WO2008148669A1

WO2008148669A1 - Mechanically sensitive laundry components and packaging therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2008148669A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/056515
Authority: WO
Inventors: Graham John Dyke; Glen Williams
Original assignee: Unilever Plc; Unilever N.V.; Hindustan Unilever Limited
Priority date: 2007-06-05
Filing date: 2008-05-27
Publication date: 2008-12-11

Abstract

A particulate laundry composition combined with a package (1), the laundry composition comprising (a) 5-95% by wt% surfactant and (b) at least one mechanically sensitive component and the package (1) comprising: (i) a flexible body portion (10) containing the composition; (ii) at least two opposing walls (12, 14); (iii) a mouth (15) providing access to the composition, the mouth bounded by at least two opposing free edges (16, 18) contiguous with said opposing walls (12, 14); (iii) a reclosure mechanism (20) between the two opposing free edges and the body portion; characterised in that the reclosure mechanism comprises at least one pair of elongate reclosure strips (3, 5) attached to respective opposing walls externally of the package and spaced apart from respective free edges (16, 18), said reclosure strips (3, 5) being rigid and having corresponding respective profiles (30, 50) for snap-fit interengagement by application of pressure thereto so as to close the mouth (15) and disengagement by application of opposite pressure to only said opposing free edges so as to open the mouth.

Description

MECHANICALLY SENSITIVE LAUNDRY COMPONENTS AND PACKAGING

THEREFOR

The present invention relates to laundry compositions with mechanically sensitive ingredients and packaging therefor.

Perfume is an expensive component of laundry treatment compositions and many attempts have been made to improved the deposition of perfume during the wash and obtain a longer-lasting release of perfume. There are other expensive benefit agents, for example anti-microbials and lubricants, but perfume accounts for a large proportion of the cost of a laundry cleaning or conditioning composition. One approach to improving the effective deposition of perfume and other materials has been the use of microcapsules. Micro-encapsulation has been proposed for other benefit agents.

EP1502646 Al (The Procter & Gamble Company) discloses microcapsules for use in liquid detergents having a core and a polyelectrolyte complex shell in the form of a semipermeable membrane having specific bursting force and density properties. The shell is an ionic complex of poly- cations and poly-anions. The core is a perfume.

EP1244768 Bl (BASF Aktiengesellschaft) discloses microcapsules of 1 - 100 micron in size that have a liquid core made of a hydrophobic material including a perfume substance and a capsule envelope, which can be obtained by i) radical polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers comprising 30 to 100 weight percent of one or more Cl -C24 -alkylester of acrylic and/or methacrylic acid, 0 to 70 weight percent of one bifunctional or polyfunctional monomer, 0 to 40 weight percent of other monomers or ii) acid-induced condensation of melamine formaldehyde precondensates and/or the Cl -C 4 -alkylethers thereof.

Microencapsulates of perfume made by precipitation and deposition of polymers at an interface such as in coacervates, for example are disclosed in GB-A-O 751 600., US-A-3 341 466 and EP-A-O 385 534, or other polymerisation routes such as interfacial condensation as described in US- A-3577515, US-A-2003/0125222 , US-A-6020066, WO2003/101606 and/or US-A-5 066 419.

Microcapsule formation is a relatively expensive processing step (compared with other processing steps in a laundry powder manufacturing operation) and this can significantly increase the already high cost of benefit agents such as perfume. Due to mechanical sensitivity of the encapsulate when included in a particulate product (as opposed to a liquid formulation) , losses of perfume due to breakage of the capsule during formulation, transport and storage can occur. It is therefore important to improve survival, deposition and adherence of the encapsulated perfume during the steps from addition to the formulation through to the end of a laundering process.

Encapsulates are incorporated into granulated detergent compositions using numerous safeguards to reduce mechanical damage of such microcapsules, such as post-dosing. During transportation to and storage with the distributor/retailer, the use of pallets, cases, etc. often assists in protecting the packaged product. However, once purchased, the package is handled individually and much more frequently i.e. at least every time the consumer needs to access the product for a washing operation. Strong rigid packaging can be used to protect the composition mechanically however this results in use of too much packaging material with consequentially high environmental and financial costs.

An object of the invention is to improve the delivery of mechanically sensitive encapsulated ingredients, such as perfume encapsulates packaged in a low-cost packaging.

Accordingly therefore, the invention provides a particulate laundry composition contained in a package, the laundry composition comprising

(a) 5-95% by wt% surfactant and (b) at least one mechanically sensitive component and the package comprising:

(i) a flexible body portion containing the composition;

(ii) at least two opposing walls;

(iii) a mouth for providing access to the composition, said mouth bounded by at least two opposing free edges contiguous with said opposing walls;

(iii) a reclosure mechanism between the two opposing free edges and the body portion; characterised in that the reclosure mechanism comprises at least one pair of elongate reclosure strips attached to respective opposing walls externally of the package and spaced apart from respective free edges, said reclosure strips being rigid and having corresponding respective profiles for snap-fit interengagement by application of pressure thereto so as to close the mouth and disengagement by application of opposite pressure to only said opposing free edges so as to open the mouth.

With this arrangement, the reclosure mechanism is remote from the part of the package which contains the composition (the body portion) reducing directly handling of this part during closing in which case the strips can be pressed together without handling the body of the package. Opening is made less invasive and the free ends can be grasped and prized apart which necessarily pulls apart the reclosure stips adjacent the free edges. Further more because the strips are rigid, they can provide support for the flexible package when grasped, so there is no need to handle the receptacle body containing the composition, reducing directly handling of the composition. Therefore even though the package is thin walled / flexible, the mechanically sensitive ingredients are protected from overhandling which can result during use by the consumer during handling, opening and closing. Because the strips are applied externally of the package, they are not contaminated by any particulate matter which can fall onto the interior surfaces of the container when the consumer removes product from the package. Contamination of the strips by particulate matter would interfere with the functioning of the reclosure mechanism and increase the likelihood of overhandling of the body portion to effect closure. The term "particulate is intended to include powder, agglomerated or discrete particles, granules or any other solid particulate.

Preferably the reclosure strips are located adjacent the opening of the receptacle such that the free edges of the opening are exposed. This provides the benefit that the package can be opened by pulling apart the free edges of the opposing walls, thereby negating the need to handle the part of the receptacle containing the composition during opening. Preferably the strips are located 0.5 -8 cm, more preferably 1-5 cm, from the free edges.

The reclosure strips are snap-fit interengagable by corresponding respective profiles. Preferably the strips interengage by respective male and female profiles.

The reclosure strips may comprise a male reclosure strip and a female reclosure strip. The female reclosure strip may comprise a longitudinally extending recess and the male reclosure strip may comprise a longitudinally extending protuberance receivable in the recess.

Preferably the reclosure strips (which may be male and female as above) snap fit engage so that a gap therebetween is created. This may be achieved by the relative depth of the protuberance versus the recess. If the protuberance is shorter, it will form a natural gap (which can be seen in cross sectional views) . Alternatively or additionally, the gap may be provided by the strips' relative geometry.

For example, the female reclosure strip may be C shaped and the male reclosure strip may have a flattened head, and may be generally T shaped. This combination of the flattened head with and female C provides a natural gap there between.

The advantage of the above gap is that provides a location for glue so that initially the strips can be provided to the consumer glued together for security. The strips because they are rigid can be pulled apart following purchase, to open the package.

Preferably there is a single gap located centrally of the reclosure mechanism (when viewed in cross section) . In this way, the breaking of the reclosure when the strips are pulled apart on initial opening is a symmetrical action and does not result in forcing one or both hands to hit the body portion.

The male portion may have a flattened head and the female portion may have a flattened base. This affords a planar region between the base and head so that any glue layer can be applied as planar layer so it is easier for the consumer to break the bond later without excessive force on the body portion .

Preferably the female and male reclosure strips have corresponding e.g. respective flattened, abutment surfaces for mutual abutment. The walls of the package may be of thickness 25 - 200 microns, and preferably 50 - 130 microns.

The package preferably has a structured base which may be a gusseted package providing a stable base. Other means of providing structure to form a stable base without excessive material may be used such as corner seams. This allows the package to be stably rested on a base (such as a kitchen counter surface) and then accessed only by handling the reclosure strips alone to reduce/avoid direct handling of the body portion.

The packaging material may comprise a plastic and preferably comprises a polyolefin. The material may comprise a polyethylene PE) /polyethylene terephthalate (PET) laminate or a mono PE material.

Preferably the mechanically sensitive laundry component is an encapsulated benefit agent. The benefit agent may provide a softening, conditioning, lubricating, crease reducing, ease of ironing, moisturising, colour preserving and/or anti-pilling, quick drying, UV protecting, shape retaining, soil releasing, texturising, insect repelling, fungicidal, dyeing and/or fluorescent benefit to the fabric.

More preferably it is an encapsulated perfume. Encapsulated perfume needs must be able to rupture/dissolve in the wash or even after the wash, in response to touching the the fabric treated with the composition. Premature breaking of the capsule results in premature dosing of the perfume which is wasteful especially considering the expense of perfumes and their perceived importance in the washing process to consumer .

The mechanically sensitive ingredient may be an encapsulated by a core-shell encapsulate. Such encapsulates, particularly those in which the benefit agent is a perfume, are available in the marketplace or may be manufactured.

Examples of perfume capsules which are available in the marketplace include ^λBayscent Lemon' (TM ex. Lanxess, previously Bayer Chemicals) . It is sold as a 50% water based dispersion of a polyurethane encapsulate containing a liquid lemon fragrance oil. The perfume level of which is typically around 40-50%.

The manufacture of encapsulates is described in a number of patents. These particles may have a simple single shell or the shell may be made up of layers providing, for example, water-insolubility, structural strength and impermeability.

It is preferable that the shell is both water-insoluble and impermeable to the benefit agent (such as perfume) .

Preferred encapsulates are the so-called polyurethane, polymethylmethacrylate, melamine-urea or melamine- formaldehyde encapsulates. These can be formed by interfacial polymerisation as is known in the art. The preformed capsules can also be co-acervate derived particles where the shell is formed from anionic and cationic polymers in complex form. The encapsulate may comprise a core-shell structure, the shell comprising a structural polymer. The polymer can comprise a wide range of monomeric units. By "monomer units" as used herein is meant the monomeric units of the polymer chain, thus references to "a polymer comprising insoluble monomer units" as used herein means that the polymer is derived from insoluble monomers, and so forth.

Preferably, the monomer units are suitable for free radical polymerisation. Therefore, preferably the monomer contains at least one ethylenically unsaturated group capable of undergoing addition polymerisation.

Suitable classes of monomers are given in the group consisting of olefins, ethylene, vinylaromatic monomers, esters of vinyl alcohol with mono- and di-carboxylic acids, esters of α, β-monoethylenically unsaturated mono- and dicarboxylic acids with alcohols, nitriles of α, β- monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids, conjugated dienes, α, β-monoethylenically unsaturated monocarboxylic and dicarboxylic acids and their amides, methacrylic acid and its esters with alcohols and diols, acrylic acid and its esters with alcohols and diols, dimethyl or di-n-butyl maleate, and vinyl-sulfonic acid and its water-soluble salts, and mixtures thereof.

The shell may optionally comprise monomers which are cross- linkers. Such crosslinkers may have at least two non- conjugated ethylenically unsaturated double bonds. Examples are alkylene glycol diacrylates and dimethacrylates . A further type of suitable cross-linking monomers are those that are conjugated, such as divinyl benzene. If present, these monomers constitute from 0.1 to 10 % by weight, based on the total amount of monomers to be polymerised in the shell. The level of cross-linker can be used to control the breakage strength of the shell.

The monomers are more preferably selected from the following: - a) vinyl octate; Vinyl decanote; vinyl laurate; vinyl stearate; esters of acrylic, methacrylic, maleic, fumaric or itaconic acid with decyl, dodecyl, tetadecyl, hexadecyl and octadecyl alcohol,

b) styrene; α-methylstyrene; o-chlorostyrene vinyl acetate; vinyl propionate; vinyl n-butyrate; esters of acrylic, methacrylic, maleic, fumaric or itaconic acid with methyl, ethyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, n-hexyl and 2-ethylhexyl alcohol; 1, 3-butadiene; 2,3 dimethyl butadiene; and isoprene,

c) acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, poly (alkylene oxide) monoacrylates and monomethacrylates, N-vinyl-pyrrolidone, methacrylic and acrylic acid, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylates and methacrylates, glycerol acrylates and methacrylates, poly (ethylene glycol) methacrylates and acrylates, n-vinyl pyrrolidone, acryloyl morpholine, vinyl formamide, n-vinyl acetamide and vinyl caprolactone, acrylonitrile (71 g/1) , acrylamide, and methacrylamide at levels of less than 10 % by weight of the monomer unit content of the particle; 2- (dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate, 2- (diethylamino) ethyl methacrylate, 2- (tert-butylamino) ethyl methacrylate, 2 - aminoethyl methacrylate, 2- (2-oxo-l-imidazolidinyl) ethyl methacrylate, vinyl pyridine, vinyl carbazole, vinyl imidazole, vinyl aniline, and their cationic forms after treatment with alkyl halides;

d) vinyltoluenes, divinyl benzene, ethylene glycol diacrylate, 1, 2-propylene glycol diacrylate, 1, 3-propylene glycol diacrylate, 1,3-butylene glycol diacrylate, 1,4- butylene glycol diacrylates, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, 1, 2-propylene glycol dimethacrylate, 1, 3-propylene glycol dimethacrylate, 1,3-butylene glycol dimethacrylate, 1,4- butylene glycol dimethacrylate, divinylbenzene, vinyl methacrylate, vinyl acrylate, allyl methacrylate, allyl acrylate, diallyl maleate, diallyl fumarate, methylenebisacrylamide, cyclopentadienyl acrylate, and triallyl cyanurate .

Particles of the invention can be optionally comprise monomer units which are derived from monomers of solubility of greater than about 30 g/litre, preferably greater than 35 g/litre, for example 40 to 45 g/litre in water (distilled or equivalent) at 25°C. Such monomers may be utilised in a monomer mixture at levels of up to 10 % based on weight of monomers used.

An outer shell may be formed in the presence of a cellulose- binding polymer. The presence of this cellulose-binding polymer in the outer shell is believed to provide encapsulates with their affinity for cotton and other cellulosic materials. Preferably, the cellulose-binding polymer is a polysaccharide. The polysaccharide preferably has a β-1,4- linked backbone.

Preferably the polysaccharide is a cellulose, a cellulose derivative, or another β-l,4-linked polysaccharide having an affinity for cellulose, such as polymannan, polyglucan, polyglucomannan, polyxyloglucan and polygalactomannan or a mixture thereof.

The polysaccharide may gain its affinity for cellulose upon hydrolysis, such as is the case with cellulose mono-acetate or, preferably, may have a natural affinity for cellulose.

Preferably, the polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of polyxyloglucan and polygalactomannan. Naturally-occurring polymers or the shorter hydrolysis products of naturally occurring polymers are particularly preferred. For example, preferred polysaccharides are locust bean gum, tamarind xyloglucan, guar gum or mixtures thereof. Preferred molecular weights for the polymers fall in the range 40kDalton-lMDalton .

In a particularly preferred embodiment the polysaccharide is locust bean gum (LBG) . This does not hydrolyse and has a natural affinity for cellulose. LBG is (also called Carob bean gum and Carubin) is extracted from the seed (kernels) of the carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua) .

Preferably, the polysaccharide backbone has only β-1,4 linkages. Optionally, the polysaccharide has linkages in addition to the β-1,4 linkages, such as β-1,3 linkages. Thus, optionally some other linkages are present. Polysaccharide backbones which include some material which is not a saccharide ring are also within the ambit of the present invention (whether terminal or within the polysaccharide chain) .

The polysaccharide may be straight or branched. Many naturally occurring polysaccharides have at least some degree of branching, or at any rate at least some saccharide rings are in the form of pendant side groups (which are therefore not in themselves counted in determining the degree of substitution) on a main polysaccharide backbone.

Preferably, the polysaccharide is present at levels of between 0.1% to 20% w/w by weight of the total amount of monomer in the outer shell. Particularly preferred levels are 1-3% w/w where sufficient affinity is obtained without excessive use of polysaccharide.

The encapsulate may confer a protection benefit to the benefit agent from the action of surfactants contained in the laundry composition. The protection is conferred before and after the benefit agent has been deposited onto a surface. For example, during a laundry process, whilst the encapsulate is present in the wash liquor, the polymer keeps the benefit agent bound up within the particle thereby preventing it from being leached out of the particle by the surfactants, thus keeping it available for deposition onto the fabric. After deposition of the particle onto fabric, the polymer in the core protects the benefit agent from being washed away by surfactants, thus enhancing longevity of substantivity of the benefit agent to the fabric.

Compositions according to the invention may contain any one of surface-active compounds (surfactant) which may be chosen from soap and non-soap anionic, cationic, non-ionic, amphoteric and zwitterionic surface-active compounds and mixtures thereof. Many suitable surface-active compounds are available and are fully described in the literature, for example, in "Surface-Active Agents and Detergents", Volumes I and II, by Schwartz, Perry and Berch.

The total level of surfactant is preferably 5-50% and the level of surfactant is preferably from 5 to 40 wt %, preferably from 7 to 30 wt %, of an anionic surfactant, and from 1 to 20 wt %, preferably from 1 to 10 wt %, more preferably from 2 to 6 wt %, most preferably from 3 to 5 wt %, of a nonionic surfactant preferably having a hydrophilic/lipophilic balance (HLB value) of from 13 to 25, preferably from 15 to 22, most preferably from 16 to 22, and optionally from 0 to 50 wt % of a cationic surfactant, all percentage values being based on the weight of the total composition .

The detergent composition may further comprise one or more additional surfactants in an amount of from 0 to 50 wt %, and preferably from 0 to 10 wt %. Additional surfactants or detergent active compounds may comprise other nonionics such as alkylpolyglucosides, polyhydroxyamides (glucamide) , and glycerol monoethers . Also amphoteric surfactants and/or zwitterionic surfactants may be present. Preferred amphoteric surfactants are amine oxides, for example coco dimethyl amine oxide. Preferred zwitterionic surfactants are betaines, and especially amidobetaines . Preferred betaines are C8 to C18 alkyl amidoalkyl betaines, for example coco amido betaine. These may be included as co- surfactants. Many suitable detergent active compounds are available and are fully described in the literature, for example in "Surface-Active Agents and Detergents", volumes I and II by Schwartz, Perry, and Berch.

The preferred additional detergent-active compounds that can be used are soaps and synthetic non-soap anionic, nonionic and cationic surfactants. Some examples of each of these will now be described.

Anionic surfactants are well-known to those skilled in the art. Many suitable detergent-active compounds are available and are fully described in the literature, for example, in "Surface-Active Agents and Detergents", Volumes I and II, by Schwartz, Perry and Berch.

Examples include alkylbenzene sulphonates, branched or linear alkyl benzene sulphonates, primary and secondary alkylsulphates, particularly Cs-Ci6 primary alkyl sulphates; alkyl ether sulphates, olefin sulphonates, including alpha olefin sulphonates, fatty alcohol sulphates such as primary alcohol sulphates, alkane sulphonates, alkyl xylene sulphonates, dialkyl sulphosuccinates, and fatty acid ester sulphonates, and alkyl carboxylates . Also suitable are ether sulphates such as sodium lauryl ether sulphate (SLES) . These may be present as sodium, potassium, calcium or magnesium salts or mixtures of these. Sodium salts are generally preferred.

The anionic surfactant is preferably a sulphonate or sulphate anionic surfactant. More preferably the anionic surfactant is linear alkylbenzene sulphonate or primary alcohol sulphate. Most preferably the anionic surfactant is linear alkylbenzene sulphonate. The linear alkyl benzene sulphonate may be present as sodium, potassium, or alkaline earth metal salts, or mixtures of these salts. Sodium salts are generally preferred.

The nonionic surfactant is any nonionic surfactant having a hydrophilic/lipophilic balance (HLB) value of from 13 to 25, preferably from 15 to 22, more preferably from 16 to 22, most preferably from 14 to 19.5.

HLB values can be calculated according to the method given in Griffin, J. Soc. Cosmetic Chemists, 5 (1954) 249-256.

For example, the HLB of a polyethoxylated primary alcohol nonionic surfactant can be calculated according to the following formula:

MW(EO)

HLB = x 100

MW (Tot) x 5 where ,

MW(EO) = the molecular weight of the hydrophilic (ethoxy) part

MW (Tot) = the molecular weight of the whole surfactant molecule

Nonionic surfactants suitable for use in the invention are preferably those having a large polar head group and a hydrocarbyl chain. For the sake of clarity, the polar head group should have hydrophilic character and the hydrocarbyl chain should be of hydrophobic character. Preferably, the large polar head group contains a hydrophilic repeating unit .

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the nonionic surfactant (ii) is preferably an alkoxylated alcohol nonionic surfactant.

Especially preferred alkoxylated alcohols are those having a Hydrophilic/Lipophilic Balance (HLB) value in the range of from 15 to 20, preferably 16 to 18.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the compositions of the invention are preferably free from nonionic surfactants other than the defined nonionic surfactant (ii) .

The nonionic surfactant is suitably present in an amount of from 1 to 20 wt %, preferably from 1 to 10, more preferably from 2 to 6 wt %, most preferably from 3 to 5 wt %, based on the weight of the total composition. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the weight ratio of the anionic surfactant (i) to the nonionic surfactant (ii) is within the range of from 0.25:1 to 40:1, suitably 1:1 to 15:1, preferably from 1:1 to 10:1 and more preferably from 2:1 to 6:1, and most preferably from 2.5:1 to 5:1.

Examples of alkoxylated alcohols suitable for use as nonionic surfactant (ii) in the present invention include the condensation products of aliphatic (Cs - C₂o, preferably Cs - Ciε) primary or secondary linear or branched chain alcohols or phenols with alkylene oxides, preferably ethylene oxide or propylene oxide, most preferably ethylene oxide, and generally having from 15 to 80, preferably 16 to 80, more preferably up to 20 or from 20 to 80, and most preferably 20 to 50 alkylene oxide groups. For the sake of clarity, the alkylene oxide group is the hydrophilic repeating unit.

According to an especially preferred embodiment of the invention, the nonionic surfactant (ii) is an ethoxylated aliphatic alcohol of the formula (I) :

R - (- O - CH₂ - CH₂) _n - OH (I)

wherein R is a hydrocarbyl chain having from 8 to 16 carbon atoms, and the average degree of ethoxylation n is from 15 to 50, preferably 20 to 50.

The hydrocarbyl chain, which is preferably saturated, preferably contains from 10 to 16 carbon atoms, more preferably from 12 to 15 carbon atoms. In commercial materials containing a spread of chain lengths, these figures represent an average. The hydrocarbyl chain may be linear or branched.

The alcohol may be derived from natural or synthetic feedstock. Preferred alcohol feedstocks are coconut, predominantly C12-C14, and oxo C12-C15 alcohols. The average degree of ethoxylation ranges from 15 to 50, preferably from 16 to 50, more preferably from 20 to 50, and most preferably from 25 to 40.

Preferred materials have an average alkyl chain length of C12-C16 and an average degree of ethoxylation of from 16 to 40, more preferably from 25 to 40.

An example of a suitable commercially available material is Lutensol AO30, ex BASF, which is a C13-C15 alcohol having an average degree of ethoxylation of 30. Another example of a suitably commercially available material is a nonionic ethoxylated alcohol 20EO Genapol C200 ex Clariant, and also the nonionic ethoxylated alcohol 20EO Lutensol T020 ex BASF.

The compositions of the invention may contain non-ionic surfactants other than the defined nonionic surfactant (ii) described above. Preferably, however, the compositions of the invention are free from nonionic surfactants other than the defined nonionic surfactant (ii) .

Preferred water-soluble cationic surfactants are quaternary ammonium salts of the general formula III RiR₂R₃R₄N₊ X- (III)

wherein Ri is a relatively long (Cs-Cis) hydrocarbyl chain, typically an alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or ethoxylated alkyl group, optionally interrupted with a heteroatom or an ester or amide group; each of R₂, R3 and R₄ (which may be the same or different) is a short-chain (C1-C3) alkyl or substituted alkyl group; and X is a solubilising anion, for example a chloride, bromide or methosulphate ion.

A preferred cationic surfactant is a quaternary ammonium compound of the formula II in which Ri is a Cs-Cis alkyl group, more preferably a Cs-Cio or Ci₂-Ci₄ alkyl group, R₂ is a methyl group, and R3 and R₄, which may be the same or different, are methyl or hydroxyethyl groups. Such compounds have the formula IV:

CH₃ I

Ri - N₊ - R₃ X- (IV)

R₄

In an especially preferred compound, Ri is a Ci₂-Ci₄ alkyl group, R₂ and R₃ are methyl groups, R₄ is a 2-hydroxyethyl group, and X- is a chloride ion. This material is available commercially as Praepagen (Trade Mark) HY from Clariant GmbH, in the form of a 40 wt% aqueous solution.

Other classes of cationic surfactant include cationic esters (for example, choline esters) . The cationic surfactant is optionally present in an amount of from 0 to 50 wt %, preferably from 0 to 10 wt %, more preferably 1 to 5 wt %, based on the weight of the total composition .

The compositions of the invention may contain a detergency builder. Preferably the builder is present in an amount of from 0 to less than 10 wt % based on the weight of the total composition. More preferably the amount of builder is from 0 to 5 wt %, and does not exceed 5 wt % . Most preferably, the compositions are essentially free of detergency builder.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the composition is essentially free of aluminosilicate, that is the composition is free of zeolite. The composition may also be free of sodium tripolyphosphate .

The optional builder may be selected from strong builders such as phosphate builders, aluminosilicate builders and mixtures thereof. However, strong builders are preferably present in an amount not exceeding 5 wt %, and most preferably strong builders are absent. One or more weak builders such as calcite/carbonate, beryllium/carbonate, citrate or polymer builders may be additionally or alternatively present.

The phosphate builder (if present) may for example be selected from alkali metal, preferably sodium, pyrophosphate, orthophosphate and tripolyphosphate, and mixtures thereof. The aluminosilicate (if present) may be, for example, selected from one or more crystalline and amorphous aluminosilicates, for example, zeolites as disclosed in GB 1 473 201 (Henkel) , amorphous aluminosilicates as disclosed in GB 1 473 202 (Henkel) and mixed crystalline/amorphous aluminosilicates as disclosed in GB 1 470 250 (Procter & Gamble); and layered silicates as disclosed in EP 164 514B (Hoechst

The alkali metal aluminosilicate may be either crystalline or amorphous or mixtures thereof, having the general formula: 0.8-1.5 Na₂O. Al₂O₃. 0.8-6 SiO₂.

These materials contain some bound water and are required to have a calcium ion exchange capacity of at least 50 mg CaO/g. The preferred sodium aluminosilicates contain 1.5-3.5 SiO₂ units (in the formula above) . Both the amorphous and the crystalline materials can be prepared readily by reaction between sodium silicate and sodium aluminate, as amply described in the literature. Suitable crystalline sodium aluminosilicate ion-exchange detergency builders are described, for example, in GB 1 429 143 (Procter & Gamble) . The preferred sodium aluminosilicates of this type are the well-known commercially available zeolites A and X, and mixtures thereof.

The zeolite may be the commercially available zeolite 4A now widely used in laundry detergent powders. However, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the zeolite builder incorporated in the compositions of the invention is maximum aluminium zeolite P (zeolite MAP) as described and claimed in EP 384 070A (Unilever) . Zeolite MAP is defined as an alkali metal aluminosilicate of the zeolite P type having a silicon to aluminium ratio not exceeding 1.33, preferably within the range of from 0.90 to 1.33, and more preferably within the range of from 0.90 to 1.20.

Suitably zeolite MAP may be used, having a silicon to aluminium ratio not exceeding 1.07, more preferably about 1.00. The calcium binding capacity of zeolite MAP is generally at least 150 mg CaO per g of anhydrous material.

The compositions of the invention may contain from 0 to 85 wt % of an inorganic non-builder salt, preferably from 1 to 80 wt %, more preferably from 10 to 75 wt %, most preferably from 20 to 65 wt %, based on the weight of the total composition.

The inorganic non-builder salt may be present in an amount of from 0 to 60 wt %, preferably from 1 to 40 wt %, based on the weight of the total composition.

These are included in order to increase detergency and ease processing.

Suitable inorganic non-builder salts include alkaline agents such as alkali metal, preferably sodium, carbonates, sulphates, silicates, metasilicates as independent salts or as double salts etc, which for the purposes of this specification, are not to be considered as builders.

Preferably the inorganic non-builder salt is selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium sulphate, burkeite, sodium silicate and mixtures thereof.

A preferred alkali metal carbonate is sodium carbonate. The sodium carbonate may be present in a dense or light form. Sodium carbonate may suitably be present in amounts ranging from 1 to 60 wt %, preferably from 10 to 50 wt %, more preferably from 20 to 40 wt %, based on the weight of the total composition. These amounts are most relevant when a spray drying process is used to make the formulation. If a non-tower processing route is used to make the formulation the sodium carbonate may be present in an amount of from 30 to 80 wt %, preferably 40 to 70 wt %, based on the weight of the total composition.

However, compositions containing little or no sodium carbonate are also within the scope of the invention.

Sodium sulphate may suitably be present in an amount of from 10 to 50 wt %, preferably from 15 to 40 wt %, based on the weight of the total composition. Compositions containing little or none of the independent solid sodium sulphate are also within the scope of the invention.

The composition according to the invention preferably may comprise sodium carbonate and sodium sulphate, wherein the total amount of sodium carbonate and sodium sulphate is of from 40 to 80 wt %, and preferably from 60 to 70 wt %, based on the weight of the total composition. The composition according to the invention may comprise a ratio of sodium carbonate to sodium sulphate within the range of from 0.1:1 to 5:1, preferably 0.5:1 to 1.5:1, most preferably from 1:1.

Burkeite may suitably be present in an amount of from 40 to 80 wt %, preferably from 60 to 70 wt %, based on the weight of the total composition. Compositions containing burkeite as the only non-builder salt are within the scope of the invention, as are compositions containing little or no burkeite. Burkeite is of the formula Na2CO3.2Na2SO₄, and this is different from sodium carbonate and sodium sulphate as previously described as it is a double salt comprised of the combination of sodium carbonate and sodium sulphate.

In addition to the inorganic non-builder salts listed above the detergent composition according to the invention may further comprise sodium silicate, the sodium silicate may be present at levels of from 0 to 20 wt %, preferably from 1 to 10 wt %, based on the weight of the total composition. Preferably the total amount of sodium carbonate, sodium sulphate, burkeite and sodium silicate is from 50 to 85 wt %, most preferably from 65 to 80 wt %, based on the weight of the total composition.

Further suitable inorganic non-builder salts include sodium sesquicarbonate, sodium chloride, calcium chloride and magnesium chloride.

The compositions of the invention may contain a polycarboxylate polymer. These include homopolymers and copolymers of acrylic acid, maleic acid and acrylic/maleic acids. The publication ^λPolymeric Dispersing Agents, Sokalan' , a printed publication of BASF Aktiengesellschaft, D-6700 Ludwigshaven, Germany describes organic polymers which are useful.

Preferably the polycarboxylate polymer is selected from the group consisting of sodium polyacrylate, sodium acrylate maleate and mixtures thereof.

Suitable polymers are generally at least partially neutralised in the form of their alkali metal ammonium or other conventional cation salts. The alkali metal especially sodium salts are most preferred. The molecular weight of such polymers can vary over a wide range, it is preferably from 1,000 to 500,000, more preferably from 2, 000 to 250,000, and most preferably from 3,000 to 100,000.

Unsaturated monomeric acids that can be polymerised to form suitable polymeric polymeric polycarboxylates include maleic acid (or maleic anhydride) , fumaric acid itaconic acid, aconitic acid, mesaconic acid, citraconic acid and methylenemalonic acid. The presence of monomeric segments containing no carboxylate groups such as vinylmethyl ether, styrene, ethylene etc is suitable. Another suitable polymer is copolymers of acrylamide. Also acrylate/maleate copolymers. Other suitable copolymers based on a mixture of unsaturated mono- and dicarboxylate monomers are also suitable . Examples of suitable polymers include ISP Gantrez AN 119 maleic polyvinyl ether anhydride, also Ciba Versicol E5 polyacrylate, and Sokalan CP5, ex BASF polyacrylate, namely maleic acid-acrylic acid copolymer, with a sodium salt. Especially preferred is Sokalan PA 40, ex BASF a sodium polyacrylate with a molecular weight of 30,000.

As well as the surfactants and builders discussed above, the compositions may optionally contain other active ingredients to enhance performance and properties.

The detergent compositions of the invention may comprise one or more optional ingredients selected from soap, peroxyacid and persalt bleaches, bleach activators, air bleach catalysts, sequestrants, cellulose ethers and esters, cellulosic polymers, other antiredeposition agents, sodium chloride, calcium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, other inorganic salts, fluorescers, photobleaches, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, other dye transfer inhibiting polymers, foam controllers, foam boosters, acrylic and acrylic/maleic polymers, proteases, lipases, cellulases, amylases, other detergent enzymes, citric acid, soil release polymers, silicone, fabric conditioning compounds, coloured speckles such as blue speckles, and perfume. This list is not intended to be exhaustive.

Yet other materials that may be present in detergent compositions of the invention lather control agents or lather boosters as appropriate; dyes and decoupling polymers. Suitable lather boosters for use in the present invention include cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) , cocomonoethanolamide (CMEA) and amine oxides.

Preferred amine oxides are of the general form:-

CH₃

CH₃ (CH₂) n-N >0 I

CH₃

where, n is from 7 to 17.

A suitable amine oxide is Admox (Trademark) 12, supplied by Albemarle .

Detergent compositions according to the invention may suitably contain a bleach system. The bleach system is preferably based on peroxy bleach compounds, for example, inorganic persalts or organic peroxyacids, capable of yielding hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solution. Suitable peroxy bleach compounds include organic peroxides such as urea peroxide, and inorganic persalts such as the alkali metal perborates, percarbonates, perphosphates, persilicates and persulphates . Preferred inorganic persalts are sodium perborate monohydrate and tetrahydrate, and sodium percarbonate . Especially preferred is sodium percarbonate having a protective coating against destabilisation by moisture. Sodium percarbonate having a protective coating comprising sodium metaborate and sodium silicate is disclosed in GB 2 123 044B (Kao) .

The peroxy bleach compound is suitably present in an amount of from 5 to 35 wt %, preferably from 10 to 25 wt %.

The peroxy bleach compound may be used in conjunction with a bleach activator (bleach precursor) to improve bleaching action at low wash temperatures. The bleach precursor is suitably present in an amount of from 1 to 8 wt %, preferably from 2 to 5 wt % .

Preferred bleach precursors are peroxycarboxylic acid precursors, more especially peracetic acid precursors and peroxybenzoic acid precursors; and peroxycarbonic acid precursors. An especially preferred bleach precursor suitable for use in the present invention is N, N, N', N'- tetracetyl ethylenediamine (TAED) . Also of interest are peroxybenzoic acid precursors, in particular, N, N, N- trimethylammonium toluoyloxy benzene sulphonate.

A bleach stabiliser (heavy metal sequestrant) may also be present. Suitable bleach stabilisers include ethylenediamine tetraacetate (EDTA) and the polyphosphonates such as Dequest (Trade Mark), EDTMP.

Alternatively the present invention may be used in a formulation that is used to bleach via air, or an air bleach catalyst system. In this regard the bleaching composition substantially devoid of a peroxygen bleach or a peroxy-based or peroxyl-generating bleach system. The term "substantially devoid of a peroxygen bleach or a peroxy-based or peroxyl-generating bleach system" should be construed within spirit of the invention. It is preferred that the composition has as low a content of peroxyl species present as possible. It is preferred that the bleaching formulation contains less that 1 % wt/wt total concentration of peracid or hydrogen peroxide or source thereof, preferably the bleaching formulation contains less that 0.3 % wt/wt total concentration of peracid or hydrogen peroxide or source thereof, most preferably the bleaching composition is devoid of peracid or hydrogen peroxide or source thereof. In addition, it is preferred that the presence of alkyl hydroperoxides is kept to a minimum in a bleaching composition comprising the ligand or complex of the present invention. In order to function as an air bleaching composition the bleaching composition comprises an organic substance which forms a complex with a transition metal for bleaching a substrate with atmospheric oxygen.

The bleach catalyst per se may be selected from a wide range of transition metal complexes of organic molecules (ligands) . In typical washing compositions the level of the organic substance is such that the in-use level is from 0.05 μM to 50 mM, with preferred in-use levels for domestic laundry operations falling in the range 1 to 100 μM. Higher levels may be desired and applied in industrial textile bleaching processes.

Suitable organic molecules (ligands) for forming complexes and complexes thereof are found, for example in: WO-A- 98/39098; WO-A-98/39406, WO 9748787, WO 0029537; WO 0052124, and WO0060045 the complexes and organic molecule (ligand) precursors of which are herein incorporated by reference. An example of a preferred catalyst is a transition metal complex of MeN4Py ligand (N, N-bis (pyridin- 2-yl-methyl) -1, 1- bis (pyridin-2-yl) -1-aminoethane) .

The detergent compositions may also contain one or more enzymes. Suitable enzymes include the proteases, amylases, cellulases, oxidases, peroxidases, savinases and lipases usable for incorporation in detergent compositions.

In particulate detergent compositions, detergency enzymes are commonly employed in granular form in amounts of from about 0.1 to about 3.0 wt %. However, any suitable physical form of enzyme may be used in any effective amount.

Antiredeposition agents, for example cellulose esters and ethers, for example sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, may also be present. An example of a commercially available sodium carboxymethyl cellulose is Finnfix BDA (trademark) , ex Noviant.

The compositions may also contain soil release polymers, for example sulphonated and unsulphonated PET/POET polymers, both end-capped and non-end-capped, and polyethylene glycol/polyvinyl alcohol graft copolymers such as Sokalan (Trade Mark) HP22. Especially preferred soil release polymers are the sulphonated non-end-capped polyesters described and claimed in WO 95 32997A (Rhodia Chimie) .

Powder flow may be improved by the incorporation of a small amount of a powder structurant, for example, a fatty acid (or fatty acid soap) , a sugar, an acrylate or acrylate/maleate copolymer, or sodium silicate. One preferred powder structurant is fatty acid soap, suitably present in an amount of from 1 to 5 wt %, based on the weight of the total composition.

The compositions of the invention may be prepared by any suitable process.

The choice of processing route may be in part dictated by the stability or heat-sensitivity of the surfactants involved, and the form in which they are available.

For granular products, ingredients such as enzymes, bleach ingredients, sequestrants, polymers and additional perfumes which may be added separately (e.g. enzymes postdosed as granules, perfumes may be sprayed on) may be added after the processing steps outlined below.

Suitable processes include drum drying of principal ingredients, optionally followed by granulation or postdosing of additional ingredients notably the mechanically sensitive ingredient e.g. encapsulated perfume.

Detailed Description of non-limiting Embodiments

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a package according to one embodiment of the invention being closed ; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the package of figure 1 shown being opened;

Figure 3 is a view of the packgage of figure 1 showing the invention used as a handle/support;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view from the end of one the reclosure strips of Fig 1; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the male and female reclosure strips of fig 1.

Common reference numbers are used to indicate corresponding figures in the drawings.

Referring to the figures, a package 1 is shown, containing a free flowing particulate laundry composition (not shown) .

The laundry composition comprises a mechanically sensitive component which is an encapsulated perfume:

Linear Dodecylbenzene Sulphonic Acid (Sodium salt) 8.8%

Alcohol ethoxylate (C12 - C13 7 EO) 7.0%

C16 -C18 Carboxylic acid 1.0%

Zeolite 29.6% Anhydrous Sodium Carbonate 10.5%

Moisture, Salts, Minors 4.1%

(All above in a granulated Base Powder)

Post-dosed ingredients

Sodium Percarbonate 18.0% Tetracetyl ethylenediamine 3.5%

Sodium Disilicate 5.5% Sodium Citrate 2.0%

Encapsulated Perfume 0.3%

Fluorescer, antifoam, speckles, enzyme, minors 9.7%

The package 1 comprises:

(i) a flexible body portion 10 containing the composition; (ii) at least two opposing walls 12, 14;

(iii) a mouth 15 for providing access to the composition. The mouth 15 is bounded by at least two opposing free edges 16, 18 contiguous with said opposing walls 12,14;

(iii) a reclosure mechanism 20 between the two opposing free edges 16,18 and the body portion 10.

The reclosure mechanism 20 comprises at least one pair of elongate reclosure strips 3,5 attached to respective opposing walls 12,14 externally of the package 1 and spaced apart from respective free edges 16,18. The reclosure strips 3,5 are rigid and have corresponding respective profiles (seen more clearly in perspective in figures 3 and 5) for snap-fit interengagement by application of pressure thereto so as to close the mouth 15 (figure 1) and disengagement by application of opposite pressure to only said opposing free edges 16,18 so as to open the mouth 15 (figure 2) .

The package is a gussetted package providing a stable base. Thus as can be seen in figure 1, the package is rested easily on a base (such as kitchen work surface) and then all the consumer has to do is simply push the reclosure strips 3,5together. The body portion 10 is not handled at all. Further it does not matter if the users hands are wet as the reclosure mechanism 20 is external of the package 1 and so does not result in contamination of the composition.

The reclosure strips 3,5 comprise a reclosure strip 3 and a female reclosure strip 5. The female reclosure strip 5 comprises a longitudinally extending C-shaped recess 50 with flattened base 34 and the male reclosure strip 3 comprises a longitudinally extending protuberance 30 which is generally T shaped and hollow and receivable in the recess 50. The protruberance 50 at its widest point, the head 32 and this is slightly wider that the recess opening 52 to provide the snap fit engagement.

The reclosure strips snap fit engage to form a longitudinal gap 22 therebetween. This is achieved by the relative depth of the protuberance versus the recess: the protuberance is shorter in depth than the recess, and a natural gap 22 (seen in cross sectional views) is created.

The base of the female recess 50 and the top of the male protruberance 30 are both flattened so that the gap is a single, centrally-located planar gap 22 . Adhesive e.g. glue is located in this gap 22, in a planar strip which is pulled apart following purchase, to initially open the package.

The single gap 22 located centrally of the reclosure mechanism 20 means that when the strips 3,5 are pulled apart on initial opening, this is a symmetrical action and does not result in forcing one or both hands toward/away the body portion. This results in a smooth convenient opening and this therefore means there is less likelihood of damage to the pack in initial opening.

The female and male reclosure strips 3,5 have corresponding e.g. respective flattened, abutment surfaces 24, 26 for mutual abutment.

All walls of the package 70 microns thick.

The package has a structured base 28 which is a gussetted package providing a stable base. This allows the package to be rested on a base (such as a kitchen counter surface) and then accessed by handling the reclosure strips alone to reduce/avoid direct handling of the body portion (see figure 1) .

The packaging material is a polyethylene (PE) /polyethylene terephthalate (PET) laminate, having total thickness 72 microns .

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiments which are described by way of example only.

Claims

1. A particulate laundry composition combined with a package, the laundry composition comprising (a) 5-95% by wt% surfactant and

(b) at least one mechanically sensitive component and the package comprising:

(i) a flexible body portion containing the composition;

(ii) at least two opposing walls; (iϋ) a mouth providing access to the composition, the mouth bounded by at least two opposing free edges contiguous with said opposing walls;

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the reclosure strips are located adjacent the opening of of the receptacle such that the free edges of the opening are exposed.

3. The combination of any preceding claim wherein the strips are located 0.5 -8 cm from the free edges.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the strips are located 1-5 cm from the free edges.

5. The combination of any preceding claim wherein the reclosure strips comprise a male reclosure strip and a female reclosure strip, said female reclosure strip comprising a longitudinally extending recess and the male reclosure strip comprising a longitudinally extending protuberance receivable in the recess.

6. The combination of any preceding claim wherein the reclosure strips engage so that a gap therebetween is created.

7. The combination of any preceding claim wherein the strips engage so that a single gap is located centrally of the reclosure mechanism.

8. The combination of any of claims 5-7, whererin the male portion has a flattened head and the female portion has a flattened base.

9. The combination of claim 8 whererin the male portion has a flattened head and the female portion has a flattened base to provide a planar region therebetween and a planar layer of glued is located in said region.

10. The combination of any preceding claim wherein the or each walls of the package has a thickness 25 - 200 microns.

11. The combination of any preceding claim wherein the or each wall of the package has a thickness 50 - 130 microns.

12. The combination of any preceding package wherein the package has a structured base.

13. The combination of any preceding claim wherein the mechanically sensitive laundry product is an encapsulated component .

14. The combination of any preceding claim wherein the mechanically sensitive component is an encapsulted perfume

15. A method of opening a laundry package combined with a laundry composition according to any of claims 1 - 14, the method comprising the step of applying pressure solely to said opposing free edges so as to open the mouth.

16. A method of closing a laundry package combined with a laundry composition according to any of claims 1 - 15, the method comprising the step of applying pressure solely to the reclosure mechanism.