Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-12
2002-09-17
Delcotto, Gregory (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
C510S296000, C510S328000, C510S330000, C510S338000, C510S339000, C510S341000, C510S351000, C510S357000, C510S499000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06451750
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a water soluble package for containing a liquid cleaning composition.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Water soluble packages are known in the detergent and agrochemical industries and generally comprise either vertical form-fill-seal (VFFS) envelopes or thermoformed envelopes. In one of the VFFS processes, a roll of water soluble film is sealed along its edges to form a tube, which tube is heat sealed intermittently along its length to form individual envelopes which are filled with product and heat sealed. The thermoforming process generally involves molding a first sheet of water soluble film to form one or more recesses adapted to retain a composition, such as for example a solid agrochemical composition, placing the composition in the at least one recess, placing a second sheet of water soluble material over the first so as to cover the or each recess, and heat sealing the first and second sheets together at least around the recesses so as to form one or more water soluble packages.
Cleaning products are traditionally often liquids, viscous or thin, such as known for personal cleaning (bath and shower liquids and shampoos) or for domestic cleaning (hand dish wash and other hard surface cleaning, laundry-cleaning etc.). Other products are solids, such as powders, granules, small capsules (up to 2 mm diameter) or more recently tablets, for laundry and machine dish wash, and soap bars for skin cleaning.
Recently, so called unit dose products are experiencing an increasing success with consumers, because they eliminate the need for manipulating, and possibly spilling, liquids or powders and simplify the use of a correct dose of the cleaning product for the required purpose. Examples thereof are the laundry and machine dish wash tablets mentioned above and recently described in F. Schambil and M. Böcker, Tenside Surf. Det. 37 (2000 ) 1.
PRIOR ART
Many types of water soluble packages are known, including packages made from polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) film. A wide variety of different materials can be packaged in such films, including liquid materials. EP-A-518689 discloses a containerisation system for hazardous materials (for example pesticides) comprising a PVOH film enclosing a composition comprising the hazardous material, water, an electrolyte and optional other materials. The electrolyte is added to reduce the solubility of the film to prevent its dissolution by the packaged composition.
EP-B-389513 discloses concentrated aqueous syrups (mainly foodstuffs but other materials such as detergents are mentioned) inside PVOH packages, the concentration of the syrup being effective to prevent dissolution of the package by the packaged composition.
EP-A-700989 discloses a unit packaged detergent for dish washing, the package comprising a detergent composition wrapped in PVOH film, wherein the film protects the detergent from dissolution until the main wash cycle of the dish washing machine.
WO-A-97/27743 discloses an agrochemical composition packaged in a water soluble sachet, which can be PVOH.
GB-A-2118961 discloses bath preparations packaged in PVOH film. while EP-B-347221 relates to water-soluble sachets of phytosantary materials which are packaged in a secondary water-insoluble pack with a humid environment being maintained between the two.
EP-A-593952 discloses a water soluble sachet of PVOH with two chambers and a treatment agent for washing inside each chamber.
EP-A-941939 relates to a water soluble package, which can be PVOH, containing a composition which, when dissolved, produces a solution of known composition.
GB-A-2305931 discloses a dissolvable laundry sachet and BE-9700361 relates to a water soluble unit-dosed cleaning agent, especially for cleaning hands.
DE-U-29801621 discloses a water soluble unit dose for dishwashing machines.
EP-B-160254 relates to a washing additive comprising a mixture of detergent constituents in a PVOH bag. The detergent comprises nonionic surfactant and a quaternary ammonium compound.
U.S. Pat. No. 4846992 discloses a double-packaged laundry detergent wherein the inner package is water-soluble and can be PVOH.
EP-8-158464 relates to a detergent mull packaged in PVOH and DE-A-19521140 discloses a water soluble PVOH sachet containing a detergent composition.
FR2601930 relates to a water soluble sachet containing any substance, particularly a pharmaceutical.
A variety of water soluble PVOH films are also known. For example, EP-B-157162 relates to a self-supporting film comprising a PVOH matrix having rubbery microdomains dispersed therein.
WO-A-96/00251 relates to an amphipathic graft copolymer comprising a hydrophobic backbone with grafting sites to which are grafted a hydrophilic polymer prepared from a hydrophilic monomer containing stabilising pH independent ionic groups.
GB-B-2090603 relates to a water soluble film comprising a uniform mixture of partially hydrolysed polyvinyl acetate and polyacrylic acid.
WO-A-97/00282 relates to a water soluble film combining two polymeric ingredients S and H where S is a soft acid-functional olefinic addition copolymer having a Tg less than 20C and H is a hard acid-functional olefinic addition copolymer having a Tg less than 40C. The ratio of S:H is from 90:10 to 65:35 and the acid functionalities are at least partially neutralised to render the film water soluble.
EP-B-79712 relates to a laundry additive for discharge to a wash containing borate ions. The additive is enclosed within a film of PVOH which is plasticised and has as a solubiliser either a polyhydroxy compound (such as sorbitol) or an acid (such as polyacrylic acid).
EP-B-291198 relates to a water soluble film containing an alkaline or borate-containing additive. The film is formed from a copolymer resin of vinyl alcohol having 0-10 mole % residual acetate groups and 1-6 mole % of a non-hydrolysable anionic comonomer. FR2724388 discloses a water soluble bottle, flask or drum made from PVOH which is plasticised with 13-20% of plasticiser (such as glycerol) and then molded.
The specifications of International Patent Applications WO-A-00/55044, WO-A-00/55045, WO-A-00/55046, WO-A-00/55068, WO-A-00155069 and WO-A-00/55415 disclose water soluble packages containing a fluid substance (defined as a liquid, gel or paste) which is a horizontal form-fill-seal (HFFS) envelope. These packages comprise a body wall portion having internal volume and which is preferably dome-shaped, formed from a first sheet, and a superposed base wall portion, formed from a second sheet, seded to the body wall portion.
PVOH can be made by the polymerisation of vinyl acetate, followed by hydrolysis, conveniently by reaction with sodium hydroxide. However, the resulting film has a highly symmetrical, hydrogen-bonded structure and is not readily soluble in cold water. PVOH films which are suitable for the formation of water soluble packages are typically polymers produced from copolymerisation of vinyl acetate and another comonomer which contains a carboxylic function. Examples of such comonomers include monocarboxylates, such as acrylic acid, and dicarboxylates, such as itaconic acid, which may be present during polymerisation as esters. Alternatively, the anhydride of maleic acid may be used as the copolymer. The inclusion of the comonomer reduces the symmetry of and degree of hydrogen bonding in the final film and renders the film soluble even in cold water. However, when the resultant copolymer film contains carboxylic acid or carboxylate groups (either of these hereinafter being referred to as “carboxylate functionality”) in proximity to hydroxyl groups on the same carbon chain and there is an attendant drive towards cyclisation of these groups by water elimination to form lactones. A low level of lactone formation is desirable to improve the mechanical properties of the film. However, the formation of excessive amounts of lactones is undesirable as this tends to reduce the cold water solubility of the film, giving rise to a danger of undissolved film residues when the package is used.
The problem of excessive lactone formation is
Hewitt Malcolm
Mansfield Hannah
Wiggans Jenny
Delcotto Gregory
Mitelman Rimma
Unilever Home & Personal Care USA , division of Conopco, Inc.
LandOfFree
Water soluble package and liquid contents thereof does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Water soluble package and liquid contents thereof, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Water soluble package and liquid contents thereof will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2912203