GB1567754A

GB1567754A - Lavatory cleansing block

Info

Publication number: GB1567754A
Application number: GB4039275A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Jeyes Group Ltd
Current assignee: Jeyes Group Ltd
Priority date: 1975-10-04
Filing date: 1975-10-04
Publication date: 1980-05-21
Also published as: IE44389B1; IE44389L

Description

(54) LAVATORY CLEANSING BLOCK (71) We, JEYES GROUP LIMITED, a British Company of Brunel Way, Thetford, Norfolk, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention is concerned with improvements in and relating to the cleansing of lavatories. In particular this invention is concerned with a method of cleansing lavatories by immersing a cleansing block in the cistern of a lavatory (which term is also intended to include urinals) so that when the lavatory is flushed with water from the cistern the flushed water contains some detergent or deansing agent.Optionally, the block may also supply to the flush water one or more of colouring agents, perfumes, germicides and/or water softening agents.

Commoy, such cleansing blocks immersed in the cistern are contained in a suitable container so that the blocks are not eroded away too quickly and a more or less metered dose of detergent and/or other ingredient is released to the flush water.

The present invention is concerned with the use of blocks which may be introduced into the cistern without the need for a fabricated container, that is blocks which may be placed in the cistern unwrapped or wrapped in some water-soluble material. It has already been pr posed to formulate such blocks using a mixture of surface active agents.

It has now been found, in accordance with the present invention that such a block may be formulated by employing, as a solid carrier base, a single surfactant material or a mixture thereof wi a builder or filler.

According to the invention, therefore, there is provided a method of cleansing a lavatory which comprises immersing in the cistern thereof a lavatory cleansing block comprising a shaped block of a blend of (a) a carrier base comprising (i) a single surface active material and, optionally, (ii) a builder or filler, and (b) one or more ingredients selected from perfuming agents, colouring agents, germicides and water-softening agents; the single surface active material forming at least 50% by weight of the blend and comprising a sucrose surfactant, distilled monoglycerides from natural fats, a polyethoxylated fatty alcohol, or an ethylene oxide/propylene oxide, block copolymer.

The term "single surface active material" as used herein is intended to refer to a surface active material obtained by a single process (which may of course include a number of process steps). It will be appreciated that such a material, as commercially available, will not necessarily comprise only a single chemical species but may comprise a number of chemical species depending upon the feedstock(s) employed in the manufacture of the material and the process of manufacture employed.

Surfactants for use in the blocks used in the invention are sucrose surfactants; distilled monoglycerides derived from natural fats (e.g.

lard, tallow, soya bean oil, cottonseed oil and sunflower oil); polyglycerol esters of fatty acids, e.g. palmitic and stearic acid; ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymers; and polyakoxylated (e.g. polyethoxylated or polypropoxylated) fatty alcohols (e.g. alcohols containing from 8 to 20 carbon atoms).

The term " sucrose surfactant " as used herein is intended to refer to a surfactant comprising one or more esters of a fatty acid (which may be saturated or unsaturated) obtainable by the transesterification of fatty acid esters, such as triglycerides, for example by the process described in Specification No. 1,399,053.

As a result of the method of preparation, the sucrose surfactant may contain other components such as unreacted triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides and alkali metal soaps of the fatty acids. Certain of the other components may be removed by suitable purification steps but, in any event, the sucrose surfactant will contain the sucrose/fatty acid ester. The fatty acid will generally be one containing at least 8 carbon atoms preferably at least 12 carbon atoms and more preferably from 12 to 18 carbon atoms. It is to be understood that the sucrose surfactant may com prise esters of sucrose with two or more fatty acids depending on the nature of the starting material employed and its method of preparation.

The carrier base preferably forms from 70 to 90% by weight of the blend, more preferably from 80 to 95% by weight thereof.

The principal ingredient of the carrier base of the blocks used in the invention is the single surfactant which is the only surfactant present in the blend but the carrier base may also contain builders or fillers serving to increase the bulk of the carrier base such as alkali metal polyphosphates, alkali metal carbonates, alkali metal borates, alkali metal bicarbonates, alkali metal chlorides, alkali metal sulphates, carb oxymethyl celluloses, urea, clays and siliceous earths. It will be appreciated that the fillers may impart other properties to the blend, or its solution in water, i.e. may impart cleansing, water-softening or soil-suspending preparations.These fillers may be described as active fillers and examples thereof are alkali metal polyphosphosphates and alkali metal bicarbonates which have water-softening properties and carboxymethylcelluloses which have soilsuspending properties. Other fillers, which may be described as inert fillers, do not impart such properties to the block but serve to essentially to increase its bulk and examples thereof in dude urea, clays and siliceous earths.

In use the block used in accordance with the invention is immersed in the cistern of a lavatory and is gradually dissolved away to release its active ingredients to the water in the cistern, which water on flushing of the cistern serves to clean the lavatory. As will be appreciated the block should not dissolve too fast (or it will be too quickly spent) nor should it dissolve too slowly (otherwise it will not impart adequate cleansing properties to the flushing water). In practice, it has been found that a block weighing 50 grams which has a life of about 30 days in a conventional cistern having a capacity of 2+ gallons which is flushed ten times a day is the most acceptable.

As a general guide a block having a solubility, measured as described below, of from 2 to 20 grams/100 ml water at 20 C, will generally prove satisfactory. Preferably, the block will have solubility, measured as described below, of from 2 to 15 grams/100 ml water, more preferably from 4 to 12 grams/ 100 ml water at 20 C. The solubilities referred to above are measured by placing a solid, weighed sample of the block in 100 ml of water at 20 C, allowing the block to stand for 12 hours at 20 C, then vigorously stirring the water for 30 minutes and finally filtering off undissolved material, dying it to constant weight and then weighing the dried sample to ascertain the weight loss and hence the solubility.

The blocks of the invention also contain other ingredients in addition to the carrier base, namely an ingredient selected from: (i) perfuming agents; (ii) colouring agents comprising dyestuffs or other colouring agents; (iii) germicides; and (iv) water-softening agents (other than those active builders or fillers having a water-softening action).

Where the blocks contain a perfume, the perfume content may be up to 30% by weight and is suitably from 1 to 20% by weight, preferably about 10% by weight. Suitable perfume systems for use in the blocks according to the invention are isobornyl acetate, International Flavours and Fragrances perfume No.

8817 and the Perfume Conifer 65008 manufactured by Aromatica Limited, these two latter being commercially available perfumes.

When a dyestuff is used in the blocks this may form up to 20% by weight of the block, preferably from 1 to 10% by weight thereof.

The principle importance of the dyestuff besides imparting a pleasant colour to the water is to indicate to the user that the block is still present in the cistern, i.e. when the flush water becomes clear, then the block is exhausted.

This dye is suitably of a blue colouration and may be, for example, Lissamine turquoise or Chlorzol blue.

Germicides which may be used in the blocks, include, for example, Cetrimide BP, benzalkonium chloride BP, orthophenylphenol or orthobenzyl-p-chlorophenol. Such genni- cides are suitably present in amounts of up to 25% by weight and preferably in amounts of from 1 to 10% by weight.

Water-softening agents which may be used in the blocks include organic sequestant watersoftening agents such as ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid and alkali metal salts thereof. These are suitably present in the blocks in amounts of from 1 to 10% by weight.

In order to facilitate handling of the blocks they can be arranged in a protective envelope of a water-soluble film-forming substance (such as polyvinyl alcohol) which is dissolved away when the coated block is immersed in water.

In order that the invention may be well understood the following Examples of the composition of blocks for use in accordance with the invention are given by way of illustration only. In the Examples all percentages are by weight unless otherwise stated.

EXAMPLE 1.

Sucrose Surfactant* 86.5% Perfume (Conifer 65008) 10.0% Dye (Lissamine Turquoise VN 150) 3.5% *The sucrose monoester-containing surface active material was one derived from the reaction of sucrose and tallow (Iodine Value 45) and had the following analysis: Table 1 below gives the fatty acid analysis for various triglycerides used in making the sucrose/glyceride material.

TABLE 1

Triglyceride Lauric Myristic Palmitic Palmitoleic Stearic Oleic Linoleic Linoleric Iodine value Tallow 0.2 3.5 26.6 2.2 23.2 36.4 1.8 45-55 Average Hog's Lard 26.9 2.0 17.2 44.8 8.9 65 Palm Seed Oil 43.0 1.2 5.4 46.7 6.4 45-55 Linseed Oil 7.2 4.8 19.4 14.4 54.1 190 Coconut Oil 56.6 17.7 7.1 2.2 4.3 0.4 7 Caprylic Capric 8.8 8.9 EXAMPLE 10 (A-D).

Sucrose Surfactant* Sodium tripolyphosphate Perfume** Dye** **As in Example 1.

*The sucrose surfactant is prepared from the triglycerides detailed in Examples 6-9 66.5% (See Table 1 for their fatty acid analysis).

20.0% 10.0% i.e. Example 10A Linseed Oil 3.5% 10B Hog's Lard 10C Palm Seed Oil 10D Coconut Oil Triglycerides 5% Diglycerides 12% Monoglycerides 16% Sucrose Monoesters 25% Sucrose diesters 5% Soaps of saturated fatty acids 14% Soaps of unsaturated fatty acids 11% Sucrose 12% EXAMPLE 2.

Sucrose Surfactant** 66.5% Sodium tripolyphosphate 20.0% Perfume** 10.0% Dye** 3.5% **As in Example 1.

EXAMPLE 3.

Sucrose Surfactant* 86.S% Perfume** 10.0% Dye** 3.5% *The material was the same as used in Example 1 except that it contained no fatty acid soaps, the remaining ingredients being in the same proportions as in the material of Example 1.

**As in Example 1.

EXAMPLE 4.

Sucrose Surfactant 86.S% Perfume** 10.0% Dye** 3.5% *The sucrose surfactant was derived from the reaction of sucrose with saturated (hardened) tallow. The analysis was similar to that of Example 1 except that soaps of unsaturated fatty acids were not present-all soaps being derived from saturated fatty acids (approximately 25% W/W).

**As in Example 1.

EXAMPLE 5.

Sucrose Surfactant 86.5% Perfume** 10.0% Dye** 3.5% *The sucrose monoester-containing surface active material was one derived from the reaction of sucrose and tallow and had the following analysis: Triglycerides 3% Diglycerides 9% Monoglycerides 15% Sucrose monoesters 27% Sucrose diesters 3% Soaps of saturated fatty acids 17% Soaps of unsaturated fatty acids 13% Sucrose 13% EXAMPLES 6-9.

Compositions were made up having the composition given in Example 5 except that the sucrose monoester-containing surface active material was derived from the reaction of sucrose and various triglycerides as noted below.

Example Triglycerides 6 Linseed Oil 7 Hog's Lard 8 Palm Seed Oil 9 Coconut Oil In each case the material had a similar analysis to that given for the sucrose/tallow material in Example 5.

EXAMPLE 11.

Dimodan PM* 53.0% Urea 22.0% Sodium Bicarbonate 10.0% Perfume** lQ0% Dye** 5.0% *Distilled monoglycerides from animal fat: nLp. 270 C.

Saponification value 160--165; Iodine value max. 1 (the word 'Dimodan' is a Registered Trade Mark).

**As in Example 1.

EXAMPLE 12.

Ethoxylated C9/1 alcohol (30 moles ethylene oxide) 51.5% (Lutensol SC328; the word 'Lutensol' is a Registered Trade Mark) Sodium Carkxy methyl cellulose 35.0% (Cellofas B10 powder; the word 'Cellofas' is a Registered Trade Mark) Perfume* 10.0% D* 3.5% *As in Example 1.

The blends described in the Examples were formed into lavatory cleansing blocks having a weight of approximately 50 grams.

The solubilities of a number of the block blends were ascertained by the method des cubed above and the following results were obtained.

Blend ot Example Solubility g/100 ml water at 200 C 1 9.1 3 7.5 4 6.1 7 2.4 10(B) 4.0 11 4.1 12 WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A method of cleansing a lavatory which comprises immersing in the cistern thereof a lavatory cleansing block comprising a shaped block of a blend of (a) a carrier base comprising (i) a single surface active material and, optionally, (ii) a builder or filler, and (b) one or more ingredients selected from perfuming agents, colouring agents, germicides and watersoftening agents; the single surface active material forming at least 50% by weight of the blend and comprising a sucrose surfactant, distilled monoglycerides from natural fats, a polyethoxylated fatty alcohol, or an ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymer.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the carrier base forms from 70 to 99% by weight of the blend.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 in which the carrier base forms from 80 to 95% by weight of the blend.

4. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the blend contains a perfuming agent in an amount of from 1 to 20% by weight.

5. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the blend contains a colouring agent in an amount of from 1 to 10% by weight.

6. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the blend contains a germicide in an amount of from 1 to 10% by weight.

7. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the blend contains a water-softening agent in an amount of from 1 to 10% by weight.

8. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the block has a weight of from 20 to 150 grams.

9. A method as claimed in claim 9 in which the block has a weight of from 30 to 70 grams.

10. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the block has a protective coating of a water-soluble film-forming substance.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Examples.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

EXAMPLE 11.

Dimodan PM* 53.0% Urea 22.0% Sodium Bicarbonate 10.0% Perfume** lQ0% Dye** 5.0% *Distilled monoglycerides from animal fat: nLp. 270 C.

Saponification value 160--165; Iodine value max. 1 (the word 'Dimodan' is a Registered Trade Mark).

**As in Example 1.

EXAMPLE 12.

Ethoxylated C9/1 alcohol (30 moles ethylene oxide) 51.5% (Lutensol SC328; the word 'Lutensol' is a Registered Trade Mark) Sodium Carkxy methyl cellulose 35.0% (Cellofas B10 powder; the word 'Cellofas' is a Registered Trade Mark) Perfume* 10.0% D* 3.5% *As in Example 1.

The blends described in the Examples were formed into lavatory cleansing blocks having a weight of approximately 50 grams.

The solubilities of a number of the block blends were ascertained by the method des cubed above and the following results were obtained.

Blend ot Example Solubility g/100 ml water at 200 C

1 9.1

3 7.5

4 6.1

7 2.4 10(B) 4.0

11 4.1 12 WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A method of cleansing a lavatory which comprises immersing in the cistern thereof a lavatory cleansing block comprising a shaped block of a blend of (a) a carrier base comprising (i) a single surface active material and, optionally, (ii) a builder or filler, and (b) one or more ingredients selected from perfuming agents, colouring agents, germicides and watersoftening agents; the single surface active material forming at least 50% by weight of the blend and comprising a sucrose surfactant, distilled monoglycerides from natural fats, a polyethoxylated fatty alcohol, or an ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymer.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the carrier base forms from 70 to 99% by weight of the blend.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 in which the carrier base forms from 80 to 95% by weight of the blend.

4. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the blend contains a perfuming agent in an amount of from 1 to 20% by weight.

5. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the blend contains a colouring agent in an amount of from 1 to 10% by weight.

6. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the blend contains a germicide in an amount of from 1 to 10% by weight.

7. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the blend contains a water-softening agent in an amount of from 1 to 10% by weight.

8. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the block has a weight of from 20 to 150 grams.

9. A method as claimed in claim 9 in which the block has a weight of from 30 to 70 grams.

10. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the block has a protective coating of a water-soluble film-forming substance.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Examples.