Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-12-14
2003-02-18
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, C510S337000, C510S340000, C510S343000, C510S438000, C510S523000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06521581
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
A water-soluble single-use package comprising multiple, distinctly colored layers of liquid detergent in the water-soluble body portion and a process of its preparation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Detergent compositions are provided in many forms, of which granular and liquid compositions are the most prevalent. More recently, unit dose forms of detergent have been proposed in the form of compressed tablets of detergent powder or water-soluble packages, which are consumed during a single cleaning application. The unit dose forms are preferred by some consumers, in that the dose is pre-measured and, consequently, the unit dose form is faster, easier and less messy to use. Water-soluble packages filled with liquid detergent composition are desired especially by consumers who are used to liquid detergents.
Water-soluble unit dose packages containing liquids are known. See, for instance, Kennedy (U.S. Pat. No. 4,973,416), Dickler et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,037,319), Haq (U.S. Pat. No. 4,416,791) and Richardson (U.S. Pat. No. 4,115,292). The packages may contain various amounts, including relatively high, amounts of water. See for instance WO 94/14941, EP 518 689, WO 97/27743, and JP 06/340,899.
It is sometimes desirable to separate various ingredients of the detergent composition. See for instance WO 01/60966 disclosing a multi-compartment water-soluble pouch. It is also desirable to increase the visual appeal of the package and, also, provide a unique appearance to be associated by consumers with a particular product. In addition, it is desirable to provide a visual signal to a consumer of the presence of special (e.g., benefit) ingredient in the composition.
EP 116422, EP 175485, GB 1247189, WO 99/47635, and Ginn (U.S. Pat. No. 4,348,292) disclose dual layer liquid cleaning compositions in a bottle or a water insoluble package. The layers are achieved by employing an electrolyte, which when added to an aqueous surfactant solution, forces the separation of the surfactant from the aqueous phase. The phenomenon of separating an organic component from an aqueous layer, by the addition of a salt (electrolyte) is known as “salting out.” The salt increases the ionic character of water and drives the organic, less polar, component away.
It is desirable to provide a layered liquid detergent composition in a water-soluble single use package. Unfortunately, this presents a problem since bottled layered compositions frequently contain ingredients which would threaten the integrity of the water-soluble package. An especially unique challenge of providing layers of liquid laundry detergent compositions within a water-soluble package is that the integrity of the water soluble package has to be maintained, despite the presence of water in the composition. Furthermore, if layers are desired of different color, a problem exists, since most dyes partition in organic layer. The dyes that partition into an electrolyte layer, do not as a rule do so to the exclusion of the surfactant layer and thus there is a leaking of color into the surfactant layer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention includes a layered liquid detergent composition in a water-soluble single use package, the composition comprising at least two layers, with a surfactant, a transition metal inorganic electrolyte, water and optionally other ingredients distributed within the layers. The inventive compositions include water, yet the water-soluble package remains intact on storage.
The following detailed description and the examples illustrate some of the effects of the inventive compositions. The invention and the claims, however, are not limited to the following description and examples.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Except in the operating and comparative examples, or where otherwise explicitly indicated, all numbers in this description indicating amounts of material or conditions of reaction, physical properties of materials and/or use are to be understood as modified by the word “about.” All amounts are by weight of the liquid detergent composition, unless otherwise specified.
It should be noted that in specifying any range of concentration, any particular upper concentration can be associated with any particular lower concentration.
For the avoidance of doubt the word “comprising” is intended to mean “including” but not necessarily “consisting of” or “composed of.” In other words, the listed steps or options need not be exhaustive.
“Water-soluble body” as used herein means soluble in cold water, i.e. soluble at 5° C. and above.
“Liquid” as used herein means that a continuous phase or predominant part of the composition is liquid and that a composition is flowable at 20° C.
“Colored inorganic electrolyte” as used herein means an electrolyte containing a transition metal cation, which in aqueous solution produces color.
“Transparent” as used herein includes both transparent and translucent and means that an ingredient, or a mixture, or a phase, or a composition, or a package according to the invention preferably has a transmittance of more than 25%, more preferably more than 30%, most preferably more than 40%, optimally more than 50% in the visible part of the spectrum (approx. 410-800 nm). Alternatively, absorbency may be measured as less than 0.6 (approximately equivalent to 25% transmitting) or by having transmittance greater than 25% wherein % transmittance equals: {fraction (1/10)}
absorbancy
×100%. For purposes of the invention, as long as one wavelength in the visible light range has greater than 25% transmittance, it is considered to be transparent/translucent.
The term “composition” or “liquid detergent composition” as used herein means the final detergent composition (i.e., the detergent composition itself, but not the water-soluble body), including at least two layers. The at least two layers comprise between them a surfactant, a colored inorganic electrolyte, water and any optional ingredients described below.
WATER-SOLUBLE BODY PORTION
The package is preferably made of a clear, sealable, cold water soluble film such as polyvinyl alcohol. Thickness could range from 25 to 100 &mgr;m, more preferably from 35 to 80 &mgr;m, most preferably from 45 to 55 &mgr;m. Other materials from which the package can be made include but are not limited to methyl hydroxy propyl cellulose and polyethylene oxide. Polyvinyl alcohol is preferred due to its ready availability and low cost. One supplier of polyvinyl alcohol film is Monosol Inc. European suppliers of suitable films include but are not limited to Monosol supplied by Monosol Inc. or PT supplied by Aicello or K-series supplied by Kurary or Hydrafilm supplied by Rainier Specialty polymers ltd, or QSA series by Polymer Films, Inc.
Preferably the water-soluble film of the base wall is the same material as that used to make the body wall. Both thermoforming and cold forming (e.g., with water) are possible.
DETERGENT COMPOSITION
The essential ingredients of the inventive laundry compositions are surfactant, a colored inorganic electrolyte and water.
Surfactant
The compositions of the invention contain one or more surface active agents (surfactants) selected from the group consisting of anionic, nonionic, cationic, ampholytic and zwitterionic surfactants or mixtures thereof. The preferred surfactant detergents for use in the present invention are mixtures of anionic and nonionic surfactants although it is to be understood that any surfactant may be used alone or in combination with any other surfactant or surfactants. The surfactant should comprise at least 5%, e.g., 5% to 80%, preferably at least 10% to 80%, more preferably 15% to 40%; even more preferably 15% to 35% of the composition.
Nonionic Surfactant
Nonionic synthetic organic detergents which can be used with the invention, alone or in combination with other surfactants, are described below. Nonionic surfactants are typically included.
Preferred nonionic surfactants are nonionic surfactants which are pourable liquids, gels or pastes at 25° C. Nonionic detergent surfactants normally hav
Hsu Feng-Lung Gordon
Lee Kwang H.
Puleo Andre M.
DelCotto Gregory
Mitelman Rimma
Unilever Home & Personal Care USA , division of Conopco, Inc.
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