EP0828902B1 - Wc holder for liquid or paste active agent preparations - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a toilet basket. This has one in the toilet bowl to be arranged below its edge, overflowed during rinsing, one container containing highly viscous surfactant-containing active substance preparation at least one inlet and outlet for the rinse water and a holder to attach to the pool edge, with at least part of the in the Use position of the lower area of the filling space for the Active ingredient preparation wall for aqueous liquids, in particular Water, but not permeable to the preparation of the active ingredient.

Furthermore, the invention relates to one of the toilet basket and one Existing system containing flexible preparation of active ingredient preparation, the use of the toilet basket for dosing a pasty Active ingredient combination and a method for controlled drug delivery a toilet basket.

For the automatic cleaning of toilet bowls, it is known to prepare active substance in pieces in a cage-like container on the inside edge to attach the toilet bowl. With every rinsing process, part of the Active ingredient in the rinse water and is together with the water in the bowl distributed. In addition, part of the dissolved active ingredient remains in the siphon and provides care there for cleaning too.

Active ingredient preparations of this type are used which, on the one hand, are dimensionally stable, non-deliquescent blocks can be formed and on the other hand have sufficient solubility so that during the short Rinsing phase released a sufficient amount of active ingredients into the water becomes. It is also important that the active ingredient block after rinsing, apart from a fragrance release, remains unchanged.

An example of such an active substance preparation can be found in DE 34 24 317 A1. The preparation contains anionic and nonionic surfactants, perfume, Cellulose powder, rinse regulators, inorganic salts, complexing agents, limestone-dissolving acids, antimicrobial agents, plasticizers and others usual additives.

One-time use toilet bowls are known, which after the complete Dissolve the drug block must be disposed of. Cheaper in the ecological The senses are the well-known refillable toilet bowls, two of which be described in DE 80 01 994 U1 and DE 34 23 758 A1. The The advantage of the multiple usability of the toilet basket is that The disadvantage compared to that the active ingredient block, and in some cases also Container itself, must be touched with hands when refilling. This uncomfortable and in a certain sense also unsanitary requirement leaves the Consumers often shy away from re-using the existing toilet bowl fill. The consumer then prefers a new, already filled toilet basket. Another disadvantage is the usually missing possibility to be able to fill the toilet basket at any time. Refilling is namely only possible when the active ingredient block is completely used up.

These disadvantages are not in the toilet basket according to DE 36 39 686 Al in front. Here the basket can be refilled without hand contact, because one at the Basket molded feed hopper is provided. A refill to one any time is also possible, because instead of a larger one Granules are used in the active ingredient block.

Another toilet basket is known from US Re-32,017. This basket is also intended for an active ingredient preparation in solid form. Of the The active ingredient block lies on a perforated plate inside the housing. Between the perforated plate and the bottom of the housing is on this Formed a so-called dilution chamber in which during a rinsing process the water enriched with the active ingredients flows. If the diluted solution has reached a certain height in the dilution chamber, it flows through one siphon-like outlet to the outside.

A fundamental disadvantage of solid active substance preparations is the high level technical effort and energy consumption during production. The compact Pieces are made by casting or extrusion. Even when manufacturing a similar effort is required for the granules. Because the individual Components of the fragrance and cleaning agents in the preparation of the preparation initially in liquid or pasty form, the effort at Preparation of the preparation can be reduced if one is also liquid or would choose pasty preparation form. Such a liquid or paste would have several other advantages. Even if the toilet basket is partially emptied the preparation of the active ingredient could easily be refilled or replenished. in the The production would be contrary to lumpy or granular products easier and cheaper. For contactless refilling from a storage bottle would be in contrast to the toilet basket according to DE 36 39 686 A1 no additional measures, such as B. a hopper required. A a simple filling opening would be sufficient.

The use of liquid or pasty preparation forms for toilet deodorants however, there have been a number of unresolved issues to date. The known toilet baskets cannot be used for pastes or liquids. The paste or liquid should not be after the rinsing process automatically flow out of the basket or drip out. With everyone The rinsing process should also only be a defined fraction of the liquid or paste be delivered. This released fraction of the active ingredient preparation is said to be the same for every flushing process. The rest in the toilet basket should be the Maintain the same initial concentration and through previous ones Rinses are not diluted. After the rinsing process is finished do not fill the partially emptied toilet basket with water in order to Decrease in concentration in the top layer and a dilution of the Concentrate, the so-called "swamp", and thus an uncontrolled Avoid dispensing active ingredients during the subsequent rinsing process.

It is a dosing device that can be hooked into the toilet bowl Dosing in liquid fragrance and / or cleaning agents from DE 34 19 169 A1 known. The one to be attached to the pool edge with a conventional clip tubular, open on both sides contains a capillary active Dosing aid, e.g. B. fine plastic fleece materials or sponge membranes. With the flowing rinse water flow becomes the liquid Active ingredients removed from the porous dosing medium and in the toilet bowl distributed. However, the rinse water entering the tank does not run completely out of the container again, so that initially through the dilution effect a relatively large amount, and with further rinsing processes an ever smaller amount Active substances is released. The uneven release of active ingredient is one significant disadvantage.

A generic toilet basket for gel active ingredient preparation is from the WO-A-92/20876 known. This consists of a closed, the gel-like Drug-containing housing on the flat, flat underside is perforated. The perforations are tight enough for the gel to be impermeable in undiluted form. Water overflows during the rinsing process the housing and part of the water come into contact through the perforations with the gel-like active ingredient preparation. This relatively small amount of water dissolves a small part of the gel and flows as a diluted active ingredient preparation through the perforations back into the toilet bowl.

A disadvantage of this well-known toilet basket is the impossibility of one constant and sufficient release of active ingredient independently with each rinsing process to get from the design of the toilet. When using, namely some rinses more and less or even others no water can get to the underside of the toilet basket, as that is from above Flushing water flowing down the basket does not occur with every flushing process and not always sufficiently along the bottom of the cup flows.

In view of the problems described above, the invention lies especially based on the task of a highly viscous surfactant Active toilet bowls receiving a controlled To achieve drug delivery.

With a generic toilet basket, this object is achieved according to the invention solved in that the wall for aqueous liquids with viscosities up to 3,000 mPas, but not for active ingredient preparations or pastes containing surfactants Viscosities above 3,000 mPas is permeable that the partially permeable lower Range upwards at least up to the intended filling limit for the Drug preparation extends and that the inlet and outlet openings for the Rinsing water are arranged above the filling limit.

In an advantageous embodiment, the invention provides that the lower region of the Wall for thixotropic drug preparations or pastes with viscosities above 3,000 mPas is impermeable. The lower region of the wall is preferably for Active ingredient preparations or pastes with viscosities above 30,000 mPas impermeable.

The lower, the impermeable area for the preparation of active ingredient or the paste The container wall prevents the paste-like active ingredient preparation from dripping through between rinses. During the rinsing process, the rinsing water penetrates through the Inlet openings in the area above, releases on the surface of the Paste part of the active ingredient and feed it through the outlet openings again out of the container so that the active ingredient is distributed in the toilet bowl. The Boundary between the lower and the above area, the through the lower edge of the inlet and for the rinse water Defined outlet openings in the container wall, is also the filling limit for the liquid or pasty preparation of active ingredients. The inlet and outlet openings in upper area also serve to release fragrances between the individual rinsing processes. A partially emptied toilet basket would fill the area above the paste with rinse water, which is the paste gradually diluted and in this way to the feared swamp effect with the Disadvantages of an uneven, uncontrolled release of active ingredient in subsequent rinsing process. The swamp effect is caused by the Partial permeability of the inner wall and possibly an outlet opening (embodiment according to claim 4) prevented. The one remaining in the toilet basket after the flushing process Remaining rinsing water flows through the inner wall and the above Exhaust opening down into the toilet bowl.

Due to the fineness of the openings in the semi-permeable wall, which, although with the preparation of active ingredient enriched water, but not for the highly concentrated paste is permeable, on the one hand it is achieved that the above Paste protruding rinse water at any fill level of the paste drains completely. On the other hand, the paste is prevented by these fine Openings drip from the toilet basket or slowly flow out.

The toilet basket according to the invention can be designed as a disposable basket. However, it is technically possible without major effort, a problem-free and To enable hygienic refilling of the basket and thus one more time usable toilet basket for liquid to pasty drug preparations create.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, that is for aqueous Liquids with viscosities up to 3,000 mPas, but not for surfactants Active ingredient preparations or pastes with viscosities above 3,000 mPas permeable wall provided in the interior of the container so that the partially permeable wall and the outer wall another room in addition to Form filling space, and that this additional space in the lower area Has outlet opening. The fine, partially permeable openings are therefore inside of the toilet basket and are therefore protected from damage. To drain of the residual water enriched with active ingredient has the partially permeable wall in the lower area an outlet opening.

The fine openings in the partially permeable wall can be different To have shape. So they are in an advantageous embodiment of the invention Slots formed with a slot width of 0.2 to 0.8 mm. The slot widths and in particular a slot width of 0.4 mm, have proven to be particularly favorable emphasized on the one hand the demand for the partial permeability of the wall to fulfill. On the other hand, they do not throw any during the manufacture of the toilet basket technical problems.

Alternatively, the fine openings in the partially permeable wall can also be used as Bores with a diameter of 0.2 to 0.8 mm should be formed.

The shape, location and arrangement of the partially permeable wall in the toilet basket can also be different. One is essentially preferred cylindrical shape of the container with a horizontal shape in use Longitudinal axis and an annular channel, the boundary of which is partially permeable Wall and the outer wall of the container is formed. An advantage lies in the small amount of space required by the annular channel Large volume of the filling space for the highly viscous preparation of active ingredients leaves.

The annular channel preferably extends over approximately half of the Circumference of the container. It is used especially at the edge of the pool pointing side of the container provided.

The openings in the partially permeable wall are preferably in the middle Area of the elongated container is formed. After every flush Excess water therefore has a relatively short path to these openings to cover and flows away quickly.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a multiplicity is horizontal and slits running parallel to a comb in the partially permeable Wall attached. The effort in the manufacture of the toilet basket continues reduced if, alternatively, only a single, vertical slot in the partially permeable wall is provided.

The flow conditions of the flushing flow and thus the even distribution The active ingredients in the toilet bowl are in a double cone shape of the container with a horizontal longitudinal axis not disturbed in use. This form of The container also enables a side-independent attachment in the Toilet bowl. The double cone shape of the container has the further advantage that it is visually appealing.

The further proposed, arranged horizontally in the use position Ensure slot-shaped inlet and outlet openings for the rinse water there is also sufficient water flow through the container.

The toilet basket can be filled with the product without disassembly and done without touching the container when a fill opening for a liquid or pasty preparation of active ingredient is provided.

Should extreme influences such as an increased water temperature and - quantity, part of the paste through the fine openings in the further wall swell, these residues are washed away during the following rinsing process, if a water inlet opening for the of the partially permeable wall and the Outside wall of the container formed space (annular channel) is provided. In this way, the fine openings become sticky and clogged leaning forward.

The toilet basket according to the invention is preferably made of polypropylene, in particular manufactured by injection molding.

It is also advantageous if the container consists of a transparent material. When using a colored paste, the consumer can quickly and easily recognize the level from the outside.

The basket, as stated above, is preferably for dosing a pasty combination of active ingredients, which consists essentially of Surfactants and perfume oil, in particular also from organic and / or inorganic acids and thickeners. Other possible and beneficial Components of the preparations are discussed above in the state of the art Technology has already been mentioned.

A procedure for the controlled delivery of active ingredients consists of a toilet basket in that the toilet basket according to the invention in the toilet bowl below from the edge is hooked in and from one the highly viscous, preferably flexible, thixotropic paste-containing active substance preparation containing surfactants Storage containers, especially a tube or bottle, the active ingredient preparation in the Toilet basket is pressed. Here it is, according to a further embodiment Invention advantageous if the toilet basket to just below the in and Outlet openings are filled with the active ingredient preparation.

Finally, the invention is characterized by one from the invention Toilet basket and the active ingredient preparation through the filler opening into the Flexible basket containing squeezable toilet, in particular Tube or bottle, existing system.

Figur 1

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines WC-Körbchens mit abgenommenen kegelförmigen Enden nach einem ersten erfindungsgemäßen Ausführungsbeispiel,

Figur 2

einen Querschnitt durch den mittleren Teil des Behälters des WC-Körbchens nach Figur 1,

Figur 3

einen Längsschnitt durch eines der kegelförmigen Enden des WC-Körbchens von Figur 1,

Figur 4

einen weiteren Querschnitt durch den mittleren Teil des WC-Körbchens nach Figur 1, wobei die Schnittfläche gegenüber der Schnittfläche von Figur 2 in Längsrichtung des WC-Körbchens versetzt ist,

Figur 5

eine Draufsicht auf das WC-Körbchen nach Figur 1 im zusammengebauten Zustand und

Figur 6

eine alternative Ausführungsform des WC-Körbchens in einer der Figur 1 entsprechenden Darstellung.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below with reference to drawings. Show it

Figure 1

2 shows a perspective illustration of a toilet basket with removed conical ends according to a first exemplary embodiment according to the invention,

Figure 2

2 shows a cross section through the middle part of the container of the toilet basket according to FIG. 1,

Figure 3

2 shows a longitudinal section through one of the conical ends of the toilet basket from FIG. 1,

Figure 4

1 shows a further cross section through the middle part of the toilet basket according to FIG. 1, the cutting surface being offset in the longitudinal direction of the toilet basket compared to the cutting surface of FIG. 2,

Figure 5

a plan view of the toilet basket according to Figure 1 in the assembled state and

Figure 6

an alternative embodiment of the toilet basket in a representation corresponding to Figure 1.

The toilet basket according to Figure 1 consists essentially of a container and an associated retaining clip 1, with which the toilet basket on the inside Edge of a toilet bowl can be attached. The container itself has essentially a double cone shape by two conical caps 2, 3 is formed, which is connected to a hollow cylindrical middle part 4 with an outer wall 5 are cohesively attached. Within the middle part 4 is a partially permeable Wall 6, ie an inner wall attached, which is parallel to the outer wall 5 about 50% of the length of the circumference of the outer wall 5 runs. This way, a Annular channel between the outer wall 5 and the partially permeable wall 6 is formed. The semi-cylindrical wall 6 extends as an impermeable, too semi-cylindrical wall 6a further into the conical caps 2, 3, until they line 12 (Figure 3) into the conical inner wall of the caps 2, 3 passes.

The partially permeable wall 6 is provided with axially extending, comb-like slots 7 a slot width of 0.2 to 0.8 mm, in the exemplary embodiment of 0.4 mm, Mistake.

Instead of the comb-like, axially extending slots 7 in the embodiment 1 in the second embodiment according to FIG. 6 is a single one tangential slot 7 is provided, which has the same function. It can in this case only a single slot 7 corresponding to the toilet basket 6 or several tangential and parallel to each other Slots 7 may be provided.

The longitudinal slots 8 in the conical caps 2, 3 serve as and outlet for the rinse water. The inlet opening for the ring channel water flowing through is designated by the reference numeral 9, the corresponding Outlet opening designated by the reference numeral 10. Filled or refilled the container via the filling opening 11.

The function of the toilet bowl is described in detail below. The pasty, especially colored product is made from a flexible Storage containers, e.g. B. a tube or bottle, through the filler opening 11 in the Toilet bowls are pressed into the container so that the container is close to is filled below the longitudinal slots 8. Allowed with a transparent container the coloring of the paste a level detection.

During the rinsing process, the water passes through the longitudinal slots 8 z. B. the cap 2 in the container. A small proportion of the rinse water flows via the ring channel through the outlet opening 10. Most of this Rinsing water gets into the filled with the pasty preparation of active ingredient Active ingredient chamber (filling chamber) and overflows the paste. The one with the active ingredients Enriched water passes through the longitudinal slots 8 of the opposite conical cap 3 and is evenly distributed in Toilet bowl. That between the surface of the paste and the bottom Longitudinal slot 8 remaining water, which has a viscosity up to 3,000 mPas has, does not lead to the formation of sump, but occurs through the slots 7 in the annular channel between the partially permeable wall 6 and the outer wall 5 of the container and flows from there through the outlet opening 10. So that will avoiding sump formation and even release of active ingredients guaranteed. The fineness of the slots 7 prevents the Active ingredient preparation containing surfactants, which have a viscosity of 3,000 to 150,000 mPas and in particular has a viscosity of 30,000 to 60,000 mPas.

If there are residues of water in the slots 7 enriched with the active ingredients remain and swell there, they will be included in the next rinse the rinse water entering the annular channel through the inlet opening 9 washed.

The product can be filled without disassembling the toilet basket and without touching it of the container.

Figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the toilet basket that instead the comb-like, axially extending slots 7 only a single, tangential extending slot 7 in the further wall 6. The mode of action of this Embodiment corresponds to that of the first embodiment. Here as well as in the other figures have the same reference numerals the same meaning and are therefore not mentioned again.

Claims (21)

1. A lavatory basket comprising
   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 through it, and which accommodates a high-viscosity surfactant-containing active-substance formulation and a holder (1) for fixing to the rim of the lavatory bowl,
   the lower region (in the in-use position) of the wall (6) 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, characterized in that the wall (6) is 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 mPas; in that the partly permeable lower region extends upwards at least as far as the intended filling limit for the active-substance formulation and in that the inlet and outlet openings (8) for the flushing water are disposed above the filling limit.
2. A lavatory basket as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the lower region of the wall (6) is impermeable to thixotropic active-substance preparations or pastes with viscosities above 3,000 mPas.
3. A lavatory basket as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lower region of the wall (6) is impermeable to active-substance preparations or pastes with viscosities above 30,000 mPas.
4. A lavatory basket as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wall (6) permeable to water-containing liquids with viscosities of up to 3,000 mPas but not to surfactant-containing active-substance preparations or pastes with viscosities above 3,000 mPas is provided in the interior of the container so that the partly permeable wall (6) and the outer wall (5) form another space in addition to the filling space and in that this other space comprises an outlet opening (10) in its lower region.
5. A lavatory basket as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the partly permeable wall (6) has openings in the form of slots (7) between 0.2 and 0.8 mm wide.
6. A lavatory basket as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the partly permeable wall (6) has openings in the form of bores between 0.2 and 0.8 mm in diameter.
7. A lavatory basket as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized by a substantially symmetrical cylindrical shape of the container with a longitudinal axis which extends horizontally in the in-use position and an annular passage of which the boundary is formed by the partly permeable wall (6) and the outer wall (5) of the container.
8. A lavatory basket as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the annular passage extends over about half the circumference of the container.
9. A lavatory basket as claimed in any of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the openings in the partly permeable wall are formed in the central region of the elongate container.
10. A lavatory basket as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized by a plurality of slots (7) extending horizontally and parallel in the manner of a comb in the partly permeable wall (6).
11. A lavatory basket as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized by a single vertical slot (7) in the partly permeable wall (6).
12. A lavatory basket as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized by a double-cone shape of the container with a longitudinal axis which extends horizontally in the in-use position.
13. A lavatory basket as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inlet and outlet openings (8) for the flushing water are slot-like and extend horizontally in the in-use position.
14. A lavatory basket as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized by a filling opening (11) for a liquid or paste-like active substance preparation.
15. A lavatory basket as claimed in any of the claims 4 to 14, characterized by a water inlet opening (9) for the space formed by the partly permeable wall (6) and the outer wall (5) of the container.
16. A lavatory basket as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made of polypropylene, more particularly by injection moulding.
17. A lavatory basket as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container consists of a transparent material.
18. The use of a lavatory basket having the features claimed in one or more of the preceding claims for dispensing a paste-form combination of active substances essentially consisting of surfactants and perfume oil, more particularly together with organic and/or inorganic acids and thickener.
19. A method for the controlled release of active substance from a lavatory basket, characterized in that a lavatory basket having the features claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 17 is suspended in the toilet bowl beneath its rim and the active-substance preparation is expressed into the lavatory basket from a flexible storage container, more particularly a tube or bottle, holding the highly viscous, preferably thixotropic surfactant-containing paste-form active-substance preparation.
20. A method as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that the lavatory basket is filled with the active-substance preparation to just below the inlet and outlet openings (8).
21. A system consisting of a lavatory basket with the features claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 17 and a flexible storage container, more particularly a tube or bottle, holding the active-substance preparation in a form in which it can be expressed through the filling opening (11) into the lavatory basket.

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