WO1995030366A1 - Disposable toilet scraper and fabrication method - Google Patents

Abstract

The scraper is comprised of a single piece elongate laminar body made of water-soluble and biodegradable material, presenting two distinct regions (1, 102; 2, 103), one region is a manual gripping area (1, 102), which is longer, and the other region is a cleaning area (2, 103), which is shorter and wider. There is incorporated in the cleaning area (2 103) of the scraper a substance (106) which retards its dissolution in the water in comparison with the rest of the scraper. The extremity of the body in the cleaning area (2, 103) may be flattened like a spade (104); the laminar body may have longitudinal ribs (105) in order to give the scraper some rigidity, or it may be tubular (102a). The method consists in continuously passing a strip between molds and countermolds in order to form the ribs, incorporating the product which retards the dissolution in alternate areas of the strip, flattening the impregnated areas and cutting the strip by half of said areas in order to separate two scrapers.

Description

 DISPOSABLE TOILET RACK AND PROCEDURE FOR MANUFACTURING

The present invention relates to a disposable toilet scraper and a method for its manufacture; The purpose of this scraper is to allow the toilet to be kept clean with maximum hygiene. The scratch, once used, can be thrown into the toilet itself because it dissolves in the water thanks to its technical characteristics.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The necessary elimination of the remains that remain attached to the toilet bowl after its use is currently carried out by means of the classic bath scrapers, which by their nature and constitution do not meet the requirements of hygiene and quality required. These scrapers have the disadvantage that, once used, it is necessary to wash and rinse them with care, otherwise it is a source of bad odors and dirt.

The non-fulfillment of the requirements of hygiene and quality demanded in the existing bathroom scrapers is due to two fundamental causes, one of them because the material of which the scraper itself is constituted is usually made of plastic fiber to which they adhere with easily the remains, and also because they do not perform the toilet cleaning function effectively, so in some cases the remains remain in the fibers that constitute the scraper and in other cases in the toilet itself, which obviously it implies a lack of hygiene, annoying visual impacts, unpleasant odors, foci of infection, etc. To alleviate these inconveniences, they have been put toilet brushes formed by a plastic handle to which disposable elements that are directly intended for cleaning are attached, for example constituted by paper strips or sponges. However, these brushes also have the disadvantage that a part of them continues to be non-disposable, and is used repeatedly by different users: this, especially in the case of public toilets, can continue to present hygiene and health problems. rejection by users. In addition, the cost of these brushes, due to the existence of the non-disposable handle, is still relatively high.

Brushes that are entirely disposable have also been proposed, with a round section handle and a brush formed of paper strips: the round section of the handle, which gives it the rigidity necessary for use, hinders its ability to discard Quickly in the toilet water.

Therefore, some brushes of this type have transverse weaknesses to split the brush before throwing it away, which partially alleviates this inconvenience.

However, in this case, in addition to the difficulty of getting rid due to the thickness of the handle section, the brushes have the disadvantage that they require user intervention in the unpleasant operation of manipulating them to split the handle after use. In many cases, users will avoid this operation and throw away the entire brush, which can cause the dirty brush to remain in the toilet bowl for some time or to cause blockages in the drains. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The scraper or brush object of the invention has been designed to solve all this problem to full satisfaction, constituting an element or device of a single use, that is to say, that it is disposable, being constituted of a material of vegetable origin or cellulose, and with the geometric characteristics, of optimum weight and density so that it effectively fulfills the cleaning function of the toilet itself and is at the same time cost significantly lower than the brushes known so far, both in relation to the material and in Its manufacturing process.

Structurally, the scraper in question is constituted by a body based on virgin and recovery paper pulps, which once treated confer the optimum weight and density characteristics, and offers a slender shape that is achieved based on a die-cutting process or molded The disposable toilet scraper according to the invention comprises a hand grip part and a cleaning part, both of water soluble material; It is characterized by being an elongated laminar body of a single piece, with a rigid structure, which has two distinct zones, one of greater length that constitutes the hand-grip part, and another of smaller length and greater width that constitutes the cleaning part, which comes into contact with the wall of the toilet. The cleaning area has a width greater than the rest to expand the friction surface and increase its efficiency.

The laminar and elongated configuration provides a good rigidity to the body, but does not prevent it from easily falling apart as soon as it is thrown into the toilet, because the thickness to which water must access to impregnate all the material is much smaller than in known brushes. The active part of greater width allows a comfortable, fast and efficient use.

The cost of the scraper is lower than the known brushes, both for the amount of material to be used and for the simplicity of the manufacturing process.

Advantageously, the scraper material is biodegradable, so that it does not constitute a source of contamination for the environment; preferably, the material is a fibrous material of vegetable or cellulose origin, for example paper or derivatives thereof, responding to the optimal absorption and disintegration conditions for its proper functioning.

In this way, recycled paper can be used to manufacture the scraper or brush, which makes the piece cheaper and also constitutes an advantage for the environment.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is intended to incorporate in the cleaning zone of the brush a substance that retards its dissolution in water with respect to the rest of the scraper. This prevents the cleaning zone from falling apart too quickly when it comes into contact with moisture and before cleaning can be completed. To facilitate the work of the scraper, the end of the body corresponding to the cleaning zone is crushed in the form of a shovel of decreasing thickness towards its leading edge.

In one embodiment, the laminar body has sausages in the longitudinal direction, which give it rigidity in the longest area corresponding to the handle. In one of the ends of the laminar body the sausages are crushed so that the end adopts the shape of a shovel of decreasing thickness towards the leading edge. Alternatively, it is also planned that the laminar body is tubular, with the manual grip end open and the cleaning end crushed to constitute said blade shape.

The elongated laminar body may be constituted by several sheets joined together; These can be flat, wavy or a combination of both.

By virtue of the nature of the material and its constitution, once the described scraper is used, it is thrown inside the toilet, disappearing through it, since it is very porous and will instantly absorb enough water to lose its rigidity and being able to cover the inside of the siphon, as well as the rest of the pipes, without causing any clogging, so that its disintegration process starts at the toilet itself and ends at the drainage network.

With a view to the mass production of the scraper, it will present forms of easy adaptation to the technique and existing physical environments, and this due to the wide diffusion and the conditions of use, such as packaging, storage and individual disposal near the toilet itself .

A manufacturing process for the brush with longitudinal reinforcement sausages consists of starting a strip of water-soluble biodegradable material, continuously drawn in a longitudinal forward movement. Throughout its movement, the strip passes between sets of molds and countermolds that form longitudinal sausages therein. Next, a product that retards its dissolution in the water is applied to the strip, deposited in short areas and regularly spaced from each other by longer lengths of strip devoid of said product. The strip then passes through a pressing station that acts regularly and intermittently, to crush only the impregnated areas. Finally, the strip is cut at the end of the crushed areas to get the brushes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the best understanding of the invention, some drawings are attached in which, only by way of non-limiting example, a practical case of embodiment is represented.

In said drawings, Figure 1 shows a front elevational view of the body constituting the scraper or disposable brush object of the invention; Figure 2 shows a side elevation view of the body of the scraper shown in the previous figure; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a brush with longitudinal reinforcement sausages; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a tubular handle brush; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a flat brush; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a plurality of stacked brooms; Figure 7 is a schematic side elevation view showing the different phases of a brush manufacturing process; and Figure 8 is a plan view of various sections of a strip along the process of manufacturing the brushes illustrated in Figure 7.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As can be seen in the aforementioned figures, the scraper or brush of the invention is constituted by a fibrous sheet structure of vegetable or cellulose origin, sufficiently cohesive to give it resistance, of high air content and, therefore, porous, being manufactured with virgin and recovery paper pulps, which once treated confer the optimal weight and density characteristics.

According to the version of the scraper represented in figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the shape is elongated and in it two distinct zones are distinguished, a so-called handle or manual contact zone 1 and another called cleaning zone 2, so that the zone of manual contact is the destined one to be grabbed by the user, while the zone 2, through its edge 3, will be the one that performs the cleaning of the toilet; zone 2 is of greater width than the previous one, to extend the friction surface and increase its efficiency, since said zone 2 and specifically its edge 3, will be the one that contacts the wall of the toilet bowl to effect the cleaning.

As an example, the dimensions of the scraper can be 40mm maximum width in the cleaning zone 2 and 2mm thick.

As stated previously, the slender or elongated configuration is achieved with a die-cutting or molding process, while the resistance to its optimal operation is due to the rigid structure that will offer one or more sheets of either Wavy or flat shape.

The scraper thus constituted is intended to carry out the cleaning of the toilet, once it is used, without accumulating unhygienic and bacterial remains of the feces, since once the use of the scraper is finished it is thrown away in the toilet itself disappearing along with the spilled water.

According to another embodiment, the brush object of the invention consists in figures 3 to 6 of the drawings of a single sheet of general reference -101-, of biodegradable and water-soluble material, such as a thin cardboard, which It has an elongated section -102- in the form of a handle and a shorter section at one of its crushed ends in the shape of a shovel -103-, thick decreasing towards its leading edge -104-.

It has also been provided that the elongated part constituting the scraper is formed by several sheets glued together by means of a water-soluble adhesive, based on starch or the like.

The handle -101- has longitudinal sausages -105- that reinforce it considerably, forcing incoming and outgoing complementary to each other, so that they facilitate the stacking of the brushes (figures 3 and 6). At one end of the brush, these sausages are crushed to form the blade -103-.

The possibility is provided that a brush -101a- (figure 4) has a tubular handle -102a, with a crushed end to form the shovel -103a- of decreasing thickness towards the edge -104a-. The opposite end of the blade -103- is open to facilitate the entry of water and accelerate the dissolution of the brush once used.

Figure 5 shows a very simple version of the scraper or brush, formed by a flat strip -101b- with a handle -102b-, a crushed end -103b- and a leading edge -104b-.

As can be seen, the manual gripping area of the scraper according to the invention does not require transverse lines of breakage or weakening, since the laminar configuration thereof allows its rapid dissolution in the toilet water.

This is true even in the case of the one that has longitudinal sausages, since they do not increase the thickness of the scraper or prevent water from rapidly impregnating it.

In any of the versions represented in Figures 3, 4 and 5, it is important to note that the crushed end -103, 103a, 103b- is impregnated or coated with a product -106- which delays a few seconds its dissolution in water, in relation to the time it takes to make the handle -102, 102a, 102b-. The product -106- can impregnate or cover the blade-shaped end and a short section of the handle immediately to said end. As an example of the product that impregnates or covers the blade-shaped end, a product supplied by the company 3M can be cited under the name SCOTCHBAN.

As can be deduced from all of the above and by observing the drawings, the brush is very light but it is stiff enough to use it only once to clean a toilet bowl or other similar body, which is what the brush is thrown into the toilet itself so that it dissolves in the water. It is important to note that in order to avoid premature dissolution of the blade during its cleaning work, the product -106- has been incorporated into it, which delays said dissolution for a few seconds in relation to the time it takes for the handle -102- to do so. The scraper or brush can be supplied in packages, perfectly stacked, from which it will be extracted for use.

With the brush in question, the problem of keeping the scrapers that are currently being used clean is eliminated. The use of the brush is highly recommended in the home and, especially, in public places where it is more difficult to maintain cleaning and hygiene conditions.

The cost of this brush is very small and perfectly acceptable, much more considering that it can carry printed advertising motifs, recommendations for use, and any type of drawing or legend, thanks to the fact that its manufacture can be made from a strip of recycled paper or cardboard. By way of example, a material suitable for The brush can have a gram of about 160 g / m ² .

An example of a method of manufacturing a brush of the characteristics shown in Figure 3 is described below.

The manufacturing takes place from a strip -107- of a water-soluble biodegradable material, which runs along a path dragged by rollers -108-. During the journey the strip passes through pairs of rollers -109, 110- that progressively form sausages -105- in a longitudinal direction, down the course, the strip -107- passes through a station -111- (a pair of rollers or similar), which is applied by a product -106- retarder of dissolution in water, with the particularity that it is applied intermittently in areas -103c separated by zones -102- of greater length. The zones -103c are equivalent to two blades of as many brushes, located in opposite directions. Next, the strip passes through a press -112- (for example two rollers or another similar one), which only crushes the zones -103c- to form the blades of the brushes. Then the strip passes through a cutting station -113- that cuts it intermittently in the middle of the sections -103a-, obtaining the finished brush (figures 7 and 8).

Claims

1. Scraper of disposable toilet, to carry out the cleaning of the inner wall of the toilet bowl after use, consisting of a part of manual grip and a cleaning part, both of water-soluble material, characterized by the fact that it is constituted by an elongated laminar body of a single piece, of rigid structure, which has two differentiated zones (1,102; 2,103), one of greater length constituting said part of manual grip (1,102), and another of smaller length and of greater width that constitutes said cleaning part (2,103). 2. Toilet scraper according to claim 1, characterized in that said water soluble material is biodegradable. 3. Toilet scraper according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said material is a fibrous material of vegetable or cellulose origin, such as paper or derivatives thereof. 4. Toilet scraper according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a substance (106) is incorporated in the cleaning zone (2,103) which delays its dissolution in the water in relation to the rest of the scraper. 5. Toilet scraper according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the end of the body corresponding to the cleaning area (2,103) is crushed in the form of a shovel of decreasing thickness towards its leading edge (104 ). 6. Toilet scraper according to claim 5, characterized in that the sheet body has sausages (105) in the longitudinal direction, which give it rigidity, said sausages being crushed (105), at the end of the piece corresponding to the cleaning zone (103), so that the end adopts said blade shape of decreasing thickness towards the leading edge (104). 7. Toilet scraper according to claim 5, characterized in that the sheet body has a tubular shape (102a), with one end, corresponding to the manual grip area (102), open, and with the other end, corresponding to the cleaning zone (103), crushed to constitute said blade shape of decreasing thickness towards the leading edge (104). 8. Toilet scraper according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said elongated laminated body is constituted by several sheets joined together. 9. Toilet scraper according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said laminar body is flat, corrugated or a combination thereof. 10. Method of manufacturing a cleaning scraper according to claims 4 and 6, characterized in that it comprises: continuously supplying a strip (107) of biodegradable and water soluble material along a longitudinal direction ; pass the strip between molds and countermold sets (108) that form sausages in it longitudinal (105); incorporate into the strip (107) a product (106) that retards its dissolution in the water, applied in short areas (103c) and regularly spaced apart by sections (102) of strip without impregnating longer than the impregnated areas , which are equivalent to two shovel-shaped areas (103) corresponding to as many brushes oriented in opposite directions; crush the impregnated areas (103c) of the strip in a pressing station (112), which acts regularly and intermittently; and cut the strip (107) in half of the crushed areas, to obtain the scrapers.