Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Deodorants
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-28
2001-09-18
Page, Thurman K. (Department: 1615)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Deodorants
C424S076200, C424S076400
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290945
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to compositions for reducing odors, particularly for use on porous substrates and in air ducts.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Air ducts, insulation, crawl spaces, attics, basements, and above ceiling spaces in offices and homes have long been a source of odors. Current products on the market to minimize odors usually contain preservatives, mild carrier solvents, and/or fragrances to attempt to mask the odors. These products are only somewhat effective.
Odor minimizing products are delivered to a substrate via the carrier solvent, and the ability of the composition to remain active in the substrate is due to a combination of the carrier solvent and surfactant. The solvents used in currently available products, however, are not sufficiently strong to allow deep penetration of the substrate. Therefore, a high concentration of the carrier solvent must be used to achieve the desired penetration. This leads to increasing levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCS) in the work place or home environment.
Certain duct odor treatment products are emulsions including a surfactant which decreases the rate of evaporation of volatile oils in the compositions. Unfortunately, neither surfactants nor surfactant combinations provide the level of stability needed in odor control compositions to inhibit evaporation of the composition while in the substrate, so that the lifespan of the product while in the substrate is severely limited. An example of such a formulation is found in Sampson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,849, which discloses an emulsified mixture of d-limonene, an ether, and water which can be used in the form of an aerosol to control odors.
Streit et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,178,264, disclose a gel air freshener comprising carrageenan and stearate salt, essential oils and aromatics, and a solvent component. Ethylene/polyethylene glycols and glycol mono methyl ethers are used to enhance the solubility of the stearate in processing the gel. This air freshener is not suitable for introduction into air ducts or for use on substrates, as it is a solid.
Hoppe et al.; in U.S. Pat. No. 5,895,643, describe a deodorizing composition comprising ethylene glycol monophenol ethers-2-phenoxy ethanol with Furnesol.
Rosen et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,844,891, disclose a preservative composition comprising mixtures of iodopropargyl compounds and a formaldehyde donor. In this case the formaldehyde donor makes it possible to use much less iodopropargyl compound than would ordinarily be necessary for preserving personal and household products.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to overcome the aforesaid deficiencies in the prior art.
It is another object of the present invention to provide odor control compositions that can be applied to a substrate where the active ingredients are very slowly released to provide long term odor control.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an odor control composition that can penetrate into a substrate for long term odor control.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an odor control composition having a slower evaporation rate than conventional products.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an odor control composition having a decreased risk of harm to the health of people working or living in buildings or environments that have been treated with the odor control composition.
According to the present invention, odor control compositions are provided which include an evaporation control system, at least one nonionic surfactant, a fragrance, and water. These compositions have been found to penetrate substrates such as fiberglass insulation to a deep extent and the active ingredients are released very slowly. The compositions eliminate or reduce odors rather than merely masking them.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
All of the examples given herein are for purposes of illustration only, and are not for limitation. Unless otherwise noted, all percentages are by weight.
The evaporation control system preferably comprises at least one glycol ether. The evaporation control system preferably has the following characteristics:
(1) An evaporation rate in 100 ml of n-butyl acetate of between about less than 0.1 to about 0.4 (n-butyl acetate=100);
(2) Solubility in water at 20° C. between 5.0 and 100 g/100 g H
2
O;
(3) Surface tension between 28 and 41 dynes/cm at 25° C.;
(4) Vapor pressure between 0.02 and 0.1 mm Hg at 20° C.;
(5) Ratio of-vapor pressure:evaporation rate between 0.01 and 50;
(6) Ratio of surface tension:evaporation rate greater than about 20.
Examples of evaporation control system components include dipropylene glycol n-propyl ether (DPNP), dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether(DPNB), and methyl propane diol glycol ether (MP Diol). The evaporation control system is generally present in amounts ranging from about 1-30% by weight, and preferably from about 2-10% by weight.
Methyl propane diol has an evaporation rate of less than 0.1, a solubility of 100 g/100 ml H
2
O, a surface tension of 40.5 dynes/cm, a vapor pressure of less than 0-0.1 mmHg, a ratio of vapor pressure:evaporation rate of 1.0, and a ratio of surface tension:evaporation rate of 405. Dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether has an evaporation rate of 0.4, a solubility of 5 g/100 ml H
2
O, a surface tension of 28.8 dynes/cm, a vapor pressure of 0.2 mmHg, a ratio of vapor pressure:evaporation rate of 0.05, and a ratio of surface tension:evaporation rate of 72.
The surfactants which can be used are nonionic surfactants which have an HLB range of about 10-16. The preferred nonionic surfactants are ethoxylated alcohols or ethoxylated alkyl phenol polyglycol ethers. Examples of such surfactants are Neutronyx 656, Stepan Chemical Co., which is nonyl phenol polyglycol ether with eleven moles of ethylene oxide, and Neodol 91.6, Shell, which is C
9
-C
11
, alcohol ethoxylated with six moles of ethylene oxide. A single nonionic surfactant can be used, as long as the HLB is between about 10 and 16. In a preferred embodiment, the composition contains two nonionic surfactants, such as the two nonionic surfactants cited above. Again, the surfactant combination must have an HLB of between about 10 and 16. The surfactants are present in the composition in amounts ranging from about 0.5 and 20% by weight, and generally between about 1 and 5% by weight. When more than one surfactant is used, the surfactants are used in amounts to produce an HLB from about 10 to 16. Other types of nonionic surfactants may be used, including C
9
-C
15
lihear primary ethoxylates and C
12
-C
14
secondary alcohol ethoxylates.
Additionally, polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymers, such as those marketed under the trademark PLURONIC or REVERSED PLURONIC, manufactured by BASF Wyandotte Corporation, can also be used as a surfactant.
Commercially available fragrances can be used. Selection of suitable fragrances and selection of procedures for establishing the appropriate fragrances are known to those skilled in the art. The amount of fragrance in the composition is between 0.05 and 2%, and preferably between about 0.1 and 1.0%.
Water is added to the composition to quantity sufficient to 100%.
The compositions of the present invention are manufactured by a three step process.
The composition is prepared by adding one surfactant, followed by an optional second surfactant, to distilled water, and mixing for 10 minutes. An evaporation control system is then added to the solution and mixed for 5 minutes or until clear. In a separate container, a second evaporation control system,which may be the same as the first evaporation control system, is mixed with a fragrance. The two separate solutions are then mixed together for 5 minutes or until clear. If this sequence is not followed, it is difficult to formulate the composition, as the composition is prone to separate or cloud, making the composition useless. The composition's stability is based upon following the compounding directions.
While the
Baker Robert G.
Corey Garland G.
BBJ Environmental Solutions, Inc.
Browdy and Neimark
Page Thurman K.
Tran S.
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