Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Auxiliary compositions for cleaning – or processes of preparing – Textile softening or antistatic composition
Reexamination Certificate
2002-12-02
2004-09-28
Hardee, John (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Auxiliary compositions for cleaning, or processes of preparing
Textile softening or antistatic composition
C510S522000, C510S527000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06797688
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to stable, homogeneous, preferably concentrated, aqueous liquid textile treatment compositions containing softening compounds, preferably, biodegradable, and cationic polymers. In particular, it especially relates to textile softening compositions for use in the rinse cycle of a textile laundering operation to provide excellent fabric softening/static control benefits, as well as a range of other benefits, the compositions being characterized by excellent storage and viscosity stability, as well as, superior fabric softening performance.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The art discloses many problems associated with formulating and preparing stable fabric conditioning formulations. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,904,533, Neiditch et al. issued Sep. 9, 1975. Japanese Laid Open Publication 1,249,129, filed Oct. 4, 1989, discloses a problem with dispersing fabric softener actives containing two long hydrophobic chains interrupted by ester linkages (“diester quaternary ammonium compounds”) and solves it by rapid mixing. U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,414, Chang, issued Nov. 19, 1991, teaches and claims compositions containing mixtures of quaternary ammonium salts containing at least one ester linkage, nonionic surfactant such as a linear alkoxylated alcohol, and liquid carrier for improved stability and dispersibility. U.S. Pat. No. 4,767,547, Straathof et al., issued Aug. 30, 1988, claims compositions containing either diester, or monoester quaternary ammonium compounds where the nitrogen has either one, two, or three methyl groups, stabilized by maintaining a critical low pH of from 2.5 to 4.2.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,401,578, Verbruggen, issued Aug. 30, 1983 discloses hydrocarbons, fatty acids, fatty acid esters, and fatty alcohols as viscosity control agents for fabric softeners (the fabric softeners are disclosed as optionally comprising ester linkages in the hydrophobic chains). WO 89/115 22-A (DE 3,818,061-A; EP-346,634-A), with a priority of May 27, 1988, discloses diester quaternary ammonium fabric softener components plus a fatty acid. European Pat. No. 243,735 discloses sorbitan esters plus diester quaternary ammonium compounds to improve dispersions of concentrated softener compositions.
Diester quaternary ammonium compounds with a fatty acid, alkyl sulfate, or alkyl sulfonate anion are disclosed in European Pat. No. 336,267-A with a priority of Apr. 2, 1988. U.S. Pat. No. 4,808,321, Walley, issued Feb. 28, 1989, teaches fabric softener compositions comprising monoester analogs of ditallow dimethyl ammonium chloride which are dispersed in a liquid carrier as sub-micron particles through high shear mixing, or particles can optionally be stabilized with emulsifiers such as nonionic C
14-18
ethoxylates.
E.P. Appln. 243,735, Nusslein et al., published Nov. 4, 1987, discloses sorbitan ester plus diester quaternary ammonium compounds to improve dispersibility of concentrated dispersions.
E.P. Appln. 409,502, Tandela et al., published Jan. 23, 1991, discloses, e.g., ester quaternary ammonium compounds, and a fatty acid material or its salt.
E.P. Appln. 240,727, Nusslein et al., priority date of Mar. 12, 1986, teaches diester quaternary ammonium compounds with soaps or fatty acids for improved dispersibility in water.
The art also teaches compounds that alter the structure of diester quaternary ammonium compounds by substituting, e.g., a hydroxy ethyl for a methyl group or a polyalkoxy group for the alkoxy group in the two hydrophobic chains. Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 3,915,867, Kang et al., issued Oct. 28, 1975, discloses the substitution of a hydroxyethyl group for a methyl group. A softener material with specific cis/trans content in the long hydrophobic groups is disclosed in Jap. Pat. Appln. 63-194316, filed Nov. 21, 1988. Jap. Pat. Appln. 4-333,667, published Nov. 20, 1992, teaches liquid softener compositions containing diester quaternary ammonium compounds having a total saturated:unsaturated ratio in the ester alkyl groups of 2:98 to 30:70.
The art teaches the addition of cationic polymers to rinse added fabric softening compositions for a variety of benefits. U.S. Pat. 4,386,000, (EPA 0,043,622), Turner, Dovey, and Macgilp, discloses such polymers as part of a viscosity control system in relatively concentrated compositions containing relatively non-biodegradable softener actives. U.S. Pat. No. 4,237,016, (EPA 0,002,085), Rudkin, Clint, and Young, disclose such materials as part of softening compositions with low levels of relatively non-biodegradable fabric softening actives to make them more effective and to allow substitution of nonionic fabric softening actives for part of the softener. U.S. Pat. No. 4,179,382, Rudkin, Clint, and Young, also discloses the softener improvement that can be obtained with relatively non-biodegradable fabric softener actives by incorporating cationic polymers. Recently, it has also been discovered that such polymers also can improve dye fastness, protect fabrics against residual hypochlorite bleach, etc.
All of the above patents and patent applications are incorporated herein by reference.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides textile softening compositions with excellent static control, softening, dye protection, and/or bleach protection, having good storage stability for concentrated aqueous compositions and improved performance. In addition, these compositions provide these benefits under worldwide laundering conditions and minimize the use of extraneous ingredients for stability and static control to decrease environmental chemical load.
The fabric softening compounds of the present invention are quaternary ammonium compounds, preferably relatively biodegradable, due to their containing ester and/or amide linkages, preferably ester linkages, wherein the fatty acyl groups (1) preferably have an IV of from greater than about 5 to less than about 140, (2) preferably a cis/trans isomer weight ratio of greater than about 30/70 when the IV is less than about 25, and/or (3) the level of unsaturation preferably being less than about 65% by weight, wherein said compounds are capable of forming concentrated aqueous compositions with concentrations greater than about 13% by weight.
The compositions can be aqueous liquids, preferably concentrated, containing from about 2% to about 60%, preferably from about 10% to about 50%, more preferably from about 15% to about 40%, and even more preferably from about 20% to about 35%, of said preferably biodegradable, preferably diester, softening compound and from about 0.001% to about 10%, preferably from about 0.01% to about 5%, more preferably from about 0.1% to about 2%, of cationic polymer, typically having a molecular weight of from about 500 to about 1,000,000, preferably from about 1,000 to about 500,000, more preferably from about 1,000 to about 250,000, and even more preferably from about 2,000 to about 100,000 and a charge density of at least about 0.01 meq/gm., preferably from about 0.1 to about 8 meq/gm., more preferably from about 0.5 to about 7, and even more preferably from about 2 to about 6. In order to provide the benefits of the cationic polymers, and especially cationic polymers containing amine, or imine, groups, said cationic polymer is primarily in the continuous aqueous phase.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THIE INVENTION
The Fabric Softening Compounds
The fabric softening compounds can include the relatively non-biodegradable compounds disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,386,000; U.S. Pat. No. 4,237,016; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,179,382, incorporated hereinbefore by reference. Other fabric softening compounds are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,103,047, Zaki et al., issued Jul. 25, 1978; 4,237,155, Kardouche, issued Dec. 2, 1980; 3,686,025, Morton, issued Aug. 22, 1972; 3,849,435, Diery et al., issued Nov. 19, 1974; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,073,996, Bedenk, issued Feb. 14, 1978; U.S. Pat. No. 4,661,269, Toan Trinh, Errol H. Wahl, Donald M. Swartley and Ronald L. Hemingway, issued Apr. 28, 1987; U.S. Pat. Nos.: 3,408,361, Mannheimer, issued Oct. 29, 1968; 4,
Cooper Megan A.
Trinh Toan
Wahl Errol Hoffman
Ward Richard Martin
Camp Jaon J.
Hardee John
The Procter & Gamble & Company
Upite David V.
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