Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – With scrubbing or scouring component
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-01
2001-05-29
Ogden, Nicholus (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
With scrubbing or scouring component
C510S139000, C510S150000, C510S199000, C510S202000, C510S220000, C510S238000, C510S245000, C510S256000, C510S268000, C510S286000, C510S345000, C510S362000, C510S367000, C510S368000, C510S379000, C510S395000, C510S420000, C510S460000, C510S465000, C510S532000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06239096
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to powdered abrasive cleansers that exhibit superior soil removal properties and that are surface safe. The cleansers include an anionic, nonionic and/or amphoteric surfactant, borax pentahydrate, that is preferably sodium tetraborate pentahydrate, and optionally calcium carbonate, a source of active chlorine, and an alkaline detergent builder.
2. Brief Statement of the Related Art
Abrasive cleansers have long been in commercial use. These are typically dry powders incorporating silica sand, a source of hypochiorite and a nonionic or anionic surfacant. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 3,530,071 discloses scouring cleansers containing chlorinated trisodium phosphate and a small critical amount of borax (sodium tetraborate decahydrate) which apparently stabilizes the chlorinated phosphate in storage but does not effect aluminum mark removal. U.S. Pat. No. 3,583,922 discloses a dry granular bleaching composition having allegedly improved effectiveness against food stains. The composition requires a combination of sulfamic acid and a source of available chlorine. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 3,607,161 discloses a scouring composition composing cationic surface active compounds and a water-soluble abrasive which may be borax pentahydrate. The composition purportedly leaves the surface which has been cleaned dry, shiny and free from a gritty residue film. Unfortunately, it has been found that the cationic surfactant is a fairly ineffective cleaning agent.
While prior art abrasive cleansers can effectively clean rough surfaces, such as concrete, their use is contraindicated on shiny or smooth surfaces, such as tiles or composite hard surfaces, such as ceramic, FORMICA® or CORIAN®, which can be dulled with use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is based in part on the discovery that employing an abrasive blend comprising a specific combination of borax pentahydrate and calcium carbonate provides a powdered cleanser that exhibits superior soap scum and bathroom soil removal and good surface safety. The present invention is also based in part on the discovery that employing borax pentahydrate as the predominant, or essentially the sole, abrasive, provides a powder cleanser that exhibits exceptional surface safety.
In one aspect, the invention is directed to a surface safe, dry hard surface cleanser that includes:
a) an effective amount of a surfactant that is selected from the group consisting of anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, and mixtures thereof;
b) an effective amount of a borax compound having the formula M
2
B
4
O
7
.5H
2
O, where M is an alkali metal selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, or potassium;
c) optionally, an effective amount of an alkaline detergent builder; and
d) optionally, an effective amount of calcium carbonate, provided that when calcium carbonate is present, the mole ratio of calcium carbonate to the borax compound ranges from about 20:1 to about 1:1.
In preferred embodiments, the cleanser includes an effective amount of an alkaline detergent builder which functions as a chelating agent for hard water. In addition, when fragrances are employed, the alkaline detergent builders tend to absorb then and thereby function as a carrier for the fragrances. Further, a source of active chlorine is preferably present. In preferred embodiments, (1) surfactant is an anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of alkyl benzene sulfonates, sodium lauryl sulfate, and mixtures thereof, (2) the source of active chlorine when present comprises sodium dichlororo-s-trazinetrione dihydrate, (3) the alkaline detergent builder comprises sodium carbonate, and/or (4) the borax is sodium tetraborate pentahydrate and the mole ratio of calcium carbonate to borax is about 12 to 1.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3309319 (1967-03-01), Coward et al.
patent: 3530071 (1970-09-01), Moore
patent: 3583922 (1971-06-01), McClain et al.
patent: 3607161 (1971-09-01), Monick
patent: 4129527 (1978-12-01), Clark et al.
patent: 4751016 (1988-06-01), Tse et al.
patent: 4788005 (1988-11-01), Castro
patent: 5962393 (1999-10-01), Blum et al.
Blum Robert L.
Garner Denise A.
Kling Carl M.
Boyer Charles
Burns Doane Swecker & Mathis L.L.P.
Ogden Nicholus
The Clorox Company
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