Method and apparatus for delivering chlorine into a body of water

Abstract

A floating chlorine dispenser includes a buoyancy body and a dispenser body having dispenser ports adapted to deliver chlorine from, the floating chlorine dispenser. The buoyancy body includes a buoyancy chamber that provides the floating chlorine dispenser with a buoyancy force. The buoyancy force maintains a full indicator line on the buoyancy body aligned with the water line when the floating chlorine dispenser is filled with chlorine tablets. Likewise, the buoyancy force maintains an empty indicator line on the buoyancy body aligned with the water line when the floating chlorine dispenser is empty. Observation of the water line relative to the full indicator line and the empty indicator line provides a visual indication of the amount of chlorine tablets in the floating chlorine dispenser.

1 . A floating chlorine dispenser, comprising:
 a buoyancy body defining a buoyancy body tablet enclosure and a buoyancy chamber adapted to provide the floating chlorine dispenser with a buoyancy force;   a dispenser body defining a dispenser body tablet enclosure, wherein the dispenser body is coupled with the buoyancy body such that the dispenser body tablet enclosure communicates with the buoyancy body tablet enclosure to form a tablet chamber, further wherein the dispenser body includes dispenser ports adapted to deliver chlorine from the tablet chamber;   a full indicator line disposed on the buoyancy body, wherein, when the tablet chamber is substantially, completely filled with chlorine tablets, the buoyancy force created by the buoyancy chamber maintains the buoyancy body within water with the full indicator line substantially, completely aligned with the surface of the water; and   an empty indicator line disposed on the buoyancy body, wherein, when the tablet chamber is substantially, completely empty of chlorine tablets, the buoyancy force created by the buoyancy chamber maintains the buoyancy body within water with the empty indicator line substantially, completely aligned with the surface of the water.   
     
     
         2 . The floating chlorine dispenser according to  claim 1 , the buoyancy body, comprising an outer wall and an inner wall, wherein the inner wall defines the buoyancy body tablet enclosure, further wherein the outer wall and the inner wall define the buoyancy chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The floating chlorine dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser body and a portion of the buoyancy body are submerged when the floating chlorine dispenser is placed in water. 
     
     
         4 . The floating chlorine dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser ports deliver chlorine into the water when the floating chlorine dispenser is placed therein. 
     
     
         5 . The floating chlorine dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the buoyancy body-includes an opening that communicates with the buoyancy body enclosure to allow the insertion of chlorine tablets into the tablet chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The floating chlorine dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the floating chlorine dispenser includes a lid that secures to the opening in the buoyancy body. 
     
     
         7 . The floating chlorine dispenser according to  claim 1 , further comprising a circulation sleeve including openings, the circulation sleeve being engaged with the dispenser body and rotatable about the dispenser body between a fully closed position wherein the circulation sleeve blocks the dispenser ports and a fully open position wherein the openings of the circulation sleeve align with the dispenser ports to allow the delivery of chlorine into the water. 
     
     
         8 . The floating chlorine dispenser according to  claim 7 , wherein rotation of the circulation sleeve between its fully open position and its fully closed position regulates the flow of chlorine into the water. 
     
     
         9 . The floating chlorine dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein, when the tablet chamber is filled to capacity with chlorine tablets, the buoyancy force generated by the buoyancy chamber allows the dispenser body to be submerged under the water and a portion of the buoyancy body to be submerged such that the full indicator line is even with the wafer line. 
     
     
         10 . The floating chlorine dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein when the tablet chamber is empty, the buoyancy force generated by the buoyancy chamber allows the dispenser body to be submerged under the water and a portion of the buoyancy body to be submerged such that the empty indicator line is even with the water line. 
     
     
         11 . The floating chlorine dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein movement of the floating chlorine dispenser between the foil indicator line and the empty indicator line allows an operator to gauge the rate at which chlorine is dispensed into the water thereby allowing the operator to anticipate when the floating chlorine dispenser requires refilling with chlorine tablets. 
     
     
         12 . A floating chlorine dispenser, comprising:
 a buoyancy body, comprising an outer wall and an inner wall, wherein the inner wall defines a buoyancy body tablet enclosure, further wherein the outer wall and the inner wall define a sealed a buoyancy chamber adapted to provide the floating chlorine dispenser with a buoyancy force;   a dispenser body defining a dispenser body tablet enclosure, wherein the dispenser body is coupled with the buoyancy body such that the dispenser body tablet enclosure communicates with the buoyancy body tablet enclosure to form a tablet chamber, further wherein the dispenser body includes dispenser ports adapted to deliver chlorine from the tablet chamber;   a full indicator line disposed on the buoyancy body, wherein, when the tablet chamber is substantially, completely filled with chlorine tablets, the buoyancy force created by the buoyancy chamber maintains the buoyancy body within water with the full indicator line substantially, completely aligned with the surface of the water; and   an empty indicator line disposed on the buoyancy body, wherein, when the tablet chamber is substantially, completely empty of chlorine tablets, the buoyancy force created by the buoyancy chamber maintains the buoyancy body within water with the empty indicator line substantially, completely aligned with the surface of the water.   
     
     
         13 . The floating chlorine dispenser according to  claim 12 , wherein the dispenser body and a portion of the buoyancy body are submerged when the floating chlorine dispenser is placed in water. 
     
     
         14 . The floating chlorine dispenser according to  claim 12 , wherein the dispenser ports deliver chlorine into the water when the floating chlorine dispenser is placed therein. 
     
     
         15 . The floating chlorine dispenser according to  claim 12 , wherein the buoyancy body includes an opening that communicates with the buoyancy body enclosure to allow the insertion of chlorine tablets into the tablet chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The floating chlorine dispenser according to  claim 12 , wherein the floating chlorine dispenser includes a lid that secures to the opening in the buoyancy body. 
     
     
         17 . The floating chlorine dispenser according to  claim 12 , further comprising a circulation sleeve including openings, the circulation sleeve being engaged with the dispenser body and rotatable about the dispenser body between a fully closed position wherein the circulation sleeve blocks the dispenser ports and a fully open position wherein the openings of the circulation sleeve align with the dispenser ports to allow the delivery of chlorine into the water. 
     
     
         18 . The floating chlorine dispenser according to  claim 17 , wherein rotation of the circulation sleeve between its fully open position and its fully closed position regulates the flow of chlorine into the water. 
     
     
         19 . The floating chlorine dispenser according to  claim 12 , wherein, when the tablet chamber is filled to capacity with chlorine tablets, the buoyancy force generated by the buoyancy chamber allows the dispenser body to be submerged under the water and a portion of the buoyancy body to be submerged such that the full indicator line is even with the water line. 
     
     
         20 . The floating chlorine dispenser according to  claim 12 , wherein when the tablet chamber is empty, the buoyancy force generated by the buoyancy chamber allows the dispenser body to be submerged under the water and a portion of the buoyancy body to be submerged such that the empty indicator line is even with the water line. 
     
     
         21 . The floating chlorine dispenser according to  claim 12 , wherein movement of the floating chlorine dispenser between the full indicator line and the empty indicator line allows an operator to gauge the rate at which chlorine is dispensed into the water thereby allowing the operator to anticipate when the floating chlorine dispenser requires refilling with chlorine tablets. 
     
     
         22 . A method of delivering chlorine into water, comprising:
 providing a floating chlorine dispenser adapted to deliver chlorine into water, the floating chlorine dispenser including a full indicator line and an empty indicator line, wherein, when the floating chlorine dispenser is filled to capacity with chlorine tablets, a buoyancy force of the floating chlorine dispenser maintains the floating chlorine dispenser within the wafer such that the full indicator line aligns with the water line, further wherein, when the floating chlorine dispenser is empty, the buoyancy force of the floating chlorine dispenser maintains the floating chlorine dispenser within the water such that the empty indicator line aligns with the water line;   filling the floating chlorine dispenser to capacity with chlorine tablets;   placing the floating chlorine dispenser into water;   monitoring the floating chlorine dispenser in the water to determine the relationship between the empty indicator line and the water line;   retrieving the floating chlorine dispenser from the water when the empty indicator line aligns with the water line;   refilling the floating chlorine dispenser to capacity with chlorine tablets; and   replacing the floating chlorine dispenser into water.