Toilet rim block holder

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for dispensing a material such as a fragrance, a disinfectant, a coloring agent, or a cleaner into a toilet bowl are disclosed. In accordance with certain preferred embodiments of the present invention, a rim holder and material container are provided. The rim holder includes a vessel section that collects flush water after initiation of a flush cycle. After the volume within the vessel section reaches a predetermined level, the material is mixed with the water and permitted to flow into the toilet bowl from a lower aperture. The present invention permits the material to be added in the flush cycle so that the material is no carried away with the initial flow, but instead remains in the bowl after the flush cycle is complete.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Apparatus for introducing material into a toilet bowl comprising: 
 a rim holder positioned within the toilet bowl;    a material container filled with a material; and    a material dispenser connecting the rim holder and a vessel section of the material    container, wherein the vessel section comprises walls and a lower aperture open    to the toilet bowl,    whereby the initiation of a flush cycle fills the vessel section to a predetermined level causing the material to be dispensed into the vessel section.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rim holder and vessel section are integral.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rim holder further comprises a hanger.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rim holder is molded from a plastic material.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the material container is molded from a plastic material.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the material comprises at least one liquid component.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the material comprises at least one material selected from the group comprising a fragrance, a disinfectant, a coloring agent, and a cleaner.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the material dispenser is a wick.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the material dispenser is a valve.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the material dispenser is integral with the material container.  
     
     
         11 . A method of adding a material to a toilet bowl, comprising the steps of: 
 positioning a rim holder with the toilet bowl;    positioning a material container in fluid communication with the rim holder;    diverting a portion of flush water entering the toilet bowl into a vessel section;    mixing the material with the water in the vessel section; and    flowing a mixture including the material into the toilet bowl via a lower aperture in the vessel section after an initial volume of flush water has exited the toilet bowl.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of mixing comprises sensing a predetermined level within the vessel section.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of mixing comprises opening a valve.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of metering the flow through the lower aperture so that substantially all the liquid within the vessel section is dispensed into the bowl after a flush cycle is substantially competed.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the material added is at least one material selected from the group comprising a fragrance, a disinfectant, a coloring agent, and a cleaner.  
     
     
         16 . Apparatus for dispensing a material into a toilet bowl comprising a rim holder having a hanger portion that engages the toilet bowl, a vessel section that holds a volume of flush water, and a lower aperture that drains the vessel section; and a material container received by the vessel section, whereby material is admitted to the vessel section after a predetermined level of flush water fills the vessel section.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the rim holder and the material container are molded from plastic.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the material is at least one material selected from the group comprising a fragrance, a disinfectant, a coloring agent, and a cleaner.