NZ231141A - Solid block composition containing ioduphors and polyethylene oxide polymer for use in treating flush water in toilets - Google Patents

Description

New Zealand Paient Spedficaiion for Paient Number £31141 231141 NO DRAWINGS Priority Dato(s): Complete Specification Filed: Class: Publication Date: ../. QEC.190{). P.O. Journal, No: .

N.2. NO.

NEW ZEALAND Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION TOILET BOWL CLEANERS CONTAINING IODOPHORS-.

We, KIWI BRANDSINC. , a Delaware, United States of America corporation of Route 662 North, Douglassvilie, Pennsylvania 19518, United States of America 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:- (Followed by 1A) -lA- TOILET BOWL CLEANERS CONTAINING IODOPHORS Field of the Invention The present invention relates to cake compositions which are useful for the treatment of the flush water of toilets. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a long lasting iodophor-containing toilet tank dispenser which provides improved cleaning, a sanitizing action and is responsive to the flushing of the toilet.

Background of the Invention In treating toilet flush water with chemicals in order to produce desirable effects such as bowl aesthetics, cleaning, disinfection, deodorization, aerosol reduction, etc., it is desirable that the chemicals be dispensed into the flush water automatically each time the toilet is flushed. The prior art discloses numerous devices which have been designed for this purpose.

Particularly desirable devices are those comprising a solid cake composition. In this type of device, a measured amount of water enters the device during one flush cycle and remains in contact with the cake between flushes, thereby forming a concentrated solution of the composition which is dispensed into the flush water during the next flush. The advantages of such devices are that the chemical composition can be packaged and shipped in more concentrated form than aqueous solutions of the chemicals. Also, the problems of liquid spillage resulting from breakage of the dispensers during shipment or handling is eliminated.

Prior art surfactant cake compositions are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,308,625, Kitko, issued January 5, 1982, and U.S. Patent No. 4,043,931, Jeffrey et al, issued August 23, 1977. These patents disclose a lavoratory cleansing tablet which is formed with two or more nonionic surfactants which includes the use of polyalkoxylated alcohols. U.S. Patent No. 4,477,363, Wong et al, issued October 16, 1984, discloses a solid 23 1 1 o. cake comprising free fatty alcohol and a buffered alkali earth metal alkyl sulfate surfactant. U.S. Patent No. 4,310,434, Choy et al, issued January 12, 1982; and U.S. Patent No. 4,278,571, Choy, issued July 14, 1981, entitled "Surfactant Cake Compositions"; all of which are incorporated herein by reference, disclose surfactant cake compositions containing dyes and perfumes which are utilized in the present invention. The surfactants provide cleaning and sudsing in the toilet bowl and also serve to dispense other components of the compositions such as dyes, perfumes, organic resins, etc.

Water-soluble inert salts such as alkali metal chlorides and sulfates arc used in such compositions to act as a "filler" so that the composition can be formed into cakes of desirable size without using excessive amounts of active ingredients. The predominant ingredients of the cake compositions are usually the surfactant, perfume and the filler salt.

Automatically dispensed toilet bowl cleaning and/or sanitizing products, which contain dyes to provide a visual signal to the user that the product is being dispensed, are well known. Such products are sold in the United States under the brand names VANISH AUTOMATIC (Drackett Products), TY-D-BOL AUTOMATIC (Kiwi Brands, Inc.) and SANIFLUSH AUTOMATIC (Boyle-Midway). None of these products contains an iodophor sanitizing agent and all of them provide a color to the bowl water which persists between flushings. U.S. Patent No. 3,504,384, Radleyy et al, issued April 7, 1970, discloses a dual compartment dispenser for automatically dispensing a hypochlorite solution and a surfactant/dye solution to the toilet bowl during flushing. The dye which is taught in the patent is Disulfide Blue VN150. This dye is resistant to oxidation to a colorless state by hypochlorite; thus, it provides a persistant color to the toilet bowl water, even in the presence of the hypochlorite. 9 231 1 In order to meet the Environmental Protection Agency efficacy data requirements for in-tank sanitizer products claims for effectiveness, it is necessary that the user be able to determine the product effectiveness. That is, the color indicator must show that the sanitizing ingredient is still present in a sanitizing amount. Consequently, it is essential that the sanitizing agent have the same life in the sanitizing product as the color indicator.

CD The use of chlorine or hypochlorite ion as the sanitizing agent has the disadvantage that most dyes are oxidized to a colorless state and there is no visual indication that the sanitizing agent is active and working in the toilet bowl.

The use of iodine-containing formulations have been previously considered as sanitizing agents for toilets because of their greater sanitizing capabilities than chlorine-containing agents. However, the iodine-containing agents have not been previously employed in cake toilet compositions because they yield an unacceptable color in the toilet bowl. Also, prior to the present invention, there has not been provided a means for providing a controlled release of iodine so that the iodine and dye will last for the life of the cleansing block. The most effective means to provide the iodine is through use of a germidical complex of iodine with a copolymer which is commonly identified as an iodophor.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a solid cake composition containing iodophors which are suitable for use for automatically dispensing cleaning agents into the toilet.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a means for intensifying the sanitizing effect of the iodine released in iodophor-containing lavoratory cleansing blocks.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a lavoratory block which has a long and uniform block life that provides a controlled release of iodophor.

It is a yet still further object of the present invention to provide an iodophor-containing lavoratory block which releases a dye and iodophor for substantially the same period of time.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description and appended claims. o f' 31 1 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The objectives of the invention are achieved by providing a solid cake composition which comprises an iodophor, a polyethylene oxide polymer having a molecular weight from about 1 to about 6 million, a dye, calcium sulfate, and optional ingredients selected from the groups consisting of fragrances, binders, filler material and mixtures thereof.

The type of iodophor utilized is not critical to the present invention but the amount of iodophor used must contain an amount of iodine calculated as elemental iodine to comprise about at least 1% preferably, between about 1 to about 6'i by weight of composition. However, a greater amount may be utilized but is not necessary for achieving the objects of the invention.

It is also advantageous that the ratio of iodophor calculated as elemental iodine to dye be about 2.5:10 preferably 3.5:5 so as to result in a life of the iodophor in the composition being substantially the same as that of the dye.

It is understood that a greater amount of iodophor may be present. However, a suitable commercial product having an in-tank life of about 30 days needs only up to about 6% of iodophor calculated as elemental iodine. The greater amount only increases the cost of the cleansing block.

The calcium sulfate utilized may be either the dihydrate or anhydrous form. Preferably, the two forms are utilized. However, when only the dihydrate form is utilized, it is advantageous that the polyethylene oxide polymer be present in an amount of at least 6%. Calcium sulfate also serves as an adsorbing agent for the iodophor and as a determinant for controlling solubility.

It has all been found that the use of up to about 5% by weight of composition of citric acid, tartaric acid or a free acid form of a phosphonate compound produces a greater intensification of the sanitizing effect of the iodophor. o /pN f V c 23 1 141' Description of the Preferred Embodiments According to one embodiment of the invention, a toilet cake composition is provided in tablet form having an in-tank life of about 30 days which comprises an amount of iodophor containing an amount of iodine calculated as elemental iodine to comprise preferably about 1% to 6% by weight of composition, about 2 to 20% by weight of composition, preferably about 5 to 10% by weight of a polyethylene oxide homopolymer having a molecular weight between about 1 to 6 million, about 1 to 75% by weight of composition of calcium sulfate, about 1 to 10% by weight of composition of dye, and the renainder of the ingredients comprising optional ingredients selected from the group consisting of surfactants, fragrances, fillers, binders, extenders and the like.

A suitable composition for forming a tablet by the compression method comprises an amount of iodophor containing an amount of iodine calculated as elemental iodine to comprise about 1% to 6% by weight of composition, about 40-60% by weight of calcium sulfate dihydrate, about 2.0-30% by weight calcium sulfate annydrous, about 2-20% by weight polyethylene oxide homopolymer having a molecular weight between 1-6 million, preferably as a mixture of high and low molecular weights, about 0-20% by weight binder, about 2-10% by weight fillers including optionally, plasticizers, fragrances and perfumes. It is also advantageous to include up to about 5.0% by weight of a flow control agent and/or absorber for powders, for example, fumed silica.

Suitable binders which may be utilized include ethylene oxide/propylene oxide copolymers, guar gum, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, hydroxyethylene cellulose, PEG 8000, polyethylene glycol, and the like.

For the tablets which are to be prepared by extrusion, about 10-25% by weight of extrusion aids may 231 1 r\ be added, for example anionic alkalyds such as sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate.

Preferably, the amount of iodophor placed in the composition should be chosen so as to last at least as long as (i.e., through at least as many flushes as) the amount of dye composition in the dye composition dispensing means. When the consumer no longer sees any color appear in the bowl when flushing the toilet, this indicates that it is time to replace the system (dye and sanitizer) . It is desirable to have a persistant color in the toilet bowl between flushes, and, therefore, it is preferable that the supply of sanitizer last for at least as long as the supply of dye.

Various optional materials may be included in the compositions herein.

Dyes may be included at levels of from about 1.0 to 10.0% by weight. Examples of suitable dyes are Alizarine Light Blue B (C.I. 63010), Carta Blue VP (C.I. 24401), Acid Green 2G (C.I. 42085), Astragon Green D (C.I. 42040), Supranol Cyanine 7B (C.I. 42675), Maxilon Blue 3RL (C.I. Basic Blue 80), acid yellow 23, acid violet 17, a direct violet dye (direct violet 51), { Drimarine Blue Z-RL (C.I. Reactive Blue 18), Alizarine Light Blue H-RL (C.I. Acid Blue 182), FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Green No. 3 and Acid Blue No. 9. Others arc disclosed in the aforementioned Patent Nos. 4,310,434 Oand 4,47 7,363, which are herewith incorporated by reference.

The cakes may also contain perfumes to impart an acceptable odor to the flushing water. The perfume may be in solid form and is suitably present in an amount up to 10% by weight. In this connection, it may be noted that the term "perfume" is intended to refer to any material giving an acceptable odor and thus materials giving a "disinfectant" odor such as essential oils, pine extracts, terpinolenes, ortho phenyl phenol or paradichlorobenzene may be employed.

The essential oils and pine extracts also contribute as plasticizers and are functional to a degree in extending block life. Other suitable perfumes or fragrances are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,396,522 of Callicott et al, which is herein incorporated by reference.

The cake formulation may also contain other binding and/or plasticizing ingredients serving to assist in the manufacture thereof, for example, polypropylene glycol having a molecular weight from about 300 to about 10,000 in an amount up to about 20% by weight, preferably about 4% to about 15% by weight of the mixture may be used. The polypropylene glycol reduces the melt viscosity, acts as a demolding agent anc also acts to plasticize the block when the composition is prepared by a casting process. Other suitable plasticizers such as pine oil fractions, d-limonene, dipentene and the ethylene oxide-propylene oxide block copolymers may be utilized.

The blocks of the present invention can be produced by a variety of processes, e.g., casting/moulding process, by tablet compression process or by an extrusion process, all of which are well known in the art. The tablet compression process is the preferred process of the invention.

If desired, other halophors may be added, for example, bromophors such as dibromopropamidine isethionate (sold under the trademark BRULIDINE), 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-l, 3-diol (sold under the trademark BRONOPOL), bromochlorodimethyl hydantoin, dibromoaimethyl hydantoin, and 2-cyano-2,2-dibromo acetamide, preferably in an amount up to about 5% by weight.

In order that the invention may be better understood the following examples are given by way of illustration only. In the examples, all parts and percentages are by weight of composition unless otherwise stated. 23114 V The following examples are for compositions suited for forming shaped bodies of blocks of the invention.

EXAMPLE 1 A solid compacted sanitizing composition cake was prepared by dry-mixing the following ingredients and then subjecting the mixture to a compaction pressure of about 2.5 tons per square inch on a Manesty RS3 Tablet Press: % Calcium Sulfate Dihydrate 59.8 Calcium Sulfate Anhydrous 10.0 Fumed Silica 4.0 Iodophor (Biopal NR-20) 8.5 Polyvinyl Pyrrolidone Iodine Complex (Povidone) 5.7 Dye (Acid Blue #9) 5.0 Polyethylene oxide polymer (Polyox 60K) 2.0 Polyethylene glycol (PEG 4 500) 5 .0 100.0 The resulting tablet had an in-tank life of about 30 days ana met the EPA requirements till the end of the period of maintaining a sanitizing effect while dispersing dye.

EXAMPLE 2 Following the procedure of Example 1, a cleansing block is formed with the following composition.

% Calcium Sulfate Coarse Dihydrate 49.0 Calcium Sulfate Anhydrous 10.0 Povidone 21.0 Polyox Coagulant 5.0 Acid Blue #9 5.0 EO/PO Block Copolymer F108 10.0 100. 0 If desired, in place of a portion of the calcium sulfate there may be added a fragrance.

EXAMPLE 3 Following the procedure of Example 1, a cleansing block is formed with the following composition. % 231141 Calcium Sulfate Fine Dihydrate Calcium Sulfate Fine Anhydrous Fumed Silica Biopal Povidone Acid Blue #9 Polyox Coagulant 48.0 25.8 5.0 8.5 5.7 5.0 2.0 100.0 If desired, in place of a portion of the calcium sulfate, there may be added fragrances and citric acid.

Following the procedure of Example 1 a cleansing block is prepared from the following composition: The formula provides a cleansing block having good anti-bacterial properties.

In lieu of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate there may be utilized in its place a similar amount of sodium alpha olefin (C^ 4"5^ sulfonate or oley 1/palmitic succinate amide, or the like.

The principals, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification. The invention which is intended to be protected herein, however, is not to be construed as limited to particular forms disclosed, since these are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Variations and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

EXAMPLE 4 Calcium Sulfate, dihydrate (fine) Calcium Sulfate, anhydrous (fine) Aerosil 380 Biopal PVP-I2 Acid Blue #9 Polyox, coagulant Polyethylene Glycol E4500 Sodium Dodecyl Benzene Sulfonate 60.45 4.51 3.97 11.07 4.00 5.00 2.00 4.00 5. 00 100.00 o 31 14 12

Claims (19)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A solid cake lavoratory cleansing block composition comprising from substantially 2% to substantially 20% by weight of composition of polyethylene oxide polymer having a molecular weight from substantially 1 to substantially 6 million, an iodophor in an amount containing iodine calculated as elemental iodine to comprise at least substantially 1% by weight of composition, substantially 1% to substantially 10% by weight of composition of dye, substantially 1% to substantially 75% by weight of composition of calcium sulfate, and the remainder being optional ingredients selected from the group consisting of fragrances, binders, filler material and mixtxires thereof.

2. The cleansing block composition of claim 1 including an amount of up to substantially 20% by weight of composition of a binding agent which is selected from the group consisting of guar gum, hydroxyethyl cellulose, ethylene oxide/propylene oxide copolymer and polyvinyl pyrrolidone.

3. The cleansing block composition of claim 1 including a powder flow aid. "tSojhw The cleansing block composition of claim 3 wherein said flow aid is fumed silica

UL> o// 5. The cleansing block composition of claim 1 wherein said

V polyethylene oxide polymer comprises a mixture of polymers of 231 13 different molecular weights.

6. The cleansing block composition of claim 1 wherein said calcium sulfate is a mixture of calcium sulfate dihydrate and calcium sulfate anhydrous.

7. The cleansing block composition of claim 1 wherein the ratio of iodophor calculated as elemental iodine to dye is substantially 3.5:5.

8. The cleansing block composition of claim 1 including a bromophor.

9. A solid cake lavoratory cleansing block composition as claimed in claim 1 further comprising substantially 40% to 60% by weight calcium sulfate dihydrate, substantially 2.0% to substantially 30% by weight calcium sulfate anhydrous, substantially 2% to 20% by weight polyethylene oxide homopolymer having a molecular weight between substantially 1 to 6 million, substantially 1% to substantially 10% by weight of dye, an iodophor in an amount containing iodine calculated as elemental iodine to comprise substantially 1% to substantially 6% by weight of composition, substantially 0 to 20% by weight binder, and. substantially 2% to substantially 10% by weight of filler mate

10. The cleansing block composition of claim 9 including ^stantially 0 to 5% by weight of fumed silica. 7 231 1 14

11. The cleansing block composition of claim 9 wherein said polyethylene oxide polymer comprises a mixture of polymers having a molecular weight between 1 and -1 million with polymers having a molecular weight from 4 to 6 million.

12. The cleansing block composition of claim 9 wherein the ratio of iodophor calculated as elemental iodine to dye is substantially 3.5:5.

13. The cleansing block composition of claim 9 including a member selected from the group consisting of citric acid, tartaric acid and a free acid from of a phosphate compound for intensifying the sanitizing effect of the iodophor.

14. The cleansing block composition of claim 9 wherein said binder is selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymer, guar gum, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, hydroxyethyl cellulose and polyethylene glycol.

15. The cleansing block of claim 9 including an extrusion aid.

16. The cleansing block of claim 9 including a further halophor .

17. The cleansing block of claim ] urther halophor is a bromophor. a 231 15

18. The cleansing block of claim 17 wherein said bromophor is selected from the group of bromochlorodimethyl hydantoin, dibromodimethyl hydantoin and 2-cyano-2,2-dibromo acetamide, dibromopropamidine isethionate and 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1, 3-diol.

19. A solid cake lavoratory cleansing block composition according to claim 1 or 9 substantially as herein described or exemplif ied. KIWI BRANDS, INC. By their Attorneys Per: HENRY