Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Auxiliary compositions for cleaning – or processes of preparing – Textile softening or antistatic composition
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-23
2001-07-31
Hardee, John (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Auxiliary compositions for cleaning, or processes of preparing
Textile softening or antistatic composition
Reexamination Certificate
active
06268332
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to rinse-added fabric softening compositions, including translucent or clear liquid compositions. The compositions of the present invention have a low level or nil principal solvent while providing enhanced softness to fabrics.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Clear, colorless or translucent liquids which can be suitably colored by the formulator are desirable embodiments of rinse-added fabric softener compositions. Typically these compositions require beyond any fabric softener actives, up to 20% by weight of one or more principal solvents inter alia 1,2-hexanediol 2-ethyl-1,2-hexanediol and 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol (TMPD). In addition, not all fabric softener actives are compatible with all principal solvents. This fact, taken together with the high cost and low supply capacity of certain principal solvents, has encumbered the formulation of clear colorless liquid fabric softener compositions.
Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for rinse-added fabric softener compositions which are translucent and/or colorless and which avoids the use of high levels of principal solvent. In addition, there is a need for efficient softness boosters for all rinse-added fabric softener compositions, for example, dispersed phase liquids as well as clear isotropic liquids.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention meets the aforementioned needs in that it has been surprisingly discovered that the use of certain primary and secondary polyoxyalkylene alkylamide surface active agents provide increased fabric softness in both dispersed phase and clear or translucent isotropic formulations. Indeed, the mono- and di-polyoxyalkylene alkyl amide surface active agents of the present invention also provide easier processability and formulatability in dispersed phase rinse-added compositions.
It has also been surprisingly discovered that certain primary and secondary polyoxyalkylene alkylamide surface active agents can be substituted for the principal solvents of clear, translucent fabric softening compositions thereby requiring a lower level of, and in some instances, nil principal solvent.
The first aspect of the present invention relates to rinse-added fabric softening compositions comprising:
a) from about 1% to about 80% by weight, of a fabric softening active;
b) less than about 15% by weight, of a principal solvent, said principal solvent having a ClogP of from about 0.15 to about 1;
c) from about 0.5% to about 10% by weight, of a polyoxyalkylene alkyl amide surface active agent; preferably having the formula:
wherein R is C
7
-C
21
linear alkyl, C
7
-C
21
branched alkyl, C
7
-C
21
linear alkenyl, C
7
-C
21
branched alkenyl, and mixtures thereof; R
1
is ethylene; R
2
is C
3
-C
4
linear alkyl, C
3
-C
4
branched alkyl, and mixtures thereof; R
3
is hydrogen, C
1
-C
4
linear alkyl, C
3
-C
4
branched alkyl, and mixtures thereof; R
4
is hydrogen, C
1
-C
4
linear alkyl, C
3
-C
4
branched alkyl, and mixtures thereof; m is 1 or 2, n is 0 or 1, provided that when m is
1
n is 1 and when m is 2 n is 0; x is from 0 to about 50; y is from 0 to about 10; and
d) the balance carriers and adjunct ingredients.
The present invention further relates to a process for making a rinse-added fabric softener composition with a low to zero level of principal solvent, comprising the step of adding an amide surfactant to a fabric softener active-containing composition.
The present invention also relates to methods for providing increased fabric softness to fabric, said method comprising the step of contacting fabric with an amide surfactant comprising composition according to the present invention. These and other objects, features and advantages will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from a reading of the following detailed description and the appended claims.
All percentages, ratios and proportions herein are by weight, unless otherwise specified. All temperatures are in degrees Celsius (°C.) unless otherwise specified. All documents cited are in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4497716 (1985-02-01), Tai
patent: 4828757 (1989-05-01), Naylor et al.
patent: 5476598 (1995-12-01), Schramm, Jr. et al.
patent: 5679331 (1997-10-01), Hague et al.
patent: 5693605 (1997-12-01), Isobe et al.
patent: 5874396 (1999-02-01), Littig et al.
patent: 0 799 887 (1997-10-01), None
patent: WO 97/03170 (1997-01-01), None
patent: WO 97/23590 (1997-07-01), None
Baker Ellen Schmidt
Baker Rebecca Gayl
Echler, Sr. R. S.
Hardee John
Miller S. W.
The Procter & Gamble & Company
Zerby K. W.
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