Dry and portable spot removal product and method comprising an aluminum dioctahedral phyllosilicate

Abstract

A stain removal product formulation and method utilizing a dry, portable product. The dry, portable removal product preferably contains specially treated ingredients, including a composition of microporous silica and alumina tetrahedra and combined with aluminum dioctahedral phyllosilicales family of minerals, ingredients may vary depending on the type of stain to treat, for example, for stains having an oil. grease or fat base. Due to the nature of stains and their varied content the product formulation may also include a combination of other dry ingredients such as clays, minerals, baking soda, com stareh, flour or other dry ingredients. Optional ingredients which may be added including dry coloring and/or dry fragrance components. The dry product formulation is provided in a powder, granule or flake form in moisture resistant packages and kits.

Claims

1. A method of removing a grease or oil based stain from a substrate consisting essentially of applying a dry and portable stain removal formulation comprising a silica and alumina tetrahedral (zeolite) mineral and an aluminum dioctahedral phyllosilicates mineral, said aluminum dioctahedral phyllosilicates mineral being preheated at least for one hour and between 600 and 1,200 F.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the formulation comprises approximately 1-99% by volume of said silica and alumina tetrahedral (zeolite) mineral and 99-1% by volume of said aluminum dioctahedral phyllosilicates mineral.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the formulation comprises approximately 99-1% by volume of said silica and alumina tetrahedral (zeolite) mineral and 1-99% by volume of said aluminum dioctahedral phyllosilicates mineral.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said aluminum dioctahedral phyllosilicates mineral is kaolinite and wherein said zeolite mineral is clinoptilolite.

5. A method of removing a grease or oil based stain from a substrate consisting essentially of applying a dry and portable stain removal formulation comprising an aluminum dioctahedral phyllosilicates mineral or a silica and alumina tetrahedral (zeolite) mineral, wherein saidaluminum dioctahedral phyllosilicates mineral is kaolinite and wherein said zeolite mineral is clinoptilolite.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said applied dry and portable stain removal formulation further includes an ingredient selected from the group consisting of baking soda, corn starch and flour.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said applied dry and portable stain removal formulation further includes a colorant and a fragrance.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said aluminum dioctahedral phyllosilicates mineral is preheated at least for one hour and between 600 and 1,200 F. and wherein said method includes maintaining contact of said formulation with the stain for approximately three minutes and then removing the resultant materials from the substrate.

9. A method of removing a grease or oil based stain from a substrate consisting essentially of applying a dry and portable stain removal formulaion comprising an aluminum dioctahedral phyllosilicates mineral, said applied dry and portable stain removal fommlation further including an ingredient selected from the group consisting of baking soda, corn starch and flour.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said applied dry and portable stain removal formulation further includes a silica and alumina tetrahedral (zeolite) mineral.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said method includes maintaining contact of said formulation with the stain for approximately three minutes and then removing the resultant materials from the substrate.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said aluminum dioctahedral phyllosilicates mineral is kaolinite and wherein said zeolite mineral is clinoptilolite.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said applied dry and portable stain removal formulation further includes a colorant and a fragrance.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein said applied dry and portable stain removal formulation is provided in a form selected from the group consisting of a powder, granules, flakes or a solid and provided in a package selected from the group consisting of packets, cans, pouches, shakers, tubes, boxes and bags, said package further having a moisture barrier.

15. The method of 10, wherein the formulation comprises approximately 1-99% by volume of said silica and alumina tetrahedral (zeolite) mineral and 99-1% by volume of said aluminum dioctahedral phyllosilicates mineral.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(1) This invention is a dry and portable spot/stain removal product and method. The dry and portable product formulation incorporates ingredients that penetrate and absorb the spot/stain and the method includes the application of a dry and portable product which in the example formula incorporates ingredients that penetrate and absorb the stain. The method also includes heating of the ingredients which removes any moisture and provides for an end product capable of providing superior spot/stain removal of oil, grease and fat based stains.

(2) The dry and portable removal product formulation can contain any number of dry products to aid in spot/stain removal to include but not limited to clay, minerals, corn starch, baking soda, flour, and any other suitable dry ingredient; but in particular the combination of two heat treated components is preferred. The dry and portable removal product can be applied in powder, flake, granular or solid form, all of which tested as having the same excellent removal properties and which include: Silica and alumina tetrahedra family of minerals (Which include but are not limited to: analcime, natrolite, chabazite, clinoptilolite, phillipsite, stilbite, and heulandite minerals both naturally occurring and synthetic form). Silica and alumina tetrahedra minerals are an abundant mineral family formed by volcanic ashes and rock when they react with groundwater that is alkaline in nature. The preferred silica and alumina tetrahedra family of mineral compositions are those with a high sodium content, for example, (Na,K,Ca).sub.2-3Al.sub.3(Al,Si).sub.2Si.sub.13O.sub.36.Math.12H.sub.2O. The family of aluminum dioctahedral phyilosilicates a 1:1 mineral consisting of one tetrahedral sheet and one octahedral sheet; (examples include but are not limited to: halloysite, dickite, kaolinite and nacrite). This family of minerals has a chemical composition which is a layered silicate mineral, with one tetrahedral sheet linked through oxygen atoms to one octahedral sheet of alumina octahedra. The preferred aluminum dioctahedral phyllosilicates composition is Al.sub.2Si.sub.2O.sub.5(OH).sub.4.

(3) The preferred ingredients tested with best performance when heated in a kiln or other suitable manner for varied times at temperatures ranging between 600-1200 degrees Fahrenheit; removes all moisture content, thereby providing a completely dry and portable product with increased absorption ability and providing a more effective stain removal product and process.

(4) The invention may have a preferred combination of ingredients comprising minerals having high absorption properties and with varied ratios of the preferred ingredients. The varied ratios effectively remove a wide variety of stains containing oil, grease or fats depending on ingredient content. For example, ratios may range from approximately 0% silica and alumina tetrahedra minerals family and 100% aluminum dioctahedral phyllosilicates family to approximately 100% silica and alumina tetrahedra minerals family and approximately 0% aluminum dioctahedral phyllosilicates family. The preferred ratio preferably contains more of the aluminum dioctahedral phyllosilicates family.

(5) The invention incorporates a dry and portable spot/stain removal product in various ratios of preferred components. Experiments showed various ratios of the ingredients gave better results depending on the type of stain. Aluminum dioctahedral phyllosilicates family performed better in absorption of the lightweight oil, or fat, while the silica and alumina tetrahedra family of minerals showed best results in absorption of grease and heavier oils along with an increased ability to remove associated odors. The individual or combination of these preferred mineral families provided for a superior product with the ability to permeate and absorb a wide range of oil, grease or fat based spots/stains.

(6) A fragrance component may be optionally included and consist of any available dry forms of fragrance, the selection of which will depend on personal preferences and application requirements from among the various dry fragrances available. A color component may also be included and may consist of any available dry form of colorant, the selection of which will depend on personal preferences and application requirements from among the various dry colorants available.

(7) The invention incorporates a product and method providing and using a dry and portable removal formulation that is sale to use even on delicate or dry clean only fabrics which typically cannot use a wet based cleaning method. Use product may be applied in multiple forms including but not limited to powder, granular, flake, or solid. The dry product can be packaged in various portable containers including but not limited to sachets, packets, bags, boxes, cans, pouches, tubes, shakers, or any other suitable portable container depending on which is best for the form of the product applied. The product may optionally be packaged individually, in multi-packs, or in kits which contain the dry and portable removal product along with a residue removal article such as towel, fabric, brush or other suitable non-damaging item. The container, e.g., a packet, is preferably foil-lined or the like to preserve the dry integrity of the product and may be approximately 2 by 3 inches in size and contain approximately 2 gm of the product.

(8) Examples of preferred mineral ratios depending ors the content of the stain: Example 1 99 to 100% by volume silica and alumina tetrahedra mineral family 0 to 1% by volume aluminum dioctahedral phyllosilicates mineral family Heated to over 600 F. for minimum of 1 hour Example 2 0 to 1% by volume silica and alumina tetrahedra mineral family 99 to 100% by volume aluminum dioctahedral phyllosilicates mineral family Heated to 600 F.-1200 F. for minimum of 1 hour Example 3 50% by volume aluminum dioctahedral phyllosilicates mineral family 50% by volume silica and alumina tetrahedra mineral family Heated to 600 F.-1200 F. for minimum of 1 hour Example 4 Aluminum dioctahedral phyllosilicates mineral family in ratios as determined by the nature of the type of stain to be removed Silica and alumina tetrahedra mineral family in ratios as determined by the nature of the type of spot/stain to be removed Heated up to 1200 F. for varied periods of time Less than 1% of total weight of an optional dry fragrance Example 5 Aluminum dioctahedral phyllosilicates mineral family in ratios as determined by the nature of the type of stain to be removed, Silica and alumina tetrahedra mineral family in ratios determined by the nature of the type of stain to be removed Heated to 600 F.-1200 F. for minimum 1 hour Less than 1% of total weight of an optional dry colorant.

(9) The heating of the formulations set forth is primarily important for the aluminum dioctahedral phyllosilicates mineral.

(10) In summary, the present invention relates to a dry and portable removal product formulation for stains utilizing dry ingredients. The dry and portable stain removal product can be applied in various forms to include powder, granular, flake, solid or other applicable form. The dry removal product formulation may contain a variety of dry ingredients which may include clays, minerals, baking soda, flour, corn starch, and other dry ingredients. The preferred product contains a mixture including the family of silica and alumina tetrahedra minerals in either naturally occurring and synthetic forms mixed in various ratios depending on stain content with a member of the aluminum dioctahedral phyllosilicate family, a 1:1 mineral consisting of one tetrahedral sheet and one octahedral sheet. The silica and alumina tetrahedra ingredient has the added natural ability to remove associated odors. Optional components may be added based on need or user preference. Those optional ingredients include a colorant and/or a fragrance. The product may be packaged in various portable containers including sachets, packets, bags, boxes, cans, pouches, tubes, shakers, or any other suitable portable container depending on which is best for the product to be applied. The product may be packaged individually, in multi-packs or in kits which contain the dry and portable removal product along with other items, such as a residue removal article such as towel, fabric or other suitable non-damaging item.

(11) As many changes are possible to the dry and portable spot removal product formulation and method embodiments of this invention utilizing the teachings thereof, the descriptions above, and the accompanying drawing should be interpreted in the illustrative and not in the limited sense.