Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-20
2003-03-25
Delcotto, Gregory (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
C510S199000, C510S218000, C510S245000, C510S254000, C510S274000, C510S426000, C510S434000, C510S470000, C510S473000, C510S475000, C510S499000, C510S500000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06537957
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to liquid compositions for cleaning hard-surfaces.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Liquid compositions for cleaning hard-surfaces have been disclosed in the art. Much of the focus for such compositions has been on providing outstanding cleaning on a variety of soils and surfaces. However, such compositions are not fully satisfactory from a consumer viewpoint especially regarding the soil release properties imparted to the hard-surfaces treated therewith. Indeed, consumers are looking for liquid cleaning compositions that would render a hard surface first treated therewith less prone to soil adherence and thus facilitate next-time (subsequent or secondary) cleaning operation.
Thus, the object of the present invention is to formulate a liquid cleaning composition for removal of various soils from hard-surfaces, especially hard-surfaces typically found in bathrooms, that will facilitate the next-time cleaning operation.
Also when formulating hard-surface cleaning compositions it is further desirable that these compositions efficiently remove limescale deposits and/or watermarks commonly found on bathroom hard-surfaces. Indeed, tap water contains a certain amount of solubilized ions which upon water evaporation eventually deposit as salts such as calcium carbonate on hard-surfaces which are often in contact with water, resulting in an anesthetic aspect of the surfaces. This limescale formation and deposition phenomenon is even more acute in places where water is particularly hard.
It is well-known in the art that limescale deposits can be chemically removed with acidic solutions.
Furthermore, it is also desirable that such liquid acidic compositions should have, in addition to the ability to effectively remove limescale deposits present on a surface, the ability to provide good shine to the surfaces treated. However, surface shine is often compromised because, when water comes in contact with hard-surfaces (e.g. in the rinse operation) it has the tendency to form droplets on the surface rather than forming a thin film uniformly spread over the surface or to run off the surface. This results, as water evaporates, in precipitation of poorly water soluble inorganic salts such as calcium/magnesium carbonate and/or phosphate salts with consequent formation of watermarks on the surface and, eventually limescale deposits, resulting in an anesthetic aspect of the surface.
It is thus a further object of the present invention to reduce the formation of watermarks and/or limescale deposits on a hard-surface that has been treated with a liquid acidic composition and hence to provide improved shine to this surface. More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide liquid acidic compositions delivering improved shine to the surface treated while exhibiting excellent limescale removing performance and facilitating the next time cleaning operation.
It has now been found that above objects are met by formulating a liquid composition, having an acidic pH, comprising a homo or copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone, together with a polysaccharide polymer, an anionic surfactant, and an acid.
In a preferred embodiment the homo or copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone is polyvinyl pyrrolidone and the polysaccharide polymer is xanthan gum.
In a preferred embodiment the composition further comprises a solvent.
It has now been found that improved next-time cleaning performance is obtained with the compositions according to the present invention on various types of stains/soils including greasy soap scum and other tough stains found in bathrooms.
An advantage of the liquid compositions of the present invention is that not only next-time cleaning performance is improved, but that also good first time cleaning performance is delivered.
Another unexpected finding associated to the compositions according to the present invention, is that they have the ability to provide good shine to the surface they have cleaned. Indeed, it has been found that the addition of a vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer or copolymer, together with a polysaccharide polymer, preferably xanthan gum, on top of an anionic surfactant, in a liquid acidic composition, reduces or even prevents the formation of watermarks and/or even limescale deposits on a surface having been treated with a composition of the present invention and later comes in contact with water, for example, during a rinse operation. Advantageously, the shine benefit delivered to the surface even persists after several cycles of rinsing, thus providing long lasting protection against formation of watermarks and/or even limescale deposits on the surface, and hence long lasting shiny surfaces.
Yet a further advantage of the compositions of the present invention is that faster drying is obtained on the surfaces that have been cleaned therewith. In other words, the housewife will have the advantage to shorten the total time of the cleaning operation of hard-surfaces and diminish the inconvenience of having wet surfaces in her home.
Also it has surprisingly been found that the compositions according to the present invention deliver the benefits mentioned herein (e.g., improved next-time cleaning, reduction and/or prevention of the formation of watermarks and/or even limescale deposits, resulting in good shine benefit and even long lasting shine benefit), when used to treat a variety of surfaces including metal surfaces such as aluminum, chromed steel, stainless steel, synthetic materials like vinyl, linoleum, glazed or non-glazed ceramic tiles, and/or enamel surfaces.
BACKGROUND ART
EP-A-0 017 149 discloses a liquid detergent composition comprising of a nonionic surfactant, a water-soluble nonionic, weak anionic or cationic polymer. An acidic composition comprising an anionic surfactant, a vinylpyrrolidone polymer together with a polysaccharide polymer is not disclosed.
EP-A-0 635 567 discloses a method of facilitating the removal of soil from a solid surface using a liquid composition comprising a material which is deposited on the surface during washing and upon drying forms a layer adhered to said surface, whereby the removal of soil contaminants from said surface is facilitated. Such materials are film-forming polymeric materials preferred polyvinyl pyrrolidone. An acidic composition comprising an anionic surfactant, a vinylpyrrolidone polymer together with a polysaccharide polymer is not disclosed.
EP-A-0 467 472 discloses a hard-surface modifying composition comprising an anti-soiling water-soluble anionic, cationic or nonionic polymer. Amongst the anti-soiling water-soluble anionic, cationic or nonionic polymer, polyvinyl pyrrolidone is disclosed. An acidic composition comprising an anionic surfactant, a vinylpyrrolidone polymer together with a polysaccharide polymer is not disclosed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a liquid acidic composition comprising
(a) a homo or copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone, or a mixture thereof,
(b) a polysaccharide polymer, or a mixture thereof,
(c) an anionic surfactant, and
(d) an acid.
In a preferred embodiment, a solvent is added to said composition.
The present invention also encompasses a process of treating hard-surfaces, preferably hard-surfaces located in bathrooms, wherein a liquid composition according to the present invention is applied onto said surfaces.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The Liquid Hard-surface Cleaning Composition
The compositions according to the present invention are designed as hard-surfaces cleaners, preferred hard-surfaces treated therewith are those located in bathrooms.
The liquid compositions according to the present invention are preferably aqueous compositions. Therefore, they typically comprise from 70% to 99% by weight of the total composition of water, preferably from 75% to 95% and more preferably from 85% to 95%.
Acid
The liquid compositions of the present invention are acidic. Therefore they have a pH below 7, preferred from 0.5 to 6, preferred from 3 to 5, more preferred from 3 to 4.5. Thus, they comprise as a first essential i
Cardola Sergio
Iakovides Panos
Orlandini Laura
Rescio Maria Rosa
Camp Jason J.
Delcotto Gregory
Fayette Thibault
The Procter & Gamble & Company
William Zerby Kim
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