Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – Specific organic component
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-11
2004-06-22
Hardee, John (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
Specific organic component
Reexamination Certificate
active
06753307
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to compositions, in either liquid or granular form, for use in laundry applications, wherein the compositions comprise certain dye maintenance polymers that have a net positive charge. A standardized test is provided that determines the dye maintenance parameter for any given polymer. Compositions comprising the dye maintenance polymers of this invention impart appearance and integrity benefits to fabrics and textiles laundered in washing solutions formed from such compositions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is, of course, well known that alternating cycles of using and laundering fabrics and textiles, such as articles of worn clothing and apparel, will inevitably 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 eases, as a result of changes in hues or shades of color.
Given the foregoing, there is clearly an ongoing need to identify materials which could be added to laundry products that would associate themselves with the fibers of the fabrics and textiles laundered using such products and thereby reduce or minimize the tendency of the laundered fabric/textiles to deteriorate in appearance. Any such detergent product additive material should, of course, be able to benefit fabric appearance and integrity without unduly interfering with the ability of the laundry product to perform its intended function. The present invention is directed to the use of dye maintenance polymers in laundry applications that perform in this desired manner, and a test for determining the Dye Maintenance Parameter for any given polymer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a detergent composition comprising:
a) from about 4% to about 70% of a surfactant that is preferably selected from the group consisting of nonionic, anionic, cationic, amphoteric, zwitterionic surfactants and mixtures thereof, and is even more preferably an anionic surfactant;
b) from about 0.01% to about 10%, preferably from about 0. 1% to about 8%, more preferably from about 0.5% to about 6%, and most preferably from about 0.8% to about 5% of a dye maintenance polymer or oligomer having at least three net positive charges per molecule and having a Dye Maintenance Parameter, as determined by the Dye Maintenance Parameter Test, of greater than about 0.23, preferably greater than about 0.6 more preferably greater than about 0.8 and most preferably greater than about 0.9.
The dye maintenance polymer is not a polyethyleneimine or alkoxylated derivative thereof.
In another aspect of this invention there is provided a fabric conditioning composition comprising:
a) from about 1% to about 80% of a fabric softening active; and
b) from about 0.01% to about 50%, preferably from about 0.1% to about 40%, more preferably from about 0.5% to about 30%, and most preferably from about 0.8% to about 20% of a dye maintenance polymer or oligomer having at least three net positive charges per molecule and having a Dye Maintenance Parameter, as determined by the Dye Maintenance Parameter Test, of greater than about 0.23, preferably greater than about 0.6 more preferably greater than about 0.8 and most preferably greater than about 0.9.
The dye maintenance polymer is not a polyethyleneimine or alkoxylated derivative thereof.
In yet another aspect of this invention there is provided a laundry additive composition comprising:
a) from about 1% to about 99% by weight of water; and
b) from about 0.01% to about 50%, preferably from about 0.1% to about 40%, more preferably from about 0.5% to about 30%, and most preferably from about 0.8% to about 20% of a dye maintenance polymer or oligomer having at least three net positive charges per molecule and having a Dye Maintenance Parameter, as determined by the Dye Maintenance Parameter Test, of greater than about 0.23, preferably greater than about 0.6 more preferably greater than about 0.8 and most preferably greater than about 0.9.
The dye maintenance polymer is not a polyethyleneimine or alkoxylated derivative thereof.
In addition to the surfactant and the dye maintenance polymer of this invention, the laundry detergent compositions herein comprise from about 0.01% to 80% by weight of an organic or inorganic detergency builder and other conventional laundry detergent products.
In addition to the fabric softener and the dye maintenance polymer of this invention, the fabric softener compositions herein comprise pH adjusters, other carriers and adjunct ingredients.
Aqueous solutions of the dye maintenance polymers of this invention comprise from about 0.05% to about 50% by weight of the dye maintenance polymers of this invention, fabric treatment materials dissolved in 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, rinsing, or treating solutions formed from effective amounts of any of the detergent compositions, fabric softener compositions, or aqueous solution treatments described herein, or formed from the individual components of such compositions. Laundering of fabrics and textiles in such washing, rinsing and/or treatment solutions, followed by drying, imparts fabric appearance benefits to the fabric and textile articles so treated. Such benefits can include improved overall appearance, pill/fuzz reduction, antifading, improved abrasion resistance, and/or enhanced softness. It has been surprisingly determined that the dye maintenance polymers of this invention impart fabric appearance and integrity benefits that are greater than the benefits achieved by a corresponding amount of either component by itself.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As noted, when fabric or textiles are laundered in solutions which comprise the dye maintenance polymers of the present invention fabric appearance and integrity are enhanced. The dye maintenance polymers can be added to wash solutions by incorporating them into a detergent composition, a fabric softener or by adding them separately to the washing solution. The dye maintenance polymers are described herein primarily as liquid or granular detergent additives but the present invention is not meant to be so limited. The dye maintenance polymers, detergent composition components, optional ingredients for such compositions and methods of using such compositions, are described in detail below. All percentages are by weight unless other specified.
Dye Maintenance Polymers
The dye maintenance polymers of this invention can be used in any fabric laundering process and provide certain appearance benefits to the fabrics laundered in these processes. Such fabric appearance benefits can include, for example, improved overall appearance of the laundered fabrics, reduction of the formation of pills and fuzz protection against color fading, improved abrasion resistance, etc. The dye maintenance polymers used in the compositions and methods herein can provide such fabric appearance benefits with acceptably little or no loss in cleaning performance provided by the laundry deterg
Bjorkquist David William
Gosselink Eugene Paul
Littig Janet Sue
Panandiker Rajan Keshav
Randall Sherri Lynn
Chuey S. Robert
Corstanje Brahm J.
Glazer Julia A.
Hardee John
The Procter & Gamble & Company
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