Compositions – Humidostatic – water removive – bindive – or emissive
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-30
2002-10-08
Wu, Shean C. (Department: 1756)
Compositions
Humidostatic, water removive, bindive, or emissive
C106S002000, C106S013000, C106S287140, C427S163100, C427S165000, C427S167000, C427S168000, C428S429000, C428S447000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06461537
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
This invention relates to a water repellent glass treatment for automotive applications comprising a windshield washer solvent which contains quaternary compounds, preferably siloxane based quaternary ammonium compounds, fatty quaternary ammonium compounds, and mixtures thereof which are dispersible in water, alcohol's and water alcohol mixtures and imparts a good degree of hydrophobicity to the windshield surface.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Modern automobiles require frequent attention to the windshield to insure safe operation. The glass must be kept reasonably clean for visibility. Wipers frequently need to be replaced to maintain wet weather visibility while driving, particularly at night. While water can be used in the underhood reservoir for cleaning the windshield during warm weather, the year round need for greater detergency to remove oil, deposits, bird droppings and insect matter dictates the use of a solvent based system. Typically, these systems include a surfactant and are methanol-water based to offer improved freeze protection for the winter. Bittering agents, like denatonium benzoate, are often used. Sometimes isopropyl alcohol is used in conjunction with methanol-water for freeze point depression. In Europe ethanol-water based systems are used for lower mammalian toxicity. Freeze points in the 20° to −40° F. range are common. Dye is often added to allow level recognition in opaque reservoir bottles. Blue is typically used in North American but examples span the palette of color possibilities. Thermal and UV stability are required as well as basic solubility, plastics compatibility and minimal staining.
Conventional windshield cleaner treatments fail to make the glass windshield repel water in outside environments and require constant replenishment. U.S. Pat. No. 3,940,588 teaches coating with hydrolyzable di-silyl poly(perflourooxyalkene) to produce oil and water repellent coatings. U.S. Pat. No. 4,410,563 covers water repellent coatings for optical surfaces including windshields based on Dow Corning 531 and 536 fluids, amino functional polydimethylsiloxane. These approaches require treatment of the subject surface by hand to obtain the coating. The coatings would have to be reapplied at some future point to maintain the water repellent effect. Clark teaches a storage stable water repellent based on an acid neutralized cationic polysiloxane copolymer containing aminofunctional groups in U.S. Pat. No. 3,639,131. The '131 patent is primarily concerned with making an aluminum can storage stable mixture by heating. This mixture is applied to a windshield during rain to render it water repellent. Treatments to modify the glass and make it repel water have also been taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,927 wherein Hirayama uses organic silicon and fluorine compounds to form water repellent layers. These conventional windshield washer solvents fail to provide an instant water repellent automotive glass surface without extensive pretreatment or application surface preparation. Moreover, none of these conventional windshield additive formulas added to a primarily aqueous system utilize a quaternary compound to repel water as does Applicant's invention.
SUMMARY
The instant invention provides a water repellant fluid used in traditional underhood washer solvent reservoirs filled with water or alcohol/water blends with or without detergents, and applied by simply pressing a cabin button to squirt the liquid on the windshield. This eliminates the need for polishing the windshield ahead of time.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a water repellant fluid that is soluble or dispersible in water, alcohols and mixtures of water and alcohols.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a water repellant fluid which does not exhibit build up with repeated use, streak or stain windshields or damage paint.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a water repellant fluid having a pH range of from about 6.0 to 9.0 and more particularly in a range of from about 7.0 to 8.0.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a water repellant fluid which is thermally stable in view of underhood temperatures which can approach 150° F.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a water repellant fluid which does not separate on standing.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a water repellant fluid which does not have objectionable toxicological properties.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a water repellant fluid which does not have objectionable odor.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a water repellant fluid which is compatible with conventionally available washer solvents.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a water repellant fluid which is environmentally benign.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a water repellant fluid which does not negatively impact vision even at night.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a water repellant fluid which will provide a wetting surface having a contact angle which is greater than that of water.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a water repellant fluid which provides a wetting surface having a contact angle which is greater than that of water upon adding at least 0.001 percent of said water repellant fluid to a solvent of water, alcohols, or a water and alcohol mixture.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a water repellant fluid when added to a windshield washer solution in an amount of between 0.001 percent and 1.0% by volume.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a water repellant fluid which provides a wetting surface having a contact angle greater than that of water having a contact angle of from 10 to 15 degrees, when the concentrate is diluted to 15 percent by volume of less with water, alcohol or combinations thereof.
It is another object of the invention to prepare a concentrate which can be diluted to a 1 percent by weight solution when added to a water, alcohol, or water and alcohol mix providing an effective water repelling surface treatment.
It is another object of the invention to provide a concentrate which can be diluted to a 1 percent by weight solution in a water and alcohol mixture containing alcohol in amounts ranging from 5 to 50 weight percent and provide an effective water repelling surface treatment.
These and other objects of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following description of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A water repellent glass treatment for automotive applications comprising a windshield washer treatment which contains a quaternary compound, preferably a siloxane based quaternary ammonium compounds, fatty quaternary ammonium compounds, and mixtures thereof which are dispersible in water, alcohol's and water alcohol mixtures and imparts a good degree of hydrophobicity to the windshield surface which traditiionally consists of a glass substrate or clear or translucent polymer.
Silicone
Any of a large group of siloxane polymers based on a structure consisting of alternate silicon and oxygen atoms with various organic radicals attached to the silicon.
Siloxane
A straight-chain compound consisting of silicon atoms single-bonded to oxygen and so arranged that each silicon atom is linked with four oxygen atoms.
In particular, polydimethyl siloxane based quaternary ammonium compounds with molecular weights ranging from about 300 to about 500,000 and C
8
-C
24
fatty based quaternary compounds, either on their own or preferably in combination thereof, which is dispersible or soluble in water or alcohol, or in water and alcohol mixtures. Moreover, these compounds individually or together may be made dispersible or soluble in water, alcohol, or mixtures thereof through the use of various emulsifiers or cosolubilizers which impart a good degree of hydrophobicity to the windshield surface.
Fatty Quaternary Compounds
F
Baumgart Richard J.
Dituro Michael A.
Lockwood Frances E.
Phoenix Claude S.
Turcotte David E.
Ashland Inc.
Carrithers David W.
Carrithers Law Office
Wu Shean C.
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