Perfume compositions – Perfume compositions – Nonliquid or encapsulated
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-03
2002-03-26
Dawson, Robert (Department: 1712)
Perfume compositions
Perfume compositions
Nonliquid or encapsulated
C510S513000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06362159
ABSTRACT:
This invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to domestic care products.
In the field of domestic care products, it is a common practice to incorporate so-called functional fragrances as perfumes into the composition of the product. These fragrances are complex mixtures of selected odiferous materials. Their precise compositions are frequently held as proprietary by their suppliers. They may be viewed as a blend with a top note continuing into a middle note and on to an end note being a function of relative volatility and odour strength of the materials present in the fragrance.
The fragrances used in cleaning products serve several functions, including masking of the inherent smell of the soaps, enzymes, surfactants and the like present in them. Stability of the fragrance in the domestic care product is dependent to some extent on the reactivity with other materials present in the composition. For example, in detergents, the practices of providing highly concentrated compositions and of incorporating bleaches or enzymes into the detergent affect the stability of the hitherto preferred fragrances.
Fragrances for laundry products are chosen to provide an odour which is perceived as pleasing by the user and this benefit may manifest itself not only at the time of purchase of the laundry product, but also during storage of the product, during the wash cycle using the product, handling the wet laundry articles, during the drying process, during ironing of fabrics laundered therewith and during subsequent storage and use of the laundered fabric. In this aspect, the fragrances demonstrate the variety of the tones referred to above inasmuch as they provide an attractive odour on the shelf, mask the detergent smell, provide a fresh sensation when the washing machine is opened after a wash cycle and provide a fresh smell during ironing.
In certain conditions, the lifetime of the Head or Top Note of fragrances in powder form detergent type products is relatively short inasmuch as 50% of the fragrance has been dissipated within two weeks and effectively all of it in four weeks storage at room conditions. In order to provide a sufficient persistence of the fragrance it is common practice to incorporate the fragrance in large proportions.
To increase the effect of fragrances various techniques have been described. Some describe special fragrances such as the proaccords (WO/98/07405). Other describe special encapsulation methods. For example, WO98/41607 describes perfume particles comprising a glassy material such as hydrogenated starch hydrolysates, sucrose, glucose. U.S. Pat. No. 4,973,422 describes perfume particles with a pH sensitive coating comprising acrylic resins, cellulose acetate phthalate and cellulose acetate trimellitate.
We have now found that fragrance may be employed in relatively small proportions and yet deliver fragrance to a domestic care product by the use of certain silicone polymers that will protect the fragrance and will enable a controlled release of the fragrance over a prolonged period of time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides in one of its aspects a domestic care product comprising a fragrance particle wherein the fragrance particle comprises a fragrance composition and at least one silicone polymer having a melting point of at least 10° C., provided that at least 20% of the silicone atoms in the silicone polymer have a substituent of 16 carbon atoms or more.
Preferably the fragrance particle comprises a silicone polymer with a melting point of at least 10° C., preferably from 10 to 200° C., more preferably from 15 to 180° C., even more preferably from 25 to 95° C.
In a product according to the invention, the fragrance particle may comprise a cross-linked, a linear or branched organic additive that is mixed with the silicone polymer. The present invention provides in yet another of its aspects a product comprising at least one silicone polymer and a fragrance composition, the product being capable of releasing odour from the fragrance composition in the environment while it is deposited on the cleaned surface.
Preferably the fragrance particle according the invention comprises
a) from 1 to 60 wt %, more preferably from 3 to 40%, even more preferably from 5 to 20 wt % of a fragrance composition;
b) from 1 to 80 wt %, more preferably from 3 to 40 wt %, even more preferably from 5 to 30 wt % at least one silicone polymer having a melting point of at least 10° C., provided that at least 20% of the silicone atoms in the silicone polymer have a substituent of 16 carbon atoms ore more;
c) an organic additive in a weight ratio of silicone polymer to organic additive from 1:99 to 100:0;
d) from 0 to 95 wt %, of a carrier material; and
e) from 0 to 60 wt %, of a binder material expressed as weight percentage of the fragrance particle composition.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The fragrance particle in the product according to the invention may be designed to deliver the fragrance at a desired rate at room temperature during the storage of the domestic product, and possibly at a different rate at elevated temperature or in an aqueous environment in presence of copious quantities of water such as one may find in a washing cycle whether in a machine or a manual washing activity. An additional advantage of the present invention is that the fragrance release also occurs while the fragrance particles are deposited on the cleaned surface after the cleaning process.
According to the delivery required, one may incorporate an organic additive to influence release of fragrance through the silicone polymer, to trigger release as result of temperature change, or to trigger release as a result of agitation in aqueous medium. Organic additives which may be employed in compositions sensitive to increase in temperature may include for example an organic material having a melting point of at least 10° C., Organic additives which may be used in compositions intended to release fragrance during a washing cycle include those which swell in water as hereinafter described.
The fragrance particle in the product according to the invention may also comprise a surfactant, supporting material and/or a binder.
Domestic Care Products
The fragrance particle in the product according to the invention may be adapted for use in various types of domestic care products and they are especially useful where the fragrance is to be protected from predatory ingredients of the composition. Domestic care products for the present invention are household cleaning products and laundry products and in particular fabric softeners, detergents in liquid, paste, gel or solid form (particulate, tablet, bar) and products for use in dryers such as tumble dryer sheets, refreshing or dry cleaning products. For the purpose of this patent the term “domestic care products” only describes the type of products and should not be understood to be limiting to the setting the products are used in. For example, the invention also encompasses laundry products used in an industrial setting.
The amount of fragrance particles in the domestic care product of the invention can be easily determined by the skilled person taking into account the specific type and purpose of the product and amount of fragrance in the fragrance particle. If the fragrance particle comprises a high concentration of fragrance ingredients, less particles may be used in the domestic care product. The aim is to provide an improved endurance of the fragrance. Typically the amount of fragrance particle is such that the fragrance composition is present in amounts of 0.01 to 95 wt %, preferably, 0.05 to 80wt %, more preferably, 0.1 to 70wt % by weight of the domestic care composition. For example, if the domestic care product is a laundry detergent product, the domestic care product may comprise an amount of fragrance particles to achieve an amount of 0.1-10 wt % of fragrance composition in the final domestic care product by weight of the domestic care product.
Many domestic care products incorporate surfactants and various add
Aguadisch Louis
Berthod Daniel Pierre
Donker Cornelis Bernard
Lenoble Bertrand
Renauld Franck
Dawson Robert
Unilever Home & Personal Care USA
Zimmer Marc S.
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