Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to a non-scrubbing process for cleaning articles, and especially for cleaning vehicles and the like. Background of the invention

Many articles, and particularly vehicles, are provided with a high gloss or other sensitive surface which can be easily scratched and marred. Cleaning processes which do not involve scrubbing can avoid the deleterious affects which are caused by the frictional contact of scrubbing implements on the surface of the article. However, non-scrubbing cleaning processes have generally provided unsatisfactory cleaning results.

Non-scrubbing car washes have existed for many years, for example, as coin operated spray systems which are manually operated by the vehicle's owner. The spray systems have included various cleaners in an effort to remove all of the dirt, grime, etc., which accumulates on the surface of the vehicle. However, irrespective of the chemicals or cleaners incorporated into the spray, a thin film of dirt remains on the vehicle's surface when completed, unless the surface is scrubbed.

Other cleaning processes have been developed which do not include a conventional scrubbing operation, but have limitations which render them unsuitable for general application. For instance, U.S. Patent No. 275,327 to Caffall discloses a process whereby heated paraffine or other wax is applied to the outer wall surfaces of a building in order to remove oil and grease

stains. U.S. Patent No. 3,832,234 to Otrhalek et al. discloses a process which relies upon an acidic solution to remove siliceous and oily soils from railroad rolling stock. U.S. Patent No. 4,586,962 to Barabas discloses a process which uses a solution composed of a copolymer of maleic acid and an unsaturated monomer for removing particulate contaminants from a surface where residual contamination of the surrounding environment must be avoided, such as in the removal of radioactive contaminates.

Further, there are other cleaning processes which purport to be non-scrubbing, but still include abrasive techniques. As an example, U.S. Patent No. 3,994,744 to Anderle et al. purports to disclose a no scrub cleaning process wherein an aqueous solution is sprayed onto the article to be cleaned and permitted to dry to form a tacky film. However, the dried film is removed by mechanical action, such as brooms or vacuum cleaners. Accordingly, though the cleaning solution is applied and dried without scrubbing, the use of a broom or vacuum cleaner to remove the dried solution entails a mechanical scrubbing action.

U.K. Patent No. 1,434,873 discloses a process for washing vehicles. In this process, the vehicle is sprayed with mud, preferably in the form of a slurry using jets in order to produce a slight abrasion of the dirt by mechanical action. Although the process may not include conventional scrubbing, the use of jets to spray the vehicle with a slurry of mud risks harming the finish of the surface to be cleaned, fiummai-γ of the Invention

The present invention pertains to a no scrub cleaning

process which easily cleans and removes substantially all dirt particles from the surface of a wide variety of articles. The present invention pertains to a process which includes spraying a cleaning solution over the surface to be cleaned. The solution is permitted to solidify around dirt particles on the surface such that the dirt particles become entrained in the solid mass of cleaning solution. As the solution solidifies, it also contracts and shifts the dirt particles along the surface. A water jet stream is then applied to the article to remove the solidified solution and the entrained dirt. As a result, a wide variety of articles can be effectively cleaned without risk of scratching or marring of the surface. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

In accordance with the present invention, articles are cleansed of dirt particles without the application of a scrubbing action. Scrubbing with a brush or other implement or apparatus can result in marring of the finish of a high gloss or other sensitive surface. For instance, in the washing of automobiles, many owners forego scrubbing in an effort to avoid undesirable scratches. However, such no scrub washing heretofore has provided unsatisfactory results.

In practicing the no scrub cleaning process of the present invention, an article (e.g., a vehicle) is first sprayed with a cleaning solution. The cleaning solution is preferably a soap and water mixture. In the preferred composition, the cleaning solution is about 80% water by weight and about 20% soap by weight. Nevertheless, suitable solutions having different mixtures can be used. For instance, the composition may be

varied to be composed of about 40% water by weight and about 60% soap by weight. If so desired, the soap may also include other additives, such as surfactants, emulsifiers, thickeners and other chemicals.

In one preferred embodiment, the composition of the cleaning solution comprises:

PRODUCT GENERIC DESCRIPTION PERCENTAGE BY WEIGHT

Borax 5 Mole Borax 6.25

Valley Anhydrous Soap Neat Soap 5.00

Calsoft F-90 Anionic Detergent 2.02

Variquat K-1215 Quaternary 2.02

Acusol 505N Detergent Polymer 6.25

Water Water 78.45

Other cleaning solutions providing the required characteristics, as discussed below, could also be used to practice the present invention.

The soap is preferably of the type known as "neat soap." Neat soap is commonly used to make laundry soap and toilet soap. In laundry soap, the water content of the soap is ordinarily about 28% water. With regard to toilet soap, the water content is reduced to about 10% water content. In the present invention, the neat soap is heated and mixed with water to achieve a composition in the desired range. Once the desired mix is attained, the solution is cooled to a solid form for packaging.

The preferred cleaning solution or material is a solid at ordinary ambient temperatures. In the preferred embodiment, the cleaning material is initially heated to transform the material from a solid to a liquid. Preferably, the cleaning material is

heated to a temperature of about 130° - 160°F. For home use the cleaning material may be heated in a mien ave or conventional oven. In a commercial use, the cleaning solution may be heated by any known means for each application or maintained continuously in a liquid state.

While in a liquid form, the cleaning solution is sprayed or otherwise applied onto the article so that a continuous film overlies the entire surface to be cleaned. The cleaning solution may be packaged and heated in a spray container or transferred to a spray device once melted. If necessary, the spray container can be surrounded or composed of an insulating material to prevent premature cooling of the cleaning solution. Alternatively, in a commercial operation, the source of cleaning solution may be continuously coupled to a spray mechanism.

Once the cleaning solution has been applied to the article, it begins to cool. Cooling causes the cleaning solution to solidify around the dirt particles on the article such that the dirt particles become encompassed in the now solidified film of solution. Cooling also causes the solution to contract and move relative to the article's surface. As the cleaning material contracts, the solid mass around each dirt particle causes the particle to be shifted along the surface to which it had been adhered. In this way, the dirt can be loosened without scrubbing. Although cooling generally only requires a few minutes, a longer time may be needed depending on the heated temperature, the article to be cleaned, the composition of the solution, and the surrounding temperature.

As an alternative, the cleaning solution could be composed

of a soap and water mixture which has a greater percentage of water, possibly up to 90% water by weight. In this alternative solution, the soap is sufficiently diluted so that the cleaning solution is a liquid at ordinary ambient temperatures. This solution can be sprayed onto the article to be cleaned without heating. In one embodiment, solidification and contraction of the solution occurs as a result of evaporation, instead of cooling. This solution may include evaporative agents, such as alcohol or other materials which evaporate more quickly than water, to speed the evaporation process. The preferred composition comprises:

PRODUCT GENERIC DESCRIPTION PERCENTAGE BY WEIGHT

Carbopol 672 Water Soluble Vinyl 1.00 Polymer as a Thickner

Carboxymethylcellulose Suspending Agent 0.50

Calsoft F-90 Anionic Detergent 4.17

Variquat K-1215 Quaternary 2.38

Sodium Metasilicate Silicate 2.98

Acusol 505N Detergent Polymer 1.00

Water Water 87.98

Nevertheless, variation in the materials used and their concentrations could be varied.

Alternatively, the diluted solution can be mixed at the time of spraying, by a conventional mixing nozzle, with a contracting polymer. In this arrangement, the polymer is maintained in a liquid form at certain pH levels (e.g., 7), but solidifies upon reaching higher pH levels (e.g., 8). Mixing the cleaning solution with the polymer results in a final solution with an elevated pH. The final mixed solution solidifies and contracts

on the article as a result of the transformation caused by the introduction of the polymer into the cleaning solution, instead of by cooling.

While these alternative processes are easier for the user to practice because the cleaning material does not need to be heated, they also include less of a soap concentration and therefore produce less of a solid mass of material for encompassing of the soap particles. Accordingly, these solutions may not be as effective in certain circumstances.

A high velocity water jet stream is then sprayed against the article to break up and remove the solidified film of cleaning solution and the dirt encompassed by it. The break up and removal of the solidified cleaning material, along with the contraction of the cleaning material, provides an effective means by which the dirt on the article's surface may be loosened and lifted from the surface without leaving a residual dirt film.

The water pressure ordinarily available from a home garden hose is generally sufficient to remove the solidified film of cleaning solution. A nozzle construction as disclosed in co- pending U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/332,547, entitled "Nozzle System" and filed October 31, 1994, hereby incorporated by reference, is preferably attached to the hose to provide maximum movement of the film during rinsing. Nevertheless, conventional nozzle constructions could also be used.

The process of the present invention is not only quick and easy to practice, but also effective in cleaning a wide array of articles. Moreover, since the preferred cleaning solution is a soap product, no environmental concerns are raised by removing

and disposing of the cleaning material.

The above description concerns the preferred embodiments of the present invention. Various other embodiments as well as many changes and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the claims.