Toilet tank top with easy access to drop in deodorizing discs

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6651260
  • Patent Number
    6,651,260
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, May 15, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, November 25, 2003
    21 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Maust; Timothy L.
    • Flynn; Amanda
Abstract
A toilet tank top with easy access to drop in deodorizing discs for effectively deodorizing and disinfecting a toilet bowl. The toilet tank top with easy access to drop in deodorizing discs includes a main lid portion designed for abutting a top edge of a toilet tank. The main lid portion has an aperture that extends therethrough. The aperture is for receiving a tank cleansing tablet. A cover member is couplable to the main lid portion. The cover member is for selectively closing the aperture such that the tank cleansing tablet is insertable into the toilet tank without removal of the main lid portion.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to sterilizing devices for toilet bowls and more particularly pertains to a new toilet tank top with easy access to drop in deodorizing discs for effectively deodorizing and disinfecting a toilet bowl.




2. Description of the Prior Art




The use of sterilizing devices for toilet bowls is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,396 describes a toilet cleaner assembly comprised of a reservoir capable of receiving a water soluble chemical cleaner capable of being filled when the toilet is refilled from a flush. Another type of sterilizing devices for toilet bowls is U.S. Pat. No. 4,416,854 describing a means for sterilizing a toilet bowl using a dispenser device that is attached to a toilet tank with a bracket. U.S. Pat. No. 3,023,427 describes a means for sterilizing a toilet bowl using a dispenser device that is attached to a toilet tank with a bracket.




While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that includes a toilet tank cover with a sanitizing dispenser incorporated as described.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention meets the needs presented above by utilizing an access door integrated with a toilet tank cover for facilitating inserting of a deodorizing disk through the aperture and into a mesh assembly.




Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new toilet tank top with easy access to drop in deodorizing discs that allows the user to quickly and easily deodorize and disinfect a toilet bowl.




Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new toilet tank top with easy access to drop in deodorizing discs that eliminates the possible breakage of the toilet tank lid during removal of the lid from the toilet tank to insert a deodorizing disk.




To this end, the present invention generally comprises a main lid portion designed for abutting a top edge of a toilet tank. The main lid portion has an aperture that extends therethrough. The aperture is for receiving a tank cleansing tablet. A cover member is couplable to the main lid portion. The cover member is for selectively closing the aperture such that the tank cleansing tablet is insertable into the toilet tank without removal of the main lid portion.




There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.




The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a new toilet tank top with easy access to drop in deodorizing discs according to the present invention.





FIG. 2

is a front view of the present invention.





FIG. 3

is a top view of the present invention.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to

FIGS. 1 through 3

thereof, a new toilet tank top with easy access to drop in deodorizing discs embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral


10


will be described.




As best illustrated in

FIGS. 1 through 3

, the toilet tank top with easy access to drop in deodorizing discs


10


generally comprises a main lid portion


12


designed for abutting a top edge


14


of a toilet tank


16


. The main lid portion


12


has an aperture


18


that extends therethrough. The aperture


18


is for receiving a tank cleansing tablet


20


. A cover member


22


is couplable to the main lid portion


12


. The cover member


22


is for selectively closing the aperture


18


such that the tank cleansing tablet


20


is insertable into the toilet tank


16


without removal of the main lid portion


12


.




The cover member


22


is hingeably coupled to the main lid portion


12


such that the cover member


22


has a closed position and an open position. The closed positioned is defined by the cover member


22


covering the aperture


18


. The open position is defined as the aperture


18


is substantially unobstructed by the cover member


22


.




A mesh assembly


24


is operationally coupled to the main lid portion


12


. The mesh assembly


24


is positioned around a perimeter edge


26


of the aperture


18


. The mesh assembly


24


is for inhibiting the toilet cleansing tablet


20


from resting upon a bottom surface


28


of the toilet tank


16


. Thereby preventing permanent discoloration of the bottom surface


28


of the toilet tank


16


by the tank cleansing tablet


20


.




The cover member


22


further includes a lip portion


30


positioned around a perimeter edge


26


of the aperture


18


. The lip portion


30


provides a mechanical interface between the cover member


22


and the main lid portion


12


. A cover member


22


hingeably coupled to the lip portion


30


. The cover member


22


is for substantially closing the aperture


18


when the cover member


22


is in a closed position. The cover member


22


is for facilitating access to an interior of the toilet tank


16


when the cover member


22


is in an open position. The cover member


22


further includes a tab portion


32


that is operationally coupled to the cover member


22


. The tab portion


32


is designed to be grasped by a human hand. The tab portion


32


facilitates movement of the cover member


22


between an open position and a closed position.




The main lid portion


12


has a width of, approximately 8½ inches, and a length of approximately 21½ inches. The cover member


22


further includes a lip portion


30


positioned around a perimeter edge


26


of the aperture


18


. The lip portion


30


provides a mechanical interface between the cover member


22


and the main lid portion


12


. A cover member


22


is hingeably coupled to the lip portion


30


. The cover member


22


is for substantially closing the aperture


18


when the cover member


22


is in a closed position. The cover member


22


is for facilitating access to an interior of the toilet tank


16


when the cover member


22


is in an open position.




A tab portion


32


is operationally coupled to the cover member


22


. The tab portion


32


is designed to be grasped by a human hand. The tab portion


32


facilitates movement of the cover member


22


between an open position and a closed position. The mesh assembly


24


has a width of approximately 1¾ inches, a height of approximately 8 inches, and a length of approximately 4¼ inches.




In use, a user would replace the standard toilet tank lid with the present invention. When the user wishes to insert a tank cleansing tablet the user would insert their finger into the tab portion of the cover member and lift. The user would then insert the cleansing tablet through the aperture and into the mesh assembly and close the cover member securing it to the lip portion.




With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.




Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. A lid assembly for use in conjunction with toilet tanks, comprising:a main lid portion adapted for abutting a top edge of a toilet tank, said main lid portion having an aperture extending therethrough, said aperture being for receiving a tank cleansing tablet; a cover member couplable to said main lid portion, said cover member being for selectively closing said aperture such that said tank cleansing tablet is insertable into the toilet tank without removal of said main lid portion; a mesh assembly operationally coupled to said main lid portion, said mesh assembly being positioned around a perimeter edge of said aperture, said mesh assembly being for inhibiting the toilet cleansing tablet from resting upon a bottom surface of the toilet tank, thereby preventing permanent discoloration of the bottom surface of the toilet tank by the toilet cleansing tablet.
  • 2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said cover member being hingeably coupled to said main lid portion such that said cover member having a closed position and an open position, said closed positioned being defined by said cover member covering said aperture, said open position being defined as said aperture being substantially unobstructed by said cover member.
  • 3. A lid assembly for use in conjunction with toilet tanks, comprising:a main lid portion adapted for abutting a top edge of a toilet tank, said main lid portion having an aperture extending therethrough, said aperture being for receiving a tank cleansing tablet; a cover member couplable to said main lid portion, said cover member being for selectively closing said aperture such that said tank cleansing tablet is insertable into the toilet tank without removal of said main lid portion; wherein said cover member being hingeably coupled to said main lid portion such that said cover member having a closed position and an open position, said closed positioned being defined by said cover member covering said aperture, said open position being defined as said aperture being substantially unobstructed by said cover member; and a mesh assembly operationally coupled to said main lid portion, said mesh assembly being positioned around a perimeter edge of said aperture, said mesh assembly being for inhibiting the toilet cleansing tablet from resting upon a bottom surface of the toilet tank, thereby preventing permanent discoloration of the bottom surface of the toilet tank by the toilet cleansing tablet.
  • 4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein said main lid portion having a width of approximately 8½ inches, said main lid portion having a length of approximately 21½ inches.
  • 5. The assembly of claim 3, wherein said mesh assembly having a width of approximately 1¾ inches, said mesh assembly having a height of approximately 8 inches, said mesh assembly having a length of approximately 4¼ inches.
  • 6. The assembly of claim 3, further comprising:wherein said main lid portion having a width of approximately 8½ inches, said main lid portion having a length of approximately 21½ inches; said cover member further comprises: a lip portion positioned around a perimeter edge of said aperture, said lip portion providing a mechanical interface between said cover member and said main lid portion; a cover member hingeably coupled to said lip portion, said cover member being for substantially closing said aperture when said cover member being in a closed position, said cover member being for facilitating access to an interior of the toilet tank when said cover member being in an open position; a tab portion operationally coupled to said cover member, said tab portion adapted for being grasped by a human hand, said tab portion facilitating movement of said cover member between an open position and a closed position; and wherein said mesh assembly having a width of approximately 1¾ inches, said mesh assembly having a height of approximately 8 inches, said mesh assembly having a length of approximately 4¼ inches.
  • 7. The assembly of claim 3, wherein said cover member further comprises:a lip portion positioned around a perimeter edge of said aperture, said lip portion providing a mechanical interface between said cover member and said main lid portion; a cover member hingeably coupled to said lip portion, said cover member being for substantially closing said aperture when said cover member being in a closed position, said cover member being for facilitating access to an interior of the toilet tank when said cover member being in an open position.
  • 8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein said cover member further comprises a tab portion operationally coupled to said cover member, said tab portion adapted for being grasped by a human hand, said tab portion facilitating movement of said cover member between an open position and a closed position.
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