Toilet balls with flushing water distributor

Abstract

Toilet basket (1) for receiving solid or gelled preparations having at least one container (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) for receiving at least one preparation (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d), the container (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) positionable below the toilet rim so that flushing water can flow over it when the toilet is flushed, and at least one inlet opening (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) and one outlet opening (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) shaped in the container wall (7) for the flushing water; a holder (2) for mounting the toilet basket (1) on the bowl rim; a flushing water distributing element (8) arranged and configured on the toilet basket (1) so that the flushing water distributing element (8) is impinged upon by flushing water upon flushing, and an equalized delivery of flushing water into the inlet opening (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) of the container (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) is produced.

Claims

1. Toilet basket for receiving solid preparations comprising: at least two containers for receiving at least one preparation, the at least two containers having at least one outlet opening, a preparation distributing element in the shape of a plate having an impingement region over which flushing liquid flows during a flushing operation, wherein an interior of the at least two container is in continuous communication with the at least one preparation distributing element via the at least one outlet opening, a holder for mounting the toilet basket onto a toilet bowl rim including at least one spring element, and a flushing water distributing element arranged and configured on the toilet basket so that the flushing water distributing element is impinged upon by flushing water upon flushing and an equalized delivery of flushing water onto the preparation distributing element is produced further comprising spacing elements in the at least two containers, the spacing elements configured to contact the at least one preparation thereby keeping the at least one preparation away from the outlet opening.

2. Toilet basket according to claim 1, wherein the flushing water distributing element is a plate, chute, ramp, or trough.

3. Toilet basket according to claim 1, wherein the flushing water distributing element is provided in shared fashion for the at least two containers.

4. Toilet basket according to claim 1, wherein the at least two containers are integrally connected to one another.

5. Toilet basket according to claim 1, wherein the at least two containers are connected to one another via a non-water-conveying strut.

6. Toilet basket according to claim 1, wherein more than one container is provided on the toilet basket, each container receiving either the same preparation or preparations differing from one another.

7. Toilet basket according to claim 1, wherein the holder comprises at least two spring elements so that when the toilet basket is installed in a toilet, one spring element has a substantially vertical spring travel and one spring element has a substantially horizontal spring travel.

8. Toilet basket according to claim 7, wherein preparations differing from one another are stored in the more than one container.

9. Toilet basket according to claim 1, wherein the flushing water distributing element (8) is integral with the at least one container.

10. Toilet basket according to claim 1, wherein the distributing element has a length corresponding substantially to a length of the toilet basket.

11. Toilet basket according to claim 1, wherein the toilet basket is elastic so that, when installed, the toilet basket can follow a contour of a toilet bowl.

Description

(1) Further exemplifying embodiments of the invention are explained with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a side view of a toilet basket for solid or gelled preparations having a flushing water distributing element arranged above the inlet opening;

(3) FIG. 2 is a side view of a toilet basket having a trough-like flushing water distributing element;

(4) FIG. 3 is a side view of a toilet basket having a chute-like flushing water distributing element;

(5) FIG. 4 is a side view of a toilet basket having a ramp-like flushing water distributing element;

(6) FIG. 5 is a side view of a toilet basket for solid or gelled preparations, having a flushing water distributing element arranged below the inlet opening;

(7) FIG. 6 is a top view of a toilet basket having containers arranged in a row next to one another, and a flushing water distributing element;

(8) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a toilet basket for solid or gelled preparations, having ball-like containers and a flushing water distributing element;

(9) FIG. 8 is a front view of a toilet basket for solid or gelled preparations, having ball-like containers and a flushing water distributing element;

(10) FIG. 9 schematically depicts a toilet basket for solid or gelled preparations, impinged upon by flushing water, having ball-like containers;

(11) FIG. 10(a) is a top view and FIG. 10(b) is a side view of a toilet basket for liquid preparations, having a preparation distributing element and a flushing water distributing element; and

(12) FIG. 11 is a cross section view of a toilet basket having spacing elements.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

(13) 1. Toilet basket 2. Holder 3. Container 4. Preparation 5. Inlet opening 6. Outlet opening 7. Container wall 8. Flushing water distributing element 9. Spring element 10. Spring element 11. Distributing element 12. Receptacle 13. Connection 14. Spacing element

(14) A first embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1, which is a side view or schematic of a toilet basket 1 for solid or gelled preparations 4. The basket 1 has a flushing water distributing element 8 arranged above inlet opening 5. Toilet basket 1 is made up of a container 3 having at its top end an inlet opening 5 through which flushing water can enter the container 3 via flushing water distributing element 8. The flushing water that has entered container 3 dissolves some of the preparation 4 stored in container 3, and the flushing water charged with preparation 4 leaves container 3 through outlet opening 6 and is thus delivered into the interior of the toilet bowl.

(15) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, flushing water distributing element 8 is shaped in the manner of a plate. Flushing water distributing element 8 engages into the flushing water stream of the toilet bowl, the main flow direction of the flushing water stream usually being directed downwardly as indicated by the arrow in the direction of gravity. The flushing water stream is broken up by flushing water distributing element 8, which acts similarly to a baffle plate, and is distributed over the surface of flushing water distributing element 8. The surface of flushing water distributing element 8 facing toward the flow of flushing water can include liquid-directing or distributing structures such as capillaries, grids, or flutes extending transversely or longitudinally.

(16) Flushing water distributing element 8 can also include an opening through which flushing water can flow into inlet opening 5 of container 3.

(17) As may further be gathered from FIG. 1, the toilet basket shown has a holder 2 with which the toilet basket can be releasably attached by a user onto the rim of a toilet bowl.

(18) As illustrated, the holder 2 includes a first spring element 9 and a second spring element 10. When the toilet dispenser 1 is installed in a toilet, the first spring element 9 has a substantially vertical spring travel and the second spring element 10 has a substantially horizontal spring travel, thereby enabling improved and more flexible securing of the toilet basket 1 onto toilets having different rim edge thicknesses and configurations.

(19) Further embodiments of the flushing water distributing element 8 illustrated in FIG. 1 are seen in FIGS. 2 to 4. FIG. 2 illustrates a trough-like flushing water distributing element 8. This flushing water distributing element 8 has a peripheral rim enabling collection of flushing water in the receptacle thus formed, which is then directed through inlet openings 5 into the container 3. In addition to the baffle plate effect described above, the flushing water distributing element 8 shown in FIG. 2 can produce an equalized delivery of flushing liquid into inlet openings 5 of container 3 by temporarily storing flushing water in the trough-like flushing water distributing element 8.

(20) Another embodiment of the flushing water distributing element 8 is illustrated in FIG. 3. This flushing water distributing element 8 is designed in a chute-like fashion. It comprises a part that is substantially horizontal when the toilet basket 1 is installed, and from which a part extends that rises oppositely to the direction of gravity. This embodiment of the flushing water distributing element 8 supplements the above-described baffle plate effect by an accelerated runoff of flushing water incident onto the flushing water distributing element 8 toward the inlet openings 5 of the container 3.

(21) A ramp-like configuration of flushing water distributing element 8 is illustrated in FIG. 4, wherein the flushing water distributing element 8 is arranged below the inlet opening 5 of the container 3. An edge that functions similar to that of an overflow weir is thus formed between the inlet opening 5 and flushing water distributing element 8. As a result of this edge, in addition to spray water, flushing water can enter inlet opening 5 only when the water level in the funnel formed by flushing water distributing element 8 with container 3 exceeds the height of the edge or weir. Any desired combinations of the plate-, trough-, chute-, and/or ramp-like flushing water distributing elements 8 known from FIGS. 1 to 4 are also conceivable.

(22) An alternative embodiment of a toilet basket according to the present invention for solid or gelled preparations having a flushing water distributing element arranged below the inlet opening is shown in FIG. 5. Unlike the toilet basket illustrated in FIG. 4, the toilet basket 1 of FIG. 5 includes a plate-like flushing water distributing element 8 that, when the toilet dispenser 1 is installed in a toilet bowl, extends outwardly from below the inlet opening 5 of the container 3 toward the toilet bowl.

(23) FIG. 6 provides a top view of a toilet basket 1 for solid or gelled preparations such as those illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5. This basket 1 has four containers 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d arranged in a row and a flushing water distributing element 8. As indicated by the different cross-hatching of the preparations 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, the containers 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d can stock different preparations 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d. The containers 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d adjacent to one another are connected to each other by a non-water-conveying connection 13.

(24) FIG. 7 provides a perspective view of a toilet basket 1 made of transparent material having ball-like containers 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d for solid or gelled preparations 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d and a flushing water distributing element 8. The containers 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d are arranged in a row next to one another. Stocked in the transparent containers 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d are ball-shaped, solid preparations 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, which can differ from one another. As a result of the transparent configuration of the containers 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, the user can easily ascertain visually the consumption status of the preparations 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d.

(25) The plate-like flushing water distributing element 8, extending approximately at the height of the longitudinal axis, is arranged below the slit-shaped inlet openings 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d of containers 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, and extends over the entire length of the toilet basket. This is also readily apparent from the front view illustrated in FIG. 8 of the toilet basket 1 from FIG. 7.

(26) The containers 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d and distributing element 8 are integrally shaped (i.e., containers 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d are formed, for example, using an injection molding method) from two half-shell-like elements connected by a hinge-like material bridge, wherein the flushing water distributing element 8 is shaped onto one of the half-shell-like elements. Containers 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d are then formed by folding the two half-shell-like elements together, the elements being secured to one another in the assembled state by a suitable positive and/or intermaterial connection.

(27) The one-piece holder 2 by which the toilet basket 1 is secured onto the rim of a toilet bowl has two spring elements 9, 10 embodied in a rhombic shape. When the toilet dispenser 1 is installed in the toilet, the first spring element 9 has a substantially vertical spring travel and the second spring element 10 a substantially horizontal spring travel. The spring travel made available enables an improved and more flexible securing of the toilet basket 1 onto a variety of toilets differing in rim edge thicknesses and configurations.

(28) The manner of operation of the ball-shaped containers 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d and flushing water distributing element 8 is further explained with reference to FIG. 9.

(29) FIG. 9 shows a first flushing water stream, schematically depicted as arrow A, incident onto the ball-shaped container, with the width of arrow A symbolizing the quantity of flushing water and the length of arrow A the flushing water velocity. When the flushing water stream strikes the ball-shaped surface of the container, the incident flushing water stream is broken up (i.e., one portion is deflected and generates a spray water component as indicated by arrow A1, and one portion is diverted over the surface of the container as symbolized by arrow A2).

(30) FIG. 9 exemplifies a second flushing water stream B having a lower flushing water velocity and smaller flushing water quantity than flushing water stream A, as evident by its smaller arrow length and width. With a lower flushing water velocity and smaller quantity, upon striking a ball-shaped surface the spray water component is reduced and the flushing water component that is diverted onto the ball-shaped container surface after striking it is increased.

(31) When the toilet basket 1 is installed onto a toilet, should one of the ball-shaped containers 3a, 3b be located in a segment with high-volume and strong flushing water impingement, a greater proportion of spray water is then generated, which then distributes flushing water onto the abutting ball-shaped containers 3a, 3b where it flows off over the surfaces of the ball-shaped containers 3a, 3b or travels directly into the inlet openings 5a, 5b of the containers 3a, 3b. In regions with less flushing water impingement, less spray water is generated because of the ball-like container configuration, and a larger proportion of flushing water flows off over the container surface. This produces an equalized delivery of flushing water into the inlet openings 5a, 5b.

(32) The flushing water distributing element 8, which when the toilet basket is installed, acts as a kind of baffle plate into the flushing water stream, resulting in a similar effect. In regions of high-volume and strong flushing water impingement, a greater proportion of spray water is generated than in regions of weak flushing water impingement, so that over the area of the flushing water distributing element, an equalized delivery of flushing water into the inlet openings 5a, 5b of the container 3a, 3b occurs.

(33) Homogeneous rinsing out of the preparations can be implemented by way of the configuration of the ball-shaped containers 3a, 3b and the flushing water distributing element 8 (in particular, by the degree to which the ball-shaped containers 3a, 3b are entirely or partly located in the flushing water stream), the size and configuration of the inlet openings 5a, 5b of the containers 3a, 3b, and the size and location of the flushing water distributing element 8.

(34) Preferably, the ball-shaped containers 3a, 3b are designed to receive ball-shaped preparations having a diameter from 25 to 40 mm. It is further preferred that the flushing water distributing element 8 have a depth of from 2 to 20 mm, particularly preferably from 5 to 15 mm, with depth referring to the horizontal extension when flushing water distributing element 8 is suspended in place in the direction of the toilet bowl impinged upon by flushing water. It is further advantageous to arrange the flushing water distributing element 8 in or above the horizontal section plane containing the center point of the ball-shaped containers 3a, 3b. Spacing between the lower edges of the flushing water inlet openings 5a, 5b and the flushing water distributing element 8 is, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, from 2 mm to 8 mm. Horizontally extending slots are further to be preferred as flushing water inlet openings 5a, 5b, with the slots preferably having a height of from 1 to 6 mm, preferably 2 to 4 mm, and a width from 5 to 35 mm, preferably 20 to 25 mm.

(35) FIG. 10 illustrates in a top view (a) and side view (b) a toilet basket for liquid preparations and having a preparation distributing element and a flushing water distributing element.

(36) The toilet basket 1 for receiving liquid preparations 4 includes a first container 3a and second container 3b for receiving at least one preparation 4. The containers 3a and 3b are arranged next to one another, each having an outlet opening (not illustrated) directed downwardly in the direction of gravity. Containers 3a, 3b can be coupled, individually or together, to the receptacle 12 of toilet basket 1, with the interior of the containers 3a, 3b being continuously in communication with a preparation distributing element 11 via the outlet opening, with interposition of an arrangement in receptacle 12 that prevents the preparation from flowing freely. This plate-like preparation distributing element 11 has, when the toilet basket 1 is in the installed state, an impingement region over which flushing liquid flows during the flushing operation.

(37) For equalized delivery of flushing water onto preparation distributing element 11, there is provided above preparation distributing element 11 a flushing water distributing element 8 extending over the entire length of preparation distributing element 11. Flushing water distributing element 8 has a width that is less than the width of preparation distributing element 11, as seen in particular from FIG. 10b.

(38) In this embodiment in particular, flushing water distributing element 8 can be embodied as a grid.

(39) FIG. 11 is a cross section showing a further advantageous embodiment of a toilet basket 1 according to the present invention. As seen from FIG. 11, the preparation 4 illustrated in ball-shaped fashion rests on spacing elements 14a, 14b. These spacing elements 14a, 14b cause the outlet opening 6 of the container 3 not to be closed off by the ball-shaped preparation 4, thereby preventing clogging of the toilet dispenser.

(40) Spacing elements 14a, 14b can assume any desired configuration, and are not limited to the exemplifying embodiment shown.

(41) Spacing elements 14a, 14b include embodiments whereby flushing water can flow through between the spacing elements 14a, 14b to the outlet opening 6 of the container 3, as indicated by the dashed line of the spacing elements 14a, 14b.