Methods and compositions for treating laundry items

• US 10,266,981 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2014
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Fulmer, Gregory R., Ghosh, Kaustav, Murch, William L., Quddus, Mir A., Righetti, Nicholas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Delcotto, Gregory R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kumar, Preeti
• Application Number:
  US14/160,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20140259442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,917 Days
• Field of Search: 442121, 8137, 68 17 R
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/62 Quaternary ammonium compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/72 Ethers of polyoxyalkylene glycols
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/835 Mixtures of non-ionic with cationic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 2111/12 Soft surfaces, e.g. textile
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/0021 Dye-stain or dye-transfer inhibiting compositions
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/04 Quantity, e.g. weight
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/04 Quantity, e.g. weight or variation of weight
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/42 Detergent or additive supply
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/37 of metering of detergents or additives
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 13/395 Isocyanates
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 13/402 Amides imides, sulfamic acids
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

A method of treating laundry in a laundry treating appliance having a treating chamber for receiving the laundry for treatment according to an automatic cycle of operation implemented by a controller of the laundry treating appliance includes receiving by the controller an input indicative of the laundry comprising at least one new laundry item.

Claims

1. A method of treating laundry in a laundry treating appliance having a treating chamber for receiving the laundry for treatment according to an automatic cycle of operation implemented by a controller of the laundry treating appliance, the method comprising:

receiving by the controller a user input, indicative of the laundry comprising at least one new laundry item being washed for the first time by the user, through a user interface, wherein the user interface comprises an input selectable by the user to indicate the presence of at least one new laundry item;

in response to receiving the user input the controller executes a new laundry item cycle comprising;

a dye transfer inhibitor (DTI) phase where a DTI is introduced into the treating chamber; and

after the DTI phase, a wash phase where detergent is introduced into the treating chamber; and

indicating through the user interface a dye inhibited status subsequent to the DTI phase;

wherein the indicating the dye inhibited status comprises one of indicating that the laundry is suitable for a sorted wash cycle or indicating that the laundry is suitable for an un-sorted wash cycle.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining dyes that have been released from the laundry within the treating chamber during the DTI phase.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein determining released dyes comprises sensing released dyes within the treating chamber and providing a dye output signal indicative of the sensed released dyes.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein sensing released dyes comprises sensing released dyes in liquid from the treating chamber.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising introducing additional DTI into the treating chamber when the dye output signal indicates a non-inhibited dye condition.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the introducing of additional DTI is continued until the dye output signal indicates a dye inhibited condition.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the dye inhibited condition comprises the dye output signal being less than a predetermined threshold.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein introducing the DTI comprises introducing a liquid containing the DTI into the treating chamber.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein introducing the DTI comprises introducing the DTI into a liquid system and introducing liquid from the liquid system into the treating chamber.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein introducing the DTI into the liquid system comprises introducing the DTI into a sump of the liquid system.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein introducing liquid from the liquid system into the treating chamber comprises circulating liquid from the sump into the treating chamber.

12. A method of treating laundry in a laundry treating appliance having a treating chamber for receiving the laundry for treatment according to an automatic cycle of operation implemented by a controller of the laundry treating appliance, the method comprising:

receiving by the controller a user input, indicative of the laundry comprising at least one new laundry item being washed for the first time by the user, through a user interface, wherein the user interface comprises an input selectable by the user to indicate the presence of at least one new laundry item;

in response to receiving the user input the controller executes a new laundry item cycle comprising;

a dye transfer inhibitor (DTI) phase where a DTI is introduced into the treating chamber; and

after the DTI phase, a wash phase where detergent is introduced into the treating chamber.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein introducing the DTI comprises introducing a liquid containing the DTI into the treating chamber.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein introducing the DTI comprises introducing the DTI into a liquid system and introducing liquid from the liquid system into the treating chamber.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining dyes that have been released from the laundry within the treating chamber during the DTI phase.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein determining released dyes comprises sensing released dyes within the treating chamber and providing a dye output signal indicative of the sensed released dyes.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein sensing released dyes comprises sensing released dyes in liquid from the treating chamber.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising introducing additional DTI into the treating chamber when the dye output signal indicates a non-inhibited dye condition.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the introducing of additional DTI is continued until the dye output signal indicates a dye inhibited condition.