Dispensing apparatus

Abstract

Dispensing apparatus including a storage element having a reservoir sized for holding a supply of surfactant and an outlet through which surfactant is drawn from the reservoir; a metering device operatively attached to the storage element outlet for measuring an amount of surfactant; and a siphoning tube operatively connected to the metering device. The siphoning tube is operatively connectible to a toilet overflow tube so that the amount of surfactant measured by the metering device is dispensed into the toilet bowl when water passes from the overflow tube to the toilet bowl to refill the toilet bowl.

1 . A dispensing apparatus for dispensing surfactant into a toilet bowl, said apparatus comprising: 
 a storage element having a reservoir sized for holding a supply of surfactant and an outlet through which surfactant is drawn from the reservoir;    a metering device operatively attached to the storage element outlet for measuring an amount of surfactant; and    a siphoning tube operatively connected to the metering device, said siphoning tube being operatively connectible to a toilet overflow tube so that the amount of surfactant measured by the metering device is dispensed into the toilet bowl when water passes from the overflow tube to the toilet bowl to refill the toilet bowl.    
   
   
       2 . A dispensing apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein: 
 the storage element is positioned inside a toilet tank during use; and    the reservoir of the storage element is flexible so that pressure within the reservoir is affected by a water level in the tank.    
   
   
       3 . A dispensing apparatus as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the storage element includes a resealable inlet so that the supply of surfactant may be replenished.  
   
   
       4 . A dispensing apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the siphoning tube is telescopically extendable to accommodate differing overflow tube lengths.  
   
   
       5 . A dispensing apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the metering device includes a container having a top and a bottom, a metering tube operatively connected to the storage element outlet and extending upward into the container the bottom, and a siphoning tube extending downward into the container from the top.  
   
   
       6 . A dispensing apparatus as set forth in  claim 5  wherein the metering tube extends upward into the container a pre-selected distance.  
   
   
       7 . A dispensing apparatus as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the distance which the metering tube extends upward into the container is selected to dispense a pre-selected volume of surfactant to the toilet bowl.  
   
   
       8 . A dispensing apparatus as set forth in  claim 5  wherein the siphoning tube extends downward into the container to a position adjacent the bottom of the container.  
   
   
       9 . A dispensing apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the apparatus further comprises a check valve operatively connected with the siphoning tube for preventing liquid from traveling between the metering device and the siphoning tube unless water is being dispensed through a bowl fill tube of the toilet.