WO2008135765A1

WO2008135765A1 - Combination package and dispensing device for a lavatory treatment composition

Info

Publication number: WO2008135765A1
Application number: PCT/GB2008/001580
Authority: WO
Inventors: Diane Burt; Christopher King; Richard Koontz; Pawel Rudzinski
Original assignee: Reckitt Benckiser Inc; Reckitt Benckiser (Uk) Limited
Priority date: 2007-05-04
Filing date: 2008-05-02
Publication date: 2008-11-13
Also published as: GB0708622D0

Abstract

There is provided a combination packaging and dispensing device for containing a quantity of lavatory treatment composition, preferably in the form of a compressed solid block, or in the form of paste or gel such as a self-supportinc paste or gel composition, which device comprises a supporting plate (12), said supporting plate (12) having integrally formed therein a hanger means (21, 25), and extending outward from said supporting plate (12) is a block housing (41 ) adapted to contain a quantity of a lavatory treatment composition. The block housing further comprises at least one perforation (62, 64) passing therethrough, preferably at least two perforations passing therethrough whereby water coming into contact with a portion of the block housing may pass into the interior of the block housing, and its contact with the lavatory treatment composition contained therein, and thereafter exit through either the same, or a different perforation in the block housing and thereby exit the said device.

Description

COMBINATION PACKAGE AND DISPENSING DEVICE FOR A LAVATORY TREATMENT COMPOSITION

The present invention relates to a combination packaging and dispensing device for a lavatory treatment composition. More particularly, the present invention relates to a combination packaging and dispensing device for a lavatory treatment composition, most preferably a lavatory block composition which is preferably suspended upon a portion of a container i.e. such as a lavatory cistern or alternatively another vessel such as a pail, bucket or other containers situated for containing a quantity of a liquid.

The prior art discloses various devices which are useful in providing a means to supporting a lavatory block composition within a part of a lavatory appliance such as a toilet, bidet, or the like. Such devices are typically intended to be suspended upon, or attached to a part of a lavatory appliance such that water either continuously or intermittently comes into contact with a cake or a block of a treatment composition which provides a beneficial effect, clean, and/or disinfecting flash sanitization of at least a portion of a lavatory appliance. Such devices are typically separated as to their mode of operation, that is to say whether they are primarily intended to be suspended upon a portion of the upper water supply tank, interchangeably refers to as the cistern, such that a block or cake of a lavatory treatment composition is either intermittently or alternately continuously immersed or at least partially immersed within the water present in such a cistern, or whether the device is intended to suspend the cake or block within a part of the toilet bowl, such that water flushing the toilet bowl comes into contact with the suspended cake or block, thereby forming a treatment composition which provides a fragrancing and/or cleaning and/or sanitizing and/or disinfecting benefits to the toilet bowl. The former type or typically referred to as "in-the-cistern" ("ITC") devices, whether lateral or typically referred to as "in-the-" ("ITB") devices. Any such devices of either the ITB or ITC class have been known for at least several decades. The problem with such prior art ITB and ITC type devices that typically require an undue amount of packaging in order to enclose them prior to their use. While such packaging maybe of a rather minimum configuration such as a film formed from a synthetic polymer or metal in order to form an envelope-type packaging containing such a ITB or ITC device, typically the packaging is much more complicated as frequently the packaging provides not only a means for containing an ITB or an ITC type device prior to its use, but is frequently simultaneously intended to provide an advertising display for the said ITB or ITC device. Such typically requires an excess use of packaging materials, such as paper, board, fiber board, coated papers, and/or polymer films, as well as blister- molded polymeric packages in order to suitably and attractively display the said device. Such however, is particularly wasteful and that it forms no actual part of the ITB or ITC type device which is intended to be used. Such packaging, while attractive, is typically environmentally unfriendly and that it serves no function other than display of the said ITB or ITC type device prior to its use, and once the ITB or ITC type device is withdrawn for use, the packaging needs to be discarded. Such undesirably contributes to the bulk of growing landfills, or requires an energy-intensive recycling and reclamation step in order to salvage the materials from which said packaging is made.

As noted before, minimal type packaging is also known however, this to requires for the disposal of at least a film wrapper, or polymer film envelope which also contributes unnecessary and undesired waste.

Thus, there is a real and continuing need in the art for improved lavatory packaging, and for dispensing devices (ITB or ITC type devices, as well as other devices) and in particularly in need for such dispensing devices which provide both a useful packaging construction adapted for storing a lavatory treatment composition particularly in the form of a solid or gel typed composition, prior to its use, and which said device also may be used as a dispenser for said lavatory treatment composition. The ducts, a major portion of the combination packaging and dispensing device taught herein can be used for both displaying the lavatory treatment composition prior to its use, as well as dispensing it into a volume of water which is caused to come into contact with the treatment block or other lavatory treatment compositions contained therein. In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a combination packaging and dispensing device for containing a quantity of lavatory treatment composition, preferably in the form of a compressed solid block, or in the form of paste or gel such as a self- supporting paste or gel composition, which device comprises a supporting plate of a generally planar configuration, said supporting plate having integrally formed therein a hanger means, and extending outward from one side of the supporting plate is a block housing adapted to contain a quantity of a lavatory treatment composition. The block housing further comprises at least one perforation passing therethrough, preferably at least two perforations passing therethrough whereby water coming into contact with a portion of the block housing may pass into the interior of the block housing, and into contact with the lavatory treatment composition contained therein, and thereafter exit through either the same, or a different perforation in the block housing and thereby exit the said device.

In a second embodiment of the invention there is provided a combination packaging and dispensing device which is in accordance with the aforesaid first embodiment, which further comprises at least two perforations within the block housing, wherein said perforations are diametrically opposed, that is to say about 180 degrees of angle, with respect to one another.

According to a third and further embodiment of the invention is provided a combination packaging and dispensing device according to the first and/or second embodiments of the invention which comprises a hanger means when hanger means comprises at least two flexible elements which are integrally formed with a portion of the supporting plate and which are adapted flex outside of the plane generally defined by the supporting plate. According to a fourth embodiment of the invention has provided a method for providing a liquid treatment composition useful in the treatment of the lavatory appliance, or other vessel capable of containing a liquid i.e., a pail or bucket, which method comprises the step of: providing a combination packaging and dispensing as described herein and suspending it via the hanger mans on a part of a lavatory appliance or said other vessel, and subsequently supplying water to the lavatory treatment block contained within the block housing of said device so to form a liquid treatment composition which thereafter exits the block housing and is supplied to the lavatory appliance or vessel.

According to a still further embodiment of the invention as provided as vendible article, a combination packaging and dispensing device according to any of the aforesaid embodiments of the invention.

According to a still further embodiment of the invention as provided a method for the manufacture of a combination packaging dispensing device according to any of the foregoing embodiments of the invention.

These and other aspects of the invention will become more evident from a review of the following specification.

As noted above, the present invention provides a combined packaging and dispensing device which is adapted for both containing a lavatory treatment composition, and for dispensing a liquid treatment composition formed by the contact of a liquid, e.g., water, with the lavatory treatment composition contained within said device. The lavatory treatment composition is preferably a self-supporting mass of a material which contains one or more chemical compounds and compositions which can provide a useful treatment benefit to a lavatory appliance when it is contacted by a liquid, especially water which flows into and subsequently out of the block housing of the said device which contains the lavatory treatment composition. Generally speaking, in preferred embodiments the device according to the invention comprises a supporting plate which is advantageously of a generally rectangular configuration, and with supporting plate is generally planar in configuration. The supporting plate preferably also includes an integrally formed hanger means, which hanger means is adapted to be flexed either inwardly or outwardly, alternatively, upwardly, or downwardly, out of the plane as generally defined by the supporting plate. The supporting plate may comprise one or more perforations, e.g., slits, slots, or holes which can be used to define the hanger means such that a user can easily breach a part or parts of the supporting plate in the region of the one or more perforations, slots, or holes to form the hanger means. By way of non-limiting example, advantageously one or more perforations can be pierced through the supporting plate, the margins of said slots defining the edges and/or sides of a portion of the hanger means. Wherein the supporting plate is made of a flexible material, such as the thermoplastic material, fibrous material, or other suitable material, the hanger means portion of the supporting plate is defined between or by the lines or pierced slots passing through the supporting plate can be readily flexed out of the plane as generally defined by its supporting plate. Such an operation will be more readily understood with reference to the following figures.

Advantageously, at an opposite ends of the supporting plate, or in proximity thereto, the supporting plate comprises a block housing which extends outwardly from at least one side of the supporting plate. The block housing can be a self supporting structure, and ideally is a rigid housing having a portion, such as a lower margin or a bottom, which is fixed to the supporting plate and form a liquid tight seal therewith. In such a way, the block housings is simultaneously supported by, and extends outwardly from one face of the supporting plate. Ideally the block housing is configured to accept and to retain within its interior a quantity of a treatment composition, ideally in the form of a solid block, compressed block, or self supporting gel composition which can be retained within the interior of the block housing. The block housing preferably includes at least one sidewall, and/or an end wall having passing therethrough at least one perforation, although preferably the block housing has at least two perforations passing there through. The function of the perforations is such that when water or other liquid is poured onto the exterior of the supporting plate and more particularly, on the exterior of the block housing, at least part of the water other liquid passes into the interior of the block housing or in comes into contact with the lavatory treatment composition. Such contact causes the elution of a portion of said lavatory treatment composition into the water or other liquid and causes the formation of the liquid treatment composition which can subsequently exit the interior of the block housing via the same perforation through which the water or other liquid entered, or via a different (i.e. at least second) perforation whereby it can subsequently be collected and retained in a suitable vessel, e.g., a pail or tank, or can be directly used to treat a lavatory appliance, e.g., a toilet, urinal, bidet or the like. In particularly preferred embodiments, the block housing comprises at least two diametrically opposed perforations, ideally such diametrically opposed perforations are positioned such that at least one of said perforations is positioned proximate to the hanger means while the opposite perforations is located on the opposite side of the block housing, that is to stay at position away from the hanger means. In such an arrangement also the perforations which are approximate the hanger means are "upward" direction when said device is fixed to a container or lavatory appliance, and the opposite, distally located perforation of perforations, are "downwardly" directed. Thus, the upper perforations approximate the hangers does act as an "inlet" for water, while the "bottom" perforations function as a "drain" and permit the liquid treatment composition formed by contacting water with the lavatory treatment composition to exit the block housing and fall downwardly and into a vessel, or lavatory appliance.

The device according to the present invention can include any of a number of other additional elements which are however, not essential to the present invention.

For example, a portion of the supporting plate and/or an additional element which can be affixed or formed part of the supporting claim can be used as a stiffening member. Such for example may be an indent, recess, or channel which can be affixed to or formed as an integral part of the supporting plate, particularly if such is formed of a moldable material such as a thermoplastic material, a foil, a metal, and the like. Such can be used to stiffen a portion of, or all of the supporting plate.

By way of further example the device according to the invention may include an additional hanger means or other element which is not integrally formed as part of the support plate, but rather may be a separate element which may be affixed thereto and used to suspend the device.

The supporting plate can include one or more further perforations passing there through such as one or more slits, slots or holes, either circular, square, elliptical, or for that matter, of any geometric shape. Such holes can be used as stress-release points, and can also be used to define "hinge-lines" about which a portion of the hanger means can bend either inwardly or outwardly with respect to the supporting plate. Such holes can be used to provide a convenient means for hanging or displaying the combination packaging of dispensing device according to the invention. The other aspects of the present invention will be better understood with reference to the preferred embodiments which are discussed in the accompanying figures. The combination packaging and dispensing devices of the invention, whether formed of a single unitary piece or assembled from a composite of discrete pieces or elements may be formed from any of a variety of materials which can be used for the purpose described herein. Exemplary and preferred materials include metals including metal sheets, metal or metallic foils, as well as one or more synthetic polymers which are preferred. Preferably the device may be formed of any of a number of thermosettable or thermoformable synthetic polymers such as are widely used. Exemplary synthetic polymers such as polyamides, polyolefins (e.g., polypropylene, polyethylene) as well as polyalkyleneterephalates (i.e., polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate), polystyrenes, polysulfones, polycarbonates as well as copolymers formed from monomers of one or more of the foregoing being several nonlimiting examples of useful synthetic polymers. Preferably the material of construction is at least somewhat flexible, and is not deleteriously affected by the chemical constituents of the lavatory treatment composition. The combination packaging and dispensing devices according to the invention are advantageously and easily formed by using a moldable synthetic thermoplastic polymer, particularly one which may be formed in vacuum/draw molding operations, or which can be injection molded to provide a final form of the said device.

The combination packaging and dispensing devices according to the invention necessarily comprise a lavatory treatment composition which may be a tablet, cake, lavatory treatment composition or gel which includes at least one or more chemical constituents such that when the lavatory treatment composition is immersed, rinsed or washed with water, said chemical constituents are eluted or dissolved into said water and forms a liquid treatment composition which is useful in treating a sanitary appliance, and particularly a toilet tank or cistern or a toilet bowl, or which may be collected in a container such a s pail or other vessel for subsequent use. Such a liquid treatment composition may provide fragrancing and/or cleaning and/or sanitizing and/or disinfecting benefit to a toilet or other sanitary appliance being treated with the combination packaging and dispensing devices of the invention. Alternately, as noted, the such a liquid treatment composition may provide fragrancing and/or cleaning and/or sanitizing and/or disinfecting benefit to a lavatory surface by subsequent application of a liquid treatment composition which has been previously formed and stored in a vessel, e.g., a pail. The lavatory treatment composition may be of any physical dimension or configuration, but is desirably configured to fit within the interior of the block housing. Advantageously the lavatory treatment composition is provided in a shape which approximates the shape of the interior of the block housing. For example, if the block housing is generally cylindrical in configuration, advantageously the lavatory treatment composition is provided in a cylindrical configuration, having a height and diameter adapted to be insertable within the block housing. Where the block housing is generally square or rectangular in configuration, advantageously the lavatory treatment composition is provided in a correspondingly square or rectangular configuration, having a height, length and width dimensions which are adapted to be insertable within the block housing.

The lavatory treatment composition can be a single element or can be a plurality of elements. The lavatory treatment composition can be a single monolithic mass, e.g., a tablet, cake or block having a single homogenous chemical composition or may include different parts or regions of dissimilar chemical composition, e.g., a coextruded composition or a laminated composition. Alternately the block housing can contain a plurality of elements which may have the same or different chemical compositions. The lavatory treatment composition may be a semi-solid material such as a paste or a gel, or may be a composition which includes two or more of: a solid chemical composition, a paste and a gel. Preferably the lavatory treatment composition is in the form of a tablet, cake or block as such can be readily produced by known art processes, e.g., extrusion and/or tabletting processes.

The lavatory treatment composition may include any known art cleaning agents or cleaning constituents known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art, and without limitation include one or more detersive surfactants selected from anionic, cationic, nonionic as well as amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants. Certain detersive surfactants may also provide a dual role in providing detergency as well as a disinfecting effect, viz, certain cationic surfactants, which are described hereinafter as a disinfecting agent. These one or more cleaning agents or cleaning constituents may be used with or without other constituents being present in the lavatory treatment compositions of the invention. Desirably the lavatory treatment composition of the invention comprises a surfactant constituent which may be one or more detersive surfactants. Exemplary useful surfactants include anionic, nonionic, cationic, amphoteric, and zwitterionic surfactants, particularly those whose melting points are sufficiently high, above about 110°F., preferably above 125°F., to permit processing according to known art techniques.

However, small amounts of low melting point surfactants and even liquid surfactants may be used in providing the surfactant constituent.

Exemplary useful anionic surfactants which may be used in the lavatory treatment composition of the invention can be broadly described as the water-soluble salts, particularly the alkali metal salts, of organic sulfuric acid reaction products having in their molecular structure an alkyl or alkaryl radical containing from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms and a radical selected from the group consisting of sulfonic acid and sulfuric acid ester radicals. (Included in the term alkyl is the alkyl portion of higher acyl radicals.) Important examples of the anionic surfactants which can be employed in practicing the present invention are the sodium or potassium alkyl sulfates, especially those obtained by sulfating the higher alcohols (C₈ -Ci₈ carbon atoms) produced by reducing the glycerides of tallow or coconut oil; sodium or potassium alkyl benzene sulfonates, in which the alkyl group contains from about 9 to about 15 carbon atoms, (the alkyl radical can be a straight or branched aliphatic chain); paraffin sulfonate surfactants having the general formula RSO₃ M, wherein R is a primary or secondary alkyl group containing from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms (preferably 10 to 18 carbon atoms) and M is an alkali metal, e.g., sodium, lithium or potassium; sodium alkyl glyceryl ether sulfonates, especially those ethers of the higher alcohols derived from tallow and coconut oil; sodium coconut oil fatty acid monoglyceride sulfates and sulfonates; sodium or potassium salts of sulfuric acid esters of the reaction product of one mole of a higher fatty alcohol (e.g., tallow or coconut oil alcohols) and about 1 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide; sodium or potassium salts of alkyl phenol ethylene oxide ether sulfates with about 1 to about 10 units of ethylene oxide per molecule and in which the alkyl radicals contain from about 8 to about 12 carbon atoms; the reaction products of fatty acids esterified with isethionic acid and neutralized with sodium hydroxide where, for example, the fatty acids are derived from coconut oil; sodium or potassium salts of fatty acid amides of a methyl tauride in which the fatty acids, for example, are derived from coconut oil and sodium or potassium /3-acetoxy- or /3-acetamido-alkanesulfonates where the alkane has from 8 to 22 carbon atoms.

A preferred class of anionic surfactants are linear alkyl benzene sulfonate surfactant wherein the alkyl portion contains 8 to 16 carbon atoms, and most preferably about 11 to 13 carbon atoms. According to particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, the lavatory treatment compositions necessarily include an anionic surfactant. A further preferred class of anionic surfactants are alpha olefin sulfonates, as well as salts thereof, e.g., alkali metal salts. Preferred are C₈ through C₂₂ alpha olefin sulfonates, particularly C₁₂ through C₁₈, and especially C_H, and Ci₆ alpha olefin sulfonates as well as blends of two or more thereof. According to particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, the lavatory treatemtn compositions when in the form of a solid block necessarily include a sulfonate anionic surfactant.

The detersive surfactant constituent of the lavatory treatment composition of the invention may include one or more nonionic surfactants. Practically any hydrophobic compound having a carboxy, hydroxy, amido, or amino group with a free hydrogen attached to the nitrogen can be condensed with an alkylene oxide, especially ethylene oxide or with the polyhydration product thereof, a polyalkylene glycol, especially polyethylene glycol, to form a water soluble or water dispersible nonionic surfactant compound. Further, the length of the polyethenoxy hydrophobic and hydrophilic elements may various. Exemplary nonionic compounds include the polyoxyethylene ethers of alkyl aromatic hydroxy compounds, e.g., alkylated polyoxyethylene phenols, polyoxyethylene ethers of long chain aliphatic alcohols, the polyoxyethylene ethers of hydrophobic propylene oxide polymers, and the higher alkyl amine oxides. One class of useful nonionic surfactants include polyalkylene oxide condensates of alkyl phenols. These compounds include the condensation products of alkyl phenols having an alkyl group containing from about 6 to 12 carbon atoms in either a straight chain or branched chain configuration with an alkylene oxide, especially an ethylene oxide, the ethylene oxide being present in an amount equal to 5 to 25 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alkyl phenol. The alkyl substituent in such compounds can be derived, for example, from polymerized propylene, diisobutylene and the like. Examples of compounds of this type include nonyl phenol condensed with about 9.5 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of nonyl phenol; dodecylphenol condensed with about 12 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of phenol; dinonyl phenol condensed with about 15 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of phenol and diisooctyl phenol condensed with about 15 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of phenol.

A further class of useful nonionic surfactants include the condensation products of aliphatic alcohols with from about 1 to about 60 moles of an alkylene oxide, especially an ethylene oxide. The alkyl chain of the aliphatic alcohol can either be straight or branched, primary or secondary, and generally contains from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms. Examples of such ethoxylated alcohols include the condensation product of myristyl alcohol condensed with about 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol and the condensation product of about 9 moles of ethylene oxide with coconut alcohol (a mixture of fatty alcohols with alkyl chains varying in length from about 10 to 14 carbon atoms). Other examples are those C₆ -Cn straight-chain alcohols which are ethoxylated with from about 3 to about 6 moles of ethylene oxide. Their derivation is well known in the art.

Examples include Alfonic® 810-4.5, which is described in product literature from Sasol as a C₈-C₁₀ straight-chain alcohol having an average molecular weight of 356, an ethylene oxide content of about 4.85 moles (about 60 wt.%), and an HLB of about 12; Alfonic® 810-2, which is described in product literature as a C₈-C₁₀ straight-chain alcohols having an average molecular weight of 242, an ethylene oxide content of about 2.1 moles (about 40 wt.%), and an HLB of about 12; and Alfonic® 610-3.5, which is described in product literature as having an average molecular weight of 276, an ethylene oxide content of about 3.1 moles (about 50 wt.%), and an HLB of 10. Other examples of alcohol ethoxylates are Cio oxo-alcohol ethoxylates available from BASF under the Lutensol® ON tradename. They are available in grades containing from about 3 to about 1 1 moles of ethylene oxide (available under the names Lutensol® ON 30; Lutensol® ON 50; Lutensol® ON 60; Lutensol® ON 65; Lutensol® ON 66; Lutensol® ON 70; Lutensol® ON 80; and Lutensol®ON 110). Other examples of ethoxylated alcohols include the Neodol® 91 series non-ionic surfactants available from Shell Chemical Company which are described as Cc_>-Cn ethoxylated alcohols. The Neodol® 91 series non-ionic surfactants of interest include Neodol® 91-2.5, Neodol® 91-6, and Neodol® 91-8. Neodol® 91-2.5 has been described as having about 2.5 ethoxy groups per molecule; Neodol 91-6 has been described as having about 6 ethoxy groups per molecule; and Neodol 91-8 has been described as having about 8 ethoxy groups per molecule. Further examples of ethoxylated alcohols include the Rhodasurf® DA series non-ionic surfactants available from Rhodia which are described to be branched isodecyl alcohol ethoxylates. Rhodasurf® DA-530 has been described as having 4 moles of ethoxylation and an HLB of 10.5; Rhodasurf® DA-630 has been described as having 6 moles of ethoxylation with an HLB of 12.5; and Rhodasurf® DA-639 is a 90% solution of DA- 630. Further examples of ethoxylated alcohols include those from Tomah Products (Milton, WI) under the Tomadol® tradename with the formula RO(CH₂CH₂O)_nH where R is the primary linear alcohol and n is the total number of moles of ethylene oxide. The ethoxylated alcohol series from Tomah include 91-2.5; 91-6; 91-8 - where R is linear C9/C10/C11 and n is 2.5, 6, or 8; 1-3; 1-5; 1-7; 1-73B; 1-9; where R is linear Cn and n is 3, 5, 7 or 9; 23-1; 23-3; 23-5; 23-6.5 - where R is linear Ci₂/C₁₃ and n is 1, 3, 5, or 6.5; 25-3; 25-7; 25-9; 25-12 - where R is linear C₁₂/Ci₃/C₁₄/ Ci₅ and n is 3, 7, 9, or 12; and 45-7; 45- 13 - where R is linear C 14/ C15 and n is 7 or 13.

A further class of useful nonionic surfactants include primary and secondary linear and branched alcohol ethoxylates, such as those based on C₆-Ci₈ alcohols which further include an average of from 2 to 80 moles of ethoxylation per mol of alcohol. These examples include the Genapol® UD (ex. Clariant, Muttenz, Switzerland) described under the tradenames Genapol® UD 030, Cn-oxo-alcohol polyglycol ether with 3 EO; Genapol® UD, 050 Cn-oxo-alcohol polyglycol ether with 5 EO; Genapol® UD 070, Cn- oxo-alcohol polyglycol ether with 7 EO; Genapol® UD 080, Cn-oxo-alcohol polyglycol ether with 8 EO; Genapol® UD 088, Cn-oxo-alcohol polyglycol ether with 8 EO; and Genapol® UD 110, Cn-oxo-alcohol polyglycol ether with 11 EO.

Exemplary useful nonionic surfactants include the condensation products of a secondary aliphatic alcohols containing 8 to 18 carbon atoms in a straight or branched chain configuration condensed with 5 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide. Examples of commercially available nonionic detergents of the foregoing type are those presently commercially available under the trade name of Tergitol® such as Tergitol 15-S-12 which is described as being Cn- Ci₅ secondary alkanol condensed with 9 ethylene oxide units, or Tergitol 15-S-9 which is described as being Cn -Ci₅ secondary alkanol condensed with 12 ethylene oxide units per molecule.

A further class of useful nonionic surfactants include those surfactants having a formula: RO(CH₂CH₂O)_nH wherein;

R is a mixture of linear, even carbon-number hydrocarbon chains ranging from Ci₂H_2S to Ci₆H₃₃ and n represents the number of ethoxy repeating units and is a number of from about 1 to about 12. Surfactants of this formula are presently marketed under the Genapol® tradename

(ex. Clariant), which surfactants include the "26-L" series of the general formula RO(CH₂CH₂O)_nH wherein R is a mixture of linear, even carbon-number hydrocarbon chains ranging from Ci₂H₂₅ to Ci₆H₃₃ and n represents the number of repeating units and is a number of from 1 to about 12, such as 26-L-l, 26-L-1.6, 26-L-2, 26-L-3, 26-L-5, 26- L-45 , 26-L-50, 26-L-60, 26-L-60N, 26-L-75 , 26-L-80, 26-L-98N, and the 24-L series, derived from synthetic sources and typically contain about 55% C]₂ and 45% Cw alcohols, such as 24-L-3, 24-L-45, 24-L-50, 24-L-60, 24-L-60N, 24-L-75, 24-L-92, and 24-L-98N, all sold under the Genapol® tradename.

Further useful non-ionic surfactants which may be used in the inventive compositions include those presently marketed under the trade name Pluronics® (ex. BASF). The compounds are formed by condensing ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic base formed by the condensation of propylene oxide with propylene glycol. The molecular weight of the hydrophobic portion of the molecule is of the order of 950 to 4,000 and preferably 200 to 2,500. The addition of polyoxyethylene radicals of the hydrophobic portion tends to increase the solubility of the molecule as a whole so as to make the surfactant water-soluble. The molecular weight of the block polymers varies from 1,000 to 15,000 and the polyethylene oxide content may comprise 20% to 80% by weight. Preferably, these surfactants are in liquid form and particularly satisfactory surfactants are available as those marketed as Pluronics® L62 and Pluronics® L64. Further nonionic surfactants which may be included in the inventive compositions include alkoxylated alkanolamides, preferably C₈-C₂₄ alkyl di(C₂-C₃ alkanol amides), as represented by the following formula:

R₅-CO-NH-R₆-OH wherein R₅ is a branched or straight chain C₈-C₂₄ alkyl radical, preferably a Ci₀-C₁₆ alkyl radical and more preferably a Ci₂-Ci₄ alkyl radical, and R₆ is a Ci-C₄ alkyl radical, preferably an ethyl radical.

According to certain particularly preferred embodiments the detersive surfactant constituent necessarily comprises a nonionic surfactant based on a linear primary alcohol ethoxylate particularly wherein the alkyl portion is a C₈ to Ci₆, but particularly a C₉ to Cn alkyl group, and having an average of between about 6 to about 8 moles of ethoxylation.

One further useful class of nonionic surfactants include those in which the major portion of the molecule is made up of block polymeric C₂-C₄ alkylene oxides, with alkylene oxide blocks containing C₃ to C₄ alkylene oxides. Such nonionic surfactants, while preferably built up from an alkylene oxide chain starting group, can have as a starting nucleus almost any active hydrogen containing group including, without limitation, amides, phenols, and secondary alcohols.

One group of nonionic surfactants containing the characteristic alkylene oxide blocks are those which may be generally represented by the formula (A):

HO-(EO)_x(PO)y(EO)_z-H ( A ) where EO represents ethylene oxide, PO represents propylene oxide, y equals at least 15, (EO)_x+Z equals 20 to 50% of the total weight of said compounds, and, the total molecular weight is preferably in the range of about 2000 to 15,000. Another group of nonionic surfactants appropriate for use in the new compositions can be represented by the formula (B):

R— (EO,PO)a(EO,PO)_b-H ( B ) wherein R is an alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group, the alkoxy group contains 1 to 20 carbon atoms, the weight percent of EO is within the range of 0 to 45% in one of the blocks a, b, and within the range of 60 to 100% in the other of the blocks a, b, and the total number of moles of combined EO and PO is in the range of 6 to 125 moles, with 1 to 50 moles in the PO rich block and 5 to 100 moles in the EO rich block.

Further nonionic surfactants which in general are encompassed by Formula B include butoxy derivatives of propylene oxide/ethylene oxide block polymers having molecular weights within the range of about 2000-5000.

Still further useful nonionic surfactants containing polymeric butoxy (BO) groups can be represented by formula (C) as follows:

RO-(BO)_n(EO)_x-H ( C ) wherein R is an alkyl group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, n is about 15 andx is about 15.

Also useful as the nonionic block copolymer surfactants which also include polymeric butoxy groups are those which may be represented by the following formula (D):

HO— (EO)χ(BO)n(EO)y-H ( D )

wherein n is about 15, x is about 15 and y is about 15.

Still further useful nonionic block copolymer surfactants include ethoxylated derivatives of propoxylated ethylene diamine, which may be represented by the following formula:

where (EO) represents ethoxy, (PO) represents propoxy, the amount of (PO)_x is such as to provide a molecular weight prior to ethoxylation of about 300 to 7500, and the amount of (EO)_y is such as to provide about 20% to 90% of the total weight of said compound.

Further useful nonionic surfactants include nonionic amine oxide constituent. Exemplary amine oxides include:

A) Alkyl di (lower alkyl) amine oxides in which the alkyl group has about 10- 20, and preferably 12-16 carbon atoms, and can be straight or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated. The lower alkyl groups include between 1 and 7 carbon atoms. Examples include lauryl dimethyl amine oxide, myristyl dimethyl amine oxide, and those in which the alkyl group is a mixture of different amine oxide, dimethyl cocoamine oxide, dimethyl (hydrogenated tallow) amine oxide, and myristyl/palmityl dimethyl amine oxide;

B) Alkyl di (hydroxy lower alkyl) amine oxides in which the alkyl group has about 10-20, and preferably 12-16 carbon atoms, and can be straight or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated. Examples are bis(2 -hydro xyethyl) cocoamine oxide, bis(2- hydroxyethyl) tallowamine oxide; and bis(2-hydroxyethyl) stearylamine oxide;

C) Alkylamidopropyl di(lower alkyl) amine oxides in which the alkyl group has about 10-20, and preferably 12-16 carbon atoms, and can be straight or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated. Examples are cocoamidopropyl dimethyl amine oxide and tallowamidopropyl dimethyl amine oxide; and

D) Alkylmorpholine oxides in which the alkyl group has about 10-20, and preferably 12-16 carbon atoms, and can be straight or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated.

Preferably the amine oxide constituent is an alkyl di (lower alkyl) amine oxide as denoted above and which may be represented by the following structure:

R₁ R₂ N >-0

wherein each: Ri is a straight chained Ci-C₄ alkyl group, preferably both Ri are methyl groups; and,

R₂ is a straight chained C₈-Ci₈ alkyl group, preferably is Ci₀-Ci₄ alkyl group, most preferably is a Ci₂ alkyl group. Each of the alkyl groups may be linear or branched, but most preferably are linear. Most preferably the amine oxide constituent is lauryl dimethyl amine oxide. Technical grade mixtures of two or more amine oxides may be used, wherein amine oxides of varying chains of the R₂ group are present. Preferably, the amine oxides used in the present invention include R₂ groups which comprise at least 50%wt, preferably at least 60%wt. ofCi₂ alkyl groups and at least 25%wt. of Ci₄ alkyl groups, with not more than 15%wt. of Ci₆, Ci₈ or higher alkyl groups as the R₂ group.

Still further exemplary useful nonionic surfactants which may be used include certain alkanolamides including monoethanolamides and diethanolamides, particularly fatty monoalkanolamides and fatty dialkanolamides. A cationic surfactant may be incorporated as a germicide or as a detersive surfactant in the lavatory treatment composition of the present invention, particularly wherein a bleach constituent is absent from the lavatory treatment composition. Cationic surfactants are per se, well known, and exemplary useful cationic surfactants may be one or more of those described for example in McCutcheon 's Functional Materials, Vol.2, 1998; Kirk-Othmer, Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 4th Ed., Vol. 23, pp. 481-541 (1997), the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. These are also described in the respective product specifications and literature available from the suppliers of these cationic surfactants.

Examples of preferred cationic surfactant compositions useful in the practice of the instant invention are those which provide a germicidal effect to the concentrate compositions, and especially preferred are quaternary ammonium compounds and salts thereof, which may be characterized by the general structural formula:

where at least one of Ri, R₂, R₃ and R₄ is a alkyl, aryl or alkylaryl substituent of from 6 to 26 carbon atoms, and the entire cation portion of the molecule has a molecular weight of at least 165. The alkyl substituents may be long -chain alkyl, long-chain alkoxyaryl, long- chain alkylaryl, halogen-substituted long-chain alkylaryl, long-chain alkylphenoxyalkyl, arylalkyl, etc. The remaining substituents on the nitrogen atoms other than the abovementioned alkyl substituents are hydrocarbons usually containing no more than 12 carbon atoms. The substituents Ri, R₂, R₃ and R₄ may be straight-chained or may be branched, but are preferably straight-chained, and may include one or more amide, ether or ester linkages. The counterion X may be any salt- forming anion which permits water solubility of the quaternary ammonium complex.

Exemplary quaternary ammonium salts within the above description include the alkyl ammonium halides such as cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide, alkyl aryl ammonium halides such as octadecyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium bromide, N-alkyl pyridinium halides such as N-cetyl pyridinium bromide, and the like. Other suitable types of quaternary ammonium salts include those in which the molecule contains either amide, ether or ester linkages such as octyl phenoxy ethoxy ethyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, N-(laurylcocoaminoformyhnethyl)-pyridinium chloride, and the like. Other very effective types of quaternary ammonium compounds which are usefiil as germicides include those in which the hydrophobic radical is characterized by a substituted aromatic nucleus as in the case of lauryloxyphenyltrimethyl ammonium chloride, cetylaminophenyltrimethyl ammonium methosulfate, dodecylphenyltrimethyl ammonium methosulfate, dodecylbenzyltrimethyl ammonium chloride, chlorinated dodecylbenzyltrimethyl ammonium chloride, and the like.

Preferred quaternary ammonium compounds which act as germicides and which are be found useful in the practice of the present invention include those which have the structural formula:

wherein R₂ and R₃ are the same or different C₈-Ci₂alkyl, or R₂ is Ci_2-i₆alkyl, C_8- i₈alkylethoxy, C_8-igalkylphenolethoxy and R₃ is benzyl, and X is a halide, for example chloride, bromide or iodide, or is a methosulfate anion. The alkyl groups recited in R₂ and R₃ may be straight-chained or branched, but are preferably substantially linear. Particularly useful quaternary germicides include compositions which include a single quaternary compound, as well as mixtures of two or more different quaternary compounds. Such useful quaternary compounds are available under the BARD AC®, BARQUAT®, HY AMINE®, LONZABAC®, and ONYXIDE® trademarks, which are more fully described in, for example, McCutcheon's Functional Materials (Vol. 2), North American Edition, 1998, as well as the respective product literature from the suppliers identified below. For example, BARD AC® 205M is described to be a liquid containing alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, octyl decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride; didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, and dioctyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (50% active) (also available as 80% active (BARD AC® 208M)); described generally in McCutcheon 's as a combination of alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride and dialkyl dimethyl ammonium chloride); BARDAC® 2050 is described to be a combination of octyl decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride/didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, and dioctyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (50% active) (also available as 80% active (BARDAC® 2080)); BARDAC ® 2250 is described to be didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (50% active); BARDAC® LF (or BARDAC® LF-80), described as being based on dioctyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (BARQUAT® MB-50, MX-50, OJ-50 (each 50% liquid) and MB-80 or MX-80 (each 80% liquid) are each described as an alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride; BARDAC® 4250 and BARQUAT® 4250Z (each 50% active) or BARQUAT® 4280 and BARQUAT 4280Z (each 80% active) are each described as alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride/alkyl dimethyl ethyl benzyl ammonium chloride. Also, HY AMINE® 1622, described as diisobutyl phenoxy ethoxy ethyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (50% solution); HY AMINE® 3500 (50% actives), described as alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (also available as 80% active (HY AMINE® 3500-80)); and HYMATNE® 2389 described as being based on methyldodecylbenzyl ammonium chloride and/or methyldodecylxylene-bis-trimethyl ammonium chloride. (BARDAC®, BARQUAT® and HYAMINE® are presently commercially available from Lonza, Inc., Fairlawn, New Jersey). BTC® 50 NF (or BTC® 65 NF) is described to be alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (50% active); BTC® 99 is described as didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (50% acive); BTC® 776 is described to be myrisalkonium chloride (50% active); BTC® 818 is described as being octyl decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, and dioctyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (50% active) (available also as 80% active (BTC® 818-80%)); BTC® 824 and BTC® 835 are each described as being of alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (each 50% active); BTC® 885 is described as a combination of BTC® 835 and BTC® 818 (50% active) (available also as 80% active (BTC® 888)); BTC® 1010 is described as didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (50% active) (also available as 80% active (BTC® 1010-80)); BTC® 2125 (or BTC® 2125 M) is described as alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride and alkyl dimethyl ethylbenzyl ammonium chloride (each 50% active) (also available as 80% active (BTC® 2125 80 or BTC® 2125 M)); BTC® 2565 is described as alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chlorides (50% active) (also available as 80% active (BTC® 2568)); BTC® 8248 (or BTC® 8358) is described as alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (80% active) (also available as 90% active (BTC® 8249)); ONYXIDE® 3300 is described as n-alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium saccharinate (95% active). (BTC® and ONYXIDE® are presently commercially available from Stepan Company, Northfield, Illinois.) Polymeric quaternary ammonium salts based on these monomelic structures are also considered desirable for the present invention. One example is POL YQU AT®, described as being a 2-butenyldimethyl ammonium chloride polymer.

Preferred quaternary germicides used in the lavatory treatment compositions are those which are supplied in a solid or powdered form, as such greatly facilitates the manufacture of the lavatory treatment compositions.

When present in a lavatory treatment composition, it is preferred that the germicidal cationic surfactant(s) are present in amounts so to dispense at least about 200 parts per million (ppm) in the water flushed into the sanitary appliance, e.g., toilet bowl, or into the water retained in the sanitary appliance at the conclusion of the flush cycle. Further detersive surfactants which may be included in the lavatory treatment composition are amphoteric and zwitterionic surfactants which provide a detersive effect. Exemplary useful amphoteric surfactants include alkylbetaines, particularly those which may be represented by the following structural formula:

wherein R is a straight or branched hydrocarbon chain which may include an aryl moiety, but is preferably a straight hydrocarbon chain containing from about 6 to 30 carbon atoms. Further exemplary useful amphoteric surfactants include amidoalkylbetaines, such as amidopropylbetaines which may be represented by the following structural formula:

RCONHCH₂CH₂CH₂N⁺(CH₃)₂CH₂COO^" wherein R is a straight or branched hydrocarbon chain which may include an aryl moiety, but is preferably a straight hydrocarbon chain containing from about 6 to 30 carbon atoms.

As noted above, preferred detersive surfactants are those which exhibit a melting points above about 110°F., preferably above 125°F., in order to permit convenient processing according to known art techniques. Nonetheless small amounts of low melting point surfactants, i.e., those exhibiting melting points below about 110⁰F and even liquid surfactants may be used in providing the surfactant constituent of the lavatory treatment composition.

As the performance requirements of the lavatory treatment compositions may differ according to their use, the amounts of the constituents present in the block may vary as well depending upon the final intended use of the treatment block.

When intended for use as an ITB block, the detersive surfactant constituent may be present in any effective amount and generally comprises up to about 90%wt. of the total weight of the lavatory treatment composition, and the resultant treatment block formed therefrom. Preferably the detersive surfactant constituent comprises about 20 -

90%wt., more preferably 35-80%wt. of the lavatory treatment composition, and when used as an ITB block the detersive surfactant constituent most preferably comprises about

50 - 75%wt. of the lavatory treatment composition, and the resultant treatment block formed therefrom. When intended for use as an ITC block, the detersive surfactant constituent may be present in any effective amount and generally comprises up to about

60%wt. of the total weight of the lavatory treatment composition, and the resultant treatment block formed therefrom. Preferably the detersive surfactant constituent comprises about 10 - 55%wt, more preferably 20-50%wt. of the lavatory treatment composition, and the resultant treatment block formed therefrom.

In particularly preferred embodiments the lavatory treatment compositions of the invention necessarily comprise at least one surfactant, preferably at least one anionic surfactant.

Further exemplary chemical constituents may be one or more sanitizing agents or germicides which may be present with our without other constituents being present in the lavatory treatment compositions of the combination devices taught herein. The sanitizing agent can be any sanitizing composition known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art, and without limitation exemplary sanitizing compositions include materials containing alkyl halohydantoins, alkali metal haloisocyanurates, bleach, essential oils, non-quaternary ammonium based germicidal compounds as well as quaternary ammonium germicidal compounds. In certain preferred embodiments the lavatory treatment compositions may include a bleach constituent. The bleach constituent is relatively inert in the dry state but, which on contact with water, releases oxygen, hypohalite or a halogen especially chlorine. Representative examples of typical oxygen-release bleaching agents, suitable for incorporation in the lavatory treatment composition include the alkali metal perborates, e.g., sodium perborate, and alkali metal monopersulfates, e.g., sodium monopersulfates, potassium monopersulfate, alkali metal monoperphosphates, e.g., disodium monoperphosphate and dipotassium monoperphosphate, as well as other conventional bleaching agents capable of liberating hypohalite, e.g., hypochlorite and/or hypobromite, include heterocyclic N-bromo- and N-chloro-cyanurates such as trichloroisocyanuric and tribromoiscyanuric acid, dibromocyanuric acid, dichlorocyanuric acid, N-monobromo-N-mono-chlorocyanuric acid and N-monobromo- N,N-dichlorocyanuric acid, as well as the salts thereof with water solubilizing cations such as potassium and sodium, e.g., sodium N-monobromo-N-monochlorocyanurate, potassium dichlorocyanurate, sodium dichlorocyanurate, as well as other N-bromo and N-chloro- imides, such as N-brominated and N-chlorinated succinimide, malonimide, phthalimide and naphthalimide. Also useful in the lavatory treatment composition as hypohalite-releasing bleaches are halohydantoins which may be used include those which may be represented by the general structure:

«

wherein: Xi and X₂ are independently hydrogen, chlorine or bromine; and,

Ri and R₂ are independently alkyl groups having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Examples of halohydantoins include, for example, N,N'-dichloro-dimethyl-hydantoin, N- bromo-N-chloro-dimethyl-hydantoin, N,N'-dibromo-dimethyl-hydantoin, 1 ,4-dichloro, 5,5-dialkyl substituted hydantoin, wherein each alkyl group independently has 1 to 6 carbon atoms, N-monohalogenated hydantoins such as chlorodimethylhydantoin

(MCDMH) and N-bromo-dimethylhydantoin (MBDMH); dihalogenated hydantoins such as dichlorodimethylhydantoin (DCDMH), dibromodimethylhydantoin (DBDMH), and 1- bromo-3-chloro-5,5,-dimethylhydantoin (BCDMH); and halogenated methylethylhydantoins such as chloromethylethylhydantion (MCMEH), dichloromethylethylhydantoin (DCMEH), bromomethylethylhydantoin (MBMEH), dibromomethylethylhydantoin (DBMEH), and bromochloromethylethylhydantoin (BCMEH), and mixtures thereof. Other suitable organic hypohalite liberating bleaching agents include halogenated melamines such as tribromomelamine and trichloromelamine. Suitable inorganic hypohalite-releasing bleaching agents include lithium and calcium hypochlorites and hypobromites. The various chlorine, bromine or hypohalite liberating agents may, if desired, be provided in the form of stable, solid complexes or hydrates, such as sodium p-toluene sulfobromamine trihydrate; sodium benzene sulfochloramine dihydrate; calcium hypobromite tetrahydrate; and calcium hypochlorite tetrahydrate. Brominated and chlorinated trisodium phosphates formed by the reaction of the corresponding sodium hypohalite solution with trisodium orthophosphate (and water, as necessary) likewise comprise useful inorganic bleaching agents for incorporation into the inventive solid block composition and the treatment blocks formed therefrom. When present, preferably the bleach constituent is a hypohalite liberating compound and more preferably is a hypohalite liberating compound in the form of a solid complex or hydrate thereof. Particularly preferred are chloroisocynanuric acids and alkali metal salts thereof, preferably potassium, and especially sodium salts thereof. Examples of such compounds include trichloroisocyananuric acid, dichloroisocyanuric acid, sodium dichloroisocyanurate, potassium dichloroisocyanurate, and trichloro- potassium dichloroisocynanurate complex. The most preferred chlorine bleach material is sodium dichloroisocyanurate; the dihydrate of this material being particularly preferred. When present, the bleach constituent may be present in any effective amount and may comprise up to about 90%wt, preferably at least about 0.1 - 60% wt of the lavatory treatment composition. More preferably, when present, the bleach constituent comprises about 0.5 - 50%wt., more preferably at least l-40%wt. of the lavatory treatment composition.

Other germicidally effective agents useful as sanitizing agents include sodium dichloroisocyanurate (DCCNa) and sodium dibromoisocyanurate. Further examples of non-quaternary ammonium based sanitizing agents include pyrithiones, dimethyldimethylol hydantoin, methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone sodium sulfite, sodium bisulfite, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, benzyl alcohol, 2- bromo-2-nitropropane-l,3-diol, formalin (formaldehyde), iodopropenyl butylcarbamate, chloroacetamide, methanamine, methyldibromonitrile glutaronitrile, glutaraldehyde, 5- bromo-5-nitro-l,3-dioxane, phenethyl alcohol, o-phenylphenol/sodium o-phenylphenol, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, polymethoxy bicyclic oxazolidine, dimethoxane, thimersal dichlorobenzyl alcohol, captan, chlorphenenesin, dichlorophene, chlorbutanol, glyceryl laurate, halogenated diphenyl ethers, phenolic compounds, mono- and poly-alkyl and aromatic halophenols, resorcinol and its derivatives, bisphenolic compounds, benzoic esters (parabens), halogenated carbanilides, 3-trifluoromethyl-4,4'-dichlorocarbanilide, and 3,3',4-trichlorocarbanilide. More preferably, the non-cationic antimicrobial agent is a mono- and poly-alkyl and aromatic halophenol selected from the group p-chlorophenol, methyl p-chlorophenol, ethyl p-chlorophenol, n-propyl p-chlorophenol, n-butyl p- chlorophenol, n-amyl p-chlorophenol, sec-amyl p-chlorophenol, n-hexyl p-chlorophenol, cyclohexyl p-chlorophenol, n-heptyl p-chlorophenol, n-octyl p-chlorophenol, o- chlorophenol, methyl o-chlorophenol, ethyl o-chlorophenol, n-propyl o-chlorophenol, n- butyl o-chlorophenol, n-amyl o-chlorophenol, tert-amyl o-chlorophenol, n-hexyl o- chlorophenol, n-heptyl o-chlorophenol, o-benzyl p-chlorophenol, o-benzyl-m-methyl p- chlorophenol, o-benzyl-m, m-dimethyl p-chlorophenol, o-phenylethyl p-chlorophenol, o- phenylethyl-m-methyl p-chlorophenol, 3 -methyl p-chlorophenol, 3 ,5-dimethyl p- chlorophenol, 6-ethyl-3 -methyl p-chlorophenol, 6-n -prop yl-3 -methyl p-chlorophenol, 6- iso-propyl-3 -methyl p-chlorophenol, 2 -ethyl -3, 5 -dimethyl p-chlorophenol, 6-sec-butyl-3- methyl p-chlorophenol, 2-iso-propyl-3 ,5 -dimethyl p-chlorophenol, 6-diethylmethyl-3- methyl p-chlorophenol, 6-iso-propyl-2-ethyl-3 -methyl p-chlorophenol, 2-sec-amyl-3,5- dimethyl p-chlorophenol 2-diethylmethyl-3, 5 -dimethyl p-chlorophenol, 6-sec-octyl-3- methyl p-chlorophenol, p-chloro-m-cresol, p-bromophenol, methyl p-bromophenol, ethyl p-bromophenol, n-propyl p-bromophenol, n-butyl p-bromophenol, n-amyl p- bromophenol, sec-amyl p-bromophenol, n-hexyl p-bromophenol, cyclohexyl p- bromophenol, o-bromophenol, tert-amyl o-bromophenol, n-hexyl o-bromophenol, n- propyl-m,m-dimethyl o-bromophenol, 2-phenyl phenol, 4-chloro-2 -methyl phenol, 4- chloro-3 -methyl phenol, 4-chloro-3, 5 -dimethyl phenol, 2,4-dichloro-3,5-dimethylphenol, 3,4,5 ,6-terabromo-2-methylphenol, 5-methyl-2-pentylphenol, 4-isopropyl-3- methylphenol, para-chloro-meta-xylenol, dichloro meta xylenol, chlorothymol, and 5- chloro-2-hydroxydiphenyhnethane. Quaternary ammonium based sanitizing agents include any cationic surfactant which is known or may be found to provide a broad antibacterial or sanitizing function; these have been described above with reference to detersive surfactants.

As a further chemical constituent, the lavatory treatment compositions of the invention may also comprise a coloring agent which imparts either a color to the lavatory treatment composition s, to the water in which it comes into contact, but especially which imparts color to the water contained within the sanitary appliance. Where the sanitary appliance is a toilet, desirably the coloring agent imparts a color to the water contained within the cistern, or within the toilet bowl particularly following the flush cycle of a toilet, or may impart a color in both locations. Such coloring agents have great consumer appeal, and indeed any known art coloring agent may be provided in any effective amount in order to impart a coloring effect. Colorants, especially dyes, are preferred when formulated as dry powders to enable direct incorporation into lavatory treatment composition s of the invention, however, liquid colorants may be employed in conjunction with suitable carriers. Useful colorants include any materials which may provide a desired coloring effect. Exemplarly useful coloring agents include dyes, e.g., Alizarine Light Blue B (CI. 63010), Carta Blue VP (CI. 24401), Acid Green 2G (CI. 42085), Astragon Green D (CI. 42040) Supranol Cyanine 7B (CI. 42675), Maxilon Blue 3RL (CI. Basic Blue 80), acid yellow 23, acid violet 17, a direct violet dye (Direct violet 51), Drimarine Blue Z-RL (CI. Reactive Blue 18), Alizarine Light Blue H-RL (CI. Acid Blue 182), FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Green No. 3 and Acid Blue No. 9. When a bleach constituent is included in the lavatory treatment composition, the colorant, e.g., dye, should be selected so to ensure the compatibility of the colorant with the bleach constituent, or so that its color persists despite the presence in the toilet bowl of a concentration of hypochlorite which is effective to maintain sanitary conditions. Frequently however, a lavatory treatment composition which includes a bleach constituent do not comprise any colorants. Desirably the colorants, when present, do not exceed 15%wt. of the lavatory treatment composition, although generally lesser amounts are usually effective. When present, colorants are desirably present in an amount from about 0.1 to 15 percent of the total weight of the chemical composition.

The lavatory treatment compositions may include a fragrance or other air treatment constituent. The fragrance may be any composition which is known to the art to provide a perceptible fragrancing benefit, any may be based on naturally occurring materials such as one or more essential oils, or may be based on synthetically produced compounds as well. Examples of essential oils include pine oil, Anetlhole 20/21 natural, Aniseed oil china star, Aniseed oil globe brand, Balsam (Perui), Basil oil (India), Black pepper oil, Black pepper oleoresin 40/20, Bois de Rose (Brazil) FOB, Bomneol Flakes (China), Camphor oil, White, Camphor powder synthetic technical, Canaga oil (Java), Cardamom oil, Cassia oil (China), Cedarwood oil (China) BP, Cinnamon bark oil, Cinnamon leaf oil, Citronella oil, Clove bud oil, Clove leaf, Coriander (Russia), Counmarin 69°C. (China), Cyclamen Aldehyde, Diphenyl oxide, Ethyl vanilin, Eucalyptol, Eucalyptus oil, Eucalyptus citriodora, Fennel oil, Geranium oil, Ginger oil, Ginger oleoresin (India), White grapefruit oil, Guaiacwood oil, Gurjun balsam, Heliotropin, Isobornyl acetate, Isolongifolene, Juniper berry oil, L-methyl acetate, Lavender oil, Lemon oil, Lemongrass oil, Lime oil distilled, Litsea Cubeba oil, Longifolene, Menthol crystals, Methyl cedryl ketone, Methyl chavicol, Methyl salicylate, Musk ambrette, Musk ketone, Musk xylol, Nutmeg oil, Orange oil, Patchouli oil, Peppermint oil, Phenyl ethyl alcohol, Pimento berry oil, Pimento leaf oil, Rosalin, Sandalwood oil, Sandenol, Sage oil, Clary sage, Sassafras oil, Spearmint oil, Spike lavender, Tagetes, Tea tree oil, Vanilin, Vetyver oil (Java), and Wintergreen oil.

Many of these essential function as a fragrance agent, which fragrance agent which may be a substance or mixture of various substances including those which are naturally derived (i.e., obtained by extraction of flower, herb, blossom or plant), those which are artificially derived or produced (i.e., mixture of natural oils and/or oil constituents), and those which are synthetically produced substances (odiferous substances). Generally fragrance agents are complex mixtures or blends various organic compounds including, but not limited to, certain alcohols, aldehydes, ethers, alamatic compounds and varying amounts of essential oils such as from about 0 to about 25% by weight, usually from about 0.05 to about 12% by weight, the essential oils themselves being volatile odiferous compounds and also functioning to aid in the dissolution of the other components of the fragrance agent. In the present invention, the precise composition of the fragrance agent desirably emanates a pleasing fragrance, but the nature of the fragrance agent is not critical to the success of the invention.

As noted above, in conjunction with or in the absence of a fragrance constituent, the lavatory treatment compositions may comprise an air treatment constituent. Such may be any other material which is useful in providing treatment of ambient air, such as a sanitizing agents . e.g., one or more glycols or alcohols, or materials which are intended to counteract, neutralize, or mask odors in the absence of, or in conjunction with, the fragrance composition of the present invention. Alternatively, the air treatment constituent may be one or more materials which provide and effective insecticide repelling or insecticidal benefit; such would be particularly useful in climates or environments where insects present a nuisance or health hazard. As further chemical constituents, the lavatory treatment compositions of the invention may comprise an anti-limescale agent, which can be generally classified as a cleaning agent in that it provides a cleaning effect to treated lavatory device surfaces. The anti-limescale agent can virtually any known anti-limescale agent compositions known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art. For example, compositions containing anionic and/or nonionic surfactants together with typical anti-limescale agents, for example, amidosulfonic acid, bisulfate salts, organic acids, organic phosphoric salts, alkali metal polyphosphates, and the like. Examples of anti-limescale agent compositions can be found in, for example, United States Patent Nos. 5,759,974; 4460490; and 4578207, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. Further examples of anti- limescale agents include organic acids (for example, citric acid, lactic acid, adipic acid, oxalic acid and the like), organic phosphoric salts, alkali metal polyphosphates, sulfonic, and sulfamic acids and their salts, bisulfate salts, EDTA, phosphonates, and the like. The lavatory treatment compositions may comprise stain inhibiting materials. The lavatory treatment composition of the invention may, for example, include an effective amount of a manganese stain inhibiting agent which is advantageously included wherein the sanitary appliance is supplied by a water source having an appreciable or high amount of manganese. Such water containing a high manganese content are known to frequently deposit unsightly stains on surfaces of sanitary appliances, especially when the lavatory treatment composition also contains a bleach source which provides a hypochlorite. To counteract such an effect the lavatory treatment composition of the present invention may comprise a manganese stain inhibiting agent, such as a partially hydro lyzed polyacrylamide having a molecular weight of about 2000 to about 10,000, a polyacrylate with a molecular weight of about 2000 to about 10,000, and/or copolymers of ethylene and maleic acid anhydride with a molecular weight of from about 20,000 to about 100,000. When present the satin inhibiting materials may comprise to about 10%wt. of the weight of the lavatory treatment composition.

The lavatory treatment compositions of the invention may include one or more preservatives. Such preservatives are primarily included to reduce the growth of undesired microorganisms within the treatment blocks formed from the lavatory treatment composition during storage prior to use or while used, although it is expected that the such a preservative may impart a beneficial antimicrobial effect to the water in the sanitary appliance to which the treatment block is provided. Exemplary useful preservatives include compositions which include parabens, including methyl parabens and ethyl parabens, glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde, 2-bromo-2-nitropropoane-l,3-diol, 5- chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 2-methyl-4-isothiazoline-3-one, and mixtures thereof. One exemplary composition is a combination 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin- 3 -one and 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one where the amount of either component may be present in the mixture anywhere from 0.001 to 99.99 weight percent, based on the total amount of the preservative. For reasons of availability, the most preferred preservative are those commercially available preservative comprising a mixture of 5-chloro-2- methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one and 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one marketed under the trademark KATHON® CG/ICP as a preservative composition presently commercially available from Rohm and Haas (Philadelphia, PA). Further useful preservative compositions include KATHON® CG/ICP II, a further preservative composition presently commercially available from Rohm and Haas (Philadelphia, PA), PROXEL® which is presently commercially available from Zeneca Biocides (Wilmington, DE), SUTTOCIDE® A which is presently commercially available from Sutton Laboratories (Chatam, NJ) as well as TEXTAMER® 38AD which is presently commercially available from Calgon Corp. (Pittsburgh, PA). When present, the optional preservative constituent should not exceed about 5%wt. of the lavatory treatment composition, although generally lesser amounts are usually effective. The lavatory treatment compositions may also include a binder constituent. The binder may function in part controlling the rate of dissolution of the tablet. The binder constituent may be a clay, but preferably is a water-soluble or water-dispersible gel- forming organic polymer. The term "gel-forming" as applied to this polymer is intended to indicate that on dissolution or dispersion in water it first forms a gel which, upon dilution with further water, is dissolved or dispersed to form a free-flowing liquid. The organic polymer serves essentially as binder for the tablets produced in accordance with the invention although, as will be appreciated, certain of the polymers envisaged for use in accordance with the invention also have surface active properties and thereby serve not only as binders but also enhance the cleansing ability of the tablets of the invention. Further certain organic polymers, such as substituted celluloses, also serve as soil antiredeposition agents. A wide variety of water-soluble organic polymers are suitable for use in the lavatory treatment composition of the present invention. Such polymers may be wholly synthetic or may be semi-synthetic organic polymers derived from natural materials. Thus, for example, on class of organic polymers for use in accordance with the invention are chemically modified celluloses such as ethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, and hydro xyethyl cellulose. Another class of organic polymers which may be used include naturally derived or manufactured (fermented) polymeric materials such as alginates and carageenan. Also, water-soluble starches and gelatin may be used as the optional binder constituent. The cellulose based binders are a preferred class of binders for use in the lavatory treatment composition and may possess the property of inverse solubility that is their solubility decreases with increasing temperature, thereby rendering the tablets of the invention suitable for use in locations having a relatively high ambient temperature.

The optional binder constituent may also be one or more synthetic polymers e.g, polyvinyl alcohols; water-soluble partially hydro lyzed polyvinyl acetates; polyacrylonitriles; polyvinyl pyrrolidones; water-soluble polymers of ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids, such as acrylic acid and methacrylic acid, and salts thereof; base-hydrolysed starch-polyacrylonitrile copolymers; polyacrylamides; ethylene oxide polymers and copolymers; as well as carboxypolymethylenes. hi the case of the organic polymeric binders it may be noted that, in general, the higher the molecular weight of the polymer the greater the in-use life of the treatment block of the invention. When present, the total binder content may comprise up to 75%wt. of the lavatory treatment composition, but preferably is from 0.5 to 70% by weight, preferably from 1 to 65% by weight, more preferably from 5 to 60% by weight. The lavatory treatment compositions may optionally include one or more dissolution control agents. Such dissolution control agent are materials which provide a degree of hydrophobicity to the treatment block formed from the lavatory treatment composition whose presence in the treatment block contributes to the slow uniform dissolution of the treatment block when contacted with water, and simultaneously the controlled release of the active constituents of the lavatory treatment composition.

Preferred for use as the dissolution control agents are mono- or di-alkanol amides derived from C₈-Ci₆ fatty acids, especially CI₂-CH fatty acids having a C₂-C₆ monoamine or diamine moiety. When included the dissolution control agent may be included in any effective amount, but desirably the dissolution control agent is present in an amount not to exceed about 600%wt. of the lavatory treatment composition, although generally lesser amounts are usually effective. Generally wherein the lavatory treatment composition is to be used in an ITB application the dissolution control agent is present to about 12%wt., more preferably is present from 0.1 - 10%wt. and most preferably is present from about 3 - 8%wt. of the lavatory treatment compositions, as well as in the treatment blocks formed therefrom. Generally wherein the lavatory treatment composition is to be used in an ITC application the dissolution control agent is present to about 50%wt., more preferably is present from 1 - 50%wt. and most preferably is present from about 10 - 40%wt. of the lavatory treatment composition, such as in treatment blocks formed therefrom.

The lavatory treatment compositions may optionally include one or more water- softening agents or one or more chelating agents, for example inorganic water-softening agents such as sodium hexametaphosphate or other alkali metal polyphosphates or organic water-softening agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and nitrilotriacetic acid and alkali metal salts thereof. When present, such water-softening agents or chelating agents should not exceed about 20%wt. of the lavatory treatment composition, although generally lesser amounts are usually effective. The lavatory treatment compositions may optionally include one or more solid water-soluble acids or acid-release agents such as sulphamic acid, citric acid or sodium hydrogen sulphate. When present, such solid water-soluble acids or acid-release agents should not exceed about 20%wt. of the lavatory treatment composition, although generally lesser amounts are usually effective. The lavatory treatment compositions may include diluent materials may be included to provide additional bulk of the product lavatory treatment composition and may enhance leaching out of the surfactant constituent when the lavatory treatment composition is placed in water. Exemplary diluent materials include any soluble inorganic alkali, alkaline earth metal salt or hydrate thereof, for example, chlorides such as sodium chloride, magnesium chloride and the like, carbonates and bicarbonates such as sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate and the like, sulfates such as magnesium sulfate, copper sulfate, sodium sulfate, zinc sulfate and the like, borax, borates such as sodium borate and the like, as well as others known to the art but not particularly recited herein. Exemplary organic diluents include, inter alia, urea, as well as water soluble high molecular weight polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol. When present, such diluent materials should not exceed about 80%wt. of the lavatory treatment composition, although generally lesser amounts are usually effective.

The lavatory treatment compositions and treatment blocks formed therefrom may include one or more fillers. Such fillers are typically particulate solid water-insoluble materials which may be based on inorganic materials such as talc or silica, particulate organic polymeric materials such as finely comminuted water insoluble synthetic polymers. When present, such fillers should not exceed about 30%wt. of the lavatory treatment composition, although generally lesser amounts are usually effective.

Preferably the lavatory treatment composition of the invention includes silica. Silica has been observed to aid in the controlling the rate of dissolution of the lavatory treatment compositions of the invention.

The lavatory treatment compositions and treatment blocks formed therefrom may include one or more further processing aids. For example, the lavatory treatment composition may also include 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 and 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. Other useful processing aids include tabletting lubricants such as metallic stearates, stearic acid, paraffin oils or waxes or sodium borate which facilitate in the formation of the treatment blocks in a tabletting press or die.

One advantageously utilized processing aid is a diester constituent which may be represented by the following structure:

wherein: R¹ and R² can independently be Ci-C₆ alkyl which may optionally substituted,

Y is (CH₂)_X, wherein x is 0-10, but is preferably 1-8, and while Y may be a linear alkyl or phenyl moiety, desirably Y includes one or more oxygen atoms and/or is a branched moiety.

Exemplary diester constituents include the following diester compounds according to the foregoing structure: dimethyl oxalate, diethyl oxalate, diethyl oxalate, dipropyl oxalate, dibutyl oxalate, dϋsobutyl oxalate, dimethyl succinate, diethyl succinate, diethylhexyl succinate, dimethyl glutarate, diisostearyl glutarate, dimethyl adipate, diethyl adipate, diisopropyl adipate, dipropyl adipate, dibutyl adipate, diisobutyl adipate, dihexyladipate, di-Ci_2-i₅-alkyl adipate, dicapryl adipate, dicetyl adipate, diisodecyl adipate, diisocetyl adipate, diisononyl adipate, diheptylundecyl adipate, ditridecyl adipate, diisostearyl adipate, diethyl sebacate, diisopropyl sebacate, dibutyl sebacate, diethylhexylsebacate, diisocetyl dodecanedioate, dimethyl brassylate, dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate.

Preferred diester constituents include those wherein Y is -(CH₂)_X- wherein x has a value of from 0 - 6, preferably a value of 0 - 5, more preferably a value of from 1 -4, while R¹ and R are Ci-C₆ alkyl groups which may be straight chained alkyl but preferably are branched, e.g, iso- and tert-moieties. Particularly preferred diester compounds are those in which the compounds terminate in ester groups.

A further advantageously utilized processing aid is a hydrocarbon solvent constituent. The hydrocarbon solvents are immiscible in water, may be linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbons having from about 6 to about 24 carbon atoms, preferably comprising from about 12 to about 16 carbon atoms. Saturated hydrocarbons are preferred, as are branched hydrocarbons. Such hydrocarbon solvents are typically available as technical grade mixtures of two or more specific solvent compounds, and are often petroleum distillates. Nonlimiting examples of some suitable linear hydrocarbons include decane, dodecane, decene, tridecene, and combinations thereof. Mineral oil is one particularly preferred form of a useful hydrocarbon solvent. Further preferred hydrocarbon solvents include paraffinic hydrocarbons including both linear and branched paraffinic hydrocarbons. The former are commercially available as NORPAR solvents (ex. ExxonMobil Corp.) while the latter are available as ISOPAR solvents (ex. ExxonMobil Corp.) Mixtures of branched hydrocarbons especially as isoparaffins form a further particularly preferred form of a useful hydrocarbon solvent of the invention. Particularly useful technical grade mixtures of isoparaffins include mixtures of isoparaffinic organic solvents having a relatively narrow boiling range. Examples of these commercially available isoparaffinic organic solvents include ISOPAR C described to be primarily a mixture of C₇-C₈ isoparaffins, ISOPAR E described to be primarily a mixture of Q-C₉ isoparaffins, ISOPAR G described to be primarily a mixture OfCi₀-C₁₁ isoparaffins, ISOPAR H described to be primarily a mixture OfCn-Ci₂ isoparaffins, ISOPAR J, ISOPAR K described to be primarily a mixture of Cn-Ci₂ isoparaffins, ISOPAR L described to be primarily a mixture of Cn-Cn isoparaffins, ISOPAR M described to be primarily a mixture of C1₃-C₁₄ isoparaffins, ISOPAR P and ISOPAR V described to be primarily a mixture OfCi₂-C₂₀ isoparaffins.

When present such further processing aids are typically included in amounts of up to about 30% by weight, preferably to 20%wt. of the lavatory treatment composition, although generally lesser amounts are usually effective. Optionally but in some cases, preferably one or more of the foregoing constituents may be provided as an encapsulated, particularly a microencapsulated material. That is to say, quantities of one or more constituents are provided covered or encapsulated in an encapsulating material. Methods suitable for such an encapsulation include the customary methods and also the encapsulation of the granules by a melt consisting e.g. of a water- soluble wax, coacervation, complex coacervation and surface polymerization. Non- limiting examples of useful encapsulating materials include e.g. water-soluble, water- dispersible or water-emulsifiable polymers and waxes. Advantageously, reactive chemical constituents, particularly the fragrance composition when present, may be provided in an encapsulated form so to ensure that they do not prematurely degrade during processing of the constituents used to form the lavatory treatment composition and that they are retained with minimal degradation in the lavatory treatment composition prior to their use. The use of water soluble encapsulating material is preferred as such will release the one or more chemical constituents when the lavatory treatment composition is contacted with water supplied either in the cistern or in the toilet bowl.

Ideally the lavatory treatment compositions exhibit a density greater than that of water which ensures that they will sink when suspended in a body of water, e.g., the water present within a cistern, pail or other vessel. Preferably the treatment blocks formed from a lavatory treatment composition exhibit a density in excess of about 1 g/cc of water, preferably a density in excess of about 1.5 g/cc of water and most preferably a density of at least about 2 g/cc of water. While the mass of the lavatory treatment composition s may vary, and amount of up to an including 500 grams may be practiced, generally the mass of the lavatory treatment compositions do not exceed about 150 grams. Advantageously the mass of the lavatory treatment composition s is between about 20 and 100 grams. It is appreciated that lavatory treatment composition s having great mass should provide a longer useful service life of the inventive devices, with the converse being equally true.

The lavatory treatment composition s according to the present invention may also be provided with a coating of a water-soluble film, such as polyvinyl acetate following the formation of the treatment blocks from the recited lavatory treatment composition. Such may be desired for improved handling, however such is often unnecessary as preferred embodiments of the compressed blocks exhibit a lower likelihood of sticking to one another following manufacture than many prior art treatment block compositions.

It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that several of the components which are directed to provide a chemical composition can be blended into one chemical composition with the additional appreciation that potential blending of incompatible components will be avoided. For example, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that certain anionic surfactants may have to be avoided as some may be incompatible with certain sanitizing agents and/or certain anti-lime scale agents mentioned herein. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the compatibility of the anionic surfactant and the various sanitizing and anti-limescale agents can be easily determined and thus incompatibility can be avoided in the situations. The lavatory treatment compositions may be formed of a single chemical composition, or may formed of two (or more) different chemical compositions which may be provided as separate regions of a lavatory treatment, such as a first layer of a lavatory treatment consisting of a first chemical composition, alongside a second layer of a the lavatory treatment consisting of a second chemical composition which is different than the first chemical composition. The block may also be formed of two or more separate blocks which are simply layered or otherwise assembled, without or without the use of an adhesive. Further layers of still further different chemical compositions may also be present. Such lavatory treatments formed having two or more discrete layers or regions of, respectively, two or more different chemical compositions may be referred to as composite blocks.

Any form of the lavatory treatment composition s may also be provided with a coating film or coating layer, such as a water soluble film which is used to overwrap the chemical composition provided in the device which film provides a vapor barrier when dry, but which dissolves when contacted with water. Alternately the lavatory treatment composition s may be oversprayed or dipped into a bath of a water soluble film forming constituent, and thereafter removed and thus allowing the water soluble film forming constituent to dry and form a coating layer on the lavatory treatment composition .

Exemplary materials which may be used to provide such a coating on some or all of the surfaces of the lavatory treatment compositions include one or more of the following: Rhodasurf TB-970 described by its supplier to be a tridecyl alcohol having a degree of ethoxylation of approximately 100 having an HLB ofl9, and exhibiting a melting point in the range of 52-55°C; Antarox F-108 which is described to be an EO-PO block copolymer having a degree of ethoxylation of approximately 80% and having a melting point in the range of 54-60⁰C; further materials including those identified as Pluriol Z8000, and Pluriol E8000 which are believed to be optionally substituted, high molecular weight polyethylene glycols ("PEG") having a sufficiently high molecular weight such that they have a melting point of at least 25°C, preferably a melting point of at least about 30⁰C may also be used. Other water soluble materials, desirably those which have a melting point in the range of about 30 - 70⁰C, and which may be used to provide a water soluble or water dispersible coating on the lavatory treatment composition s are also contemplated to be useful, especially synthetic or naturally occurring waxy materials, and high molecular weight polyalkylene glycols, especially polyethylene glycols. Certain of these coating materials may be surfactants. Generally such materials may be provided as a dispersion in water, an organic solvent or in an aqueous/organic solvent, but preferably are used as supplied from their respective supplier and are heated to at least their melting points in order to form a liquid bath. Conveniently, the lavatory treatment composition s affixed to the plate of a hanger are then conveniently dipped into the said bath, thereby providing a coating layer to the lavatory treatment composition s. Alternately, the coating materials may be sprayed, brushed on or padded onto at least part of the surfaces of the previously formed lavatory treatment composition s.

The application of a water soluble film or coating is preferred in certain embodiments of the invention as the surface film may facilitate the handling of the blocks during packaging and storage prior to use of the cageless lavatory dispensing devices. Further, the application of a water soluble film or coating is preferred as certain water soluble film former compositions may impart a desirable surface gloss to the compressed lavatory blocks.

Preferably the lavatory treatment compositions useful in the cageless lavatory dispensing devices include those which comprise at least one surfactant, preferably at least one anionic or nonionic surfactant.

Exemplary compositions which can be used to form the lavatory treatment compositions of the present invention are shown in the following table below; the amounts indicates are in %wt. of the "as supplied" constituent used to form an example block compositions, labeled A through F.

¹ Dodecyl Benzene Sulfonate Sodium (80-90% active) — anionic

² Alpha Olefin Sulfonate Sodium ~ anionic

³ Lauryl Monoethanolamide — non-ionic

⁴ Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (70% active) — anionic 5 Polyoxyethylene (160) polyoxypropylene (30) glycol - non-ionic

⁶ Pluronic 87 E₆₁ P_{41 5} E₆, - Molecular Weight 7700 - HLB 24 ~ non-ionic Pluronic 88 E₉₈ P_{41 5} E₉₈ - Molecular Weight 10800 ~ HLB 28- non-ionic

⁷ Alcohol ethoxylate C₉-C₁₁ 6EO - non-ionic

Further exemplary bleach containing compositions which can be used to form the lavatory treatment composition s of the present invention include compositions indicated on the next table having the general ranges as follows:

alpha olefin sulfonate

Sodium lauryl ether sulfate

Bleaching agent (e.g., DCCNa or Hydantoin)

Lauryl monoethanolamide

Dodecyl benzene sulfonate Na

Na sulfate anhydrous

Silica

Further exemplary preferred embodiments of blocks which are useful as lavatory treatment composition s of the present invention include those which comprise:

10 - 35%wt., preferably 15-30%wt. of an alpha olefin sulfonate anionic surfactant;

10 - 35%wt., preferably 15-30%wt. of a linear monoethanolamide;

5 - 50 %wt., preferably 15-35%wt. of a linear dodecylbenzene sulfonate anionic surfactant;

5 - 50%wt., preferably 20-35%wt. of sodium sulfate

0.1 - 15 %wt., preferably 0.5-5%wt. of silica

0.1 - 25%wt., preferably l-10%wt. sodium lauryl ether sulfate optionally to 40%wt. further additive constituents, including but not limited to further surfactants, fillers, binders, fragrances, processing aids such as lubricants and tabletting aids, bleaches, sanitizing compositions and the like.

Yet further exemplary compositions which include a bleach constituent which find use as lavatory treatment composition s of the present invention include those recited on the following tables, and labeled as G through N: G H I J K L dodecylbenzene sulfonate, sodium salt 32.0

(80%) 27.0 22.0 32.0 35.00 37.8 sodium C14/C16 olefin sulfonates 20.0

(80%) 15.0 20.0 15.0 22.0 23.62 silica 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.89 2.0 lauramide monoethanol amide (98%) 30.0 30.0 25.0 15.00 12.28 20.0 sodium sulfate 20.5 20.5 20.5 20.50 18.90 20.5 dichlorocyanurate dihydrate, sodium 2.5 salt (56% bleach) 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.41 paraffinic hydrocarbons 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.1 3.09 3.0

M N O dodecylbenzene sulfonate, sodium salt (80% Vo)) 35.0 37.0 32.0 sodium C14/C16 olefin sulfonates (80%) 22.0 25.0 20.0 silica 2.0 2.0 2.0 lauramide monoethanol amide (98%) 15.0 10.0 20.0 sodium sulfate 20.5 20.5 18.5 dichlorocyanurate dihydrate, sodium salt (56 6%% bblleeaacchh)) 2.5 2.5 2.5 paraffinic hydrocarbons 3 3 5

The identity of the constituents used to form the foregoing lavatory treatment composition s G - O are identified more specifically on the following table.

dodecylbenzene sulfonate, sodium salt anionic surfactant, dodecylbenzene sulfonate,

(80%) 80%wt. actives sodium C14/C16 olefin sulfonates (80%) anionic surfactant, sodium C14/C16 olefin sulfonates, 80%wt. actives silica filler anhydrous silica, 100%wt. actives. lauramide monoethanol amide (98%) solubility control agent, lauramide monoethanol amide, 98%wt. actives sodium sulfate diluent, sodium sulfate, 100%wt. actives dichlorocyanurate dihydrate, sodium salt bleach constituent, dichlorocyanurate dihydrate,

(56%) sodium salt, 56%wt. bleach actives lsopar M hydrocarbon solvent, isoparaffinic organic solvents,

100%wt. actives mineral oil Hydrocarbon solvent, mineral oil, 100%wt. actives paraffinic hydrocarbons Hydrocarbon solvent, white paraffin oil, 100%wt. actives

Still fiirther exemplary lavatory treatment compositions which include diisopropyl adipates which find use as lavatory treatment composition s of the present invention include those recited on the following tables, and labeled as P through W: P Q R S dodecylbenzene sulfonate, sodium salt (80%) 55.85 58.85 62.51 62.51 silica 2.41 2.41 2.56 2.56 lauramide monoethanolamide (98%) 6.01 6.01 6.38 6.38 sodium sulfate 12 12 12.75 12.75 dichlorocyanurate dihydrate, sodium salt (56%) 14.63 14.63 9.32 9.32 diisopropyl adipate 6.1 6.1 6.48 6.48

T U V W dodecylbenzene sulfonate, sodium salt (80%) 58.61 67.27 69.25 70.83 silica 2.40 1.91 1.96 2.01 lauramide monoethanolamide (98%) 5.98 4.74 4.88 4.99 sodium sulfate 11 .95 17.37 17.88 18.29 dichlorocyanurate dihydrate, sodium salt (56%) 14.6 4.98 2.41 0.55 diisopropyl adipate 6.46 3.73 3.61 3.33

The identity of the constituents used to form the foregoing lavatory treatment compositions labeled P through W are identified more specifically on the following table:

(80%) 80%wt. actives

Silica anhydrous silica, 100%wt. actives, lauramide monoethanolamide (98%) solubility control agent, lauramide monoethanolamide, 98%wt. actives sodium sulfate diluent, sodium sulfate, 100%wt. actives dichlorocyanurate dihydrate, sodium salt bleach constituent, dichlorocyanurate dihydrate, (56%) sodium salt, 56%wt. bleach actives diisopropyl adipate diester constituent, diisopropyl adipate,

100%wt. actives

Yet further exemplary lavatory treatment compositions which include paraffinic hydrocarbon solvents or mineral oil which find use as lavatory treatment composition s of the present invention include those recited on the following tables, and labeled as AA through AK:

AA AB AC AD AE dodecylbenzene sulfonate, sodium salt (80%) 65.8 65.8 65 64.17 69.25

Silica 2.69 2.69 2.66 2.63 1.96 lauramide monoethanolamine (98%) 6.72 6.72 6.64 6.55 4.88 sodium sulfate 13.42 13.42 13.26 13.09 17.88 dichlorocyanurate dihydrate, sodium salt (56% bleach) 8.89 8.89 8.78 9.57 2.41 lsopar M 2.47 2.47 — — — mineral oil 3.66 3.99 3.61 AF AG AH Al AJ AK dodecylbenzene sulfonate, sodium salt

(80%) 70.83 69.25 69.25 69.25 70.83 68.31 silica 2.01 1.96 1.96 1.96 2.01 2.90 lauramide monoethanolamine (98%) 4.99 4.88 4.88 4.88 4.99 4.88 sodium sulfate 18.29 17.88 17.88 17.88 18.29 17.88 dichlorocyanurate dihydrate, sodium 2.41 salt (56% bleach) 0.55 2.41 2.41 2.41 0.55 lsopar M 3.33 3.61 3.61 — ~ 3.61 mineral oil _ 3.61 3.33

The identity of the constituents used to form the foregoing blocks AA through AK are identified more specifically on the following table:

dodecylbenzene sulfonate, sodium salt anionic surfactant, dodecylbenzene sulfonate, (80%) 80%wt. actives silica filler anhydrous silica, 100%wt. actives, lauramide monoethanolamide (98%) solubility control agent, lauramide monoethanolamide, 98%wt. actives sodium sulfate diluent, sodium sulfate, 100%wt. actives dichlorocyanurate dihydrate, sodium salt bleach constituent, dichlorocyanurate dihydrate, (56%) sodium salt, 56%wt. bleach actives lsopar M hydrocarbon solvent, isoparaffinic organic solvents, 100%wt. actives mineral oil Hydrocarbon solvent, mineral oil, 100%wt. actives

While the lavatory treatment composition of the present invention may be a tablet, cake, lavatory treatment composition or gel, most preferably it a compressed lavatory treatment.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are discussed with reference to the accompanying figures.

Figs. 1-3 depict a first embodiment of a packaging dispensing a device according to the first embodiment of the invention.

The combination packaging and dispensing device 10 includes a supporting plate 12 having a top end 14 and a bottom end 16. The top end 14 comprises a plurality of slots, a first pair of "L-shaped" slots 18, 20 defining a first hanger element 21 and second pair of "L-shaped" 22, 24 defining a second hanger element 25. The top part 14 of the supporting plate 12 further includes an optional, but advantageously included stiffening member 26, here an inverted "U-shaped" channel 26 which is integrally formed with the supporting plate and extends outwardly from one side thereof. As seen in the figure, this stiffening member 26 essentially surrounds a major part of the hanger means, that is to say the first hanger element 21 and the second hanger element 25.

With regard to the first hanger means, as can be seen in the figures, the first hanger means is defined by a first L-shaped slot 18 which breaches and passes through a portion of the supporting plate 12, one end of which terminates in a circular hole 27 the other end 28 of which terminates at a point within the supporting plate. Thus, the first hanger means is an integral part of the supporting plate 12. The first hanger means further includes a second, "mirror-image" L-shaped slot 20 passing through and breaching the supporting plates 12 which second L-shaped slot also has one end terminating at a hole 29 at one end thereof, the opposite end thereof 30 terminating within the supporting plate 12. As it seems from the figure, the respective ends 28, 30 of the first and second L- shaped slots defining the first hanger means are separated by a small but solid portion of the supporting plates 12. It is to be understood that in use, a consumer can readily press against this portion of the supporting plate 12 between the ends 28, 30 and cause it to break which then allows the first hanger means to swing inwardly and outwardly of plane as generally defined by the supporting plate 12 about the region of the plate defined as a hinge-line HLl which extends between the first hole 27 and the second hole 29. Conveniently, but not necessary, the hinge-line HLl is proximate to the top edge 40 of the supporting plate 12. It is further seen that the portion of the supporting plate 12 intermediate the holes 27, 29 defining the opposite ends of the hinge-line HLl are not breached or broken, it being understood that the dotted line use to represent the hinge-line HLl do not necessary indicate that perforations exist in this region. Nonetheless it is contemplated that in alternative embodiments, one or more perforations can be provided intermediate holes 27, 29 particularly if the material of the supporting plate 12 is unduly stiff as providing one or more such perforations can improve the flexibility of the first hanger element with respect to the supporting plate and allow it to more readily flex inwardly or outwardly with respect to the supporting plate 12.

Figure 1 also shows a second hanger means defined by a pair of opposed, L- shaped slots passing through the supporting plate 12, a first L-shaped slot 22 opposite of a "mirror-image" second L-shaped slot 25, wherein said perforations are to be understood as extending through, and breaching a part of the supporting plate 12. As it seem thereon, the L-shaped perforations each include top ends, respectively a top end 31 and

33 and bottom ends 32, 34 wherein the bottom ends 32, 34 seem to be in relatively close proximity to one another and are separated by only a small but solid part of the supporting plate 12. Again, as has been discussed above with reference to the first hanger means, it is intended that this small but solid part intermediate the bottom ends 32,

34 can be easily breached by consumer utilizing the device 10 according to the invention, thereby freeing the second hanger means to flex into, or out of the plane defined by the supporting plate 12, and/or alternatively thereto, or out of the plane as generally defined by the hanger elements from which the second hanger elements depends. Such flexure of the second hanger element occurs preferably around a second hanger line HL2 which herein is disclosed for representational purposes as a dotted line. Again, ideally, a series of perforations is not necessarily required between the top ends 31, 33 however, such may be provided if necessary or desired such as if the supporting plate 12 is undesirably stiff. Also, while not shown with regard to the second hanger element, one or more holes such as the holes 27, 28 might also be positioned co incidentally with the upper ends 31, 33 of the second hanger element 25 with respect to the first hanger element 21, and/or with respect to the supporting plate 12.

Further, while not shown in the figures it is to be understood of their arrangements and configurations of slots 18, 20, 22, 24 might also be provided. For example, instead of a continuous slot, the arrangements of a slot may be, for example, a series of spaced apart short slots, or holes which are separated by small parts of the solid supporting plate 12 and which are configured such that such small parts of the supporting plate 12 can be readily broken or breached by pushing against the supporting plate 12 in the region of such slots or holes. Such slots or holes, once breached, can be used to define a first, and/or second hanger element which hanger elements can also have a configuration other than the generally U-shaped configurations depicted on Figures 1-6. For example, such further configurations can be "V" shaped, or "W" shaped, or for that matter can also be simply arcuate curves. It is to be understood that the particular configuration of the hanger elements depicted in the accompanying figures are presented by way of illustration, not by way of limitation. It is also to be understood that a third, fourth still further hanger elements can be used and provided to the device 10 according to the present invention although not specifically disclosed thereon.

Returning now to Figure 1, it is seen that the embodiment depicted provides a block housing 42 which extends outwardly from the supporting plate 12 such that the block housing extends outwardly from an upper face 44 of the supporting plate 12. In the present embodiment, it is seen that the block housing 42 includes a sidewall 46 which is generally circular in configuration and which terminates at a top flat face 48. The bottom margin 50 of the sidewalls coincident with a generally planar flap 52 which is hinged 54 along the bottom edge 56 of the supporting plate 12 and where portions the flap 52 are coplanar and coincident with the top face 44 of the supporting plate 12 when the device 10 is fully assembled. The block housing 42 defines an interior cavity space 60 which is defined as the volume within the interior of the block housing, and the supporting plate upon which the block housing 42 is mounted. As is depicted in the figure, the block housing also includes a pair of diametrically spaced apart passages 62 and 64 which, as illustrated, pass through a portion of sidewall 46 and the top face 48 of the block housing 42. The top perforation 60 is proximate to the hanger means and is directed upwardly while the bottom perforation 64 is downwardly directed and is proximate to the bottom margin 56 of the supporting plate 12 in this configuration. Thus, in such a configuration water or other liquid passing or pouring over the exterior of the block housing 42 which impinges upon the device in the general region of the top part 14 of thereof, and more particularly in the region of the block housing 42 proximate to the top perforation 62, can thus readily pass into the interior cavity 60 where it can contact a lavatory treatment composition such as in the form of a block or a gel (not shown in the figure) and after coming into contact therewith entraining one or more chemical constituents therefrom in order to form a liquid treatment composition, said liquid treatment composition thus formed can readily flow outwardly from and or downwardly from bottom perforation 64 into a waiting vessel or into a lavatory appliance.

Further illustrated in Figure 1 are a series of removable, flexible covers 70 having at one end thereof a graspable tab region 72. The removable covers 70 are preferably flexible adhesive tapes having an adhesive at least one side thereof and whereby the dimensions of such flexible covers are sufficiently wide and long to cover the perforations present passing through the block housing 60. hi the embodiment shown in Figure 1 , conveniently two separate pieces of adhesive tape can be easily applied to cover and seal the upper perforation 62 and lower perforation 64 and thus isolate the contents of the block housing from the ambient environment. Thus, the device according to the invention provides a convenient packaging means for storing, displaying, and providing a package for the lavatory treatment composition contained within the block housing 42. Yet, upon use, a consumer can easily remove the removable covers, i.e., the tape 70 thereby exposing the passages 62, 64 as well as exposing the contents of the block housing 42, namely the lavatory treatment composition to contact with water which can now pass into, and out of, said block housing 42.

Figure 2 depicts and elevational and frontal view of the combination packaging and dispensing device described with reference to Figure 1. More clearly illustrated is the hinge 54 which is coincident with bottom margin 56 if the supporting plate 12, the relationship and the dimensions of the first hanger means 21 with the second hanger means 25, the placement of the optional, but desirably included stiffening member 26 with respect to the supporting plate 12 and in particular with respect to the top margin 40, right margin 7 and left margin 72 of the supporting plate 12, as well as the general configuration of the now unobscured upper perforation 62 and lower perforation 64 of the block housing 42. Figure 3 illustrates the embodiments of Figures 1 and 2 in a side view, which again advantageously depicts the relationship between the first hanger element 21 , second hanger element 25, stiffening element 26, and the block housing 42 with respect to the supporting plate 12. Such also illustrates that prior to being breached, broken, or flexed the first hanger means, and one present, the second hanger means are desirably coincident with, a co-planer with the plane defined by supporting plate 12.

Figures 4-6 depict the embodiment of the combined packaging dispensing device 10 as depicted in Figures 1-3 albeit in an unfolded configuration. As seem thereon as illustrated in both Figures 4 and Figures 5 the device 10 can be unfolded around the hinge 54, thereby exposing the interior of the cavity 60 so that a suitably dimensioned lavatory block, paste or gel composition can be inserted into said cavity 60, and thereafter the block housing 42 which depends from the flap 52 can be rotated about the hinge 54 and thereby seating and sealing the frontward face 11 of the supporting plate 12. As is best understood from Figures 4-5 therein is visible the rearward face 13 of the supporting plate 12 and the front face of the flap 52 and the block housing 48 which, when the device is formed into its final configuration, said flap 52 and block housing 42 extend outwardly from the front face 11 of the supporting plate 12.

Figure 6 illustrates a side elevational view of the embodiments of the device 10 as illustrated on Figures 4 and 5 for better understanding of this relationship between the various elements.

Figures 7-10 illustrate in various views a second embodiment of a combination packaging and dispensing device 10 according to the present invention. As can be seen thereon, many elements present in the embodiment according to Figures 7-10 also present in the embodiment depicted and discussed with references 1-6 and the description of such common elements, and their features will not be repeated here but are understood to be equally applicable as if incorpo rated by reference. With reference now to Figure 7 there is depicted the second preferred embodiment of a combined packaging and dispensing device 10 according to the present invention, which includes a hanger means comprising a first hanger element 21 and a second hanger element 25, and also a block housing 46 which extends outwardly from the plane defined by the supporting plate 12. As is illustrated thereon, the block housing 42 which extends outwardly from the front face 11 of the supporting plate 12. The block housing 42 includes a generally circular sidewall 46 which terminates at a top end 48. The block sidewall 46 includes a plurality of passages passing there through here are top passages 60-1, 60-2, and 60-3 all of which extend through the sidewall 46 and thereto exposing the lavatory treatment block 80 to the ambient environment. As seen in Figure 7, a portion of the lavatory treatment block 80 is visible through said perforations. It is also to be understood with reference to Figure 7, that the perforations 60-1, 60-2, 60-3 may be considered as "upper" or "inlet" perforations as they are positioned relatively proximate to the hanger means and further, they are also diametrically opposed, that is to say about 180 degrees of angle away from a further series of perforations which are • distally located with respect to thereto and although not visible on Figure 7, are discussed with reference to Figure 10 as well as being depicted thereon. As further seen from Figure 7, the block housing 42 has a margin 50 which is coincident with, terminates at a recess 65 which also extends outwardly from the plane of the supporting plate 12 in the direction of the block housing 42. The function of this recess 65 is that of providing both a short platform for the block housing 42 and concurrently to also provide a generally squared shaped cavity whereby a sealing plate can be applied within said recess 65 from the rearward face 13 of the supporting plate 12 such a sealing plate 66 being adapted to form a physically seal, preferably a liquid-tight seal with the margin 50, or other part of the block housing 42. In this manner, in a conventional production process a pre-formed supporting plate having the configuration according to Figure 7 can be produced, subsequently a suitably dimensioned lavatory treatment composition, e.g, a solid block or a gel composition can be inserted into the cavity of the block housing 42, and thereafter the sealing plate 66 can be inserted into the cavity 65 as subsequently sealed by any suitable means, thereby sealing the treatment block composition 80 within the interior of the block housing 42. Returning now to Figure 7 briefly, there is also visible therefrom a flexible sealing member 70 which is used to seal the perforation 60-1, 60-2, and 60-3 from the ambient environment, and desirably as illustrated having at one end thereof a graspable tab 72 which can be readily used to separate the flexible sealing member 70 from the sidewall 46 of the block housing 42. Again, such is conveniently provided by a piece of flexible tape having an adhesive exposed on at least part of one sided thereof. The tab 72 provides a convenient way whereby consumer can conveniently grasped and removes the flexible sealing members 70 and remove the flexible sealing member 70 from the device 10. It is to be understood that while the presence of a tab 72 is advantageous, it is not necessarily present in certain embodiments of the invention. Figure 9 illustrates top view of the lower part 14 of the device according to the invention and particular illustrates the relationship of the flexible sealing means 70 with the perforations 60-1, 60-2 and 60-3. As it seems thereon, the placement of the flexible ceiling means 70 obscures the said perforations, which in turns also acts to isolate the lavatory cleansing block, gel, composition 80 contained within cavity of the block housing 42. Turning now to Figure 10, there is depicted a bottom, plan view of the combination packaging and dispensing device 10 according to the invention as depicted in Figure 7 through Figure 9. As is visible therefrom, the sidewall 46 of the block housing 42 comprises a series of spaced apart circular shaped perforations 64-1, 64-2, and 64-3 which be essentially diametrically opposed to the upper perforation 60-1 , 60-2 and 60-3 and also as being downwardly directed, are useful in providing "drain" holes for water, and/or liquid treatment composition exiting the interior of the block housing 42. Similarly as depicted with regard to Figure 7 and Figure 9. These perforations 64-1, 64-2 and 64-3 are similarly obscured by a sealing member 70 which again, can conveniently can be a piece of adhesive tape which is used to seal said perforations and thereby isolate the contents of the block housing 42 from the ambient environment prior to the installation of and use of the device according to the invention.

A method of using the device according the invention is described with reference to Fig. 11. Thereon, as it is seen the combination packaging and dispensing device 10 is configured to be suspended upon a portion of a pail, whereby the first hanger means 21 is flexed outwardly from the plane of the supporting plate in a direction away from the block housing 42 such that it overlaps the rim of the pail thereby suspending the device 10. The second hanger means provided 25 is flexed in the opposite direction, that is to say in the direction towards the block housing 42 and the supporting plate 12 whereby a portion or edge of the second hanger means 25 engages and is positioned in an interference type. In this way a supply of a liquid treatment composition may be formed by pouring water or other liquid over the said device 10 where it can contact a lavatory treatment composition such as in the form of a block or a gel and after coming into contact therewith entraining one or more chemical constituents therefrom in order to form a liquid treatment composition. The liquid treatment composition may be retained in the pail from which it can be directly dispensed, e.g., poured into a lavatory appliance or other lavatory surface. hi a further method of using the device, while not shown it is to be understood that the hanger means of the device may be suspended on a part of a lavatory appliance, e.g., a toilet, bidet, urinal or other lavatory appliance such that the lavatory treatment composition contained within the block housing is in the path of flush water such as is found in a toilet bowl during a flush cycle, or other flowing water, such as water used to refill or replenish a tank or cistern between flush cycles, such that water comes into at least intermittent contact with a lavatory treatment composition such as in the form of a block or a gel and after coming into contact therewith entraining one or more chemical constituents therefrom in order to form a liquid treatment composition which may be used to treat the lavatory appliance.

Certain embodiments of the invention, including certain particularly preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the following examples.

Examples

Several different lavatory treatment compositions in the form of a compressed blocks were tested. Each of the said lavatory treatment compositions was formed by either a conventional extrusion process, or by a stamping process to form the blocks.

The following example block compositions were tested:

Each of the blocks were tested by separately placing a 30 gram sample of each of the block compositions into a block housing of a combination packaging and dispensing device having a configuration as depicted on Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10. With reference to Figures 7 and 9, the block housing included three openings having dimensions of 1/8 inch by VA inch. With reference to Figures 8 and 10, the block housing had linear circular holes having 1/8 inch diameters. The combination packaging and dispensing device containing a sample block was suspended generally as shown on Fig. 11 in a testing jig, wherein the said device was suspended adjacent to the sidewall of a polyolefin jug, whereby a supply of water would impinge of the said device, and pass into and out of the block housing within which it would contact a block composition. The water was supplied intermittently via a tube which would supply 2.3 liters of water per application within a timespan of between 40 - 120 seconds, and between applications no water was supplied thereby permitting the sample block to at least partially dry. The period between applications of water was at least 30 minutes. All of the tested sample blocks were subjected to the same text cycle and pattern of water supply.

Each of the tested sample blocks provided good foaming and a good service life, lasting between 95 - 105 water application cycles.

Claims

Claims:

1. A combination packaging and dispensing device for containing a quantity of lavatory treatment composition, , which device comprises a supporting plate, said supporting plate having integrally formed therein a hanger means, and extending outward from said supporting plate is a block housing containing contain a quantity of the lavatory treatment composition wherein the block housing further comprises at least one perforation passing therethrough, whereby water coming into contact with a portion of the block housing may pass into the interior of the block housing, and into contact with the lavatory treatment composition contained therein, and thereafter exit the device.

2. A combination packaging and dispensing device according to claim 1 wherein the block housing has at least two perforations passing therethrough.

3. A combination packaging and dispensing device according to claim 2 wherein the block housing has at least two perforations passing therethrough which are diametrically opposed with respect to one another.

4. A combination packaging and dispensing device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the integrally formed hanger means is an integral part of the supporting plate which extends inwardly or outwardly of the plane generally defined by the supporting plate.

5. A combination packaging and dispensing device according any of claims 1 - 4, wherein the integrally formed hanger means comprises a first hanger means and a second hanger means.

6. A combination packaging and dispensing device according to any of claims 1 - 5, wherein the block housing extends outward from one side of the supporting plate.

7. A combination packaging and dispensing device according to any of claims 1 - 6, wherein the lavatory treatment composition is in the form of a compressed solid block, paste or gel.

8. A combination packaging and dispensing device substantially as described with reference to one or more of the figures.

9. A method for providing a liquid treatment composition useful in the treatment of the lavatory appliance, or other vessel capable of containing a liquid which method comprises the step of: providing a combination packaging and dispensing device according to any claims 1 - 7 and suspending it via the hanger mans on a part of a lavatory appliance or said other vessel, and subsequently supplying water to the lavatory treatment block contained within the block housing of said device so to form a liquid treatment composition which thereafter exits the block housing and is supplied to the lavatory appliance or vessel.