Distributing device for distributing fluids containing active ingredients

Abstract

A device for distributing active substance fluids into a toilet flush liquid. A holder suspended from the edge of a toilet bowl holds at least two containers each having its own outlet to distribute its respective active substance fluid into the flush liquid. The containers are designed such that no flush liquid may enter and only active substance may exit the containers. A partial quantity of fluid containing active ingredients is distributed into the flush liquid each time the toilet is flushed.

1 . Dispensing device for dispensing active substance fluids into the flushing liquid in a toilet bowl, with a holder ( 1 ), which can be suspended at the edge of the toilet bowl, and with at least two storage containers ( 2 ,  3 ), which are provided in the holder ( 1 ) and are separate from one another, each for a respective active substance fluid, wherein each storage container ( 2 ,  3 ) has an own outlet opening ( 4 ) by way of which the respective active substance fluid can be dispensed into the flushing liquid, characterised in that the storage containers ( 2 ,  3 ) are protected against entry of flushing liquid into the interior thereof and the outlet openings ( 4 ) of the storage containers ( 2 ,  3 ) are so arranged that only active substance fluid issues and that in each flushing process the dispensing of a partial quantity of the active substance fluid from each of the storage containers ( 2 ,  3 ) into the flushing liquid takes place.  
     
     
         2 . Dispensing device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the outlet opening ( 4 ) of the storage container ( 2 ,  3 ) is arranged at the base side in use setting.  
     
     
         3 . Dispensing device according to  claim 1  or  2 , characterised in that the storage containers ( 2 ,  3 ) are mounted or mountable in the holder ( 1 ) to be individually exchangeable.  
     
     
         4 . Dispensing device according to  claim 1  or  2 , characterised in that the storage containers ( 2 ,  3 ) are coupled together by means of an adapter or the like and can be mounted thus-coupled in the holder ( 1 ).  
     
     
         5 . Dispensing device according to  claim 1  or  2 , characterised in that the storage containers ( 2 ,  3 ) are directly coupled together and are mountable thus-coupled in the holder ( 1 ).  
     
     
         6 . Dispensing device according to  claim 1  or  2 , characterised in that the storage containers ( 2 ,  3 ) are formed in a common, unitary housing.  
     
     
         7 . Dispensing device according to one of  claims 1  to  6 , characterised in that the storage containers ( 2 ,  3 ) are each individually refillable by way of a respective refilling opening and are optionally fixedly arranged or formed in the holder ( 1 ).  
     
     
         8 . Dispensing device according to one of  claims 1  to  7 , characterised in that the storage containers ( 2 ,  3 ) are arranged adjacent to one another at the holder ( 1 ).  
     
     
         9 . Dispensing device according to one of  claims 1  to  7 , characterised in that the storage containers ( 2 ,  3 ) are arranged one above the other at the holder ( 1 ).  
     
     
         10 . Dispensing device according to one of  claims 1  to  9 , characterised in that the storage containers ( 2 ,  3 ) are mounted at the holder ( 1 ) by plugging in from above.  
     
     
         11 . Dispensing device according to one of  claims 1  to  9 , characterised in that the storage containers ( 2 ,  3 ) can be mounted at the holder ( 1 ) by pushing in from the side.  
     
     
         12 . Dispensing device according to one of  claims 1  to  9 , characterised in that the storage containers ( 2 ,  3 ) can be mounted at the holder ( 1 ) by placing at the side and pivoting in.  
     
     
         13 . Dispensing device according to one of  claims 1  to  12 , characterised in that the storage container ( 2 ,  3 ) has a flexible wall section or a flexible wall overall and expulsion of the active substance fluid disposed therein is carried out by pressure loading of the storage container ( 2 ,  3 ).  
     
     
         14 . Dispensing device according to one of  claims 1  to  13 , characterised in that a plate-shaped distribution element ( 6 ′) is provided at the holder ( 1 ) and has a loading region ( 7 ′) flowed over by flushing liquid during the flushing process and the interior of the storage container ( 2 ,  3 ) is permanently connected with the distribution element ( 6 ′) by way of the outlet opening ( 4 ), optionally with interposition of an arrangement preventing free flowing of the active substance fluid.  
     
     
         15 . Dispensing device according to  claim 14 , characterised in that the plate-shaped distribution element ( 6 ′) is provided for at least two storage containers ( 2 ,  3 ) in common, preferably for all storage containers ( 2 ,  3 ).  
     
     
         16 . Dispensing device according to one of  claims 1  to  13 , characterised in that the outlet opening ( 4 ) arranged at the storage container ( 2 ,  3 ) at the base side is closed by means of a sealing element ( 5 ), that the sealing element ( 5 ) is biased into the closed setting closing the outlet opening ( 4 ) and is adjustable against the biasing force into a release setting slightly freeing the outlet opening ( 4 ), that for adjustment of the sealing element ( 5 ) there is provided an actuating element ( 6 ) which co-operates with the sealing element ( 5 ) and which in each flushing process can be transiently loaded with a force by the flushing liquid to such an extent that the sealing element ( 5 ) temporarily adopts the release setting against the biasing force and that for that purpose a loading region ( 7 ) loaded by flushing liquid during the flushing process is located at the actuating element ( 6 ).  
     
     
         17 . Dispensing device according to  claim 16 , characterised in that the actuating element ( 6 ) is constructed as a single-arm lever pivotably connected at one end with the holder ( 1 ), that the sealing element ( 5 ) is arranged at the actuating element ( 6 ) between the end pivotably connected with the holder ( 1 ) and the loading region ( 7 ) and that the actuating element ( 6 ) preferably extends linearly or with a decline from the sealing element ( 5 ) towards the loading region ( 7 ).  
     
     
         18 . Dispensing device according to  claim 16  or  17 , characterised in that the actuating element ( 6 ) is associated in common with the sealing elements ( 5 ) for at least two storage containers ( 2 ,  3 ), preferably for all storage containers ( 2 ,  3 ).  
     
     
         19 . Dispensing device according to one of  claims 1  to  18 , characterised in that in the case of two storage containers ( 2 ,  3 ) these are constructed asymmetrically with respect to the centre of the dispensing device as a whole.  
     
     
         20 . Dispensing device according to  claim 19 , characterised in that the outlet openings ( 4 ) of the storage containers ( 2 ,  3 ) are arranged at the storage containers ( 2 ,  3 ) to be offset towards the centre of the dispensing device as a whole.  
     
     
         21 . Dispensing device according to one of  claims 1  to  20 , characterised in that the flow cross-sections at the outlet openings ( 4 ) and/or the biasing forces at the sealing elements ( 5 ) can be determined to be different and/or set to be different.  
     
     
         22 . Dispensing device according to one of  claims 1  to  21 , characterised in that the storage containers ( 2 ,  3 ) contain corresponding active substance fluids, in particular are filled therewith.  
     
     
         23 . Dispensing device according to one of  claims 1  to  21 , characterised in that the storage containers ( 2 ,  3 ) contain different active substance fluids, in particular are filled therewith, wherein the different active substance fluids can be compatible or incompatible with one another.  
     
     
         24 . Dispensing device according to  claim 22  or  23 , characterised in that the active substance fluid is an aromatic phase, particularly a perfumed aromatic phase.  
     
     
         25 . Dispensing device according to  claim 24 , characterised in that the aromatic phase contains at least one aromatic, preferably a perfume oil, at least one surfactant or an emulsifier and water as well as optionally further ingredients such as preservatives, thickeners, sequestering agents, colorants, further surfactants or emulsifiers, stabilisers or descalers.  
     
     
         26 . Dispensing device according to  claim 22  or  23 , characterised in that one active substance fluid comprises a bleaching phase, particularly a bleaching phase containing chlorine, preferably on the basis of hypochlorite, wherein the bleaching phase can optionally contain further ingredients such as thickeners, surfactants and emulsifiers, neutralisers, colorants and aromatics.  
     
     
         27 . Dispensing device according to  claim 22  or  23 , characterised in that one active substance fluid comprises a descaler active substance phase, preferably an acid descaling active substance phase, wherein the descaling active substance phase can contain, apart from the descaler, particularly an organic or anorganic acid, optionally further ingredients such as surfactants or emulsifiers, thickeners, aromatics or preservatives.  
     
     
         28 . Dispensing device according to  claim 22  or  23 , characterised in that one active substance fluid comprises a highly concentrated surfactant phase (foam booster).  
     
     
         29 . Dispensing device according to  claim 22  or  23 , characterised in that one active substance fluid comprises an active substance phase which acts antibacterially and/or fungicidally and/or antivirally and which can contain, apart from the active substance acting antibacterially and/or fungicidally and/or antivirally, optionally further ingredients such as surfactants and emulsifiers, thickeners, aromatics or preservatives.  
     
     
         30 . Dispensing device according to  claim 22  or  23 , characterised in that one active substance fluid comprises an active substance phase which has an enzyme content and which can contain, apart from the enzyme, further ingredients such as surfactants and emulsifiers, thickeners, aromatics or preservatives.  
     
     
         31 . Dispensing device according to  claim 22  or  23 , characterised in that one active substance fluid comprises an absorbent, particularly odour-absorbent, active substance phase which can contain, apart from the absorption agent, particularly odour-absorption agent, optionally further ingredients such as surfactants and emulsifiers, thickeners, aromatics or preservatives.  
     
     
         32 . Dispensing device according to  claims 23  to  24  and optionally one or more of  claims 25  to  31 , characterised in that the storage containers ( 2 ,  3 ) contain different active ingredient fluids, wherein one of the storage containers ( 2 ,  3 ) contains an aromatic phase particularly as defined in  claim 24  and/or  claim 25 .  
     
     
         33 . Dispensing device according to one of  claims 1  to  32 , characterised in that the viscosity of the active substance fluids received in the storage containers ( 2 ,  3 ) lies in the region of a few thousand mPas, particularly in the region of 2,000 to 5,000 mpas, preferably in the region of 2,500 to 3,500 mpas.  
     
     
         34 . Dispensing device according to  claim 15  or  18  and optionally one or more of  claims 19  to  33 , characterised in that the plate-shaped stationary distribution element ( 6 ′) or the plate-shaped, but movable actuating element ( 6 ) has, on the upper side near a longitudinal edge and adjacent to one another at a spacing, the connection points ( 10 ) for the outlet openings ( 4 ) of the storage containers ( 2 ,  3 ) and that the distribution element ( 6 ′) or actuating element ( 6 ) has, on the other side and emanating from the connection points ( 10 ), depressions ( 11 ) which extend approximately up to the opposite longitudinal edge and which serve for the distribution of the active substance fluids into the flushing liquid.  
     
     
         35 . Dispensing device according to  claim 34 , characterised in that the depressions ( 11 ) are formed in channel shape, preferably with U-shaped, V-shaped, W-shaped or semicircular cross-section, as a series of punctiform depressions or as intermediate spaces between rows of punctiform or strip-shaped protrusions.  
     
     
         36 . Dispensing device according to  claim 34  or  35 , characterised in that the depressions ( 11 ) widen or narrow towards the ends thereof.  
     
     
         37 . Dispensing device according to one of  claims 34  to  36 , characterised in that the depressions ( 11 ) extend rectilinearly and/or parallelly relative to one another or are arranged to be radiating in shape, curved, zigzaged, wave-shaped or cascade-shaped.  
     
     
         38 . Dispensing device according to one of  claims 34  to  37 , characterised in that the depressions ( 11 ) associated with the different connection points ( 10 ) do not or substantially do not cross one another.  
     
     
         39 . Dispensing device according to one of  claims 34  to  37 , characterised in that the depressions ( 11 ) are arranged at least in part to cross one another or run towards one another.  
     
     
         40 . Dispensing device according to one of  claims 34  to  39 , characterised in that the connection points ( 10 ) are directly interconnected by way of at least one transversely extending depression ( 12 ).  
     
     
         41 . Dispensing device according to one of  claims 34  to  40 , characterised in that the distribution element ( 6 ′) or the actuating element ( 6 ) is formed to be approximately rectangular, square, round, oval or elliptical in plan view.  
     
     
         42 . Dispensing device according to one of  claims 34  to  40 , characterised in that the distribution element ( 6 ′) or the actuating element ( 6 ) is formed to be approximately mussel-shaped, blossom-shaped, leaf-shaped, bufterfly-shaped, to have the form of a slice of fruit, or the like.  
     
     
         43 . Dispensing device according to one of  claims 34  to  42 , characterised in that the distribution element ( 6 ′) or the actuating element ( 6 ) is formed overall or per connection point ( 10 ) to extend section-by-section, in cross-section, concavely, convexly, curvilinearly, in mussel shape, in cascade shape or in funnel shape.  
     
     
         44 . Dispensing device according to one of  claims 34  to  43 , characterised in that the distribution element ( 6 ′) or the actuating element ( 6 ) consists of plastic material, particularly a polypropylene, or also of a sintered material, of ceramic, glass, metal or wood.  
     
     
         45 . Dispensing device according to one of  claims 34  to  44 , characterised in that the number of depressions ( 11 ) on the distribution element ( 6 ′) or the actuating element ( 6 ) is between 2 and 100, preferably between 10 and 50.  
     
     
         46 . Dispensing device according to one of  claims 34  to  45 , characterised in that the width of the depressions ( 11 ) at the surface is between 0.5 and 5.0 mm, preferably between 1.0 and 2.0 mm.  
     
     
         47 . Dispensing device according to one of  claims 34  to  46 , characterised in that the depth of the depressions ( 11 ) is between 0.2 mm and 4.0 mm, preferably between 0.5 mm and 2.0 mm.  
     
     
         48 . Dispensing device according to one of  claims 34  to  47 , characterised in that the total area of the distribution element ( 6 ′) or the actuating element ( 6 ) is between 500 mm 2  and 8,000 mm 2  preferably between 2,000 mm 2  and 4,000 mm 2 .  
     
     
         49 . Dispensing device for dispensing an active substance fluid into the flushing liquid in a toilet bowl, with a holder ( 1 ), which can be suspended at the edge of the toilet bowl, and at least one storage container ( 2 ;  3 ), which is provided in the holder ( 1 ), for an active substance fluid, wherein the storage container ( 2 ;  3 ) has an outlet opening ( 4 ) by way of which the active substance fluid can be dispensed into the flushing liquid, wherein a plate-shaped distribution element ( 6 ′) is provided at the holder ( 1 ) and has a loading region ( 7 ′) flowed over by flushing liquid during the flushing process and wherein the interior of the storage container ( 2 ;  3 ) is permanently connected with the distribution element ( 6 ′) by way of the outlet opening ( 4 ), optionally with interposition of an arrangement preventing free flowing of the active substance fluid, particularly with at least two storage containers ( 2 ,  3 ), which are provided in the holder ( 1 ) and separate from one another, each for a respective active substance fluid, particularly according to one of  claims 1  to  48 , characterised in that the distribution element ( 6 ′) is divided on the upper side, on the one hand, into a connection region ( 14 ), which goes out from a longitudinal edge ( 13 ) and in which a connection point ( 10 ) for the outlet opening ( 4 ) of the storage container ( 2 ;  3 ) is arranged, and, on the other hand, into the loading region ( 7 ′), which reaches from the connection region ( 14 ) substantially up to the oppositely disposed longitudinal edge ( 15 ), and that the surface of the distribution element ( 6 ′) is formed to be smooth in the connection region ( 14 ) apart from individual protrusions, depressions or interruptions present for reasons of fastening, connection or sealing.  
     
     
         50 . Dispensing device according to  claim 49 , characterised in that the plate-shaped distribution element ( 6 ′), in the case of presence of at least two storage containers ( 2 ,  3 ) in the holder ( 1 ), is provided in common for both storage containers ( 2 ,  3 ), preferably for all storage containers ( 2 ,  3 ), and that the plate-shaped distribution element ( 6 ′) has, in the connection region ( 14 ) near the longitudinal edge ( 13 ) and adjacent to one another at a spacing, the connection points ( 10 ) for the outlet openings ( 4 ) of the storage containers ( 2 ,  3 ).  
     
     
         51 . Dispensing device according to  claim 49  or  50 , characterised in that a wide strip of smooth surface of the connection region ( 14 ) is present between the outer edge of the connection point ( 10 ) and the loading region ( 7 ′).  
     
     
         52 . Dispensing device according to one of  claims 49  to  51 , characterised in that the arrangement preventing free flowing of the active substance fluid has an pushing-open tip or the like at the connection point ( 10 ).  
     
     
         53 . Dispensing device according to  claim 52 , characterised in that the arrangement preventing free flowing of the active substance fluid has a spacer arrangement surrounding, preferably annularly surrounding, the pushing-open tip or the like at the connection point ( 10 ) and consists of individual spacers ( 16 ), which slightly project from the surface in the connection region ( 14 ) and on which the lower edge ( 17 ) of the connection opening ( 4 ) of the storage container ( 2 ;  3 ) stands, so that exit regions for the exit of active substance fluid or entry regions for the entry of air result between the spacers ( 16 ).  
     
     
         54 . Dispensing device according to  claim 52 , characterised in that the lower edge ( 17 ) of the outlet opening ( 4 ) of the storage container ( 2 ;  3 ) is formed as a spacer arrangement with individual, slightly axially protruding spacers ( 16 ′), which when the storage container ( 2 ;  3 ) is mounted sit on the upper side of the distribution element ( 6 ′) in the connection region ( 14 ), so that exit regions for the exit of active substance fluid or entry regions for the entry of air result between the spacers ( 16 ′).  
     
     
         55 . Dispensing device according to one of  claims 49  to  54 , characterised in that the distribution element ( 6 ′) goes out in the loading region ( 7 ′) from the edge of the connection region ( 14 ) and has depressions ( 11 ), which reach approximately up to the opposite longitudinal edge ( 15 ) and which serve for distribution of the active substance fluid or the active substance fluids into the flushing liquid.  
     
     
         56 . Dispensing device according to  claim 55 , characterised by the features of the characterising part of one or more of  claims 35  to  39 .  
     
     
         57 . Dispensing device according to one of  claims 49  to  56 , characterised in that the holder ( 1 ) has or forms a carrier ( 18 ) receiving the storage container ( 2 ;  3 ) or the storage containers ( 2 ,  3 ), wherein a front wall ( 19 ) facing the loading region ( 7 ′) extends at the transition from the connection region ( 14 ) to the loading region ( 7 ′).  
     
     
         58 . Dispensing device according to  claim 57 , characterised in that the depressions ( 11 ) extend in the loading region ( 7 ′) up to just below the edge of the front wall ( 19 ).  
     
     
         59 . Dispensing device according to  claim 57  or  58 , characterised in that only a small gap is present between the uppermost edge of the depressions ( 11 ) in the loading region ( 7 ′) and the edge of the front wall ( 19 ) of the carrier ( 18 ), preferably a gap of 0.1 to 0.4 mm, particularly a gap of approximately 0.2 to 0.3 mm.  
     
     
         60 . Dispensing device according to one of  claims 49  to  59 , characterised in that a protective edge ( 20 ) protruding slightly upwardly from the upper side is formed in the connection region ( 14 ) on the side, which faces a longitudinal edge ( 13 ), of the connection point ( 10 ) or the connection points ( 10 ), particularly to enclose the spacers ( 16 ;  16 ′) at this side.