GB2339213A

GB2339213A - Container for toilet bowl with improved hook

Info

Publication number: GB2339213A
Application number: GB9820599A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jean-Francois Lhoste; Laurent Herault
Original assignee: Reckitt and Colman France SA
Current assignee: Reckitt Benckiser France SAS
Priority date: 1998-07-06
Filing date: 1998-09-23
Publication date: 2000-01-19
Also published as: GB9820599D0

Description

2339213 IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CONTAINERS This invention relates

to containers and more particularly is concerned with containers for accommodating compositions for disinfecting or otherwise treating the water in the toilet bowl of a water closet.

It is known to provide compositions containing constituents such as anzimicrobial agents, perfumes, bleaching agents, colou-rants and/or foaming agents for use in treating the water in toilet bowls. ordinarily, the compositions are in the form of coherent self supporting blocks in cage-like containers suspended near the rim of the bow-- in a position where, on each occasion the toilet bow" is flushed, the flushing water enters the container and contacts the block to entrain some of the composition before flowing to the lower part of the bowl. Thus the water remaining in the bowl, after the flushing, includes some of the composition which disinffects or otherwise treats the water and the adjacent surfaces of the bowl.

More recently compositions in the form of liquids or gels have been propo-sed. These have a relatively high viscosity such tha: they are retained in the container. During flushing, water enters the container and dilutes a part of the liquid or gel to form a..

relatively low viscosity comaposition which is able to egress from the container and flow into the bowl.

Generally the containers include a hook-like portion adapted to be 'EL'tted over the rim of the toilet bowl so that they can be suspended in the appropriate position near the rim. The hook-like portion is generally in the form cf an integrally formed resilient strap having a free end which bears against the outer surface of the toilet bowl at the rim to retain the container in position. However, hook-like portions of this type are not entirely satisfactory since the container has a tendency to move with respect to the toilet bowl in use.

It is an object of the present invention to s overcome this disadvantage.

According to the present invention there is provided a cage-like container for accommodating a composition for treating the water in the toilet bowl of a water closet which container includes a hook-like portion for fitting over the rim of the toilet bowl wherein the hook-like portion is in the form of a resilient strap having, at its free end, a zone of increased area for engagement with the rim of the bowl.

The presence oJE the increased area at the free end is of the hook-like portion contributes to a more stable mounting of the container on the toilet bowl rim.

In a preferred embodiment, the free end of the hook-like portion is generally T-shaped in plan.

Alternatively, the hook-like portion may terminate, at its free end in a part which is generally circular or elliptical (bulb-like) in plan.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the hook like portion includes a surface having a high co efficient of friction for contacting the rim.

2S Because of the presence of the material of h1gh coefficient of friction, which is preferably an - - elastomeric material, the container of the present invention has a reduced tendency to slide along the rim of the toilet bowl iln use. The elastomeric material may be a relatively soft material (e.g. of 20 Shore A Hardness) or a relatively hard material (e.g. of Go Shore A Hardness). Generally, the softer the elastomeric material the greater the coefficient of friction.

If desired, the surface of the hook-like portion which is opposite to the surface contacting the rim may similarly be formed of material having a high coefficient of friction in order to make the container more distinctive. This latter material may, if desired, be of a bright colour in order to give a decorative effect. If desired the two opposite surfaces formed of the high friction coefficient material may be the opposite surfaces of a body formed of said material and extending through the hook-like portion from one side to the other.

The hook-like portion may otherwise be formed of a synthetic plastics material such as polypropylene and, in a particularly preferred embodiment, the hook-like portion is produced by a bi-injection moulding process wherein the plastics material and the elastomeric material are both introduced into a mould and become bonded together during moulding.

ordinarily the hook-like portion is in the form of a resilient strap which has a tendency to coil upon itself with the free end in the middle of the coil. In use, the strap is manually uncoiled and fitted over the rim so that the zone of increased area engages the outer surface of the rim and assists in preventing relative movement of the container and the bowl.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, refe.,r_-atce will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a container in accordance with the present invention, Figure 2 is a cross-section along the line II-II of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the part shown in Figure 2 when fitted to the rim of a toilet bowl, Figure 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a container in accordance with the present invention, for attaching to a toilet bowl rim, and Figure 5 is a cross section through a part of the container of Figure 4 when attached to the rim.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a cage-like container formed of plastics material and comprising a chamber 1 for accommodating a block 2 (shown in dotted lines) of a composition for treating the water in a toilet bowl. (If desired, the composition may be in the form of a liquid or gel).

The container includes a hook-like portion in the form of a resilient strap 3 formed of polypropylene. The strap 3 has one end integrally formed with the chamber 1 and a free end which is generally T-shaped in order to constitute a zone 4 of increased area. Ordinarily, because of its resilient nature, the strap coils up about itself with the free end in the middle of the coil as shown in Figure 2. In use, the consumer manually uncoils the strap and fits it over the rim 5 of the toilet bowl so that the T-shaped zone 4 engages the outer surface of the rim 5 and the chamber 1 is located in the path of the flushing water during the flushing operation. The flushing water thus enters the chamber 1 via apertures 6 in its upper surface and contacts the block 2 before leaving the chamber via lower apertures 7 and falling into the lower part-of-, the toilet bowl. As it passes over the block 2 in,the chamber, the flushing water entrains some of the composition and this composition then treats the water in the toilet bowl.

The presence of the zone 4 of larger area at the end of the strap of the hook-like portion improves the gripping action of the hook-like portion on the rim and thus retains the container more securely in its desired position on the rim. If desired, the surface of the zone 4 which is to engage with the bowl may be formed of an elastomeric material.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, there is shown a cage-like container 11 formed of polypropylene. It is provided with a plurality of apertures 12 in its walls and defines a chamber 13 for accommodating a coherent self supporting block 14 of, for example, perfumed antimicrobial composition. (if desired the composition may be in the form of a liquid or gel). The container includes a hook-like portion formed of polypropylene and in the form of a resilient strap comprising a first portion 15 having an end 16 secured to the chamber-defining part of the container, a second portion 17 having a free end 18, and a linking portion 19 joining the portions 15 and 17. The free end 18 includes a zone 4 of increased area. Portion 15 has an inner surface 20, portion 17 has an inner surface 21 and linking portion 19 has an inner surface 22. A first strip 23 of soft elastomeric material is provided at the inner surfaces 20, 21 and 22. A second strip of elastomeric material 24 may be provided at the outer surfaces of the portions 15 and 17 and linking portion 19 which are opposite to the inner surfaces 20, 21 and 22 respectively. This second strip of elastomeric material may be of a distinctive colour.

ordinarily, because it its resilient nature, the strap coils about itself with the free end 18 in the middle of the coil as shown in Figure 4. In use the consumer manually uncoils the strap and fits it over the rim 25 of the toilet bowl so that the first strip 23 is in contact with the rim 25 and the block 14 is located in the path of the flushing water as shown in Figure 5. The elastomeric material 23 has a coefficient of friction which is much greater than that of the polypropylene of the remainder of the hook-like portion and hence has a much reduced tendency to slide over the surface of the rim. Thus, the container is held in position on the rim in a secure manner and is less liable to move with respect to the rim.

During flushing, flushing water enters into the chamber 13 via the uppermost of apertures 12, entrains composition from the block 14, and then leaves the chamber via the lowermost of apertures 12 and falls into the lower part of the toilet bowl (not shown) where the composition entrained by the flushing water disinfects and perfumes the water and the surfaces of the toilet bowl adjacent thereto.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A cage-like container for accommodating a composition for treating the water in the toilet bowl of a water closet which container includes a hook-like portion for fitting over the rim of the toilet bowl wherein the hook-like portion is in the form of a resilient strap having, at its free end, a zone of increased area for engagement with the rim of the bowl.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the resilient strap is formed of polypropylene.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the free end of the strap is generally T shaped.

4. A container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the resilient strap has a tendency to coil up on itself with the free end in the middle of the coil.

5. A container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said hook-like portion includes an inner surface formed by a material having a high coefficient of friction for contacting the rim.

6. A container as claimed in claim 5, wherein the hook-like portion includes an outer surfaces, opposite to said inner surface, formed of material having a high coefficient of friction.

7. A container as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the material having a high coefficient of friction is an elastomeric material.

8. A container as claimed in claim 7, wherein the or each surface formed of elastomeric material is a surface of a strip of elastomeric material secured to one hook-1--like portion.

9. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.