WO2012032319A1

WO2012032319A1 - Lavatory brush block and methods for use

Info

Publication number: WO2012032319A1
Application number: PCT/GB2011/051555
Authority: WO
Inventors: Diane Joyce Burt; John Aubrey Creek; Jason Geno
Original assignee: Reckitt Benckiser Llc; Reckitt & Colman (Overseas) Limited
Priority date: 2010-09-08
Filing date: 2011-08-17
Publication date: 2012-03-15
Also published as: GB201014861D0

Abstract

The present invention relates to lavatory brush blocks comprising at least one polyethylene glycol polymer having a molecular weight of at least 500, at least one surfactant, optionally up to 40% by weight of water, and optionally up to 10% by weight of one or more optional components, methods for their production methods for their use in the cleaning of sanitary appliances, especially toilets.

Description

LAVATORY BRUSH BLOCK AND METHODS FOR USE

The present invention relates to lavatory brush blocks, methods for their production and methods for their use in the cleaning of sanitary appliances, especially toilets.

Known from the prior art are lavatory tablets, cakes or blocks (herein generically referred to as "blocks"). Such are typically provided in a lavatory treatment device, which typically includes a suitable supporting means, such as a cage permitting for the ingress and egress of flush water in which cage is present one or more la vatory blocks. Such lavatory treatment devices typically also further include a supporting means, typically a includes a hook or hanger whereby the cage contain ing the lavatory block(s) are suspended in the flowpath of flushing water. Such lavatory treatment devices are notoriously old and well known. More recently and now also known to the all are so- called cageless lavatory blocks, such as disclosed in US 2008-0313795 A1, in which a supporting hook is partially encased by a lavatory block but excludes an exterior cage. The configuration of the supporting hook provides for the placement of the lavatory block to be suspended in the flowpath of flushing water. Also, recently known to the art are certain lavatory treatment compositions which are directly adhered to a sidewall of the interior of a toilet bo wl, such as disclosed in US Patent 6667286. Such adhesive lavatory treatment compositions are retained in the tlowpath of flushing water by virtue of interfacial adhesion between the interior surface of a toilet bowl, and the lavatory treatment composition itself. Such adhesive lavatory treatment compositions obviate the need for a hook or hanger but typically require a dispensing or application device used by a consumer to physically apply the adhesive lavatory treatment composition to a surface.

Notwithstanding the existence of such known art lavatory treatment devices and adhesive lavatory treatment compositions, there is still a real need in the art for improved lavatory treatment articles and compositions which find use in the cleaning of lavatory appliances, particularly lavatory treatment articles which are readily used to clean lavatory appliances of whatever geometry, dimensions or configuration.

It is to these and further objects that the current invention is directed.

In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a lavatory brush block which is configured or adapted to be mounted on a part o f a toiiet c leaning brush, preferably a stalk-type toilet cleaning brush having an elongated stalk, a gripping end or gripping surface at one end thereof, and a brush, element at the opposite end of the said stalk.

In a second aspect of the invention there is provided a lavatory brush block according to the first aspect, wherein the lavatory brush block comprises a mass of a solid, semi-solid, or gel treatment composition which comprises one or more detersive surfactants and/or one or more constituents which pro vide a germicidal or sanitizing benefit.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of making a lavatory brush block according to the first or second aspects of the invention.

A fourth aspect of the invention provides for a method of cleaning a lavatory appliance utilizing a lavatory brush block according to the first or second aspects of the invention.

A fifth aspect of the invention provides for a method of cleaning a toilet cleaning brush utilizing a lavatory brush block according to the first or second aspects of the invention.

A sixth aspect of the invention is provides for a method of providing a fi'agrancing benefit to a lavatory or bathroom by providing and utilizing a lavatory brush block according to the first or second aspects of the invention.

These and further aspects of the invention are more fully disclosed hereinafter. The present invention provides a lavatory brush block which is configured or adapted to be mounted on a part of a toilet cleaning brush, preferably a stalk-type toilet cleaning brush having an elongated handle, a gripping surface at one end, and a brush element at the opposite end of the said handle. In a first embodiment, the lavatory brush block comprises a mass of a water erodable or water dispersible treatment composition which has a hole passing through the least a part thereof For example, such a lavatory brush block may be ring shaped, e.g., in the shape of a perforated cylinder, or toroid having a hole passing therethrough wherein the hole has a diameter or other dimension which is sufficiently large to accommodate a part of a toilet c leaning brush. Preferably, the hole is a central hole. Preferably the hole is suitably sized such that the lavatory brush block may be insertable upon a toilet cleaning brush such that a part of the laboratory cleaning brush, preferably a part of the elongated handle of a stalk-type toilet cleaning brush, is positioned within the hole of the lavatory brush block.

Advantageously, such a lavatory brush block can be readily mounted by simply inserting the stalk into the hole and placing the lavatory brush block upon the brush element upon which the lavatory brush block rests.

The lavatory brush block can be of any shape, configuration or size. By way of nonlimiring example, the lavatory brush block mandate configuration which is oval, ellipsoid, circular, square, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, hemispherical, spherical, star-shaped, or tor that matter can be of any other shape as a specific geometrical configuration or shape is not believed to be critical to the success of the present invention. It is only required that the lavatory brush block be mountable upon a part of the toilet cleaning brush.

The lavatory brush block can be a single unitary article, or can be formed from two or more parts which are assembled in the prior to or during mounting upon the toilet cleaning brush.

The lavatory brush block need not be in the form of a continuous or closed ring, but may be discontinuous, so to include one or more arcuate gaps, such that in a plan view the laboratory brush block exhibits a "C" type or "E" type configuration.

The lavatory brush block can also be a tbrmable, bendable, or otherwise manually moldable or reconfigurable mass of material or article which can assume a first configuration when formed, are packaged, or provided to a consumer, but which can be reshaped by consumer to assume a second configuration to thereby mount the lavatory brush block upon a part o f a toilet cleaning brush.

They lavatory brush block need not be formed of a single part or element, but may be formed of two or more parts or elements.

In addition to the mass of the lavatory treatment composition, the lavatory brush block can additionally comprise at least one support element which provides a rigid or semi-rigid supporting structure of the lavatory brush block. Such a support element can provide support to mass of a solid, serai-solid, or gel treatment composition, and/or provide a mounting means for engaging a part of the toilet cleaning brush. Such a support element can be integrally formed as part of the lavatory brush block, or fallowing production of the lavatory brush block can be affixed or otherwise attached thereto and thus be included in the lavatory brush block.

The lavatory brush block could also include one or more engagement elements which interact with, e.g., grip, a part of the toilet cleaning brush, such as a part of the stalk, and/or the part of the brush element. By way of non-limiting example the lavatory brush block can be configured such that it includes a snap-type connector which is used to removably mount the lavatory brush block upon a part of the toilet cleaning brush.

Both the support element (when present) and the engagement element (when present) may be formed from a water insoluble material of construction, e.g., a synthetic polymer such as polycarbonates, polymethylmethacrylate, polyalkylene terephtalates and polyolefins such high density polyethylene, or may be formed of or including a material of construction which disintegrates, dissolves. Or otherwise breaks down into two or more parts or pieces which can be disposed via flushing out said parts are pieces from the toilet bowl, e.g paper, fibrous material, coated paper, and the like. The support means may be also formed of a plurality of discrete parts or elements which may assume a first configuration prior to the use of the lavatory brush block, but which assume a second configuration during or subsequent to the use of the lavatory brush block. For example in such a first configuration two or more of the discrete elements present are engaged or interconnected with each other to define a first configuration of a support element, but subsequent to the use of the lavatory brush block, the two or more of the discrete elements present become disengaged or disconnected with each other permitting for the discrete elements to be flushed down and out via the toilet or other lavatory appliance.

Optionally, the lavatory brush block may further include a fragrancing element, which can be incorporated within the lavatory brush block, or can be provided as a separate element. This separate element may be either affixed to or otherwise attached to the lavatory brush block and thus be considered is included with the lavatory brush block, or alternately, may be a separate element which can be separately affixed or attached to the toilet cleaning brush, or for that matter to any other article within the proximity of the toilet bowl. For example, such a separate element may be a fragrancing element which can be separately affixed to the housing or holder of the toilet cleaning brush which is to lead placed in the near proximity of the toilet bowl or other lavatory appliance.

Alternately, such a separate element can be a fragrancing element which can be separately affixed to a part of the toilet bowl, such as the exterior side wall of the toilet bowl or exterior of the toilet cistern, or any other part of the toilet bowl or other lavatory appliance.

The lavatory brush block of the invention necessarily comprises a mass of a solid, semi -solid, or a gel, treatment composition. The lavatory brush block is formed from a treatment composition, and optionally includes one or more further elements, e.g., support elements, separate fragrancing elements.

In preferred embodiments the lavatory brush blocks necessarily comprise (or consist essentially of, or consist of):

one or more, but preferably at least two different high molecular weight polyethylene glycol polymers (also referred to as poly(ethylene oxide) or

polyoxyethylene), ("PEG") having a molecular weight of at least about 500, but preferably at least one PEG having an average molecular weight of at least about 500 but preferably less than about 5000 and .more preferably less than about 4500, and at least one further PEG having an average molecular weight of between about t500 and about 12000, and in especially preferred embodiments the lavatory brush block compositions comprise at least two different PEGs having an average molecular weight in the range of between about 6000 and about 10000, particularly wherein one has an average molecular weight of about 6000 and another has an average molecular weight of about 8000, especially wherein the amount of the PEGs having a molecular weight of between about 6000 and 10000 are present in excess of any PEGs having a molecular in the range of at least, about 500 to about 5000, preferably in the range of about 500 to about 4000;

at least surfactant, especially wherein the surfactant is a nonionic surfactant, and especially preferably is at least two nonionic surfactants and especially preferably wherein both (i) a nonionic surfactant based on a linear primary alcohol particularly wherein the alkyl portion is a C₈ to C ₁₆, but particularly a C₉ to C ₁₁ alkyl group, and having an average of between about 6 to about 8 moles of ethoxylation, and (ii) a nonionic surfactant based on an alkanolamide compound, especially preferably a fatty alkanolamides and/or a fatty dialkanolamide are both present in the lavatory brush blocks;

optionally to 40%wt. of water; but in certain embodiments water is excluded, optionally to 10% wt. of one or more optional constituents such as a fragrance, coloring agent, or other constituent which provides an improved aesthetic or technical benefit, and

further optionally, a fragrancing element and/or a support element.

Very preferably, the treatment compositions and the lavatory brush blocks formed therefrom exclude organic solvents, other then those which may be incidentally included as a minor part of a constituent, e.g., fragrance, or alternately stated, the treatment compositions and the lavatory brush blocks formed therefrom exclude added organic solvents.

As a major constituent thereof, the lavatory brush blocks necessarily comprise one or more high molecular with polyethylene glycol polymers, which advantageously has an average molecular weight in the range of about 500 to about 12000. Preferably the lavatory block compositions comprise two or more different PEGs, which

advantageously include (a) at least a first PEG having a an average molecular weight in the range of about 500 to about 5000, preferably in the range of about 500 to about 4000, which may be two different PEGs having different average molecular weights within the range of between about 500 and about 5000, e.g. one having an average molecular weight of about 600 and a second having an average molecular weight of about 4000, (b) at least one further PEG having an average molecular weight in the range of about 5000 to about 12000, but more preferably is at least a one further PEG having an average molecular weight of between about 5000 to about 7500, especially about 6000 with at least a still further PEG having an average molecular weight of between about 7500 to about 12000, especially about 8000 to about 10000, and particularly especially about 8000. The inventors have surprisingly found that blends of 2 or more, and especially three or more different PEGs of different average molecular weights provided for good control of the rate of dissolution of the mass of the treatment composition utilized in the lavatory brush block compositions and/or delivery of one or more detersive surfactants from the mass of the treatment composition utilized in the lavatory brush block compositions. This effect were particularly observed wherein the respective weigh ratios of the several different^' PEGs present were maintained in the relative proportions disclosed in one or more of the examples.

In preferred embodiments the total amounts of the one or more, but preferably at least two different h igh molecular weight polyethylene glycol polymers.

The total amount of the high molecular weight polyethylene glycol polymers present in the lavatory brush block is at least about 35%wt., preferably at least about 50%wt , and particularly preferably at least about 60%wt. of the mass of the treatment composition used to form the lavatory brush blocks, and preferably is not more than 90% wt, and more preferably not more than 85%wi. of the mass of the treatment composition used to form the lavatory brush blocks.

Particularly preferred PEG polymers, their respective ratios, and their total mass present in lavatory brush blocks are disclosed in the Examples.

The lavatory brush blocks of the invention also necessarily comprise a surfactant constituent which may be one or more detersive surfactants.

Exemplary useful anionic surfactants which may be used in the treatment compositions and the lavatory brush blocks 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-C₁₈ 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 β-acetoxy- or β-acetamido-alkanesulfonates where the alkane has from 8 to 22 carbon atoms.

Further examples of useful anionic surfactants are alpha olefin sulfonates, as well as salts diereof e.g., alkali metal salts. Preferred are C₈ through C₂₂ alpha olefin sulfonates, particularly C₁₂ through C₁₈, and especially C ₁₄, and C₁₆ alpha olefin sulfonates as well as blends of two or more thereof.

The detersive surfactant constituent of the lavatory brush block of the invention advantageously and preferably includes one or more nonionic surfactants. Practically any hydrophobic compound having a carboxy, 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 polycthenoxy hydrophobic and hydrophilic elements may various. Exemplary nonionic compounds include the polyoxyethylene ethers of alkyl aromatic 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 surfac tants 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.

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 commercially available nonionic surfactants marketed under the Neodol® and Alfonic® tradenames. Furhter examples of alcohol ethoxylates are C₁₀ oxo-alcohol ethoxylates available from BASF under the

Lutensol® ON tradename, the ethoxylated alcohols marketed under the Rhodasurf® DA series non-ionic surfactants as well as those marketed under the Tomadol® tradename with the formula RO(CH₂CH₂O)_uH where R is the primary linear alcohol and n is the total number of moles of ethylene oxide. A further class of useful nonionic surfactants include primary and secondary linear and branched alcohol ethoxylates, such as those based on C₆-C₁₈ alcohols which further include an average of from 2 to 80 moles of ethoxylation per mol of alcohol. Such are commercially available within the Genapol® UD series of surfactants. Still further 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. Such are commercially available in the Tergitol® series of surfactants. Yet further useful nonionic surfactants include those of the formula:

RO(CH₂CH₂O )_nH

wherein, R is a mixture of linear, even carbon-number hydrocarbon chains ranging from C₁₂H₂₃ to C ₁₆H₃₃ and n represents the number of ethoxy repeating units and is a number of from about 1 to about 1 2. Such are commercially available under the Genapol® tradename. Yet further useful nonionic surfactants which may be used in the treatment compositions include those presently marketed under the trade name

Pluronics®, these compounds are formed by condensing ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic base formed by the condensation of propylene oxide with propylene glycol. Still further nonionic surfactants which may be included in the treatment compositions include alkoxylated alkanofamides, preferably C₈-C₂₄ alkyJ 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 C ₁₀-C ₁₆ alkyl radical and more preferably a C₁₂-C₁₄ alkyl radical, and R₆, is a C₁-C₄ alkyl radical, preferably an ethyl radical.

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 surfactant's, while preferably built up from an alkylene oxide chain starting group, can has'e as a starting nucleus almost any active hydrogen containing group including, without limitation, amides, phenols, and secondary alcohols. 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.

Desirably the lower alkyl groups include between 1 and 7 carbon atoms, e.g., 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-(dehydrat 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, sarurated or unsaturated, e.g., are bi.s(2-hydroxyethyl) 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, e.g., 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.

Still further exemplary useful nonionic surfactants which may be used include certain alkanolamides including monoethanolamides and diedianol amides, particularly fatty monoaikanolamides and fatty dialkanolamides. According to certain particularly preferred embodiments the detersive surfactant constituent necessarily comprises a nonionic surfactant based on a linear primary alcohol particularly wherein the alkyl portion is a C₈ to C₁₆, but particularly a C₉ to C₁₁ alkyl group, and having an average of between about 6 to about S moles of ethoxylation.

A cationic surfactant may be incorporated within the lavatory brush blocks as a germicide and/or as a detersive surfactant in the treatment composition of the present invention, particularly wherein a bleach constituent is absent from the 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, 4^th Ed., Vol. 23, pp. 481 -54.1 (1.997), 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: N

where at least one of R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄ is a alkyl, aryl or a!kylaryl substinient 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 R₁, 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 counierion X may be any salt-forming anion which permits water solubility of the quaternary ammonium complex, e.g. a halogen or methosulfate anion. Preferred quaternary ammonium compounds which act as geermicides 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-C₁₂alkyl, or R₂ is C_12-16alkyl,C_8- ₁₈alkylethoxy, C_8-18alkylphenolethoxy 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 those having a single quaternary compound, as well as mixtures of two or more different quaternary compounds. Such useful quatenary compounds are available under the BARDAC®, BARQUAT®, HYAMINB® , LONZABAC®, and ONYXIDE® trademarks, which are more fully described in, for example, McCutcheon, Functional Materials (Vol. 2), North American Edition, 1998, as well as the respective product literature from the suppliers identified below.

Further detersive surfactants which may be included in lavatory brush blocks are amphoteric and zwitterionic surfactants which provide a detersive effect. Exemplary useful amphoteric surfactants include alkytbctaines, particularly those which may be represented by me following structural formula:

RN⁺CH₃)₂CH2COO- therein 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 amtdopropytbetaines 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.

The lavatory brush blocks preferably comprises between about 5%wt. and about 65%wt., preferably between about 10%wt., and 50%wt. and especially preferably between about 10% wt. and about 33%wt. of one or more surfactants as hereinabove described, which weights are based on the mass of the treatment composition of the lavatory brush block.

The lavatory brush blocks, and the tteatment compositions used to form the lavatory brush blocks may include one or more further optional constituents which may provide an improved aesthetic and/or benefit to the lavatory brush blocks.

There may be included one or more sanitizing agents or germicides which may be present with our without other constituents being present in the treatment compositions of the lavatory brush blocks.

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 including those discussed above.

The lavatory brush blocks may include a bleach constituent. The bleach constituent, 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 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 Iribromoiscyanuric acid, dibromocyanuric acid, dichlorocyanuric acid, N-monobromo-N- mono-chlorocyanuric acid and N-monobromo-N.N-dichIorocyanuric acid, as well as the salts thereof with water solubilizing cations .such as potassium and sodium, e.g., sodium N-monobromo-N-monochIorocyanurate, potassium dichlorocyanurate, sodium dichlorocyanurate, as well as otherN-bromo and N-chloro- imides, such as N-brominated and N-chlorinated succinimide, malonimide, phthalimide and naphthalimide. Also useful in the treatment composition as hypohalite-rel easing bleaches are halohydantoins which may be used include those which may be represented by the general structure:

wherein:

X₁ and X₂ are independently hydrogen, chlorine or bromine; and,

R₁ and R₂ are independently alkyl groups having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms.

Other suitable organic hypohalite liberating bleaching agents include halogenated melamines such as tribromomelamine and trichloromelamine. Suitable inorganic hypohalite-rel easing bleaching agents include lithium and calcium hypochlorites and hyobromites. 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 sultbchloramine dehydrate; calcium hypobromite tetrahydrate; and calcium hypochlorite tetrah.yd.rate. 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 lavatory brush blocks.

When present, preferably the bleach constituent is preferably 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 ehloroisocynanuric 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 diehloroisocynamirate complex. The most preferred chlorine bleach material is sodium dichloroisocyanurate; the dehydrate of this material being particularly preferred.

Other germicidally effective agents useful as sanitizing agents may also be included in the lavatory brush blocks, e.g., sodium dichloroisocyanurate (DCCNa) and. sodium dibromoisocyaniirate. 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-1 ,3-diol, formalin (formaldehydes iodopropenyl butylcarbaniate, chloroacetamide, methanamine, methyldibmmonitrile glutaronitrile, glutaraldehyde, 5-bromo-5-nitro- l ,3 -dioxane, phenethyl alcohol, o-phenylphenol/sodium, o-phenylphenol, sodium

hydroxymemylglycinate, polymethoxy bicyclic oxazolidine, dimethoxane, thimersal dichlorobenzyl- alcohol, captan, chlorphenenesin, dichlorophene, ehlorbutanol, glyceryl laurate, halogenated diphenyl ethers, phenolic compounds, mono- and poly-alkyl and aromatic halophenols, resoreinol and its derivatives, bisphenolic compounds, benzoic esters (parabens), halogenated carbanilides, 3-trifluoromethyl-4,4'-dichlorocarbanilide, and 3,3',4-trichlorocarbanilide, and mono- and poly-alkyl and aromatic hallphenol compounds, e.g. o-phenylphenol and para~chloro~meta-xylenol.

The lavatory brush blocks of the invention may further comprise a coloring agent which imparts either a color to treatment compositions and/or to the water in which it comes into contact, but especially which imparts color to the water contained within the sanitary appliance, desirably the coloring agent imparts a color to the water contained within the toilet bowl. Useful colorants include any materials which may provide a. desired coloring effect. Exemplarly useful coloring agents include dyes, e.g., Alizarine Light Blue B (C.I. 63010), Carta Blue VP (C.I. 24401 ), Acid Green 2G (C.I. 42085), Supranol Cyanine 7B (C.I. 42675), Acid yellow 23, Acid violet 17, a Direct violet dye (Direct violet 51 ), FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Green. No. 3 and Acid Blue No. 9.

The lavatory brush blocks 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 fragraneing benefit, any may be based, on naturally occurring materials such as one or more essential oi ls, or may be based on. synthetically produced compounds as well. Many of these essential oils 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). In the present invention, the precise composition of the fragrance agent desirably emanates a pleasing fragrance, but the nature of the fragrance agen t is no t critical to the success of the invention.

As noted above, in conjunction with or in the absence of a fragrance constituent, the lavatory brush blocks may comprise an air treatment constituent. Such may be any other material which is useful in pro viding 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. In certain embodiments of the invention, when present, such an air treatment composition and/or fragrance composition may be provided separately from the lavatory brush blocks and not be a part thereof. For example, such an air treatment composition and/or fragrance composition may be provided as an air treatment element, e.g., an article or reservoir comprising a quantity of an air treatment composition and/or fragrance composition which may be used separately from the lavatory brush block being provided as a separate article or element which is separate or separable from the lavatory brush block but intended to be placed in the near proximity of the lavatory appliance, e.g. be attached to another part of the toilet or lavatory appliance or within the proximate environment of the toilet or lavatory appliance. For example, such a reservoir may be separately affixed to a part of the toilet bowl, such as the exterior side wall of the toilet bowl or exterior of the toilet cistern, or any other part of the toilet bowl or other lavatory appliance. By way of nonlimiting examples, such an air treatment element may be an article comprising a reservoir which may be (i) a porous material such as a pad or tablet which is impregnated with, or upon which is absorbed a volatile composition useful in providing an air treatment benefit, and/or (ii) a gel or a solid composition wh ich also contains a volatile air treatment composition which may emanate from the reservoir, and/or (c) an article or reservoir containing a quantity of a particulate material in the form of a single body, e.g. plate, or as a plurality of spheres, or beads which function as a reservoir for an air treatment composition and/or fragrance composition, and from whence they may be delivered to the ambient environment. Non-limiting examples of such materials include those currently marketed under the tradename Auracell® (ex. Rotuba Extruders) which are based on fragranced cellulosic polymers, as well as PolylFF® (ex. International Flavors and Fragrances Inc.), as well as Tenitec® (ex. Eastman Chemical Co.).

It is of course also that the air treatment element be incorporated into the construction of the lavatory brush blocks, e.g., as elements affixed to or at least partially encased or embedded within the lavatory brush blocks and thus forming a part of their construction. Reference is made to one or more of the figures which illustrate this principle.

The lavatory brush blocks 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 brush blocks may comprise stain inhibiting materials. For example, the lavatory brush blocks may 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 brush blocks also contains a bleach source which provides a hypochlorite. To counteract such an effect the lavatory brush blocks of the present invention may comprise a manganese stain inhibiting agent, such as a partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide having a molecular weight of about 2000 to about 10,000, a po!yacrylate 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 brush blocks.

The lavatory brush blocks of the invention may include one or more

preservatives. Such preservatives are primarily included to reduce the growth of undesired microorganisms within the lavatory brush blocks formed from treatment compositions during storage prior to use or while used. Exemplary useful preservatives include compositions which include parabens, glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde, 2-bromo-2- nitropropoane-1,3 -diol, 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isomiazolin-3-one, 2-methyl-4- isothiazoline-3-one, and mixtures thereof. Examples of commercially available preservative include KATHON® CG/ICP, PROXEL® and SUTTOC1DE® A.

The lavatory baish blocks may include a binder constituent. The binder may function in part controlling the rate of dissolution of the lavatory brush blocks. The binder constituent may be a clay, but preferably is a water-soluble or water-dispersible gel-ibrming organic polymer. The term "gel-forming" as applied to this polymer is intended to ind icate 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 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 hydroxyethyl 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 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.

It is noted that the function of the binder constituent may be supplemented by, or be performed by, one or more high molecular weight surfactants which are pasty, or solids at room temperature. Such surfactants may be one or more anionic, nonionic, eatiomc, amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants which are pasty, or solids at room temperature (20°C). Non-limiting examples of such include: ethylene oxide-propylene oxide block copolymers such as Pluronic® F88 described to have a molecular weight of about 1 1400, Pluronic® F98 described to have a molecular weight of about 13000, Plutonic® F108 described to have a molecular weight of about 1.4600, and Pluronic®

F127 described to have a molecular weight of about 12600 (ex. BASF) as well as cationic surfactants such as BARQUAT® MS- 100 described as being a mixture of tetradecyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride/dodecyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium

chloride/hexadecyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (100% solid (powder) (ex. Lonza.)

The optional binder constituent may also be one or more synthetic polymers selected from: polyvinyl alcohols; water-soluble partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetates; polyacrylonilriles; polyvinyl pyrrolidones; water-soluble polymers of ethylenicaliy unsaturated carboxylic acids, such as acrylic acid and methacrylic acid, and salts thereof; base-hydrolysed starch-polyacrylonittile copolymers: polyacrylamides; ethylene oxide polymers and copolymers; as well as carboxypolymethylenes. The lavatory blocks 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 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 treatment composition. Preferred for use as the dissolution control agents are mono- or di-alkanol amides derived from C₈-C₁₆ fatty acids, especially C₁₂-C₁₄ 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 treatment composition, although generally lesser amounts are usually effective. Generally when present, the dissolution control agent is present from about 0.1 %wt. to about 15%wt., based on the total weight of the treatment compositions of which they form a part

The treatment composition may optionally include one or more solid water- soluble acids or acid-release agents such as sulfamic acid, citric acid or sodium hydrogen sulfate. When present, such solid water-soluble acids or acid-release agents should not exceed about 50%wt. of the treatment composition, although generally lesser amounts are usually effective.

The treatment composition may include diluent materials may be included to provide additional bulk of the product treatment composition and may enhance leaching out of the surfactant constituent when the 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 treatment composition, although generally lesser amounts are usually effecti ve. Preferably a sulfate salt, e.g., magnesium sulfate, copper sulfate, sodium sulfate, zinc sulfate and the like, and particularly sodium sulfate is necessarily present in the treatment composition and treatment blocks formed therefrom.

The treatment composition may include one or more fillers. Such fillers are typically paniculate 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 50%wt. of the treatment composition, although generally lesser amounts are usually effective.

The treatment composition may include one or more further processing aids. For example, the 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, pine oil fractions, d- limonene, diesters, dipentene may be utilized. Other useful processing aids include tabletting lubricants such as metallic stearates, stearic acid, paraffin oils, hydrocarbon solvents such as 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, e.g., decane, dodecane, decene, tridecene, linear and branched paraffinic hydrocarbons such as those commercially available as Norpar® or Isopar® solvents, mi neral oil or sodium borate which facilitate i n the formation of the treatment blocks in a tabletting press or die.

The treatment compositions of the invention may also include water, and/or one or more organic solvents such as lower alkyl monohydric alcohols, e.g., methanol, ethanol, glycols or glycol ethers, typical ly in amounts not in excess of 30% wt., preferably not in excess of about 15%wt. of the mass of the treatment composition. One or more of water and/or organic solvents may be useful in conjunction with one or more of the further constituents present, such as to thicken or active one or more binder constituents, e.g., cellulose.

It is contemplated that, the mass of a solid, semi-solid, or a gel treatment composition may also be provided by a porous substrate, e.g., sponge, pad or fibrous substrate having impregnated within a quantity of one or more detersive surfactants and/or one or more constituents which provide a germicidal or sanitizing benefit which absent to porous substrate may be flowable or pourable at room temperature (20°C. 68°F).

Preferred compositions of the treatment compositions are disclosed with reference to the Examples.

While the total mass of the treatment compositions formed from the treatment compositions may vary, and amount of up to an including 500 grams may be practiced, generally the mass of the treatment compositions do not exceed about 250 grams.

Advantageously the mass of the treatment compositions is between about 50 and 150 grams. It is appreciated that treatment compositions having great mass should provide a longer useful service life of the lavatory dispensing devices, with the converse being equally true.

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-limeseale agents can be easily determined and thus incompatibility can be avoided in the situations.

The lavatory brush blocks may include a quantity or mass of a single treatment composition, or may includes quantities or masses of two (or more) different treatment composition which may be provided as separate regions of a solid block, such as a first part or layer consisting of a first treatment composition, alongside a second part or layer of a second treatment composition which is different than the first treatment composi tion. Such a lavatory brush, 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, e.g. an adhesive or a further mass of a treatment composition. Such lavatory brush blocks formed having two or more discrete layers or regions of respectively, two or more different chemical compositions or different treatment compositions may be referred to as composite lavatory brush blocks.

Parts of a lavatory brush blocks may be physically separated from one another such as by an intermediate plate or other physical barrier element, or more simply, by providing a simple gap between two masses or bodies of treatment compositions. Such latter embodiments provide a technique for using two chemically incompatible treatment compositions as parts of a lavatory brush blocks according to the invention.

Any configuration of lavatory brush blocks may also be provided with a coating film or coating layer, such as a water soluble film which is used to overwrap the lavatory brush blocks which film provides a vapor barrier when dry, but which dissolves when contacted with water. Alternately parts of. or all of the lavatory brush blocks 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 brush blocks. The provision of such a coating film or coating layer may be advantageous of the treatment composition contains hygroscopic constituents. The application of a water soluble film or coating is pre ferred in certain embodiments of the invention as the surface film may facilitate the handling of the lavatory brush blocks during packaging and storage prior to their use as described herein.

Various configurations of the inventive lavatory brush blocks according to the present invention, including certain particularly preferred embodiments, are depicted on the following figures, In the accompanying figures, like elements are indicated using the same numerals throughout the figures.

Certain preferred embodiments of lavatory brush blocks of the invention are depicted in the following figures.

Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of a lavatory brush block 10 of the invention mounted on a stalk-type toilet cleaning brush 90 having an elongated stalk 92, a gripping surface at one end thereof 96, and a brush element 94 at the opposite end of the said stalk 92. As is visible therefrom, a lavatory brush block 10 has a central hole 12 passing therethrough which is sufficiently large to accommodates passage of the stalk 92.

However, the overall dimensions of the lavatory brush block 10 are such that it is adapted to rest upon a part of the brush element 96 but also to be retained nearby so that it does not fall off of the cleaning brush 90. The brush 90 may include a storage base 98 having an internal cavity or well 99 which is suitably dimensioned to accommodate the brush element 96 to permit for storage of the toilet cleaning brash 90 in an upright or vertical orientation (as shown) between cleaning operations. Such also permits for the lavatory brash block 10 to be retained in the depicted position above the brush element 96 between cleaning operations.

Figures 2A and 2B illustrates the lavatory brush block 10 of Fig. 1 respectively and a top cross-sectional view and a side cross-sectional view. As visible thereon, the lavatory brash block 10 consists of a mass of the treatment composition configured in the shape of a short, hollow cylinder or toroid.

Figures 3 A and 3B respectively illustrate a top cross-sectional view and a side cross-sectional view of a further lavatory brush block 10. Visible within the mass of the treatment composition of the lavatory brush block 10 is a supporting means, viz, a support element here in the form of a rigid circular hoop 21 , Here, the rigid circular hoop 21 is formed, of a non-water soluble material, e.g. a synthetic polymer or metal the may ultimately be produced of a water-soluble material or other material which breaks down into two or more discrete elements which can be flushed down the toilet or other lavatory appliance.

Figures 4A and 4B respectively illustrate a top cross-sectional view and a side cross-sectional view of a further lavatory brush block 10. Visible within the mass of the treatment composition of the lavatory brush block 1.0 is a supporting means or a support element here in the form of two rigid arcuate hoop segments, respectively 22A and 22B. These hoop segments 22A, 22B or oriented within the interior of the lavatory brush block 10 to define a discontinuous circle. The hoop segments 22A, 22B may be formed of a similar material to the rigid circular hoop 21.

Figures 5A and 5B respectively illustrate a top cross-sectional view and a side cross-sectional view of a further lavatory brush block 10, having embedded therein a supporting mesh 23, which may be formed of a non-water soluble material, e.g. a synthetic polymer or metal or may ultimately be produced of a water-soluble material or other material which breaks down into two or more discrete elements. Figures 6A and 6B respectively illustrate a top cross-sectional view arid a side cross-sectional view of a further lavatory brush block 10. having embedded therein a series of overlapping support rod segments 24, each of which may be formed of a similar material as the supporting mesh 23. Optionally, overlapping portions of the supporting rod segments 24 they be interconnected by an adhesive, preferably a water-soluble or water dispersible adhesive such that initially the overlapping rod supports segments 24 are in a first configuration prior to the use of the lavatory brush block, but which assume a second configuration during or subsequent to the use of the lavatory brush block

Figures 7A and 7B respectively illustrate a top cross-sectional view and a side cross-sectional view of a further lavatory brush block 10, having embedded therein a plurality of discrete reinforcing fibers, each of which maybe formed of a similar material as the supporting mesh 23

Figures 8A and 8B respectively illustrate a top cross-sectional view and a side cross-sectional view of a further lav atory brush block 10, having a C-type configuration wherein the said block 10 includes a discontinuity or gap 10. Visible within the mass of the treatment composition of the lavatory brush block 10 is a supporting means, viz, a flexible support element here in the form of a flexible C-shaped hoop 26 having a hoop gap 27. The hoop gap 27 of the C-shaped hoop 26 are sufficiently flexible to allow for the insertion of the stalk of the toilet cleaning brush 10 (not shown) through the hoop gap 27.

Figures 9A and 9B respectively illustrate a top cross-sectional view and a side cross-sectional view of a further lavatory brush block 10, having embedded within a support structure or support element in the form of a band with radial elements 28, here a central support hoop 28B having an outwardly extending radial elements 28A. The band with radial elements 28 may be formed of a similar material as the supporting mesh 23.

Figures 10A and 10B respectively illustrate a top cross-sectional view and a side cross-sectional view of a further lavatory brush block 10, having associated there with a collared support element 29 comprising a central support collar 29 fitted within the hole 12, said collaret! support element 29 for the comprising a mesh base 29B extending radially outwardly from one end of said support collar 29. The collared support element 29 may be formed of a similar material as the supporting mesh 23 Figure 1 1 A illustrates a top cross-sectional view of a further lavatory brush block 10, having embedded within a support structure or support element in the form of a grip plate 30 comprising an annular ring section 30A and a plurality of inwardly extending grip fingers 30B. Desirably the grip fingers 30B are flexible. The grip plate 30 be formed of a similar material as the supporting mesh 23. Figure 1 IB depicts a side cross- scctional view of the lavatory brush block 10 mounted upon the stalk 92 of a toilet cleaning brush and proximate to the brush element 94. As visible therefrom, the several extending grip fingers 30B are flexed and urged against the stalk 92 thereby maintaining the relative position of the lavatory brush block 10 with respect to the stalk and particularly adjacent to the brush element 94. Further, the flexed direction of the extending grip fingers 30B are biased against movement of the lavatory brush block 10 along the stalk in a direction opposite to the brush element 94.

Figures 12A and 12B respectively illustrate a top cross-sectional view and a side cross-sectional view of a further lavatory brush block 10 having a "C" configuration. As visible therefrom, the lavatory brush block 10 is generally circular or toroidal in geometry, but includes a discontinuous gap 1 1 which is suitably sized or adapted to permit for insertion of a portion of the toilet cleaning brush (not shown) therethrough.

Figures 12A and 13B respectively illustrate a top cross-sectional view and a side cross-sectional view of a further lavatory brush block 10 having a "E" con figuration. As visible therefrom, the lavatory brush block 10 is generally circular or toroidal in geometry, includes a discontinuous gap 11 which is suitably sized or adapted to permit for insertion of a portion of the toilet cleaning brush (not shown) therethrough, and further includes a plurality of inwardly directed lobes 18 formed of the mass of the treatment composition. These are lobes extend towards the hole 12, and the hole 12 is suitably dimension to allow for the retention of the lavatory brush block 10 upon the toilet cleaning brush (not shown).

Figures 14A 14B and 14C illustrate features of a further lavatory brush block 10. Figures 14A and 14B respectively illustrate a top cross-sectional view and a side cross- sectional view of the lavatory brush block 10 having embedded within a segmented supporting element 31 , here having it be configuration of a circular plate having a plurality of perforations 33 passing therethrough dividing the said segmented supporting element 31 into a plurality of discrete arcuate segments 32. The segmented supporting element 31 is adapted to be broken down into its constituent discrete arcuate segments 32 as the service life of the lavatory brush block 10 reaches its end.

Figures I5A and 15B respectively illustrate a top cross-sectional view and a side cross-sectional view of a further lavatory brush block 10 comprising two parts, each part formed of a mass of a treatment composition, having a chemical composition different than the other mass present within the lavatory brush block 10. As visible, each pan 40A, 40B of the lavatory brush block 10 consists of a mass of the treatment composition configured in the shape of a short, hollow cylinder or toroid with each part 40A, 40B abutting each other. Optionally, an intermediate adhesive may be placed between the contacting surfaces of the two parts 40A, 40B.

Figures 16A and 16B respectively illustrate a top cross-sectional view and a side cross-sectional view of a further lavatory brush block 10 comprising two parts, 40 A, 40B each part formed of a mass of a treatment composition, having a chemical composition different than the other mass present within the lavatory brush block 10. As visible, each part 40A, 40B of the lavatory brush block 10 consists of a mass of the treatment composition configured as an arcuate segment with the two arcuate segments connected to each other to define a short, hollow cylinder or toroid. An intermediate adhesive may be placed between the contacting surfaces of the two parts 40 A, 40B or a connecting element, e.g. a rod, pin or other part (not shown) may be used to hold bom parts 40A, 40B together.

Figure 17 depicts a perspective view of a further lavatory brush block 10 comprising two arcuate parts 40A, 40B each part formed of a mass of a treatment composition which may be the same or different than the other part. The two arcuate parts 40A, 40B may be retained with respect to each other by connector means 42 extending into each of the two arcuate parts 40A, 40B. Here the depicted connector means 42 are pair of a barbed pins which can be plunged into the mass of the treatment composition of the lavatory brush block 10. Such configuration, consumers provided with the two separated arcuate parts 40A, 40B which thereafter can be assembled on the toilet cleaning brush (not shown) by interconnecting the parts 40A, 40B about the stalk 92. Figure 18 illustrates a perspective you a .further lavatory brush block 10 comprising two lapped arcuate parts 40A, 40B, each part formed of a mass of a treatment composition which may be the same or different than the other part. Each of the parts 40A, 40B includes a pair of lap sections 41 A, 41B which are configured such that these sections can be overlapped to form a generally circular lavatory brush block 10. As discussed with reference to Fig. 17, the separate parts 40A, 40B may be joined encircling a portion of the stalk 92 at the overlapping lap sections 41 A, 41B,

Figures 19A and 19B respectively illustrate a top cross-sectional view and a side cross-sectional view of a further lavatory brush block 10. having embedded within a support structure or support element in the form of a hoop 43 A with at plurality of downwardly extending engagement elements 43B which interact with, e.g., grip, a part of the brush head 94. The hoop 43A of the structure 43 is embedded within the mass of the treatment composition, while the engagement elements 43B extend outwardly from the mass. Here the engagement elements 43B or in the form o f a spiral or corkscrew which are adapted to be removably entangled within or between the tufts of the brush bristles of the brush head 94.

Figures 20A and 20B illustrate a still further embodiment of a lavatory brush block 10, here in the form of a flexible rod-like mass of the treatment composition which may optionally be supplied upon a backing card or release paper 60. The flexible treatment composition permits for a user to manually apply and twist the mass of the treatment composition to form a lavatory brush block 10 encircling a portion of the toilet cleaning brush 90.

It is to be understood that the foregoing illustrate nonlimiting examples of lavatory brush blocks of the invention. It is further to be understood is that parts are elements of one or more of the depicted lavatory ^'brush blocks may be introduced or interchanged with parts or elements of different depicted lavatory brush blocks.

In a further aspect of the present invention there is also provided a process for delivering a treatment composition to a sanitary appliance, especially preferably, to the interior of a toilet bowl. This process includes the steps of: installing a lavatory brash block as described hereinabove to a toilet .brush, preferably to a part of the toilet brush proximate to the brush element thereof, and thereafter periodically utilizing tire toilet brush in a conventional cleaning operation wherein water present in the toilet bowl, which may be flushing water or water in the base of the toilet bowl, wets the lavatory brush block which is at least partially dissolved so to form a treatment composition within the toilet bowl. The treatment composition may be a cleaning treatment composition and/or disinfecting or sanitizing treatment composition which is use to treat the surfaces of the lavatory appliance, preferably the interior of the toilet bowl.

A further aspect of the invention is directed to a method of cleaning a toilet cleaning brush utilizing a lavatory brush block as described hereinabove, the process including the steps of: installing a lavatory brush block as described hereinabove to a toilet brush, preferably to a part of the toilet brush proximate to the brush element thereof, and thereafter periodically utilizing the toilet brush in a conventional cleaning operation wherein water present in the toilet bowl, which may be flushing water or water in the base of the toilet bowl, wets the lavatory brush block which is at least partially dissolved so to form a treatment composition within the toilet bowl, and subsequently storing the wetted lavatory brash block such that a treatment composition formed by wetting the lavatory brush block with water contacts at least part of the brash element to thereby provide a cleaning and/or sanitizing and/or disinfecting and/or air treatment benefit thereto.

A further aspect of the invention is provides for a method of providing a fragrancing benefit to a lavatory or bathroom wherein the process is as described immediately above, wherein, following a conventional cleaning step, storing the wetted lavatory brush block such that a treatment composition formed by wetting the lavatory brush block with water delivers an air treatment benefit to the ambient environment of the toilet batsh and thereby treats the proximate environment of the lavatory appliance, e.g., toilet.

The foregoing process may be practiced to provide a cleaning treatment and/or a sanitizing or disinfecting treatment to the toilet bowl or a part thereof, or alternately to a part of a sanitary appliance. Examples

d plurality of representative treatment compositions useful as masses oflavatory brush blocks were produced, and are described with reference to Tables 1 A and 1B. The constituents indicated on Tables 1 A and 1B used to produce the formulations were used on an "as supplied" basis; the identity of these constituents are disclosed in more detail on Table 2.

The identity of the constituents of Tables 1 A and IB arc disclosed on Table 2:

Lavatory brush blocks were produced from t he example compositions of Table 1 A by heating the surfactants to 65°C in a water bath with stirring to melt, then slowly add the P EGs, and stirring continued until all constituents were fluidized and well mixed/homogenous, after which was added the fragrance under stirring, and thereafter the homogenous liquid composition was pour into a mold and allowed to cool. The mold was generally cylindrical with a cylindrical center post which provided a short generally cylindrical test block having a hollow inner diameter of 1.5 inches, and an outside diameter of 3 inches, and a block height of between 0.25 and 0.5 inches, which varied due to the different masses of materials used for forming each test block. After the blocks were allowed to cool for at least 2 hours and hand reached room temperature (20°C, 68°F), the cooled and hardened blocks were withdrawn from the molds. The appearance of the formed lavatory brush blocks was as depicted in Figs. 2A and 2B. Subsequent to their production as lavatory brush blocks and prior to use, as well as in use, the tested treatment compositions of the lavatory brush block were solid, semi-solid, or a gel masses at room temperature (20°C, 68°F), and are not flowable or pourable at room temperature.

The formed lavatory brush blocks were formed and tested for their performance and lifespan in accordance with the following general protocol: Blocks were placed on brushes, as generally depicted on Fig. 1, and used to simulate cleaning by dunking in the sump, to wet block, to clean bowl in conventional manner, then replaced in holder. The number of cleaning operations which each sample block was subjected to is reported on Table 3. Periodically each tested block was removed and weighed a minimum of 24 hrs after prior to allow for drying. The two replicate ("Rep.1" and "Rep.2") lavatory brush blocks formed from each of the compositions of Table 1 A were weighed initially, and thereafter periodically weighed to determine mass lost and the measured results are reported on the following Table 3. Mass is reported in grams. Each of the "Rep.1" blocks was used in a cleaning operation by a first human operator to ensure a consistent manner of cleaning characteristic of said operator, and each of the "Rep.2" blocks was used in a cleaning operation by a second human operator to ensure a different but consistent manner of cleaning by said second human operator. Each of the manners of cleaning replicated a conventional toilet cleaning operation.

As evident from a review of the results reported on Table 3, the tested lavatory brush blocks provided good performance for the duration of the test.

Further formulations of lavatory brush blocks of the constituents indicated on Table 1 B were produced in accordance with the following protocol. To a large laboratory glass beaker was added measured amounts of the PEG 600 (when present) and the nonionic surfactants in a water bath which was heated to ensure that all of the constituents melted under stirring conditions with a standard laboratory motorized agitator and stirring continued for at least 10 minutes in a 65°C in a heated water bath to ensure the formation of a homogenous mix Cure. Subsequently was slowly added the remaining constituents except for the fragrance constituent and water, and stirring continued until all constituents were fluidized and well mixed/homogenous in the beaker whose temperature was maintained throughout at 65°C in the heated water bath and stirring continued for at least a .further 25-30 minutes to ensure the formation of a homogenous mixture. The water bath was then withdrawn, and under stirring the fragrance constituent was added and mixing continued to ensure that the fragrance constituent was homogenously incorporated into the mixture, and thereafter the water (when present) was added and mixing continued to ensure that the water was also homogenously incorporated into the mixture. Subsequently 150 g aliquots were supplied to plurality of molds generally having the configuration of Figs. 5A, 5B and wherein each mold contained a precut flat circular polypropylene supporting mesh. The aliquots of the fluid lavatory treatment composition were poured into the molds such that the said supporting mesh was embedded within the lavatory treatment block when cooled. After the blocks were allowed to cool for at least 2 hours and hand reached room temperature (20°C, 68°F), the cooled and hardened blocks were withdrawn from the molds. The appearance of the formed lavatory brush blocks was as depicted in Figs. 5A and 5B, and contained an embedded supporting mesh. Subsequent to their production as lavatory brush blocks and prior to use. as well as in use, the tested treatment compositions of the lavatory brush block were solid, semi-solid, or a gel masses at room temperature (20°C, 68^°F), and are not flowable or pourable at room temperature.

The formed lavatory brush blocks were formed and tested for their performance and lifespan in accordance with the following general protocol: Blocks were placed on brushes, as generally depicted on Fig. 1, and used to simulate cleaning by dunking in the sump of a toilet bowl, to wet block and to clean bowl in conventional manner, then replaced in holder. Throughout the test the temperature of the water within the sump of the toilet bowl was 21 °C. The number of cleaning operations which each sample block was subjected to and the time interval (days) between cleaning operations is reported on Table 4. Periodically each tested block was removed and weighed a minimum of 24 hrs alter prior to allow for drying. The two replicate ("Rep.1" and "Rep.2") lavatory brush blocks formed from each of the compositions of Table 1B were weighed initially, and thereafter periodically weighed to determine mass lost and the measured results are reported on the following Table 4. Mass of the block is reported in grams. Each of the "Rep.1" blocks was used in a cleaning operation by a first human operator to ensure a consistent manner of cleaning characteristic of said operator, and each of the "Rep.2" blocks was used in a cleaning operation by a second human operator to ensure a different but consistent manner of cleaning by said second human operator. Each of the manners of cleaning replicated a conventional toilet cleaning operation.

As can be observed from the reported results, the lavatory brush blocks the tested lavatory brush blocks provided good performance for the duration of the test, even wherein such formulations included a proportion of water in their initial composition.

Claims

Claims: 1. A lavatory brush block which is configured or adapted to be mounted on a part of a toilet cleaning brush having an elongated stalk and a brush element, the lavatory brush block comprising:

one or more, but preferably at least two different high molecular weight polyethylene glycol polymers (also referred to as poly(ethylene oxide) or polyoxyethylene), ("PEG") having a molecular weight of al least about 500, but preferably ai least one PEG having an average molecular weight of at least abou t 500 but preferably less than about 5000 and more preferably less than about 4500. and at least one further PEG having an average molecular weight of between about 5500 and about 12000, and in especially preferred embodiments the lavatory brush block compositions comprise at least two different PEGs having an average molecular weight in the range of between about 6000 and about 10000, particularly wherein one has an average molecular weight of about 6000 and another has an average molecular weight of about 8000, especially wherein the amount of the PEGs having a molecular weight of between about 6000 and 10000 are present in excess of any PEGs having a molecular in the range of at least about 500 to about 5000, preferably in the range of about 500 to about 4000; at least one surfactant, especially wherein the surfactant is a nonionic surfactant, and especially preferably is at least two nonionic surfactants and especially preferably wherein both (i) a nonionic surfactant based on a linear primary alcohol particularly wherein the alkyl portion is a C₈ to C₁₆, but particularly a C₉ to C₁₁ alkyl group, and having an average of between about 6 to about 8 moles of cthoxylation, and (ii) a nonionic surfactant based on an alkanolamide compound, especially preferably a fatty alkanolamides and/or a fatty dialkanolamide are both present in the lavatory brush blocks;

optionally to 40% wt. of water;

optionally to I0%wt. of one or more optional constituents such as a fragrance, coloring agent, or other constituent which provides an improved aesthetic or technical benefit.

2. The lavatory brush block according to claim 1 wherein the total amount of the high molecular weight polyethylene glycol polymers is from 35%wt. to 90%wt. of the mass of the treatment composition used to form the lavatory brush blocks.

3. The lavatory brush block according to claim 2 wherein the total amount of the high molecular weight polyethylene glycol polymers is from 50%wt. to 85%wt. of the mass of the treatment composition used to form the lavatory brush blocks.

4. The lavatory brush block according to any of claims 1 - 3, which comprises

between 5%vvt. and 65%wt. of one or more surfactants as hereinabove described, which weights are based on the mass of the treatment composition of the lavatory brush block.

5. The lavatory brush block according to claim 4, which comprises between 10%wt. and 50%wt. of one or more surfactants as hereinabove described, which weights are based on the mass of the treatment composition of the lavatory brush block.

6. The lavatory brush block according to any of claims 1 - 5, wherein water is

excluded from the mass of the treatment composition of the lavatory brush block.

7. The lavatory brush block according to any of claims 1 - 6, which further includes at least one support element.

8. A lavatory brush block according to any preceding claim, substantially as

described with reference to one or more of the Examples.

9. A lavatory brush block according to any preceding claim, substantially as

described with reference to one or more of the Figures.

10. A method of manufacturing a lavatory brush block , the method comprising the steps of:

forming a fluid homogenous mass of the lavatory treatment composition, supplying the said fluid homogenous mass of the lavatory treatment composition to a mold or cavity,

optionally also providing a support element to the mold or cavity, solidifying the fluid homogenous mass of the lavatory treatment composition to form a lavatory brush block according to any preceding claim.

11. A method of cleaning a lavatory appliance, the method comprising the steps of:

installing a lavatory brush block according to any of claims 1 - 9 to part of a toilet brush, preferably to a part of the toilet brush proximate to the brush element thereof and thereafter periodically utilizing the toilet brush in a conventional cleaning operation wherein water present in the toilet bowl, which may be flushing water or water in the base of the toilet bowl, wets the lavatory brush block which is at least partially dissolved so to form a treatment composition within the toilet bowl which is used to treat the surfaces of the lavatory appliance, preferably the interior of a toilet bowl.

12. A method of cleaning a toilet cleaning brush, the method comprising the steps of:

installing a lavatory brush block according to any of claims 1 - 9 to part of a toilet brush, preferably to a part of the toilet brush proximate to the brush element thereof, and thereafter periodically utilizing the toilet brush in a conventional cleaning operation wherein water present in the toilet bowl, which may be flushing water or water in the base of the toilet bowl, wets the lavatory brush block which is at least partially dissolved so to form a treatment composition within the toilet bowl, and subsequently storing the wetted lavatory brush block such that a treatment composition formed by wetting the lavatory brush block with water contacts at least part of the brush element to thereby provide a cleaning and/or sanitizing and/or disinfecting and/or air treatment benefit thereto.