Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-19
2003-06-24
Webb, Gregory E. (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
C510S245000, C510S505000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06583097
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is in the field of cleaning compositions. More specifically, this invention relates to cleaning compositions including a rubber solvent, a degreaser, and a diluent. The compositions can be used to clean oil, grease, tar, rubber, organic matter, particulate matter and other debris from soiled surfaces
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Some environments generate a tough combination of dirt, grime, soil, and debris that is very difficult to clean effectively with only one cleaner. One example of such an extreme environment is the vehicle race track, e.g., auto speedway, truck speedway, or the like. In the course of a race, windshields are splattered both with oils (e.g., motor oils and gear oils) and with rubber bits thrown from race tires that erode during racing. Dirty windshields obscure the driver's visibility, impairing the safety of all race participants. Accordingly, it is common practice to try and clean race vehicle windshields during pit stops.
Cleaning a race vehicle windshield at a pit stop is not a simple matter, because this use imposes many stringent demands on a cleaner. In addition to being able to remove oils and rubber and other soil on the windshield, the cleaning agent must act to remove this grime very fast, i.e., within the time constraints of the pit stop. The cleaner also must be easy to remove quickly from the surface. Desirably, therefore, the cleaner must not only act fast, but also evaporate at a quick enough rate so that the time spent wiping the windshield with a clean cloth, squeegee, or the like, will be at a minimum. While quick cleaning action is important, this must also be balanced against residence time. The cleaner components must evaporate at a slow enough rate so that the cleaner has a long enough contact time with the soiled surface to remove the soils. Ideally, the cleaner also should go on and come off without requiring any rinsing with water or any other rinse agent.
Besides being fast and simple to use, the cleaner must be compatible with the race vehicle itself. Importantly, the cleaner must leave no residue behind that might obscure visibility through the windshield. The cleaner also must not damage the LEXAN polycarbonate material that forms the windshield or the silicone sealant around the edge of the windshield. The cleaner must also be compatible with MYLAR polyester, because a clear plastic sheet, often made of MYLAR polyester and called a “tear-away”, often is used to cover the windshield. The “tear-away” is used to dampen impacts from particulate matter during the race and can be removed quickly during a pit stop when the sheet becomes so damaged that it obscures the race vehicle driver's view. Cleaners splashed across a windshield inevitably will contact the race vehicle body, too. Therefore, the cleaner must not damage the race vehicle's body paint. The cleaner also should provide good cleaning performance over a wide temperature range. For example, it would be very desirable to have a cleaner that provides good cleaning performance at temperatures ranging from 25° F. (−4° C.) to 140° F. (60° C.).
Race vehicle bodies and the walls at racetracks need to be cleaned, too. These surfaces also are splattered with the same soils as the windshield, including oils and rubber. Also, race vehicle bodies and/or race track walls may be smeared with rubber from the tires of other race vehicles that sideswipe such surfaces during races. For these surfaces, in addition to being able to remove oils and rubber under the stringent conditions described above, the cleaning agent must not unduly damage the inks or the backings of the promotional decals or other graphics that are affixed to the vehicle's body or the racetrack walls.
The racetrack, of course, is just one example of an environment in which oils and rubber collectively challenge a cleaner. There are many others, too. For example,
automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, and the like also get splattered with oils, tar, rubber, bugs, and the like during the course of ordinary street driving. Industrial equipment, industrial floors which have been traversed and marked by tires, engines, motors, railways, railway cars, and the like may also suffer from such grime.
What is needed is a universal cleaner that has the power to clean oil, tar, rubber, bug residue, and other soils over a wide temperature range, yet will not damage metal, many paints, many inks, ceramic, wood, concrete, many plastics and/or the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an extremely versatile cleaning composition that has tremendous cleaning power, yet is compatible with many surfaces. For example, the cleaning composition easily cleans oil, grease, tar, and rubber from soiled surfaces, but does not damage metals, vehicle paints, concrete, plastics (such as polycarbonate, polyester and silicone sealants), wood, ceramic, and the like. The ability of the cleaner to clean such tough soils while still being gentle enough not to harm a wide range of surfaces is very surprising, since many conventional cleaners having comparable cleaning power will damage plastics and other surfaces. The cleaner also works fast and leaves no residue. It can be applied and wiped off, or otherwise removed, without delay after being applied. It will also clean effectively over a wide temperature range, including temperatures ranging from 25° F. (−4° C.) to 140° F. (60° C.).
Accordingly, it can be appreciated that the cleaner is particularly suitable for use in the racetrack environment. For example, it can be used to clean windshields very quickly during a pit stop. When a vehicle pulls in for a pit stop, a pit crew member can splash, pour, spray, or otherwise cause the cleaner to contact the windshield. Soil on the windshield will be quickly dissolved or otherwise loosened from the window surface. Without delay, the crew member can then use a cloth, sponge, squeegee or the like to immediately remove the cleaner and the loosened soil. In only a few seconds, the windshield is clean and ready for more racing action. Of course, the vehicle body may also be cleaned just as quickly, if desired. After the race, the other surfaces of the racetrack facility, e.g., walls, bleachers, pavement, and the like, may also be easily cleaned.
Race vehicle teams also have practice sessions and/or testing sessions before races and at other times. The vehicles get dirty in these sessions, too. The cleaner can also be used to clean the vehicles after these sessions, as well as after a race.
In one aspect, the present invention relates to a water-restricted cleaning composition, comprising an oil solubilizing amount of a degreaser; a rubber solubilizing amount of a rubber solvent; and a polar, organic diluent. In preferred embodiments, the degreaser comprises a glycol ether, the rubber solvent comprises a nonaromatic (e.g., aliphatic and/or alicyclic) naphtha, and the diluent comprises an alcohol, preferably a C2 to C5 alcohol. For purposes of the present invention, an alcohol containing a sufficiently small quantity of water such that the composition is a single phase (e.g., alcohol with an azeotropic amount of water or less) shall be deemed to be a polar, organic diluent for purposes of the present invention.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method of cleaning a surface, comprising the steps of causing the surface to contact a water-restricted cleaning composition comprising an oil solubilizing amount of a degreaser, a rubber solubilizing amount of a rubber solvent, and a polar, organic diluent. In preferred embodiments, the degreaser comprises a glycol ether, the rubber solvent comprises a nonaromatic naphtha, and the diluent comprises an alcohol, preferably a C2 to C5 alcohol.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method of making a cleaning composition, comprising the step of combining ingredients comprising an oil solubilizing amount of a degreaser, a rubber solubilizing amount of a rubber solvent, and a polar, organic diluent.
DETAILED DE
Kagan Binder PLLC
McDonald Mary E.
Webb Gregory E.
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