US4626372A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Borate solution soluble polyvinyl alcohol films
Assignee: Clorox Co
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Filing: 1984-02-08
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Granted: 1986-12-02
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Expires: 2004-02-08
Abstract
Abstract Conventional polyvinyl alcohol envelopes will not readily dissolve in wash water which has a significant borate concentration and a pH frequently encountered in wash liquors. Herein, such films are rendered sufficiently soluble in such solutions. In the preferred embodiment this is done by utilizing a polyvinyl alcohol film wherein at least a portion of the polyvinyl alcohol has a number average molecular weight below about 50,000, or a polyvinyl alcohol film containing a polyhydroxy compound having a binding constant with borate of at least about 800M -2 , or utilizing a polyvinyl alcohol film having an acid having an acid dissociation constant of 10 -9 M or larger; or a polyvinyl alcohol film containing mixtures thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward J. Kaufmann
- 👤 Barry A. Sudbury
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 07:59
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08J; C08J5/00; C08J5/18; C11; C11D; C11D17/00; C11D17/04; C11D17/041; C11D17/042; C08J2329/00; C08J2329/02; C08J2329/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
A method of introducing a laundry additive to an aqueous laundry solution containing borate at levels as high as 3.4×10 -3 M, comprising: enclosing said additive in a sealed water soluble envelope, said envelope being formed of a plasticized film of a polymer consisting essentially of polyvinyl alcohol, the solubility rate of said plasticized film in a laundry solution having a borate concentration of about 1.7×10 -3 M and a pH of about 10.7 being increased by the presence therein, in addition to a plasticizing amount of plasticizer, of a solubility rate increasing amount of a polyhydroxy compound, PHC, which has a binding constant, K 2 , with borate, in aqueous solution at 25° C., that is greater than about 800M -2 , K 2 being defined as equal to ##EQU3## wherein (Complex), (borate) and (PHC) are the molar concentrations of the respective constituents; and contacting said envelope with an aqueous laundry solution containing borate at levels as high as 3.4×10 -3 M for a sufficient time for said envelope to dissolve sufficiently to allow said additive to contact said aqueous laundry solution.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
183 words
A method of introducing a laundry additive to an aqueous laundry solution containing borate at levels as high as 3.4×10 -3 M, comprising: enclosing said additive in a sealed water soluble envelope, said envelope being formed of a plasticized film of a polymer consisting essentially of polyvinyl alcohol, the solubility rate of said plasticized film in a laundry solution having a borate concentration of about 1.7×10 -3 M and a pH of about 10.7 being increased by the presence therein, in addition to a plasticizing amount of plasticizer, of a solubility rate increasing amount of a polyhydroxy compound, PHC, which has a binding constant, K 2 , with borate, in aqueous solution at 25° C., that is greater than about 800M -2 , K 2 being defined as equal to ##EQU3## wherein (Complex), (borate) and (PHC) are the molar concentrations of the respective constituents; and contacting said envelope with an aqueous laundry solution containing borate at levels as high as 3.4×10 -3 M for a sufficient time for said envelope to dissolve sufficiently to allow said additive to contact said aqueous laundry solution.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said polyhydroxy compound is select from the group consisting of fructose, sorbitol, mannitol, sorbose, catechol, pentaerythritol and mesoerythritol.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said compound comprises mannitol and wherein said film has a number average of molecular with of about 10,000.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said polyhydroxy compound is sorbitol and wherein said polymer has a number average molecular weight of no more than about 25,000.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said molecular weight is no more than about 25,000.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said molecular weight is about 10,000.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-12-01 | 1990-06-02 | 1990-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-12-01 | 1994-06-02 | 1994-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-12-01 | 1998-06-02 | 1998-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |