Float Actuated Patents (Class 4/227.2)
  • Patent number: 10906705
    Abstract: A stopper for a container providing evidence of first opening includes an upper part with a protection cap closable on a pouring element and a ridged lower part with an upper hollow cylindrical portion disposed inside the pouring element and a lower cylindrical portion of larger diameter that is internally threaded. A frangible label is positioned between the protection cap, and a security ring is connected with the upper and lower parts with frangible bridges. An annular security crown is connected to the lower part of the stopper by frangible bridges and a cam arrangement, coaxially coupled between an outer surface of the upper hollow cylindrical portion and an inner surface of the pouring element, causes their translation and rotation. The pouring element has a duct passage and a coaxial island shutter which cooperates with a central hole in the upper hollow cylindrical portion of the lower part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Inventors: Silvia Ferrari, Guglielmo Ferrari
  • Patent number: 10851532
    Abstract: A touchless actuation system for a toilet includes a touchless sensor, a motor assembly, and a processing circuit. The touchless sensor is located within a closed reservoir of the toilet. The processing circuit is configured to receive a signal from the touchless sensor and to detect an object within a detection region based on the signal. The detection region is external to the closed reservoir. The processing circuit is configured to facilitate flushing of the toilet through interaction with the motor assembly when the object is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Peter W. Denzin, Jeffrey C. Hildebrand, Brian D. Renzelman, Clayton C. Garrels, Joseph L. Stauber, Eric M. Plate
  • Patent number: 10287765
    Abstract: A toilet tank top cover, including: a compartment for containing a liquid detergent; and a dispenser, for manually dispensing a dose of the liquid detergent from the compartment downwards into a toilet tank, being covered by the toilet tank top cover, thereby utilizing a large space of the compartment, as being adapted to a large length and a large width of the toilet tank, for dispensing the liquid detergent therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Inventor: Dan El Eglick
  • Patent number: 8032953
    Abstract: A liquid dispensing device for use in the flush cistern of a water closet comprises a reservoir (13) for the liquid formulation which is fed from an inverted container (5) maintaining a constant liquid level (47) in the reservoir (13) at the mouth (37) of the container. A displacement body in the form of a piston (9), which may be magnetic, moves in a bore (56) to dispense liquid through opening (25). The piston (9) is moved by a float (11) which moves up and down as the level of water L in the cistern rises and falls on flushing. The float is coupled to the piston (9) magnetically. In another embodiment a direct mechanical coupling is used. Liquid seeps past piston (9) when in the lowered position, and is raised to overflow outlet (25) when the cistern fills. In another embodiment, liquid is dispensed on a downward stroke of the piston. The fit of piston (9) in the bore allows liquid to seep slowly past the piston to replenish the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Jeyes Group Limited
    Inventors: Brian Wilson, Steve N. Balls, Darren Smith, Peter Virica
  • Patent number: 7549181
    Abstract: A toilet lid solution apparatus which replaces a toilet reservoir lid. The apparatus stores a chosen disinfectant solution and meters the dispensing thereof with each flush. The apparatus' installation requires no special tools, knowledge or changes to the toilet or reservoir for installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Inventors: Johnny A. Davis, Debra A. Davis
  • Patent number: 7003813
    Abstract: A two-way flow control valve for repeatedly dispensing a limited amount of liquid. A float valve is linked to a second valve and storage chamber such that one valve is closed when the other is opened, and vice versa. The chamber fills when the float valve is closed, and empties when the float valve is opened. The assembly is useful for dispensing a liquid cleaner into a toilet tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Inventor: Clifford G. Krause
  • Patent number: 6820287
    Abstract: A dispenser is provided for dispensing cleaning chemicals such as toilet bowl cleaners. It has a dosing chamber containing therein a floating shuttle that seals a lower opening in the dosing chamber and floats up there from as an aliquot of chemical is prepared for release during the next cycle. There is also a float controlled external valve head at a lower end of the dispenser for alternately opening and closing a lower opening in the dosing chamber. The level of water in the toilet tank controls the movement of the valve head, and dispensing of the cleaner chemical controls movement of the floating shuttle. A grommet provides a valve seat for both the floating shuttle and valve head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard P. Harbutt, David C. Snow, Peter T. M. Nott, Simon M. Conway, Kevin Harrity, Steven A. Zach, Nancy J. Sedlar
  • Publication number: 20040216221
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a dispensing device comprising a dispenser having an upper channel and a bottom opening for storing liquid cleaner; a connecting cup extended downward from the dispenser including at least one aperture on a bottom thereof; and a float in the connecting cup opposite the bottom opening. While the dispenser is mounted in a toilet tank, the float is adapted to either engage with or move away from the bottom opening as the water level in the toilet tank rises or falls. As such, the dispenser is adapted to automatically dispense liquid cleaner to the toilet tank or stop dispensing liquid cleaner to the toilet tank as the float falls or rises.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: CAPTAIN ASSET INVEST MANAGEMENT LIMITED
    Inventor: I-Hsien Chen
  • Patent number: 6748610
    Abstract: A toilet tank cleanser dispenser has a receiving holster suitable to receive an inverted container of cleaning composition and suitable to dose liquid from the container. The adapter has an internal dosing shuttle for metering an aliquot of cleanser through an opening at the bottom of the adapter defining a valve seat. A float can move up and down with respect to the liquid level in the tank to drive an outlet valve against an outlet of the adapter. The valve head can have a balloon-like structure driven by the float. For example, a low density thin wall polyethylene valve head can be supported by a trapped air pocket to reduce leakage, permit some flexibility, and avoid permanent deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Zach, Kevin Harrity
  • Patent number: 6738989
    Abstract: A dispenser for use in a toilet tank is disclosed. There is a replaceable bottle There is also an upwardly open holster for receiving the bottle in inverted fashion. A valve is associated with the holster that controls the dispensing of cleaner from the container, and/or a mounting hook is provided on the holster that can pivot between a storage position in a bottle recess and a mounting position snap locked on the holster (or is integrally linked to the holster).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard P. Harbutt, David C. Snow, Peter T. M. Nott, Simon M. Conway, Kevin Harrity, Steven A. Zach
  • Patent number: 6691328
    Abstract: A bottle used to dispense a fluid for cleaning a toilet bowl is configured to provide for refilling the bottle. Such a bottle includes a reservoir, a metering portion, and a cover, which is removable to expose an opening within the reservoir for refilling. The cover may include the metering portion, or it may be formed as a cap at an end of the reservoir opposite the metering portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventor: Nicholas A. Delfino
  • Publication number: 20020194671
    Abstract: A dispenser is provided for dispensing cleaning chemicals such as toilet bowl cleaners. It has a dosing chamber containing therein a floating shuttle that seals a lower opening in the dosing chamber and floats up there from as an aliquot of chemical is prepared for release during the next cycle. There is also a float controlled external valve pin at a lower end of the dispenser for alternately opening and closing a lower opening in the dosing chamber. The level of water in the tank controls the movement of the valve pin, and dispensing of the cleaner chemical controls movement of the floating shuttle. A grommet provides a valve seat for both the floating shuttle and valve pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventors: Richard P. Harbutt, David C. Snow, Peter T.M. Nott, Simon M. Conway, Kevin Harrity, Steven A. Zach, Nancy J. Sedlar
  • Patent number: 6496987
    Abstract: Water-saving and automatic detergent supplier for toilet bowl, including: a detergent receptacle disposed in a water tank of the toilet bowl, the detergent receptacle being a container having an upper opening for containing a detergent; a quantitative reservoir connected with a bottom of the detergent receptacle and immersed in the water contained in the water tank, a top end of the quantitative reservoir being formed with a detergent inlet, while a bottom end of the quantitative reservoir being formed with a detergent outlet; and a buoyant piston structure connected at the detergent inlet and detergent outlet. The buoyant piston structure is subject to water buoyancy, whereby depending on the existence of water in the water tank or vacancy of the water tank, the buoyant piston structure is operable to release the detergent from the quantitative reservoir into the water tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Inventor: Ming-Hsiung Chou
  • Patent number: 6374426
    Abstract: A dispenser for the dosage of sanitizing and/or deodorant liquids, particularly for cisterns of toilet bowls, comprising: a container for said liquid, which is adapted to float in the water of a cistern, at an upper level, and is provided, in a peripheral region thereof, with dosage means connected to the outside through at least one opening; supporting means, having one end thereof anchored to fixed parts of said cistern and allowing said container to move from a floating position, which corresponds to said upper level and where said opening is directed upwards, to an active position, where said opening is directed substantially downwards in order to allow to transfer a dose of said liquid when the water in said cistern is emptied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: FALP S.r.L.
    Inventor: Roberto Falchieri
  • Patent number: 6339850
    Abstract: The apparatus consists of a mechanism for supplying water to the toilet and flushing water into lavatory, a vessel with solid cleaning detergent in a saturated solution, a portioning mechanism and a water supplying mechanism. The portioning mechanism supplies equal portion saturated or strong detergent solution into tank with every flush. The water supplying mechanism adds water into the vessel and keeps high level of the detergent solution in the vessel. Because the vessel consists several solid detergent tablets and it is full of saturated detergent solution, and because the portion of the detergent solution pouring into the toilet tank is a small fraction of the volume of the solution in the vessel, and an equal portion water has been supplied after each, the solution of the detergent is always saturated. Because the portion of the detergent solution dispensed is always equal the concentration of the detergent in the water of tank is always equal until the last tablet is dissolved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Inventor: David Roman Gore
  • Patent number: 6289525
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for releasing a predetermined amount of a free-flowing medium into a fluid container, in particular the flushing cistern of a water closet. The apparatus comprises a pump, in particular diaphragm pump, which comprises an actuating plunger (6) that cooperates with a diaphragm (5) and is movable upward and downward by means of a float (7) as a result of change in the water level within the fluid container (20). The apparatus further comprises a reservoir (2) for the free-flowing medium, which is coupled to the input of the diaphragm pump, and a nonreturn valve (9) associated with an output (22) of the diaphragm pump. It is provided in accordance with the invention that the diaphragm (5) has a sacklike form and that the actuating plunger (6) acts at the end of the sack in such a way that during such action the diaphragm sack (5) is indented so as to enclose the contact surface (6a) of the plunger (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Inventors: Friedbert Prommer, Stanislaw Tomkow