Article comprising a water soluble bag containing a multiple use amount of a pelletized functional material and methods of its use

• US 5,234,615 A
• Filed: 04/09/1992
• Issued: 08/10/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
• Inventors: Gladfelter, Elizabeth J., Slocumb, Sheryl D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Albrecht, Dennis
• Application Number:
  US07/867,285
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 252/90, 252/92, 252/93, 252/174
• US Class Current: 510/439
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4236 Arrangements to sterilize or disinfect dishes or washing liquids A47L15/4234 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4436 in the form of a detergent solution made by gradually dissolving a powder detergent cake or a solid detergent block
• 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: C11D 17/044 Solid compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/14 Silicates

Abstract

An article comprising a water soluble container containing a multiple use amount of a pelletized functional composition such as a fabric treatment composition, a warewashing composition, a laundry composition, a pot and pan presoak composition, a silverware presoak composition, a floor cleaner composition, a rinse additive composition, a disinfectant composition, a sanitizer composition, a general purpose cleaner composition, etc. The article may be optionally enclosed in a water impervious outerwrap.

A method for using the article by placing the article inside a dispenser wherein the article is contacted with water having a sufficient temperature and pressure to dissolve the water soluble bag and the pelletized functional material contained therein in order to form a solution.

Claims

1. An article of manufacture that can be dispensed to a use location from a dispenser by the action of an aqueous liquid, wherein said article comprises:

(a) a sealed water soluble container; and

(b) an institutional multiple use amount of greater than 200 grams of a pelletized water soluble or dispersible functional composition contained within said water soluble container, wherein each pellet has a mass of about to 2 to 30 grams, said water soluble container fits within said dispenser, and said pelletized functional composition comprises;

(i) about 5-90 wt-% of an alkali metal silicate; and

(ii) about 1-90 wt-% of a sequestering agent.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein the pelletized functional composition further comprises about 0 to 0.1 wt-% of a dye.

3. The article of claim 1 wherein the pelletized functional composition further comprises about 0 to 50 wt-% of a nonionic surfactant.

4. The article of claim 1 wherein the pelletized functional composition further comprises about 0 to 20 wt-% of an anionic surfactant.

5. The article of claim 1 wherein the pelletized functional composition which further comprises about 0-1.0 wt-% of a fragrance.

6. The article of claim 1 wherein the pelletized functional composition further comprises about 0 to 80 wt-% of sodium carbonate.

7. The article of claim 1 wherein the water soluble container comprises a water soluble bag.

8. The article of claim 1 wherein the water soluble container has a minimum water temperature range for solubility of about 34°

F. minimum.

9. The article of claim 1 wherein the water soluble container comprises a water soluble polymer selected from the group consisting of a polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate or mixtures thereof.

10. The article of claim 1 wherein the water soluble container contains at least about 900 grams of a pelletized functional material.

11. The article of claim 1 wherein the water soluble container will dissolve when exposed to a water spray having a minimum water temperature of about 40°

F. and a minimum nozzle pressure of about 25 to 30 psig such that the pelletized functional material is exposed in about 0.5-3 minutes.

12. The article of claim 1 wherein the water soluble container contains about 900 grams to 5000 grams of a pelletized functional material.

13. The article of claim 1 wherein each pellet has a width ranging from about 5 to 30 mm., a height ranging from about 10 to 80 mm., and a depth ranging from about 10 to 30 mm.

27. The article of claim 1 wherein the pelletized functional material comprises:

(a) about 30 to 90 wt-% of an alkali metal silicate; and

(b) about 10 to 90 wt-% of a sequestering agent.

14. An article of manufacture that can be dispensed to a use location from a dispenser by the action of an aqueous liquid, wherein said article comprises:

(a) a sealed water soluble container; and

(b) an institutional multiple use amount of greater than 200 grams of a pelletized water soluble or dispersible functional composition contained within said water soluble container;

wherein each pellet has a mass of about to 2 to 30 grams, said water soluble container fits within said dispenser, and said pelletized functional composition comprises;

(i) about 10-70 wt-% of a sequestering agent;

(ii) about 10-70 wt-% of an alkali metal silicate; and

(iii) about 0.1-10 wt-% of a bleaching source.

15. The article of claim 14 wherein the pelletized functional composition further comprises about 0 to 10 wt-% of a secondary sequestering agent.

16. The article of claim 14 wherein the pelletized functional composition further comprises about 0 to 60 wt-% of a filler.

17. The article of claim 14 wherein the pelletized functional composition further comprises about 0 to 10 wt-% of defoaming surfactant.

18. The article of claim 14 wherein the pelletized functional composition further comprises about 0 to 10 wt-% of a dye.

19. The article of claim 14 wherein the pelletized functional composition further comprises about 0 to 10 wt-% of a fragrance.

20. The article of claim 14 wherein the water soluble container comprises a water soluble bag.

21. The article of claim 14 wherein the water soluble container has a minimum water temperature range for solubility of about 34°

F. minimum.

22. The article of claim 14 wherein the water soluble container comprises a water soluble polymer selected from the group consisting of a polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate or mixtures thereof.

23. The article of claim 14 wherein the water soluble container contains about 900 grams to 5000 grams of a pelletized functional material.

24. The article of claim 14 wherein each pellet has a width ranging from about 5 to 30 mm., a height ranging from about 10 to 80 mm, and a depth ranging from about 10 to 30 mm.

25. The article of claim 14 wherein the water soluble container will dissolve when exposed to a water spray having a minimum water temperature of about 40°

F. and a minimum nozzle pressure of about 25 to 30 psig such that the pelletized functional material is exposed in about 0.5-3 minutes.

26. The article of claim 14 wherein the pelletized functional composition comprises:

(a) about 30 to 70 wt-% of a sequestering agent;

(b) about 30 to 70 wt-% of an alkali metal silicate; and

(c) about 0.1 to 10 wt-% of a bleaching source.

28. An article of manufacture that can be dispensed to a use location from a dispenser by the action of an aqueous liquid, wherein said article comprises:

(a) a sealed water soluble container; and

(b) an institutional multiple use amount of greater than 200 grams of a pelletized water soluble or dispersible functional composition contained within said water soluble container, wherein the pelletized functional composition is of a size of that will not pass through a grate having openings of 5 mm by 5 mm, said water soluble container fits within said dispenser, sand said pelletized functional composition comprises;

(i) about 5-90 wt-% of an alkali metal silicate; and

(ii) about 1-90 wt-% of a sequestering agent.

29. The article of claim 28 wherein the pelletized functional composition further comprises about 0 to 50 wt-% of a nonionic surfactant.

30. The article of claim 28 wherein the pelletized functional composition further comprises about 0 to 20 wt-% of an anionic surfactant.

31. The article of claim 28 wherein the pelletized functional composition further comprises about 0 to 80 wt-% of sodium carbonate.

32. The article of claim 28 wherein the water soluble container comprises a water soluble bag.

33. The article of claim 28 wherein the water soluble container has a minimum water temperature range for solubility of about 34°

F. minimum.

34. The article of claim 28 wherein the water soluble container comprises a water soluble polymer selected from the group consisting of a polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate or mixtures thereof.

35. The article of claim 28 wherein the water soluble container will dissolve when exposed to a water spray having a minimum water temperature of about 40°

F. and a minimum nozzle pressure of about 25 to 30 psig such that the pelletized functional material is exposed in about 0.5-3 minutes.

36. The article of claim 28 wherein each pellet has a width ranging from about 5 to 30 mm, a height ranging from about 10 to 80 mm, and a depth ranging from about 10 to 30 mm.

37. An article of manufacture that can be dispensed to a use location from a dispenser by the action of an aqueous liquid, wherein said article comprises:

(a) a sealed water soluble container; and

(b) an institutional multiple use amount of greater than 200 grams of a pelletized water soluble or dispersible functional composition contained within said water soluble container;

wherein the pelletized functional composition is of a size that will not pass through a grate having openings of 5 mm by 5 mm, said water soluble container fits within said dispenser, and said pelletized functional composition comprises;

(i) about 10-70 wt-% of a sequestering agent;

(ii) about 10-70 wt-% of an alkali metal silicate; and

(iii) about 0.1-10 wt-% of a bleaching source.

38. The article of claim 37 wherein the pelletized functional composition further comprises about 0 to 10 wt-% of a secondary sequestering agent.

39. The article of claim 37 wherein the pelletized functional composition further comprises about 0 to 60 wt-% of a filler.

40. The article of claim 37 wherein the pelletized functional composition further comprises about 0 to 10 wt-% of defoaming surfactant.

41. The article of claim 37 wherein the water soluble container comprises a water soluble bag.

42. The article of claim 37 wherein the water soluble container has a minimum water temperature range for solubility of about 34°

F. minimum.

43. The article of claim 37 wherein the water soluble container comprises a water soluble polymer selected from the group consisting of a polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate or mixtures thereof.

44. The article of claim 37 wherein each pellet has a width ranging from about 5 to 30 mm, a height ranging from about 10 to 80 mm, and a depth ranging from about 10 to 30 mm.

45. The article of claim 37 wherein the water soluble container will dissolve when exposed to a water spray having a minimum water temperature of about 40°

F. and a minimum nozzle pressure of about 25 to 30 psig such that the pelletized functional material is exposed in about 0.5-3 minutes.