Patent Application
20250027310
The present invention is directed to toilet bowls, and more particularly an apparatus to provide cleaning of a toilet bowl with each flush.
There is an abundance of toilet bowl cleaners and cleaning apparatuses on the market. There are things such as tablets that dissolve in the tank and flow into the bowl when the toilet is flushed and cleaning tablets that hang in the toilet bowl that release cleaner when flushed water flows over them. Many of the apparatuses that are meant to provide a cleaning solution to the toilet bowl on each flush require the use of proprietary fluids, containers, etc.
The present invention provides a toilet bowl cleaning apparatus that attaches to the fill valve to the overflow pipe in a toilet tank. A fluid cleaning solution as desired by the user is placed in the receptacle of the toilet bowl cleaning apparatus, and when the toilet is flushed, an adjustable amount of fluid cleaning solution flows into the toilet bowl via the overflow pipe. The toilet bowl cleaning apparatus of the present invention utilizes the Venturi effect to allow the user to control the flow of fluid cleaning solution into the toilet bowl, which is an improvement on prior art apparatus that are simply not able to control how much cleaning solution is used. The present invention overcomes the shortcomings contained in the prior art by providing a system and method of automatically cleaning a toilet bowl on every flush.
None of the prior art fully addresses the problems resolved by the present invention. The present invention overcomes these limitations contained in the prior art.
Certain embodiments of the invention have other steps or elements in addition to or in place of those mentioned above. The steps or element will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description when taken with reference to the accompanying figures, if any.
The best mode for carrying out the invention will be described herein. The following embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the invention. It is to be understood that other embodiments would be evident based on the present disclosure, and that system, process, or mechanical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
In the following description, numerous specific details are given to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. To avoid obscuring the present invention, some well-known system configurations, and process steps are not disclosed in detail. The figures illustrating embodiments of the system, if any, are semi-diagrammatic and not to scale and, particularly, some of the dimensions are for the clarity of presentation and are shown exaggerated in the drawing figures.
Alternate embodiments have been included throughout, and the order of such are not intended to have any other significance or provide limitations for the present invention.
The words “including”, “comprising”, “incorporating”, “consisting of”, “have”, and “is” are meant to be non-exclusive, meaning additional items, components or elements may be present. Joinder references such as “connected”, “connecting”, and “coupled” do not limit the position, orientation, or use of systems and/or methods, and do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected. All identifying numerical terms are for identification only, and do not refer to the order or preference of any element, embodiment, variation and/or modification.
All references to “a” and “an”, as in “a tube”, mean “one or more”, as in “one or more tubes”.
The present disclosure provides a toilet bowl cleaning apparatus comprising: a receptacle; a chemical solution tube; an inlet tube; an outlet tube; a body, wherein the body contains a junction, wherein the junction contains an inlet tube connection, an outlet tube connection, and a chemical solution connection; and a tank connector, wherein the receptacle and the body are disposed on the tank connector, and wherein the tank connector allows the toilet bowl cleaning apparatus to attach to a toilet tank.
The present disclosure further provides toilet bowl cleaning apparatus; wherein the inlet tube connection and the outlet tube connection are oriented in the junction at an approximately 90 degree angle and the chemical solution connection attaches to the junction perpendicularly at an approximately 90 degree angle; wherein the outlet tube connection tapers prior to opening into the inlet tube connection; wherein the chemical solution connection opens into the outlet tube connection near the inlet tube connection; wherein when a fluid flows through the inlet tube connection and through the outlet tube connection, the decrease in size of the opening into the tapered section of the outlet tube connection creates the Venturi effect, which is a reduction in pressure; wherein the chemical solution tube attaches to the junction while in a vertical position in the receptacle; wherein the junction creates a Venturi effect to mix a chemical solution located in the receptacle via the chemical solution tube with a liquid flowing through the inlet tube and then out through the outlet tube; wherein the chemical solution tube contains a means for controlling the flow of the chemical solution into the junction; wherein the means for controlling the flow of the chemical solution into the junction comprises a flow control valve; wherein the receptacle is open at the top; and wherein the receptacle is a bag.
The present disclosure further provides a method of cleaning a toilet bowl with a toilet bowl cleaning apparatus comprising: connecting a connector to a toilet bowl tank, wherein the connector is disposed on a body, wherein a receptacle is disposed on the body, wherein a junction is disposed on the body and an outlet tube connection, an inlet tube connection, and a chemical solution connection; connecting a first tube from a flow valve of the toilet bowl to the inlet tube connection; connecting a second tube from the outlet tube connection to an overflow tube of the toilet bowl; placing the chemical solution tube into the receptacle and connecting it to the chemical solution connection; filling up the receptacle with a chemical solution; and flushing the toilet, wherein water flows through the first tube from the flow valve into the junction and creates a Venturi effect causing the chemical solution to mix with the water forming a mixture of water and chemical solution, and wherein the mixture of water and chemical solution exits the junction through the second tube and flows into the overflow tube, and ultimately into the toilet bowl.
The present disclosure further provides toilet bowl cleaning apparatus, comprising: a receptacle; a chemical solution tube; an inlet tube; an outlet tube; a body, wherein the body contains a junction, wherein the junction contains an inlet tube connection, an outlet tube connection, and a chemical solution connection, wherein the inlet tube connection and the outlet tube connection are oriented in the junction at an approximately 90 degree angle and the chemical solution connection attaches to the junction perpendicularly at an approximately 90 degree angle, wherein the outlet tube connection tapers prior to opening into the inlet tube connection, wherein the chemical solution connection opens into the outlet tube connection near the inlet tube connection; and a tank connector, wherein the receptacle and the body are disposed on the tank connector, and wherein the tank connector allows the toilet bowl cleaning apparatus to attach to a toilet tank.
The present disclosure further provides toilet bowl cleaning apparatus; wherein when a fluid flows into the junction at the inlet tube connection, the Venturi effect is created by the reduction in pressure due to the size of the opening into the outlet tube connection and the tapering of the outlet tube connection, thus mixing chemical solution located in the receptacle with the fluid.
Outlet tube 208, inlet tube 209, and chemical solution tube 207 attach to outlet tube connection 204, inlet tube connection 205, and chemical solution connection 206, respectively. Ball valve 211 is disposed in chemical solution tube 207.
Ball valve 211, or other suitable device, is used to control the amount of chemical solution that flows through chemical solution tube 207 on each flush. The amount of chemical solution can be adjusted as desired by the user.
Receptacle 301 may comprise any suitable means for holding a chemical solution, including, but not limited to, a bag, a bucket, a container, etc. In the preferred embodiment, a fluid chemical cleaning solution is placed into receptacle 301.
By tapering outlet tube connection 204 and having inlet tube connection 205 open into outlet tube connection 204, there is a reduction in fluid pressure, known as the Venturi effect. The Venturi effect created by this reduction in pressure causes fluid in chemical solution connection 206 to flow upward and into outlet tube connection 204, thus mixing with the fluid that was flowing through inlet tube connection 205 and outlet tube connection 204. As such, the Venturi effect is created by junction 212, specifically, the opening of inlet tube connection 205 into the tapered outlet tube connection 204 inside junction 212. Inlet tube connection 205 and outlet tube connection 204 are substantially the same diameter, except for the portion of outlet tube connection 204 that tapers, which has a significantly smaller diameter than inlet tube connection 205 open or outlet tube connection 204.
In some embodiments, the dimeters of any of the inlet tube connection 205, the outlet tube connection 204, and the chemical solution connection 206 are any diameter, size, shape, etc.
Ball valve 211 sits either in chemical solution connection 206 or chemical solution tube 207, and the change in pressure causes it to rise with the fluid in chemical solution tube 207. A fluid chemical solution is placed into receptacle 301. Some of this chemical solution fluid is allowed to exit chemical solution connection 206 into outlet tube connection 204 before ball valve 211 reaches the end of the connection point where chemical solution connection 206 opens into outlet tube connection 204, at which time, no more fluid will flow through chemical solution connection 206. After all fluid has run through junction 212, ball valve 211 can fall back down chemical solution connection 206.
The fluid chemical solution that is placed into receptacle 301 flows mixes with the fluid flowing through junction 212 and flows into the toilet bowl via overflow pipe 105. This allows the chemical solution to enter the toilet bowl and clean it.
Junction 212 may be removable from body 202.
Although the preferred embodiment utilizes a ball valve, all references to “ball valves” and other valves herein comprise any type of suitable valves. Additional valves may be combined with the elements of toilet bowl cleaning apparatus 201 or added in additional locations throughout toilet bowl cleaning apparatus 201. Any type of valve may be used through toilet bowl cleaning apparatus 201 as desired.
Although the connections and pipes may appear to be of similar size in the drawings, the actual sizes and diameters of the various pieces may vary and be of any size and diameter as required.
Chemical solution tube 207 and chemical solution connection 206 are not visible in this Figure as they sit below junction 212 in this view.
Additionally, in this embodiment, chemical solution connection 206 is comprised of chemical solution connection 206 and chemical solution alternate connection 702.
Chemical solution alternate connection 702 securely attaches to chemical solution connection 206. Any of the connectors in the present invention may be comprised of multiple pieces, as shown in this Figure.
Receptacle 301 may be such that it is secured between body connector 701 and body 202 and held in place then body connector 701 and body 202 are disposed on each other. Receptacle 301 may be open, sealed, soft, rigid, have an opening to allow for additional fluids to be added, sealable with a lid or other device, etc.
In alternate embodiments, receptacle 301 may be a bottle that easily connects to body 202 and junction 212. This connection could be screw-type connection or other quick-change type connection that allows for receptacle 301 to be easily removed and replaced.
Although references to a fluid chemical cleaning solution are used throughout the present disclosure for the fluid that is added to receptacle 301, any fluid may be added to receptacle 301 as desired by the user. For instance, enzymes could be added for septic system use, essential oils for a pleasant smell, etc. In the preferred embodiment, fluids such as disinfectants and other cleaning solutions are present in receptacle 301. Additionally, dissolving (or slowly dissolving) solids could be placed in receptacle 301 and mixed with water or other suitable fluid.
The present invention overcomes the shortcomings contained in the prior art by providing an easy to use solution for cleaning toilet bowls. The toilet bowl cleaning apparatus of the present invention can be installed on virtually any toilet, and it allows the user to use whatever cleaning solution they desire. Many of the prior art systems for cleaning toilet bowls require users to purchase specific containers to use with their cleaning solution. The present invention allows a liquid to simply be poured into receptacle 301, and the toilet bowl is cleaned with every flush.
Any of the elements in toilet bowl cleaning apparatus 201 may be combined with other elements of toilet bowl cleaning apparatus 201 and/or existing toilet bowls/tanks. Additionally, any of the elements in toilet bowl cleaning apparatus 201 may be located in other positions or replaced. Additional elements and/or steps may be added, and may replace any of the current elements, as desired.
The best mode for carrying out the invention has been described herein. The previous embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the invention. It is to be understood that other embodiments would be evident based on the present disclosure, and that system, process, or mechanical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
In the previous description, numerous specific details and examples are given to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent that the invention may be practiced without these specific details and specific examples. While the invention has been described in conjunction with a specific best mode, it is to be understood that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of the included claims. All matters previously set forth herein or shown in the accompanying figures are to be interpreted in an illustrative and non-limiting sense.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/527,993 filed Jul. 20, 2023, titled “Automatic toilet cleaning solution dispenser,” and the subject matter thereof is incorporated herein by reference thereto.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63527993 | Jul 2023 | US |
