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US4569780A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Cast detergent-containing article and method of making and using

Assignee: Ecolab Inc
•
Filing: 1983-07-01
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Granted: 1986-02-11
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Expires: 2003-07-01
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Abstract

Abstract Solid cast detergent-containing articles are produced for use in automatic washing machines. A liquid detergent composition is cast into a mold where it is allowed to solidify. The solid cast detergent, surrounded on all but its upper surface by the mold, is used in automatic washing machines having a dispensing device designed to dispense a liquid aqueous detergent formed from the solid cast detergent using an impinging liquid spray. The liquid aqueous detergent flows out of the dispensing device generally simultaneously with its formation in the dispenser. The cast detergent composition includes an alkaline hydratable chemical and optionally further includes one or more preformed cores or plugs comprising an available chlorine source, a defoamer, or the like.

Inventors

  • 👤 Peter J. Fernholz
  • 👤 James L. Copeland
  • 👤 Richard C. Penttila

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 21:36
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47L; A47L15/00; A47L15/42; A47L15/44; A47L15/4436; B; B01; B01F; B01F21/00; B01F21/20; B01F21/22; C; C11; C11D; C11D17/00; C11D17/0047; C11D17/0052; C11D17/04; C11D17/041; C11D3/00; C11D3/16; C11D3/37; C11D3/3746; C11D3/3757; C11D3/3761; C11D7/00; C11D7/02; C11D7/04; C11D7/06; C11D7/10; C11D7/16

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim 131 words
A process for forming a three-dimensional, uniform solid cast detergent within a receptacle-shaped mold which comprises: (a) heating about 20-75 parts by weight of a 40-75 weight percent aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide to about 55° to 95° C.; (b) distributing an effective amount of a hardness sequestering agent and about 15-40 parts by weight of an alkaline hydratable chemical in said aqueous solution; (c) thickening said solution, and mixing said solution during said thickening to form a castable uniform dispersion; (d) pouring said uniform dispersion into said receptacle-shaped mold and at least partly filling said mold; and (e) allowing said thickened dispersion to solidify in said mold to a uniform, solid cast detergent wherein at least one surface of the cast detergent is exposed by the receptacle-shaped mold.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 131 words
A process for forming a three-dimensional, uniform solid cast detergent within a receptacle-shaped mold which comprises: (a) heating about 20-75 parts by weight of a 40-75 weight percent aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide to about 55° to 95° C.; (b) distributing an effective amount of a hardness sequestering agent and about 15-40 parts by weight of an alkaline hydratable chemical in said aqueous solution; (c) thickening said solution, and mixing said solution during said thickening to form a castable uniform dispersion; (d) pouring said uniform dispersion into said receptacle-shaped mold and at least partly filling said mold; and (e) allowing said thickened dispersion to solidify in said mold to a uniform, solid cast detergent wherein at least one surface of the cast detergent is exposed by the receptacle-shaped mold.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said alkali metal hydroxide is sodium hydroxide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 31 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said hardness sequestering agent is added to the aqueous solution maintained at a temperature of 55°-70° C. and the hardness sequestering agent is sodium tripolyphosphate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 32 words
The process of claim 1 further comprising, following step (d) and prior to step (e), the step of inserting in said thickened solution in said mold at least one preformed plug composition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 18 words
The process of claim 4 wherein at least one preformed plug composition comprises a source of available chlorine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 30 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the alkaline hydratable chemical is selected from the group consisting of anhydrous sodium hydroxide, and combinations of sodium hydroxide and a sodium condensed phosphate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 22 words
The process of claim 6 wherein the said alkaline hydratable chemical is a combination of anhydrous sodium hydroxide and anhydrous sodium tripolyphosphate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the said hydratable material added is selected from the group consisting of sodium or potassium trimetaphosphate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 41 words
A solid, cast detergent-containing article produced by the process of claim 1 comprising: (a) said solid cast detergent and (b) the mold into which said solid cast detergent was cast, wherein said mold acts as a container for said cast detergent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 129 words
A process for forming a three-dimensional, uniform solid cast detergent within a receptacle-shaped mold which comprises: (a) heating about 20-75 parts by weight of a 40-75 weight percent aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide to about 55° to 95° C.; (b) distributing an effective amount of a hardness sequestering agent and about 15 to 40 parts by weight of an alkaline hydratable chemical in said aqueous solution; (c) thickening said solution with a polyelectrolyte polymer, to form a castable uniform dispersion; (d) pouring said uniform dispersion into said receptacle-shaped mold and at least partly filling said mold; and (e) allowing the castable thickened dispersion to solidify in said mold to a uniform cast detergent, wherein at least one surface of the cast detergent is exposed by said mold.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 129 words
A process for forming a three-dimensional, uniform solid cast detergent within a receptacle-shaped mold which comprises: (a) heating about 20-75 parts by weight of a 40-75 weight percent aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide to about 55° to 95° C.; (b) distributing an effective amount of a hardness sequestering agent and about 15 to 40 parts by weight of an alkaline hydratable chemical in said aqueous solution; (c) thickening said solution with a polyelectrolyte polymer, to form a castable uniform dispersion; (d) pouring said uniform dispersion into said receptacle-shaped mold and at least partly filling said mold; and (e) allowing the castable thickened dispersion to solidify in said mold to a uniform cast detergent, wherein at least one surface of the cast detergent is exposed by said mold.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 13 words
The process of claim 10 wherein said alkali metal hydroxide is sodium hydroxide.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 31 words
The process of claim 10 wherein said hardness sequestering agent is added to the aqueous solution maintained at a temperature of 55°-70° C. and said hardness sequestering agent is sodium tripolyphosphate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 33 words
The process of claim 10 further comprising, following step (d) and prior to step (e), the step of inserting into the castable thickened solution in said mold at least one preformed plug composition.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 19 words
The process of claim 13 wherein at least one of preformed plug composition comprises a source of available chlorine.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 31 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the said alkaline hydratable chemical is selected from the group consisting of anhydrous sodium hydroxide, and combinations of sodium hydroxide and a sodium condensed phosphate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 23 words
The process of claim 15 wherein the said alkaline hydratable chemical is a combination of an anhydrous sodium hydroxide and anhydrous sodium tripolyphosphate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 22 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the said hydratable material added is selected from the group consisting of sodium or potassium trimetaphosphate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 32 words
A solid, cast detergent-containing article produced by the process of claim 10 comprising: (a) solid cast detergent; and (b) the mold wherein the mold acts as a container for said cast detergent.
Claim 21
Independent Claim 143 words
A method of making an article of commerce incorporating a detergent composition which comprises: (a) forming a castable liquid detergent composition at a temperature of up to 95° C. which comprises: (1) at least 30% by weight of an alkaline hydratable chemical consisting essentially of alkali metal hydroxide; (2) an effective amount of a hardness sequestering agent; and (3) more than 15 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of said alkaline hydratable chemical, of water of hydration, at least a portion of said water of hydration being associated with said alkali metal hydroxide; (b) cooling and agitating the liquid composition at a rate such that the liquid composition thickens without segregation of components forming a thickened liquid dispersion; (c) pouring the thickened liquid dispersion into a receptacle-shaped mold; and (d) solidifying said liquid dispersion to form a uniform solid detergent composition.
Claim 22
Independent Claim 143 words
A method of making an article of commerce incorporating a detergent composition which comprises: (a) forming a castable liquid detergent composition at a temperature of up to 95° C. which comprises: (1) at least 30% by weight of an alkaline hydratable chemical consisting essentially of alkali metal hydroxide; (2) an effective amount of a hardness sequestering agent; and (3) more than 15 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of said alkaline hydratable chemical, of water of hydration, at least a portion of said water of hydration being associated with said alkali metal hydroxide; (b) cooling and agitating the liquid composition at a rate such that the liquid composition thickens without segregation of components forming a thickened liquid dispersion; (c) pouring the thickened liquid dispersion into a receptacle-shaped mold; and (d) solidifying said liquid dispersion to form a uniform solid detergent composition.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the mold in which the composition was cast and solidified is a container for the detergent.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the article further comprises a cover attached to the container.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the article comprises at least one preformed core surrounded by and in contact with the detergent on at least one side of the core.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the preformed core comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a defoamer and a solid, available chlorine-containing component.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 23 comprising a plurality of preformed cores, at least one of which comprises a solid, available chlorine-containing component.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the preformed core has been coated with an inert barrier film.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 109 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said castable liquid detergent composition comprises: (a) at least about 30% by weight of an alkaline hydratable chemical consisting essentially of an alkali metal hydroxide; (b) effective hardness-sequestering amount of an alkali metal condensed phosphate; (c) more than 5% by weight of water of hydration in both discrete and continuous states of hydration, at least a portion of said water of hydration being associated with said alkali metal hydroxide; (d) up to about 15% by weight of a polyelectrolyte; and (e) up to 5% by weight of an additive selected from the group consisting of a defoamer and a solid, avaliable chlorine-containing component.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said castable liquid detergent composition further comprises a sodium silicate.
Claim 31
Independent Claim 132 words
A method for forming an article of commerce incorporating a uniform, cast detergent composition which comprises: (a) forming a castable liquid detergent composition at a temperature of up to 95° C. which comprises: (1) at least 30% by weight of an alkaline hydratable chemical consisting essentially of alkali metal hydroxide; (2) an effective amount of a hardness-sequestering agent; (3) an effective thickening amount of a polyacrylate; and (4) more than 15 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of said alkaline hydratable chemical of water of hydration, at least a portion of said water of hydration being associated with said alkali metal hydroxide; (b) cooling the liquid composition to afford a thickened uniform dispersion; and (c) casting the uniform dispersion in a receptacle-shaped mold to yield a solid, uniform detergent composition.
Claim 32
Independent Claim 132 words
A method for forming an article of commerce incorporating a uniform, cast detergent composition which comprises: (a) forming a castable liquid detergent composition at a temperature of up to 95° C. which comprises: (1) at least 30% by weight of an alkaline hydratable chemical consisting essentially of alkali metal hydroxide; (2) an effective amount of a hardness-sequestering agent; (3) an effective thickening amount of a polyacrylate; and (4) more than 15 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of said alkaline hydratable chemical of water of hydration, at least a portion of said water of hydration being associated with said alkali metal hydroxide; (b) cooling the liquid composition to afford a thickened uniform dispersion; and (c) casting the uniform dispersion in a receptacle-shaped mold to yield a solid, uniform detergent composition.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 26 wherein the mold in which the composition was cast and solidified is a container for the detergent.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the article further comprises a cover attached to the container.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of claim 28 wherein the article comprises at least one preformed core surrounded by and in contact with the detergent on at least one side of the core.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the preformed core comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a defoamer and a solid, available chlorine-containing component.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 32 comprising a plurality of preformed cores, at least one of which comprises a solid, available chlorine-containing component.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 33 wherein the preformed core has been coated with an inert barrier film.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim 110 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said castable liquid detergent composition comprises: (a) at least about 30% by weight of an alkaline hydratable chemical consisting essentially of an alkali metal hydroxide; (b) an effective hardness-sequestering amount of an alkali metal condensed phosphate; (c) more than 5% by weight of water of hydration in both discrete and continuous states of hydration, at least a portion of said water of hydration being associated with said alkali metal hydroxide; (d) up to about 15% by weight of a polyacrylate; and (e) up to 5% by weight of an additive selected from the group consisting of a defoamer and a solid, available chlorine-containing component.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said castable liquid detergent composition further comprises a sodium silicate.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1989-02-10 1989-08-12 1990-02-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1993-02-10 1993-08-12 1994-02-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1997-02-10 1997-08-12 1998-02-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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