CA2313824A1 - A device for dispensing an active-substance preparation into a lavatory bowl - Google Patents

Abstract

A device (5,5a) for dispensing an active-substance preparation into a lavatory bowl comprising a container (6) for the active-substance preparation with at least one inlet and outlet opening (7, 8) for the flushing water which is designed to be disposed in the lavatory bowl beneath the rim (2) thereof, so that the flushing water flows over it, and a stirrup-like clip (9) for fastening to the rim (2) of the bowl was to be improved in such a way that the active substance could be released from the device under control irrespective of the design of the lavatory.
To this end, a flexible spacer element (10) is disposed between the stirrup-like clip (9) and the container (6) and is designed in such a way that, in the in-use position, the container (6) can be applied to the wall (1a) of the lavatory bowl.

Description

A DEVICE FOR DISPENSING AN ACTIVE-SUBSTANCE PREPARATION
INTO A LAVATORY BOWL
Field of the Invention This invention relates to a device for dispensing an active-substance preparation into a lavatory bowl comprising a container for the active-substance preparation with at least one inlet and outlet opening for the flushing water which is designed to be disposed in the lavatory bowl beneath the rim thereof, so that the flushing water flows over it, and a stirrup-like clip for fastening to the rim of the bowl.
Background of the Invention It is known that lavatory bowls can be automatically cleaned by attaching a cage-like container holding a block of active-substance preparation to the rim of the lavatory bowl. Each time the lavatory is flushed, part of the active substance dissolves in the flushing water and is distributed in the bowl together with the water. In addition, some of the dissolved active substance remains in the siphon where it also has a cleaning effect.
Solid active-substance preparations such as these are expensive to produce both in regard to the equipment involved and in regard to energy consumption. This is because the compact blocks are produced by casting or extrusion. Granules are just as expensive to produce. Since the individual components of the perfuming and cleaning composition are initially present in liquid or paste-like form in the production of the preparation, the outlay involved in the production of the preparation can be reduced if the preparation itself is made up as a liquid or paste. Liquids or pastes have many other advantages. Even when the rim basket is partly empty, it can easily be refilled or topped up with active-substance preparation. By comparison with blocks and granules, pastes or liquids are easier and less expensive to produce.

A device for holding liquid or paste-form active-substance preparations of the type mentioned at the beginning is known from Applicants' EP 0 828 902 B1. This device comprises a container with at least one inlet and outlet opening for the flushing water which is designed to be disposed in the lavatory bowl beneath the rim thereof, so that the flushing water flows over it, and which accommodates a high-viscosity surfactant-containing active-substance formulation and a clip for fixing to the rim of the lavatory bowl, the lower region (in the in-use position) of the wall which delimits the filling space for the active-substance formulation being at least partly permeable to aqueous liquids, especially water, but not to the active-substance formulation, the wall being permeable to water-containing liquids with viscosities up to 3,000 mPas, but not to surfactant-containing active-substance preparations or pastes with viscosities above 3,000 mPa, the partly permeable lower region extending upwards at least as far as the intended filling limit for the active-substance formulation and the inlet and outlet openings for the flushing water being disposed above the filling limit.
Although this substantially controlled release of active substance is guaranteed for traditional lavatory designs, this is not the case with some lavatory designs because, depending on the design of the lavatory, more or less water can enter the inlet openings of the device during flushing, making the controlled release of active substance impossible.
The problem addressed by the present invention was to improve a device of the type mentioned at the beginning in such a way that the active substance is released from the device under control irrespective of the design of the lavatory.
Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a device for holding and dispensing a substance into a lavatory bowl, which comprises a container for the substance having at least one opening for flushing water, the device being adapted to be spring mounted beneath the lavatory bowl rim and against an interior wall of the bowl whereby flushing water is forced to enter the container before entering the bowl.
In another aspect, the invention provides a device as described above, wherein the device is mounted to the rim of the bowl with a spring clip which includes a spacer element disposed between the clip and the container so that the device rests snugly against the interior wall of the bowl to force flushing water to enter the container before the bowl.
In a device of the type mentioned earlier, the solution to this problem as provided by the invention is characterized in that a flexible spacer element is disposed between the stirrup-like clip and the container and is designed in such a way that, in the in-use position, the container can be applied to the wall of the lavatory bowl.
With this device, it is readily possible to ensure that the container of the device bears against the wall of the lavatory bowl, irrespective of the design of the lavatory, so that the flushing water issuing from the rim of the lavatory bowl reliably enters the vicinity of the container and then flows into the at least one inlet opening. The rinsing water is thus unable to flow through between the container of the device and the wall of the lavatory bowl, but instead comes automatically into contact with the container and flows reliably into the container to the required extent.
In order further to improve the handling and positioning of the device, the spacer element in one particularly advantageous embodiment is spring-biased so that, in the in-use position, a torque is applied to the container in the direction of the wall of the lavatory bowl. Accordingly, when the device is put in place, the container is automatically brought into the required position so that the user does not have to turn the spacer element to apply the container to the wall of the lavatory bowl. Faulty operation is thus reliably avoided.
In order to achieve the required biasing effect particularly easily, the spacer element in another advantageous embodiment is arranged at substantially a right-angle to the stirrup-like clip in the rest position. In the inserted in-use position, the spacer element is thus normally deflected from this right-angled position and, under the biasing effect, is tensioned towards the right-angled position so that it applies the required torque to the container in the direction of the wall of the lavatory bowl.
To this end, the spacer element is advantageously in the form of a small tube and preferably consists of rib-like circular segments.
In a particularly advantageous variant of this embodiment, the tube-like spacer element surrounds an opening in the outer wall of the container and is in the form of a filling or refill opening for the container. The spacer element thus has a dual function, i.e. not only is it used to position the container, it also serves as a filling or refill opening for which it is particularly suitable because its free open end extends towards the opening of the lavatory bowl.
In another particularly advantageous embodiment, the container has a water guide edge leading to the at least one inlet opening. In co-operation with the forced application of the container to the wall of the lavatory bowl, the rinsing water can thus be guided under control to the inlet openings) so that it flows through the container and, in doing so, provides for the substantially defined release of active substance.
The device according to the invention is particularly suitable for holding a paste-form or gel-form active-substance preparation but, of course, is also suitable in principle for solid active-substance preparations.
Solid cleaning blocks are often used for automatically keeping lavatories clean. They are placed either in the lavatory bowl or in the cistern. Each time the lavatory is flushed, water flows over the blocks so that they gradually dissolve and, in doing so, release their cleaning ingredients. Normally, solid cleaning blocks additionally contain perfume as an air freshener or disinfectants for optimal hygiene. The cleaning blocks are accommodated in suitable containers which, in some instances, can be refilled.

The solid blocks are generally produced by casting, compression, extrusion or granulation processes, which involve heavy outlay on equipment, and often suffer unwanted losses of perfume through the thermal stressing to which they are exposed (casting/extrusion).
Another disadvantage is that the refill units widely used for ecological reasons can only be inserted after the block has been fully used up. Refilling as and when desired, for example for the more intensive release of active substance and, more particularly, for the more intensive development of perfume, is not possible although desirable.
It has now surprisingly been found that special gel-form preparations with pseudoplastic properties considerably simplify the production process and are less expensive to produce through simple technology. The problem of individual refilling can be solved by such pseudoplastic active-substance preparations.
The device according to the invention is particularly suitable for a stable gel-form and shear-diluting cleaning composition which, in addition to a polysaccharide, contains a C8_22 alkyl polyglycoside as surfactant system and perfume components, the cleaning composition containing a polysaccharide in quantities of 1 to 5% by weight, a C$_22 alkyl polyglycoside as a component of the surfactant system in quantities of 3 to 25% by weight and the perfume component or the perfume components in quantities of 2 to 15% by weight and optionally other ingredients, such as co-surfactants, limescale-dissolving agents, dyes, germ inhibitors, pearlizers, stabilizers, cleaning boosters and odor absorbers, and having a viscosity of 30,000 to 150,000 mPas as measured with a Brookfield RVT
rotational viscosimeter (Helipath, spindle TA) at 1 r.p.m./23C°.
It has been found that visually attractive translucent or clear pseudoplastic gel structures, which develop stability levels comparable with those of solid rim blocks in suitable containers, can only be obtained with polysaccharides in the described combinations according to the selected types with high perfume and APG concentrations.

Other typical gel formers such as, for example, polyacrylic acid (Carbopol), surfactant-thickened systems, MHPC (Natrosol) or sodium-chloride- or electrolyte-thickened surfactant systems do not show adequate gel stability in the presence of the high surfactant and perfume concentrations required. In many cases, these formulations are not sufficiently pseudoplastic, are diluted by water as it flows over and, on account of their unsatisfactory viscosity behavior, drip uncontrollably into the lavatory bowl despite suitable containers. By contrast, the formulations according to the invention are decidedly pseudoplastic and withstand the water flowing over them to the extent that only small amounts are released and the required stability is achieved. In other words, the compositions obtained should not dissolve too easily in the water entering the containers accommodating them so that they are not used up after only a small number of flushes with water in the lavatory bowl.
In addition, the gels must be guaranteed adequate long-term stability, despite the high perfume and emulsifier levels, and should not, for example, undergo any phase separation which not only would mean a visually less attractive product for the consumer, but would also impair the dissolving kinetics and dispensing behavior.
Another advantage is that the viscosity of the gel decreases with increasing shear rate so that the gel is easy to pack in containers during the production process and is also easy to handle by the consumer during dosing/refilling.
It has also surprisingly been found that, under certain conditions in the production process, air bubbles can be introduced into the compositions according to the invention and remain stable in shape and size over a period of several weeks, so that the consumer is presented with an even more visually attractive product.
The size of the air bubbles, which can be controlled for example through the stirring rate during the production process and the viscosity of the composition, should be neither too large nor too small. In addition, the number of air bubbles should also only be selected in a preferred range. If, therefore, the presence of air bubbles is required, no more than 30% by volume, preferably between 2 and 25% by volume and, more preferably, between 5 and 20% by volume of air should be present. In most particularly preferred embodiments, the air bubbles are between 0.1 mm and 20 mm in diameter and, better still, between 1 mm and 15 mm in diameter.
However, the viscosity of the compositions according to the invention also enables the air bubbles already introduced during the production process to be destroyed by brief application of a reduced pressure which may be in the range just below room pressure to close to a vacuum. The duration of the reduced pressure treatment will depend on the intensity of the reduced pressure. If the reduced pressure applied is relatively strong, the treatment should not be continued for too long.
However, the expert also knows that an excessive reduced pressure can produce unwanted side effects such as, for example, the increased evaporation of more readily volatile perfume components and, in some cases, problems relating to the stirrability of the system. Degassing of the compositions according to the invention by treatment in a centrifuge or by stirring at very high speed is possible, but less preferred.
Various procedures may be adopted for the production of the formulations according to the invention which may be carried out in various batch sizes up to several tonnes. Normally, water is initially introduced into a commercially available mixer, for example a Beco-Mix mixer, and the dye is stirred in. The xanthan gum preferably used as the polysaccharide is separately suspended with a solvent, preferably ethanol, and the required perfume oil. The resulting suspension is then added to the dye solution, followed by stirring at low speed, for example 30 r.p.m. Investigations have shown that, after all the components have been added, a time of a few minutes to a few hours is desirable for achieving the consistency according to the invention. In the present case, the surfactant (alkyl polyglycoside) -$-was slowly added after 30 minutes. The other components are then added. If a bubble-free gel is required, the mixture should be placed under reduced pressure or under a vacuum, as described above, in a suitable container for a certain period, depending on the viscosity, but generally for a short period, for example 15 minutes.
However, other procedures may also be adopted. This is advisable, for example, where disinfectants are incorporated. In this case, water is normally introduced into a commercially available mixer, for example a Beco-Mix mixer, and the xanthan gum used is stirred in. The suspension is then added and the whole is stirred at low speeds, for example 30 r.p.m., before the surfactant mixture (alkyl polyglycoside/fatty alcohol ether sulfate) is slowly added after 30 minutes. The dye is then added before a solution of the perfume in ethanol is introduced. The disinfectant - preferably selected from the group of isothiazolines, benzoates or salicylic acid or salicylates - is then added. In this case, the gel may be packed in standard commercial measuring bottles, for example in a rotary bottling machine.
Particular care has to be taken when substances are added to the prepared and swollen water-based xanthan gel to ensure that the required structure is able to develop. If the substances are added too quickly, phase separation problems can arise. In addition, no surfactant should be present during production of the xanthan gel component because it could prevent formation of the gel. Accordingly, in one particularly preferred embodiment, the surfactant components are only added after formation of the gel.
Viscosity may be measured by any of the methods normally used.
In the present case, Brookfield viscosimeters, which are equipped with spindles designed for gels, were used. The viscosities were measured such a Helipath spindle.
In a starting formulation, the compositions according to the invention may contain the following components:

_g_ 1.0 - 5.0% by weight polysaccharide, 3.0 - 25.0% by weight C$_22 alkyl polyglycoside, 0 - 15.0% by weight co-surfactants (FAS, FAEOS), 0 - 5.0% by weight citric acid, 0 - 5.0% by weight complexing agent, 2 to 15% by weight, preferably 2 to 12% by weight and more preferably 3 to 8% by weight perfume, up to 5.0% by weight and preferably 0.01 to 4% by weight solvent, for example ethanol, 0 - 1.0% by weight preservative, 0 - 10.0% by weight dye, 0 - 5.0% by weight and preferably 0.01 to 3% by weight germ inhibitor.
In the context of the present invention, a polysaccharide is understood for example to be a xanthan gum or a guar gum or mixtures of polysaccharides. Xanthan is made up of a chain with (-1,4-linked glucose (cellulose) with side chains. The structure of the sub-groups consists of glucose, mannose, glucuronic acid, acetate and pyruvate. Xanthan is produced with a molecular weight of 2 - 15 x 106 by Xanthomonas campestris under aerobic conditions. Xanthan is produced inter alia in batch cultures and, after destruction of the culture and precipitation with propanol, is dried and ground. Other suitable processes are also described in the literature. The polysaccharide, more particularly xanthan gum, is used in the compositions in quantities of preferably 1 to 4% by weight, more preferably 1.5 to 3.5% by weight and most preferably 1.8 to 3% by weight.
Alkyl polyglycosides are surfactants which may be obtained by reacting sugars and alcohols using the relevant methods of preparative organic chemistry, a mixture of monoalkylated, oligomeric or polymeric sugars being obtained according to the method of production used.
Preferred alkyl polyglycosides are alkyl polyglucosides, the alcohol preferably being a long-chain fatty alcohol with alkyl chain lengths of C$ to C2z, preferably C$ to C~s and more preferably Ca to C,2 or a mixture of long-chain fatty alcohols. The degree of oligomerization of the sugars, which is a calculated quantity, i.e. generally not a whole number, is between 1 and 10, preferably between 1.1 and 5, more preferably between 1.2 and 3 and most preferably between 1.3 and 2.5. The compositions contain C8_22 alkyl polyglycosides in quantities of preferably 4 to 20% by weight, more preferably 5 to 17% by weight and most preferably 5 to 15% by weight, although quantities of up to 12% by weight can also be of advantage.
Suitable anionic co-surfactants are aliphatic sulfates, such as fatty alcohol sulfates, fatty alcohol ether sulfates, dialkyl ether sulfates, monoglyceride sulfates, and aliphatic sulfonates, such as alkane sulfonates, olefin sulfonates, ether sulfonates, n-alkylether sulfonates, ester sulfonates and lignin sulfonates. Fatty acid cyanamides, sulfosuccinic acid esters, fatty acid isethionates, acyl aminoalkane sulfonates (fatty acid taurides), fatty acid sarcosinates, ether carboxylic acids and alkyl(ether) phosphates may also be used, but are not preferred. Fatty alcohol sulfates and fatty alcohol ether sulfates are preferably used. Hitherto, less favorable results have been obtained with alkyl benzenesulfonates.
In one preferred embodiment, the ratio by weight of alkyl polglycoside to co-surfactant, more particularly fatty alcohol ether sulfate and/or fatty alcohol sulfate, is at least 1:1, ratios of 50:1 to 1:1, preferably 10:1 to 1.5:1 and more preferably 5:1 to 1.8:1 being particularly advantageous.
However, nonionic co-surfactants may also be used. Suitable nonionic surfactants are alkoxylated alcohols, such as polyglycol ethers, fatty alcohol polyglycol ethers, alkylphenol polyglycol ethers, end-capped polyglycol ethers, mixed ethers and hydroxy mixed ethers and fatty acid polyglycol esters. Ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, block polymers and fatty acid alkanolamides and fatty acid polyglycol ethers may also be used.

. CA 02313824 2000-07-10 Alkoxylated alcohols are generally understood by the expert to be reaction products of alkylene oxide, preferably ethylene oxide, with alcohols, relatively long-chain alcohols being preferred for the purposes of the present invention. In general, a complex mixture of addition products with different degrees of ethoxylation is formed from n moles of ethylene oxide and 1 mole of alcohol, depending on the reaction conditions.
Another embodiment consists in the use of mixtures of alkylene oxides, preferably a mixture of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide. If desired, "end-capped" alcohol ethoxylates, which may also be used in accordance with the present invention, may also be obtained by etherification with short-chain alkyl groups, preferably the butyl group, in a concluding step.
Highly ethoxylated fatty alcohols or mixtures thereof with end-capped fatty alcohol ethoxylates are most particularly preferred for the purposes of the present invention.
The described formulations may advantageously contain inorganic or organic acids, such as citric acid, acetic acid, lactic acid or water-soluble salts thereof, in a quantity of 1 to 12% by weight as limescale-dissolving agents. Contents of 2 to 5% by weight are particularly preferred.
The compositions according to the invention preferably contain dye either for coloring the product or for coloring the liquid circulating around the container. The content of water-soluble dyes is preferably less than 1 by weight and is intended to improve the visual appearance of the product.
If an additional color signal is required during flushing, the content of water-soluble dyes may be increased to 5% by weight. The water-soluble dye content is preferably up to 3% by weight, more preferably up to 2% by weight and most preferably up to 1 % by weight.
Although the gels mentioned above already have an excellent cleaning effect without germ inhibitors, their hygienic effect can be enhanced by the addition of such agents. The quantity of germ inhibitors used depends to a large extent on the effectiveness of the particular compound and may be as much as 5% by weight. A quantity of at least 0.01 % by weight is preferably incorporated in the gels. Quantities of 0.01 by weight to 3% by weight are particularly preferred. Isothiazoline mix-tures, sodium benzoate or salicylic acid or salicylates are particularly suitable. Other preferred quantities are from 0.01 to 2% by weight and more particularly from 0.01 to 1 % by weight.
Suitable solubilizers, for example for dyes and perfume oils, are for example alkanolamines, polyols, such as ethylene glycol, representatives of the lower alcohols, such as propylene glycol, glycerol and other monohydric and polyhydric alcohols and also alkyl benzenesulfonates containing 1 to 3 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain. The group of lower alcohols is particularly preferred, ethanol being most particularly preferred.
Preferred quantities are up to 5% by weight, more preferably from 0.01 to 4% by weight, advantageously from 0.1 to 4% by weight and most preferably from 0.5 to 3% by weight.
Typical thickeners, which may also be used as required, include urea, sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, ammonium chloride and magnesium chloride and combinations thereof. However, the use of these additional thickeners is not preferred.
Water-soluble and water-insoluble builders may optionally be present in the cleaning compositions. Water-soluble builders are preferred because they generally tend less to form insoluble residues on hard surfaces. Typical builders or complexing agents which may be present in accordance with the invention are low molecular weight polycarboxylic acids and salts thereof, homopolymeric and copolymeric polycarboxylic acids and salts thereof, citric acid and salts thereof, carbonates, phosphates and silicates. Water-insoluble builders include zeolites, which may also be used, and mixtures of the builders mentioned above. The group of citrates is particularly preferred. The compositions according to the invention preferably contain builders or complexing agents in quantities of up to 10% by weight, preferably between 0.1 and 8% by weight, more preferably between 1 and 6% by weight and most preferably between 2 ~

and 5% by weight.
The invention is described in more detail in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a simplified side elevation of a device according to the invention in position in a toilet bowl.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device shown in Fig. 1.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of a slightly modified embodiment of the device according to the invention.
Figure 4 is a view of the device shown in Fig. 3 from the right (in Fig.
3).
In Fig. 1, a lavatory bowl shown in part only is denoted by the reference numeral 1. The lavatory bowl 1 has an upper rim 2 with a cavity 3 through which the flushing water flows during flushing, emerging through an outlet 4.
A device according to the invention for accommodating, storing and dispensing an active-substance preparation into the lavatory bowl 1 is generally denoted by the reference 5 or 5a. The device 5 comprises a container 6 for holding a preferably gel-form or paste-form active-substance preparation. The container 6 is provided with several inlet openings 7 and outlet openings 8 which are preferably in the form of slits and through which the flushing water flows in and then flows out with the active-substance preparation dissolved therein. The container 6 is provided with a stirrup-like clip 9 by which the device 5 is suspended from the rim 2 of the lavatory bowl. In addition, the container 6 - at least in the regions below and/or beside the inlet and outlet openings 7, 8 - is at least partly permeable in the sense that product or active-substance preparation accommodated in the container is unable to pass through these partly permeable wall regions, i.e. is unable to escape from the container 6, whereas flushing water which has flowed into the container and which does not directly re-emerge from the openings 8 is able to flow out through the partly permeable wall regions, even after enrichment with product or active-substance preparation. This takes place more or less quickly according to the permeability of the wall region. The partly permeable wall region can be formed by openings, slots, porous wall sections or the like.
According to the invention, a flexible spacer element 10 is disposed between the stirrup-like clip 9 and the container 6 of the device 5. In the illustrated embodiment, the flexible spacer element 10 is in the form of a small tube and consists of rib-like circular segments 10a. By virtue of its tube-like design, the spacer element 10 forms a filling nozzle 11 which opens into an opening 12 in the outer wall of the container 6. The tube-like spacer element 10 thus forms a filling or refill opening for the container 6 so that it can be refilled with active-substance preparation in the direction of the arrow 13. In addition, the container 6 has a water guide edge 14 in the vicinity of its inlet openings 7. In the rest position (Fig. 2), i.e. when it is not fitted to a toilet bowl, the spacer element 10 is arranged at substantially a right-angle to the stirrup-like clip 9. In one particularly preferred embodi-ment, the spacer element 10 is spring-biased in such a way that, when it is moved from the rest position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 into the in-use position (Fig. 1 ), it applies a torque to the container 6 in the direction of the arrow 20 and presses it against the inner wall 1 a of the lavatory bowl 1 at its water guide edge 14.
By virtue of this design of the device according to the invention, the container 6 of the device 5 is always pressed reliably against the inner wall 1 a of the lavatory bowl 1, irrespective of the design of the lavatory bowl, so that flushing water issuing from the outlet 4 during flushing passes dependably into the region of the at least one inlet opening 7 of the container 6 supported by the water guide edge 14. This ensures that, with each flush, enough water passes into the container 6 where it dissolves active-substance preparation and, together with the dissolved active-sub-stance preparation, issues through the at least one outlet opening 8 into the lavatory bowl 1. Any flushing water remaining in the container 6 is able to emerge gradually from the partly permeable wall regions of the container 6.
In the embodiment of the device 5a shown in Fig. 3, additional inlet and outlet openings 15 and 16 of an additional channel-like space 17 of the container 6 are provided and cover the partly permeable wall region of the container 6 or at least part thereof. Flushing water entering the channel-like space 17 through the opening 15 does not come into contact with the active-substance preparation in the container 6. However, water with dissolved active-substance preparation flowing out from the filling space 18 accommodating the active-substance preparation through the partly permeable wall 19 is able to flow out through the opening 16.

Claims (10)

1. A device for holding and dispensing a substance into a lavatory bowl, which comprises a container for the substance having at least one opening for flushing water, the device being adapted to be spring mounted beneath the lavatory bowl rim and against an interior wall of the bowl whereby flushing water is forced to enter the container before entering the bowl.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is mounted to the rim of the bowl with a spring clip which includes a spacer element disposed between the clip and the container so that the device rests snugly against the interior wall of the bowl to force flushing water to enter the container before the bowl.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the spacer element is spring-biased so that, in the in-use position, a torque is applied to the container in the direction of the wall of the lavatory bowl.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the spacer element is arranged at substantially a right-angle to the clip, which is of stirrup-like shape in the rest position.

5. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the spacer element is in the form of a small tube.

6. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the spacer element consists of rib-like circular segments.

7. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the tube-like spacer element surrounds an opening in the outer wall of the container and is in the form of a filling or refill opening for the container.

8. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the container has a water guide edge leading to the at least one inlet opening.

9. The use of the device claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 8 for holding a paste-form or gel-form active-substance preparation.

10. The use of the device claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 8 for holding a stable gel-form shear-diluting cleaning composition comprising polysaccharide, a C8-22 alkyl polyglycoside as surfactant system and perfume components, wherein the cleaning composition comprises (a) a polysaccharide except cellulose ether in quantities of 1 to 5% by weight;
(b) a C8-22 alkyl polyglycoside as a component of the surfactant system in quantities of 3 to 25% by weight; and (c) the perfume component or the perfume components is present in quantities of 2 to 15% by weight (d) and optionally other ingredients, such as co-surfactants, limescale-dissolving agents, dyes, germ inhibitors, pearlizers, stabilizers, cleaning boosters and odor absorbers, and has (e) a viscosity of 30,000 to 150,000 mPas as measured with a Brookfield RVT rotational viscosimeter (Helipath, spindle TA) at 1 r.p.m./23C°.