Liquid dispensing and metering device

Claim 1

A device for automatically and periodically dispensing a predetermined quantity of liquid from a container into a flush tank or the like, with said container supported in the flush tank, with the mouth or discharge end of the container facing downwardly and with said container having a reduced neck portion, said device comprising a single integrally formed member which consists of a cup-shaped member having an annular side wall and a single bottom end wall with a single axial opening in said bottom wall and an inwardly extending short tubular member bounding said axial opening, said short tubular member extending into the interior of the cup-shaped member and facing forwardly towards the direction of the mouth of the cup-shaped member, said tubular member being spaced from said annular side wall, said cup-shaped member forming a single chamber, said tubular member having a relatively small outlet opening into said chamber with the discharge end of the tubular member closely adjacent the end wall and a substantial distance from the mouth of the cup-shaped member so that the water in the flush tank even when the flush tank is filled and the cup-shaped member is below the level of the water in the tank is never in contact with said tank water and said tank water is confined closely adjacent the mouth of the cup-shaped member with an air space therebetween in said chamber, said single bottom end wall and tubular member being integrally formed with said cup-shaped member of a plastic material, an integrally formed annular flange around the mouth of said cupshaped member to engage the discharge end of the neck of the container, said device positioned in the neck of the container and extending wholly within the neck to permit a closure cap to be secured to the neck of the container with the device frictionally contained in said neck so that the overall height of the container with the device therein is substantially that of the overall height of the container, said single end wall opening communicating axially with the liquid in the container so that the flow from the container is solely axially through said axial opening through which a measured amount of the liquid in the container is discharged into the flush tank opening after each flushing, and a closure cap detachably secured to the neck of the container, with the device contained in said neck to close the container when not in use.

Claim 2

A device for automatically and periodically dispensing a predetermined quantity of liquid from a container into a flush tank or the like, with said container supported in the flush tank, with the mouth or discharge end of the container facing downwardly and with said container having a reduced neck portion, said device comprising a single integrally formed member which consists of a cup-shaped member having an annular side wall and a single bottom end wall with a single axial opening in said bottom wall and an inwardly extending short tubular member bounding said axial opening, said short tubular member extending into the interior of the cup-shaped member and facing forwardly towards the direction of the mouth of the cup-shaped member, said tubular member being spaced from said annular side wall, said cup-shaped member forming a single chamber, said tubular member having a relatively small outlet opening into said chamber with the discharge end of the tubular member closely adjacent the end wall and a substantial distance from the mouth of the cup-shaped member so that the water in the flush tank even when the flush tank is filled and the cup-shaped member is below the level of the water in the tank is never in contact with said tank water and said tank water is confined closely adjacent the mouth of the cup-shaped member with an air space therebetween in said chamber, said single bottom end wall and tubular member being integrally formed with said cup-shaped member of a plastic material, an integrally formed annular flange around the mouth of said cupshaped member to engage the discharge end of the neck of the container, said device positioned in the neck of the container and extending wholly within the neck to permit a closure cap to be secured to the neck of the container with the device frictionally contained in said neck so that the overall height of the container with the device therein is substantially that of the overall height of the container, said single end wall opening communicating axially with the liquid in the container so that the flow from the container is solely axially through said axial opening through which a measured amount of the liquid in the container is discharged into the flush tank opening after each flushing, and a closure cap detachably secured to the neck of the container, with the device contained in said neck to close the container when not in use.