Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-29
2001-04-03
Douyon, Lorna M. (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
C510S238000, C510S406000, C510S422000, C510S424000, C510S470000, C510S494000, C510S504000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06211124
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains to non-aerosol, non-foaming liquid detergent compositions that are safe and which tend to stick on vertical surfaces even when used (dispensed) without foaming. They are used for cleaning hard surfaces and especially are acidic liquid detergent compositions for bathrooms. Such compositions typically contain detergent surfactants, and, optionally, detergent builders and/or solvents to accomplish their cleaning tasks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of cleaning compositions containing organic water-soluble synthetic detergents, and, optionally, solvents, and/or detergent builders to produce foams for, e.g., bathroom cleaning tasks is known. Such compositions, are convenient, especially in the ease of application, the effectiveness of cleaning vertical surfaces, and in safety. Typical “sprayer” packages create a pattern of fine droplets of liquid and although they are more economical, provide good coverage with only minimal physical effort on the part of the consumer, and are preferred by many users, they can produce significant irritation to nose, throat, and lungs because of many small particles that become aerosolized and they can run down vertical surfaces. Non-foaming sprays are typically non-acidic formulas which show irritation when aerosolized by the typical sprayer. An object of the invention is to provide detergent compositions in conventional liquid sprayers, especially trigger-type sprayers of the type disclosed herein configured specially to provide a spray, with negligible effort, that minimizes the small particles that contribute significantly to nose and throat discomfort without appreciable loss of coverage and without a visible foam on the surface. The preferred acidic compositions provide good cleaning for all of the usual hard surface cleaning tasks found in the bathroom including removal of hard-to-remove soap scum and hard water deposits.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an article of manufacture comprising slightly thickened, shear-thinning, pseudo plastic liquid detergent compositions having a viscosity, as disclosed hereinafter, in the range of from about 0 to about 30 cps, preferably less than about 25 cps, packaged in a non-aerosol spray package, said compositions being dispensed without a visible foam, e.g., a foam/liquid volume ratio of less than about 2/1, preferably less than about 1.8/1, and even more preferably ≦about 1.7/1, when dispensed from said spray device “spray means,” as described hereinafter, but with a lowered content, e.g., less than about 4 mg/m
3
, preferably less than about 3.5 mg/m
3
, more preferably less than about 3 mg/m
3
, of particles that have a diameter of less than about 10 microns. This invention also relates to said compositions, preferably those having a pH of from about 1 to about 13, more preferably from about 1 to about 5.5. The use of a very slightly thickened formula is especially effective for improving cling and even coverage on vertical surfaces where very thin liquids tend to drip and can clean unevenly.
More specifically, the invention relates to an aqueous, acidic hard surface detergent composition comprising: (a) detergent surfactant, preferably a mixture of nonionic and zwitterionic detergent surfactants; (b) optional, but preferred, hydrophobic solvent that provides a primary cleaning function; (c) optional, but preferred, polycarboxylate detergent builder; and (d) polymeric, shear-thinning thickener to raise the viscosity of said composition to no more than from about 0 to about 30 cps, preferably less than about 25 cps, said composition having a pH of from about 1 to about 5.5. These preferred compositions can also contain an optional buffering system to maintain the acidic pH and the balance typically being an aqueous solvent system and minor ingredients.
The compositions, including the preferred compositions, are typically formulated at usage concentrations and packaged in a container having “spray means” (hereinbefore and hereinafter “spray package”), to make application to hard surfaces more convenient. The compositions can also be formulated as concentrates that can be diluted to usage concentrations in spray packages.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5055219 (1991-10-01), Smith
patent: 5232632 (1993-08-01), Woo et al.
patent: 5236614 (1993-08-01), Jacquet et al.
patent: 5336426 (1994-08-01), Rader et al.
patent: 5462689 (1995-10-01), Choy et al.
patent: 5639722 (1997-06-01), Kong et al.
Benecke Arnold George
Meece Donald Roy
Ormerod, IV Raleigh Clair
Camp Jason J.
Douyon Lorna M.
The Procter & Gamble & Company
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