WO2000028876A1 - A hand-held cleaning device - Google Patents
A hand-held cleaning device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2000028876A1 WO2000028876A1 PCT/US1998/024576 US9824576W WO0028876A1 WO 2000028876 A1 WO2000028876 A1 WO 2000028876A1 US 9824576 W US9824576 W US 9824576W WO 0028876 A1 WO0028876 A1 WO 0028876A1
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- Prior art keywords
- hand
- cleaning device
- refilling
- product
- reservoirs
- Prior art date
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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
- 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
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L13/00—Implements for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
- A47L13/10—Scrubbing; Scouring; Cleaning; Polishing
- A47L13/16—Cloths; Pads; Sponges
- A47L13/17—Cloths; Pads; Sponges containing cleaning agents
Definitions
- the present invention relates to cleaning devices. More specifically, the current invention relates to hand-held cleaning devices for use with a cleaning product.
- scrubbing may be required to adequately clean a substrate, such as a fabric or a hard surface. It is a common habit to add a cleaning product to the substrate and scrub it with, for example, an abrasive surface. Such scrubbing usually entails rubbing or scrubbing a particularly soiled area, such as stains and collars, with a commercially-available pre-treatment product or a bleach product. Scrubbing thus provides improved cleaning by dislodging dirt from the substrate, allowing the cleaning product and/or the solvent to penetrate the substrate, etc.
- Such hand-held cleaning devices include sponges, brushes, abrasive pads, and other devices. Typically, such hand-held cleaning devices are also intended for scrubbing the substrate. Furthermore, hand-held cleaning devices which contain a cleaning product and simultaneously dispense the product while scrubbing takes place are also known. Such hand-held cleaning devices typically contain a reservoir to hold a cleaning product. In certain cases for enhanced cleaning, it may be desirable to add an activated cleaning product, for example, an activated bleaching solution, to a substrate and scrub therewith. However, an activated cleaning product may require the commingling of multiple products which are mutually incompatible with respect to activity, stability, etc.
- an activated bleaching solution having high amounts of active oxygen may require both a bleach precursor product and a liquid bleach activator product; when combined, these two products release active oxygen, which bleaches the substrate.
- these two products must be commingled. However, commingling of the products should not occur before the activated product is ready to use, otherwise bleaching effectiveness is typically reduced.
- Refilling the reservoir of such a hand-held cleaning device is also troublesome and inconvenient.
- to refill such a hand-held cleaning device requires that the cleaning product be poured into the reservoir.
- the cleaning product may spill, leak, or drip onto the exterior portion of the hand-held cleaning device. This is inconvenient, and thus undesirable.
- the need remains for a hand-held cleaning device which is suitable for use with at least two products which commingle so as to form an activated cleaning product.
- the need also remains for a hand-held cleaning device which continuously forms an activated cleaning product.
- the need also remains for a hand-held cleaning device which is easily refilled.
- a hand-held cleaning device may contain, in separate reservoirs, at least two products which commingle so as to form an activated cleaning product. It has now also been found that a hand-held cleaning device may continuously form an activated cleaning product. Furthermore, it has now been found that such a hand-held cleaning device may be easily refilled by placing it in an appropriate refilling dock.
- the present invention relates to a hand-held cleaning device formed of a hollow body member having an interior portion and an exterior portion.
- the interior portion of the hollow body member contains a plurality of separate reservoirs, while the exterior portion of the hollow body member contains an abrasive surface. At least one passage leads from each reservoir to the abrasive surface.
- the present invention also relates to a cleaning system containing a hand- held cleaning device and a refilling dock.
- the hand-held cleaning device is formed of a hollow body member having an interior portion and an exterior portion.
- the interior portion of the hollow body member contains a plurality of separate reservoirs, while the exterior portion of the hollow body member contains an abrasive surface. At least one passage leads from each reservoir to the abrasive surface.
- Each reservoir is also in connected relation with at least one refilling aperture on the exterior portion of the hollow body member.
- the refilling dock contains a refilling station and a plurality of tanks, equal in number to the number of reservoirs in the hand-held cleaning device. Each tank is in connected relation with at least one outlet located at the refilling station.
- the number of outlets is equal in number to the number of refilling apertures on the hand-held cleaning device.
- Fig. 1 shows a top perspective view of a hand-held cleaning device of the invention.
- Fig. 2 shows a bottom perspective view of a hand-held cleaning device.
- Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the hand-held cleaning device of Fig. 1 as seen along line 1-1.
- Fig. 4 shows a cut-away, top perspective view of a hand-held cleaning device being refilled by a refilling dock.
- Fig. 5 shows a side view of the hand-held cleaning device and the refilling apertures thereon.
- Fig. 6 shows a cut-away, top perspective view of a refilling dock.
- a handheld cleaning device may provide improved cleaning, be easy to use, and be convenient to refill.
- the present invention provides a hand-held cleaning device which contains therein a plurality of separate products which when commingled, form an activated cleaning product.
- Such an activated cleaning product may therefore provide improved cleaning by continuously forming and applying an activated cleaning product before its cleaning effectiveness significantly decreases.
- the design of the invention allows the user to reduce or minimize skin-contact with the detergent product.
- the hand-held cleaning device of the present invention may be directly used for scrubbing a substrate, and is thus easy to use.
- the refilling dock as described herein also provides a convenient and tidy manner in which to refill the hand-held cleaning device herein.
- hand-held means that the device is of suitable size, shape, and weight, so as to be easily held in a consumer's hand.
- Fig 1 shows a top perspective view of a handheld cleaning device, 10, of the present invention, having a hollow body member, 12.
- the hand-held cleaning device, 10 is of an appropriate size, shape, and weight to be easily held in a consumer's hand.
- the portion of the hollow body member, 12, where the consumer is expected to grip the hand-held cleaning device, 10, should be from about 4 cm to about 10 cm in width, preferably from about 5 cm to about 9 cm in width, and more preferably from about 5.5 cm to about 8.6 cm in width.
- the hollow body member may be of virtually any shape, it is preferable that it possess smooth edges, more preferably rounded edges.
- Preferred hand-held cleaning device shapes are non-slippery, ergonomic shapes which are easily gripped, for example, rectangular, circular, square, and oval shapes. In locales where laundry bars are common, rectangular shapes may be especially preferred.
- the hand-held cleaning device, 10, should be made of materials which are impervious to the product to be contained therein. Suitable materials include, for example, plastics, rubber, wood, metal, glass, and combinations thereof. Preferred materials include, for example, rubber, and plastics such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, acrylonitrile-butadiene styrene, polycarbonate, and polyethylene terephthalate.
- the hand-held device is preferably rigid, and may be formed via production processes known in the art, such as blow molding, injection molding, injection blow molding, vacuum forming, thermoforming, and combinations thereof.
- the hand-held cleaning device, 10, may be easily cleaned, for example, by rinsing it with water or by adding it to the wash cycle of a washing machine.
- the hand-held cleaning device is adapted to be placed in the wash cycle of a washing machine; the hand-held cleaning device may therefore be made of a material which withstands alkaline conditions, acidic conditions, washer conditions, dryer conditions, and temperature extremes of at least from about -5 °C to about 120 °C. It is also preferred that the hand-held cleaning device not make excessive noise if placed in the wash cycle and/or drying cycle. This may be achieved by, for example, forming the hand-held cleaning device from a soft material.
- the hand-held cleaning device, 10, be of a convenient weight so as to be easily used. Excessively heavy materials and hand-held cleaning devices are to be avoided, as they cause the user to tire quickly, and make cleaning and scrubbing more onerous. Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment, the empty hand-held cleaning device (i.e., without any product contained therein) weighs less than about 500 grams, preferably less than about 300 grams, and more preferably less than about 200 grams.
- the hollow body member, 12, contains an interior portion (see Fig. 3 at 22) and an exterior portion, 14.
- the exterior portion, 14, optionally contains a switch, 16, which controls when the hand-held cleaning device dispenses the products contained therein.
- the switch, 16 is connected to and controls a plurality of valves (see Fig. 3 at 30) inside of the hollow body member, 12.
- the switch is conveniently located where it may be easily toggled on and off with the thumb.
- the switch may be conveniently located in (or on) a handle (not shown), which is in turn located on the exterior portion of the hollow body member.
- the thumb can easily toggle the switch while the other fingers hold onto the handle.
- the switch and valve are toggled by the pressure exerted during scrubbing, such that as scrubbing pressure is increased the amount of product released also proportionally increases.
- Fig. 2 shows a bottom-perspective view of a hand-held cleaning device
- Cleaning effectiveness is a function of the mechanical force applied to a substrate.
- the abrasive surface, 18, applies mechanical force to the substrate to increase cleaning performance.
- the physical characteristics of the abrasive surface should be calibrated to the type of substrate it is to be used upon.
- the material of the abrasive surface should be such that when used for scrubbing, it does not scratch, tear, or otherwise damage its intended substrate. For example, with a hand-held cleaning device for use on hard surfaces such as tile, a hard, rough surface is useful.
- the abrasive surface useful herein includes, for example, a sponge, a scrubbing mesh, a fabric, a brush, and combinations thereof. Porous abrasive surfaces such as a sponge, a scrubbing mesh, and combinations thereof are preferred herein. In a laundry or fabric-cleaning operation, a sponge- brush combination is particularly preferred. For hard surfaces, such as tile, ceramics, metal, etc., a sponge contained within a scrubbing mesh is preferred.
- the exterior portion, 14 of the hand-held cleaning device, 10 may also contain a grip, 20, hereby shown as an ergonomic indentation.
- the hand-held cleaning device is intended for a cleaning operation employing, for example, water and detergents. In such a cleaning operation, the hand-held cleaning device may become slippery.
- the present invention preferably has at least one grip on the exterior portion thereof, to allow the user to easily, comfortably, and conveniently scrub and clean with the hand- held cleaning device. Examples of the grip useful herein include ridges, indentations, ergonomic shaping, a handle, and combinations thereof.
- the grip, 20, and the hand-held cleaning device, 10, may be manufactured separately and combined together, such as for example, when the grip is a rubber or foam sleeve (not shown) which may be affixed to and removed from the hand-held cleaning device, as desired.
- the grip, 20, may be integral with the exterior portion, 14, as shown in Fig. 2.
- Such a grip is especially preferred when the device is formed by a process such as blow molding, injection molding, injection blow molding, vacuum forming, thermoforming, etching or engraving, and combinations thereof.
- Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the hand-held cleaning device, 10, as seen along line 1-1 in Fig. 1.
- the exterior portion, 14, is cut away to show the interior portion, 22, which contains a plurality of reservoirs, 24 and 24'.
- the plurality of reservoirs contain a plurality of separate products therein, which form an activated cleaning product when commingled.
- a first reservoir, 24, is separated from a second reservoir, 24', by at least one partition, 26.
- the partition, 26, substantially prevents the contents of the reservoirs, 24 and 24', from commingling to form the activated cleaning product.
- Each reservoir, 24 and 24' is connected to the abrasive surface, 18, via at least one passage, 28 and 28', respectively.
- each reservoir, 24 and 24' is a valve having at least an open position, 30 and 30', and a closed position, 32 and 32', respectively.
- the switch (Fig. 1 , at 16) toggles the valve from the open position, 30 and 30', to the closed position, 32 and 32'.
- the valve When the valve is in the open position, 30 and 30', the contents of the reservoirs are free to flow into the passage, 28 and 28', and to the abrasive surface, 18.
- the valve when the valve is in the closed position, 32 and 32', the contents of the reservoirs, 24 and 24', are substantially prevented from entering the passage, 28 and 28', and thereby reaching the abrasive surface, 18. This prevents leakage of the products from the reservoirs.
- the valve is represented in Fig. 3 as a valve which has an open position, 30 and 30', and a closed position, 32 and 32'.
- the preferred valves useful herein include, sliding valves, spring-activated valves, pressure-activated valves, and combinations thereof.
- Sliding valves provide a sliding portion which may physically block the access to the passage when slid closed by the switch.
- a spring-activated valve may remain in either the closed, or open position, until toggled by, for example, the switch.
- a pressure-activated valve may remain in either the open or closed position until pressure is applied to the switch, the abrasive surface, etc.
- valves are also useful herein, either in conjunction with, or in place of such valves, are other types of flow control mechanisms, such as membranes through which the product passes, and combinations thereof.
- the valve comprises a membrane which controls the flow of the products through the passages.
- a pressure-sensitive membrane may allow the products to flow when pressure is applied to the resilient surface and/or the switch.
- the reservoirs are designed to facilitate product flow, and to prevent waste of the products contained therein. This can be achieved, for example, by designing the reservoir bottoms to channel the product into the passages, or by locating the entrance to the passages at the lowest point of the reservoir. Additionally, the reservoir may be coated with a non-stick material, for example a TEFLON ® coating (by DuPont), which facilitates product flow to the passages. In a preferred embodiment, two reservoirs are present, having a volume ratio of about 1 :1 to about 10:1. These two reservoirs are intended for containing two separate products, each possessing a given viscosity.
- the number of valves and passages leading from the reservoirs are calibrated to these volumes and the viscosities of the intended products, such that the separate products exit the reservoirs at a substantially constant ratio which is about equal to the volume ratio of the two reservoirs.
- the switch is connected to a plurality of valves which resemble plugs.
- the valves correspond to at least one passage, such as a dispensing aperture in each reservoir.
- the valves allow the product to reach the dispensing apertures.
- these valves are also in the closed position, and prevent the product from reaching the dispensing aperture.
- Each dispensing aperture further contains a flow control peg therein.
- the flow control peg has both an open position and a closed position, and is connected to a resilient abrasive surface.
- Each flow control peg is normally in the closed position; however, when pressure is exerted on the resilient abrasive surface, it displaces the flow control peg into the open position. Thus, when the valves are placed in the open position, the flow control pegs prevent the product from exiting the corresponding dispensing aperture, unless pressure is also applied to the resilient abrasive surface.
- the products from the separate reservoirs, 24 and 24' therefore do not mix to form the activated cleaning product, until after they exit their respective reservoirs. Instead, these products typically commingle after passing the valves, preferably immediately prior to, or upon reaching the abrasive surface. This commingling forms an activated cleaning product which may be applied to a substrate. In another, embodiment, the activated cleaning product is formed on the substrate itself.
- the activated cleaning product is formed by commingling at least two separate products.
- an active oxygen source may be in a first reservoir
- a bleach activator may be in separate, second reservoir.
- the commingled separate products form an activated cleaning product having a cleaning activity, preferably, a bleaching activity, an enzymatic activity, or mixtures thereof.
- the hand-held cleaning device of the invention is refutable. Accordingly, Fig. 4 shows a cut-away, top perspective view of a refilling dock, 34, which provides easy and convenient refilling of the reservoirs (see Fig. 3, at 24 and 24') within the hand-held cleaning device, 10.
- the refilling dock, 34 contains a refilling station, 36, where the hand-held cleaning device, 10, is placed when being refilled.
- the cut-away portion of the refilling dock, 34 shows a plurality of tanks, 38 and 38', therein.
- the number of tanks is equal in number to the number of reservoirs within the hand-held cleaning device.
- Each tank is in connected relation to at least one outlet, 40 and 40', located at the refilling station, 36, through which a product flows, in order to refill the hand-held cleaning device.
- the number of outlets, 40 is equal in number to the number of refilling apertures (see Fig. 5 at 42), on the hand-held cleaning device, 10.
- the tanks, 38 are separate, and prevent the products therein from commingling prior to use, thereby preventing premature formation of the activated cleaning product.
- the tanks themselves may be either disposable or refillable, for example, via an opening therein (not shown).
- the refilling tanks are made up of translucent or transparent materials, and/or contain a level indicator. This allows the user to easily determine when the tanks require refilling.
- the tanks, 38 refill the reservoirs with the products, which in turn commingle to form the activated cleaning product. This refilling may be by any means, but typically occurs via gravity-induced refilling, by utilizing pressurized tanks, and combinations thereof.
- the hand-held cleaning device, 10, may be aligned on the refilling station, 36, in a variety of positions.
- a horizontal position is depicted; however, the actual position may vary, as desired.
- vertically-oriented positions, side-oriented positions, etc. are also included within the scope of the present invention.
- the abrasive surface, 18, is facing upward when the hand-held device, 10, is placed in the refilling station, 34.
- the refilling dock may be formed of the same material as the hand-held cleaning device, or may be formed of another material.
- the preferred materials for forming the refilling dock include, plastics, rubber, wood, metal, glass, and combinations thereof.
- Preferred materials include, for example, rubber, and plastics such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, acrylonitrile- butadiene styrene, polycarbonate, and polyethylene terephthalate.
- the refilling dock or portions thereof may be formed via production processes known in the art, such as blow molding, injection molding, injection blow molding, vacuum forming, thermoforming, and combinations thereof.
- Fig. 5 shows a side view of a hand-held cleaning device, 10, specifically depicting a plurality of refilling apertures, 42 and 42', thereon.
- the outlets Fig. 4, at 40 and 40'
- a grip 20, shown here as an ergonomic indentation, which allows the user to securely hold the hand-held cleaning device, 10, when scrubbing with the abrasive surface, 18.
- Fig. 6 shows a cut-away, top perspective view of a refilling dock, 34, without the hand-held cleaning device.
- the tanks, 38 and 38' are connected to the outlets, 40, and 40', respectively.
- the hand-held cleaning device is removably placed in the refilling station, 36, such that the outlets, 40 and 40', mate with the refilling apertures (see Fig. 5, at 42 and 42').
- Each product then flows from its respective tank, 38, through the outlet, 40, and into the reservoir (see Fig. 3, at 24) to refill the hand-held cleaning device.
- the hand-held cleaning device fits into the refilling station in only a single orientation. This prevents a product from being refilled into the wrong reservoir intended for another product.
- the separate products commingle to form an activated cleaning product it is desirable to prevent inadvertent mixing of the separate products during refilling. This can be provided, for example via a guide (not shown), or a slot (not shown) within which the hand-held cleaning device fits, in only a single orientation.
- a level indicator (not shown) is provided on the hollow body member to indicate whether the hand-held cleaning device requires refilling.
- Such an indicator includes, for example a transparent window, a mobile indicator, and combinations thereof.
- the level indicator is typically a type of visual indicator.
- the tanks and/or the refilling dock itself may further contain a level indicator (not shown), which provides an indication of when the tanks are empty.
- Such an indicator is typically, a visual indicator.
- the refilling apertures, the refilling dock, and/or the outlets may contain a mechanism (not shown) which prevents leakage of the product therefrom. It is especially important to prevent leakage when the hand-held cleaning device is not being refilled by the refilling dock.
- a mechanism may contain, for example, a one-way valve, an O-ring, or other mechanisms which would achieve the same purpose. In such an embodiment, a pressure-activated mechanism is preferred.
- a similar or different mechanism may also prevent the outlets from leaking when the scrubber is not connected to the refilling dock.
- a one-way rubber gasket or valve may also be useful herein to prevent leakage from the refilling aperture, the outlet, etc.
- a one-way rubber gasket as is used in inflatable balls, may be useful herein.
- the products which commingle to form the activated cleaning product useful herein comprise at least 2 different products.
- a bleach precursor product and a bleach activator product which commingle to form an activated cleaning product containing active oxygen.
- Preferred examples of the products useful herein which may form an activated product include, for example, a bleach activator product and a bleach precursor product, an enzyme product and an enzyme activator product, a bleach product and a surfactant product, etc.
- the bleach precursor product useful herein is typically an active oxygen source. While not preferred, herein, hypochlorite or chlorine type bleaches may also be included.
- the active oxygen source useful herein includes compounds which form available peroxyacid oxygen when exposed to a bleach activator, an alkalinity source, and moisture.
- An active oxygen source can be hydrophilic, hydrophobic, or both.
- the active oxygen source useful in the present invention can be any of the oxidizing agents known for laundry, hard surface cleaning, automatic dishwashing, or denture cleaning purposes, including oxygen.
- a preferred active oxygen source of the peroxygen type includes hydrogen peroxide, inorganic per-compounds, inorganic peroxohydrates, organic peroxohydrates, and mixtures thereof; a more preferred active oxygen source includes hydrogen peroxide, perborate, percarbonate, and mixtures thereof.
- an active oxygen source is also useful herein as an active oxygen source.
- the inorganic peroxides such as Na2 ⁇ 2, superoxides such as K02, organic hydroperoxides such as cumene hydroperoxide and t-butyl hydroperoxide, and the inorganic peroxoacids and their salts such as the peroxosulfuric acid salts, especially the potassium salts of peroxodisulfuric acid and mixtures thereof; more preferably, of peroxomonosulfuric acid including the commercial triple-salt form sold as OXONETM by DuPont and also any equivalent commercially available forms such as CUROXTM from Akzo or CAROATTM from Degussa.
- organic peroxides such as dibenzoyl peroxide
- a preferred active oxygen source includes peroxohydrates, sometimes known as peroxy hydrates or peroxohydrates. These are organic or, more commonly, inorganic salts capable of releasing hydrogen peroxide readily. They include types in which hydrogen peroxide is present as a true crystal hydrate, and types in which hydrogen peroxide is incorporated covalently and is released chemically, for example by hydrolysis. Typically, peroxohydrates deliver hydrogen peroxide readily enough that it can be extracted in measurable amounts into the ether phase of an ether/water mixture.
- Peroxohydrates are characterized in that they fail to give the Riesenfeld reaction, in contrast to certain other active oxygen sources. Peroxohydrates are the most common examples of "hydrogen peroxide source” materials and include the perborates, percarbonates, perphosphates, and persilicates.
- peroxohydrates include sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate and equivalent commercial "percarbonate” bleaches, and any of the so-called sodium perborate hydrates, the "tetra hydrate” and “monohydrate” being preferred; though sodium pyrophosphate peroxyhydrate can be used.
- Many such peroxohydrates are available in processed forms with coatings, such as of silicate and/or borate and/or waxy materials and/or surfactants, or have particle geometries, such as compact spheres, which improve storage stability.
- Percarbonate bleach includes, for example, dry particles having an average particle size in the range from about 500 micrometers to about 1 ,000 micrometers, not more than about 10% by weight of said particles being smaller than about 200 micrometers and not more than about 10% by weight of said particles being larger than about 1 ,250 micrometers. These percarbonates are compatible with non-aqueous solvents. Percarbonates and perborates are widely available in commerce, for example from FMC, Solvay and Tokai Denka.
- Another suitable hydrogen peroxide generating system is a combination of a C1-C4 alkanol oxidase and a C1-C4 alkanol, especially a combination of methanol oxidase and ethanol (the corresponding bleach activators).
- Such combinations are disclosed in WO 94/03003 to Labounty, et al., published February 3, 1994.
- Other enzymatic materials related to bleaching such as peroxidases, haloperoxidases, oxidases, superoxide dismutases, catalases and their enhancers or, more commonly, inhibitors, may be used as optional ingredients in the instant compositions.
- the active oxygen source herein can have any physical form compatible with the intended application; more particularly, liquid-forms, paste-forms, and solid-forms.
- Liquids can be included in solid detergents, for example by adsorption onto an inert support; and solids can be included in liquid detergents, for example by use of compatible suspending agents.
- An active oxygen source will typically be at a level of from about 1 % to about 30%, more typically from about 5% to about 20%, of the cleaning composition, especially for fabric laundering.
- a bleach activator may comprise an alkalinity source, either alone, or in conjunction with amides, imides, esters, anhydrides, and mixtures thereof.
- at least one substituted or unsubstituted acyl moiety is present, covalently connected to a leaving group as in the structure R-C(O)-L.
- the atom in the leaving group connecting to the peracid-forming acyl moiety R(C)O- is most typically O or N.
- a bleach activator can have non-charged, positively or negatively charged peracid- forming moieties and/or noncharged, positively or negatively charged leaving groups.
- One or more peracid-forming moieties or leaving-groups can be present. See, for example, U.S. 5,595,967 to Kellett, et al., issued January 21 , 1997, U.S. 5,561 ,235 to Burns, et al., issued October 1 , 1996, U.S. 5,560,862 to Burns, et al., issued October 1 , 1996 or the bis-(peroxy-carbonic) system of U.S. 5,534,179 to Kellett, et al., issued July 9, 1996.
- a bleach activator can be substituted with electron-donating or electron-releasing moieties either in the leaving-group or in the peracid-forming moiety or moieties, changing their reactivity and making them more or less suited to particular pH or wash conditions.
- electron-withdrawing groups such as NO2 improve the efficacy of bleach activators intended for use in mild-pH (e.g., from about 7.5 to about 9.5) wash conditions.
- the bleach activator can have many physical forms, for example, the bleach activator itself can be hydrous, or an anhydrous solid or liquid in a non- aqueous solvent.
- Examples of a cationic bleach activator includes quaternary carbamate-, quaternary carbonate-, quaternary ester-, quaternary amide-, and mixtures thereof, delivering a range of cationic peroxyimidic, peroxycarbonic or peroxycarboxylic acids to the wash.
- An analogous but non-cationic palette of bleach activators is available when quaternary derivatives are not desired.
- examples of a cationic bleach activator includes the quaternary ammonium-substituted bleach activators of WO 96-06915 to Baillely, et al., published March 7, 1996, U.S.
- cationic nitriles as disclosed in EP-B1 -303,520 to Aoyagi, et al., issued April 20, 1994 and in European Patent Specification 458,396 to Oakes, et al., published November 27, 1991 and 464,880 to Adams, et al., issued December 14, 1994.
- Other nitrile types such as 3,5- dimethoxybenzonitrile and 3,5-dinitrobenzonitrile can also be used.
- bleach activator disclosures include GB 836,988 to Davies, et al., published June 9, 1960; GB 864,798 to Hampson and McDonnell, published April 6,1961 ; GB 907,356 to Maddox, et al., published October 3, 1962; GB 1 ,003,310 to Chase and Samuels, published September 2, 1965 and GB 1 ,519,351 to Wellwood, published July 26, 1978; German Patent 3,337,921 to Balzer, et al., published May 2, 1985; EP-B-0185522 to Fong and Kong, issued November 7, 1990; EP-B-0174132 to Divo, issued December 14, 1988; U.S. Pat. No.
- Suitable bleach activators include any acetylated diamine types, whether hydrophilic or hydrophobic in character.
- a preferred class of bleach activator includes the esters, including acyl phenol sulfonates, acyl alkyl phenol sulfonates or acyl oxybenzenesulfonates (OBS leaving-group); the acyl-amides; the quaternary ammonium substituted peroxyacid precursors including the cationic nitriles, and mixtures thereof.
- a preferred hydrophobic bleach activator includes sodium nonanoyloxybenzene sulfonate (NOBS or SNOBS), substituted amide types described in detail hereinafter, and the bleach activators related to certain imidoperacid bleaches, for example as described in U.S.
- Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application (Kokai) No. 4-28799 to Yamada, et al., published January 31 , 1992 for example describes a bleaching agent and a bleaching cleaning composition comprising an organic peracid precursor described by a general formula and illustrated by compounds which may be summarized more particularly as conforming to the formula:
- L is sodium p-phenolsulfonate
- R 1 is CH3 or C12H25 and R 2 is H.
- Another bleach activator herein are those derivable from acyclic imidoperoxycarboxylic acids and salts thereof of the formula:
- n is from 0 to about 4
- R ⁇ and E are said terminal hydrocarbyl groups, R2, R3 and R4 are independently selected from H, C1-C3 saturated alkyl, and C1-C3 unsaturated alkyl; and wherein said terminal hydrocarbyl groups are alkyl groups comprising at least six carbon atoms, more typically linear or branched alkyl having from about 8 to about 16 carbon atoms.
- Another suitable bleach activator includes sodium-4-benzoyloxy benzene sulfonate (SBOBS); sodium-1-methyl-2-benzoyloxy benzene-4-sulphonate; sodium-4-methyl-3-benzoyloxy benzoate; trimethyl ammonium toluyloxy- benzene sulfonate; sodium 3,5,5-trimethyl hexanoyloxybenzene sulfonate
- a preferred bleach activator includes N,N,N'N'-tetraacetyl ethylene diamine (TAED) or any of its close relatives including the triacetyl or other unsymmetrical derivatives, and mixtures thereof.
- TAED and the acetylated carbohydrates such as glucose pentaacetate and tetraacetyl xylose are preferred.
- acetyl triethyl citrate a liquid, also has some utility, as does phenyl benzoate.
- a highly preferred bleach activator useful herein is amide-substituted and has either of the formulae:
- R 5 R5 or mixtures thereof, wherein R is alkyl, aryl, or alkaryl containing from about 1 to about 14 carbon atoms including both hydrophilic types (short R ⁇ ) and hydrophobic types (especially when Rl is from about 8 to about 12), R is alkylene, arylene or alkarylene containing from about 1 to about 14 carbon
- a preferred bleach activator includes those of the formulae, hereinabove, for example the amide-substituted formulae,
- R , R and R are as defined for the corresponding peroxyacid and L is selected from the group consisting of:
- R is a linear or branched alkyl, aryl, or alkaryl group containing from about 1 to about 14 carbon atoms
- R is an alkyl chain containing from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms
- R is H or R
- Y is H or a solubilizing group.
- solubilizing groups include -SO3 " M + , -CO2 " M + , -SO4 " M + , -N + (R)4X " and O ⁇ -
- a preferred bleach activator also includes those of the above general formula wherein L is selected from the group consisting of:
- Preferred examples of a bleach activator of the above formulae include (6- octanamidocaproyl) oxybenzenesulfonate, (6-nonanamidocaproyl) oxybenzenesulfonate, (6-decanamidocaproyl) oxybenzenesulfonate, and mixtures thereof.
- Nonlimiting examples of an additional bleach activator useful herein are to be found in U.S. 4,915,854 to Baker, et al., issued April 10, 1990, U.S. 4,412,934 to Chung and Spadini, issued November 1 , 1983 and U.S. 4,634,551 to Hardy and Ingram, issued January 6, 1987.
- hydrophobic activator NOBS and the hydrophilic TAED activator are typical, and mixtures thereof can also be used.
- a preferred bleach activator includes para- acetoxybenzene sulphonate, triacetyl cyanurate, and tetra acetyl glycol uril.
- acyl lactam bleach activators are also very useful herein, especially the acyl caprolactams (see for example WO 94-28102 A to Burns, et al., published December 8, 1994) and acyl valerolactams (see ) of the formulae:
- R ⁇ is H, alkyl, aryl, alkoxyaryl, an alkaryl group containing from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms, or substituted phenyl containing from about 6 to about
- a NOBS, lactam bleach activator, imide bleach activator, or amide- functional bleach activator, especially the more hydrophobic derivatives are desirably combined with a hydrophilic bleach activator such as TAED, typically at weight ratios of hydrophobic bleach activator : TAED in the range of 1 :5 to 5:1 , preferably about 1 :1.
- TAED hydrophilic bleach activator
- Other suitable examples of a lactam bleach activator are alpha-modified, see WO 96-22350 A1 to Burekett, et al., published July 25, 1996.
- a lactam bleach activator especially the more hydrophobic types, are desirably used in combination with TAED, typically at weight ratios of amido- derived or caprolactam bleach activator : TAED in the range of 1 :5 to 5:1 , preferably about 1 :1. See also the bleach activator having a cyclic amidine leaving-group disclosed in U.S. 5,552,556 to Burns, et al., issued September 3, 1996.
- An additional bleach activator useful herein include those of U.S. 5,545,349 to Itoh, et al., issued August 13, 1996.
- Examples include esters of an organic acid and ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol or glycerin, or the acid imide of an organic acid and ethylenediamine; wherein the organic acid is selected from methoxyacetic acid, 2-methoxypropionic acid, p-methoxybenzoic acid, ethoxyacetic acid, 2-ethoxypropionic acid, p-ethoxybenzoic acid, propoxyacetic acid, 2-propoxypropionic acid, p-propoxybenzoic acid, butoxyacetic acid, 2- butoxypropionic acid, p-butoxybenzoic acid, 2-methoxyethoxyacetic acid,2- methoxy-1-methylethoxyacetic acid, 2-methoxy-2-methylethoxyacetic acid,2- ethoxyethoxyacetic acid, 2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)propionic
- Enzymes can be included in the cleaning product for a variety of purposes, including removal of protein-based, carbohydrate-based, or triglyceride-based stains from substrates, for the prevention of refugee dye transfer in fabric laundering, and for fabric restoration.
- Suitable enzymes include proteases, amylases, lipases, cellulases, peroxidases, and mixtures thereof of any suitable origin, such as vegetable, animal, bacterial, fungal and yeast origin. Preferred selections are influenced by factors such as pH-activity and/or stability optima, thermostability, and stability to active detergents, builders and the like.
- bacterial or fungal enzymes are preferred, such as bacterial amylases and proteases, and fungal cellulases.
- An enzyme activator product may also be useful herein. Enzyme products, and especially protease-products are subject to autolysis. However, enzymes typically have their highest activity within a certain pH range. Thus, an enzyme product may have little activity (and thus excellent stability) at, for example, a low pH, but may be highly active at a high pH. Thus, in the present invention, a first reservoir may contain an enzyme in a pH buffer which maintains it at a low, or reduced activity.
- a second reservoir may contain a corresponding buffer which when commingled, forms a mixture whose pH during use is within the optimal range for the enzyme, and thus, forms an activated enzyme product having an enzymatic activity.
- pH-buffer activator products are also useful with other types of products, especially bleach products and bleach precursor products.
- a bleach precursor product is contained in a first reservoir, while a pH buffer/bleach activator product is contained in a second reservoir. When commingled, the bleach precursor product and the pH buffer/bleach activator product form an activated bleach product, for example, an oxygen bleach having a high available oxygen content.
- the present invention may also contain a bleach product and a surfactant product.
- Certain surfactant components may be incompatible with a bleach, and thus should be separated to enhance long-term stability.
- such products when provided in a concentrated form, such products may be incompatible.
- an oxygen bleach may be contained in a first reservoir, while a surfactant product containing an oxidizable chelant is contained in a second reservoir.
- the oxygen bleach and the surfactant product containing the oxidizable chelant are mixed, the chelant removes heavy metal ions from solution, while the oxygen bleach bleaches the substrate.
- compositions herein include other active ingredients such as surfactants, carriers, hydrotropes, processing aids, suds supressors, suds boosters, dyes, pigments, perfumes, dye transfer inhibitors, optical brighteners, clay soil removal agents, anti-redeposition agents, soil release agents, phosphate and non-phosphate builders, etc.
- active ingredients such as surfactants, carriers, hydrotropes, processing aids, suds supressors, suds boosters, dyes, pigments, perfumes, dye transfer inhibitors, optical brighteners, clay soil removal agents, anti-redeposition agents, soil release agents, phosphate and non-phosphate builders, etc.
- useful surfactants include those commonly utilized in cleaning products, such as anionic, cationic, nonionic, and amphoteric surfactants. Examples of the invention are set forth hereinafter by way of illustration and are not intended to be in any way limiting of the invention.
- a hand-held cleaning device of the present invention is prepared, having a transparent, rectangular-shaped hollow body member of approximately 8.6 cm wide by 9.3 cm long, by 3 cm high.
- the hand-held cleaning device contains two reservoirs therein, the first reservoir containing a bleach precursor product containing an active oxygen source, and the second reservoir containing a bleach activator and surfactant product.
- the bleach precursor product contains aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution, while the surfactant product contains an alkalinity source, NOBS, an anionic surfactant, a builder, and an oxidizable chelant.
- Dispensing of these products from their respective reservoirs is controlled via a single switch on the exterior portion of the hollow body member.
- the switch has an open position and a closed position, as described herein. When the switch is in the open position, the products flow from the reservoirs and commingle on the abrasive surface. When commingled, these products form an activated cleaning product having a bleaching and cleaning activity.
- the exterior portion of the hollow body member contains two ergonomic grips on opposing sides thereof, to prevent slippage and to allow comfortable scrubbing with the hand-held cleaning device.
- the abrasive surface contains a resilient sponge surrounded by a nylon scrubbing mesh.
- the exterior portion also contains two refilling apertures which lead to the reservoirs.
- the hand-held cleaning device has a refilling dock at which it may be refilled.
- the hand-held cleaning device is plugged into the refilling station as seen in Fig. 6, to mate the outlets with their respective refilling apertures. This allows the product to flow from the tanks into the corresponding reservoirs.
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- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
- Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Detergent Compositions (AREA)
- Brushes (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (10)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU16995/99A AU1699599A (en) | 1998-11-18 | 1998-11-18 | A hand-held cleaning device |
PCT/US1998/024576 WO2000028876A1 (en) | 1998-11-18 | 1998-11-18 | A hand-held cleaning device |
CN99815463.6A CN1333667A (en) | 1998-11-18 | 1999-11-12 | Hand-held cleaning device and cleaning system |
JP2000581927A JP2002529182A (en) | 1998-11-18 | 1999-11-12 | Cleaning equipment held by hand |
BR9915481-1A BR9915481A (en) | 1998-11-18 | 1999-11-12 | Portable cleaning device |
AU17217/00A AU1721700A (en) | 1998-11-18 | 1999-11-12 | A hand-held cleaning device |
US09/831,781 US6510877B1 (en) | 1998-11-18 | 1999-11-12 | Hand-held cleaning device and a cleaning system |
EP99960317A EP1130993A1 (en) | 1998-11-18 | 1999-11-12 | Hand-held cleaning device and a cleaning system |
PCT/US1999/026884 WO2000028873A2 (en) | 1998-11-18 | 1999-11-12 | A hand-held cleaning device and a cleaning system |
ARP990105857A AR021310A1 (en) | 1998-11-18 | 1999-11-18 | A DEVICE FOR HAND HOLDED CLEANING. |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US1998/024576 WO2000028876A1 (en) | 1998-11-18 | 1998-11-18 | A hand-held cleaning device |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2000028876A1 true WO2000028876A1 (en) | 2000-05-25 |
WO2000028876A8 WO2000028876A8 (en) | 2000-07-20 |
Family
ID=22268316
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US1998/024576 WO2000028876A1 (en) | 1998-11-18 | 1998-11-18 | A hand-held cleaning device |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
AU (1) | AU1699599A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2000028876A1 (en) |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB715449A (en) * | 1951-10-23 | 1954-09-15 | Rene Del Piano | Stain-removing pad |
FR1578718A (en) * | 1967-09-04 | 1969-08-22 | ||
US5397194A (en) * | 1994-01-24 | 1995-03-14 | Yuan; Henry S. | Fountain cleaning device |
DE29613014U1 (en) * | 1996-04-02 | 1996-12-12 | Maiorana, Michele, 66780 Rehlingen-Siersburg | Cleaning sponge |
US5704723A (en) * | 1996-08-29 | 1998-01-06 | Salisian; Harold W. | Soap dispensing device |
-
1998
- 1998-11-18 AU AU16995/99A patent/AU1699599A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1998-11-18 WO PCT/US1998/024576 patent/WO2000028876A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB715449A (en) * | 1951-10-23 | 1954-09-15 | Rene Del Piano | Stain-removing pad |
FR1578718A (en) * | 1967-09-04 | 1969-08-22 | ||
US5397194A (en) * | 1994-01-24 | 1995-03-14 | Yuan; Henry S. | Fountain cleaning device |
DE29613014U1 (en) * | 1996-04-02 | 1996-12-12 | Maiorana, Michele, 66780 Rehlingen-Siersburg | Cleaning sponge |
US5704723A (en) * | 1996-08-29 | 1998-01-06 | Salisian; Harold W. | Soap dispensing device |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2000028876A8 (en) | 2000-07-20 |
AU1699599A (en) | 2000-06-05 |
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