Cleaning, polishing, and restoring emulsion and method of making and packaging the emulsion

Abstract

A method of making a liquid or semi-liquid emulsion cleaning, waxing, and restoring product with applicability to painted motor vehicles. The emulsion removes bugs, tar and paint from other vehicles, etc. and is safe for paint, plastic, chrome and wheels. The emulsion is prepared using a unique sequence of mixing steps that result in a complete emulsification of ingredients that heretofore have been difficult or impossible to effectively combine. The emulsion may be provided in liquid or paste form or in microfiber cloths, or disposable towelettes, and other such carriers infused with the emulsion. The carrier is moistened with the emulsion and packaged in sealed individual packages. In other embodiments, multiple emulsion-soaked towels or towelettes may be packaged in reclosable cylinders from which individual towels may be extracted and the cylinder reclosed. These pre-soaked towelettes may be used to easily clean and wax vehicles or other similar surfaces.

Claims

1. A method for emulsifying an admixture comprising carnauba wax, mineral spirits, and water, the steps comprising: a) in a closeable container, adding mineral spirits to liquid carnauba wax in a ratio of approximately 0.85 to 1 of mineral spirits to liquid carnauba wax; b) closing said closable container and shaking said liquid carnauba wax and said mineral spirits; c) after said shaking step (b), allowing said liquid carnauba wax and said mineral spirits to rest; d) repeating said shaking step (b) and said resting step (c) until after said shaking step (b), said liquid carnauba wax and said mineral spirits have emulsified; e) after said repeating step (d), adding additional mineral spirits in 0.85 to 1 ratio of mineral spirits to liquid carnauba wax by volume; f) again shaking said emulsified liquid carnauba wax and mineral spirits with said newly added mineral spirits until emulsified; g) after said shaking step (f), adding additional mineral spirits in approximately a 0.85 to 1 ratio of mineral spirits to liquid carnauba wax by volume; h) again shaking said emulsified liquid carnauba wax and mineral spirits with said newly added mineral spirits until emulsified; i) adding water to said emulsified liquefied carnauba wax and mineral spirits, adding water in a ratio of approximately 0.7 to 1 water to carnauba wax by volume; and j) shaking the emulsified carnauba wax and mineral spirits with said added water until a completely emulsified admixture is produced.

2. The method for emulsifying an admixture comprising carnauba wax, mineral spirits, and water as recited in claim 1, wherein said shaking step (b) is performed for approximately three minutes.

3. The method for emulsifying an admixture comprising carnauba wax, mineral spirits, and water as recited in claim 1, wherein said resting step (c) is performed for approximately five minutes.

4. The method for emulsifying an admixture comprising carnauba wax, mineral spirits, and water as recited in claim 1, wherein said repeating step (d) is performed between approximately two and five times.

5. The method for emulsifying an admixture comprising carnauba wax, mineral spirits, and water as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said shaking steps (f), (h), and (j) are performed for a time in the range of approximately two to five minutes.

6. The method for emulsifying an admixture comprising carnauba wax, mineral spirits, and water as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said shaking steps (f), (h), and (j) are performed for a time in the range of approximately two to five minutes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective, schematic view of a package containing a cloth carrying the novel cleaning, polishing, and restoring emulsion in accordance with the invention; and

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective, schematic view of a container housing a plurality of cloths or towelettes carrying the CPR emulsion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(4) The present invention provides a cleaning, polishing, and finish restoring emulsion and method of making the novel emulsion.

(5) The cleaning, polishing, and finish restoring emulsion (CPR emulsion) in accordance with the invention is a combination of well-known ingredients. While the properties of each ingredient are believed to be known to those of skill in the art, there has never heretofore been a cleaning, polishing, restoring material formed therefrom as combining them has presented many obstacles.

(6) The Applicant has discovered and perfected a unique process whereby these ingredients may be effectively combined (e.g., emulsified) into a practical CPR material, notably an emulsion.

(7) The ingredients of the CPR emulsion include Water, Mineral Spirits, and Carnauba Wax.

(8) Mineral spirits are a mixture of aliphatic and alicyclic C7 to C12 hydrocarbons with a maximum content of 25% of CI to C12 aromatic hydrocarbons. A typical composition for mineral spirits is >65% CIO or higher hydrocarbons,aliphatic solvent hexane, and a maximum benzene content of 0.1% by volume, a kauri-butanol value of 29, an initial boiling point of 65 C. (149 F.), a dry point of approximately 69 C. (156 F.), and a density of 0.79 g/ml. Stoddard solvent, also known as white spirit is a specific mixture of hydrocarbons, typically >65% CIO or higher hydrocarbons.

(9) Liquid carnauba wax consists of fatty acid esters (80-85%), fatty alcohols (10-16%), acids (3-6%) and hydrocarbons (1-3%). It is around 20% esterified fatty diols, 10% methoxylated or hydroxylated cinnamic acid, and 6% hydroxylated fatty acids. Carnauba wax has a very high melting point of 82-86 C. (180-187 F.). It is harder than concrete and nearly insoluble in water and ethanol. It is non-toxic and hypoallergenic. The combination of properties leads to many applications, including use in food, cosmetics, automobile and furniture wax, molds for semiconductor devices, and as a coating for dental floss. Carnauba wax is one of those extremely useful natural chemicals and renewable resources that does not have a synthetic equivalent.

(10) As carnauba wax is insoluble in water, combining liquid carnauba wax with water is, therefore, problematic. However, when mixed together in a certain novel sequence, a stable emulsion of water, mineral spirits, and carnauba wax may be formed.

(11) First, mineral spirits is added to liquid carnauba wax in a ratio of approximately 0.85 to 1 mineral spirits to wax by volume.

(12) The liquid carnauba wax and mineral spirits are then shaken vigorously for a period of approximately three minutes. It will be recognized by those of skill in the art that the shaking time may be shorter or longer depending upon the intensity of the agitation (i.e., shaking).

(13) When the shaking is complete, the shaken carnauba wax/mineral spirits is allowed to settle for approximately five minutes, and then the shaking is continued. The shaking/resting cycle is repeated until the carnauba wax/mineral spirits has emulsified. Emulsification has occurred when the ingredients are combined into a uniform pourable paste that shows no visible separation of the components. In addition, when hand-agitated, at the point of emulsification, the ingredients will discernibly change in both apparent viscosity/texture and in the feel experienced by the agitator as the mixture reaches a denser state. The typical number of cycles is typically in the range of between two and five cycles.

(14) A first additional 0.85 by volume of mineral spirits (i.e., a ratio of 0.85 to 1 of mineral spirits to liquid carnauba wax) is added and the shaking resumed and continued until the ingredients have again emulsified. The time depends on several environmental factors and is typically between approximately two and five minutes.

(15) Then a second additional 0.85 by volume of mineral spirits is added and again shaking is resumed and continued until the ingredients have again emulsified. This time also depends on several environmental factors and is typically between approximately two and five minutes.

(16) Finally, approximately 0.7 by volume of water is added to the mixtures and shaking again resumed to emulsify the water with the emulsified carnauba wax and mineral spirits. The shaking time is typically between approximately two and five minutes.

(17) Once the final emulsification has occurred, the CPR emulsion is complete and ready for use.

(18) It will be recognized by those of skill in the art that mechanical agitation may be substituted for the manual shaking chosen for purposes of discloser. It will be further recognized that shaking times may be commensurate with the agitation force used.

(19) While the CPR emulsion in accordance with the invention may be packaged in any conventional package suitable for liquids, it may also be packaged in a potentially more convenient manner.

(20) A rag, towel, cloth, preferably a microfiber cloth, or paper towelette may be fully or partially saturated with the CPR emulsion and then packaged in individual sealed packages or multiple rags, towels, cloths, or paper towelettes may be packaged together in a dispensing container.

(21) Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective, schematic view of a package containing a single cloth carrying the novel CPR emulsion, generally at reference number 100. A cloth 102, preferably formed from a microfiber material and being wetted (i.e., moistened, saturated, etc.) with the novel CPR emulsion, not specifically identified, is folded and placed in a sealed package, bag, or envelope 104. It will be recognized that the degree of wetting may be controlled and selected to meet the requirements of a particular operating environment or circumstance. Package 104 is typically formed from transparent material impervious to the novel CPR emulsion. Such packages are believed to be well known to those of skill in the art and, consequently, are neither further described or discussed herein. Any suitable package shape and/or suitable material may be used to contain and store cloth 102.

(22) A label 106 may be affixed to the package to identify the package contents and provide any material information related to the novel CPR emulsion required by law.

(23) It is anticipated that a package 104 would typically contain a single cloth 102. However, it will be recognized that it is possible to package more than one cloth 102 in package 104. Consequently, the invention is not considered limited to the number of cloths 102 packaged in package 104.

(24) Referring now also to FIG. 2, there is shown a perspective, schematic view of a recloseable container housing a plurality of cloths or towelettes moistened with the novel CPR emulsion in accordance with the invention, generally at reference number 120. Such dispensing containers are believed to be well known for dispensing wetted towelettes for other cleaning products.

(25) A typical multi-towelette dispensing package is a cylinder 122 having a resealable top 124. A separating/singulating device 126 is usually placed at the top of the cylinder 122 but inside the resealable top 124. The singulating device allows easy removal of the moistened/saturated towelettes 128 one-at-a-time as they are needed.

(26) A label 130 may be affixed to an external surface of cylinder 122. Label 130 may contain product identification information, the quantity of towelettes, and any material information related to the novel CPR emulsion required by law.

(27) Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the examples chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.