Unit dose applicator for cleaning substances

Abstract

Apparatus for applying cleaning substance to toilet bowl includes body having a wall defining a distally-facing cavity for releasably retaining the cleaning substance. The cavity may be greater in width than depth, and the body may have a proximally-extending mechanism configured to facilitate gripping the apparatus and applying the cleaning substance when the cleaning substance is pressed against the toilet bowl. For bathroom surface applications, body can have a proximally-extending releasing mechanism configured to selectively deform, the wall and thereby deform the cavity to release the cleaning substance from the cavity when the cleaning substance is pressed against the surface. Method for cleaning toilets employs above-defined wall having distally-disposed terminal edge whereby pressing the cleaning substance against the toilet bowl and manipulating the wall via the releasing mechanism distorts wall and cavity to release cleaning substance from cavity and apply substance to toilet bowl.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for applying a cleaning substance to a toilet bowl, the apparatus comprising a body having a wall defining a distally-facing cavity for releasably retaining the cleaning substance, the cavity being greater in width than depth, the body further having a proximally-extending mechanism configured to facilitate gripping the apparatus and applying the cleaning substance to the toilet bowl when the cleaning substance is pressed against the toilet bowl. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the wall is formed of flexible material and the proximally-extending mechanism is further configured to selectively deform the wall and thereby deform the cavity to release the cleaning substance from the cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a cleaning substance disposed in the cavity. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the proximally-extending mechanism comprises a single member. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the proximally-extending mechanism comprises a pair of members such that when at least one of the members is displaced with respect to the other, the wall is caused to deform. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for applying a cleaning substance to a bathroom surface to be cleaned, the apparatus comprising a body having a distally-facing wall defining a cavity for releasably retaining the cleaning substance, the body further having a proximally-extending releasing mechanism configured to selectively deform the wall and thereby deform the cavity to release the cleaning substance from the cavity when the cleaning substance is pressed against the surface. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the proximally-extending releasing mechanism comprises a pair of members, at least one of which is displaceable with respect to the other to cause the wall to deform. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the wall further comprises a weakened portion disposed between the pair of members such that displacement of the pair of members toward each other causes the wall to distort at least along the weakened portion. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a releasing agent applied to the wall for facilitating the release of the cleaning substance from the cavity. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 6  or  7 , wherein the body further comprises a distally-disposed terminal edge that is adapted to be pressed against the surface prior to deformation of the wall by the releasing mechanism. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein displacement of at least one of the members relative to the other causes the cavity to enlarge and thereby release the cleaning substance from the cavity. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the cavity is greater in width than depth. 
     
     
         13 . A method for applying a cleaning substance to a toilet bowl, the method comprising:
 selecting a wall defining a distally-facing cavity that releasably retains the cleaning substance, the wall having a distally-disposed terminal edge and a proximally-extending releasing mechanism;   pressing the cleaning substance against the toilet bowl and manipulating the wall via the releasing mechanism to distort the wall and the cavity to release the cleaning substance from the cavity and apply the substance to the toilet bowl; and   withdrawing the wall from the toilet bowl via the releasing mechanism.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step of selecting the wall comprises selecting a wall with a proximally-extending releasing mechanism in the form of two spaced members; and
 the step of manipulating the wall via the releasing mechanism comprises displacing at least one of the spaced members relative to the other. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the step of displacing at least one of the spaced members relative to the other comprises pressing at least one of the spaced members toward the other. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the step of selecting the wall comprises selecting a wall with a weakened portion disposed between the members, and the step of manipulating the wall to distort the wall comprises distorting the wall along at least the weakened portion. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step of selecting a wall comprises selecting a wall with a proximally-extending releasing mechanism in the form of a single member, and the step of manipulating the wall via the releasing mechanism comprises tilting the wall with respect to the toilet bowl.