TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an applicator for use in the cleaning of surfaces. More particularly the invention relates to an applicator which is suited for cleaning hard surfaces including utensils, crockery, glassware, kitchenware, barwares and like articles of metal, china clay, glass and the like.

BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART Most common applicators for hard surface cleaning composition are scrubbers. In use the cleaning composition is loaded on the surface of the scrubber by rubbing the scrubber on the cleaning composition which may be in the form of bar, paste, powder and the like. The scrubber is gently rubbed on the hard surface and the cleaning composition is delivered onto the surface and the soils on the surface are removed by the rubbing action. Higher pressure is applied while cleaning stubborn soils.

The commonly available applicators/scrubbers are nylon thread applicators, sponge, scrub pads. The sponge

applicators are generally used for liquid products on delicate surfaces. The scrub pads are expensive, are not gentle to handle and not flexible and thus does not easily reach the contoured surfaces of vessels. Due to these drawbacks the nylon applicators are by far the most widely used applicators in surface cleaning.

The nylon applicators are basically overlying layers of nylon woven nets shaped to give the scrubber rounded surfaces and capable of being gripped in the palm. The nylon nets have spacing between them, which is enough for the abrasive materials contained in the composition to partly sink into the spaces. Besides, the thickness of the nylon threads is about 3 mm while the particle size of the abrasives is in the region of 50 microns. During use the composition in particular the abrasives get pressed into the open spaces and only the soluble part of the composition is made to do the cleaning. Furthermore as the threads are thicker than the abrasive particles the contact between the abrasive and the substrate is minimised. Still further the softness of the applicator with respect to the abrasive also acts in a manner such that the effort of the user does not get transferred to the substrate. Due to these factors there is a lot of wastage of the cleaning composition and more effort is required on the part of the user.

The hard surface cleaning compositions usually have high levels of abrasives and other materials, which are not mild to the skin. It is therefore desirable that these compositions do not come into direct contact with the skin as far as practical.

To alleviate such problems of direct contact of the cleaning compositions to skin there is disclosed in our co-pending application No. 308/Bom/99, a scrubber made of a flexible polymeric sheet material which is substantially flat and having top and bottom surfaces, the top surface is used for scrubbing and has having projected and depressed portions alternately across the length and breadth of the top surface. The depressions alongside the projections forms pockets which in use holds the cleaning composition in particular the abrasive materials which come in contact with the substrate while rubbing the scrubber on the substrate.

The ends formed by the projections provide the cutting action of the soil on the substrate aided by the abrasives in the cleaning composition. The abrasive materials present in the cleaning compositions are not too gentle on the hands and the scrubber of the co-pending application eliminates any possibility of the hands being exposed to the abrasives.

The applicants propose an alternative solution to eliminate the possibility of the hands being exposed to the bars

containing abrasives and other materials which are not mild to skin while not sacrificing their cleaning performance.

The applicant has found that by the use of a specially adapted applicator the object may be achieved.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Thus the present invention relates to an applicator for cleaning bars containing abrasives with or without other materials not mild to skin for the cleaning of hard surfaces comprising a body means define a hollow space, a solid bar/block having abrasives at effective levels movably housed in the hollow space, an actuating means for moving the bar in and out of the body means such that in use the body is held in the hand of the user and the cleaning bar protrudes out of the said body means and is in contact with the surface to be cleaned.

According to a specific embodiment, the applicator is a hollow longitudinal body having cross section of any suitable geometric shape such as oval round, square, rectangle and the like. The bar is connected to a base member and housed in the hollow space. In this regard the base member preferably has a socket in which the bar is mounted, wherein an opposite end of the base is exposed via an aperture in a base of the body means. In this manner a

user can insert a finger through the aperture in the base of the body means to push the base member and associated bar up through a top of the body means. Preferably the base member is slidably and tightly held to the inner wall of the body.

The bar is pushed back into the housing by simply pressing it towards the housing. The dimensions of the bar are such that it has tight but sliding fit in the socket of the base member.

According to a preferred embodiment, the body means has an oval cross section and such shape is found to be most user friendly in terms of grip and use. The applicator can then be held and gripped within the fingers like a paintbrush. In use the bar is exposed through the top of the body means and the bar is pressed and rubbed against the hard surface to be cleaned. The bar in the body and the sleeve to which it is held also has a complimentary oval shape and the dimensions are selected to as to introduce a degree of friction between the base and/or bar and the surrounding body member. The surface or portion of the bar, which comes into contact with the hard surface, may have shaped corners so as to effectively reach corners, bends and crevices in the surface to be cleaned. Typically a top surface of the bar is slightly dome shaped. The most common hard surfaces that would be cleaned by the bar are utensils, crockery and cooking wares, which usually have corners, curves, bends and

crevices. The cleaning edges may therefore be shaped to access such areas. The body may also have a cap so that the bar is protected from atmosphere.

The invention also describes the use of an applicator according to the invention in the cleaning of cooking and eating utensils, in particular utensils such as pots and pans.

The composition of the bar also has a major role to play in the cleaning performance of the hard surfaces. The abrasive in such compositions plays a significant role. Commercial hard surface cleaning compositions typically comprise one or more surfactants and a plurality of abrasives dispersed therein. Combinations of these together with electrolytes are generally used to form a structuring system is also well known.

In one of our co-pending applications there is disclosed our findings that the use of aluminium oxide as an abrasive in combination with one or more of other abrasives significantly enhances the performance of the product in terms of cleaning efficiency, lesser effort required for cleaning, economy in use and other user benefits. Such abrasive based compositions are not mild to skin and are more suitable for use in applicators according to the

invention. The said copending application is incorporated herein by reference.

Conventional bar cleaning composition may be used in the applicators according to the invention but effective results may be achieved by the use of the bars according to our co- pending application. In another copending application No.

535/Bom/98 incorporated herein by reference there is disclosed a cleaning composition containing abrasives at high levels of upto 85% by wt. and is most suitable for use with the applicator according to the invention. Other compositions having abrasives and other ingredients not mild to skin are also suitable for use with the applicator of the invention.

The effectiveness of cleaning also depends on the process by which the cleaning is effected. A preferred process comprises the steps of wetting the solid surface with water, applying the bar composition into the surface to be cleaned by the use of the applicator, waiting for time sufficient to allow the composition to act on the solid surface and mixing the treated surface with water. Instead of water other solvent such as wash solution may be used.

The applicator according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 shows a specific embodiment of the applicator; Fig. 2 shows the activating means for the bar; Fig. 3 shows the bar in applicator; Fig. 4 shows the use of the applicator.

According to a specific embodiment, the applicator 1 has a substantially cylindrical hollow body member 2. The bar 3 is mounted on a base member 4 and housed in the body member 2. The base member 4 is slidably mounted within the body member 2 and has a tight sliding relationship therewith.

Movement of the bar 3 within the housing is actuated by the user inserting a finger in an aperture 6 on a base 7 of the body member 2 and pushing the base member 4 to expose the bar 3 at a top 8 of the body member 2. After use, the bar 3 is pushed back into the body member 4 and a cap 10 is placed on the top of the body member 2. The dimension of the bar is such that it has a tight but sliding fit in the sleeve.

The sleeve is also slidably held to the inner walls of the housing and is tight enough with respect to the housing so that it does not slide in or out in absence of pressure applied thereto which pressure is more than the pressure applied to the bar in use.

The body means 1 has an oval cross-section. The applicator can then be held and gripped within the fingers like a paintbrush. In use the bar is pushed out of the cavity by pressing the activating means in the direction of the bar by the thumb. In use the bar is pressed and rubbed against the hard surface to be cleaned. The bar in the body and the sleeve to which it is held also has a complimentary oval shape and the dimensions are selected as to make the bar slide in and out of the body with ease but in a tight manner. The surface or portion of the bar, which comes into contact with the hard surface, may have shaped corners 9 so as to effectively reach corners, bends and crevices in the surface to be cleaned. The most common hard surfaces that would be cleaned by the bar are utensils; crockery and cooking ware, which usually have corners, curves, bends and crevices. The cleaning edges may therefore be shaped to access such areas. The body has a cap 8, which snugly fits on the opening.

The principal advantages of the bar in applicator according to the invention are the following: i. The bar containing abrasives does not come in contact with hands;

ii. As the bar does not come in contact with hands there is no constraint on reserve alkalinity of formulation; iii. The bar will not become soggy/mushy as the product is capsuled in packaging cavity; iv. The bar will not collapse while in use and can be used in controlled manner; v. There is no product wastage due to no soggy/mushy behaviour of the product as it will not come in contact with water in storage; vi. The bar will not develop surface whitening, as it will not be exposed completely while in use; vii. The bar delivers maximum cleaning efficiency via formulation due to its unique advantage of cleaning tough soil through product/abrasive contact with soil through direct contact.