Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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A SANITARY AGENT
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a sanitary agent for cleaning, disinfecting and/or
perfuming a sanitary appliance.
In particular, the present invention relates to a sanitary agent comprising an
active body, which can be solid or semi-solid (more or less pasty), which can
adhere to an internal wall of a water-closet bowl or a urinal, remaining
attached for a high number of water flushes, with a small part thereof
dissolving each time, up to its final consumption.
Background Art
Sanitary appliances, for example hygienic toilet bowls or urinals fixed to a
wall, have to be subjected to repeated cleaning and disinfecting operations in
order to be able to maintain adequate hygienic sanitary conditions.
The prior art comprises hanging sanitary agents by means of hooking
devices positioned in the water closet container, where one exists; the
emission of the sanitary agent occurs at each discharge flush operation into
the bowl.
Also known are sanitary agents which are fixed to the perimeter edge of the
toilet bowl by means of a support; these sanitary agents are normally
inserted in particular devices, like cages, provided with the support means,
such as for example a plastic bracket, and which also include slits and/or
zo holes such as to enable a portion of the sanitary agent to exit at
each flush of
the water.
The above-described sanitary agents, when struck by the water which
irrigates the toilet bowl, enriches the water with the substances contained in
the agents, thus providing the elements required for deterging, descaling,
deodorising and/or disinfecting the bowl.
However, the above described hygienic devices present some drawbacks,
such as for example not guaranteeing an adequate anchoring to the
perimeter edge of the bowl due to the fragility of the support means, with the
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consequence that there might be a possible accidental fall of the sanitary
agent contained in the sanitary agent into the toilet bowl.
Further, these devices are not very practical and hygienic; during manual
cleaning of the edge of the toilet bowl or during the cleaning of the inside
of
the bowl by use of the toilet brush, the support means fixed to the edge of
the
bowl can be accidentally shifted and it is therefore necessary to reposition
it.
Further, on substitution of the sanitary agent, due to its consumption, it is
necessary to act manually with ensuing operative and hygienic difficulties for
the user, as the devices are often positioned in poorly-accessible places, in
ro any case not ideal from the hygienic point of view.
Further, it is difficult to apply these devices to urinals, as urinals are
generally
lacking in edges or parts in relief on which the support means can be fixed.
In
the case of urinals or urinal bowls, pastilles are often use, positioned in
the
lower part thereof, at the position of the drain. However, these pastilles are
is generally partly washed away by the water flush and also cause
undesired
backsplash.
In recent times alternative solutions have been looked for, by eliminating the
presence of the devices having a support means to be fixed to the perimeter
edge of the bowl.
20 The prior art comprises certain solutions to the above-cited
problem, in which
sanitary agents, in particular solid or semi-solid soaps can adhere stably to
the internal wall of a WC bowl or a urinal in order to be subjected to regular
water flushes.
European patent EP 1 086 199 in the name of Buck-Chemie GmbH
25 describes a sanitary agent which can be applied directly on the
surface of the
sanitary appliance, the sanitary agent having a viscosity of at least 15,000
mPas and comprising an adhesion promoter such as poly oxy alcohol alkane,
cellulose, etc. However this excessive viscosity can fail to guarantee
adequate removal of the limescale deposits and a homogeneous distribution
30 of the detergent contained in the sanitary agent.
Further, during use, the sanitary agent deforms, causing the components
constituting it to drip downwards in an undesirable way. A further
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disadvantage is given by the fact that in order to be applied adequately to
the
part of the sanitary appliance, the sanitary agent described in the patent
application obligatorily requires the use of a batching system normally
constituted by rigid plastic material, with the consequence of an undesired
and significant use of plastic material.
Thus an alternative must be sought which enables good adhesion while at
the same time guaranteeing sanitary-hygienic treatments of the sanitary
appliance which are satisfactory.
For example, international patent application, published at no.
W02008/100393 (corresponding to application US2008/0190457) in the
name of Johnson & Sons discloses a solid soap able to adhere to the surface
of the bowl and at the same time guarantee adequate cleansing; however,
the soap necessarily contains a very high quantity of solid surfactant, in
particular an anionic surfactant of the
s alkyl benzene sulphonate type (known as LAS), between 75 and 99% in
weight of the weightof the soap such as to enable sufficient adhesion to the
surface of the bowl.
Such a high percentage of anionic surfactants leads to high costs, as well as
a negative environmental impact, especially when substances are used
which derive from benzene, such as the above-cited LAS surfactants.
Even today the technical problem persists of having available a sanitary
agent which: a) exerts a satisfactory and lasting cleaning action and/or
perfuming and/or disinfection of a sanitary appliance, b) has no need of
considerable manual operations for removal of eventual adhesive residual
portions of the sanitary agent at the end of its use, and c) has a portion
which
adheres appropriately to the internal surface of a sanitary appliance during
use thereof, and in particular d) has a low environmental impact, in
particular
enabling realisation of a strong adhesive action while making use of a
relatively very low percentage of anionic surfactants present in the
composition.
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Therefore the aim of the present invention is to provide a sanitary agent for
treatment of a sanitary appliance which constitutes an alternative to the
solutions provided by the prior-art documents as cited above.
In particular, the aim of the present invention is to provide a sanitary agent
for
treatment of a sanitary appliance, the sanitary agent comprising at least an
adhesive component and at least a component that is useful for the
treatment, the adhesive component being capable of enabling the sanitary
agent to remain in adherence for a large number of water flushes to a
sanitary appliance of any shape and, at the same time, once the component
of the sanitary agent used for the treatment is consumed, to be easily
dissolved in the water of further flushes.
Disclosure of Invention
In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a sanitary agent to be
used
for deterging, disinfecting and/or perfuming a sanitary appliance.
is The present Applicant has found that a sanitary agent for treating a
sanitary
appliance, comprising an active body, solid or semi-solid, including a
treatment compound having at least an active element for treatment of the
sanitary appliance and at least a surfactant of a non-ionic type,
characterised in that the treatment composition further comprises at least an
adhesive element deriving from colophony resin (pine resin), dispersed in the
material of the active body and destined to realise adhesion of the sanitary
agent to the wall of the sanitary appliance, such that the adhesion lasts for
a
high number of water flushes, and the sanitary agent dissolves substantially
completely at the end of the operating cycle thereof without having a negative
impact on the environment.
In this context and in the following claims, the term "sanitary appliance" is
understood to mean a water-closet toilet bowl, a urinal bowl, a urinal or any
other like apparatus which is usually subjected to water flushes in order to
maintain cleanliness and hygiene thereof.
In this context, and in the following claims, the term "treatment of a
sanitary
appliance" is understood to mean cleaning, hygienising, disinfecting,
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perfuming and removing limescale, and other like operations applicable to
the sanitary appliance.
In this context and in the following claims, the term "active element for the
treatment" is understood to means an element dedicated to cleaning,
deterging, foaming, perfuming, deodorising, disinfecting, water-colouring,
polishing, or any other element which is soluble in water and useful for the
treatment to which the sanitary appliance is to be subjected.
In this context and in the following claims, the term "semi-solid body" is
intended to mean a body having a pasty consistency, or having a consistency
ro which is such as to be modifiable in shape by manual pressure, but such as
to maintain over time the given shape, even following the action of weak
external forces, such as a water flush or discharge.
In this way, whatever the form of the wall of the sanitary appliance to which
the sanitary agent is to be made to adhere, the shape of the sanitary agent
can be appropriately modelled on the basis of the shape of the wall in order
to guarantee good adhesion. This shape can be maintained over time, except
for the reduction in mass due to its dissolving by action of the flush water.
The sanitary agent of the present invention can be consumed progressively
and appropriately at each flush of water of the sanitary appliance, such that
first the active element for the treatment of the sanitary apparatus
progressively dissolves in the water of the flush. Thereafter, after a series
of
water discharges, the adhesive element of the sanitary agent begins to be
exposed to the action of the water which, in combination with the residual
part of the treatment compound, enables complete removal of the adhesive
element.
In this way, when the treatment compound has been consumed, only a small
portion of the adhesive element remains in contact with the wall of the
treated
sanitary appliance, becoming easily removable by means of appropriate
cleaning tools for the sanitary appliance, such as brushes and the like.
The derivative of the colophony resin is preferably a terpene derived from
colophony (rosin); more preferably, the terpene is linear colophony ester,
such as for example Bremasin 1205.
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Colophony is a yellow solid vegetal resin (abietic anhydride), which is
transparent and a residue of distillation of turpentine (Pinus Palustris
conifer
resin and other pines in the Pinaceae family).
The quantity of the adhesive element derived from the colophony resin is
preferably comprised in the range 0.1-20%, more preferably in the range 0.1-
10% in weight with respect to the total weight of the sanitary agent.
As mentioned herein above, the sanitary agent comprises a treatment
compound having at least an active element for the treatment.
The active element is preferably a detergent element, a perfume or a
io disinfectant.
The quantity of the at least an active element is preferably comprised in the
interval from 1-75% in weight with respect to the total weight of the sanitary
agent.
The at least a non-ionic surfactant is preferably selected from a group
consisting in long-chain alcohols (from about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms),
such as polyoxyethylene derivatives of fatty acids, starch alkanols of fatty
acids, alkyl polyglucosides (APG), natural and/or synthetic etoxylated
alchohols, amine oxides.
The quantity of the at least a surfactant is comprised in the range of 25-80%,
more preferably in the range of 50-75% in weight with respect to the total
weight of the sanitary agent.
The treatment compound preferably comprises, in addition to the at least a
non-ionic surfactant, at least a further surfactant selected from among the
group of anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants or
combinations thereof.
The anionic surfactants are preferably selected from the group consisting of
compounds having carbon atom chains ending with a caroxylate or
sulphanate group, such as for example soaps, alkyl ether sulphates
(LES/AES), alkyl sulphates (LS/AS), a-olefin sulphonates (AOS), alkyl ether
carboxylates, sulphosuccinates, aromatic sulphonates.
The cationic surfactants are preferably selected from the group consisting of
long carbon atom chains (from about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms)
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terminating with a quaternary amine group, such as for example alkyl
hydroxyethyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, banzalconium chloride, cetyl-
trimethyl ammonium bromide or chloride, hexadecyl-trimethyl ammonium
bromide or chloride, and the like.
The surfactant amphoterics are preferably selected from a group consisting
of amino carboxyl acids, alkyl betaine, such as for example 12 betaine,
starch alkyls, propyl betaine, and amphoacetates.
The quantity of the anionic surfactants is relatively very low, or even nill;
it is
preferably comprised in the range 0.1-8%, more preferably in the range 1 -
1 o 4% in weight with respect to the total weight of the sanitary
agent.
The treatment composition preferably comprises at least an inorganic salt;
more preferably, the at least an inorganic salt is selected from among the
group consisting in sulphates in various stages of hydration, monovalent and
bivalent metals, such as for example sodium sulphate or magnesium
sulphate; monovalent and bivalent metal carbonates and bicarbonates, such
as for example sodium carbonate, magnesium carbonate and sodium
bicarbonate; monovalent and bivalent metal chlorides, such as for example
sodium chloride.
The quantity of the at least an inorganic salt is preferably comprised in the
range from 10-70%, and more preferably in the range from 10-20% in weight
with respect to the total weight of the sanitary agent.
The treatment compound can preferably further comprise various agents,
such as for example bleaches, perfumes, disinfectants, colorants,
dispersants, plastifiers, in quantities from 0.1 to 30% in weight with respect
to
the total weight of the sanitary agent.
In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a method for deterging,
disinfecting and/or perfuming a sanitary appliance characterised by direct
application thereof on the wall of the sanitary appliance to be treated of a
sanitary agent such as the above-described ones, according to both the first
and the second preferred embodiments of the present invention.
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Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will more
clearly emerge from an examination of the detailed description of non-
exclusive preferred embodiments thereof, by way of non-limiting example.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
Example 1
Sanitary agent 1 (invention).
The first treatment compound for a sanitary appliance was prepared as
follows:
Non-ionic surfactant mergital CS25 (cethearet25) 70%
io Sodium sulphate 15.60%
Anionic surfactant alkyl sulphate Texapon V95 2.00%
Sodium citrate 2.00%
Non-ionic surfactant glucopon 50g 2.00%
Foamer DERIPHAT 160 C (Cognis) 1.00%
is Perfume 3.00%
Colorant 0.40%
Wetting agent 2.00%
Linear colophony ester ¨ Bremasin 1205 typ 2.00%
The compound 1 was prepared by mixing the various components in a
20 laboratory twin-arm mixer with about a 1Kg capacity at ambient
temperature,
leaving it to mix for about 30 minutes up to obtaining a homogeneous, plastic
and modellable paste, until the sanitary agent 1 is obtained. The sanitary
agent 1 presented as a semi-solid active body, with a substantially flattened-
cylinder shape, with a diameter of the base surfaces of about 4cm, and a
25 height (thickness) of about 0.4 cm, having a total weight of about 12
grams.
The sanitary agent 1 was made to adhere to the hard surface of the internal
wall of a toilet bowl, following a flushing of the toilet and pressing it
against
the wall of the sanitary appliance to be treated for about ten seconds, to
guarantee good adhesion.
30 The sanitary agent 1 was subjected to a series of 100 homogeneous water
flushes, which caused progressive release up to complete consumption of
the treatment compound, leaving a residue of colophony resin of less than
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3% of the initial quantity of the colophony present in the sanitary agent;
this
rosin residue was easily eliminated by using a toilet brush.
In this way, using the sanitary agent 1 of the present invention, a good
adhesion of the sanitary agent to the sanitary appliance to be treated was
obtained, even with ony a relatively very low percentage of anionic
surfactant, as well as an efficient hygienisation of the sanitary appliance;
and
at the same time it was not necessary to touch non-hygienic zones of the
sanitary appliance (the toilet bowl) with the hands in order to remove the
residues of the sanitary agent 1 at the end of its use phase. Finally, it was
not
o necessary to use an applicator object in order to position the sanitary
agent
correctly without entering into contact with the walls of the toilet bowl.
Sanitary agent 2 (comarison).
Like agent 1, agent 2 was prepared, which was different from sanitary agent
1 in that the formulation of the treatment compound did not include the
adhesive element derived from the colophony resin.
Treatment compound 2 comprised:
Non-ionic surfactant mergital CS25 (cethearet25) 72.00%
Sodium sulphate 15.60%
Anionic surfactant alkyl sulphate Texapon V95 2.00%
Sodium citrate 2.00%
Non-ionic surfactant glucopon 50g 2.00%
Foamer DERIPHAT 160 C (Cognis) 1.00%
Perfume 3.00%
Colorant 0.40%
Wetting agent 2.00%
The mixture was prepared similarly to what was reported for example no. 1
The sanitary agent 2 obtained using treatment compound 2 and having the
same dimensions as sanitary agent 1, was subjected to the same treatment
as the sanitary agents.
In this case, differently to example 1, a poor adhesion of the sanitary agent
2
to the surface to be treated is obtained. After a few flushes, in fact, the
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sanitary agent 2 detached from the surface to which it had been made to
adhere.
From these examples it can be seen that the addition to the treatment
composition of a derivative of colophony resin enabled the sanitary agent 1 of
the invention to adhere satisfactority to the surface to be treated, even in
the
present of a relatively very low percentage of anionic surfactant, differently
to
what is observed with the comparison sanitary agent 2, which is lacking in
the derivative of the colophony resin.
