Time-Offset Toilet Flusher with Nested Dual-Chamber Dosing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current toilet cleaners face challenges such as inefficient release of active ingredients, simultaneous release of fragrances and cleaning agents, short exposure times, and aesthetic and functional issues with existing metering devices, leading to suboptimal cleaning and fragrance performance.

Innovation Solution

A toilet flusher device with a dosing system comprising a pump, control unit, sensor unit, energy source, and dispensing element, designed for precise and flexible release of active ingredients, allowing for time-delayed and targeted delivery of cleaning and fragrance compositions, with a compact design that does not protrude into the toilet bowl, using acid and alkali-resistant materials and a waterproof housing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If active ingredients are released simultaneously from multi-chamber systems, then all stored substances are dispensed at once, but the desired cleaning performance and fragrance effect cannot be optimally developed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning performance and fragrance effectVSAvoidexposure time of active ingredients
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The toilet flusher is divided into multiple independent chambers (first chamber and second chamber) that can release active ingredients at different times. The first chamber releases cleaning agents during flushing, while the second chamber releases fragrances after flushing, allowing sequential action rather than simultaneous release.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first chamber is designed to release active ingredients (cleaning agents) in advance during the flushing process, preparing the toilet bowl surface before the second chamber releases fragrances. This preliminary cleaning action ensures optimal surface preparation for subsequent fragrance deposition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If toilet flushers are designed with larger construction volumes to store multiple substances, then storage capacity increases, but the usable space in the toilet bowl is reduced and aesthetic problems arise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacity for active ingredientsVSAvoidconstruction volume of toilet flusher
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The second chamber is positioned inside the first chamber, creating a nested configuration where the inner chamber (second chamber) is contained within the outer chamber (first chamber). This nesting arrangement maximizes storage capacity for multiple substances while minimizing the overall construction volume and preventing protrusion into the toilet bowl.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The chambers are arranged in a vertical configuration rather than horizontal, utilizing the vertical dimension for storage. The first chamber extends vertically, and the second chamber is positioned inside it, allowing multiple substances to be stored without increasing the horizontal footprint or protruding into the toilet bowl space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If high concentrations of active ingredients are released during short flushing duration, then effective cleaning is achieved, but resource consumption increases and environmental protection is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveeffective cleaning of surfaceVSAvoidamount of active ingredients released
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system releases cleaning agents during flushing (first chamber) to prepare and clean the surface, then releases fragrances after flushing (second chamber) to maintain freshness. This preliminary cleaning action during flushing reduces the need for high concentrations of cleaning agents, as the sequential fragrance release provides ongoing freshness without requiring repeated high-dose applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The second chamber provides continuous fragrance release after flushing, maintaining the cleaning and freshening effect over an extended period rather than relying on a single high-concentration burst during flushing. This continuous action at lower concentrations reduces overall substance consumption while maintaining effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP2179100B1Toilet flusher with the time-offset release of two substances
Publication Date: 2011.12.14 HENKEL KGAA
  • EP2179100B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2179100B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2179100B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a toilet flusher for adding at least two different substance preparations to a toilet bowl or into the surroundings of a toilet bowl, comprising a first container (9) containing a first preparation (10) and at least one second container (13) containing a second preparation (14), wherein the toilet flusher comprises one or more means that release two different substance preparations at consecutive time points t1 and t2, wherein at least one means for releasing a substance preparation is configured such that a release of at least one substance preparation in the interior of the toilet bowl is caused.