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US 5,288,421 AGranted
Solid laundry pre-spotter composition containing sodium bicarbonate 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. By the addition of sodium bicarbonate, the composition optimizes the pH to promote enzyme action, while simultaneously achieving a satisfactory drop point for shipping and warehousing. At pH levels from 8.2 to 9.0, acceptable hardness and transferability are still achieved, which was previously thought not to be possible without the addition of a critical amount of certain salts.
Claims59
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 10 to about 15% by weight of sodium stearate;
- b. from about 8 to about 11% by weight of propylene glycol;
- c. from about 3 to about 6% by weight of a polyethylene glycol;
- d. from about 10 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;
- h. from about 20 to about 30% by weight water;
- and
- i. an amount of sodium bicarbonate sufficient to reduce the pH of said composition to a range of about 8.2 to about 9.0;
- 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 laundry soil and stain remover composition in applicator stick form for application to fabric as an aid in laundering, said composition comprising:
- a. about 11% by weight of sodium stearate;
- b. about 9% by weight of propylene glycol;
- c. about 4% by weight of a polyethylene glycol;
- d. about 13% by weight of an alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid surfactant, an alkyl aromatic sulfonate surfactant, or a mixture thereof;
- e. about 4% by weight 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 25 to 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;
- h. from about 20 to about 25% by weight water;
- and
- i. from about 4 to 5% by weight sodium bicarbonate,
- 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 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
- i. from about 10 to about 15% by weight of sodium stearate,
- ii. from about 8 to about 11% by weight of propylene glycol,
- iii. from about 3 to about 6% by weight of a polyethylene glycol,
- iv. from about 10 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,
- viii. from about 20 to about 30% by weight water, and
- ix. an amount of sodium bicarbonate sufficient to reduce the pH of said composition to the range of about 8.2 to about 9.0;
- wherein said composition exhibits a drop point of greater than about 115.degree. F. and a penetrometer reading of at least about 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. 23.0% by weight deionized water;
- b. 8.6% by weight propylene glycol;
- c. 4.4% by weight sodium hydroxide (50%);
- d. 10.4% by weight sodium stearate;
- e. 4.4% by weight polyethylene glycol;
- f. 13.0% by weight of an alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid surfactant, an alkyl aromatic sulfonate surfactant, or a mixture thereof;
- g. 26% by weight of at least one nonionic surfactant, wherein each said nonionic surfactant is different from said alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid surfactant above;
- h. 0.8% by weight of a fragrance;
- i. 4.4% by weight of an enzyme;
- and
- j. 5.0% by weight of sodium bicarbonate,
- 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).
9 more elements
A process of preparing a soil and stain remover composition for application to fabric, said composition comprising:
- a. from about 10 to about 15% by weight of sodium stearate;
- b. from about 8 to about 11% by weight of propylene glycol;
- c. from about 3 to about 6% by weight of a polyethylene glycol;
- d. from about 10 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 sulfonic 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;
- h. from about 20 to about 30% by weight water;
- i. an amount of sodium bicarbonate sufficient to reduce the pH of said composition to a range of about 8.2 to about 9.0;
- wherein said composition exhibits a drop point 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 surfactant "d." and "f." above;
- (5) adding the 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;
- (6) adding the sodium bicarbonate;
- and
- (7) adding the enzyme and, simultaneously with the adding of the enzyme, casting the composition into a container.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.