Toilet Clean Pouch

Abstract

The invention is a directed to a long-handled rod that hangs on the top of the toilet water tank and extends down into the tank. The rod is retained in place within the toilet tank by a hook kept under tension by a latch. A resealable pouch is provided on the end of the rod which holds a toilet cleanser composition in tablet or liquid form securely in the tank. The resealable pouch is preferably composed of a water-permeable mesh material.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/645,620 filed May 11, 2012.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to a bathroom implements and in particular to detergent dispensers for toilet bowls. Many users of toilet cleaning product wish to avoid having to handle the inside of the toilet tank and bowl to apply cleaning and instead prefer to rely on passive or automatic dispenser systems. Generally speaking, passive and automatic cleansing devices are already known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,137,577; 4,209,863; 6,412,120; and 6,675,396 are all related to toilet cleansing devices.

More recently U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0194196 by Kenneth J. Muderlak described an apparatus which is positioned in a reservoir tank of a conventional tank toilet and which injects cleaner into a toilet bowl operatively connected to said reservoir tank when the toilet is flushed. The Muderlak apparatus includes a “T” connector, a diaphragm valve connected to a collapsible supply bag, an injection tube connected to said diaphragm valve, and running the length of said supply bag and exiting the supply bag at the top of the bag through a sealed exit. Under the teachings of the Muderlak application when the toilet is flushed, the “T” connector diverts water from a water inlet valve located within the reservoir tank and directs the water to the diaphragm valve.

In addition to that, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0144709 by Hsu describes an improved lavatory cleanser dispensing device that is height-adjustable and capable of quantitatively dispensing cleanser. The device is composed of a fixing member and a shell. The fixing member described by Hsu includes a hanging portion at a top side thereof to be hung on a toilet water tank and a plurality of locating portions formed at a bottom section thereof and in top-down arrangement. The Hsu shell includes at least one chamber inside, a plurality of inlets and outlets running therethrough to enable the chamber to communicate with outside, and at least one positioning portion detachably mounted on the locating portions of the fixing members.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0209621 by Alexander Q. Tilson describes flush valves for delivering a selected amount of water from a toilet tank into a toilet bowl, particularly collapsible flush valves having substantial durability and resistance to wear and deleterious chemicals. The Tilson flush valves have a collapsible member extending from above the surface of the water in the toilet tank to the tank outlet in the normal (closed flush valve) state. Collapsing the flush valve allows water to flow into the toilet bowl through the flush valve until the toilet tank is drained to the level of the collapsed flush valve and buoyancy is restored. The flush valves disclosed by Tilson may be made of a material that does not substantially deteriorate in the presence of halogen-containing toilet disinfectants, and the outer surface (the water contacting surface) of the flush valves may be a single continuous piece.

Finally U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0203041 by Kolcheh is directed to a toilet cleaning system, using a bifurcated communicating pipe which provides cleansing material to a toilet bowl. The system provided by Kolcheh is a component of a water closet, which is inexpensive to manufacture, and is capable of delivering a limited amount of cleanser to the toilet, while preventing accidental flushing of the cleanser unit into the toilet bowl. The bifurcated communicating pipe has an angled branch and allows a portion of the cleanser unit seated in the angled branch to project into the central channel of the communicating pipe for contacting the flush water, to provide cleansing action. In the Kolcheck mechanism the flush water passing through the communicating pipe dissolves or disperses a certain amount of the cleanser and therefore provides cleansing of the flush water.

Despite all the efforts listed above prior art patents describes structures that are either not truly convenient or easy to use or else involve complicated, expensive, and overly difficult assembly and/or disassembly parts and procedures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention is a directed to a long-handled rod that hangs on the top of the toilet water tank and extends down into the tank. The rod is retained in place within the toilet tank by a hook kept under tension by a latch. A resealable pouch is provided on the end of the rod which holds a toilet cleanser composition in tablet or liquid form securely in the tank. The resealable pouch is preferably composed of a water-permeable mesh material.

It is the main objective of the device disclosed in the present invention to find a solution to the problem which would be to provide a more efficient and convenient means to secure toilet bowl cleanser in one spot for continuous cleaning and easy disposal.

It is an additional objective to entice more people to become interested in sanitation.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification. They illustrate one embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a first perspective top view of one of the preferred embodiments of the “Toilet Clean Pouch” in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a back perspective view of the “Toilet Clean Pouch” of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a right front perspective view of the “Toilet Clean Pouch” of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As it can be seen from the drawings essential components of the disclosed device include: an elongated rod 10, a sliding lock 14, a hook 11, a pouch netting 12, and a tablet 13 or other form of cleansing composition. As an improvement to the commercially available toilet cleaning devices the present invention is designed to help people to keep a clean toilet bowl while minimizing active cleaning work.

At the heart of the present invention is the resealable pouch 12 on the end of the rod 10 which holds toilet cleanser tablet 13 or solution securely in the tank. This design prevents the tablet 13 or cartridge or other form that contains cleansing product from moving around in the tank and interfering with water flow.

The invention's several rigid components, specifically the hook 11, rod 10, and sliding lock 14 are preferably made of a durable, lightweight, and inexpensive material such as dense rigid plastic. The pouch 10 is preferably made of a flexible, water permeable material that is also durable and resistant to the growth of microorganisms, such as a synthetic fiber mesh.

As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

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.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is presently considered to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should, therefore, not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A toilet cleanser dispensing device comprising: whereby a solid or liquid disinfecting, cleansing, or deodorizing composition may be periodically placed within said container for gradual application over time to said quantity of water.

(a) a vertical support;

(b) said vertical support being affixed to the inside wall of a toilet reservoir;

(c) said toilet reservoir containing a quantity of water that is continually replenished and flushed out through the normal use of an associated toilet;

(d) an elongated member having a first end and a second end;

(e) said first end of said elongated member removably hanging from said vertical support; and

(f) said second end of said elongated member being fixedly attached to a container;

(g) said container having at least one region made of a water-permeable material; and

(h) said container having at least one reclosable opening;

2. The toilet cleanser dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said container is primarily made of a rigid or semi-rigid material; has an approximately oblong shape with a top face, bottom face, front face, back face, left face, and right face; has one face rotatably affixed to an adjacent face along one edge; and features a latch or clasp mechanism affixed to the edge opposing the rotatable edge whereby said container may be regularly opened and reclosed.

3. The toilet cleanser dispensing device of claim 2 wherein said container has at least one face shaped so as to feature a substantial-sized water-permeable hole, said hole being covered by a water-permeable netting material.

4. The toilet cleanser dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said vertical support is a hook, and said first end of said elongated member features a hole whereby said elongated member may be engaged to said vertical support.

5. The toilet cleanser dispensing device of claim 4 further comprising a cover member, said cover member being slidably affixed to said elongated member at a point distal to the center in the direction of said first end of said elongated member, whereby said cover member may be slid over said hole and said vertical support penetrating said whole thereby releasably locking said elongated member to said vertical support.

6. The toilet cleanser dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said elongated member is made of a rigid or semi-rigid plastic material.

7. The toilet cleanser dispensing device of claim 1 wherein:

(a) said container is primarily made of a rigid or semi-rigid material; has an approximately oblong shape with a top face, bottom face, front face, back face, left face, and right face; has one face rotatably affixed to an adjacent face along one edge; and features a latch or clasp mechanism affixed to the edge opposing the rotatable edge whereby said container may be regularly opened and reclosed;

(b) said container has at least one face shaped so as to feature a substantial-sized water-permeable hole, said hole being covered by a water-permeable netting material;

(c) said vertical support is a hook, and said first end of said elongated member features a hole whereby said elongated member may be engaged to said vertical support;

(d) said toilet cleanser dispensing device further comprises a cover member, said cover member being slidably affixed to said elongated member at a point distal to the center in the direction of said first end of said elongated member, whereby said cover member may be slid over said hole and said vertical support penetrating said whole thereby releasably locking said elongated member to said vertical support; and

(e) said elongated member is made of a rigid or semi-rigid plastic material.