FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a detergent or cleaning agent, in particular a cleaning agent for hard surfaces, comprising at least two different phases.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Detergents or cleaning agents are usually present in solid form (as a powder, for example) or in liquid form (or also as a flowing gel). Solid detergents or cleaning agents have the advantage that, unlike liquid detergents or cleaning agents, they do not require any preservatives. Liquid product formats are increasingly gaining acceptance in the market, particularly due to their quick solubility and the resulting quick availability of the active ingredients they contain. This gives the consumer the option of using abbreviated rinse cycles while still obtaining good cleaning performance.

Furthermore, consumers have grown accustomed to the convenient metering of pre-portioned machine detergents or cleaning agents, such as dishwashing detergents, and use these products in the form of tablets (solid detergents or cleaning agents) or in the form of pouches that are filled with what is usually a liquid detergent or cleaning agent, with pouches filled with powder also being possible as single-use portions. Single-use portions in water-soluble pouches are popular with consumers not only because they no longer come into contact with the chemical composition, but rather, not least because of the attractive appearance of the pouches.

The appearance of the dosage form is becoming increasingly important. Besides good cleaning performance and adequate storage stability, a good appearance is one of the reasons on which the selection of a product is based. However, the visual performance of products that are stored in pouches frequently changes, which consumers often associate with reduced capacity and degraded cleaning performance.

Furthermore, there are active components of a detergent or cleaning agent which can be incorporated in liquid formulations only with difficulty. Accordingly, liquid active substances can be incorporated in powder formulations only to a limited extent.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

From the perspective of consumers, it is now desirable to combine the advantages of the two product formats and provide a dosage form that is improved compared with the prior art, particularly for detergents or cleaning agents that are usually liquids. Both single-use portioning and a visual appearance that is attractive to consumers should be achieved simultaneously. This should also be maintained during conventional storage. Surprisingly, it has been found that this object can be achieved by a formulation of a flexible phase that is combined with a solid phase.

In a first embodiment, the problem which forms the basis of the present application is therefore solved by a detergent or cleaning agent comprising at least one first phase (1) and at least one second phase (2) that is different therefrom, characterized in that the at least one first phase (1) is solid and is in particular a powder and the at least one second phase (2) comprises at least one polymer, at least one polyvalent alcohol and at least one organic acid, the pH of a 1% solution of the at least one second phase (2) in water at 20° C. being 6 or less.

The figures schematically show possible arrangements for the at least one first phase (1) and the at least one second phase (2). Within the meaning of the present invention, a phase is a spatial region in which physical parameters and the chemical composition are homogeneous. One phase differs from another phase on account of its different features, such as ingredients, physical properties, external appearance, etc. Preferably, different phases can be differentiated visually from one another. Therefore, the at least one first phase can be clearly distinguished visually by a consumer from the at least one second phase. The surface of the second phase should differ clearly from the first phase on account of a distinct luster, for example. The surface of the solid at least one first phase is usually not glossy but rather matte, dull, or muted, so that it is possible to make a clear distinction on account of the luster that makes the detergent or cleaning agent attractive to consumers.

If the detergent or cleaning agent according to the invention has more than one first phase, then they can also each be distinguished from one another with the naked eye because of their different coloration, for example. The same applies when two or more second phases are present. In this case as well, a visual differentiation of the phases, for example on the basis of a difference in color or transparency, is possible. Within the meaning of the present invention, phases are thus self-contained regions that can be differentiated visually from one another by a consumer with the naked eye. The individual phases can have different properties when used, such as the speed at which the phase dissolves in water and hence the speed and the sequence of the release of the ingredients contained in the particular phase.

According to the invention, the at least one second phase is dimensionally stable at room temperature. During preparation, the at least one polymer is brought into contact with the at least one polyvalent alcohol and the acid. This results in a flowable mixture being obtained that can be shaped as desired. After a certain period of time, a second phase is obtained that remains in the predefined shape, i.e., is dimensionally stable. This period of time, namely the setting time, is preferably 15 minutes or less, more preferably 10 minutes or less, particularly preferably 5 minutes. The at least one second phase yields on pressure but is not deformed as a result, but rather returns to its initial state once the pressure has been removed. The at least one second phase is preferably elastic, in particular linear-elastic. The at least one second phase is also preferably transparent, as a result of which a good visual impression is achieved. The at least one second phase is therefore gel-like. It is preferably free of solid substances that are not present in dissolved form. Therefore, the at least one second phase is not a solid phase in powder form.

The at least one second phase is sliceable. For example, it can be cut with a knife after it has set without being destroyed beyond the cut that is made. Moreover, the at least one second is in particular flexible. Due to its flexibility and elasticity, it can assume any shape. This also means that it has a level of breaking strength that enables good handling, in particular in terms of transport and storage, but also consumption.

