METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING DISPENSING DEVICES

The present invention relates to the improvements in liquid dispensing devices, and especially in methods for the manufacture of such improved dispensing devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods for the manufacture of improved liquid dispensing devices which comprise improved nozzles used to dispense liquid compositions from a container or a flask containing a quantity of a liquid treatment composition which is intended to be dispensed from the device in a controlled fashion therefrom, particularly in the form of a controllable liquid stream.

The prior art is replete with various dispensing containers which are useful in both scoring and dispensing liquid therefrom. Certain of these include flow directing nozzles which are typically inserted in the neck of a flask, or more particularly typically in the neck of a bottle which contains a quantity of a liquid treatment composition. These flow directing nozzles can be a closure for the bottle or may be used in conjunction with a further closure in order to provide a removable sealing means in order to ensure that the contents of the bottle are not prematurely dispensed. Such nozzles and closures are known from a variety of consumer products including a variety of cleaning products. For example, cleaning products which are particularly adapted to be used in the cleaning of lavatory appliances, such as a toilet bowl, are frequently provided with flow directing nozzles. Such flow directing nozzles are advantageously included that they provide a means by which a user dispensing a quantity of such a liquid treatment composition from a bottle can exert some degree of control over the direction of the stream of the liquid composition exiting to the bottle via the nozzle. Such as beneficial as, in many instances, surfaces of such lavatory appliances are often obscured from view, or are inclined surfaces or may be surfaces which are positioned such that ideally the dispensing device would need to direct a stream or a jet of the liquid treatment composition in a direction

which was directed above the horizontal such that the stream or jet was at least partially vertical. For example, such would be required if it were desired to direct a stream or a jet of a liquid treatment composition to the underside of the interior of the rim of the toilet bowl. This locus is known in the art to be a particularly difficult area of the toilet bowl to clean, and yet is also known to the art as being the locus at which the formation of hard water stains, rust stains, or other stains typically formed as a consequence of the quality of the water used to supply the toilet bowl are known to occur. Thus, access to this locus provides a technical challenge which has not been wholly satisfactorily addressed by flow directing nozzles or by dispensing containers which include such flow directing nozzles. If it is to such a technical shortcoming, as well as further technical shortcomings that the present invention is primarily directed.

Accordingly, in one aspect of present invention provides an improved method for the manufacture of improved dispensing devices which include an oriented, flow directing nozzle which is adapted to be used to dispense a liquid composition, such as a treatment composition primarily directed to be used for the cleaning and/or disinfecting and/or sanitizing treatment of a lavatory appliance particularly a toilet bowl.

In a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an improved method for the manufacture of improved dispensing devices which devices include a dispensing container having mounted thereon an oriented flow directing nozzle which is adapted to be used to dispense a liquid composition, such as a treatment composition primarily directed to be used for the cleaning and/or disinfecting and/or sanitizing treatment of a lavatory appliance particularly a toilet bowl. hi a third aspect of the invention there is provided an improved method for the manufacture of improved dispensing devices which include a sealable dispensing container according to the second aspect of the invention wherein said dispensing container includes said flow directing nozzle as well as further includes a closure.

These and further aspects of the invention will be in further detail with reference to one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein.

Broadly speaking the present invention includes a method for the manufacture of a dispensing device which includes a container such as a flask, bottle or other container having mounted thereon a flow directing nozzle which is adapted to be used to dispense a

liquid composition, such as a liquid treatment composition primarily directed to be used for the cleaning and/or disinfecting and/or sanitizing treatment of a lavatory appliances and especially a toilet bowl from the dispensing device, and in particular, an automated process for the manufacture of, or assembly of the dispensing device which includes the process of orienting the flow directing nozzle with the container during the mutual assembly thereof. The flow directing nozzle provides for improved directional dispensing of a stream of said liquid composition from a dispensing container upon which the flow directing nozzle is mounted. Such improved directional dispensing provides for the directed application of the liquid treatment composition onto surfaces of lavatory appliances which may be obscured from view, and/or onto inclined surfaces and/or surfaces which are positioned wherein the stream or a jet of the liquid treatment composition needs be oriented in a direction which above the horizontal such that the stream or jet is at least partially vertical. Such improved directional dispensing provides for the dispensing of a stream or a jet of the liquid treatment composition to the underside of the interior of the rim of the toilet bowl, a locus which is known in the art to be a particularly difficult area of the toilet bowl to clean, but at which the formation of hard water stains, rust stains, or other stains typically are known to occur.

An important technical advantage provided by the flow directing nozzle is that the geometry of the nozzle provides for an angular deflection of the stream or jet of the liquid treatment composition exiting said the nozzle. This allows for the improved placement of the dispensing device, containing the liquid treatment composition with respect to the lavatory appliance, and particularly with respect to portions of a toilet bowl. Whereas in prior art compositions the placement and relative angular positioning of the dispensing device, viz., bottle, frequently required partial or near total insertion of the dispensing device within the interior of the toilet bowl in order to ensure proper directional dispensing of the stream or jet of the liquid treatment composition exiting its nozzle, the improved flow directing nozzle according to the present invention does not require the same. Further, the improved flow directing nozzle is one which can be easily adapted for use with a variety of dispensing devices, especially bottles having essentially bottle necks which are generally circular bores extending from the exterior of the bottle and into the interior cavity of the bottle within which the liquid treatment composition would be

provided and stored between dispensing. Thus, the improved flow directing nozzles according to the invention can be readily adapted for use with known-art existing bottle designs which would not need to be reconfigured in order to enjoy the benefits provided by the flow directing nozzles being toward herein. The improved flow directing nozzles include a fluid passage which is generally in the form of hollow cylindrical shaft having a proximal end, and a distal end to which the liquid treatment composition is dispensed from said that nozzle. In preferred embodiments, the cylindrical shaft is on a uniform diameter or cross-sectional area between the proximal end and a distal end however, this is not a critical requirement and some degree of tapering can be permitted between these two actions. For example, coming into consideration would be an angular taper of between 0.5° of arc and 20° of arc. Providing such taper might be useful in circumstances wherein it is desired to increase the exit velocity of a stream or jet of the liquid treatment composition exiting the nozzle. For example, should such be desired and then the introduction of an angular taper wherein the diameter or cross-sectional area of the distal end is less than the diameter or cross-sectional area of the proximal is contemplated as being useful in providing such a technical result. The distal end of the fluid passage it is at least partially domed, and includes a fluid outlet which is angled with respect to a central axis of the fluid passage. From a side cross-sectional view the fluid passage is a fluid outlet opening which is preferably defined by a plane crossing the central axis at an angle of between 5°of arc and 85° of arc, preferably between about 20° of arc and about 75° of arc, yet more preferably between about 30° of arc and about 60° of arc, and most preferably between about 32° of arc and 55° of arc with respect to the central axis and, preferably also the plane partially intersects the domed portion of the distal end of the fluid passage. hi preferred embodiments, the radius of the domed end is circular with respect to a point on the central axis, however, the domed and may in certain circumstances be defined as noncircular, or elliptical with respect to a point on the central axis. Preferably however, the radius of the domed end is however circular with respect to a point on the central axis. Preferably the fluid outlet is planar in a cross-sectional view with respect to the central axis as noted above but this is not a limitation and the geometry of the fluid outlet may be a configuration having a geometry other than planar, such as might be defined by

one or more cylindrical, conical or hyperbolic sections intersecting the central axis, and is also preferably angled with respect to the central axis at an angle of between 5°of arc and 85° of arc, preferably between about 20° of arc and about 75° of arc, yet more preferably between about 30° of arc and about 60° of arc, and most preferably between about 32° of arc and 55° of arc with respect to the central axis and, preferably such other one or more cylindrical, conical or hyperbolic sections partially intersects the domed portion of the distal end of the fluid passage and thereby define the fluid outlet.

While the fluid outlet is preferably planar and angled in a cross-sectional view with respect to the central axis of the fluid passage especially where such passage is generally in the form of hollow cylindrical shaft, from a top plan view the fluid outlet is advantageously circular having a center point which is coincident with the central axis of the of the fluid passage.

Extending outward from the proximal end of the fluid passage the improved flow directing nozzles of the invention typically include a skirt a portion of which may extend radially outwardly from the fluid passage in the form of a generally planar base portion from which extends in a distal direction a skirt sidewall having a geometry which is dimensioned such that the flow directing nozzles can be inserted into a portion of a container such as a bottle. Most preferably, the dimensions of the skirt and in particular the dimensions of the skirt sidewall are such that they are adapted to be inserted into the interior of the neck of a container, such as a bottle. Most preferably, the overall geometric dimensions the skirt are generally cylindrical wherein the skirt sidewall it is a generally cylindrical section which has a central axis which is coincident with the central axis of the fluid passage. Optionally, but desirably in many embodiments at the top margin of the skirt sidewall there is provided a margin member which may include a flat surface or a lip having an lower flat surface which engages on the one side with the end of a bottle neck so to optionally provide a generally liquid-tight seal therewith and also limits the insertion of the nozzle into the bottle neck, with while on the other side there is a top face which may come in to sealing-type contact with a portion of a closure which may be used with the dispensing device. Advantageously, the exterior dimensions of the skirt are such that any can form an interference tight fit, preferably a liquid-tight interference type fit with the interior dimensions of a bottle neck. If required, the nozzle

may include one or further ancillary elements relative to the skirt sidewall but preferably forming part of the skirt sidewall which may be used to provide an improved interference tight fit, preferably a liquid -tight interference type fit with the interior dimensions of a bottle neck when the nozzle is mounted on a container, viz., a bottle. The flow directing nozzle also include an indexing means which is formed as part of the nozzle which means aids in the mechanical, semi-mechanical or manual orientation of the flow directing nozzle and in particular the direction of the fluid outlet with respect to a reference point, to a reference plane or preferably with respect to the configuration or geometry of a container, viz., a bottle, upon which the nozzle is mounted in order to provide a dispensing device according to the invention.

In certain advantageous embodiments, the dispensing device according to the invention further includes a closure. The closure may take the form of a conventional cap and have an internal cavity which is dimensioned in order to and encompass a least a part of the nozzle and at least a part of the bottle neck upon which the nozzle is mounted. Advantageously, from a top inner surface on the closure, various extending downwardly and concentrically with the center line of the closure a plug elements. The plug element is generally circular cross -section, or it may be slightly tapered or in some embodiments the plug element of the closure may be conical in shape. Ideally, the plug element is dimensioned such that when the closure is mounted upon the dispensing device and simultaneously onto the nozzle the plug element extends through the fluid outlet and into the interior of the fluid passage of the nozzle. In particularly preferred embodiments the plug element is dimensioned such that provide at least an interference type fit and preferably also provides a liquid type seal between portions of the plot, such as side walls of the plug, and the margins of the fluid outlet. As such, according to particular preferred embodiments, a generally reliable liquid-tight seal can be formed by the interface between these two elements. Additionally, due to the fact that according to preferred embodiments the plug has a geometry which is symmetrical about the central axis of the closure, and also in apian of view, the margins of the fluid outlet are also symmetrical about the central axis of the fluid passage, the overall dimensions of the closure and on the improved fluid nozzle can be dimensioned such that the central axis of the closure

and the central axis of the fluid nozzle are coincident when the closure is mounted upon the dispensing device and in particular when mounted upon the nozzle.

A further important technical feature of the improved flow directing nozzles of the invention is that as the planar face of the fluid outlets are not perpendicular to the central axis of the fluid passage, but rather are angled with respect thereto, such geometry of the nozzle and its fluid outlet provides for the angular deflection of the stream or jet of the liquid treatment composition exiting said the nozzle with respect to the central axis of the fluid passage of the nozzle. This allows for the improved placement of the dispensing device, viz., a bottle, containing the liquid treatment composition with respect to the lavatory appliance, and particularly with respect to portions of a toilet bowl. For example the use of prior art dispensers typically requires the positioning of the dispensing device, viz., bottle, usually at least partially and too often usually requires near total insertion of the bottle within the interior of the toilet bowl in order to ensure proper directional dispensing of the stream or jet of the liquid treatment composition exiting its nozzle to the underside of a toilet bowl rim, such is not required of dispensing devices which include the improved flow directing nozzles taught herein. Additionally the use of prior art dispensers with many conventional prior art nozzles makes the total evacuation of the liquid treatment composition from the interior of such dispensing devices while directing the stream or jet of the liquid treatment composition exiting its nozzle to the underside of a toilet bowl rim nearly impossible as the liquid treatment composition fails to reach the nozzle in such a position rather only a blast of air from within the bottle is achieved. Thus, wastage of any liquid treatment composition often occurs in such a circumstance. Such technical shortcomings or however overcome by the use of dispensing devices provided with the flow directing nozzles taught herein. The foregoing nozzle dispensing device are provided in accordance with a method for the manufacture of the dispensing device which method includes the steps of: supplying a plurality of the aforesaid flow directing nozzles from a bulk supply source, automatically orienting the flow directing nozzle with respect to a reference or with respect to container such as a flask, bottle or other container, which preferably includes a quantity of a liquid treatment composition, and thereafter mounting the flow directing nozzle onto a portion of the container a liquid composition, and optionally thereafter

supplying a closure to the container and flow directing nozzle. Such a liquid treatment composition contained in, and provided from the dispensing device is preferably primarily directed to a cleaning and/or disinfecting and/or sanitizing treatment of a lavatory appliances and especially a toilet bowl. Such a method is facilitated by the indexing means of the flow directing nozzle.

Certain features in certain preferred embodiments of present invention are discussed with reference to the following figures. It is believed that the present invention will be better understood from the following description of preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify identical elements.

Figure 1 illustrates in a side cross-sectional view a flow directing nozzle 10 which is adapted to be used to dispense a liquid composition from a container upon which the nozzle 10 is mounted. The nozzle 10 includes a shaft 12 having a proximal end 14 and a distal end 16. Depending regularly outward from the proximal and 14 is a skirt 20 which includes a skirt base 22 which is generally perpendicular to the sidewall 18 of the shaft 12 which skirt base 22 extends to a chamber section 24, which is angled distally with respect to the skirt base 22, from whence they skirt continues to a skirt sidewall 26 which is generally circular, and concentric about a central axis "C". The end of the skirt sidewall 26 terminates in a skirt lip 28 which here, is in the form of a generally flat member which is integrally formed as part of the skirt 20 and includes a top face 28a and a bottom face 28b which bottom face it also a generally flat member which is parallel to the top face 28a. Extending downwardly from the skirt base 22 is an indexing means 25, here in the form of a generally circular solid section 25 which encircles the proximal end 14 of the shaft 12. Returning to the shaft 12, depicted is a hollow shaft which is generally circular in cross section and has a uniform cross-sectional area across most of its distance between its proximal end 14 and distal end 16 however it is to be understood that the central axis "D" of the hollow interior of the shaft 12 is not coincident with the central axis "C", but rather is offset thereto. At the distal end 16 of the shaft 12, is a domed section 30 which extends from and is integrally formed with the shaft 12. Within the interior 32 of the domed section is seen that there is defined an inner semi-hemispherical sidewall 34 which extends towards the fluid outlet 36. It will be understood that a stream

of liquid treatment composition entering the nozzle 10 through its open proximal end 14 passing towards the distal end 16 through the hollow portion of the shaft 12 will be partially redirected by the semi-hemispherical sidewall 34 which deflects the direction of fluid flow from being one generally coincident with the axes C and D, to a direction of flow which is now angled by an angle "K" with respect thereto. The fluid outlet 36 is in this embodiment, seen to be an opening spanning a part of the shaft 12 at a plane angled with respect to the central axis. Such an angled opening of the fluid outlet 26 also contributes to redirecting the direction of fluid flow from being one generally coincident with the axes C and D, to a direction of flow which is now angled by an angle "K" with respect thereto. While the angle K shown in Fig 1. is generally approximately 45° of arc, the angle K may vary from between about 5°of arc and about 85° of arc, preferably between about 20° of arc and about 75° of arc, yet more preferably between about 30° of arc and about 60° of arc, and most preferably between about 32° of arc and 55° of arc with respect to the central axis. An angle of between about 40° of arc and 50° of arc is especially preferred.

Turning now to Fig. 2 is depicted in a top plan view of the improved flow directing nozzle 10 discussed with reference to Fig. 1. In this top plan view, it now better seen the relationship of the overall dimensions on the shaft 12 with respect to the fluid outlet 36 and the margin 36a of the fluid outlet 36 and the overall dimensions of the nozzle 10 such as with respect to the Hp 28. Additionally can be that the central axis C of both the fluid outlet 36, as well as that of the lip 20 is non-coincident with the center axis D of the shaft 12, which is also depicted on Fig. 1

Figure 3 illustrates in bottom plan view the relationship of the indexing means 25 with the skirt base 22 and the open proximal end 14 of the shaft 12. As is visible from the figure, the indexing means 25 encircles the open proximal and 14 of the shaft 12 and includes a circular sidewall section 25b witches interrupted by a flat sidewall section 25a. As is visible from the figure, the flat sidewall section 25a represents a chord interrupting the otherwise circular sidewall section 25b which otherwise defines the exterior periphery of the indexing means 25. The indexing means 25 also includes a generally flat base 25c at the end thereof. Advantageously, they generally flat base 25c is planar and parallel to

a plane defined by the lip 28 of the nozzle 10. Advantageously, the indexing means 25a is integrally formed as part of the nozzle 10.

Figure 4 depicts in a cross-sectional view a preferred embodiment of a nozzle 10 according to the invention, mounted on a bottle, which nozzle 10 is generally in accordance with the embodiment disclosed and discussed with reference to Fig. 1.

Therein is disclosed a portion of a bottle 50 illustrating the nozzle 10 inserted within the neck 52 thereof and a removable closure 70 mounted upon both a part of the closure 10 and the bottle neck 52. With reference to these elements, as is seen the closure 70 includes an internal cavity 72, within which is a plug 74 which extends downwardly from a top part 76 of the closure, hi the depicted embodiment, the plus 74 has the form of a downwardly directed, slightly tapering column having a sidewall 78 which forms an interference tight fit, preferably a liquid tight fit between the sidewall 70 and the margins 36a on the fluid opening 36. The plug 74 is preferably and desirably concentric about a central axis C, and simultaneously, when the closure 70 is mounted any is the nozzle 10 the plot 74 is engaged within the fluid outlet 36 which can be plan view as discussed with reference to Fig. 2 is also concentric about this central axis C. Such an inter-relational geometry provides an important advantage of the nozzles of the invention in that while the dimensions and the central axis of the shaft 12 can be offset with regard to the central axis C, the orientation of the fluid outlet 36 its preferred geometry in both being circular and coincident with central axis C when projected onto a plane perpendicular to central axis C, but intersecting the shaft 12 in a plane which is angled with respect to central axis C provides on the one hand this the ability to alter the direction of the fluid flow passing through the shaft 12, it on the other hand preserves concentricity with respect to the closure 70 and preferably also preserves concentricity with the neck 52 of the bottle 50 within which the nozzle 10 is mounted. Thus, even though the shaft 12 may be offset with regard to central axis C, a consumer may still easily, and reliably attach and remove the closure 70 from the bottle 50 in the usual manner, as the plug 74 and the fluid outlet 36 come into alignment and form an interference tight fit, but preferably a liquid tight fit therebetween. As is further visible from figure 4, additional contact between the closure 70 and the nozzle may occur by contact between the top faced 28 any an inner portion 77 of the skirt 78 which extends downwardly from the top 76 of the closure 70. Also visible

from the figure is the indexing means 25, visible as forming part of the nozzle 10 and depending downwardly from the skirt base 22 and inwardly within the bottle 22. As is also to be understood, in this embodiment the flat sidewall section 25a is rearward and tangential to the uppermost point 36b of the fluid outlet 36; such position provides a relational reference between the flat sidewall section 25a of the indexing means 25, and another part of the nozzle 10, here the uppermost point 36b of the fluid outlet 36. It is to be understood whoever, that the relational reference is begin the flat sidewall section 25a of the indexing means, or for that matter any other part of the indexing means can be used to establish a useful relational reference between said part of indexing means with respect to the other elements of the nozzle 10. That being said, it is to be understood that the specific embodiments as disclosed in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 and has described with reference thereto are to be understood as and illustrative, but not limiting embodiment of the present invention. Returning to Fig. 4, additionally, corresponding mating threads 79 may be provided on an inner surface 79 of the skirt 78 which corresponding mating threads 79 engaging mating threads 54 present on part of the neck 52 of the bottle 50.

Figures 5A and 5B depicts two views of a dispensing device 90 according to the invention which includes a bottle 50 having 80 nozzle and mounted within a portion of the neck 52 thereof.

With regard first to Fig. 5A, to be understood from the drawing is that the bottle while having a generally linear axis, and coincident with the axis M running centrally along its back wall, has a curved neck region 54 which deflects the central axis C of the neck 52 by an angle N away from the bottle's back wall 53. A further line "W" also indicates the direction of the front of the bottle; incidentally line W also bisects the bottle 50 symmetrically and in conjunction line M defines a central plane for the bottle 50. Further, it is preferred that the nozzle 10 is mounted with respect to the neck 52 such that the fluid opening 36 is also directed away from the back wall 53, as can be understood with reference to reference line "P" which also indicates a line which extends perpendicularly to the transverse direction (or plane) of the fluid opening 36 at the front of the nozzle 10. As can be seen direction of fluid exiting the fluid opening 36 and is generally in direction of the line F, which is angled by an amount "K" with respect to the central axis C. From the foregoing then it will be appreciated that both specific

geometries of a bottle 50 as well and specific placement on the improved nozzle 10 with respect to the neck of the bottle can be used to impart a specific directional displacement of the direction of the direction of fluid exiting the fluid opening 36 and is generally in direction of the line F with respect to the back wall 53 of the bottle 50. Preferably as shown in Fig. 5A and in Fig. 5B the orientation of the bottle 50 with respect to the orientation on the nozzle 10 mounted therein is maintained such that the front of the nozzle 10 is directed towards the front of the bottle. This is preferentially established by orienting the nozzle 10 such that its reference line P is he the coincident with line W of the bottle 50, or is coincident with the plane defined by lines W and M with respect to the bottle.

Furthermore, while not being illustrated in either of Figs. 5A and 5B it is pointed out nonetheless that while not visible the orientation of the indexing means 25, and in particular the flat sidewall section 25a thereof is also established in a particular relationship, namely the flat sidewall section 25 a intersects the plane defined by lines M and W, which are used as a relational reference plane or a relational reference point with respect to the orientation of the nozzle 10 and the bottle 50 on which it is mounted.

While the respective orientation of a novel in a bottle have been discussed with regard to the embodiment illustrated on Figs. 5A and 5B, it is to be understood that such an orientation is presented as a non-limiting example and that other orientations can also be established and that furthermore, different bottles and/or different nozzles having different configurations or geometries can also be utilized and yet fall within the present inventive scope. However, with regards to the specific embodiments illustrated on Figs. 5 A and 5B, the relative relationship between the nozzle 10 and the bottle 50 identify embodiment of a dispensing device 90 of the present invention. Figures 6, 6A and 7 disclose details of various process steps in a method for the manufacture of the dispensing device according to the invention, which method is facilitated by the indexing means of the flow directing nozzle.

Figure 6 illustrates in a schematic view, a hopper 120 which is used to supply sequentially a plurality of individual nozzles 10 from a hopper outlet 122. The individual nozzles are positioned onto an inclined, preferably vibrating supply track 130 in a generally random orientation, with the requirement only that the indexing means 25 move

downwardly with respect to the track 130 and towards to the supply section 134 thereof. The nozzles 10 will move along the supply track 130 in the direction of further process steps, which is indicated by the directional arrow "E", downstream steps of the manufacturing process. As is visible from the figure, the supply track 130 includes a receiving section 132 which is inclined with respect to the supply section 134 and forms an angle therewith. Preferably , this angle is it least about 2° of arc, preferably as it least about 10° of arc but may be even greater. The provision of this angled receiving section 132 ensures that the nozzles 10 move in a downward direction towards the supply section 134, within which they may be further transported to further steps in the process. It is to be understood that these angles are not necessarily absolute, but are merely relative to one another. For example, it is contemplated that the supply section may also be angled with respect to the horizontal in order to facilitate the further transport of the nozzles 10 to further process steps.

Figure 6A shows in detail a portion of the receiving section 132 and a portion of the supply section 134 of the track 130 join. As can be seen from this view, which is intended to be understood as being a view from the underside of the receiving section 132 and a portion of the supply section 134 illustrating the orientation of the siderails 132a, 132b which can be seen converge until they merge with corresponding sidewalls 134a, 134b of the supply section 134. Advantageously within the supply section 134 the As is understood from the figures, the width between the side rails 132a, 132b continuously decrease as they approach their junction point with the supply section 134 the corresponding sidewalls 134a, 134b are spaced apart and parallel with respect to each other, and have a transverse dimension of "d", within the supply section 134 and preferably at all further points downstream in the process. Also illustrated in supply section 134 and the receiving section 132 are a number of nozzles 10 having indexing means 25, inclusive of flat sidewall sections 25a. As will be realized from an inspection of these figures, the distance between the midpoint of the flat sidewall section 25a and the transverse distance to the point 180 degrees of arc opposite to this midpoint on the circular sidewall section 25b it establishes a minimum dimension " d' " of the indexing means 25. This is used to the advantage of the process described herein. In the receiving section 132, the nozzles 10 are allowed to freely rotate

and to move towards the supply section 134. However, it is only when they have been rotated and oriented such that they present their flat sidewall section 25 a to one of the sidewalls, here for sake of illustration 134b that they may enter the supply section 134 and be further transported downstream to further steps in the process within the supply section 134 of the supply track 130. In this illustrative manner the position of the nozzles 10 are indexed with reference to the supply track 130, wherein their flat sidewall section 25a abuts or is generally parallel to a sidewall 134b of the supply track 130. Thus, once they have entered the supply section 134 of the supply track 130, the nozzles 120 are maintained in a fixed orientation with respect to the supply track, 130, such as with respect to one or more of the sidewalls of the supply track 130. Preferentially then, the dimension d' of the indexing means 25 of a nozzle 10 is equal to, or only slightly less than the dimension d being the transverse dimension between the opposite sidewalls 134a, 134b but should not be sufficiently small such that once entered into the supply section 134, the nozzles 10 cannot rotate to change their orientation in any significant way, preferably cannot rotate more than 10° apart, preferably not more than 5° of arc. In this manner, throughout subsequent steps of the process, the respective relative orientation of the nozzles 10 and any other further article, or element can be established with respect to the respective orientation of the nozzle 10, can be maintained. More specifically, the respective orientation of the nozzle 10 and its fluid orifice 36 with respect to the indexing means 25 which is controlled by the orientation in size of the supply track 130 can be established and maintained throughout later steps of the process of manufacture.

Now with reference to Figures 7A, 7B and 1C. Fig. 7A there are depicted further downstream manufacturing process steps wherein the establishment of a relative relational positioning of a bottle 50 into which had been previously provided with a quantity of a liquid treatment composition via its neck 52 being transported on a moving track 170 having a side rail 172. It is to be understood that the respective relationship of the bottle 50 and in particular (with reference to Figs. 5A, 5B) the relationship of the neck 52 with respect to the front W of the bottle 50 is maintained with respect to the moving track 170, which limits or denies any movement, or any significant movement of the bottle 50 with respect to the moving track 170. In a proximate location a nozzle 10 is maintained in its respective position and respective orientation with regard to supply

track 130, which nozzle 10 is available to be picked up by a tool 140 which includes an appropriate gripping means or a cavity 142 for a lifting or otherwise removing the nozzle 10 from the supply track 130 preferably in an upward or vertical direction. In this process step, the spatial relational relationship and orientation of the bottle 50 and its neck 52 respective to the moving track 170, and in turn the respective to the orientation of the nozzle 10 and its fluid outlet 36 with respect to one another are predetermined, having been established by the position and orientation of moving track 170 and the supply track 130, or alternately can be determined therefrom. The direction of travel, and the orientation of travel of the tool 140 with respect to both the orientation of the bottle 50 and its neck 52 respective to the moving track 170, and in turn, respective to the orientation of the nozzle 10 and its fluid outlet 36 has also are predetermined so that during the next step, the nozzle insertion step illustrated in Fig. 7B, the nozzle 10 can be inserted into the neck 52 of the bottle 50 such that a desired, predetermined relationship between the direction of the nozzle, and particularly its fluid outlet 36 as may be referenced by line P and the bottle as may be referenced by line W and/or the plane defined by lines M and W, can be maintained during this step with reference to the bottle 50 such that when the tool is withdrawn, as is illustrated in the tool retraction step illustrated on Fig. 7C, the inserted nozzle 10 has been inserted into the neck 52 of the bottle 50 in accordance with a desired predetermined relationship between the orientation of the nozzle 10 and the bottle 50.

Subsequently a closure may be thereafter provided to the dispensing device which may be provided in a conventional manner as is known to the art.

In preferred embodiments, such as the preferred embodiment illustrated on Fig. 5A and 5B, the front of the nozzle is directed away from the back 53 of the bottle 50, preferably the direction of the line P, which indicates the direction which is perpendicular to the fluid outlet is co-linear with the plane defined by lines M and W, but less preferably may deviate from the plane defined by lines M and W by up to +/- 15 degrees of arc, preferably by not more than +/- 10 degrees of arc, and still more preferably by not more than +/- 7 degrees of arc. From the foregoing it can be understood that the indexing means 25 of the nozzle

10 and its shape or configuration interacts with one or more elements of manufacturing

equipment which is used to manufacture dispensing devices which comprise the nozzle 10. By such interaction between indexing means 25 of the nozzle 10 and its shape or configuration interacts with one or more elements of manufacturing equipment, e.g., a supply track 130, the relative positioning of the direction of the nozzle 10, and in particular its fluid outlet 36 can be initially established and thereafter maintained with respect to the supply track 130 during the manufacturing process. From this relative positioning of the nozzle 10 respective to the supply track 130, all other elements of the dispensing devices, including bottles 50 and their bottle necks 52, can be correspondingly oriented in relationship to both the supply track 130 and the nozzles 10 contained in the supply track 130. Thereafter, controlled movement or displacement of the nozzles 10 can be executed by indexing the instantaneous position of the nozzle 10 to the supply track 130, and/or to other manufacturing elements and/or other elements of dispensing devices, as the positioning of the nozzle 10 respective to the supply track 130 provides a useful three-dimensional frame of reference from which all other positions of other manufacturing elements and/or other elements of dispensing devices can be determined. Thus the method of the invention may be used in an automatic assembly process, viz., a computer or numerically controlled process utilizing appropriate manufacturing equipment, or the method may be practiced in a semi-automatic process, or even as a substantially or wholly manual assembly process. The nozzles of the invention, as well as the dispensing devices may be formed of any suitable material. Advantageously naturally occurring or synthetic polymers provide excellent materials of construction as they are readily molded or otherwise formed into appropriate shapes and configurations. Additionally such polymers are often resistant to the treatment compositions, and particularly with respect to the bottle are resilient and flexible, and thus provide for compressible flasks or bottles. Such are known to the art and include, e.g., any of a number of thermosettable or thermoformable synthetic polymers such as are widely used in casting or injection molding. Exemplary synthetic polymers such as polyamides, polyolefins (e.g., polypropylene, polyethylene) as well as polyalkyleneterephalates (i.e., polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate), polystyrenes, polysulfones, polycarbonates as well as copolymers formed from monomers of one or more of the foregoing being several nonlimiting examples of useful

synthetic polymers. Other materials which may be used include metals, glass, elastomeric polymers both naturally occurring and synthetic, as well as any other material which can be suitably shaped or formed into the nozzles of the invention , as well as the dispensing devices. The dispensing devices of the invention provide a particularly effective device for the effective storage and spray or stream delivery of liquid treatment compositions onto a surface needing treatment by the composition, particularly wherein the dispensing device is for the directed delivery of a liquid treatment composition to a portion of a toilet bowl, and particularly to the underside of the rim of a toilet bowl. While described in terms of the presently preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is to be interpreted as by way of illustration, and not by way of limitation, and that various modifications and alterations apparent to one skilled in the art may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.