Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Reexamination Certificate
1996-09-05
2001-03-13
Gupta, Yogendra (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
C510S191000, C510S199000, C510S235000, C510S236000, C510S237000, C510S245000, C510S252000, C510S259000, C510S362000, C510S363000, C510S365000, C510S367000, C510S368000, C510S373000, C510S379000, C510S380000, C510S382000, C510S384000, C510S391000, C510S503000, C510S504000, C510S509000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06200941
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to hard surface cleaners, particularly cleaners for soap scum and mold and mildew.
Bathroom cleaners targeted at removing soap scum from hard surfaces such as bathroom tiles and countertops are well known in the art. Among commercial cleaners of these type are Lysol Basin Tub and Tile Cleaner. Because soap scum has proven to be difficult to clean, the commercial cleaners aimed at soap scum removal tend to contain relatively high levels of chelating agent and solvent (typically, >4% of each). The chelant of choice in these cleaners has been the tetrasodium salt of ethylenediamime tetraacetic acid (EDTA). In U.S. Pat. No. 4,264,479 to Flanagan is described a cleaning composition targeted at soap scum removal. That composition contains about 6 weight percent of chelants and about 3 weight percent of solvents. Compositions such as these are effective at removing soap scum, but are disadvantageous in that they have significant raw material costs due to high levels of chelants and solvents. In addition, some of these products contain high levels of solids, and thus have the disadvantage of leaving streaks and residuals when they are used. However, this latter problem cannot be solved through dilution, because high chelant and solvent levels are needed in those compositions to effectively remove the soap scum.
It would therefore be desirable to provide a cleaner which is effective on soap scum, but which uses lower amounts of expensive ingredients and does not significantly streak or leave significant residue when it is used.
A further disadvantage of these previously known soap scum cleaners is that they are ineffective in cleaning mold and mildew. Because mold and mildew are common problems on surfaces where soap scum is often found, it is highly desirable to provide a cleaner which is effective on both of these materials.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is a cleaning composition comprising
(a) at least 85% by weight water, in which is dissolved
(b) at least about 0.45 equivalent per kilogram of the composition of an inorganic anion which, when combined with calcium ion, forms a salt which has a solubility of not more than 0.2 g/100 g water at 25° C., or a mixture of such inorganic anions. The composition further contains (c) (1) at least about 0.3% by weight, based on the weight of the composition, of at least one detersive surfactant. When component (c) (1) does not include an amine oxide of the form RR
1
R
2
N→O wherein R is C
6
-C
12
alkyl and R
1
and R
2
are independently C
1-4
alkyl or C
1-4
hydroxyalkyl, said composition further contains (c) (2) an organic solvent of a type and of an amount that, at the relative proportions present in the cleaning composition, the water, surfactant and the solvent together form a clear mixture. The cleaning composition is alkaline and is substantially devoid of a phosphorous-containing salt.
It has been found that the selection of a particular surfactant or surfactant/solvent package, in combination with the presence of the dissolved anions, provides for a fully diluted cleaner which is particularly effective for removing soap scum. This result is achieved even though the cleaner contains relatively low levels of active ingredients, and low levels of surfactant and solvent in particular, and even in the absence of common components of soap scum cleaners, such as chelating agents and abrasives.
The embodiments of this invention which contain a bleach are of particular interest, as they provide a cleaner which is effective on soap scum and mold and mildew. Heretofore, it has been difficult to provide a cleaner which was effective for cleaning all of these soils because the bleaches, particularly the chlorine-releasing bleaches, and the most common solvents and chelating agents which formed the backbone of many conventional soap scum cleaners are incompatible.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The cleaning composition of this invention contains one or more dissolved inorganic anion(s) which, when combined with calcium ion, form(s) a salt which has a solubility of not more than 0.2 g/100 g water at 25° C. For the purposes of this invention, calcium hydroxide is not considered as a “salt”, and the suitable dissolved anions do not include hydroxide ion. The dissolved anion(s) is present in an amount of at least 0.45 equivalent per kilogram of the cleaning composition, preferably at least about 0.55 equivalents/kilogram, more preferably at least about 0.65 equivalents/kilogram. The maximum amount of said anion(s) is limited by the requirement of at least 85% water; however, the cleaning composition typically contains up to about 1.5 equivalents of the anion per kilogram and preferably up to 1.3 equivalents thereof per kilogram. In the case where two or more suitable anions are present, the foregoing amounts apply to the combined concentration of all the suitable anions. In a composition containing hydroxide ions, the hydroxide ions are not included in the calculation of the amount of suitable ions.
The anion is typically present in the form of an aqueous solution of a soluble salt, and normally exists in conjunction with a cation as a hydrated ion pair.
Suitable anions include fluoride ion, carbonate ion (CO
3
═
), metasilicate ion (SiO
3
═
) and tungstate ion, with carbonate, fluoride and metasilicate ion being preferred, and carbonate being most preferred.
The anion can be provided to the cleaning composition by dissolving a water-soluble salt of that anion in water in a quantity sufficient to provide the required amount of dissolved anion. Generally useful salts include those having a monovalent cation, preferably an alkali metal or ammonium, more preferably sodium or potassium. Thus, for example, the anion can be provided by dissolving a salt such as sodium or potassium fluoride, sodium or potassium carbonate, sodium or potassium metasilicate or sodium or potassium tungstate in water. The other ingredients described hereinafter may be added to the water before, simultaneously with, or after the salt.
The carbonate and tungstate ions can be generated by complete in situ neutralization of the corresponding acids or the bicarbonate or bitungstate intermediates in sufficient quantities to form at least 0.45 equivalent of the carbonate or tungstate ion per kilogram of cleaning solution.
The cleaning composition of this invention includes at least about 85% water, based on the weight of the entire composition. The source of the water is not particularly important. Tap water, distilled water, deionized water and the like are all suitable provided that any impurities in the water do not adversely interfere with the function of the other components in the cleaning composition. The water preferably constitutes at least about 88, more preferably at least about 90 weight percent of the composition, and preferably up to about 95 weight percent, more preferably up to about 93 weight percent.
In addition to the dissolved anion and the water, the cleaning composition contains at least one detersive surfactant. For the purposes of this invention, a surfactant is considered to be a “detersive” one if it or another surfactant of substantially the same chemical structure is indicated as being useful in detergents or cleaners in McCutcheon's Volume 1: Emulsifiers & Detergents 1995 North American Edition (McCutcheon's Division, MC Publishing Co. Glen Rock N.J.), or performs equivalently to one or more of such surfactants. Among the detersive surfactants that are useful in this invention, those which are of particular interest are amine oxides of the form RR
1
R
2
N→O, wherein R is C
6
-C
12
alkyl and R
1
and R
2
are independently C
1-4
alkyl or C
1-4
hydroxyalkyl. The amine oxide surfactants of this type have the surprising advantage that they can be used in this composition without need for a separate solvent (component (c) (2)). These amine oxides assist the cleaning composition in penetrating soap scum, thereby facilitating its removal. Among these amine oxi
Gardner John M.
Haigh Daniel H.
O'Driscoll Erin D.
Strandburg Gary M.
Wagers Kevin J.
Boyer Charles
Gupta Yogendra
S. C. Johnson & Son Inc.
LandOfFree
Fully diluted hard surface cleaners containing high... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Fully diluted hard surface cleaners containing high..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Fully diluted hard surface cleaners containing high... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2532657