Additives container housable in a water-closet flushing cistern

Abstract

 To provide an additives container (1) housable in the restricted space available in a water-closet flushing cistern (2) while at the same time being easy to replace, the casing (3) of said container (1) is substantially of C-shape in plan view such as to define in its rear part a cavity (5) lying between two portions (6, 7) symmetrical about the plane of symmetry (8) which contains the delivery axis (9). Said symmetrical portions (6, 7) are of rectangular trapezoidal section in correspondence with the plane of symmetry (8). The container casing (3) also comprises in its lower part (10) an annular groove (11) which enables it to be locked by insertion into a guide (12) on the flushing cistern (2), and on its front part (13) a projecting gripping portion (14). The delivery valve (4) is of normally closed type, openable by being pressed in the direction of the interior of the container casing (3), and is snap-fitted to said container casing (3).

Description

[0001] This invention relates to an additives container housable in a water-closet flushing cistern.

[0002] The use of additives containers housable in a water-closet flushing cistern is known for example from patent application DE-A-30 03 654 or from patent application GB-A-2 234 269.

[0003] However as will be noted, the described structures do not allow easy filling of the empty container, or easy replacement of an empty container with a full one.

[0004] The object of this invention is therefore to obviate the drawbacks deriving from the aforesaid situation. In other words the object of the invention is to provide an additives container which can be housed within the restricted space available in a water-closet flushing cistern while at the same time being easily replaceable when necessary.

[0005] This object is attained by a container in accordance with claim 1, to which reference should be made for brevity.

[0006] The particular form of the container enables it to be housed in the narrow space existing in the flushing cistern in proximity to the hydraulic components. The annular groove provided in its lower part enables the container to be securely positioned on a guide provided in the flushing cistern and, when necessary, to be easily withdrawn from said guide by acting on the grippable projecting portion provided on the front part of the container.

[0007] Figure 1 is a front elevation of the container of the invention.

[0008] Figure 2 is a section on the line II-II of Figure 1.

[0009] Figure 3 is a plan view of the container of the invention taken from above.

[0010] Figure 4 is a detail of the container of the invention on an enlarged scale.

[0011] Figure 5 is a section through the valve.

[0012] Figure 6 is a section on the line VI-VI of Figure 5.

[0013] Figure 7 shows the container mounted in a plate of a water-closet flushing cistern.

[0014] Figure 8 is a section through a flushing cistern provided with the container of the invention, taken on the line VIII-VIII of Figure 7.

[0015] With reference to said figures, the additives container of the invention, indicated overall by 1, is housable in a water-closet flushing cistern 2. Said container 1 comprises essentially a container casing 3 and a delivery valve 4. The container casing 3 is substantially of C-shape in plan view such as to define in its rear part a cavity 5 lying between two portions 6 and 7 symmetrical about the plane of symmetry 8 which contains the delivery axis 9 (Figures 2 and 4).

[0016] In correspondence with the plane of symmetry 8 the symmetrical portions 6 and 7 are of rectangular trapezoidal section (see Figure 2). The container casing 3 also comprises in its lower part 10 an annular groove 11 which enables it to be locked by insertion into a guide 12 rigid with the flushing cistern 2. The annular groove 11 is preferably provided between the underside 10 of the container casing 3 and a collar 15 positioned on the housing 16 for the delivery valve 4.

[0017] The container casing 3 comprises on its front 13 a projecting gripping portion 14 which enables the container to be easily gripped and pulled so that it can be withdrawn from the guide 12.

[0018] The container casing 3 is at least partially transparent to enable the level of its contents to be seen.

[0019] In the illustrated embodiment the transparent portion is a window 17 located on the front surface 18 of the container casing 3 and obtained by reducing the thickness of said front surface portion.

[0020] The delivery valve 4 is of the normally closed type, openable by being pressed in the direction of the interior of the container casing 3, and is snap-fitted to said container casing 3 onto the said housing 16.

[0021] In the illustrated embodiment (see Figures 5 and 6) the delivery valve 4 comprises a first tubular element 19 and a second tubular element 20, a spring 21 and a rectilinear element 22. The first tubular element 19 and second tubular element 20 are partially slidable telescopically one in another (arrow F) under the action of or in opposition to the force of the spring 21 which is of helical type. The rectilinear element 22, of cross-like section, has a first end provided with a disc 23 carrying a gasket 24 for sealing against the end edge 25 of the first tubular element 19, and its second end provided with teeth 26 for maintaining the second tubular element 20 in operative connection with the first 19. The valve is mountable on the housing 16 of the container casing 3 by a water-tight snap fit.

[0022] The container 1 is installed by simply pressing against its front so that the guide 12 rigid with the flushing cistern 2 engages the annular groove 11. In this manner the delivery valve 4 becomes located in its operating position relative to an operating mechanism indicated overall by 27 in Figures 7 and 8 and positioned on the flushing cistern 2. On operating this mechanism 27 the valve opens by being pressed in the direction of the interior of the container casing 3, to hence deliver the additive contained in it.

[0023] The fall in level of the additive contained in the container casing 3 can be seen through the window 17. When the additive supply is exhausted, the container 1 can be very easily removed by withdrawing it from the guide 12 by gripping the projecting gripping portion 14.

Claims

1. An additives container (1) housable in a water-closet flushing cistern (2), comprising a container casing (3) and a delivery valve (4), characterised in that:

- the container casing (3) is substantially of C-shape in plan view such as to define in its rear part a cavity (5) lying between two portions (6, 7) symmetrical about the plane of symmetry (8) which contains the delivery axis (9), said symmetrical portions (6, 7) being of rectangular trapezoidal section in correspondence with the plane of symmetry (8), said container casing (3) also comprising in its lower part (10) an annular groove (11) which enables it to be locked by insertion into a guide (12), and on its front part (13) a projecting gripping portion (14);

- the delivery valve (4) being of normally closed type, openable by being pressed in the direction of the interior of the container casing (3), and being fitted to said container casing (3) by a water-tight snap fit.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the annular groove (11) is provided between the underside (10) of the container casing (3) and a collar (15) positioned on the housing (16) for the delivery valve (4).

3. A container as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the container casing (3) is at least partially transparent to enable the level of its contents to be seen.

4. A container as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the transparent portion is a window (17) on the front surface off the container casing (3), said window (17) being obtained by reducing the thickness of said front surface.

5. A container as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the delivery valve (4) comprises a first tubular element (19) and a second tubular element (20), a spring (21) and a rectilinear element (22), the first tubular element (19) and second tubular element (20) being partially slidable telescopically one in another under the action of, or in opposition to, the force of the spring (21) which is of helical type, the rectilinear element (22), of cross-like section, having a first end provided with a disc (23) carrying a gasket (24) for sealing against the end edge (25) of the first tubular element (19), and a second end provided with teeth (26) for maintaining the second tubular element (20) in operative connection with the first (19).

Drawing