Water-soluble delayed release capsules, related methods, and related articles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9670437-B2
Application number	US-201414507376-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 6, 2014
Priority date	Oct 7, 2013
Publication date	Jun 6, 2017
Grant date	Jun 6, 2017

Abstract

Disclosed herein are capsules for delayed release of an ingredient contained therein, in particular water-soluble capsules for delayed release of water-sensitive, gas-generating compositions, other gas-forming compositions, or other cleaning compositions into an aqueous liquid medium. The delayed release capsules can incorporate one or more gas-relief pinholes for gas-generating water-sensitive or other gas-forming compositions contained in the capsules, such as inorganic bleach or other alkaline compositions intended for delayed release into a wash medium during a laundry cycle or perfumes. The pinholes permit gas generated or otherwise formed within the capsule, such as due to exposure to environmental water vapor, to escape from the capsule interior, preventing pressure build-up and capsule deformation during storage. The pinholes are sized to prevent or otherwise substantially limit the passage of liquids when submerged in a liquid medium (e.g., liquid water in an aqueous liquid medium). Related articles and methods for delivering the capsules in combination with a detergent or other laundry composition are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A delayed release capsule for delivery of a cleaning composition, the capsule comprising:
(a) a capsule shell comprising a water-soluble polymer and defining an interior capsule volume, wherein
(i) the capsule shell has a substantially uniform wall thickness in a range of about 500 μm to about 5000 μm,
(ii) the capsule shell wall has a local thickness within about 50% of an average wall thickness across substantially the entire capsule shell,
(iii) the capsule shell comprises a pinhole sized and shaped (A) to permit gaseous fluid communication between the interior capsule volume and an environment external to the capsule shell, and (B) to limit liquid fluid communication between the interior capsule volume and the external environment,
(iv) the capsule shell comprises two or more capsule shell elements mated together in a slidable engagement to collectively define the capsule shell and the interior capsule volume,
(v) each capsule shell element comprises the water-soluble polymer, and
(vi) at least one capsule shell element comprises the pinhole; and

(b) a cleaning composition for delayed release contained in the interior capsule volume, wherein the cleaning composition is other than a water-sensitive composition capable of generating gas when contacted with at least one of liquid water and water vapor.

2. A capsule for delivery of a gas-emitting composition, the capsule comprising:
(a) a capsule shell comprising a water-soluble polymer and defining an interior capsule volume, wherein
(i) the capsule shell has a wall thickness in a range of about 500 μm to about 5000 μm,
(ii) the capsule shell comprises a pinhole sized and shaped (A) to permit gaseous fluid communication between the interior capsule volume and an environment external to the capsule shell, and (B) to limit liquid fluid communication between the interior capsule volume and the external environment,
(iii) the capsule shell comprises two or more capsule shell elements mated together in a slidable engagement to collectively define the capsule shell and the interior capsule volume,
(iv) each capsule shell element comprises the water-soluble polymer, and
(v) at least one capsule shell element comprises the pinhole; and

(b) a gas-emitting composition contained in the interior capsule volume and in contact with the capsule shell wall, wherein the interior capsule volume is free from water-sensitive compositions capable of generating gas when contacted with at least one of liquid water and water vapor.

3. The capsule of claim 2 , wherein the pinhole has a diameter (D) in a range of about 10 μm to about 1500 μm.

4. The capsule of claim 2 , wherein the pinhole has length (L) and a diameter (D) with a corresponding L/D ratio in a range of about 0.01 to about 100.

5. The capsule of claim 2 , wherein the gas-emitting composition comprises a volatile composition capable of emitting a volatile component of the volatile composition as a gas.

6. The capsule of claim 2 , wherein the gas-emitting composition comprises a perfume composition capable of emitting a perfume gas.

7. The capsule of claim 6 , wherein the perfume composition comprises a perfume-loaded solid substrate.

8. The capsule of claim 2 , wherein the composition comprises a gas-generating composition capable of generating a gas in the presence of a reactive component other than liquid water and water vapor.

9. The capsule of claim 2 , wherein the capsule further comprises an additional composition contained in the interior capsule volume, and at least one of the composition and the additional composition is intended for delayed release.

10. The capsule of claim 2 , wherein the interior capsule volume is in a range of about 0.1 ml to about 100 ml.

11. The capsule of claim 2 , wherein the wall thickness is in a range of about 500 μm to about 1500 μm.

12. The capsule of claim 2 , wherein the capsule shell wall has a local thickness within 100% to about 50% of an average wall thickness across substantially the entire capsule shell.

13. The capsule of claim 2 , wherein the water-soluble polymer is thermoformable.

14. The capsule of claim 2 , wherein the water-soluble polymer has a 4% solution viscosity at 20° C. in a range of about 4 cP to about 23 cP.

15. The capsule of claim 2 , wherein the water-soluble polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohols, polyethyleneimines, polyvinyl pyrrolidones, polyalkylene oxides, polyacrylamides, cellulose ethers, cellulose esters, cellulose amides, polyvinyl acetates, polyamides, gelatines, methylcelluloses, carboxymethylcelluloses and salts thereof, dextrins, ethylcelluloses, hydroxyethyl celluloses, hydroxypropyl methylcelluloses, maltodextrins, copolymers thereof, blends thereof, and combinations thereof.

16. The capsule of claim 2 , wherein the water-soluble polymer comprises polyvinyl alcohol.

17. The capsule of claim 16 , wherein the polyvinyl alcohol comprises a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer consisting essentially of vinyl alcohol monomeric repeat units and vinyl acetate monomeric repeat units.

18. The capsule of claim 16 , wherein the polyvinyl alcohol comprises a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer comprising vinyl alcohol monomeric repeat units, vinyl acetate monomeric repeat units, and at least one other type of monomeric repeat units.

19. The capsule of claim 2 , wherein the capsule shell as formed remains intact for about 5 minutes to 20 minutes when submerged in water heated to a temperature of about 40° C., as measured by Bleach Compatibility Method A.

20. The capsule of claim 2 , wherein the capsule shell as formed remains intact for about 20 minutes to 50 minutes when submerged in water heated to a temperature of about 40° C., as measured by Bleach Compatibility Method A.

21. The capsule of claim 2 , wherein the capsule shell as formed remains intact for about 50 minutes to 100 minutes when submerged in water heated to a temperature of about 40° C., as measured by Bleach Compatibility Method A.

22. The capsule of claim 2 , wherein the composition is selected from the group consisting of laundry detergent compositions, fabric enhancers, organic bleaches, perfumes, and combinations thereof.

23. The capsule of claim 22 , wherein the capsule leaves no visible residue on laundry when washed with laundry for 61 minutes in an unheated wash cycle at a temperature in a range of about 20° C. to about 25° C.

24. The capsule of claim 22 , wherein the capsule leaves no visible residue on laundry when (i) washed with laundry for 61 minutes in an unheated wash cycle at a temperature in a range of about 20° C. to about 25° C. and then (ii) rinsed at a temperature in a range of about 20° C. to about 25° C. with laundry for 36 minutes.

25. A capsule for delivery of a volatile composition, the capsule comprising:
(a) a water-soluble capsule shell comprising polyvinyl alcohol and defining an interior capsule volume, wherein:
(i) the capsule shell has a wall thickness in a range of about 500 μm to about 3000 μm, and
(ii) the capsule shell comprises a pinhole sized and shaped (A) to permit gaseous fluid communication between the interior capsule volume and an environment external to the capsule shell, and (B) to limit liquid fluid communication between the interior capsule volume and the external environment,
(iii) the capsule shell comprises two or more capsule shell elements mated together in a slidable engagement to collectively d

Assignees

• Monosol Llc

Inventors

• Kumar Sumeet
• Lee David M

Classifications

• C11D17/08

  Liquid soap, {e.g. for dispensers}; capsuled · CPC title

• C11D17/042 Primary

  Water soluble or water disintegrable containers or substrates containing cleaning compositions or additives for cleaning compositions · CPC title

• C11D17/0039 Primary

  Coated compositions or coated components in the compositions, (micro)capsules · CPC title

• B65D85/8043 Primary

  Packages adapted to allow liquid to pass through the contents (B65D85/808 takes precedence; filters or reusable cartridges for coffee or tea makers, not used as packages A47J31/06) · CPC title

• B65D65/46

  Applications of disintegrable, dissolvable or edible materials · CPC title