Patent EA-003914-B1 (EA)
Title: A cleansing device for wc pans
Inventor: GAZZANIGA GIANCARLO
IPC: C11D1/52
Filed: 2001-05-17
Abstract: 1. A cleansing device for WC pans, comprising a solid bar (10) and a support member (12) having a lower portion (14) for supporting the bar (10) and an upper projection (16) for engaging the edge of the pan (10) so as to enable the support member (12) to be suspended, said solid bar (10) being transparent and containing cleaning active components, which are susceptible of being released simply as a result of exposure to the water released by the flushing system of the WC pan. 2. A device according to Claim 1, in which the bar (10) is formed by a composition comprising at least: - dibenzylidene sorbitol in a percentage of between 1 and 10%, - polar solvent having a dissolving power with respect to dibenzylidene sorbitol in a percentage of between 5 and 90%, and - surfactant in a percentage of between 1 and 60%. 3. A device according to Claim 2, in which the dibenzylidene sorbitol is present in a percentage of between 1 and 5%. 4. A device according to any one of preceding Claims 2 and 3, in which the polar solvent is present in a percentage of between 10 and 60%. 5. A device according to any one of preceding Claims 2 to 4, in which the polar solvent is selected from the group consisting of C3-C6 glycols, polyalkylene glycols, propylene carbonate, C2-C4 alcohols, and mixtures thereof. 6. A device according to any one of preceding Claims 2 to 5, in which the surfactant is present in a percentage of between and 45% and is selected from the group consisting of anionic, non-ionic and amphoteric surfactants. 7. A device according to any one of preceding Claims 2 to 6, in which the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of C8-C18 alkyl sulphate anionic surfactants, sodium alkylbenzenesulphonates, sulphated ethoxylated fatty alcohols, alkylamidoalkyl-substituted tertiary amine oxides, and mixtures thereof. 8. A device according to any one of preceding Claims 2 to 7, in which the composition also comprises a modified cellulose, particularly hydroxypropyl cellulose in a percentage of between 0.2 and 1%. 9. A device according to Claim 1 in which the bar (10) is formed by a composition comprising at least: - fatty-acid salt in a percentage of between 2 and 20%, - polar solvent having a dissolving power with respect to fatty-acid salts, in a percentage of between 5 and 40%, and - surfactant in a percentage of between 1 and 60%. 10. A device according to Claim 9 in which the fatty acid is stearic acid and/or oleic acid and is present in sodium salt form. 11. A device according to any one of Claims 9 and 10 in which the salt is present in a percentage of between 5 and 15% and the polar solvent active with respect to the salt is present in a percentage of between 10 and 30%. 12. A device according to any one of Claims 9 to 11 in which the solvent is selected from the group consisting of C3-C5 glycols, polyalkylene glycols, poly-alcohols, polysaccharides, propylene carbonate, 2-methyl-1, 3- propanediol, C2-C4 alcohols and mixtures thereof. 13. A device according to any one of Claims 9 to 12 in which the surfactant is present at a concentration of between 5 and 55% and is selected from the group consisting of anionic, non-ionic and amphoteric surfactants and, in particular, from the group consisting of C8-C18 alkali-metal and/or alkalineearth metal alkyl sulphates, monoisopropanolamine (MIPA) C8-C18 alkyl sulphates, triethanolamine C8-C18 alkyl sulphates, sulphated ethoxylated fatty alcohols, cocomonoethanolamide and cocodiethanolamide, C10-C18 alkyl betaine, C10-C19 alkylamido-betaine, alkylamidoalkyl-substituted tertiary amine oxides, lauroyl amino-acid derivatives, C8-C18 alkanesulphonates, C8-C18 alpha-olefin sulphonates and mixtures thereof. 14. A device according to any one of Claims 9 to 13 in which the composition also contains C14-C18 alcohols and mixtures thereof in a percentage of between 0.2 and 5%. 15. A device according to any one of preceding Claims 2 to 19 in which the composition also comprises perfuming and/or odor-neutralizing substances in a percentage of up to l0% and preferably of between 0.1 and 8%. 16. A device according to any one of preceding Claims 2 to 15, in which the composition also comprises a dye. 17. A device according to Claim 1 in which the support member is formed as a cage (12) having a hollow lower portion (14) for holding the bar (10) and an upper projection (16) for engaging the edge of the pan so as to enable the cage (12) to be suspended. 18. A device according to Claim 1 in which the support member (12) has a lower portion (14) formed as a skeleton for supporting the bar (10), which at least partially covers the skeleton. 19. A device according to Claim 18 in which the lower portion (14) of the member (12) comprises a plurality of appendages (26) extending substantially horizontally, spaced apart vertically, and connected to one another by connecting elements (28) so as to be able to support the bar (10). 20. A device according to Claim 18 in which the lower portion (14) of the member (12) has a central body (30) formed as a plate, which joins together transverse end walls (32). 21. A device according to Claim 20 in which the central body (30) is shaped as an arc of a circular ring. 22. A device according to Claim 20 or Claim 21 in which the central body (30) is shaped as a plate perforated in accordance with a predetermined design. 23. A method of producing a device according to Claim 1 which provides for the introduction, into a cavity (18) of a mould (20), first of all of at least the lower portion (14) of the support member (12), and then of a molten mass (22) which is allowed to set so as to form the bar (10) containing its constituent ingredients. 24. A method of producing a device according to Claim 17 which provides for the introduction, into a cavity (18) of a mould (20), of a molten mass (22) which is allowed to set so as to form the bar (10) containing its constituent ingredients, and for the subsequent insertion of the bar (10) in the lower portion (14) of the cage (12).