A cleaning cloth impregnated with a composition comprising: (a) a fibrous web; (b) an alkyl or alkenyl oligoglycoside; (c) a mixture comprising an alcohol polyglycol ether, a hydroxy mixed ether, or a combination thereof are useful for cleansing hair.

Numerous patent applications describe cleaning cloths with a disinfecting effect, cf. WO 95/17175 or WO 98/55096. Various textiles are used as the carrier material for impregnation with cleaning solutions (WO 99/13861 and WO 01/08657). WO 99/66793 mentions active components which can be applied to cloths.
Besides cleaning, skin care is also being increasingly taken into consideration. For example, WO 95/35411 describes wet wipes impregnated with a lotion which, besides mineral oil, contains fatty acid esters, fatty alcohol ethoxylates and fatty alcohols. These wet wipes are mainly intended for use on the skin. Even where they mention use on the hair, the cited applications do not solve the problem of the hair fibers sticking together or the components remaining on the scalp which presupposes very high compatibility of the compounds.
Accordingly, a first problem addressed by the invention was to provide cleaning cloths for hair care using special highly compatible surfactants which would be simple, clean and quick to use and which would have a good cleaning effect. These surfactants would not cause hair fibers to stick together because the intention would be for the formulations to remain in the hair after application.
Another problem arises in the production of wet wipes. In order to impregnate it with the cleaning solution, the cloth or tissue paper is either sprayed with or immersed in the cleaning solution. In either case, foaming or inadequate wetting can lead to a reduction in throughput in production. Accordingly, another problem addressed by the present invention was to provide a surfactant solution which, by virtue of its viscosity and low foaming, would be rapidly absorbed into the cloths so that the surfactants could be thoroughly distributed throughout, thereby enabling wet wipes to be produced in a technically simple and hence inexpensive manner. However, if the cleaning cloths are intended to be dry and wetted with water before use, rapid evaporation of the solvent during production is desirable.
The present invention relates to the use of cleaning cloths distinguished by the fact that they are impregnated with a surfactant solution containing
(a) alk(en)yl oligoglycosides,
(b) alcohol polyglycol ethers and/or
(c) hydroxy mixed ethers
for the care and cleaning of hair.
It has been found that cleaning cloths containing surfactant mixtures of alk(en)yl oligoglycosides in combination with alcohol polyglycol ethers or hydroxy mixed ethers solve the complex problem stated above in excellent fashion. After application to hair, they show a distinct cleaning effect without leaving any feeling of stickiness behind. In addition, cleaning performance, hair volume and hair luster can be influenced through the choice of solvent. As a so-called leave-on formulation, the surfactant mixture applied is highly compatible so that there is no need for subsequent rinsing of the hair. Accordingly, simple and hygienic use for cleaning hair is even possible in cases where hair cannot be washed in the usual way as, for example, with bedridden patients or on journeys.
In addition, the applied surfactant solutions based on alk(en)yl oligoglycosides and alcohol polyglycol ethers and/or hydroxy mixed ethers have been found to be readily processable, low in viscosity and largely foam-free in production so that they are rapidly absorbed by the particular cloth. This effect is further enhanced by the use of an alcoholic/aqueous solvent.
Alkyl and/or Alkenyl Oligoglycosides
Alk(en)yl oligoglycosides are known nonionic surfactants which correspond to formula (I):
R1Oxe2x80x94[G]pxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(I)
where R1 is an alkyl and/or alkenyl group containing 4 to 22 carbon atoms, G is a sugar unit containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms and p is a number of 1 to 10. They may be obtained by the relevant methods of preparative organic chemistry. EP-A1 0301298 and WO 90/03977 are cited as representative of the extensive literature available on this subject.
The alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycosides may be derived from aldoses or ketoses containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms, preferably glucose. Accordingly, the preferred alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycosides are alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglucosides. The index p in general formula (I) indicates the degree of oligomerization (DP), i.e. the distribution of mono- and oligoglycosides, and is a number of 1 to 10. Whereas p in a given compound must always be an integer and, above all, may assume a value of 1 to 6, the value p for a certain alkyl oligoglycoside is an analytically determined calculated quantity which is generally a broken number. Alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycosides having an average degree of oligomerization p of 1.1 to 3.0 are preferably used. Alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycosides having a degree of oligomerization of less than 1.7 and, more particularly, between 1.2 and 1.4 are preferred from the applicational point of view.
The alkyl or alkenyl radical R1 may be derived from primary alcohols containing 4 to 11 and preferably 8 to 10 carbon atoms. Typical examples are butanol, caproic alcohol, caprylic alcohol, capric alcohol and undecyl alcohol and the technical mixtures thereof obtained, for example, in the hydrogenation of technical fatty acid methyl esters or in the hydrogenation of aldehydes from Roelen""s oxosynthesis. Alkyl oligoglucosides having a chain length of C8 to C10 (DP=1 to 3), which are obtained as first runnings in the separation of technical C8-18 coconut oil fatty alcohol by distillation and which may contain less than 6% by weight of C12 alcohol as an impurity, and also alkyl oligoglucosides based on technical C9/11 oxoalcohols (DP=1 to 3) are preferred. In addition, the alkyl or alkenyl radical R1 may also be derived from primary alcohols containing 12 to 22 and preferably 12 to 14 carbon atoms. Typical examples are lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, palmitoleyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, isostearyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, elaidyl alcohol, petroselinyl alcohol, arachyl alcohol, gadoleyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, erucyl alcohol, brassidyl alcohol and technical mixtures thereof which may be obtained as described above. Alkyl oligoglucosides based on hydrogenated C12/14 coconut oil fatty alcohol having a DP of 1 to 3 are preferred. The alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycosides may be used in quantitiesxe2x80x94based on the wet wipesxe2x80x94of 0.05 to 2 and preferably 0.5 to 1 % by weight and in quantitiesxe2x80x94based on the concentratesxe2x80x94of 30 to 80 and preferably 50 to 70% by weight, the ratio by weight of alcohol polyglycol ethers to glycoside being in the range from 10:90 to 90:10, preferably in the range from 25:75 to 75:25 and more particularly in the range from 40:60 to 60:40.
Alcohol Polyglycol Ethers
Alcohol polyglycol ethers are known nonionic surfactants which are normally obtained by addition of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide blockwise or in random distribution onto suitable primary alcohols or polyols. The polyglycol ethers normally correspond to formula (II):
in which R2 is a linear and/or branched alkyl and/or alkenyl group containing 6 to 22, preferably 8 to 18 and more particularly 10 to 12 carbon atoms, an ethylene glycol or glycerol unit, x and z independently of one another stand for 0 or numbers of 1 to 40 and y stands for numbers of 1 to 40. Accordingly, the polyglycol ethers compulsorily contain at least one propylene oxide unit. Typical examples are products of the addition of on average 1 to 40, preferably 5 to 30 and more particularly 8 to 15 mol ethylene oxide and/or 1 to 10 and preferably 2 to 5 mol propylene oxide onto fatty alcohols, oxoalcohols or Alfols such as, for example, caproic alcohol, caprylic alcohol, 2-ethylhexyl alcohol, capric alcohol, lauryl alcohol, isotridecyl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, palmitoleyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, isostearyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, elaidyl alcohol, petroselinyl alcohol, linolyl alcohol, linolenyl alcohol, elaeostearyl alcohol, arachyl alcohol, gadoleyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, erucyl alcohol and brassidyl alcohol and technical mixtures thereof and also ethylene glycol or glycerol.
Hydroxy Mixed Ethers
Hydroxy mixed ethers (HMEs) are known nonionic surfactants with a nonsymmetrical ether structure and a content of polyalkylene glycols which are obtained, for example, by subjecting olefin epoxides to a ring opening reaction with fatty alcohol polyglycol ethers. Hydroxy mixed ethers typically correspond to general formula (III):
in which R3 is a linear or branched alkyl group containing 2 to 18 and preferably 10 to 16 carbon atoms, R4 is hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl group containing 2 to 18 carbon atoms, R5 is hydrogen or methyl, R6 is a linear or branched alkyl and/or alkenyl group containing 1 to 22 and preferably 18 to 18 carbon atoms and n is a number of 1 to 50, preferably 2 to 25 and more preferably 5 to 15 with the proviso that the total number of carbon atoms in the substituents R3 and R4 is at least 4, preferably 6 to 18 and more particularly 8 to 12. As the formula suggests, the HMEs may be ring opening products both of internal olefins (R4xe2x89xa0hydrogen) or terminal olefins (R4=hydrogen), the latter being preferred for their more favorable performance properties and their easier production. Similarly, the polar part of the molecule may be a polyethylene or a polypropylene chain. Mixed chains of PE and PP units in statistical or block distribution are also suitable. Typical examples are ring opening products of 1,2-hexene epoxide, 2,3-hexene epoxide, 1,2-octene epoxide, 2,3-octene epoxide, 3,4-octene epoxide, 1,2-decene epoxide, 2,3-decene epoxide, 3,4-decene epoxide, 4,5-decene epoxide, 1,2-dodecene epoxide, 2,3-dodecene epoxide, 3,4-dodecene epoxide, 4,5-dodecene epoxide, 5,6-dodecene epoxide, 1,2-tetradecene epoxide, 2,3-tetradecene epoxide, 3,4-tetradecene epoxide, 4,5-tetradecene epoxide, 5,6-tetradecene epoxide, 6,7-tetradecene epoxide, 1,2-hexadecene epoxide, 2,3-hexadecene epoxide, 3,4-hexadecene epoxide, 4,5-hexadecene epoxide, 5,6-hexadecene epoxide, 6,7-hexadecene epoxide, 7,8-hexadecene epoxide, 1,2-octadecene epoxide, 2,3-octadecene epoxide, 3,4-octadecene epoxide, 4,5-octadecene epoxide, 5,6-octadecene epoxide, 6,7-octadecene epoxide, 7,8-octadecene epoxide and 8,9-octadecene epoxide and mixtures thereof with addition products of on average 1 to 50, preferably 2 to 25 and more particularly 5 to 15 mol ethylene oxide and/or 1 to 10, preferably 2 to 8 and more particularly 3 to 5 mol propylene oxide onto saturated and/or unsaturated primary alcohols containing 6 to 22 and preferably 12 to 18 carbon atoms, such as for example caproic alcohol, caprylic alcohol, 2-ethylhexyl alcohol, capric alcohol, lauryl alcohol, isotridecyl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, palmitoleyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, isostearyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, elaidyl alcohol, petroselinyl alcohol, linolyl alcohol, linolenyl alcohol, elaeostearyl alcohol, arachyl alcohol, gadoleyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, erucyl alcohol and brassidyl alcohol and technical mixtures thereof.
Tissue Papers and Tissue Cloths for Cleaning Cloths
Tissue papers and cloths to which the present invention relates may have a single-ply or multi-ply structure. The papers generally have a weight per squate meter of 10 to 65 and preferably 15 to 30 g and a density of 0.6 g/cm3 or less.
Besides paper-based tissues, corresponding tissue cloths made of fibers or fleeces are also suitable. Examples of natural fibers include silk, cellulose, keratin, wool, cotton, jute, linen, flax; examples of synthetic fibers include acetate, acrylate, cellulose ester, polyamide, polyester, polyolefin, polyvinyl alcohol, polyurethane fibers. It is preferred to use hydrophilic fibers, natural fibers, such as cotton cloth and cotton blends. Additive-hydrophilicized polyolefin fabrics are particularly preferred. Reaction products of 1 part polyethylene glycol with 2 parts C10-12 fatty acids or derivatives thereof are used to hydrophilicize the polyolefin-containing fabrics.
The cloth may be in the form of a glove and, in that case, preferably has a multi-ply structure so that the inner fabric layer of the glove has a barrier function and protects the hand against contact with the formulation or with moisture.
Cleaning Solution and Solvents
The ratio by weight of dry cloth to applied cleaning solution should be 1:0.1 to 1:4 and is preferably from 1:0.5 to 1:3 and more preferably from 1:1 to 1:2. The solvent of the cleaning solution should consist of water or, preferably, water/alcohol mixtures. Isopropanol, propanol and ethanol are used as the alcohols. The cleaning solutions used for impregnation contain 0 to 95% by weight alcohol, preferably 3 to 70% by weight alcohol and more particularly 5 to 20% by weight alcohol. Where wet cleaning cloths are used, solubilization of the hair fat is influenced not only by the type and quantity of surfactants used, but also by the alcohol content so that the cleaning effect and the volume and luster of the cleaned hair can be controlled through the alcohol content. Even in the production of dry cleaning cloths which are wetted before use, the alcohol content of the solution used has a criticial influence because the drying rate and hence the production costs can be optimized.
Production Process
The process for the production of cleaning cloths is characterized in that a cloth is wetted with a surfactant solution containing
(a) alk(en)yl oligoglycosides,
(b) alcohol polyglycolethers and/or
(c) hydroxy mixed ethers
and the solvent is then optionally removed by drying to a residual content of 0.1 to 3% by weight and preferably less than 0.1% by weight, based on the weight of the cleaning cloth. Wetting may be carried out by spraying the surfactant solution onto the cloth or by immersing the cloth in the surfactant solution. If the solvent is to be subsequently evaporated, the wetted cloths are exposed to an elevated temperature, to a warm air stream or to vacuum drying.
Commercial Applications
The present invention also relates to the use of cleaning cloths, characterized in that they are impregnated with a surfactant solution which typically has the following composition:
(a) 0.1 to 10% by weight, preferably 0.5 to 5% by weight and more particularly 1 to 3% by weight alk(en)yl oligoglycosides,
(b) 0.01 to 5% by weight, preferably 0.1 to 3% by weight and more particularly 0.3 to 0.5% by weight alcohol polyglycol ethers and/or
(c) 0.01 to 5% by weight, preferably 0.1 to 3% by weight and more particularly 0.3 to 0.5% by weight hydroxy mixed ethers,
for the care and cleaning of hair.
The surfactant solutions used for impregnation may additionally contain mild surfactants, emulsifiers, consistency factors, thickeners, stabilizers, polymers, silicone compounds, lecithins, phospholipids, biogenic agents, UV protection factors, antioxidants, antidandruff agents, film formers, hydrotropes, solubilizers, preservatives, perfume oils, dyes and the like as further auxiliaries and additives.
Other Surfactants
Suitable surfactants are anionic, nonionic, cationic and/or amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants which normally make up about 1 to 70, preferably 5 to 50 and more preferably 10 to 30% by weight of the impregnating solution. Typical examples of anionic surfactants are soaps, alkyl benzenesulfonates, alkanesulfonates, olefin sulfonates, alkylether sulfonates, glycerol ether sulfonates, xcex1-methyl ester sulfonates, sulfofatty acids, alkyl sulfates, fatty alcohol ether sulfates, glycerol ether sulfates, fatty acid ether sulfates, monoglyceride (ether) sulfates, fatty acid amide (ether) sulfates, mono- and dialkyl sulfosuccinates, mono- and dialkyl sulfosuccinamates, sulfotriglycerides, amide soaps, ether carboxylic acids and salts thereof, fatty acid isethionates, fatty acid sarcosinates, fatty acid taurides, N-acylamino acids such as, for example, acyl lactylates, acyl tartrates, acyl glutamates and acyl aspartates, alkyl oligoglucoside sulfates, protein fatty acid condensates (particularly wheat-based vegetable products) and alkyl (ether) phosphates. If the anionic surfactants contain polyglycol ether chains, they may have a conventional homolog distribution although they preferably have a narrow-range homolog distribution. Typical examples of nonionic surfactants are alkylphenol polyglycol ethers, fatty acid polyglycol esters, fatty acid amide polyglycol ethers, fatty amine polyglycol ethers, alkoxylated triglycerides, optionally partly oxidized alk(en)yl oligoglycosides or glucuronic acid derivatives, fatty acid-N-alkyl glucamides, protein hydrolyzates (particularly wheat-based vegetable products), polyol fatty acid esters, sugar esters, sorbitan esters, polysorbates and amine oxides. If the nonionic surfactants contain polyglycol ether chains, they may have a conventional homolog distribution, although they preferably have a narrow homolog distribution. Typical examples of cationic surfactants are quaternary ammonium compounds, such as dimethyldistearyl ammonium chloride for example, and esterquats, more particularly quaternized fatty acid trialkanolamine ester salts. Typical examples of amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants are alkylbetaines, alkylamidobetaines, aminopropionates, aminoglycinates, imidazolinium betaines and sulfobetaines. The surfactants mentioned are all known compounds. Information on their structure and production can be found in relevant synoptic works, cf. for example J. Falbe (ed.), xe2x80x9cSurfactants in Consumer Productsxe2x80x9d, Springer Verlag, Berlin, 1987, pages 54 to 124 or J. Falbe (ed.), xe2x80x9cKatalysatoren, Tenside und Mineral-xc3x6ladditive (Catalysts, Surfactants and Mineral Oil Additives)xe2x80x9d, Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart, 1978, pages 123-217. Typical examples of particularly suitable mild, i.e. particularly dermatologically safe, surfactants are fatty alcohol polyglycol ether sulfates, monoglyceride sulfates, mono- and/or dialkyl sulfosuccinates, fatty acid isethionates, fatty acid sarcosinates, fatty acid taurides, fatty acid glutamates, xcex1-olefin sulfonates, ether carboxylic acids, fatty acid glucamides, alkyl amidobetaines, amphoacetates and/or protein fatty acid condensatesxe2x80x94the latter preferably based on wheat proteins.
Emulsifiers
Suitable other emulsifiers are, for example, nonionic surfactants from at least one of the following groups:
products of the addition of 2 to 30 mol ethylene oxide onto linear C8-22 fatty alcohols, C12-22 fatty acids, alkyl phenols containing 8 to 15 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and alkylamines containing 8 to 22 carbon atoms in the alkyl group;
products of the addition of 1 to 15 mol ethylene oxide onto castor oil and/or hydrogenated castor oil;
products of the addition of 15 to 60 mol ethylene oxide onto castor oil and/or hydrogenated castor oil;
partial esters of glycerol and/or sorbitan with unsaturated, linear or saturated, branched fatty acids containing 12 to 22 carbon atoms and/or hydroxycarboxylic acids containing 3 to 18 carbon atoms and addition products thereof onto 1 to 30 mol ethylene oxide;
partial esters of polyglycerol (average degree of self-condensation 2 to 8), polyethylene glycol (molecular weight 400 to 5,000), trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, sugar alcohols (for example sorbitol), alkyl glucosides (for example methyl glucoside, butyl glucoside, lauryl glucoside) and polyglucosides (for example cellulose) with saturated and/or unsaturated, linear or branched fatty acids containing 12 to 22 carbon atoms and/or hydroxycarboxylic acids containing 3 to 18 carbon atoms and addition products thereof onto 1 to 30 mol ethylene oxide;
mixed esters of pentaerythritol, fatty acids, citric acid and fatty alcohol according to DE 1165574 PS and/or mixed esters of fatty acids containing 6 to 22 carbon atoms, methyl glucose and polyols, preferably glycerol or polyglycerol;
mono-, di- and trialkyl phosphates and mono-, di- and/or tri-PEG-alkyl phosphates and salts thereof;
wool wax alcohols;
polysiloxane/polyalkyl/polyether copolymers and corresponding derivatives;
block copolymers, for example Polyethylene Glycol-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate;
polymer emulsifiers, for example Pemulen types (TR-1, TR-2) from Goodrich;
polyalkylene glycols and
glycerol carbonate.
Partial Glycerides
Typical examples of suitable partial glycerides are hydroxystearic acid monoglyceride, hydroxystearic acid diglyceride, isostearic acid monoglyceride, isostearic acid diglyceride, oleic acid monoglyceride, oleic acid diglyceride, ricinoleic acid monoglyceride, ricinoleic acid diglyceride, linoleic acid monoglyceride, linoleic acid diglyceride, linolenic acid monoglyceride, linolenic acid diglyceride, erucic acid monoglyceride, erucic acid diglyceride, tartaric acid monoglyceride, tartaric acid diglyceride, citric acid monoglyceride, citric acid diglyceride, malic acid monoglyceride, malic acid diglyceride and technical mixtures thereof which may still contain small quantities of triglyceride from the production process. Addition products of 1 to 30 and preferably 5 to 10 mol ethylene oxide onto the partial glycerides mentioned are also suitable.
Sorbitan Esters
Suitable sorbitan esters are sorbitan monoisostearate, sorbitan sesquiisostearate, sorbitan diisostearate, sorbitan triisostearate, sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan sesquioleate, sorbitan dioleate, sorbitan trioleate, sorbitan monoerucate, sorbitan sesquierucate, sorbitan dierucate, sorbitan trierucate, sorbitan monoricinoleate, sorbitan sesquiricinoleate, sorbitan diricinoleate, sorbitan triricinoleate, sorbitan monohydroxystearate, sorbitan sesquihydroxystearate, sorbitan dihydroxystearate, sorbitan trihydroxystearate, sorbitan monotartrate, sorbitan sesquitartrate, sorbitan ditartrate, sorbitan tritartrate, sorbitan monocitrate, sorbitan sesquicitrate, sorbitan dicitrate, sorbitan tricitrate, sorbitan monomaleate, sorbitan sesquimaleate, sorbitan dimaleate, sorbitan trimaleate and technical mixtures thereof. Addition products of 1 to 30 and preferably 5 to 10 mol ethylene oxide onto the sorbitan esters mentioned are also suitable.
Polyglycerol Esters
Typical examples of suitable polyglycerol esters are Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate (Dehymuls(copyright) PGPH), Polyglycerin-3-Diisostearate (Lameform(copyright) TGI), Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate (Isolan(copyright) GI 34), Polyglyceryl-3 Oleate, Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate (Isolan(copyright) PDI), Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate (Tego Care(copyright) 450), Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax (Cera Bellina(copyright)), Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate (Polyglycerol Caprate T2010/90), Polyglyceryl-3 Cetyl Ether (Chimexane(copyright) NL), Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate (Cremophor(copyright) GS 32) and Polyglyceryl Polyricinoleate (Admul(copyright) WOL 1403), Polyglyceryl Dimerate Isostearate and mixtures thereof. Examples of other suitable polyolesters are the mono-, di- and triesters of trimethylol propane or pentaerythritol with lauric acid, cocofatty acid, tallow fatty acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, behenic acid and the like optionally reacted with 1 to 30 mol ethylene oxide.
Anionic Emulsifiers
Typical anionic emulsifiers are aliphatic C12-22 fatty acids, such as palmitic acid, stearic acid or behenic acid for example, and C12-22 dicarboxylic acids, such as azelaic acid or sebacic acid for example.
Amphoteric and Cationic Emulsifiers
Other suitable emulsifiers are zwitterionic surfactants. Zwitterionic surfactants are surface-active compounds which contain at least one quaternary ammonium group and at least one carboxylate and one sulfonate group in the molecule. Particularly suitable zwitterionic surfactants are the so-called betaines, such as the N-alkyl-N,N-dimethyl ammonium glycinates, for example cocoalkyl dimethyl ammonium glycinate, N-acylaminopropyl-N,N-dimethyl ammonium glycinates, for example cocoacylaminopropyl dimethyl ammonium glycinate, and 2-alkyl-3-carboxymethyl-3-hydroxyethyl imidazolines containing 8 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl or acyl group and cocoacylaminoethyl hydroxyethyl carboxymethyl glycinate. The fatty acid amide derivative known under the CTFA name of Cocamidopropyl Betaine is particularly preferred. Ampholytic surfactants are also suitable emulsifiers. Ampholytic surfactants are surface-active compounds which, in addition to a C8/18 alkyl or acyl group, contain at least one free amino group and at least one xe2x80x94COOH or xe2x80x94SO3H group in the molecule and which are capable of forming inner salts. Examples of suitable ampholytic surfactants are N-alkyl glycines, N-alkyl propionic acids, N-alkylaminobutyric acids, N-alkyliminodipropionic acids, N-hydroxyethyl-N-alkylamidopropyl glycines, N-alkyl taurines, N-alkyl sarcosines, 2-alkylaminopropionic acids and alkylaminoacetic acids containing around 8 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group. Particularly preferred ampholytic surfactants are N-cocoalkylaminopropionate, cocoacylaminoethyl aminopropionate and C12/18 acyl sarcosine. Finally, other suitable emulsifiers are cationic surfactants, those of the esterquat type, preferably methyl-quaternized difatty acid triethanolamine ester salts, being particularly preferred.
Consistency Factors and Thickeners
The consistency factors mainly used are fatty alcohols or hydroxyfatty alcohols containing 12 to 22 and preferably 16 to 18 carbon atoms and also partial glycerides, fatty acids or hydroxyfatty acids. A combination of these substances with alkyl oligoglucosides and/or fatty acid N-methyl glucamides of the same chain length and/or polyglycerol poly-12-hydroxystearates is preferably used. Suitable thickeners are, for example, Aerosil(copyright) types (hydrophilic silicas), polysaccharides, more especially xanthan gum, guar-guar, agar-agar, alginates and tyloses, carboxymethyl cellulose and hydroxyethyl and hydroxypropyl cellulose, also relatively high molecular weight polyethylene glycol monoesters and diesters of fatty acids, polyacrylates (for example Carbopols(copyright) and Pemulen types [Goodrich]; Synthalens(copyright) [Sigma]; Keltrol types [Kelco]; Sepigel types [Seppic]; Salcare types [Allied Colloids]), polyacrylamides, polymers, polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl pyrrolidone. Other consistency factors which have proved to be particularly effective are bentonites, for example Bentone(copyright) Gel VS-5PC (Rheox) which is a mixture of cyclopentasiloxane, Disteardimonium Hectorite and propylene carbonate. Other suitable consistency factors are surfactants such as, for example, ethoxylated fatty acid glycerides, esters of fatty acids with polyols, for example pentaerythritol or trimethylol propane, narrow-range fatty alcohol ethoxylates or alkyl oligoglucosides and electrolytes, such as sodium chloride and ammonium chloride.
Stabilizers
Metal salts of fatty acids such as, for example, magnesium, aluminium and/or zinc stearate or ricinoleate may be used as stabilizers.
Polymers
Suitable cationic polymers are, for example, cationic cellulose derivatives such as, for example, the quaternized hydroxyethyl cellulose obtainable from Amerchol under the name of Polymer JR 400(copyright), cationic starch, copolymers of diallyl ammonium salts and acrylamides, quaternized vinyl pyrrolidone/vinyl imidazole polymers such as, for example, Luviquat(copyright) (BASF), condensation products of polyglycols and amines, quaternized collagen polypeptides such as, for example, Lauryldimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Collagen (Lamequat(copyright) L, Grxc3xcnau), quaternized wheat polypeptides, polyethyleneimine, cationic silicone polymers such as, for example, amodimethicone, copolymers of adipic acid and dimethylamino-hydroxypropyl diethylenetriamine (Cartaretine(copyright), Sandoz), copolymers of acrylic acid with dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride (Merquat(copyright) 550, Chemviron), polyaminopolyamides as described, for example, in FR 2252840 A and crosslinked water-soluble polymers thereof, cationic chitin derivatives such as, for example, quaternized chitosan, optionally in microcrystalline distribution, condensation products of dihaloalkyls, for example dibromobutane, with bis-dialkylamines, for example bis-dimethylamino-1,3-propane, cationic guar gum such as, for example, Jaguar(copyright)CBS, Jaguar(copyright)C-17, Jaguar(copyright)C-16 of Celanese, quaternized ammonium salt polymers such as, for example, Mirapol(copyright) A-15, Mirapol(copyright) AD-1, Mirapol(copyright) AZ-1 of Miranol.
Suitable anionic, zwitterionic, amphoteric and nonionic polymers are, for example, vinyl acetate/crotonic acid copolymers, vinyl pyrrolidone/vinyl acrylate copolymers, vinyl acetate/butyl maleate/isobornyl acrylate copolymers, methyl vinylether/maleic anhydride copolymers and esters thereof, uncrosslinked and polyol-crosslinked polyacrylic acids, acrylamidopropyl trimethylammonium chloride/acrylate copolymers, octylacrylamide/methyl methacrylate/tert.-butylaminoethyl methacrylate/2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate copolymers, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl pyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymers, vinyl pyrrolidone/dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate/vinyl caprolactam terpolymers and optionally derivatized cellulose ethers and silicones. Other suitable polymers and thickeners can be found in Cosm. Toil., 108, 95 (1993).
Silicone Compounds
Suitable silicone compounds are, for example, dimethyl polysiloxanes, methylphenyl polysiloxanes, cyclic silicones and amino-, fatty acid-, alcohol-, polyether-, epoxy-, fluorine-, glycoside- and/or alkyl-modified silicone compounds which may be both liquid and resin-like at room temperature. Other suitable silicone compounds are simethicones which are mixtures of dimethicones with an average chain length of 200 to 300 dimethylsiloxane units and hydrogenated silicates. A detailed overview of suitable volatile silicones can be found in Todd et al. in Cosm. Toil. 91, 27 (1976).
UV Protection Factors and Antioxidants
UV protection factors in the context of the invention are, for example, organic substances (light filters) which are liquid or crystalline at room temperature and which are capable of absorbing ultraviolet radiation and of releasing the energy absorbed in the form of longer-wave radiation, for example heat. UV-B filters can be oil-soluble or water-soluble. The following are examples of oil-soluble substances:
3-benzylidene camphor or 3-benzylidene norcamphor and derivatives thereof, for example 3-(4-methylbenzylidene)camphor as described in EP 0693471 B1;
4-aminobenzoic acid derivatives, preferably 4-(dimethylamino)-benzoic acid-2-ethylhexyl ester, 4-(dimethylamino)-benzoic acid-2-octyl ester and 4-(dimethylamino)-benzoic acid amyl ester;
esters of cinnamic acid, preferably 4-methoxycinnamic acid-2-ethylhexyl ester, 4-methoxycinnamic acid propyl ester, 4-methoxycinnamic acid isoamyl ester, 2-cyano-3,3-phenylcinnamic acid-2-ethylhexyl ester (Octocrylene);
esters of salicylic acid, preferably salicylic acid-2-ethylhexyl ester, salicylic acid-4-isopropylbenzyl ester, salicylic acid homomenthyl ester;
derivatives of benzophenone, preferably 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-4xe2x80x2-methylbenzophenone, 2,2xe2x80x2-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone;
esters of benzalmalonic acid, preferably 4-methoxybenzalmalonic acid di-2-ethylhexyl ester;
triazine derivatives such as, for example, 2,4,6-trianilino-(p-carbo-2xe2x80x2-ethyl-1xe2x80x2-hexyloxy)1,3,5-triazine and Octyl Triazone as described in EP 0818450 A1 or Dioctyl Butamido Triazone (Uvasorb(copyright) HEB);
propane-1,3-diones such as, for example, 1-(4-tert.butylphenyl)-3-(4xe2x80x2-methoxyphenyl)-propane-1,3-dione;
ketotricyclo(22.214.171.124)decane derivatives as described in EP 0694521 B1.
Suitable water-soluble substances are
2-phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulfonic acid and alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium, alkylammonium, alkanolammonium and glucammonium salts thereof;
sulfonic acid derivatives of benzophenones, preferably 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone-5-sulfonic acid and salts thereof;
sulfonic acid derivatives of 3-benzylidene camphor such as, for example, 4-(2-oxo-3-bornylidenemethyl)-benzene sulfonic acid and 2-methyl-5-(2-oxo-3-bornylidene)-sulfonic acid and salts thereof.
Typical UV-A filters are, in particular, derivatives of benzoyl methane such as, for example, 1-(4xe2x80x2-tert.butylphenyl)-3-(4xe2x80x2-methoxyphenyl)-propane-1,3-dione, 4-tert.butyl-4xe2x80x2-methoxydibenzoyl methane (Parsol 1789) or 1-phenyl-3-(4xe2x80x2-isopropylphenyl)-propane-1,3-dione and the enamine compounds described in DE 19712033 A1 (BASF). The UV-A and UV-B filters may of course also be used in the form of mixtures. Particularly favorable combinations consist of the derivatives of benzoyl methane, for example 4-tert.butyl-4xe2x80x2-methoxydibenzoyl methane (Parsol(copyright) 1789) and 2-cyano-3,3-phenylcinnamic acid-2-ethylhexyl ester (Octocrylene), in combination with esters of cinnamic acid, preferably 4-methoxycinnamic acid-2-ethylhexyl ester and/or 4-methoxycinnamic acid propyl ester and/or 4-methoxycinnamic acid isoamyl ester. Combinations such as these are advantageously combined with water-soluble filters such as, for example, 2-phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulfonic acid and alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium, alkylammonium, alkanolammonium and glucammonium salts thereof.
Besides the sun protection factors mentioned above, secondary sun protection factors of the antioxidant type may also be used. Secondary sun protection factors of the antioxidant type interrupt the photochemical reaction chain which is initiated when UV rays penetrate into the skin. Typical examples are amino acids (for example glycine, histidine, tyrosine, tryptophane) and derivatives thereof, imidazoles (for example urocanic acid) and derivatives thereof, peptides, such as D,L-carnosine, D-carnosine, L-carnosine and derivatives thereof (for example anserine), carotinoids, carotenes (for example xcex1-carotene, xcex2-carotene, lycopene) and derivatives thereof, chlorogenic acid and derivatives thereof, liponic acid and derivatives thereof (for example dihydroliponic acid), aurothioglucose, propylthiouracil and other thiols (for example thioredoxine, glutathione, cysteine, cystine, cystamine and glycosyl, N-acetyl, methyl, ethyl, propyl, amyl, butyl and lauryl, palmitoyl, oleyl, xcex3-linoleyl, cholesteryl and glyceryl esters thereof) and their salts, dilaurylthiodipropionate, distearylthiodipropionate, thiodipropionic acid and derivatives thereof (esters, ethers, peptides, lipids, nucleotides, nucleosides and salts) and sulfoximine compounds (for example butionine sulfoximines, homocysteine sulfoximine, butionine sulfones, penta-, hexa- and hepta-thionine sulfoximine) in very small compatible dosages (for example xcexcmole to xcexcmole/kg), also (metal) chelators (for example xcex1-hydroxyfatty acids, palmitic acid, phytic acid, lactoferrine), xcex1-hydroxy acids (for example citric acid, lactic acid, malic acid), humic acid, bile acid, bile extracts, bilirubin, biliverdin, EDTA, EGTA and derivatives thereof, unsaturated fatty acids and derivatives thereof (for example xcex3-linolenic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid), folic acid and derivatives thereof, ubiquinone and ubiquinol and derivatives thereof, vitamin C and derivatives thereof (for example ascorbyl palmitate, Mg ascorbyl phosphate, ascorbyl acetate), tocopherols and derivatives (for example vitamin E acetate), vitamin A and derivatives (vitamin A palmitate) and coniferyl benzoate of benzoin resin, rutinic acid and derivatives thereof, xcex1-glycosyl rutin, ferulic acid, furfurylidene glucitol, carnosine, butyl hydroxytoluene, butyl hydroxyanisole, nordihydroguaiac resin acid, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, trihydroxybutyrophenone, uric acid and derivatives thereof, mannose and derivatives thereof, Superoxid-Dismutase, zinc and derivatives thereof (for example ZnO, ZnSO4), selenium and derivatives thereof (for example selenium methionine), stilbenes and derivatives thereof (for example stilbene oxide, trans-stilbene oxide) and derivatives of these active substances suitable for the purposes of the invention (salts, esters, ethers, sugars, nucleotides, nucleosides, peptides and lipids).
Biogenic Agents
In the context of the invention, biogenic agents are, for example, tocopherol, tocopherol acetate, tocopherol palmitate, ascorbic acid, (deoxy)ribonucleic acid and fragmentation products thereof, xcex2-glucans, retinol, bisabolol, allantoin, phytantriol, panthenol, AHA acids, amino acids, ceramides, pseudoceramides, essential oils, plant extracts, for example prune extract, bambara nut extract, and vitamin complexes.
Film Formers
Standard film formers are, for example, chitosan, microcrystalline chitosan, quaternized chitosan, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl pyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymers, polymers of the acrylic acid series, quaternary cellulose derivatives, collagen, hyaluronic acid and salts thereof and similar compounds.
Antidandruff Agents
Suitable antidandruff agents are Pirocton Olamin (1-hydroxy-4-methyl-6-(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)-2-(1H)-pyridinone monoethanolamine salt), Baypival(copyright) (Climbazole), Ketoconazol(copyright) (4-acetyl-1-{4-[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl) r-2-(1H-imidazol-1-ylmethyl)-1,3-dioxylan-c-4-ylmethoxyphenyl}-piperazine, ketoconazole, elubiol, selenium disulfide, colloidal sulfur, sulfur polyethylene glycol sorbitan monooleate, sulfur ricinol polyethoxylate, sulfur tar distillate, salicylic acid (or in combination with hexachlorophene), undecylenic acid, monoethanolamide sulfosuccinate Na salt, Lamepon(copyright) UD (protein/undecylenic acid condensate), zinc pyrithione, aluminium pyrithione and magnesium pyrithione/dipyrithione magnesium sulfate.
Hydrotropes
In addition, hydrotropes, for example ethanol, isopropyl alcohol or polyols, may be used to improve flow behavior during application. Suitable polyols preferably contain 2 to 15 carbon atoms and at least two hydroxyl groups. The polyols may contain other functional groups, more especially amino groups, or may be modified with nitrogen. Typical examples are
glycerol;
alkylene glycols such as, for example, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, hexylene glycol and polyethylene glycols with an average molecular weight of 100 to 1000 dalton;
technical oligoglycerol mixtures with a degree of self-condensation of 1.5 to 10 such as, for example, technical diglycerol mixtures with a diglycerol content of 40 to 50% by weight;
methylol compounds such as, in particular, trimethylol ethane, trimethylol propane, trimethylol butane, pentaerythritol and dipentaerythritol;
lower alkyl glucosides, particularly those containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, for example methyl and butyl glucoside;
sugar alcohols containing 5 to 12 carbon atoms, for example sorbitol or mannitol,
sugars containing 5 to 12 carbon atoms, for example glucose or sucrose;
aminosugars, for example glucamine;
dialcoholamines, such as diethanolamine or 2-aminopropane-1,3-diol.
Preservatives
Suitable preservatives are, for example, phenoxyethanol, formaldehyde solution, parabens, pentanediol or sorbic acid and the silver complexes known under the name of Surfacine(copyright) and the other classes of compounds listed in Appendix 6, Parts A and B of the Kosmetikverordnung (xe2x80x9cCosmetics Directivexe2x80x9d).
Perfume Oils
Suitable perfume oils are mixtures of natural and synthetic perfumes. Natural perfumes 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, cardamom, 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, xcex1-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, ladanum oil and lavendin oil. The following are preferably used either individually or in the form of mixtures: bergamot oil, dihydromyrcenol, lilial, lyral, citronellol, phenylethyl alcohol, xcex1-hexylcinnamaldehyde, geraniol, benzyl acetone, cyclamen aldehyde, linalool, Boisambrene Forte, Ambroxan, indole, hedione, sandelice, citrus oil, mandarin oil, orange oil, allylamyl glycolate, cyclovertal, lavendin oil, clary oil, xcex2-damascone, geranium oil bourbon, cyclohexyl salicylate, Vertofix Coeur, Iso-E-Super, Fixolide NP, evernyl, iraldein gamma, phenylacetic acid, geranyl acetate, benzyl acetate, rose oxide, romillat, irotyl and floramat.
Dyes
Suitable dyes are any of the substances suitable and approved for cosmetic purposes as listed, for example, in the publication xe2x80x9cKosmetische Fxc3xa4rbemittelxe2x80x9d of the Farbstoffkommission der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft, Verlag Chemi, W Inhelm, 1984, pages 81 to 106. Examples include cochineal red A (C.I. 16255), patent blue V (C.I. 42051), indigotin (C.I. 73015), chlorophyllin (C.I. 75810), quinoline yellow (C.I. 47005), titanium dioxide (C.I. 77891), indanthrene blue RS (C.I. 69800) and madder lake (C.I. 58000). Luminol may also be present as a luminescent dye. These dyes are normally used in concentrations of 0.001 to 0.1% by weight, based on the mixture as a whole.
The total percentage content of auxiliaries and additives may be from 1 to 50% by weight and is preferably from 5 to 40% by weight, based on the particular composition. The compositions may be produced by standard hot or cold processes.


A database (51) accessible in an IMS network and including at least one record including: an identifier of a terminal (10) in a transport plane; an identifier of said terminal (10) in a signaling plane; and at least one address of a quality of service and charging control entity (40) in said network.

The field of the invention is that of telecommunications networks conforming to the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) architecture defined by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).
IMS Release 7 defines Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) entities for quality of service and charging control. When a call is set up in the IMS network, a Proxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) entity sends the PCRF a request to communicate information on the application session, the PCRF subsequently using this information to make a quality of service (QOS) and charging decision on activation of the resources for the session.
From this point of view, the P-CSCF entity behaves like an application function (AF), also referred to in this document as an application entity.
On reception of this request the PCRF identifies the transmission links on which the application session impacts and defines a set of policy rules for them.
The above-mentioned standard assumes that during resource activation the termination point in the transport plane, namely the gateway behind which the terminal accesses the IMS network (Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) in a UMTS network, packet data gateway (PDG) entity in an I-WLAN network), selects the PCRF contacted by the application entity AF at the time of setting up the session.
From this point of view the gateway behaves like a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) implementing the QOS and charging policy.
To be more precise, sections 184.108.40.206 and 184.108.40.206 of the document TS 23.203V7.3.0 specify methods of selection of the PCRF by the gateway and by the application entity AF, respectively:                the gateway uses the Packet Data Network (PDN) and information on the identity of the user, for example their IMSI or MSISDN; and        the application entity AF uses the IP address of the user terminal or another identifier of the terminal.
It is clear to the person skilled in the art that it is necessary for the information used by the gateway and the application entity AF to be identical or well synchronized so that it is certain they contact the same PCRF.
The current standard does not guarantee this. A solution envisaged by certain manufacturers is to use the IP address of the user terminal as the PCRF selection criterion. This solution is unsatisfactory since it does not make it possible to select the same PCRF if the IP address of the user terminal as seen by the gateway is different from that as seen by the application entity AF, especially if the network address is masked by the use of a mobility protocol of the Mobile IP type.
The document WO 2007/090463 describes a method aiming to solve this problem. In that method, the gateway initially selects a PCRF, after which the application function AF selects an available PCRF on the basis of the IP address assigned to the user terminal. If the PCRF selected is already serving the terminal (identified by its IP address), then that PCRF is used for the session. If not, the PCRF selected in error sends back an error message and the application function AF selects another PCRF, again on the basis of the IP address of the terminal, and this process continues until it is the PCRF serving the terminal that is selected.
That method does not guarantee that the application function AF will eventually select the PCRF selected by the gateway if the IP addresses of the terminal as seen by the gateway and the application entity AF are different. It is clear to the person skilled in the art that, PCRF selection being based on the IP address, this method cannot cover the situation in which the operator seeks to retain the same PCRF in mobility scenarios in which the user changes IP address during the same session.
Last but by no means least, that method has the drawback of impacting on the overall performance of the system, especially in operator networks deploying many PCRF entities because, as already stated, the application function AF systematically attempts to select a potential PCRF until the PCRF selected by the gateway is selected.

Database and a method for obtaining the address of a quality of service and charging control entity in an IMS network using such a database


A portable computer input device includes a housing capable of accommodating a plurality of types of pointing devices. A pointing device partially housed in the housing produces a cursor control signal that controls the movement of a cursor on a display device coupled to a computer, and the pointing device is one of the plurality of types of pointing devices. A memory housed in the housing stores user preferences such as pointing device preferences and display device preferences. A data port attached to the housing communicatively couples the computer input device to the computer.

1. Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to computer input devices and, more particularly, to computer input devices that include a pointing device to control the movement of a cursor on a display device.
2. Background Information
Computers are used in an increasing number of applications to perform a variety of different functions. A computer is defined broadly as any type of electronic processing device such as a general-purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a microprocessor, or a microcontroller. Examples of applications in which computers are used include offices, factories, vehicles, airport traffic control towers, televisions, and movie theatres, just to name a few. Vehicles include automobiles, trucks, aircraft, etc., while aircraft include airplanes, helicopters, spacecraft, etc. In many of these applications, a user utilizes the computer to perform a function by inputting information to the computer. For example, in an aircraft, a pilot inputs information to the aircraft computer to control the aircraft.
To enable a user to input information to the computer, a display device, such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) or a liquid crystal display (LCD), typically is coupled to the computer. The display device may include a plurality of CRT""s and/or LCD""s, with each CRT and LCD referred to as a display. A computer input device typically is also coupled to the computer to allow a user to enter information, control a cursor, and select items, all of which are displayed on the display device.
Many computer input devices, such as a computer mouse, include a pointing device that enables a user to control the movement of the cursor on the display device. Examples of types of pointing devices include a trackball, a joystick, and a touchpad. Typically, a computer is interfaced to a computer input device having a particular type of pointing device. Some of the computer input device operational characteristics, such as the speed of the cursor movement across the display device, may be selected as preferences by the user and stored in the computer""s memory.
While many types of pointing devices are available, many computer users prefer one type of pointing device over others. This may happen, for example, because the user becomes familiar and comfortable with using the type of pointing device that is interfaced to the computer the user utilizes most often. With the increasing number of applications in which a user performs functions by utilizing a computer, the user will invariably be faced with using computers interfaced to types of pointing devices that the user is neither familiar nor comfortable with. This will lead to inefficient use of the computer and less than optimum performance.
In addition, users become familiar and comfortable with their preferred computer input device operational characteristics, such as the speed of the cursor movement across the display device. Thus, each time the user utilizes a particular computer input device for the first time, the user will have to select her preferences for storage in the computer if the user desires maximum familiarity and comfort with the computer input device. Also, if multiple user""s consecutively utilize the same computer and associated computer input device, and some of the users have differing preferences, then each time a user utilizes the computer input device, the user may have to re-select her preferences for storage in the computer.
Thus, there is a need for a computer input device that can accommodate various types of pointing devices, that can store preferences of the user, and that the user can carry from one computer to another.
The present invention overcomes the foregoing problems and achieves an advance in the art by providing a portable computer input device that can accommodate a plurality of types of pointing devices and that has storage capability.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a portable computer input device includes a housing capable of accommodating a plurality of types of pointing devices, a pointing device that is one of the plurality of types of pointing devices, a memory for storing preferences of the user, and a data port for communicating signals between the computer input device and a computer.


All purpose cleaning or microemulsion compositions more environmentally friendly, which is especially effective in the removal of oily or greasy soils, contains a charged surfactant-polymer complex, a hydrocarbon ingredient, a cosurfactant, and water.

The present invention relates to a hard surface cleaning composition containing a charged surfactant-polymer complex.
This invention relates to an improved all-purpose liquid cleaner designed in particular for cleaning hard surfaces including toilet bowls and which is effective in removing grease soil and/or bath soil and in leaving unrinsed surfaces with a shiny appearance.
In recent years all-purpose liquid detergents have become widely accepted for cleaning hard surfaces, e.g., painted woodwork and panels, tiled walls, wash bowls, bathtubs, linoleum or tile floors, washable wall paper, etc. Such all-purpose liquids comprise clear and opaque aqueous mixtures of water-soluble synthetic organic detergents and water-soluble detergent builder salts. In order to achieve comparable cleaning efficiency with granular or powdered all-purpose cleaning compositions, use of water-soluble inorganic phosphate builder salts was favored in the prior art all-purpose liquids. For example, such early phosphate-containing compositions are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,560,839; 3,234,138; 3,350,319; and British Patent No. 1,223,739.
In view of the environmentalist""s efforts to reduce phosphate levels in ground water, improved all-purpose liquids containing reduced concentrations of inorganic phosphate builder salts or non-phosphate builder salts have appeared. A particularly useful self-opacified liquid of the latter type is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,244,840.
However, these prior art all-purpose liquid detergents containing detergent builder salts or other equivalent tend to leave films, spots or streaks on cleaned unrinsed surfaces, particularly shiny surfaces. Thus, such liquids require thorough rinsing of the cleaned surfaces which is a time-consuming chore for the user.
In order to overcome the foregoing disadvantage of the prior art all-purpose liquid, U.S. Pat. No. 4,017,409 teaches that a mixture of paraffin sulfonate and a reduced concentration of inorganic phosphate builder salt should be employed. However, such compositions are not completely acceptable from an environmental point of view based upon the phosphate content. On the other hand, another alternative to achieving phosphate-free all-purpose liquids has been to use a major proportion of a mixture of anionic and nonionic detergents with minor amounts of glycol ether solvent and organic amine as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,935,130. Again, this approach has not been completely satisfactory and the high levels of organic detergents necessary to achieve cleaning cause foaming which, in turn, leads to the need for thorough rinsing which has been found to be undesirable to today""s consumers.
Another approach to formulating hard surfaced or all-purpose liquid detergent composition where product homogeneity and clarity are important considerations involves the formation of oil-in-water (o/w) microemulsions which contain one or more surface-active detergent compounds, a water-immiscible solvent (typically a hydrocarbon solvent), water and a xe2x80x9ccosurfactantxe2x80x9d compound which provides product stability. By definition, an o/w microemulsion is a spontaneously forming colloidal dispersion of xe2x80x9coilxe2x80x9d phase particles having a particle size in the range of 25 to 800 xc3x85 in a continuous aqueous phase.
In view of the extremely fine particle size of the dispersed oil phase particles, microemulsions are transparent to light and are clear and usually highly stable against phase separation.
Patent disclosures relating to use of grease-removal solvents in o/w microemulsions include, for example, European Patent Applications EP 0137615 and EP 0137616xe2x80x94Herbots et al; European Patent Application EP 0160762xe2x80x94Johnston et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,991xe2x80x94Herbots et al. Each of these patent disclosures also teaches using at least 5% by weight of grease-removal solvent.
It also is known from British Patent Application GB 2144763A to Herbots et al, published Mar. 13, 1985, that magnesium salts enhance grease-removal performance of organic grease-removal solvents, such as the terpenes, in o/w microemulsion liquid detergent compositions. The compositions of this invention described by Herbots et al. require at least 5% of the mixture of grease-removal solvent and magnesium salt and preferably at least 5% of solvent (which may be a mixture of water-immiscible non-polar solvent with a sparingly soluble slightly polar solvent) and at least 0.1% magnesium salt.
However, since the amount of water immiscible and sparingly soluble components which can be present in an o/w microemulsion, with low total active ingredients without impairing the stability of the microemulsion is rather limited (for example, up to 18% by weight of the aqueous phase), the presence of such high quantities of grease-removal solvent tend to reduce the total amount of greasy or oily soils which can be taken up by and into the microemulsion without causing phase separation.
The following representative prior art patents also relate to liquid detergent cleaning compositions in the form of o/w microemulsions: U.S. Pat. No. 4,472,291xe2x80x94Rosario; U.S. Pat. No. 4,540,448xe2x80x94Gauteer et al; U.S. Pat. No. 3,723,330xe2x80x94Sheflin; etc.
Liquid detergent compositions which include terpenes, such as d-limonene, or other grease-removal solvent, although not disclosed to be in the form of o/w microemulsions, are the subject matter of the following representative patent documents: European Patent Application 0080749; British Patent Specification 1,603,047; 4,414,128; and 4,540,505. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,128 broadly discloses an aqueous liquid detergent composition characterized by, by weight:
(a) from 1% to 20% of a synthetic anionic, nonionic, amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactant or mixture thereof;
(b) from 0.5% to 10% of a mono- or sesquiterpene or mixture thereof, at a weight ratio of (a):(b) being in the range of 5:1 to 1:3; and
(c) from 0.5% 10% of a polar solvent having a solubility in water at 15xc2x0 C. in the range of from 0.2% to 10%. Other ingredients present in the formulations disclosed in this patent include from 0.05% to 2% by weight of an alkali metal, ammonium or alkanolammonium soap of a C13-C24 fatty acid; a calcium sequestrant from 0.5% to 13% by weight; non-aqueous solvent, e.g., alcohols and glycol ethers, up to 10% by weight; and hydrotropes, e.g., urea, ethanolamines, salts of lower alkylaryl sulfonates, up to 10% by weight. All of the formulations shown in the Examples of this patent include relatively large amounts of detergent builder salts which are detrimental to surface shine.
A pH neutral microemulsion composition based on paraffin sulfonate and ethoxylated nonionic surfactant is able to deliver improved grease cleaning versus built, alkaline compositions. Besides the improved grease cleaning, this approach is much safer to surfaces as well as less aggressive on consumer""s hands (Loth et alxe2x80x94U.S. Pat. No. 5,075,026).
The microemulsion technology provides outstanding oil uptake capacity because of the adjustment of the curvature of the surfactant micelles by the molecules of the cosurfactant. Rod-like micelles are preferred as they can xe2x80x9cswallowxe2x80x9d oil to become globular without increasing the surface of contact between the hydrophobic core of the micelle and the hydrophilic continuous phase.
In diluted usage however, the microemulsion state is usually lost and the cleaning performance relies on the adsorption efficacy and leaving character of the surfactant system. Nonionic surfactants perform very well on grease, as they are excellent grease xe2x80x9csolubilizersxe2x80x9d. Actually, they spontaneously form swollen micelles. In moderate climate countries such as the northern states of the United States and the northern countries of Europe, the soil on the hard surfaces contains a major proportion of greasy materials. It is accordingly not surprising that the anionic-nonionic surfactant based microemulsion is very efficient in those countries. However, nonionic surfactants do not impart oil repelling properties and can not deliver soil antiattachment properties on treated hard surfaces so as to achieve next time easier cleaning of said treated surface.
The instant invention teaches hard surface cleaning containing a charged complex of an anionic surfactant which is an alkali metal salt such as sodium of a fluoroalkyl sulfonate, or an ammonium salt of a fluoroalkyl sulfonate, or a mixture thereof, which exhibits very low surface tensions, with either poly[4-vinyl pyridine N-oxide] or polyvinyl pyridine betaine which imparts oil repelling properties and delivers soil antiattachment properties on treated hard surfaces.
The present invention provides an improved, clear, liquid hard surface cleaning composition having improved interfacial tension which improves cleaning hard surfaces such as plastic, vitreous and metal surfaces having a shiny finish, oil stained floors, automative engines and other engines. More particularly, the improved cleaning compositions exhibit good grease soil removal properties and leave the cleaned surfaces shiny without the need of or requiring only minimal additional rinsing or wiping. The latter characteristic is evidenced by little or no visible residues on the unrinsed cleaned surfaces and, accordingly, overcomes one of the disadvantages of prior art products. The instant compositions exhibit a grease release effect in that the instant compositions impede or decrease the anchoring of greasy soil on surfaces that have been cleaned with the instant compositions as compared to surfaces cleaned with a microemulsion composition which means that the grease soiled surface is easier to clean upon subsequent cleanings.
Surprisingly, these desirable results are accomplished even in the absence of polyphosphate or other inorganic or organic detergent builder salts and also in the complete absence or substantially complete absence of grease-removal solvent.
In one aspect, the invention generally provides a stable, clear all-purpose, hard surface cleaning composition especially effective in the removal of oily and greasy oil. The cleaning composition includes, on a weight basis:
about 0.1% to about 20%, more preferably about 0.2% to about 15% of a charged complex comprising at least one alkali metal salt of a fluoroalkyl sulfonate surfactant, or at least one ammonium salt of a fluoroalkyl sulfonate surfactant, or mixtures thereof, and either poly[4-vinyl pyridine N-oxide] or polyvinylpyridine betaine;
about 0 to about 25%, more preferably 1% to 20%, of a water-mixable cosurfactant having either limited ability or substantially no ability to dissolve oily or greasy soil; and
the balance being water, said proportions being based upon the total weight of the composition.
The cleaning composition can be in the form of a microemulsion in which case the concentration of the water mixable cosurfactant is about 0 to about 25 wt. %, preferably about 1 wt. % to about 20 wt. % and the concentration of a perfume or water insoluble hydrocarbon is about 0.4 wt. % to about 5.0 wt. %. The dispersed oil phase of the o/w microemulsion is composed essentially of a water-immiscible or hardly water-soluble perfume.
The present invention relates to a stable all purpose hard surface cleaning or microemulsion composition containing a surfactant-polymer complex for delivering soil antiattachment properties. The invention also relates to a light duty liquid composition or light duty liquid microemulsion composition. This present inventeion is also useful in the formation of toilet bowl cleaners.
The present invention relates to a stable hard surface cleaning composition approximately by weight: 0.1% to 20% of a charged complex of an alkali metal salt of a fluoroalkyl sulfonate surfactant, or an ammonium salt of a fluoroalkyl sulfonate surfactant, or mixtures thereof, and a vinyl pyridine compound selected from the group consisting of poly[4-vinyl pyridine N-oxide] (PVNO) having an average molecular weight of 20,000 to 50,000 and polyvinyl pyridine betaine (PVB) having a molecular weight of 10,000 to 250,000 and mixtures thereof, 0 to 25% of a cosurfactant, and the balance being water, wherein the cleaning composition can be in the form of a microemulsion in which case the concentration of the water mixable cosurfactant is about 0 to about 25.0 wt. %, preferably about 0.1 wt. % to about 25.0 wt. % and the concentration of a perfume or water insoluble hydrocarbon is about 0.4 wt. % to about 5.0 wt. %.
When mixing an alkali metal salt such as the sodium salt of a fluorinated anionic surfactant, or an ammonium salt of a fluorinated anionic surfactant, or a mixture thereof, and a polymer bearing positively charged sites or highly dipolar groups along its backbone, attractive interactions are developed that are very strong and lead to the formation of anionic-cationic complexes in-situ. The complex interactions take place along the polymer backbone, so that surfactant-polymer complexes exist in solution. Attention must be paid not to complex all the positively charged sites or all the highly dipolar groups on the polycationic polymer so as to still have enough electric charges or highly dipolar groups on the whole structure so as to keep the complex water soluble (otherwise phase separation or precipitation might occur). The presence of positive charges on the surfactant-polymer system allows subsequent anchorage on substrate surface for modifying the surface energy.
One of the objects of the instant invention is to deliver higher proportions of a fluoroalkyl anionic surfactant in the adsorbed layer at the solid-water interface by means of surfactant-polymer mixtures. This is due to a boosted adsorption tendency, as compared to fluoroalkyl anionic individual surfactant, by means of neutralization between the negative charge of the anionic surfactant and the positive charge of the polymer, or by means of strongly attractive interactions between the negative charge of the anionic surfactant and the positive side of dipolar groups of the polymer that is used in admixture with the anionic surfactant in the instant compositions, and due to an increased hydrophobic character imparted to the polymer by the anionic surfactant linked to its backbone. Two anionic surfactants can be used in composition wherein one of the anionic surfactants will possibly preferentially associate with the polymer through electrostatic interactions.
According to the present invention, the role of the hydrocarbon is provided by a non-water-soluble perfume. Typically, in aqueous based compositions the presence of a solubilizers, such as alkali metal lower alkyl aryl sulfonate hydrotrope, triethanolamine, urea, etc., is required for perfume dissolution, especially at perfume levels of 1% and higher, since perfumes are generally a mixture of fragrant essential oils and aromatic compounds which are generally not water-soluble. Therefore, by incorporating the perfume into the aqueous cleaning composition as the oil (hydrocarbon) phase of the ultimate o/w microemulsion composition, several different important advantages are achieved.
First, the cosmetic properties of the ultimate cleaning composition are improved: the compositions are both clear (as a consequence of the formation of a microemulsion) and highly fragranced (as a consequence of the perfume level).
Second, the need for use of solubilizers, which do not contribute to cleaning performance, is eliminated.
Third, an improved grease release effect and an improved grease removal capacity in neat (undiluted) usage of the composition or after dilution of the composition can be obtained without detergent builders or buffers or conventional grease removal solvents at neutral or acidic pH and at low levels of active ingredients while improved cleaning performance can also be achieved in diluted usage.
As used herein and in the appended claims the term xe2x80x9cperfumexe2x80x9d is used in its ordinary sense to refer to and include any non-water soluble fragrant substance or mixture of substances including natural (i.e., obtained by extraction of flower, herb, blossom or plant), artificial (i.e., mixture of natural oils or oil constituents) and synthetically produced substance) odoriferous substances. Typically, perfumes are complex mixtures of blends of various organic compounds such as alcohols, aldehydes, ethers, aromatic compounds and varying amounts of essential oils (e.g., terpenes) such as from 0% to 80%, usually from 10% to 70% by weight. The essential oils themselves are volatile odoriferous compounds and also serve to dissolve the other components of the perfume.
In the present invention the precise composition of the perfume is of no particular consequence to cleaning performance so long as it meets the criteria of water immiscibility and having a pleasing odor. Naturally, of course, especially for cleaning compositions intended for use in the home, the perfume, as well as all other ingredients, should be cosmetically acceptable, i.e., non-toxic, hypoallergenic, etc.
The hydrocarbon such as a perfume is present in the hard surface cleaning composition in an amount of from 0 to 5% by weight, preferably 0.4% to 5% by weight, more preferably from 0.4% to 3.0% by weight, especially preferably from 0.5% to 2.0% by weight. If the hydrocarbon (perfume) is added in amounts more than 5% by weight, the cost is increased without any additional cleaning benefit and, in fact, with some diminishing of cleaning performance insofar as the total amount of greasy or oily soil which can be taken up in the oil phase of the microemulsion will decrease proportionately.
Furthermore, although superior grease removal performance will be achieved for perfume compositions not containing any terpene solvents, it is apparently difficult for perfumers to formulate sufficiently inexpensive perfume compositions for products of this type (i.e., very cost sensitive consumer-type products) which includes less than 20%, usually less than 30%, of such terpene solvents.
Thus, merely as a practical matter, based on economic consideration, the microemulsion compositions of the present invention may often include as much as 0.2% to 7% by weight, based on the total composition, of terpene solvents introduced thereunto via the perfume component. However, even when the amount of terpene solvent in the cleaning formulation is less than 1.5% by weight, such as up to 0.6% by weight or 0.4% by weight or less, satisfactory grease removal and oil removal capacity is provided by the inventive diluted microemulsions.
In place of the perfume one can employ a water insoluble paraffin or isoparaffin having 6 to 18 carbon at a concentration of 0 to 5 wt. percent, preferably 0.4 to 5.0 wt. percent, more preferably 0.4 to 3.0 wt. %.
The charged complex contained in the instant compositions comprises a complex of:
(a) an alkali metal salt such as sodium of a fluoroalkyl sulfonate anionic surfactant, or an ammonium salt of a fluoroalkyl sulfonate anionic surfactant, or mixtures thereof; and
(b) a polymer which is selected from the group consisting of poly[4-vinyl pyridine N-oxide] (PVNO) and polyvinyl pyridine betaine (PVB) and mixtures thereof, wherein the molar ratio of the anionic surfactant to the highly dipolar or positively charged binding sites available on the polymer backbone is 0.95:1 to 0.05:1, more preferably 0.9:1 to 0.1:1. The instant composition contains about 0.1 to about 20 wt. %, more preferably about 0.2 to about 15 wt. % of the charged complex.
The fluoroalkyl sulfonate anionic surfactant which has a RF fluoroalkyl group which is a C16F33 to C5F11, preferably a C6F13 to C10F21 fluoroalkyl group and can be selected among the different compounds being depicted by the following structures of, perfluoroalkane sulfonate salt:
RFxe2x80x94SO3xe2x88x92X+
perfluoroalkylethane sulfonate salt:
perfluoroalkyl group containing sulfonate with sulfide and carbonamide linkages:
wherein, X can be an alkali metal counterion such as sodium, or an ammonium counterion such as NH4+, and R1 and R2 are H or methyl groups.
A cosurfactant can be optionally used in forming the microemulsion composition. A major class of compounds have been found to provide highly suitable cosurfactants over temperature ranges extending from 5xc2x0 C. to 43xc2x0 C., for instance, water-soluble C3-C4 alkanols, polyethylene glycols of the formula HO(CH2CH2O)nH wherein n is about 8 to about 14, polypropylene glycol of the formula HO(CH3CHCH2O)nH wherein n is a number from 2 to 18 and copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide and mono C1-C6 alkyl ethers and esters of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol having the structural formulas R(X)nOH and R1(X)nOH wherein R is C1-C6 alkyl, R1 is C2-C4 acyl group, X is (OCH2CH2) or (OCH2(CH3)CH) and n is a number from 1 to 4.
Representative members of the polypropylene glycol include dipropylene glycol and polypropylene glycol having a molecular weight of 200 to 1000, e.g., polypropylene glycol 400. Other satisfactory glycol ethers are ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (butyl cellosolve), diethylene glycol monobutyl ether (butyl carbitol), propylene glycol monomethyl ether, dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether, triethylene glycol monobutyl ether, mono, di, tri propylene glycol monobutyl ether, tetraethylene glycol monobutyl ether, triethylene glycol monohexyl ether, tetraethylene glycol monohexyl ether, pentaethylene glycol monohexyl ether, propylene glycol tertiary butyl ether, ethylene glycol monoacetate and dipropylene glycol propionate.
The amount of cosurfactant which might be required to stabilize the microemulsion compositions will, of course, depend on such factors as the surface tension characteristics of the cosurfactant, the type and amounts of the complex and perfumes, and the type and amounts of any other additional ingredients which may be present in the composition and which have an influence on the thermodynamic factors enumerated above. Generally, amounts of cosurfactant in the range of from 0 to 25 wt. %, preferably from 0.5 wt. % to 15 wt. %, especially preferably from 1 wt. % to 7 wt. %, provide stable microemulsions for the above-described levels of primary surfactants and perfume and any other additional ingredients as described below.
An optional ingredient for use herein is an inorganic or organic salt of oxide of a multivalent metal cation, particularly Mg++. The metal salt or oxide provides several benefits including improved cleaning performance in dilute usage, particularly in soft water areas, and minimized amounts of perfume required to obtain the microemulsion state. Magnesium sulfate, either anhydrous or hydrated (e.g., heptahydrate), is especially preferred as the magnesium salt. Good results also have been obtained with magnesium oxide, magnesium chloride and magnesium hydroxide. These magnesium salts can be used with formulations at neutral or acidic pH since magnesium hydroxide will not precipitate at these pH levels.
Although magnesium is the preferred multivalent metal from which the salts (inclusive of the oxide and hydroxide) are formed, other polyvalent metal ions also can be used provided that their salts are nontoxic and are soluble in the aqueous phase of the system at the desired pH level.
Thus, depending on such factors as the pH of the system, the nature of the surfactant-polymer complex and cosurfactant, as well as the availability and cost factors, other suitable polyvalent metal ions include aluminum, copper, nickel, iron, calcium, etc. It should be noted, for example, that with the preferred fluoroalkyl sulfonate anionic detergent calcium salts will precipitate and should not be used. It has also been found that the aluminum salts work best at pH below 5. As the salt, the same general classes of anions as mentioned for the magnesium salts can be used, such as halide (e.g., bromide, chloride), sulfate, nitrate, hydroxide, oxide, etc.
The proportion of the multivalent salt generally will be selected so that at the appropriate weight ratio between the anionic surfactant and the polymer to deliver desired performance from the surfactant-polymer mixture in terms of adsorption properties on hard surfaces and soil antiattachment on treated hard surfaces, the physical stability of the total composition is kept, that can be impaired due to an increased hydrophobicity of the anionic surfactant in the presence of multivalent salt instead of alkali metal cation such as the sodium salt thereof. As a consequence, the proportion of the multivalent salt will be selected so that the added quantity will neutralize from 0.1 to 1.5 equivalents of the anionic surfactant, preferably 0.9 to 1.4 equivalents of the acid form of the anionic surfactant. At higher concentrations of anionic surfactant, the amount of multivalent salt will be in range of 0.5 to 1 equivalents per equivalent of anionic surfactant.
The all-purpose liquid cleaning or microemulsion composition of this invention may, if desired, also contain other components either to provide additional effect or to make the product more attractive to the consumer. The following are mentioned by way of example: Colors or dyes in amounts up to 0.5% by weight; bactericides in amounts up to 1% by weight; preservatives or antioxidizing agents, such as formalin, 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothaliazolin-3-one, 2,6-di-tert.butyl-p-cresol, etc., in amounts up to 2% by weight; and pH adjusting agents, such as sulfuric acid or sodium hydroxide, as needed. Furthermore, if opaque compositions are desired, up to 4% by weight of an opacifier may be added.
The instant compositions can contain 0 to 4 wt. %, more preferably 0.05 to 3.0 wt. % of a proton donating agent selected consisting of inorganic acids such as sulfuric, hydrochloric or phosphoric acid and organic acids such as alpha hydroxy aliphatic acids, mono or dicarboxylic acids having 4 to 10 carbon atoms and mixtures thereof.
In final form, the all-purpose cleaning or clear microemulsions exhibit stability at reduced and increased temperatures. More specifically, such compositions remain clear and stable in the range of 40xc2x0 C. to 50xc2x0 C., especially 10xc2x0 C. to 43xc2x0 C. Such compositions exhibit a pH in the acidic to neutral range depending on intended end use. The liquids are readily pourable and exhibit a viscosity in the range of 6 to 60 milliPascal.Second (mPas.) as measured at 25xc2x0 C. with a Brookfield RVT Viscometer using a #1 spindle rotating at 20 RPM. Preferably, the viscosity is maintained in the range of 10 to 40 mPas.
The compositions are directly ready for use or can be diluted as desired and in either case no or only minimal rinsing is required and substantially no residue or streaks are left behind. Furthermore, because the compositions are free of detergent builders such as alkali metal polyphosphates they are environmentally acceptable and provide a better xe2x80x9cshinexe2x80x9d on cleaned hard surfaces.
When intended for use in the neat form, the liquid compositions can be packaged under pressure in an aerosol container or in a pump-type sprayer for the so-called spray-and-wipe type of application.
Because the compositions as prepared are aqueous liquid formulations and since no particular mixing is required to form the all purpose cleaning or microemulsion compositions, the compositions are easily prepared simply by combining all the ingredients in a suitable vessel or container. The order of mixing the ingredients is not particularly important and generally the various ingredients can be added sequentially or all at once or in the form of aqueous solutions of each or all of the primary detergents and cosurfactants can be separately prepared and combined with each other and with the perfume. The magnesium salt, or other multivalent metal compound, when present, can be added as an aqueous solution thereof or can be added directly. It is not necessary to use elevated temperatures in the formation step and room temperature is sufficient.
The instant all purpose cleaning or microemulsion composition explicitly exclude alkali metal silicates and alkali metal builders such as alkali metal polyphosphates, alkali metal carbonates, alkali metal phosphonates and alkali metal citrates because these materials, if used in the instant composition, would cause the composition to have a high pH as well as leaving residue on the surface being cleaned.
It is contemplated within the scope of the instant invention that the instant charged surfactant-polymer complex can be employed in hard surface cleaning compositions such as wood cleaners, window cleaners and light duty liquid cleaners.