ES2650065T3 - Method to produce a hygienic device for sanitary items - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for producing a sanitary device for sanitary elements comprising detergent and / or deodorant means in the form of a solid block (20) and hooking means (30) to be hung from a perimeter edge of a toilet, in which said coupling means (30) comprise a coupling portion with the toilet (31) and a coupling portion (32) with said solid block (20), said coupling portion (32) being with said solid block (20) embedded in the solid block (20), comprising the steps of: - placing, within a mold (5), at least one body having a cylindrical geometry (4) of detergent and / or deodorant material, and comprising said engagement means (31) a coupling portion with said solid block made of a perforated element (32), - compressing the body having the cylindrical geometry (4) to form a solid block (20) around said perforated element (32), characterized why, in d said placement step, said body having the cylindrical geometry (4) is arranged in coupling within at least one through hole (33) of the perforated element (32), and by which said body is defined by a curve having any shape and it is arranged in a plane, and parallel straight lines called generating lines, said lines having a given direction and passing through each individual point of the curve.

Description

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DESCRIPTION

Method to produce a hygienic device for sanitary items

The present invention relates to a method for producing a hygienic device for sanitary elements of the type suitable for hanging, by means of a suitable hook, of the perimeter edge of a sanitary element, such as for example a toilet, according to the preamble of the claim 1.

The known hygienic devices can be divided into the so-called "solid tablets", which comprise detergent and / or solid-state deodorant media, and the so-called "liquid tablets", which comprise liquid detergent and / or toilet deodorant media dispensed. Through a bowl

In particular, the first type of hygienic devices for toilets generally comprises a perforated dispensing element, called a "cage," which is provided with a hook to engage the edge of the toilet, and within which detergent and / or deodorant means are contained. in the form of a solid block, also called "soap."

Solid state detergent and / or deodorant media are currently manufactured in general by an extrusion process.

With each discharge of discharge water, the water, which directly immerses the cage dispensing element, dissolves and washes a small amount of the detergent and / or deodorant product from the solid block contained within the cage.

A disadvantage of such cage devices is that they have a high impact on the environment. In fact, once they have been used, when the detergent and / or deodorant means have been exhausted, the entire dispensing element, which comprises the hook and the cage, is discarded.

In addition, when cage devices are applied inside the toilet, they are bulky and have an appearance that can be considered unattractive.

Other hygienic devices for toilets have also been developed in which solid detergent and / or deodorant media are suspended at the perimeter edge by a less bulky cage structure. For example, WO 2007/107750 A1 shows a solid detergent medium, which has substantially the entire outer surface, which is exposed to the discharge water, into which the plate-shaped end of the hook is directly embedded so that it is suspended from the perimeter edge of the toilet. According to the teachings of WO 2007/107750 A1, the plate is inserted in a cut made in the solid detergent block which, by means of a compression passage, is enclosed around it.

Also document EP 1891197 A1 describes a process for manufacturing a solid detergent block that is suitable to be suspended on an edge of a toilet, in which a part of the hook is inserted into the solid block and such solid block can be subjected to compression of so that it encapsulates the hook part.

The main drawback of such devices, which are made by inserting a part of the hook in the solid block and exerting a compression to close the solid block around the hook, consists in securing the coupling between the hook and the solid block during the consumption of the block. solid. In particular, the contact area between the hook and the solid block is subject to the delamination phenomenon, due to the repeated discharge of the discharge waters, and the progressive consumption of the solid block. This phenomenon could cause the solid block to separate from the hook and, therefore, cause the solid block to fall prematurely before it has been substantially depleted.

A further drawback consists in carrying out the production process that requires the insertion and correct positioning of many separate elements, in particular the solid block and the hook, in a mold in which they are fixed with one another by compression.

Another example of a hygienic device for a toilet comprising solid detergent and / or deodorant means is given in WO 2011/141720 A1, which teaches drilling through a solid detergent block on a plate placed in the front or back of it.

Also, in this type of device the size of the structure is smaller with respect to cage devices, but it still has a support structure that is external with respect to the solid block, which is visible in use, especially if it is frontal type , and that affects the circulation of the discharge water around the solid block, and consequently in a negative way to the uniformity of its consumption.

WO 2007/107755 representing the closest prior art shows a method of producing a hygienic device.

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The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a sanitary device for sanitary elements that allows optimizing the circulation of discharge water around the solid detergent block to achieve the most homogeneous and uniform consumption possible with respect to the different types of toilets

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a sanitary device for sanitary elements that minimizes the risk of premature detachment of the solid block from the engagement means during use.

Another purpose is to provide a method to produce a sanitary device for sanitary elements that optimizes the result in terms of its appearance.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a sanitary device for sanitary elements that is particularly simple and functional, and that is low cost.

These purposes according to the present invention are achieved by the method of producing a sanitary device for sanitary elements as described in the independent claim.

Additional features are provided in the dependent claims.

The characteristics and advantages of a method for producing a sanitary device for sanitary elements according to the present invention will be more apparent from the following description, given as an example and not for limiting purposes, with reference to the attached schematic drawings, in the that:

Figure 1 is a schematic view showing the method of producing a hygienic device for sanitary elements;

Figures 2 and 3 are sectional views along the lines M-M and MI-MI shown in Figure 5 of a first embodiment of a hygienic device for sanitary elements produced according to the method of the invention;

Figure 4 shows the coupling means of the device of Figures 2 and 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 2;

Figures 6-10 are exploded views of additional embodiments of a sanitary device for sanitary elements produced according to the invention showing the engagement means and relative detergent bodies with cylindrical geometry;

Figures 11-15 show additional embodiments of the coupling means of the sanitary devices for sanitary elements produced according to the invention;

Figure 16 shows a last embodiment of the coupling means of the sanitary devices for sanitary elements produced according to the invention in an intermediate storage configuration as raw materials;

Figure 17 shows a sanitary device for sanitary elements produced according to the invention showing the hooking means of Figure 16, in a second molding configuration, and the relative detergent body having a cylindrical geometry.

With reference to the figures, a hygienic device for sanitary elements is shown, fully indicated with 10, comprising detergent and / or deodorant means in the form of a solid block 20, made of a malleable extruded paste, and means 30 for engaging in a perimeter edge of a toilet.

The hooking means 30 comprise a first coupling portion 31 for coupling with the toilet, in the example formed as a flexible hook that can have varying shapes and sizes.

The hooking means 30 also comprise a second portion for engaging with the solid block 20, which, when the product is finished, is embedded in the solid block 20 and which, according to the invention, consists of a perforated element 32.

The perforated element 32 comprises a through hole 33, or possibly many through holes 33 (Figure 9) that are separated by a septum 34 and that are surrounded by a perimeter wall 35.

Each hole 33 can have, in general, any shape.

According to particular embodiments shown as an example in Figures 8 and 17, the hole 33 may have, on the contour wall, at least one guide or coupling projection 36, 36 'which can be shaped in several ways and protrude inwards of the orifice for coupling with an extruded body of detergent and / or deodorant material having a cylindrical geometry 4 during the molding of the device 10 according to the invention.

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Figure 8 shows, for example, two guide projections 36 that are facing opposite points of the hole 33, and which are suitable for coupling corresponding recesses 6 that coincide with the body having the cylindrical geometry 4.

Figure 17 shows a plurality of coupling projections 36 ', which are made in the form of wedges projecting a few millimeters into the hole 33, radially equally spaced along the wall 35 of the perforated element 32, suitable for engrave the surface of the body that has cylindrical geometry 4.

Such coupling projections 36 ', alternatively to the guide projections 36 shown in Figure 8, could be provided in each of the other embodiments shown and described.

The perimeter wall 35 of the perforated element 32 may have an external contour surface of any shape and, in the examples, is shown as an example in the form of a petal or circle. Preferably, the perforated element 32 is ring-shaped. The flat dimensions of the perforated element 32 are, in general, smaller or, at most, the same as those of the solid block 20, so that they are completely embedded in the block itself and, therefore, hidden from view.

However, according to the invention, the perforated element 32 could also have larger dimensions with respect to the solid block and project from there even when the product is new, according to an embodiment that has not been shown. Also in this case a perforated element 32 embedded in the solid block will be considered, since the portion of the perforated element embedded in the solid block is responsible for maintaining the solid block in the engagement means.

According to a preferred embodiment, the perforated element 32 has an irregular thickness in the direction that is perpendicular to the plane on which it rests, since at least one element 37 is arranged protruding from at least one side of the perforated element 32, which forms a discontinuity on the surface of the perimeter wall 35.

Figures 4 and 11 to 15 show exemplary embodiments of protruding elements 37 with respect to the thickness of the perforated element 32, for example consisting of pins or pins that are distributed radially according to various configurations in the perimeter wall 35. The protruding elements 37 may have a height that is equal to the thickness of the perforated element 32, but which in any case is smaller with respect to the thickness of the solid block 20, so that they do not project from the finished product before being used.

The projecting elements 37 have the main function of helping to correctly place the hooking means inside the mold during the production of the device 10 according to the invention and to prevent them from rotating during the molding step.

The protruding elements 37 have the additional function of ensuring a greater grip of the solid block molded onto the perforated element, increasing the contact surface and introducing contact surfaces with different inclinations.

As shown in Figures 16 and 17, the discontinuity of the upper and / or lower surfaces of the wall 35 can also be performed by recesses, which identify a plurality of knurls 37 ', which extend substantially throughout the entire upper surface and / or lower of the perforated element 32, with the exception of a flat section in each of the upper and / or lower surfaces placed in a position that is diametrically opposite with respect to the coupling portion 31 to engage with the toilet.

Knurls 37 ', which could also be made interchangeably with the shape of projections, are arranged radially in the wall 35 and help to better transport the solid block paste so that it is distributed radially from the inside outwards during molding .

The flat section, which in the illustrated example has a thickness equal to the maximum distance between the spikes of knurls 37 'present on opposite faces of the perforated element 32, has the function of strengthening it at the point of greatest tensile stress during the molding step derived from the pressure exerted by crushing the body having the cylindrical geometry 4.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 16 and 17, a collar 38 is also shown, arranged in the transition portion between the first coupling portion 31 to engage the toilet and the second coupling portion with the solid block 20, which could be present in any of the additional embodiments shown and described. The collar 38, in addition to being an aid for the manipulation of the hooking means in the production line, helps to correctly place the hooking means inside the mold to keep them in position during the compression of the body having the cylindrical geometry 4.

As shown in the sections of Figures 2 and 3, the solid block 20 of the device 10 according to the invention comprises, in the hole 33 of the perforated element 32, an inner portion 21, which is inside the hole 33, made from the beginning of a single cohesive piece. This means that in hole 33, throughout the entire

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thickness of the solid block 20, there are no joining surfaces between the different parts of the solid block 20.

The solid block 20 further comprises an intermediate portion 22, which is adjacent to the inner portion 21 entering the hole 33 and facing the perimeter wall 35, in which the facing surfaces of the solid block are in contact with the perimeter wall 35 of the perforated element 32 on opposite sides.

In the case where the perforated element 32 is completely embedded within the solid block 20, the solid block 20 comprises an outer perimeter portion 23 that is obtained by joining two distinct layers of the solid block 20 that have been in contact with each other during the molding Figures 2 and 3 show an embodiment in which it is possible to identify two different layers of the solid block 20 in contact with each other along a joint surface 24, shown only as an example at approximately half the thickness of the solid block 20. Depending on the molding parameters, the joining surface 24 can be emphasized to a greater or lesser extent and thus it is possible to identify it in the section of the finished solid block rather than in the side wall thereof.

According to a more general embodiment of the invention, the outer perimeter portion 23 of the solid block 20 may not have a distribution that is symmetrical with respect to the perforated element 32, but has a larger volume on one side of the perforated element 32, in the figure 2 on the side opposite the hook 31, depending on the shape of the mold.

In the variable embodiments comprising many holes 33, the solid block 20 comprises, in each hole 33, an internal portion that passes into the hole 33 and is made of a single cohesive piece. The intermediate portion 22, in this case, is oriented towards both the perimeter wall 35 and the septa 34. The considerations described above, with respect to the presence of the outer perimeter portion 23 also apply if the perforated element 32 is completely embedded in solid block 20 according to a preferred embodiment.

In particular, in the embodiment of the hygienic device according to the invention having a single hole 33, with larger dimensions with respect to the cross section of the portion 31 in the form of a flexible hook, it has been found that under storage conditions of the hook 30 stacked one on top of the other, waiting to be used in the molding, these could remain stuck between them. This can cause considerable problems in the automatic step of collecting simple coupling means so that they are assembled with the body having the cylindrical geometry 4 and placed in the mold 5, and with the consequent shutdown of the production plant.

To avoid this problem, a cross 40, or other element that has been transversely molded with respect to the hole 33, is provided which possibly in combination with the realization of an enlarged part 39 at the end of the coupling portion 31 with the shape With a flexible hook, as shown in Figure 16, prevent the hooking means 30 from sticking between them. In fact, the cross 40 generates a series of openings with dimensions that are smaller with respect to the hook-shaped portion. The cross 40 is present in the hooking means only as an intermediate configuration for storing raw material and then immediately removed, after collecting the hooking means and before coupling them with the body having the cylindrical geometry 4, as is shown in figure 17, which shows the molding configuration.

Such structural arrangements that are suitable to prevent the hooking means 30 from sticking together under storage conditions, according to the invention, apply to all embodiments illustrated and described.

The hygienic device for sanitary elements according to the invention is preferably made by succession of the following steps schematically shown in Figure 1:

- forming by means of an extruder 1 an extrusion piece 2 of the detergent and / or deodorant material in the form of a malleable paste,

- cutting, by means of cutting means 3, the extrusion part 2 into pieces of the desired length in order to form a body, having the cylindrical geometry 4, of detergent and / or deodorant material,

- placing in a mold 5 at least one body having the cylindrical geometry 4 and the hooking means 30, in particular of the perforated element 32, to arrange each body having the cylindrical geometry 4 in engagement within a hole 33 of the perforated element 32,

- compressing the body having the cylindrical geometry 4 to form the solid block 20 around the perforated element 32.

It should be understood, according to the present invention, that the body having the cylindrical geometry 4 of detergent and / or deodorant material could also be made according to a process other than extrusion.

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By body with cylindrical geometry 4 it is meant, according to the invention, a body that is identified by a curve, called a guideline curve, intersected by lines that are parallel to each other, called generatrix lines, that are parallel to a predetermined direction X. body with cylindrical geometry 4 is limited at the ends by two flat cross sections, or bases, which are parallel to the plane comprising the guiding curve.

The guideline, which is always a closed line, can be, for example, a circle, an ellipse, a polygon, that is, it can generally have any shape. Some examples are shown in Figures 7 to 10.

Preferably, in the device 10 according to the invention, the hole 33 of the perforated element 32 has substantially the same shape and size as the base of the body having the cylindrical geometry 4 so that it is suitable for the purpose of coupling with it.

According to the production method object of the present invention, the body having the cylindrical geometry 4 is arranged in the perforated element 32 coaxially with respect to it, that is to say with the X axis, corresponding to the extrusion axis, arranged perpendicular to the plane containing the perforated element 32.

The arrangement of the group, which consists of the body with the cylindrical geometry 4 and the perforated element 32 inside the mold 5, is carried out in order to place the element with a cylindrical geometry with the X axis parallel to the direction of molding, that is, the direction in which the compression is.

According to a further preferred aspect, the body having the cylindrical geometry 4 is held in position within the hole 33 in the positioning step inside the mold 5 by mechanical interference with the relative hole 33, that is, it is introduced into the mold 5 in A pre-assembled condition.

The presence of one or more guide projections 36 protruding from the contour wall of the hole 33 towards the inside of the hole also requires that the body having the cylindrical geometry 4 have coincident recesses 6, whose coupling with the projections 36 contributes to maintaining the body having the cylindrical geometry 4 in position inside the hole 33 in the positioning step inside the mold during molding.

The coupling projections 36 ', which are radially spaced along the wall 35 of the perforated element 32, are suitable for engaging with slight interference to the body having the cylindrical geometry 4 in order to keep it in position during the positioning of the group in the mold. In fact, since the body having the cylindrical geometry 4 made of detergent and / or deodorant means, is typically composed of a malleable paste, the coupling projections 36 'cause slight cuts in the surface thereof when the solid body 4 it is forced into the perforated element 32 and is maintained in the position thus predetermined.

The placement in the mold of the solid body 4 and the perforated element 32 under pre-assembled conditions makes it possible to use the "cavity" molding method, in which the group formed by the body having the cylindrical geometry 4 and the perforated element 32 is Place completely inside a mold that compresses it and modifies its shape by redistributing the dough, without creating debris, that is, waste material that leaves the mold, which are typical, on the other hand, in "press" molding.

The positioning step of the coupling means 30 and of the at least one body having the cylindrical geometry 4 in the mold 5 is assisted by the presence of the discontinuities of the surfaces of the wall 35, composed of the protruding or recessed elements 37 , 37 'with respect to at least one side of the perforated element 32 and which are suitable to give the perforated element a variable thickness and to engage with corresponding recesses or projections that coincide with the mold (not shown).

An automatic collection step of the single coupling means 30 for pre-assembly with the body having the cylindrical geometry 4, in which the coupling means 30 are kept in an orderly configuration before the collection step thanks to the presence of a portion 39 which widens at the end of the coupling portion 31 of the engagement means 30.

A subsequent step of removing the cross 40 precedes the step of placing, in the mold, the at least one body, which has the cylindrical geometry 4 arranged in engagement inside the through hole 33 of the perforated element 32 of the engagement means 30

By extrusion piece 2, reference is made both to a semi-finished product made in one piece, and to a semi-finished product obtained by coextrusion of two or more detergent and / or deodorant materials, for example coaxial with respect to the X axis, as shown schematically in figure 17.

According to a preferred aspect of the method according to the present invention, the compression step of the body having the cylindrical geometry 4 does not substantially modify the density of the malleable paste that forms the detergent and / or deodorant medium.

The method of producing a sanitary device for sanitary elements according to the invention has the advantage of allowing a fast and precise placement of the solid block and of the hooking means in a mold, which can also be operated with automatic means.

A further advantage of the method according to the invention comes from the redistribution of the malleable paste, which forms the solid block, around the engagement means during the molding operation.

The method of producing a sanitary device for sanitary elements, object of the present invention, has the advantage of maintaining a substantial portion of the detergent and / or deodorant material in the form of a single cohesive piece supported in use by gravity and contour. bottom of the hole of the perforated element, substantially preventing it from accidentally falling during use.

The production method thus conceived can undergo numerous modifications and variants, all covered by the invention, in addition, all the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, can be any according to the technical requirements.

The scope of protection of this patent is limited by the appended claims.

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Claims (8)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 40 1. Method for producing a sanitary device for sanitary elements comprising detergent and / or deodorant means in the form of a solid block (20) and coupling means (30) to be hung from a perimeter edge of a toilet, wherein said hooking means (30) comprise a coupling portion with the toilet (31) and a coupling portion (32) with said solid block (20), said coupling portion (32) being with said solid block ( 20) embedded in the solid block (20), which includes the steps of: - placing, within a mold (5), at least one body having a cylindrical geometry (4) of detergent and / or deodorant material, and said engagement means (31) comprising a coupling portion with said solid block made of a perforated element (32), - compressing the body having the cylindrical geometry (4) to form a solid block (20) around said perforated element (32), characterized in that, in said positioning step, said body having the cylindrical geometry (4) is arranged in coupling within at least one through hole (33) of the perforated element (32), and that said body is defined by a curve that has any shape and is arranged in a plane, and parallel straight lines called generating lines, said lines having a given direction and passing through each individual point of the curve. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said body having the cylindrical geometry (4) is made by the steps of: - forming an extrusion part (2) of the detergent and / or deodorant means, - cutting pieces of the extrusion piece to form said body having the cylindrical geometry (4). Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one hole (33) of the perforated element (32) has substantially the same shape and size as the body curve having the cylindrical geometry (4) suitable for Be placed in it. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one body having the cylindrical geometry (4) is held in position within the at least one hole (33) during the placement step inside the mold (5 ) by mechanical interference with the hole (33). Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said hooking means (30) are placed inside the mold (5) by means of at least one protrusion or recess element (37, 37 ') on at least one side of the perforated element (32) or in the variation in thickness of said perforated element (32) by coupling with recesses or complementary projections of the mold (5). Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said body having cylindrical geometry and an axis (X) is placed inside said mold (5) with its axis (X) arranged in parallel with respect to the direction of molding according to which compression takes place. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by applying a cavity type molding method, in which the group consisting of said body having the cylindrical geometry (4) and said perforated element (32), is arranged completely within said mold (5). Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said step of placing, within the mold, at least one body having the cylindrical geometry (4) arranged in engagement within a through hole (33) of the perforated element ( 32) of the hitching means (30) is preceded by a first step of collecting the hitching means (30) equipped with a transversely molded element with respect to the hole (33), such as a cross (40), using automatic means , and of a second removal step of said element molded transversely with respect to the hole (33).