Product carrier containing a cleaning product for the routine cleaning of a toilet

Abstract

Product carrier (15) with a cleaning product (10) for the maintenance cleaning of a toilet, wherein the cleaning product (10) comprises a cleaning agent (11) in a container (12) and wherein a hanging device (16) is provided for attaching the cleaning product (10) to the rim of the toilet bowl and wherein the product carrier (15) is made of flat cellulose-containing fiber material and serves to present the cleaning product (10) and / or to protect it against theft, characterized in that the hanging device (16) is made of cellulose-containing material and is part of the product carrier (15) and is detachable from the product carrier (15).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a product carrier with a cleaning product for the maintenance cleaning of a toilet, which is environmentally friendly and easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

[0002] Cleaning products for routine toilet cleaning are often offered as so-called "rim blocks," which come in basket- or cage-like containers, the toilet baskets, that are attached to the rim of the toilet with a hook-shaped hanging device. The toilet baskets and the hanging devices are generally made of plastic.

[0003] The containers have inlet and outlet openings for the flushing water. The cleaning agent inside the container is washed over by the flushing water with each flush. This process dissolves a small amount of the cleaning agent with each flush, releasing surfactants, fragrances, etc., thus achieving the desired cleaning of the toilet bowl and sump, as well as the desired fragrance.

[0004] Containers with cleaning agents that are attached to the rim of the toilet bowl by means of a hanging device are known, for example, in WO 2010 / 037 997 A1, JP 2007-113187 A, DE 89 06 140 U1 or DE 10 2004 013 896 A1.

[0005] WO 97 / 17571 teaches a cleaning tablet dispenser comprising a device for holding the tablet in place when flushed with water, for example on the rim of a toilet bowl, wherein the holding device also includes means for covering and protecting the tablet against external influences in order to prevent impairment or destruction of the tablet before use. A plastic film is used for this purpose.

[0006] Environmentally friendly cleaning products stored in a container with openings made of cellulose-containing fiber material and characterized by improved foam formation are known from DE 10 2022 107 826 A1 of the applicant.

[0007] Toilet baskets with hanging devices, filled with Rimblocks, are often sold in blister packs made of thin plastic film that encloses the product. The back of the product is usually sealed with a cardboard backing, which generally displays the product name, brand, ingredients, and warnings.

[0008] Furthermore, it is now also common practice to offer the product attached to a product carrier, usually a cardboard box or heavier paper, but without blister packaging, in order to avoid plastics. To prevent the fragrances contained in the cleaning agents from evaporating before use by the consumer, the Rimblocks attached to such a simple product carrier in toilet baskets are usually wrapped in a water-soluble, essentially gas-tight film that is environmentally friendly and dissolves when flushed with water.

[0009] Such product carriers or blister packs serve to provide a clearly visible product presentation, protect the product, and at the same time represent a space-saving and effective sales tool as well as theft protection.

[0010] The object of the present invention is to further improve the environmental friendliness of product carriers with cleaning products for maintenance cleaning and to provide a simple and cost-effective manufacturing process.

[0011] This problem is solved by the features of claims 1 and 10.

[0012] According to the invention, both the product carrier for the cleaning product and the hanging device for attaching the cleaning product to the edge of the toilet bowl are made of flat cellulose-containing fiber material, and the hanging device is part of the product carrier and can be separated from it.

[0013] Because the hanging device is integrated into the product carrier and can be detached from it, packaging is further reduced. Furthermore, since the hanging device is part of the product carrier, it is no longer necessary to attach it to the carrier with additional fasteners.

[0014] Since the hanging device is also made of flat cellulose-containing fiber material, it can be added to waste paper and thus recycled after the container has been completely emptied.

[0015] Another advantage is that the hanging device can be produced in a simple and cost-effective way at the same time as the product packaging is stamped from a cellulose-containing flat material, which is extremely cost-effective and environmentally friendly.

[0016] Preferably, perforations, grooves, or die-cuts are incorporated into the product carrier. Since the hanging device is preferably strip-shaped, the product carrier preferably has longitudinal perforations along the edge of the hanging device, so that the hanging device can be easily separated from the product carrier. This can preferably be done by simply folding back the two areas of the carrier card adjoining the hanging device on the right and left.

[0017] In addition, the product carrier or only the area of ​​the hanging device in the product carrier may have grooves or punchings which preferably extend perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and facilitate easy folding of the hanging device around the edge of the toilet bowl or folding of the product carrier.

[0018] At the upper end of the hanging device, an opening, preferably a Euro opening, can be provided for hanging the product packaging on a hook in the sales area; alternatively, the upper end of the hanging device can also be perforated in the product carrier, or the upper end of the hanging device can coincide with the upper end of the product carrier.

[0019] At the top of the hanging device, a double-sided adhesive strip or hook-and-loop fastener can preferably be attached for sticking or attaching the hanging device to the rim of the toilet bowl, or a hole through which the hanging device can be attached to a pin or hook fixed to the outside of the toilet bowl. If a hook-and-loop fastener is attached to the outside of the toilet, the hanging device, which also has a hook-and-loop fastener attached to it, can be easily replaced. Magnetic attachment is also possible.

[0020] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the product carrier and container are cut or punched in one piece from a flat cellulose-containing fiber material, i.e., the product carrier, hanging device, and container are all made from the same flat cellulose-containing fiber material, which further simplifies the manufacturing process.

[0021] The product carrier with integrated hanging device and the container blank are die-cut from the flat material in one piece. Openings for the inlet and outlet of the rinsing water are also die-cut into the outer shape of the container, and creases and embossings are added as folding edges. Perforations for removing the hanging device and die-cuts / creases as folding edges are also added to the product carrier.

[0022] The three-dimensional container / toilet basket is then folded from the die-cut flat material and, if necessary, assembled by slotting or gluing. With the lid open, the cleaning agent is poured in, and then the lid is closed. The cleaning agent, which may be covered with a gas-tight, water-soluble film, is contained within a product package that also serves as a toilet basket. The folded toilet basket transitions into the hanging device integrated into the product carrier, as the product packaging, hanging device, and container are all die-cut together from a single piece of flat material in one process. With this design, no additional connection between the container and hanging device is required, since everything is integrated as one piece. This reduces production costs.

[0023] This means that the container, hanging device and product carrier are all made from the same flat, cellulose-containing fiber material and, since they are die-cut parts, can be disposed of as one item in waste paper.

[0024] In a further preferred embodiment, the product carrier with the integrated hanging device and the container filled with cleaning agent, which should preferably be made of flat cellulose-containing fiber material, are manufactured separately from each other and then joined together, for example by gluing, stapling, clamping, pressing, punching and subsequent joining, or, so that the hanging device with the container connected to it can still be separated from the product carrier.

[0025] Although this variant requires connecting the hanging device integrated into the product carrier to the container of the cleaning product, it allows for the use of different fiber materials or papers for the product carrier with hanging device and the container. For example, a paper that is particularly resistant to the cleaning solution and the rinse water can be used for the container, which is frequently rinsed with water and exposed to the cleaning agent solution, while a more cost-effective paper can be used for the fiber material of the product carrier and the hanging device.

[0026] Another advantage is that because the product carrier card with integrated hanging device and the cutout for the container are die-cut separately, less waste is generated during production.

[0027] Another advantage of this variant is that, because the hanging device and container are not made from a single piece, a separating layer can be provided between the container and the hanging device, reducing capillary effects in the hanging device and preventing blooming or swelling on the hanging device.

[0028] It is particularly preferred to bond the hanging device integrated into the product carrier to the separately manufactured container with cleaning agent using an adhesive, so that the adhesive acts both for bonding and simultaneously as a separating layer. Preferably, a non-water-soluble, environmentally friendly adhesive, adhesive tape, or hot melt adhesive is used for this purpose. To reduce capillary effects, several adhesive layers can also be separated from each other by […]. [JG1]Spraying, dipping, or brushing can be done separately, one on top of the other. Preferably, the separating layer is made of a biodegradable material.

[0029] However, the separating layer can also be a plastic insert, a layer of lacquer, or another fibrous material.

[0030] The hanging device integrated into the product carrier and the paper or cardboard strip serving as a hanging device are preferably between 0.5 and 5.0 cm wide, preferably between 1.0 and 4.0 cm wide, and in particular between 1.5 and 3.0 cm wide.

[0031] Ideally, the product holder should be at least 10.0 cm, preferably 13.0 cm, long when folded around the rim of the toilet bowl. Alternatively, a version with a product holder at least 3.0 cm long, and preferably at least 5.0 cm, is also possible. In this version, the hanging device is attached to the inside of the toilet bowl rim.

[0032] However, the size specifications also depend on the thickness of the fiber material and the size and weight of the cleaning agent.

[0033] For this reason, a preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the product carrier has at least one groove or die-cut extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the product carrier, so that the upper part of the product packaging can be folded downwards to reduce the overall height of the product. This folding downwards can be in the direction of the front or the back of the product. The result is a product package that tapers upwards in a roof-like or triangular shape.

[0034] In another variant, the product carrier has two grooves, so that the product packaging has a folded, downward-opening U-shape.

[0035] These variations also offer advantages because the folded-down portion of the product carrier makes the packaging more stable and provides better protection for both the cleaning agent inside and the container itself, especially when the folded-down section of the product carrier is folded towards the front of the product. Particularly good protection and stability are achieved when the folded-down portion of the product carrier extends beyond the front of the container.

[0036] If desired, the folded-down shape of the product carrier can be further stabilized using adhesive dots.

[0037] The product packaging with the integrated hanging device is made of cellulose-containing fiber material such as paper or cardboard. According to DIN 6730, paper is defined as a fiber material with a basis weight of 7 g / m². 2 up to 225 g / m² 2and under cardboard a fibrous material with a mass per unit area of ​​more than 225 g / m² 2 to understand.

[0038] Both fibrous and nonwoven fabrics can be used. The fiber material can comprise virgin fibers and / or recycled fibers. Synthetic fibers such as viscose can also be added to the fiber material. In principle, "trendy papers" such as grass or hemp papers can also be used within the scope of the present invention.

[0039] Not only the product packaging with its integrated hanging device, but also the containers themselves are preferably made of cellulose-containing fiber material, especially paper or cardboard. Remarkably, they retain the necessary stability even after repeated rinsing with water; although they absorb water during rinsing, it subsequently evaporates. Even the containers filled with toilet cleaner, made of flat, cellulose-containing fiber material, retain their stability; they do not tear or decompose, despite being continuously exposed to not only moisture but also the surfactant solution during rinsing.

[0040] Tests conducted at the applicant's premises demonstrate that paper containers filled with cleaning agents (mass 50 g) retain their stability, look appealing, and do not dissolve or decompose even after 250 washes.

[0041] Cleaning agents can therefore not only be stored in containers made of cellulose-containing fiber material, but can also be repeatedly rinsed with water in these containers and thus used for routine cleaning.

[0042] In principle, the hanging device integrated into the product packaging can of course also be attached to conventional, preferably reusable, toilet baskets that are not made of cellulose-containing fiber material, thus saving packaging material.

[0043] Because the container is preferably made of a cellulose-containing fiber material such as paper or cardboard, the emptied container can be placed in the waste paper bin and, in particular, recycled as waste paper. This avoids disposal in the general waste, as with previously known plastic baskets or baskets made of polypropylene, or the complex and insufficient recycling of mixed materials placed in the yellow recycling bin. Furthermore, the fibers of such a paper basket can be recycled up to eight times.

[0044] For paper or cardboard to be recycled as waste paper, it may contain a maximum of 5% foreign materials. However, if the foreign material consists of non-recyclable plastic fibers, these fibers (such as the transparent windows of envelopes) must be separated from the waste paper and disposed of separately.

[0045] To further increase the environmental friendliness of the paper or cardboard container, a sheet-like cellulose-containing fiber material without plastic fibers is preferably used. Preferably, the sheet-like cellulose-containing fiber material is at least 95%, preferably at least 98%, and particularly preferably 100% recyclable and / or at least partially made from recycled sheet-like cellulose-containing fiber materials, especially paper or cardboard.

[0046] The cellulose-containing fiber material should exhibit a certain degree of dimensional stability and resistance to mechanical stress during storage, transport, and use. Furthermore, the sheet-like cellulose-containing fiber material must possess a certain resistance to external influences such as moisture or chemicals.

[0047] Paper or cardboard with a basis weight between 80 g / m² is preferably used as the fiber material. 2 and 600 g / m² 2and preferably between 200 g / m² 2 and 400 g / m² 2 and especially preferably between 250 g / m² 2 and 350 g / m² 2 used.

[0048] Another advantage of the flat, cellulose-containing fiber material used, such as paper or cardboard, is that it can be easily printed, varnished or coated, preferably using environmentally friendly materials such as water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol (PVAL) film, polysaccharides, gelatin, cellulose derivatives such as hydroxyethyl, methyl and propyl cellulose, maltodextrins, etc.

[0049] Furthermore, the flat cellulose-containing fiber material can be printed with suitable dyes, depending on the requirements.

[0050] The cleaning agent stored in the container should be an environmentally friendly product, in particular a product certified in terms of ecological compatibility, such as an EcoCert toilet block.

[0051] The container can have any shape suitable for holding a cleaning agent, e.g., cuboid, tub-shaped, bowl-shaped, shell-shaped, pyramid-shaped, or in cross-section pentagonal or hexagonal. Furthermore, the container can have walls on all sides, or one or more sides can be open.

[0052] The container can be manufactured from the cellulose-containing fiber material in different ways.

[0053] Firstly, the desired shape can be die-cut from a flat, cellulose-containing fiber material such as a sheet of paper or cardboard, possibly in conjunction with the product carrier. Optionally, perforations, creases, or die-cuts can be added, and the die-cut flat material is then folded into a basket, preferably by creasing along the designated creases. Alternatively, the container, again possibly in conjunction with the product carrier, can be produced from a flat material using thermoforming. As a further alternative, the container or individual parts of the container can also be manufactured using paper fiber casting.

[0054] The invention is described in more detail below using exemplary embodiments. It shows: Fig. 1: a) a product carrier 15 with integrated hanging device 16 with a cleaning product 10 according to a first preferred embodiment, b) those from the product carrier 15 Fig. 1a) Detached hanging device 16 with the cleaning product 10, c) the hanging device 16 attached to the rim of a toilet bowl 40 with cleaning product 10 made of Fig. 1b), d) the die-cut blank of the cellulose-containing flat fiber material for the production of the product carrier from Fig. 1a), Fig. 2: two variants a) and b) similar to the variant from Fig. 1 with product carrier partially folded downwards, Fig. 3: a second preferred variant with a container filled with cleaning agent subsequently attached to the product carrier with integrated hanging device.

[0055] Fig. Figure 1a shows a rectangular flat product carrier 15 made of strong paper, which transitions at its lower end into a container 12 containing a lump-shaped cleaning agent 11.

[0056] The product carrier 15 has two perforation lines 21 running parallel to its longitudinally L extending edges, which at their upper end transition into an opening 22 such as a Euro slot, which serves to hang the product carrier at the customer's premises.

[0057] The perforation lines 21 serve to enable the removal of the hanging device 16 integrated into the product carrier 15, for example by "folding backwards" the two areas of the product carrier 15 located to the right and left of the hanging device 16. The two backward-folded areas made of Fig. 1a) are missing.

[0058] The cleaning product 10, attached to the rim of the toilet bowl 40 with the hanging device 16, is in Fig. 1c) shown. The hanging device 16 can be attached with its side facing the toilet bowl by means of an adhesive strip, but also by attaching an opening in the hanging device to a hook on the outside of the bowl, a Velcro strip or a magnet or similar.

[0059] The product carrier 15 and the container 12, which is folded from a flat material blank, optionally glued, and filled with the cleaning agent 11, are, in this preferred embodiment, die-cut in one piece from a cellulose-containing flat material blank, in particular from cardboard or paper. The flat material blank for this purpose is in Fig. 1d) shown. In the area of ​​the cutout for the container, several openings 23 are provided in the walls of the container 12 for the entry of the rinsing water and the exit of the cleaning agent solution.

[0060] To allow the die-cut blank for the container to be folded into a cuboid basket, grooves or fold lines 18 are embossed. To ensure that the container 10 retains its shape, insertion tabs 35 are also provided, which, when folded, are inserted into corresponding notches 36. The insertion tabs 35 may also have an undercut 37 to prevent the insertion tab 35 from slipping out.

[0061] The hanging device 16 preferably has several grooves 20, in particular between 8 and 14, in particular 11 grooves 20, which extend parallel to the upper edge 17 of the product carrier 15 which runs perpendicular to the longitudinal edge L and serve to simplify the folding of the hanging device 16 around the edge of the toilet bowl and to avoid damage to the hanging device 16.

[0062] As from Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1, the entire flat product carrier 15, into which the hanging device 16 is integrated along its entire length, and thus the entire sales packaging, is relatively tall and not very stable. For this reason, another preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the rectangular flat product carrier 15 is made of Fig. 1. One or more grooves / embossings 28 are provided parallel to the short upper edge 17 of the product carrier 15 in order to be able to fold the area of ​​the carrier card 15 located above the groove / embossing 28 downwards towards the front of the container 12 or towards the back of the container 12. Fig. Figures 2 a) and b) show a product carrier 15 folded towards the front of the container 12. Fig. 2 a) shows a product carrier that has been bent down once, forming a kind of roof and having a triangular shape. Fig. Figure 2 b) shows a product carrier 15 with a double-folded hanging device 16, which has a U-shaped, downward-open form. This reduces the overall height of the sales packaging and makes the entire packaging more stable. Depending on the size of the downward-folded area 29, it can even cover the visible side of the container 12. If further stability is required, the shape of the folded product carrier can be additionally fixed to the container 12, for example, by an adhesive dot or a tuck-in tab.

[0063] The scoring / embossing 20 in the hanging device 16 should correspond to the scoring / embossing 28 of the folding edge in the product carrier 15.

[0064] In the second preferred variant, which is in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the product carrier 15 with the integrated hanging device 16 Fig. 3a) and the container 12 containing the cleaning agent 11 ( Fig. 3b), manufactured separately and then the filled container 12 is connected to the hanging device 16 integrated into the product carrier 15, for example by gluing, folding, stapling with or without drilling, tacking or sewing. Preferably, the hanging device has a downwardly projecting tab 19 at its lower end for attaching the container 12 by gluing, stapling, etc. By way of example, in Fig. 3a) an adhesive point 42 is shown, which serves for bonding to the container ( Fig. 3c). Alternatively, the tab 19 can also be inserted into an opening in the container 12 and folded or glued.

[0065] Furthermore, the closed container 12 can also have a connecting bridge 25 (cf. Fig.3d) which, together with the container 12, may be die-cut from a single sheet. The connecting web 25 is then connected to the hanging device 16 integrated into the product carrier 15, as previously described. The width of the connecting web 25 can vary and may also extend across the entire width of the container.

[0066] This variant with the separate production of product carrier 15 and container 12 also makes it possible to prevent unwanted ascent of the cleaning agent solution into the hanging device 16 by capillary action and swelling, because the lower end of the hanging device 16 and / or the part of the container 12 connected to the hanging device 16 can be provided with a separating layer or barrier layer that prevents the cleaning agent solution from passing into the hanging device 16.

Claims

[1] Product carrier (15) with a cleaning product (10) for the routine cleaning of a toilet, wherein the cleaning product (10) comprises a cleaning agent (11) in a container (12) and wherein a hanging device (16) is provided for attaching the cleaning product (10) to the rim of the toilet bowl and wherein the product carrier (15) is made of flat cellulose-containing fiber material and serves to present the cleaning product (10) and / or to protect it against theft, characterized by , that the hanging device (16) is made of cellulose-containing material and is part of the product carrier (15) and can be separated from the product carrier (15). [2] Product carrier (15) with a cleaning product (10) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the product carrier (15) has perforations (21), creases or punches (20). [3] Product carrier (15) with a cleaning product (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the detachable hanging device (16) is strip-shaped and / or perforations (21) are provided along the edges in the longitudinal direction L of the hanging device (16) for detaching the hanging device (16) from the product carrier (15) and / or the hanging device (16) and / or the product carrier (15) have grooves or punchings (20) that extend perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L of the strip and serve to facilitate folding over the hanging device (16) or the product carrier (15). [4] Product carrier (15) with a cleaning product (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the product carrier (15) and container (12) are die-cut in one piece from a single piece of material. [5] Product carrier (15) with a cleaning product (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the product carrier (15) comprising the hanging device (16) and the container (12) filled with cleaning agent (11) are provided separately from each other and that the container (12) comprising the cleaning agent (11) is subsequently connected to the hanging device (16) integrated into the product carrier (15), in particular by gluing, stapling, crimping or punching. [6] Product carrier (15) with a cleaning product (10) according to claim 5, characterized by , that a separating layer is provided between container (12) and hanging device (16). [7] Product carrier (15) with a cleaning product (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the product carrier (15) has at least one groove / punch (28) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L of the product carrier in order to fold down the upper area (29) of the product packaging (15) to increase stability and improve product presentation. [8] Product carrier (15) with a cleaning product (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the cellulose-containing fiber material is a flat material and in particular paper or cardboard and is preferably at least 95%, preferably 98% and particularly preferably 100% recyclable and / or can be added to the waste paper container and / or is free of plastic fibers and / or is made at least partially from recycled cellulose-containing fiber material. [9] Product carrier (15) with a cleaning product (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the planar cellulose-containing fiber material of the product carrier (15) is printed, varnished or coated on the front and / or back of the container (12). [10] Method for producing a cleaning product (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the product carrier (15) and container (12) are cut or punched out in one piece from a flat cellulose-containing material, if necessary perforations (21) and / or grooves (20, 28) and / or openings (23) are made, the container (12) is folded and if necessary glued, filled with cleaning agent (11) and sealed. [11] Method for producing a cleaning product (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by , that the product carrier (15) and container (12) are manufactured separately from a flat cellulose-containing material, the container (12) is filled with cleaning agent (11) and the container (12) and product carrier (15) are joined together.

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