Cleaning and liquid contact with solids – Processes – Work handled in bulk or groups
Reexamination Certificate
2001-10-11
2004-03-09
Mruk, Brian P. (Department: 1751)
Cleaning and liquid contact with solids
Processes
Work handled in bulk or groups
C134S038000, C134S039000, C134S040000, C134S042000, C510S238000, C510S239000, C510S240000, C510S362000, C510S365000, C510S384000, C510S386000, C510S391000, C510S421000, C510S475000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06701940
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to cleaning compositions for hard surfaces. They appear to be especially well suited for use in cleaning toilet bowls, baths, shower surrounds and other plumbing fixtures, bathroom and kitchen hard surfaces, glass windows, and floor surfaces. The cleaning compositions of the present invention render treated or cleaned surfaces hydrophilic and provide such surfaces with excellent anti-fogging properties. Such surfaces treated or cleaned with the compositions of the present invention also resist soiling and colonization by bacteria and fungi, and resist the formation of biofilms.
Products sold under the trademark “PLURONIC” by BASF are a series of one type of closely related block copolymers that may be generically classified as polyoxypropylene-polyoxyethylene condensates terminating in primary hydroxy groups. Such block copolymers are nonionic surfactants and have been used for a wide variety of applications. Block copolymers may also be functionalized (the terminal alcohol converted to an ether) with fatty alcohols, especially primary alcohols having 8-20 carbons. Such block copolymers (also referred to as block copolymers capped with fatty alcohols) are, for example, sold under the trademark “DEHYPON” and are available from Cognis Corporation.
The art has developed a variety of cleaning and/or treating compositions, including some containing block copolymers (or capped derivatives thereof). For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,589,099 and 6,025,314 disclose rinse aid compositions containing such block copolymers where they are employed in dishwashing processes. The disclosure of these patents and all other patents described herein are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,300 teaches that such block copolymers can be used in rinse aid composition for metal surfaces. Further, these block copolymers have utility as nonionic surfactants in halophor-containing cleaning compositions (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,049,299 and 5,169,552); in contact lens cleaning and storing compositions (U.S. Pat. No. 3,882,036); in compositions for treating plastic surfaces to prevent fogging (U.S. Pat. No. 5,030,280); as a defoamer or low foaming detergent (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,691,292 and 5,858,279); as a plasticizer in a solid cake cleansing block composition for toilets (U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,858); as a surfactant in organosilane solutions (U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,585); and as a surfactant for reducing bacterial adhesion on surfaces in contact with industrial water systems such as process or cooling water systems (U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,965).
The art has also developed a variety of hard surface cleaning compositions. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,990,066 teaches a surface cleaning composition that contains block copolymer surfactants, a carboxylate-containing polymer, and a divalent counterion. The block copolymer is said to provide a gloss benefit to the cleaned surface. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 4,247,408 discloses a hard surface cleaning composition containing a polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether solvent, an acidic substance, and a nonionic surfactant which may be block copolymers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,539,145 discloses an outside window cleaner containing polyvinyl alcohol and an amine-containing polymer which may also include a nonionic surfactant such as a block copolymer. The block copolymer is said to improve the detergency of the composition. U.S. Pat. No. 5,126,068 also teaches a hard surface cleaning composition containing organic solvents and water, polycarboxylate copolymers, pH adjusters, and certain block copolymer surfactants. It is said that this composition is particularly useful in glass cleaners and that it is substantially streak-free when applied to glossy or transparent surfaces.
While these varied prior art compositions have provided a variety of ways to treat and/or clean hard surfaces, they have been limited in their ability to provide residual benefits to such surfaces. In this regard, it is desirable to render hard surfaces that are being cleaned more resistant to becoming soiled, and especially to provide the surface with antimicrobial characteristics such as resistance to colonization by bacteria, fungi, and biofilms. Thus, there is a continuing need to develop hard surface cleaners which not only are effective in cleaning at the time of use, but also provide positive residual benefits to the surface that has been cleaned.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The compositions of the present invention unexpectedly address this need by utilizing block copolymers at low concentrations, such block copolymers having a high average molecular weight.
In one aspect the invention provides a hard surface antimicrobial cleaner. It has one or more surfactants, one of which must be a polyoxyethylene/polyoxypropylene block copolymer (e.g. with a terminal hydroxyl, or where the terminal hydroxyl is functionalized with a fatty alcohol). Preferably, the block copolymer is from 0.2-5% by weight of the composition.
For example, it has been found that a level of from 0.2% to 4% by weight of “PLURONIC F127” provides excellent hydrophilic and anti-fog benefits to treated glass surfaces. Such benefits are also provided to treated polymethyl methacrylate and other plastic surfaces, but at a higher preferred level of from 1.5% to 5% by weight of “PLURONIC F127”.
Normally the cleaner will also contain water (preferably more than 50% of the cleaner even more preferably over 90% of the cleaner), and there may be an acid. The cleaners can include a wide variety of surfactants such as nonionic, anionic, cationic and amphoteric surfactants, and mixtures thereof. Examples of such surfactants are described in McCutcheon's:
Emulsifiers & Detergents
, North American Edition (1995).
Suitable nonionic surfactants include alkyl amine oxides (e.g., C
8-20
alkyl dimethyl amine oxides), alkylphenol ethoxylates, linear and branched alcohol ethoxylates, carboxylic acid esters, alkanolmides, alkylpolyglycosides, ethylene oxide/propylene oxide copolymers, and the like. Especially preferred among these are linear and secondary alcohol ethoxylates, octyl- and nonyl-phenol ethoxylates, alkanol amides and alkylpolyglycosides.
Useful zwitterionic/amphoteric surfactants include alkyl aminopropionic acids, alkyl iminopropionic acids, imidiazoline carboxylates, alkylbetaines, sulfobetaines, and sultaines.
Useful cationic surfactants include, for example, primary amine salts, diamine salts, quaternary ammonium salts, and ethoxylated amines.
Useful anionic surfactants (which are preferably used only in conjunction with a nonionic surfactant, if at all) include carboxylic acid salts, alkyl benzene sulfonates, secondary n-alkane sulfonates, alpha-olefin sulfonates, dialkyl diphenylene oxide sulfonates, sulfosuccinate esters, isoethionates, linear alcohol sulfates (alkyl sulfates such as sodium lauryl sulfate), and linear alcohol ethoxy sulfates.
In certain embodiments of the claimed hard surface cleaner, an acid may be included in the composition. Preferred acids are organic acids such as lactic acid, sulfamic acid, citric acid, valeric acid, hexanoic acid, and glycolic acid. Other examples are formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, and gluconic acid, and peroxy variants of these acids such as peroxyacetic acid. The acid is preferably less than 10% by weight of the cleaner, even more preferably less than 5% of the cleaner. A preferred pH range for the cleaner when the cleaner is an aqueous solution is 5-11.
There may also be a glycol ether solvent (most preferably ethylene glycol hexyl ether or ethylene glycol butyl ether). This is particularly desirable for kitchen and window cleaners where there is substantial grease that needs to be cleaned. Other possible solvents are terpenes, aliphatic hydrocarbons and alpha-olefins, and organic compounds containing at least one oxygen atom, such as alcohols and ethers. For example,
Avery Richard W.
Stone Maureen J.
Tsibouklis John
Mruk Brian P.
S. C. Johnson & Son Inc.
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