US4780100A — Fabric cleaner

Claim 1

Independent Claim 174 words

A method for cleaning soiled fabrics having fibers containing soiling particles, comprising: (a) forming a first, substantially low viscosity foam by delivering a solvent/surfactant admixture via a liquefiable propellant, said solvent being an organic volatile solvent with a consistent evaporation rate and a vapor pressure of 760 mm of mercury at a temperature of no greater than 175° C., said surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic, cationic, nonionic, amphoteric surfactants, and mixtures thereof, said solvent being present at about 0.5% to 20.0% by weight, said surfactant being present at about 0.1% to 30.0% by weight, and said propellant being present at about 10.0% to 50.0% by weight; (b) applying said first foam to a soiled carpet surface having fibers containing soiling particles; (c) allowing said first foam to collapse without abrasion into said fibers and emulsifying and segregating said soiling particles during a controlled residence time; and (d) allowing said solvent of the solvent/surfactant admixture to form a second foam, thereby elevating said soiling particles substantially to the surface of said fibers.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 174 words

A method for cleaning soiled fabrics having fibers containing soiling particles, comprising: (a) forming a first, substantially low viscosity foam by delivering a solvent/surfactant admixture via a liquefiable propellant, said solvent being an organic volatile solvent with a consistent evaporation rate and a vapor pressure of 760 mm of mercury at a temperature of no greater than 175° C., said surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic, cationic, nonionic, amphoteric surfactants, and mixtures thereof, said solvent being present at about 0.5% to 20.0% by weight, said surfactant being present at about 0.1% to 30.0% by weight, and said propellant being present at about 10.0% to 50.0% by weight; (b) applying said first foam to a soiled carpet surface having fibers containing soiling particles; (c) allowing said first foam to collapse without abrasion into said fibers and emulsifying and segregating said soiling particles during a controlled residence time; and (d) allowing said solvent of the solvent/surfactant admixture to form a second foam, thereby elevating said soiling particles substantially to the surface of said fibers.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said solvent is selected from the group consisting essentially of saturated, substituted, or halogenated alkane of 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said surfactant is an anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting essentially of alkali metal salts of (a) alkyl, or alkylaryl sulfates; (b) alkyl, or alkylaryl sulfonates; (c) alkyl, or alkylaryl sarcosinates; and mixtures thereof.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said propellant is a compressible propellant selected from the group of saturated hydrocarbons consisting of methane, ethane, iso-propane, n-propane, iso-butane, n-butane, pentane, hexane, heptane, octane, nonane, decane, dodecane, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 1 wherein in step (a), said solvent/surfactant admixture includes a builder selected from the group consisting of alkali metal salts of silicates, phosphates, and carbonates.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 5 wherein in step (a), said surfactant/solvent admixture further comprises: about 0.0% to 20.0% by weight of said builder; and the remainder water.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 171 words

A dispensing means which comprises: a closed container, propellant and solvent/surfactant admixture-containing chamber and dispensing head; said dispensing means containing an aqueous solvent/surfactant admixture, said solvent being a volatile organic solvent having a consistent evaporation rate in ambient air and having a vapor pressure of 760 mm of mercury at a temperature of no greater than 175° C., and said surfactant being foam-forming and selected from the group consisting essentially of anionic, cationic, nonionic, amphoteric surfactants and mixtures thereof, said admixture being propelled by a liquefiable propellant, said solvent being present at about 0.5% to 20.0% be weight, said surfactant being present at about 0.1% to 30.0% by weight, and said propellant being present at about 10.0% to 50.0% by weight; said dispensing means delivering under pressure said solvent/surfactant admixture onto a fabric surface, whereupon said solvent/surfactant admixture foams an initial foam, then collapses without abrasion during a controlled residence time; and said solvent in said mixture thereafter evaporating, causing a second foam to form and rise through said fabric surface.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 171 words

A dispensing means which comprises: a closed container, propellant and solvent/surfactant admixture-containing chamber and dispensing head; said dispensing means containing an aqueous solvent/surfactant admixture, said solvent being a volatile organic solvent having a consistent evaporation rate in ambient air and having a vapor pressure of 760 mm of mercury at a temperature of no greater than 175° C., and said surfactant being foam-forming and selected from the group consisting essentially of anionic, cationic, nonionic, amphoteric surfactants and mixtures thereof, said admixture being propelled by a liquefiable propellant, said solvent being present at about 0.5% to 20.0% be weight, said surfactant being present at about 0.1% to 30.0% by weight, and said propellant being present at about 10.0% to 50.0% by weight; said dispensing means delivering under pressure said solvent/surfactant admixture onto a fabric surface, whereupon said solvent/surfactant admixture foams an initial foam, then collapses without abrasion during a controlled residence time; and said solvent in said mixture thereafter evaporating, causing a second foam to form and rise through said fabric surface.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 31 words

The dispensing means of claim 7 wherein said solvent is selected from the group consisting essentially of saturated, substituted, or halogenated alkane of 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 42 words

The dispensing means of claim 7 wherein said surfactant is an anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting essentially of alkali metal salts of (a) alkyl, or alkylaryl sulfates; (b) alkyl, or alkylaryl sulfonates; (c) alkyl, or alkylaryl sarcosinates; and mixtures thereof.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 39 words

The dispensing means of of claim 7 wherein said propellant is a compressible propellant selected from the group of saturated hydrocarbons consisting of methane, ethane, iso-propane, n-propane, iso-butane, n-butane, pentane, hexane, heptane, octane, nonane, decane, dodecane, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 28 words

The dispensing means of claim 7 wherein said solvent/surfactant admixture includes a builder selected from the group consisting essentially of alkali metal salts of silicates, phosphates, and carbonates.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 26 words

The dispensing means of claim 11 wherein said surfactant/solvent admixture further comprises: about 0.0% to 20.0% by weight of said builder; and the remainder as water.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1991-10-25	1992-04-25	1992-10-25	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1995-10-25	1996-04-25	1996-10-25	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1999-10-25	2000-04-25	2000-10-25	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Fabric cleaner

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag