Solid sanitizers and cleaner disinfectants

• US 6,518,313 B1
• Filed: 02/08/2001
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sunburst Chemicals
• Original Assignee: Sunburst Chemicals
• Inventors: Scepanski, William H.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAK, JOHN D
• Application Number:
  US09/779,910
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 422/266, 422/261, 422/278, 422/28, 422/34, 422/37, 424/409, 424/78.08, 424/401, 424/405, 424/486, 424/DIG.5, 514/642, 514/643, 514/588, 514/772, 514/772.3, 514/964, 514/975, 510/382, 510/391, 510/445, 510/447, 510/504, 504/150, 504/158, 137/268, 222/190
• US Class Current: 514/642
• 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 25/02 containing liquids as carriers, diluents or solvents
• 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 31/08 Oxygen or sulfur directly attached to an aromatic ring system
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 33/12 Quaternary ammonium compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/62 Quaternary ammonium compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/48 Medical, disinfecting agents, disinfecting, antibacterial, germicidal or antimicrobial compositions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 424/05 Stick
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4891 With holder for solid, flaky or pulverized material to be dissolved or entrained

Abstract

Solid sanitizing compositions have advantages over corresponding liquids and powders. A solid sanitizing product can be contained within a plastic bottle with a label indicating that the contents have antimicrobial or deodorizing properties containing a non-flowable solid composition having greater than about 0.02 percent by weight antimicrobial compounds. The preferred solid sanitizing compositions consist essentially of an antimicrobial compound selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium salts, fatty amines and diamines, chlorhexidine gluconate, phenol, derivatives of phenol, parachloro metaxylenol and mixtures thereof, and between 0 and 99.98 percent by weight of a cleaning composition. The solid sanitizing compositions can be effectively used with solid dispensers. The solid dispensers have a bowl with a drain at the bottom and an upward pointing spray nozzle. The spray nozzle directs water into an inverted bottle of the sanitizing composition to produce an aqueous solution of sanitizing compounds which drains from the bottom of the bowl. A second source of aqueous solution or fresh water can combine with the solution draining from the bowl to product a more dilute solution of sanitizing compounds. The relative flow into the spray nozzle and the secondary source can be adjusted to produce a final diluted solution with a desired dilution. Antimicrobial solutions can be used in a variety of industrial and institutional applications including laundry and hard surface cleaning. Four methods of producing the solid sanitizing compositions are described.

Claims

1. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a container opened at its opening and inverted in a bowl of a dispenser, the dispenser configured to be connected to a water supply, with a drain at the bottom of the bowl, and a spray nozzle for directing water from the water supply upward from the bowl and into the opening of the container; and

a nonflowable solid antimicrobial composition solidified in the container from a melt, and consisting essentially of between about 0.02 to 99.98% by weight of a quaternary ammonium compound with antimicrobial properties, urea, and optionally an additive selected from the group consisting of a fragrance and a dye.

2. The article of claim 1, in which a portion of the container tapers toward the opening.

3. The article of claim 1, in which the quaternary ammonium compound includes a quaternary nitrogen atom and at least one substituent alkyl group bonded to the quaternary nitrogen atom, the substituent alkyl group with a chain length between about C₆ and C₂₀.

4. The article of claim 1, in which the quaternary ammonium compound is present in an amount greater than about 0.02% by weight.

5. The article of claim 1, in which the quaternary ammonium compound is present in an amount greater than about 5% by weight.

6. The article of claim 1, in which the quaternary ammonium compound is present in an amount between about 5% and 40% by weight.

7. The article of claim 1, in which the urea is present in a greater amount than the quaternary ammonium compound.

8. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a container opened at its opening and inverted in a bowl of a dispenser, the dispenser configured to be supplied with water from a water source and including a drain at a bottom portion of the bowl and a spray nozzle for directing water from the water source upward from the bowl and into the opening of the container; and

a nonflowable solid antimicrobial composition solidified in the container from a melt and consisting of urea and between about 0.02 and 99.98% by weight of a quaternary ammonium compound with antimicrobial properties, and optionally a fragrance or a dye.

9. The article of claim 8, in which the quaternary ammonium compound includes at least one substituent alkyl group with a chain length between about C₆ and C₂₀.

10. The article of claim 8, in which the quaternary ammonium compound is present in an amount between about 5 and 99.98% by weight.

11. The article of claim 8, in which the quaternary ammonium compound is present in an amount between about 5% and 40% by weight.

12. The article of claim 8, in which the urea is present in a greater amount than the quaternary ammonium compound.

13. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a container that is opened at its opening and inverted into a bowl of a dispenser, the dispenser configured to be connected to a water supply and having a drain at the bottom of the bowl, wherein the dispenser includes a spray nozzle for directing water from the water supply upward from the bowl and into the container opening; and

a nonflowable solid antimicrobial composition solidified in the container from a melt, the solid composition consisting of between about 0.02 and 99.98 percent by weight of a quaternary ammonium compound with antimicrobial properties and urea and optionally an additive selected from a fragrance and a dye.

14. The article of claim 13, in which the quaternary ammonium compound includes a quaternary nitrogen atom and at least one substituent alkyl group bonded to the quaternary nitrogen atom, the substituent alkyl group with a chain length between about C₆ and C₂₀.

15. The article of claim 13, in which the quaternary ammonium compound is present in an amount between about 5 and 99.98% by weight.

16. The article of claim 13, in which the quaternary ammonium compound is present in an amount between about 5% and 40% by weight.

17. The article of claim 13, in which the urea is present in a greater amount than the quaternary ammonium compound.

18. A method of forming an antimicrobial solution, comprising:

providing an article comprising;

a container with an opening; and

a nonflowable, solid, and homogeneous antimicrobial composition solidified from a melt in the container and consisting essentially of between about 0.02 to 99.98 percent by weight of a quaternary ammonium compound with antimicrobial properties, urea, and optionally a fragrance or a dye;

placing the container and solid composition into a dispenser bowl of a dispenser, the dispenser bowl accommodating the inverted container, the dispenser having tubing depending from the bowl and a spray tip proximate the bowl; and

impinging a surface of the composition with a generally upwardly directed spray of water from the spray tip through the container opening, thereby dissolving a portion of the composition and forming a first antimicrobial solution.

19. The method of claim 18, in which a quaternary ammonium concentration of the first antimicrobial solution is between about 200 ppm and 4750 ppm.

20. The method of claim 18, in which a quaternary ammonium concentration of the first antimicrobial solution is between about 200 ppm and 600 ppm.

21. The method of claim 18, in which a quaternary ammonium concentration of the first antimicrobial solution is between about 600 ppm and 4750 ppm.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising diluting the first antimicrobial solution with water to form a second antimicrobial solution.

23. The method of claim 22, in which a quaternary ammonium concentration of the second antimicrobial solution is between about 200 ppm and 600 ppm.

24. A method of making an article of manufacture, comprising:

providing a dispenser connected to a water supply and including a drain in a bottom portion of a bowl and a spray nozzle connected to the water supply;

melting a substance consisting essentially of between about 0.02 to 99.98 weight percent of a quaternary ammonium compound with antimicrobial properties, urea, and optionally an additive selected from the group consisting of a fragrance and a dye;

pouring the melted substance in a container and solidifying the melted substance in the container, thereby forming a nonflowable solid antimicrobial composition in the container; and

inverting the container in the bowl of the dispenser, the inverted container in the dispenser bowl defining an opening positioned to receive a generally upwardly directed spray delivered from the water supply through the spray nozzle.