Patent ID: 8032953

Claim:
A liquid dispensing device for use in the flush cistern of a water closet, the device comprising: a liquid formulation, a reservoir for the liquid formulation, means for maintaining the level of the liquid formulation in the reservoir at a predetermined level, an outlet through which the liquid formulation is dispensed, and means for dispensing a quantity of the liquid formulation via the outlet, wherein the means for dispensing a quantity of the liquid formulation via the outlet comprises means for temporarily increasing the level of the liquid formulation in the reservoir so that the liquid formulation enters the outlet, wherein the means for temporarily increasing the level of the liquid formulation in the reservoir comprises a displacement body which is movable between a first position and a second position, and means is provided for magnetically moving the displacement body from the first position to the second position to dispense a quantity of the liquid formulation from the reservoir via the outlet, wherein the means for magnetically moving the displacement body includes a movable member substantially aligned with the displacement body, the displacement body comprising a first vertically oriented magnet and the movable member comprising a second vertically oriented magnet, the first vertically oriented magnet and the second vertically oriented magnet configured to repel each other, and wherein the displacement body has a density greater than the density of the liquid formulation such that it sinks, and the movable member is embedded in a plastics body which is less dense than the liquid formulation such that it floats.