Implement containing cleaning composition and disappearing dye

Details Implement containing cleaning composition and disappearing dye Implement containing cleaning composition and disappearing dye

2000-11-16

2004-01-13

Boyer, Charles (Department: 1751)

Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions

Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing

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

C510S100000, C510S343000, C510S373000, C510S419000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06677287

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
This application relates to detergent compositions for use with a cleaning implement, e.g., mop, comprising a disposable absorbent pad, especially a pad comprising superabsorbent material useful in removing soils from hard surfaces. The application particularly relates to the detergent solutions that are used with the removable absorbent cleaning pad.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The normal devices for cleaning floors are reusable, including mops containing cotton strings, cellulose and/or synthetic strips, sponges, and the like. This invention relates to mops having disposable cleaning pads. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,559, issued Mar. 10, 1992 to Rivera et al., describes a mop that includes a disposable cleaning pad. After the cleaning action is completed, the pad is removed from the mop handle and reattached such that the blotter layer contacts the floor.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,015, issued May 30, 1995 to Garcia, describes a mop having removable, washable work pads. The pad is described as comprising an upper layer which is capable of attaching to hooks on a mop head, a central layer of synthetic plastic microporous foam, and a lower layer for contacting a surface during the cleaning operation. The synthetic foam described by Garcia for absorbing the cleaning solution has a relatively low absorbent capacity for water and water-based solutions. As such, the user must either use small amounts of cleaning solution to remain within the absorbent capacity of the pad, or the user must leave a significant amount of cleaning solution on the surface being cleaned.
The present invention relates primarily to detergent solutions for use with a cleaning implement that comprises a removable cleaning pad, which alleviates the need to rinse the pad during use. This preferably includes an implement that comprises a removable cleaning pad with sufficient absorbent capacity, on a gram of absorbed fluid per gram of cleaning pad basis, that allows the cleaning of a large area, such as that of the typical hard surface floor (e.g., 80-100 ft
2
), without the need to change the pad. This, in turn, requires the use of a superabsorbent material, preferably of the type disclosed hereinafter. Detergent compositions that are used with such superabsorbent materials must be carefully formulated to avoid defeating the goal of using such superabsorbent material, as disclosed in the copending provisional patent application of Masters et al., Ser. No. 60/045,858, filed May 8, 1997, said application being incorporated herein by reference.
The preferred cleaning implements have a pad which offers beneficial soil removal properties due to continuously providing a fresh surface, and/or edge to contact the soiled surface, e.g., by providing a plurality of surfaces that contact the soiled surface during the cleaning operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
As disclosed in said provisional application, detergent compositions which are to be used with an implement containing a superabsorbent material require sufficient detergent to enable the solution to provide cleaning without overloading the superabsorbent material with solution, but cannot have more than about 0.5% detergent surfactant without the performance suffering. The compositions of said provisional application provide excellent cleaning and constitute a real improvement in the art. However, surprisingly, there is a potential problem in the use of those compositions with such disposable pads. The low level of solution required for cleaning is found to be difficult to see for some consumers under difficult lighting conditions and/or on certain floors. Addition of a dye solves this problem. However, also surprisingly, it is found that despite the low level of detergent and dye used, the small amount of dye rapidly builds up on the non-floor surfaces such as baseboards, refrigerators, cabinets, etc. and there is a build up of color in the used pad giving it an unacceptable appearance. These unanticipated problems result in dissatisfaction for those consumers, despite the excellent cleaning performance and convenience. It is anticipated that these problems will be found with any disposable mop.
As discussed above, the solution to the first of these unobvious problems disclosed herein is to provide a dye in the cleaning solution that will enable the consumer to more readily determine the limits of the area that has been treated. This dye allows the consumer to treat the entire surface more completely and to avoid overtreatment, which can be a problem with the limited absorbent capacity of the disposable implements. Also, as discussed before, in order to avoid build-up of the dye on the surface from continued use, the dye should be one that does not build-up over time, or there should be a mechanism for changing and/or eliminating the color. Preferably, the dye is one that has its chromophore group destroyed by the action of, e.g., light, oxygen, loss of volatile components like water and/or other solvents, and/or change in pH, e.g., by absorption of acidic materials, reaction with acidic materials, and/or evaporation of alkaline materials. Such dyes are well known in the art. Blue dyes are especially desirable, but yellow and green can also be used when the perfume is compatible with the color. Variations of blue, like violet and/or light purples can also be used. The primary purpose of the dye is to simplify the application step, but the color is also desirably one that has aesthetic values.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
I. The Detergent Composition
The cleaning implement of the present invention is used in combination with a detergent composition which acts as a cleaning solution. Preferred detergent compositions which can be used with the preferred implement containing superabsorbent material, described hereinafter, require sufficient detergent to enable the solution to provide cleaning without overloading the superabsorbent material with solution, but, typically, if there is more than about 0.5% detergent surfactant the performance suffers. Therefore, the level of detergent surfactant is preferably from about 0.01% to about 0.5%, more preferably from about 0.1% to about 0.45%, and even more preferably from about 0.2% to about 0.45%. The level of hydrophobic materials, including solvent, is preferably less than about 3%, more preferably less than about 2%, and even more preferably less than about 1% and the pH is typically more than about 9.3, preferably more than about 10, more preferably more than about 10.3, to avoid hindering absorption in the preferred superabsorbent material. The alkalinity should preferably be provided, at least in part, by volatile materials, to avoid streaking/filming problems.
The detergent surfactant is preferably linear, e.g., branching and aromatic groups should not be present, and the detergent surfactant is preferably relatively water soluble, e.g., having a hydrophobic chain containing from about 8 to about 12, preferably from about 8 to about 11, carbon atoms, and, for nonionic detergent surfactants, having an HLB of from about 9 to about 14, preferably from about 10 to about 13, more preferably from about 10 to about 12. The invention also comprises a detergent composition as disclosed herein in a container in association with instructions to use it with an implement comprising an effective amount of a superabsorbent material, and, optionally, in a container in a kit comprising the implement, or, at least, a disposable cleaning pad comprising a superabsorbent material. The invention also relates to the use of the composition and a cleaning pad comprising a superabsorbent material to effect cleaning of soiled surfaces.
The detergent composition, (cleaning solution) is an aqueous-based solution comprising one or more detergent surfactants, alkaline materials to provide the desired alkaline pH, and optional solvents, builders, chelants, suds suppressors, enzymes, etc. Suitable surfactants include anionic, nonionic, zwitterionic, and amphoteric surfactants, preferably anionic and nonionic detergent surfactants h

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