Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – Solid – shaped macroscopic article or structure
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-24
2002-03-19
Douyon, Lorna M. (Department: 1951)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
Solid, shaped macroscopic article or structure
C510S101000, C510S224000, C510S294000, C510S298000, C510S441000, C510S470000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06358911
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a detergent tablet comprising a compressed portion and a non compressed portion wherein the non compressed portion comprises a perfume component.
BACKGROUND
Detergent compositions are well-known in the art. However, consumer acceptance of detergent compositions is determined not only by the detergency performance achieved but also the aesthetics associated therewith. The perfume components of a detergent is therefore an important aspect of the successful formulation of such compositions.
Perfumes are generally available in liquid form and traditionally have be incorporated into detergent compositions by spraying the liquid perfume onto a pre-mixed particulate detergent composition. Detergent tablets are then produced by forming the detergent composition in tablets using suitable equipment, for example a tablet press.
Perfumes are highly reactive, volatile chemicals. Such chemicals may interact with the atmosphere or components of the detergent composition. Such interaction may result in the perfume undergoing a chemical reaction that changes the chemical formula of the perfume causing it to lose its capacity to emit the desired perfume. Alternatively, the perfume may undergo a reaction that results in the chemical emitting a different perfume that may be unpleasant or offensive. In additional to the above, volatile perfumes evaporate on storage resulting in the loss of perfume concentration. Another problem associated with perfume evaporation on storage is the build-up of perfume accumulates in the packaging in which the detergent composition is stored and then sold. Thus on opening the package the consumer is confronted with an excessively strong perfume which can be unpleasant and undesirable. The problems as outlined above are particularly noticeable in detergent tablets.
As described above detergent tablets are prepared from a particulate detergent composition onto which a liquid perfume component has previously been sprayed. The particulate detergent composition is poured into the tablet press and then compressed to form a tablet. The perfume component and other components of the detergent composition are forced into close proximity with each other, increasing the likelihood for interaction between the components. In addition tablets are generally porous, trapping atmospheric gases inside the detergent tablet, again increasing the likelihood for interaction of the perfume component with the atmosphere.
A solution to these problems as proposed in the art is to encapsulate the perfume or otherwise inhibit it from emitting the perfume. Perfume encapsulation does not however solve the above problems with respect to detergent tablets since it is believed that during the tabletting process, the perfume encapsulates are compressed and the perfume becomes exposed to the atmosphere and other detergent components.
The Applicant has found that by preparing a detergent tablet comprising a compressed portion and a non-compressed portion as described in the Applicant's copending) application number GB 2,327,949 (attorney docket No. CM 1572F) an encapsulated perfume can be incorporated into the tablet. In addition the Applicant has also found that pro-perfumes and liquid perfumes are more stable when incorporated into the non-compressed portion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a detergent tablet comprising a compressed portion and a non-compressed portion wherein the compressed portion is prepared using a compression pressure of greater than 6.3 KN/cm
2
and the non-compressed portion comprises a perfume component.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a detergent tablet comprising a compressed portion and a non-compressed portion wherein the non-compressed portion dissolves at a faster rate than the compressed portion on a weight by weight basis as measured by the SOTAX dissolution method described herein and the non-compressed portion comprises a perfume component.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a detergent tablet comprising a compressed portion and a non-compressed portion wherein the compressed portion comprises a bleaching agent and the non-compressed portion comprises a perfume component.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a detergent tablet comprising a compressed portion, a non-compressed portion and a perfume component wherein the perfume component is suspended in or dispersed within the non-compressed portion.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Compressed portion
The compressed portion of the detergent tablet comprises at least one, but preferably a mixture of detergent components. Any detergent component conventionally used in known detergents is suitable for incorporation into the compressed portion of the detergent tablets of this invention. Suitable detergent components are described hereinafter. Preferred detergent components include builder compound, surfactant, bleaching agent, bleach activator, bleach catalyst, enzyme and an alkalinity source.
The detergent components are preferably prepared in particulate form (i.e. powder or granular form) and may be prepared by any known method, for example conventional spray drying, granulation or agglomeration. The detergent component(s) are premixed and any liquid detergent components are sprayed onto the particulate detergent components during premixing. The premix is then compressed using any suitable equipment suitable for forming compressed tablets, blocks, bricks or briquettes; described in more detail hereafter.
Non-Compressed Portion
The non-compressed portion comprises a perfume component, but may also comprise one or more detergent components as described hereinafter. The non-compressed portion and/or components of the non-compressed portion may be in particulate (i.e. powder or granular), gel or liquid form. The non-compressed portion in addition to comprising a perfume component and optional detergent components, may also optionally comprise a carrier component.
In an alternative aspect of the present invention the non-compressed portion preferably dissolves at a temperature of less than 30° C. and/or at a faster rate than the compressed portion on a weight by weight basis as measured by the SOTAX dissolution test method described below.
SOTAX Dissolution Test Method:
The SOTAX machine consists of a temperature controlled waterbath with lid. 7 pots are suspended in the water bath. 7 electric stirring rods are suspended from the underside of the lid, in positions corresponding to the position of the pots in the waterbath. The lid of the waterbath also serves as a lid on the pots.
The SOTAX waterbath is filled with water and the temperature gauge set to 50° C. Each pot is then filled with 1 litre of deionised water and the stirrer set to revolve at 250 rpm. The lid of the waterbath is closed, allowing the temperature of the deionised water in the pots to equilibrate with the water in the waterbath for 1 hour.
Equal weight of the compressed and non-compressed portions are weighed out. The compressed portion is placed in a first pot and the non-compressed portion is placed in a second pot. The lid is then closed. The compressed and non-compressed portions are visually monitored until they completely dissolves. The time is noted when the compressed portion and the non-compressed portions have completely dissolved. The dissolution rates of the compressed portion and non-compressed portions are calculated as the average weight (g) of each portion dissolved in deionised water per minute.
In another preferred aspect the non-compressed portion comprises a first and a second and optionally subsequent non-compressed portions. In this aspect it is also preferred that the first non-compressed portion and the second non-compressed and optionally subsequent non-compressed portions have different rates of dissolution.
The detergent tablet of the present invention requires that the non-compressed portion be delivered to the com
Douyon Lorna M.
Hasse Don E.
The Procter & Gamble & Company
Waugh Kevin L.
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