Toilet cleaning dispenser system with removable cartridge

Abstract

A toilet cleaning dispenser system adapted for placement in a toilet tank includes a hanger, a dispenser housing and a cartridge device removably coupled to the dispenser housing. The cartridge device, which includes a cleanser tablet enclosed within a cartridge housing, is inserted into a cavity of the dispenser housing and turned in one direction to lock the device and, alternatively, in an opposite direction to unlock the device. The cartridge housing may be formed to turn as one unit, or be formed as a basket and a rotatable cap that can be turned with respect to the basket. The dispenser housing includes an inlet water trap and an outlet water trap, each comprising a pair of concentric, nested tubes that retain liquid after flushing so as to prevent fumes from exiting the dispenser housing into the toilet tank.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A toilet cleaner dispensing system, comprising: 
 a dispenser housing including an inlet water trap, an outlet water trap, and an opening; and    a cartridge housing removably coupled to the dispenser housing, the cartridge housing being configured to fit in the opening.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet water trap comprises: 
 a first downwardly extending tube; and    a first upwardly extending tube axially aligned with the first downwardly extending tube.    
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first downwardly extending tube and the first upwardly extending tube have a nesting relationship.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet water trap comprises: 
 a second downwardly extending tube; and    a second upwardly extending tube axially aligned with the second downwardly extending tube.    
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the second downwardly extending tube and the second upwardly extending tube have a nesting relationship.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a tablet composed of a toilet cleaning agent and disposed within the cartridge housing.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising means for releasably locking the cartridge housing to the dispenser housing.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a detent locking mechanism.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the detent locking mechanism comprises: 
 a projection included in the dispenser housing; and    a void included in the cartridge housing and configured to receive the projection.    
     
     
         10 . A removable toilet cartridge device adapted for use in connection with a toilet cleaner dispenser system, comprising: 
 a basket including a first sidewall having portions defining a first plurality of apertures; and    a cap including a second sidewall having portions defining a second plurality of apertures; wherein    the cap is movable with respect to the basket to facilitate alternatively an open position such that the first plurality of apertures has a communicating relationship with the second plurality of apertures and a closed position such that the first plurality of apertures does not have a communicating relationship with the second plurality of apertures.    
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising a cleanser tablet enclosed within the cap and the basket.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the second plurality of apertures is configured to match the first plurality of apertures.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the second plurality of apertures are aligned with the first plurality of apertures in the open position.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the cap further comprises a knob.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the cap further comprises external threads.  
     
     
         16 . A disposable toilet cleaning system adapted for use with a toilet including a tank, the cleaning system comprising: 
 a toilet cleaning dispenser adapted for disposition in the tank of the toilet, the dispenser including a dispenser housing with an inlet water trap, an outlet water trap, and a cavity; and    a plurality of disposable cartridge devices, each disposable cartridge device comprising a cartridge housing and a cleanser tablet disposed within the cartridge housing, each cartridge housing being configured to removably fit in the opening.    
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the disposable cartridge housing comprises: 
 a cap with a first aperture; and    a basket having a second aperture.    
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the cap is movable with respect to the basket to facilitate an open position in which the first aperture is aligned with the second aperture and a closed position in which the first aperture is not aligned with the second aperture.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein each cartridge housing comprises: 
 a cylindrical sidewall with a first plurality of apertures; and    a base with a second plurality of apertures.    
     
     
         20 . A disposable toilet cartridge device adapted for use in connection with a toilet cleaning dispenser housing, the device comprising: 
 a cartridge housing adapted to be removably coupled to the cleaning dispenser housing, the cartridge housing comprises a basket and a cap; and    a cleansing tablet disposed within the cartridge housing; wherein the cap is movable with respect to the basket to facilitate alternatively an open position providing fluid access to the cleansing tablet and a closed position blocking fluid access to cleansing tablet.    
     
     
         21 . The disposable cartridge device of  claim 20 , wherein: 
 the basket includes a first sidewall with a first aperture; and    the cap includes a second sidewall and a second aperture.    
     
     
         22 . The disposable cartridge device of  claim 21 , wherein the cap is rotatable with respect to the basket to facilitate alternatively the open position in which the first aperture is aligned with the second aperture and the closed position in which the first aperture is not aligned with the second aperture.  
     
     
         23 . The disposable cartridge device of claim D 3 , wherein the cap further comprises a knob.  
     
     
         24 . A toilet cleaning dispenser assembly, comprising: 
 a dispenser housing comprising an opening; and    a cartridge device adapted to be releasably locked to the dispenser housing, the cartridge device comprising a cartridge housing configured to fit in the opening and a cleanser tablet disposed within the cartridge housing; wherein    at least a portion of the cartridge housing is movable with respect to the dispenser housing to facilitate alternatively a locked relationship with the dispenser housing and an unlocked relationship with the dispenser housing.    
     
     
         25 . The dispenser assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the portion of the cartridge housing that is movable with respect to the dispenser housing comprises a cap with a knob.  
     
     
         26 . The dispenser assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the cartridge housing further comprises a basket coupled to the cap.  
     
     
         27 . The dispenser assembly of  claim 24 , wherein: 
 the dispenser housing further comprises an internal thread disposed in the opening, the internal thread including a projection; and    the cartridge housing comprises an external thread with a void configured to receive the projection.    
     
     
         28 . The dispenser assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the cartridge housing comprises: 
 a cylindrical sidewall with a first plurality of apertures; and    a base with a second plurality of apertures.    
     
     
         29 . A method for installing and removing a toilet cleanser in a toilet tank, comprising: 
 enclosing a cleanser tablet in a cartridge housing;    inserting the cartridge housing in a dispenser housing;    turning at least a portion of the cartridge housing in a first direction to lock the cartridge housing to the dispenser housing; and    turning at least the portion of the cartridge housing in a second direction opposite to the first direction to unlock the cartridge housing from the dispenser housing.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the step of enclosing a cleanser tablet in a cartridge housing comprises the step of housing the cleanser tablet with a basket and a cap that is movable with respect to the basket.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein: 
 the step of turning at least a portion of the cartridge housing in a first direction to lock the cartridge housing to the dispenser housing comprises the step of rotating the cap in the first direction; and    the step of turning at least the portion of the cartridge housing in a second direction opposite to the first direction to unlock the cartridge housing from the dispenser housing comprises the step of rotating the cap in the second direction.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising the step of keeping the basket stationary when the cap is rotated.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein: 
 the step of rotating the cap in the first direction comprises the step of providing fluid access to the cleanser tablet; and    the step of rotating the cap in the second direction comprises the step of blocking fluid access to the cleanser tablet.    
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein: 
 the step of turning at least a portion of the cartridge housing in a first direction to lock the cartridge housing to the dispenser housing comprises the step of rotating the cartridge housing as one unit in the first direction; and    the step of turning at least the portion of the cartridge housing in a second direction opposite to the first direction to unlock the cartridge housing from the dispenser housing comprises the step of rotating the cartridge housing as one unit in the second direction.    
     
     
         35 . A method for dispensing toilet cleanser in a toilet having a toilet tank, a fill tube and an overflow tube, comprising: 
 channeling liquid from a fill tube into a dispenser housing;    absorbing a cleanser tablet in the dispenser housing with the channeled liquid;    directing liquid out of the dispenser housing to the overflow tube; and    preventing fumes from escaping the dispenser housing into the toilet tank.    
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the step of preventing fumes from escaping the dispenser housing into the toilet tank comprises the steps of: 
 blocking the fumes from entering the fill tube with a first water trap; and    blocking the fumes from entering the overflow tube with a second water trap.    
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein: 
 the step of blocking the fumes from entering the fill tube with a first water trap comprises the step of providing a first pair of concentric tubes in a nested relationship; and    the step of blocking the fumes from entering the overflow tube with a second water trap comprises the step of providing a second pair of concentric tubes in a nested relationship.    
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising the step of preventing siphoning of liquid out of the dispenser housing through the fill tube.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the step of preventing siphoning of liquid out of the dispenser housing through the fill tube comprises the step of providing the dispenser housing with an air check valve.