Device for dispensing in the flushing water and/or for mixing with the flushing water detergent and/or sanitizing and/or deodorant products, in toilet bowls or hydraulic and sanitary fixtures in general

Abstract

A device for dispensing into the flushing water and/or for mixing with the flushing water detergent and/or sanitizing and/or deodorant products, in toilet bowls or hydraulic and sanitary fixtures in general. The device comprises a supporting structure provided with engagement means which can engage the hydraulic and sanitary fixture in order to support the supporting structure in a region of the fixture that is affected by the flushing water flow. The supporting structure supports rotatably, about a rotation axis, at least one rotating element, which interacts with the flow of flushing water in order to mix detergent and/or sanitizing and/or deodorant products introduced in the flushing water and/or adjust the dispensing of detergent and/or sanitizing and/or deodorant products connected to the supporting structure and/or vary the orientation of the flow of flushing water conveyed onto detergent and/or sanitizing and/or deodorant products connected to the supporting structure. The detergent and/or sanitizing and/or deodorant products are external to the rotating element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for dispensing into the flushing water and/or for mixing with the flushing water detergent and/or sanitizing and/or deodorant products, in toilet bowls or hydraulic and sanitary fixtures in general, which comprises a supporting structure provided with engagement means which can engage the hydraulic and sanitary fixture in order to support the supporting structure in a region of the fixture that is affected by the flushing water flow, wherein said supporting structure supports rotatably, about a rotation axis, at least one rotating element, which interacts with the flow of flushing water in order to mix detergent and/or sanitizing and/or deodorant products introduced in the flushing water and/or adjust the dispensing of detergent and/or sanitizing and/or deodorant products connected to said supporting structure and/or vary the orientation of the flow of flushing water conveyed onto detergent and/or sanitizing and/or deodorant products connected to said supporting structure, said detergent and/or sanitizing and/or deodorant products being external to said at least one rotating element. 
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said detergent and/or sanitizing and/or deodorant products are placed upstream of or downstream of said at least one rotating element with respect to the direction of the flushing water flow. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said rotating element comprises an impeller with radial vanes in which the axis of rotation is oriented substantially horizontally when said supporting structure is supported by said engagement means in a region of the fixture affected by the flow of the flushing water. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein said rotating element has a shape which tapers in the direction of its axial ends. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said rotating element comprises a screw-like impeller in which the rotation axis is oriented substantially horizontally when said supporting structure is supported by said engagement means in a region of the fixture which is affected by the flow of the flushing water. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said rotating element comprises a helical impeller in which the rotation axis is oriented substantially vertically when said supporting structure is supported by said engagement means in a region of the fixture which is affected by the flow of the flushing water. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said supporting structure supports the detergent and/or sanitizing and/or deodorant products to be dispensed. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said detergent and/or sanitizing and/or deodorant products are solid and are packaged in the form of at least one tablet or bar supported by said supporting structure. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said detergent and/or sanitizing and/or deodorant products are solid and are packaged in the form of at least two tablets or bars supported by said supporting structure. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said detergent and/or sanitizing and/or deodorant products are liquid or in gel form and are arranged in at least one tank which is supported by said supporting structure. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said detergent and/or sanitizing and/or deodorant products are liquid or in gel form and are arranged in at least two tanks supported by said supporting structure. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein said at least one tank has at least one dispensing outlet for the detergent and/or sanitizing and/or deodorant products in liquid or gel form which is directed downwardly; said supporting structure supporting, below said at least one tank, an element for retaining the detergent and/or sanitizing and/or deodorant products in liquid or gel form dispensed by said at least one tank. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein said supporting structure comprises an enclosure which defines internally a compartment which accommodates said rotating element and has openings for the passage of the flow of flushing water; said at least one tablet or bar and/or said retention element and/or the dispensing outlet of said at least one tank being located within said compartment or connected to said compartment. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein said rotating element is arranged above said at least one tablet or bar. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein said rotating element is arranged below said at least one tablet or bar or the dispensing outlet of said at least one tank or said retention element. 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein said rotating element is arranged between the dispensing outlet of said at least one tank and said retention element. 
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein a perforated diaphragm is arranged between said at least one tablet or bar and said rotating element. 
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein said at least one tablet or bar is arranged in a tray-like container which is supported by said supporting structure above said rotating element; said tray-like container, when said supporting structure is supported by said engagement means in a region of the fixture that is affected by the flow of the flushing water, being exposed to the flow of the flushing water and having, on its bottom, at least one opening for the release of the water and of the detergent and/or sanitizing and/or deodorant products produced by the dissolution of said tablet or bar onto said rotating element. 
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein said impeller is connected to actuation means. 
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 19 , wherein said actuation means comprise an electric motor and an electric power source for supplying it, which are supported by said supporting structure; said electric motor being connected, with its output shaft, to said rotating element for its rotary actuation about its rotation axis. 
     
     
         21 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said rotating element is connected to means which are adapted to prolong its rotation activated by the flow of the flushing water. 
     
     
         22 . The device according to  claim 21 , wherein said means adapted to prolong the rotation of said rotating element comprise a flywheel, which is supported rotatably about its own axis by said supporting structure and is connected cynematically to said rotating element. 
     
     
         23 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein said rotating element has a portion which is inserted within said tank, said portion being shaped in a manner adapted to extract said detergent and/or sanitizing and/or deodorant products in liquid or gel form contained within said tank as an effect of the rotation of said rotating element about its own axis. 
     
     
         24 . The device according to  claim 23 , wherein said portion of the rotating element that is inserted in said tank is shaped like the screw whose axis coincides with the rotation axis of the rotating element. 
     
     
         25 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein an element for collecting the detergent and/or sanitizing and/or deodorant products dispensed by said at least one tank is arranged below the dispensing outlet of said at least one tank, said collecting element being connected to the space occupied by said rotating element through calibrated passages for the dosage of the detergent and/or sanitizing and/or deodorant products. 
     
     
         26 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein a drum-like element is arranged below the dispensing outlet of said at least one tank and is supported so that it can rotate about its own axis by said supporting structure and closes said dispensing outlet by means of a portion of its lateral surface; a recess being formed in the lateral surface of said drum-like element and being arrangeable cyclically, by way of the rotation of said drum-like element about its own axis with respect to said tank, at the dispensing outlet of said tank in order to receive a preset amount of the detergent and/or sanitizing and/or deodorant products; said drum-like element being connected to said rotating element for a rotation of said drum-like element about its own axis with respect to the supporting structure due to the rotation of said rotating element about said rotation axis with respect to said supporting structure. 
     
     
         27 . The device according to  claim 26 , wherein said drum-like element is connected monolithically and coaxially to said rotating element.