Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Reexamination Certificate
2003-10-27
2004-06-15
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...
C510S238000, C510S384000, C510S391000, C510S421000, C510S432000, C510S503000, C510S504000, C510S509000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06750190
ABSTRACT:
The present invention is directed to ready to use hard surface cleaning compositions. More particularly the present invention is directed to alkaline cleaning and sanitizing compositions which are essentially free of chelating agents based on organic acid compound, especially nitrogen containing chelating agents, which composition is particularly directed for the effective removal of soap scum stains on hard surfaces which comprises. The compositions of the present invention are particularly adapted to be used as a ‘ready-to-use’ type composition, as well as in a non-pressurized container which is supplied with a hand pumpable trigger spray apparatus. The present invention is also directed to the use of such a composition in the cleaning or sanitization of a hard surface, as well as methods for producing such compositions.
As is known to the art, hard surfaces associated with lavatories (including lavatory appliances especially washing sinks, shower stalls and bathtubs) are typically prone to accumulate soap scum stains. Such surfaces are usually made of materials such as tiles (glazed and unglazed), marble, ceramics and enameled porcelain surfaces. The latter include European porcelain surfaces which generally are more prone to damage or discoloration due to the use of particularly aggressive cleaning compositions, especially those with low pH values. Thus, acid cleaning compositions are desirably to be avoided for use in cleaning such surfaces. The use of alkaline cleaning compositions are therefore preferred, however most alkaline cleaning compositions are not sufficiently satisfactory to effectively clean soap scum stains from surfaces. This shortcoming has been met in the art by the require the inclusion of an effective amount of a chelating agent which is typically based on one or more organic acid compounds, especially nitrogen containing organic compounds which include a plurality of carboxylic acid groups. Such chelating agents include gluconic acid, tartartic acid, citric acid, oxalic acid, lactic acid, ethylenediamine mono-, di- or tri-acetic acid, ethylenedianinetetraacetic acid, N-hydroxyethylethylenediarnine triacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid, and their water soluble salts of these compounds, especially the alkali metal salts and particularly the sodium salts.
While such a chelating agents, particularly nitrogen containing chelating agents are generally recognized in the art as being effective in the removal of soap scum stains, there are growing environmental concerns attendant upon their use. The use of such chelating agents based on organic acid compounds, especially nitrogen containing organic compounds which include a plurality of carboxylic acid groups especially ethylenediamine mono-, di- or tri-acetic acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acids are desirably to be avoided.
According to a preferred aspect of the invention there is provided an alkaline ready to use cleaning and sanitizing composition which is essentially free of a chelating agent based on a nitrogen containing chelating agents, which composition is particularly adapted to be used as a ‘ready-to-use’ type composition, as well as in a non-pressurized container which is supplied with a hand pumpable trigger spray apparatus and which is particularly directed for the effective removal of soap scum stains on hard surfaces. The inventive composition comprises:
an amine oxide surfactant;
a nonionic alkoxylated alcohol surfactant;
a germicide constituent, preferably a germicidal cationic surfactant, and most preferably a water miscible or water soluble quaternary ammonium compound having germicidal properties;
organic solvent constituent, preferably a glycol ether;
an carbonate constituent, preferably an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal carbonate constituent;
an hydroxide constituent, preferably an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal hydroxide constituent;
optionally, a minor amount of one or more conventional additives including coloring agents, fragrances, opacificers, thickening agents, pH adjusting
agents, buffers; and,
water.
According to particularly preferred embodiments the total amounts of the surfactants do not exceed 2.0% wt., more desirably do not exceed 1.75%, and more preferably do not exceed 1.25% wt. It is a surprising and advantageous feature of the inventive compositions that very effective cleaning of soap scum, and sanitization of hard surfaces is achieved in such a ready to use composition which contains such a low level of surfactants and at the same time being essentially free of chelating agents based on organic acid compounds, especially nitrogen containing organic compounds and particularly those which include a plurality of carboxylic acid groups.
The compositions according to the invention include one or more amine oxide surfactants. Preferably the amine oxide surfactant may be represented by the following structure:
wherein:
each R1 independently is a straight chained or branched C
1
-C
4
alkyl group, but preferably both R1 are methyl groups; and, R2 is a straight chained or branched C
8
-C
18
alkyl group, preferably is a C
8
-C
12
alkyl group. Preferably, each of the R1 and R2 are straight chained. Technical grade mixtures of two or more amine oxides may be used, wherein amine oxides of varying chains of the R2 group are present. Particularly preferred are the amine oxides shown in the Examples.
The water dispersible amine oxide of the compositions of the invention is preferably present in an amount of from 0.25-0.75% wt., and more preferably is present in an amount of about 0.4-0.6% wt., based on the total weight of the composition.
The compositions of the invention include one or more nonionic alkoxylated alcohol surfactants. Suitable nonionic surfactants include condensation products of alkylene oxide groups with an organic hydrophobic compound, such as an aliphatic or alkyl aromatic compound.
Preferred nonionic surfactants are those based on the condensation product of one mole of an aliphatic alcohol having from 8 to 18 carbon atoms with from 1 to about 10 moles of alkylene oxide. These resultant reaction products include alkoxylated, especially ethoxylated and/or propoxylated linear alcohols as well as non-linear alcohols, and such alcohols expressly include primary, secondary as well as tertiary alcohols. Such materials are per se, known to the art.
Very preferably the nonionic surfactant is based an alkoxylated (ethoxylated, propoxylated) aliphatic linear fatty alcohol which is ethoxylated to a degree of from 6 to 12 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. As known to the art, such materials are generally supplied as technical grade mixtures of one or more linear fatty alcohols which are predominantly ethoxylated. Most preferably the nonionic surfactant is based on alkoxylated linear C
12
-C
16
aliphatic alcohol having an average of about 8-10 moles of ethoxylation per mol of alcohol, especially where such alcohols are primary alcohols. Such materials are presently commercially available as in the NEODOL series of alcohol ethoxylates (Shell Chem. Co.) as well as in the GENAPOL series of alcohol ethoxylates (Clariant Chem. Co.).
The inventive compositions also include a germicide constituent which is effective against gram positive bacteria or gram negative bacteria, but preferably against both. Desirably the germicide constituent is at least one cationic surfactant which is found to provide a broad antibacterial or sanitizing function. Any, cationic surfactant which satisfies these requirements may be used and are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, and mixtures of two or more cationic surface active agents, viz., cationic surfactants may also be used.
Examples of preferred cationic surfactant compositions useful in the practice of the instant invention are those which provide a germicidal effect to the concentrate compositions, and especially preferred are quaternary ammonium compounds and salts thereof, which may be characterized by the general structural formula:
where at least one o
Bennett Mark Timothy
Colurciello Andrew Francis
Weibel Albert Thomas
Boyer Charles
Norris McLaughlin & Marcus P.A.
LandOfFree
Alkaline cleaning and sanitizing composition effective for... 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 cleaning and sanitizing composition effective for..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Alkaline cleaning and sanitizing composition effective for... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3319987