Patent Publication Number: US-5839128-A

Title: Antiseptic solution dispenser

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of my earlier filed application, Ser. No. 08/514,702, filed Aug. 14, 1995. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an antiseptic solution dispenser which automatically dispenses a metered amount of an antiseptic solution into the tank of a toilet when the tank is filled with water after each flushing operation. 
     The flush piping systems of toilets must be regularly sterilized in order to prevent the growth of bacteria and germs. In order to sterilize the flush piping system of a toilet, the tendency is to directly pour a prepared antiseptic solution into the tank of the toilet. However, the antiseptic solution is soon used up if it is completely poured into the water. Therefore, the antiseptic solution must be frequently refreshed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the main object of the present invention to provide an antiseptic solution dispenser which automatically provides a metered amount of an antiseptic solution for mixing with the water in the tank of toilets after every flushing operation. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the antiseptic solution dispenser comprises a container holding an antiseptic solution, the container having a clip for fastening to the overflow tube of the tank of the toilet, and a storage float coupled via a half-round barrel to the bottom coupling neck of the container. As the tank of the toilet is filled up with water, the half-round barrel is moved upwards on the coupling neck by the rising water, causing the antiseptic solution to flow out of dispensing holes on the sides of the half-round barrel. When water is removed from the tank of the toilet during the flushing operation, the half-round barrel is lowered on the coupling neck, and a metered amount of the antiseptic solution flows out of the container into the half-round barrel of the storage float. For storage purposes, a tear tape is attached to an outside flange of the half-round barrel to prevent its movement on the coupling neck of the container. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective elevational view of the antiseptic solution dispenser according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a left side elevational view of the antiseptic solution dispenser shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 wherein the antiseptic solution dispenser is shown partially in cross-section; 
     FIG. 4 is a right side elevational view of the antiseptic solution dispenser shown in FIG. 1, showing the container and the storage float disconnected; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the storage float shown in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a front elevational view partially in cross-section of the antiseptic solution dispenser shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the antiseptic solution dispenser of the present invention installed; 
     FIGS. 8-10 are cross-sectional elevational views of the antiseptic solution dispenser showing the sequence of operation thereof. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Now turning to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 an antiseptic solution dispenser comprising a container, designated 1, and a storage float, designated 2. 
     As clearly seen in FIG. 4, container 1 includes an oval container body 11 having a downward clip 111 extending from the rear side of container body 11, and a coupling neck 12 extending from the bottom of container body 11. Coupling neck 12 has a plurality of upper locating flanges 121 extending outwardly therefrom and a plurality of lower locating flanges 122, spaced from flanges 121, extending outwardly therefrom. At the bottom of coupling neck 12 is an opening 123 sealed by a foil seal 124. 
     Storage float 2 includes a half-round barrel 21 and a float 22 connected to the bottom side of half-round barrel 21. As clearly seen in FIG. 5, half-round barrel 21 includes an outside flange 211 to which is connected tear tape 23, two oppositely disposed dispensing openings 212, a closed bottom wall 213, and a pointed projecting block 214 raised from bottom wall 213. Flanges 24, projecting inwardly at the upper end of half-round barrel 21, connects storage float 2 to coupling neck 12 by engagement with lower locating flanges 122 of coupling neck 12, as seen in FIG. 3. Also as seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, tear tape 23, connected to flanges 211 of half-round barrel 21, serves to prevent upward movement of storage float 2 relative to coupling neck 12 of container 1 until the tear tape is removed by grasping the arrow-like tip 231 and pulling the same to cause separation of the upper split line 2311 and the lower split line 2312. By the removal of tear tape 23, half-round barrel 21 of storage float 2 is free to move axially upwardly on coupling neck 12 as hereinafter described. 
     As clearly seen in FIG. 7, the antiseptic solution dispenser is installed for use in a toilet by fastening downward clip 111 of container body 11 to the overflow tube 3 in the storage tank of a flush toilet subsequent to removal of tear tape 23. 
     In operating the antiseptic solution dispenser subsequent to installation, the user pushes upwardly on storage float 2 so as to cause pointed projecting block 214 to break foil seal 124 and force inwardly projecting flanges 24 of half-round barrel 21 over upper locating flanges 121 of coupling neck 12, as clearly seen in FIG. 8. As clearly seen in FIG. 9, upon release of storage float 2 by the user, the storage float moves downwardly on coupling neck 12 until inwardly projecting flanges 24 of half-round barrel 21 contact upper locating flanges 121 of coupling neck 12 which prevent the further dowward movement of storage float 2. Simultaneously, liquid antiseptic solution contained in container body 11 flows out of now unsealed opening 123 into half-round barrel 21 until opening 123 is completely covered by the solution contained in half-round barrel 21. Because of the vacuum created in container body 11 by the transfer of solution to half-round barrel 21 no additional solution flows into the half-round barrel once opening 123 of container body 11 is covered by the level of antiseptic solution in half-round barrel 21. 
     As the water in the storage tank of the flush toilet rises, it causes float 22 of storage float 2 to rise and expel the antiseptic solution contained in half-round barrel 21 out of openings 212 therein, as clearly seen in FIG. 10. The antiseptic solution thus expelled mixes with the water in the storage tank and disinfects the same. During the flushing operation as the water is removed from the storage tank, storage float 2 moves downwardly on coupling neck 12 allowing a metered amount of antiseptic solution to flow into half-round barrel 21, as described above. 
     While only a single embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that various modifications and changes can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.