Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – Liquid composition
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-03
2003-11-04
Mruk, Brian P. (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
Liquid composition
C510S119000, C510S130000, C510S413000, C510S421000, C510S470000, C510S476000, C510S477000, C510S488000, C510S533000, C424S487000, C424S070160
Reexamination Certificate
active
06642198
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a clear, thickened detergent composition having superior clarity and spreadability, and methods for thickening such compositions. More specifically the present invention is directed to such compositions thickened with both a hydrophobically modified acrylic polymeric thickener and a polyol alkoxy ester thickener.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Surfactant systems that are mild to hair, skin, eyes, and ocular mucosa, such as that found in “NO MORE TEARS” ® baby shampoo available from Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc., were developed in order to lessen eye sting during the shampooing process. Another way to further lessen the chance of eye sting is by thickening the resulting surfactant composition with the goal of minimizing the opportunity for the product to flow into the eyes.
A well-known thickener in the art are the polyol alkoxy esters. However, when such thickeners are added to detergent compositions at high concentrations, the resulting detergent compositions become relatively hazy and possess poor spreading characteristics.
Other well-known thickeners include the hydrophobically modified acrylic polymers. Although the use of these thickeners at relatively high concentrations will not deleteriously affect the clarity of the detergent compositions, the resulting compositions are not only irritating to the eyes but also fail to produce a detergent composition having a viscosity within the range suitable for gels.
Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to find a thickener or combination of thickening agents that will provide highly viscous, clear detergent compositions that are relatively mild to the skin and eyes.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention relates, in one of its aspects, to a detergent composition comprising:
a) a hydrophobically modified acrylic copolymer thickener;
b) a polyol alkoxy ester thickener; and
c) at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of an anionic surfactant, a non-ionic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, a betaine surfactant, and mixtures thereof, wherein the composition contains greater than about 1%, based upon the total weight of the composition, of the polyol alkoxy ester thickener.
Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method for improving the clarity of a polyol alkoxy ester-containing detergent composition comprised of
a) combining a sufficient amount of a hydrophobically modified acrylic thickener with said composition under conditions sufficient.
Yet another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method for improving the spreadability of a detergent composition comprised of
a) adding a sufficient amount of a hydrophobically modified acrylic thickener and a sufficient amount of a polyol alkoxy ester to the detergent composition under conditions sufficient.
We have unexpectedly found that surfactant-containing compositions containing both a hydrophobically modified acrylic thickener and a polyol alkoxy ester are not only clear, sufficiently viscous, and possess superior spreadability properties, but they are also relatively mild to the skin and eyes.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
For purposes of this invention, the term “pH responsive” shall mean that the properties and characteristics of the acrylic copolymer vary with pH. More specifically, the acrylic copolymer is generally insoluble at a pH of less than about 2, but dissolves or swells in an aqueous solution that possesses a neutral or alkaline pH.
The first component in the composition of the present invention is a hydrophobically modified, pH responsive acrylic polymeric thickener. Examples of suitable acrylic polymeric thickeners include, but are not limited to those comprised of, based upon the total weight of the thickener,:
a) from about greater than 0 percent to less than about 100 percent of an ester of acrylic acid; an ester of methacrylic acid; an ester of itaconic acid; an ester of acrylic acid copolymerized with an alkylated or alkoxylated fatty alcohol having a straight chain alkyl group containing from about 2 to about 40, preferably from about 8 to about 35 carbon atoms, and more preferably from about 12 to about 30 carbon atoms, and a degree of ethoxylation of from about 2 to about 250 moles, preferably from about 10 to about 150 moles and more preferably from about 10 to about 50 moles; an ester of methacrylic acid copolymerized with the above-described alkoxylated fatty alcohol; an ester of itaconic acid copolymerized with the above-described alkoxylated fatty alcohol; and mixtures and copolymers thereof; and
b) from about greater than 0 percent to less than about 100 percent of a monomer of acrylic acid, itaconic acid, methacrylic acid, or mixtures thereof.
Preferred acrylic polymeric thickeners include:
(1) copolymers comprised of: (a) an ester of a methacrylic acid or itaconic acid copolymerized with Steareth-20, Cetheth 20, or Steareth 20; and (b) one or more monomers of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, or mixtures thereof;
(2) copolymers comprised of (a) an alkyl acrylate having from about 10 to about 30 carbon atoms; and (b) one or more monomers of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, or mixtures thereof; and
(3) copolymers comprised of mixtures of (1) and (2), wherein the copolymer of (2) is further crosslinked with an allyl ether of a polyhydroxy compound such as pentaerythritol, sucrose, or mixtures thereof.
An example of a preferred acrylic polymeric thickener is the acrylates/steareth-20 methacrylate copolymer, which is commercially available through International Specialty Products (“ISP”) under the tradename, “ACULYN 22.” Another example of a preferred acrylic polymeric thickener is the acrylates/ceteth-20 itaconate copolymer, which is commercially available from National Starch and Chemical Company under the tradename, “STRUCTURE 3000/3001.” Yet another example of a preferred acrylic polymeric thickener is the acrylates/steareth-20 itaconate copolymer, which is commercially available from National Starch and Chemical Company under the tradename, “STRUCTURE 2000/2001.” A further example of a preferred acrylic polymeric thickener is the acrylates/alkyl C10-30 acrylate copolymer, which is commercially available from B.F. Goodrich Company under the tradenames, “PEMULEN” and “CARBOPOL.”
Other suitable acrylic polymeric thickeners include those set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,552,685, which is incorporated by reference herein. Examples of such suitable polymeric thickeners include those surfactant ester copolymers of (a) an alpha-beta ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid; (b) a nonionic surfactant ester of an alpha, beta ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid; and (c) a polymeric chain extender of an alpha, beta ethylenically unsaturated monomer copolymerizable with the unsaturated carboxylic acid and unsaturated surfactant ester. Preferably such thickeners include, based upon the total weight of the monomer thickener, from about 15 percent to about 60 percent of monomer (a), from about 1 percent to about 30 percent of monomer (b), and from about 15 percent to about 80 percent of monomer (c). to about 30 percent of monomer (b), and from about 15 percent to about 80 percent of monomer (c).
Examples of suitable alpha-beta ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids include those of the formula I.:
Wherein
R is —H, —COOX, or —CH
3
;
R′ is —H, an alkyl group having from about 2 to about 50 carbon atoms, preferably from about 6 to about 24 carbon atoms or —CH
2
COOX; and
X is —H or an alkyl group having from about 2 to about 50 carbon atoms, preferably from about 6 to about 24 carbon atoms.
Examples of suitable unsaturated surfactant esters include those of the formula II.:
Wherein:
R is H or CH
3
;
R″ is an alkyl group or alkylphenyl group having from about 2 to about 50 carbon atoms, preferably from about 6 to about 24 carbon atoms.
Each R′ individually is —H, —CH
3
, or —C
2
H
5
;
n is an integer from about 0 to about 100;
m is an integer from about 0 to about 100; and
the sum of m&p
Friscia Diana L.
Librizzi Joseph J.
Pflederer Christine A.
Santora Delores M.
Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Inc.
Mangini Michele G.
Mruk Brian P.
LandOfFree
Clear cleansing detergent systems does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Clear cleansing detergent systems, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Clear cleansing detergent systems will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3170437