Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-15
2001-06-19
Ogden, Necholus (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
C510S153000, C510S155000, C510S156000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06248703
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to extruded soap and/or detergent bars comprising encapsulated benefit agents. Specifically, the bars comprise capsules which are able to survive the extrusion process used in forming the bar, whereupon the consumer is subsequently able to release the encapsulated benefit agent upon use of the products.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The controlled or delayed release of a desired benefit agent (e.g., perfume) is itself not new. Thus, in laundry compositions, for example, a perfume may be combined with water soluble polymer; formed into particles; and added to the composition (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,339,356 or 4,209,417 to Whyte). This method, however, works only for powder or granular detergents because as soon as the polymer is hydrated, the perfume is released.
To prevent release of perfume (or other agents) during a liquid wash product is more difficult. The benefit agent must be stable not only in the heat elevated conditions of the wash, but must also be stable against degradation by water and other harsh chemicals in the wash (e.g., bleach, enzymes, surfactant etc.)
One method to provide these benefits is through microencapsulation. In this process, the benefit agent comprises a capsule core coated completely with a material which may be polymeric. U.S. Pat. No. 4,145,184 to Brain et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,234,627 to Schilling et al., for example teach use of a tough coating material which prevents diffusion of the benefit agent (e.g., perfume). The perfume is thus delivered to fabric via the microcapsules and is released by moisture such as would occur when fabric is manipulated.
The above microencapsulation patents thus relate to release of a benefit agent (typically perfume) after surviving a washing process (i.e., process in which protection must be heartier).
Applicants are unaware, however, of the use of microencapsulation technology to protect benefit agents (perfume, silicone moisturizer) in personal wash bar compositions, particularly extruded bar compositions. Specifically, whether due to the shear forces applied when the mixed ingredients are typically passed through a screw/mixer; or the extrusion pressure when billets of soap are extruded from the screw/mixer, no capsule materials are known which can survive the soap making process intact with benefit agent inside. Accordingly, no extruded bars comprising microcapsules are known as far as applicants are aware.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,753 to Schmidt et al. teaches detergent compositions containing coated perfume particles. The friable capsule coating used to encapsulate the perfume is the same as used in the capsules of the subject invention. U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,753 further teaches that bars containing the coated perfume particles can be formed (see Example IX at column 12 and claim 6)
It is clear from Example IX, however, that it was absolutely not contemplated to use these capsules in a typical bar extrusion process, i.e., one where ingredients are mixed, chilled (to form soap chips), plodded (in a screw), extruded to form logs, cut and stamped. Rather, the composition is prepared by “gently” admixing coated particles into a soap mixture and formed in a bar in a pin die. Thus, clearly, the inventors themselves contemplated that anything other than formation in a pin die would lead to fracturing of the capsules. The Schmidt patent also is a pure soap bar composition soap.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Unexpectedly, applicants have now found that specific capsule carriers of the invention will survive even a soap bar extrusion process such that core benefit agents inside the capsule will not be released during bar preparation. Moreover, the capsule readily release benefit agent during bar use.
More specifically, the present invention relates to bar compositions comprising a non-water soluble benefit agent core (also called encapsulate fill) surrounded by a friable coating comprising the reaction product of (1) an amine selected from urea and melamine; and (2) an aldehyde selected from formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and glutaraldehyde; and mixtures of said amines and said aldehydes; wherein said capsules are strong enough to survive a soap extrusion process but sufficiently friable to break upon use of the bar by the consumer.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to toilet bar compositions (e.g., pure non-soap compositions or mixtures of soap and non-soap synthetic) which are produced by an extrusion process, i.e., process in which ingredients are mixed, chilled (to form soap chips) and extruded through a plodder to form soap “logs” and which logs are subsequently cut and stamped.
Specifically, applicants have found specific capsules which can be used to deliver benefit agents (perfume, silicone etc.) to the user from the soap bar and which can survive the soap production process. Because of the harshness of the bar production and extrusion process, it has not previously been known how to create a capsule for bars which survives such process.
In general, bars can be classified into one of three categories: (1) soap bars; (2) bars comprising both mostly pure soap and some non-soap actives; and (3) synthetic bars containing little or no soap.
The capsules of the invention are intended for use in categories (2) or (3) defined above.
By “soap” is meant any alkali metal salt or alkanol ammonium salt of aliphatic alkane or alkene monocarboxylic acids. Sodium, potassium, mono-, di- and tri-ethanol ammonium cation or combinations thereof are suitable. In general, sodium soaps are used in the compositions, but from 1 to 25% of soap may be potassium soaps. The soaps useful herein are the well known alkali metal salts of natural or synthetic aliphatic (alkanoic or alkenoic) acids having about 12 to 22 carbon atoms preferably 12 to 18. They may be described as alkali metal carboxylates of acyclic hydrocarbons having about 12 to 22 carbon atoms. A preferred soap is a mixture of about 15% to about 45% coconut oil and about 55% to 85% tallow. The soaps may contain unsaturation in accordance with commercially acceptable standards. Excessive unsaturation is normally avoided.
As noted, the amount of soap used in soap compositions of the present invention is not limited and the invention may be used with compositions having only soap (i.e., no non-soap surfactant), water, preservatives, dyes and other minors; or having no soap at all (non-soap, synthetic detergent bar).
Non-soap detergents (which may comprise all, part or none of the surfactant system) include anionic, nonionic, amphoteric, or cationic detergent actives or mixtures of these.
The anionic detergent active which may be used may be aliphatic sulfonates, such as a primary alkane (e.g., C
8
-C
22
) sulfonate, primary alkane (e.g., C
8
-C
22
) disulfonate, C
8
-C
22
alkene sulfonate, C
8
-C
22
hydroxyalkane sulfonate or alkyl glyceryl ether sulfonate (AGS); or aromatic sulfonates such as alkyl benzene sulfonate.
The anionic may also be an alkyl sulfate (e.g., C
12
-C
18
alkyl sulfate) or alkyl ether sulfate (including alkyl glyceryl ether sulfates). Among the alkyl ether sulfates are those having the formula:
RO(CH
2
CH
2
O)
n
SO
3
M
wherein R is an alkyl or alkenyl having 8 to 18 carbons, preferably 12 to 18 carbons, n has an average value of greater than 1.0, preferably greater than 3; and M is a solubilizing cation such as sodium, potassium, ammonium or substituted ammonium. Ammonium and sodium lauryl ether sulfates are preferred.
The anionic may also be alkyl sulfosuccinates (including mono- and dialkyl, e.g., C
6
-C
22
sulfosuccinates); alkyl and acyl taurates, alkyl and acyl sarcosinates, sulfoacetates, C
8
-C
22
alkyl phosphates and phosphates, alkyl phosphate esters and alkoxyl alkyl phosphate esters, acyl lactates, C
8
-C
22
monoalkyl succinates and maleates, sulphoacetates, alkyl glucosides and acyl isethionates.
Sulfosuccinates may be monoalkyl sulfosuccinates having the formula:
R
4
O
2
CCH
2
CH(SO
3
M)CO
2
M; and
amide-MEA sulfosuccinates of the formula;
R
4
CONHCH
2
CH
2
O
2
CCH
Corr James Joseph
Coyle Laurie Ann
Finucane Kevin Michael
Ornoski Gregory Alan
Koatz Ronald A.
Ogden Necholus
Unilever Home & Personal Care USA , division of Conopco, Inc.
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