Household lubricant and method of use

Abstract

A water-based household lubricant, free of hydrocarbon oils, comprises a water-soluble ammonium salt of a surfactant, preferably a carboxylate, sulfonate, phosphate or sarcosinate surfactant, preferably having rust preventative activity, most particularly ammonium N-oleol sarcosinate as a main or sole component. The composition also desirably contains an anti-microbial and a surface tension reducer, most preferably N-(N-octal)-2-pyrrolidone. An aqueous solution of the ammonium salt of the fatty acid surfactant, which is non-staining, is applied to a substrate, the water evaporates and ammonia from the ammonium ion is slowly released into the atmosphere leaving the surfactant as a lubricant. The residue provides rust resistance, water repellency and lubrication.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A household lubricant composition consisting essentially of a water solution of an ammonium salt of a long chain hydrocarbon with an acid group at one end thereof.  
     
     
         2 . The household lubricant composition of  claim 1  wherein said acid group is selected from the group consisting of carboxylate, sulfonate, phosphate, and sarcosinate.  
     
     
         3 . The household lubricant composition of  claim 2  wherein said long chain hydrocarbon with an acid group at one end thereof is a fatty acid.  
     
     
         4 . The lubricant composition of  claim 1  wherein the acid group is sarcosinate.  
     
     
         5 . The household lubricant composition of  claim 1  wherein said ammonium salt of said long chain hydrocarbon with an acid group at one end is present in said composition in an amount of about 0.1% to about 25% by weight.  
     
     
         6 . The household lubricant of  claim 1  wherein the long chain hydrocarbon with an acid group at the end thereof is a surfactant having rust inhibitive properties.  
     
     
         7 . The household lubricant composition of  claim 4  wherein said ammonium salt of said sarcosinate is present in an amount between about 0.1 and about 25% by weight.  
     
     
         8 . The household lubricant composition of  claim 4  wherein the quantity of said ammonium salt of said sarcosinate is between 0.4% and 10% by weight.  
     
     
         9 . In a method of lubricating comprising applying a liquid lubricant to a part in need of lubrication, the improvement wherein said liquid lubricant is the lubricant of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         10 . In a method of lubricating comprising applying a liquid lubricant to a part in need of lubrication, the improvement wherein said liquid lubricant is the lubricant of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         11 . In a method of lubricating comprising applying a liquid lubricant to a part in need of lubrication, the improvement wherein said liquid lubricant is the lubricant of  claim 3 .  
     
     
         12 . In a method of lubricating comprising applying a liquid lubricant to a part in need of lubrication, the improvement wherein said liquid lubricant is the lubricant of  claim 4 .  
     
     
         13 . In a method of lubricating comprising applying a liquid lubricant to a part in need of lubrication, the improvement wherein said liquid lubricant is the lubricant of  claim 5 .  
     
     
         14 . In a method of lubricating comprising applying a liquid lubricant to a part in need of lubrication, the improvement wherein said liquid lubricant is the lubricant of  claim 6 .  
     
     
         15 . In a method of lubricating comprising applying a liquid lubricant to a part in need of lubrication, the improvement wherein said liquid lubricant is the lubricant of  claim 7 .  
     
     
         16 . In a method of lubricating comprising applying a liquid lubricant to a part in need of lubrication, the improvement wherein said liquid lubricant is the lubricant of  claim 8 .  
     
     
         17 . A dispenser for the household lubricant composition of  claim 1 , said dispenser comprising a trigger sprayer adapted to deposit said household lubricant composition a drop at a time, and comprising an integral fixed extension tube having a length greater than 7.6 mm and a bore less 4.1 mm.