Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – Specific organic component
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-15
2002-05-07
Boyer, Charles (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
Specific organic component
C510S356000, C510S421000, C510S289000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06384010
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATION
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to hard surface cleaning compositions having low concentrations of organic solvent chemicals, or volatile organic compounds, frequently referred to as VOCs. The cleaning compositions of this invention deliver a high level of cleaning performance without reliance upon significant amounts of glycol ether solvents generally included in all purpose cleaner formulations. The use of a specific surfactant as the primary cleaning ingredient permits the exclusion or limitation of solvent, resulting in a significantly lower level of solvent odor, permitting the use of significantly less fragrancing.
2. Background Art
It is known that all purpose liquid cleaning compositions are widely accepted for cleaning hard surfaces, such as tile, wash bowls, toilets, bathtubs, walls, floors, painted and washable wall papered surfaces, etc. These all purpose cleaners generally comprise aqueous mixtures of water soluble organic detergents and water soluble detergent builder salts. Many previous such compositions relied upon the use of water soluble inorganic phosphate salts, which have now been replaced, for environmental reasons. For example, early phosphate containing compositions are set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,560,839; 3,234,138; and 3,350,319.
In light of harmful effects upon ground water caused by phosphates in cleaning compositions, improved liquid cleaners, as well as laundry detergents, containing reduced concentrations of phosphate builder salts have been developed, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,244,840. However, such all purpose cleaners containing detergent builder salts or other equivalents tend to leave films, spots, or streaks upon poorly rinsed cleaned surfaces, particularly noticeable on shiny surfaces for which these cleaners are most often used. Accordingly, such cleaners require thorough rinsing of the surfaces to which they are applied, a time consuming and annoying requirement, often neglected in use.
Alkyl glycoside materials such as, for example, higher alkyl monoglycosides and higher alkyl polyglycosides are known to function as nonionic surfactants, and have been suggested as being suitable for use in some detergent compositions, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,627,931. This reference teaches the use of nonionic glycoside surfactants in a hard surface liquid cleaning composition which comprises a nonionic surfactant component containing at least about 75 weight percent nonionic glycoside surfactant, a water miscible organic solvent, a water soluble detergent builder, and water. Examples of nonionic surfactants suitable for use with the glycosides include polyethylene oxide condensates of alkyl phenols, and condensation products of aliphatic alcohols. This reference, moreover, requires the presence of organic solvents, such as alkylene glycols and/or ethers thereof, and detergent builders such as alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium polyphosphates, polyphosphonates, carbonates, polycarboxylates, carboxylated carbohydrates, etc.
In addition, all purpose cleaners have been developed employing anionic and nonionic detergents in combination with glycol ether solvent and organic amines, such as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,935,130. Such glycol ether solvents and organic amines are effective as grease removal solvents, and are especially helpful against oily and greasy soils. However, in addition to the need for thorough rinsing necessitated by the presence of high levels of organic detergents, such cleaners frequently also require high amounts of fragrancing to overcome the odors of the solvent materials present. Further, such solvents, frequently referred to as volatile organic compounds or VOCs, are in themselves objectionable, particularly in an age of increasing environmental awareness and concern.
Accordingly, there is a need for all purpose cleaners comprising a clear, aqueous solution having good interfacial tension for cleaning hard surfaces and good grease removal capability as a result thereof, without the presence of such objectionable components as phosphates or VOCs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved all purpose cleaner, comprising a clear aqueous solution having acceptable interfacial tension properties, permitting good removal of greasy soil from hard surfaces such as plastic, ceramic, vitreous and metal surfaces, particularly those having a shiny finish, such as tiles, wash bowls, toilets, bathtubs, walls, floors, painted and washable wall papered surfaces, etc. The improved cleaner composition exhibits good soil removal properties with minimal rubbing, may be used diluted or undiluted, dries relatively quickly after wiping, and leaves the cleaned surface free of streaks or visible residue without rinsing. The cleaning solution is suitable for a wide range of possible uses, including (in diluted form) as a glass cleaner.
Moreover, the present cleaning composition achieves these results without the use of objectionable polyphosphate or other inorganic or organic detergent builder salts, and essentially or completely in the absence of grease removal solvents or VOCs.
Accordingly, the present composition is capable of being formulated without the addition of fragrancing agents to overcome the objectionable odors of organic solvents, and may thus be odor-free, or nearly so. As such, the present composition provides a capable all purpose liquid cleaner which may be applied by spraying upon a surface and wiping away, which is both effective as a cleansing means and environmentally acceptable.
The objects of the present invention therefore include providing an all purpose liquid cleaning composition which is environmentally acceptable, has little or no perceptible odor, and is effective in removal of grease and oil from hard surfaces. It is yet another object of the invention to provide a hard surface cleaning composition which may be sprayed upon the surface and removed by wiping, which will dry without streaking or visible residue, and requires no rinsing.
These and other objects are accomplished by provision of a cleaning composition comprising a secondary alcohol ethoxylate nonionic surfactant, an alkylpolysglycoside nonionic surfactant, and having an alkaline pH. More specifically, the all purpose cleaner of the present invention comprises from about 0.05 to about 5.0 weight percent of alkyloxypolyethylene oxyethanol, from about 0.075 to about 5.0 weight percent C
8
-C
16
alkylpolyglycoside, and sufficient pH adjustment composition, if needed, to achieve a pH between 7.0 and 12.5, and preferably between 11.8 and 12.4. Additional components may include a chelating agent to prevent precipitation of hard water salts from materials present in the composition when hard water is employed, and optionally, coloring agents, fragrancing agents, anti-bacterial additives, drying agents, thickeners, and co-surfactants to boost the effectiveness of the primary surfactant. The entire composition is in the form of a water solution, preferably using soft water as the carrier, and may be provided in concentrated form for dilution prior to use by the consumer.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The all purpose cleaning composition of the present invention comprises an essentially clear aqueous composition comprising a secondary alcohol ethoxylate nonionic surfactant, an alkylpolyglycoside nonionic surfactant, and, optionally a pH modifying agent and a chelating agent. The primary cleaning agent, the ethoxylate surfactant, is preferably present in a range of from about 0.25 to about 2.50 weight percent, while the alkylpolyglycoside, which assists in surface wetting and film forming, is preferably present in a range of from 0.10 to about 1.50 weight percent. There does not appear to be a critical relationship between the two surfactant components, either in terms of ratio or sum, as long as both are present. In preferred embodiments, accordingl
Boyer Charles
S.C. Johnson & Son Inc.
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