DESCRIPTION TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a device for cleaning and/or sanitizing and/or deodorizing sanitary fittings bowls, and a tablet of detergent and/or sanitizing and/or deodorizing chemical product particularly effective in the device.

PRIOR ART

The sanitary fittings bowls in which the present invention can be applied are of various kinds, but in particular WCs and urinals and more in particular WCs. Devices of this type have been known for years.

According to a typical known solution, a sanitary device for WCs comprises a container, a tablet of detergent and/or sanitizing and/or deodorizing chemical product, and a hook for securing the device to an edge of a sanitary fittings bowl; the tablet has the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, the container has the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, contains the tablet inside it and is totally perforated so that the water can easily lap all the surfaces of the tablet; during use, the flushing water of the WC slowly dissolves the tablet.

The Applicant realized that in the past, a lot of attention has been focused on the chemical product of the tablet, but much less attention on the flow of liquid that hits and laps the tablet.

SUMMARY

It is important for the tablet to be hit well by a flow of liquid and this depends, amongst other things, on the positioning of the container of the device with respect to the sanitary fittings bowl.

It is important for the liquid to lap the surfaces of the tablet well.

It is important for the liquid to remain in contact with the surfaces of the tablet for a suitable length of time.

It is important for a good quantity of foam to be generated and this depends not only on the foaming agent contained in the tablet, but also on the flow of liquid that hits and laps the tablet. The general object of the present invention is to try to satisfy these requirements, in particular to satisfy them better than known solutions did.

It is to be noted that reaching this general object is complicated by two elements: 1) there are sanitary fittings bowls of different shapes and sizes, and 2) the flow of liquid (capacity and speed) depends on the system that sends the liquid to the sanitary fittings bowl.

This general object is substantially reached thanks to what is set out in the appended claims that form an integral part of the present description.

The idea underlying the present invention is to shape the container and the tablet so as to create vortices in the liquid flowing in the device.

It is to be noted that typically the flushing flow of a sanitary fittings bowl can be likened to a laminar flow of liquid that runs adjacent to an inside surface of a wall of the bowl. Such flow of liquid external to the device should not be confused with the flow of liquid inside the device, even if the internal flow derives from the external flow as the device has been specifically designed to intercept part of the liquid of an external flow and to make it flow inside itself.

LIST OF FIGURES

The present invention will become clearer from the following detailed description to be considered together with the appended drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows and three-dimensional view from the back of an embodiment of a device according to the present invention (this device is equipped with a tablet of chemical detergent and/or sanitizing product and/or deodorizing product),

Fig. 2 shows a three-dimensional view from the back of the device of Fig. 1 without a tablet,

Fig. 3 shows a view from the back of the device of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 shows a view from the back of the device of Fig. 1 open,

Fig. 5 shows a view from the back of the device of Fig. 1 open and without a tablet,

Fig. 6 shows a view from the top of the device of Fig. 1,

Fig. 7 shows a view from the bottom of the device of Fig. 1,

Fig. 8 shows a view from a side of the device of Fig. 1, Fig. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the device of Fig. 1,

Fig. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of the device of Fig. 1 without a tablet,

Fig. 11 shows a front view and a side view of a first embodiment of a tablet according to the present invention particularly suitable for use in the device of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 12 shows a front view and a side view of a second embodiment of a tablet according to the present invention particularly suitable for use in the device of Fig. 1.

As can be easily understood, there are various ways of practically implementing the present invention which is defined in its main advantageous aspects in the appended claims and is not limited either to the following detailed description or to the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figures 1 to 10 all relate to the same embodiment of a device 1 for cleaning and/or sanitizing and/or deodorizing sanitary fittings bowls according to the present invention.

In these figures, the device 1 is represented in a position that substantially corresponds to the position that the device assumes when it is secured to an edge of a sanitary fittings bowl.

In the present description and in the appended claims, the indications“front”, “rear”,“lower”,“upper”,“back”,“horizontal axis”,“vertical axis” refer to the position that the device assumes when it is secured to (an edge of) a sanitary fittings bowl.

It is important to consider that, for example, Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 are views from the back of the device 1, i.e. the perforated wall (which is at the“rear”) is adapted to rest on an internal surface of the sanitary fittings bowl and is therefore not visible to the user during normal use of the sanitary fittings bowl while the flat wall (which is at the“front”) is adapted not to rest on an internal surface of the sanitary fittings bowl (i.e. to be about 3-4 cm away from it, approximately corresponding to the thickness of the device) and is therefore visible to the user during normal use of the sanitary fittings bowl. The device according to the present invention is equipped with a tablet of chemical detergent and/or sanitizing product and/or deodorizing product in order to perform its function; the present invention is independent, in the first instance, from the composition of the tablet. In the example of figures 1-10, there is a tablet like the one shown in Fig. 11; alternatively, there may be a tablet like the one shown in Fig. 12; alternatively again, there may a tablet that is different again, e.g. more similar to the tablets of the prior art.

However, the device according to the present invention may perform its cleaning and/or sanitizing and/or deodorizing function only if its rear wall is resting on an internal surface of a sanitary fittings bowl and if this internal surface is repeatedly subject to a flow of liquid (in other words, a WC is flushed every time the user activates the flushing device after use); in general, the liquid is water or an aqueous solution; the tablet of chemical product of the device dissolves slowly as this liquid flows.

The device 1 comprises:

- a container 10 with a closed front wall 11 and with a rear wall 12 having a large upper opening 13 for liquid inlet (in particular liquid deriving from a flushing flow of a sanitary fittings bowl) and a plurality of small lower openings 14 for liquid outlet (in particular the liquid that entered through the opening 13); the walls 11 and 12 are conformed in such a way that a pocket 15 is obtained into which liquid flows (essentially, the liquid enters from the opening 13, passes through the pocket 15 and exits from the openings 14),

- a tablet 20 of chemical product for sanitary fittings bowls; the tablet 20 being located internally to the pocket 15 in such a way that its external surfaces are lapped by the liquid flowing into the pocket, and

- a hook 30 for securing the device 1 to an edge of a sanitary fittings bowl; the container 10 and the tablet 20 are shaped and positioned in such a way as to create vortices of liquid flowing into the pocket 15. The vortices promote both the creation of foam and the stopping of the liquid in the pocket 15 and therefore increase the contact time of the liquid with the external surfaces of the tablet.

The upper opening 13 may have an area corresponding to 25-75 % preferably 30- 50 % of the area of the front wall.

The geometric characteristics of the device 1 will be described below, which promote the creation of vortices.

The front wall 11 has an asymmetric front profile both relative to a horizontal axis H as well as relative to a vertical axis V, in particular in the shape of a drop; see for example Fig. 5.

In the device 1, the lower openings 14 are situated both at a peripheral zone and at a central zone of the rear wall 12, as can be seen for example in Fig. 5; alternatively, the lower openings could be situated only at a peripheral zone of the rear wall or only at a central zone of the rear wall. It is to be noted that the lower openings are mainly designed for the outlet of liquid, but it is not to be excluded that, under certain operating conditions, there may be a flow of liquid entering into the pocket through one or more of these.

The shape of the lower openings may be quite varied; it is advantageous for the shape and/or arrangement and/or size of these openings to be irregular.

For example, the lower openings may have a wavy shape.

In the example of the figures, the lower openings 14 have a circular shape and, in particular, they have different diameters from each other; see, for example Fig. 5. The container 10 and the tablet 20 are shaped and positioned in such a way as to create vortices above (zone ZA) and/or below (zone ZB) and/or on a first side (zone ZC) and/or on a second side (zone ZD) with respect to the tablet 20; see for example Fig. 4.

The container 10 and the tablet 20 are shaped and positioned in such a way as to create vortices on the front (zone ZE) and/or on the back (zone ZF) of the tablet (20); see for example Fig. 9.

The front wall 11 has a protrusion 16 adapted to cover the tablet 20 from the top at least partly; see for example Fig. 6, Fig. 8, Fig. 9 and Fig. 10. The container 10 is a casing with a substantially constant thickness, for example 1.0-3.5 mm in particular about 2.25 mm; in this latter case, the thickness may vary according to the points for example from 2.0 mm to 2.5 mm.

The securing of the device to the sanitary fittings bowl (in particular to the edge of the sanitary fittings bowl) is important so that the device performs its function well; in fact, following the securing, the container of the device must be positioned so that itself and the tablet are hit well by the liquid.

Furthermore, it is desirable for the securing to be suitable regardless of the shape and size of the sanitary fittings bowl (in particular of the edge of the bowl).

The geometric characteristics of the hook 30 will be described below, which promote suitable securing. Reference is made, in particular, to Fig. 8.

The hook 30 comprises a shaped strip comprised of three elongated sections 31, 32, 33 joined together by two elbows 34, 35 and to the container 10 by a further elbow 36. It is to be noted that in Fig. 8 (and also in other figures), the sections 31, 32, 33 are joined together by small bars; when the device 10 is to be used, the small bars are broken at the sections 31, 32, 33, the strip is opened bending the elbows 34, 35 and clings onto an edge of a WC, for example, so that the container 10 rests on an internal surface of the sanitary fittings bowl; the elbow 36 also contributes to determining a good support of the container 10.

The first section 31 of the shaped strip has a length of 30-45 mm; the second section 32 of the shaped strip has a length of 50-55 mm; the third section 33 of the shaped strip has a length of 65-75 mm.

The elbows 34, 35, 36 have a radius of 7-10 mm.

The shaped strip, in particular its components 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, has a substantially constant width, e.g. of 4-10 mm in particular of about 8 mm, and has a substantially constant section e.g. of 4-35 mm in particular of about 18 mm and is made of polypropylene; the material of the strip and the section of the strip determine its flexibility and its elasticity, and therefore contribute to the securing. One of the elements that influences the support of the container 10 of the device on the internal surface of the sanitary fittings bowl is the distance between the starting point of the elbow 36 (at the join with the section 31) and the point of maximum protrusion of the rear wall 12 (distance that can be appreciated in particular considering Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 and Fig. 10); in fact, this distance determines the lever effect of the container 10 on the elbow 36 due to the effect of an internal surface of a wall of the sanitary fittings bowl to which the device 1 is applied; in the example of the figures such distance is 30-35 mm.

Finally, it is advantageous for the front wall (11 in the example) and/or, particularly the rear wall (12 in the example) to be curved; the front wall is curved: it has a vertical profile that can be likened to a circumference with a radius of curvature of 35 mm (more generally of 30-500 mm) and a horizontal profile that can be likened to a straight line (more generally that can be likened to a circumference with a radius of curvature greater than 100 mm); the rear wall is curved: it has a vertical profile that can be likened to a circumference with a radius of curvature of 45 mm (more generally of 30-200 mm) and a horizontal profile that can be likened to a circumference with a radius of curvature that varies from 25 at a first end to 55 mm at a second end (more generally of 20-100 mm). As can be understood for example from Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, the vertical and horizontal profiles of the front and rear walls have a radius of curvature that varies from point to point; in particular, the horizontal profile of the front wall starts with an arc of circumference having a radius of 4 mm, then there is a straight stretch and it finishes with an arc of circumference having a radius of 1 mm; the horizontal profile of the rear wall has a radius of curvature that increases gradually from 25 mm to 55 mm.

In the example of the figures, for production and assembly convenience purposes, the front wall 11 and the rear wall 12 are hinged so as to enable the opening of the pocket 15, in particular they are hinged in a lower zone of the device 1; see Fig. 5. The tablets 120 and 220 of Fig. 11 and Fig. 12 are particularly adapted to the use of the device of Fig. 1 but not only; in particular, their inherent shape, their shape in relation to the shape of the container where they are situated and the conformation of their surfaces promote the formation of vortices in liquid that laps their external surfaces. The tablets 120 and 220 can be made of chemical detergent and/or sanitizing product and/or deodorizing product for sanitary fittings bowls.

With reference to Fig. 11, the tablet 120 has an upper surface 121, a first side surface 122, a lower surface 123, a second side surface 124, a back surface 125 (the term“back” is used here in relation to the position of the tablet inserted in a pocket of the device) and a front surface 126 (the term“front” is used here in relation to the position of the tablet inserted in a pocket of the device).

With reference to Fig. 12, the tablet 220 has an upper surface 221, a first side surface 222, a lower surface 223, a second side surface 224, a back surface 225 (the term“back” is used here in relation to the position of the tablet inserted in a pocket of the device) and a front surface 226 (the term“front” is used here in relation to the position of the tablet inserted in a pocket of the device).

The tablets according to the present invention may have one or more of their external surfaces being wavy; in this way, the formation of vortices in liquid that laps these surfaces is promoted, and the area of the surface that comes into contact with the liquid that laps these surfaces is increased. Such waviness, as can be seen in Fig. 11 and Fig. 12, may be comprised of a plurality of flanked cylindrical surfaces; e.g. the radius of the cylindrical surfaces may be 2-6 mm. In the case of the tablet 120, only the surfaces 121, 123 and 126 are wavy and are wavy across their whole area. In the case of the tablet 220, only the surfaces 221, 223, 225, 226 are wavy; the surfaces 221, 223, 226 are wavy across their whole area, whereas the surface 225 is wavy across part of its area.

The tablets 120 and 220 have an asymmetric front profile both relative to a horizontal axis H and relative to a vertical axis V, in particular in the form of a parallelogram.

The tablet 120 has a rear wall 127 that has a recess 128, in particular a flat recess; the liquid can flow in the recess (i.e. precisely between the surface of the recess and the internal surface of the front wall of the device - see Fig. 9) and this promotes the vortices and increases the area of contact. The area of the recess preferably corresponds to 30-70 %, more preferably to 40-60 % of the area of the rear wall 127. In the example of Fig. 11, the recess 128 is delimited by two longitudinal ribbons 129.

The tablet 220 has a rear wall 227 shaped so as to be adjacent to the front wall of a container of a device for sanitary fittings bowls. By looking at Fig. 12 and Fig. 9 it can be seen that the arched shape of the wall 227 corresponds to the arched shape of the wall 11.

The teachings of the present invention described and claimed herein allow notable foaminess to be obtained in the sanitary fittings bowl.

Comparative tests have been performed between devices according to the present invention and devices already present on the market; the devices according to the present invention provide greater foaminess in the bowl and a longer lifetime than the comparative devices with a similar chemical composition, despite the weight of the tablet (in particular 35g) being 10-20% lighter than the average on the market of the same product category.

The container and the hook of the device according to the present invention are preferably made of polypropylene and are made in a single piece preferably by injection.

Typically, on the front surface of the front wall of the container there is a label that is used to show the user, for example: the manufacturer’s brand and/or product information and/or decorative elements. Advantageously, such label can be applied through IML (= In-Mould Labelling) technology, i.e. the label is placed directly inside the mould and the injection of the plastic material causes the incorporation of the label into the article.