Cleansing composition incorporating a biocide, heating agent and thermochromic substance

• US 20080132438A1
• Filed: 11/30/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Kieffer, Philip E., Koenig, David William, Wenzel, Scott W., Hoffman, Douglas Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,318,654 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 510/380
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 2300/00 Combinations or mixtures of active ingredients covered by classes A01N27/00 - A01N65/48 with other active or formulation relevant ingredients, e.g. specific carrier materials or surfactants, covered by classes A01N25/00 - A01N65/48
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/34 Shaped forms, e.g. sheets, not provided for in any other sub-group of this main group
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 31/02 Acyclic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 33/12 Quaternary ammonium compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2800/242 Exothermic; Self-heating; Heating sensation
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2800/438 Thermochromatic; Photochromic; Phototropic
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/0208 Tissues; Wipes; Patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 17/005 Antimicrobial preparations
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/62 Quaternary ammonium compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/0039 Coated compositions or coated components in the compositions, (micro)capsules
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/041 Compositions releasably affixed on a substrate or incorporated into a dispensing means
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/049 Cleaning or scouring pads; Wipes
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/0052 Gas evolving or heat producing compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/046 Salts
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/201 linear
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/40 Dyes ; Pigments
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/48 Medical, disinfecting agents, disinfecting, antibacterial, germicidal or antimicrobial compositions

Abstract

A cleansing composition is described. The cleansing composition generally contains an antimicrobial agent, a heating agent, and a thermochromic agent. During use, the heating agent heats the composition so that the antimicrobial agent becomes more effective. The thermochromic agent, on the other hand, changes the color of the composition as it is heated in order to indicate to a user that the composition is at a desired temperature. In an alternative embodiment, instead of containing a heating agent, a heating source can be used to heat the composition. The heating source can be, for instance, an electrical resistance heater.

Claims

1. A cleansing composition comprising:

an antimicrobial agent combined with a heating agent, the heating agent being configured to activate during use of the cleansing composition causing an increase in temperature of the composition, the cleansing composition further comprising a thermochromic agent, the thermochromic agent being configured to cause a change in color of the cleansing composition during the increase in temperature due to the activation of the heating agent.

2. A cleansing composition as defined in claim 1, wherein the antimicrobial agent comprises an alcohol.

3. A cleansing composition as defined in claim 1, wherein the antimicrobial agent comprises an isothiazolone, alkyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, a triazine, 2-thiocyanomethylthio benzothiazol, methylene bis thiocyanate, acrolein, dodecylguanidine hydrochloride, a chlorophenol, a quaternary ammonium salt, gluteraldehyde, a dithiocarbamate, 2-mercatobenzothiazole, para-chloro-meta-xylenol, silver, chlorohexidine, polyhexamthylene biguanide, a n-halamine, triclosan, a phospholipid, an alpha hydroxyl acid, 2,2-dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide, 2-bromo-2-nitro-1 ,3-propanediol, farnesol, iodine, bromine, hydrogen peroxide, chlorine dioxide, ozone, a botanical oil, a botanical extract, benzalkonium chloride, chlorine, sodium hypochlorite, or combinations thereof.

4. A cleansing composition as defined in claim 2, wherein the alcohol comprises ethanol.

5. A cleansing composition as defined in claim 1, wherein the heating agent is an electrolyte salt that undergoes an exothermic reaction when contacted with water.

6. A cleansing composition as defined in claim 5, wherein the electrolyte salt is encapsulated with a material that degrades during use of the cleansing composition.

7. A cleansing composition as defined in claim 1, wherein the heating agent is encapsulated with a material that degrades during use of the cleansing composition.

8. A cleansing composition as defined in claim 7, wherein the material used to encapsulated the heating agent comprises a wax.

9. A cleansing composition as defined in claim 1, wherein the heating agent comprises calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, a zeolite, aluminum chloride, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, sodium carbonate, sodium sulfate, sodium acetate, a metal, slaked lime, quick lime, a glycol, polyvinyl amine, polyalkyleneamine, polyalkyleneimine, a metal oxide, an electrolyte salt or combinations thereof.

10. A cleansing composition as defined in claim 5, wherein the electrolyte salt is magnesium chloride.

11. A cleansing composition as defined in claim 1, wherein the thermochromic agent comprises a leuco dye.

12. A cleansing composition as defined in claim 1, wherein the cleansing composition is a liquid.

13. A cleansing composition as defined in claim 1, wherein the cleansing composition is a solid.

14. A cleansing composition as defined in claim 1, wherein the heating agent is present in the cleansing composition in an amount sufficient to cause the cleansing composition to increase in temperature from 20°

C. to about 25°

C. when activated.

15. A cleansing composition as defined in claim 1, wherein the heating agent is present in the cleansing composition in an amount sufficient to cause the cleansing composition to increase in temperature from 20°

C. to about 40°

C. when activated.

16. A wiper product comprising a substrate containing the cleansing composition defined in claim 1.

17. A wiper product as defined in claim 16, wherein the substrate comprises a nonwoven web.

18. A cleansing composition as defined in claim 1, wherein the cleansing composition comprises at least one surfactant.

19. A cleansing composition as defined in claim 1, wherein the thermochromic agent is configured to change color at a temperature of at least about 25°

C.

20. A cleansing composition as defined in claim 1, wherein the thermochromic agent is configured to change color at a temperature of at least about 30°

C.

21. A cleansing composition comprising:

an antimicrobial agent comprising an alcohol, the alcohol being present in the cleansing composition in an amount of at least about 30% by weight;

a heating agent comprising an electrolyte salt, the electrolyte salt undergoing an exothermic reaction when contacted with water, the electrolyte salt being present in the cleansing composition in an amount of at least about 5% by weight; and

a thermochromic agent being configured to cause a change in color of the cleansing composition during the increase in temperature due to activation of the heating agent.

22. A cleansing composition as defined in claim 21, wherein the electrolyte salt is encapsulated with a material that degrades during use of the cleansing composition.

23. A cleansing composition as defined in claim 21, wherein the thermochromic agent comprises a leuco dye.

24. A cleansing composition as defined in claim 21, wherein the electrolyte salt is present in the cleansing composition in an amount sufficient to cause the cleansing composition to increase in temperature from 20°

C. to about 40°

C. after activation.

25. A wiper product comprising a substrate containing the cleansing composition defined in claim 21.

26. A cleansing system comprising:

a dispensing device;

a cleansing composition contained in the dispensing device, the cleansing composition comprising an antimicrobial agent and a thermochromic agent, the thermochromic agent being configured to cause a change in color of the cleansing composition when the cleansing composition is heated to a selected temperature; and

a heating source for heating the dispensing device and causing the cleansing composition to change color.

27. A cleansing system as defined in claim 26, wherein the heating source comprises a microwave heater, an electrical resistance heater, or an infrared heater.

28. A cleansing composition as defined in claim 26, wherein the antimicrobial agent comprises an alcohol.

29. A cleansing composition as defined in claim 26, wherein the thermochromic agent comprises a leuco dye.

30. A cleansing composition as defined in claim 26, wherein the cleansing composition further comprises heat sink particles.