Abstract:
A composition for deodorizing and refreshing surfaces such as carpets, upholstery, furniture etc. The composition disclosed is a highly friable foam that rapidly evaporates upon contact with the surface to be refreshed. Therefore, the composition does not require removal by vacuuming after application to the surface. A method for using the composition to deodorize and refresh a surface is also disclosed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a novel composition for a carpet deodorizer and a novel method for delivering the same to a carpet. Even when carpets are clean, the carpet can become malodorous from everyday smells that are present in the home or office such as pet odors, cigarette smoke, cooking smells etc. Thus, carpet deodorizers or refreshers are used to remove these odors during the relatively long time periods between cleanings. 
     The presently available compositions for carpet deodorizers are generally in the form of a powder that is sprinkled onto the carpet. The powder is left on the carpet for a short period of time, i.e., approximately 5 minutes. The powder must then be removed from the carpet typically by vacuuming. The process of vacuuming the powder causes the room to be deodorized and a small amount of residual powder remains on the carpet causing the carpet to be deodorized. If the powder is not removed from the carpet, it can potentially damage or stain the carpet. In addition, the presently available carpet deodorizers cannot be used if the area of the carpet requiring deodorizing is wet or damp since the powder would mix with the moisture and be difficult to vacuum from the carpet. 
     The presently available compositions suffer from other disadvantages as well. First, if the powder compositions are used repeatedly, the powder tends to sift down through the carpet and backing and onto the floor beneath the carpet. When this occurs, the powder can damage or stain the wood floor beneath the carpet. 
     One object of the present invention is to provide a composition for a carpet deodorizer that does not require removal from the carpet by vacuuming after application. Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel method of application of a carpet deodorizer so that the difficulties associated with the need to remove the carpet deodorizer are ameliorated. Another object of the present invention is to provide a carpet deodorizer composition that may applied to the carpet surface regardless of whether the carpet is wet or damp. Another object of the present invention is to provide a carpet deodorizer that does not sift down through the carpet and damage the underlying floor. Another object of the invention is to provide a quick method of deodorizing a carpet that does not require the time consuming step of removing the carpet deodorizer by vacuuming. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a composition and method that solves the problems associated with prior compositions and methods for deodorizing and refreshing foul smelling surfaces covered with some sort of fabric such as carpets, upholstery, etc. The present invention is directed to a highly-friable foam composition that rapidly evaporates upon contact with the surface to be deodorized or refreshed. Due to the rapid evaporation of the composition, the composition does not require removal from the surface by vacuuming. 
     The composition, in its simplest form, comprises an aromatic essential oil to provide fragrance, a surface-active agent and deionized water. Other ingredients may optionally be added such as anti-foaming agents, a solvent, an anti-redeposition agent, a corrosion inhibitor and a pH adjuster. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a novel carpet and room deodorizing composition  10  as well as a novel means of delivering the composition to the carpet. The composition  10  of the present invention dissipates rapidly upon contact with the fibers of the carpet. Consequently, the composition  10  does not require removal by vacuuming after application. 
     The composition  10  of the present invention is directed to a non-powder form of a carpet and room deodorizer. The composition  10  is delivered to the carpet by either aerosol means or by atomization. Upon contact with the carpet fibers, a highly-friable foam is observed. The foam rapidly dissipates by evaporation within seconds of delivery to the carpet. The highly-friable foam that is produced simulates the effect of the prior powder form of carpet deodorizers in that small foam droplets ranging from loose to dense bubbles are formed on the carpet fibers. The rapid evaporation of the composition  10  eliminates the need to remove the composition  10  by vacuuming after application to the carpet. 
     A further extension of the use of the composition  10  of the present invention is to extend the use of the composition  10  to other fabric surfaces in addition to carpets. Since the composition  10  of the present invention does not require removal by vacuuming, the composition  10  may be more readily applied than the presently available carpet deodorizers to other areas of the home or office such as upholstery, furniture, bedding, cat litter boxes, pet sleeping areas etc. 
     The composition  10  of the present invention is an aqueous medium that comprises an aromatic essential oil  12  for fragrance, a surface active agent  14 , an anti-foam agent  16 , a solvent  18 , an anti-redeposition (anti-resoiling) agent  20 , a corrosion inhibitor  24 , a pH adjuster  26  and deionized water  28 . The surface-active agent  14  is intended to produce a foaming action of the composition  10  when applied to the carpet. The anti-foam agent  16  enables fast breaking action of the foam upon delivery to the carpet. The solvent  18  is utilized as a formulation aid and also to enable faster evaporation of the composition  10  upon contact with the carpet. The anti-redeposition agent  20  acts to prevent soiling of the carpet by the composition  10 , i.e. prevents the small amount of composition  10  left on the carpet from attracting dirt. The fragrance  12  is the active ingredient that delivers freshening, deodorizing, and neutralizing efficacy to the treated carpet or other surfaces. 
     The preferred embodiment of the composition  10  of the present invention is set forth in the following table: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE I 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 PERCENT BY 
               
               
                 INGREDIENT 
                 FUNCTION 
                 WEIGHT 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 1) 
                 Sodium Lauryl 
                 Surfactant &amp; Foaming 
                 1.27 
               
               
                   
                 Sarconsinate 30% 
                 Agent 
               
               
                 2) 
                 Carboxylated Fluoro 
                 Antiredeposition 
                 0.90 
               
               
                   
                 Polymer Salt 
                 Agent 
               
               
                 3) 
                 Silicone Antifoam 
                 Antifoam 
                 0.50 
               
               
                   
                 Emulsion 
               
               
                 4) 
                 Isopropyl Alcohol 
                 Solvent and Antifoam 
                 2.50 
               
               
                 5) 
                 Fragrance 
                 Freshener &amp; 
                 1.00 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Deodorizer 
               
               
                 6) 
                 Triethanolamine, 85% 
                 pH Adjuster &amp; 
                 0.10 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Corrosion Inhibitor 
               
               
                 7) 
                 Sodium Benzoate 
                 Corrosion Inhibitor 
                 0.20 
               
               
                 8) 
                 Deionized Water 
                 Solubilizer Base 
                 93.53 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The following Table II indicates the approximate allowable ranges for the components set forth in Table I; 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE II 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 ALLOWABLE RANGE 
               
               
                   
                 INGREDIENT 
                 OF PERCENT BY WEIGHT 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 1) 
                 Sodium Lauryl 
                  0.5 to 6.00% 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Sarconsinate 30% 
               
               
                   
                 2) 
                 Carboxylated Fluoro 
                 0.00 to 3.00% 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Polymer Salt 
               
               
                   
                 3) 
                 Silicone Antifoam 
                 0.00 to 2.00% 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Emulsion 
               
               
                   
                 4) 
                 Isopropyl Alcohol 
                   0 to 5.00% 
               
               
                   
                 5) 
                 Fragrance 
                 0.05 to 5.00% 
               
               
                   
                 6) 
                 Triethanolamine, 85% 
                 0.00 to 2.00% 
               
               
                   
                 7) 
                 Sodium Benzoate 
                 0.00 to 2.00% 
               
               
                   
                 8) 
                 Deionized Water 
                 75.00 to 99.45% 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     If the amount of Sodium Lauryl Sarcosinite, 30% exceeds the above range carpet resoiling would occur. In addition, the resulting foam would be too dense to rapidly evaporate and thus potentially defeat the object of the present invention. The Sodium Lauryl Sarconsinite also aids in the solubilization of the fragrance oil. As indicated in Table II, the Carboxylated Fluoro Polymer Salt may not be required under certain circumstances. Such circumstances would be a compound comprising a low level of the Surface Active Agent  14 . The Silicone Antifoam Emulsion is likewise not necessarily required when a low level of the Surface Active Agent  14  is utilized. It should also be noted that those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the antifoam agent is not limited to silicone emulsions but other equivalent antifoaming agents may be utilized as well. 
     The isopropyl alcohol aids in breaking down the foam, aids in solubilization of the fragrance oil  12  and also promotes lifting of the fragrance into the ambient air above the surface to be treated with the composition  10 . As indicated in Table II, the isopropyl alcohol is not required in certain circumstances. Such circumstances would be a compound comprising high levels of the surface-active agent  14 , the antifoam  16  and the fragrance  12 . 
     The fragrance  12  acts as a deodorizer. If the fragrance  12  were present in an amount below the range set forth in Table II, the fragrance  12  would not be effective in providing a deodorizing effect. A level of fragrance  12  higher than the range set forth in Table II would result in carpet resoiling. In addition, the effect of the fragrance  12  may become overpowering if the range set forth in Table II is exceeded. 
     The triethanolamine 85% and the sodium benzoate are used to inhibit corrosion in aerosol containers that have an internal surface comprising tin plating. If an aluminum or other type of container is used, neither the triethanolarnine 85% nor the sodium benzoate is required. 
     The percent amount of water in the composition  10  is based on the upper and lower ranges of the other components. Thus, the range set forth in Table II is a result of the percentage of the other components comprising the composition  10 . 
     The composition  10  as particularly set forth in Table I or Table II will be packaged with a propellant in a conventional aerosol spray delivery container. In the preferred embodiment the propellant is A-46 (Isobutane/Propane) however, any of the conventional aerosol propellants known to those of ordinary skill in the art may be substituted. The composition as set forth in Table I comprises 75% of the mixture in the aerosol spray delivery container with the propellant comprising 25% by weight of the final mixture. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the precise ratio of composition  10  to propellant in the final product may be varied greatly without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. For example, it is contemplated that the propellant could vary from 60% to 96% of the final mixture with the composition  10  varying inversely from the propellant from 40% to 4%. 
     As an alternative to delivery by means of an aerosol spray, the composition  10  set forth in Table I may atomized. A foam may be achieved by atomization by mixing the composition  10  with surfactants such as sulfosuccinates, sarcosinates and sodium lauryl sulfate. The atomized foam will be delivered by means of a mechanical trigger spray device. The trigger spray device provides for mechanical break up of the foam particles upon delivery to the carpet. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a malodor counteractant and or a neutralizing agent may be incorporated with the fragrance  12 . 
     The composition  10  is delivered to the carpet or other surface by spraying from either the aerosol spray container or the mechanical trigger spray device. The composition  10  rapidly forms a foam upon contact with the carpet fibers or other surface to be deodorized. The foam is highly friable and dissipates within seconds of application to the surface by means of evaporation. Within approximately 5 minutes, the carpet is dry. There is no need to remove any residue from the composition by vacuuming since only a minor and invisible amount of the composition  10  is left behind on the carpet after approximately 5 minutes. However, the effect of the composition  10  is to remove any odors from the carpet or other surface as well as leaving a fresh smell in the entire room in which the composition may be applied. 
     Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the embodiments just described merely illustrate the principles of the present invention. Many modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.