Claims
- 1. An ionic surfactant-based protomicroemulsion comprising, by weight of the protomicroemulsion:
A. at least about 20% of an ionic surfactant system; B. from about 0.1% to about 50% of a low water-soluble compound; and C. from about 1% to about 40% of a solvent, wherein the protomicroemulsion forms a microemulsion when diluted from about 10% to about 99% with water, and wherein the protomicroemulsion is substantially free of a water-insoluble oil.
- 2. The protomicroemulsion composition according to claim 1, wherein the low water soluble compound is a phenyl glycol ether.
- 3. The protomicroemulsion composition according to claim 1, comprising a high capacity phase and a low capacity phase, wherein the high capacity phase dominates at a dilution of from about 10% to about 55% with water and wherein the low capacity phase dominates at a dilution of from about 50% to about 95% with water.
- 4. A cleaning implement comprising:
A. an ionic surfactant-based protomicroemulsion composition according to claim 1; and B. a substrate impregnated with the protomicroemulsion composition.
- 5. The cleaning implement according to claim 4, wherein the substrate comprises a nonwoven fibrous material.
- 6. The cleaning implement according to claim 4, wherein the ionic surfactant-based protomicroemulsion composition further comprises a water transfer agent capable of withdrawing water from the surfactant.
- 7. A method for cleaning a surface comprising the steps of:
A. applying the protomicroemulsion composition according to claim 1 to a substrate; B. adding water to the substrate to dilute the protomicroemulsion and form a microemulsion in situ; C. applying the microemulsion to the surface via the substrate; and D. rinsing the microemulsion from the surface to clean the surface.
- 8. A method for cleaning a surface comprising the steps of:
A. forming a microemulsion in situ by diluting a protomicroemulsion according to claim 1 with water; B. contacting the surface with the microemulsion; and C. rinsing the microemulsion from the surface to clean the surface.
- 9. An ionic surfactant-based microemulsion comprising, by weight of the microemulsion:
A. at least about 20% of an ionic surfactant system; B. from about 0.1% to about 50% of a low water-soluble compound; and C. from about 5% to about 79% of a solvent, wherein the microemulsion is substantially free of a water-insoluble oil.
- 10. A cleaning implement comprising:
A. an ionic surfactant-based microemulsion composition according to claim 9; and B. a substrate impregnated with the microemulsion composition.
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Patent Application No. 60/539,854 and U.S. Patent Application No. 60/539,855, filed Jan. 28, 2004, which claim the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Patent Application No. 60/535,912 and U.S. Patent Application No. 60/535,916, filed Jan. 12, 2004, which claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Patent Application No. 60/472,941, filed May 23, 2003, which claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Patent Application No. 60/451,064, filed Feb. 28, 2003, which are incorporated by reference herein.
Provisional Applications (6)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60539854 |
Jan 2004 |
US |
|
60539855 |
Jan 2004 |
US |
|
60535912 |
Jan 2004 |
US |
|
60535916 |
Jan 2004 |
US |
|
60472941 |
May 2003 |
US |
|
60451064 |
Feb 2003 |
US |