Hydrotrope and skin conditioning agents for use in liquid detergent compositions

• US 6,479,442 B1
• Filed: 12/11/2000
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Berube, Robert G., Brumbaugh, Ernest H., Faber, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): HARDEE, JOHN R
• Application Number:
  US09/674,987
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 510/235, 510/236, 510/237, 510/340, 510/341, 510/422, 510/423, 510/424, 510/425, 510/537, 510/497, 510/159, 514/723
• US Class Current: 510/159
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/33 containing oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/365 Hydroxycarboxylic acids; Ketocarboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/39 Derivatives containing from 2 to 10 oxyalkylene groups
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/86 Polyethers
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 19/00 Preparations for care of the skin
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/72 Ethers of polyoxyalkylene glycols
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/825 Mixtures of compounds all of which are non-ionic
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/2086 Hydroxy carboxylic acids-salts thereof

Abstract

Liquid detergent compositions containing from about 1% to about 90% of a surfactant selected from anionic, nonionic, and amphoteric surfactants and mixtures thereof are prepared with a hydrotrope that is a mixture of an alcohol ethoxylate and a polyethylene glycol ether of glycerin. The hydrotrope provides increased foam generation. The use of a polyethylene glycol ether of glycerin and an alpha hydroxy acid in a liquid detergent composition further promotes skin improvement and maintains healthy skin of the person using the detergent.

Claims

1. A method or maintaining healthy skin of a user of a liquid detergent during washing activities, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a liquid detergent that includes a polyethylene glycol ether of glycerin, an ethoxylated alcohol, and an alpha hydroxy acid, the polyethylene glycol ether of glycerin having the formula;

wherein a+b+c has an average value of from about 2 to about 60, and wherein R₁, R₂, and R₃ may be the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of H, CH₃, and C₂H₅;

b. diluting the liquid detergent in water external to the liquid detergent; and

c. using the liquid detergent and external water to wash the desired object, whereby the health of the user'"'"'s skin is maintained during the washing activity.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a+b+c has an average value of from about 20 to about 30.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the polyethylene glycol ether of glycerin is Glycereth-26.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the alpha hydroxy acid is selected from the group consisting of citric acid, malic acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid, tartartic acid, tartronic acid, and glucuronic acid.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the alpha hydrqoxy acid is citric acid.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the liquid detergent further includes a peaked ethoxylated alcohol where the alcohol has from about 6 Carbon atoms to about 12 Carbon atoms and is ethoxylated with an average of from about 3 moles of ethylene oxide to about 9 moles of ethylene oxide.

7. A method of improving the skin of a user of a liquid detergent during washing activities, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a liquid detergent that includes a polyethylene glycol ether of glycerin, an ethoxylated alcohol, and an alpha hydroxy acid, the-polyethylene glycol ether of glycerin having the formula;

wherein a+b+c has an average value of from about 2 to about 60, and wherein R₁, R₂, and R₃ may be the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of H, CH₃, and C₂H₅;

b. diluting the liquid detergent in water external to the liquid detergent; and

c. using the liquid detergent and external water to wash the desired object, whereby the health of the user'"'"'s skin is improved during the washing activity.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein a+b+c has an average value of from about 20 to about 30.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein me polyethylene glycol ether of glycerin is Glycereth-26.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the alpha hydroxy:

acid is selected from the group consisting of citric acid, matic acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid, tartartic acid, tartronic acid, and glucuronic acid.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the alpha hydroxy acid is citric acid.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the liquid detergent further includes a peaked ethoxylated alcohol where the alcohol has from about 6 Carbon atoms to about 12 Carbon atoms and is ethoxylated with an average of from about 3 moles of ethylene oxide to about 9 moles of ethylene oxide.