US4747976A — PVA films with nonhydrolyzable anionic comonomers…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 131 words

A water-soluble polymeric film and detergent composition combination comprising (a) a water-soluble film about 1-5 mils thick, formed from a copolymer resin of vinyl alcohol having about 0-10 mole percent residual acetate groups and about 1-5 mole percent of a nonhydrolyzable anionic comonomer selected from the group consisting of methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, maleic anhydride, itaconic acid, acrylamide, unsaturated sulfonates, and mixtures thereof, the resin being polymerized to an extent to result in a resin viscosity, when dissolved in 25° C. water to a level of about 4% of between about 4-35 cPs, the film including a plasticizing-effect amount of a plasticizer, and; (b) an alkaline or borate-containing detergent composition, at least partially enclosed by the film wherein the film will dissolve when placed in an aqueous medium, freeing the detergent.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 131 words

A water-soluble polymeric film and detergent composition combination comprising (a) a water-soluble film about 1-5 mils thick, formed from a copolymer resin of vinyl alcohol having about 0-10 mole percent residual acetate groups and about 1-5 mole percent of a nonhydrolyzable anionic comonomer selected from the group consisting of methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, maleic anhydride, itaconic acid, acrylamide, unsaturated sulfonates, and mixtures thereof, the resin being polymerized to an extent to result in a resin viscosity, when dissolved in 25° C. water to a level of about 4% of between about 4-35 cPs, the film including a plasticizing-effect amount of a plasticizer, and; (b) an alkaline or borate-containing detergent composition, at least partially enclosed by the film wherein the film will dissolve when placed in an aqueous medium, freeing the detergent.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 20 words

The combination of claim 1 and further including about 0-30 weight percent of a borate scavenger in the polymeric film.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 150 words

An article for delivering a cleaning composition to a wash liquor comprising (a) an alkaline or borate-containing cleaning composition; and (b) a copolymeric film material having a thickness of between about 1-5 mils, at least partially surrounding the cleaning composition and made from a copolymeric resin produced by copolymerizing vinyl acetate with about 2-6 mole percent of a comonomer to yield a copolymer resin, subsequently saponifying the resin in an organic solvent to convert about 90-100 mole percent acetate groups to alcohols, and converting about 1-5 mole percent of the comonomer into a nonhydrolyzable comonomer having an anionic charge wherein the comonomer is selected from the group consisting of methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, maleic anhydride, itaconic acid, acrylamide, unsaturated sulfonates, and mixtures thereof, the resulting copolymer resin characterized by a viscosity, when dissolved to a level of about 4% in 25° C. water, of between about 4 and 35 cPs.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 150 words

An article for delivering a cleaning composition to a wash liquor comprising (a) an alkaline or borate-containing cleaning composition; and (b) a copolymeric film material having a thickness of between about 1-5 mils, at least partially surrounding the cleaning composition and made from a copolymeric resin produced by copolymerizing vinyl acetate with about 2-6 mole percent of a comonomer to yield a copolymer resin, subsequently saponifying the resin in an organic solvent to convert about 90-100 mole percent acetate groups to alcohols, and converting about 1-5 mole percent of the comonomer into a nonhydrolyzable comonomer having an anionic charge wherein the comonomer is selected from the group consisting of methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, maleic anhydride, itaconic acid, acrylamide, unsaturated sulfonates, and mixtures thereof, the resulting copolymer resin characterized by a viscosity, when dissolved to a level of about 4% in 25° C. water, of between about 4 and 35 cPs.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 21 words

The article of claim 3 wherein the conversion of the comonomer to the nonhydrolyzable comonomer occurs during the base catalyzed saponification.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 28 words

The article of claim 3 wherein the conversion of the comonomer to the nonhydrolyzable comonomer further includes a neutralization with an alkaline material, following the base catalyzed saponification.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 21 words

The article of claim 5 wherein the alkaline material is an alkaline-earth metal, alkali-metal, or quaternary ammonium hydroxide, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 15 words

The article of claim 4 wherein the alkaline material is included in the cleaning composition.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 130 words

In a wash article of the type comprising a wash additive at least partially surrounded by a water-soluble, plasticized polyvinyl alcohol film, the improvement comprising making the film from a resin formed by copolymerizing vinyl acetate with about 2-6 mole percent of a comonomer selected from the group consisting of methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, maleic anhydride, itaconic acid, acrylamide, unsaturated sulfonates, and mixtures thereof, to form a copolymer resin, saponifying the resin in an organic solvent to convert 90-100 mole percent of acetate groups to alcohols, and converting about 1-5 mole percent of the comonomer to an anionic, nonhydrolyzable comonomer, the copolymer resin being polymerized to an extent to result in a resin viscosity, when dissolved to a level of 4% in water at 25° C., of about 4-35 cPs.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 130 words

In a wash article of the type comprising a wash additive at least partially surrounded by a water-soluble, plasticized polyvinyl alcohol film, the improvement comprising making the film from a resin formed by copolymerizing vinyl acetate with about 2-6 mole percent of a comonomer selected from the group consisting of methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, maleic anhydride, itaconic acid, acrylamide, unsaturated sulfonates, and mixtures thereof, to form a copolymer resin, saponifying the resin in an organic solvent to convert 90-100 mole percent of acetate groups to alcohols, and converting about 1-5 mole percent of the comonomer to an anionic, nonhydrolyzable comonomer, the copolymer resin being polymerized to an extent to result in a resin viscosity, when dissolved to a level of 4% in water at 25° C., of about 4-35 cPs.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 21 words

The article of claim 8 wherein the conversion of the comonomer to the nonhydrolyzable comonomer occurs during the base catalyzed saponification.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 28 words

The article of claim 8 wherein the conversion of the comonomer to the nonhydrolyzable comonomer further includes a neutralization with an alkaline material, following the base catalyzed saponification.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 21 words

The article of claim 10 wherein the alkaline material is an alkaline-earth metal, alkali-metal, or quaternary ammonium hydroxide, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 15 words

The article of claim 10 wherein the alkaline material is included in the wash additive.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 21 words

The article of claim 8 and further including about 0 to 30 weight percent of a borate scavenger in the film.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 150 words

A method for introducing a wash additive to an aqueous wash solution comprising (a) enclosing a wash additive in a sealed water-soluble copolymeric film material produced by copolymerizing vinyl acetate with about 2-6 mole % of a comonomer to yield a copolymer, subsequently saponifying the resin in an organic solvent to convert about 90-100 mole percent acetate groups to alcohols, and converting the comonomer into a nonhydrolyzable comonomer having an anionic charge wherein the comonomer is selected from the group consisting of methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, maleic anhydride, itaconic acid, acrylamide, unsaturated sulfonates, and mixtures thereof, the resulting copolymer characterized by a viscosity, when dissolved to a level of about 4% in 25° C. water, of between about 4 to 35 cPs, and; (b) contacting the copolymeric material plus additive with an aqueous wash solution for a sufficient time to dissolve the polymeric material and disperse the additive contained therein.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 150 words

A method for introducing a wash additive to an aqueous wash solution comprising (a) enclosing a wash additive in a sealed water-soluble copolymeric film material produced by copolymerizing vinyl acetate with about 2-6 mole % of a comonomer to yield a copolymer, subsequently saponifying the resin in an organic solvent to convert about 90-100 mole percent acetate groups to alcohols, and converting the comonomer into a nonhydrolyzable comonomer having an anionic charge wherein the comonomer is selected from the group consisting of methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, maleic anhydride, itaconic acid, acrylamide, unsaturated sulfonates, and mixtures thereof, the resulting copolymer characterized by a viscosity, when dissolved to a level of about 4% in 25° C. water, of between about 4 to 35 cPs, and; (b) contacting the copolymeric material plus additive with an aqueous wash solution for a sufficient time to dissolve the polymeric material and disperse the additive contained therein.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 14 wherein the conversion of the comonomer to the nonhydrolyzable comonomer occurs during the base catalyzed saponification.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 14 wherein the conversion of the comonomer to the nonhydrolyzable comonomer further includes a neutralization with an alkaline material, following the base catalyzed saponification.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 16 wherein the alkaline material is an alkaline-earth metal, alkali-metal, or quaternary ammonium hydroxide, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 16 wherein the alkaline material is included in the wash additive.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 14 and further including adding about 0 to 30 weight percent of a borate scavenger in the film.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1991-05-31	1991-11-30	1992-05-31	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1995-05-31	1995-11-30	1996-05-31	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1999-05-31	1999-11-30	2000-05-31	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

PVA films with nonhydrolyzable anionic comonomers for packaging detergents

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