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US 5,288,420 AGranted
Solid laundry pre-spotter composition and method of use
AssigneeFluid Packaging Company, Inc.
InventorJohn C. Mandy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A stearate-matrix, pre-spotter composition in solid, stick form to be applied by direct contact to stained areas of fabric, thereby transferring the composition to the stained areas of the fabric. The composition includes an alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid and/or sulfonate, at least one nonionic surfactant and an enzyme uniformly dispersed throughout a semi-hard stearate matrix. The composition optimizes the pH to promote enzyme action, while simultaneously achieving a satisfactory drop point for shipping and warehousing. Hardness and transferability are achieved at a low pH level that was previously not thought to be possible without the addition of various salts.
Claims71
A soil and stain remover composition in applicator stick form for application to fabric as an aid in cleaning, said composition comprising:
- a. from about 11 to about 15% by weight of sodium stearate;
- b. from about 8 to about 11% by weight of propylene glycol;
- c. from about 4 to about 7% by weight of a polyethylene glycol;
- d. from about 12 to about 20% by weight of an alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid surfactant, an alkyl aromatic sulfonate surfactant that has been formed in situ by the reaction of said alkyl aromatic sulfonic with a strong base, or a mixture thereof;
- e. from about 2 to about 6% by weight of a strong base capable of reacting in situ with said alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid surfactant to form a semi-solid sulfonate product;
- f. from about 20 to about 35% by weight of at least one nonionic surfactant, wherein said nonionic surfactant is different from said alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid surfactant or said alkyl aromatic sulfonate surfactant above;
- g. from about 2 to about 10% by weight of an enzyme;
- and
- h. from about 24 to about 30% by weight water;
- wherein said composition has a pH of between about 9.0 and about 9.6, a drop point of greater than about 115.degree. F., and a penetrometer reading of at least about 55 units (5.5 mm).
7 more elements
A laundry soil and stain remover composition in applicator stick form for application to fabric as an aid in laundering, said composition comprising:
- a. about 12% by weight of sodium stearate;
- b. about 10% by weight of propylene glycol;
- c. about 5% by weight of a polyethylene glycol;
- d. about 15% by weight of an alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid surfactant, an alkyl aromatic sulfonate surfactant, or a mixture thereof;
- e. about 5.0% by wight of a strong base capable of reacting in situ with said alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid surfactant or the sulfonic acid corresponding to said alkyl aromatic sulfonate to form a semi-solid sulfonate product;
- f. about 30% by weight of at least one nonionic surfactant, wherein each said nonionic surfactant is different from said alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid surfactant or said alkyl aromatic sulfonate surfactant above;
- g. from about 3 to about 5% by weight of an enzyme;
- and
- h. from about 26 to about 27% by weight water,
- wherein the composition exhibits a drop point greater than about 115.degree. F. and a penetrometer reading of at least about 55 units (5.5 mm).
7 more elements
A process for cleaning fabric, said fabric having soiled portions, said process comprising the steps of:
- a. applying to the soiled portions of said fabric, prior to cleaning, a soil and stain remover composition in applicator stick form, said composition comprising:
- i. from about 11 to about 15% by weight of sodium stearate;
- ii. from about 8 to about 11% by weight of propylene glycol;
- iii. from about 4 to about 7% by weight of a polyethylene glycol;
- iv. from about 12 to about 20% by weight of an alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid surfactant, an alkyl aromatic sulfonate surfactant that has been formed in situ by the reaction of said alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid with a strong base, or a mixture thereof;
- v. from about 2 to about 6% by weight of a strong base capable of reacting in situ with said alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid surfactant to form a semi-solid sulfonate product;
- vi. from about 20 to about 35% by weight of at least one nonionic surfactant, wherein said nonionic surfactant is different from said alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid surfactant or said alkyl aromatic sulfonate surfactant above;
- vii. from about 2 to about 10% by weight of an enzyme;
- and
- viii. from about 24 to about 30% by weight water,
- wherein said composition has a pH of between about 9.0 and about 9.6, a drop point of greater than about 115.degree. F., and a penetrometer reading of at least about 55 units (5.5 mm);
- and
- b. cleaning the soiled fabric to which said composition has been applied by laundering or dry cleaning.
10 more elements
A laundry soil and stain remover composition in applicator stick form for application to fabric as an aid in laundering, said composition comprising:
- a. 11.0% by weight sodium stearate;
- b. 9.1% by weight propylene glycol;
- c. 4.46% by weight polyethylene glycol;
- d. 1.37% by wight of an alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid surfactant, an alkyl aromatic sulfonate surfactant, or a mixture thereof;
- e. 4.6% by weight of a strong bore capable of reaching in situ with said alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid surfactant to form a semi-solid sulfonate product;
- f. 27.7% by weight of at least one nonionic surfactant, wherein each said nonionic surfactant is different from said alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid surfactant above;
- g. 4.6% by weight of an enzyme;
- h. 0.9% by weight of a fragrance;
- and
- i. 24.2% by weight deionized water,
- wherein the composition exhibits a drop point greater than about 115.degree. F. and a penetrometer reading of at least about 55 units (5.5 mm).
8 more elements
A process for preparing a soil and stain remover composition for application to fabric, said composition comprising:
- a. from about 11 to about 15% by weight of sodium stearate;
- b. from about 8 to about 11% by weight of propylene glycol;
- c. from about 4 to about 7% by weight of a polyethylene glycol;
- d. from about 12 to about 20% by weight of an alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid surfactant, an alkyl aromatic sulfonate surfactant that has been formed in situ by the reaction of said alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid with a strong base, or a mixture thereof;
- e. from about 2 to about 6% by weight of a strong base capable of reacting in situ with said alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid surfactant to form a semi-solid sulfonate product;
- f. from about 20 to about 35% by weight of at least one nonionic surfactant, wherein said nonionic surfactant is different from said alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid surfactant or said alkyl aromatic sulfonate surfactant above;
- g. from about 2 to about 10% by weight of an enzyme;
- and
- h. from about 24 to about 30% by weight water;
- wherein said composition has a pH of between about 9.0 and about 9.6, a drop point of greater than about 115.degree. F., and a penetrometer reading of at least about 55 units (5.5 mm), said process comprising the steps of:
- (1) combining most of the water, the propylene glycol and a minor portion of the strong base with heat and agitation;
- (2) adding the sodium stearate;
- (3) adding the polyethylene glycol;
- (4) adding the surfactants "d." and "f." above;
- (5) adding a major portion of the strong base to adjust the pH to a value within a range of from about 9.0 to about 9.6;
- and
- (6) adding the enzyme and, simultaneously with the adding of the enzyme, casting the composition into a container.
14 more elements
A process for cleaning fabric, said fabric having soiled portions, said process comprising the steps of:
- a. applying to the soiled portions, prior to cleaning, a soil and stain remover composition in applicator stick form, said composition comprising:
- i. from about 11 to about 15% by weight of sodium stearate;
- ii. from about 8 to about 11% by weight of propylene glycol;
- iii. from about 4 to about 7% by weight of a polyethylene glycol;
- iv. from about 12 to about 20% by weight of an alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid surfactant, an alkyl aromatic sulfonate surfactant that has been formed in situ by the reaction of said alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid with a strong base, or a mixture thereof;
- v. from about 2 to about 6% by weight of a strong base capable of reacting in situ with said alkyl aromatic semi-solid sulfonate product;
- vi. from about 20 to about 35% by weight of at least one nonionic surfactant, wherein said nonionic surfactant is different from said alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid surfactant or said alkyl aromatic sulfonate surfactant above;
- vii. from about 2 to about 10% by weight of an enzyme;
- and
- viii. from about 24 to about 30% by weight water;
- wherein said composition has a pH of between about 9.0 and about 9.6, a drop point of greater than about 115.degree. F., and a penetrometer reading of at least about 55 units (5.5 mm);
- and
- b. cleaning the soiled fabric to which said composition has been applied by laundering or dry cleaning.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.