Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – Liquid composition
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-10
2003-10-14
Douyon, Lorna M. (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
Liquid composition
C510S120000, C510S130000, C510S159000, C510S220000, C510S276000, C510S394000, C206S524100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06632783
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to labels particularly for transparent or translucent bottles containing aqueous, transparent or translucent heavy duty liquid laundry detergents, or other consumer products which may comprise colorants. The labels or label adhesives or overprint varnishes/coatings comprise UV absorbers and optionally F-dyes (fluorescent dyes) or a combination to protect the colorants and other components present in the composition from damage by harmful UV radiation, and/or to protect the bottle material itself from UV radiation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Liquid detergents have traditionally been sold in opaque bottles. However, use of clear bottles can be aesthetically appealing to consumers since they can see the color of the product, its consistency, and suspended particles if they are present. Unfortunately, the use of clear bottles can lead to destruction of colorant, fragrance and other ingredients in the product by UV light. Also, UV light can adversely affect components in the bottle material itself, such as PE, PP or PVC polymers. By UV light is meant light having a wavelength of about 250 to about 460 nanometers (nm). Specifically, UVA wavelengths are generally in the range 320-400 nm, UVB wavelengths range from about 290 to 320 nm and UVC wavelengths range below 290 nm, down to about 250 nm.
It has been known in the art that UV absorbers can be added to the bottle material during manufacture of clear bottles to protect them from becoming brittle and to protect the ingredients inside the bottle. For instance, in GB 2228940, the use of a dicarboxylate in polyester bottles to protect contents—mainly food—from radiation of 320-360 nm wavelength is described. The composition is formed into a packaging material, eg. a film, bottle or other like containers. In example 5, the polymers are molded into 1\0-10 mm thick transparent films.
In EP 461 537 the use of coatings for blocking UV radiation from passing through glass bottles is described. Beverages such as beer, cosmetics, medicines and food are mentioned. It is also mentioned that the light transmitting container may be plastic. '537 also mentions the treatment of the bottles with a delustering agent to reflect and diffuse harmful light at the surface.
WO 97/26315 discloses transparent containers with specific chromacity defined by x and y values. Blue or violet dyes are mentioned for the container and fluorescent blue or violet dyes are mentioned for the liquid.
GB 1,303,810 discloses clear liquid medium and visually defined particles suspended therein.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,812,042 to Verdier discloses a clear package containing liquids with a viscosity and clarity control system comprising urea, lower aliphatic alcohol and optional hydrotrope.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to the use of UV absorbers and optionally F-dye in a label or the label's adhesive or overprint varnishes/coatings, or inner coextruded “adhesive” polymer layer on a container, particularly to reduce the destruction by UV light of colorant dye and/or other UV sensitive ingredients in a product held within the container or to protect the material of which the package is made or ingredients therein. In accordance with the present invention, the level of UV absorber additive in the label may be small (0.001 to about 3%, especially from 0.05 to 0.5 wt. %).
The present invention finds particular use in transparent or translucent labels especially for transparent or translucent containers. Preferably the container is a bottle. The invention is also of particular use where the transparent or translucent package contains a transparent or translucent liquid product although the product may also be opaque.
The contents of the container may comprise consumer products such as light duty liquid detergents (hand dishwashing detergents), heavy duty detergents, automatic dishwashing gels, personal washing compositions, such as body washes, shampoos, or fabric softeners. Particularly preferred are enzyme-containing transparent/translucent heavy duty liquid detergents. The UV absorber in the label is intended to protect against destruction of colorant dye in the product (e.g., caused by the light impacting dye molecules through the clear bottle) and secondarily to protect the packaging materials, such as PE, PP or PVC polymers from UV damage.
The label is preferably a transparent or translucent, in-mold or pressure—sensitive, plastic label. Preferably, the label is applied to a clear or translucent bottle. A product's colorant, perfume and other organic chemical components can degrade when exposed to UV light, which is strong enough to break chemical bonds. The use of a UV absorber and optionally an F-dye in the label or the label's adhesive or overprint varnishes/coatings would protect the product and preserve its appearance, odor and quality, and also would protect the plastic bottle or other type of plastic package from degradation.
For a more complete understanding of the above and other features and advantages of the invention, reference should be made to the following description of the preferred embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Package Material and Label
The package of the invention is preferably a polymeric bottle, although other packages such as thermoforms or injection-molded components, polymeric cartons, paperboard cartons with film windows and glass bottles may be used.
Clear packaging materials with which this invention may be used include, but are not limited to: polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), polyamides (PA) and/or polyethylene terephthalate (PETE), polyvinylchloride (PVC); and polystyrene (PS) or multilayer combinations.
The transparent container according to the invention preferably has a transmittance of more than 25%, more preferably more than 30%, more preferably more than 40%, more preferably more than 50% in the visible part of the spectrum (approx. 410-800 nm).
Alternatively, absorbency of the container may be measured as less than 0.6 or by having transmittance greater than 25%, wherein % transmittance equals:
1
10
absorbancy
×
100
%
For purposes of the invention, as long as one wavelength in the visible light range has greater than 25% transmittance, it is considered to be transparent/translucent.
Enzyme deactivation as a result of UV-damage may occur at very low transmission of UV-B radiation through the container wall.
The bottle or other container of the invention may be made by conventional techniques such as blow molding. UV absorber and optionally f-dye or a combination may optionally be additionally added to the polymeric material of which the bottle is made while it is molten and is then mixed therewith prior to forming the container or coated on the glass bottle surface. The additives may also be added to the hot melt adhesive on an in-mold label, or to the pressure-sensitive adhesive on the back of a pressure-sensitive label. Alternatively, the UV absorbers and/or F-dyes may be added to the overprint varnishes or top coatings.
A suitable container is disclosed in Brown et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/777,641, now abandoned which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The bottle wall may comprise one or more layers, one or more of which may include F-dyes and/or UV absorbers. The layers may if desired be very thin, eg., less than 0.01 inch thick and may range to and above 0.2 inch in thickness, especially from 0.015 inches to 0.02 inches on the low end, up to 0.17 or 0.2 inch on the high end.
The container of the present invention may be of any form or size suitable for storing and packaging liquids for household use. For example, the container may have any size but usually the container will have a maximal capacity of 0.05 to 15 L, preferably, 0.1 to 5 L, more preferably from 0.2 to 2.5 L. Preferably, the container is suitable for easy handling. For example, the container may have handle or a part with such dimensions to allow easy lifting or carrying the container with one hand
Bae-Lee Myongsuk
Bory Barbara Helen
Giblin Edward John
Hsu Feng-Lung Gordon
Kuzmenka Daniel Joseph
Douyon Lorna M.
Unilever Home & Personal Care USA a division of Conopco, Inc.
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