Laundry detergent compositions containing a polymer for...

Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...

Reexamination Certificate

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C510S305000, C510S308000, C510S309000, C510S311000, C510S318000, C510S320000, C510S321000, C510S340000, C510S361000, C510S372000, C510S375000, C510S376000, C510S475000, C510S477000, C510S499000, C510S504000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06596678

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to laundry detergent compositions containing a polyelectrolyte complex of cationic and anionic polymers comprising cationic condensates of (i) at least one amine and (ii) a crosslinking agent from the group consisting of epihalohydrins, bishalohydrins of diols, bishalohydrins of polyalkylene glycols, bishalohydrins of polytetrahydrofurans, alkylene dihalides, alkylene trihalides, bisepoxides, trisepoxides, tetraepoxides and/or mixtures of said compounds, and a polymeric anion source with at least 3 anionic groups and a total net charge of at least 4 negative charges; wherein the charge ratio between anionic and cationic polymers is from 0.01 to 20.
This combination imparts appearance and integrity benefits to fabrics and textiles laundered in washing solutions formed from such compositions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Alternating cycles of using and laundering fabrics and textiles, such as articles of worn clothing and apparel, has been shown to adversely affect the appearance and integrity of the fabric and textile items so used and laundered. Fabrics and textiles simply wear out over time and with use. Laundering of fabrics and textiles is necessary to remove soils and stains which accumulate therein and thereon during ordinary use. However, the laundering operation itself, over many cycles, can accentuate and contribute to the deterioration of the integrity and the appearance of such fabrics and textiles.
Deterioration of fabric integrity and appearance can manifest itself in several ways. Short fibers are dislodged from woven and knit fabric/textile structures by the mechanical action of laundering. These dislodged fibers may form lint, fuzz or “pills” which are visible on the surface of fabrics and diminish the appearance of newness of the fabric. Further, repeated laundering of fabrics and textiles, especially with bleach-containing laundry products, can remove dye from fabrics and textiles and impart a faded, worn out appearance as a result of diminished color intensity, and in many cases, as a result of changes in hues or shades of color.
Given the foregoing, there is clearly an ongoing need to identify materials which can be added to laundry detergent products that would associate themselves with the fibers of the fabrics and textiles laundered using such detergent products and thereby reduce or minimize the tendency of the laundered fabric/textiles to deteriorate in appearance. The detergent product additive material must benefit fabric appearance and integrity without unduly interfering with the ability of the laundry detergent to perform its fabric cleaning function. The present invention is directed to the use of certain polyclectolyte complexes in laundry detergent compositions that provide the above detailed fabric integrity benefits.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aforementioned needs are met by the present invention wherein a detergent composition or additive comprising a detersive surfactant system, a fabric appearance component and the balance detergent adjunct ingredients is provided. The fabric appearance component comprises a polyelectrolyte complex of cationic and anionic polymers comprising:
(a) cationic condensates of (i) at least one amine selected from the group consisting of linear alkylamines, branched alkylamines, cycloalkylamines, alkoxyamines, amino alcohols, cyclic amines containing at least one nitrogen atom in a ring structure, alkylenediamines, polyetherdiamines, polyalkylenepolyamines, mixtures of one of the said amines with at least one amino acid or a salt thereof, reaction products of the said amines with at least one anionic group containing alkylating agent wherein per mole of NH group of the amines of from 0.04 to 0.6 moles of the anionic group containing alkylating agent is reacted, and mixtures thereof, and (ii) a crosslinking agent selected from the group consisting of epihalohydrins, bishalohydrins of diols, bishalohydrins of polyalkylene glycols, bishalohydrins of polytetrahydrofurans, alkylene dihalides, alkylene trihalides, bisepoxides, trisepoxides, tetraepoxides, mixtures thereof, and quaternized cationic condensates of (i) and (ii) and;
(b) a polymeric anion source with at least 3 anionic groups and a total net charge of at least 4 negative charges; wherein the charge ratio between anionic and cationic polymers is from 0.01 to 20.
The polyelectrolyte complex defined above can be used, independently or optionally, along with a hydrophobically modified cellulosic based polymers or oligomers, as a washing solution additive. Alternatively, they can be admixed to granular or liquid detergents or added to a fabric softening composition.
The laundry detergent compositions herein comprise from about 1% to 80% by weight of a detersive surfactant, from about 0.01% to 80% by weight of an organic or inorganic detergency builder and from about 0.01% to 5%, by weight, of a polyelectrolyte complex and, other adjunct detergent ingredients. The detersive surfactant and detergency builder materials can be any of those useful in conventional laundry detergent products.
Aqueous solutions of the fabric-treating polyelectrolyte complex of the subject invention comprise from about 0.01% to 80% by weight of the solution. The balance of the aqueous solution comprises water and other ingredients such as stabilizers and pH adjusters.
In its method aspect, the present invention relates to the laundering or treating of fabrics and textiles in aqueous washing or treating solutions formed from effective amounts of the detergent or laundry additive compositions described herein, or formed from the individual components of such compositions. Laundering of fabrics and textiles in such washing solutions, followed by rinsing and drying, imparts fabric appearance benefits to the fabric and textile articles so treated. Such benefits can include improved overall appearance, pill/fuzz reduction, anti-fading, improved abrasion resistance, and/or enhanced softness.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Is has been discovered that the aforementioned needs are met by providing a detergent composition comprising a detersive surfactant system, adjunct detergent ingredients and polyelectrolyte complexes of cationic and anionic polymers comprising:
(a) cationic condensates of (i) at least one amine selected from the group consisting of linear alkylamines, branched alkylamines, cycloalkylamines, alkoxyamines, amino alcohols, cyclic amines containing at least one nitrogen atom in a ring structure, alkylenediamines, polyetherdiamines, polyalkylenepolyamines, mixtures of one of the said amines with at least one amino acid or a salt thereof, reaction products of the said amines with at least one anionic group containing alkylating agent wherein per mole of NH group of the amines of from 0.04 to 0.6 moles of the anionic group containing alkylating agent is reacted, and mixtures thereof, and
(ii) a crosslinking agent from the group consisting of epihalohydrins, bishalohydrins of diols, bishalohydrins of polyalkylene glycols, bishalohydrins of polytetrahydrofurans, alkylene dihalides, alkylene trihalides, bisepoxides, trisepoxides, tetraepoxides and/or mixtures of said compounds, and
(b) anionic compounds containing at least three anionic groups; wherein the charge ratio between anionic and cationic polymers is from 0.01 to 20.
The polyelectrolyte complex described herein will generally comprise from about 0.01% to about 5% by the weight of the composition. More preferably, the polyelectrolyte complex will comprise from about 0.1% to about 4% by weight of the compositions, most preferably from about 0.2% to about 3%. However, as discussed above, when used as a washing solution additive, i.e. when the polyelectrolyte complex is not incorporated into a detergent composition, the concentration of the polyelectrolyte complex can comprise from about 0.1% to about 80% by weight of the additive material.
Specific examples of the said consendates are methylamine, ethylamine, n-propylamine, isopropylamine, n-butylamine, isobutylamine, pentylami

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