Space Saving Toilet Cleaning System

Abstract

A cleaning system having pulverulent foaming cleanser (e.g., acid, alkali metal carbonate and surfactant) is sealed within a water soluble (e.g., PVOH) deformable pouch frictionally retainable within the core of a roll of bath tissue. Upon placement of the pouch in the bowl, water in the bowl penetrates the water soluble wall of the pouch, generating foam which provides cleaning action by activating and carrying cleansing chemicals, not only below the water line of the bowl, but also considerably above it. When used routinely with each change of bath tissue roll, such a cleaning can extend the time between required manual cleanings considerably.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic isometric perspective illustrating the pouch as it is removed from its associated roll of bath tissue.

FIG. 2 is a schematic isometric perspective of a pouch of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-section of the pouch of the present invention taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-section illustrating the pouch as it is frictionally retained within the core of its associated roll of bath tissue.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-section taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-section of another embodiment in which a mildly acidic non-foaming, or low foaming, cleaning tablet is additionally included to be placed in the tank.

FIG. 7 is a schematic isometric perspective of an ensemble of a cleaning pouch and cleaning tablet of the present invention upon removal from the core of a roll of tissue.

Claims

1. A deformable cleaning pouch comprising: a) a water soluble polymeric film forming a shell having: i) a thickness of between about 0.001″ and about 0.003″;ii) a length of between about 1.5″ and 4.5″;iii) an unrestrained maximum diameter of between about 1.5″ and 2.0″;wherein said shell is resiliently deformable such that said maximum diameter is reduced by more than about 0.0625″, said pouch further comprising a pulverulent foaming cleanser disposed within said shell, said pulverulent foaming cleanser comprising:b) a pulverulent water soluble acid;c) a pulverulent base capable of generating carbon dioxide upon contact with acidic liquid;d) a foaming detergent.

2. The deformable cleaning pouch of claim 1 wherein the water soluble polymer comprising said shell is chosen from the group consisting of: polyvinyl alcohol; polyvinyl acetate; polyacrylamide; polyvinylpyrrolidone; polyethyleneoxide; poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) and coploymers thereof.

3. The deformable cleaning pouch of claim 2 wherein the molecular weight of the water soluble polymer in said shell is between about 5,000 and about 50,000,000.

4. The deformable cleaning pouch of claim 1 wherein the molecular weight of the water soluble polymer in said shell is between about 10,000 and about 10,000,000.

5. The deformable cleaning pouch of claim 4 wherein the water soluble polymer is polyvinyl alcohol.

6. The deformable cleaning pouch of claim 5 wherein the molecular weight is between about 13,000 and about 18,000.

7. The deformable cleaning pouch of claim 1 wherein the pulverulent water soluble solid acid is chosen from the group consisting of citric acid, tartaric acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, malic acid, oxalic acid, sulfamic acid, gluconic acid and mixtures thereof.

8. The deformable cleaning pouch of claim 7 wherein the pulverulent water soluble solid acid is chosen from the group consisting of citric acid, tartaric acid and combinations of citric acid and tartaric acid.

9. The deformable cleaning pouch of claim 1 wherein the pulverulent solid base is an alkali metal carbonate.

10. The deformable cleaning pouch of claim 1 wherein the pulverulent solid base is chosen from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, ammonium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, calcium bicarbonate and mixtures thereof.

11. The deformable cleaning pouch of claim 1 wherein: a) the water soluble polymer comprising said shell is chosen from the group consisting of: polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate; polyacrylamide or mixtures thereof; i) the pulverulent water soluble solid acid is chosen from the group consisting of citric acid, tartaric acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, malic acid, oxalic acid, gluconic acid, sulfamic acid and mixtures thereof;b) the pulverulent solid base is an alkali metal carbonate; andc) the foaming detergent is a non-ionic surfactant.

12. An ensemble for toilet hygiene comprising: a) a paperboard core having an approximate length of between 4 and 5 inches;b) a plurality of sheets of bath tissue wound around said paperboard core;c) a deformable cleaning pouch retained within said core comprising i) a shell of water soluble polymer, said polymer being chosen from the group consisting of: polyvinyl alcohol; polyvinyl acetate; polyacrylamide; polyvinylpyrrolidone; polyethyleneoxide; poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) or mixtures thereof;ii) a pulverulent water soluble solid acid, chosen from the group consisting of citric acid, tartaric acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, malic acid, oxalic acid, sulfamic acid and mixtures thereof disposed within said shell;iii) an alkali metal carbonate pulverulent solid disposed within said shell and intermixed with said pulverulent water-soluble acid; andiv) a foaming non-ionic surfactant detergent.

13. The ensemble for toilet hygiene of claim 12 further comprising a compressed tablet comprising pulverulent water soluble solid acid, chosen from the group consisting of citric acid, tartaric acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, malic acid, oxalic acid, sulfamic acid and mixtures thereof and a non-ionic surfactant detergent frictionally retained within said core.

14. An ensemble for toilet hygiene comprising: a) a paperboard core having an approximate length of between 4 and 5 inches;b) a plurality of sheets of bath tissue wound around said paperboard core;c) a deformable cleaning pouch frictionally retained within said core, comprising a water soluble polymeric film, said pouch further comprising a pulverulent foaming cleanser disposed within said shell, said pulverulent foaming cleanser comprising:d) a pulverulent water soluble acid;e) a pulverulent base capable of generating carbon dioxide upon contact with acidic liquid;f) a chelant; andg) a foaming detergent.