US4176079A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Water-soluble enzyme-containing article
Assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
•
Filing: 1977-04-20
•
Granted: 1979-11-27
•
Expires: 1997-04-20
Abstract
Abstract An article, primarily for use in detergent compositions, comprising an enzyme dispersed in a water-soluble resin film. Plasticizers, suds modifiers, solids, and surface-active agents may also be dispersed in said article.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond E. Guerry
- 👤 David D. Whyte
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 12:29
CPC Classifications
C; C11; C11D; C11D3/00; C11D3/16; C11D3/38; C11D3/386; C11D3/38672; C11D3/37
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A granular detergent composition comprising from about 1% to about 40% of a surface-active agent selected from the group consisting of water-soluble anionic, nonionic, ampholytic and zwitterionic surface-active agents and mixtures thereof and from about 10% to about 60% of a detergent builder selected from the group consisting of sodium and potassium polyphosphates, carbonates, bicarbonates, silicates, polyacetates, carboxylates, polycarboxylates and polyhydroxysulfonates and containing a nondusting article, said article comprising an enzyme selected from the group consisting of proteolytic enzymes, amylolytic enzymes and mixtures thereof dispersed in a water-soluble resin film, said resin selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, cellulose ethers, polyethylene oxide, starch, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylamide, polyvinylmethylethermaleic anhydride, polymaleic anhydride, polystyrene-maleic anhydride and mixtures thereof, wherein one dimension of said article is at least about 20 millimeters in size and the thickness of said article is not more than about 50 mils.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
A granular detergent composition comprising from about 1% to about 40% of a surface-active agent selected from the group consisting of water-soluble anionic, nonionic, ampholytic and zwitterionic surface-active agents and mixtures thereof and from about 10% to about 60% of a detergent builder selected from the group consisting of sodium and potassium polyphosphates, carbonates, bicarbonates, silicates, polyacetates, carboxylates, polycarboxylates and polyhydroxysulfonates and containing a nondusting article, said article comprising an enzyme selected from the group consisting of proteolytic enzymes, amylolytic enzymes and mixtures thereof dispersed in a water-soluble resin film, said resin selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, cellulose ethers, polyethylene oxide, starch, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylamide, polyvinylmethylethermaleic anhydride, polymaleic anhydride, polystyrene-maleic anhydride and mixtures thereof, wherein one dimension of said article is at least about 20 millimeters in size and the thickness of said article is not more than about 50 mils.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The granular detergent composition of claim 1 wherein said nondusting article is substantially completely dissolved in 130° F. water with agitation within about five minutes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The granular detergent composition of claim 1 wherein said nondusting article is substantially completely dissolved in 100° F. water with agitation within about three minutes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The granular detergent composition of claim 1 wherein said nondusting article is substantially completely dissolved in 100° F. water with agitation within about one minute.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The granular detergent composition of claim 1 wherein said nondusting article is foamed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The granular detergent composition of claim 1 wherein said nondusting article is produced by extrusion followed by drying and cooling.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The granular detergent composition of claim 1 wherein said nondusting article is produced by casting followed by drying and cooling.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The granular detergent composition of claim 1 wherein said resin is methyl cellulose.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The granular detergent composition of claim 1 wherein said resin is polyvinyl alcohol.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The granular detergent composition of claim 1 wherein said resin is polyethylene oxide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The granular detergent composition of claim 1 wherein said nondusting article contains a proteolytic enzyme.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The granular detergent composition of claim 1 wherein said nondusting article contains an amylolytic enzyme.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The granular detergent composition of claim 11 wherein the 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 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The granular detergent composition of claim 13 which additionally contains an amylolytic enzyme.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The granular detergent composition of claim 12 wherein the amylolytic enzyme exhibits an amylolytic activity of greater than 50% of maximum when measured by the SKB method at 37° C.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The granular detergent composition of claim 13 wherein the amylolytic enzyme exhibits an amylolytic activity of greater than 50% of maximum when measured by the SKB method at 37° C.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The granular detergent composition of claim 1 wherein the nondusting article additionally contains up to about 80% by weight of a plasticizer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The granular detergent composition of claim 17, wherein the nondusting article additionally contains from about 10% to about 50% by weight of a plasticizer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The granular detergent composition of claim 18 wherein the nondusting article additionally contains from about 10% to about 30% by weight of a plasticizer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The granular detergent composition of claim 18 wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of glycols, glycerol, sorbitol, triethanolamine, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The detergent composition of claim 20 wherein the resin is polyvinyl alcohol.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The granular detergent composition of claim 21 wherein the polyvinyl alcohol has an average molecular weight of from about 1,000 to 300,000.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
43 words
The detergent composition of claim 1 wherein the nondusting article additionally contains from about 10% to about 40% by weight of a solid extender component selected from the group consisting of granular starch, dextrin, sodium sulfate, and mixtures thereof, dispersed within said article.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The detergent composition of claim 1 wherein the nondusting article additionally contains a surface-active component.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The detergent composition of claim 1 wherein the nondusting article additionally contains a suds-modifying component.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The detergent composition of claim 1 wherein the nondusting article is additionally coated with a water-soluble resin forming a laminate.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The detergent composition of claim 26 wherein the nondusting article is additionally coated with polyvinyl alcohol resin forming a laminate.
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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) | 1982-11-26 | 1983-05-28 | 1983-11-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-11-26 | 1987-05-28 | 1987-11-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-11-26 | 1991-05-28 | 1991-11-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |