Toilet cleaning device

Abstract

A toilet cleaner (1012) is mounted on a cleaning device and cleaning is effected by bristles (1034) and scrapers (1052, 1053). The toilet cleaner (1012) is discharged from a cleaning device by a pusher on that device sliding down and knocking the toilet cleaner off. The toilet cleaner (1012) is flushed down the toilet with water flowing through the hollow toilet cleaner and out of an opening (1082) at the leading end of said toilet cleaner. The toilet cleaner (1012) then degrades or dissolves and is biodegradable.

Description

The present invention relates to a cleaning device, a method of using a cleaning device and a toilet cleaner and a method of using a toilet cleaner.

Numerous mechanical devices have been proposed in the past which comprise a handle having, at the remote end thereof, a cleaning device. One such device is shown in GB 738,299 where a head of a device is slipped into a swab and a toilet is then cleaned by wiping the swab around the surface of the bowl of the toilet. Removal of the swab is achieved by shouldering the swab against the rim of a toilet bowl and pulling the holder away to cause the swab to slip off, into the bowl, and dissolve prior to being flushed away. Shouldering the swab against the rim though has disadvantages as a user may have to use two hands on the device, thereby causing one hand to be located quite far down the device, near the toilet bowl, in order to get the leverage on the swab to cause its removal. That hand may be contaminated with germs from the toilet and the swab may come off in the jerk causing the device to flick toilet water at the person or around the room.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,471,697 discloses a toilet cleaning device that has a cleaning head in the shape of a foot. This head is able to clean underneath the rim of the toilet. However, a user has to continually rotate the device as they clean underneath the rim which involves two hands. This is inconvenient and it also causes one of the hands to be closer to the bowl which may have germs. In addition, as only one surface of the cleaning device is contacting the underside of the rim of the bowl, the cleaning device has to be made extremely strong in order that that the one upwardly facing surface of the foot can cope with all of the cleaning action required around the complete rim. Thus the disposable feet are expensive and may take considerable time to dissolve. This Patent also discloses a head that can be made from enzyme-coated biodegradable polymer particles, acrylic polymers, vinyl polymers or copolymers containing acid groups, sodium propionate or polyethylene glycol. However, the head is smooth and thus only a wiping action is able to be effected. Furthermore, in order to remove the head from the shaft, the shaft has to be left in the toilet bowl while the head dissolves. This renders the toilet unusable during that period.

It is an object of the present invention to attempt to overcome at least one of the above or other disadvantages.

According to a first aspect of the present invention a cleaning device includes a handle and means to engage a cleaner and a pusher mounted on the device arranged, in use, to push a cleaner, engaged by the device off the device.

The pusher may be mounted on a guide of the device. The guide may be arranged to dictate the direction of movement of the pusher. The pusher may be able to be retained on the device, such as by being releasably retained, at a location away from where a cleaner is arranged to be engaged, for instance by a portion on the pusher or device flexing or compressing to retain the pusher at that location. Such flexure or compression may be caused to subsequently flex back or expand again to retain the pusher in position. The pusher may be arranged to be retained adjacent to the handle.

The pusher may surround the guide.

The pusher, during normal use, may be constrained to be retained on the device.

The pusher may comprise part of the handle.

The guide may comprise an I-section along at least part of its extent.

The pusher may include at least a part that includes a shape complimentary to that of the guide.

The guide may constrain the pusher to be able to move relative to the guide in generally one direction only at any location of the guide. That direction may comprise a linear direction over at least part and preferably the complete extent of movement of the pusher.

The guide may include a stop arranged to restrict the extent of movement of the pusher in the direction towards where a cleaner is arranged to be engaged. The stop may be spaced from where, in use, a cleaner is arranged to be located on the device. The pusher may include a portion arranged to extend beyond the stop when the pusher engages the stop and that portion that extends beyond the stop may extend beyond the end of the device when the pusher engages the stop. The pusher may be able to be retained adjacent to or in contact with the handle when not effecting removal and the pusher may be spaced from a cleaner when so retained. Retention may be by friction or any convenient means.

The device may include a portion arranged to move relative to a cleaner, when engaging the device with a cleaner, and that relative movement may comprise a projection on the device being caused to move into a recess on the cleaner such as by pushing the device towards the cleaner. One of the cleaner or device may include a projection or projections arranged to move relative to the other such that there is only partial contact between the cleaner and the device over their co-extent and the or each projection may comprise flanges that may extend in the direction of relative movement of the device and cleaner during attachment.

The portion may include at least one formation extending at an angle to the direction of relative movement when attaching a cleaner to the device which formation may assist in retaining the cleaner on the device.

The present invention also includes a toilet bowl cleaning device and a cleaner arranged to be detachably mounted on the device, the device including a handle and the cleaner, when mounted on the device, including at least two surfaces opposed from each other that diverge outwardly in a direction extending away from the handle.

More than two surfaces of the cleaner may so diverge. The cross-sectional area of the cleaner may increase in a direction extending away from the handle. At least part of the cross-sectional area of the cleaner may be curved and may be circular or oval for instance.

According to a further aspect of the present invention a method of cleaning comprises engaging a cleaner on a device whilst holding a handle of the device, effecting the required cleaning, and then moving a pusher mounted on the device towards the cleaner to push the cleaner off the device.

The method may comprise pushing the cleaner into a toilet bowl.

The present invention also includes a method of cleaning when using a cleaning device as herein referred to.

According to another aspect of the present invention a method of cleaning a toilet bowl with a cleaning device comprises attaching a cleaner to a cleaning device and moving the cleaner around the toilet bowl to clean the underside of the toilet bowl with at least two opposed surfaces of the cleaner which diverge outwardly from each other in a direction away from the handle of the cleaner engaging the underside of the rim of the toilet bowl during the cleaning operation.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, a cleaning device includes a handle and a cleaner, the cleaner including a plurality of elongate projections.

The cleaner may be detachable from the handle.

The cleaner may be at least partially dissolvable in water.

At least some of the projections may have a circular cross-section along at least some of or all of their length. Alternatively or additionally at least some of the projections may have a non-circular cross-section along at least part or all of their length. The non-circular cross-section may comprise a greater dimension in one direction than another direction. At least two opposed surfaces may be generally equidistant from each other and may comprise planar surfaces and there may be two pairs of such opposed surfaces and the surfaces from one pair may be at right angles to the other pair.

The length or effective length of at least some of the projections may be constant or increase in a direction away from the handle and may so increase at a linear rate or at a decreasing rate or may increase, then decrease and then increase in that direction. The length or effective length of at least some of the projections may be constant in a direction transverse to the direction away from the handle or may extend to a plane in that direction or may extend to different extents in that direction such that, looking in the direction away from the handle, there is an increase in the extent of the end of one projection to the next projection or a decrease in such height or a combination of both such as, for instance, the ends defining a reduced height at either side with at least one end defining an increased height between those ends.

At least some of the projections may have their elongate extent generally parallel to each other. Alternatively or additionally at least some of the projections may have their elongate extent at any angle to each other.

The elongate extent of at least some of the projections may be arranged to be altered when the cleaner is attached to the cleaning device such as from being parallel to being at an angle to each other.

The elongate extent of at least some of the projections may be at an angle of more than than 10° to each other or more than 45° or more than 90° or more than 120° or 150°, for instance.

The cleaner may be flexible in at least one direction and flexure may be arranged to occur when mounting the cleaner on the device.

The cleaner may be arranged to be attached to the device by manually holding the cleaner and another part of the device such as the handle and causing relative movement of those parts such as by pushing the parts towards each other.

The cleaner may be arranged to be mounted on the device such as by part of the device extending at least partially into the cleaner or by part of the cleaner extending in to part of the device.

The cleaner may be flexible in at least one direction and may be arranged to flex in use such as by at least some of the projections flexing about their elongate extent or by a part of the cleaner from which at least some of the projections extend flexing.

At least some of the projections may extend parallel to each other with at least three projections extending in the same plane.

The cleaner may include a cleaning flange extending outwardly in a direction transverse to the direction away from the handle which flange may extend around the device.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, a method of mounting a cleaner on a cleaning, device comprises flexing the cleaner when mounting the cleaner.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of mounting a cleaner on a device comprises connecting the cleaner at two spaced locations on the device with there being a space between the cleaner and the device between those locations into which the cleaner can flex during cleaning.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention a method of cleaning comprises manoeuvring a cleaning device by holding and moving a handle of the device to cause a plurality of, projections from the cleaner to effect the cleaning.

The method may comprise detaching the cleaner from the device after cleaning.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, a cleaning device includes a handle and a cleaner, at least a part of the cleaner being dissolvable in water and at least a part of the cleaner having disinfectant therein which, in use, when a part of the cleaner dissolves, the disinfectant is released.

The present invention also includes a method of cleaning by holding a handle and causing a cleaner attached to the handle to move over a surface to be cleaned, the method comprising causing at least part of the cleaner to dissolve upon contact of the cleaner with water whereby disinfectant contained within the material of the cleaner is caused to be released.

The method may comprise causing the disinfectant to be released as the handle is being held and an active cleaning action is being performed by moving the handle or after such active cleaning has finished, such as by the cleaner lying in water in a toilet bowl or both.

The cleaner may be detachable from the handle.

According to another aspect of the present invention a toilet cleaner is arranged, in use, to be detachably mounted on a cleaning device including a handle.

According to another aspect of the present invention a toilet cleaner includes water degradable plastics.

The plastics may include one or more polyolefins. The plastics may include a copolymer or a monomer or, both. The plastics may include polyvinylalcohol and or polypropylene. The polyolefin may comprise a polymer derived from polymerising one or more monomeric units having at least one olefinic bond. The polyolefin may be a homopolymer or a copolymer. Preferably the copolymer is derived by polymerising two or more monomeric units as defined herein.

The head comprises a water soluble plastic, preferably a water soluble synthetic polymer. The water soluble synthetic polymer may be a copolymer or homopolymer, especially a homopolymer. Preferably, the water soluble synthetic polymer is derived by polymerising one or more mono-olefinic monomeric units (ie an alkene having a single olefinic bond) substituted with one or more hydroxyl groups. Preferably the mono-olefinic monomeric units comprise a C₂-C₈ mono-alkene which may be linear or branched, substituted with one or more hydroxyl groups, even more preferably, the mono-olefinic monomeric unit is substituted with a single hydroxyl group. Suitable C₂-C₈ mono-alkenes include ethene, propene, but-1-ene, 2-methyl-propene, pent-1-ene, pent-2-ene, 3 methyl pent-1-ene, 4-methyl pent-1-ene, hex-1-ene, each of which as stated above include one or more, preferably only a single, hydroxyl group. Highly preferred mono-olefinic monomeric units are vinyl alcohol, 2-propen-1-ol 3-buten-1-ol and 3-buten-2-ol. An especially preferred mono-olefinic monomeric unit is vinyl alcohol such that the water soluble plastic comprises polyvinyl alcohol.

Preferably, the water soluble plastic includes a plasticiser and/or a filler. Typical plasticisers include glycerin and typical fillers include calcium carbonate. Suitably, the plasticiser is present in an amount of 5 to 15% by wt g the water soluble plastic. Suitably, the filler is present in an amount of 20 to 40% by wt g the water soluble plastic.

A highly preferred polyvinyl alcohol polymer is W63B which may be obtained from PVAXX Research and Development of Unit 4, Dovecote Workshops, Barnsley Park Estate, Cirencester, United Kingdom. GL7 5EG.

The cleaner may comprise solely plastics.

The cleaner may be integrally formed.

The cleaner may be injection moulded.

The cleaner may include a plurality of projections arranged, in use, to effect cleaning. The remote ends of at least some and preferably all of the projections may define a plane. The projections may extend from at least one side and preferably two sides of the cleaner which may, in use, be opposed sides of the cleaner. At least a first set of projections may define a plane along a common edge. That plane may include a first side edge of the cleaner. The cleaner may include a second set of projections which define a plane along a common edge which may comprise a second side edge. The first and second side edges may be opposed side edges. The first and second planes may face each other and may be substantially parallel.

At least some of the projections may be arranged in rows which may be parallel rows. There may be more rows in one direction than another.

At least some and preferably all of the projections may be parallel to each other. At least some and preferably all of the projections may have a length to their remote end, when compared to the average surface area along the extent of the projections of more than 2:1 or more than 3:1 or more than 4:1 or in the region of 5:1. At least some and preferably all of the projections comprise bristles.

The cleaner may include a first and second end being arranged such that, under water flow, the first end is arranged to lead with the second end trailing. The cleaner may have a greater length between the first and second ends than an extent transverse thereto. The cleaner may include a channel extending therethrough. The channel may be arranged to assist in the detachable mounting of the cleaner on the device. The channel may be substantially enclosed with an opening at either end. The opening at one end may be of less cross-sectional area than the opening at the other end. A smaller opening may be defined by a wall including an internal surface facing the other end. The opening which is of less cross-sectional area may be arranged to be the first or leading end.

The cleaner may include at least one and preferably two scrapers such as blades or fins. The or each scraper may be defined at the free edge of a flange. At least one side of at least one flange may also be arranged to effect a scraping action. At least one and preferably two scrapers may project from one end region of the scraper such as, in use, the distal end of the cleaner. At least one scraper may project from a front region of the cleaner and may extend in front of the cleaner. Alternatively or additionally at least one scraper may extend from a front region of the cleaner to the side of the cleaner.

The cleaner may be biodegradable.

At least some and preferably all of the projections may be flexible. The projections may be arranged to start off as rigid projections and may be arranged to become flexible projections during cleaning.

The cleaner may have been treated, for instance to soften the cleaner, prior to use such as heat treated or alternatively or additionally water treated such as by warm or hot water. The treatment may comprise softening one portion of the cleaner more than another portion such as softening at least one elongate projection or bristle more than at least one scraper.

The cleaner may comprise an integrally formed item such as a plastics item.

At least some projections may be self supporting, at least prior to use.

The cleaner may include or comprise injection moulded plastics which may include polypropylene or polyvinylalcohol or any combination including or comprising those materials.

The cleaner may be arranged to be mounted on a cleaning device and to be removed from the device by a pusher mounted on the device engaging an abutment on the device. The abutment may be of thicker plastics than other portions of the device such as projections such as elongate projections on the device. The abutment may comprise an end flange of the cleaner.

The present invention also includes a cleaner as herein referred to when mounted on a cleaning device as herein referred to.

The present invention also includes a method of cleaning when using a cleaner as herein referred to when mounted on a cleaning device as herein referred to.

The method may comprise causing projections to soften during cleaning whereby an initial harder cleaning effect precedes a softer cleaning effect. The method may comprise projections softening to a greater extent than at least one scraper during cleaning.

According to a further aspect of the present invention a method of discharging an elongate cleaner into a toilet comprises causing a leading end of the cleaner to enter the water first and then flushing the toilet to cause the leading end to be carried with the water out of the toilet.

The method may comprise causing a surface of the cleaner to be engaged by the water flow caused by the flushing to maintain the leading end at the front of the cleaner.

The method may comprise causing water to flow past a trailing end and through an opening which may comprise a closed opening in the region of the leading end. The method may comprise causing water to flow through a hollow portion of the cleaner.

The method may comprise discharging the cleaner from a cleaning device with a pusher mounted on the cleaning device pushing the cleaner off the device.

According to a further aspect of the present invention a method of cleaning a toilet comprises holding and moving a cleaning device with a scraper at an end region of the device effecting scraping of the toilet.

The method may comprise effecting scraping by pushing the device downwardly. The method may comprise cleaning a toilet with two scrapers, each of which are at the same end region of the device. The method may comprise effecting cleaning by scraping simultaneously with the two scrapers. The method may comprise effecting cleaning by scraping at two locations at an end region which are at an angle to each other such as generally perpendicular to each other.

The method may comprise cleaning with elongate projections such as bristles and such cleaning with the bristles may occur simultaneously with either a single scraping action taking place or with two scraping actions taking place at the same time.

The method may comprise detaching the cleaner as herein referred to.

The method may, comprise using a cleaning device as herein described.

The present invention includes any combination of the herein referred to features or limitations.

The present invention may be carried into practice in various ways but two embodiments will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sanitary cleaning device;

FIG. 2 is a close up sectional view of the end of a holder 10;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternatively shaped cleaning pad 12;

FIG. 4 is a view of the holder in a position in which a pad has been ejected;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the lower end region of the holder 10;

FIGS. 6 to 10 are views of alternative cleaning heads 212, 312, 412, 512 and 612 respectively;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are end views of modifications that can be made to the heads shown in FIGS. 6 to 10;

FIGS. 13 and 14 are perspective views showing, respectively, the head 212 mounted on and being detached from the holder 210;

FIGS. 15 and 16 are perspective views showing a modified cleaner 712 mounted on and being detached from the holder 310;

FIG. 17 is a side view of the cleaner 712;

FIGS. 18 and 19 are an end view of a modified cleaner 812 and an end view of the cleaner 812 mounted on a holder 410;

FIGS. 20 and 21 are perspective views of a cleaner 912 prior to mounting and the cleaner 912 about to be mounted on a holder 510;

FIG. 22 and 23 are side views showing modifications that can be made to the cleaner 912;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of an alternative head 1012;

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of a holder 1010 for the head 1012, and

FIG. 26 is a sectional view along the line 26-26 of FIG. 25.

In order to load the cleaning device up with a pad 12 or 14 a user grips a handle 16 of the holder and pushes the end region 18 of the holder 10 into an opening 20 formed in the pad. To assist in maintaining the pad 14 on the holder, the end region includes projecting pimples 22 comprising semi-spheres. These projections push apart the opening 20 on insertion into the pad and the pad deforms around them to retain the pad firmly on the handle.

The device is now ready to clean. Any surface requiring sanitising can be cleaned. For instance, a urinal or a sanitary bowl can be cleaned. The head can be impregnated with disinfectant, for instance by being immersed in disinfectant or by the pad having disinfectant dispersed within it.

A vigorous cleaning action can be performed with the pad 14, by virtue of its bulbous head, being able to reach up around the lip of a toilet bowl and moved around the bowl, for instance. Furthermore, the action can be firm as the pad 14 is firmly retained on the device.

FIG. 3 shows an alternative shaped pad 12 which is oval in cross-section rather than circular as is the case with the other pad 14.

After cleaning the soiled pad 12 or 14 has to be removed from the handle. Usually this is effected with the pad being caused to drop into the water of the toilet. The pad then can be flushed away either straight away or after a short time when the water has broken the pad up. In this,respect, the pad is soluble and may comprise a wad of paper or any suitable material, including plastics. The pad may be solid. The pad may be integrally formed.

The holder 10 includes a hollow ejector 24 that is normally retained adjacent to the handle 16. As seen in FIG. 5, the holder 10 is generally of an I-shape with rounded outer U sides 26 being connected by concave sections 28. The majority of the cross-section of the hollow ejector 24 corresponds to the section of the holder such that the ejector can slide up and down the holder 10 without rotating. The ejector may be mounted on the holder by sliding the ejector onto the holder from the handle end and subsequently pushing and securing the handle in place. In order to eject the pad 14, the handle is gripped by one hand and the other slides the ejector down to the position shown in FIG. 4. This knocks or pushes the pad off.

The end of the ejector that faces the pad has a hollow recess (not shown) extending a short way up into the ejector to allow the end of the ejector to move past a stop 30 on the handle and to achieve satisfactory removal of the pad. That recess may allow the ejector to extend over the end of the holder, prior to, or when the stop is engaged, when ejecting a pad. The stop 30 (which is present on both sides of the handle) is abutted by a face of the hollow ejector that is at right angles to the direction of movement of the ejector on the handle to limit the movement of the ejector.

Once a pad has been ejected, the ejector can be slid back up towards the handle 16. The upper end of the hollow of the ejector has two projections (not shown) on each side. These projections do not fill the concave portions 26 but they do extend slightly towards the concave portions. However, when they meet a cross wall 32 that provides a break in the I-section on both sides, the projections deform or flex slightly such that they pass that wall 32 and rest in concave recesses 36 on either side of the holder, adjacent to the handle. Thus the ejector is retained in the position shown in FIG. 1. Activation of the ejector is achieved by pulling the ejector away from the handle to bend or deform the projection past the wall 32.

The handle, holder and ejector may be formed from plastics such as injection moulded plastics and each of these components may be relatively strong. The handle and holder may be integral.

If desired, the holder could be stored with its lower portion in disinfectant. Alternatively or additionally, the handle could be arranged to take pads from a stack or store of such pads. The pads could contain disinfectant. Alternatively or additionally, the pads, when mounted on the device, could be dipped in disinfectant prior to use.

In an alternative embodiment, the pad or any pad or cleaner disclosed could include some plastics or comprise completely or mostly plastics. The pad may be partly or completely injection moulded. The pad may be biodegradable. The pad or any pad or cleaner herein may be integrally formed. This pad, or indeed any other pad; may include disinfectant in the material of the pad. This may assist in disinfecting the toilet either during cleaning, as the pad dissolves slightly, or after ejection of the pad into the bowl or both.

When the pad includes plastics material, the pad may be attached and detached from the wand as described previously. The pad may include bristles projecting therefrom with the body of the pad being 3″ long and 1″ in thickness or diameter. The bristles may project from the pad with there being 5 or 6 rows each having 15 bristles, for instance. The plastics may comprise polypropylene or a water based soluble plastics. The bristles may be integral with the body. At least some of the bristles may be circular or non circular in cross-section along at least part of their length. For instance the cross-section may be thicker in one direction than a transverse direction with the shape being generally rectangular or in the shape of a tape, for instance. This may assist in the cleaning action on the speed that the pad dissolves or both.

The cleaners shown in FIGS. 6 to 10 each have rows of projections 34 extending parallel to each other. The projections 34 are integral with and extend from a tubular housing 36 that may have the oval shape shown in FIG. 12 or the lozenge shape shown in FIG. 11. The tubular housings may be closed at one end to restrict the extent that they can be mounted on the holder or open. The projections and housings are integrally formed by injection moulding water soluble plastic, as may any of the other cleaners herein described.

In each of FIGS. 6 to 10 the projections are arranged in rows of five across and columns of eight along. In each embodiment, the height of each row may be the same, as shown by the line 38 or may increase from each side towards the middle, as shown by the line 40.

In FIG. 6 the height of the column increases linearly from the proximal point to the distal point as shown by the line 42. In FIG. 7 that height rises in decreasing increments as shown by the line 44. In FIG. 8 the initial rise is greater initially and finally than in the middle portion as shown by line 46. In FIG. 9 there is no increase as shown by the line 48 and in FIG. 10 the height rises and falls as shown by the sinusoidal line 50.

Each of the cleaners is arranged to be hand held in order to apply the cleaner to the holder 210. An integrally formed flange 52.may assist when cleaning. Ejection, as shown in FIG. 14, is as previously described.

In the arrangement shown in FIGS. 15, 16 and 17, the cleaner 712 includes a flange 752 that projects in the opposite direction to the projections 734 which flange 752 limits the extent that the cleaner can be pushed into the holder and serves as a wipe of the surface to be cleaned. The projections 734 have rows of equal height with the columns increasing linearly in height towards the proximal end. The holder 310 includes a C-shaped channel 728 into which the complementary shaped cleaner slides. Ejection is as previously described.

In FIGS. 18 and 19, the cleaner 812 (as may the other cleaners be) is flexible and starts off with the rows and columns parallel to each other. The sides of the cleaner 812 include beaded edges 54 which can be bent round and slid along correspondingly shaped channels 56 formed along the end of the round cross-section holder 410. The result is that the projections in each column remain parallel with the rows being angled relative to each other such as radially with respect to the axis of this holder.

The same effect of the projections going from being parallel to angled occurs when connecting the cleaner 912 to the holder 512 shown in FIGS. 20 to 23. In this embodiment the cleaner includes a C-shaped recess 928 and the cleaner includes upwardly and outwardly extending side rims 60 that, when the cleaner is flexed and slid into the holder, are retained by the ends of the C-shape. Retention of the cleaner is assisted by the bias exerted due to the resilient stress induced in the cleaner when flexing. Cleaning is assisted as the projections can not only flex about their length during cleaning (as may any of the other projections referred to herein) but may also have their base from which they extend flex towards the middle of the C or at an angle thereto.

FIG. 22 shows the projections all being at the same height. FIG. 23 shows each row being of the same height but the column having varying height.

In the arrangement shown in FIGS. 24 to 26 the cleaner 1012 is made from injection moulded biodegradable plastics. When the holder is discharged from the holder after cleaning, as previously described, the cleaner 1012 may dissolve or degrade in the bowl or may be flushed away to fully biodegrade perhaps some hours later in the sewage system. Either way, as with all embodiments, the toilet bowl may be free from residue.

The cleaner 1012 is hollow having an open end and interior of generally the cross-section shown in FIG. 26. The cleaner, can be hand mounted or the end region 1018 can be pushed into a cleaner held, for instance in a cassette. The region 1018 includes elongate parallel fins 1022 extending from the outer surface. The interior of the cleaner 1012 slides over these fins to retain the cleaner on the holder. As there is only a limited surface area contact between the holder and the cleaner less force is required to push the cleaner off the holder.

During a cleaning operation, the handle is manoeuvred as previously described with the bristles effecting a large part of the cleaning. In addition, the cleaner includes two scrapers 1052 and 1053. These primarily scrape at their remote free edge. However, it is possible that their side edges may also achieve some cleaning effect by scraping. The bristles (or any bristles as herein referred to) may be flexible to start with or may change from being rigid to being flexible during cleaning.

The laterally extending scraper 1053 will primarily scrape the sides of the bowl, including the sides beneath the water level. The scraper 1052 will scrape the bottom of the toilet, beneath the water level. This is a region that requires a vigorous cleaning action and a user is able to push down in a mechanically advantageous way with the force being transmitted primarily or solely along the axis of the holder. Consequently as there are minimum bending forces on the holder a greater force can be applied without risk of damage to the holder. At the same time that the scraper 1052 is acting on the, base region of the bowl the lateral scraper 1053 may effect a scraping action and, alternatively or additionally the bristles 1034 may effect a cleaning action. The sides of the scrapers may also effect a cleaning action.

Opposed sides of the outer rows of bristles define planes which are parallel and coincident with the opposed sides. This allows cleaning to be effected in right angled corners of a toilet. The bristles are 15 mm long and 2 mm in diameter.

Removal of the cleaner from the holder is as previously described. However, the region of the holder that the ejector will hit includes a rim 1080 projecting around the periphery. Consequently, should the cleaning continue for some time and should there be some softening of the cleaner, the rim will maintain sufficient integrity to enable ejection to occur. Indeed it may be advantageous for some softening of the bristles to occur during cleaning to enable different cleaning effects to take place with a vigorous brush and scrape initially taking place and with a subsequent soft sweep or wipe of the bristles.

Upon ejection of the cleaner 1012 it can be seen that the scraper 1052 will lead the cleaner in its fall into the water. The cleaner, as already mentioned is hollow. The end of the cleaner adjacent to the fins includes a small opening 1082. Initially this opening 1052 assists in the cleaner sinking or being semi submerged. However, if the cleaner has not completely dissolved in the bowl (which in this instance it is not intended to) upon flushing the toilet the water will flow through the hollow cleaner and out through the narrow opening 1082. As the water bears against the internal end face of the cleaner that defines the opening and pushes through the opening 1082 the cleaner will be aligned to flow, with the fin 1052 leading, around the U-bend and into the sewer.

The cleaner 1012 or any of the pads or cleaners herein referred to may have any of the following features such as subsequently being fully biodegraded, perhaps over a period of a few hours. Any of the pads or cleaners may comprise a monomer or a copolymer or both. The cleaner may for instance comprise polypropylene or polyvinylalcohol or a mixture thereof. An additive which may comprise polyvinylalcohol may be included to assist in the degradation of such material and the additive may be in any proportion such as less than 50 or 30 or 20 or 10 or 5 or in the region of 3% by weight of the cleaner. The additive may also prevent the cleaner from being too rigid or brittle. A highly preferred polyvinyl alcohol polymer is W63B which may be obtained from PVAXX Research and Development of Unit 4, Dovecote Workshops, Barnsley Park Estate, Cirencester, United Kingdom. GL7 5EG. The cleaner may be treated before use or sale. For instance the cleaner may be hot treated such as by being in contact such as by immersion in water. Alternatively the cleaner may be liquid or cold treated or both such as by being in contact for example by immersion in water. These treatments may be to soften the cleaner or to make the cleaner more pliable. The cleaner, possibly as a result of these treatments, may retain the scrapers relatively rigid and may make the bristles relatively soft.

Aroma such as air freshener may be included in the plastics such that this aroma is given off during cleaning, possibly as degradation of the cleaner commences. Alternatively or additionally detergent may be provided with or in the material of the cleaner with that detergent being arranged to be given out during cleaning. Cleaners having detergent or different properties from other cleaners may be coded such as colour coded.

The holder and or the head may be of any material such as of polypropylene. Alternatively or additionally the handle may be of the same or a different material from the holder or the ejector.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the holder is curved such as about an arc. Where an ejector is included in such an arrangement, the, ejector may have an arcuate opening enabling sliding of the ejector along the holder. In a further embodiment (not shown) the holder may be flexible along at least part of its length. In a further arrangement (not shown) the distal end of the holder in the region where the cleaner is located, may be able to have its orientation relative to the handle altered such by moving between, at least two positions such as by pivotal movement. That movement may be effected by actuation of a device in the region of the handle or by pressure exerted on the cleaner. The orientation may be able to return or move to a position in which ejection may take place. This arrangement may assist in reaching the most inaccessible parts of a toilet.

The device may be adjustable in length. This may allow the device to be used in different applications or, alternatively or additionally, to be stored in a short configuration and then to be extended when in use, such as to one or more than one effective length. The device may be able to be retained in an effective length or lengths such as by being releasably retained. The device may include a telescopic arrangement.

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A toilet cleaner including water degradable plastics.

2. A cleaner as claimed in claim 1 in which the plastics include polyolefin.

3. A cleaner as claimed in claim 1 which is integrally formed.

4. A cleaner as claimed in claim 1 which is injection moulded.

5. A cleaner as claimed in claim 1 in which the cleaner includes a plurality of projections arranged, in use, to effect cleaning.

6. A cleaner as claimed in claim 5 in which the remote ends of at least some of the projections define a plane.

7. A cleaner as claimed in claim 5 in which the projections extend from at least one side of the cleaner.

8. A cleaner as claimed in claim 7 in which at least a first set of projections define a plane along a common edge.

9. A cleaner as claimed in claim 8 in which that plane includes a first side edge of the cleaner.

10. A cleaner as claimed in claim 5 in which at least some of the projections have a length to the remote end when compared to the average surface area along the extend of the projection of more than 2:1.

11. A device as claimed in claim 5 in which the projections comprise bristles.

12. A cleaner as claimed in claim 1 in which the cleaner includes a first and a second end being arranged such that, under water flow, the first end is arranged to lead with the second end trailing.

13. A cleaner as claimed in claim 12 in which the cleaner includes a channel extending therethrough.

14. A cleaner as claimed in claim 13 in which the cleaner includes a channel extending therethrough.

15. A cleaner as claimed in claim 13 in which the channel is substantially enclosed with an opening at either end.

16. A cleaner as claimed in claim 15 in which the opening at the first end is of less cross-sectional area than the opening at the second end.

17. A cleaner as claimed in claim 1 in which the cleaner includes at least one scraper.

18. A cleaner as claimed in claim 17 in which the cleaner includes two scrapers.

19. A cleaner as claimed in claim 17 in which one scraper is arranged to project from the front region, in front of the cleaner.

20. A cleaner as claimed in claim 17 in which at least one scraper extends from the front region to the side of the cleaner.

21. A cleaner as claimed in claim 1 in which the cleaner has been treated to soften the cleaner prior to use.

22. A cleaner as claimed in claim 21 in which the cleaner has been treated to soften one portion of the cleaner more than another portion.

23. A cleaner as claimed in claim 1 arranged, in use, to be detachably mounted on a cleaning device including a handle.

24. A cleaning device including a handle and means to engage a cleaner as claimed in claim 1 and a pusher mounted on the device arranged, in use, to push the cleaner engaged by the device off the device.

25. A device as claimed in claim 23 in which the guide constrains the pusher to move relative thereto in generally one direction only.

26. A device as claimed in claim 24 in which the guide includes a stop arranged to restrict the extent of movement of the pusher in the direction towards where a cleaner is arranged to be engaged.

27. A device as claimed in claim 26 in which the pusher includes a portion arranged to extend beyond the stop when the pusher engages the stop.

28. A device as claimed in claim 24 in which the pusher is normally retained on the device and spaced from where a cleaner is arranged to be engaged by the device.

29. A device as claimed in claim 28 in which the pusher is in contact with the handle.

30. A method of cleaning a toilet comprising cleaning the toilet with a plastics cleaner and causing the cleaner to degrade in water.

31. (canceled)

32. (canceled)

33. A method as claimed in claim 30 comprising cleaning the toilet with a scraper.

34. A method as claimed in claim 33 comprising cleaning the toilet by pushing the scraper down.

35. A method as claimed in claim 33 comprising cleaning the toilet with two scrapers.

36. A method as claimed in claim 35 comprising cleaning the toilet with two scrapers simultaneously.

37. A method as claimed in claim 30 comprising effecting cleaning of a toilet and then ejecting the cleaner into the toilet bowl.

38. A method as claimed in claim 37 comprising pushing the cleaner off the device to cause a leading end of the cleaner to enter the water first and then flushing the toilet to cause the leading end to be carried with the water out of the toilet.

39. A method as claimed in claim 38 comprising causing water to flow past a trailing end and through an opening in the region of the leading end.

40. A method as claimed in claim 39 comprising causing water to flow through a hollow portion of the cleaner.