IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,641,311
Granted Patent B2
US 8,641,311 · App. 12/901,804 · Granted Feb 4, 2014

Cleaning head for a target surface

Inventors: Kerry Andrew Vetter (Cincinnati, OH); Hirotaka Uchiyama (Loveland, OH); Glenn Allen Bradbury (Mason, OH); Adam Robert-George Shafer (Cincinnati, OH); Joseph Michael Gaines (Cincinnati, OH); Francisco Go Lao, Jr. (Mason, OH); Gregory Clegg Spooner (Hong Kong, CN)
Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,641,311
App. No.
12/901,804
Granted
Feb 4, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A unit dose for cleaning an unsanitary surface, such as a toilet bowl. The unit dose comprises a water dispersible shell containing granules defining a core. The granules obviate the need for sheet material in the unit dose and provide cleaning efficacy when submerged.

Claims (24)

1. A unit dose for cleaning a toilet, said unit dose comprising:

a water dispersible shell, and

a core encased by and interior to said shell, said core comprising a plurality of granular materials disposed in an equivalent plurality of strata and being free of nonwoven material and cellulose material, said unit dose having a generally planar configuration and further comprising a grip extending outwardly from said generally planar configuration, wherein said unit dose is attachable to a handle at said grip, said grip comprising at least one granular material.

2. A unit dose according to claim 1 wherein said core further comprises a liquid material.

3. A unit dose for cleaning a toilet and optionally being attachable to a handle, said unit dose comprising:

a water dispersible shell, said shell being divided into plural compartments; and

a core encased by said shell, said core being free of sheet material and comprising a plurality of different materials, wherein one material of said plurality is disposed in each of said plurality of compartments, said core comprising at least three compartments, a first outwardly facing compartment juxtaposed with said shell and comprising surfactant, a second compartment comprising organic acid and an effervescent, said second compartment being interposed between said first compartment and a third compartment, said third compartment being substantially disposed within a grip and predominantly comprising an effervescent.

4. A unit dose according to claim 3 comprising a first compartment and a second compartment adjacent thereto, said second compartment further comprising a surfactant.

5. A unit dose according to claim 4 wherein said core further comprises an additive selected from the group consisting of: perfume, disinfectants, bleaches, detergents, enzymes, partciulates and combinations thereof.

6. A unit dose for cleaning a toilet and being attachable to a handle, said unit dose comprising:

a water soluble shell, and

a core encased by said shell, said core comprising at least one granular material and being free of sheet material,

said unit dose having an outwardly facing surface and a grip oppositely extending therefrom, said outwardly facing surface comprising a microtexture of asperities for scrubbing a target surface while said asperities are submerged in water.

7. A unit dose according to claim 6 wherein said outwardly facing surface further comprises macro-irregularities creating a first surface texture, and asperities thereon creating a microtexture.

8. A unit dose according to claim 7 wherein said core comprises plural compartments of granular materials, said granular materials having different particle sizes and creating said asperities on said outwardly facing surface.

9. A unit dose according to claim 8 wherein said shell comprises PVOH.

10. A unit dose according to claim 9 wherein said shell further comprises plural layers of PVOH disposed on and bounding said grip.

11. A unit dose according to claim 10 wherein said shell further comprises a heat seal circumscribing said core, said heat seal defining a flange extending radially outwardly from said core.

12. A unit dose according to claim 7 wherein said macrotexture comprises a plurality of outwardly extending protuberances.

13. A unit dose according to claim 12 wherein said outwardly extending protuberances are arranged in a grid, said grid having protuberances of mutually different geometries.

14. A unit dose according to claim 7 further comprising particulates disposed in said core, said particulates being selected from the group consisting essentially of: diatomaceous earth, coconut shell fibers, walnut shells, crushed sea shells, calcium carbonate, sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate, zeolites and combinations thereof.

15. A unit dose for cleaning a wetted target surface and optionally being attachable to a handle, said unit dose comprising:

a water soluble shell having an outer face and an inner face opposed thereto, and

a core encased by said shell, said core being free of sheet material, and having an outwardly facing surface defined by and interior to said shell, said core comprising farinaceous granular material disposed adjacent said inner face of said shell wherein said core comprises plural compartments, said compartments being separated by shell material at least one said compartment comprising a non-flushable grip and at least one said compartment comprising a liquid material suitable for cleaning a wetted surface.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 3, 2010
From: VETTER, KERRY ANDREW; UCHIYAMA, HIROTAKA; BRADBURY, GLENN ALLEN; SHAFER, ADAM ROBERT-GEORGE; GAINES, JOSEPH MICHAEL; LAO, FRANCISCO GO, JR.; SPOONER, GREGORY CLEGG
To: THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025444/0522 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 11, 2010
From: VETTER, KERRY ANDREW; UCHIYAMA, HIROTAKA; BRADBURY, GLENN ALLEN; SHAFER, ADAM ROBERT-GEORGE; GAINES, JOSEPH MICHAEL; LAO, FRANCISCO GO, JR.; SPOONER, GREGORY CLEGG
To: THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025348/0171 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120084933A1 · Apr 12, 2012