# US 7,608,572 B2 · Car wash indicators > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,608,572 B2 - Document ID: US7608572B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/555,037 - Filed: 2006-10-31 - Published: 2008-05-01 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2006-10-31 - Assignees: 3K Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Tracy Palmer; William A Farone - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7608572B2 ## CPC - C11D 3/40: Dyes {; Pigments} - C09D 5/008: {Temporary coatings (C09D5/20 takes precedence)} - C09D 5/1675: {Polyorganosiloxane-containing compositions} - C09D 7/41: Organic pigments; Organic dyes - C11D 3/2003: {Alcohols; Phenols} - C11D 3/373: {containing silicones} - C11D 3/43: Solvents - C11D 2111/16: Metals - 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 formulation and a method of using the formulation for washing vehicles and vehicular tires comprising a surface protecting composition that removes soil while enhancing the gloss, providing a protecting layer, and is biodegradable, environmentally and consumer friendly. The formulation further pertains to a product which contains a highly biodegradable surface active agent that is impervious to hard water and can clean a surface with little mechanical action. The residual protective coating aids in the removal of any subsequent dirt and grime that the surface may collect. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A liquid composition for washing vehicles or vehicular tires comprising an alcohol, an indicator dye, a non-aqueous solvent, a coating agent to prevent soil attachment and a biodegradable surface active agent wherein said indicator dye changes color when said liquid composition is diluted with water to active concentration sufficient to effectively clean vehicles and vehicular tires and deposit said coating agent on vehicles and vehicular tires wherein water addition ceases at indicated color point by said indicator dye. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein the non-aqueous solvent is selected from the group consisting of propylene glycerol, glycerin, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein the alcohol is selected from the group consisting of ethanol, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, propyl alcohol, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The composition of claim 3 wherein the alcohol is ethanol or denatured ethanol. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 comprising between about 10% (w/w) to about 55% (w/w) alcohol. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein said indicator dye is selected from the group consisting of methyl red, bromocresol green, and bromocresol purple. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 further comprising between about 0.01% to about 0.50% (w/w) of said indicator dye. ### Claim 8 A liquid composition for washing vehicles or vehicular tires comprising an alcohol, an indicator dye, a non-aqueous solvent, a coating agent to prevent soil attachment and a biodegradable surface active agent wherein: said indicator dye changes color when said liquid composition is diluted with water to active concentration sufficient to effectively clean vehicles and vehicular tires and deposit said coating agent on vehicles and vehicular tires; water addition ceases at indicated color point by said indicator dye; and said surface active agent is selected from the group consisting of glycerol fatty acid monoesters, glycerol fatty acid diesters, sorbitol fatty acid monoesters, sorbitol fatty acid diesters, sucrose esters, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein said coating agent leaves a coating on the treated surface wherein the coating is slightly water soluble to shed soil when water is further applied in a later treatment. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The composition of claim 9 wherein said coating agent is polysiloxane. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein said coating agent is between about 0.1% to about 3.0% (w/w). ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 further comprising an optional scent formulation. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 further comprising an optional indicator dye intensifier. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The composition of claim 13 wherein said optional indicator dye intensifier is salicylic acid. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The composition of claim 12 wherein the scent formulation comprises one or more scent selected from the group consisting of lime, lemon, blood orange, lavender, pine, orange oil, and cedar. ### Claim 16 A liquid formulation for washing vehicles comprising an alcohol, an indicator dye, a non-aqueous solvent, a coating agent to prevent soil attachment and a biodegradable surface active agent wherein said indicator dye changes color when said composition is diluted with water to an active concentration sufficient to effectively clean vehicles and deposit said coating agent on said vehicles. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The formulation of claim 16 wherein: ethanol is said alcohol; methyl red is said indicator dye; and the coating agent is polysiloxane. ### Claim 18 A liquid formulation for washing vehicular tires comprising an alcohol, an indicator dye, a non-aqueous solvent, a coating agent to prevent soil attachment and a biodegradable surface active agent wherein said indicator dye changes color when said composition is diluted with water to an active concentration sufficient to effectively clean vehicular tires and deposit said coating agent on said vehicular tires. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The formulation of claim 18 wherein: said alcohol is ethanol; said indicator dye is bromocresol purple; and the coating agent is polysiloxane. ### Claim 20 A liquid composition for washing vehicles or vehicular tires comprising between about 10% (w/w) to about 55% (w/w) alcohol, between about 0.01% (w/w) to about 0.50% (w/w) of an indicator dye, between about 50% (w/w) to about 70% (w/w) of a non-aqueous solvent, between about 10% to about 20% biodegradable surface active agent, and between about 0.1% (w/w) to about 3.0% (w/w) of a coating agent wherein: said indicator dye changes color when said composition is diluted with water to concentrations sufficient to effectively clean and deposit said coating agent on vehicles and vehicular tires.