Laundry detergent substrate articles

Claim 2

A laundry detergent article consisting essentially of a water-insoluble, wet-strength substrate, carrying an effective amount of a detergent composition comprising: (a) from about 5 to about 95% of a surfactant mixture consisting essentially of; (i) a nonionic surfactant having an HLB of from about 5 to about 17; and (ii) a cationic surfactant having the formula R 1 m R 2 x Y L Z, wherein each R 1 is an organic group containing a straight or branched alkyl or alkenyl group optionally substituted with up to 3 phenyl groups and, optionally, interrupted by up to 4 structures each of which is selected from the group consisting of ##STR27## and mixtures thereof, and which contain from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms, and which may additionally contain up to 20 ethoxy groups, m is a number of from 1 to 7 and no more than one R 1 can have more than 12 carbon atoms when m is 3 or greater, each R 2 is an alkyl or hydroxyl alkyl group containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a benzyl group with no more than one R 2 in a molecule being benzyl, x is a number from 0 to 7, the remainder of any carbon, nitrogen sulfur or phosphorus atom positions being filled by hydrogens, Y is selected from the group consisting of: ##STR28## L is a number from 1 to 3, Z is an anion in a number sufficient to give electrical neutrality, said cationic surfactant being at least water-dispersible in admixture with said nonionic surfactant; the ratio of said nonionic surfactant to said cationic surfactant being in the range of from about 5:3 to about 300:1; and (b) from about 1% to about 30% of a nonionic or cationic solubilization aid which has a solubility in 100° F. water of at least about 20% by weight, and which completely dissolves in 100° F. water in no more than about 2 minutes.

Claim 3

The article according to claim 1 wherein the nonionic surfactant has the formula R(OC 2 H 4 ) n OH, wherein R is a primary or secondary alkyl chain of from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms and n is an average of from about 2 to about 9.

Claim 4

The article according to claim 2 wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of paper, woven cloth, and nonwoven cloth.

Claim 5

The article according to claim 3 wherein said substrate carries from about 3 to about 120 grams of the detergent composition.

Claim 6

The article according to claim 4 wherein the detergent composition contains from about 3 to about 25% of said solubilization aid.

Claim 7

The article according to claim 5 wherein said solubilization aid has a solubility in 100° F. water of at least about 25% by weight.

Claim 8

The article according to claim 6 wherein said solubilization aid completely dissolves in 100° F. water in no more than about one minute.

Claim 9

The article according to claim 7 wherein said solubilization aid is selected from the group consisting of choline chloride, ammonium chloride, phenylmethylammonium chloride, sucrose, glucose, polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 6,000 and mixtures thereof.

Claim 10

The article according to claim 8 wherein said solubilization aid is selected from the group consisting of choline chloride, sucrose, glucose, polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 6,000, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 11

The article according to claim 7 wherein said solubilization aid is hygroscopic.

Claim 12

The article according to claim 4 wherein said detergent composition contains from about 10 to 90% of the cationic/nonionic surfactant mixture.

Claim 13

The article according to claim 11 wherein said detergent composition contains from about 15 to about 85% of said cantionic/nonionic surfactant mixture.

Claim 14

The article according to claim 10 wherein the ratio of nonionic surfactant to cationic surfactant is from about 5:3 to about 50:1.

Claim 15

The article according to claim 13 wherein, in the nonionic surfactant, R is is a C 10 -C 20 alkyl group.

Claim 16

The article according to claim 14 wherein, in the nonionic surfactant, n is from 4 to 7.

Claim 17

The article according to claim 13 wherein, in the cationic surfactant, L is 1, Z is an anion selected from the group consisting of halides, methylsulfate, hydroxide, and nitrate, and Y is selected from the group consisting of ##STR29## and mixtures thereof.

Claim 18

The article according to claim 16 wherein, in the cationic surfactant, Y is ##STR30##

Claim 19

The article according to claim 16 wherein the detergent composition contains from about 3 to about 25% of said solubilization aid.

Claim 20

The article according to claim 18 wherein said solubilization aid has a solubility in 100° F. water of at least about 25% by weight.

Claim 21

The article according to claim 19 wherein said solubilization aid completely dissolves in 100° F. water in no more than about one minute.

Claim 22

The article according to claim 20 wherein said solubilization aid is selected from the group consisting of choline chloride, ammonium chloride, phenylmethylammonium chloride, sucrose, glucose, polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 6,000, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 23

The article according to claim 21 wherein said solubilization aid is selected from the group consisting of choline chloride, sucrose, glucose, polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 6,000, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 24

The article according to claim 20 wherein said solubilization aid is hygroscopic.

Claim 25

The article according to claim 22 wherein the ratio of said nonionic surfactant to said cationic surfactant is from about 5:3 to about 10:1.

Claim 26

The article according to claim 24 wherein the ratio of said nonionic surfactant to said cationic surfactant is from about 5:3 to about 5:1.

Claim 27

The article according to claim 25 wherein said cationic surfactant has the formula ##STR31## wherein R 2 is C 8 to C 20 alkyl and X is an anion selected from the group consisting of halides, methylsulfate, and nitrate.

Claim 28

The article according to claim 26 wherein the nonionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of the condensation product of C 10 alcohol with 3 moles of ethylene oxide; the condensation product of tallow alcohol with 9 moles of ethylene oxide; and condensation product of coconut alcohol with 5 moles of ethylene oxide; the condensation product of coconut alcohol with 6 moles of ethylene oxide; the condensation product of C 12-13 alcohol with 6.5 moles of ethylene oxide, and the same condensation product which is stripped so as to remove lower ethoxylate and nonethoxylated fractions; the condensation product of C 12-13 alcohol with 3 moles of ethylene oxide which is stripped so as to remove substantially all lower ethoxylated and nonethoxylated fractions; the condensation product of C 14-15 alcohol with 2.25 moles of ethylene oxide; the condensation product of C 14-15 alcohol with 7 moles of ethylene oxide, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 29

The article according to claim 27 wherein the detergent composition contains from about 5 to about 20% of said solubilization aid.

Claim 30

The article according to claim 28 wherein said solubilization aid is choline chloride.

Claim 31

The article according to claim 29 wherein the ratio of nonionic surfactant to catinic surfactant is about 5:2.

Claim 32

A process for laundering fabrics comprising the agitation of said fabrics in an aqueous solution containing the detergent article of claim 4.

Claim 33

A laundry detergent article consisting essentially of a water-insoluble, wet-strength substrate, carrying an effective amount of a detergent composition which consists essentially of: (a) from about 5 to about 95% of a surfactant mixture consisting essentially of; (i) a nonionic surfactant having an HLB of from about 5 to about 17; and (ii) a cationic surfactant having the formula R 1 m R 2 x Y L Z, wherein each R 1 is an organic group containing a straight or branched alkyl or alkenyl group optionally substituted with up to 3 phenyl groups and, optionally, interrupted by up to 4 structures each of which is selected from the group consisting of ##STR32## and mixtures thereof, and which contain from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms, and which may additionally contain up to 20 ethoxy groups, m is a number of from 1 to 7 and no more than one R 1 can have more than 12 carbon atoms when m is 3 or greater, each R 2 is an alkyl or hydroxy alkyl group containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a benzyl group with no more than one R 2 in a molecule being benzyl, x is a number from 0 to 7, the remainder of any carbon, nitrogen, sulfur or phosphorus atom positions being filled by hydrogens, Y is selected from the group consisting of: ##STR33## L is a number from 1 to 3, Z is an anion in a number sufficient to give electrical neutrality, said cationic surfactant being at least water-dispersible in admixture with said nonionic surfactant; the ratio of said nonionic surfactant to said cationic surfactant being in the range of from about 5:3 to about 300:1; (b) from about 1% to about 30% of a nonionic or cationic solubilization aid which has a solubility in 100° F. water of at least about 20% by weight, and which completely dissolves in 100° F. water in no more than about 2 minutes; (c) from 0 to about 25% of a fatty amide surfactant; (d) from 0 to about 15% of a suds suppressor component; and (e) the balance of said composition being selected from the group consisting of anionic, zwitterionic and ampholytic socurfactants, detergency builders, bleaching agents, bleach activators, soil-suspending agents, corrosion inhibitors, dyes, fillers, optical brighteners, germicides, pH adjusting agents, enzymes, enyzme stabilizing agents, perfumes, fabric softening components, static control agents, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 34

A laundry detergent article consisting essentially of a water-insoluble, wet-strength substrate, carrying an effective amount of a detergent composition which consists essentially of: (a) from about 5 to about 95% of a surfactant mixture consisting essentially of; (i) a nonionic surfactant having an HLB of from about 5 to about 17; and (ii) a cationic surfactant having the formula R 1 m R 2 x Y L Z, wherein each R 1 is an organic group containing a straight or branched alkyl or alkenyl group optionally substituted with up to 3 phenyl groups and, optionally, interrupted by up to 4 structures each of which is selected from the group consisting of ##STR32## and mixtures thereof, and which contain from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms, and which may additionally contain up to 20 ethoxy groups, m is a number of from 1 to 7 and no more than one R 1 can have more than 12 carbon atoms when m is 3 or greater, each R 2 is an alkyl or hydroxy alkyl group containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a benzyl group with no more than one R 2 in a molecule being benzyl, x is a number from 0 to 7, the remainder of any carbon, nitrogen, sulfur or phosphorus atom positions being filled by hydrogens, Y is selected from the group consisting of: ##STR33## L is a number from 1 to 3, Z is an anion in a number sufficient to give electrical neutrality, said cationic surfactant being at least water-dispersible in admixture with said nonionic surfactant; the ratio of said nonionic surfactant to said cationic surfactant being in the range of from about 5:3 to about 300:1; (b) from about 1% to about 30% of a nonionic or cationic solubilization aid which has a solubility in 100° F. water of at least about 20% by weight, and which completely dissolves in 100° F. water in no more than about 2 minutes; (c) from 0 to about 25% of a fatty amide surfactant; (d) from 0 to about 15% of a suds suppressor component; and (e) the balance of said composition being selected from the group consisting of anionic, zwitterionic and ampholytic socurfactants, detergency builders, bleaching agents, bleach activators, soil-suspending agents, corrosion inhibitors, dyes, fillers, optical brighteners, germicides, pH adjusting agents, enzymes, enyzme stabilizing agents, perfumes, fabric softening components, static control agents, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 35

The article according to claim 1 wherein, in said cationic surfactant, R 1 is selected from the group consisting of: (a) C 12 to C 20 alkyl groups, when m equals 1; (b) C 10 to C 20 alkyl groups, when m equals 2; (c) C 8 to C 11 alkyl groups, when m equals 3; and (d) mixtures thereof.

Claim 36

The article according to claim 33 wherein, in said cationic surfactant, no more than one R 1 group contains greater than 16 carbon atoms when m equals 2.