Patent US4251012A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4251012A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Passive liquid dosing dispenser
Assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
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Filing: 1979-07-20
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Granted: 1981-02-17
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Expires: 1999-07-20
Abstract
Abstract A passive dosing dispenser for issuing, for example, a predetermined volume of a liquid toilet tank additive solution into a toilet tank as the water is draining therefrom while the toilet is flushing. The dispenser employs no moving parts, and acts in response to the lowering of the water level in the toilet tank to dispense the liquid solution at a point in the flush cycle when it can be most effectively utilized. The liquid solution in the dispenser is maintained in an isolated condition by means of airlocks from the toilet tank water surrounding the dispenser regardless of the depth to which the dispenser is immersed in the tank during quiescent periods intermediate flush cycles.
Inventors
- 👤 William A. Owens
- 👤 Alvester Williams, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 05:28
CPC Classifications
E; E03; E03D; E03D9/00; E03D9/02; E03D9/03; E03D9/033; E03D9/038
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
A passive dose-volume liquid solution dispenser which isolates said liquid solution from a body of liquid in which said dispenser is immersed by means of air-locks, said dispenser comprising a reservoir for containing a quantity of said liquid solution, said reservoir having an outlet in exclusive fluid communication with a liquid solution collector located at a lower elevation than said outlet of said reservoir, a measuring pocket of predetermined volume, said measuring pocket having an inlet in fluid communication with said collector, said inlet being at a higher elevation than said collector, means for filling said measuring pocket with said liquid solution from said collector in response to the level of a body of liquid being raised from a first elevation to a second elevation, means for introducing a volume of air substantially equal to the dose-volume of liquid solution to be dispensed into the upper reaches of said reservoir in response to the level of said body of liquid being raised from a first elevation to a second elevation, and means for discharging said liquid solution contained within said measuring pocket from said dispenser in response to the level of said body of liquid being lowered to said first elevation from said second elevation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
A passive dose-volume liquid solution dispenser which isolates said liquid solution from a body of liquid in which said dispenser is immersed by means of air-locks, said dispenser comprising a reservoir for containing a quantity of said liquid solution, said reservoir having an outlet in exclusive fluid communication with a liquid solution collector located at a lower elevation than said outlet of said reservoir, a measuring pocket of predetermined volume, said measuring pocket having an inlet in fluid communication with said collector, said inlet being at a higher elevation than said collector, means for filling said measuring pocket with said liquid solution from said collector in response to the level of a body of liquid being raised from a first elevation to a second elevation, means for introducing a volume of air substantially equal to the dose-volume of liquid solution to be dispensed into the upper reaches of said reservoir in response to the level of said body of liquid being raised from a first elevation to a second elevation, and means for discharging said liquid solution contained within said measuring pocket from said dispenser in response to the level of said body of liquid being lowered to said first elevation from said second elevation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
213 words
The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said means for filling said measuring pocket with said liquid solution and said means for introducing a volume of air substantially equal to the dose-volume of liquid solution to be dispensed into the upper reaches of said reservoir comprise an air pump, an expansion chamber and an air vent in said dispenser, said air pump having an open lowermost end to permit fluid communication with said body of liquid and an uppermost end in fluid communication with said collector, said collector also being in fluid communication with the lowermost end of said expansion chamber, said expansion chamber having its uppermost end in fluid communication with said inlet to said measuring pocket and said air vent, said air vent being so vertically positioned on said dispenser as to permit said air pump to force liquid solution from said collector into said expansion chamber to a height sufficient to fill said measuring pocket through said inlet in response to the level of said body of liquid being raised from said first elevation to said second elevation, said air vent further preventing said solution in said dispenser from contacting said body of liquid in which said dispenser is immersed when said body of liquid is raised to said second elevation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The dispenser of claim 2, wherein said means for discharging said liquid solution contained within said measuring pocket comprises a syphon tube having its uppermost end in fluid communication with the lowermost reaches of said measuring pocket and an open lowermost end to permit fluid communication with said body of liquid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The dispenser of claim 3, wherein said syphon tube exhibits an inverted J-shape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The dispenser of claim 4 or 5 wherein said syphon tube exhibits an increasing cross-sectional area along its length in the direction of its lowermost end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The dispenser of claim 1 or 2 wherein said liquid solution reservoir is permanently secured to said dispenser.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The dispenser of claim 1 or 2, wherein said liquid solution reservoir is removably secured to said dispenser.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-02-17 | 1984-08-18 | 1985-02-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-02-17 | 1988-08-18 | 1989-02-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-02-17 | 1992-08-18 | 1993-02-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |