Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Reexamination Certificate
2003-01-08
2004-08-10
Boyer, Charles (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
C510S276000, C510S281000, C510S432000, C510S480000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06774098
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to methods and equipment for using hard surface cleaners to remove stains, such as menstrual fluid stains or underarm perspiration stains, from clothes or other soft fabrics.
BACKGROUND
Menstrual fluid, a composition of blood and endometrial cells, is difficult to remove from cotton panties once it has stained the fabric. Clorox® Bleach, which is a designated trademark used by the Clorox Company, is one of the leading household products used for the purpose of cleaning white cotton panties of menstrual fluid stain. However, like other chlorine-releasing bleaches, Clorox Bleach, even diluted, will disintegrate the fabric in time because these processes require lengthy immersed soaking of the stain. Even after soaking, a dark residue stain still may remain in the cotton fabric, the removal of which usually necessitates scrubbing. In turn, vigorous scrubbing accelerates deterioration of the bleach-weakened cotton fibers which, again, leads to damaged panties and, expense and frustration. Some household products, such as hydrogen peroxide, produce free oxygen to dislodge menstrual fluid discharge from cotton fabric but this process may be effective only when the discharge is fresh and minimal fluid penetration of the fabric has occurred.
Perspiration stain in the underarm areas of white cotton fabric shirts and blouses is difficult to remove even for professionals in the garment laundry and cleaner business. Often the stain is not completely removed.
There is a clamor among women around the world for a process that they can use to remove fresh, set-in or old menstrual fluid stain or perspiration stain from white cotton fabric, and that can do so easily, rapidly, with little or no scrubbing, and with no damage to the cotton fabric.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is to provide methods of using hard surface cleaners to remove fresh, set-in or old menstrual fluid stains or underarm perspiration stains from fabrics. The hard surface cleaners may be store-bought products that are readily available to the public. The fabrics may be, for example, panties, shirts, blouses, or other soft fabric articles. The fabrics may be made of cotton or cotton/polyester. The removal preferably is accomplished with little or no scrubbing of the fabrics.
The methods of the present invention can also be used for removing other stains from fabrics. These stains may be caused, for example, by wine, grass, urine, feces, and certain types of ink, but these are not to be considered limiting.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided that is useful for removing a stain from a soft fabric article. The method includes the steps of: (a) providing a hard surface cleaner; and (b) contacting the hard surface cleaner to the stain for one to five minutes, typically. The hard surface cleaner may be a mold or mildew remover, such as Scrubbing Bubbles Mildew Stain Remover®, Tilex Mildew Remover®, Lysol Mildew Remover®, and Scrub Free Mildew Stain Remover®. Scrubbing Bubbles Mildew Stain Remover®, Tilex Mildew Remover®, Lysol Mildew Remover®, and Scrub Free Mildew Stain Removers are designated trademarks used by SC Johnson, the Clorox Company, Reckitt Benckiser Inc., and Church & Dwight Company, Inc, respectively.
In one embodiment, the stain is a menstrual fluid stain or an underarm perspiration stain. The fabric article may be a cloth, and made of white cotton or a blend of white cotton and polyester. The cloth may be selected from the group consisting of panty, shirt, blouse, pant, jean and trousers.
In another embodiment, the hard surface cleaner comprises: (a) a surfactant system consisting of amine oxides within the general formula (I):
or quaternary amine salts within the general formula (II):
or combinations of the foregoing amine oxides and quaternary amine salts; and (b) a very slightly water-soluble polar organic compound having a water solubility ranging from about 0.1 to 1.0 weight percent, a weight ratio of the very slightly water-soluble polar organic compound to the surfactant system ranging from about 0.1:1 to about 1: 1, wherein R
1
and R
2
are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, hydroxyethyl and hydroxypropyl, R
3
is selected from the group consisting of straight chain alkyls, branched chain alkyls, straight chain heretroalkyls, branched chain heteroalkyls and alkyl ethers, each having from about 10 to 20 carbon atoms, R
4
is selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups having from 1 to about 5 carbon atoms, and X is a halogen atom.
In yet another embodiment, the hard surface cleaner comprises:(a) either (i) a combination of a nonionic surfactant and a quaternary ammonium surfactant or (ii) an amphoteric surfactant, the total amount of the surfactant being present from about 0.001-10%, wherein the nonionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of an alkoxylated alkylphenol ether, an alkoxylated alcohol, or a semi-polar nonionic surfactant which itself is selected from the group consisting of mono-long-chain alkyl, di-short-chain trialkyl amine oxides, alkylamidodialkyl amine oxides, phosphine oxides and sulfoxides; (b) no more than 50% of at least one water-soluble or dispersible organic solvent having a vapor pressure of at least 0.001 mm Hg at 25° C.; (c) 0.01-25% of tetraammonium ethylenediamine-tetraacetate (tetraammonium EDTA) as a chelating agent; and (d) water.
In still yet another embodiment, the hard surface cleaner comprises (a) a surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic, nonionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof, with optionally, a quaternary ammonium surfactant, the total amount of surfactant being present from about 0.001-10% by weight; (b) at least one water-soluble or dispersible organic solvent having a vapor pressure of at least 0.001 mm Hg at 25° C., the at least one organic solvent being selected from the group consisting of alkanols, diols, glycol ethers, and mixtures thereof present in an amount from about 1% to 50% by weight of the cleaner; (c) tetrapotassium ethylenediamine-tetraacetate (potassium EDTA) as a chelating agent, the potassium EDTA present from about 0.01-25% weight-of the cleaner; and (d) water.
In still another embodiment, the hard surface cleaner comprises (a) a nonionic surfactant with optionally, a quaternary ammonium surfactant, the total amount of the surfactant being present from about 0.001-10%, wherein the nonionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of an alkoxylated alkylphenol ether, an alkoxylated alcohol, or a semi-polar nonionic surfactant which itself is selected from the group consisting of mono-long-chain alkyl, di-short-chain trialkyl amine oxides, alkylamidodialkyl amine oxides, phosphine oxides and sulfoxides; (b) no more than 50% of at least one water-soluble or dispersible organic solvent having a vapor pressure of at least 0.001 mm Hg at 25° C.; (c) 0.01-25% of tetraammonium ethylenediamine-tetraacetate (tetraammonium EDTA) as a chelating agent; and (d) water.
In a preferred embodiment, the hard surface cleaner has a viscosity of less than about 100 cps and comprises: (a) at least about 85% water, in which is dissolved (b) at least about 0.45 equivalent per kilogram of an inorganic anion which, when combined with calcium ion, forms a salt which has a solubility of not more than 0.2 g/100 g water at 25° C., wherein the anion is carbonate, fluoride, or metasilicate ion, or a mixture of such anions, (c) at least 0.3% by weight, based on the weight of the composition, of a detersive surfactant including an amine oxide of the form RR
1
R
2
N→O wherein R is C
6
-C
12
alkyl and R
1
and R
2
are independently C
1-4
alkyl or C
1-4
hydroxyalkyl, and (d) at least about 0.5 weight percent of a bleach, based upon the weight of the composition, wherein the cleaning composition is alkaline and essentially free of chelating agents, phosphorous-containing salt, and abrasive.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
Boyer Charles
Dyke Raymond Van
LHTaylor Associates
Nixon & Peabody LLP
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