Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – Solid – shaped macroscopic article or structure
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-21
2003-04-15
Douyon, Lorna M. (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
Solid, shaped macroscopic article or structure
C510S224000, C510S294000, C510S298000, C510S441000, C134S025200, C008S137000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06548473
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to detergent tablets having both compressed and at least one non-compressed, non-encapsulating portion.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Detergent compositions in tablet form are known in the art. Detergent compositions in tablet form hold several advantages over detergent compositions in particulate or liquid form, such as ease of handling, transportation and storage. Due to these advantages, detergent compositions in tablet form are becoming increasingly popular with consumers of detergent products.
Detergent tablets are most commonly prepared by pre-mixing the components in the composition and forming the pre-mixed components into a tablet via the use of a tablet press and compression of the components. However, traditional tablet compression processes have significant drawbacks, including but not limited to the fact that selected components of a detergent composition may be adversely affected by the compression pressure in the tablet press. Accordingly, these selected components were not typically included in prior art detergent tablets without sustaining a loss in performance. In some cases, these selected components may even have become unstable or inactive as a result of the compression.
In addition, as the components of the detergent composition are compressed in the tablet press, they are brought into close proximity with one another resulting in the reaction of selected component, instability, inactivity or exhaustion of the active form of the components.
To avoid the above mentioned drawbacks, prior art detergent tablets have attempted to separate components of the detergent composition that may potentially react with each other when the detergent composition is compressed into tablet form. Separation of the components has been achieved by, for example, preparing multiple-layer tablets wherein the reactive components are contained in different layers of the tablet or encapsulation and coating of reactive components. These prior art multiple-layer tablets are traditionally prepared using multiple compression steps. Accordingly, layers of the tablet which are subjected to more than one compression step may be subjected to a cumulative and potentially greater overall compression pressure. In addition, an increase in compression pressure of the tabletting press is known to decrease the rate of dissolution of the tablet with the effect that such multiple layer tablets may not dissolve satisfactorily in use.
Accordingly, the need remains for an improved detergent tablet which can deliver active detergent ingredients to a domestic wash process thereby delivering superior performance benefits.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This need is met by the present invention wherein a detergent tablet having a compressed solid body portion and a non-compressed, non-encapsulating portion is provided. The tablet of the present invention delivers detergent components previously considered to be unacceptable for detergent tablets in addition to effectively separating potentially reactive ingredients. In addition, the detergent tablet of the present invention provides superior cleaning performance, particularly in domestic automatic dishwashing machines over the tablets of the prior art.
According to a first embodiment of the present invention, a detergent tablet is provided. The tablet comprises:
i) a compressed solid body portion having therein at least one mould in the compressed solid body portion; and
ii) at least one non-compressed, non-encapsulating portion mounted in the at least one mould of the compressed solid body portion, having an area of B, the at least one non-compressed, non-encapsulating portion comprising at least one detergent active; wherein surface area of the detergent tablet, excluding area of the at least one mould, is A; and wherein further ratio of B to A is from about 1:50 to about 4:1, by area.
The non-compressed, non-encapsulating portion/s can be formulated so that at least 90% of the detergent active is delivered to the wash within the first 3 minutes of a domestic wash process, and more preferably at least 95% of the detergent active is delivered to the wash within the first 2 minutes of a domestic wash process. Alternatively, the compressed solid body can be formulated so that least 90% of the detergent active is delivered to the wash within the first 3 minutes of a domestic wash process, and more preferably at least 95% of the detergent active is delivered to the wash within the first 2 minutes of a domestic wash process.
Examples of detergent actives which can be in the non-compressed, non-encapsulating portion/s are enzymes, surfactants, disrupting agents, dispersing polymers, bleaching agents, silver care agents, builders, and mixtures thereof with enzymes and disrupting agents being the most preferred. When a disrupting agent is included, the disrupting agent is preferably a salt of carbonate or bicarbonate and an organic acid.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the dissolution rate of the at least one non-compressed, non-encapsulating portion is greater than the dissolution rate of the compressed portion determined using the SOTAX dissolution test method. Alternatively, it is another object of the invention that the dissolution rate of the compressed portion is greater than the dissolution rate of the at least one non-compressed, non-encapsulating portion determined using the SOTAX dissolution test method.
Accordingly, it is a further object of the present invention to provide a non-compressed, non-encapsulating portion/s which can quickly and efficiently deliver detergent actives to a domestic wash process. These, and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from 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.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention comprises a detergent tablet and in particular a detergent tablet for automatic dishwashing which has a least one compressed solid body portion and at least one non-compressed, non-encapsulating portion. The use of the non-compressed, non-encapsulating portion/s and compressed portion provides a superior delivery mechanism for detergent active agents into the domestic wash process. Either of the non-compressed, non-encapsulating portion/s or the compressed portion can rapidly dissolve or disperse thereby providing for the earliest possible delivery of detergent active agents into the domestic wash process.
The detergent tablet must have a ratio of B to A from about 1:50 to about 4:1, preferably from about 1:20 to about 1:1, more preferably about 1:10 to about 1:1, by area. Area A is the area of the detergent tablet, but excluding the area of the mould. Area B is the area of the non-compressed, non-encapsulating portion/s.
The ratio of B to A gives optimal dissolution kinetics to the dimple. Additionally, the non-compressed, non-encapsulating portion/s have improved visual noticibility.
The detergent tablet, the mould(s) and non-compressed, non-encapsulating portion/s can be any conceivable size and shape as long as the ratio of B to A remains from about 1:50 to about 4:1. Preferably, when the detergent tablet is to be used in a dispensing device, such as those found in automatic dishwashers, the detergent tablet will be of a size suitable to be dispensed from the dispenser.
Accordingly, by way of the present invention, detergent active components of a detergent tablet previously adversely affected by the compression pressure used to form the tablets may now be included in a detergent tablet. Examples of these components include bleaching agents and enzymes. In addition, these detergent active components may be separated from one another by having one or more compatible components contained in the co
Jacques Kamiel Thoen Christiaan Arthur
Painter Jeffrey Donald
Scheper William Michael
Song Xiaoqing
Douyon Lorna M.
Waugh Kevin L.
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