Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A copolymer based on a linear terephthalate ester backbone and having the general formula I Z-[(T-PO) u (T-PEG) v ]-T-Z₁ I wherein Z and Z₁ are chain terminating moieties having the empirical formula II (PEG₁-X) a (PO-H) b (PEG-H) c II wherein PEG and PEG₁ are identical or different poly(oxyethylene)oxy moieties each having a molecular weight in the range from about 300 to about 6000; X is C₁-C₄ alkyl or acyl containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the alkyl moiety; T is a terephthaloyl moiety; PO is oxypropyleneoxy; u is from about 0.5 to about 50; v is from about 0.05 to about 20; a is from about 0.2 to about 0.95; b is from 0 to about 0.8; c is from 0 to about 0.8; and b + c is at least about 0.05; wherein u, v, a, b, c represent the average number of the corresponding units; and wherein the T-PO and T-PEG units are randomly distributed along the terephthalate ester backbone.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
A copolymer based on a linear terephthalate ester backbone and having the general formula I Z-[(T-PO) u (T-PEG) v ]-T-Z₁ I wherein Z and Z₁ are chain terminating moieties having the empirical formula II (PEG₁-X) a (PO-H) b (PEG-H) c II wherein PEG and PEG₁ are identical or different poly(oxyethylene)oxy moieties each having a molecular weight in the range from about 300 to about 6000; X is C₁-C₄ alkyl or acyl containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the alkyl moiety; T is a terephthaloyl moiety; PO is oxypropyleneoxy; u is from about 0.5 to about 50; v is from about 0.05 to about 20; a is from about 0.2 to about 0.95; b is from 0 to about 0.8; c is from 0 to about 0.8; and b + c is at least about 0.05; wherein u, v, a, b, c represent the average number of the corresponding units; and wherein the T-PO and T-PEG units are randomly distributed along the terephthalate ester backbone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A copolymer according to Claim 1 wherein the ratio of u:v is in the range from about 50:1 to about 1:1, preferably from about 15:1 to about 2:1, more preferably from about 10:1 to about 3:1.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
A copolymer according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein u is in the range from about 2 to about 15, preferably form about 3 to about 10, and v is in the range from about 0.1 to about 5, preferably from about 0.1 to about 3.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A copolymer according to any of Claims 1 to 3 wherein a is in the range from about 0.35 to about 0.9, b is in the range from about 0.1 to about 0.65 and c is in the range from about 0 to about 0.15.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
80 words
A process of making the copolymer of Claim 1, the process comprising reacting a di-C₁-C₄ alkyl ester of terephthalic acid, 1,2-propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol and an X-capped polyethyleneglycol at a temperature in the range of from about 120°C to about 220°C in the presence of a transesterification catalyst to prepare a mixture of glycol/terephthalate ester intermediate products, followed by polymerization at a temperature in the range of from about 200°C to about 280°C in the presence of a polymerization catalyst.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A detergent composition comprising (a) from about 1% to about 75% by weight of an anionic, nonionic, ampholytic, zwitterionic or cationic surfactant or mixture thereof; and (b) at least 0.1% by weight of a copolymer according to any of Claims 1 to 4 as soil-release agent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A composition according to Claim 6 having a phosphorus content of less than about 5%, preferably less than about 2%.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A composition according to Claim 7 comprising from about 5% to about 50% of a water-insoluble aluminosilicate ion-exchange material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A laundry product comprising a laundry detergent composition according to any of Claims 6 to 8 in water-releasable combination with a water-insoluble substrate or a single- or multi-compartment sachet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
A fabric conditioning composition comprising (a) from about 0.1% to about 99% of a fabric softening agent selected from cationic and nonionic fabric softeners and mixtures thereof; and (b) at least 0.1% of a copolymer according to any of Claims 1 to 4 as soil release agent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
A laundry article adapted for providing fabric conditioning benefits within an automatic laundry dryer, the article comprising a fabric conditioning composition according to Claim 10 which is flowable at dryer operating temperatures and dispensing means which provides for release of said conditioning composition within an automatic laundry dryer at dryer operating temperatures.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
190 words
A laundry product comprising a laundry detergent composition in water-releasable combination with a water-insoluble substrate or a single- or multi-compartment sachet, the laundry detergent composition comprising a copolymer based on a linear terephthalate ester backbone and having the general formula I Z-[(T-PO) u (T-PEG) v ]-T-Z₁ I wherein Z and Z₁ are chain terminating moieties having the empirical formula II (PEG₁-X) a (PO-H) b (PEG-H) c II wherein PEG and PEG₁ are identical or different poly(oxyethylene)oxy moieties each having a molecular weight in the range from about 300 to about 6000; X is C₁-C₄ alkyl or acyl containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the alkyl moiety; T is a terephthaloyl moiety; PO is oxypropyleneoxy; u is from about 0.5 to about 50; v is from about 0.05 to about 20; a is from about 0.2 to about 0.95; b is from 0 to about 0.8; c is from 0 to about 0.8; and b+c is at least about 0.05; wherein u, v, a, b, c represent the average number of the corresponding units; and wherein the T-PO and T-PEG units are randomly distributed along the terephthalate ester backbone.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
190 words
A laundry product comprising a laundry detergent composition in water-releasable combination with a water-insoluble substrate or a single- or multi-compartment sachet, the laundry detergent composition comprising a copolymer based on a linear terephthalate ester backbone and having the general formula I Z-[(T-PO) u (T-PEG) v ]-T-Z₁ I wherein Z and Z₁ are chain terminating moieties having the empirical formula II (PEG₁-X) a (PO-H) b (PEG-H) c II wherein PEG and PEG₁ are identical or different poly(oxyethylene)oxy moieties each having a molecular weight in the range from about 300 to about 6000; X is C₁-C₄ alkyl or acyl containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the alkyl moiety; T is a terephthaloyl moiety; PO is oxypropyleneoxy; u is from about 0.5 to about 50; v is from about 0.05 to about 20; a is from about 0.2 to about 0.95; b is from 0 to about 0.8; c is from 0 to about 0.8; and b+c is at least about 0.05; wherein u, v, a, b, c represent the average number of the corresponding units; and wherein the T-PO and T-PEG units are randomly distributed along the terephthalate ester backbone.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
A laundry product according to Claim 12 wherein the ratio of u:v is in the range from about 50:1 to about 1:1, preferably from about 15:1 to about 2:1, more preferably from about 10:1 to about 3:1.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
A laundry product according to Claim 12 or 13 wherein u is in the range from about 2 to about 15, preferably form about 3 to about 10, and v is in the range from about 0.1 to about 5, preferably from about 0.1 to about 3.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
A laundry product according to any of Claims 12 to 14 wherein a is in the range from about 0.35 to about 0.9, b is in the range from about 0.1 to about 0.65 and c is in the range from about 0 to about 0.15.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
A laundry product according to any of Claims 12 to 15 wherein the detergent composition comprises (a) from about 1% to about 75% by weight of an anionic, nonionic, ampholytic, zwitterionic or cationic surfactant or mixture thereof; and (b) at least 0.1% by weight of the copolymer