Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – Heterogeneous arrangement
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-03
2002-12-24
Douyon, Lorna M. (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
Heterogeneous arrangement
C510S101000, C510S294000, C510S298000, C510S446000, C510S447000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06498135
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to detergent compositions in non-particulate form. More particularly, the invention relates to a process for improving the aesthetics of detergent compositions in non-particulate form, e.g., tablet, block or bar, by improving the neat product odor of a non-particulate detergent and also enabling the delivery of different fragrances to a non-particulate detergent product as compared to the odor delivered to the laundry by a perfume incorporated within the detergent, by using electrostatic techniques.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Non-particulate solids detergents are an alternative to granular or particulate forms of detergents for simplifying the dosing of such detergents for automatic laundry or dishwashing washing machines. Such non-particulate detergents are usually supplied in the form of bars or tablets or briquettes. Such non-particulate detergents not only prevent spillage of the detergent composition but also eliminate the need for the consumer to estimate the correct dosage of the detergent composition per wash. Further, such non-particulate detergents also minimize the contact by the consumer with the detergent.
An important factor for successful performance of a non-particulate detergent is its ability to dissolve in the washing machine in a controlled manner according to a desired dissolution profile during the program cycle of the machine. Another important performance factor is that the non-particulate detergent should be hard enough to facilitate easy handling of the detergent prior to use, so that it does not inadvertently lose its structure, crumble, or deteriorate, both during the packaging, transport and storage and during handling by the end consumer prior to actual use. Such performance aspects are an important feature of the non-particulate detergent, and although they are not necessarily the focus of the present invention, they are inherently a part of the background of the present invention.
A very desirable feature of a non-particulate detergent, such as for example, a tablet, is its appearance and odor. From an aesthetics standpoint, consumers prefer to use detergent tablets that have a fragrant odor. It is thus desirable to improve the neat product odor of detergent tablets. Hence, most detergent compositions include a perfume incorporated within the detergent. However, in order to improve the hardness of the detergent tablet, the tablets are occasionally encapsulated by a protective coating. This coating can substantially mask the odor of the perfume incorporated within the detergent. By dusting the tablet with a perfume carrier, one can improve the neat product odor and make the tablet detergent product more aesthetically pleasing. Additionally, the deposition of a perfume carrier coating on a detergent tablet enables the delivery of different fragrances to the detergent tablet product as compared to the odor delivered to the laundry by a perfume incorporated within the detergent composition.
It is highly desirable to have a laundry detergent tablet with a core which is formed by compressing a particulate material, the particulate material having a surfactant and detergent builder, which is coated with a perfume in order to improve its odor. It is also desirable to provide a laundry tablet with a hard, thin, coating which has a perfume coating deposited on it, so that the laundry tablet has a pleasant odor, it can be stored, shipped and handled, but the coating is broken when the tablet is in the washing machine exposing the soft core which breaks up easily and rapidly, releasing the active ingredients into the wash solution.
Thus, it is highly desirable to improve the neat product odor of a nonparticulate detergent. It is also highly desirable to have a process for providing a non-particulate detergent tablet with a perfume carrier in a manner so that the perfume carrier would adhere to the tablet and remain so during packaging, transport, storage and handling prior to eventual use.
BACKGROUND ART
The prior art is replete with methods of coating tablets, and many methods have been suggested for coating detergent tablets.
GB-A-0 989 683, published on Apr. 22, 1965, discloses a process for preparing a particulate detergent from surfactants and inorganic salts; spraying on water-soluble silicate; and pressing the detergent particles into a solid form-retaining tablet. Finally a readily water-soluble organic film-forming polymer (for example, polyvinyl alcohol) provides a coating to make the detergent tablet resistant to abrasion and accidental breakage.
EP-A-0 002 293, published on Jun. 13, 1979, discloses a tablet coating comprising hydrated salt such as acetate, metaborate, orthophosphate, tartrate, and sulphate.
EP-A-0 716 144, published on Jun. 12, 1996, also discloses laundry detergent tablets with water-soluble coatings which may be organic polymers including acrylic/maleic co-polymer, polyethylene glycol, PVPVA, and sugar.
PCT Publication WO 95/18215, published on Jul. 6, 1995, provides water-insoluble coatings for solid cast tablets. The tablets are provided with hydrophobic coatings including wax, fatty acid, fatty acid amides, and polyethylene glycol.
Other prior art discloses the use of carriers, such as zeolite, for example, for delivering perfume. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,648,328 discloses a process for producing a particulate laundry additive composition for perfume delivery primarily in laundry detergent and fabric softening products. The process utilizes a porous carrier material loaded with a perfume and as a result of this process, the perfume is sealed into the carrier material sufficiently to not permit exposure until subjected to the laundering or softening process. In the '328 patent, the preferred perfume carrier materials are zeolite X, zeolite Y, and mixtures thereof However the focus of the '328 patent is on particulate laundry composition additives and not on non-particulate detergents having perfume deposited on the surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,978 discloses a process for making coated detergent granules by producing detergent granules and then uniformly distributing finely divided powder onto the surfaces of the detergent granules by means of an electrostatic charging and delivery system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention meets the needs above by providing a process for producing a non-particulate detergent having an improved neat product odor, and a process for producing a non-particulate detergent product having a perfume loaded carrier material coating.
In one aspect of the present invention, the process comprises the steps of (a) providing a powdered porous carrier material; (b) adsorbing a perfume onto the powdered porous carrier material; and (c) depositing the powdered porous carrier material having adsorbed perfume on the non-particulate detergent product. With the aforementioned optimally selected steps of the present invention, a uniform coating of a perfume laden porous carrier material is adhered to a detergent tablet surface, thus improving its neat product odor and also enabling the delivery of different fragrances to the detergent tablet product as compared to the odor delivered to the laundry by a perfume incorporated within the detergent composition.
In another aspect of the present invention, the process includes the step of providing a non-particulate detergent composition having an electrically conductive surface. The process further includes the step of grounding the electrically conductive surface of the non-particulate detergent composition. Still further, the process includes the step of providing an electrostatically chargeable carrier material having a perfume adsorbed therein. Finally, the process includes the step of coating the electrostatically chargeable carrier material onto the electrically conductive surface of the non-particulate detergent composition by means of applying an electrostatic charge with an electrostatic charging and delivery system, such that the electrostatically charged carrier material is adhered to the elec
Angell Adrian John Waynforth
France Paul Amaat
Radomyselskiy Arseniy V.
Zorb Les Charles
Cook C. B.
Douyon Lorna M.
Miller S. W.
Procter & Gamble Company
Zerby K. W.
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