GB2194258A

GB2194258A - Lavatory cleansing device

Info

Publication number: GB2194258A
Application number: GB08619958A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James William Youngs; Eric Dennis Barford; Peter John Clark; John Marshall
Original assignee: Jeyes Group Ltd
Current assignee: Jeyes Group Ltd
Priority date: 1986-08-15
Filing date: 1986-08-15
Publication date: 1988-03-02
Anticipated expiration: 2006-08-15
Also published as: GB2194258B; GB8619958D0

Abstract

A lavatory cleansing device comprises a housing (1a/1b) having a first chamber (4) for containing a block of lavatory cleansing material, and having a perforated upper portion and means (6/7) for dispensing liquid from its lower portion; and a second chamber (3) separate from the first chamber and having a perforate upper part and an orifice in its lower part, such that when each chamber is filled with liquid, the second chamber is emptied no more rapidly than, and preferably more slowly than, the first chamber. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Lavatory cleansing devices This invention is concerned with improvements in and relating to lavatory cleansing devices. More particularly, the invention is concerned with lavatory cleansing devices of the type adapted to contain a block of lavatory cleansing material and to hold that block in the path of the flush water, generally under the rim of a toilet bowl.

In general, such lavatory cleansing devices comprise a perforate holder for containing the block of cleansing material so that when toilet flush water passes over and through the device some is brought into contact with the block of cleansing material, to form a solution or dispersion of active ingredients present in the block, which solution is then dispensed from the cleansing device to water in the bowl. It has become common practice, of recent years, to employ a cleansing block which contains a colouring agent (generally a watersoluble dyestuff which typically has a blue colour) so that water dispensed from a cleansing device containing the block is coloured.Frequently, the use of such coloured blocks gives rise to unsightly stains since the cleansing device may well continue to dispense some coloured water after the main body of flush water has passed, so that localised areas of a lavatory bowl may be brought into contact with fairly concentrated solutions of colourant.

Various proposals have been made to overcome this problem, as for example in British Patent No. 2024627, in which it is proposed to include a syphon or like arrangement in the container to obviate dripping from the cleansing device. However, we have found that, in practice, such devices may not wholly overcome the problem of staining.

According to the invention there is provided a lavatory cleansing device comprising a housing having a first chamber for containing a block of lavatory cleansing material, and having a perforated upper portion and means for dispensing liquid from its lower portion; and a second chamber separate from the first chamber and having a perforate upper part and an orifice in its lower part, such that when each chamber is filled with liquid, the second chamber is emptied no more rapidly than, and preferably more slowly than, the first.

The means for dispensing liquid from the first chamber may take the form of a simple orifice present in the lower part of the chamber but it is more suitably a syphon arrangement, in which case the first chamber is preferably provided with means to hold a cleansing block above the floor of the chamber.

In order that the invention may be well understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is perspective view of a lavatory cleansing device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a section through the device shown in Fig. 1, and Figure 3 is a plan view of the lower part of the device shown in Fig. 1.

As shown in the drawings, a lavatory cleansing device in accordance with the invention comprises a housing formed of an upper part la and a lower part 1b, each of which is formed (e.g. by injection moulding) of a plastics material such as polypropylene and each of which engages with the other, in a snap fit, to form the housing. The housing formed of parts la and Ib, is divided, by generally vertical ribs 2, into three chambers, namely a pair of end chambers 3 and a central chamber 4.

Upper housing part la is provided with perforations above all of chambers 3 and 4 and also with perforations in the side walls defining chamber 4. Lower housing part 1b (see Fig. 2) is provided, in chamber 4, with partiai ribs 5 which serve to hold a block of cleansing material above a syphon device formed of upstanding tube 6 and syphon cap 7. A small orifice 8 is formed in the lower part of each chamber 3 in lower housing part 1b.

In operation, the device shown in the drawings, containing a cleansing block, is mounted under the rim of a toilet bowl. On flushing, water will enter each of chambers 3 of the device. Water in chamber 4 will come into contact with the cleansing block and dissolve or disperse some active material therefrom.

When the flow of flush water has ceased, some remaining water from central chamber 4 will continue to be dispensed via the syphon arrangement 6/7 whilst, at the same time, clear water will continue to issue from chambers 3 through orifices 8 thereby serving to dilute water from chamber 4 and then to flush away any potential drips or stains immediately below the outlet part of discharge tube 6 after water ceases to be dispensed therefrom.

1. A lavatory cleansing device comprising a housing having a first chamber, for containing a block of lavatory cleansing material, and having a perforated upper portion and means for dispensing liquid from its lower portion; and a second chamber separate from the first chamber and having a perforate upper part and an orifice in its lower part, such that when each chamber is filled with liquid, the second chamber is emptied no more rapidly than the first chamber.

2. A cleansing device as claimed in claim 1 such that when each chamber is filled with liquid, the second chamber is emptied more slowly than the first chamber.

3. A cleansing device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the means for dispensing liquid from the first chamber comprises a syphon arrangement.

4. A cleansing device as claimed in claim 1

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Lavatory cleansing devices This invention is concerned with improvements in and relating to lavatory cleansing devices. More particularly, the invention is concerned with lavatory cleansing devices of the type adapted to contain a block of lavatory cleansing material and to hold that block in the path of the flush water, generally under the rim of a toilet bowl. In general, such lavatory cleansing devices comprise a perforate holder for containing the block of cleansing material so that when toilet flush water passes over and through the device some is brought into contact with the block of cleansing material, to form a solution or dispersion of active ingredients present in the block, which solution is then dispensed from the cleansing device to water in the bowl. It has become common practice, of recent years, to employ a cleansing block which contains a colouring agent (generally a watersoluble dyestuff which typically has a blue colour) so that water dispensed from a cleansing device containing the block is coloured.Frequently, the use of such coloured blocks gives rise to unsightly stains since the cleansing device may well continue to dispense some coloured water after the main body of flush water has passed, so that localised areas of a lavatory bowl may be brought into contact with fairly concentrated solutions of colourant. Various proposals have been made to overcome this problem, as for example in British Patent No. 2024627, in which it is proposed to include a syphon or like arrangement in the container to obviate dripping from the cleansing device. However, we have found that, in practice, such devices may not wholly overcome the problem of staining. According to the invention there is provided a lavatory cleansing device comprising a housing having a first chamber for containing a block of lavatory cleansing material, and having a perforated upper portion and means for dispensing liquid from its lower portion; and a second chamber separate from the first chamber and having a perforate upper part and an orifice in its lower part, such that when each chamber is filled with liquid, the second chamber is emptied no more rapidly than, and preferably more slowly than, the first. The means for dispensing liquid from the first chamber may take the form of a simple orifice present in the lower part of the chamber but it is more suitably a syphon arrangement, in which case the first chamber is preferably provided with means to hold a cleansing block above the floor of the chamber. In order that the invention may be well understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is perspective view of a lavatory cleansing device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a section through the device shown in Fig. 1, and Figure 3 is a plan view of the lower part of the device shown in Fig. 1. As shown in the drawings, a lavatory cleansing device in accordance with the invention comprises a housing formed of an upper part la and a lower part 1b, each of which is formed (e.g. by injection moulding) of a plastics material such as polypropylene and each of which engages with the other, in a snap fit, to form the housing. The housing formed of parts la and Ib, is divided, by generally vertical ribs 2, into three chambers, namely a pair of end chambers 3 and a central chamber 4. Upper housing part la is provided with perforations above all of chambers 3 and 4 and also with perforations in the side walls defining chamber 4. Lower housing part 1b (see Fig. 2) is provided, in chamber 4, with partiai ribs 5 which serve to hold a block of cleansing material above a syphon device formed of upstanding tube 6 and syphon cap 7. A small orifice 8 is formed in the lower part of each chamber 3 in lower housing part 1b. In operation, the device shown in the drawings, containing a cleansing block, is mounted under the rim of a toilet bowl. On flushing, water will enter each of chambers 3 of the device. Water in chamber 4 will come into contact with the cleansing block and dissolve or disperse some active material therefrom. When the flow of flush water has ceased, some remaining water from central chamber 4 will continue to be dispensed via the syphon arrangement 6/7 whilst, at the same time, clear water will continue to issue from chambers 3 through orifices 8 thereby serving to dilute water from chamber 4 and then to flush away any potential drips or stains immediately below the outlet part of discharge tube 6 after water ceases to be dispensed therefrom. CLAIMS

4. A cleansing device as claimed in claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.