US5244468A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Urea containing internally-carbonated non-detergent cleaning composition and method of use
Assignee: Harris Research Inc
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Filing: 1992-07-27
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Granted: 1993-09-14
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Expires: 2012-07-27
Abstract
Abstract Carpeting, upholstery, drapery and other textile fibers are cleaned by applying to the fibers, from a pressurized container, an aqueous effervescing internally carbonated non-detergent cleaning composition prepared by admixing, in percent by weight, about 20 to 60% of a carbonate salt, about 20 to 60% of a natural solid acid, and 5 to 40% urea in an aqueous medium such that the natural solid acid reacts with the carbonate salt to produce carbon dioxide and the solids concentration in the solution resulting from the carbonate salt, natural solid acid and urea is between about 0.5 and 10% by weight. Citric acid and sodium carbonate are the preferred solid acid and carbonate salt. The composition is prepared from naturally occurring ingredients and the container is pressurized by air or other environmentally safe gaseous materials.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert D. Harris
- 👤 Steven C. Guthrie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 07:58
CPC Classifications
C; C11; C11D; C11D3/00; C11D3/0005; C11D3/0031; C11D3/0052; C11D7/00; C11D7/02; C11D7/04; C11D7/10; C11D7/12; C11D7/22; C11D7/26; C11D7/265; C11D7/32; C11D7/3272; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S8/00; Y10S8/15
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
An internally carbonated aqueous non-detergent cleaning composition for textiles prepared by admixing, in percent by weight, (a) about 20 to 60% of a carbonate salt, (b) about 20 to 60% of a solid acid selected from the group consisting of citric acid, succinic acid, tartaric acid, adipic acid, glutaric acid, and oxalic acid, and (c) about 5 to 40% urea in an aqueous medium such that the solid acid reacts with the carbonate salt to produce carbon dioxide and the solids concentration in the solution resulting from the carbonate salt, solid acid and urea is between about 0.5 and 10% by weight; wherein the cleaning composition is maintained in a pressurized vessel under a positive gauge pressure of between about 0.5 and 15 atmospheres by means of an externally applied gas.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
An internally carbonated aqueous non-detergent cleaning composition for textiles prepared by admixing, in percent by weight, (a) about 20 to 60% of a carbonate salt, (b) about 20 to 60% of a solid acid selected from the group consisting of citric acid, succinic acid, tartaric acid, adipic acid, glutaric acid, and oxalic acid, and (c) about 5 to 40% urea in an aqueous medium such that the solid acid reacts with the carbonate salt to produce carbon dioxide and the solids concentration in the solution resulting from the carbonate salt, solid acid and urea is between about 0.5 and 10% by weight; wherein the cleaning composition is maintained in a pressurized vessel under a positive gauge pressure of between about 0.5 and 15 atmospheres by means of an externally applied gas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The cleaning composition of claim 1 wherein the carbonate salt is a member selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium percarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, lithium carbonate, lithium percarbonate, lithium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate, potassium percarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, ammonium carbonate and ammonium bicarbonate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
The cleaning composition of claim 2 wherein the composition is prepared by admixing, in percent by weight, about 35 to 45% of the carbonate salt, about 35 to 45% of the solid acid, and about 15 to 25% urea in an aqueous medium such that the solids concentration resulting from the carbonate salt, solid acid and urea in the solution is between about 1.0 and 5.0% by weight.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The cleaning composition of claim 3 wherein the carbonate salt is sodium carbonate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The cleaning composition of claim 4 wherein the solid acid is citric acid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The cleaning composition of claim 2 wherein the aqueous medium is water.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The cleaning composition of claim 1 wherein said externally applied gas is air.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The cleaning composition of claim 7 wherein the carbonate salt is a member selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium percarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, lithium carbonate, lithium percarbonate, lithium bicarbonate, potassium carborate, potassium percarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, ammonium carbonate and ammonium bicarbonate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
The cleaning composition of claim 8 wherein the composition is prepared by admixing, in percent by weight, about 35 to 45% of the carbonate salt, about 35 to 45% of the solid acid, and about 15 to 25% urea in an aqueous medium such that the solids concentration resulting from the carbonate salt, solid acid and urea in the solution is between about 1.0 and 5.0% by weight.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The cleaning composition of claim 9 wherein the carbonate salt is sodium carbonate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The cleaning composition of claim 10 wherein the solid acid is citric acid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The cleaning composition of claim 8 wherein the solid aqueous medium is water.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of cleaning textile fibers which comprises applying to said fibers, from a pressurized container maintained at a gauge pressure of from about 0.5 to 15 atmospheres by means of an externally applied gas, an aqueous effervescent, internally carbonated aqueous non-detergent cleaning composition for textiles prepared by admixing, in percent by weight, (a) about 20 to 60% of a carbonate salt, (b) about 20 to 60% of a solid acid selected from the group consisting of citric acid, succinic acid, tartaric acid, adipic acid, glutaric acid, and oxalic acid, and (c) about 5 to 40% urea in an aqueous medium such that the solid acid reacts with the carbonate slat to produce carbon dioxide and the solids concentration in the solution resulting from the carbonate salt, solid acid and urea is between about 0.5 and 10% by weight.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of cleaning textile fibers which comprises applying to said fibers, from a pressurized container maintained at a gauge pressure of from about 0.5 to 15 atmospheres by means of an externally applied gas, an aqueous effervescent, internally carbonated aqueous non-detergent cleaning composition for textiles prepared by admixing, in percent by weight, (a) about 20 to 60% of a carbonate salt, (b) about 20 to 60% of a solid acid selected from the group consisting of citric acid, succinic acid, tartaric acid, adipic acid, glutaric acid, and oxalic acid, and (c) about 5 to 40% urea in an aqueous medium such that the solid acid reacts with the carbonate slat to produce carbon dioxide and the solids concentration in the solution resulting from the carbonate salt, solid acid and urea is between about 0.5 and 10% by weight.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method according to claim 13 wherein the carbonate salt is a member selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium percarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, lithium carbonate, lithium percarbonate, lithium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate, potassium percarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, ammonium carbonate and ammonium bicarbonate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method according to claim 14 wherein the composition is prepared by admixing, in percent by weight, about 35 to 45% of the carbonate salt, about 35 to 45% of the solid acid, and about 15 to 25% urea in an aqueous medium such that the solids concentration resulting from the carbonate salt, solid acid and urea in the solution is between about 1.0 and 5.0% by weight.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 14 wherein the carbonate salt is sodium carbonate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 16 wherein the solid acid is citric acid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 14 wherein the aqueous medium is water.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 14 said cleaning composition is applied to said fibers in the form of a pressurized spray.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 19 wherein said textile fibers are in the form of a carpet.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 20 wherein said composition is mechanically worked into said fibers.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 21 wherein said cleaning composition along with soil particles is released from said fibers by said composition and is subsequently removed from said fibers by adsorbent means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 14 wherein said textile fibers are in the form upholstery.
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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) | 1996-09-13 | 1997-03-15 | 1997-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-09-13 | 2001-03-15 | 2001-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-09-13 | 2005-03-15 | 2005-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |