MULTIUSE, SOLID CLEANING DEVICE AND COMPOSITION

• US 20070232517A1
• Filed: 09/27/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eco-Bat Technologies Limited (Quexco, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Eco-Bat Technologies Limited (Quexco, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cook, Cory, Evans, K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,517,848 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 510/445
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 21/22 using additional holders in conduits, containers or pools for keeping the solid material in place, e.g. supports or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/24 Mixing of ingredients for cleaning compositions
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/4505 Mixing ingredients comprising detergents, soaps, for washing, e.g. washing machines
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/316 with containers for additional components fixed to the conduit
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 11/0094 Process for making liquid detergent compositions, e.g. slurries, pastes or gels
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/0047 Detergents in the form of bars or tablets
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/041 Compositions releasably affixed on a substrate or incorporated into a dispensing means
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/046 Insoluble free body dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 2111/12 Soft surfaces, e.g. textile
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/0052 Gas evolving or heat producing compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/044 Hydroxides or bases
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/08 Silicates
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/10 Carbonates ; Bicarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/128 Aluminium silicates, e.g. zeolites C11D3/1253 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3942 Inorganic per-compounds C11D3/3902 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/42 Brightening agents ; Blueing agents
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/50 Perfumes

Abstract

A multiuse cleaning device in a solid state containing a homogeneous quantity of cleaning agent configured to dissolve and release a substantially consistent quantity of cleaning agent over a plurality of wash and rinse cycles. The cleaning agent includes a gas-releasing component and potassium silicate as a solubility control component to limit the solubility of the cleaning agent. The cleaning agent may include other ingredients such as an alkalinity agent as a pH regulator, a water softener to solvate metal ions in a solution of water, an optical brightener, an anti-redeposition agent, fragrances, surfactants, and other ingredients. Controlled dissolution of the cleaning agent composition releases a desired quantity of cleaning agent in each cleaning cycle over a plurality of cycles. A porous enclosure may be disposed around the solid cleaning agent.

Claims

1. A multiuse cleaning device in a solid state comprising a homogeneous quantity of cleaning agent in solid form configured to be disposed within a cleaning machine and to dissolve and release a substantially consistent quantity of cleaning agent over a plurality of cleaning wash and rinse cycles.

2. The multiuse cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning agent comprises a gas-releasing component, a solubility control component to limit the solubility of the cleaning agent, wherein the solubility control component is present in an amount sufficient to cause the multiuse cleaning device to dissolve in water and release a substantially consistent quantity of cleaning agent over a plurality of cleaning wash and rinse cycles.

3. The multiuse cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein the gas-releasing component is selected from the group consisting of perborates, percarbonates, and mixtures thereof and the solubility control component is potassium silicate.

4. The multiuse cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein the gas-releasing component is present in an amount from 35% to 60% by weight, and wherein the solubility control component is present in an amount from 30% to 60% by weight prior to molding and curing the cleaning agent.

5. The multiuse cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein the gas-releasing component is present in an amount from 40% to 55% by weight, and wherein the solubility control component is present in an amount from 35% to 50% by weight prior to molding and curing the cleaning agent.

6. The multiuse cleaning device according to claim 5, further comprising a water softener present in an amount from 0.5% to 20% by weight, an alkalinity agent present in an amount from 0.5% to 20% by weight, and an optical brightener present in an amount from 0.5% to 8% by weight.

7. The multiuse cleaning device according to claim 5, wherein the cleaning agent further comprises a fragrance component present in an amount from about 0.5 to 15% by weight.

8. The multiuse cleaning device according to claim 5, wherein the cleaning agent further comprises an anti-redeposition component present in an amount from about 0.5% to 10% by weight.

9. The multiuse cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein the water softener is selected from the group consisting of ion exchange particles and salts of weak acids.

10. The multiuse cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein the water softener is a natural or synthetic zeolite.

11. The multiuse cleaning device according to claim 3, wherein the gas-releasing component is sodium perborate monohydrate.

12. The multiuse cleaning device according to claim 3, wherein the gas-releasing component is sodium percarbonate.

13. The multiuse cleaning device according to claim 2, further comprising an alkalinity agent as a pH regulator selected from the group consisting of an alkali hydroxide, alkali hydride, alkali oxide, alkali sesquicarbonate, alkali carbonate, alkali phosphate, alkali borate, alkali salt of mineral acid, alkali amine, alkaloid, alkali cyamide, and mixtures thereof.

14. The multiuse cleaning device according to claim 13, wherein the alkalinity agent is an alkali hydroxide.

15. The multiuse cleaning device according to claim 1, further comprising a porous enclosure disposed around the solid cleaning agent.

16. The multiuse cleaning device according to claim 15, wherein the porous enclosure conforms to the size of the solid cleaning agent as the cleaning agent shrinks in size due to dissolution of cleaning agent.

17. The multiuse cleaning device according to claim 15, wherein the porous enclosure comprises a rubber-like material with a plurality of holes and a plurality of ribs.

18. The multiuse cleaning device according to claim 17, where a plurality of the ribs intersect at a plurality of the holes.

19. The multiuse cleaning device according to claim 15 wherein the porous covering is configured to perform one or more functions selected from the group consisting of:

retaining fragrance with the cleaning agent;

creating more sudsing during operation of the cleaning machine;

creating drag in the water to quiet any contact with the cleaning agent and the cleaning machine;

retaining fragments of the cleaning agent;

providing a more consistent dissolution rate of the cleaning device over multiple cycles; and

creating a barrier between the cleaning agent and articles being cleaned.

20. The multiuse cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning agent is in the form of a ball.

21. The multiuse cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning agent in solid form dissolves and releases a substantially consistent quantity of cleaning agent over from about 10 to 40 cleaning wash or rinse cycles.

22. The multiuse cleaning device according to claim 5, wherein the gas-releasing component is sodium perborate monohydrate present in an amount from 42% to 52% by weight, and wherein the solubility control component is potassium silicate present in an amount from 35% to 45% by weight.

23. The multiuse cleaning device according to claim 6, wherein the water softener is a zeolite present in an amount from 1% to 5% by weight, wherein the alkalinity agent is sodium hydroxide present in an amount from 1% to 5% by weight, and wherein the optical brightener is present in an amount from 0.5% to 3% by weight.

24. The multiuse laundry cleaning device according to claim 23, wherein the cleaning agent further comprises:

a fragrance component present in an amount from about 1 to 5% by weight; and

an anti-redeposition component present in an amount from about 0.5 to 3% by weight.

25. A method of providing cleaning agent to a cleaning machine comprising:

obtaining a multiuse cleaning device in a solid state comprising a homogeneous quantity of cleaning agent in solid form comprising a gas-releasing component selected from the group consisting of perborates, percarbonates, and mixtures thereof, a potassium silicate solubility control component to limit the solubility of the cleaning agent, wherein the solubility control component is present in an amount sufficient to cause the multiuse cleaning device to dissolve in water and release a substantially consistent quantity of cleaning agent over a plurality of cleaning wash and rinse cycles; and

depositing the cleaning device within the cleaning machine under conditions such that the cleaning device is exposed to water from the plurality of cleaning wash and rinse cycles.

26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising the step of disposing the solid cleaning agent within a porous enclosure.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the porous enclosure comprises a pliable fabric material.

28. The method according to claim 26, wherein the porous enclosure comprises a rubber-like material with a plurality of holes and a plurality of ribs.

29. The method according to claim 28, where a plurality of the ribs intersect at a plurality of the holes.

30. The method according to claim 25, wherein the cleaning agent in solid form is in the form of a ball.

31. The method according to claim 25, wherein the gas-releasing component is present in an amount from 35% to 60% by weight, and wherein the solubility control component is present in an amount from 30% to 60% by weight prior to molding and curing the cleaning agent.

32. The method according to claim 25, wherein the gas-releasing component is present in an amount from 40% to 55% by weight, and wherein the solubility control component is present in an amount from 35% to 50% by weight prior to molding and curing the cleaning agent.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the cleaning agent further comprises a water softener present in an amount from 0.5% to 20% by weight, an alkalinity agent present in an amount from 0.5% to 20% by weight, and an optical brightener present in an amount from 0.5% to 8% by weight.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the cleaning agent further comprises:

a fragrance component present in an amount from about 0.5 to 15% by weight; and

an anti-redeposition component present in an amount from about 0.5% to 10% by weight.

35. The method according to claim 32, wherein the gas-releasing component is sodium perborate monohydrate present in an amount from 42% to 52% by weight, and wherein the solubility control component is potassium silicate present in an amount from 35% to 45% by weight prior to molding and curing the cleaning agent.

36. The method according to claim 33, wherein the water softener is a zeolite present in an amount from 1% to 5% by weight, wherein the alkalinity agent is sodium hydroxide present in an amount from 1% to 5% by weight, and wherein the optical brightener is present in an amount from 0.5% to 3% by weight.

37. The method according to claim 31, further comprising the step of disposing the solid cleaning agent within a porous enclosure.

38. The method according to claim 37, wherein the porous enclosure conforms to the size of the solid cleaning agent as the cleaning agent shrinks in size due to dissolution of cleaning agent.

39. The method according to claim 37, wherein the porous enclosure comprises a rubber-like material with a plurality of holes and a plurality of ribs.

40. The method according to claim 37, where a plurality of the ribs intersect at a plurality of the holes.