CN105940151B

CN105940151B - Method for treating laundry

Info

Publication number: CN105940151B
Application number: CN201580005544.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: A·D·维利; R·R·加德纳; K·L·威利森
Original assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Current assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date: 2014-01-24
Filing date: 2015-01-22
Publication date: 2020-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 2035-01-22
Also published as: CN105940151A; WO2015112684A1; US20150211165A1; JP6200099B2; EP3097226A1; CA2935413A1; JP2017506705A; EP3097226B1; MX2016009537A

Abstract

The invention discloses a method and a device for treating laundry.

Description

Method for treating laundry

Technical Field

Method and apparatus for treating laundry.

Background

The cleaning of soiled dishes and clothing with specific types of stains has remained difficult even over the last two decades for all improvements in dish and clothing detergent formulations used to wash dishes and clothing.

Conventional dishwashing laundry detergent compositions contain a bleaching agent such as sodium percarbonate and use cobalt salts as bleach catalysts. Some dishwashing and laundry detergent formulations use sodium hypochlorite as a bleaching agent. Automatic dishwashing detergent composition formulations and laundry detergent formulations employing such bleaches have varying degrees of effectiveness that are not always able to meet consumer expectations. Depending on the particular automatic dishwashing detergent composition used, it is common for plastic food storage tubs to remain soiled after washing. Similarly, stains on laundry are sometimes difficult to remove to a satisfactory degree when washing in an automatic dishwashing machine.

It may be desirable to use other beneficial active ingredients in automatic dishwashing machine detergents and laundry detergent compositions. For example, it may be desirable to include beneficial active ingredients such as stain removers, bactericides, and active ingredients for removing endospores on dishes, cookware, and clothing.

It is contemplated that many beneficial active ingredients will be included in dishwashing and laundry detergent compositions. Of course, there are many technical challenges to incorporating such beneficial active ingredients into commercially viable dishwashing detergent compositions. Many beneficial active ingredients may not be chemically stable in powder, liquid or gel formulations. Dish and laundry detergent compositions with certain beneficial active ingredients may not be physically stable. Some beneficial active ingredients may not be environmentally stable. For example, changes in temperature and humidity can have adverse effects on the composition. In addition, some beneficial active ingredients may be incompatible with other ingredients in the dishwashing detergent composition.

An alternative approach to being able to include certain beneficial active ingredients in a dishwashing detergent composition is to use photoactivated chemicals. For example, micronized titanium dioxide in water can be activated by light to become a bleaching system. Photoactivators, such as phthalocyanines and naphthalocyanines, including sulfonated zinc phthalocyanines, are effective as photobleaches and antimicrobials. Similarly, such benefit actives may be provided in a composition separate from a fully formulated dish or laundry detergent.

One impediment to the application of photosensitive chemicals to dishwashing and laundry detergents is the need to irradiate the cleaning composition in the dishwashing or laundry machine during the cycle. Dishwashers and clothes washers may be provided with interior lights at the time of manufacture. However, most existing appliances in the consumer's home do not have such interior lighting if an effective detergent containing a light sensitive chemical is developed. The consumer will not purchase a new appliance in order to utilize the detergent with the light sensitive chemical. In view of this, even though detergent developers have developed superior breakthrough compositions using photochemicals, only a portion of the consumers will see benefit. Supplying the amount of dishwashing detergent composition needed to a limited portion of consumers who may be willing to purchase an appliance with interior lighting may not be a reasonable commercial proposition. It may also be unattractive to an enterprise to wait for a certain time, perhaps years, until new types of dishwashers with internal lighting enter the consumer's home.

In view of these limitations, there remains an unresolved need to provide consumers with methods and devices that can utilize light-sensitive chemicals in dishwashing and laundry without the need to purchase new and expensive appliances with integrated interior lighting.

Disclosure of Invention

One embodiment of the invention is a method for treating dishes, comprising the steps of: providing a treatment composition comprising a photoactive component; contacting the treatment composition with the dish in an appliance; and irradiating the treatment composition with visible light; wherein the step of irradiating the treatment composition with visible light is carried out by a light source that is capable of being inserted into and removed from the appliance without tools.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a method for treating laundry, the method comprising the steps of: providing a treatment composition comprising a photoactive component; contacting the treatment composition with the laundry in an appliance; and irradiating the treatment composition with visible light; wherein the step of irradiating the treatment composition with visible light is carried out by a light source that is tool-free attachable to and detachable from the interior of the appliance.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a lighted dispenser comprising: a lamp housing including a power source and a light source conductively connected to the power source; and a treatment composition reservoir operatively connected to the lamp housing, the reservoir comprising a dispensing outlet; wherein the lighted dispenser is sized and dimensioned to fit within the interior of a washing appliance.

Another embodiment of the invention is a kit for processing a substrate, the kit comprising: a lamp housing including a light source; and a container containing a photocatalytic treatment composition comprising a photoactivator; wherein the lamp housing and the container are packaged with each other.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a dispenser with a light source and a reservoir that can be placed into an appliance by a consumer.

Figure 2 is a stand for a dispenser.

Fig. 3 is a dispensing device including a magnet operatively attached to the dispensing device.

Fig. 4 is a dispensing device with a locking member that can be tool-free attached to and detached from a rack or other movable component in an appliance.

Fig. 5 is an automatic dishwasher.

Fig. 6 is an automatic laundry washing machine.

FIG. 7 is a lamp housing including a power source and a light source conductively connected to the power source.

Fig. 8 is a kit comprising a lamp housing comprising a power source and a light source conductively connected to the power source, and a treatment composition comprising a photoactivator.

Fig. 9 is a kit including a light housing coupled to a container, wherein an applicator protrudes from and is in fluid communication with the container.

Detailed Description

The photoactive component may be provided in or with the dishwashing and laundry detergent formulation in different forms. For example, the light-sensitive chemical may be provided in a fully formulated powder, liquid, gel, or unit dose soluble pouch. The photosensitive chemical may also be provided in a composition separate from the fully formulated dish or laundry detergent. If provided as a separate composition, the composition with the photoactive chemical may be delivered before, during, or after the fully formulated detergent has been delivered in the wash.

In order to utilize laundry detergent compositions and detergent compositions comprising a photoactive component, it is desirable to provide a light source. The light source may be provided integrally with the dishwasher or laundry washing machine. Furthermore, the light source may be powered by the dishwasher or laundry washing machine as a whole. The light source generates electromagnetic radiation.

The appliance may be provided with one or more waterproof light fixtures that shine into a cabinet that houses the substrate being cleaned. The light fixture may be recessed into a cabinet wall, ceiling or floor and direct light into the cabinet. In the case of a dishwashing machine, light may illuminate the wash liquid and any light sensitive components provided therein, as the light propagates through the various dispensing arrays onto the dishes being cleaned.

Similarly, for laundry washing machines, the waterproof light fixture may shine into the cabinet housing the washing drum or into the drum itself. For example, in an upright washer, recessed lights may be provided in the drum wall and direct light toward the center of the drum. The lamp may be directed towards the lower portion of the drum such that when the drum is completely filled or partially filled with a wash liquid containing the light sensitive component, the lamp illuminates the wash liquid to activate the light sensitive component. Of course, the light may be attached to, or located in, the top door on the upright laundry washing machine and direct light downwardly on the wash liquid or at the outlet from which water is dispensed into the drum. In laundry washing machines with a perforated drum, such drum is contained in a casing, which is the part containing the washing liquid. It is advantageous to shine a lamp into the housing to activate any light sensitive components provided in the wash liquor. This arrangement may make the technical aspect of providing light simpler, as the lamp does not have to come into contact with the article being washed.

The light source may also be caused to impinge on the wash liquid as it is stored in the reservoir of the appliance, or as it is moved through or within a pump, conduit or other liquid transport element. Such a method is desirable so that the article being cleaned does not block light from irradiating the photoactive component in the wash liquor.

The photoactivity of the various photoactive components may vary. For example, some photoactive components may be activated by ultraviolet and/or visible light. If the ultraviolet light activates the light sensitive component, it is more practical to position the light source in the appliance so that the consumer does not come into visual contact with the light source. The best way of providing this arrangement is to have light shine on the washing liquid as it passes through the conduit during circulation. Constructing an appliance so constructed can be done relatively easily. However, if the light source is embedded deep in the appliance, it can be challenging for the consumer to replace the light source in the event that the light source burns out or fails.

If the light source is in the bezel of the appliance or in the top or bottom panel of the appliance, it is relatively easy for the consumer to replace the light source in the event that the lamp burns out or fails. There are some challenges to placing the light sources as such. First, if ultraviolet light is used, it may be desirable to use sufficient control in the appliance to ensure that the ultraviolet light is not activated when the door of the appliance is opened. Second, the waterproof sealing mechanism must be robust enough so that no leaks occur after the consumer has replaced the light source and technically simple enough to enable the ordinary consumer to replace the light source.

The light source may be one or more light emitting diodes, incandescent tungsten filament bulbs, hg (ar) uv lamps, fluorescent lamps, compact fluorescent lamps, cold cathode fluorescent lamps, high intensity discharge lamps, or other such light sources. The light source needs to have some spectrum that is spectrally tuned to the wavelength or wavelength range that the light sensitive component is tuned to.

Another alternative is to have the light source remote from where the washing takes place and have the light transmitted from the light source to where the washing liquid contacts the article being cleaned by means of a fiber optic cable or other transmission means.

In view of the above complexities, it is clear that it is not cost and inexpensive to retrofit an appliance manufactured without an interior lighting system to include a lighting system powered by the appliance itself. One option to overcome this challenge is to provide a portable light source that the consumer can put into the appliance.

Luminous distributor

Fig. 1 shows a dispenser 10 having a light source 20 and a reservoir 70 that a consumer may place into an appliance. The dispenser 10 may be a portable device sized and dimensioned to fit within the interior of a washing appliance without interfering with any moving parts of the machine into which the dispenser 10 is inserted or any contents thereof. The interior may be understood as e.g. a drum of a laundry washing machine. For a dishwashing appliance, the interior can be understood as the space in which the rack and the dishes are located when the dishwashing machine is in operation.

Typical household dishwashing appliances and laundry washing machines have a width of less than about 1m³Or even less than about 0.7m³Or even less than about 0.5m³The washing space of (1). The dispenser 10 may have a thickness of less than about 6000cm³The volume of (a). The dispenser 10 may have less than about 3000cm³The volume of (a). The dispenser 10 may have less than about 1500cm³The volume of (a). The dispenser 10 may have less than about 750cm³The volume of (a). The dispenser 10 may have less than about 325cm³The volume of (a). The dispenser 10 may have less than about 150cm³The volume of (a).

The dispenser 10 may be thin. Low profile is used to indicate that the dispenser 10 is generally thin. For example, the dispenser 10 may have a thickness of less than about 5cm, or even less than about 2cm, or even less than about 0.5cm, as measured from the direction of light emitted by the light source 20.

The dispenser 10 may be designed such that part of the device houses the means for providing light and the other part may be a liquid delivery system. The means for providing light may comprise a power source 40. The power source may be a battery. The battery may be a conventional AA, C, D or other standard size battery. The battery may be a nickel-chromium battery, a lithium ion battery, or other type of battery. The power source 40 may be a generator built into the dispenser and movement of the dispenser drives the generator to produce an electrical current that powers the light source 20.

The power source 40 may be conductively connected to the light source 20. By conductively connected, it is meant that power may be transferred from the power source 40 to the light source 20, such as by direct electrical circuitry, induction, or any other known technical method for transferring energy from the power source 40 to the light source 20. The power source 40 may be connected by a wire 50 in the circuit including the light source 20. Of course, more complex circuitry is contemplated, such as an on/off switch, a timer, or a programmable logic controller that can control the on and off, brightness, spectrum, or other properties of the light emitted from the light source 20.

The dispenser 10 may have a light housing 60. The lamp housing 60 may include a power source 40 and a light source 20 conductively connected to the power source 40. The dispenser 10 may further include a treatment composition reservoir 70 operatively connected to the light housing 60. That is, the reservoir 70 and the lamp housing 60 may be joined to one another, such as by the reservoir 70 and the lamp housing 60 being constructed of materials that are integral with one another or joined to one another. For example, an embodiment is contemplated wherein the dispenser 10 is constructed from one or more injection molded parts that snap or otherwise engage together to form the dispenser 10.

The reservoir 70 may include a dispensing outlet 80. Dispensing outlet 80 may be a weep hole 90. The reservoir 70 may include a plurality of weep holes 90. Weep hole 90 may be sized and dimensioned to slowly dispense treatment composition 100. The weep holes 90 may be circular and have a diameter of 2mm or less. The number and size of the weep holes 90 may be determined based on the hydrodynamic properties of the treatment composition 100. It is contemplated that the flow rate of the dispensing outlet 80 may be controllable. For example, the weep hole 90 may have an adjustable plug that restricts fluid from the weep hole 90, such as a cover plate or plug that partially blocks the open cross-section of the weep hole 90.

The lamp housing 60 and the reservoir 70 may be arranged in a side-by-side relationship. Alternatively, the lamp housing 60 may be arranged such that, in use, the reservoir 70 is above the lamp housing 60 such that when the treatment composition 100 is dispensed from the reservoir 70, it passes through the light source 20. Such a design may be practical such that the treatment composition 100, which may contain a photosensitive chemical, is activated as it is dispensed from the reservoir 70.

The light source 20 may be a light emitting diode, incandescent lamp, incandescent tungsten filament bulb, hg (ar) UV lamp, fluorescent lamp, compact fluorescent lamp, cold cathode fluorescent lamp, high intensity discharge lamp, or other such light source. The power source 40 needs to provide sufficient power to power the light source 20 to the desired extent. The power source 40 may be a single use power source or capable of multiple uses to power the light source 20.

The reservoir 70 may have an inlet end 110. The inlet port 110 can be provided with an opening in the reservoir 70 through which the treatment composition 100 can be delivered into the reservoir 70. The inlet port 110 may be a plug, ear and key plug, screw plug, or the like, so that the treatment composition 100 may be conveniently placed into the reservoir 70.

As shown in the view of fig. 1, a section of the reservoir 70 is shown removed to show the treatment composition 100 residing in the reservoir 70. The treatment composition 100 may be driven through the dispensing outlet 80 by gravity flow. Other methods for dispensing the treatment composition 100 from the reservoir 70 are contemplated, including by a pump, either electromechanically driven or mechanically driven by the consumer, provided with a spring-loaded trigger-actuated pump.

The dispenser 10 may also include a locking member 120 operatively connected to one or both of the light housing 60 and the treatment composition reservoir 70. The locking member 120 shown in fig. 1 is only one example of a possible locking member 120 that may be used with the dispenser 10. The locking member 120 may include a body 130 having one or more wings 140 extending from the body 130. The body 130 may extend longitudinally along the dispenser 10. The body 130 is vertically aligned with the dispenser 10.

The locking member 120 is tool-free attachable to and detachable from a bracket 140, the bracket 140 being shown in fig. 2. By tool-less attachable to and detachable from, it is meant that the consumer can attach and detach the associated structure without using any tools that provide mechanical benefit. However, the consumer only needs to manipulate the object that can be manipulated with only his finger. The consumer does not need to utilize a screwdriver, pliers, hammer, or other tool that can provide a mechanical advantage to the force provided by the consumer's hand.

For example, a consumer may attach and detach the locking member 120 from the bracket 140, thereby attaching and detaching the dispenser 10 without the use of any tools. That is, the locking member 120 may be attached and detached from the bracket 140 by hand without any tools that provide mechanical advantage.

The locking member 120 is slidably engageable with the bracket 140. For example, the locking member 120 may have a T-shape and the bracket 140 may have a pair of slots 145 sized and dimensioned to receive the wings 140 of the T-shaped locking member 120. In use, a consumer may slide the locking member 120 into the complementary cradle 140. In the embodiment shown in fig. 1 and 2, the arms of the T-shaped locking member 120 may slide into complementary grooves 155 of the carrier 140.

The bracket 140 may include an adhesive 150 attached to a side of the bracket 140 opposite the locking member 120. In use, the adhesive 150 can attach the rack 140 to the interior of a dishwasher (e.g., walls, floor, ceiling, door, rack, spindle) or the interior of a laundry washing machine (e.g., drum, cover, rear and front walls of a side entry laundry washing machine). The adhesive 150 needs to be strong enough to secure the dispenser 10 to the washing device. The adhesive 150 needs to be chemically compatible with the wash liquor so that the adhesive 150 does not release the stent 140 during the wash process.

The dispensing device 10 may include a magnet 160 operatively attached to the dispensing device 10, as shown in fig. 3. As shown in fig. 3, the magnet 160 may be attached to or integral with the dispenser 10 and located on the opposite side of the dispenser 10 from the light source 20 and the dispensing outlet 80. In use, the magnet 160 may function to attach the dispensing device 10 to a metal surface or component of the interior of a washing appliance.

The dispenser 10 may be made of plastic or metal.

The dispensing appliance 10 may include one or more locking members 120 that can be tool-lessly attached to and detached from a bracket 170 or other moving part in the appliance, as shown in fig. 4. The locking member 120 may be a hook 180. The locking member 120 or member 120 may be any structure that can be secured to a portion of the bracket 170. The rack 170 may be of the general type found in a dishwashing machine designed for use in the home. Generally, the rack 170 has an open web-like structure that allows washing liquid to be sprayed therethrough. The bracket 170 may have one or more posts 172 or beams 174 that are interconnected with one another. One or more hooks 180 may be sized and dimensioned to hang from the bracket 170. Alternatively, the locking member 120 may be a clip, an expansion fit wedge, or any other structure that may be secured to the bracket 170.

The light source 20 may generate a radiant flux between about 1mW and about 500W. For use in an automatic dishwashing machine, the light source 20 can generate a radiant flux of between about 1mW and about 500W, or between about 1W and about 250W, or between about 2W and about 100W. For use in an automatic laundry washing machine, the light source 20 may generate a radiant flux of between about 250mW to about 500W, or about 500mW to 250W, or about 1W to about 100W. The radiant flux of the light source 20 is measured at the wavelength at which its emission is maximally absorbed by the photoactive component. The light source 20 may emit light having a wavelength between about 380nm and about 800 nm.

Treatment composition

Photobleaches

The treatment composition 100 may include a photoactive component, i.e., a photoactive bleaching agent. For example, a suitable photo-active bleaching agent may be titanium dioxide. Irradiation in the visible spectrum between about 380nm and about 800nm can activate titanium dioxide for photobleaching purposes. Titanium dioxide may also function as a photo-bleach when irradiated with wavelengths between about 10nm and about 1200 nm. Illumination in the ultraviolet spectrum is less attractive due to potential human exposure problems.

The treatment composition 100 may comprise titanium dioxide in an amount ranging from about 0.0000001% to about 25% by weight of the treatment composition 100. The treatment composition 100 may comprise titanium dioxide in an amount ranging from about 0.005% to about 5% by weight. The treatment composition 100 may comprise other components including, but not limited to, surfactants, perfumes, stabilizers, builders, bleaching agents, bactericides, enzymes, ash suppressants, brighteners, and the like.

The titanium dioxide may have a particle size of between about 2nm and about 600nm, or even between about 100nm and about 400nm, or even between about 2nm and about 80 nm. The titanium dioxide may have a thickness of between about 50m²A/g to about 400m²Specific surface area between/g. The bulk density of the titanium dioxide may be between about 100g/l to about 800 g/l. The titanium dioxide may be a carbon modified titanium dioxide having a carbon content of between about 0.01 wt% to about 5 wt%.

The treatment composition 100 may be provided in the form of a liquid, gel, powder, tablet, emulsion suspension, aerosol, or other form.

Photoactivators

The treatment composition 100 may include a photoactive component, i.e., a photoactivator. The photoactivator may comprise a photoactive moiety and a hydrophilic moiety. The photoactivator may comprise less than about 35% by weight of the photoactive moiety. The photoactivator may have an absorption band between about 350nm and about 750nm, preferably between about 350nm and about 420 nm.

The photoactivator may have the formula:

wherein,

x is selected from C, O, NH, C ═ O, CH₂CHR ', CR ' R ', S, SO and SO₂；

Y is selected from C, O, NH, C ═ O, CH₂CHR ', CR ' R ', S, SO and SO₂；

R ', R "and R'" may be-H or a substituent selected from the group consisting of moieties comprising oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, halogen and hydrocarbons;

at least one of R ', R ", and R'" further comprises a hydrophilic moiety R;

r is selected from the group consisting of water-soluble oligomers, water-soluble polymers and water-soluble copolymers;

m is an integer of 0 to 8; and is

The combined molecular weight of the substituents R ', R ", and R'" is greater than 400 Atomic Mass Units (AMU).

The photoactivators of the present invention may comprise a photoactive moiety and a hydrophilic moiety. For the purposes of the present invention, the term "hydrophilic moiety" refers to a moiety that is attracted to and dissolves in water to form a homogeneous solution. In one embodiment, the hydrophilic moiety is selected from the group consisting of water-soluble oligomers, water-soluble polymers, and water-soluble copolymers. In one embodiment, the hydrophilic moiety may be selected from the group consisting of alkylene oxide oligomers, alkylene oxide polymers, alkylene oxide copolymers, ethylene glycol, vinyl alcohol, vinyl pyrrolidone, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylamide, cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, chitosan, dextran, polysaccharides, 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, vinylpyridine-N-oxide, diallyldimethylammonium chloride, maleic acid, lysine, isopropylacrylamide, styrenesulfonic acid, vinyl methyl ether, vinylphosphonic acid, ethyleneimine, and mixtures thereof. In one embodiment, the hydrophilic moiety may be selected from the group consisting of oxyalkylene oligomer polymers, oxyalkylene oligomer copolymers, vinyl alcohol, vinyl pyrrolidone, acrylic acid, acrylamide, cellulose, and mixtures thereof.

For the purposes of the present invention, the term "photoactive moiety" refers to an organic conjugated moiety capable of absorbing a photon of light and thereby forming an excited state (singlet or triplet). It should be understood that the term "photoactive moiety" does not refer to a charge-transfer excited state. It is also understood that the photoactive portion may comprise a single portion, or two, three, four, or any other number of portions, as described herein, as is known in the art. The photoactive moiety may be selected from the group consisting of xanthones, xanthenes, thioxanthones, thioxanthenes, phenothiazines, fluoresceins, benzophenones, alloxazines, isoalloxazines, flavins, and mixtures thereof.

Suitable PHOTOACTIVATORS are described in detail in U.S. application serial No. 61/930,999 entitled "photoctivators" (attorney docket No. 13058P), filed 24/1/2014.

Photocatalytic composition

The treatment composition may comprise a photocatalytic composition comprising a photoactivator and a benefit active precursor as previously described. The benefit active precursor may be used in place of or in addition to the photo-active bleaching agent (e.g. titanium dioxide) as described above. The treatment composition may be an aqueous solution.

The benefit active precursor may be selected from oxygen-containing halogen salts such as chlorite, chlorate, bromite, bromate, iodite, iodate, or mixtures thereof. In one embodiment, the beneficial active precursor may be a chlorite salt. The beneficial active precursor may be sodium chlorite (NaClO)₂). In this embodiment, activation of chlorite produced by transfer of electrons to a photoactivated photocatalyst results in the formation of beneficial activated chlorine dioxide (ClO)₂). Chlorine dioxide is an effective biocide and bleaching agent. Chlorine dioxide kills microorganisms by disrupting the transport of nutrients across the cell wall. In addition to salts, various other precursor forms are also contemplated herein.

The photocatalytic composition may comprise an electron acceptor. For the purposes of the present invention, the term "electron donor" is defined as a compound or moiety that "accepts an electron from a photoactivator when the photoactivator is in a photoexcited state and/or an electron reduced state. The electron transfer process is usually a very fast and reversible process.

The ability of An electron acceptor to accept electrons from An excited photoactivator is generally described in Turro, N.J., V.Ramamurthy, and J.C.Scaiano, Principles of molecular photochemistry: An Introduction, Chapter 7, page 41 (University Science Books 2009, Paperback edition). It will be appreciated that the reaction between the reactants is advantageous when the gibbs free energy (ag) is less than 0.

The electron acceptor of the present invention may be any substance that accepts an electron from the photoactivator when the photoactivator is in a photoexcited and/or reduced state. Given the concentration of the photoactivator and the lifetime of the photochemical species excited state of the photoactivator, the electron acceptor must be present in the photoactivatable consumer product composition in a sufficient concentration to be able to undergo brownian collisions with the photoactivator.

Suitable electron acceptors may be selected from: viologen, 2' -bipyridinium, p-benzoquinone, 2, 3-dichloro-5, 6-dicyano-p-benzoquinone, tetrahydroxy-1, 4-quinone hydrate, 2, 5-di-tert-butylhydroquinone, anthraquinone, diaminoanthraquinone, anthraquinone-2-sulfonic acid, anthracene, dicyanobenzene, penta-cobaltous chloride dichloride, silver nitrate, ferric sulfate, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, cadmium selenide, thiamine hydrochloride, thiamine pyrophosphate, ammonium persulfate, sodium persulfate, potassium persulfate, (2,2,6, 6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl) oxy, dimethylthiourea, tetranitromethane, lithium acetoacetate, oxaloacetate, sodium ascorbate, 2, 6-dichlorophenol indophenol, 4-methoxyphenol, 4-methylmorpholine-N-oxide, 4-tert-butylcatechol, allopurinol, pyridoxal 5' -phosphate, pyridoxal hydrochloride, sodium benzoate, sodium nitrate, sodium nitrite, diatomic oxygen, and mixtures thereof.

Suitable photocatalytic COMPOSITIONS, including suitable beneficial active precursors and suitable electron acceptors, are described in detail in U.S. patent application serial No. 61/930,993 (attorney docket No. 13057P), entitled "copolymer process COMPOSITIONS," filed 24/1/2014.

For laundry treatment compositions, formulations comprising from about 1% to about 25%, or from about 1% to about 20%, or from about 3% to about 10% by weight photoactivator and from about 1% to about 50%, or from about 3% to about 40%, or from about 5% to about 30% by weight benefit active precursor may be practically provided. Such formulations may be suitable for laundry treatment compositions designed for use in top-loading washing machines using about 65L of wash liquor.

For washing machines that use smaller volumes of laundry liquid, such as high efficiency front loading washing machines, it may be practical to provide a formulation comprising from about 0.1% to about 20%, or from about 0.5% to about 15% to about 20%, or from about 1% to about 10% by weight photoactivator and from about 0.5% to about 50%, or from about 1% to about 40%, or from about 3% to about 30% by weight benefit active precursor.

For a dishwashing composition, a formulation comprising from about 0.1% to about 25%, or from about 0.1% to about 20%, or from about 0.5% to about 10% by weight photoactivator and from 0.01% to about 50%, or from about 0.01% to about 25%, or from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight benefit active precursor may be practically provided.

Package (I)

The treatment composition 100 may be packaged in an opaque package. The package may be made of materials including, but not limited to, polyethylene, polypropylene, metal, or other materials. Electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range between about 2nm and about 1200nm, or even between about 380nm and about 800nm, is not transmitted through the package. By opaque is meant that transmission is reduced by greater than about 80%, or greater than about 90%, or greater than about 95%, or greater than about 99% relative to full radiation transmission.

Cleaning method

The photoactive component may be used to clean and/or treat a substrate. The substrate may be a dish or clothing or other material. The method for treating a substrate may comprise the steps of: providing a treatment composition 100 comprising a photoactive component; contacting the treatment composition with a substrate in an appliance; and irradiating the treatment composition with visible light. The photoactive component may be a photoactivator.

The step of irradiating the treatment composition 100 with visible light may be carried out using a light source that can be inserted into and removed from the interior of the appliance without tools. By being able to be inserted into and removed from the interior of the appliance without tools is meant that the consumer can insert and remove the associated structure from the appliance without using any tools that provide a mechanical benefit. However, the consumer only needs to manipulate the object that can be manipulated with only his finger. The consumer does not need to utilize a screwdriver, pliers, hammer, or other tool that can provide a mechanical advantage to the force provided by the consumer's hand.

As a non-limiting example, the light source may be a self-contained waterproof battery-powered lamp having an on and off switch. The appliance may be a domestic dishwasher and the method may be implemented in a domestic dishwasher comprising dishes in a cabinet of the dishwasher. The dishwasher may be a dishwasher sized for commercial/industrial use.

In applications involving a dishwasher, a user may place the light source on a floor of a washing space of the dishwasher, place the light source on a portion of the rack, place the light in the compartment, i.e., a portion of the rack or a portion connected to the rack, or place the light source elsewhere within the dishwasher.

The step of irradiating the treatment composition with visible light may be performed using a light source that can be inserted into and removed from the interior of the appliance without tools. In applications involving a dishwasher, the light source may be suspended from a portion of the rack or attached to an interior wall, floor, or ceiling of the interior of the dishwasher, as non-limiting examples.

In applications involving laundry washing machines, the light source can be attached to and detached from the interior of the laundry washing machine without tools, as a non-limiting example. For example, the light source can be tool-free attachable to and detachable from a door of the laundry washing machine, a rotating drum of the laundry washing machine, or an agitator of the laundry washing machine (if present). The rotating drum of the laundry washing machine may be housed inside the laundry washing machine. The method may be performed using the dispenser 10 described previously. The step of contacting the treatment composition with laundry in the appliance may be performed in a rotating drum of the appliance.

Without being bound by theory, it is believed that for applications involving laundry washing machines, it may be beneficial to have the light source attached to a component, as most laundry washing machines direct the fabric contained therein for at least a portion of the cycle of movement of the drum relative to the drum. If the light source is not attached to a component, the light source will need to be sufficiently robust so that it can withstand impacts with components of the laundry washing machine as the light source moves throughout the wash and perhaps even impacts certain parts of the laundry washing machine. Such robust designs may be more expensive than less robust designs.

An apparatus 300 is schematically illustrated in fig. 5, wherein a photoactivator or photoactive component may be used to treat dishes. As shown in fig. 5, the appliance 300 may be an automatic dishwashing machine 310. The automatic dishwasher 310 may have a door 320 that can be opened to provide access to an interior 330. The interior 330 may support dishes 350 to be treated, such as by cleaning and/or disinfecting or other treatment. The interior 330 of the dishwasher 310 may be defined by a cabinet 340. The cabinet 340 may have a bottom panel 360 and an opposing top panel 370 connected to each other by a wall 380 of the cabinet 340 extending therebetween. One or more racks 170 may be housed in cabinet 340. One or more moving parts 390 may be housed in the cabinet 340. The moving part 390 may be a spindle from which a spray arm extends, and the spray arm may dispense the washing liquid to the cabinet 340. As shown in fig. 5, the lighted dispenser 10 with light source 20 can be tool-less attached to and detached from an interior 330 of an automatic dishwashing machine 310, such as a wall 380 formed by an interior surface of a door 320.

The appliance 300 may be an automatic laundry washing machine 400, as shown in fig. 6. The automatic laundry washing machine 400 may have a door 320 that can be opened to provide access to the interior 330. The interior 330 may support a garment 410 to be treated, such as by cleaning and/or sanitizing or otherwise treating. The interior of the automatic laundry washing machine 400 may be defined by the cabinet 340. The rotating drum 420 may be housed in the cabinet 340. A moving member 390, such as a stirrer, may protrude upwardly into the drum 420. As shown in fig. 6, the lighted dispenser 10 with light source 20 can be tool-less attached to and detached from the interior 330 (e.g., the interior surface of the door 320) of the automatic laundry washing machine 400. Alternatively, the lighted dispenser 10 is freely attachable to and detachable from the interior surface of the drum 420.

The light source 20 is tool-less attachable to and detachable from the moving part w390 within the appliance 300. For example, in the laundry washing machine 400, the light source can be tool-less attached to and detached from the agitator or wall of the drum 420. In the dishwasher 310, the light source 20 can be tool-less attached to and detached from the rotating spray spindle.

The light source 20 can be tool-free attached to and detached from a static component within the appliance. For example, in the laundry washing machine 400, the light source 20 can be tool-less attached to and detached from the door 320 of the automatic laundry washing machine 400. In the dishwasher 310, the light source 20 can be tool-less attached to and detached from the floor 360, ceiling 370, wall 380, or door 320 of the dishwasher 310.

It is contemplated that the consumer may employ the photosensitive component in the following method for cleaning a substrate. The consumer loads the appliance 300 with a substrate to be cleaned. The substrate may be a dish 350 or a garment 410. The appliance 300 may be a dishwasher 310 or a laundry washing machine 400. The consumer then places the treatment composition into the machine in a manner common to currently available commercial dishwashing machines 310 or laundry washing machines 400. For example, in existing commercially available appliances, the consumer doses the detergent directly into the cabinet of the machine, or into a detergent dispenser, such as a compartment, tray or pop-up compartment in the appliance 300.

The light sensitive component may be provided as a component of a fully formulated laundry or dish detergent. Alternatively, the photoactive component may be provided in a separate formulation, limited to the photoactive component, or in combination with other ingredients. If the light sensitive component is provided as part of a fully formulated detergent, the consumer can simply dose the fully formulated detergent into the appliance 300, as indicated in the instructions for use of the appliance 300 or as is conventional. If the light sensitive component is provided separately from the fully formulated detergent, the light sensitive component may be dosed directly into the cabinet 340 of the machine or into the dispenser 10. It is envisaged that the light sensitive component will be placed in the same compartment, tray or chamber in which the fully formulated detergent is placed. Optionally, the light sensitive component may be placed into a dispenser 10 having a reservoir 70.

The consumer may then take steps such that the light source 20 is turned on before the cleaning cycle or at some suitable time during the cleaning cycle. The consumer may turn on the light source 20 before the consumer closes the door of the appliance 300. Optionally, the light source 20 may be connected in a circuit with a timer or programmable logic controller that turns on the lights as needed. The light source 20 may already be attached to the interior 330 of the appliance 300, or the consumer may attach the light source 20 to the interior 330 of the appliance.

The ability of the light source 20 to be tool-less attached to and detached from the interior 330 of the appliance allows consumers to obtain the advantage of providing cleaning from a treatment composition having a photoactive component using their existing appliance 300. This overcomes the problem of a consumer having to purchase a new appliance 300 to benefit. This also helps prospective marketers of treatment compositions having a photoactive component, as it is of practical significance to determine the investment of capital and other sources into the business that sells treatment compositions having a photoactive component for sufficient market size to be generated. Without this method to clean soiled substrates with a photoactive component, it would never be practical to provide the benefits achievable by this chemistry to the consumer. By not requiring tools to attach or detach the light source 20 or the dispenser 10, the steps necessary to obtain the benefits afforded by using the light sensitive component in the wash are convenient and unobtrusive to the consumer.

When the cleaning appliance, such as the dishwasher 350 or the laundry washing machine 400, is in use, the wash liquid is in contact with the substrate being cleaned. The light source 20 irradiates the treatment composition 100 and/or the wash liquor to activate the photoactive component. Once the chemistry is activated, the chemistry can achieve the desired cleaning. It is contemplated that the photoactive component may be delivered at the beginning of a wash cycle, or at some point during a wash cycle, automatically or by the consumer opening the appliance and applying the treatment composition 100.

The light source 20 may be provided by the dispenser 10, such as shown in FIG. 1. Fig. 7 shows a lamp housing comprising a power source 40 and a light source 20 conductively connected to the power source 40. That is, the light source 20 need not be provided with the reservoir 70, as shown in fig. 1.

The treatment composition may be a fully formulated laundry detergent or a dishwashing detergent. The treatment composition may comprise the components of any formulation of CASCADE dishwashing detergent in liquid, powder or unit dose form sold by Procter & Gamble Co.

Because it is difficult to retrofit existing appliances to implement the methods disclosed herein, it may be practical for the light source 20 to have a power source 40, which power source 40 is independent of the power source of the automatic dishwashing machine 310. For example, the automatic dishwasher 310 may be plugged into an electrical outlet or directly connected to an electrical circuit. The power source 40 for the light source 20 may be a battery.

The step of irradiating the treatment composition 100 with visible light may be performed using a dispenser 10, the dispenser 10 comprising a light source 20 and a reservoir 70 releasably containing the treatment composition 100.

The light source 20 can be tool-less attached to and detached from the bracket 170.

The appliance may be an upright or side entry laundry washing machine, and the method may be implemented in the laundry washing machine 400. The laundry washing machine 400 may be of the type commonly used in homes, or the laundry washing machine 400 may be sized for commercial/industrial use, or have a size commonly found in laundromats.

The treatment composition may comprise the components of any formulation of the TIDE laundry detergent sold by Procter & Gamble Co. in the form of a liquid, powder or unit dose.

External member

Kits for processing substrates are also contemplated. It may be practical to provide a kit 190 comprising a lamp housing 60, the lamp housing 60 comprising a power source 40 and a light source 20 conductively connected to the power source 40, and a container 200, the container 200 containing a photoactive component, such as a photocatalytic treatment composition 100 comprising a photoactivator, as shown in fig. 8. The lamp housing 60 and the container 200 may be packaged with each other as shown in fig. 8. The magnet 160 is operatively connected to the lamp housing 60. In applications to the dishwasher 310 or laundry washing machine 400, magnets may be used to attach the light housing 60 to the interior 330 of the appliance 300. Alternatively, the light housing 60 need not be provided with magnets 160 or other structures to attach the light housing 60 to the interior 330 of the automatic dishwashing machine 310. The light housing 60 may be placed by a consumer on the floor 360 of the automatic dishwasher 310, or on the rack 170, or in a bag on the rack 170 for holding dishes.

Without being bound by theory, it is believed that by providing the light source 20 and the treatment composition 100 to the consumer in a single kit 190, the consumer may be more readily able to derive the benefits that may be provided by the treatment composition 100 having a photoactive component. Such a kit 190 may include instructions for use and information available regarding the desired benefit. The same treatment composition 100 may also be provided separately so that the consumer can reuse the light source 20 she obtained with a subsequently purchased treatment composition 100.

As part of the kit 190, the treatment composition 100 may be provided in an opaque container 200. The container 200 and the lamp housing 60 with the light source 20 may be packaged together by a shrink wrap 210. Optionally, the container 200 and the lamp housing 60 with the light source 20 may be packaged together in a carton.

As a non-limiting example, the treatment composition 100 may be a dish cleaning composition or a laundry cleaning composition. The treatment composition 100 may be a composition that employs a photoactive component to provide other benefits. As a non-limiting example, the treatment composition 100 may be a fabric dyeing composition.

In one embodiment of the kit 190, the lamp housing 60 and the container 200 are engaged with each other. The applicator 500 may protrude from the container 200 and may be in liquid communication with the container 200, as shown in fig. 9. Such kits may be practically used for treating stains on laundry. For example, by rubbing the applicator 500 over a laundry article, a user can dispense a content of the container 200 containing the light sensitive component onto a soiled portion of the laundry article. Once the article of clothing is wetted, the light source 20 may be turned on to direct light 510 to the wetted portion of the article of clothing. The light can activate the photoactive component to treat a stain on the garment. The photoactive component may be a photoactivated bleaching agent, and the activated bleaching agent may bleach the stain being treated. Alternatively, the photoactive component may be titanium dioxide in the treatment composition.

The applicator 500 may be a roller ball that transfers the contents of the container 200 from within the container 200 to the exterior of the container 200. The applicator 500 may be a solid or fibrous tip with one end extending into the container 200.

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Rather, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm".

Each document cited herein, including any cross-referenced or related patent or patent application, is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in combination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention. In addition, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A method for treating laundry, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a treatment composition comprising a photoactivator and a benefit active precursor comprising an oxyhalide salt;

contacting the treatment composition with the laundry in an appliance; and

irradiating the treatment composition with visible light;

wherein the step of irradiating the treatment composition with visible light is performed with a light source that is tool-free attachable to and detachable from the interior of the appliance;

wherein the step of irradiating the treatment composition with visible light provides a radiant flux of between 500mW and 500W at a wavelength of between 350nm and 750 nm;

wherein the treatment composition is a fully formulated laundry detergent;

wherein the treatment composition comprises from 1 wt% to 10 wt% photoactivator;

wherein the oxyhalide salt is selected from the group consisting of chlorite, chlorate, bromite, bromate, iodate, or mixtures thereof;

wherein the photoactivator comprises a photoactive moiety and a hydrophilic moiety;

wherein said photoactive moiety is selected from the group consisting of xanthones, xanthenes, thioxanthones, thioxanthenes, phenothiazines, fluoresceins, benzophenones, alloxazines, isoalloxazines, flavins, and mixtures thereof;

wherein the hydrophilic moiety is selected from the group consisting of alkylene oxide polymers, ethylene glycol, vinyl alcohol, vinyl pyrrolidone, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylamide, polysaccharides, 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, vinyl pyridine-N-oxide, diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride, maleic acid, lysine, isopropyl acrylamide, styrene sulfonic acid, vinyl methyl ether, vinyl phosphonic acid, ethyleneimine, and mixtures thereof;

wherein the treatment composition further comprises an electron acceptor, wherein the electron acceptor is selected from the group consisting of: viologen, 2' -bipyridinium, p-benzoquinone, 2, 3-dichloro-5, 6-dicyano-p-benzoquinone, tetrahydroxy-1, 4-quinone hydrate, 2, 5-di-tert-butylhydroquinone, anthraquinone, diaminoanthraquinone, anthraquinone-2-sulfonic acid, anthracene, dicyanobenzene, penta-cobaltous chloride dichloride, silver nitrate, ferric sulfate, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, cadmium selenide, thiamine hydrochloride, thiamine pyrophosphate, ammonium persulfate, sodium persulfate, potassium persulfate, (2,2,6, 6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl) oxy, dimethylthiourea, tetranitromethane, lithium acetoacetate, oxaloacetate, sodium ascorbate, 2, 6-dichlorophenol indophenol, 4-methoxyphenol, 4-methylmorpholine-N-oxide, 4-tert-butylcatechol, allopurinol, pyridoxal 5' -phosphate, pyridoxal hydrochloride, sodium benzoate, sodium nitrate, sodium nitrite, diatomic oxygen, and mixtures thereof.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the alkylene oxide polymer is selected from the group consisting of alkylene oxide oligomers, alkylene oxide copolymers, and mixtures thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of dextran, cellulose, chitosan, and mixtures thereof.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the cellulose is carboxymethyl cellulose.