# US 10,308,900 B2 · Occult particles for use in granular laundry care compositions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,308,900 B2 - Document ID: US10308900B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/276,829 - Filed: 2016-09-27 - Published: 2017-06-22 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2015-12-22 - Assignees: Milliken & Company - Applicants: Milliken & Company - Inventors: Gregory E. Fernandes; Raj Vachhani - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308900B2 ## CPC - C11D 3/42: Brightening agents {; Blueing agents} - C09B 67/0007: {with inorganic coatings} - C09B 67/0092: {Dyes in solid form} - C09B 67/0095: {Process features in the making of granulates} - C11D 3/126: {in solid compositions} - C11D 3/40: Dyes {; Pigments} - C11D 17/0034: {Fixed on a solid conventional detergent ingredient} - C11D 17/06: Powder; Flakes; Free-flowing mixtures; Sheets - C11D 3/1253: {Layer silicates, e.g. talcum, kaolin, clay, bentonite, smectite, montmorillonite, hectorite or attapulgite} - C11D: DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL - C09B: ORGANIC DYES OR CLOSELY-RELATED COMPOUNDS FOR PRODUCING DYES {, e.g. PIGMENTS}; MORDANTS; LAKES (fermentation or enzyme using processes to synthesise a desired chemical compound C12P) ## Abstract This invention relates to non-bleeding, non-staining occult particles for use in granular or powdered laundry care compositions such as laundry detergents, laundry aids, and fabric care compositions. The occult particles are comprised of a clay carrier and a coloring agent and are characterized as being substantially indiscernible when contained in the laundry care composition. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An occult particle comprising: a) a majority by weight of at least one carrier material, and b) at least one color premix material, wherein the color premix material is comprised of: (i) At least one cut color wherein the cut color contains less than 25 wt % of a tertiary aromatic amine, and (ii) At least one diluent having R>1, wherein the at least one diluent is selected from glycerol, propylene carbonate, ethylene glycol and mixtures thereof, and wherein the at least one carrier material and the at least one color premix material form a carrier-color premix composite; and wherein the carrier-color premix composite is substantially indiscernible in a non-colored granular or powdered laundry care composition. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The occult particle of claim 1, wherein the at least one carrier material is a clay. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The occult particle of claim 2, wherein the clay is a smectite clay. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The occult particle of claim 3, wherein the smectite clay is a bentonite clay. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The occult particle of claim 4, wherein the bentonite clay is a natural sodium bentonite clay. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The occult particle of claim 1, wherein the at least one carrier material comprises a majority by weight of particles less than 0.5 mm in size. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The occult particle of claim 1, wherein the at least one carrier material comprises a majority by weight of particles less than 0.25 mm in size. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The occult particle of claim 1, wherein the cut color contains a coloring agent selected from the group consisting of polymeric colorants, acid dyes, basic dyes, direct dyes, solvent dyes, vat dyes, mordant dyes, indigoid dyes, reactive dyes, disperse dyes, sulfur dyes, fluorescent dyes, inorganic pigments, organic pigments, natural colorants, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The occult particle of claim 8, wherein the coloring agent is a polymeric colorant. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The occult particle of claim 8, wherein the coloring agent is comprised of a blend or mixture of a polymeric colorant and a non-polymeric colorant. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The occult particle of claim 9, wherein the polymeric colorant is characterized by having a chromophore group selected from the group consisting of nitroso, nitro, azo, stilbene, bis-stilbene, biphenyl, oligophenethylene, fluorene, coumarin, napthalamide, diarylmethane, triarylmethane, xanthene acridine, quinoline, methine, thiazole, indamine, indophenol, azine, thiazine, oxazine, aminoketone, hydroxyketone, anthraquinone, indigoid, phthalocyanine chromophore groups, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The occult particle of claim 1, wherein the cut color contains a chromophore that is a neutral molecule or an uncharged molecule. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The occult particle of claim 1, wherein the cut color contains a nonionic chromophore. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The occult particle of claim 1, wherein the cut color contains an anionic chromophore. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The occult particle of claim 1, wherein the cut color contains a cationic chromophore. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The occult particle of claim 1, wherein the cut color contains a chromophore having both positive and negative charges. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The occult particle of claim 1, wherein the cut color contains a chromophore that is zwitterionic or amphoteric. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The occult particle of claim 1, wherein the cut color contains a pigment. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The occult particle of claim 1, wherein the cut color contains less than 15 wt % of a tertiary aromatic amine. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The occult particle of claim 1, wherein the cut color contains less than 10 wt % of a tertiary aromatic amine. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The occult particle of claim 1, wherein the cut color contains less than 5 wt % of a tertiary aromatic amine. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The occult particle of claim 1, wherein the at least one diluent is water soluble. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The occult particle of claim 1, wherein the at least one diluent has a log Kow>3. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The occult particle of claim 23, wherein the at least one diluent is selected from vegetable oils, essential oils, fatty acids, mineral oils, paraffins, hydrocarbons and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The occult particle of claim 1, wherein the occult particle further includes a film former. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The occult particle of claim 25, wherein the film former is a water soluble polymer. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The occult particle of claim 25, wherein the film former is in the form of an aqueous dispersion. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The occult particle of claim 1, wherein the color premix includes a film former. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) A laundry care composition comprising the occult particle of claim 1.