AU723136B2 - Packaged cleaning composition - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 *c C

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ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT TITLE OF INVENTION PACKAGED CLEANING COMPOSITION Name and Address of Applicant: UNILEVER AUSTRALIA LIMITED of 20-22 CAMBRIDGE STREET, EPPING NSW 2121 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 1 PACKAGED CLEANING COMPOSITION The present invention relates to packages for a liquid product from which the product can be dispensed as a spray.

As is well-known, many liquid cleaning products are supplied in a package which allows them to be dispensed for use as a spray. Particular difficulties arise where 1 0 the product is expensive., For such products, it is important that a user can aim the spray accurately so as to minimise wastage of the product. Further problems arise where the product is highly active and it is undesirable for it to come into contact with a user's skin. For such products, it is preferable that the spray is emitted from a part of the container remote from that which the user must touch in order to operate it.

oooo In EP-A-0475094 there is disclosed a container for **20 a liquid product having a cap for operating a product dispensing valve which, on actuation, dispenses a spray of product in a forward direction. The cap carries a lever, pivoted close to one of its ends end about an axis disposed to a first side of the valve below its upper extent the axis extending generally parallel to the forward direction. The lever extends transversely in an arch over the valve to its opposite. side, whereupon an end portion of it projects from the cap. A downward transverse movement of the said end portion will thus actuate the valve.

This arrangement allows the user to avoid contact with the product. It has, however, been found that some users find difficulty in aiming the spray accurately while effecting the required transverse movement of the lever.

Further known packages provide a cap in which a lever is pivoted forwards of an actuator and extends rearwardly over it. However, it has been found in practice that the range of movement that a user's hand must undergo is somewhat awkward and uncomfortable, *.particularly in repeated use as might typically occur in a cleaning operation, and particularly with pump dispensers (as opposed to pressurised containers) where the stroke through which the pump must be displaced is much larger than the stroke required to operate a pressure dispensing valve.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a S 20 package which overcomes or at least ameliorates disadvantages of known packaged cleaning products.

According to a first of its aspects, the invention provides a packaged product comprising an aqueous or solvent-containing non-ionic cleaning composition having a pH of 10 in a package adapted to produce a spray in a forward direction when a trigger is actuated by a user, said package comprising a spray actuator which has an operating member that varies in vertical height to generate a spray, wherein actuating force is applied to 3 the trigger forward of the operating member, the trigger is pivoted about an axis rearward of the operating member, and the spray is delivered through a spray aperture in the trigger, the spray orifice being carried on an extension post, S characterised in that, prior to the spray orifice, there is disposed swirl chamber.

It have been found that the trigger of this arrangement requires an actuating movement that is comfortable for-most users, even where the required displacement is relatively large, as is the case where the package is a pump dispenser to allow the cleaning composition to be conveniently and efficiently dispensed.

15 Preferably, the axis is generally transverse of the spray direction. This has been found to give rise to a particularly favourable movement of the trigger which, it will be appreciated, is generally in a rearward direction.

20 Most favourably, the spray actuator is a pump, the operating member being a pump chamber or a formation S connected thereto. Alternatively, the spray actuator might be a valve for emitting spray from a pressurised container, the operating member typically being a spray head. In either case the spray will typically be emitted from the spray orifice of the spray actuator. Suitable pumps include model PZ2 of Perfect-Valois and model M300 of Colmar.

In a preferred arrangement, the trigger has an opening through which spray from the actuator is directed. This arrangement helps to ensure a free and uninterrupted path for the spray.

Formations are preferably provided on the operating member and the trigger in the region of their interengagement to resist rotational movement of the operating member relative to the trigger. This ensures that the direction of the spray remains predictable, particularly where it is emitted from the operating S 10 member. Alternatively, the spray actuator may have internal means to prevent rotation of the operating member.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the trigger extends from a pivotal axis rearwardly of the operating member, forward across the operating member to curve downwardly in front of it to form a generally vertical portion. Actuation of the spray by a user is accomplished by a generally rearward movement of the vertical portion, such a movement being found to be particularly convenient and comfortable.

Most typically, the package will comprise a vessel in which the product is contained and on which the spray actuator is mounted, and a cap mounted on the bottle surrounding the actuator, the trigger being carried on the cap. In embodiments according to the last-preceding paragraph, the trigger may constitute a hood for the cap, and the cap may be open upwardly.

Preferably, the product package is adapted to deliver the composition to a surface in a spray of droplets wherein the average droplet size is in the range 30-300 microns and the spray angle and dosage are such that in the centre of the spray pattern more than 20% of the surface is covered but the area over which a continuous film of liquid is formed is minimised. A package such as this has been found to be particularly well suited to use with a cleaning composition.

The spray actuator is typically adapted to dispense a predetermined volume of product on actuation.

Preferably, the dispensed volume is in the range 0.15ml to 0.5ml and more preferably it is in the range 0.2ml to 0.4ml. Dosages of 0.3ml to 0.35ml are particularly preferred. (Conventional sprays for hard-surface cleaners typically dispense up to 0.7ml per spraying operation.) The preferred cone angles of the spray are such that 0.15-0.5ml of product is delivered over a circular region of 7-17cm diameter from a spraying distance of 15cm. The preferred droplet pattern on the surface is such that, for each pump cycle, 10-150ml of product are delivered over each square metre of surface. The most preferred levels of application during the cleaning operation are 2 10-20ml/m Typical prior art sprays might deliver three times as much product over a given area as compared with a package of the present invention.

Typical cone angles in embodiments of the present invention are 25-75 degrees.

The preferred droplet size distribution is such that for a 10g discharge less than 350mg of product is present in droplets having a particle size of less than 7 microns. Preferably, less than 700mg of product is present in droplets having a particle size of less than microns.

Typically, the mean particle size will lie in the range 50-100 microns. It is believed that this avoids the problem of respirable particles whilst ensuring that produce is delivered to the surface rather than remaining suspended in air. The droplet size range for a typical product presently on the market (CIF multiuso trigger pack) appears to be 30-700 microns with a peak at around -250 microns.

It has been found advantageous to provide the spray actuator with an extension post. That is to say, a short annular passage having an inlet end at which product is received and an outlet end at which is disposed the spray orifice. Prior to the spray orifice, there is disposed a swirl chamber in which the dispensed product undergoes highly turbulent flow. The extension post may suitably be in the range of 3 to 10mm in length, and 7 to 7.5mm in diameter. Lengths of 4 to 47mm have been found to be particularly favourable. The particular advantage in such an arrangement is that it is effective in reducing the amount of respirable particles produced in the spray.

It may be that use of an extension post in a spray may constitute an independent invention optionally in combination with one or more of the features discussed herein.

In another of its aspects, the invention provides a packaged product comprising an aqueous or solventcontaining non-ionic cleaning composition in a package according to the first aspect of the invention.

The product must have a viscosity such that it can be delivered in the form of spray. It is also believed essential that the composition comprises at least one nonionic surfactant. The compositions of such products can be a simple solution or in a more complex form such as a microemulsion.

Particularly preferred product compositions comprise 2-30% of nonionic surfactant, more preferably 3-13% nonionic. Anionic surfactant is optional. Preferred nonionic surfactants include, alkoxylated alcohols, particularly ethoxylated C8-C18 alcohols having 3-8 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. Other nonionic surfactants may be employed, a plurality of said surfactants are disclosed in 'Nonionic Surfactants' by Schick (Arnold: surfactant science series, volume 1).

The preferred concentrations of surfactant fall into the range 5-15%wt total surfactant, with levels of around 10%wt being particularly preferred.

Hydrophobic oils are optional components of compositions according to the present invention. Suitable oils include oils which rapidly dissolve troglyceride.

When oils are present preferred oils include limonene, para-cymene, dibutyl ether and butyl butyrate.

Solvents are preferably present at levels of 3with levels of 5-10% being particularly preferred.

Glycol ether and/or lower alcohols having 1-5 carbons are S: 10 preferred as solvents although the use of short alkyl chain esters including ethyl acetate is also envisaged.

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Preferably, the solvent is selected from: propylene glycol mono n-butyl ether, dipropylene glycol mono n- I 15 butyl ether, propylene glycol mono t-butyl ether, S S dipropylene glycol mono t-butyl ether, diethylene glycol hexyl ether, methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, di-ethylene glycol monobutyl ether and mixtures thereof.

Particularly preferred solvents are selected from the group comprising ethanol (preferably as industrial methylated spirits), propylene glycol mono n-butyl ether (available as 'Dowanol PnB' [RTM] and di-ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (available as 'Butyl Digol' [RTM] or 'Butyl Carbitol' These solvents are preferred due to cost, availability and safety factors. We have determined that this selection of solvents gives enhanced cleaning performance as regards inks and dyestuffs.

While the compositions of the present invention can be alkaline, acidic or neutral, it is preferred that the composition are alkaline, having preferred pH of It is particularly preferred that the composition comprises 1-10% of an alkanolamine, with levels of 2-6%wt being particularly preferred.

Particularly suitable alkanolamines include: 2- 10 amino-2-methyl-l-propanol, mono-ethanolamine and di-

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C 0 It may be particularly advantageous to include a polymer in a composition for use in the second aspect of 15 the invention. This serves to reduce the level of formation of extremely fine droplets in the spray ejected form the package. Suitable polymers include PVP, available in the marketplace as Polymer PVP Suitable levels of PVP in such embodiments range upwards 20 from 200ppm. Levels of 300-700ppm are particularly preferred.

Particularly preferred compositions have a pH and comprise, in admixture with water: a. 3-13% Nonionic surfactant (preferably, C10-E05 nonionic surfactant) b. 5-10% Solvent (preferably, diethylene glycon mono-n-butyl ether c. 2-6% Alkanolamine (preferably, 2-amino-2methyl-1-propanol) d. 1-5% Buffer/Alkali (preferably, sodium carbonate) e. 300-700ppm PVP The above composition constitutes a particularly preferred product within the second aspect of the invention when packaged in a container according to a first aspect of the invention adapted to produce a spray of 0.15-0.5ml of product per spraying operation, the 10 spray having an average drop size in the range 30-300 microns.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the 15 accompanying drawings in which: .a Figure 1 is a part sectional side view of a liquid dispensing package embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a part sectional top view of the liquid dispensing package of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a detailed side view of interengaging parts of a trigger and operating member of the package in the region of their interengagement; and Figure 4 is a graph showing the relationship between droplet size and cleaning efficiency of a cleaning composition dispensed from a package embodying the invention.

11 With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a liquid dispensing package embodying the invention comprises a container body 10 for containing a liquid product. The container body 10 has a neck portion 14 uppermost, on which is mounted a pump assembly 16, the latter constituting a spray actuator. A cap 12 is mounted on the container body 10 to surround the neck portion 14 and the pump 16. A trigger 18 is carried on the cap 12. These S"components will all be described in further detail below.

I0 The container body 10 is formed as a hollow plastics *moulding. The container body has a generally flat base on which it can stand upright. References to "down" and associated terms should be understood to refer to the S 15 container in this upright disposition.

S**t The base 20 is of generally triangular section, with rounded corners, having major and minor axes directed, respectively, in longitudinal and transverse directions, the longitudinal dimension being about twice the transverse dimension. A first direction of the major axis, indicated by arrow A in Figures 1 and 2, is defined as a forward direction.

From the base 20, the container body 10 extends upwardly, having a rear wall 22, and two side walls 24, 26 connected thereto at rounded edges. The side walls 24, 26 extend from the rear wall tapering generally towards one another to meet at a convex curved front region 27.

A handling region, shown generally at 28, is constituted by a curved depression in the side and front region 27. Thus, the container body can conveniently by grasped at this region 28.

The neck portion 14 is formed uppermost on the container body 10. The neck portion 14 is largely conventional, having a vertically extending cylindrical opening into the container, and an external thread. The 10 pump 16 is mounted on the neck portion 14 by attachment of a ferrule 17 thereof to the thread and has a dip tube extending into the container body through which liquid in the container body 10 can be withdrawn. This arrangement, it will be appreciated, is also well known.

The pump 16 has an upwardly extending plunger which constitutes an operating member thereof. A downward displacement of the plunger 40 causes liquid to be pumped from the container body.

The plunger carries an extension post 41. The extension post 41 comprises a tube approximately 4mm in length extending forwardly from the plunger 40, into which liquid is pumped. At its forward end, the extension post 41 is closed by a plate in which is formed a spray orifice 42 from which a spray of droplets is produced when the plunger 40 is displaced downwardly. The spray orifice 42 is directed to spray generally forwardly.

The cap 12 comprises a plastics moulding having a rear wall 32 and two side walls 34, 36. These extend respectively to the rear and to opposite sides of the neck portion 14 from a lower edge 38. The rear wall has a lower portion which extends from the lower edge 38 with an approximately quarter-circular section, such that a region 33 of the rear wall is directed approximately downwardly. In use, this region 33 can rest on a user's hand in order that the weight of the package and its S:contents can be supported easily. The remaining portion 10 of the rear wall 32 is vertical, and extends upwardly to just below the height of the pump plunger 40 in its released condition. The side walls 34, 36 are shaped complementarily with the rear wall 32 and extend forwardly therefrom to meet one another at a curved front region. The upper boundaries of the side, walls 34, 36 curve downwardly in approximately a quarter circle from S. the rear wall 32.

The cap carries retention formations 31 shaped and dimensioned to locate below the ferrule 17 of the pump 16. The retention formations 31 comprise upwardly angled resilient plastics projections which can be deflected to allow the cap 12 to be pushed into place and which subsequently spring back to their natural state to secure the cap 12 in place. It may be that retention formations of this type constitute a separate aspect of the invention, optionally in combination with other features described herein.

Additionally or as an alternative, retention formations may be provided on lower edge portions of the walls of the cap 18 which are shaped and dimensioned to interengage with complementary formations provided upon adjacent regions of the container body The trigger 18 is formed as a plastics moulding. In this embodiment, it is formed integrally with the cap 12 and is connected thereto by a living hinge 44. However, it is also envisaged that the cap may be formed as a separate moulding, and attached to the cap 12 by a conventional hinge. For example, a pin could be passed the through holes in the side walls of the cap and within the trigger to pivotally interconnect these components.

15 The trigger 18 has an upper wall 43 which extends forwardly form the hinge 44. The upper wall 43 is of arcuate cross-section, such that immediately adjacent the hinge it is approximately vertical, while at its forward extent it is approximately horizontal. Side walls 45, 46 of the trigger 18 extend downwardly from the upper wall 43. Under normal conditions, the lower edges of the side walls 45, 46 overlap by a small distance the upper edges of the side walls 34, 36 of the cap 12, such that the side walls 34, 36 of the cap 12 pass between the side walls 45, 46 of the trigger 18. A front wall 47 of the trigger extends between the front edges of the side walls 34, 36 and extends upwardly to meet the upper wall 43.

The front wall has a curved cross-section. Thus, the trigger 18 forms a hood for the cap, pivoted about a horizontal axis.

In use, a user will apply finger pressure to the front wall 47 of the trigger. Accordingly, the front wall 47 has a curved depression formed therein in which a user's finger may be comfortably received.

A through-hole 50 is formed in the front wall 47 forward of the spray orifice 42. The hole is oval, its long axis extending vertically.

1 0 As best illustrated in Figure 3, the upper wall 43 of the trigger 18 carries, on its lower surface, a pair projections 80 having generally semi-circular lower sections. Each projection 80 is received in a respective longitudinal groove 82 formed in an uppermost surface of the plunger 40. The plunger 40 is thus prevented from rotation with respect to the trigger 18.

In order to use the container, a user grasps the front wall 47 of the trigger 18 and pulls it generally rearwardly, such that it pivots about its axis. This brings the projections 80 to bear against the plunger so urging it downwardly, so as to cause a spray of product to be dispensed. The range of movement thus occasioned is shown in Figure i, the initial (normal) position of the trigger 18 being shown in continuous lines and the final position of the trigger 18' (after the spray of product has been emitted) being shown in broken lines.

It will be appreciated that the through hole 50 must be shaped and dimensioned so as to allow clear passage of the spray. Most particularly, the relative vertical positions of the spray orifice 42 and the hole 50 change during movement of the trigger 18. Thus, the hole 50 must have sufficient vertical extent to accommodate this change. The relative movement occurring between the spray orifice 42 and the hole 50, 50' can be clearly seen from Figure 1.

0 An examples of a cleaning compositions particularly e suited for dispensing by a container as described above will now be described. Such compositions within the container described above constitute an exemplary embodiment of the second aspect of the invention.

Cleaning performance was determined on soiled DECAMEL (eg. FORMICA [RTM]) sheets. 0.5mg/cm 2 (based on non-volatiles) of soil were deposited on an 'A4' sized area of 'DECAMEL' test surface by spraying. The soil comprised 1% glycerol tripalmitate, 0.5% glycerol trioleate, 0.5% kaolin, 0.2% liquid paraffin, 0.1% palmitic acid, 0.02% carbon black in methylated spirits.

The soil was allowed to age for 24 hours at room temperature prior to cleaning.

The effort used to remove the soil from the test surface using a cellulosic sponge cloth was measured.

Example 1 Compositions were prepared by mixing the components given in Table 1 below.

Table 1 a. a.

9O 10 Imbentin 91-35 (C10-E05 nonionic surfactant) 8% Butyl Digol (diethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether) 4% AMP (2-amino-2-methyl-l-propanol) 2% Buffer/alkali (sodium carbonate) water to 100% From Table 1 it can be seen that the composition is a concentrate (as regards surfactant) as compared with conventional spray cleaning compositions which comprise around 4%wt surfactant, 5% solvent.

Table 2 and figure 1 shows results for six sprays using the composition described above. The compositions were sprayed onto unbaked soiled DECAMEL tiles prepared as described above using a variety of pumps.

In the table and the figure, 'DS' is the mean particle concentration averaged over a 5 minute period from spraying, in air, of particles per cc of a diameter less than 7 microns. Higher figures for the 'DS' correspond to lower average droplet diameters in the spray.

More extensive data were obtained for various pumps and these being reproduced in Table 3 below. From this data, it can be seen that there is a correlation between the drop size 'DS' as measured above and the mean particle size produced by the sprays, in microns: i.e. as the value of 'DS' falls, more particles are found in the larger particle size bands. Low average particle sizes in the spray are therefore associated with high values of

'DS'.

10 Table 3 a a Particle Diameter in Microns 'DS' 260-85 85-30 30-5.8 952 38.9% 50.1% 11% 15 627 45.8% 44.7% 417 50.4% 43.6% 6% Returning to Table 2, cone diameter is as measured at 15cm, i.e. it is the diameter of the spray pattern at 15cm from the spray head.

The dose is the dose applied to the tiles over the area sprayed with product. In all instances more than one cycle of the spraying apparatus was used.

Effort is the total effort required to clean a tile completely, measured in terms of the total effort applied by a human operator.

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9 9**99 Dose 'DS' Cone diam Effort 0.59 952 14.0cm 205 0.64 627 10.2cm 326 0.62 417 7.6cm 349 0.61 745 9.5cm 277 0.62 551 8.0cm 392 0.83 130 7.Ocm 410 From the figures given in Table 2 it is possible to calculate the dose per unit area and thus the cleaning efficiency in terms of the effort required per dose of product per unit area sprayed. Figure 4 plots this 15 efficiency against the 'drop size' (DS) expressed in terms of the quantity of fine droplets. From the figure it is clearly apparent that efficiency is higher for higher values of 'DS' i.e. the same quantity of product distributed in finer drops allows the surface to be cleaned with less effort.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

Claims (8)

1. A packaged product comprising an aqueous or solvent- containing non-ionic cleaning composition having a pH of 10 in a package adapted to produce a spray in a forward direction when a trigger is actuated by a user, the package comprising a spray actuator which has an operating member that varies in vertical height to generate a spray, wherein actuating force is applied to the trigger forward of the operating member the trigger is pivoted about an axis rearward of the operating member, and the spray is delivered S: through a spray aperture in the trigger, the spray orifice being carried on an extension post, S. 15 characterised in that, prior to the spray orifice, there is disposed a swirl chamber.

2. A packaged product according to claim 1 characterised in that the axis is generally transverse 20 of the spray direction.

3. A packaged product according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that the spray actuator is a pump, the operating member being a pump chamber or a formation connected thereto.

4. A packaged product according to any preceding claim characterised in that the spray is emitted from a spray orifice of the operating member S21 A Packaged product according to any of claims 1-4 characterised in that the extension post is in the range of 3 to 10mm in length

6. A packaged product according to any of claims 1-4 characterised in that the extension post is in the range of 4 to 7mm in length.

7. A Packaged product according to any preceding claim characterised in that formations are provided on the operating member and the trigger in the region of their interengangement to resist rotational movement of S. the operating member relative to the trigger. 15 8. A packaged product according to any preceding claim characterised in that the trigger extends from a pivoted axis rearwardly of the operating member, forward across the operating member to curve downwardly in front of it to form an approximately 20 vertical portion, actuation of the spray by a user being accomplished by a generally rearward movement of the vertical portion. S 9 A packaged product according to any preceding claim characterised by a vessel in which the product is contained and on which the spray actuator is mounted, and a cap mounted on the bottle surrounding the actuator, the trigger being carried on the cap.

22- A packaged product according to the preceding claim characterised in that the spray actuator is adapted to deliver the composition to a surface in a spray of droplets wherein the average droplet size is in the range

30-300 microns and the spray angle and dosage are such that in the centre of the spray pattern, more than 20% of the surface is covered but the area over which a continuous film of liquid is minimised. 11. A packaged product according to the preceding claim characterised in that the spray actuator is adapted to dispense a predetermined volume of product on actuation. 15 12. A packaged product according to claim 11 characterised in that the dispensed volume is in the range 0.2ml to 0.4ml. 13. A packaged product according to claim 11 20 characterised in that the dispensed volume is in the range 0.3ml to 0.35ml. 14. A packaged product according to any preceding claim characterised in that the produced spray has a cone angle such that 0.15-0.5ml of the product is delivered over a circular region of 7-17 cm diameter. A packaged product according to any preceding claim characterised in that the spray produces a pattern of droplets such that, for each pump cycle, 10-15 ml of Siproduct are delivered over each square metre of surface. 23 16. A packaged product according to any preceding claim characterised in that the produced spray has a cone angle of 25 to 75 degrees. 17. A packaged product according to any preceding claim characterised in that the produced spray has a droplet size distribution such that for a 10g discharge, less than 350mg of the product is present in droplets having a particle size of less than 7 microns. *c 15 a. q 9, 9 *9 9 a S *5*5 S 9* a 9a*S 18. A packaged product according to any preceding claim characterised in that the produced spray has a droplet size distribution such that for a 10g discharge, less that 700mg of product is present in droplets having a particle size in less that 30 microns. 19. A packaged product according to any preceding claim characterised in that the produced spray has a mean droplet in the range of 50-100 microns. A packaged product according to any preceding claim characterised in that the cleaning composition comprises 2-30% of nonionic surfactant. 21. A packaged product according to any one of claims 1 to 19 characterised in that the cleaning composition comprises 3-30%wt of solvent. 22. A packaged Product accordinlg to any preceding claim characterised in that the cleaning com..position further comprises 10% of an alkanolamine. Dated this 9th day of June 2000 Unilever Australia Ltd By its patent Attorneys of Davies Collison Cave le s*