Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – Specific organic component
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-17
2003-04-22
Gupta, Yogendra N. (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
Specific organic component
C510S197000, C510S199000, C510S238000, C510S362000, C510S365000, C510S434000, C510S477000, C134S025200, C134S025300, C134S038000, C134S039000, C134S040000, C134S042000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06551985
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to acidic hard-surfaces compositions, especially limescale removal compositions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Tap water contains a certain amount of solubilized ions which upon water evaporation eventually deposit as salts such as calcium carbonate on surfaces which are often in contact with water, resulting in an anaesthetic aspect of the surfaces. This limescale formation and deposition phenomenon is even more acute in places where water is particularly hard.
It is well-known in the art that limescale deposits can be chemically removed with acidic solutions, and a great variety of acidic cleaning compositions have been described for this purpose.
However, such limescale removal compositions are perceived by the consumers as being irritant detergent compositions and many consumers suffer from skin irritation when using such compositions.
Particularly, when using such liquid acidic compositions the hands of the user are prone to irritation. This occurs when these compositions are used neat and also when used in diluted form.
Without being limited by theory, it is believed that acids may attack the uppermost layer of the epidermal of the skin and alter the natural pH of the skin. This may result in the decrease of the elasticity of the skin.
The skin also may become more sensitive, resulting in dryness and coarseness of the skin. In addition the skin may become inflamed, red, sore and/or itchy.
It is thus an object of the present invention to improve skin mildness of liquid acidic compositions, especially acidic limescale removal compositions. More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide acidic limescale removal compositions which are milder to skin while exhibiting excellent limescale removing performance.
Furthermore, it is also desirable that such liquid acidic compositions should have, in addition to the ability to effectively remove limescale deposits, the ability to provide a good shine to the surfaces they have descaled. However, surface shine is often compromised by the low affinity the hard surface has with water when it comes in contact with it. Indeed, water have the tendency to form droplets on the surface rather than forming a thin film uniformly spread over the surface. This results, as water evaporates, in precipitation of poorly water soluble inorganic salts such as calcium/magnesium carbonate and/or phosphate salts with consequent formation of watermarks on the surface and, eventually, limescale deposits, resulting in anaesthetic aspect of the surface.
It is thus another object of the present invention to improve shine delivered on a surface treated with acidic compositions, especially acidic limescale removal compositions. More particularly, it is another object of the present invention to provide liquid acidic compositions delivering improved shine to the surface treated while exhibiting excellent limescale removing performance.
The present invention overcomes these problems by formulating liquid acidic compositions comprising as the acidic system, sulphamic acid and a second acid, and an acid-stable polymer as described herein after. Indeed, both the shine on the surface treated with the compositions of the present invention and the skin mildness of said compositions is improved while delivering excellent limescale removal performance to the surface treated therewith. Indeed, less skin irritation is perceived by the user when its skin comes into contact with the compositions of the present invention and less formation of watermarks and/or even limescale deposits are observed on a surface having been treated with the compositions of the present invention and later on comes in contact with water, for example, during a rinse operation.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the shine benefit delivered to a hard surface treated with the compositions of the present invention persists even after several cycles of rinsing thus providing long lasting protection against formation of watermarks and/or even limescale deposits on the surface, and hence long lasting shiny surfaces. In other words, the house wife will have the advantage to delay the next descaling operation. Advantageously, the shine benefits herein are obtained at very low levels of acid-stable polymers in the acidic compositions of the present invention.
Another advantage of the liquid acidic compositions of the present invention comprising the acidic system and the acid-stable polymer as described herein is that the surfaces treated become smoother (this can be perceived by touching said surfaces). This may also contribute to convey to consumer perception of surface perfectly descaled.
The compositions according to the present invention may be used on a variety of surfaces including metal surfaces such as aluminium, chromed steel, stainless steel, synthetic materials like vinyl, linoleum, glazed or non-glazed ceramic tiles, and/or enamel surfaces.
BACKGROUND ART
Limescale compositions comprising sulphamic acid are known in the art. EP-A-666 305 discloses acidic limescale removing compositions comprising maleic acid and a second acid like sulphamic acid. However, no acid stable polymers as described herein are disclosed.
JP-63-309596 discloses compositions for hard-surfaces such as food utensils containing at least 10% of surfactants and 0.3% of one or more polystyrene sulphonic acid or salts thereof. The addition of polystyrenesulphonic acid or its salts in a liquid composition for hard-surface which contains a surfactant allows water spots to be prevented. The acidic system according to the present invention is not disclosed.
EP-A-467 472 discloses a hard-surface liquid composition with anti-static/anti-soiling cationic quaternized polymers. Cationic quaternized polymethacrylate include beta(trialkyl ammonium) ethylmethacrylates/acrylates. Also while cationic and anionic polymers are preferred, nonionic polymers can also be used like vinylpyrrolidone polymers, copolymer of methyl vinyl ether and maleic anhydride. The acidic system according to the present invention is not disclosed.
WO 94/26858 discloses acidic compositions (pH 2-8) comprising a nonionic surfactant and an anionic polymer having an average molecular weight less than 1 000 000 said polymer being free of quaternary nitrogen groups. The acidic system of the present invention is not disclosed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a liquid acidic composition suitable for removing limescale-containing stains from a hard-surface, having a pH below 5, and comprising from 0.01% to 20% of the total composition of a sulfamic acid, from 0.01% to 45% by weight of the total composition of a second acid, and from 0.001% to 10% by weight of an acid-stable polymer selected from the group consisting of a polycarboxylate polymer, a sulphonated polystyrene polymer, a vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer or copolymer, a polyalkoxylene glycol, and mixture thereof.
The present invention also encompasses a process of treating hard-surfaces wherein an acidic liquid composition according to the present invention is applied in its neat form or in diluted form, onto said surfaces, then left to act onto said surfaces and then removed by rinsing.
In a broader embodiment, the present invention also encompasses the use of a liquid acidic composition comprising at least an acid (typically an organic or inorganic acid or a mixture thereof as described herein after) and an acid-stable polymer selected from the group consisting of a polycarboxylate polymer, a sulphonated polystyrene polymer, a vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer or copolymer, a polyalkoxylene glycol, and a mixture thereof, to remove limescale-containing stains from a hard-surface, whereby long lasting shine is delivered to said surface after it has been first treated with said composition.
In another broader embodiment, the present invention encompasses the use of a liquid acidic composition comprising at least an acid (typically an organic or inorganic acid or a mixture thereof as described herein
Bianchetti Giulia Ottavia
Pace Luigi
Russo Elisabetta L.
Camp Jason J.
Gupta Yogendra N.
Mruk Brian P.
The Procter & Gamble & Company
Waugh Kevin L.
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