# US 5,346,640 A · Cleaner compositions for removing graffiti from surfaces > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,346,640 A - Document ID: US5346640A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 07/850,396 - Filed: 1992-03-11 - Granted: 1994-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 1989-08-30 - Assignees: Transcontinental Marketing Group, Inc. - Inventors: Cassius W. Leys - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5346640A ## CPC - C11D 17/003: {Colloidal solutions, e.g. gels; Thixotropic solutions or pastes} - C09D 9/005: {containing organic solvents} - C09D 9/04: with surface-active agents - C11D 3/43: Solvents - C11D: DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL - C09D: COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR (cosmetics A61K; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general, B05D; staining wood B27K5/02; glazes or vitreous enamels C03C; natural resins, French polish, drying-oils, driers, turpentine, per se, C09F; polishing compositions other than French polish, ski waxes C09G; adhesives or use of materials as adhesives C09J; materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12; processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings C25D) ## Abstract A cleaner composition for removing graffiti including ink, marking pen marks and paint from a variety of substrates or surfaces. The base composition for all five embodiments comprises N-methylpyrrolidone, propylene carbonate, isocetyl alcohol, an ingredient selected from the group consisting of dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate and dipropylene glycol methyl ether acetate, a thickening agent and a surfactant. Each species or embodiment varies the range of these ingredients and some embodiments include other ingredients, such as dimethyl sulfoxide, a tertiary amine and mineral oil and lavender oil. Each embodiment is directed to a different type substrate or surface to maximize the removal of graffiti on that surface without any deleterious effects to that surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A base composition for removing graffiti from a surface comprising in percentage by volume of the composition: (a) N-methylpyrrolidone in an amount between about 10 and about 60 percent; (b) propylene carbonate in an amount between about 5 and about 60 percent; (c) an ingredient selected from the group consisting of dipropylene glycol methyl ether acetate and dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate in an amount between about 2 and about 25 percent; (d) isocetyl alcohol in an amount between about 7.5 and about 25 percent; (e) hydroxypropyl cellulose in an amount between about 1.0 and about 3.5 percent; (f) an ethoxylated nonyl phenol surfactant in an amount between about 0.5 and about 3.0 percent; and (g) dimethyl sulfoxide in an amount between about 4 percent and about 30 percent by volume of the composition. ### Claim 2 A base composition for removing graffiti from a surface comprising in percentage by volume of the composition: (a) N-methylpyrrolidone in an amount between about 10 and about 60 percent; (b) propylene carbonate in an amount between about 5 and about 60 percent; (c) an ingredient selected from the group consisting of dipropylene glycol methyl ether acetate and dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate in an amount between about 2 and about 25 percent; (d) isocetyl alcohol in an amount between about 7.5 and about 25 percent; (e) hydroxypropyl cellulose in an amount between about 1.0 and about 3.5 percent; (f) an ethoxylated nonyl phenol surfactant in an amount between about 0.5 and about 3.0 percent; and (g) a modified aliphatic polyamine as a tertiary amine. ### Claim 3 A composition for removing graffiti from a coated or non-porous surface, the composition comprising in percentage by volume of the composition: (a) N-methylpyrrolidone in an amount between about 32 and about 40 percent; (b) propylene carbonate in an amount between about 15 and about 25 percent; (c) an ingredient selected from the group consisting of dipropylene glycol methyl ether acetate and dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate in an amount between about 15 and about 25 percent; (d) isocetyl alcohol in an amount between about 15 and about 25 percent; (e) dimethyl sulfoxide in an amount between about 4 and about 8 percent; (f) hydroxypropyl cellulose in an amount between about 2 and about 3 percent; and (g) an ethoxylated nonyl phenol surfactant in an amount between about 0.5 and about 3.0 percent. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The composition of claim 3, wherein the ingredient is dipropylene glycol methyl ether acetate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The composition of claim 3, wherein the N-methylpyrrolidone is present in an amount about 35 percent, the propylene carbonate is present in an amount about 20 percent, the ingredient is present in an amount about 20 percent, the isocetyl alcohol is present in an amount about 20 percent, and the dimethyl sulfoxide is present in an amount about 5 percent, by volume of the composition. ### Claim 6 A composition for removing graffiti and all underlying paint from all non-plastic surfaces, equipment and machinery, the composition comprising in percentage by volume of the composition: (a) N-methylpyrrolidone in an amount between about 40 and about 60 percent; (b) propylene carbonate in an amount between about 5 and about 20 percent; (c) an ingredient selected from the group consisting of dipropylene glycol methyl ether acetate and dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate in an amount between about 2 and about 6 percent; (d) isocetyl alcohol in an amount between about 7.5 and about 14 percent; (e) dimethyl sulfoxide in an amount between about 10 to about 30 percent; (f) hydroxypropyl cellulose in an amount between about 1.0 and about 3.0 percent; and (g) an ethoxylated nonyl phenol surfactant in an amount between about 1.0 and about 3.0 percent. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The composition of claim 6, wherein the ingredient is dipropylene glycol methyl ether acetate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The composition of claim 6, wherein the N-methylpyrrolidone is present in an amount between about 59.5 and about 60 percent, the propylene carbonate is present in an amount between about 6.87 and about 7.37 percent, the ingredient is present in an amount about 2.63 percent, the isocetyl alcohol is present in an amount between about 9.5 and about 10 percent, and the dimethyl sulfoxide is present in an amount between about 19 and about 20 percent, by volume of the first part of the composition. ### Claim 9 A composition for removing graffiti from a surface of coated polycarbonate, methycrylate, methyl methacrylate, hard polyvinyl chloride compounds, acrylic, plexiglass, glass, melamine plastics or a combination thereof, the composition comprising in percentage by volume of the composition: (a) N-methylpyrrolidone in an amount between about 16 and about 22 percent; (b) propylene carbonate in an amount between about 45 and about 55 percent; (c) an ingredient selected from the group consisting of dipropylene glycol methyl ether acetate and dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate in an amount between about 12 and about 20 percent, wherein the ingredient is dipropylene glycol methyl ether acetate; (d) isocetyl alcohol in an amount between about 16 and about 22 percent; (e) hydroxypropyl cellulose in an amount between about 1.0 and about 3.0 percent; and (g) an ethoxylated nonyl phenol surfactant in an amount between about 1.0 and about 3.0 percent. ### Claim 10 A composition for removing graffiti from a surface of coated polycarbonate, methyacrylate, methyl methacrylate, hard polyvinyl chloride compounds, acrylic, plexiglass, glass, melamine plastics or a combination thereof, the composition comprising in percentage by volume of the composition: (a) N-methylpyrrolidone in an amount between about 16 and about 22 percent; (b) propylene carbonate in an amount between about 45 and about 55 percent; (c) an ingredient selected from the group consisting of dipropylene glycol methyl ether acetate and dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate in an amount between about 12 and about 20 percent; (d) isocetyl alcohol in an amount between about 16 and about 22 percent; (e) hydroxypropyl cellulose in an amount between about 1.0 and about 3.0 percent; (g) an ethoxylated nonyl phenol surfactant in an amount between about 1.0 and about 3.0 percent; and (h) a modified aliphatic polyamine as a tertiary amine. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The composition of claim 10, wherein the N-methylpyrrolidone is present in an amount about 14.4 percent, the propylene carbonate is present in an amount about 52.3 percent, the ingredient is present in an amount about 14.4 percent, and the isocetyl alcohol is present in an amount about 14.4 percent, by volume of the composition. ### Claim 12 A composition for removing graffiti from a surface of coated polycarbonate, methyacrylate, methyl methacrylate, hard polyvinyl chloride compounds, acrylic, plexiglass, glass, melamine plastics or a combination thereof, the composition comprising in percentage by volume of the composition: (a) N-methylpyrrolidone in an amount between about 16 and about 22 percent; (b) propylene carbonate in an amount between about 45 and about 55 percent; (c) an ingredient selected from the group consisting of dipropylene glycol methyl ether acetate and dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate in an amount between about 12 and about 20 percent; (d) isocetyl alcohol in an amount between about 16 and about 22 percent; (e) hydroxypropyl cellulose in an amount between about 1.0 and about 3.0 percent; and (g) an ethoxylated nonyl phenol surfactant in an amount between about 1.0 and about 3.0 percent, wherein the N-methylpyrrolidone is present in an amount about 14.4 percent, the propylene carbonate is present in an amount about 52.3 percent, the ingredient is present in an amount about 17.4 percent, and the isocetyl alcohol is present in an amount about 14.4 percent, by volume of the composition. ### Claim 13 A composition for removing graffiti from soft vinyl surfaces, the composition comprising in percentage by volume of the composition: a first part that includes: (a) N-methylpyrrolidone in an amount between about 10 and about 14 percent; (b) propylene carbonate in an amount between about 50 and about 60 percent; (c) an ingredient selected from the group consisting of dipropylene glycol methyl ether acetate and dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate in an amount between about 10 and about 15 percent; (d) isocetyl alcohol in an amount between about 10 and about 18 percent; (e) hydroxypropyl cellulose in an amount between about 1.0 and about 2.0 percent; and (g) an ethoxylated nonyl phenol surfactant in an amount between about 0.5 and about 1.5 percent; and a second part that includes mineral oil and lavender oil. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The composition of claim 12, wherein the ingredient is dipropylene glycol methyl ether acetate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The composition of claim 12, wherein the N-methylpyrrolidone is present in an amount about 14 percent, the propylene carbonate is present in an amount about 58.4 percent, the ingredient is present in an amount about 11.6 percent, and the isocetyl alcohol is present in an amount about 14 percent, by volume of the first part of the composition. ### Claim 16 A composition for removing layers of graffiti and underlying paint from a non-coated or porous surface, the composition comprising in percentage by volume of the composition: (a) N-methylpyrrolidone in an amount between about 40 and about 60 percent; (b) propylene carbonate in an amount between about 10 and about 20 percent; (c) an ingredient selected from the group consisting of dipropylene glycol methyl ether acetate and dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate in an amount between about 3 and about 7 percent; (d) isocetyl alcohol in an amount between about 7.5 and about 14 percent; (e) dimethyl sulfoxide in an amount between about 7.5 and about 14 percent; (f) hydroxypropyl cellulose in an amount between about 2.5 and about 3.5 percent; and (g) an ethoxylated nonyl phenol surfactant in an amount between about 1.0 and about 3.0 percent. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The composition of claim 16, wherein the ingredient is dipropylene glycol methyl ether acetate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The composition of claim 16, wherein the N-methylpyrrolidone ie present in an amount about 59.7 percent, the propylene carbonate is present in an amount about 15.2 percent, the ingredient is present in an amount about 5.24 percent, the isocetyl alcohol is present in an amount about 9.95 percent, and the dimethyl sulfoxide is present in an amount about 9.95 percent, by volume of the composition.