Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – Liquid composition
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-17
2002-01-29
Kelly, Cynthia H. (Department: 1774)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
Liquid composition
C510S475000, C510S505000, C510S477000, C510S238000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06342474
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a hard surface cleaner containing nonionic surfactants, and especially to a cleaner effective at removing soap scum and other deposits without wiping or scrubbing.
It is desirable that a hard surface cleaner for cleaning bathtub, shower, and bathroom surfaces be effective at removing soap scum and other deposits. The cleaner should readily remove the deposits, and leave the cleaned surfaces streak free. It is further desirable that the cleaner work with a minimum of wiping and scrubbing by the person cleaning the surface.
It is further desirable that the cleaner should be effective on a variety of materials which are found in bathrooms, such as porcelain, glass, and various plastics such as polyvinyl chloride as found in shower curtains, or styrenics as might be found in shower liners.
Applicants have surprisingly found that a composition comprising an organic solvent, a nonionic surfactant, and a cleaning auxiliary is useful for accomplishing the above desirable goals.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Mills, U.S. Pat. No. 5,814,591, provides aqueous hard surface cleaners with nonionic surfactants, ammonium EDTA, and an organic solvent.
Choy, U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,342 provides an aqueous hard surface cleaner containing solvent and a semipolar nonionic surfactant, buffered to a pH greater than 6.5.
Graubart, U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,984, provides a cleaning composition containing a quaternary ammonium compound component, a nonionic surfactant, and a glycol ether component, with optional chelators.
Sokol, U.S. Pat. No. 4,020,016, provides aqueous cleaning compositions containing one or more nonionic surfactants, nitrogen containing salts of nitrilotriacetic acid or an alkylene polyamine polycarboxylic acid, and water, wherein the composition is substantially free of sodium ions.
Garabedian, U.S. Pat. No. 5,252,245 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,807, provides an aqueous hard surface cleaner containing an alkanol or alkylene glycol ether; a surfactant selected from amphoteric, nonionic, and anionic surfactants or mixtures thereof; and an effective amount of a nitrogenous buffer. To avoid streaking, sodium ions are avoided and the amount of surfactant is kept to a minimum.
Garabedian, U.S. Pat. No. 5,468,423, provides an aqueous hard surface cleaner containing an alkanol or alkylene glycol ether, a nonionic surfactant, and an effective amount of a nitrogenous buffer.
Black, U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,452 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,587,022, provides an aqueous rinsing solution composition and a method of use of the same without scrubbing or wiping, wherein the composition contains a nonionic surfactant having an HLB of 13 or less, a chelating agent, and optionally an alcohol and/or ammonium hydroxide and/or morpholine.
Michael, U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,376, discloses detergent compositions comprising a nonionic detergent surfactant, a hydrophobic solvent, and optionally comprising polycarboxylate detergent builders.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There is provided according to the invention a novel hard surface cleaning composition comprising
a) a water soluble organic solvent;
b) a nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of an alcohol alkoxylate, an alcohol block alkoxylate, a polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene block surfactant, and mixtures thereof;
c) an effective amount up to about 5% by weight of a cleaning auxiliary selected from the group consisting of methylglycine diacetic acid, hydroxyethyl ethylenediamine triacetic acid, diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid, salts thereof, and mixtures thereof; and
d) optionally, a thickening agent.
In one embodiment, the invention is a nonaqueous blend comprising the components above. In another embodiment, the invention is an aqueous concentrate comprising the above components, ready for dilution as needed to the end use concentration. In yet another embodiment, the invention is an aqueous solution comprising the above components, diluted to the end use concentration for direct use by the ultimate consumer.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
The compositions of the invention are useful as aqueous hard surface cleaners, and are especially suited to cleaning vertical surfaces of soap scum and similar debris, with a minimum of wiping and scrubbing. As such, the compositions are intended to be applied to the vertical surfaces by spraying from a pump sprayer bottle, aerosol can, or other delivery system onto the vertical surface, and allowing the compositions to drain away and/or evaporate from the surface, leaving the surface clean and streak free. It is acknowledged that originally the surface may be so soiled with soap scum and related debris that the user may need to do some scrubbing to remove the soil, but thereafter the compositions are designed so as to minimize the amount of wiping and scrubbing when applied daily or after each shower. It is therefore contemplated that the compositions of the invention will advantageously be used to clean shower surfaces on a daily basis, or after each shower.
As such, the compositions of the invention all perform satisfactorily in a soak test, described below, which measures the ability of the compositions to clean a surface without wiping or scrubbing. The performance of the compositions of the invention is comparable to or exceeds the performance of commercially successful cleaning compositions. Preferred compositions perform well in a series of streak tests on different materials to be found in a shower or bath environment.
As discussed above, the compositions of the invention include aqueous solutions of the components discussed in detail below. The compositions of the invention are also useful as component blends such as would be made for shipping to a bottler or packager for further processing to make the compositions ultimately used by the consumer. The invention also covers concentrated aqueous solutions of the components, such as might be shipped from a blending facility to another location for further dilution to the end concentrations to be used by the consumer. The compositions of the invention are also useful when diluted with water to the final use concentrations discussed below.
Optional ingredients may be added to the novel compositions of the invention, without departing from the scope. Such optional ingredients are well known to those of skill in the art, and include but are not limited to colorants, fragrances, preservatives, buffering agents, and antibacterial agents.
A detailed description of the components of the invention is as follows:
a) The Water Soluble Organic Solvent
The organic solvent useful in the invention enhances the cleaning performance by causing the compositions to rinse better or to drain more readily from vertical surfaces. The solvent can also increase the evaporation rate of the cleaning composition, which reduces streaking and leads to a glossier looking surface. Thus the organic solvent is to be chosen based on its solubility in water, and its having sufficient volatility to perform well in cleaning. Preferred solvents have a solubility of greater than about 20 percent by weight in water to facilitate the formulation of the aqueous concentrates of the compositions noted above. More preferably, the solvents are more than 30 percent soluble in water. The greatest formulation flexibility is achieved when the solvent is miscible with water. Therefore, miscible organic solvents are also preferred. Further, it is naturally desirable that the solvent be non-toxic and have a non-offensive odor. Useful solvents are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,814,591 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,342, the descriptions of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Within the above parameters, a wide range of solvents is useful. Typical, but non-limiting examples are selected from C
1-6
alkanol, C
1-6
diols, C
3-24
alkylene glycol ethers, and mixtures thereof. The alkanol can be selected from methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, butanol, pentanol, hexanol, their various positional isomers, and mixt
Gessner Suzanne M.
Holland Richard J.
Kerobo Charles O.
Patterson Sonia J.
Welch Michael C.
Banchik, Esq. David T.
BASF Corporation
Garrett Dawn L.
Kelly Cynthia H.
LandOfFree
Hard surface cleaner containing nonionic surfactants does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Hard surface cleaner containing nonionic surfactants, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Hard surface cleaner containing nonionic surfactants will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2859106