Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-13
2003-05-20
Kopec, Mark (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
C510S101000, C510S123000, C510S125000, C510S127000, C510S159000, C510S384000, C510S391000, C510S426000, C510S495000, C510S504000, C424S401000, C424S070500, C424S070122, C424S070210, C424S070220, C424S070240, C424S070270, C424S070280
Reexamination Certificate
active
06566314
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to personal cleansing compositions, including shampoos. In particular, the present invention relates to an aqueous personal cleansing composition which is transparent and which exhibits a reduced cloud point temperature.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A wide variety of personal cleansing products have included amides of diethanolamine (such as, for example, cocamide diethanolamine), which function as stabilizers, emulsifiers, and/or foaming agents in such products. Amides of diethanolamine are also effective in depressing the cloud point temperature of transparent formulations in which they are included. As a result, the onset of a cloudy appearance caused by formation of precipitates in such conventional compositions occurs only at low temperatures (e.g., 4° C. or below). Cleansing compositions exhibiting such low cloud point temperatures are particularly desirable because they remain transparent over an extended temperature range and are therefore aesthetically pleasing to consumers. Indeed, undesirable precipitate formation, which diminishes the transparency of the compositions, is avoided under most conditions in compositions containing amides of diethanolamine.
Despite these advantages, products that include amides of diethanolamine are no longer entirely satisfactory in view of studies which have implicated diethanolamine as a cancer-causing ingredient in laboratory animals. Such study results may affect the purchase decisions of consumers, who have a proclivity to avoid products that may be linked to cancer. Although research efforts studying whether there is any connection between amides of diethanolamine and cancer have been inconclusive to date, consumers are increasingly seeking alternative cosmetic products which do not contain amides of diethanolamine in their formulations.
Nevertheless, it has been very difficult to develop alternative cleansing products that are free of amides of diethanolamine without compromising the desired functionality and/or aesthetics of the products, especially with respect to products that are normally transparent. For example, many cleansing compositions that are free of diethanolamine (e.g., those products that contain sodium lauryl sulfate as an anionic cleansing agent) are characterized by undesirably higher cloud point temperatures (e.g., 12° C.), as compared with conventional cleansing compositions that contain amides of diethanolamine. Often, cleansing product formulations that are free of amides of diethanolamine have a cloud point temperature that is significantly higher (e.g., by 50% or more) than the cloud point temperature found in corresponding formulations that contain amides of diethanolamine.
As a result, many formulations that exclude amides of diethanolamine are ill-suited for practical use. While such compositions may be normally clear and aesthetically pleasing to consumers at a temperature above the cloud point temperature, for example, at room temperature, the relatively high cloud point temperature of such formulations (which are generally closer to room temperature than formulations that contain amides of diethanolamine) render those compositions more susceptible to precipitate formation such that the transparency of the compositions would diminish. Because of the increased risk that such compositions would be subjected to a temperature below the cloud point temperature, such as, for example, during storage, when transported, or the like, precipitate formation may be more apt to occur such that the product would become aesthetically unappealing, thereby leading to consumer rejection. As a related complication, conventional cleansing compositions that are not stabilized with an amide of diethanolamine also exhibit an undesirably high “recovery time,” that is, the amount of time required for a composition that has been chilled to a temperature below its cloud point to return to a clear appearance upon reaching a temperature above its cloud point. Often, such compositions require several hours to reassume a normally clear appearance.
Accordingly, it will be appreciated that there exists a need in the art for a transparent personal cleansing composition which is free of amides of diethanolamine and which does not suffer from an undesirably high cloud point temperature. There is also a need for a personal cleansing composition which, in the unwanted event that the composition is subjected to an environment in which the temperature is at or below the cloud point temperature, rapidly recovers its normally transparent appearance upon reaching a temperature above its cloud point temperature. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention, as well as additional inventive features, will be apparent from the description of the invention provided herein.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a normally clear personal cleansing composition which is essentially free of amides of diethanolamine and which is characterized by a desirably low cloud point temperature. The composition of the present invention comprises water and a cloud point depressing agent comprising ammonium chloride.
The present invention also provides a method of reducing the cloud point temperature in a normally clear aqueous personal cleansing composition which is essentially free of amides of diethanolamine. The method comprises adding ammonium chloride to the composition.
Advantageously, the present invention permits the exclusion of amides of diethanolamine in a cleansing composition without causing the composition to have an undesirably high cloud point temperature. As a result, not only is the composition nontoxic and safe for consumer use in cleansing products, but also the risk of forming an undesirable precipitate in the composition, including, for example, during storage and/or transportation conditions, is attenuated in view of the reduced cloud point temperature exhibited by the composition. Moreover, even in the unwanted event that the composition is exposed to temperatures at or below the composition's cloud point temperature, the composition is characterized by a relatively short recovery time for returning to clarity upon reaching a temperature above the cloud point temperature after being chilled to a temperature below the cloud point temperature. As such, the present invention provides a cleansing composition with enhanced stability and which is aesthetically pleasing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present invention is predicated, at least in part, on providing a normally clear cleansing composition which is essentially free of amides of diethanolamine and which has a desirably low cloud point temperature. In particular, the composition comprises water and a cloud point depressing agent comprising ammonium chloride. Surprisingly, in accordance with the present invention, by including ammonium chloride in the composition, it has been found that the cloud point temperature of the composition is reduced even though the composition is essentially free of any amides of diethanolamine. The composition can be used in personal products, such as, for example, shampoos and the like.
The inventive personal cleansing composition is aqueous. In this respect, the amount of water (diluent) in the composition can range, for example, from about 25% to about 80% by weight of the composition, preferably from about 40% to about 70% by weight of the composition, and even more preferably from about 50% to about 60% by weight of the composition.
The composition of the present invention also includes ammonium chloride, which serves to depress the cloud point temperature of the composition. Preferably, ammonium chloride is provided in an amount such that the composition exhibits a cloud point temperature of about 6° C. or below, more preferably about 4° C. or below, even more preferably about 2° C. or below, still more preferably about 0° C. or below, and even still more preferably about −2° C. or below. As alternative or additional features of the pr
Ghosh Dipak K.
Murthy Usha V.
Schueller Randy
Alberto-Culver Company
Kopec Mark
Leydig , Voit & Mayer, Ltd.
Mruk Brian P.
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