Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-18
2002-06-04
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...
C510S191000, C510S421000, C510S422000, C510S423000, C510S424000, C510S426000, C510S427000, C510S432000, C510S434000, C510S499000, C510S506000, C134S040000, C134S042000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06399555
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an improved hard surface cleaner especially effective on bathroom soils, such as soap scum. The inventive hard surface cleaner benefits from a novel combination of builders, namely, a precipitating and a non-precipitating builder.
2. Brief Statement of the Related Art
A number of hard surface cleaners have been specially formulated to target bathroom soils. These include products containing liquid hypochlorite for combating mildew and fungus; products with quaternary ammonium compounds as bacteriostats; and acidic cleaners, such as those containing phosphoric or other strong mineral acids.
These cleaners will typically include buffers, dyes, fragrances, and the like in order to provide performance and/or aesthetic enhancements.
Co-pending and parent application Ser. No. 08/731,653, filed Oct. 17, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,876 of Robbins et al., entitled “Low Odor, Hard Surface Cleaner with Improved Soil Removal,” of common assignment, discloses and claims a low odor hard surface cleaner which includes amine oxide, quaternary ammonium compound and tetrapotassium ethylenediaminetetraacetate for enhanced and proficient soil removal. Its disclosure is incorporated herein by reference thereto.
Co-pending application Ser. No. 08/807,187, filed Feb. 2, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,013,615of Zhou et al., entitled “Antimicrobial Hard Surface Cleaner,” also of common assignment, discloses and claims an antimicrobial hard surface cleaner which includes amine oxide, quaternary ammonium compound and tetrasodium EDTA, in which a critical amine oxide: EDTA ratio results in enhanced non-streaking and non-filming performance. Its disclosure is incorporated herein by reference thereto.
Mills et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,814,591, further of common assignment, discloses and claims a hard surface cleaner which includes surfactants and tetraammonium EDTA for proficient soap scum and soil removal. Its disclosure is incorporated herein by reference thereto.
However, none of the art discloses, teaches or suggest the use of a less than completely neutralized EDTA (especially where the neutralizing agent is a potassium salt—e.g., KOH—resulting in a K
+
counterion), combined with a precipitating builder (preferably, another and different potassium salt) as an effective chelating agent which additionally surprisingly enhances the soil removing, especially soap scum-removing, ability of the liquid, one phase cleaners formulated therewith. Additionally, unlike some of the prior chelating agents, the combined non-completely neutralized potassium EDTA has very low to no odor, which is a significant beneficial attribute to the inventive cleaners hereof. Moreover, none of the art discloses, teaches or suggests the unexpected speed at which the inventive cleaners work.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND OBJECTS
The invention provides an aqueous, hard surface cleaner, said cleaner comprising: an aqueous hard surface cleaner with improved soil, especially soap scum, removal comprising:
(a) either an anionic, nonionic, amphoteric surfactant, and mixtures thereof with optionally, a quaternary ammonium surfactant, said surfactants being present in a (cleaning—effective amount;
(b) at least one water-soluble or dispersible organic solvent having a vapor pressure of at least 0.001 mm Hg at 25° C., said at least one organic solvent present in a solubilizing—or dispersion—effective amount;
(c) a combination of (i) an incompletely neutralized potassium ethylenediamine—tetraacetate (EDTA) and (ii) a precipitating co-builder as chelating agents present in an amount effective to enhance soil removal in said cleaner; and
(d) the remainder, water.
The invention further comprises a method of cleaning soils, especially soap scum from hard surfaces by applying said inventive cleaner to said soap scum, and removing both from said surface.
It is therefore an object of this invention to improve soil, especially soap scum, removal from hard surfaces.
It is another object of this invention to markedly increase the speed in which such soils, especially soap scum, are removed from the hard surface cleaned.
It is also an object of this invention to provide a hard surface cleaner for bathroom soils, which include oily and particulate soils.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a low to no odor hard surface cleaner.
It is a still further object of this invention to provide a hard surface cleaner which has at least comparable performance at lower cost compared to a leading cleaner.
It is also an object of this invention to combine non-precipitating and precipitating builders to provide enhanced cleaning.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4029607 (1977-06-01), Murtaugh
patent: 4158644 (1979-06-01), Hamerel
patent: 4207215 (1980-06-01), Bolan
patent: 4530781 (1985-07-01), Gipp
patent: 4595527 (1986-06-01), Gipp
patent: 4637899 (1987-01-01), Kennedy, Jr.
patent: H269 (1987-05-01), Malik
patent: 4687592 (1987-08-01), Collins
patent: 4734259 (1988-03-01), Frenier
patent: 4749516 (1988-06-01), Brusky
patent: 4844744 (1989-07-01), Leiter
patent: 5013483 (1991-05-01), Frenier
patent: 5062987 (1991-11-01), Turcotte
patent: 5071582 (1991-12-01), Conville
patent: 5252245 (1993-10-01), Garabedian, Jr.
patent: 5266121 (1993-11-01), Cioletti
patent: 5328561 (1994-07-01), Letize
patent: 5417887 (1995-05-01), Skeele
patent: 5437807 (1995-08-01), Garabedian, Jr.
patent: 5454984 (1995-10-01), Graubart
patent: 5468423 (1995-11-01), Garabedian, Jr.
patent: 5476615 (1995-12-01), Hall
patent: 5585342 (1996-12-01), Choy et al.
patent: 5814591 (1998-09-01), Mills et al.
patent: 5948741 (1999-09-01), Ochomogo et al.
patent: 5948742 (1999-09-01), Chang et al.
patent: 6245728 (2001-06-01), Robbins et al.
patent: 2-180999 (1990-07-01), None
FWC U.S. application No. 08/507,543, Jul. 26, 1995, “Antimicrobial Hard Surface Cleaner,” Zhou et al.
U.S. application No. 08/605,822. Feb. 23, 1996, “Composition and Apparatus for Surface Cleaning,” Choy et al.
U.S. Application No. 08/632,041. Apr. 12, 1996, “Hard Surface Cleaner with Enhanced Soil Removal,”Mills et al.
Choy Clement K.
Gossett Elizabeth A.
Julian Jennifer C.
Robbins Michael H.
Robinson Gary L.
Delcotto Gregory
Hayashida Joel J.
The Clorox Company
LandOfFree
Low odor, hard surface cleaner with enhanced soil removal does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Low odor, hard surface cleaner with enhanced soil removal, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Low odor, hard surface cleaner with enhanced soil removal will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2913047