Multi-function toilet device

Abstract

Described is a multi-function device for attachment to the tank of a toilet fixture. The multi-function device provides a diffusible air-treatment concentrate for deodorizing or otherwise treating the ambient air surrounding the toilet. At the same time, the multi-function device provides a water-soluble water-treatment concentrate for treating the flush water stored in the toilet tank. The device includes a connector with an air-treatment housing coupled to one end and a water-treatment housing coupled to the opposite end of the connector. The connector is configured such that the air-treatment housing, in which the air-treatment concentrate is disposed, is positioned adjacent the exterior surface of the toilet tank and the water-treatment housing, in which the water-treatment concentrate is disposed, is positioned adjacent the interior surface of the toilet tank below the fill-level of the tank.

1 . A device comprising: 
 a connector;    an air-treatment concentrate coupled to said connector;    a water-treatment concentrate coupled to said connector;    wherein said connector is configured to position said air-treatment concentrate adjacent an exterior surface of a tank and to position said water-treatment concentrate adjacent an interior surface of said tank.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of said water-treatment concentrate is positioned below a fill-level of said tank.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said connector is bendable to accommodate placement of said connector on said tank, positioning of said air-treatment concentrate adjacent of said exterior surface of said tank, and positioning said water-treatment concentrate adjacent said interior surface of said tank.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said connector comprises a structure selected from the group consisting of a bendable wire, a bendable ribbon, a bendable tube, and a bendable band.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said connector is configurable into a shape selected from the group consisting of an inverted “J”, an inverted “U”, and an inverted “L”.  
   
   
       6 . A device comprising: 
 a connector having an air-treatment end portion, a water-treatment end portion opposite said air-treatment end portion, and an intermediate portion therebetween;    an air-treatment concentrate coupled to said air-treatment end portion of said connector;    a water-treatment concentrate coupled to said water-treatment end portion of said connector; and    wherein said connector is configured to position said air-treatment concentrate adjacent an exterior surface of a tank and to position said water-treatment concentrate adjacent an interior surface of said tank.    
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6  wherein said tank is a toilet tank.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 6  wherein at least a portion of said water-treatment concentrate is positioned below a fill-level of said tank.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 6  further comprising: 
 an air-treatment housing coupled to said air-treatment end portion of said connector, said air-treatment housing defining an air-treatment housing interior space and wherein said air-treatment concentrate is disposed within said air-treatment housing interior space; and    a water-treatment housing coupled to said water-treatment end portion of said connector, said water-treatment housing defining a water-treatment housing interior space and wherein said water-treatment concentrate is disposed within said water-treatment housing interior space.    
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9  further comprising a fan coupled to said device.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 9  further comprising a heater coupled to said device.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 9  further comprising a source of ultrasonic energy coupled to said device.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 9  wherein said water-treatment housing comprises an active device for pumping or siphoning a solution of said water-treatment concentrate.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 9  wherein said water-treatment housing comprises a passive device for positioning said water-treatment concentrate at least partially submerged below a fill-level of said tank.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 9  wherein said connector, said air-treatment housing, and said water-treatment housing are integrally formed.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 9  wherein said connector, said air-treatment housing, and said water-treatment housing are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of metal, metal composites, ceramics, polypropylene, high density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polymer composites, and engineered plastics.  
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 9  wherein said connector further comprises 
 at least one hinge adapted along said connector to allow folding of said connector.    
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 17  wherein said at least one hinge is a living hinge.  
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 9  further comprising: 
 one or more air-treatment housing apertures through said air-treatment housing; and    one or more water-treatment housing apertures through said water-treatment housing;    
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 9  wherein said connector is configured into a shape selected from the group consisting of an inverted “J”, an inverted “U”, and an inverted “L”.  
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 9  wherein said air-treatment housing and said water-treatment housing are adjustably coupled to said connector.  
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 9  wherein said device is disposable.  
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 9  wherein said air-treatment housing is refillable with said air-treatment concentrate and said water-treatment housing is refillable with said water-treatment concentrate.  
   
   
       24 . The device of  claim 9  wherein said air-treatment concentrate and said water-treatment concentrate lasts in use for approximately the same period of time.  
   
   
       25 . The device of  claim 9  further comprising at least one indicia that alerts a user of said device that said air-treatment concentrate or said water-treatment concentrate is depleted.  
   
   
       26 . A multi-function toilet device for placement on a toilet tank comprising: 
 a connector having a air-treatment end portion, a water-treatment end portion opposite said air-treatment end portion, and an intermediate portion therebetween;    an air-treatment housing coupled to said air-treatment end portion of said connector, said air-treatment housing defining an air-treatment housing interior space and wherein an air-treatment concentrate is disposed within said air-treatment housing interior space;    a water-treatment housing coupled to said water-treatment end portion of said connector, said water-treatment housing defining a water-treatment housing interior space and wherein a water-treatment concentrate is disposed within said water-treatment housing interior space; and    wherein said connector is configured to position said air-treatment concentrate adjacent an exterior surface of said toilet tank and to position said water-treatment concentrate adjacent an interior surface of said toilet tank.    
   
   
       27 . The multi-function toilet device of  claim 26  wherein said connector is placed on a tank lip of said toilet tank.  
   
   
       28 . The multi-function toilet device of  claim 26  wherein said connector is configured as an inverted “J”.  
   
   
       29 . The multi-function toilet device of  claim 26  wherein said connector comprises a structure selected from the group consisting of a bendable wire, a bendable ribbon, a bendable tube, and a bendable band.  
   
   
       30 . The multi-function device of  claim 26  wherein said water-treatment housing comprises a passive device for positioning said water-treatment concentrate at least partially submerged below a tank fill-level.  
   
   
       31 . The multi-function toilet device of  claim 26  wherein said connector, said air-treatment housing, and said water-treatment housing are integrally formed.  
   
   
       32 . The multi-function toilet device of  claim 26  wherein said connector, said air-treatment housing, and said water-treatment housing are separately formed.  
   
   
       33 . The multi-function toilet device of  claim 26  further comprising: 
 one or more air-treatment housing apertures through said air-treatment housing; and    one or more water-treatment housing apertures through said water-treatment housing.    
   
   
       34 . The multi-function toilet device of  claim 33  further comprising one or more slide elements that blank off all, or parts of, said air-treatment housing apertures and said water-treatment housing apertures.