Dissolvable Toilet Brush Tablet with Dye System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toilet cleaning solutions lack a dissolvable toilet brush head that provides effective cleaning, structural integrity, good foaming, and visual indication of application, while being resistant to humidity and easy to flush without clogging concerns.
Innovation Solution
Dissolvable solid unit dose formulations, such as compressed tablets, containing a cleaning composition and a dye system that provides a visual indicator when applied to a surface, allowing for easy flushing and ensuring the brush dissolves quickly in water.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a removable brush head is used, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the risk of clogging increases
Solution Approach 1:
The brush head is designed as a disposable unit that dissolves after use, eliminating the need for reuse and associated clogging risks. The compressed tablet formulation is intended for single-use application followed by flushing, ensuring no residue remains to cause blockages.
Solution Approach 2:
The brush head material parameters are specifically engineered for rapid dissolution in water. The compressed tablet structure with controlled compression force and specific material composition ensures the brush head breaks down quickly upon contact with water, transitioning from a solid cleaning tool to dissolved components.
2Ease of operation
If the brush head dissolves quickly, then disposal convenience is improved, but structural integrity during use may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The compression force applied during tablet formation is precisely controlled to achieve the right balance. The compressed tablet has sufficient density and structural cohesion to withstand handling and initial cleaning contact, yet is designed to disintegrate rapidly upon prolonged water exposure, achieving both strength during use and quick dissolution for easy disposal.
3Loss of information
If a dye system is added to indicate application, then user feedback is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dye system is integrated directly into the compressed tablet formulation during manufacturing. The coloring agents are incorporated into the tablet matrix alongside other ingredients, allowing the dye to be released simultaneously with the cleaning composition when the tablet dissolves, providing visual feedback without requiring separate dye application steps.
Solution Approach 2:
Water-soluble dyes or colorants are incorporated into the compressed tablet that change color or become visually apparent when the tablet contacts water and begins to dissolve. This provides immediate visual confirmation to the user that the cleaning composition has been applied, with the color change occurring as part of the natural dissolution process.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the brush head is made resistant to humidity, then storage stability is improved, but dissolution rate may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The tablet formulation uses humidity-resistant excipients and binding agents that prevent moisture absorption during storage, maintaining tablet integrity and preventing premature dissolution. However, the tablet structure and material composition are designed to rapidly disintegrate upon contact with water during use, achieving both storage stability and quick dissolution by controlling the transition from dry stable state to wet rapid dissolution state.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution offers a toilet cleaning product with a strong structural integrity, effective cleaning, and visual feedback on application, while ensuring the brush dissolves rapidly in water, eliminating clogging risks and providing a convenient disposal method.
Implementation Method 1
a desiccant and a water-soluble dye in a cleaning composition enables an improved product which can provide a visual indicator of cleaning when submerged in water
Implementation Method 2
the dye system provides a visual indicator of where on the cleaning surface the cleaning composition has been applied
Data Source
AI summary
A dissolvable unit dose toilet cleaning composition for use with a wand. The unit dose contains surfactant, an organic acid, an organic acid buffering agent, and a dye system including a desiccant, a water-soluble dye, and optionally a colorant. The composition is compressed into a tablet or puck wherein at least 30% dissolves in 10 minutes when submerged in toilet water. Upon exposing a surface of the unit dose composition to water in the toilet, the water-soluble dye colors the water in the toilet. Pressing the wetted surface of the unit dose composition to a surface of the toilet, the water-soluble dye colors the surface of the toilet.