Foaming drain cleaner

Details Foaming drain cleaner Foaming drain cleaner

2001-02-06

2002-11-12

Gupta, Yogendra N. (Department: 1751)

Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions

Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing

For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...

Reexamination Certificate

active

06479444

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to foaming cleaning compositions, and in particular to an in-situ foaming cleaning composition incorporating a bleach and which is formulated to have utility as a drain cleaner, or as a hard surface cleaner.
2. Description of Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,546 to Hall discloses a personal care product, specifically a foaming shower gel. As such, the foam-generating components must be biologically compatible. Accordingly, Hall teaches only citric acid and a carbonate or bicarbonate to generate carbon dioxide gas. Nothing is mentioned which would suggest a peroxide/hypochlorite system, nor is use in surface cleaning or drain opening disclosed. Published Japanese applications to Ishimatsu et al JP 59-24798 and JP 60-32497; JP 59-164399, to Miyano et al; and Sakuma, JP 57-74379 all disclose, describe and claim a binary foaming cleaner having utility as a drain opener. Miyano et al specifically describes the advantages of a foam in drain opening. Ishimatsu et al and Miyano et al both describe an aqueous peroxide solution containing 0.25-25% active, paired with an aqueous solution of 0.25-6% hypochlorite, and both references teach the inclusion of surfactants with either or both solutions to enhance foaming. None of these references, however, teach, suggest or disclose a thickened formulation, nor any of the advantages and foam characteristics associated therewith.
A hypochlorite composition paired with a chelating agent/builder solution in a dual chamber container is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,767,055 to Choy et al.
Drain cleaners of the art have been formulated with a variety of actives in an effort to remove the variety of materials which can cause clogging or restriction of drains. Such actives may include acids, bases, enzymes, solvents, reducing agents, oxidants and thioorganic compounds. Tobiason, U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,146, Steer, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,833 and Taylor, Jr. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,836 all disclose dry compounds which generate foam when mixed with water in a drain. Kuenn, U.S. Pat. No. 4,691,710 describes a dry in-sink garbage disposal cleaning composition which uses adipic acid and sodium bicarbonate to generate gas upon contact with water. This composition requires mechanical shearing from the disposal to assist in foam generation. Davis, U.S. Pat. No. 4,206,068 describes an exothermic drain opening composition comprising an oxidant and a reducing agent in a compartmentalized container.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
In view of the prior art, there remains a need for a foam generating cleaning composition capable of delivering a high percentage of active and possessing a long contact time on non-horizontal surfaces. There further remains a need for an in-situ foam-generating composition which is stable during storage and can be economically formulated.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a composition capable of forming an active-carrying foam in-situ.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a composition capable of generating a stable foaming active cleaner.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a dual component composition and containment means which isolates each component during storage.
It is another object to provide a drain opening composition which is formulated to be safe to store and use.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a composition capable of producing an active-containing foam which can reach all affected parts of a drain.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a foaming cleaning composition having utility as a drain cleaner by virtue of a viscoelastic rheology.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a drain cleaning composition which is highly effective.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a cleaning composition which is stable during normal storage, and at elevated or very low temperatures.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a composition having a viscoelastic rheology and a long relaxation time to provide beneficial flow properties during dispensing.
More specifically, the composition is a product of two liquids which are separately maintained prior to forming an admixture during delivery to a surface to be treated, whereupon the admixture generates a foam sufficient for cleaning efficacy and stability. A first liquid includes an oxidant, preferably a hypohalite or a hypohalite generating agent (hereinafter “hypohalite”) and a second liquid includes a gas generating agent, preferably a peroxygen containing or releasing agent. As the two liquids are initially separated, the oxidant can be maintained in an environment free of gas generating agent and otherwise conducive to their cleaning activity and stability up to the time of use. When the two liquids are allowed to mix, for example, by simultaneously pouring into a drain, the hypohalite and peroxygen react to liberate oxygen gas in accordance with the following reaction equation:
NaOCl+H
2
0
2
→O
2
(g)+NaCl+H
2
O
The liberated gas contacts surfactant in the solution, creating foam which expands to completely fill the drain pipe. The expanded foam contains an excess of the hypohalite, which acts to clean the drain. The resulting foam is stable, and preferably characterized by a density of greater than about 0.1 g/ml, a percentage active of about 0.5-15, a half life of greater than about 30 minutes; a volume of greater than about 500 ml; and an initial foam development rate of about 10-50 ml/sec. Foam stability is defined as the foam's resistance to a force tending to collapse or displace the foam. The foam is further characterized by a ratio of foam:liquid of at least 1:1, preferably 2:1, more preferably 3:1; and a foam height sufficient to yield a greater than twelve cm. column in the drain (as measured from the center, or lowest point of the P-trap, and for a 3.2 cm. diameter drain), more preferably greater than seventeen cm. and most preferably seventeen to thirty-one cm. Most preferred in terms of foam volume and height in the drain, is an amount sufficient to reach the drain's stopper mechanism, a site of frequent hair and/or soap contamination. Such stopper mechanisms are typically positioned about twenty cm. up the vertical pipe. The foam would preferably contain greater than 0.1% active, more preferably greater than 0.5% active, and most preferably between about 0.75 and 3% active. An active contact time, or foam half life, should be between 0.5 and 4.0 hours preferably between 1 and 8 hours. Foam half life is the time elapsed between maximum foam volume development and a 50% volume reduction thereof, absent any external forces (other than gravity) acting upon the foam. Further, the foam is self-generating, produced by reaction of composition components, and requires no mechanical agitation or other forms of physical activation.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, either or both of the liquids include a thickening agent or system, present in an amount such that when the liquids form an admixture during delivery to a surface, the admixture results in a dense, stable foam sufficient for cleaning efficacy and stability. Thus, when the initially separated liquids are allowed to interact, the resulting liquid cleaning composition being delivered to the surface will have the cleaning or bleaching activity and stability appropriate for the cleaning or bleaching of that surface. The term “liquid” as used herein may include homogeneous liquids, solutions and suspensions. Preferably an aqueous liquid is contemplated; however, nonaqueous liquids are within the scope of the invention. The thickening agent or system should impart both a viscous component and an elastic component to the corresponding liquid; both components are most preferred for attaining the desired foam characteristics. Most preferably the thickening agent or system imparts a viscoelastic rheology to the corresponding li

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