Compositions: coating or plastic – Coating or plastic compositions – Polishes
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-16
2003-05-13
Moore, Margaret G. (Department: 1712)
Compositions: coating or plastic
Coating or plastic compositions
Polishes
C106S011000, C106S003000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06562114
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
A wax/polish for automobiles, other vehicles, windows, and like surfaces, and methods of applying the wax/polish.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Waxes and polishes have been used for at least several hundred years for waxing and polishing surfaces such as floors, windows, furniture, and vehicle surfaces. Originally, most waxes were paste waxes which required that the surface first be cleaned of all dirt and oxidation. The wax is then applied by hand or with a buffering-like device to rub the wax into the surface. The rubbing or buffing can cause swirling on the surface. The wax is allowed to dry and then it is rubbed or buffed off the surface. Preferably, the waxing is done on a clean, cool surface and not in direct sunlight. This application process is still used to some extent and is very labor-intensive and requires physical strength either to rub the wax on and buff it off, either by hand or with a mechanical buffing machine.
In the 1950's, liquid waxes became available. Liquid waxes are easier to apply than paste wax since they can be poured onto an applicator, such as a cloth, sponge, reinforced paper, or other type of applicator, and then rubbed or buffed onto the surface. The rubbing can leave swirling on the surface. The wax is allowed to dry and then it is rubbed or buffed off. Liquid waxes are similarly applied. The liquid waxes are preferably applied to a clean, cool surface and the waxing is not done in direct sunlight. In the 1970's, spray devices became available and waxes and polishes were developed that could be sprayed onto the surface. One type of device was the finger trigger sprayer commonly used for household cleaners and the like. The sprayer has a pump actuated by the finger which draws fluid up from a reservoir and sprays the fluid out of a nozzle. Waxes and polishes applied by this method have many of the characteristics of liquid wax and polish. These types of applicators have not been very popular because the sprayers only spray a limited amount of fluid for each finger pull of the sprayer and accordingly, it takes time to spray large surface areas such as a car, airplane, or other large vehicle. In addition, it is very tiring and can be painful to actuate the finger trigger sprayer for long periods of time. The wax or polish is preferably applied to a clean, cool surface and not in direct sunlight. Once the wax is sprayed on the surface, it is rubbed onto the surface to cover the surface and allowed to dry. The rubbing can leave swirls on the surface. After it is dried, it is rubbed off or buffed off, as with paste wax and liquid wax. Polishes normally do not have to be buffed.
A recent variation of the liquid wax is the wipe-on and hose-off wax. This wax is sprayed on the surface and rubbed in, or poured onto an applicator or directly onto the surface and rubbed into the surface. The rubbing can leave swirls on the surface. Once the wax is dry, it is hosed off with a water spray from a garden hose. Following removal of the wax with the hose spray, the vehicle has to be dried off. With this method of waxing, the hosing-off step does not guarantee that all the wax residue will be removed from the vehicle. It has been found that the user of the wax normally has to go back over the vehicle with a water spray after drying it to remove residual wax and then dry the surface again.
When applied to a hot surface, wax normally forms a hard coating or scum that adheres to the surface. Frequently, this coating or scum cannot be removed by rubbing or buffing. Frequently, these areas have to be removed by re-waxing, letting the application of fresh wax dry, then rubbing or buffing off the applied wax. It is for this reason that waxing, such as an automobile or other vehicle surface, is not done on a hot surface or under the sun.
The demarcation between a wax and polish is not a bright line. For purposes of this invention, the term “wax” will include both wax and polish.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The wax composition of the present invention has been termed a “spray wax concentrate” and is sometimes referred to as a spray wax and comprises a water base or carrier incorporating a surfactant, wax, silicone fluid, mineral spirits, and a mild inorganic polishing agent.
The spray wax of the present invention, when applied to a surface, such as a vehicle surface or glass surface, does not bead. The spray was forms a sheet or film of liquid which separates into an organic phase and an aqueous phase. The bulk of active organic ingredients report to the organic phase which adheres to the surface, whether the surface is horizontal or vertical. The fine polishing powder reports to both phases. The aqueous phase runs off the surface as a sheet leaving the organic phase adhering to the surface as a relatively continuous film. The organic phase, almost immediately upon application and clearly after separation of the aqueous phase, forms a white haze. The formation of the white haze appears to be independent of the drying of the organic phase. The white haze becomes more pronounced as the organic phase dries. Surprisingly, the hazy organic phase may be wiped off a minute or two after application and before it has dried. In fact, the surface should be fully wiped while still “wet” to ensure that the entire surface has been contacted or treated with the organic phase. Then the surface, which may or may not be dry to the touch, is wiped clean of the hazy film. When the hazy film has been wiped off the surface, the waxing is complete. Since the applied wax is not rubbed in, no swirl marks are created on the surface. On the average, the entire operation, from the step of wetting the surface with water to completion of the wiping-off step, for a vehicle, takes about ten minutes; however, it can take as little as two and one-half minutes.
The spay wax can be applied to windows as an aqueous spray to clean the windows. The finish on the windows so treated is superior to that of windows cleaned, polished and/or waxed with conventional window and glass cleaning, polishing, and/or waxing compositions. The spray wax will not smear the windows.
The spray wax can be applied on a hot surface, in the sun, on a wet surface, in the rain, on a cool day, or at night. Preferably, the spray wax is applied as an aqueous spray prepared from the spray wax concentrate and water on a hot or warm surface in the sun.
The spray wax concentrate of the present invention comprises a percent by weight (wt. %) from about 2 to 10 wt. % of a fine polishing powder; from about 10 to about 40 wt. % of mineral spirits; from about 0.5 to 3.0 wt. % of dimethyl silicone fluid polymer; 0.5 to 1.25 wt. % of alkanolamide surface-active agent; 1.0 to 1.75 wt. % of a higher alkyl amino functional group substituted dimethyl silicone polymer; and the balance water to obtain a total of 100 wt. %. Optionally, the spray wax can contain preservatives, colorant and/or fragrances.
The spray wax applied as an aqueous spray will not harm rubber, vinyl and other plastics and polymers.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the spray wax concentrate, comprises about 4 wt. % anhydrous aluminum silicate; about 24 wt. % of mineral spirits; about 1.25 wt. % of a dimethyl silicone fluid polymer having a viscosity of about 350 c.s. (centistokes); about 0.8 wt. % of a non-ionic alkanolamide surfactant agent; about 1.3 wt. % of a higher alkyl-substituted amino functional group substituted dimethyl silicone; 0.005 wt. % of a preservative and about 68.6 wt. % water.
The spray wax concentrate can be applied with or without water. However, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the spray wax is applied with water as an aqueous spray. The wax can be mixed with water in a bucket and applied with a rag. Preferably, the wax is applied with a venturi-type sprayer (also called an aspiration-type sprayer) using water as the transportation medium to draw the wax from a reservoir into a venturi tube and into the water stream to form an emulsion, i.e., the aqueous spray.
Venturi-type sprayers have been aroun
Marchese Robert M.
Yeiser John
Lane William G.
Moore Margaret G.
Yeiser John
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