Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-25
2002-03-19
Delcotto, Gregory (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
C510S311000, C510S312000, C510S315000, C510S349000, C510S376000, C510S377000, C510S295000, C510S446000, C008S111000, C008S137000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06358902
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a non-particulate detergent product, and particularly to a non-particulate detergent product containing bleach activator particles dispersed within a high density compressed detergent matrix for improved bleach activator activity, stability and performance.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Surface bleaching of textiles is a bleaching mechanism that occurs on the textile surface and, thereby, removes stains and/or soils. Typical bleaching compositions contain peroxygen bleaches capable of yielding hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solutions and bleach activators to enhance bleach performance. It has long been known that peroxygen bleaches are effective for stain and/or soil removal from textiles, but that they are also extremely temperature dependent. Such bleaches are essentially only practicable and/or effective in bleaching solutions, i.e., a bleach and water mixture, wherein the solution temperature is above about 60° C. At bleach solution temperatures of about 60° C., peroxygen bleaches are only partially effective and, therefore, in order to obtain a desirable level of bleaching performance extremely high levels of peroxygen bleach must be added to the system. This is economically impracticable for large-scale commercialization of modern detergent products. As the bleach solution temperature is lowered below 60° C., peroxygen bleaches are rendered ineffective, regardless of the level of peroxygen bleach added to the system. The temperature dependence of peroxygen bleaches is significant because such bleaches are commonly used as a detergent adjuvant in textile wash processes that utilize an automatic household washing machine at wash water temperatures below 60° C. Such wash temperatures are utilized because of textile care and energy considerations. As a consequence of such a wash process, there has been much industrial research to develop substances, generally referred to as bleach activators, that render peroxygen bleaches effective at bleach solution temperatures below 60° C.
Numerous substances have been disclosed in the art as effective bleach activators. For example, bleach activators having the general formula
wherein R is an alkyl group and L is a leaving group, have been disclosed in the art. Such bleach activators have typically been incorporated into detergent products as an admixed granule, agglomerate or other type of particle. However, one problem with such bleach activators is maintaining the stability of the activator prior to use by the consumer. The bleach activator granule or agglomerate has a tendency to degrade over time which is exacerbated by exposure to environmental effects such as heat and humidity. As a consequence of this, the granule, agglomerate or other particulate form of the bleach activator must be relatively large in comparison to the other detergent ingredients in a typical granular detergent product. This, in turn, causes another problem associated with detergent product segregation in that the larger bleach activator particles tend to accumulate at or near the top of the detergent box while relatively smaller particle sized detergent ingredients accumulate at or near the bottom of the box. Additionally, particle segregation occurs during the detergent manufacturing process, leading to increased box to box variability for the detergent active ingredients. The net result of such an undesirable product segregation is decreased performance since the user scoops the product from the top to the bottom and each scoop has a disproportionate amount of bleach activator or other detergent ingredient, and similarly, the performance of product from different boxes is affected by variance in the detergent composition.
Thus, it is desirable to have a detergent product containing a bleach activator which has improved stability prior to use, and which does not significantly segregate prior to packaging or while stored in the detergent product box. Additionally, it is desirable to have a detergent composition which also has acceptable physical properties, for example, acceptable flow properties for bulk handling of the composition as part of large-scale detergent manufacturing.
Yet another problem with the aforementioned bleach activators relates to the inability to advertise the sanitization effects of the above-mentioned bleach/bleach activator systems on fabrics. Currently, most government regulation agencies require that sanitization advertising claims for fabric care can only be made if a relatively high level of microbes are consistently removed from the laundered fabrics as a result of using the bleach-containing detergent product. In the past, however, the relatively large granule, agglomerate or other particle form of the bleach activator has inhibited such sanitization advertising claims in that the product segregation effects of such larger particles prevented the consistent removal of high levels of microbes from the laundered fabrics. The bleach/bleach activator delivery during the laundering process varied too widely to satisfy most governmental agency requirements for sanitization advertising claims. It is therefore desirable to have a bleach-containing detergent product which can be used to sanitize fabrics.
Accordingly, there remains a need in the art to have a detergent product containing a bleach activator which has improved stability prior to use. Also, there is a need in the art for a detergent product containing a bleach activator which does not significantly segregate while stored in the detergent product box and has acceptable physical properties. Yet another need in the art remains for such a detergent product which has a more consistent bleach/bleach activator delivery.
Non-particulate detergents are an attractive alternative to granular or particulate forms of detergents from the standpoint of simplifying the dosing of such detergents for automatic laundry or dishwashing machines. Non-particulate detergents are usually supplied in the form of bars, tablets or briquettes and they not only prevent spillage of the detergent composition but also eliminate the need for the consumer to estimate the correct dosage of the detergent composition per wash. Non-particulate detergents minimize the contact by the consumer with the detergent.
The present invention exploits some of the advantages of non-particulate detergents and also solves some of the problems associated with particulate detergent compositions containing bleach and bleach activators.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a non-particulate detergent product containing bleach activator particles which have good stability prior to use and acceptable physical properties. It is also an object of the invention to provide a non-particulate detergent product containing bleach activator particles which do not segregate while stored in the detergent product box. Another object of the invention is to provide such a detergent product which can be used to sanitize fabrics. These and other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims.
BACKGROUND ART
The following references relate to detergent compositions containing bleach activators and/or antimicrobials: U.S. Pat. No. 4,412,934 to Chung et al (Procter & Gamble); U.S. Pat. No. 5,021,182 to Jentsch (Roman A. Epp); U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,434 to Oakes et al (Ecolab) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,422,950 to Kemper et al (Lever Brothers Company). The following references relate to tableted detergents: GB-A-0 989 683, published on Apr. 22nd 1965, discloses a process for preparing a particulate detergent from surfactants and inorganic salts; spraying on water-soluble silicate; and pressing the detergent particles into a solid form-retaining tablet. Finally a readily water-soluble organic film-forming polymer (for example, polyvinyl alcohol) provides a coating to make the detergent tablet resistant to abr
Angell Adrian John Waynforth
Zorb Les Charles
Delcotto Gregory
Dressman Marianne
Miller Steven W.
The Procter & Gamble & Company
William Zerby Kim
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