Foaming Cleaning Composition with Spray Dispenser for Dishware

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manual dishwashing under running water often requires excessive detergent, longer mixing times, and increased effort due to the need for scrubbing, especially when dealing with lightly soiled or heavily soiled items, and there is a need for a product that can effectively clean a variety of soils with minimal waste and inhalation risks.

Innovation Solution

A foaming cleaning composition housed in a spray dispenser, containing a surfactant system with a branched short chain alkyl sulfate and a glycol ether solvent in a specific weight ratio, which generates long-lasting suds, reduces scrubbing effort, and minimizes overspray, suitable for quick and effective cleaning of dishware under running water.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If detergent is delivered to a sponge for cleaning small number of items, then cleaning can be performed, but excessive detergent is dosed requiring more rinsing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of cleaning operationVSAvoiddetergent waste
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The spray dispenser automatically controls detergent delivery to the sponge, eliminating the need for manual dosing by the user. The system self-regulates the amount of detergent transferred, ensuring optimal quantity is applied without excess, thereby reducing rinsing requirements and detergent waste.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical action of squeezing detergent from a bottle onto a sponge is replaced with a spray dispenser mechanism that uses pressurized aerosol technology. This substitution enables precise controlled delivery of detergent directly to the sponge or cleaning surface, preventing over-application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If detergent is mixed with water in the sponge, then cleaning solution is prepared, but time is required slowing down the cleaning process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of cleaning operationVSAvoidmixing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The detergent and water are pre-mixed in aerosol form within the spray dispenser before application. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for the user to perform mixing action during the cleaning process, saving time and enabling immediate use upon spraying.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning composition is delivered as an aerosol spray that transitions from a pressurized liquid/gas mixture in the dispenser to a fine mist upon release. This phase transition delivers pre-mixed cleaning solution directly to the sponge or surface, eliminating manual mixing time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

3Productivity

If spray composition is applied to dishware, then cleaning is facilitated, but spreading to surrounding atmosphere causes waste and inhalation risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning speedVSAvoidinhalation risk and product waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning composition is nested within a pressurized spray dispenser system that contains the aerosol mixture until moment of use. This nested structure controls the release of the composition, directing it precisely where needed while minimizing uncontrolled dispersion into the surrounding atmosphere.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The spray dispenser acts as an intermediary device between the cleaning composition and the dishware surface. It mediates the delivery by controlling aerosolization and spray pattern, ensuring the composition reaches the target surface efficiently while minimizing atmospheric dispersion and associated hazards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The composition provides fast and effective cleaning of both lightly and heavily soiled dishware with reduced effort, minimizing waste and inhalation risks, while maintaining good foaming properties and cleaning performance.

Implementation Method 1

A sprayable composition for use in hand dishwashing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAerosol spray: Aerosol

Implementation Method 2

The composition is a foaming composition and it is suitable for spraying. The composition foams when it is sprayed.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFoaming: Foam

Implementation Method 3

comprising from 5% to 15% by weight of the composition of a surfactant system comprising a branched short chain alkyl sulfate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurfactant action: Surfactant

Implementation Method 4

comprising from 2% to 8% by weight of the composition of a glycol ether solvent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolvation: Solvation

Data Source

PatentEP3118290B1Cleaning product
Publication Date: 2019.02.20 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

A cleaning product comprising a spray dispenser and a cleaning composition suitable for spraying and foaming, the composition housed in the spray dispenser wherein the composition comprises: i) a surfactant system comprising a branched short chain alkyl sulfate and a co-surfactant selected from the group consisting of amphoteric surfactant, zwitteronic surfactant and mixtures thereof; and ii) a glycol ether solvent selected from the group consisting of glycol ethers of Formula I: R1O(R2O)nR3, Formula II: R4O(R5O)nR6 and mixtures thereof wherein R1 is a linear or branched C4, C5 or C6 alkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, R2 is ethyl or isopropyl, R3 is hydrogen or methyl and n is 1, 2 or 3 R4 is n-propyl or isopropyl, R5 is isopropyl, R6 is hydrogen or methyl and n is 1, 2 or 3.