Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-09
2004-02-17
Boyer, Charles (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
C510S280000, C510S405000, C510S480000, C510S500000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06693068
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to cleaning compositions which are useful in the cleaning of carpet fibers, carpets and carpeted surfaces. The present invention is particularly directed to compositions useful in conjunction with machinery designed for the cleaning of such carpet fibers or carpets, as well as for a new process for the cleaning of carpet fibers or carpets.
While carpet cleaning compositions are per se, known to consumers, many of these are directed to be used directly from their container, and to be applied to localized areas of carpets. Some are also known for use in the cleaning of broader areas of carpets or carpet surfaces, and these are typically used for cleaning such areas as rooms, hallways and the like where carpet surfaces are installed. A limited number of formulations are also known which are directed to be used with machines intended to clean carpets. The use of such machines is becoming widespread as consumers appreciate their labor saving benefits and cleaning effectiveness.
In order to be successful for use in such a machine, a carpet cleaning formulation must perform well in the removal of stains, ideally both oleophilic stains, as well as oleophobic stains, and must be compatible with the materials of construction of the machine. However, as the known art will attest, the production of such a successful formulation is not a trivial problem. Further, it is desirable to also include one or more agents in such formulations which provide a barrier, or which resist resoiling of cleaned carpet surfaces. Certain such agents are known to the art, and these include certain classes of fluorocarbon materials such as those available as ZONYL (ex. DuPont Corp.) as well as FLUORAD materials (ex. 3M Corp.), as well as so-called antiresoiling agents based on certain polymers including acrylic polymers. However, the inclusion of one or more of these agents frequently is not possible due to incompatibilities with one or more other constituents which may be present in a formulation. Thus, their compatibility, in a formulation is rarely predicable to the formulator.
Notwithstanding these difficulties and shortcomings in the art, the present inventors have been successful in their production of a carpet cleaning composition which overcomes many of these shortcomings. These compositions are particularly useful in process for cleaning of carpets, especially in conjunction with a machine designed and used for such purposes.
Accordingly, in a first aspect of the invention there is provided an aqueous carpet cleaning composition which comprises, per 100% wt.:
one or more detersive surfactants, especially one or more nonionic surfactants;
at least about 2% wt. of aminopolycarboxylic acid salt;
an organic solvent constituent, preferably which includes a pyrrolidone based organic solvent constituent and excludes glycol and glycol ether solvents;
an anti-resoiling agent; and,
water in quantum sufficient to provide 100% wt. of the compositions. The compositions are alkaline, and preferably are at a pH of at least about 8. In particularly preferred embodiments are ideally suited for use in machinery designed or used in the mechanical cleaning of carpets. These compositions optionally include one or more further constituents including fluorosurfactants particularly those which may impart a hydrophobic and/or oleophobic finish to a treated carpet or carpet fiber, fragrances, coloring agents, thickeners, preservatives, further anti-resoiling agents, pH adjusting agents, pH buffers, as well as other conventional additives known to be useful in liquid carpet cleaning compositions.
A further aspect of the invention provides a process for the cleaning of carpet fibers, carpets and carpeted surfaces such as on walls, floors and the like which comprises the step of providing to such a machine the compositions described herein, and thereafter utilizing the machine in the cleaning of said fibers, carpets or carpeted surfaces.
A still further aspect of the invention provides a process for the producing such carpet cleaning compositions as described herein.
The inventive compositions include one or more detersive surfactants such as anionic, cationic, nonionic and amphoteric surfactants, especially one or more nonionic surfactants.
Exemplary useful anionic surfactants include: alkali metal salts, ammonium salts, amine salts, aminoalcohol salts or the magnesium salts of one or more of the following compounds: alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, alkylamidoether sulfates, alkylaryl polyether sulfates, monoglyceride sulfates, alkylsulfonates, alkylamide sulfonates, alkylarylsulfonates, olefin sulfonates, paraffin sulfonates, alkyl sulfosuccinates, alkyl ether sulfosuccinates, alkylamide sulfosuccinates, alkyl sulfosuccinamates, alkyl sulfoacetates, alkyl phosphates, alkyl ether phosphates, acyl sarcosinates, acyl isethionates, and N-acyl taurates. Generally, the alkyl or acyl radical in these various compounds comprise a carbon chain containing 12 to 20 carbon atoms.
Particularly useful as anionic surfactants are alkyl sulfate anionic surfactants according to the formula
wherein:
R is an straight chain or branched alkyl chain having from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, saturated or unsaturated, and the longest linear portion of the alkyl chain is 15 carbon atoms or less on the average,
M is a cation which makes the compound water soluble especially an alkali metal such as sodium, or is ammonium or substituted ammonium cation, and
x has a value of from 0 to about 4.
Most preferred are the non-ethoxylated C
12-15
primary and secondary alkyl sulfates. Exemplary commercially available alkyl sulfates include those sold as RHODAPON (ex. Rhône-Poulenc Co.) as well as STEPANOL (ex. Stepan Chemical Co.) surfactants.
Further particularly useful alkyl sulfonate anionic surfactants useful in forming the compositions of the present invention are alkyl sulfonates according to the formula
wherein
R is an straight chain or branched alkyl chain having from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, saturated or unsaturated, and the longest linear portion of the alkyl chain is 15 carbon atoms or less on the average,
M is a cation which makes the compound water soluble especially an alkali metal such as sodium, or is ammonium or substituted ammonium cation, and
x is from 0 to about 4.
Most preferred are the C
12-15
primary and secondary alkyl sulfates. Exemplary, commercially available alkane sulfonate surfactants include those sold as HOSTAPUR (ex. Höchst AG) surfactants.
However the most preferred anionic surfactants are those which are characterized as low-foaming materials, but at the same time provide satisfactory detergency. As the present inventive compositions are especially suited for use in a carpet cleaning machinery, anionic surfactants which provide a high degree of foaming may be less desirable from a consumer standpoint. By way of non-limiting example, particularly preferred anionic surfactants which are low foaming include alkylated napthalene sulfates and alkylated napthalene sulfonates, as well as alkali metal and alkaline earth metal salts thereof. One commercially available sodium salt of an alkylated napthalene sold as PETRO 11 liquid (ex. Witco Co.).
Other anionic surfactants not particularly enumerated here may also find use in conjunction with the compounds of the present invention, especially those which are characterized as low-foaming materials.
Exemplary cationic surfactants include quaternary ammonium compounds and salts thereof, examples of which are alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chlorides, alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chlorides, alkyldimethylethylbenzyl ammonium chloride, myristyldimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride, methyldodecylbenzyl ammonium chloride. These materials are commercially available as BARQUAT, BTC or HYAMINE materials (ex. Lonza AG, or Stepan Inc.) However, the use of these materials is not preferred as they provide a low degree of detergency, and are incompatible with most anionic surfactants.
Exemplary useful nonionic surfactants include, inter alia, condensation pr
Ryan Tracy Ann
Taraschi Frederic Albert
Taylor Candice Lida
Boyer Charles
Reckitt Benckiser , Inc.
LandOfFree
Alkaline carpet cleaning composition comprising a... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Alkaline carpet cleaning composition comprising a..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Alkaline carpet cleaning composition comprising a... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3328638