Cleaning and liquid contact with solids – Processes – Using solid work treating agents
Reexamination Certificate
1994-12-12
2001-09-18
El-Arini, Zeinab (Department: 1746)
Cleaning and liquid contact with solids
Processes
Using solid work treating agents
C134S006000, C134S003000, C015S097100, C015S103000, C015S230170
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290781
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method for removing mineral and other deposits from hard surfaces such as glass, tile and the like and compositions for such use.
In the many parts of the country, it is common to find water containing calcium, magnesium or iron (II)ions in solution. Calcium ions derived from the passage of natural waters through and over limestone are the most common metallic ions in “hard water”. Under certain conditions, insoluble salts of these metals precipitate.
Hardness in water is objectionable for several reasons. Deposits of insoluble metallic salts may be precipitated when water is heated or when soaps are added, prior to cleaning of the surface. The deposition of insoluble salts is also especially problematic when hard water comes into contact with mirrored glass and tile surfaces. In particular, mirrored glass is used in supermarket produce cases to reflect the vegetables and to enhance the display. A misting system is commonly used in produce cases to automatically spread water onto vegetables several times each hour to help retain their freshness. Typical produce cases keep refrigerated air constantly moving over the produce and over the mirrored glass surface. The moving air causes some of the water to evaporate between the misting cycles and leads to deposition of the minerals and other foreign matter on the mirrored surface. After several weeks this buildup is difficult to remove with conventional cleaning products and techniques. The buildup gives the mirror the appearance of being dirty and, because of the proximity of fresh produce, it presents an unacceptable situation with respect to the customers' perceptions of the store and its environs.
Various methods have been employed to prevent this problem by attempting to remove the minerals from the water using ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis and deionization systems. These methods are only partially successful because they cannot remove all of the minerals economically and thoroughly. Other methods such as removing the mirrors from the supermarket produce case entirely and cleaning them with acid has proven to be costly and hazardous to the health of the personnel. Attempts to remove the deposits (i.e. scale) with steel wool typically damage the glass surface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, safe and effective method for cleaning hard surfaces such as mirrored glass of supermarket produce cases, free of accumulated deposited materials.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for cleaning these hard surfaces using readily available materials.
It is additional object of the present invention to provide a method of cleaning hard surfaces which is effective in removing minerals and other deposits while avoiding damage to the hard surfaces themselves.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a safe and a effective composition for use in cleaning these hard surfaces that is non-toxic to food produce.
A method for cleaning a mirrored glass includes affixing a pad to a portable, power tool; applying a composition containing an abrasive to the pad; applying the pad to the mirrored glass surface; operating the tool in a rotary motion at high speed until the mirrored glass surface is clean; and removing any excess composition from the mirrored glass surface. Preferably, the pad is an industrial-grade scouring pad and the composition is an acidic composition having a pH less than 7.0. Preferably, the power tool has a rotary motion ranging from between about 9,000 to about 13,000 revolutions per minute.
A composition for use in cleaning mineral deposits off mirrored glass surfaces comprises a non-toxic, biodegradable solution having a pH less than 7.0 in combination with an abrasive selected from the group consisting of ground pumice stone, calcium carbonate, aluminum oxide, and diatomaceous earth. Another composition for use for removing minerals from mirrored glass surfaces comprises an aqueous solution of citric acid, pumice powder and talc in an amount sufficient to provide an abrasive composition having the consistency of putty. A preferred acid composition has a pH of about 4.0, and contains an abrasive selected from the group consisting of ground pumice stone, calcium carbonate, aluminum oxide, and diatomaceous earth. The most preferred abrasive has a particle size between about 3 to about 5 microns.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4502892 (1985-03-01), Westermann et al.
patent: 5183000 (1993-02-01), Burks
patent: 5192460 (1993-03-01), Thomas et al.
patent: WO84/03459 (1984-09-01), None
Choate Hall & Stewart
El-Arini Zeinab
Nugent Elizabeth E.
Pamela Brouillet
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