Cleaning product

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional dishwashing methods under running water often require excessive detergent, longer mixing times, and increased effort, especially when dealing with lightly soiled or heavily soiled items, and there is a need for a product that can efficiently clean a variety of soils with minimal waste and inhalation risks.

Innovation Solution

A spray dispenser containing a foaming cleaning composition with a specific surfactant system and glycol ether solvent ratio, which generates long-lasting suds, reduces scrubbing effort, and effectively cleans both light and tough food soils with minimal rinse water, while minimizing overspray and inhalation risks.

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:
Improvedetergent delivery controlVSAvoiddetergent waste
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning composition is formulated to self-regulate its foaming and cleaning action. The specific surfactant system with glycol ether solvent creates controlled suds that automatically adjust to the amount of soil present, eliminating the need for precise detergent dosing by the user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the chemical parameters of the cleaning composition by using a specific surfactant system (5-15% concentration) combined with glycol ether solvent in a weight ratio of 5:1 to 1:1. This parameter optimization ensures efficient cleaning with minimal product while controlling foam generation to prevent waste.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

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

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning solution preparationVSAvoidmixing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning composition is pre-formulated with the optimal surfactant system and glycol ether solvent mixture before use. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for users to mix detergent with water during the cleaning process, allowing immediate application upon spraying.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the mixing step from the cleaning process by providing a ready-to-use cleaning composition that requires no preparation. The surfactant system and solvent are pre-combined in the correct proportions, removing the time-consuming mixing action entirely.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If spray composition spreads to surrounding atmosphere, then application is achieved, but product waste and inhalation risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespray applicationVSAvoidproduct waste
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the physical parameters of the cleaning composition, specifically its volatility and surface tension characteristics, by using the surfactant system with glycol ether solvent. This formulation reduces overspray and atmospheric spreading while maintaining effective spray application coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Productivity

If high surfactant concentration is used for fast cleaning, then cleaning speed increases, but foam stability and rinseability may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning speedVSAvoidfoam stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a composite cleaning system combining surfactants (5-15% concentration) with glycol ether solvent in a specific weight ratio (5:1 to 1:1). This composite formulation achieves fast cleaning through adequate surfactant levels while the glycol ether component stabilizes the foam and ensures good rinseability, resolving the trade-off between cleaning speed and foam stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 enables fast and efficient cleaning of dishware with reduced effort, effective removal of tough soils, and minimal product waste, making it suitable for both lightly and heavily soiled items, and is designed to be easy to rinse and safe for use under running water.

Implementation Method 1

The composition comprises: i) from about 5 to about 15%, preferably from about 7 to about 12% by weight of the composition of a surfactant system; and ii) a glycol ether solvent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurfactant: Surfactant

Implementation Method 2

The composition foams when it is sprayed. Foaming is a property that users associate with cleaning therefore it is important that the composition of the invention foams

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFoam: Foam

Implementation Method 3

When articles are soiled with difficult to remove soils, it is desirable that the product facilitates the cleaning task by softening the well-attached soils

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolvation: Solvation

Implementation Method 4

The preferred spraying means being a trigger spray. The composition foams when it is sprayed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAerosol: Aerosol

Data Source

PatentUS10934502B2Cleaning product
Publication Date: 2021.03.02 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

A cleaning product including a spray dispenser and a cleaning composition suitable for spraying and foaming, the composition housed in the spray dispenser and includes: i) from about 5 to about 15% by weight of the composition of a surfactant system; and ii) a specific glycol ether solvent, the surfactant system and the glycol ether solvent are in a weight ratio of from about 5:1 to about 1:1.