US 8,007,664 B2 · Floating dispenser for dispensing a solid dissolvable chemical into ambient water

Abstract

A floating dispenser is provided for dispensing a solid, dissolvable water treatment chemical into ambient water. The dispenser includes a bucket having top and bottom ends, a top wall covering the top end, an opening for admitting ambient water into the bucket interior, and a floatation ring that keeps only the top end above water such that the interior is water filled when the dispenser floats. A basket is disposed in the interior of the bucket for carrying a solid, dissolvable water treatment chemical, such as calcium hypochlorite. The basket is buoyant and movable vertically toward the top wall of the bucket. The dispenser includes a refill indicator that indicates when most of a full load of said chemical has dissolved. The refill indicator includes a pair of tabs that are connected to the basket and slidably mounted in slots in the top wall. The tabs extend above the top wall when the buoyant basket floats upwardly, providing a visual indication of the need for a refill that can easily be seen from a side angle.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A floating dispenser for dispensing a solid, dissolvable chemical into ambient water, comprising:

a bucket having top and bottom ends, an opening for admitting ambient water into an interior, and a floatation portion that keeps only said top end above water;
a basket disposed in said interior of said bucket having a maximum load capacity for a solid, dissolvable water treatment chemical, said basket being buoyant and movable within said bucket toward said top end upon the dissolution of said
chemical, wherein said bucket interior and the exterior of the basket are slideably connected and aligned so as to prevent misalignment between said basket and said bucket during movement, and a refill indicator that indicates when most of a full load of said chemical has dissolved and that is actuated upon said vertical movement of said basket and visible when said dispenser is viewed in a side direction.

A floating dispenser for dispensing a solid, dissolvable chemical into ambient water, comprising:

a bucket having top and bottom ends, a top wall covering said top end, an opening for admitting ambient water into an interior, and a floatation portion that keeps only said top end above water such that said interior is water filled;
a basket disposed in said interior of said bucket having a full load capacity for carrying a solid, dissolvable water treatment chemical, said basket being buoyant and vertically movable toward said top wall of said bucket upon the dissolution of substantially all of said chemical, and a refill indicator that indicates when most but not all of a full load of said chemical has dissolved and is actuated upon said movement of said basket and visible when said dispenser is viewed in a side direction, wherein said refill indicator includes two opposing flag members slidably connected to two opposing openings in said top wall which extend into view above said top wall upon upward vertical movement of said basket, wherein said opposing flag members are tab members connected to a top portion of said basket, and said openings in said top wall are slots substantially complementary in shape to said tab members, and said tab members are slidably disposed within said slots.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Floating dispenser for dispensing a solid dissolvable chemical into ambient water

Life of this patent

Floating dispenser for dispensing a solid dissolvable chemical into ambient water

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19