US4115292A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Enzyme-containing detergent articles
Assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
•
Filing: 1977-04-20
•
Granted: 1978-09-19
•
Expires: 1997-04-20
Abstract
Abstract A detergent article, particularly for use in an automatic dishwasher, comprising an enzyme enclosed in an inner water-soluble film carrier, combined with detergent and enclosed in an outer, water-soluble film packet, is disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 David L. Richardson
- 👤 Frank J. Mueller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 00:52
CPC Classifications
C; C11; C11D; C11D3/00; C11D3/16; C11D3/38; C11D3/386; C11D3/38672; C11D17/00; C11D17/0039; C11D17/04; C11D17/041; C11D17/042; C11D17/044
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
61 words
A unit dosage amount of a detergent composition, contained within an outer water-soluble film packet, comprising: (a) at least about 0.5% by weight of a surface-active agent; and (b) an effective amount of an enzyme enclosed within an inner water-soluble film having one dimension at least about 5 millimeters in size and a thickness of not more than about 50 mils.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
61 words
A unit dosage amount of a detergent composition, contained within an outer water-soluble film packet, comprising: (a) at least about 0.5% by weight of a surface-active agent; and (b) an effective amount of an enzyme enclosed within an inner water-soluble film having one dimension at least about 5 millimeters in size and a thickness of not more than about 50 mils.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the inner water-soluble film has one dimension at least about 10 millimeters in size.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The article of claim 2 wherein the inner water-soluble film has one dimension at least about 15 millimeters in size.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The article of claim 3 wherein the inner water-soluble film has one dimension at least about 20 millimeters in size.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The article of claim 1 which is substantially completely dissolved in 130° F. water with agitation within about 5 minutes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The article of claim 5 which is substantially completely dissolved in 100° F. water with agitation within about 3 minutes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The article of claim 6 which is substantially completely dissolved in 100° F. water with agitation within about 1 minute.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The article of claim 5 wherein the inner water-soluble film enclosing the enzyme is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, cellulose ethers, polyethylene oxide, starch, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylamide, polyvinylmethyl ether-maleic anhydride, polymaleic anhydride, and polystyrenemaleic anhydride.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The article of claim 8 wherein the outer water-soluble packet is made from a film selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, cellulose ethers, polyethylene oxide, starch, polyvinylpyrrolidone polyacrylamide, polyvinylmethyl ether-maleic anhydride, polymaleic anhydride, and polystyrenemaleic anhydride.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The article of claim 9 wherein said outer film has a thickness of from about 0.5 to about 5 mils.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The article of claim 10 wherein said outer film has a thickness of from about 1 to about 3 mils.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The article of claim 10 wherein said enzyme is a proteolytic enzyme.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The article of claim 10 wherein said enzyme is an amylolytic enzyme.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The article of claim 12 wherein said proteolytic enzyme exhibits 80-100% of maximum activity when measured at pH 12 using the Anson Hemoglobin Method carried out in the presence of urea.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
11 words
The article of claim 12 which additionally contains an amylolytic enzyme.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The article of claim 13 wherein the amylolytic enzyme exhibits an amylolytic activity of greater than 50% of maximum activity when measured at pH 8 by the SKB method at 37° C.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The article of claim 14 additionally containing an amylolytic enzyme which exhibits an amylolytic activity of greater than 50% of maximum activity when measured at pH 8 by the SKB method at 37° C.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The article of claim 17 wherein the enzyme is dispersed within said water-soluble film.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The article of claim 17 wherein said inner water-soluble film is covered with a layer of water-soluble resin forming a laminate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The article of claim 19 wherein said layer of water-soluble resin is polyvinyl alcohol.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The article of claim 18 wherein said inner water-soluble film additionally contains from about 10% to about 30% by weight of a plasticizer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The article of claim 21 wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of glycols, glycerol, sorbitol, triethanolamine, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The article of claim 9 wherein the surface-active agent is a nonionic surface-active agent.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
The article of claim 23 wherein said nonionic surface-active agent is an alkoxylated nonionic surfactant having alkoxy moieties selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and mixtures thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of claim 24 containing from about 1 to about 40% of said alkoxylated nonionic surface-active agent.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of claim 25 containing from about 0.001 to about 5% by weight of a suds-regulating agent.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The article of claim 26 wherein the inner water-soluble film containing the enzyme is polyvinyl alcohol.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The article of claim 17 wherein the enzyme is enclosed within a packet of water-soluble film.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
40 words
The article of claim 28 wherein the packet containing the enzyme is made of a water-soluble film selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, cellulose ethers, polyethylene oxide, starch, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylamide, polyvinylmethyl ether-maleic anhydride, polymaleic anhydride, and polystyrene-maleic anhydride.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The article of claim 29 wherein the surface-active agent is a nonionic surface-active agent.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
32 words
The article of claim 30 wherein said nonionic surface-active agent is an alkoxylated nonionic surface-active agent having alkoxy moieties selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and mixtures thereof.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of claim 31 containing from about 1 to about 40% of said alkoxylated nonionic surface-active agent.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The article of claim 32 containing from about 0.001 to about 5% by weight of a suds regulating agent.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
The article of claim 33 wherein the packet containing the enzyme is made from polyvinyl alcohol.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-09-18 | 1982-03-20 | 1982-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-09-18 | 1986-03-20 | 1986-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-09-18 | 1990-03-20 | 1990-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |