IL127663A - Dual compartment lavatory cleansing device - Google Patents

Abstract

A dual compartment in-rim lavatory cleansing device, comprising a holder with at least two separate compartments, a first of said compartments containing a first cleansing block, comprising an alkanolamide as a foam generating and stabilizing component and a second of said compartments containing a lime scale preventing acid, said device including means known per se for attachment thereof to the rim of a lavatory bow

Description

A DUAL COMPARTMENT LAVATORY CLEANSING DEVICE Γ1ϊ7ϋΝ 1lj71]'7 ^Jl-lT 1Ϊ7ΠΠ The present invention relates to a solid lavatory cleansing block especially for use as an in-rim type lavatory block. More particularly, the present invention relates to a dual compartment lavatory cleansing device.

Lavatory cleansing devices such as Rim blocks or cistern cleaning blocks have been gaining more and more popularity. These devices fulfill a series of cleaning and sanitizing functions, which functions require the use of multiple compositions containing a relatively large number of ingredients. These ingredients of various chemical specie may interact with each other during manufacturing, shelf-life or usage, thereby reducing the efficiency/ effectiveness of the device.

Many compositions have been described for such devices in order to achieve good cleansing, disinfecting and deodorizing performance, as well as lime scale removal and prevention.

In order to achieve these objectives, different ingredients such as cleansing surfactants, foam stabilizers, active oxygen agent donors, active chlorine bleaching agents, acids, perfumes, enzymes, and odor neutralizers are described as active ingredients in state of the art patents.

Some of these components are incompatible and even have an antagonistic effect on each other and therefore their use and the choice thereof has to be limited, narrowing the efficiency range of the finished product.

Several patents describe two component dispensers as a solution for separately preparing and storing active substances.

However no patent covers the multitude of compositions and formulation possibilities which can be solved by simple dual compartment systems.

Moreover, the dispenser assembly or design utilized heretofor in the prior art are rather costly and complicated.

An example of such a dispenser is described in EP171494, in which a molded block containing a perfume and a dye and another block containing a peroxide bleach are used in dispensers for the treatment of flush water in toilets. The use of two blocks prevents degradation of perfume and dye by the bleach. These molded compositions, however, do not include any acidic compounds for limescale treatment and therefore do not suggest a device and/or composition for dealing with the problem of lime scale.

US Patent 4,578,207 describes a two component cleaner and disinfectant tablet for urinals and toilet flush tanks comprising two extruded components. The active antagonistic ingredients contained in the two components are active chlorine releasing disinfectants together with bleach sensitive dyes or acid sensitive dyes & fragrances and acid components.

The described two phase tablet provides prevention of lime and rust deposits by having a high acid and/or complexing agent content in one of the phases. The acids are taken out of only a limited group consisting of amidosulfonic, citric and phosphoric acids and mixtures thereof. However the described compositions are manufactured only by extrusion, using relatively costly equipment and technique to obtain a two component tablet, their proposed usage being only for in-cistern use in the water tank of flush toilets.

EP 0619 366A1 (P&G, 1991) discloses a one phase lavatory block which contains a source of active oxygen, an acid and a surfactant, having a pH below 7, providing improved cleansing and disinfecting as well as limescale, odor and stain removal.

The acids used in said patent are organic acids selected from citric, oxalic, maleic, succinic and tartaric acids and mixtures thereof .

In spite of the desired function of the rim block to prevent lime scale formation and/or remove limescale, no acid of strong chelating and limescale preventing performance such as known organic acids or inorganic acids are described. Therefore the patent proposes an additional chelant system in order "to improve the overall limescale/rust removal performance".

As only organic acids are quoted at concentrations of 0-30%, preferably 5-20%, and the claimed pH is only below 6, but not lower, it can be assumed that a sufficiently low pH will not be attained in the flush water. Moreover, as the patent deals with a one phase block, a lower pH can be detrimental to the overall stability of the composition.

EP Patent 619366 also suggests the use of Optional ingredients, such as perfumes and dyes used to improve the aesthetics of the lavatory block". These perfumes and dyes are selected for their stability in the presence of oxidizing agents and acids. If strong perfuming effect and the fragrance choice becomes a marketing target, it can hardly be fulfilled in the presence of the proposed acid composition. Furthermore, the enzyme system claimed by said patent, comprising lipases, proteases, cellulases and amylases, has limited stability in the presence of acids.

Moreover, the manufacturing method proposed is by extrusion process or simply by compressing all the ingredients into a block.

US 5336424 discloses a disposable dispenser for an improved urinal block composition which contains an acid (e.g. H3P04), an acid stable protease, amphoteric and nonionic surfactant and a germicide. This patent discloses an acidic composition comprising of organic and mineral acids (the preferred one being the phosphoric acid) in amount sufficient to achieve a pH of from 6.5 to 1.8. No long lasting perfume is contained in the composition, obviously because of the acid incompatibility, but also since the block is intended only for urinals and not as a toilet rim block.

EP Patent 184416 and US Patent 4738729 include efficient lime scale removing acids, such as phosphoric acid and even sulphuric acid, but they are in one phase and defined as lavatory and cleaning blocks intended only for immersion in lavatory cisterns and manufactured only by extrusion. The system also includes water softening/chelating agents, such as polycarboxylic acids, NTA, EDTA, and mixtures thereof.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a lavatory rim block in a two compartment device which accomplishes the following functions: Cleansing, lime scale preventing, foaming, sanitizing, deodorizing and perfuming.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a block of improved foaming properties especially in the presence of high oily perfume concentration. 5 127,663/2 The present invention is an improvement on this state of the prior art by providing a rim block of versatile efficient usage and composition which also possesses acid composition benefits as a lime scale remover.

More specifically, according to the present invention there is now provided a dual compartment in-rim lavatory cleansing device, comprising a holder with at least two separate compartments, a first of said compartments containing a first cleansing block, comprising an alkanolamide as a foam generating and stabilizing component and a second of said compartments containing a lime scale preventing acid, said device including means known per se for attachment thereof to the rim of a lavatory bowl.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention said acid is selected from the group consisting of citric acid, maleic acid, oxalic acid, succinic acid, tartaric acid, phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid, glycolic acid, sulfamic acid and mixtures thereof.

In especially preferred embodiments of the present invention said acid is selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acid, citric acid, glycolic acid, sulfamic acid and mixtures.

In the most preferred embodiments of the present invention said acid component includes glycolic acid.

In other preferred embodiments of the present invention said first cleansing block is a molded block further comprising at least one nonionic surfactant and fragrance.

Preferably said nonionic surfactants are selected from the group consisting of fatty alcohol ethoxylates, alkyl phenol ethoxylates, fatty acid esters, fatty acids ethoxylated esters and polyethylene glycol waxes.

In especially preferred embodiments said nonionic surfactants have hydrophobic chain lengths of C8 -C2o and hydrophilic chain lengths of 3 to 60 ethylene oxide units.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention said alkanolamide is selected from the group consisting of mono- and diethanolamide, isopropanolamide and mixtures thereof and said alkanolamide is present in an amount of about 1 to 10 w/w%.

The rimblocks presented in this invention can be also formulated as environmentally compatible blocks, without PDCB.

Alkanolamides are known as foam promoters and stabilizers, being very beneficial, even essential, to the composition of the rim block. Melting the alkanolamides at 60-70°C, during the molding stage, together with stronger acids, such as phosphoric acids, for example, will cause decomposition of said alkanolamides, thereby releasing fatty acids which, being very hydrophobic, will have an immediate detrimental effect on the performance of the rim block, by reducing foam performance.

The chemical reaction will also provoke a change in color, from a white to a darker off-white, also influencing the neutral odor base of the composition. The reason for this chemical phenomena is the acidic hydrolysis of the alkanolamides which takes place in the presence of acids at the low pH of about 2-3 of the composition if even small amounts of water (1-5%) are included in the compositions.

Moreover, if the fragrance is kept in the acidic compositions at 40-50°C for several hours during the manufacturing stage, some fragrance ingredients, such as esters, aldehydes, amides will suffer from chemical changes, thereby deteriorating the fragrance odor.

Thus, the present invention obviates all of the above problems and provides a dual compartment lavatory cleansing device, having the beneficial properties of an alkanolamide and of a lime scale preventing acid.

It has now also been found according to the present invention that the foaming performance of a rim block is seriously affected by the high proportion of an oily liquid perfume when such is included therein. Therefore the second acid compartment of the block according to the present invention will provide a certain softening of the flush hard water, improving the overall foam performance of the dissolved portion of the block in the softened water of the flushes.

Moreover the acid will not be incorporated in the first neutral compartment, thereby not limiting the choice of the acid sensitive components which are incorporated therein, including perfume, and these components will also not deteriorate during manufacturing and storage.

As will now be realized, the present invention provides for a very versatile product divided into two compartments which can have totally diverse functions, as follows: Compartment A: This compartment will preferably contain a first cleansing block comprising an alkanolamide as a foam generating and stabilizing component, incorporated in a molded composition, which block can provide functions selected from the group consisting of cleansing, deodorizing, foaming and sanitizing, said block having the following components: a) From 10 to 80% of a nonionic matrix which is composed of: i) From 20 to 80% by weight of the composition, most preferably from 30 to 70% by weight thereof of nonionic surfactants such as fatty alcohol ethoxylates, alkyl phenol ethoxylates, fatty acid esters, fatty acids ethoxylated esters, all of them having hydrophobic chain lengths of Ce to C20 and hydrophilic chain lengths of 3 to 60 ethylene oxide units and polyethylene glycols waxes of various ethylene oxide chain length, varying from PEG 600 to PEG 20,000. ii) From 1 to 20% by weight of the composition, most preferably from 2 to 10% by weight thereof of alkanolamide co-surfactants, mainly used as foam generating and stabilizing additives; iii) 0 to 15%, and most preferably 3 to 8%, anionic surfactants of the type known in the art, such as alkali metal alkyl aryl sulphonates, alkali metal alkyl sulphates, paraffin sulphonates, alkali metal olefin sulphonates and alkali metal sulphosuccinates, wherein sodium salts are generally preferred; iv) From 0 to 5% by weight of the composition of an amphoteric surfactant, in an amount sufficient to increase wetting and foaming properties. Preferred amphoteric surfactants are alkyl betaine and cocoamidopropyl betaine. v) From 0 to 12% paradichloro benzene (PDCB). This ingredient may or may not be included according to regional environmental restrictions; vi) From 3 to 15% most preferably 6 to 10% of fragrance; and vii) From 0 to 5%, most preferably 1 to 3% of an odor neutralizer.

Additional ingredients, known in the art, such as enzymes, dyes, germicidal agents, etc., may be included in efficient proportions.

Compartment B: This compartment will contain a lime scale preventing agent in the form of a molded block, wherein said acid is preferably selected from the group consisting of mineral acids (HCI, H3P04), and organic acids (citric, sulfamic, glycolic, etc.), , which block can provide functions selected from the group consisting of prevention of lime scale, cleansing and foaming.

The amount of the acids will be sufficient to achieve a pH from 2.2 to 5.8. These acidic compounds at concentration of 1 to 15%, most preferably 3-8% will be incorporated in a nonionic/anionic/amphoteric molded matrix.

Therefore the general composition of the acidic compartment will contain: i) From 20 to 80% by weight of the composition, most preferably from 30 to 70% by weight thereof of nonionic surfactants such as fatty alcohol ethoxylates, alkyi phenol ethoxylates, all of them having hydrophobic chain lengths of Cs to C20 and hydrophilic chain lengths of 3 to 60 ethylene oxide units and polyethylene glycols waxes of various ethylene oxide chain length, varying from PEG 600 to PEG 20,000; ii) 0 to 15%, and most preferably 3 to 8%, anionic surfactants of the type known in the art, such as alkali metal alkyi aryl sulphonates, alkali metal alkyi sulphates, paraffin sulphonates, alkali metal olefin sulphonates and alkali metal sulphosuccinates, wherein sodium salts are generally preferred; iii) From 0 to 5% by weight of the composition of an amphoteric surfactant, in an amount sufficient to increase wetting and foaming properties. Preferred amphoteric surfactants are alkyl betaine and cocoamidopropyl betaine; iv) From 1 to 15% most preferably 3 to 8% of various organic acids such as citric, glycolic, sulfamic, etc, and mineral acids, such as hydrochloric and phosphoric acid; v) From 0 to 12% paradichloro benzene (PDCB). This ingredient may or may not be included according to regional environmental restrictions; vi) From 0 to 10%, preferably from 2 to 6% of an acid stable fragrance.

The main purpose of the dual compartment device is to prevent the mixing of incompatible specie such as the acids in compartment B with the alkanolamide components and the fatty acid esters or amides of the kind described as part of compartment A, as well as with acid sensitive dyes & perfumes. Especially the heating of the specie, at the melting stage, in the mold process, at low pH would be detrimental. The two compartment process/device solves this problem by inter alia affording separate preparation.

A special benefit of the rimblock provided by this invention is the lime scale removal and especially the prevention of limescale in the toilet bowl.

In EP619366 there is described and claimed the achievement of similar properties, utilizing organic acids such as citric, maleic, oxalic, succinic, tartaric, most preferably citric and maleic acids.

In contradistinction thereto, it has now been found according to the invention that additional acids, such as glycolic and sulfamic acids, in addition to phosphoric acids, have a better chelating power providing superior lime scale removal and prevention.

According to data of limescale dissolving properties of acids, as published, for instance by Akzo in their report ARD 107/89, the following limescale removal performance of various acids, at equivalent acid concentrations is presented: ACID % LIMESCALE REMOVAL 5% hydrochloric acid 27.5 5% phosphoric acid 6.4 5% sulfamic acid 9.0 5% citric acid 1.8 The limescale removal efficiency in said table is measured by the weight loss of a marble cube immersed in a 5% acid solution for one hour at 20°C.

According to preferred embodiments of the present invention it has now been found that glycolic acid, which is neither taught nor suggested by the literature for this purpose, is surprisingly superior for use in a lavatory cleansing device, alone or in combination with an additional acid.

It has also been surprisingly found that physical parameters, such as foaming were positively affected and functional properties were improved with the dual compartment lavatory cleansing device according to the present invention.

More particularly, in areas such as Israel, wherein the water is considered as hard water, there has been found to be a surprising increase in foam which is now believed to be a result of the sequestration/chelation power of the acids, which chelate calcium and magnesium ions, increasing the foaming power in hard water.

While the invention will now be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments in the following examples so that aspects thereof may be more fully understood and appreciated, it is not intended to limit the invention to these particular embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Thus, the following examples which include preferred embodiments will serve to illustrate the practice of this invention, it being understood that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of preferred embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of formulation procedures as well as of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention.

EXAMPLES 1 - 3 A plurality of cleansing blocks for use in the first compartment of the cleansing device were prepared from the components set forth in table 1.

SOURCES Empilan KM 50, KM 20 ALBRIGHT & WILSON Marlophen NP 30, Np 50 HULS Marlamide 1218, Marlon A 360 HULS Lauridit KM AKZO Necadol 30 NECA Tega Betain Th Goldschmidt Examples 4 - 7 A plurality of cleansing blocks for use in the second compartment of the cleansing device of the present invention were prepared from the components set forth in table 2.

MANUFACTURING PROCEDURE: Compartment A or B: Components of type (1), (2), (3), (4) are melted together at 60-80 °C according to composition. The mixture is cooled down to 45 °C and a premix of components (5), (6), (7) are mixed into the dough.

The mixture is cast into the molds.

It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the details of the foregoing illustrative examples and that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiments and examples be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims (11)

16 127,663/2 WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A dual compartment in-rim lavatory cleansing device, comprising a holder with at least two separate compartments, a first of said compartments containing a first cleansing block, comprising an alkanolamide as a foam generating and stabilizing component and a second of said compartments containing a lime scale preventing acid, said device including means known per se for attachment thereof to the rim of a lavatory bowl.

2. A dual compartment lavatory cleansing device according to claim 1 , wherein said acid is selected from the group consisting of citric acid, maleic acid, oxalic acid, succinic acid, tartaric acid, phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid, glycolic acid, sulfamic acid and mixtures thereof.

3. A dual compartment lavatory cleansing device according to claim 1 , wherein said acid is selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acid, citric acid, glycolic acid, sulfamic acid and mixtures.

4. A dual compartment lavatory cleansing device according to claim 1 , wherein said first cleansing block is a molded block further comprising at least one nonionic surfactant and fragrance.

5. A dual compartment lavatory cleansing device according to claim 4, wherein said nonionic surfactants are selected from the group consisting of fatty alcohol ethoxylates, alkyl phenol ethoxylates, fatty acid esters, fatty acids ethoxylated esters and polyethylene glycol waxes.

6. A dual compartment lavatory cleansing device according to claim 5, wherein said nonionic surfactants have hydrophobic chain lengths of Cs -C2o and hydrophilic chain lengths of 3 to 60 ethylene oxide units.

7. A dual compartment lavatory cleansing device according to claim 1 , wherein said alkanolamide is selected from the group consisting of mono- and diethanolamide, isopropanolamide and mixtures thereof.

8. A dual compartment lavatory cleansing device according to claim 1 , wherein said acid is present in an amount of 1 to 15 w/w%.

9. A dual compartment lavatory cleansing device according to claim 1 , wherein said acid is present in an amount of 3 to 8 w/w%.

10. A dual compartment lavatory cleansing device according to claim 1 , wherein said acid component includes glycolic acid.

11. A dual compartment lavatory cleansing device according to claim 1 , wherein said alkanolamide is present in an amount of about 1 to 10 w/w%. For the Applicant WOLFF, BREGMAN AND GOLLER