Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – Liquid composition
Reexamination Certificate
2002-04-24
2003-05-20
Boyer, Charles (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
Liquid composition
C510S235000, C510S245000, C510S247000, C510S254000, C510S289000, C510S356000, C510S357000, C510S365000, C510S421000, C510S422000, C510S424000, C510S426000, C510S427000, C510S501000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06566321
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a liquid composition for use with water to provide a cleaning solution for the removal of food from dishes, flatware and cookware.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Soiled dishes, flatware and cooking utensils are normally cleaned in automatic dishwashers that confine the objects to be cleaned within a sealed container. An amount of detergent is dispensed into the container and an amount of water is added and the resulting solution is re-circulated by spray apparatus to remove the undesirable materials from the surface of the objects being cleaned.
The significant agitation of the detergent solution being used precludes the use of detergents that generate significant amount of foam. Excessive foaming of the detergent solution can cause leakage of the foam from the dishwasher. As a result, low foaming detergents are used that generate little foam. By contrast, when dishes, flatware and cookware are to be cleaned by hand by the ordinary consumer, the presence of foam is considered to be necessary to provide adequate cleaning. While the presence of foam may or may not promote cleaning, consumers engaged in the manual cleaning process consider foam to correlate with cleaning power.
The use of dishwashing detergents on metal cookware also introduces significant constraints. If the detergent is excessively basic in pH or highly alkaline, then aluminum cookware is attacked, degrading the surface of the cookware. Introduction of corrosion inhibitors may minimize the degradation of the aluminum surface; however, some corrosion inhibitors lead to other undesirable effects, such as residues and formulation constraints.
In commercial applications, “open” washing devices are used to clean dishes, flatware, and cookware. Such devices are essentially an open-topped container (i.e., a large sink-like device) having a means of agitation positioned within the device to continuously agitate and heat a detergent solution therein. Because such devices are not closed, the cleaning operation is observable by the operator. Suitable detergents for use in such a device must have adequate cleaning power without the necessity of high-pressure jets that typically are used in an enclosed system (i.e., a household dishwasher).
Known liquid detergents currently used in open washing devices possess one or more of the following shortcomings: (1) the detergent forms too much foam under agitation such that foam overflows onto the floor next to the open washing device; (2) the detergent forms too little foam under agitation such that an operator doubts whether the detergent is adequately cleaning the cookware; (3) the detergent is unsuitable for use with aluminum cookware; (4) the detergent has a viscosity, which prevents the detergent from being dispensed as a liquid, either manually or automatically; and (5) the detergent has an unacceptable shelf life, which prevents the detergent from having satisfactory commercial utility.
What is needed to the art is a low-foaming liquid detergent, which provides a controlled amount of foam during agitation in an open washing device, provides adequate cleaning power in soft as well as hard water, and is safe to use with aluminum cookware. Further, what is needed to the art is a user-friendly, low-foaming liquid detergent, which is dispensable as a liquid, either manually or automatically, and has an acceptable shelf life.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses some of the difficulties and problems discussed above by the discovery of an improved low-foaming liquid detergent having a unique combination of components, which results in a cleaning solution having a controlled amount of foaming. The low-foaming liquid detergent finds particular utility in open washing devices, such as those in the fast food industry, for cleaning the surface of dishes, flatware, and especially metal cookware.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an improved low-foaming liquid detergent comprising a balanced combination of components, which result in a cleaning solution having desired properties including, but not limited to, low, controlled foaming; suitable for use with aluminum cookware; dispensable as a liquid, either manually or automatically; and an acceptable shelf life.
The present invention is also directed to a method of making the improved low-foaming liquid detergent, and methods of using the low-foaming liquid detergent in open washing devices, such as POWER SOAK® potwashing devices.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a review of the following detailed description of the disclosed embodiments and the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
To promote an understanding of the principles of the present invention, descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention follow and specific language is used to describe the specific embodiments. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the present invention is intended by the use of specific language. Alterations, further modifications, and such further applications of the principles of the present invention discussed are contemplated as would normally occur to one ordinarily skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.
The present invention is directed to a combination of ingredients, and those skilled in the art may find ways to alter that combination by means of further chemical additions to the solutions specifically disclosed and claimed. Moreover, the amounts set out in embodiments, and even the claims may be changed and still achieve the benefits of the present invention. Such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, as set out in the attached claims and their equivalents.
The present invention is directed to a low-foaming liquid detergent having a unique combination of components, which results in a cleaning solution having a controlled amount of foaming. The low-foaming liquid detergent contains a balanced combination of high-foaming surfactants and foam control agents in order to produce desired foaming properties. The combination of high-foaming surfactants and foam control agents enables intense agitation of a cleaning solution containing the low-foaming liquid detergent and water without forming an undesirable amount of foam, only a sufficient amount of foam to indicate effective cleaning.
I. Low-Foaming Liquid Detergent Component
The low-foaming liquid detergent of the present invention comprises a number of components, which provide desired characteristics to the resulting liquid detergent. A description of each class of liquid detergent component is given below.
A. Water
The low-foaming liquid detergent of the present invention comprises water as a primary solvent or carrier. Soft or hard water may be used in the present invention, although soft water is more desirable. As used herein, the term “soft water” refers to water containing less than about 60 ppm of calcium carbonate. As used herein, the term “hard water” refers to water containing more than about 60 ppm of calcium carbonate, while “very hard water” refers to water containing more than about 180 ppm of calcium carbonate. The low-foaming liquid detergent of the present invention may be formed using water available from any municipal water-treatment facility.
The low-foaming liquid detergent of the present invention typically comprises from about 45 to about 90 weight percent (wt %) of water based on a total weight of the low-foaming liquid detergent. Desirably, the low-foaming liquid detergent of the present invention comprises from about 60 to about 75 wt % water based on a total weight of the low-foaming washing detergent. In one desired embodiment of the present invention, the low-foaming liquid detergent comprises about 70 wt % water based on a total weight of the low-foaming washing detergent
B. High-Foaming Surfactants
The low-foaming liquid detergent of the present invention comprises one or more high-foaming surfactants. As used herein, t
Lama Frank
Thekkekandam Joseph T.
Boyer Charles
Kay Chemical, Inc.
Merchant & Gould LLC
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