Force actuated liquid dispenser

Abstract

The present invention provides for an apparatus and a method for automating the dispensing a liquid agent into a toilet.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for dispensing a liquid into a toilet bowl, comprising:
 a reservoir for holding a quantity of liquid;   a piston pump, comprising a pump inlet and a pump outlet, wherein the pump is configured to receive fluid from the reservoir through the pump inlet and expel liquid out the pump through the pump outlet;   a linear actuator operatively connected to the piston pump, wherein the linear actuator is configured to linearly actuate the piston pump when the linear actuator is depressed;   a mount configured to suspend the piston pump and the linear actuator together on a toilet bowl;   wherein the piston pump is in fluid communication with the reservoir for transferring liquid from the reservoir to the piston pump through the pump inlet;   wherein the piston pump is in fluid communication with an interior of the toilet bowl to dispense fluid expelled from the pump outlet into the toilet bowl; and   wherein when the piston pump is linearly actuated by depressing the linear actuator, fluid from the reservoir is dispensed into the toilet bowl.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus in  claim 1 , wherein the mount is configured to suspend the piston pump, linear actuator, and the reservoir together from a portion of a rim of a toilet bowl and within a toilet bowl. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus in  claim 1 , wherein the mount comprises a housing and a support member extending from the housing, wherein the housing is configured to support the pump, the linear actuator, and the reservoir together on a rim of a toilet bowl, and wherein the support member is configured to affix the housing to the toilet bowl to suspend the housing, the pump, the linear actuator, and the reservoir over an interior of the toilet bowl. 
     
     
         4 . A method of dispensing a liquid into a toilet bowl, comprising:
 securing a quantity of a liquid in a reservoir;   securing to the reservoir a pump in fluid communication with the liquid in the reservoir and an interior of a toilet bowl;   securing the pump to the toilet bowl wherein the pump is positioned beneath an underside of a toilet seat when the toilet seat is placed in a lowered position over a rim of the toilet bowl; and   actuating the pump by applying a force on the toilet seat when the toilet seat is in the lowered position on the toilet bowl to dispense a quantity of the liquid inside the reservoir into the interior of the toilet bowl.   
     
     
         5 . The method in  claim 4 , further comprising resetting the pump by removing the force applied on the toilet seat. 
     
     
         6 . The method in  claim 4 , further comprising resetting the pump by lifting the toilet seat off the rim of the toilet bowl. 
     
     
         7 . The method in  claim 4 , wherein applying the force on the toilet seat to actuate the pump comprises a user sitting on the toilet seat. 
     
     
         8 . The method in  claim 7 , wherein the liquid in the reservoir is automatically dispensed into a toilet bowl when a user sits on the toilet seat in the lowered position. 
     
     
         9 . The method in  claim 4 , wherein securing the pump beneath the underside of the toilet seat comprises securing a linear actuator operatively connected to the pump in contact with the underside of the toilet seat when the toilet seat is placed in a lowered position over a rim of a toilet bowl. 
     
     
         10 . The method in  claim 4 , wherein securing the pump beneath the underside of the toilet seat comprises securing a linear actuator operatively connected to the pump in between the underside of a toilet seat and a rim of a toilet bowl when the toilet seat is placed in a lowered position over the rim of the toilet bowl. 
     
     
         11 . The method in  claim 4 , wherein applying the force on a toilet seat when the toilet seat is in the lowered position to actuate the pump comprises placing the weight of a user on the toilet seat. 
     
     
         12 . The method in  claim 9 , wherein applying the force on the toilet seat to actuate the pump comprises the underside of the toilet seat depressing the linear actuator. 
     
     
         13 . The method in  claim 4 , further comprising securing the reservoir to a toilet bowl. 
     
     
         14 . The method in  claim 4 , further comprising securing the reservoir and the pump together on a housing connected to a mount, and suspending the pump, the reservoir, and the housing on a rim of a toilet bowl using the mount. 
     
     
         15 . The method in  claim 4 , further comprising securing a cushion to the pump, wherein the cushion is configured to apply an upward force against the underside of a toilet seat when the toilet seat is in a lowered position over the rim of a toilet bowl. 
     
     
         16 . The method in  claim 4 , further comprising securing a cushion to the pump, wherein the cushion is configured to preventing a toilet seat in a lowered position over the rim of a toilet bowl from actuating the pump until a user sits on the toilet seat. 
     
     
         17 . The method in  claim 7 , further comprising resetting the pump when the user sitting on a toilet seat actuating the pump gets up from the toilet seat. 
     
     
         18 . The method in  claim 4 , wherein actuating the pump comprises expelling the liquid drawn into the pump from the reservoir out into a toilet bowl. 
     
     
         19 . The method in  claim 4 , wherein securing to the reservoir a pump in fluid communication with the interior of the toilet bowl comprises securing a nozzle to the pump wherein the nozzle is configured to direct the dispensing of the liquid by the pump into the toilet bowl. 
     
     
         20 . The method in  claim 4 , further comprising determining the volume of liquid inside the reservoir by viewing the levels of a liquid inside the reservoir through the reservoir comprising of a translucent or transparent material.