the deodorant and the toilet cleaning agent to be dissolved more evenly, facilitating formation of the saturated solutions. 
     In the application of this second embodiment, in addition to the above-described tumbler wobble function, during water intake of the middle box  71 , water flows through the third water inlet  67  and the second open end tube  57  into the middle box  71 . When dispensing the saturated deodorant solution, it is dispensed through the third water outlet  77  to the middle aisle  74  and then the aisle  44  toward the outside of the housing  41 . Thus, a predetermined amount of saturated deodorant solution is dispensed corresponding to the volume of water between the top edge of the recess  66  and the third water outlet  77 . When filling water into the bottom chamber  42 , water flows from the first water inlet  63  through the open end tube  56  and the connection tube  76  into the bottom chamber  42 . 
     The other structural details of this second embodiment and the effect this second embodiment can achieve are same as the aforesaid first embodiment, and thus, we will not repeat them here.