Patent Application
20130079733
The present invention relates to devices directed to devices and methods for delivering treatment compositions to a surface, e.g., an inanimate hard surface or an inanimate soft surface, and methods for treating such surfaces.
Chemical compositions for providing a technical benefit to a surface are notoriously old and known to the art. Liquid compositions, which are frequently largely aqueous in their composition, may be supplied to a surface by any of a number of means including simply pouring a quantity of such a composition of the surface or delivering it in the form of droplets which are delivered from a dispensing container. Widely used dispensing containers include pressurized container such as aerosol canisters which include a quantity of the composition as well as a propellant, as well as nonpressurized flasks or vessels which are equipped with a manually-pumpable spray head which can be used to dispense the compositions via a nozzle. While such are effective in many circumstances, they're not without disadvantages. Typically, the delivery rate using an aerosol canister or a manually-pumpable spray head is effective, but the relatively large droplets delivered by such means typically quickly saturate a hard or soft surface upon which they are dispensed. Further, the relatively large individual droplets delivered by such means are also often of a wide range of particle sizes, masses, or diameters which provide a very low degree of uniformity with regard to the distribution of the average droplet particle size being delivered. While such as advantageous where a large quantity of such treatment composition is intended to be relatively quickly delivered or deposited onto a surface, such is also disadvantageous as the relatively large droplet particle size quickly drops to the surface and provides a limited degree of distribution of the treatment composition onto a hard or soft surface. Thus, there is a real need in the art for providing improved methods for the delivery of treatment compositions to surfaces, including hard or soft surfaces. It is to such a need that the present invention is directed.
Also generally known to the technical arts primarily directed to air treatment, e.g., dispersion of fragrances, perfumes, insecticides, air fresheners, odor neutralizers, into an airspace are various devices for dispensing a liquid composition in the form of dispersed particles. Such include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,694,892 to Feriani, et al.; US 2009/308945 to Tollens, et al.; US 2009/272818 to Valpey III, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,299,739 to Takahashi et al.; which disclose various devices which include a vibrating plate and a wick or capillary for delivery of liquids from a reservoir to the vibrating plate. Further, US 2004/0256487 to Collins, Jr. et al., and US 2005/0103891 to Abergel, et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,802,460 to Hess, et al. disclose spraying devices which include a vibrating plate in direct fluid contact with liquid from a reservoir. U.S. Pat. No. 5,297,734 discloses various arrangement of vibrating plates supplied with liquids for delivering particulates of the liquid to an airspace. The contents of these US patent documents are herein incorporated by reference.
Notwithstanding these known art devices, further advances are still needed in the art treatment devices and treatment methods.
In one aspect of the present invention provides a device which generates a mist of a treatment composition, viz, an aerosolized treatment composition which imparts a technical benefit to surfaces, or airspaces, which come into contact with the said aerosolized treatment composition.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for the treatment of hard surfaces and soft surfaces which method comprises the step of providing a device which generates a mist of a treatment composition, which treatment composition contacts the surface and provides a technical benefit thereto.
According to an additional aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for the treatment of inanimate, nonporous hard surfaces which method comprises the step of providing a device which generates a mist of a treatment composition, which contacts hard surfaces and provides a technical benefit thereto.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for the treatment of soft surfaces, e.g., carpets, rugs, upholstery, curtains and drapes, fabrics, textiles, garments, and the like which method comprises the step of providing a device which generates a mist of a treatment composition, which treatment composition contacts the soft surfaces and which optionally further also penetrates the surface or surfaces thereof, and which provides a technical benefit thereto.
According to a yet further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for controlling the incidence of dust mites, or controlling their residual fecal matter which method comprises the step of providing a device which generates a mist of a treatment composition, which treatment composition contacts the surface and provides a technical benefit thereto.
In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method for denaturing allergens, which method comprises the step of providing a device generates a mist of a treatment composition, which treatment composition contacts the surface and provides a technical benefit thereto.
In a still further aspect of the invention there is provided a method for the delivery of an air treatment composition to an airspace, which method comprises the step of providing a device which generates a mist of a treatment composition, which treatment composition contacts said airspace and provides a technical benefit thereto, e.g., fragrancing, perfuming, odor masking, malodour neutralization, air sanitization, and the like. The method may be practiced within an open airspace, e.g., a larger volume such as a room, public space within the interior of a building, a cabin or compartment within a vehicle, as well as within a closed container or other relatively smaller space, e.g., the interior of a storage cabinet, a closet, a shower stall, a garbage container or refuse bin, and the like.
In a yet further aspect of the invention there is provided a method for the pre-treatment of an article, or the post-treatment of an article treated in a laundry machine for the laundering treatment of fabrics, textiles, garments, and the like which method comprises the step of providing a device which generates a mist of a pre-treatment composition, which mist contacts the aforementioned fabrics, textiles, garments, and the like and which optionally further also penetrates the surface or services thereof, and which provides a technical benefit thereto. Such pre-treatment step or post-treatment step may be practiced directly to said article, or may be practiced utilizing a machine such as a laundry washing machine or a laundry drying machine.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method for the pre-treatment of an article, or the post-treatment of an article such as a dishware article, treated in an automatic dishwashing machine, which method comprises the step of providing a device which generates a mist of a pre-treatment composition, which said composition contacts dishware e.g., tableware, glassware, cooking utensils, cookware, and the like, and which provides a technical benefit thereto. Such pre-treatment step or post-treatment step may be practiced directly to said dishware article, or may be practiced utilizing a machine such as an automatic dishwashing machine.
According to a still further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for the application of a treatment composition to a bodily surface, e.g., a dermal surface, or hair surface, which method comprises the step of providing a device which generates a mist of a treatment composition which composition contacts the bodily surface and provides a technical benefit thereto.
In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method for delivering an inhalable pharmaceutical composition to a an animal patient in need of treatment which method comprises the step of providing a device generates a mist of a treatment composition which comprises at least one pharmaceutically active composition which provides a therapeutic benefit to an animal patient (human, non-human animal especially mammal) which treatment composition is inhaled or ingested by the animal patient.
These and further aspect of the invention will be more apparent from a review of the following specification and accompanying drawings.
In one aspect of the present invention provides a device which generates a mist of a treatment composition, also referred to as an aerosolized treatment composition which imparts a technical benefit to surfaces, or airspaces, which come into contact with the said aerosolized treatment composition. According to one embodiment, there is provided a device for aerosolizing a fluid product, which device includes a mist generator, a control circuit for operating the mist generator, a reservoir for the fluid product to be aerosolized, a means for supplying the a mist generator with the fluid product, a housing, and optionally at least one flow directing nozzle or flow directing orifice adapted to direct the flow of a mist generated by the mist generator out from the device.
In a second aspect of the invention the device is divided into two or more parts, which may be interconnected to function to provide a mist of the treatment composition.
In a third aspect of the invention the device is fully hand holdable which generates a mist of a treatment composition.
The mist generator means may comprise a vibrating member which includes a metal or ceramic plate; the plate may be solid or porous, or micropierced in the form of a grid or in the form of one or more segments or slots passing through the vibrating member, and a piezoelectric actuator which, when operated, causes vibratory motion in the vibrating member. The mist generator means may be an annular ring of a piezoelectric material which is attached to said vibrating member and spans the annulus, which when activated, causes the said vibrating member to vibrate. The mist generator means may comprise a piezoelectric material which is attached to, adjacent to or abutting a non-vibrating element or member which receives the vibratory motion of the piezoelectric material and transfers the vibratory motion to the said vibrating member. The mist generator means may comprise a piezoelectric material which is attached to, adjacent to or abutting a non-vibrating element or member which receives the vibratory motion of the piezoelectric material and forces the treatment composition through the vibrating member which optionally but not necessarily vibrates; where the mesh or plate does not vibrate the treatment composition is driven through the vibratory member by virtue of the movement of the attached to, adjacent to or abutting a non-vibrating element or member which receives the vibratory motion of the piezoelectric material, e.g. by compression of the treatment composition located between the non-vibrating member and the mesh or plate due to the vibratory motion of the piezoelectric material.
The mist generator means may be a tubular piezoelectric material which includes a vibrating member spanning its interior bore between the ends of the piezoelectric material, and/or includes a vibrating member spanning the interior bore at one or more ends thereof, such that when activated the tubular piezoelectric material vibrates or expands/contracts which in turn imparts vibratory motion of the vibrating member(s).
The mist generator means may be an electrostatic spray device. The mist generator means may be an ultrasonic nozzle device.
The mist generator means may be a tubular aerosol generator which includes a tube having a first and a second end, a heater arranged relative to the tube for heating the tube, a source of material to be volatilized, the second end of the tube being in communication with the source of material, a valve operatively located between the source of material and the tube, the valve being openable and closeable to open and close communication between the source of material and the first end of the tube, and a pressurization arrangement for causing material in the source of material to be introduced into the tube from the source of material when the valve is in an open position. The mist generator means may form a part of the device and be permanently affixed thereto. Alternately the mist generator means may be provided as part of a refill unit or refill reservoir which, when inserted or affixed to the device completes the device and enables its use. Further the mist generator means may be user replaceable article or unit which may be removed and/or installed as needed or desired by a user to one or more of the device or the refill unit or refill reservoir. Yet further in any embodiment, the mist generator may be formed of several parts which are required to be assembled in order to form an operating mist generator means, e.g., a piezoelectric actuator may form part of the device and a separate vibrating member form part of a refill unit or refill reservoir which remains inoperative until the device and refill unit or refill reservoir are properly aligned or otherwise installed in the device so permit the interaction between the piezoelectric actuator and the vibrating member which then operates as a mist generator means. Such an embodiment is preferred in that with the replacement of a refill unit or refill reservoir a new vibrating member is provided to the device.
The device includes a controller means for controlling the operation of the mist generator means. The controller means may provide one or more functions. The controller means preferably includes a high frequency generator used to generate a suitable electrical signal for the operation of the mist generator, and particularly a piezoelectric element or device associated therewith. The controller means may include one or more switches, or other input means, e.g., buttons, contacts or switches, which can be established by user of a device according to the invention in order to control the mode of operation of the controller means. The controller means may also include means for controlling the output of the mist generator which may turn the unit off, or suspend its operation after a metered amount or dose of the treatment composition is dispensed from the device; the amount of the treatment composition may be a user controllable amount, e.g., via a setting, or may be a predetermined metered amount which cannot be changed by the user. The amount of treatment composition delivered by the device may be varied in response to a signal received by the controller means which may respond to an environmental condition of the device. The controller means may also be adapted to receive, and respond to, one or more signal inputs received from one or more sensors associated with the device. For example the controller means may be adapted to receive and respond to signals or conditions relating to the status of any part of the device such as the quantity of treatment composition in a reservoir or refill unit, to the physical orientation of the device, as well as to the frequency of dispensing and/or volume of treatment composition dispensed over a unit time interval. Nonlimiting examples of such responses include to increase or decrease one more of: the volumetric delivery rate of the treatment composition, and/or the frequency of delivery of the treatment composition per unit of time. The controller means may provide one or more output signals which may be transmitted to one or more further elements of the device via suitable conductor means, such as wires, in order to control their operation. The controller means may be programmable and include suitable electronic circuitry for the operation of the device according to one or more programs each having at least one, but preferably a plurality of, discrete programmed steps; typically such includes at least a logic or program controller, e.g., a central processing unit, and system memory for storing one or more programs. The controller means may be a non-programmable circuit, which preferably operates according to specific logic responsive to one or more signal inputs to the controller means. The controller means may comprise a drive circuit in order to provide suitable power and/or signal outputs to the mist generator in order to control its operation in generating a treatment mist from the fluid treatment composition, which may include known-art drive circuits suitable for this purpose. One example of a suitable circuit which may be present within the controller means is a pulse-width-modulation circuit (PWM) comprising a transformer converter and having an input acted on by a piezoelectric element present and the mist generator; such as disclosed in published application US 2009/0121043, the contents of which is herein incorporated by reference.
A further example of a suitable circuit is one which includes a microprocessor controlled variable oscillator for providing variable frequencies to mist generator such that treatment composition is formed into an aerosol of fine droplets. The variable oscillator preferably comprises a digital resistor for adjusting the time of charge and discharge; such a circuit is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,673,812, the contents of which are incorporated by reference.
The device may be operated by direct control by a user, e.g., controlling a switch upon the device or alternately, the device may be operated indirectly, e.g., by a remote control unit.
The device may include a power supply source which is integral to the device, e.g., one or more batteries, such that the device is portable, or the device may include means, e.g. wire, for connecting the device to a source of power, e.g., a transformer or electrical mains, supplying electrical power to the controller means. The batteries may be replaceable by the user when they are exhausted. The batteries may be rechargeable batteries which may be replenished by connecting them to a suitable power source. Thus in certain embodiments the device of the invention is fully portable, but in other embodiments the device of the invention or part thereof may be a stationary part which is not necessarily moved or portable when the device is in use. Such includes, e.g., a recharging station, or a part of the device which comprises the fluid reservoir. Further configurations of the device are also possible.
The device may include one or more sensor means. Sensor means may be present to evaluate the state of a condition within the device, e.g., the presence of a treatment composition, or the presence of a suitable refill container. Sensor means may be present to evaluate the state of the environment in which the device is being used, e.g., time of day, degree of brightness near the environment of the device, absence of light, presence of light, a sound sensor, a vibration sensor, a heat sensor, an odor or scent sensor, a pressure sensor, a proximity sensor, and the like.
The device may include a fill level sensor which controls the operation of the device responsive to the amount of liquid present in the device and/or in the reservoir, which may be a removable reservoir.
The device may include one or more orientation sensing means for determining a physical orientation of the device, which for example, can be a level sensor, horizon sensor, accelerometer or any other device which can be used to establish the relative position of the device with respect to the horizontal or horizon.
The device may include a reservoir for containing a quantity of the treatment composition, which reservoir may be a integrally formed as part of, or as an element of the device, which is not intended to be removed but rather refilled with the treatment composition when required. Alternately the device may include a removable reservoir which is intended to be removed from the device and replaced when necessary, such as to replenish or to resupply a new quantity of the treatment composition to the device. The reservoir of the device may be adapted to contain a single fluid treatment composition or may be adapted to contain a plurality of fluid treatment compositions. Such a removable reservoir may take the form of cartridge or assembly, or be a part of such a cartridge or assembly. The cartridge may be a single-use cartridge which is not intended to be refilled. The cartridge may include a bag or plenum which may optionally be vented to the atmosphere. The cartridge may be refillable by the user.
The device may include at least one fluid control means for controlling the rate of delivery of a fluid product, viz., a treatment composition, from the reservoir to the mist generator. The fluid control means may form part of the device, or may be part of a removable reservoir, or may be present in both the device and a removable reservoir. The fluid control means may also be formed by cooperative elements, part of which are present on the removable reservoir and part on the device such that, when the cooperative elements are assembled, in conjunction they form a fluid control means. The device may include one, or several fluid control means. Nonlimiting examples of fluid control means include the following: a) one or more capillaries which via capillary effect supply the treatment composition from the fluid reservoir to the mist generator means; b) one or more tubes or channels which provide fluid conduits to supply the treatment composition from the fluid reservoir to the mist generator means; c) one or more pumps, d) direct physical interaction between a vibrating member and the treatment composition, e.g. wherein the treatment composition is supplied to a top surface or bottom surface of the vibrating member during at least a portion of its range of vibratory (or oscillatory) movement, or during the range of vibratory (or oscillatory movement) the vibrating member contacts a quantity of the treatment composition and entrains it within the vibrating member before expelling it therefrom, such for example may occur wherein a wick or a tube having exposed treatment composition at an end thereof is in near proximity but not in direct contact with a vibrating member; e) by a gravity feed flow of the treatment composition to the mist generator means; f) a manual supply means, e.g., manual pumping by a user of an element such as a pump or bulb which transfers a quantity of the treatment liquid to the mist generator means; g) an antechamber or cavity which is intermediate the reservoir and the mist generator means which antechamber or cavity is first filled from the reservoir, and the mist generator means is supplied with treatment composition from the antechamber of cavity but not directly from the reservoir.
Particularly preferred fluid flow means include c) one or more pumps, including but not limited to: gear pumps, positive displacement pumps, rotary pumps, micropumps, diaphragm pumps, and especially preferably piezoelectric diaphragm pumps such as those presently commercially available from Bartels Mikrotechnik GmbH (Dortmund, Germany). Examples of such piezoelectric diaphragm pumps are disclosed in one or more of the following: WO/2009/059664, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. Such number among particularly preferred embodiments of the invention.
The device may include at least one fluid control means for controlling the rate of delivery of a fluid product (treatment composition) from the reservoir to the mist generator. The fluid control means may form part of the device, or may be part of a removable reservoir, or may be present in both the device and a removable reservoir. The fluid control means may also be formed by cooperative elements, part of which are present on the removable reservoir and part on the device such that, when the cooperative elements are assembled, in conjunction they form a fluid control means. The device may include one, or several fluid control means.
The device may include an airflow generator means. The airflow generator means may be used to generate a current of air which induces or directs the flow of the atomized treatment composition, and especially as it exits the device. The airflow generator means also entrains the nebulized or mist of the treatment composition and may be used to direct its flow outwardly from the device. However in certain embodiments such further airflow generator means are absent and excluded form the device.
The device may be a single unit which is substantially confined by a housing, or the device may include one or more extensible elements, e.g., a wand connected to the housing of the device which housing contains the mist generator and/or the reservoir. In one embodiment a part of the device contains the reservoir of the treatment composition and the mist generator means, which is connected by a tube through which the atomized treatment composition passes to a further part of the device which includes a flow directing nozzle through which the atomized treatment composition exits the device; the user may position the latter part of the device including the flow directing nozzle in order to direct the flow of the atomized treatment composition onto a hard surface and/or onto a soft surface in order to treat the said surface.
The device may comprise further flow directing elements which cooperative with the flow directing nozzle in order to provide an ancillary flow directing benefit, or which provide means for interactively contacting the surfaces being treated. However in certain embodiments such further flow directing elements are absent and excluded form the device.
The device may further comprise an air-treatment means which is used to provide a volatile material to the ambient environment of the device, which volatile material is supplied to the ambient environment independently of the mist generator means. The air-treatment means may be used to deliver a volatile material, e.g., one or more of fragrances, perfumes, compositions for the control or eradication of airborne insects, odor neutralizing agents, odor masking agents, as well as those which may impart holistic or aromatherapy benefits which is separate from the treatment composition. For example, such a volatile material may be provided in a reservoir comprising a quantity of said volatile material which may form part of or be used with the device. Such a reservoir can take any shape or suitable form, and can be included within the interior of the device, or on the exterior of the device, or may be even be separate from the device but provided as a separate article or element which is separate or separable from the device but intended to be placed in the near proximity of the device. By way of nonlimiting examples, such a reservoir may include a porous material such as a pad or tablet which is impregnated with, or upon which is absorbed a volatile composition useful in providing an air treatment benefit, a gel or a solid composition which also contains a volatile air treatment composition which may emanate to the ambient environment from the reservoir, or a container which includes a fibrous wick, or pad, or a porous membrane for the delivery of a volatile material to the ambient environment from the reservoir. Alternately the reservoir may contain a quantity of a particulate material in the form of a single body, e.g. plate, or as a plurality of spheres, or beads which function as a reservoir for the volatile composition, and from whence they may be delivered to the ambient environment. Non-limiting examples of such materials include those currently marketed under the tradename Auracell® (ex. Rotuba Extruders) which are based on fragranced cellulosic polymers, as well as PolyIFF® (ex. International Flavors and Fragrances Inc.), as well as Tenite® (ex. Eastman Chemical Co.).
The device of the invention includes a mist generator means for the delivery of a treatment composition which comprises a treatment agent. In certain embodiments the treatment composition may be solely comprised of the treatment agent. The mist generator may be any device which provides for atomization of the treatment composition or which provides for the aerosolization of the treatment composition without directly heating the treatment composition or utilizing a propellant gas or the use of a liquid pump to drive the treatment composition through a nozzle and consequently cause the formation of discrete particles therefrom.
The treatment composition may be provided in a ready to use form, e.g., does not require further dilution with water or other material in order to form the treatment composition to be atomized and dispensed from the device, or alternately may be provided in a concentrated form which requires further dilution with water or other material prior to its being atomized and dispensed from the device.
The mist generator means may be an electrostatic spray device. Electrostatic spray devices impart energy to the treatment composition via a high electrical potential. This energy serves to atomize and charge the treatment composition, creating a spray of fine, charged particles. As the charged particles are carried away from the sprayer, their common charge causes them to repel one another. This has two effects before the spray reaches the target. First, it expands the total spray mist. This is especially important when spraying to fairly distant, large areas. The second effect is maintenance of original particle size. Because the particles repel one another, they resist collecting together into large, heavier particles like uncharged particles do. Such lessens gravity's influence, and increases the charged particle reaching the intended target surface. As the mass of negatively charged particles approach the target surface, they push electrons inside the target surface inwardly, leaving all the exposed surfaces of the target with a temporary positive charge. The resulting attraction between the particles and the target surface overrides the influences of gravity and inertia. As each particle deposits on the target surface, said spot on the target surface becomes neutralized and no longer attractive. Therefore, the next free particle is attracted to a spot immediately adjacent and the sequence continues until the entire surface of the target surface is covered with particles of the treatment composition. Thus, the use of an electrostatic spray device effectively provides for aerosolization of the treatment composition without requiring direct heating of the treatment composition or without the need for a propellant composition or liquid pump to drive the treatment composition. Such electrostatic spray devices are per se, known in the art and available from commercial sources.
The mist generator means may be an ultrasonic nozzle device. Such ultrasonic nozzle devices may be obtained from commercial sources, e.g., Sono-Tek, Inc. (Milton, N.Y., USA) as well as Sonaer Inc., (Farmingdale, N.Y., USA) as well as being disclosed in published patent applications, US 2009/0254020, and US 2009/0224066, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
The mist generator means may be a tubular aerosol generator. Typically such a tubular aerosol generator includes a tube having a first and a second end, a heater arranged relative to the tube for heating the tube, a source of material to be volatilized, the second end of the tube being in communication with the source of material, a valve operatively located between the source of material and the tube, the valve being openable and closeable to open and close communication between the source of material and the first end of the tube, and a pressurization arrangement for causing material in the source of material to be introduced into the tube from the source of material. Such tubular aerosol generators are disclosed in one or more of: U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,251, U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,167, U.S. Pat. No. 6,491,233, U.S. Pat. No. 6,501,052, U.S. Pat. No. 6,516,796, U.S. Pat. No. 6,568,390, U.S. Pat. No. 6,640,050, U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,998, U.S. Pat. No. 6,766,220, U.S. Pat. No. 6,772,757, U.S. Pat. No. 6,804,458, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,883,516 the entire contents of each of which are herein incorporated by reference thereto.
In preferred embodiments the mist generator means is a nebulizer means, which is also generally preferred for use. Nebulizer sprayers impart energy to the treatment composition wherein the ultrasonic energy is supplied via a transducer. This energy results in atomization of the treatment composition without requiring direct heating of the treatment composition or without the need for a propellant composition or a manually operated liquid pump to drive the treatment composition. Various types of nebulizers include, but are not limited to: ultrasonic, gas, venturi nebulizers. Such may be obtained from a variety of commercial sources.
Exemplary nebulizer means which are presently commercially available from Kai-Chih Industrial Ltd. (Taiwan) include those disclosed in one or more of U.S. Pat. No. 6,854,662; a nebulizer and baffle plate assembly as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,229,029; piezoelectric and percussion board assembly as disclosed in US 2007/0011940; a block piezoelectric actuator and vibratable plate as disclosed in US 2007/0169775; a vibration member comprising a piezoelectric ceramic actuator and a vibratory plate as disclosed in US 2008/00419272, the contents of each of the foregoing being herein incorporated in their entirety by reference. Further nebulizers and/or mist generators include those known to the art, including those disclosed in one or more of the US patents incorporated by reference and discussed in this patent specification.
The mist generator means is energized from the power source and such causes the grid to vibrate at a high frequency and concurrently to emit a cloud of very fine liquid particles, viz., a mist, which may then be omitted. The very fine liquid particles forming the mist of the treatment composition, alternately referred to as a “treatment mist” typically have an average diameter which may be of relatively wide distribution, e.g., from about 0.25 microns to about 500 microns, however it is preferred that the particle size distribution of the fine liquid particles fall within the range of about 5 to about 300 microns, and especially preferably fall in the range of between about 10 to about 100 microns. Preferably the preponderance (>75%, preferably >85%, especially preferably >95%) of the very fine liquid particles forming the mist of the treatment composition is in the range of about 5-75 microns, and preferably about 10-50 microns. In certain preferred embodiments, up to about 25%, preferably up to 10% of the very fine liquid particles forming the mist of the treatment composition is in the range of 0.1-10 microns, and up to about 25%, preferably up to 15% of the very fine liquid particles forming the mist of the treatment composition is in excess of 100 microns with the remaining at least 50%, but preferably at least 75% of the very fine liquid particles forming the mist of the treatment composition is in the range of 10-50 microns, and especially preferably in the range of 10-30 microns. Desirably, and in order of increasing preference, not more than about 22%, 20%, 18%, 16%, 15%, 12%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1% and most preferably essentially none (less than 0.5%) of the very fine liquid particles forming the mist of the treatment composition is in the range of 0.1-10 microns, and concurrently and in order of increasing preference, not more than about 22%, 20%, 18%, 16%, 15%, 12%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1% and most preferably essentially none (less than 0.5%) of the very fine liquid particles forming the mist of the treatment composition is in excess of 50 microns, with the remaining balance to 100% of the very fine liquid particles forming the mist of the treatment composition within 10 microns and 50 microns.
Alternately wherein the device is intended to deliver a treatment composition which is intended to be respirable or more readily absorbed transdermally then the particle size distribution may be directed to delivering having smaller average diameters than discussed above. In such nebulizers, the mist generator means is energized from the power source and such causes the grid to vibrate at a high frequency and concurrently to emit a cloud of very fine liquid particles, viz., a mist, which may then be omitted. The very fine liquid particles forming the mist of the treatment composition, alternately referred to as a “treatment mist” typically have an average diameter which may be of relatively wide distribution, e.g., from about 0.01 microns to about 200 microns, however it is preferred that the particle size distribution of the fine liquid particles fall within the range of about 0.1 to about 50 microns, and especially preferably fall in the range of between about 0.1 to about 25 microns, particularly preferably about 0.1 to about 15 microns. Preferably the preponderance (>75%, preferably >85%, especially preferably >95%) of the very fine liquid particles forming the mist of the treatment composition is in the range of 0.1-10 microns. Desirably, and in order of increasing preference, not more than about 22%, 20%, 18%, 16%, 15%, 12%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1% and most preferably essentially none (less than 0.5%) of the very fine liquid particles forming the mist of the treatment composition are in excess of 10 microns, with the remaining balance to 100% of the very fine liquid particles forming the mist of the treatment composition of 10 microns or less.
In a further preferred embodiment a “bi-modal” distribution of very fine liquid particles are provided by a nebulizer, such that, opposed to many known nebulizers which provide a distribution of very fine liquid particles which are averaged about a median or averaged liquid particle size or liquid particle mass, in said preferred embodiment the nebulizer provides a bi-modal distribution of very fine liquid particles, a first part or proportion of the liquid particles being of a first particle size distribution which are averaged about a first median or first averaged liquid particle size or liquid particle mass, and a second part or proportion of the liquid particles being of a second particle size distribution which are averaged about a second median or second averaged liquid particle size or liquid particle mass. In such embodiments, the average liquid particle size or liquid particle mass of the first median or first particle size distribution is lesser in average or median particle size or mass than the average liquid particle size or liquid particle mass of the second median or second particle size distribution. The provision of such a bi-modal distribution provides for a first part or portion of the liquid particles being of a smaller particle size, preferably having a first median or first averaged liquid particle size in the range of 1-10 microns, preferably 1-8 microns, yet more preferably between 2-7 microns, and a second part or portion of the liquid particles being of a relatively larger particle size, preferably having a second median or second averaged liquid particle size in the range of 10-50 microns, preferably 10-40 microns, yet more preferably between 10-35 microns. Optionally but advantageously, at least 60%, and in order of increasing preference, at least 70%, 75%, 80%, of the particles or mass of the liquid particles present within the first or second proportion are within +/−35% by mass or size, and in order of increasing preference are within” +/−30%, +/−25%, +/−20%, +/−15%, +/−10% of their respective median or average liquid particle size or liquid particle mass. Such provides for a narrowed distribution of the liquid particle sizes or masses delivered by the nebulizer. Further preferably, the mass of the particles delivered in the first part or portion of liquid particles is not more than about ½, preferably not more than about ¼ of the mass of the mass of the particles delivered in the second part or portion of liquid particles, which have a larger average particle size or mass. Alternately, but preferably, the mass ratio of the particles delivered in the first part or portion of liquid particles to the particles delivered in the second part or portion of liquid particles is in the range of about 1:2, and in order of increasing preference is in the respective mass ratio about: 1:3, 1:4, 1:5, 1:6, 1:7, 1:8, 1:9, 1:10. The delivery of the liquid treatment composition as a bi-modal distribution of very fine liquid particles provides for controlled distribution of the treatment composition wherein a controlled mass, but visually very visible amount or mass, of the liquid treatment composition provided in the a first part or proportion of the liquid particles is delivered concurrently with greater mass of the liquid treatment composition provided in the a second part or proportion of the liquid particles. Such minimizes or reduces the amount of treatment composition which is delivered as smaller, potentially respirable liquid droplets or particles in applications and methods of use where it is intended that these be minimized, which said particles are nonetheless airborne and more buoyant than the greater mass of the treatment composition which is delivered as larger, less potentially respirable liquid droplets or particles of the treatment composition.
Mists of the treatment composition, (interchangeably referred to as a treatment mist,) has several advantages. A first advantage is that it is flowing and somewhat buoyant, which permits for the deposition of the very fine liquid particles on surfaces which are not necessary adjacent to the outlet of a device from whence the mist is released. This may provide for a small degree of airborne drift and permit for improved deposition of the liquid particles as compared to liquids which may be applied via a manually pumped trigger sprayer, or even liquids dispensed from a pressurized aerosol container. In the case of the former, the droplets of a liquid composition dispensed from a manually pumped trigger sprayer typically have larger average droplet sizes than those delivered by such a mist generator, and hence average droplet masses which concurrently transport and bombard a treated surface with greater amounts of a liquid composition per droplet. Such characteristics minimize the aerial buoyancy of the droplets, and when the droplets contact a surface the greater mass of liquid composition tends to much more quickly wet a surface, primarily by adsorption and to a lesser extent by absorption. Thus, both the larger and heaver particle sizes of the such liquid droplets, and their velocity as they are being released from a manually pumped trigger sprayer typically causes greater amounts of a liquid composition to be dispensed and faster wetting of surfaces. Turning to the latter, delivery of a liquid composition from a pressurized aerosol container typically results in similar delivery characteristics. While a critical selection of the orifice sizes and internal passages of an aerosol canister's spray actuator typically used with such pressurized aerosol container often provides somewhat more selection and control of the average droplet size, still the typical droplets of a liquid composition dispensed from a pressurized aerosol container also typically have larger average particle sizes than those delivered by such a generator, and hence have average droplet masses and greater distribution of average droplet sizes which concurrently transport and bombard a treated surface with greater amounts of a liquid composition per droplet. Such characteristics minimize the aerial buoyancy of the droplets, and when the droplets contact a surface the greater mass of liquid composition tends to much more quickly wet a surface, primarily by adsorption and to a lesser extent by absorption. Further, as the droplets dispensed from a pressurized aerosol container are typically released at a higher linear velocity than even the droplets released from a manually pumped trigger sprayer, such even moreso diminishes the likelihood of aerial buoyancy and airborne drift.
The treatment mist emitted from the mist generator in devices according to the invention may provide improved delivery to hard or non-porous surfaces, particularly when such may be associated with articles having three dimensional features, or which themselves have a three-dimensional, e.g., patterned, non-flat planar, or roughened surface. The irregularities in such surfaces may be very effectively treated by providing a mist from a device according to the invention, or according to a process of the invention in the near proximity or adjacent to such a surface, such that the delivered mist is permitted to settle and deposit upon such a three-dimensional surface. The delivery of the mist, which is expected to be airborne for at least a few fractions of a second after being dispensed from a device, will often also exhibit a useful degree of airborne drifting prior to settling upon a treated surface. Such airborne drifting provides for improved coverage of hard surfaces, particularly when such are three-dimensional themselves or are associated with articles having three dimensional features. With regard to the latter, by way of non-limiting example such may be a kitchen countertop or sink from which may extend a plumbing fixture, e.g., a faucet. Another non-limiting example could be a lavatory appliance, e.g. a toilet, bidet, shower, bathtub, or bathroom sink which also includes elements, e.g., faucets, spouts, drains, handles and the like. The airborne drifting of the mist of the treatment composition is also very useful in delivering the treatment composition to open airspace, e.g., a room, a space within the interior of a building, a vehicle cabin or vehicle compartment, as well as within a closed container e.g., the interior of a storage cabinet, a closet, a shower stall, a garbage container or refuse bin, and the like. The delivery of a treatment composition in the form of an airborne mist of the treatment composition, which may be alternately characterized as a cloud of very fine liquid particles of the treatment composition provides for improved surface deposition on such surfaces, including that of such elements. Due to the airborne nature of this mist or cloud, the dispensed mist or cloud forms an enveloping body or penumbra of very fine liquid particles of the treatment composition which may first surround a surface or article, and then deposit thereon by settling of the very fine liquid particles.
The delivery rates of the devices may vary in order to suit a specific application, e.g., it may be advantageously to have a higher delivery rate of the treatment composition per unit of time (e.g., seconds, minutes, hours, days) for spaces with larger volumes and/or wherein the device is located at a greater distance from the surface or surfaces to be treated, as opposed to closer placement and/or smaller volumes or spaced to be treated. Advantageously the treatment mist dispensed from the device may be delivered at a rate of about 0.5 milliliter/minute to about 100 milliliter/for most applications and uses. Preferably the delivery rate is from about 1-50, more preferably 1-25, still more preferably 1-10 and particularly preferably about 1-5 milliliter/minute.
Optionally but preferably the treatment mist emitted from the mist generator in devices according to the invention may travel along a horizontal surface for a reasonable distance when exiting the device. Preferably the plume of the treatment mist emitted from the mist generator travels up to 60 cm in a lateral or horizontal direction perpendicular to the device, and preferably travels between 1-50 cm in such a direction as measured from where it exits the device. Such permits for the travel, distribution and contact of the treatment mist with surfaces having non-planar geometries, e.g., curved surfaces, as well as travel of the treatment mist to the sides of a surface being treated, including the underside and back sides of a surface being treated.
Further three-dimensional surfaces which are particularly beneficially treated by the use of a device of the invention or by practice of the inventive process are soft surfaces. Such soft surfaces often exhibit a degree of porosity thus permitting for the passage of gases therethrough. Frequently such also have internal spaces or interstices in their construction. Non-limiting examples of such soft surfaces include: textiles, carpets, garments, and the like. The delivery of a treatment composition via a mist or cloud such as described above typically provides improved penetration of the soft surface due to the drifting of, or penetration of such internal spaces or interstices in a soft surface, e.g., the space between fibers in a twisted yarn, the space between adjacent yarns in the pile or nap of a carpet, the space between fibers of a woven or non-woven textile, such that very fine liquid particles of the treatment composition may be transported into the interior of the soft surface prior to such a particle depositing on a surface. Such an effect might be referred to as an injection of the mist of very fine liquid particles of the treatment composition into the three dimensional matrix of a soft surface wherein at least a part of the emitted very fine liquid particles transit to the interior of the soft surface prior to contacting any part of the soft surface itself, and only thereafter come into contact with and are deposited in the soft surface.
A further important technical characteristic of the delivery of a treatment composition as an airborne mist of the treatment composition is that typically better surface coverage and a more uniform layer of a treatment composition is deposited on either a hard or soft surface, and thus the actual mass of a treatment composition may be reduced as compared to delivery of the same treatment composition via a manually pumped trigger sprayer or a pressurized aerosol container in order to achieve a comparable technical effect. More simply stated, less of the treatment composition is wasted due to excessive delivery or overspraying than when delivered as a mist or cloud of very fine liquid particles of the treatment composition. Such is beneficial when for example, the delivery of a treatment composition providing a surface cleaning, sanitizing or antimicrobial benefit is desired, or where a film forming polymer is intended to be applied to a surface. In both instances, a more uniform deposition of the treatment composition may be achieved. A further beneficial effect is better noted when delivering a treatment composition to a porous or soft surface, especially a garment or textile. Providing a controlled amount of a treatment composition delivered as a mist or cloud of very fine liquid particles provides for minimization of localized delivery of the composition, e.g., as spots or zones of a treated soft surface which may quickly form a wetted or saturated part of the textile or surface which may result in wrinkling or staining of the area to which a composition has been applied, e.g., such as by a trigger sprayer or from a pressurized aerosol canister. In contrast thereto, the small degree of airborne drift of the treatment composition provided as a mist or cloud of very fine liquid particles provide for a more uniform distribution upon and possibly also within the textile or garment and thus permit for a reduction or minimization of the actual mass of the treatment composition which needs to be provided. Such minimized the likelihood of wetting, saturating, staining or wrinkling of a treated soft surface, especially where such is a garment, or a textile article such as: a carpet surface, rug, window treatment such as curtains or drapes, bedding surfaces including sheets, pillows, blankets, bedspreads, bedcoverings, as well as textiles or articles used in bathrooms, e.g., shower curtains, towels, etc. Attendant upon the use of the device of the invention, a treatment composition which provides a cleaning or odor masking or odor neutralization benefit is delivered as a treatment mist, viz, a cloud of very fine liquid particles which is used to treat a garment or textile article in a sufficient amount in order to provided the desired cleaning or odor masking or odor neutralization benefit. Of course two or more of these benefits may be provided in the practice of the process for treating such soft surfaces.
The device of the invention generates a treatment mist of discrete or aerosolized particles of the treatment composition which is used to treat surfaces, including inanimate hard surfaces and inanimate soft surfaces, as well as topical surfaces. The aerosolized form of a treatment composition comprises at least one treatment agent which ultimately contacts a surface being treated after being dispensed from the device of the invention. The treatment agent may be provided as a constituent of a treatment composition comprising further constituents other than the treatment agent, although a treatment composition consisting solely of a treatment agent is not excluded from the scope of the invention.
The treatment composition comprises at least one treatment agent. The treatment composition provides a technical benefit to a hard surface or soft surface being treated. By way of nonlimiting examples such a technical benefit can be one or more of: a cleaning benefit, a disinfecting benefit, a sanitizing benefit, a bacteriostatic effect, an anti-viral benefit, a sporicidal benefit to reduce the presence of, incidence of or regrowth of molds, fungi, spores and the like, an anti-allergen benefit, an anti-acaricidal benefit, an anti-fungal benefit, an anti-resoiling benefit, a limescale removing benefit, a stain removing benefit, an air treatment benefit including but not limited to; fragrancing, odor masking, odor neutralization, an anti-pesticidal benefit, an anti-insecticidal benefit, as well as providing a surface coating to hard surfaces. The treatment composition as applied to hard surfaces and/or soft surfaces may provide a technical benefit which may be transitory or durable, e.g., provide a residual antimicrobial, germicidal or sanitizing benefit such as to reduce the likelihood of the retention, or growth of undesired pathogens (e.g., bacteria, virus, molds) on the treated surface. The treatment compositions may provide a surface coating to hard surfaces and/or to soft surfaces. The treatment composition may also reduce the buildup of biofilms on the treated surface, may reduce the incidence of limescale and/or its buildup after being treated. The treatment composition may provide a surface shine benefit to treated surfaces. The treatment composition may provide an antiresoiling benefit. The treatment composition may deposit a coating on hard surface or soft surface which is hydrophilic in nature or hydrophobic in nature. The treatment composition may provide a surface treatment benefit to improve the tactile benefits thereof, e.g., fabric softening, and the like. The treatment composition may provide an air treatment benefit including but not limited to; fragrancing, odor masking, odor neutralization, air sanitization, an anti-pesticidal benefit, an anti-insectidal benefit. The treatment composition may provide a skin treatment benefit when topically applied to human skin or to any other bodily surface such as hair. The treatment composition may be an inhalable or respirable composition which comprises a medicament, a vitamin, a pharmaceutical preparation, an edible material and the like. Treatment compositions which are formed into treatment mists necessarily comprise an effective amount of one or more treatment agent within the treatment composition such that the desired technical benefit is provided when the treatment mist is applied to or into a hard surface or soft surface, or supplied in any other means or for any other use.
Prior to being formed into a treatment mist form, the treatment composition is advantageously a flowable liquid at room temperature (20° C.) and at normal atmospheric pressure in which the device of the invention finds use. The viscosity of the treatment composition is not necessarily critical, it only being required that it can be atomized in the device out of the invention and delivered as a mist of comminuted or aerosolized particles. Advantageously however the viscosity of the treatment composition falls within the range of about 0-2000 cP, preferably between about 0.5-1000 cP, and especially preferably between about 0.5-500 cP. Especially preferred embodiments of the treatment composition are free flowable liquids, i.e. are “water thin” and thus are readily flowable, as well as being readily pumpable either by mechanical means such as by a pump, or by pressure different means such as within a capillary or narrow diameter tube, and which is also readily easily and effectively atomized by the mist generator means.
Advantageously, the treatment composition includes a large proportion, that is to say at least about 50% wt. of a liquid. In certain preferred embodiments the treatment composition is at least 60% wt., and in order of increasing preference, 70% wt., 80% wt., 90% wt., 95% wt. 97% wt., 98% wt., 99% wt. and to 100% wt. of a liquid. The liquid is preferably a free-flowing liquid at room temperature and normal prevailing atmospheric conditions as noted above. Advantageously, the liquid may be water, or may be one or more non-aqueous solvents, e.g., one or more organic solvents, or may be a mixture or composition comprising both water and one or more further non-aqeuous solvents, e.g., one or more organic solvents. The water may be tap water, but is preferably distilled and is most preferably deionized water. By way of non-limiting example exemplary useful organic solvents which may be included in the treatment compositions include those which are at least partially water-miscible such as alcohols (e.g., low molecular weight alcohols, such as, for example, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, and the like), glycols (such as, for example, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, hexylene glycol, and the like), water-miscible ethers (e.g. diethylene glycol diethylether, diethylene glycol dimethylether, propylene glycol dimethylether), water-miscible glycol ether (e.g. propylene glycol monomethylether, propylene glycol mono ethylether, propylene glycol monopropylether, propylene glycol monobutylether, ethylene glycol monobutylether, dipropylene glycol monomethylether, diethyleneglycol monobutylether), lower esters of monoalkylethers of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol (e.g. propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate), and mixtures thereof. Glycol ethers having the general structure Ra-Rb—OH, wherein Ra is an alkoxy of 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or aryloxy of at least 6 carbon atoms, and Rb is an ether condensate of propylene glycol and/or ethylene glycol having from one to ten glycol monomer units. Of course, mixtures of two or more organic solvents may be used concurrently.
One preferred organic solvent which may be included within the treatment compositions is triethylene glycol which is believed to provide odor sanitization or odor neutralizing benefits to an airspace within which culminated particles of triethylene glycol are present. Thus come in certain embodiments were such a technical benefit is desired, the inclusion of triethylene glycol may be considered for its advantageous benefit. When present, it can be included in amounts effective to provide a desired degree of air sanitization. In certain embodiments it is also expressly contemplated that triethylene glycol is the preponderant constituent present, or even the sole constituent present in a treatment composition.
The treatment composition may also include one or more surfactants. The presence of one or more such surfactants which are advantageously included to typically provide for the loosening of soils or other hydrophobic matter which may be present on a surface being treated with the device of the invention.
Anionic surfactants and/or salt forms thereof may form part of the inventive compositions. Non-limiting examples of anionic surfactants include alcohol sulfates and sulfonates, alcohol phosphates and phosphonates, alkyl ester sulfates, alkyl diphenyl ether sulfonates, alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, sulfate esters of an alkylphenoxy polyoxyethylene ethanol, alkyl monoglyceride sulfates, alkyl sulfonates, alkyl ether sulfates, alpha-olefin sulfonates, beta-alkoxy alkane sulfonates, alkyl ether sulfonates, ethoxylated alkyl sulfonates, alkylaryl sulfonates, alkylaryl sulfates, alkyl monoglyceride sulfonates, alkyl carboxylates, alkyl ether carboxylates, alkyl alkoxy carboxylates having 1 to 5 moles of ethylene oxide, alkylpolyglycolethersulfates (containing up to 10 moles of ethylene oxide), sulfosuccinates, octoxynol or nonoxynol phosphates, taurates, fatty taurides, fatty acid amide polyoxyethylene sulfates, acyl glycerol sulfonates, fatty oleyl glycerol sulfates, alkyl phenol ethylene oxide ether sulfates, paraffin sulfonates, alkyl phosphates, isethionates, N-acyl taurates, alkyl succinamates and sulfosuccinates, alkylpolysaccharide sulfates, alkylpolyglucoside sulfates, alkyl polyethoxy carboxylates, and sarcosinates or mixtures thereof. Anionic soaps may also be used in the inventive compositions. Examples of the foregoing anionic surfactants are available under the following tradenames: Rhodapon®, Stepanol®, Hostapur®, Surfine®, Sandopan®, and Biosoft® tradenames.
Exemplary useful nonionic surfactants are those which include a hydrophobic base portion, such as a long chain alkyl group or an alkylated aryl group, and a hydrophilic chain portion comprising a sufficient number of ethoxy and/or propoxy moieties to render the nonionic surfactant at least partially soluble or dispersible in water. By way of non-limiting example, such nonionic surfactants include ethoxylated alkylphenols, ethoxylated and propoxylated fatty alcohols, polyethylene glycol ethers of methyl glucose, polyethylene glycol ethers of sorbitol, ethylene oxidepropylene oxide block copolymers, ethoxylated esters of fatty (C6-C24) acids, condensation products of ethylene oxide with long chain amines or amides, and mixtures thereof. Further useful nonionic surfactants include condensates of alkylene oxides, particularly ethylene oxide with sorbitan fatty acid esters, e.g., polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monopalmitate, and polyoxyethylene sorbitan trioleates. Still further useful nonionic surfactants include alkoxylated alkanolamides, e.g. C8-C24 alkyl di(C2-C3 alkanol amide). Examples of the useful nonionic surfactants include materials are available under the Tomadol®, Neodol®, Rhodasurf®, Genapol®, Pluronic® and Alfonic® tradenames. Further useful nonionic surfactants include oxo-alcohol ethoxylates (ex. BASF) under the Lutensol® ON tradename, as well as polyoxyalkylene alkylethers (ex. KAO Group, Japan) available under the Emulgen® tradename. A further useful nonionic surfactants include alkylmonoglycosides and alkylpolyglycosides are prepared generally by reacting a monosaccharide, or a compound hydrolyzable to a monosaccharide with an alcohol such as a fatty alcohol in an acid medium. Various glycoside and polyglycoside compounds including alkoxylated glycosides and processes for making them are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,974,134; 3,219,656; 3,598,865; 3,640,998; 3,707,535, 3,772,269; 3,839,318; 3,974,138; 4,223,129 and 4,528,106 the contents of which are incorporated by reference. Examples of useful alkylglycosides include, for example APG 325 CS Glycoside® which is described as being a 50% C9-C11 alkyl polyglycoside, also commonly referred to as D-glucopyranoside, (ex. Henkel KGaA) and Glucopon® 625 CS which is described as being a 50% C10-C16 alkyl polyglycoside, also commonly referred to as a D-glucopyranoside, (ex. Henkel).
The treatment compositions may include one or more amphoteric surfactants, specifically the following: derivatives of secondary and tertiary amines having aliphatic radicals that are straight chain or branched, and wherein one of the aliphatic substituents contains from about 8 to 18 carbon atoms and at least one of the aliphatic substituents contains an anionic water-solubilizing group, e.g., a carboxy, sulfonate, or a sulfate group. Non-limiting examples of compounds falling within this description include: sodium 3-(dodecylamino)propionate, and sodium 3-(dodecylamino)propane-1-sulfonate. Further exemplary useful amphoteric surfactants include sarcosinates and taurates, amide sulfosuccinates, and betaines including phosphobetaines. Exemplary betaines include dodecyl dimethyl betaine, cetyl dimethyl betaine, and dodecyl amidopropyldimethyl betaine.
The treatment composition may also comprise one or more cationic surfactant constituents, especially preferably one cationic surfactants which provide an appreciable germicidal benefit. Non-limiting examples of preferred cationic surfactant compositions which may be included in the treatment compositions are those which provide an appreciable germicidal benefit, and especially preferred are quaternary ammonium compounds and salts thereof, which may be characterized by the general structural formula:
where at least one of R1, R2, R3 and R4 is a alkyl, aryl or alkylaryl substituent of from 6 to 26 carbon atoms, and the entire cation portion of the molecule has a molecular weight of at least 165. The alkyl substituents may be long-chain alkyl, long-chain alkoxyaryl, long-chain alkylaryl, halogen-substituted long-chain alkylaryl, long-chain alkylphenoxyalkyl, arylalkyl, etc. The remaining substituents on the nitrogen atoms other than the abovementioned alkyl substituents are hydrocarbons usually containing no more than 12 carbon atoms. The substituents R1, R2, R3 and R4 may be straight-chained or may be branched, but are preferably straight-chained, and may include one or more amide, ether or ester linkages. The counterion X may be any salt-forming anion which permits water solubility or water miscibility of the quaternary ammonium complex. Preferred quaternary ammonium compounds which act as germicides according to the foregoing formula are those in which R2 and R3 are the same or different C8-C12alkyl, or R2 is C12-16alkyl, C8-18alkylethoxy, C8-18alkylphenolethoxy and R3 is benzyl, and X is a halide, for example chloride, bromide or iodide, or is a methosulfate anion. The alkyl groups recited in R2 and R3 may be straight-chained or branched, but are preferably substantially linear.
Particularly useful quaternary germicides include compositions which include a single quaternary compound, as well as mixtures of two or more different quaternary compounds. Such useful quaternary compounds are available under the BARDAC®, BARQUAT®, HYAMINE®, LONZABAC®, and ONYXIDE® trademarks, which are more fully described in, for example, McCutcheon's Functional Materials (Vol. 2), North American Edition, 1998, as well as the respective product literature from the suppliers identified below. When one or more cationic surfactants which provide an appreciable germicidal benefit are present, they may be present as a co-antimicrobial agent, with a further antimicrobial agent described hereinafter. When one or more cationic surfactants which provide an appreciable germicidal benefit are present, preferably anionic surfactants and further optionally, amphoteric surfactants are omitted from the treatment compositions of the invention. Other surfactants, although not specifically disclosed herein but known to the art may also be used within the treatment compositions of the present invention.
The treatment of the compositions may also include one or more fluorosurfactants. Preferred fluorocarbon surfactants include the anionic salts of perfluoroaliphaticoxybenzene sulfonic acids and the anionic salts of linear perfluoroalkyl-oxybenzoic acids. Examples of the former class of fluorocarbon surfactants can be represented by the following formula:
where Rf is a perfluoroaliphatic group of from about 5 to about 15 carbon atoms, preferably from about 8 to 12 carbon atoms in the aliphatic group which may be an alkyl group or alkenyl group, and A is a cation such as an alkali metal, ammonium or amine.
Examples of the latter class of fluorocarbon surfactants can be represented by the formula:
wherein n is a number of from about 2 to about 16 and m is a number from about 3 to about 34.
Other suitable fluorocarbon surfactants are:
Fluorinated hydrocarbon surfactants are available from numerous commercial sources as trademarked products. Examples are ZONYL fluorosurfactants from E.I. duPont de Nemours & Co., FLUORAD fluorosurfactants from 3M Company, e.g., FLUORAD FC-129 (RfSO2N(C2H5) CH2CO2−K+, where Rf is C1F2n+1 and n is about 8), and MONOFLOR fluorocarbon surfactants from I.C.I. Americas, Inc. one or more such a fluorinated hydrocarbon surfactants maybe included in the treatment compositions and any desired for effective amount.
The treatment compositions may comprise further antimicrobial agents other than the one or more cationic surfactants described above. Such an antimicrobial agent is/are one or more compounds other than cationic surfactants which provide an appreciable germicidal benefit, viz., cationic germicide, described above. Such an antimicrobial agent desirably provides an effective antimicrobial benefit to a treated surface, other than a cationic germicide, preferably such that the treatment composition delivered by the device of the invention exhibits at least 3 log10 kill efficacy, preferably at least 4 log20 kill efficacy at 60 seconds contact time of at least two, preferably at least three and most preferably at least four of microorganisms selected from the group consisting of: S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa and E. hirae, desirably according accepted and standardized testing protocols for the evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy of a composition applied to a hard surface, soft surface, or a dermal surface, i.e. a human or animal epidermis.
The antimicrobial agent may include one or more of: pyrithiones such as zinc pyrithione, halohydantoins such as dimethyldimethylol hydantoin, methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone sodium sulfite, sodium bisulfite, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, benzyl alcohol, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, formalin (formaldehyde), iodopropenyl butylcarbamate, chloroacetamide, methanamine, methyldibromonitrile glutaronitrile, glutaraldehyde, 5-bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane, phenethyl alcohol, o-phenylphenol/sodium o-phenylphenol, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, polymethoxy bicyclic oxazolidine, dimethoxane, thimersal dichlorobenzyl alcohol, captan, chlorphenenesin, dichlorophene, chlorbutanol, glyceryl laurate, halogenated diphenyl ethers such as 2,4,4-trichloro-2-hydroxy-diphenyl ether (Triclosan®) and 2,2-dihydroxy-5,5-dibromo-diphenyl ether, phenolic antimicrobial compounds such as mono- and poly-alkyl and aromatic halophenols, such as p-chlorophenol, methyl p-chlorophenol, 4-chloro-3,5-dimethyl phenol, 2,4-dichloro-3,5-dimethylphenol, 3,4,5,6-terabromo-2-methylphenol, 5-methyl-2-pentylphenol, 4-isopropyl-3-methylphenol, para-chloro-meta-xylenol, dichloro meta xylenol, chlorothymol, and 5-chloro-2-hydroxydiphenylmethane, resorcinol and its derivatives, bisphenolic compounds such as 2,2-methylene bis(4-chlorophenol) and bis(2-hydroxy-5-chlorobenzyl)sulphide, benzoic esters (parabens), halogenated carbanilides such as 3-trifluoromethyl-4,4′-dichlorocarbanilide (Triclocarban), 3-trifluoromethyl-4,4-dichlorocarbanilide and 3,3,4-trichlorocarbanilide.
The antimicrobial agent may include one or more of: biguanides such as polyhexamethylene biguanide, p-chlorophenyl biguanide; 4-chlorobenzhydryl biguanide, 1,6-bis-(4-chlorobenzylbiguanido)-hexane (Fluorhexidine®), halogenated hexidine including, but not limited to, chlorhexidine (1,1′-hexamethylene-bis-5-(4-chlorophenyl biguanide) (Chlorohexidine®), as well as salts of any of the foregoing, e.g. polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride.
The treatment compositions of the invention may also comprise one or more organic or inorganic acids which may be used to adjust the pH of the treatment composition to a target range or level, and/or to impart an antimicrobial benefit. The acids may be one or more of a water soluble inorganic acids, mineral acids, or organic acids, with virtually all such known materials contemplated as being useful in the treatment compositions. By way of non-limiting example useful inorganic acids include mineral acids, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, and the like.
In certain embodiments, the inventive compositions comprise one or more organic acids which also provide an antimicrobial benefit. Exemplary organic acids are those which generally include at least one carbon atom, and include at least one carboxyl group (—COOH) in its structure. Derivatives of said organic acids are also contemplated to be useful. Exemplary organic acid include linear aliphatic acids such as acetic acid; dicarboxylic acids, acidic amino acids, and hydroxy acids such as glycolic acid, lactic acid, hydroxyacrylic acid, alpha-hydroxybutyric acid, glyceric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid and citric acid, as well as acid salts of these organic acids. Of these, citric acid, sorbic acid, acetic acid, boric acid, formic acid, maleic acid, adipic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, malonic acid, glycolic acid, salicylic acid and/or derivatives thereof, e.g., salicylic acid derivatives such as esters of salicylic acid, such as ethylhexyl salicylate, dipropylene glycol salicylate, TEA salicylate, salicylic acid 2-ethylhexylester, salicylic acid 4-isopropyl benzylester, salicylic acid homomethylester are preferred. Of course mixtures of one or more acids are contemplated as being useful.
The treatment composition may comprise one or more polyols as well, especially preferably where such one or more polyols are present within the treatment composition in amounts which are effective in imparting a sanitizing or disinfecting benefit to surfaces upon which the treatment compositions are applied. By way of non-limiting example, preferred are polyols containing from 2 to about 6 hydroxyl groups. Preferred polyols are water soluble. Specific, though non-limiting examples of polyols include: ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, tripropylene glycol, hexylene glycol, butylene glycol and when present, the polyols should be present in a sufficient concentration such the antimicrobial constituent of which they form at least a part, provides an effective sanitizing or disinfecting benefit to surfaces being treated with the treatment compositions.
The treatment composition may comprise a peroxygen compound which may be essentially any compound containing a dioxygen (O—O) bond. Dioxygen bonds, particularly bivalent O—O bonds, are readily cleavable, thereby allowing compounds containing them to act as powerful oxidizers. Non-limiting examples of classes of peroxygen compounds include peracids, peracid salts, and peroxides such as hydrogen peroxide. The peroxygen can be any aliphatic or aromatic peracid (or peroxyacid) that is functional for disinfectant purposes in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. While any functional peroxyacid can be used, peroxyacids containing from 1 to 7 carbons are the most practical for use. These peroxyacids can include, but not be limited to, peroxyformic acid, peroxyacetic acid, peroxyoxalic acid, peroxypropanoic acid, perlactic acid, peroxybutanoic acid, peroxypentanoic acid, peroxyhexanoic acid, peroxyadipic acid, peroxycitric, and/or peroxybenzoic acid. Exemplary peracid salts include permanganates, perborates, perchlorates, peracetates, percarbonates, persulphates, and the like. Exemplary peroxide compounds include hydrogen peroxide, metal peroxides and peroxyhydrates. The metal peroxides that can be used include, but are not limited to, sodium peroxide, magnesium peroxide, calcium peroxide, barium peroxide, and/or strontium peroxide. Other salts (for example sodium percarbonate) have hydrogen peroxide associated therewith are also considered to be a source of hydrogen peroxide, thereby producing hydrogen peroxide in situ.
The treatment compositions of the invention may also include an oxidizing agent which may be a halogen bleach. Preferably, the oxidizing agent is a halogen bleach source which may be selected from various hypohalite-producing species, for example, bleaches selected from the group consisting of the alkali metal and alkaline earth salts of hypohalite, haloamines, haloimines, haloimides and haloamides. All of these are believed to produce hypohalous bleaching species in situ. Preferably, the oxidizing agent is a hypohalite or a hypohalite generator capable of generating hypohalous bleaching species. Hereafter, the term “hypohalite” is used to describe both a hypohalite or a hypohalite generator, unless otherwise indicated. Preferably, the hypohalite oxidizing agent is a hypochlorite or a generator of hypochlorite in aqueous solution, although hypobromite or a hypobromite generator is also suitable. Representative hypochlorite generators include sodium, potassium, lithium, magnesium and calcium hypochlorite, chlorinated trisodium phosphate dodecahydrate, potassium and sodium dichloroisocyanurate and trichlorocyanuric acid. Organic bleach sources suitable for use include heterocyclic N-bromo and N-chloro imides such as trichlorocyanuric and tribromocyanuric acid, dibromocyanuric acid and dichlorocyanuric acid, and potassium and sodium salts thereof, N-brominated and N-chlorinated succinimide, malonimide, phthalimide and naphthalimide. Also suitable are hydantoins, such as dibromodimethyl-hydantoin and dichlorodimethyl-hydantoin, chlorodimethylhydantoin, N-chlorosulfamide (haloamide) and chloramine (haloamine). When present, advantageously the hypohalite oxidizing agent is an alkali metal hypochlorite, an alkaline earth salt of hypochlorite, or a mixture thereof.
The treatment composition of the invention may include a treatment agent which provides an anti-static or surface softening benefit to a surface, particularly a textile or fibrous surface being treated. Coming into consideration as treatment agents for providing a fiber, textile or fabric softening benefit are one or more compounds which are known to the art as fabric softener compounds. By way of non-limiting example such include all the current commercial quaternary long-chain softeners, and preferably at least partially unsaturated esterquats. Exemplary suitable fabric softeners include fabric softening compounds which are cationic, water insoluble quaternary ammonium compounds comprising a polar head group and two long hydrocarbyl moieties, preferably selected from alkyl, alkenyl and mixtures thereof, wherein each such hydrocarbyl moiety has an average chain length equal to or greater than C12, preferably greater than C14, more preferably greater than C16, More preferably still, at least 50% of each long chain alkyl or alkenyl group is predominantly linear. A preferred overall chain length is about C18, though mixtures of chain lengths having non-zero proportions of lower, e.g., C14, C16 and some higher, e.g., C20 chains may be desired. The cationic softener can suitably be distearyl dimethyl ammonium chloride or unsaturated analogs thereof, but preferably the selected quaternary ammonium fabric softener is biodegradable. Such a property is common to many commercial esterquat fabric softeners such as di(tallowyloxyethyl)dimethyl ammonium chloride. In a preferred embodiment, the fabric softening compound is a quaternary ammonium esterquat compound having two C12-22 alkyl or alkenyl groups connected to a quaternary ammonium moiety via at least one ester moiety, preferably two such ester moieties. Of course mixtures of two or more fabric softener compounds.
The treatment compositions of the invention may also include a treatment agent which provides an air treatment technical benefit. By way of nonlimiting examples, such include fragrances, perfumes, compositions for the control or eradication of airborne insects, odor neutralizing agents, odor masking agents, as well as those which may impart holistic or aromatherapy benefits.
A fragrance may form part of the treatment composition, and which may be based on natural and synthetic fragrances and most commonly are mixtures or blends of a plurality of such fragrances, optionally in conjunction with a carrier such as an organic solvent or a mixture of organic solvents in which the fragrances are dissolved, suspended or dispersed. Typically, a fragrance is derived from one or more row raw materials which may be divided into three main groups: (1) the essential oils and products isolated from these oils; (2) products of animal origin; and (3) synthetic chemicals. By way of non-limiting example, natural fragrances as well as certain essential oils include the extracts of blossoms (lily, lavender, rose, jasmine, neroli, ylang-ylang), stems and leaves (geranium, patchouli, petitgrain), fruits (anise, coriander, caraway, juniper), fruit peel (bergamot, lemon, orange), roots (nutmeg, angelica, celery, cardamon, costus, iris, calmus), woods (pinewood, sandalwood, guaiac wood, cedarwood, rosewood), herbs and grasses (tarragon, lemon grass, sage, thyme), needles and branches (spruce, fir, pine, dwarf pine), resins and balsams (galbanum, elemi, benzoin, myrrh, olibanum, opoponax). Animal raw materials, for example civet and beaver, may also be used. Typical synthetic perfume compounds are products of the ester, ether, aldehyde, ketone, alcohol and hydrocarbon type. Examples of perfume compounds of the ester type are benzyl acetate, phenoxyethyl isobutyrate, p-tert.butyl cyclohexylacetate, linalyl acetate, dimethyl benzyl carbinyl acetate, phenyl ethyl acetate, linalyl benzoate, benzyl formate, ethylmethyl phenyl glycinate, allyl cyclohexyl propionate, styrallyl propionate and benzyl salicylate. Ethers include, for example, benzyl ethyl ether while aldehydes include, for example, the linear alkanals containing 8 to 18 carbon atoms, citral, citronellal, citronellyloxyacetaldehyde, cyclamen aldehyde, hydroxycitronellal, lilial and bourgeonal. Examples of suitable ketones are the ionones, .alpha.-isomethylionone and methyl cedryl ketone. Suitable alcohols are anethol, citronellol, eugenol, isoeugenol, geraniol, linalool, phenylethyl alcohol and terpineol. The hydrocarbons mainly include the terpenes and balsams. However, it is preferred to use mixtures of different perfume compounds which, together, produce an agreeable fragrance. Other suitable perfume oils are essential oils of relatively low volatility which are mostly used as aroma components. Examples are sage oil, camomile oil, clove oil, melissa oil, mint oil, cinnamon leaf oil, lime-blossom oil, juniper berry oil, vetiver oil, olibanum oil, galbanum oil, labolanum oil and lavendin oil. When present such a fragrance constituent may be present in the treatment composition in any effective amount. Advantageously, the fragrance or perfume is present in amounts of from about 0.00001% wt. to about 50% wt. based on the total weight of the treatment composition of which they form a part, although, due to the mode of delivery of the mist generator means to which does not impart thermal degradation of such a constituent, its inclusion in even higher amounts to about 100% wt. of the treatment composition are also contemplated as being possible and indeed advantageous in certain embodiments of the invention.
The treatment composition of the invention may include one or more holistic constituents, particularly may include one or more essential oils which are selected to provide a so-called “aromatherapy benefit” to the user. Such essential oils are frequently extracted from naturally occurring botanical sources such as flowers, stems, leaves, roots and barks of aromatic plants. While essential oils may be used singly, it is also common to utilize blends of essential oils in order to provide a conjunctive aroma benefit, and possibly a therapeutic benefit as well. Similarly to fragrance compositions which may also include one or more essential oils, frequently, due to their potency, essential oils are often supplied dispersed in a liquid carrier such as in one or more organic solvents in which the essential oils are dissolved or dispersed. Preferred essential oils providing an aromatherapy benefit include one or more selected from chamomile oil, lavendin oil, lavender oil, grapefruit oil, lemon oil, line oil, mandarin orange oil, orange flower oil and orange oil. When present, these one or more essential oils providing an aromatherapy benefit are present in any effective amount, advantageously are present in amounts of from about 0.00001% wt. to about 50% wt. based on the total weight of the treatment composition of which they form a part, although, due to the mode of delivery of the mist generator means to which does not impart thermal degradation of such a holistic constituent or essential oils, their inclusion in even higher amounts to about 100% wt. of the treatment composition are also contemplated as being possible and indeed advantageous in certain embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood that these one or more essential oils providing an aromatherapy benefit may be used with our without the optional fragrancing constituent recited previously and alternately, may be used wholly or partially in place of said fragrancing constituent.
To maintain or establish a desired pH of a treatment composition, the use of one or more pH buffers is contemplated. The treatment compositions according to the invention optionally but desirably include an amount of a pH adjusting agent or pH buffer composition. Such compositions include many which are known to the art and which are conventionally used. By way of non-limiting example pH adjusting agents include phosphorus containing compounds, monovalent and polyvalent salts such as of silicates, carbonates, and borates, certain acids and bases, tartrates and certain acetates. Further exemplary pH adjusting agents include mineral acids, basic compositions, and organic acids, which are typically required in only minor amounts. By way of further non-limiting example pH buffering compositions include the alkali metal phosphates, polyphosphates, pyrophosphates, triphosphates, tetraphosphates, silicates, metasilicates, polysilicates, carbonates, hydroxides, and mixtures of the same. Certain salts, such as the alkaline earth phosphates, carbonates, hydroxides, can also function as buffers. It may also be suitable to use as buffers such materials as aluminosilicates (zeolites), borates, aluminates and certain organic materials such as gluconates, succinates, maleates, and their alkali metal salts. Desirably the compositions according to the invention include an effective amount of an organic acid and/or an inorganic salt form thereof which may be used to adjust and maintain the pH of the treatment compositions of the invention to the desired pH range. Particularly useful is citric acid and metal salts thereof such as sodium citrate which are widely available and which are effective in providing these pH adjustment and buffering effects.
The treatment compositions of the invention may also include one or more alkanolamines which in addition to providing an improved cleaning benefit may also be used to concurrently adjust the pH of the treatment composition. By way of nonlimiting examples such include monoalkanolamines, dialkanolamines, trialkanolamines, and alkylalkanolamines such as alkyl-dialkanolamines, and dialkyl-monoalkanolamines. The alkanol and alkyl groups are generally short to medium chain length, that is, from 1 to 7 carbons in length. For di- and trialkanolamines and dialkyl-monoalkanolamines, these groups can be combined on the same amine to produce for example, methylethylhydroxypropylhydroxylamine. One of skill can readily ascertain other members of this group.
The treatment compositions of the invention may also comprise one or more hydrotropes, preferably one or more anionic hydrotrope compounds. Exemplary hydtropes include, e.g., benzene sulfonates, naphthalene sulfonates, C1-C11 alkyl benzene sulfonates, naphthalene sulfonates, C5-C11 alkyl sulfonates, C6-C11 alkyl sulfates, alkyl diphenyloxide disulfonates, and phosphate ester hydrotropes. The hydrotropic compounds of the invention are often provided in a salt form with a suitable counterion, such as one or more alkali, or alkali earth metals, such as sodium or potassium, especially sodium. However, other water soluble cations such as ammonium, mono-, di- and tri-lower alkyl, i.e., C1-4 alkanol ammonium groups can be used in the place of the alkali metal cations. Exemplary alkyl benzene sulfonates include, for example, isopropylbenzene sulfonates, xylene sulfonates, toluene sulfonates, cumene sulfonates, as well as mixtures thereof. Exemplary C5-C11 alkyl sulfonates include hexyl sulfonates, octyl sulfonates, and hexyl/octyl sulfonates, and mixtures thereof. Particularly useful hydrotrope compounds include benzene sulfonates, o-toluene sulfonates, m-toluene sulfonates, and p-toluene sulfonates; 2,3-xylene sulfonates, 2,4-xylene sulfonates, and 4,6-xylene sulfonates; cumene sulfonates, wherein such exemplary hydrotropes are generally in a salt form thereof, including sodium and potassium salt forms.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for the treatment of hard surfaces and soft surfaces come which method comprises the step of providing a device which generates a mist of a treatment composition, which treatment composition contacts the surface and provides a technical benefit thereto.
According to an additional aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for the treatment of inanimate, nonporous hard surfaces which method comprises the step of providing a device which generates a mist of a treatment composition, which contacts said hard surfaces and provides a technical benefit thereto. Typically, the treatment compositions delivered by the device according to this method comprise one or more solvents such as water and/or organic solvents, and one or more further constituents especially one or more surfactants or other materials which provide a disinfecting, sanitizing, or antimicrobial benefits to the treated surfaces. Typically, the technical benefits provided are one or more of: cleaning benefit, a disinfecting benefit, a sanitizing benefit, a bacteriostatic effect, an anti-viral benefit, a sporicidal benefit to reduce the presence of, incidence of or regrowth of molds, fungi, spores and the like, an anti-allergen benefit, an anti-acaricidal benefit, an anti-fungal benefit, an anti-resoiling benefit, a surface treatment benefit to improve the appearance thereof, e.g., surface shine and the like, an air treatment benefit including but not limited to; fragrancing, odor masking, odor neutralization, air sanitization, an anti-pesticidal benefit, an anti-insectidal benefit as well as providing a surface coating to hard surfaces. By way of non-limiting example, hard surfaces include surfaces composed of refractory materials such as: glazed and unglazed tile, brick, porcelain, ceramics as well as stone including marble, granite, and other stones surfaces; glass; metals; plastics e.g. polyester, vinyl; fiberglass, Formica®, Corian® and other hard surfaces known to the industry. Further hard surfaces which are to be denoted are those associated with kitchen environments and other environments associated with food preparation, including cabinets and countertop surfaces as well as walls and floor surfaces especially those which include refractory materials, plastics, Formica®, Corian® and stone. Still further hard surfaces include flooring surfaces, e.g., wood, tile, glass, ceramic, cement surfaces, grout, linoleum, carpets, rugs, and the like.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for the treatment of soft surfaces, e.g., fabrics, textiles, garments, and the like which method comprises the step of providing a device which generates a mist of a treatment composition, which treatment composition contacts the aforementioned fabrics, textiles, garments, and the like and which optionally further also penetrates the surface or services thereof, and which provides a technical benefit thereto. Similar to the above, the treatment compositions delivered by the device according to this method comprise one or more solvents such as water and/or organic solvents, and one or more further constituents especially one or more surfactants or other materials which provide a disinfecting, sanitizing, or antimicrobial benefits to the treated surfaces. Typically, the technical benefits provided are one or more of: fragrancing, perfuming, odor neutralizing, malodor treating or masking, cleaning, sanitization, disinfection, textile or fabric softening, antiwrinkling such as of garments or textiles, as well as providing a treatment or a coating of a film forming composition to the treated soft surface, e.g., application of a fluoropolymer surfactant containing treatment composition to particularly to resist subsequent staining of such treated surfaces, including garments, textiles, upholstery, carpeted surfaces, rugs, as well as threads and fibers used in the production of such soft surfaces, and the like.
According to a yet further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for controlling the incidence of dust mites, and or controlling their residual fecal matter, as well as denaturation of allergens, e.g., “der-p” and “der-f” allergens, which method comprises the step of providing a device which generates a mist of a treatment composition, which treatment composition contacts the surface and provides a technical benefit thereto. The treatment compositions delivered by the device according to this method comprise typically may comprise one or more solvents such as water and/or organic solvents, and one or more further constituents especially one or more of: organic acids and in particular lactic acid, citric acid, surfactants, essential oils and enzymes.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method for the treatment of medical instruments, e.g., surgical instruments, dental instruments, or other instruments to be used in medical procedures which come into direct contact with parts of the human body and which require periodic cleaning, disinfection, sanitization or sterilization which method comprises the step of providing a device which generates a mist of a treatment composition, which treatment composition contacts said medical instruments and provides a cleaning, disinfection, sanitization or sterilization benefit to the treated medical instruments.
In a still further aspect of the invention there is provided a method for the delivery of an air treatment composition to an airspace, which method comprises the step of providing a device which generates a mist of a treatment composition, which treatment composition contacts said airspace and provides a technical benefit thereto. Typically, the technical benefits provided are one or more of: fragrancing, perfuming, odor neutralizing, malodor treating or masking, air sanitization. The treatment compositions delivered by the device according to this method comprise one or more solvents such as water and/or organic solvents, and one or more further constituents.
In a yet further aspect of the invention there is provided a method for the pre-treatment or post-treatment of an article to be treated in a laundry machine for the cleaning treatment, e.g., dry cleaning, or laundering treatment, e.g., aqueous laundering of fabrics, textiles, garments, and the like which method comprises the step of providing a device which generates a mist of a treatment composition, which composition contacts the aforementioned fabrics, textiles, garments, and the like and which optionally further also penetrates the surface or services thereof, and which provides a technical benefit thereto.
In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method for the delivery of an air treatment composition to an enclosed airspace, which method comprises the step of providing a device which generates a mist of a treatment composition, which treatment composition contacts said enclosed airspace and provides a technical benefit thereto, e.g., fragrancing, perfuming, odor masking, malodour neutralization, air sanitization, and the like. Examples of such enclosed airspaces include larger or open airspaces, e.g., a larger volumes such as a room, public space within the interior of a building, a cabin or compartment within a vehicle, as well as within a closed container or other relatively smaller space, e.g., the interior of a storage cabinet, a closet, a shower stall, a garbage container or refuse bin, and the like. The delivery of a mist of a treatment composition which provides a fragrancing, odor masking, perfuming, odor neutralization, disinfecting, sanitizing, or other technical benefit to the interior of a container for collecting and storing wastes, garbage or refuse, including rigid containers such as cans, drums, bins, baskets and the like or flexible containers such as bags, envelopes and the like is a contemplated and preferred embodiment of the invention.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method for the pre-treatment or post-treatment of an article, such as a dishware article, to be treated in an dishwashing process, e.g., a manual dishwashing process, or in an automatic dishwashing machine, which method comprises the step of providing a device which generates a mist of a treatment composition, which said composition contacts dishware e.g., tableware, glassware, cooking utensils, cookware, and the like, and which provides a technical benefit thereto. Typically, the treatment compositions delivered by the device according to this method comprise one or more solvents such as water and/or organic solvents, and one or more further constituents especially one or more surfactants or other materials which provide a disinfecting, sanitizing, or antimicrobial benefits to the treated surfaces. Typically, the technical benefits provided are one or more of: cleaning, sanitization, disinfection, surface treatment, such as by providing a coating of a film forming composition to the treated hard surface particularly to resist subsequent staining of such treated surfaces.
According to a still further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for the application of a treatment composition to a bodily surface, e.g., a dermal surface, or hair surface, which method comprises the step of providing a device which generates a mist of a treatment composition which composition contacts the bodily surface and provides a technical benefit thereto. Exemplary bodily surfaces include the epidermis, e.g., hands, arms, legs, face, scalp as well as other body areas. Typically, the treatment compositions delivered by the device according to this method comprise one or more solvents such as water and/or organic solvents, and one or more further constituents especially one or more surfactants or other materials which provide a disinfecting, sanitizing, antimicrobial benefits, deodorization, fragrancing, perfuming, skin nourishment, skin conditioning, wound treatment benefit to the treated bodily surfaces. In a preferred method, an anti-acne or skin cleansing composition is applied to a bodily surface, preferably to skin surfaces of the head, face and neck, in order to provide a treatment composition which may provide an anti-acne or skin cleansing benefit. A treatment composition providing an anti-acne benefit may comprise an effective amount of salicylic acid or other anti-acne active constituent or composition which may remediate the incidence thereof.
In a yet further aspect of the invention there is provided a method for the delivery of a depilatory composition to a skin upon which hair growth may be present, which method includes the step of supplying a depilatory composition or a composition containing a depilatory constituent, e.g. thioglycolic acid, to the skin surface.
In a still further aspect of the invention there is provided a method for the delivery of a nebulized or atomized fluid treatment composition, viz., a “treatment mist” to a surface, or to an enclosed cavity, volume, or space. By way of nonlimiting examples, such enclosed interiors, cavity, volume, or other enclosed space include a way of example: body cavities, e.g., buccal cavity; the enclosed interior of rooms, buildings and the like; being closed interior of vehicles such as cars, buses, trucks, aircraft, boats and ships and the like; the enclosed interior of the storage lockers, cabinets, closets, boxes and the like.
In a yet further aspect the present invention provides a device and a method for the delivery of a mist of a treatment composition which provides a pesticidal, mitocidal, viricidal, antimicrobial or sanitizing benefit by delivery of a mist of a treatment composition from the device of a a nebulized or atomized fluid treatment composition which treatment composition comprises one or more constituents which provide a pesticidal, mitocidal, viricidal, antimicrobial or sanitizing benefit.
Reference is now made to the drawings, which illustrate various embodiments of the invention, including certain preferred embodiments of the invention. In the accompanying figures, like elements are indicated using like numerals throughout the figures.
It is to be understood however the in many useful embodiments the mist generator means 20 comprises a vibrating plate 22 which includes only a single series of microperforations 21 passing therethrough which are all similarly sized, such as in the embodiments illustrated in
It is however to be noted that while the provision of pumping across the thickness of the vibrating plate 22 provides an excellent means of atomizing the treatment composition and thereby providing a treatment composition in a form of a mist, it is foreseen that the treatment composition can alternately be supplied directly to the top face 22b of the vibrating plate 22, and due to the vibratory oscillation of the vibrating plates 22, microdroplets MD of the treatment composition are also formed without necessarily passing through the vibrating plate 22 as described immediately above.
The operation of such a mist generator means 20 is more clearly disclosed on the side view presented in
In the embodiments disclosed in
With reference now to
Although not illustrated in the depictions, it is to be understood nonetheless that suitable electrical or signal unit conducting means, i.e. wires, may be used to connect the various elements of the mist sensor means, the fluid control means, the controller means, as well as any other device, elements or parts of the device as may be required, although such is not necessarily illustrated in the figures presented herein.
FIGS. A1 and A2 illustrate by means of graphical representations preferred treatment mist particle size or particle mass bi-modal distributions. FIG. A1 represents the mass distribution or % distribution of the size (in microns) of the discrete liquid droplets being dispensed by a mist generator, during normal steady state operation over a convenient time interval, e.g., 1 or more seconds, or one or more minutes. As is seen thereon, a greater amount of particles in the range of 0-10 microns are dispensed than the amount of particles in the range of 10-20 microns, whereas the amount of particles in the successive ranges of 20-30 microns is greater than those dispensed in the prior two ranges. As particle sizes increase to higher ranges, viz., 30-40 microns, and 40-50 microns, their amounts decrease successively. As can also be seen from FIG. A1, the total mass of the dispensed particles in the range of 0-10, is substantially lesser than the total mass of the dispensed particles in the ranges of 20 microns and greater. FIG. A2 illustrates two further alternative bi-modal distributions according to preferred embodiments of the invention, here represented as a first bi-modal distribution represented by “C1” (in solid line) and a second bi-modal distribution represented by “C2” (in dotted line). The curves represent the distribution, by % wt. or mass or percentage of respective discrete liquid droplets or particles of the treatment composition present in a treatment mist formed therefrom, as indicated on the y-axis, for droplets within a particular micron size range, as indicated on the x-axis. With reference to line C1, it is seen that the first median or first averaged liquid particle size corresponds to line segment C11, which is approximately at 4 microns with the particle size distribution within the first part of the bi-modal distribution being beneath the curved line C1 to the left and right of the line segment C11, and the second median or second averaged liquid particle size corresponds to line segment C12, which is at approximately 29 microns, with the particle size distribution within the second part of the bi-modal distribution being to the left and right of the line segment and beneath curved line C1. The further bi-modal distribution represented by C2 is similar in many respects but, first median or first averaged liquid particle size corresponds to line segment C21, which is approximately at 5 microns with the particle size distribution within the first part of the bi-modal distribution being beneath the curved line C2 to the left and right of the line segment C21, and the second median or second averaged liquid particle size corresponds to line segment C22, which is at approximately 22 microns, with the particle size distribution within the second part of the bi-modal distribution being to the left and right of the line segment and beneath curved line C2.
It is to be noted that in the foregoing embodiments, while the fluid conduit 60 has been illustrated is being an integral portion of either a first part 40A or second part 50 other device, e.g., as a bore or channel, such as to be understood as being merely by way of illustration as any fluid directing means, including a separate channel, conduit, tubing, or pipe element, capable of transmitting the treatment composition in fluid form so to come in contact with the mist generator 20 is clearly contemplated and may be used in any embodiment of the invention.
A further embodiment of an atomizing chamber 45 and a mist generator 20 of a simplified construction, but offering a somewhat lesser degree of resistance to spilling of a treatment composition TC consequent to reorientation, e.g., tilting or inversion, of the atomizing chamber 45 of the device is illustrated in
While not disclosed in prior
While the first body element 40A may be formed or fabricated from any suitable material, such as a metal, synthetic polymer, ceramic material, and the like advantageously at least the part of the first body element 40A of the mist generator assembly 400 to which the mist generator means 20 is fixed is at least elastomeric or partially elastomeric in nature. This permits for the mist generator means 20 is mounted to both provide a liquid tight seal and to permit for the motion of the vibrating plate, and further denies passage of any treatment composition present within the base cavity 46 to exit the mist generator assembly 400 except through the microperforations 21 of the screen 22. The advantage of such construction allows for the mist generator assembly 400 used in any variety of orientations as will be described in greater detail in later figures. In particularly preferred embodiments, the first body element 40A of the mist generator assembly 400 and be constructed or formed of a monolithic mass of an elastomeric material such as a rubber, silicone, or other flexible material which can simultaneously be used to mount and retain the mist generator means 20 in the manner depicted. Preferably parts of, or all of the first body element 40A also acts to absorb vibratory shocks emanating from the operating mist generator means 20 to other parts of the device, and/or to be felt by the user of the device.
FIGS. 20IA, 20IB, and 20IB depict a mist generator assembly 400 generally as described with reference to
FIGS. 20J1, 20J2 and 20J3 depict a mist generator assembly 400 generally as described with reference to
FIGS. 20K1, 20K2, 203, 20K4, and 20K5 respectively to pick the mist generator assembly 400 according to
As can now be appreciated following a consideration of the foregoing drawings, the embodiment of the mist generator assembly 400 is relatively insensitive as to its orientation with respect to the environment, and/or with respect to the surface to be treated utilizing a device of the invention, as regardless of its orientation it will remain operative as long as a sufficient quantity of treatment composition TC is present within the interior of the mist generator assembly 400, or namely within the base cavity 64 such that while the vibrating plate 22 of the mist generator means 20 operates, a treatment mist TM can be formed and delivered from the mist generator assembly 400. The provision of the overflow conduit 46C in fluid communication with the base cavity 64, here via the trough 46T (although trough is not required) permits for means of also ensuring that the base cavity 64 is not flooded with excess treatment composition TC. The egress of any excess treatment composition TC may be controlled by the placement of the overflow conduit 46C, and indeed a plurality of overflow conduits 46C is foreseen. Furthermore, the rate of egress of treatment composition from an overflow conduit 46C may be controlled such as by providing a downstream valve, or other flow controlling or flow directing means (not shown). In such a manner, the controller (not shown) and/or pump (not shown) may be used to control the volumetric supply rate of the treatment composition via the fluid conduit 30, and/or the volumetric egress rate of overflow treatment composition exiting the mist generator assembly 400 such that on the one hand a sufficient quantity of treatment composition TC is present within the base cavity 64 and in contact with the vibrating plate 22 when the mist generator 20 operates, and at the same time an excessive amount of the treatment composition TC is not present within the base cavity 64 such that the undesired flooding of the mist generator assembly 400 and especially the mist generator 20 is avoided irregardless of the orientation of the mist generator means with respect to the horizontal. In such a manner, and providing such an embodiment of a mist generator means 400 and a wide latitude in the control of the direction of the mist of the treatment composition TM can be provided in devices of the invention and methods of the invention. Similarly, it is to be understood that such a benefit may also be provided with a mist generator assembly 400 which does not include an overflow conduit, such as the embodiment of the mist generator assembly 400 depicted in
FIGS. 20L1, 20L2 and 20L3 illustrated several alternative views a preferred embodiment of a mist generator assembly 400 similar in most respects to the embodiment of
The auxiliary nozzle 246 of
The auxiliary nozzle 246 depicted on
An interior embodiment of the device of
An alternate interior embodiment of the device of
The pair of sensing means 169, 169 may be oriented perpendicular to each other within the device 1 such that signals indicative of “up or down tilting” of the device with respect to the horizon, e.g., in a first vertical reference plane traversing along the length of the airflow conduit 100, as well as signals indicative of “side to side tilting” of the device with respect to the horizon, e.g., and a second vertical reference plane perpendicular to the first reference plane traversing along the length of the airflow conduit 100. Such provides for improved signal inputs with regard to the position of the device 1 relative to its operating environment.
A further, alternative interior environment of the device of
A yet further, alternative interior environment of the device of
An alternative embodiment of a further device 1 according to the invention is depicted on
While not illustrated it is contemplated that the device of the invention may be used to treat the interior and contents of a clothes washing machine as well as a clothes dryer and the device may be used prior to a clothes washing or drying cycle, during a clothes washing or drying cycle, or after a clothes washing or drying cycle to release a treatment mist TM therefrom.
Is naturally to be understood that the embodiments discussed in the foregoing figures are by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. It is also to be clearly understood that various elements presented in the disclosed embodiments may be substituted in the place of like or similar elements in different embodiments. Particularly, it is foreseen in fact different forms of mist generators 20 can be substituted in different embodiments of devices 1 presented herein.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/GB2010/002099 | 11/16/2010 | WO | 00 | 12/14/2012 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61262402 | Nov 2009 | US |
