Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – With oxygen or halogen containing chemical bleach or oxidant...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-10-18
2003-10-28
Gupta, Yogendra N (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
With oxygen or halogen containing chemical bleach or oxidant...
C510S195000, C510S367000, C510S406000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06638900
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to foaming cleaning compositions, and in particular to an in situ foaming cleaning composition incorporating a bleach and which is formulated to have utility as a drain cleaner, or as a hard surface cleaner.
2. Description of Related Art
Published Japanese applications to Ishimatsu et al JP 59-24798 and JP 60-32497; JP 59-164399, to Miyano et al, and Sakuma, JP 57-74379 all disclose, describe and claim a binary foaming cleaner having utility as a drain opener. None of these references, however, teach, suggest or disclose a thickened formulation, nor any of the advantages and foam characteristics associated therewith.
A hypochlorite composition paired with a chelating agent/builder solution in a dual chamber container is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,767,055 to Choy et al.
Drain cleaners of the art have been formulated with a variety of actives in an effort to remove the variety of materials which can cause clogging or restriction of drains. Such actives may include acids, bases, enzymes, solvents, reducing agents, oxidants and thioorganic compounds. Tobiason, U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,146, Steer, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,833 and Taylor, Jr. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,836 all disclose dry compounds which generate foam when mixed with water in a drain. Kuenn, U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,710 describes a dry in-sink garbage disposal cleaning composition which uses adipic acid and sodium bicarbonate to generate gas upon contact with water. This composition requires mechanical shearing from the disposal to assist in foam generation. Davis, U.S. Pat. No. 4,206,068 describes an exothermic drain opening composition comprising an oxidant and a reducing agent in a compartmentalized container.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
In view of the prior art, there remains a need for a cleaning composition capable of generating foam and heat in-situ. There further remains a need for foam-generating, exothermic composition which provides both chemical and physical cleaning especially on non-horizontal surfaces.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a composition capable of forming an active-carrying foam in situ.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a composition capable of generating a stable foaming active cleaner.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a triple component composition and containment means which isolates each component during storage.
It is another object to provide a drain opening composition which is formulated to be safe to store and use.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a foaming cleaning composition having utility as a drain cleaner by virtue of its rheology.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an exothermic cleaning composition.
More specifically, the composition is a product of three liquids or reactants which are separately maintained prior to forming an admixture during delivery to a surface to be treated, whereupon the admixture generates a heated foam sufficient for cleaning efficacy and stability. A first liquid includes an oxidant, such as a hypohalite or a hypohalite generating agent (hereinafter “hypohalite”) a second liquid includes a gas generating agent, such as a peroxygen containing or releasing agent; and a third liquid includes a reducing agent, such as a thiosulfate compound. At least one of the liquids includes a surfactant. As the liquids are initially separated, each can be maintained in an environment free of reactants and otherwise conducive to their cleaning activity and stability up to the time of use. When the hypohalite and peroxygen compound are allowed to mix, for example, by simultaneously pouring into a drain, they liberate oxygen gas in accordance with the following reaction equation:
NaOCl+H
2
O
2
→O
2
(g)+NaCl+H
2
O
Moreover the thiosulfate, e.g. sodium thiosulfate reacts with the hypohalite to generate heat. The following equation is illustrative:
4NaOCl+Na
2
S
2
O
4
+2NaOH→2Na
2
SO
4
+4NaCl+H
2
O+&Dgr;H
The liberated gas contacts the surfactant in the solution, creating foam which expands to completely fill the drain pipe. The expanded foam contains an excess of the hypohalite, which acts to clean the drain. The resulting foam is sufficiently stable, a dense to remain in a vertical segment of the pipe to provide active cleaning. In one aspect of the invention, sufficient reactants are provided to yield a foam height sufficient to yield a greater than twelve centimeter column in the drain (as measured from the center or lowest point of the P-trap, and for a 3.2 cm. diameter drain), more preferably greater than seventeen cm. and most preferably seventeen to thirty-one cm. Preferred in terms of foam volume and height in the drain, is an amount sufficient to reach the drain's stopper mechanism, a site of frequent hair and/or soap contamination. Such stopper mechanisms are typically positioned about twenty cm. up the vertical pipe. The foam would preferably contain greater than 0.1% active, more preferably greater than 0.5% active, and most preferably between about 0.75 and 3% active. An active contact time, or foam half life, should be at least twenty minutes. Foam half-life is the time elapsed between maximum foam volume development and a 50% volume reduction thereof, absent any external forces (other than gravity) acting upon the foam. The foam is self-generating, produced by reaction of composition components, and requires no mechanical agitation or other forms of physical activation. In addition to the foam generated, the reaction between hypohalite and reducing agent generates heat, which is imparted to both the foam and liquid phases. A preferred temperature within the foam is sufficient to insulate the liquid phase from surrounding cold regions, for example at least about 30° C. The elevated temperature within the foam may also be sufficient to contribute to the melting of grease in the vertical pipe. A preferred temperature within the liquid phase is sufficient to melt grease, for example 40° C. or greater.
In one embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the three liquids includes a thickening agent or system, present in an amount such that when the liquids form an admixture during delivery to a surface, the admixture results in a dense, stable heated foam sufficient for cleaning efficacy and stability. Thus, when the initially separated liquids are allowed to interact, the resulting liquid cleaning composition being delivered to the surface will have the cleaning or bleaching activity and heat delivery appropriate for the cleaning or bleaching of that surface. The term “liquid” as used herein may include homogeneous liquids, solutions, suspensions and slurrys. An aqueous liquid is contemplated; however, nonaqueous liquids are within the scope of the invention. The thickening agent or system may impart both a viscous component and an elastic component to the corresponding liquid.
The present invention also relates to a container which maintains the three liquids separately until delivery and provides for such delivery, during which the pH-maintained admixture is formed and delivered to a surface to be treated. The container includes a first compartment for the hypohalite containing liquid, a second compartment for the peroxygen-containing liquid, and a third compartment for the thiosulfate-containing liquid. One, two or all three of the liquids contained therein may contain the thickening system or agent, present in an amount sufficient to thicken and for stability of the liquid, as described above. According to one aspect of the invention, the container may have separate delivery channels for the liquid components for delivering the liquids, whereupon the admixture is formed. These delivery channels may be constructed to provide for the contemporaneous delivery of the liquids to the exterior of the container, whereupon the liquids meet to form the admixture. Alternately, the separate delivery
Ajmani Inderjeet K.
Chung Jessica Y.
Gupta Yogendra N
Mazza Michael J.
Petruncio John M.
The Clorox Company
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