US4125370A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laundry method imparting soil release properties to laundered fabrics
Assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
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Filing: 1977-11-30
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Granted: 1978-11-14
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Expires: 1997-11-30
Abstract
Abstract Detergent compositions, which are particularly suitable for removing oily soils from hydrophobic fibers, such as polyester, are disclosed, containing surface-active agents, polyester soil release polymers, and a component which dissociates in aqueous solution producing lithium, potassium, alkaline earth, zinc or quaternary ammonium cations. An embodiment of this invention includes compositions which contain surface-active agents, polyester soil release polymers, and a sufficient amount of detergency builder such that an aqueous laundry solution of the composition contains at least 1 x 10-4 moles/liter of alkaline earth metal ions. The process of laundering hydrophobic fibers in aqueous solutions of these compositions is also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles H. Nicol
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 14:49
CPC Classifications
C; C11; C11D; C11D3/00; C11D3/0005; C11D3/0036; C11D3/16; C11D3/37; C11D3/3703; C11D3/3715
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A method for the removal of oily soils from polyester fibers by washing and said fibers in an aqueous solution of a detergent composition comprising: (a) from about 2% to about 95% by weight of a surfactant selected from the group consisting of water-soluble anionic, nonionic, zwitterionic and ampholytic surface-active agents and mixtures thereof; (b) from about 0.15% to about 25% by weight of a soil release polymer comprising ethylene terephthalate and polyethylene oxide terephthalate at a molar ratio of ethylene terephthalate to polyethylene oxide terephthalate of from about 20:80 to about 90:10, said polyethylene oxide terephthalate containing polyethylene oxide linking units having a molecular weight of from about 300 to 10,000, the molecular weight of said soil release polymer being in the range of from about 5,000 to about 200,000; and (c) from about 0.05% to about 10.0% of a component which dissociates, in aqueous solution, yielding cations selected from the group consisting of lithium, potassium, alkaline earth, zinc, quaternary ammonium cations and mixtures thereof; and wherein at least 20% of said detergent composition is comprised of surface-active agent and detergency builder components.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
184 words
A method for the removal of oily soils from polyester fibers by washing and said fibers in an aqueous solution of a detergent composition comprising: (a) from about 2% to about 95% by weight of a surfactant selected from the group consisting of water-soluble anionic, nonionic, zwitterionic and ampholytic surface-active agents and mixtures thereof; (b) from about 0.15% to about 25% by weight of a soil release polymer comprising ethylene terephthalate and polyethylene oxide terephthalate at a molar ratio of ethylene terephthalate to polyethylene oxide terephthalate of from about 20:80 to about 90:10, said polyethylene oxide terephthalate containing polyethylene oxide linking units having a molecular weight of from about 300 to 10,000, the molecular weight of said soil release polymer being in the range of from about 5,000 to about 200,000; and (c) from about 0.05% to about 10.0% of a component which dissociates, in aqueous solution, yielding cations selected from the group consisting of lithium, potassium, alkaline earth, zinc, quaternary ammonium cations and mixtures thereof; and wherein at least 20% of said detergent composition is comprised of surface-active agent and detergency builder components.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said soil release polymer has a molar ratio of ethylene terephthalate to polyethylene oxide terephthalate of from about 65:35 to about 80:20, said polyethylene oxide terephthalate containing polyethylene oxide linking units having a molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 3,000, the molecular weight of said soil release polymer being in the range of from about 10,000 to about 50,000.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein said composition additionally contains up to about 50% of a detergency builder salt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein said cation-producing component is present in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 5.0%.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein the cations produced by the cation-producing component are selected from the group consisting of lithium, zinc, quaternary ammonium cations and mixtures thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the surface-active agent is an anionic surface-active agent selected from the group consisting of C 10 to C 16 alkylbenzene sulfonates, C 10 to C 16 alkyl sulfates, C 10 to C 16 ethoxylated alkyl sulfates, wherein the average degree of ethoxylation is between 1 and 6, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein the cation produced by the cation-producing component is ditallow dimethylammonium cation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the soil release polymer has a molar ratio of ethylene terephthalate to polyethylene oxide terephthalate of from about 25:75 to about 35:65, said polyethylene oxide terephthalate containing polyethylene oxide linking units having a molecular weight of from about 300 to about 700, the molecular weight of said soil release polymer being in the range of from about 25,000 to about 55,000.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein said detergent composition is granular and contains surface active agent present in an amount of from about 10% to about 25%.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein said detergent composition is liquid and contains surface active agent present in an amount of from about 20% to about 60%.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-11-13 | 1982-05-15 | 1982-11-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-11-13 | 1986-05-15 | 1986-11-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-11-13 | 1990-05-15 | 1990-11-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |