Patent Description:
Any references to methods, apparatus or documents of the prior art are not to be taken as constituting any evidence or admission that they formed, or form part of the common general knowledge.

Conventional rimmed toilets typically include a bowl with a lower drain outlet and a rim around an upper end of the bowl which overhangs the remainder of the bowl. Flush water is directed from a cistern into the overhanging rim and the flush water progresses around the inside of the rim and falls downward into the bowl.

In recent years rimless toilets have developed as an alternative to conventional rimmed toilets. One reason for this is that it is believed that the interaction of the flush water with the overhanging rim of a conventional rimmed toilet tends to cause the flush water to lose energy so that more water must be used than might otherwise be the case for flushing and cleaning. Another reason is that it is impractical to clean under the rim of a rimmed toilet.

It is known to provide toilet hygiene apparatus that includes a basket or cage containing a hygiene substance and a clip which extends from the basket and attaches to the top of the bowl. Upon flushing the toilet water flows out through the rim and down the sides of the bowl and in so doing passes through the hygiene apparatus and contacts the hygiene substance within so that a cleaning and/or disinfecting solution is released from the hygiene apparatus and flows down the sides of the bowl.

Bowl attachment hygiene apparatus, such as those previously mentioned, are sold in high volumes in many countries. Accordingly, a consideration that their use raises is that of the amount of plastic waste that they produce once exhausted.

Various approaches have been taken to reducing the amount of waste associated with bowl attachment hygiene apparatus. For example, extending the number of flushes over which the apparatus can be used reduces the ratio of amount of waste to number of flushes, which is desirable. One way of extending the number of flushes is to provide an apparatus that can be replenished with a block of the hygiene substance. For example, it may be possible to open the basket and insert a replacement block as needed. However, users may not wish to perform such regular replacement for hygiene and labour reasons. Another way of extending the number of flushes is to make a block of hygiene substance that has a reduced water solubility so that it diminishes more slowly over each flush. However, reducing water solubility may cause less fragrance and hygiene agents to be dispensed so that the product may then become less effective.

Another approach to reducing the amount of waste is to devise a holder that uses less plastic. For example, the bowl attachment apparatus may be made with less plastic, as described in international patent publication <CIT>. The apparatus described in that patent application uses an adhesive tape, rather than a clip, to attach the holder of the hygiene substance to the top of the bowl. The holder is ring shaped and is said to comprise one or more chambers that may be at least defined by a bottom and one or more sidewalls.

Other prior art that is of general relevance to toilet hygiene products includes:.

The <CIT> discloses a dispenser assembly for controlled release of bactericidal, detergent and aromatic agents upon flushing, which dispenser clips onto the upper edge of a toilet bowl. The assembly is specially adapted to bring a solid type deodorant/disinfectant cake into position along the side wall of the bowl but below the rim so that upon flushing, the flush water is directed to the cake in a turbulent action that releases limited amount of the cake. The dispenser disposes the cake above the bowl water line, and shields it from urine or splash so that it does not dissolve too rapidly.

<CIT> discloses a dispenser of active substances for WC bowls, comprising: suspension means for suspending the dispenser from a rim of the WC bowl; a solid block comprising at least an active substance, in a position which is subject to action of flush water, having an opening which crosses a body of the solid block, which opening passes from a surface thereof to another surface thereof; a support element comprising a cross-member passing through the through-opening of the solid block, and destined to support the solid block. The support element comprises two arms connected to the two ends of the cross-member, which two arms exhibit, at the connection with the cross-member, respective flat portions, adjacent to the surfaces of the solid block, having such dimensions as to completely cover mouths that the opening forms on the surfaces (<NUM>, <NUM>). Though requiring only a very limited amount of plastic, the dispenser enables the solid block to be consumed homogeneously up until a whole body thereof is washed away.

Whilst the apparatus that are described in prior art documents, such as <CIT>, may address the problem of undue plastic waste, nevertheless it would be desirable if a further improved solution could be provided that is able to withstand numerous flushes and which can be fabricated with a relatively small volume of plastic.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a toilet bowl hygiene apparatus comprising:.

In an embodiment the edge of the upwardly extending blade has an angle of <NUM> to <NUM> degrees.

According to the invention the at least one engagement member includes a downwardly extending blade.

In an embodiment the edge of the downwardly extending blade has an angle of <NUM> to <NUM> degrees.

According to the invention the at least one engagement member includes an elongate convex portion wherein the upwardly extending blade extends upwardly from the elongate convex portion and wherein the downwardly extending blade extends downwardly from the elongate convex portion.

In an embodiment the toilet bowl hygiene apparatus includes a second engagement member coupled to or integrally formed with the support member and extending into and/or through the body of hygiene substance, wherein the second engagement member is spaced from the first engagement member for preventing rotation and associated wearing of the body of hygiene substance about either the first engagement member or the second engagement member.

According to the invention an adhesive tape extends from the support member for attachment to a toilet bowl at a point above the body of hygiene substance.

In an embodiment the toilet bowl hygiene apparatus includes a water diversion portion coupled to or integrally formed with the support member and locatable between a source of flush water and body of hygiene substance, for preventing flush water impacting directly upon a portion of the body of hygiene substance.

In an embodiment the body of hygiene substance includes a rear side and a front side wherein the support member includes a rear side portion that extends down the rear side.

In an embodiment the rear side portion includes a trapezoidal portion with sides that diverge downwardly.

In an embodiment a base of the trapezoidal portion is continuous with a semicircular portion.

In an embodiment a longitudinal reinforcement rib extends down a rear side of the support member.

In an embodiment a transverse reinforcement rib extends across a lower end of the trapezoidal portion.

In an embodiment the at least one engagement member extends from a front side of the support member.

In an embodiment the at least one engagement member extends through the body of hygiene substance.

In an embodiment a fastener is attached to a remote end of the at least one engagement member for retaining the body of hygiene substance thereon.

In an embodiment the first engagement member extends from a front side of the support member adjacent an intersection of the longitudinal reinforcement rib and the transverse reinforcement rib.

In an embodiment the second engagement member extends from the front side of the rear side portion of the support member, adjacent a point on the longitudinal reinforcement rib.

In an embodiment the support member includes a forwardly extending portion that extends from the rear side portion over a top side portion of the body of hygiene substance.

In an embodiment the support member includes an upwardly extending portion that extends upwardly from the forwardly extending portion.

In an embodiment the adhesive tape is coupled to an upper end of the upwardly extending portion.

In an embodiment the forwardly extending portion is serpentine in side profile.

In an embodiment the upwardly extending portion extends upwardly and forwardly from the forwardly extending portion.

In an embodiment, opposed sides of the upwardly extending portion diverge upwardly and outwardly to tape engagement formations.

Preferred features, embodiments and variations may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:.

Referring now to the Figures, a toilet bowl hygiene apparatus <NUM>, according to a preferred embodiment is illustrated. In overview, the toilet bowl hygiene apparatus <NUM> is comprised of number of parts or portions, being a body of hygiene substance <NUM>, a support member <NUM>, at least one engagement member <NUM>, and an adhesive tape <NUM> extending from the support member <NUM> for attachment to a toilet bowl at a point above the body of hygiene substance.

The at least one engagement member <NUM> is coupled to, or integrally formed with, the support member <NUM> and extends from the support member <NUM> into and/or through the body of hygiene substance <NUM>.

In the presently described embodiment of the invention the at least one engagement member <NUM> includes an upwardly extending blade portion 6a and a downwardly extending blade portion 6b.

The at least one engagement member <NUM> also includes an elongate convex portion 6c wherein the upwardly extending blade 6a extends upwardly from the elongate convex portion and the downwardly extending blade 6b extends downwardly therefrom. As will be explained, the preferred shape of the at least one engagement member <NUM> has been found to assist in keeping the body of hygiene substance located about the at least one engagement member <NUM> in the face of a large number of flush cycles.

With reference to <FIG>, which is a cross sectional view along the line A-A' of <FIG>, the edge of the upwardly extending blade 6a preferably describes an angle θ of <NUM> to <NUM> degrees, or even more preferably of <NUM> to <NUM> degrees. In <FIG> θ is <NUM> degrees.

The edge of the downwardly extending blade 6b preferably describes an angle α of <NUM> to <NUM> degrees or even more preferably of <NUM> to <NUM> degrees. In <FIG> α is <NUM> degrees. It will be realized that θ and α, whilst being the same in the embodiment of <FIG>, may be non-equal in other embodiments.

Furthermore, according to the invention the at least one elongate member <NUM> has upwardly extending and downwardly extending blade portions 6a, 6b.

In other disclosed examples, not part of the present invention, the elongate member may not have such blade portions and may be cylindrical (<FIG>) or an extruded oval (<FIG>) or an extruded ellipse (<FIG>) or other elongate shape.

The adhesive tape <NUM> is typically provided with its adhesive side against a release liner <NUM> (shown only in <FIG>), from which a user can easily detach the adhesive tape <NUM> prior to use. The adhesive tape <NUM> terminates in an enlarged handle portion <NUM> (shown only in <FIG>) which does not have an adhesive side for ease of handling.

In an embodiment the toilet bowl hygiene apparatus includes a second engagement member <NUM>, best seen in <FIG> coupled to or integrally formed with the support member <NUM> and extending into and/or through the body of hygiene substance <NUM>, wherein the second engagement member <NUM> is spaced from the first engagement member by a distance " d" for preventing rotation of the body of hygiene substance about either the first engagement member <NUM> or the second engagement member <NUM> and associated wearing of the body of hygiene substance about either member.

In an embodiment a fastener <NUM> is attached to a remote end of the at least one engagement member <NUM> for retaining the body of hygiene substance <NUM> thereon. The fastener <NUM> is disk-shaped in the presently described embodiment, though other shapes might also be used.

The toilet bowl hygiene apparatus <NUM> may include a water diversion portion <NUM> (<FIG>), which is coupled to or integrally formed with the support member <NUM> and locatable between a source of flush water, for example a rim of a toilet bowl, and the body of hygiene substance <NUM>. Whilst not essential, the water diversion portion <NUM> may assist to reduce flush water impacting directly upon an upper portion <NUM> of the body of hygiene substance <NUM> and thus dissolving portions of the body of hygiene substance above the first and second elongate members <NUM> and <NUM>, so that the body of hygiene substance might fall from the first and second elongate members.

In an embodiment the body of hygiene substance <NUM> includes a rear side <NUM> (<FIG>) and a front side <NUM> (<FIG>) wherein the support member <NUM> includes a rear-side portion <NUM> that extends down the rear side <NUM> of the body of hygiene substance <NUM>.

In an embodiment the rear-side portion <NUM> includes a trapezoidal portion <NUM> (identified in <FIG>) with sides 26a, 26b, that diverge downwardly.

A base 26c of the trapezoidal portion <NUM> is continuous with a semicircular portion <NUM>.

Reinforcement ribs are integrally formed with the support member so that it includes a longitudinal reinforcement rib <NUM>, which extends down a rear surface <NUM> (indicated in <FIG> and <FIG>) of the rear-side portion <NUM> of the support member <NUM> and a transverse reinforcement rib <NUM>, that extends across a lower end of the trapezoidal portion <NUM>.

It will be realized that in other embodiments the shape of the rear side portion <NUM> may be otherwise, for example it may simply be a rectangle rather than a trapezoid with a semicircle at its base. However, the shape that has been described in the example that is discussed is preferable because it has been arrived at with the objective of minimal use of plastic whilst retaining sufficient strength to support the body of hygiene substance <NUM>.

In the presently described exemplary embodiment the at least one engagement member <NUM> extends from a front side <NUM> (<FIG>) of the rear-side portion <NUM> of support member <NUM> and extends all the way through the body of hygiene substance <NUM> so that its remote end <NUM> can be captured by fastener <NUM> to thereby retain the body of hygiene substance <NUM> to the engagement member <NUM> and thus to the support member <NUM>.

The fastener <NUM> includes a central opening <NUM>, generally shaped as a slit <NUM> with an enlarged central portion <NUM> which complements the upper and lower blade portions 6a, 6b and central elongate convex portion 6c of the first engagement member <NUM>. The non-circular complementary shapes of the cross section of the first support member <NUM> and the central opening <NUM> ensure that the fastener <NUM> does not rotate about the first support member <NUM>, further assisting in preventing rotation of the body of hygiene substance <NUM> about the first support member <NUM>. The fastener <NUM> is attached to the tip <NUM> of the first support member <NUM> by a snap fit.

In an embodiment the water diversion portion is provided in the form of a forwardly extending portion <NUM> that is serpentine in side profile as can best be seen in <FIG>.

The support member <NUM> includes an upwardly extending portion <NUM> that extends upwardly from the forwardly extending portion <NUM>.

A lower end of the adhesive tape <NUM> is coupled to an upper end <NUM> of the upwardly extending portion <NUM>. The upwardly extending portion <NUM> extends upwardly and forwardly from the forwardly extending portion so that the body of hygiene substance <NUM> tends to swing rearwardly in use to make contact with flush water. Opposed sides 42a, 42b (<FIG>) of the upwardly extending portion <NUM> diverge upwardly and outwardly to tape engagement formations <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the toilet bowl hygiene apparatus <NUM> installed in a toilet bowl <NUM>. The adhesive tape <NUM> has been attached over the upper side <NUM> of bowl <NUM> so that the body of hygiene substance locates beneath the rim <NUM>, which is the source of flush water.

When the toilet is flushed, water flows down from the rim over the body of hygiene substance <NUM>. The body of hygiene substance <NUM> is securely held on the support member by the first elongate member <NUM> and fastener <NUM>. Furthermore, the body of hygiene substance does not rotate about the first elongate member due to the presence of the second elongate member <NUM>. Over many flushes the body of hygiene substance reduces in volume due to it being partially dissolved. However, the water diversion portion <NUM> somewhat protects the upper portion <NUM> of the body of hygiene substance to prevent premature dissolving of that portion and associated early detachment of the body of hygiene substance.

It has been found that if the at least one elongate member <NUM> is, for example a square shape or round shape in cross section, then as the body of hygiene substance <NUM> becomes smaller due to it being dissolved, then the member <NUM> is exposed to flushing water. With reference to <FIG>, when the flush water <NUM> passes along the elongate member <NUM> between the elongate member and the body of hygiene substance <NUM>, then it is believed that the flush water flows with turbulence around the elongate member <NUM>, and after the water flush there is a small amount of water left on the elongate member <NUM>, thus causing the body of hygiene substance <NUM> around the elongate member <NUM> to dissolve further. However, it was found through experiment that if the elongate member <NUM> is formed with the upper, and preferably also lower, edge portions 6a, 6b, as illustrated in cross section in <FIG> for example, then water passes quickly along the elongate member <NUM>, it is believed without water turbulence and without substantial water being left on the elongate member <NUM>. Consequently, it is preferable that the at least one elongate member <NUM> includes at least the upper blade portion 6a and also preferable that it includes the lower blade portion 6b. If the upper and/or lower blade portions are not present then the wear rate of the body of hygiene substance <NUM> is believed to be greater in that case.

It will be realized that the toilet bowl hygiene apparatus <NUM> is able to support the body of hygiene substance <NUM> whilst being composed of only a small amount of plastic compared to prior basket type apparatus.

Throughout the discussion, like components and features may be identified from embodiment to embodiment with the same identifier numerals in the figures. Corresponding left hand and right hand side features may be specifically referred to with item numbers that have an "a" or a "b" suffix. In some cases the right hand and corresponding left hand components will be referred to generally without the use of the "a" or "b" suffix depending on context.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. The term "comprises" and its variations, such as "comprising" and "comprised of" is used throughout in an inclusive sense and not to the exclusion of any additional features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Claim 1:
A toilet bowl hygiene apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
a body of hygiene substance (<NUM>);
a support member (<NUM>); and
at least one engagement member (<NUM>) coupled to or integrally formed with the support member (<NUM>) and extending from the support member (<NUM>) into and/or through the body of hygiene substance (<NUM>);
wherein the at least one engagement member (<NUM>) includes an in use upwardly extending blade (6a) having an angle of <NUM> to <NUM> degrees,
and wherein the at least one engagement member (<NUM>) includes an in use downwardly extending blade (6b),
characterized in that the at least one engagement member (<NUM>) includes an elongate convex portion (6c) wherein the upwardly extending blade (6a) extends upwardly from the elongate convex portion (6c) and wherein the downwardly extending blade (6b) extends downwardly from the elongate convex portion (6c),
and in that the apparatus (<NUM>) includes an adhesive tape (<NUM>) extending from the support member (<NUM>) for attachment to a toilet bowl (<NUM>) at a point above the body of hygiene substance (<NUM>).