Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
  • C11D3/16—Organic compounds
  • C11D3/37—Polymers
  • C11D3/3703—Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
  • C11D3/3723—Polyamines or polyalkyleneimines
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D17/00—Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties
  • C11D17/04—Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties combined with or containing other objects
  • C11D17/049—Cleaning or scouring pads; Wipes
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
  • C11D3/0005—Other compounding ingredients characterised by their effect
  • C11D3/0036—Soil deposition preventing compositions; Antiredeposition agents
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
  • C11D3/16—Organic compounds
  • C11D3/20—Organic compounds containing oxygen
  • C11D3/22—Carbohydrates or derivatives thereof
  • C11D3/222—Natural or synthetic polysaccharides, e.g. cellulose, starch, gum, alginic acid or cyclodextrin
  • C11D3/225—Natural or synthetic polysaccharides, e.g. cellulose, starch, gum, alginic acid or cyclodextrin etherified, e.g. CMC
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
  • C11D3/16—Organic compounds
  • C11D3/37—Polymers
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
  • C11D3/16—Organic compounds
  • C11D3/37—Polymers
  • C11D3/3746—Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
  • C11D3/3757—(Co)polymerised carboxylic acids, -anhydrides, -esters in solid and liquid compositions
  • C11D3/3765—(Co)polymerised carboxylic acids, -anhydrides, -esters in solid and liquid compositions in liquid compositions
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
  • C11D3/16—Organic compounds
  • C11D3/37—Polymers
  • C11D3/3746—Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
  • C11D3/3769—(Co)polymerised monomers containing nitrogen, e.g. carbonamides, nitriles or amines
  • C11D3/3776—Heterocyclic compounds, e.g. lactam

Definitions

• This application relates to detergent compositions (solutions) for use with a disposable absorbent pad, preferably where the pad is part of a cleaning implement, e.g , mop. and especially where the pad comp ⁇ ses superabsorbent material useful in removing soils from hard surfaces
• the normal devices for cleaning floors are reusable, including mops containing cotton strings, cellulose and/or synthetic strips, sponges, and the like.
• This invention relates to mops having disposable cleaning pads.
• U.S. Patent No. 5,094,559, issued March 10, 1992 to Rivera et al. describes a mop that includes a disposable cleaning pad. After the cleaning action is completed, the pad is removed from the mop handle and reattached such that the blotter layer contacts the floor.
• the pad is desc ⁇ bed as comp ⁇ smg an upper layer which is capable of attaching to hooks on a mop head, a central layer of synthetic plastic microporous foam, and a lower layer for contacting a surface du ⁇ ng the cleaning operation.
• the synthetic foam desc ⁇ bed by Garcia for absorbing the cleaning solution has a relatively low absorbent capacity for water and water-based solutions. As such, the user must either use small amounts of cleaning solution to remain within the absorbent capacity of the pad, or the user must leave a significant amount of cleaning solution on the surface being cleaned.
• the present invention relates p ⁇ ma ⁇ ly to detergent solutions for use with a disposable cleaning pad that preferably is part of a cleaning implement, which alleviates the need to ⁇ nse the pad du ⁇ ng use.
• This preferably includes an implement that comp ⁇ ses a removable disposable cleaning pad with sufficient absorbent capacity, on a gram of absorbed fluid per gram of cleaning pad basis, that allows the cleaning of a large area, such as that of the typical hard surface floor (e.g., 80-100 ft 2 ), without the need to change the pad.
• This requires the use of a superabsorbent material, preferably of the type disclosed hereinafter.
• the preferred cleaning implements have a pad which offers beneficial soil removal properties due to continuously providing a fresh surface, and/or edge to contact the soiled surface, e.g., by providing a plurality of surfaces that contact the soiled surface during the cleaning operation.
• detergent compositions which are to be used with an implement containing a superabsorbent material require sufficient detergent, preferably at least 0.03% by weight of the composition, to enable the solution to provide cleaning without overloading the superabsorbent material with solution, but preferably do not have more than about 0.5% by weight of the composition of detergent surfactant to avoid hurting the filming/streaking performance as discussed hereinafter.
• the compositions of said provisional application provide excellent cleaning and constitute a real improvement in the art. However, cleaning performance is limited under certain soil situations. Soils that are not suspended in the cleaning solution by whatever level of surfactant that is present, are not effectively removed from the floor by transport to the superabsorbent core of the pad. These soils then redeposit to form a haze that can be seen when the cleaning solution evaporates from the floor. This haze is a major source of dissatisfaction to the consumer. Often these redeposited soils are insoluble particulates.
• water soluble soil suspending polymers added to the cleaning solution can improve end result appearance by reducing the amount of insoluble soil that is redeposited. Thus, haze, filming and streaking are reduced for the superabsorbent pad system.
• Said water soluble soil suspending polymers aid in the suspension and subsequent uptake of particulate soils into the pad.
• the essential polymers herein are preferably present at levels of from about 0.001% to about 1%, more preferably from about 0.005 to about 0.5%, and even more preferably from about 0.005% to about 0.1%, by weight of the cleaning solution composition.
• the water soluble soil suspending polymers are preferably selected from a group consisting of: ethoxylated and/or propoxylated polyalkylamines; anionic, e.g., carboxylate polymers; nitrogen-based zwitterionic polymers; polyethyleneoxides; polyphosphates; and cellulosic polymers.
• Hard surface detergent compositions that provide effective cleaning and good f ⁇ lmmg/streakmg when used with a disposable cleaning pad and without rinsing comprise: (1) an effective amount of polymeric soil suspending agent and (2) preferably, from about 0.03% to about 0.5%) by weight of the composition of one or more detergent surfactants, the level of hydrophobic materials, including hydrophobic cleaning solvents being limited.
• the detergent composition of the present invention is used in combination with a disposable, preferably superabsorbent, cleaning pad, preferably attached to an implement which facilitates its use.
• Preferred detergent compositions which can be used with the preferred pads containing superabsorbent material and optional implement, described hereinafter, require sufficient detergent to enable the solution to provide cleaning without overloading the superabsorbent material with solution, but, typically, if there is more than about 0.5% detergent surfactant the performance suffers. Therefore, the level of detergent surfactant is preferably from about 0.03%to about 0.5%, more preferably from about 0.1% to about 0.45%, and even more preferably from about 0.2%> to about 0.45%, by weight of the composition.
• the level of hydrophobic materials, including cleaning solvent, is preferably less than about 3%, more preferably less than about 2%, and even more preferably less than about 1% and the pH is typically more than about 9.3, preferably more than about 10, and more preferably more than about 10.3, to avoid hindering absorption in the preferred superabsorbent material.
• the alkalinity should preferably be provided, at least in part, by volatile materials, to minimize streakmg/filmmg problems.
• the invention also comprises a detergent composition as disclosed herein in a container in association with instructions to use it with an implement comprising a disposable pad, preferably a disposable pad comprising an effective amount of a superabsorbent material, and, optionally, in a container in a kit comprising the pad and optional implement, or, at least, a disposable cleaning pad comprising a superabsorbent material.
• the invention also relates in a preferred aspect to the use of the composition and a cleaning pad comprising a superabsorbent material (superabsorbent pad) to effect cleaning of soiled surfaces.
• the detergent composition is an aqueous-based solution comprising one or more detergent surfactants, alkaline materials to provide the desired alkaline pH, and optional ingredients including: hydrophobic cleaning solvents, hydrophihc shear- thinmng polymers, detergent builders, chelants, suds suppressors, detergent enzymes, etc.
• Suitable surfactants include aniomc, noniomc, zwitterionic, and amphoteric surfactants Of these, preferred are aniomc and nonionic detergent surfactants having hydrophobic chains containing from about 8 to about 18, and more preferably from about 8 to about 15 carbon atoms.
• anionic and nonionic surfactants include those well know in the art, examples of which contain a hydrophilic moiety selected from the group consisting of: sulfate, ethoxysulfate, sulfonate, carboxylate, ethoxycarboxylate, polyethoxylate, dialkyl amine oxide, glucamide and sugar based head groups, and the like.
• zwitterionic surfactants include betaines and sulfobetaines.
• amphoteric surfactants include alkylampho glycinates, and alkyl imino propionates. Many of the above materials are available commercially, and are described in McCutcheon's Vol. 1 : Emulsifiers and Detergents, North American Ed., McCutcheon Division, MC Publishing Co., 1995, incorporated herein by reference.
• Suitable hydrophobic cleaning solvents include short chain (e.g., Ci -Cg) derivatives of oxyethylene glycol and oxypropylene glycol, such as mono- and di-ethylene glycol n-hexyl ether, mono-, di- and tri-propylene glycol n-butyl ether, and the like.
• the level of hydrophobic cleaning solvent e.g., solvent having a solubility in water of less than about 3%, is in the cleaning composition at less than about 3%, more preferably less than about 2% by weight of the composition.
• Suitable detergent builders include those derived from phosphorous sources, such as orthophosphates, pyrophosphates, tripolyphosphates, etc., and those derived from non- phosphorous sources, such as nitrilotriacetates; S,S-ethylene diamine disuccinates; and the like.
• Suitable chelants include ethylenediaminetetraacetates; citrates; and the like.
• Suitable suds suppressors include silicone polymers and linear or branched CI Q-CI g fatty acids or alcohols.
• Suitable detergent enzymes include lipases, proteases, amylases and other enzymes known to be useful for catalysis of soil degradation.
• the total level of such ingredients is low, preferably less than about 0.1%, more preferably less than about 0.05%, to avoid causing filming/streaking problems.
• the compositions should be essentially free of materials that cause filming/streaking problems. Accordingly, it is desirable to use alkaline materials that do not cause filming and/or streaking for the majority of the buffering.
• Suitable alkaline buffers are carbonates, bicarbonates, citrates, etc.
• the preferred alkaline buffers are alkanol amines having the formula:
• each R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl groups containing from one to four carbon atoms and the total of carbon atoms in the compound is from three to six, preferably, 2-dimethylamino-2-methyl-l-propanol.
• a suitable preferred cleaning solution for use with the present implement comprises from about 0.1%> to about 0.5% of detergent surfactant, preferably comprising an alcohol ethoxylate detergent surfactant (e.g., Neodol 1-5®, available from Shell Chemical Co.) and an alkyl sulfonate (e.g., Witconate NAS-8, a linear Cg sulfonate available from Witco Co.); from about 0.01%) to about 1%, preferably from about 0.01% to about 0.6%>, of volatile alkaline material, e.g., 2-amino-2-methyl-l-propanol; from about 0.0005% to about 0.08% hydrophilic shear-thinning polymer, e.g. xanthan gum; optional adjuvants such as dyes and/or perfumes; and from about 99.9%> to about 90% by weight of the composition of deionized or softened water.
• detergent surfactant preferably comprising an alcohol ethoxylate detergent surfactant (e
• the soil suspending agents for use in the detergent composition and/or cleaning solution of this invention are selected from a group consisting of, ethoxylated and/or propoxylated polyalkylamines, carboxylate polymers, nitrogen-based zwitterionic polymers, polyethyleneoxides, polyphosphates, and cellulosic polymers.
• Preferred soil suspending agents are ethoxylated polyalkylamines. Such agents are disclosed in U. S. Pat. Patent Number: 4,891,160, issued January 2, 1990, entitled Detergent compositions containing ethoxylated amines having, clay soil removal/anti-redeposition properties, by Vander Meer, James M.
• Preferred ethoxylated polyamines can be derived from polyamino amides and/or polyaminopropyleneoxide materials.
• Preferred ethoxylated amine polymers are the ethoxylated C 2 -C 3 polyalkyleneamines and polyalkyleneimines.
• Particularly preferred ethoxylated polyalkyleneamines and polyalkyleneimines are the ethoxylated polyethyleneamines (PEAs) and polyethyleneimines (PEIs).
• PEAs polyethyleneamines
• PEIs polyethyleneimines
• Each hydrogen atom attached to each nitrogen atom represents an active site for subsequent ethoxylation.
• Preferred have a molecular weight of from about 140 to about 310, preferably from about 140 to about 200.
• PEAs can be obtained by reactions involving ammonia and ethylene dichloride, followed by fractional distillation.
• the common PEAs obtained are triethylenetetramine (TETA) and tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA).
• TETA triethylenetetramine
• TEPA tetraethylenepentamine
• the cogenerically derived mixture does not appear to separate by distillation and can include other materials such as cyclic amines and particularly piperazines.
• cyclic amines with side chains in which nitrogen atoms appear See U.S. Pat. No. 2,792,372 to Dickson, issued May 14, 1957, which describes the preparation of PEAs.
• the minimum degree of ethoxylation required for preferred soil suspension performance can vary depending upon the number of units in the PEA.
• the PEIs used in preparing the compounds of the present invention have a molecular weight of at least about 440 prior to ethoxylation, which represents at least about 10 units.
• Preferred PEIs used in preparing these compounds have an average molecular weight of from about 600 to about 2600. Although linear polymer backbones are possible, branched chains can also occur.
• the relative proportions of primary, secondary and tertiary amine groups present in the polymer can vary, depending on the manner of preparation.
• Each hydrogen atom attached to each nitrogen atom of the PEI represents an active site for subsequent ethoxylation.
• PEIs can be prepared, for example, by polymerizing ethyleneimine in the presence of a catalyst such as carbon dioxide, sodium bisulfite, sulfuric acid, hydrogen peroxide, hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, etc.
• a catalyst such as carbon dioxide, sodium bisulfite, sulfuric acid, hydrogen peroxide, hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, etc.
• Specific methods for preparing PEIs are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,182,306 to Ulrich et al., issued Dec. 5, 1939; U.S. Pat. No. 3,033,746 to Mayle et al., issued May 8, 1962; U.S. Pat. No. 2,208,095 to Esselmann et al., issued July 16, 1940; U.S. Pat. No. 2,806,839 to Crowther, issued Sept. 17, 1957; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,553,696 to Wilson, issued May 21, 1951 (all incorporated herein by reference).
• the minimum degree of ethoxylation required for suitable soil suspension performance can increase as the molecular weight of the PEI increases, especially much beyond about 1800. Also, the degree of ethoxylation for preferred compounds increases as the molecular weight of the PEI increases.
• the degree of ethoxylation is preferably at least about 1 , with a more preferred range of from about 12 to about 42.
• the degree of ethoxylation is preferably at least about 1, with a typical range of from about 10 to about 40.
• the level at which the ethoxylated amine(s) can be present in the detergent compositions herein can vary depending upon the compounds used.
• the ethoxylated amines can be included in an amount of from about 0.001% to about 1% by weight of the composition, with the preferred range being from about 0.005% to about 0.5%) by weight, and a more preferred range of about 0.01% to 0.1%>.
• the polyalkyleneamines comprise a nitrogen-containing backbone with an average molecular weight of from about 600 to about 10,000, preferably from about 1,000 to about 3,000. Said polymers have an average alkoxylation of from about 0.5 to about 10, preferably from about 0.7 to about 8, most preferably from about 0.7 to about 4, per nitrogen. Further said alkoxylated polyalkyleneamine polymers can comprise up to about 4, but preferably 1 or less, propoxylates or longer alkoxylate units per available site on the nitrogens. By “per available site on the nitrogens" is meant that each H of the NH moiety can be substituted with up to about 4 propoxylates or longer alkoxylate units.
• the propoxylate or longer alkoxylate units in the alkoxylate systems are added to the polyalkyleneamine first, before the ethoxylate units.
• m has an average value of about 20. What is meant herein by an average value of 20 is that sufficient ethylene oxide or other suitable reagent is reacted with the polyethyleneimine starting material to fully ethoxylate each N-H unit in the polyethyleneamine to an average degree of 20 ethoxy groups.
• the units which make up the polyalkyleneimine backbones are derived from primary amine units having the formula:
• B [N-CH 2 CH 2 ]— which are the branching points of the main and secondary backbone chains, B representing a continuation of the chain structure by branching.
• the tertiary units have no replaceable hydrogen atom and are therefore not modified by substitution with ethyleneoxy units.
• an amount of cyclic polyamine can be present in the parent polyalkyleneimine backbone mixture.
• Each primary and secondary amine unit of the cyclic alkyleneimines undergoes modification by the addition of alkyleneoxy units in the same manner as linear and branched polyalkyleneimines.
• the indices w, x, and y have values such that the average molecular weight of the polyethyleneimine backbone prior to modification is about 600 daltons.
• each branch chain must terminate in a primary amine unit, therefore the value of the index w is y + 1 in the case where no cyclic amine backbones are present.
• the average molecular weight for each ethylene backbone unit, -NCH 2 CH 2 -, is approximately 43 daltons.
• soil suspending materials include polyvinyl pyrrolidone and/or cellulose derivatives.
• Polyvinyl pyrrolidone is not a single individual compound but can be obtained in almost any degree of polymerization. The degree of polymerization, which is most easily expressed in terms of average molecular weight, is not critical provided the material has the desired water solubility and soil-suspending power.
• suitable soil-suspending vinyl pyrrolidone polymers are linear in structure, and have an average molecular weight within the range of about 5,000 to about 100,000, and preferably from about 15,000 to about 50,000. Suitable polymers will also, generally, have a water solubility of greater than 0.3%> at normal usage temperatures.
• any well-known nonionic cellulose ether can be used in the detergent composition according to the invention.
• the cellulose ether is an alkyl or an alkyl/ hydroxyalkyl cellulose derivative.
• the alkyl group should contain from 1 to 4, preferably from 1 to 3 carbon atoms
• the hydroxyalkyl group should contain from 2 to 4, preferably from 2 to 3 carbon atoms.
• Particularly preferred materials include methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, methyl hydroxylpropyl cellulose and ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose.
• the total level of the polyvinyl pyrrolidone and/or cellulose derivatives in the detergent composition is preferably in the range of about 0.001% to about 1%> by weight of the composition, a more preferred range being from about 0.005% to about 0.5% by weight, and a more preferred range of about 0.01% to 0.1 %.
• An improvement in soil suspension can be achieved at all mixing ratios of the vinyl pyrrolidone polymer and the nonionic cellulose ether.
• the ratio of the vinyl pyrrolidone polymer to the nonionic cellulose ether in the detergent composition is within the range from about 8:2 to about 2:8, most preferably from about 6:4 to about 4:6, by weight.
• Mixtures of this type are disclosed in U. S. Pat. Patent Number: 4,999,129, entitled Process and composition for washing soiled polyester,fabrics, byMichael Hull.
• soil suspending agents can be anionic polymers.
• anionic polymers are disclosed in, e.g., U. S. Pat. Number: 5789369, entitled, Modified polyacrylic acid polymers for anti-redeposition performance, by Gopalkrishnan, Sridhar; Guiney, Kathleen M.; and Sherman, John V.
• the total molecular weight of the copolymer disclosed in said patent are within the range of about 1000 to 100,000, as determined by gel permeation chromatography. More preferably, the weight average molecular weight falls within the range of about 1 ,000 to 30,000; most preferably within the range of about 1,000 to 20,000.
• the hydrophilic copolymer can be prepared by copolymerizing two monomers, an unsaturated hydrophilic monomer and a hydrophilic oxyalkylated monomer.
• unsaturated hydrophilic monomers disclosed include acrylic acid, maleic acid, maleic anhydride, methacrylic acid, methacrylate esters and substituted methacrylate esters, vinyl acetate, vinyl alcohol, methylvinyl ether, crotonic acid, itaconic acid, vinyl acetic acid, and vinylsulphonate.
• the unsaturated hydrophilic monomer component of the hydrophilic copolymer is preferably acrylic acid.
• hydrophilic oxyalkylated monomer examples include compounds that have a polymerizable olefinic moiety with at least one acidic hydrogen and are capable of undergoing addition reaction with alkylene oxide. It is also possible to include monomers with at least one acidic hydrogen that are polymerized first, and then subsequently oxyalkylated to yield the desired product.
• allyl alcohol is especially preferred since it represents a monofunctional initiator with a polymerizable olefinic moiety having an acidic hydrogen on the oxygen, and is capable of adding to alkylene oxide.
• hydrophilic oxyalkylated monomer of the copolymer examples include reaction products of either acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, or 3-allyloxy-l,2-propanediol with alkylene oxide.
• Preparation of oxyalkylated monomers is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,475 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,622,378 both incorporated herein by reference.
• the hydrophilic oxyalkylated monomer which is a propylene Is oxide and ethylene oxide adduct of allyl alcohol. This monomer has a molecular weight of about 3800.
• the molecular weight of the hydrophilic oxyalkylated monomer according to the various embodiments of the invention should be preferably within the range of about 600 to 30,000, more preferably about 700 to 15,000, and most preferably about 700 to 5000.
• the hydrophilic oxyalkyated monomer preferably has a solubility of about 500 grams/liter, more preferably about 700 grams/liter in water.
• polymeric polycarboxylates that are suitable include, for example, the polymers disclosed in U. S. Pat. 5,574,004, incorporated herein by reference.
• Such polymers include homopolymers and/or copolymers (composed of two or more monomers) of an alpha, beta- ethylenically unsaturated acid monomer such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, a diacid such as maleic acid, itaconic acid, fumaric acid, mesoconic acid, citraconic acid and the like, a monoester of a diacid with an alkanol, e.g., having 1-8 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof.
• an alpha, beta- ethylenically unsaturated acid monomer such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, a diacid such as maleic acid, itaconic acid, fumaric acid, mesoconic acid, citraconic acid and the like
• the polymeric polycarboxylate when it is a copolymer, it can be a copolymer of more than one of the foregoing unsaturated acid monomers, e.g., acrylic acid and maleic acid, or a copolymer of at least one of such unsaturated acid monomers with at least one non-carboxylic alpha, beta- ethylenically unsaturated monomer which can be either relatively non-polar such as styrene or an olefinic monomer, such as ethylene, propylene or butene-1, or which has a polar functional group such as vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride, vinyl alcohol, alkyl acrylates, vinyl pyridine, vinyl pyrrolidone, or an amide of one of the delineated unsaturated acid monomers, such as acrylamide or methacrylamide.
• unsaturated acid monomers e.g., acrylic acid and maleic acid
• copolymers can be prepared by after treating a homopolymer or a different copolymer, e.g., copolymers of acrylic acid and acrylamide by partially hydrolyzing a polyacrylamide.
• Copolymers of at least one unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer with at least one non-carboxylic comonomer should contain at least about 50 mol % of polymerized carboxylic acid monomer.
• the polymeric polycarboxylate should have a number average molecular weight of, for example about 1000 to 10,000, preferably about 2000 to 5000. To ensure substantial water solubility, the polymeric polycarboxylate is completely or partially neutralized, e.g., with alkali metal ions, preferably sodium ions.
• the total level of the polymeric polycarboxylate in the detergent composition is preferably in the range of about 0.001% to about 1% by weight of the composition, a more preferred range being from about 0.005% to about 0.5%> by weight, and a more preferred range of about 0.01% to 0.1%.
• Still other polycarboxylate materials include those disclosed in U. S. Pat. Patent Number: 5470510, issued November 28, 1995, entitled Dispersing agent, by Willey, Alan D.
• the polymers can be derived from L-glumatic acid, D-glumatic acid or mixtures, e.g. racemates, of these L and D isomers.
• the L isomer and D, L racemate are currently preferred.
• the polymers include not only the homopolymers of glutamic acid but also copolymers, such as block, graft or random copolymers, containing glutamic acid. Thus, copolymers of glutamic acid with at least one other (preferably biodegradable) monomer, oligomer or polymer come into consideration.
• copolymers containing at least one other amino acid such as aspartic acid, ethylene glycol, ethylene oxide, (or an oligimer or polymer of any of these) or polyvinyl alcohol.
• Glutamic acid can, of course, carry one or more substituents and the polymers useful as component (a) include those in which a proportion or all of the glutamic acid monomers are substituted.
• Substituents include, for example, alkyl, hydroxy alkyl, aryl and arylalkyl, commonly with up to 18 carbon atoms per group, or polyethylene glycol attached by ester linkages.
• soil suspending agents suitable herein include cellulose derivatives such as methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose and hydroxyethylcellulose.
• the total level of cellulose derivatives in the detergent composition is preferably in the range of about 0.001% to about 1%> by weight of the composition, a more preferred range being from about 0.005%> to about 0.5% by weight, and a more preferred range of about 0.01% to 0.1%.
• Further useful organic polymeric compounds are the polyethylene glycols, particularly those of average molecular weight of 1,000-100,000, more particularly 2000 to 10,000 and most preferably 4,000. These can be used alone or in combination with the polycarboxylate polymers disclosed herewithin.
• the total level of these polymers in the detergent composition is preferably in the range of about 0.001% to about 1% by weight of the composition, a more preferred range being from about 0.005% to about 0.5% by weight, and a more preferred range of about 0.01% to 0.1%.
• the present invention improves the convenience of a removable and/or disposable cleaning pad, that preferably contains a superabsorbent material and which preferably also provides significant cleaning benefits.
• the preferred cleaning performance benefits are related to the preferred structural characteristics described below, combined with the ability of the pad to remove solubilized soils.
• the cleaning pads will preferably have an absorbent capacity, when measured under a confining pressure of 0.09 psi after 20 minutes (1200 seconds) (hereafter referred to as "t ⁇ oo absorbent capacity"), of at least about 10 g deionized water per g of the cleaning pad.
• the absorbent capacity of the pad is measured at 20 minutes (1200 seconds) after exposure to deionized water, as this represents a typical time for the consumer to clean a hard surface such as a floor.
• the confining pressure represents typical pressures exerted on the pad during the cleaning process. As such, the cleaning pad should be capable of absorbing significant amounts of the cleaning solution within this 1200 second period under 0.09 psi.
• the cleaning pad will preferably have a t ⁇ 2 ⁇ o absorbent capacity of at least about 15 g/g, more preferably at least about 20 g/g, still more preferably at least about 25 g/g and most preferably at least about 30 g/g.
• the cleaning pad will preferably have a t9 ⁇ o absorbent capacity of at least about 10 g/g, more preferably a absorbent capacity of at least about 20 g/g.
• the cleaning pads will also preferably, but not necessarily, have a total fluid capacity (of deionized water) of at least about 100 g, more preferably at least about 200 g, still more preferably at least about 300 g and most preferably at least about 400 g. While pads having a total fluid capacity less than 100 g are within the scope of the invention, they are not as well suited for cleaning large areas, such as seen in a typical household, as are higher capacity pads.
• An absorbent layer preferably serves to retain any fluid and soil absorbed by the cleaning pad during use. While the preferred scrubbing layer, described hereinafter, has some effect on the pad's ability to absorb fluid, the preferred absorbent layer plays a major role in achieving the desired overall absorbency. Furthermore, the absorbent layer preferably comprises multiple layers which are designed to provide the cleaning pad with multiple planar surfaces.
• the absorbent layer is preferably capable of removing fluid and soil from any "scrubbing layer” so that the scrubbing layer will have capacity to continually remove soil from the surface.
• the absorbent layer also is preferably capable of retaining absorbed material under typical in-use pressures to avoid "squeeze-out" of absorbed soil, cleaning solution, etc.
• the absorbent layer can comprise any material that is capable of absorbing and retaining fluid during use. To achieve desired total fluid capacities, it will be preferred to include in the absorbent layer a material having a relatively high fluid capacity (in terms of grams of fluid per gram of absorbent material).
• a material having a relatively high fluid capacity in terms of grams of fluid per gram of absorbent material.
• the term "superabsorbent material” means any absorbent material having a g/g capacity for water of at least about 15 g/g, when measured under a confining pressure of 0.3 psi. Because a majority of the cleaning fluids useful with the present invention are aqueous based, it is preferred that the superabsorbent materials have a relatively high g/g capacity for water or water-based fluids.
• Representative superabsorbent materials include water insoluble, water-swellable superabsorbent gelling polymers (referred to herein as "superabsorbent gelling polymers") which are well known in the literature. These materials demonstrate very high absorbent capacities for water.
• the superabsorbent gelling polymers useful in the present invention can have a size, shape and/or mo ⁇ hology varying over a wide range. These polymers can be in the form of particles that do not have a large ratio of greatest dimension to smallest dimension (e.g., granules, flakes, pulverulents, inte ⁇ article aggregates, inte ⁇ article crosslinked aggregates, and the like) or they can be in the form of fibers, sheets, films, foams, laminates, and the like.
• Superabsorbent gelling polymers useful in the present invention include a variety of water-insoluble, but water-swellable polymers capable of absorbing large quantities of fluids.
• Such polymeric materials are also commonly referred to as "hydrocolloids", and can include polysaccharides such as carboxymethyl starch, carboxymethyl cellulose, and hydroxypropyl cellulose; nonionic types such as polyvinyl alcohol, and polyvinyl ethers; cationic types such as polyvinyl pyridine, polyvinyl mo ⁇ holinione, and N,N-dimethylaminoethyl or N,N- diethylaminopropyl acrylates and methacrylates, and the respective quaternary salts thereof.
• superabsorbent gelling polymers useful in the present invention have a multiplicity of anionic functional groups, such as sulfonic acid, and more typically carboxy, groups.
• polymers suitable for use herein include those which are prepared from polymerizable, unsaturated, acid-containing monomers.
• such monomers include the olefinically unsaturated acids and anhydrides that contain at least one carbon to carbon olefinic double bond. More specifically, these monomers can be selected from olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acids and acid anhydrides, olefinically unsaturated sulfonic acids, and mixtures thereof.
• non-acid monomers can also be included, usually in minor amounts, in preparing the superabsorbent gelling polymers useful herein.
• Such non-acid monomers can include, for example, the water-soluble or water-dispersible esters of the acid-containing monomers, as well as monomers that contain no carboxylic or sulfonic acid groups at all.
• Optional non-acid monomers can thus include monomers containing the following types of functional groups: carboxylic acid or sulfonic acid esters, hydroxyl groups, amide-groups, amino groups, nitrile groups, quaternary ammonium salt groups, aryl groups (e.g., phenyl groups, such as those derived from styrene monomer).
• non-acid monomers are well-known materials and are described in greater detail, for example, in U.S. Patent 4,076,663 (Masuda et al), issued February 28, 1978, and in U.S. Patent 4,062,817 (Westerman), issued December 13, 1977, both of which are inco ⁇ orated by reference.
• Olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid and carboxylic acid anhydride monomers include the acrylic acids typified by acrylic acid itself, methacrylic acid, ethacrylic acid, ⁇ -chloroacrylic acid, a-cyanoacrylic acid, ⁇ -methylacrylic acid (crotonic acid), ⁇ -phenylacrylic acid, ⁇ - acryloxypropionic acid, sorbic acid, ⁇ -chlorosorbic acid, angelic acid, cinnamic acid, p- chlorocinnamic acid, ⁇ -sterylacrylic acid, itaconic acid, citroconic acid, mesaconic acid, glutaconic acid, aconitic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, tricarboxyethylene and maleic acid anhydride.
• acrylic acids typified by acrylic acid itself, methacrylic acid, ethacrylic acid, ⁇ -chloroacrylic acid, a-cyanoacrylic acid, ⁇ -methylacrylic acid (
• Olefinically unsaturated sulfonic acid monomers include aliphatic or aromatic vinyl sulfonic acids such as vinylsulfonic acid, allyl sulfonic acid, vinyl toluene sulfonic acid and styrene sulfonic acid; acrylic and methacrylic sulfonic acid such as sulfoethyl acrylate, sulfoethyl methacrylate, sulfopropyl acrylate, sulfopropyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxy-3- methacryloxypropyl sulfonic acid and 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid.
• Preferred superabsorbent gelling polymers for use in the present invention contain carboxy groups. These polymers include hydrolyzed starch-acrylonitrile graft copolymers, partially neutralized hydrolyzed starch-acrylonitrile graft copolymers, starch-acrylic acid graft copolymers, partially neutralized starch-acrylic acid graft copolymers, saponified vinyl acetate- acrylic ester copolymers, hydrolyzed acrylonitrile or acrylamide copolymers, slightly network crosslinked polymers of any of the foregoing copolymers, partially neutralized polyacrylic acid, and slightly network crosslinked polymers of partially neutralized polyacrylic acid.
• Most preferred polymer materials for use in making the superabsorbent gelling polymers are slightly network crosslinked polymers of partially neutralized polyacrylic acids and starch derivatives thereof.
• the hydrogel-forming absorbent polymers comprise from about 50 to about 95%, preferably about 75%, neutralized, slightly network crosslinked, polyacrylic acid (i.e. poly (sodium acrylate/acrylic acid)).
• Network crosslinking renders the polymer substantially water-insoluble and, in part, determines the abso ⁇ tive capacity and extractable polymer content characteristics of the superabsorbent gelling polymers. Processes for network crosslinking these polymers and typical network crosslinking agents are described in greater detail in U.S. Patent 4,076,663.
• superabsorbent gelling polymers is preferably of one type (i.e., homogeneous)
• mixtures of polymers can also be used in the implements of the present invention.
• mixtures of starch-acrylic acid graft copolymers and slightly network crosslinked polymers of partially neutralized polyacrylic acid can be used in the present invention.
• Patent 5,149,335 (Kellenberger et al.), issued September 22, 1992, describe superabsorbent gelling polymers in terms of their Absorbency Under Load (AUL), where gelling polymers absorb fluid (0.9% saline) under a confining pressure of 0.3 psi.
• AUL Absorbency Under Load
• the methods for determining AUL are described in these patents. Polymers described therein can be particularly useful in embodiments of the present invention that contain regions of relatively high levels of superabsorbent gelling polymers.
• those polymers will preferably have an AUL, measured according to the methods described in U.S. Patent 5,147,343, of at least about 24 ml/g, more preferably at least about 27 ml/g after 1 hour; or an AUL, measured according to the methods described in U.S. Patent 5,149,335, of at least about 15 ml/g, more preferably at least about 18 ml/g after 15 minutes.
• an AUL measured according to the methods described in U.S. Patent 5,147,343, of at least about 24 ml/g, more preferably at least about 27 ml/g after 1 hour
• an AUL measured according to the methods described in U.S. Patent 5,149,335, of at least about 15 ml/g, more preferably at least about 18 ml/g after 15 minutes.
• the absorbent layer will contain regions comprising high levels (e.g., more than about 50% by weight of the region) of superabsorbent gelling polymer
• the superabsorbent gelling polymer be as described in the aforementioned applications by Goldman et al.
• hydrophilic polymeric foams such as those described in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Serial No. 08/563,866 (DesMarais et al.), filed November 29, 1995 and U.S. Patent No. 5,387,207 (Dyer et al.), issued February 7, 1995.
• HEPEs high internal phase water-in-oil emulsion
• these foams are readily tailored to provide varying physical properties (pore size, capillary suction, density, etc.) that affect fluid handling ability.
• these materials are particularly useful, either alone or in combination with other such foams or with fibrous structures, in providing the overall capacity required by the present invention.
• the absorbent layer will preferably comprise at least about 15%, by weight of the absorbent layer, more preferably at least about 20%, still more preferably at least about 25%, of the superabsorbent material.
• the absorbent layer can also consist of or comprise fibrous material.
• Fibers useful in the present invention include those that are naturally occurring (modified or unmodified), as well as synthetically made fibers. Examples of suitable unmodified/modified naturally occurring fibers include cotton, Esparto grass, bagasse, hemp, flax, silk, wool, wood pulp, chemically modified wood pulp, jute, ethyl cellulose, and cellulose acetate.
• Suitable synthetic fibers can be made from polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl fluoride, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinylidene chloride, polyacrylics such as ORLON ® , polyvinyl acetate, Rayon®, polyethylvinyl acetate, non-soluble or soluble polyvinyl alcohol, polyolefins such as polyethylene (e.g., PULPEX ® ) and polypropylene, polyamides such as nylon, polyesters such as DACRON ® or KODEL ® , polyurethanes, polystyrenes, and the like.
• polyvinyl chloride polyvinyl fluoride, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinylidene chloride
• polyacrylics such as ORLON ® , polyvinyl acetate, Rayon®, polyethylvinyl acetate, non-soluble or soluble polyvinyl alcohol, polyolefins such as
• the absorbent layer can comprise solely naturally occurring fibers, solely synthetic fibers, or any compatible combination of naturally occurring and synthetic fibers.
• the fibers useful herein can be hydrophilic, hydrophobic or can be a combination of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic fibers. As indicated above, the particular selection of hydrophilic or hydrophobic fibers depends upon the other materials included in the absorbent (and to some degree the scrubbing) layer. That is, the nature of the fibers will be such that the cleaning pad exhibits the necessary fluid delay and overall fluid absorbency.
• Suitable hydrophilic fibers for use in the present invention include cellulosic fibers, modified cellulosic fibers, rayon, polyester fibers such as hydrophilic nylon (HYDROFIL®).
• Suitable hydrophilic fibers can also be obtained by hydrophilizing hydrophobic fibers, such as surfactant-treated or silica-treated thermoplastic fibers derived from, for example, polyolefms such as polyethylene or polypropylene, polyacrylics, polyamides, polystyrenes, polyurethanes and the like.
• hydrophilizing hydrophobic fibers such as surfactant-treated or silica-treated thermoplastic fibers derived from, for example, polyolefms such as polyethylene or polypropylene, polyacrylics, polyamides, polystyrenes, polyurethanes and the like.
• Suitable wood pulp fibers can be obtained from well-known chemical processes such as the Kraft and sulfite processes. It is especially preferred to derive these wood pulp fibers from southern soft woods due to their premium absorbency characteristics. These wood pulp fibers can also be obtained from mechanical processes, such as ground wood, refiner mechanical, thermomechanical, chemimechanical, and chemi-thermomechanical pulp processes. Recycled or secondary wood pulp fibers, as well as bleached and unbleached wood pulp fibers, can be used.
• hydrophilic fiber for use in the present invention is chemically stiffened cellulosic fibers.
• chemically stiffened cellulosic fibers means cellulosic fibers that have been stiffened by chemical means to increase the stiffness of the fibers under both dry and aqueous conditions. Such means can include the addition of a chemical stiffening agent that, for example, coats and/or impregnates the fibers. Such means can also include the stiffening of the fibers by altering the chemical structure, e.g., by crosslinking polymer chains.
• the fibers can optionally be combined with a thermoplastic material. Upon melting, at least a portion of this thermoplastic material migrates to the intersections of the fibers, typically due to interfiber capillary gradients. These intersections become bond sites for the thermoplastic material. When cooled, the thermoplastic materials at these intersections solidify to form the bond sites that hold the matrix or web of fibers together in each of the respective layers. This can be beneficial in providing additional overall integrity to the cleaning pad.
• thermally bonded webs of stiffened fibers retain their original overall volume, but with the volumetric regions previously occupied by the thermoplastic material becoming open to thus increase the average interfiber capillary pore size.
• Thermoplastic materials useful in the present invention can be in any of a variety of forms including particulates, fibers, or combinations of particulates and fibers.
• Thermoplastic fibers are a particularly preferred form because of their ability to form numerous interfiber bond sites.
• Suitable thermoplastic materials can be made from any thermoplastic polymer that can be melted at temperatures that will not extensively damage the fibers that comprise the primary web or matrix of each layer.
• the melting point of this thermoplastic material will be less than about 190°C, and preferably between about 75°C and about 175°C. In any event, the melting point of this thermoplastic material should be no lower than the temperature at which the thermally bonded absorbent structures, when used in the cleaning pads, are likely to be stored.
• the melting point of the thermoplastic material is typically no lower than about 50°C.
• thermoplastic materials can be made from a variety of thermoplastic polymers, including polyolefins such as polyethylene (e.g., PULPEX®) and polypropylene, polyesters, copolyesters, polyvinyl acetate, polyethylvinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyacrylics, polyamides, copolyamides, polystyrenes, polyurethanes and copolymers of any of the foregoing such as vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate, and the like.
• polyolefins such as polyethylene (e.g., PULPEX®) and polypropylene
• polyesters copolyesters
• polyvinyl acetate polyethylvinyl acetate
• polyvinyl chloride polyvinylidene chloride
• polyacrylics polyamides, copolyamides, polystyrenes, polyurethanes and copolymers of
• suitable thermoplastic materials include hydrophobic fibers that have been made hydrophilic, such as surfactant-treated or silica-treated thermoplastic fibers derived from, for example, polyolefins such as polyethylene or polypropylene, polyacrylics, polyamides, polystyrenes, polyurethanes and the like.
• the surface of the hydrophobic thermoplastic fiber can be rendered hydrophilic by treatment with a surfactant, such as a nonionic or anionic surfactant, e.g., by spraying the fiber with a surfactant, by dipping the fiber into a surfactant or by including the surfactant as part of the polymer melt in producing the thermoplastic fiber.
• a surfactant such as a nonionic or anionic surfactant
• Suitable surfactants include nonionic surfactants such as Brij® 76 manufactured by ICI Americas, Inc. of Wilmington, Delaware, and various surfactants sold under the Pegosperse® trademark by Glyco Chemical, Inc. of Greenwich, Connecticut. Besides nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants can also be used. These surfactants can be applied to the thermoplastic fibers at levels of, for example, from about 0.2 to about 1 g. per sq. of centimeter of thermoplastic fiber.
• thermoplastic fibers can be made from a single polymer (monocomponent fibers), or can be made from more than one polymer (e.g., bicomponent fibers).
• bicomponent fibers refers to thermoplastic fibers that comprise a core fiber made from one polymer that is encased within a thermoplastic sheath made from a different polymer. The polymer comprising the sheath often melts at a different, typically lower, temperature than the polymer comprising the core. As a result, these bicomponent fibers provide thermal bonding due to melting of the sheath polymer, while retaining the desirable strength characteristics of the core polymer.
• Suitable bicomponent fibers for use in the present invention can include sheath/core fibers having the following polymer combinations: polyethylene/ polypropylene, polyethylvinyl acetate/polypropylene, polyethylene/polyester, polypropylene/polyester, copolyester/polyester, and the like.
• Particularly suitable bicomponent thermoplastic fibers for use herein are those having a polypropylene or polyester core, and a lower melting copolyester, polyethylvinyl acetate or polyethylene sheath (e.g., those available from Danaklon a/s, Chisso Co ⁇ ., and CELBOND®, available from Hercules). These bicomponent fibers can be concentric or eccentric.
• the terms “concentric” and “eccentric” refer to whether the sheath has a thickness that is even, or uneven, through the cross-sectional area of the bicomponent fiber. Eccentric bicomponent fibers can be desirable in providing more compressive strength at lower fiber thicknesses.
• the absorbent layer can also comprise a HIPE-derived hydrophilic, polymeric foam that does not have the high absorbency of those described above as "superabsorbent materials".
• HIPE-derived hydrophilic, polymeric foam that does not have the high absorbency of those described above as "superabsorbent materials”.
• the absorbent layer of the cleaning pad can be comprised of a homogeneous material, such as a blend of cellulosic fibers (optionally thermally bonded) and swellable superabsorbent gelling polymer.
• the absorbent layer can be comprised of discrete layers of material, such as a layer of thermally bonded airlaid material and a discrete layer of a superabsorbent material.
• a thermally bonded layer of cellulosic fibers can be located lower than (i.e., beneath) the superabsorbent material (i.e., between the superabsorbent material and the scrubbing layer).
• the superabsorbent material can be located remote from the scrubbing layer by including a less absorbent layer as the lower-most aspect of the absorbent layer.
• a layer of cellulosic fibers can be located lower (i.e., beneath) than the superabsorbent material (i.e., between the superabsorbent material and the scrubbing layer).
• the absorbent layer comprises a thermally bonded airlaid web of cellulose fibers (Flint River, available from Weyerhaeuser, Wa) and AL Thermal C (thermoplastic available from Danaklon a/s, Narde, Denmark), and a swellable hydrogel-forming superabsorbent polymer.
• the superabsorbent polymer is preferably inco ⁇ orated such that a discrete layer is located near the surface of the absorbent layer which is remote from the scrubbing layer.
• a thin layer of, e.g., cellulose fibers (optionally thermally bonded) are positioned above the superabsorbent gelling polymer to enhance containment.
• the scrubbing layer is the portion of the cleaning pad that contacts the soiled surface during cleaning.
• materials useful as the scrubbing layer must be sufficiently durable that the layer will retain its integrity during the cleaning process.
• the scrubbing layer when the cleaning pad is used in combination with a solution, the scrubbing layer must be capable of absorbing liquids and soils, and relinquishing those liquids and soils to the absorbent layer. This will ensure that the scrubbing layer will continually be able to remove additional material from the surface being cleaned.
• the scrubbing layer will, in addition to removing particulate matter, facilitate other functions, such as polishing, dusting, and buffing the surface being cleaned.
• the scrubbing layer can be a mono-layer, or a multi-layer structure one or more of whose layers can be slitted to facilitate the scrubbing of the soiled surface and the uptake of particulate matter.
• This scrubbing layer as it passes over the soiled surface, interacts with the soil (and cleaning solution when used), loosening and emulsifying tough soils and permitting them to pass freely into the absorbent layer of the pad.
• the scrubbing layer preferably contains openings (e.g., slits) that provide an easy avenue for larger particulate soil to move freely in and become entrapped within the absorbent layer of the pad. Low density structures are preferred for use as the scrubbing layer, to facilitate transport of particulate matter to the pad's absorbent layer.
• materials particularly suitable for the scrubbing layer include synthetics such as polyolefins (e.g., polyethylene and polypropylene), polyesters, polyamides, synthetic cellulosics (e.g., Rayon ® ), and blends thereof.
• synthetics such as polyolefins (e.g., polyethylene and polypropylene), polyesters, polyamides, synthetic cellulosics (e.g., Rayon ® ), and blends thereof.
• Such synthetic materials can be manufactured using known process such as carded, spunbond, meltblown, airlaid, needlepunched and the like.
• the preferred cleaning pads of the present invention can optionally have an attachment layer that allows the pad to be connected to an implement's handle or the support head in preferred implements.
• the attachment layer will be necessary in those embodiments where the absorbent layer is not suitable for attaching the pad to the support head of the handle.
• the attachment layer can also function as a means to prevent fluid flow through the top surface (i.e., the handle-contacting surface) of the cleaning pad, and can further provide enhanced integrity of the pad.
• the attachment layer can consist of a mono- layer or a multi-layer structure, so long as it meets the above requirements.
• the attachment layer will comprise a surface which is capable of being mechanically attached to the handle's support head by use of known hook and loop technology.
• the attachment layer will comprise at least one surface which is mechanically attachable to hooks that are permanently affixed to the bottom surface of the handle's support head.
• the attachment layer is a tri-layered material having a layer of meltblown polypropylene film located between two layers of spun-bonded polypropylene.
• pads having an essentially flat floor contacting surface i.e., essentially one planar surface for contacting the soiled surface during cleaning
• pads having an essentially flat floor contacting surface do not provide the best performance because soil tends to build up on the leading edge, which also is the main point where the cleaning solution is transferred to the absorbent layer.
• the preferred pads provide multiple planar surfaces during cleaning and provide enhanced performance.
• the preferred cleaning pad has an upper surface that allows the pad to be releasably attached to a handle and a lower surface which contacts the floor or other hard surface during cleaning.
• This lower surface preferably consists of three substantially different planar surfaces. The planes intersect the plane corresponding to the lower surface.
• the enhanced cleaning of the preferred pads is in-part due to the "lifting" action that results from the back and forth motion during cleaning.
• the cleaning motion in one direction is stopped and the forces exerted on the implement allow the pad to "rock” such that the surface-contacting planar surface moves from surface to surface, soil is moved in an upward direction.
• the cleaning pad of the present invention should be capable of retaining absorbed fluid, even during the pressures exerted during the cleaning process. This is referred to herein as the cleaning pad's ability to avoid “squeeze-out" of absorbed fluid, or conversely its ability to retain absorbed fluid under pressure.
• the method for measuring squeeze-out is described in the Test Methods section. Briefly, the test measures the ability of a saturated cleaning pad to retain fluid when subjected to a pressure of 0.25 psi.
• the cleaning pads of the present invention will have a squeeze-out value of not more than about 40%, more preferably not more than about 25%, still more preferably not more than about 15%, and most preferably not more than about 10%. IV. CLEANING IMPLEMENTS
• the detergent compositions described above can be desirably used with an implement for cleaning a surface, the implement comprising: a. a handle; and b. a removable cleaning pad preferably containing an effective amount of a superabsorbent material, and having a plurality of substantially planar surfaces, wherein each of the substantially planar surfaces contacts the surface being cleaned, more preferably said pad is a removable cleaning pad having a length and a width, the pad comprising i. a scrubbing layer; and ii. an absorbent layer comprising a first layer and a second layer, where the first layer is located between the scrubbing layer and the second layer
• the first layer is below the second layer
• An important aspect of the cleaning performance provided by the preferred pad is related to the ability to provide multiple planar surfaces that contact the soiled surface during the cleaning operation.
• these planar surfaces are provided such that during the typical cleaning operation (i.e., where the implement is moved back and forth in a direction substantially pe ⁇ endicular to the pad's width), each of the planar surfaces contact the surface being cleaned as a result of "rocking" of the cleaning pad.
• the handle of the above cleaning implement can be any material that will facilitate gripping of the cleaning implement.
• the handle of the cleaning implement will preferably comprise any elongated, durable material that will provide practical cleaning. The length of the handle will be dictated by the end-use of the implement.
• the handle will preferably comprise at one end a support head to which the cleaning pad can be releasably attached.
• the support head can be pivotally attached to the handle using known joint assemblies. Any suitable means for attaching the cleaning pad to the support head can be utilized, so long as the cleaning pad remains affixed during the cleaning process. Examples of suitable fastening means include clamps, hooks & loops (e.g., Velcro®), and the like.
• the support head will comprise hooks on its lower surface that will mechanically attach to the upper layer (preferably a distinct attachment layer) of the absorbent cleaning pad.
• a preferred handle comprising a fluid dispensing means
• a fluid dispensing means is fully described in co- pending U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/756,774, filed November 26, 1996 by V. S. Ping, et al. (P&G Case 6383), which is inco ⁇ orated by reference herein.
• Another preferred handle, which does not contain a fluid dispensing means is fully described in co-pending U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 08/716,755, filed September 23, 1996 by A. J. Irwin (P&G Case 6262), which is inco ⁇ orated by reference herein.
• the Cleaning Pad is fully described in co-pending U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 08/716,755, filed September 23, 1996 by A. J. Irwin (P&G Case 6262), which is inco ⁇ orated by reference herein.
• the cleaning pads described hereinbefore can be used without attachment to a handle, or as part of the above cleaning implement. They can therefore be constructed without the need to be attachable to a handle, i.e., such that they can be used either in combination with the handle or as a stand-alone product. As such, it can be preferred to prepare the pads with an optional attachment layer as described hereinbefore. With the exception of an attachment layer, the pads themselves are as described above.
• direct fluid communication means that fluid can transfer readily between two cleaning pad components or layers (e.g., the scrubbing layer and the absorbent layer) without substantial accumulation, transport, or restriction by an inte ⁇ osed layer.
• tissue, nonwoven webs, construction adhesives, and the like can be present between the two distinct components while maintaining "direct fluid communication", as long as they do not substantially impede or restrict fluid as it passes from one component or layer to another.
• Z-dimension refers to the dimension orthogonal to the length and width of the cleaning pad of the present invention, or a component thereof.
• the Z- dimension usually corresponds to the thickness of the cleaning pad or a pad component.
• the term "X-Y dimension" refers to the plane orthogonal to the thickness of the cleaning pad, or a component thereof.
• the X and Y dimensions usually correspond to the length and width, respectively, of the cleaning pad or a pad component.
• the implement will be moved in a direction parallel to the Y-dimension of the pad, i. e, pe ⁇ endicular to the width.
• the term “layer” refers to a member or component of a cleaning pad whose primary dimension is X-Y, i.e., along its length and width. It should be understood that the term layer is not necessarily limited to single layers or sheets of material. Thus the layer can comprise laminates or combinations of several sheets or webs of the requisite type of materials. Accordingly, the term “layer” includes the terms “layers” and “layered.”
• hydrophilic is used to refer to surfaces that are wettable by aqueous fluids deposited thereon. Hydrophiliciry and wettability are typically defined in terms of contact angle and the surface tension of the fluids and solid surfaces involved. This is discussed in detail in the American Chemical Society publication entitled Contact Angle, Wettability and Adhesion, edited by Robert F. Gould (Copyright 1964), which is hereby inco ⁇ orated herein by reference.
• a surface is said to be wetted by a fluid (i.e., hydrophilic) when either the contact angle between the fluid and the surface is less than 90°, or when the fluid tends to spread spontaneously across the surface, both conditions normally co-existing. Conversely, a surface is considered to be “hydrophobic” if the contact angle is greater than 90° and the fluid does not spread spontaneously across the surface.
• the term "scrim” means any durable material that provides texture to the surface-contacting side of the cleaning pad's scrubbing layer, and also has a sufficient degree of openness to allow the requisite movement of fluid to the absorbent layer of the cleaning pad.
• Suitable materials include materials that have a continuous, open structure, such as synthetic and wire mesh screens. The open areas of these materials can be readily controlled by varying the number of interconnected strands that comprise the mesh, by controlling the thickness of those interconnected strands, etc.
• Other suitable materials include those where texture is provided by a discontinuous pattern printed on a substrate.
• a durable material e.g., a synthetic
• a continuous or discontinuous pattern such as individual dots and/or lines
• the continuous or discontinuous pattern can be printed onto a release material that will then act as the scrim.
• These patterns can be repeating or they can be random. It will be understood that one or more of the approaches described for providing the desired texture can be combined to form the optional scrim material.
• the Z direction height and open area of the scrim and or scrubbing substrate layer help to control and or retard the flow of liquid into the absorbent core material.
• the Z height of the scrim and or scrubbing substrate help provide a means of controlling the volume of liquid in contact with the cleaning surface while at the same time controlling the rate of liquid abso ⁇ tion, fluid communication into the abso ⁇ tion core material.
• an "upper" layer of a cleaning pad is a layer that is relatively further away from the surface that is to be cleaned (i.e., in the implement context, relatively closer to the implement handle during use).
• the term “lower” layer conversely means a layer of a cleaning pad that is relatively closer to the surface that is to be cleaned (i.e., in the implement context, relatively further away from the implement handle during use).
• the scrubbing layer is the lower-most layer and the absorbent layer is an upper layer relative to the scrubber layer.
• the terms “upper” and “lower” are similarly used when referring to layers that are multi-ply (e.g., when the scrubbing layer is a two-ply material).
• a material A is “above” material B if material B is positioned closer to the scrubbing layer than material A.
• material B is “below” material A in this illustration.
• the scrim will be comprised of a durable, tough material that will provide texture to the pad's scrubbing layer, particularly when in-use pressures are applied to the pad.
• the scrim will be located such that it is in close proximity to the surface being cleaned.
• the scrim can be inco ⁇ orated as part of the scrubbing layer or the absorbent layer; or it can be included as a distinct layer, preferably positioned between the scrubbing and absorbent layers.
• the scrim material is of the same X-Y dimension as the overall cleaning pad, it is preferred that the scrim material be inco ⁇ orated such that it does not directly contact, to a significant degree, the surface being cleaned. This will maintain the ability of the pad to move readily across the hard surface and will aid in preventing non-uniform removal of the cleaning solution employed.
• the scrim is part of the scrubbing layer, it will be an upper layer of this component.
• the scrim must at the same time be positioned sufficiently low in the pad to provide it's scrubbing function.
• the scrim is inco ⁇ orated as part of the absorbent layer, it will be a lower layer thereof.
• the scrim should not significantly impede fluid flow through the pad.
• the scrim therefore is preferably a relatively open web.
• the scrim material will be any material that can be processed to provide a tough, open- textured web.
• Such materials include polyolefins (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene), polyesters, polyamides, and the like. The skilled artisan will recognize that these different materials exhibit a different degree of hardness. Thus, the hardness of the scrim material can be controlled, depending on the end-use of the pad/implement.
• the scrim is inco ⁇ orated as a discrete layer, many commercial sources of such materials are available (e.g., design number VO1230, available from Conwed Plastics, Minneapolis, MN).
• the scrim can be inco ⁇ orated by printing a resin or other synthetic material (e.g.
• the various layers that comprise the cleaning pad can be bonded together utilizing any means that provides the pad with sufficient integrity during the cleaning process.
• the scrubbing and attachment layers can be bonded to the absorbent layer or to each other by any of a variety of bonding means, including the use of a uniform continuous layer of adhesive, a patterned layer of adhesive or any array of separate lines, spirals or spots of adhesive.
• the bonding means can comprise heat bonds, pressure bonds, ultrasonic bonds, dynamic mechanical bonds or any other suitable bonding means or combinations of these bonding means as are known in the art.
• Bonding can be around the perimeter of the cleaning pad (e.g., heat sealing the scrubbing layer and optional attachment layer and/or scrim material), and/or across the area (i.e., the X-Y plane) of the cleaning pad so as to form a pattern on the surface of the cleaning pad. Bonding the layers of the cleaning pad with ultrasonic bonds across the area of the pad will provide integrity to avoid shearing of the discrete pad layers during use.
• the cleaning pad does not need multiple substantially planar surfaces.
• Each layer can comprise a single layer of material, and one or more of these layers can consist of a laminate of two or more plies.
• the scrubbing layer is a two-ply laminate of carded polypropylene, where the lower layer is slitted.
• materials that do not inhibit fluid flow can be positioned between the scrubbing layer and the absorbent layer and/or between absorbent layer and any attachment layer. However, it is important that the scrubbing and absorbent layers be in substantial fluid communication, to provide the requisite absorbency of the cleaning pad.
• the scrubbing layer and attachment layer be larger than the absorbent layer, such that they can be bonded together around the periphery of the absorbent pad to provide integrity.
• the scrubbing and attachment layers can also be bonded to the absorbent layer or to each other by any of a variety of bonding means, including the use of a uniform continuous layer of adhesive, a patterned layer of adhesive or any array of separate lines, spirals or spots of adhesive.
• the bonding means can comprise heat bonds, pressure bonds, ultrasonic bonds, dynamic mechanical bonds or any other suitable bonding means or combinations of these bonding means as are known in the art. Bonding can be around the perimeter of the cleaning pad, and/or across the surface of the cleaning pad so as to form a pattern on the surface of the scrubbing layer.
• the cleaning pad's scrubbing layer and optional attachment layer are combined with an absorbent layer consisting of a tri-laminate structure.
• the absorbent layer can consist of a discrete layer of particulate superabsorbent gelling material positioned between two discrete layers of fibrous material.
• the superabsorbent material because of the region of high concentration of superabsorbent gelling material, it is preferred that the superabsorbent material not exhibit gel blocking discussed above.
• fibrous layers will each be a thermally bonded fibrous substrate of cellulosic fibers, and a lower fibrous layer will be in direct fluid communication with the scrubbing layer.
• the inner layer can alternatively be a mixture of fibrous material and superabsorbent material, where the superabsorbent material is preferably present in a relatively high percentage by weight of the layer.
• the different layers can be used to create steps by having the lower layers smaller than the next layer up. When a scrubbing and attachment layer are included, such a combination will provide a pad having multiple substantially planar surfaces.
• the upper layers can comprise increasingly high concentrations of superabsorbent material, while the lower layer contains little or no superabsorbent material.
• one, or more, of the upper layers can comprise a homogenous blend of superabsorbent material and fibrous material.
• one or both layers can be comprised of discrete layers, e.g., two fibrous layers surrounding an essentially continuous layer of superabsorbent particles.
• This test determines the gram/gram abso ⁇ tion of deionized water for a cleaning pad that is laterally confined in a piston/cylinder assembly under an initial confining pressure of 0.09 psi (about 0.6 kPa). (Depending on the composition of the cleaning pad sample, the confining pressure can decrease slightly as the sample absorbs water and swells during the time of the test.)
• the objective of the test is to assess the ability of a cleaning pad to absorb fluid, over a practical period of time, when the pad is exposed to usage conditions (horizontal wicking and pressures).
• test fluid for the PUP capacity test is deionized water. This fluid is absorbed by the cleaning pad under demand abso ⁇ tion conditions at near-zero hydrostatic pressure.
• the test is disclosed in copending provisional application Serial No. 60/045,858, filed May 8, 1997 by Ronald A. Masters, et al.(Case 6555P2).
• PUP absorbent capacity is determined as follows:
• the ability of the cleaning pad to retain fluid when exposed to in-use pressures, and therefor to avoid fluid "squeeze-out”, is another important parameter to the present invention.
• “Squeeze-out” is measured on an entire cleaning pad by determining the amount of fluid that can be blotted from the sample with Whatman filter paper under pressures of 0.25 psi (1.5 kPa). Squeeze-out is performed on a sample that has been saturated to capacity with deionized water via horizontal wicking (specifically, via wicking from the surface of the pad consisting of the scrubbing or surface-contacting layer). (One means for obtaining a saturated sample is described as the Horizontal Gravimetric Wicking method of U.S. application Serial No.
• gloss measurements are also taken.
• a Gardner micro-tri -gloss meter is used. The instrument is set to 60° and gloss measurements of the tiles are taken before being soiled. After cleaning, gloss measurements are again taken and compared to the initial readings. Gloss results are presented as (Final Gloss - Initial Gloss)/Initial Gloss. Following a "First Cleaning", the tiles are then re-soiled and cleaned again for a "Second Cleaning.”
• Neodol 1-5 Shell Chemical 0.35% 0.35%
• Neodol 1-5 Shell Chemical 0.35% 0.35%
• the soiling solution is made of 1.0 gram American clay, 1.0 gram Black Todd clay, 0.25 grams vacuum cleaner soil, 90 mL of 2-propanol, and 10 mL of an acetone solution containing 17 mg palmitic acid, 7 mg stearic acid, and 9 mg beef tallow. This solution is allowed to dry.
• Each tile is then cleaned with 2 mL of the appropriate solution using an an absorbent pad, the type of which has been disclosed within this filing. After 10 minutes, the lower right corner of the tile is stripped with 20% 2-propanol.
• Neodol 1-5 Shell Chemical 0.09% 0.09%
• Neodol 1-5 Shell Chemical 0.1% 0.1%

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
• Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Molecular Biology (AREA)
• Emergency Medicine (AREA)
• Detergent Compositions (AREA)
• Compositions Of Macromolecular Compounds (AREA)
• Cleaning Implements For Floors, Carpets, Furniture, Walls, And The Like (AREA)

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• 1999
  • 1999-11-24 CA CA002350774A patent/CA2350774A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-11-24 JP JP2000585358A patent/JP2002531633A/ja not_active Withdrawn
  • 1999-11-24 BR BR9915869-8A patent/BR9915869A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1999-11-24 EP EP99963969A patent/EP1135454A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1999-11-24 TR TR2001/01584T patent/TR200101584T2/xx unknown
  • 1999-11-24 WO PCT/US1999/027893 patent/WO2000032727A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1999-11-24 AU AU20298/00A patent/AU2029800A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-11-29 PE PE1999001193A patent/PE20001534A1/es not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1999-11-30 AR ARP990106081A patent/AR021435A1/es unknown
  • 1999-12-01 EG EG154099A patent/EG22222A/xx active
• 2001
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