US4431559A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dishwashing composition and method
Assignee: SC Johnson and Son Inc
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Filing: 1981-10-06
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Granted: 1984-02-14
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Expires: 2001-10-06
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a thixotropic automatic dishwasher composition having an aqueous solvent, a thickening agent, a source of chlorine, detergency levels of an anionic surfactant, builder salts and a buffer system to stabilize the chlorine source with the composition. The composition is dispensed by shearing the gel form of the thixotropic composition and thus having the composition develop the flow properties of a viscous liquid for the purpose of depositing the composition within the detergent compartment of an automatic dishwasher, but which quickly thereafter re-gels to acquire non-flowing properties unlike those of a liquid and substantially similar to the properties of a cohesive solid.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J. Ulrich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 15:49
CPC Classifications
C; C11; C11D; C11D17/00; C11D17/0008; C11D17/003; C11D3/00; C11D3/02; C11D3/12; C11D3/124; C11D3/1246; C11D3/1253; C11D3/1266; C11D3/128; C11D3/395; C11D3/3956
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
A process for dispensing a dishwashing detergent composition, comprising the steps of: providing a thixotropic dishwashing composition which comprises; an aqueous solvent present in an amount of about 45 to 60% by weight of said composition, a thickening agent, having functional electrolytes in an amount sufficient to render said composition thixotropic, a chlorine source present in amount of from about 0.05 to about 5.% (percent) by weight of said composition, a buffer system to stabilize said chlorine source within said composition and-to maintain a pH within the range of about 10 to 13, an anionic surfactant present in an amount equivalent to about at least 0.5% (percent) by weight of said composition when added as a 30% (percent) aqueous solution, a builder salt present in an amount of from about 2 to about 40 percent by weight of said composition, said composition being formulated to be thixotropic and to have sufficient chlorine stability to be efficacious in an automatic dishwasher after one year storage at 77° F., said composition being in the form of a gel when at rest; shearing said composition to form a sol with generally liquid-like properties; and dispensing said sol with generally liquid-like properties into an automatic dishwasher whereby said thixotropic composition regels within said dishwasher.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
210 words
A process for dispensing a dishwashing detergent composition, comprising the steps of: providing a thixotropic dishwashing composition which comprises; an aqueous solvent present in an amount of about 45 to 60% by weight of said composition, a thickening agent, having functional electrolytes in an amount sufficient to render said composition thixotropic, a chlorine source present in amount of from about 0.05 to about 5.% (percent) by weight of said composition, a buffer system to stabilize said chlorine source within said composition and-to maintain a pH within the range of about 10 to 13, an anionic surfactant present in an amount equivalent to about at least 0.5% (percent) by weight of said composition when added as a 30% (percent) aqueous solution, a builder salt present in an amount of from about 2 to about 40 percent by weight of said composition, said composition being formulated to be thixotropic and to have sufficient chlorine stability to be efficacious in an automatic dishwasher after one year storage at 77° F., said composition being in the form of a gel when at rest; shearing said composition to form a sol with generally liquid-like properties; and dispensing said sol with generally liquid-like properties into an automatic dishwasher whereby said thixotropic composition regels within said dishwasher.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said thickening agent is selected from the group consisting of silicas, silicates, aluminosilicates and clays.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein said buffer system comprises an alkali metal base and an alkali metal salt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 3 wherein said alkali metal base is sodium hydroxide and said alkali metal salt is sodium carbonate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said anionic surfactant is an alkali metal alkyl sulfate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process according to claim 5 wherein said anionic surfactant is sodium lauryl sulfate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein said chlorine source is a member selected from the group consisting of sodium hypochlorite, lithium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite and chlorinated trisodium phosphate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said builder salt is tetrapotassium pyrophosphate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process according to claim 1 having sufficient stability to maintain greater than thirty-three percent (33%) of its original active chlorine after one year storage at 77 degrees F.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process according to claim 1 comprising 0.05 to 5 weight percent of alkali metal hypochlorite as said chlorine source.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process according to claim 10 having generally equal molar additions an alkali metal hydroxide and an alkali metal salt so as to minimize the formation of hypochlorous acid and to maintain a PH within the range of 10 to 13.
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) | 1987-02-13 | 1987-08-15 | 1988-02-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-02-13 | 1991-08-15 | 1992-02-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-02-13 | 1995-08-15 | 1996-02-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |