Liquid dispensing device with secondary liquid entrance

Abstract

A device for dispensing liquid from the container to a toilet bowl is provided. The device is used with a liquid container having a normally sealed port. It includes a housing upon which the container is mounted, breaking the seal. The housing has a dispensing surface upon which liquid from the container is deposited and over which at least a portion of the flushed water stream passes. A conduit is provided for conducting liquid from the container to the liquid dispensing surface. The inlet end portion of the conduit has primary liquid entrance means, in the form of an open end, and secondary liquid entrance means, in the form of one or more openings in the conduit wall. The inlet end of the conduit extends through the container port with the open end of the conduit and the openings in the conduit wall both situated within the container. Thus, liquid can enter the channel from the container from either the open end of the conduit or the opening in the conduit wall, regardless of the position of the separated part of the seal.

1 . A device for dispensing liquid from the container to a toilet bowl, adapted to be used with a liquid container having a port, said device comprising a housing, said housing comprising means for mounting said housing in the stream of flushed water, a surface upon which liquid from the container is deposited and over which at least a portion of the water stream passes, and means for conducting liquid from the container to said surface, said liquid conducting means comprising inlet and outlet end portions and a channel extending between said end portions, said outlet end portion terminating proximate said surface, said inlet end portion comprising primary liquid entrance means and secondary liquid entrance means, said inlet end portion being adapted to extend through said container port with said primary liquid entrance means and said secondary liquid entrance means situated within the container, such that liquid can enter said channel from the container through said secondary liquid entrance means, even if said primary liquid entrance means is blocked.  
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said liquid conducting means has an axis and said inlet end portion comprises a generally cylindrical wall defined in part by an edge extending in a plane generally perpendicular to said axis, and an extended wall section, said extended wall section extending beyond said perpendicular plane, said secondary liquid entrance means being situated on said extended wall section.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said extended wall section comprises an edge inclined relative to said axis.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein said secondary liquid entrance means comprises an opening in said extended wall section.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4  wherein said opening extends from said edge of said extended wall section.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 3  wherein said secondary liquid entrance means comprises first and second openings in said extended wall section.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6  wherein said first and second openings extend from said edge of said extended wall section.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 6  wherein said first and second openings are spaced from each other, defining a part therebetween.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein said edge of said extended wall section lies in a plane and wherein said part comprises a portion extending beyond said plane of said extended wall section edge.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9  wherein said portion of said part comprises a protrusion.  
   
   
       11 . A device for dispensing liquid to a toilet bowl, said device comprising a housing and a liquid container with a port, said housing comprising means for mounting said housing in the stream of flushed water, means for removeably mounting said liquid container on said housing, a surface upon which liquid from said container is deposited and over which at least a portion of the water stream passes, and means for conducting liquid from said container to said surface, said liquid conducting means comprising inlet and outlet end portions and a channel extending between said end portions, said outlet end portion terminating proximate said surface, said inlet end portion comprising primary liquid entrance means and secondary liquid entrance means, said inlet end portion being adapted to extend through said container port with said primary liquid entrance means and said secondary liquid entrance means situated within the container, such that liquid can enter said channel from said container through said secondary liquid entrance means, even if said primary entrance means is blocked.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 11  wherein said liquid conducting means has an axis and said inlet end portion comprises a generally cylindrical wall having an edge extending in a plane generally perpendicular to said axis, and an extended wall section, said extended wall section extending beyond said perpendicular plane, said secondary liquid entrance means being situated on said extended wall section.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 12  wherein said extended wall section comprises an edge inclined relative to said axis.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13  wherein said secondary liquid entrance means comprises an opening in said extended wall section.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 14  wherein said opening extends from said edge of said extended wall section.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 13  wherein said secondary liquid entrance means comprises first and second openings in said extended wall section.  
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 16  wherein said first and second openings extend from said edge of said extended wall section.  
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 16  wherein said first and second openings are spaced from each other, defining a part therebetween.  
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 18  wherein said edge of said extended wall section lies in a plane and wherein said part comprises a portion extending beyond the plane of said edge of said extended wall section.  
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 19  wherein said portion of said part comprises a protrusion.  
   
   
       21 . A device for dispensing liquid to a toilet bowl, said device comprising a housing and a liquid container with a port having a frangible seal, said housing comprising means for mounting said housing in the stream of flushed water, means for removeably mounting said liquid container on said housing, a surface upon which liquid from said container is deposited and over which at least a portion of the water stream passes, and means for conducting liquid from said container to said surface, said liquid conducting means comprising inlet and outlet end portions and a channel extending between said end portions, said outlet end portion terminating proximate said surface, said second end portion comprising primary liquid entrance means and secondary liquid entrance means, said inlet end portion being adapted to separate and push part of said seal into said container to open said container port, as said container is mounted on said housing, and to extend through said port with said primary liquid entrance means and said secondary liquid entrance means situated within said container, such that liquid can enter said channel from said container through said secondary liquid entrance means, even if said primary entrance means is blocked by said part of said seal.  
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 21  wherein said liquid conducting means has an axis and said inlet end portion comprises a generally cylindrical wall with an edge extending in a plane generally perpendicular to said axis, and an extended wall section adapted to push said seal, said extended wall section extending beyond said perpendicular plane, said secondary liquid entrance means being situated on said extended wall section.  
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 22  wherein said extended wall section comprises an edge inclined relative to said axis.  
   
   
       24 . The device of  claim 23  wherein said secondary liquid entrance means comprises an opening in said extended wall section.  
   
   
       25 . The device of  claim 24  wherein said opening extends from said edge of said extended wall section.  
   
   
       26 . The device of  claim 23  wherein said secondary liquid entrance means comprises first and second openings in said extended wall section.  
   
   
       27 . The device of  claim 26  wherein said first and second openings extend from said edge of said extended wall section.  
   
   
       28 . The device of  claim 26  wherein said first and second openings are spaced from each other, defining a part therebetween.  
   
   
       29 . The device of  claim 28  wherein said edge of said extended wall section lies in a plane and wherein said part comprises a portion extending beyond the plane of said extended wall section edge.  
   
   
       30 . The device of  claim 29  wherein said portion of said part comprises a protrusion.  
   
   
       31 . The device of  claim 21  wherein said primary liquid entrance means comprises the open end of said inlet end portion of said liquid conducting means.  
   
   
       32 . A device for dispensing liquid to a toilet bowl, said device comprising a housing and a liquid container with a port having a frangible seal, said housing comprising means for mounting said housing in the stream of flushed water, means for removeably mounting said liquid container on said housing, a surface upon which liquid from said container is deposited and over which at least a portion of the water stream passes, and generally tubular means for conducting liquid from said container to said surface, said tubular means comprising a wall with inlet and outlet end portions, said outlet end portion terminating proximate said surface, said inlet end portion comprising an open end and secondary liquid entrance means extending through said wall, said wall having an extended wall section adapted to separate and push part of said seal into said container to open said container port, as said container is mounted on said housing, said inlet end portion extending through said port with said open end and said secondary liquid entrance means situated within the container, such that liquid can enter said tubular means from said container through said secondary liquid entrance means, even if said open end of said inlet end portion is blocked by said part of said seal.  
   
   
       33 . The device of  claim 32  wherein said tubular means has an axis and said inlet end portion comprises an edge extending in a plane generally perpendicular to said axis, said extended wall section extending beyond said perpendicular plane, said secondary liquid entrance means being situated on said extended wall section.  
   
   
       34 . The device of  claim 33  wherein said extended wall section comprises an edge inclined relative to said axis.  
   
   
       35 . The device of  claim 33  wherein said secondary liquid entrance means comprises an opening in said extended wall section.  
   
   
       36 . The device of  claim 35  wherein said opening extends from said edge of said extended wall section.  
   
   
       37 . The device of  claim 33  wherein said secondary liquid entrance means comprises first and second openings in said extended wall section.  
   
   
       38 . The device of  claim 37  wherein said first and second openings extend from said edge of said extended wall section.  
   
   
       39 . The device of  claim 37  wherein said first and second openings are spaced from each other, defining a part therebetween.  
   
   
       40 . The device of  claim 39  wherein said edge of said extended wall section lies in a plane and wherein said part comprises a portion extending beyond the plane of said extended wall section edge.  
   
   
       41 . The device of  claim 40  wherein said portion of said part comprises a protrusion.