# US 12,600,925 B2 · Laundry sanitizing and softening compositions

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- Number: US 12,600,925 B2
- Document ID: US12600925B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/304,584
- Filed: 2023-04-21
- Published: 2024-10-24
- Granted: 2026-04-14
- Earliest claimed: 2023-04-21
- Assignees: Reckitt Benckiser N.V.
- Applicants: Reckitt Benckiser LLC
- Inventors: Marcella Bonesso; Andre Chieffi; Giulia Colledan; Joseph Fredrick Convery, II; Anna Del Monaco; Santigie Mansaray; Remigio Musci; Federico Pacini; Benjamin Aaron Pearl; Antonio Vincenzo Petrozzino; Tracy Ann Ryan; Anna Kepa Sigmund; Alberto Simionato; Alessandra Travanut; Elisa Vanzetto; Stephanie Kaitlyn Yiu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12600925B2

## CPC

- C11D 3/30: Amines; Substituted amines {; Quaternized amines}
- C11D 1/835: Mixtures of non-ionic with cationic compounds
- C11D 3/0015: {liquid}
- C11D 3/2044: {linear}
- C11D 3/2068: {Ethers}
- C11D 3/2086: {Hydroxy carboxylic acids-salts thereof}
- C11D 3/222: {Natural or synthetic polysaccharides, e.g. cellulose, starch, gum, alginic acid or cyclodextrin}
- C11D 3/349: {additionally containing nitrogen atoms, e.g. nitro, nitroso, amino, imino, nitrilo, nitrile groups containing compounds or their derivatives or thio urea}
- C11D 3/43: Solvents
- C11D 3/48: Medical, disinfecting agents, disinfecting, antibacterial, germicidal or antimicrobial compositions
- C11D 3/505: {encapsulated or adsorbed on a carrier, e.g. zeolite or clay}
- C11D 1/62: Quaternary ammonium compounds
- C11D 1/75: Amino oxides
- C11D 2111/12: Soft surfaces, e.g. textile
- C11D: DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL

## Abstract

Compositions are disclosed comprising approximately 2% wt to approximately 8% wt of a benzyl-substituted quaternary ammonium compound, approximately 0.3% wt to approximately 1.5% wt of an alkylamine oxide, and approximately 0.4% wt to approximately 1% wt of phenoxyethanol. The disclosed compositions provide improved reduction in bacteria and viruses during the last rinse cycle of an automatic laundry machine while also providing fabric protection.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A laundry sanitizing or softening composition consisting of 4.5% wt to approximately 8% wt of a benzyl-substituted quaternary ammonium compound, approximately 0.3% wt to approximately 1.5% wt of an alkylamine oxide, approximately 0.4% wt to approximately 1% wt of phenoxyethanol, and balance is water, and optionally:
approximately 0.5% wt to approximately 1% wt citric acid,
approximately 0.01% wt to approximately 0.05% wt sodium hydroxide,
approximately 2% wt to approximately 5% wt of a liquid ethoxyquat,
approximately 2% wt to approximately 5% wt of an esterquat,
approximately 0.1% wt to approximately 0.5% wt of a cellulose based material,
approximately 1% wt to approximately 4% wt fermentation based suspending agent,
approximately 0.1% wt to approximately 2.5% wt of a non-aqueous polar carrier solvent,
approximately 0.05% wt to approximately 0.5% wt of an opacifier,
approximately 1% wt to approximately 3% wt of a polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PQ6) having a molecular weight <100kDa (PQ6 <100kDa); PQ6 having a molecular weight ranging from 200kDa to 300 kDa (PQ6 200-300kDa);
PQ6 having a molecular weight ranging from 400 kDa to 500 kDa (PQ6 400-500 kDa);
copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone (VP) and quaternized vinylimidazole (QVI) (PQ16) having 5% wt VP and 95% wt QVI (PQ16 5VP-95QVI); PQ16 having 50% wt VP and 50% wt QVI (PQ16 50VP-50QVI); Poly(2-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) methyl chloride quaternary salt (PQ37);
1-propanaminium, N,N,N-trimethyl-3- [(1-oxo-2-propenyl) amino] chloride, homopolymer (A1000); 1-dodecanaminium, N,N-dimethyl-N-[3- [(2-methyl-1-oxo-2-propen-1-yl)amino]propyl]-, chloride (1:1), polymer with sodium 2-methyl-2- [(1-oxo-2-propen-1-yl)amino]-1-propanesulfonate (1:1) and N,N,N-trimethyl-3- [(1-oxo-2-propen-1-yl) amino]-L propanaminium chloride (1:1) (C113); and combinations thereof,
encapsulated fragrance,
dye,
additional fragrance, or any combinations thereof.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1, wherein the benzyl-substituted quaternary ammonium compound is C12-18 alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1, wherein the alkylamine oxide is lauramine oxide or decylamine oxide.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1, wherein the citric acid is present in the composition.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1, wherein the liquid ethoxyquat is present in the composition.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1, wherein the cellulose based material is present in the composition.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The composition of claim 6, wherein the cellulose based material is hydroxyethylcellulose.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1, wherein the non-aqueous polar carrier solvent material is present in the composition.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The composition of claim 8, wherein the non-aqueous polar carrier solvent is propylene glycol.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is a clear single-phase liquid.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition has a pH ranging from approximately 2 to approximately 4.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1, wherein the encapsulated fragrance is present in the composition.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The composition of claim 12, wherein the encapsulated fragrance has a polyacrylate or biodegradable shell.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The composition of claim 9, wherein the composition is a clear single-phase liquid having a pH ranging from approximately 2 to approximately 4.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1, wherein the polymer is present in the composition.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

A method of sanitizing laundry during a laundry washing process, the method comprising adding from approximately 30 mL to approximately 180 ml of the composition of claim 1 to a fabric softener compartment of an automatic washing machine and operating the automatic washing machine to perform a laundry washing process.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the method further softens the laundry.