Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-08
2002-05-21
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...
C510S271000, C510S407000, C510S432000, C510S362000, C510S371000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06391837
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improved cleaning composition and method for use with molded shower stalls and molded bathtub appliances.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Regulations were imposed on the hospitality industry at the city, county, state, and/or federal level regarding non-slip features for shower stall and bathtub floors. Shortly thereafter the industry moved away from use of traditional non-slip deterrents such as glued down appliqués and non-skid removable mats Appliqués resulted in hard-to-clean floors due to their high profile, and edges where soil and detritus accumulated and adhered to the adhesive portion of the appliqués. The efficacy of non-skid mats was necessarily dependant upon the guests' use of same. In the event a guest elected not use the mat, legal claims for alleged injuries resulting from slips and falls might nevertheless be pursued.
Thereafter, molded shower stalls and tub units came into widespread use within the hospitality industry. The floor assemblies of such molded units typically contained embossments or ridges, with ridges eventually winning out, to provide what was thought to comprise a permanent non-skid surface. Actual use proved otherwise.
Routine cleaning of these molded units altered the original non-skid surface. Abrasive cleansers and abrasive cleaning pads were the cleaning agents of choice. Daily use of such abrasive cleaners eventually eroded away the non-skid ridges, thereby degrading the non-skid properties of the floor.
In response, the industry moved to non-abrasive acids and/or all purpose cleaners. These cleaners appeared to solve the problem. Again, actual use proved otherwise with a new problem emerging.
Over a period of months-to-years, the non-skid areas of the floor gradually “grayed out ”and became unsightly. In addition, the valleys between the ridges slowly filled with some sort of accumulation that, once again, degraded the non-slip properties of the floors. In response, the industry periodically used abrasive cleaners, or volatile organic solvents, to remove such unsightly and dangerous accumulations. After removal of the accumulation, non-abrasive cleaners were routinely then used until an unacceptable accumulation again formed.
The industry hoped that periodic use of abrasive cleaners would not degrade the non-skid properties of the molded floors. Once again, however, actual use proved otherwise. The accumulations in these valleys comprised many layers-upon-layers of material, and required hard scouring with abrasives for up to an hour. Such aggressive cleaning again resulted in erosion of the molded ridges. Volatile solvents such as lacquer thinner did not damage the floor, but toxicity and flammability concerns limited the use of such solvents. Moreover, with the inception of state and federal occupational safety and health programs such as OSHA and NIOSH, strict personal protective equipment and ventilation standards made use of such volatile solvents untenable. As a result, use of lacquer thinner has virtually disappeared from this milieu.
For the past 20-30 years, company after company has submitted cleaning products to the hospitality industry to address this problem. To date, none of the products have proved adequate. As a result, a serious problem still exists today. Guests seeing “grayed out ”shower stall and tub floors typically develop a negative perception of both the individual hostelry and of that entire hotel/motel chain. The hospitality industry is intensely aware of these negative perceptions.
As a result, hotel/motel chains and associations regularly inspect their franchisees' facilities. Penalties are assessed for sub-standard conditions. Dirty, unsightly shower stalls and tubs are second only to linens for assessed penalties. Penalties can result in reduced bonuses for managers, loss of franchise rights, demotions, even dismissal. The severity of these penalties has motivated the hospitality industry to find a cost-effective solution to this decades-old problem.
To date, one of the few viable approaches uses yet another abrasive. This particular product uses a jeweler's rouge, which greatly reduces the wear-down of the ridges, but can take hours for complete cleaning of the non-skid surfaces. And, bottom line, though minimized, degradation still occurs.
A new approach is needed which comprises a 2-pronged attack using a single cleaning formulation. First, that formulation must comprise a non-abrasive cleaner that can effectively remove the afore-described accumulation. Second, the formulation must facilitate a preventative maintenance program whereunder once-cleaned units and new units do not experience this problem. Applicant's cleaning composition and method squarely meet both requirements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Applicants' novel invention comprises a composition and a method to clean shower stall floors and bathtub floors. Applicant's cleaning composition is formed by combining a first solvent, a second solvent, a third solvent, a first surfactant, and a second surfactant. Applicant's first solvent comprises a polar solvent having a dielectric constant &egr; of at least 15.0, and preferably at least 30.0. Applicant's second solvent comprises a non-polar solvent having a dielectric constant &egr; less than 3.0. Applicant's third solvent comprises one or a plurality of ester compounds. Applicant's first surfactant is preferably a nonionic surfactant having an HLB of between about 7 and about 10. Applicant's second surfactant is preferably a nonionic surfactant having an HLB of between about 11 and about 15.
Applicant has found that the undesirable “gray” areas disposed on the floors of shower stalls and bathtubs comprises oligomeric/polymeric residues containing entrapped particulate matter. These oligomeric/polymeric residues are formed over time from soap oils, bath oils, and body oils. Applicant's cleaning method comprises depolymerizing these oligomeric/polymeric residues to form lower molecular weight compounds. This depolymerization is effected by the polar solvent component of Applicant's cleaning composition.
These lower molecular weight are then dissolved in the second solvent and/or third solvent component of Applicant's cleaning composition. This solvent mixture containing the dissolved lower molecular weight compounds is emulsified in water using the first surfactant and/or second surfactant. That emulsified solvent is then rinsed away using water.
In addition, Applicant has found that depolymerization of the oligomeric/polymeric resides releases the entrapped particulate matter. That released particulate matter is then also emulsified in water using the first surfactant and/or second surfactant, and rinsed away.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Applicant has found that the above-described accumulation of unsightly material in the non-skid valleys of molded shower/tub floors is not merely simple soil and/or dirt. Quite to the contrary, Applicant has discovered that this agglomerate actually comprises a layered build-up of soap oils, bath oils, and body oils. These various organic compounds oligomerize/polymerize over time upon exposure to ambient air. By oligomerization, Applicant means the formation of higher molecular weight compounds from lower molecular weight compounds, wherein the higher molecular weight compounds comprise liquids, viscous liquids, and semi-solid materials. By polymerization, Applicant means the formation of high molecular weight compounds from lower molecular weight compounds, wherein the higher molecular weight materials comprise solid materials.
The resulting layers of oligomers and/or polymers entrap particulates, including dirt, soils, incompletely polymerized oils, and the like. Applicant has discovered that such oligomers/polymers, including the entrapped particulates, comprise the “accumulation” discussed above.
Applicant has further discovered that these oligomeric/polymeric materials, with their entrapped particulates, chemically
Boyer Charles
Regelman Dale F.
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