Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-04
2004-04-27
Douyon, Lorna M. (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
C510S294000, C510S446000, C510S475000, C008S137000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06727216
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a composition for use in a washing machine and to a process for the use thereof.
Although modern washing machines usually have numerous different washing programs, which differ with respect to the duration and temperature of the individual washing and rinsing cycles, a washing programs essentially comprise the following basic steps: prewashing cycle, main washing cycle, several rinsing cycles and spinning cycle. Whilst the actual detergent which is intended to give rise to the cleaning action is added at the start of the main washing cycle (or optionally at the start of the prewashing cycle), during the rinsing cycles special agents with different functions can be used. These special agents for the rinsing cycles are intended to mainly bring about further advantages for the washing treatment. A non-exhaustive list of such agents and without restriction thereto comprises fragrances (pleasant smell of the washing), fabric softeners (softness of the washing), antistatic agents reduction or prevention of the build-up of static electricity in the washing), agents for restoring the capacity of the washing to absorb moisture, mild acids (beaking down incrustations or neutralization of alkalinity), bleaches, either having an oxygen or a chlorine base (improving the cleaning action), disinfectants, agents for a persistent protection of both the washing and the person wearing the latter against insects or cites, agents for an improved removal of grease marks, finishing agents giving a protection against creasing, optical brighteners, ironing auxiliaries (to facilitate ironing of the washing), agents for inhibiting dye transfer, enzymes such as cellulases, lipases, etc. for special uses.
The described different functionalities have hitherto been achieved (if at all) by charging different products, partly via separate dosing or charging devices, as well as charging at different times.
The aim of the present invention was to combine within a single product the cleaning function and the function or functions of the substance or substances to be added during the rinsing cycles, with a constant efficiency compared with the results achievable with a separate dosing or charging, or to permit the charging of further substances in the rinsing cycles. DE-OS 20 65 153 and DE-OS 20 07 413 disclose detergent pellets for use as washing agents, in which it is inter alia provided to combine two components with different functionalities. The structure is formed from a covering or enveloping shell, which is e.g. formed from two shell halves, which comprise a cleaning agent, and a cavity surrounded by the shells and which contains additives such as softeners, brighteners, etc.
British patent 1 390 503 discloses a liquid cleaning agent or detergent which contains capsules, which are insoluble in the composition, but release their content when the composition is diluted with water. This objective is achieved in that the capsules are coated with a substance, which has a poor solubility in water solutions with a high ionic strength, but which is soluble if the ionic strength is reduced by dilution. It is pointed out that this procedure can be used in order to incorporate materials into the liquid cleaning agent, which in the latter are unstable or would produce an instability if added directly. It is also proposed to use this procedure for delaying the release of a specific substance. Reference is made to use in detergents. The encapsulated material is released within two minutes following the dilution of the cleaning agent with water, i.e. during the main washing cycle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,678 describes a fabric conditioner, which comprises a closed container containing a releasable agent and which is used for making water-insoluble or non-dispersible an inner container located in the first container and which is normally water-soluble or water-dispersible, the inner container containing a fabric conditioner. The inner container comprises a substance, whose solubility in water is highly dependent on the ionic strength or the pH-value of the medium and the agent used for rendering the inner container insoluble is an agent for controlling the pH-value or the ionic strength.
Japanese patent applications KOKAI 60-141705, 61-28440, 61-28441, 61-28596, 61-28597 and 61-28598 describe processes for the production of pH-sensitive microcapsules for use in detergents. The pH-sensitive coating is a copolymer of the following monomers:
A) at least one basic monomer of formula I:
in which R is hydrogen or a methyl group and R
1
and R
2
in each case an alkyl group with 1 to 3 carbon atoms and x is an integer from 1 to 4,
B) at least one monomer which is insoluble or difficultly soluble in water and
C) at least one water-soluble monomer.
It is pointed out that the described polymers are insoluble at a pH-value of 9.5 or higher and are soluble at a pH-value of 8.5 or lower. Different ingredients of cleaning agent compositions are described, which can be successfully and usefully coated with, the described polymers. The aim of the invention described therein is to protect substances, which only evolve their function during the rinsing process up to the start of the latter and then to release them as immediately as possible. A disadvantage of the solution described in these Japanese patent applications is that the enveloped particles are in direct contact with non-alkaline washing water at the start of the washing cycle, which can give rise to a partial dissolving of the protective covering.
Japanese patent KOKAI 50-77406 discloses a washing aid, which is surrounded by a water-soluble covering or envelope, obtained by mixing polyvinyl acetal dialkyl aminoacetate and at least one organic acid, which is solid at room temperature. This protective envelope is intended to protect the washing aid during the main washing cycle one to release it during rinsing cycles. The described compound reacts to the pH-value change between the main washing cycle and the rinsing cycle. Here again the disadvantage exists of a possible partial dissolving of the protective envelope at the start of the washing cycle.
European patent applications EP 284 191 A2 and EP 284 334 A2 disclose a water-soluble polymer film for releasing washing additives during the rinsing cycle of washing machines, remaining intact during the normal washing cycle over a range of typical temperatures and rapidly dissolving during the rinsing cycle. These applications point out that the use of pH-sensitive coatings was admittedly known, but that these films are normally also temperature-sensitive, so that they do not remain reliably stable during the different temperatures of the washing cycle. The solution proposed is a pH-dependent material (which undesirably also has a positive, temperature-dependent dissolving behaviour) which is combined with a material having a negative, temperature-dependent dissolving behaviour. This combination is supposed to guarantee that the coatings do not dissolve at the high temperatures at the start of the washing cycle (in particular the very high temperatures occurring in American machines).
European patent application EP 481 547 A1 discloses multilayer dishwashing machine tablets having a core, a separating layer surrounding the core and an outer layer for the sequential release of the ingredients of the different layers. This tablet is fundamentally intended to solve two problems, namely
1) incompatible materials can be formulated together in a single tablet and released at different times in order to avoid mutual influencing and
2) compositions, which are intended to evolve their functions at different times, can be formulated in a single tablet.
An essential disadvantage of this prior art is that for initiating dissolving of the covering layer the temperature is used as the initiating factor, i.e. temperature-sensitive materials are used for the covering material. As the temperature/time pattern in washing machines can differ very considerably as a function of the selected program it would be diffi
Bosco Manuela
Carbonell Enric
Clotet Joan
Cordellina Antonio
Franzolin Giorgio
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld & LLP
Douyon Lorna M.
Reckitt Benckiser N.V.
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