WO2017165400A1 - Detergent pods with soy covering film - Google Patents

Abstract

A detergent pod with a covering film formed from soy protein isolate ("SPI"). The SPI film can be produced in a wide range of solubility and strength and is biodegradable and eco-friendly. The inventive film in certain embodiments may also have a yellowish, soy milk color which may be beneficial to help reduce children from mistaking the pods detergent pods candy. The instant disclosure has specific applicability for laundry detergent pods and single use dishwashing detergent pods.

Description

DETERGENT PODS WITH SOY COVERING FILM

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 62/311,792, filed March 22, 2016, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The present invention relates to detergent pods, which are known per se. The films currently used to seal such pods are typically made from polyvinyl alcohol ("PVA"), which can be damaging to the environment.

[0003] These teachings provide a detergent pod with a covering film formed from soy protein isolate ("SPI"), which forms the outside coating of the pod. These SPI films allow for a wider range of properties such as solubility and strength. The soy also gives the film a yellowish, soy milk color which may be beneficial to help reduce the number of youth mistaking the pods for candy. Although, this disclosure is directed to a laundry detergent pod, it should be understood that the same principle can be used for single dose dishwashing detergents.

Existing Products:

[0004] Common detergents currently in the market consist of liquid and powdered detergent. Pods currently exist, such as P&G's 2-in-l Pearls, Tide pods and Fairy Non-bio pods.

[0005] According to the Mintel database, about 17.5% of home laundry detergents in the market are pods or capsules. Although this number is significant, it accounts for only a few existing pods that capture this entire sector, the leader being P&G.

[0006] None of the known detergent pods have incorporated a soy based or other nontoxic based coating for the pods. Benefits/Advantages:

[0007] Consumers value both effectiveness and convenience. The soy based film taught herein primarily focuses on effectiveness of the pod as a detergent complemented by its more bio-friendly nature and secondarily focus on convenience for homes with kids and pets, college students and for people of all age groups.

[0008] The coating is configured to be made of a completely eco-friendly soy based coating, reducing risk of exposure in households with small children and pets. As recent case studies and reports have shown, children under the age of six and pets in households have been mistaking existing pods for candy or something to snack on. Using a soy based gelatin coating reduces risk for potential poisoning from currently used toxic coatings.

[0009] The use of soy in the pod product adds to the effectiveness of the detergent as a whole due to soy's antibacterial properties. This not only improves the quality of the detergent but also kills the viruses and bacteria making the clothes healthier for use.

[0010] According to the Mintel database, about 55% of household users prefer detergent pods and about 26% are concerned about safety when it comes to handling or dealing with detergent pods and our product aims towards reducing the concerns of these people and bring these numbers down.

DESCRIPTION

List of Process Parameters and a Flowchart of the Process

Critical Process Parameters

• Mix water, soy protein Isolate and Glycerol to make a solution.

• Using Sodium Hydroxide change the solution to a PH of 10.

• Heat for 20 mins at 75°C.

• Using cheesecloth, strain the solution to get rid of any inconsistencies in the mixture.

• Then spread solution and let dry for approximately 20 hours to get the film.

• Multiple ways to close the film:

[0011] Lay an entire film on an ice tray and then add the detergent into each ice cube on the film. Brush the sides of each ice cubes with the film solution and lay the second film onto the ice tray. [0012] Two small portions of the larger film were used and some film solution was used to seal off three edges of the pod. The pods were then stuffed with detergent and the last edge was sealed off using the same film solution. The edges were then pressed upon to make sure they were sealed off properly and allowed to dry.

[0013] As is known, compositions of traditional detergent are mainly polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), which causes damage to the sea environment after it is discharged from sewage.

[0014] In the product taught herein, PVA is replaced with soy protein, which is

biodegradable and does not damage the eco-system. While having properties of the PVA films such as good flexibility and solubility, soy protein also maintains the same cost compared to PVA.

[0015] Soy protein is a critical ingredient in this product. It keeps other chemicals together and allows the plastic film to eventually form. If soy protein were replaced with any other ingredients, it is believed that the product could not be successfully made, or it would be difficult.

[0016] This disclosure teaches soy protein isolate (SPI) as the main ingredient. The inventive film contains around 50% of SPI. Glycerol and potentially other chemicals can be used to make the film, but the main ingredient is the SPI. The other chemicals can be added in small amounts to change characteristics of the film.

[0017] The product described in this disclosure was made using tooling such as basic lab equipment. For large scale production, retooling would be necessary to bring the product to industry standards and specifications with accuracy, where better manufacturing units and facilities, storages and equipment come into play.

[0018] In the market today, PVA films are made using a similar process to make SPI films, so it is envisioned that production facilities that are currently configured for PVA films could be readily configured to produce SPI films.

Bench/Lab Production:

[0019] Soy protein isolate is weighed and mixed with appropriate amount of water inside a beaker. Additional materials such as NaOH and Glycerin are then added into the beaker to increase the flexibility and basicity of the film. Heat the solution to 70-75 degrees Celsius while stirring for 20 mins. Finally, pour the solution on a Teflon sheet evenly and wait for 12 hours to let it dry up.

[0020] Heat water to boil and then add shredded soap bar. Heat while stirring until all the soap bar dissolves. Appropriate amount of sodium borate and sodium carbonate are mixed and added into the solution. Continue heating until everything dissolves. Let it sit for 2-3 hours to cool down.

Product Functionality and Properties:

[0021] To use the product made according to these teachings, the user can just simply throw the pods in the washing machine with laundry. The pods will break down and dissolve within 3 minutes. The inventive soy protein film not only has a high solubility compared with other detergent pod products but also is completely eco -friendly. The soy protein film is completely biodegradable and will cause no damage to the environment after it discharges. The film is also designed into a pale-yellowish color which does not as easily attract children as competing products and thus protects children from swallowing them mistakenly as candy.

[0022] The pods prototypes currently use a homemade laundry detergent that uses borax, washing soda and Fels Naphtha soap. However, the detergent inside the pods could be almost any commercially available detergent. [0023] The film of this disclosure is more environmentally friendly than PVA. The process of making the film would require dealing with a solution with a pH of 10 and heating to 75 degrees Celsius. These conditions are manageable and relatively safe.

[0024] Detergent pods in general have raised a few issues since they were introduced a few years ago. The first and most important is that the pods resemble candy and many children make the mistake of eating the pods which can be very dangerous and potentially deadly. The color of the pods taught herein is a pale-yellow, and thus looks less appetizing than other pods that use a clear film (PVA). Pods taught herein are less likely to be mistaken for candy or at least less appealing than other detergent pods.

Summary:

[0025] Pods of this disclosure are environmentally friendlier, price competitive, more soluble than PVA films. After a large amount of sewage that contains PVA being discharged into ocean for a long period of time, it will cause some major damages to marine animals and sea environment. SPI films can be more soluble and stronger than PVA films. However, to make the film taught herein stronger, is a matter of adjusting the SPI/Glycerol ratio. Glycerol is a plasticizer which makes the film more flexible and soluble, but in turn makes the film weaker so more Glycerol will increase solubility but decrease strength. For purposes of this disclosure, a ratio of 50/50 ratio of SPI and Glycerol results in a film was believed strong enough yet dissolves very quickly. One of skill in the art would readily recognize that the ratio can be varied. Further experiments could be done to optimize.

[0026] Adding a color to the film is possible and would most likely be fine for clothes since such a small amount of dye would be needed, however it is believed that the natural soybean color can help deter kids from eating the pods. It is also possible to add other ingredients, e.g., fragrances. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Attitudes toward Single-Dose Detergents. (2015). Laundry Detergents, 98-120. Retrieved December 2, 2015, from Mintel.

Capsules/pods key focus for innovation in laundry market. (2015). Laundry Detergents, 98- 120. Retrieved December 2, 2015, from Mintel.

Chen, L., Reddy, N., & Yang, Y. (2013). Soy proteins as environmentally friendly sizing agents to replace poly(vinyl alcohol). Environmental Science and Pollution Research Environ Sci Pollut Res, 6085-6095.

Chen, S., Han. S., Liu, D., Sun, J., Xiong, J., & Zhan, Z. (2014). Patent No. CN104119491-A. Shanghai Jintang Plastics Technology Co., Ltd.

Find quality Manufacturers, Suppliers, Exporters, Importers, Buyers, Wholesalers, Products and Trade Leads from our award-winning International Trade Site. Import & Export on alibaba.com. (n.d.). Retrieved February 28, 2016, from http://www.alibaba.com/

Henriette, W., & Georg, A. (2004). U.S. Patent No. 0014631. Gulph Mills, PA: Henkel Corporation.

Hinde, D. C, Landham, R. R., Padget, J. C, & Yeates, T. (1998). Patent No. WO1998021118 Al. Zeneca Ltd.

Household Laundry Products, Market Breakdown. (2015). Laundry Detergents, 98-120. Kennedy, S. P. (1990). U.S. Patent No. 4973416 A. The procter & gamble company. Mitchell, C. (2009, February 16). 4 Factors That Shape Market Trends. Retrieved December 2, 2015, from http://wwwinvestope^ia.com/aitk^

Retrieved December 2, 2015, from Mintel.

Stenger, P. C, Moon, A. P., Miracle, G. S., Menge, U., Schlingloff, G., Backmann, F., & Lindenmaier, A. (2013). U.S. patent No. 0,261,042. The procter & gamble company.

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Yu. J. (2013). Patent No. CN102995292 (A). Kunshan Shengyu Non Woven Fabrics Co Ltd.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method of making a detergent pod, comprising:

(a) mixing water, soy protein isolate and glycerin to form a solution;

(b) adjusting the pH of the solution formed in step (a);

(c) heating the solution;

(d) straining the solution;

(e) spreading the solution and allowing time to dry to thereby form a film; and

(f) enclosing detergent in the film formed in step (e).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises increasing the pH of the solution formed in step (a) to between about 9 and 11.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises using sodium hydroxide.

4. A detergent pod, comprising soy protein isolate and glycerin.