IP Library Granted Patent US 12709718
Granted Patent B2
US 12709718 · App. 18/498,224 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Laundry formulas with high solvent ratio for improved mildness

Inventor: Daniel Thomas Piorkowski (Fairfield, CT)
Assignee: Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
C11D3/3723C11D1/74C11D3/0047C11D3/3707C11D3/43C11D2111/12
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12709718
App. No.
18/498,224
Granted
Aug 18, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure provides a unit dose product comprising a pouch formed from a water-soluble film material and a detergent composition disposed within the pouch. The detergent composition comprises about 5 to about 25 wt % water, about 20 to about 40 wt % of at least one surfactant, about 35 to about 55 wt % non-aqueous solvent comprising polyethylene glycol and glycerin, and no enzyme, wherein a percent swelling is not more than about 30% in a 24 hr test. The composition can further comprise additional components, such as a base, a performance polymer, an anti-redeposition agent, a defoamer, a bleaching agent, a bleach activator, a chelating agent, an optical brightener, a bitterant, a corrosion inhibitor, or any combination thereof. The detergent composition comprises surfactants with improved mildness and solvents with lower allergic components.

Claims (32)

1 . A unit dose product comprising:

a pouch formed from a water-soluble film material;

a detergent composition comprising

(a) about 5 to about 25 weight percent (wt %) water,

(b) about 20 to about 40 wt % of at least one surfactant, and

(c) about 35 to about 55 wt % of non-aqueous solvent consisting essentially of one or two non-aqueous solvents and polyethylene glycol;

wherein no enzyme is present in the composition;

wherein a percent swelling is not more than about 30% in a 24 hr test; and

wherein the detergent composition is disposed within the pouch.

2 . The unit dose product of claim 1 , wherein a height of the pouch does not decrease by more than about 15% over a temperature range of 0° F. to 125° F.

3 . The unit dose product of claim 1 , wherein the detergent composition has a Zein score of not more than 1.5% dissolved zein when tested on a 3% dilution.

4 . The unit dose product of claim 3 , wherein the detergent composition has a Zein score of not more than 1% dissolved zein when tested on a 3% dilution.

5 . The unit dose product of claim 4 , wherein the detergent composition has a Zein score of not more than 0.5% dissolved zein when tested on a 3% dilution.

6 . The unit dose product of claim 1 , wherein the detergent composition comprises about 40 to about 50 wt % of non-aqueous solvent.

7 . The unit dose product of claim 1 , wherein the non-aqueous solvent comprises polyethylene glycol and glycerin in a weight ratio of about 1:1 to about 2:1.

8 . The unit dose product of claim 1 , wherein the one or two non-aqueous solvents are selected from the group consisting of ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, tripropylene glycol, dipropylene glycol monobutyl ether, 1,3-butylene glycol, 1,4-butylene glycol, 1-(1-butoxy-2-propoxy)-2-propanol, 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, and 1,6-hexanediol.

9 . The unit dose product of claim 7 , wherein the non-aqueous solvent further comprises ethanol.

10 . The unit dose product of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant to non-aqueous solvent weight ratio ranges from about 1:1 to about 1:1.5.

11 . The unit dose product of claim 1 , wherein the detergent composition comprises about 25 to about 35 wt % of at least one surfactant.

12 . The unit dose product of claim 1 , wherein the at least one surfactant comprises a non-ionic alcohol ethoxylate (AE), an alkyl ether sulfate (AES), or a combination of both.

13 . The unit dose product of claim 12 , wherein the non-ionic alcohol ethoxylate (AE) comprises the formula R 1 -(EO) n —OH, wherein R 1 is a C 12 -C 18 alkyl group, EO is ethoxylate, and n is an integer of moles from 1 to 15.

14 . The unit dose product of claim 12 , wherein the at least one surfactant comprises AE and AES with an AE to AES weight ratio of at least about 3:1.

15 . The unit dose product of claim 13 , wherein the AE to AES weight ratio is between about 4:1 and about 6:1.

16 . The unit dose product of claim 1 , wherein the at least one surfactant does not include a linear alkyl benzene sulfonate.

17 . The unit dose product of claim 1 , wherein the detergent composition has a pH of about 6.5 to about 12.

18 . The unit dose product of claim 1 , wherein the detergent composition further comprises at least one additive selected from a base, a performance polymer, an anti-redeposition agent, a defoamer, a bleaching agent, a bleach activator, a chelating agent, an optical brightener, a bitterant, a corrosion inhibitor, and any combination thereof.

19 . The unit dose product of claim 18 , wherein the performance polymer comprises at least one of polyethyleneimine ethoxylate and polyethyleneimine ethoxylate propoxylate.

20 . The unit dose product of claim 1 , wherein the detergent composition comprises

about 45 to about 55 wt % of non-aqueous solvent comprising polyethylene glycol and glycerin;

a total of about 25 to about 35 wt % surfactants comprising at least one surfactant selected from an alcohol ethoxylate, an alkyl ether sulfate, coco fatty acid, and any combination thereof; and

at least one additive selected from a base, a defoamer, a chelating agent, an optical brightener, a bitterant, a corrosion inhibitor, and a combination thereof.

21 . The unit dose product of claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble film material comprises polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) or polyvinyl acetate (PVA).