Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
  • E03D—WATER-CLOSETS OR URINALS WITH FLUSHING DEVICES; FLUSHING VALVES THEREFOR
  • E03D9/00—Sanitary or other accessories for lavatories ; Devices for cleaning or disinfecting the toilet room or the toilet bowl; Devices for eliminating smells
  • E03D9/02—Devices adding a disinfecting, deodorising, or cleaning agent to the water while flushing
  • E03D9/03—Devices adding a disinfecting, deodorising, or cleaning agent to the water while flushing consisting of a separate container with an outlet through which the agent is introduced into the flushing water, e.g. by suction ; Devices for agents in direct contact with flushing water
  • E03D9/032—Devices connected to or dispensing into the bowl
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D17/00—Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties
  • C11D17/04—Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties combined with or containing other objects
  • C11D17/041—Compositions releasably affixed on a substrate or incorporated into a dispensing means
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
  • C11D3/50—Perfumes
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
  • E03D—WATER-CLOSETS OR URINALS WITH FLUSHING DEVICES; FLUSHING VALVES THEREFOR
  • E03D9/00—Sanitary or other accessories for lavatories ; Devices for cleaning or disinfecting the toilet room or the toilet bowl; Devices for eliminating smells
  • E03D9/007—Devices for eliminating smells by diffusing deodorants in lavatories

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a lavatory bowl rim-block comprising : a) at least one container; b) a dispensing means; and c) a fragrance delivery component.
• the lavatory bowl rim-block herein provides excellent perfume delivery performance.
• rim-blocks are devices that dispense liquid or dissolved solid compositions into a lavatory bowl from under the rim of said bowl. Such rim-blocks are usually attached by various means, such as hooks and the like, to the rim of the lavatory bowl. Rim-blocks dispensing at least one liquid composition into the lavatory bowl, so called “liquid rim-blocks", are preferred over rim-blocks dispensing a dissolved solid composition.
• solid rim-blocks tend to exhibit a far greater variation in the amount of product dispensed into the flush during their lifetime. It has been observed that towards the end of the solid rim-block lifetime, the solid composition therein tends to dramatically reduce in size and also in surface area open to the flush water thereby limiting the amount of dispensed/dissolved product. Secondly, the solid rim-block can become highly unsightly during use. Thirdly, the air freshening capability of solid rim-blocks tends to be inferior as compared to liquid rim-blocks as the release of perfume from a solid composition tends to be lower than from a liquid composition.
• liquid rim-blocks provide perfume delivery into the bathroom / toilet room atmosphere. Therefore, liquid rim-blocks dispensing a liquid, perfumed composition, providing at least some perfume delivery were developed and are disclosed in the art. Indeed, for example, EP-A-0 538 957 describes a bottle holding a liquid composition upturned within a cage that is hung using a hook inside the toilet rim. In use, the liquid composition flows continuously from the bottle into a "porous mass" that both distributes the product into the flush water as well as exposing a large surface area of the product to the environment for air freshening.
• liquid rim-blocks described in the art are their still insufficient performance with regard to perfume delivery into the bathroom atmosphere. Indeed, it has been found by consumer research that consumers are looking for liquid rim-blocks that provide a combination of ongoing perfume delivery into the bathroom atmosphere with a perfume boost into the bathroom atmosphere upon flushing of the lavatory bowl.
• Liquid rim-blocks that continuously release a liquid composition from a container into a cage are for example described in EP-A-0 538 957, US 6,178,564 and WO 00/42261.
• Such continuous release rim-blocks may create some degree of ongoing perfume delivery into the bathroom atmosphere since this liquid composition can release a perfume, if present in the composition, into the air.
• Such continuous release rim-blocks fail to provide a perfume boost into the bathroom atmosphere upon flushing of the lavatory bowl.
• such continuous release rim-blocks often exhibit liquid leakage into the lavatory bowl, especially if the lavatory bowl is not used on a regular basis. This results in product unsightly coating the lavatory bowl surface. In addition, this continuous leakage can result in the premature emptying of the liquid bottle.
• liquid rim-blocks that dispense a liquid composition from a container only during the flush are for example described in WO 01/06067, EP 10072728 and WO 01/02653.
• Such rim-blocks that dispense a liquid composition only during the flush may provide a perfume boost into the bathroom atmosphere upon flushing of the lavatory bowl, provided a perfume is present in the liquid composition dispensed during the flush.
• the perfume boost into the bathroom atmosphere upon flushing of the lavatory bowl is limited, as there is insufficient time to allow the product to evaporate thereby creating the perfume boost.
• such rim-blocks that dispense a liquid composition only during the flush fail to provide an ongoing perfume delivery into the bathroom atmosphere.
• liquid rim-blocks that dispense a liquid composition after the flush are for example described in WO 01/88286 and EP-A-1 046 756.
• Such liquid rim-blocks that dispense a liquid composition after the flush do eventually provide a perfume boost into the bathroom atmosphere upon flushing of the lavatory bowl, provided a perfume is present in the liquid composition dispensed during the flush. Indeed, the liquid composition can release perfume before the next flush.
• the amount of liquid composition and therefore perfume that is released by such rim-blocks is small and quickly evaporates providing air freshening only for a very limited time period, such as 1 to 2 hours, after the flush. Therefore, this fails to provide an ongoing perfume delivery into the bathroom atmosphere.
• the present invention encompasses a lavatory bowl rim-block comprising :
• the lavatory bowl rim-block according to the present invention is used in a lavatory bowl, such as a toilet bowl, urinals and the like.
• the lavatory bowl rim-block according to the present invention is placed at the inside portion of a lavatory bowl, such as a toilet bowl, urinals and the like.
• the lavatory bowl rim-block herein is a toilet rim-block preferably for use in a toilet bowl.
• the lavatory bowl surfaces herein may be made of different materials like ceramic, enamel, vinyl, no-wax vinyl, linoleum, melamine, glass, Inox®, Formica®, any plastics, plastified wood, metal or any painted or varnished or sealed surface and the like.
• the lavatory rim-block herein comprises : a) at least one container holding a liquid, perfume-containing composition; b) a dispensing means for transporting the liquid composition from the container and dispensing said composition from under the rim of a lavatory bowl into the flush water of said lavatory bowl; and c) a fragrance delivery component.
• the lavatory rim-block herein dispenses at least one liquid composition from the rim portion of a lavatory bowl onto a lavatory bowl surface.
• the lavatory rim-block herein is preferably designed such that a sufficient amount of the liquid composition herein is transferred to the lavatory bowl upon flushing of the lavatory bowl with water.
• the lavatory rim-block herein comprises as a first essential element at least one container holding a liquid, perfume-containing composition.
• the container herein may by any suitable container to hold a liquid composition.
• suitable containers herein include, but are not limited to bottles, jars, pouches, boxes, sachets and the like.
• said container has at least one opening.
• the container is preferably made by blow molding of thermoplastic material, more preferably a material selected from group consisting of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polyethylene Terephthalate-G (PETG), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Polypropylene (PP), Polystyrene (PS), High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS), Polyvinylidene Chloride (PVDC), and mixtures thereof.
• said container is preferably transparent, which allows its user to visualize when said container is empty.
• the opening, if any, of said container may be sealed, preferably with a plastic cap. Such as seal will prevent leakage of composition out of the container prior to use of the container.
• the container herein is bottle designed to be pushed into the rim-block. This pushing ruptures a seal, placed over an opening of the container and sealing the container during shipment, and releases a liquid composition present in the container into the dispensing means.
• the container of the lavatory bowl rim-block is refillable and/or replaceable. Indeed, the container as a whole may be replaced once it is empty (replaceable) or the liquid, perfume-containing composition may be refilled into the existing container. The container may be refilled through an aperture in the container with the liquid, perfume-containing composition provided in a separate container, such as a bottle.
• the lavatory rim-block of the present invention comprises as a second essential element a dispensing means for dispensing said composition from under the rim of a lavatory bowl into the flush water of a lavatory bowl.
• said dispensing means is connected to said container.
• the dispensing means herein may be any suitable means to dispense at least one liquid composition onto a lavatory bowl surface.
• the lavatory bowl rim-block herein may comprise one or a multitude of dispensing means. Suitable means to dispense at least one liquid composition onto a lavatory surface are : apertures; spray heads; trays; pads with or without capillary channels; plates with or without capillary channels; blotter type dispensing means; such as described in EP-A-0 775 741, US 6,178,564, WO 00/42261, US 6,412,120, EP-A-1 046 755, WO 02/36895 and the like.
• the dispensing means of the lavatory rim-block herein upon the flushing of the lavatory bowl, comes into contact with water used to flush said lavatory bowl.
• the water used to flush said lavatory bowl mixes with at least one liquid composition of the lavatory rim-block herein and thereby delivers the composition onto the lavatory bowl surface.
• the dispensing means herein is connected to said container by any suitable means, such as pipes, tubes, and the like, and may further contain valves, mixing chambers, shutters etc.
• the lavatory rim-block herein may comprise other elements such as : an attachment means; a supporting structure, holding the different elements of the rim-block together; blinds, used for aesthetics or to regulated water flow; wings, used to regulated water flow; etc.
• the lavatory rim-block additionally comprises an attachment means. More preferably, the lavatory rim-block herein additionally comprises an attachment means and a supporting structure. Said attachment means is used to connect the lavatory rim-block to a lavatory bowl and hold it in place over its lifetime. Suitable attachment means are selected from the group consisting of : hooks, a suction cup or a set thereof, an adhesive, and mixtures thereof. Preferably said attachment means attaches the rim-block to the rim-portion of a lavatory bowl or suspends the rim-block from said rim. In a preferred embodiment said attachment means is a hook to suspend the rim-block from the rim-portion of a lavatory bowl.
• the lavatory rim-block comprises one single-compartment container holding the liquid, perfumed composition herein ("single compartment liquid rim-block").
• the lavatory rim-block herein comprises more than one container and/or a multiple compartment container, wherein the perfume herein may be present only in one liquid composition contained in one of the containers or compartments thereof or the perfume may be present in more than one of the compositions contained in different containers or compartments.
• the lavatory rim-block herein comprises two to four, more preferably two to three, and most preferably two containers.
• the lavatory rim-block herein comprises at least one container comprising two to four, more preferably two to three, most preferably two compartments per container.
• the lavatory rim-block herein comprises more than one composition
• said compositions may be dispensed separately or as a combination of compositions.
• “combination of compositions” it is meant that the various compositions are mixed or at least combined : prior to being dispensed, e.g., in a mixing chamber, if any, or the dispensing means; during the dispensing, e.g., on the dispensing means; or after being dispensed, on the lavatory surface itself (this means in the flush).
• said rim-block additionally comprises a solid and/or gel composition
• the lavatory rim-block according to the present invention comprises as a third essential element a fragrance delivery component wherein said fragrance delivery component does not dispense a fragrance using said dispensing means and delivers said fragrance, preferably directly and on an ongoing basis, into the ambience over a prolonged period of time.
• the fragrance delivery component herein comprises a fragrance or perfume (used herein a synonymous terms).
• the fragrance delivery component is comparable in its performance to an air freshener device.
• ambience it is meant herein the atmosphere of the bathroom or toilet (i.e., the room) wherein the lavatory bowl comprising the lavatory rim-block is present.
• the fragrance delivery component delivers a fragrance directly into the ambience on an ongoing basis and for a period of time that exceeds at least 24 hours.
• the fragrance delivery component herein delivers a fragrance into the ambience from 48 hours to 100 days, more preferably from 7 days to 100 days, even more preferably from 14 hours to 80 days, still more preferably from 17 days to 60 days and most preferably from 21 days to 42 days.
• fragrance delivery component not dispensing a fragrance using said dispensing means
• the fragrance delivery component herein directly delivers the fragrance into the atmosphere of the bathroom or toilet independently of the delivery of the liquid composition through the dispensing means of the lavatory rim-block.
• said fragrance delivery component may optionally be attached to the dispensing means or may be placed in close vicinity of the dispensing means, provided the dispensing means and the delivery of the fragrance delivery component work independently of each other.
• the fragrance delivery component herein may be attached to or be part of any part of the rim-block (e.g. attached to the container or to the attachment means, if any).
• fragrance delivery component suitable of delivering a fragrance into the ambience over a prolonged period of time may be used in the lavatory rim-block herein.
• Suitable fragrance delivery components are selected from the group consisting of : perfumed gels; perfumed plastics; perfumed liquids using a wick delivery system; permeable film delivery systems combined with a perfumed gel or perfumed liquid; and battery / electrical fragrance release systems; and combinations thereof.
• the fragrance delivery component can be incorporated into the lavatory bowl rim-block of the present invention in a variety of different ways. Suitable non-limiting examples are shown herein below :
• the fragrance delivery component herein may be a perfumed gel that preferably continuously releases a fragrance for a prolonged period of time.
• perfumed gel it is meant herein any wax- and/or gel-based substance that contains a perfume and is capable of releasing a fragrance into the atmosphere of the bathroom or toilet.
• Perfumed gels include any type of wax- and/or gel-based substances suitable to release a fragrance. More preferably, the perfumed gel herein is an anhydrous or an aqueous perfumed gel.
• the wax- and/or gel-based substances for use herein are selected from the group selected from the group consisting of : anhydrous wax- and/or gel-based substances; and aqueous wax- and/or gel-based substances; and mixtures thereof.
• Preferred anhydrous wax- and/or gel-based substances for use herein are selected from the group selected from the group consisting of : polyamide polymers; waxes; styrene polymers; stearates; ester-terminated dimmer acid-based polyamides; maleinized polybutadienes in combination with dihydroxypolybutadienes and an ethoxylated primary amine; maleinized polyisoprenes in combination with dihydroxypolybutadienes and an ethoxylated primary amine; and mixtures thereof.
• Preferred aqueous wax- and/or gel-based substances for use herein are selected from the group selected from the group consisting of : water and a gelling agent such as carrageenan gum or gellan gum; water in combination with polyvinyl alcohol or polyvinyl acetate and dimethyl sulfoxide; water in combination with a polymer such as a polyacrylamide; water in combination with stearic acid, propylene glycol and activated carbon; and anhydrous sodium polyacrylate and mixtures thereof.
• a gelling agent such as carrageenan gum or gellan gum
• water in combination with polyvinyl alcohol or polyvinyl acetate and dimethyl sulfoxide water in combination with a polymer such as a polyacrylamide
• water in combination with stearic acid, propylene glycol and activated carbon and anhydrous sodium polyacrylate and mixtures thereof.
• wax- and/or gel-based substances for use herein are typically manufactured by processing them initially in their liquid form, often by heating. Indeed, the gels are typically heated to melt the gel, or the gel is polymerized or gellified in the liquid state at high temperature. A perfume is subsequently added to the heated gel, and the heated, perfumed liquid is then being cooled to form the gel structure.
• the perfumed gel herein is an anhydrous perfumed gel, more preferably the perfumed gel herein is selected from the group consisting of : polyamide polymers additionally containing up to 90% by weight of the perfumed gel of perfume; waxes additionally containing up to 90% by weight of the perfumed gel of perfume; styrene polymers additionally containing up to 90% by weight of the perfumed gel of perfume; stearates additionally containing up to 90% by weight of the perfumed gel of perfume; ester-terminated dimmer acid-based polyamides additionally containing up to 50% by weight of the perfumed gel of perfume; maleinized polybutadienes in combination with dihydroxypolybutadienes and an ethoxylated primary amine additionally containing up to 95% by weight of the perfumed gel of perfume; and maleinized polyisoprenes in combination with dihydroxypolybutadienes and an ethoxylated primary amine additionally containing up to 95% by weight of the perfumed gel of perfume; and mixtures thereof
• Suitable perfumed gels are for example described WO 02/066084, WO 98/17243, US 5,780,527, and WO 01/78794.
• Suitable perfumed gels are commercially available under the trade name of Crystal Air® by Reckitt Benckiser or under the names Sylvaclear®, Sylvacote® or Uniclear® resins, by Arizona Chemical. Similar performing gels to those listed above may also be used.
• the lavatory bowl rim-block preferably initially, comprises up to 95%, preferably from 10% to 95%, more preferably from 50% to 95% by weight of a perfumed gel.
• the shape of the gel may be any design suitable to deliver a fragrance into the ambience.
• the perfumed gel may be placed directly into any appropriate position on the rim-block. This includes combining the perfume gel with the container, and/or with the dispensing means and/or with an attachment means, if any.
• a recess can be created on the outer surface of the container to create a region that may be filled with perfumed gel. This recess can easily be created during the container blow molding process.
• the recess may be molded into the outer surface on the front panel, top panel, sides, bottom or back panel of the container. This recess is filled with liquid perfumed gel, which is solidified into the recess.
• a recess could be created on the surface of the dispensing means or attachment means (if any), which is then filled with perfumed gel.
• a recess can easily be created within the surface of the piece during the molding process itself.
• the perfumed gel may be cast as a separate strip and attached into the recesses on the surface of the lavatory bowl rim-block herein, preferably the container, dispensing means and/or attachment means (if any), via a variety of different means, such as adhesives.
• the gel may be attached directly to the surface of the lavatory bowl rim-block herein, preferably the container, dispensing means and/or attachment means (if any), without a recess using the same attachment means mentioned above or the lavatory bowl rim-block herein or parts thereof may be fully or partially coated with the perfumed gel by either dipping or spraying the perfumed gel on the surface of the lavatory bowl rim-block herein.
• the perfumed gel may be filled into a separate piece containing a complementary recess to that placed in the surface of the lavatory bowl rim-block, or the perfumed gel may be cast as a separate sheet or strip and attached to such a separate piece.
• This separate piece is then fastened onto the outer surface of the lavatory bowl rim-block herein or a part thereof, by clipping the piece into a recess in the outer surface of the lavatory bowl rim-block herein or by adhesives or various other means.
• This separate piece containing the perfumed gel may be sold separately or in combination with the liquid containers. The separate piece would therefore be refilled in the lavatory bowl rim-block either separately or at the same time as when the liquid container is also refilled.
• said fragrance delivery component is a perfumed gel, preferably present in a recess on the outside portion of the container, dispensing means or attachment means, if any, of the lavatory bowl rim-block herein.
• the perfumed gel is an anhydrous perfumed gel.
• these gels do not release perfume until they are activated by adding water to the gel system.
• the anhydrous perfumed gels herein are placed at a region of the rim-block that is routinely exposed to the flush water. This is because, on first usage or flush, water flows into the anhydrous perfumed gel and activates it such that it starts to give off perfume, and then freshens the atmosphere around the toilet for the lifetime of the device. This technology therefore has the advantage of only starting to operate once it is in use within the toilet.
• the perfumed gel preferably the anhydrous perfumed gel, herein is present in a recess of the surface of the lavatory bowl rim-block herein and covered with a perforated covering.
• a covering has the function to hold the gel in place prior to usage, allowing water into the recess to activate the anhydrous perfumed gel, if present, and keeping the activated gel in place during subsequent flushes.
• the anhydrous nature of the gel may result in a gel that does not adhere well to the surface of the rim-block.
• Different means to cover with a perforated covering are to use a rigid plastic grid that may be clipped into the recess over the gel to hold it in place, or a perforated film that is heat sealed or glued over the recess.
• a preferred embodiment is to use a perforated film similar to the top sheet used on feminine protection products such as those sold under the trade name Always@ commercially available from The Procter & Gamble Company. These sheets allow water to pass into the gel due to the shape of the perforated holes. However, water cannot escape again keeping the water in place to continue to activate the gel.
• the perfumed gel may optionally but highly preferred be protected from releasing its perfume into the atmosphere prior to usage of the rim-block.
• This can be solved by packaging the liquid rim block in a package that has a high gas barrier.
• a preferred option would be a transparent thermoformed blister pack made from PET, PVC or other similar materials having a high oxygen barrier film over the top of the blister made from laminates of aluminum, metallised PET, metallised biaxially oriented polypropylene and/or other similar film materials.
• An alternative would be to seal a high gas barrier peel-able film onto the rim-block so that it covers the perfumed gel on the surface of the rim-block, or alternatively onto the separate piece so that it cover the gel container within the separate piece.
• This film would then be removed by the user prior to placing the rim-block into the lavatory bowl.
• the peel-able film would be transparent to allow the consumer to also see the gel on shelf.
• a suitable film would be a laminated film using Al 2 O 3 or SiO 2 coatings or other similar high gas barrier transparent films.
• a highly preferred embodiment is to place the perfumed gel in a recess preferably on the outward, meaning away from the rim of a lavatory bowl, facing section of the container. This can be preferably achieved by pouring the heated perfumed gel directly into the recess and allowing it to cool.
• a small peel-able and preferably transparent film with a high barrier may be placed over the perfumed gel in the recess and sealed to the outer part of the recess in the container.
• the fragrance delivery component herein may be a perfumed plastic that preferably continuously releases a fragrance for a prolonged period of time.
• perfumed plastic it is meant herein any plastic material that contains a perfume and is capable of releasing a fragrance into the atmosphere of the bathroom or toilet.
• Perfumed plastics include any type of plastic material suitable to release a fragrance.
• suitable plastic materials for use as a perfumed plastic are selected from the group consisting of : polyethylene terephthalate (PET); polyethylene (PE); polypropylene (PP); polyvinyl chloride (PVC); high impact polystyrene (HIPS); polystyrene (PS), thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) and the like.
• the plastic material herein contains a perfumed masterbatch.
• perfumed masterbatch it is meant herein a portion of material consisting of a carrier resin such as PET, PE, PP, PVC, HIPS and/or PS and a high level of perfume, preferably up to 95%, from 10% to 90%, more preferably from 50% to 85% by weight of the total masterbatch of a perfume.
• the masterbatch is added during the normal manufacture of plastic pieces via additions in the extruder for injection molding, blow molding, sheet forming, blown film and other similar plastic processes.
• the plastics may also be foamed to maximize the amount of perfume that may be added to the plastic piece and to further encourage its release into the atmosphere.
• the technology is detailed in WO 00/08095, US 4,411,855, GB 2,180,157 and US 3,797,742.
• the perfumed masterbatch herein may be used during the manufacture of the lavatory bowl rim-block herein or parts thereof, such as the container, the dispensing means or attachment means (if any). This creates a rim-block that delivers a fragrance into the bathroom/toilet atmosphere upon use by releasing a fragrance directly from either the rim-block or parts thereof.
• the perfume masterbatch is used during the manufacture of the container herein. Indeed, this creates a convenient means to replenish the fragrance delivery component, as the fragrance delivery component is replaced at the same time with a fresh container once the liquid in the container is exhausted.
• An alternative approach is to use the perfumed masterbatch for the manufacture of a separate plastic piece.
• This piece (“insert”) may then be fastened to any part of the rim-block.
• the insert (or inserts) may be injection molded or manufactured by similar plastic processes.
• This method of using a separate insert as compared to using the perfumed masterbatch for the manufacture of the rim-block or parts thereof itself has the advantage of allowing more control of the amount of perfume as well as control of the type of plastic used to maximize the amount of fragrance delivery. This is due to the fact that these plastic pieces only need to dispense perfume. They do not need to have additional functions such as to fasten the rim-block to the lavatory bowl or contain/distribute a composition.
• plastic pieces may be coloured and/or may be made from different designs to provide aesthetic improvements. Fastening of such inserts may be achieved by clipping the separate piece to parts of the rim-block, or by using adhesive or similar techniques.
• the pieces could be sold as refills either in a separate package or in a multi-pack combined with a container refill, if any. Both packs would have a high oxygen barrier package (as described herein above) to keep the perfume in the pieces prior to usage.
• multiple pieces of perfumed plastic preferably in the form of small beads or other similar designs, would be used.
• Using beads maximizes the surface area of the pieces and facilitates the release of perfume.
• These beads are included in the rim-block in a recess in the surface of the rim-block or a part thereof, wherein preferably said recess is covered using a gas-permeable cover, preferably a perforated cover.
• This gas-permeable cover holds the beads in place prior to usage.
• the covering may consist of a rigid plastic grid that may be clipped into the recess over the beads to hold it in place or a perforated film that is heat sealed or glued over the recess.
• a further alternative is to create a cage like device that holds the beads and can be attached to the rim-block or parts thereof via various means.
• the cage may be integrally molded into parts of the rim-block.
• a further alternative is to contain the beads in an open top container. This container may take the same basic form as the container for the liquid, perfumed composition herein and be positioned either adjacent to or above the said container. This allows the beads-container to be easily refilled along with the container for the liquid, perfumed composition because both containers could be inserted into the dispensing means at the same time.
• the fragrance delivery component herein may be a permeable film delivery system over a fragrance releasing medium.
• permeable film it is meant herein a film-based material that has a high permeation rate to fragrance.
• said permeable film is a film-based material that has a high permeation rate to fragrance or a micro porous membrane material (preferable with a hydrophobic coating) that has sufficient voids within the film structure to allow the passage of perfume to the atmosphere.
• These films allows perfume vapor to escape the rim-block to the bathroom / toilet atmosphere while preventing the fragrance / perfume, if any, to escape or flush water to enter the device. They also allow control of the release rate of fragrance from the rim-block since the release rate can be controlled by film thickness and film / membrane material section.
• Suitable permeable films include highly permeable films such as low density polyethylene (LDPE), ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA), and the like, along with micro porous membranes such as those supplied by Gelman, Gore, Pall and other similar membrane suppliers. This technology is described in US 4,898,328, WO 97/42983 and EP-A-0 596 212.
• LDPE low density polyethylene
• EVA ethyl vinyl acetate
• micro porous membranes such as those supplied by Gelman, Gore, Pall and other similar membrane suppliers.
• fragrance releasing medium it is meant herein a medium that is capable of releasing a perfume over a prolonged period of time.
• Suitable fragrance releasing mediums are selected from the group consisting of : perfumed gels as described herein above; perfumed plastics including beads as described herein above; and perfumed liquid compositions preferably solvent based liquid compositions containing alcohols and other volatile ingredients; and pads impregnated with a perfumed liquid composition; and combinations thereof.
• the fragrance releasing medium herein with a covering permeable film may be placed directly into any appropriate position within the rim-block of the present invention, including combining the perfume releasing medium with a covering permeable film into the container and/or into the dispensing means and/or into the attachment means, if any.
• the perfume releasing medium is contained in a recess on the outer surface of the lavatory bowl rim-block herein and the recess is covered with a permeable film.
• the perfume releasing medium is contained in an open top container and covered with a permeable film. This container may take the same basic form as the container for the liquid, perfumed composition herein and be positioned either adjacent to or above the container.
• a small flat container for the perfume releasing medium sealed with permeable film may be attached directly to the surface of the lavatory bowl rim-block herein or a part thereof, by a clipping mechanism, or an adhesive or similar method.
• the product contained by the film may be protected from releasing its perfume into the atmosphere prior to purchase and usage of the rim-block. This can be achieved by packaging the rim-block in a package that has a high gas barrier as described herein above in the section titled "Perfumed gel".
• a high barrier film would be laminated directly to the permeable film such that this film exists as a single structure.
• the bond between the barrier film and the permeable film would be very low such that when the film structure is sealed to the rim-block to encase the perfume releasing medium, the bond between the permeable film and the rim-block is higher as compared to the bond between the permeable film and the barrier film and the bond between the permeable film and the barrier film is sufficiently low to allow easy peeling by the user.
• This system not only allows the user to easily remove the barrier film prior to using the rim-block, but also provides a much simpler manufacturing means to seal the permeable and barrier film in one simple step onto the liquid rim block.
• the fragrance delivery component herein may be a perfumed liquid composition using a wick delivery system.
• wick delivery system it is meant herein a system wherein an absorbent substrate (“wick”), such a cotton or similar material, is part of a container wherein one end of the wick lies in a liquid composition containing a perfume while the other end of the wick lies either outside or at the very top of the opening of the container, and wherein the wick draws the perfumed liquid into the wick via capillary forces and transports it to the end of the wick situated at the opening of the container.
• wick absorbent substrate
• wick absorbent substrate
• a wick delivery system being a container such as a bottle, having an opening and holding a volatile liquid containing a perfume wherein the container additionally contains a wick is part of the rim-block herein.
• the bottle may be attached to the liquid rim block via clipping, adhesive tape etc.
• the container of a wick delivery system itself can additionally be sold as a sealed unit with a cap as a refill.
• the fragrance delivery component herein may be battery / electrical fragrance release system.
• the lavatory bowl rim-block herein contains system that dispenses fragrance using an electrically or battery powered means to dispense a perfume/fragrance.
• said battery / electrical fragrance release system is an electrical or battery driven pumping means that distributes a fragrance / perfume over a prolonged period of time.
• said battery / electrical fragrance release system includes a cartridge for housing a liquid composition comprising a perfume, a means for releasing the liquid composition from the cartridge and a means for forcing the liquid out of the cartridge using a gas-generating cell.
• the gas-generating cell herein preferably is an electrochemical cell (battery) that generates gas over a prolonged period of time.
• the means for forcing the liquid out of the cartridge is preferably a piston pump that presses the liquid composition comprising a perfume out of the cartridge.
• Suitable gas-generating cells as well as battery / electrical fragrance release system are described in US 6,045,055, US 6,109,539, WO 97/13007, WO 99/06614, WO 00/72951, US 5,681,435, US 5,899,381, WO 02/069935, WO 00/76645 and WO 02/16048.
• a battery/electrical fragrance release system is contained in the lavatory bowl rim-block herein.
• the battery/electrical fragrance release system may be combined with the container and/or the dispensing means and/or into the attachment means, if any.
• the battery/electrical fragrance release system may be attached to the rim-block via clipping, adhesive tape, etc.
• the battery/electrical fragrance release system may be housed in a separate housing that is part of the rim-block herein.
• the battery/electrical fragrance release system may be sold as a separate refill device to be combined with the rim-block.
• the battery/electrical fragrance release system is attached to or combined with the container of the rim-block herein and refills thereof are used whenever the liquid product in the container is exhausted. Refills may be sold either separately or in a multi pack with the liquid container refills to provide continuity of perfume.
• the lavatory rim-block herein comprises a liquid, perfume-containing composition as a fourth essential element.
• liquid composition encompasses aqueous, thickened, gel and pasteous composition.
• the liquid, perfume-containing composition herein is a thickened composition.
• the thickened composition herein may be in the form of a gel or a pasteous composition.
• a preferred thickened composition of the present invention has a viscosity of 2 cps or greater, more preferably of from 2 to 5000 cps, and still more preferably of from 100 to 3500 cps at 20°C when measured with a Carri-Med Rheometer model CSL 2 100® (Supplied by TA Instruments) with a 4 cm conic spindle in stainless steal (linear increment from 0.1 to 100 sec -1 in max. 8 minutes).
• the thickened composition herein shows a good distribution of the composition over the lavatory bowl surface as well as an adherence to said surface sufficient to stick to the surface.
• a preferred liquid composition herein comprises water in an amount of from 0.01% to 90%, even more preferably of from 2% to 70% and most preferably 5% to 60% by weight of the total composition.
• the liquid, perfume-containing composition herein is substantially free of water, preferably free of water.
• substantially free of water it is meant that no water as such is added to the liquid composition.
• the composition may comprise traces of water added to the composition through the raw materials used to produce the composition. The level of water added into the composition through the raw materials used to produce the liquid composition is preferably below 15%, more preferably below 5% by weight of the total composition.
• the pH of the liquid, perfume-containing composition may typically be from 0 to 14.
• the pH of the liquid compositions herein, as is measured at 25° C is from 4 to 8, more preferably from 5 to 7.
• composition herein may further comprise an acid or base to adjust pH as appropriate.
• Acidity if present, may further contributes to formulate composition according to the present invention that exhibit good limescale removing performance whilst exhibiting also good disinfecting properties.
• composition of the present invention may comprise organic and/or inorganic acids.
• organic acids to be used herein are aryl and/or alkyl sulfonate, such as methane sulphonic acids, citric acid, succinic acid, sulphamic acid, maleic acid and the like.
• Particularly suitable inorganic acids are sulfuric, phosphoric, nitric acids and the like.
• a typical level of such an acid, when present, is of from 0.0001% to 15%, preferably from 0.001% to 10% and more preferably from 0.01% to 7% by weight of the total composition.
• Suitable bases for use herein are the caustic alkalis, such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and/or lithium hydroxide, and/or the alkali metal oxides such, as sodium and/or potassium oxide or mixtures thereof.
• Other suitable bases include ammonia, ammonium carbonate and hydrogen carbonate.
• Typical levels of such bases when present, are of from 0.001 % to 5% by weight, preferably from 0.01 % to 3% and more preferably from 0.1 % to 2% by weight of the composition.
• the lavatory rim-block herein may comprise additional composition(s) on top of the liquid, perfume-containing composition herein, wherein said compositions may have different properties, such as rheology profile, pH, water content etc. as compared to the liquid, perfume-containing composition.
• said additional composition(s) may be liquid, gel or solid composition(s), more preferably said additional composition(s) are liquid composition(s).
• compositions herein may further comprise a variety of other ingredients including dyes, optical brighteners, builders, pigments, solvents, buffering agents, radical scavengers, polymers, stabilizers and the like.
• the liquid composition according to the present invention comprises a perfume.
• the fragrance delivery component preferably comprises a fragrance or perfume (used herein a synonymous terms).
• the perfume of the liquid, perfumed composition and the fragrance or perfume of the fragrance delivery component are independent and separated from each other.
• the perfume/fragrance of the fragrance delivery component herein and the perfume of the perfumed, liquid composition herein may be chemically identical compositions or at least having a similar odor.
• any perfume suitable of delivering a perfume boost into the bathroom atmosphere upon flushing of the toilet may be used in the lavatory rim-block herein.
• any perfume suitable of being dispensed by the fragrance delivery component herein may be used herein.
• Examples of the highly volatile, low boiling, perfumes are : anethole, benzaldehyde, benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, benzyl formate, iso-bornyl acetate, camphene, ciscitral (neral), citronellal, citronellol, citronellyl acetate, p-cymene, decanal, dihydrolinalool, dihydromyrcenol, dimethyl phenyl carbinol, eucaliptol, geranial, geraniol, geranyl acetate, geranyl nitrile, cis-3-hexenyl acetate, hydroxycitronellal, d-limonene, linalool, linalool oxide, linalyl acetate, linalyl propionate, methyl anthranilate, alpha-methyl ionone, methyl nonyl acetaldehy
• lavandin contains as major components : linalool; linalyl acetate; geraniol; and citronellol. Lemon oil and orange terpenes both contain about 95% of d-limonene.
• moderately volatile perfumes are : amyl cinnamic aldehyde, isoamyl salicylate, beta-caryophyllene, cedrene, cinnamic alcohol, coumarin, dimethyl benzyl carbinyl acetate, ethyl vanillin, eugenol, iso-eugenol, flor acetate, heliotropine, 3-cis-hexenyl salicylate, hexyl salicylate, lilial (p-tertiarybutyl-alpha-methyl hydrocinnamic aldehyde), gamma-methyl ionone, nerolidol, patchouli alcohol, phenyl hexanol, beta-selinene, trichloromethyl phenyl carbinyl acetate, triethyl citrate, vanillin, and veratraldehyde.
• Cedarwood terpenes are
• Examples of the less volatile, high boiling, perfumes are : benzophenone, benzyl salicylate, ethylene brassylate, galaxolide (1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethyl-cyclopenta-gama-2-benzopyran), hexyl cinnamic aldehyde, lyral (4-(4-hydroxy-4- methyl pentyl)-3- cyclohexene- 10-carboxaldehyde), methyl cedrylone, methyl dihydro jasmonate, methyl-beta-naphthyl ketone, musk indanone, musk ketone, musk tibetene, and phenylethyl phenyl acetate.
• Preferred perfumes are selected from the group consisting of : a cyclic terpene/sesquiterpene perfume, such as eucalyptol, cedrol, pinocarveolus, sesquiterpenic globulul alcohol; linalo; tetrahydrolinalo; verdox (cyclohexadiyl 2 tetryl butyl acetate); 6,3 hexanol; and citronellol and mixtures thereof.
• a cyclic terpene/sesquiterpene perfume such as eucalyptol, cedrol, pinocarveolus, sesquiterpenic globulul alcohol
• linalo tetrahydrolinalo
• verdox cyclohexadiyl 2 tetryl butyl acetate
• 6,3 hexanol 6,3 hexanol
• citronellol and mixtures thereof cyclic terpene/sesquiterpene perfume
• the liquid, perfume-containing composition herein may comprise from 0.01 % to 40%, preferably from 0.01% to 35%, more preferably from 0.1% to 30%, and most preferably from 0.1% to 25% by weight of the total composition of said perfume.
• the present invention encompasses a process of treating a lavatory bowl surface with a lavatory bowl rim-block according to the present invention, wherein said process comprises the step of applying a liquid, perfume-containing composition onto a lavatory bowl surface.
• said application of said quid, perfume-containing composition onto a lavatory bowl surface is done upon flushing said lavatory bowl surface with water.
• the liquid, perfume-containing composition is preferably applied onto said surface in diluted form, wherein dilution occurs upon application of the liquid composition herein to said surface
• composition in its diluted form it is meant herein that said composition may be diluted with water up to a 120.000x dilution level, preferably between 50.000x to 80.000x, more preferably 10.000x to 60.000x, even more preferably 1 0.000x to 55.000x, and most preferably 20.000x to 50.000x dilution level.
• the present invention encompasses the manufacture of a composition for use in one of the processes as described herein above.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
• Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
• Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Bidet-Like Cleaning Device And Other Flush Toilet Accessories (AREA)
• Disinfection, Sterilisation Or Deodorisation Of Air (AREA)
• Fats And Perfumes (AREA)
• Detergent Compositions (AREA)
• Packaging Of Annular Or Rod-Shaped Articles, Wearing Apparel, Cassettes, Or The Like (AREA)

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• 2003
  • 2003-04-15 EP EP03076096A patent/EP1469131A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
  • 2003-10-28 DE DE60315797.1T patent/DE60315797T3/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-10-28 ES ES03078382.3T patent/ES2291593T5/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-10-28 AT AT03078382T patent/ATE371064T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation

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