Dispensing device and method of manufacture

Abstract

A toilet bowl treatment composition dispensing device, comprising a hanger and a treatment composition block. The hanger ( 20 ) comprises an elongate body portion ( 21 ) having a first end and a second end; a hook portion ( 22 ) at the first end for suspending the hanger ( 20 ) from a rim of a toilet bowl; and a block supporting portion ( 23 ) at the second end, the block supporting portion ( 23 ) having at least one finger ( 25 ) projecting from a surface of the supporting portion. Wherein the hook portion ( 22 ) and the at least one finger ( 25 ) project from one of the same longitudinal side of the body portion ( 21 ), and opposite longitudinal sides of the body portion ( 21 ), and the treatment composition block ( 10 ) is retained on the supporting portion ( 23 ) by said at least one finger inserted into a surface of said treatment composition block.

1 . A toilet bowl treatment composition dispensing device, comprising a hanger and a treatment composition block, the hanger comprising:
 an elongate body portion having a first end and a second end;   a hook portion at the first end for suspending the hanger from a rim of a toilet bowl; and   a block supporting portion at the second end, the block supporting portion having at least one finger projecting from a surface of the supporting portion;
 wherein the hook portion and the at least one finger project from one of, the same longitudinal side of the body portion, and opposite longitudinal sides of the body portion, and the treatment composition block is retained on the block supporting portion by said at least one finger inserted into a surface of said treatment composition block. 
   
     
     
         2 . A dispensing device as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of fingers each extending from the supporting portion in the same direction. 
     
     
         3 . A dispensing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein there are two fingers on the supporting portion. 
     
     
         4 . A dispensing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein there are three fingers on the supporting portion. 
     
     
         5 . A dispensing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the said at least one finger is located on a part of the support portion having an enlarged cross section. 
     
     
         6 . A dispensing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one finger extends from the support portion towards the same longitudinal side of the body portion as the hanger. 
     
     
         7 . A dispensing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one finger and the hanger project on opposite longitudinal sides of the body portion. 
     
     
         8 . A dispensing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one finger is inserted into a surface of the treatment composition block whereby a surface of the supporting portion from which the at least one finger extends abuts the surface of the treatment composition block into which the finger is inserted. 
     
     
         9 . A dispensing device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the abutting surfaces are planar. 
     
     
         10 . A dispensing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the block is cylindrical. 
     
     
         11 . A dispensing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the block has two opposing faces that have been subjected to a cutting process and the at least one finger is inserted into a surface of the block other than said opposing faces. 
     
     
         12 . A dispensing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one finger has at least a portion having a surface that is serrated, barbed or roughened to improve grip. 
     
     
         13 . A dispensing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one finger has a length that is at least 20% of the depth of the block and no more than 100%. 
     
     
         14 . A dispensing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the treatment composition block is provided with a channel in the surface into which the pins inserted and the channel conforms to the profile of the supporting portion which overlaps said surface of the block. 
     
     
         15 . A dispensing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the treatment composition block is an extruded block. 
     
     
         16 . A dispensing device as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the treatment composition block is a co-extruded block. 
     
     
         17 . A dispensing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the treatment composition block comprises 20 to 80 wt % of at least one surfactant, preferably including an anionic surfactant. 
     
     
         18 . A dispensing device as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the treatment composition block comprises 20 to 60 wt % of at least one first surfactant and 3 to 20% of at least one second surfactant acting as a plasticizer. 
     
     
         19 . A dispensing device as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the treatment composition block comprises 20 to 60 wt % of AOS (80%). 
     
     
         20 . A dispensing device as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the treatment composition block comprises 3 to 20 wt % of SAS(92%). 
     
     
         21 . A method of manufacturing a toilet bowl treatment composition dispensing device comprising:
 providing a hanger including, an elongate body portion having a first end and a second end, a hook portion at the first end for suspending the hanger from a rim of said toilet bowl, and a block supporting portion at the second end, the block supporting portion having at least one finger for receiving a treatment composition block and projecting from a planar portion; the hook portion and the at least one finger project from one of, the same longitudinal side of the body portion, and opposite longitudinal sides of the body portion; and   inserting said at least one finger into a surface of said treatment composition block.   
     
     
         22 . A method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the treatment composition block is foamed by a method selected from the group consisting of, an extrusion process, a tableting process and a hot melt process. 
     
     
         23 . A method as claimed in  claim 22  wherein the method comprises extruding the treatment composition and cutting into blocks. 
     
     
         24 . A method as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the extrusion process is a co-extrusion process and the block has at least two distinct portions having different compositions. 
     
     
         25 . A method as claimed in  claim 21  wherein before inserting the at least one finger the block is subjected to a shaping process in a mould. 
     
     
         26 . A method as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the method includes a step of wrapping the block in a water soluble film. 
     
     
         27 . A dispensing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one finger has a length that is at least 50% of the depth of the block and no more than 95%. 
     
     
         28 . A dispensing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one finger has a length that is at least 60% of the depth of the block and no more than 85%. 
     
     
         29 . A dispensing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one finger has a length that is at least 70% of the depth of the block and no more than 80%.