Self-steaming benefit composition

• US 20060030745A1
• Filed: 05/27/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Hei, Joseph, France, Paul Amaat Raymond Gerard, Rohrbaugh, Robert Henry, Edelman, Kenneth John, Roselle, Brian Joseph, Wong, Vincent York-Leung, Stoddard, John Philip, Velazquez, Velma Luisa, Glazer, Julia Ann, Truslow, Samuel B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,749,401 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 585/445
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 5/18 Non-reversible chemical reactions
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 11/05 with water, e.g. steam; with heavy water
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 23/00 Treatment of fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, characterised by the process
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 23/02 Processes in which the treating agent is releasably affixed or incorporated into a dispensing means

Abstract

Self-steaming benefit compositions for treating fabrics. The present invention relates to compositions which are both self-steaming and include one or more benefit agents to provide benefits to fabrics. The present invention also relates to a method for treating fabrics utilizing the self-steaming benefit compositions of the present invention.

Claims

1. A self-steaming benefit composition for treating fabric, said self-steaming benefit composition comprising:

a steam generation rate of at least about 2×

10<sup>−

5</sup> grams/minute of steam.

2. The self-steaming benefit composition of claim 1 wherein at least about 5×

10<sup>−

55</sup> grams steam/gram of self-steaming benefit composition is produced.

3. The self-steaming benefit composition of claim 1 comprising:

a) from about 30% to about 80% by weight iron powder;

b) from about 0.5% to about 25% by weight carbon;

c) from about 0.5% to about 10% by weight of metal salt;

d) from about 1% to about 60% by weight of water;

e) from about 0.1% to about 30% by weight of a water manager;

f) oxygen at an amount sufficient to support the generation of steam; and

g) an optional additional benefit agent.

4. The self-steaming benefit composition of claim 3 wherein the iron powder is sponge iron.

5. The self-steaming benefit composition of claim 4 wherein the self-steaming benefit composition includes a self-steaming component wherein the dry mix of the self-steaming component has a tapped density of about 1 gram/ml to about 3 grams/ml.

6. The self-steaming benefit composition of claim 3 wherein the water manager is absorbent gelling material.

7. The self-steaming benefit composition of claim 3 wherein about 25% of the iron powder has a particle size diameter greater than about 250 μ

m.

8. The self-steaming benefit composition of claim 1 comprising a benefit agent wherein the benefit agent is steam.

9. The self-steaming benefit composition of claim 8 further comprising an additional benefit agent wherein the additional benefit agent is delivered to fabric via direct volatilization, by physical delivery of the additional benefit agent to the fabric, or a combination thereof.

10. The self-steaming benefit composition of claim 9 wherein the additional benefit agent is delivered in the form of an azeotrope.

28. The self-steaming benefit composition of claim 3 wherein the mean particle size of the water manager is at least about 250 microns.

11. A self-steaming benefit composition article comprised of:

a substantially planar laminate structure having at least one steam-generating cell embedded between multiple layers of a porous material that are laminated together wherein at least one steam-generating cell is capable of producing a steam generation rate of at least about 2×

10<sup>−

5</sup> grams/minute of steam.

12. The self-steaming benefit composition article of claim 11 further comprising an enclosure.

27. The self-steaming benefit composition article of claim 12 wherein the enclosure is a bag, a cabinet, the core of a fabric roller, a washing machine, a fabric article drying appliance, or a combination thereof.

29. The self-steaming benefit composition article of claim 12 wherein the enclosure is a closet.

13. An enclosure for treating fabrics with a self-steaming benefit composition, the enclosure comprising:

a) a loop frame member comprising;

i) a looped flexible front frame member;

ii) a looped flexible rear frame member;

iii) optionally, at least two side support members located between the front frame member and the rear frame member wherein the side support members are located on opposing sides from one another;

iv) an optional front rigid support member; and

v) an optional rear rigid support member;

b) a material covering the loop frame member comprising;

i) a front panel wherein the front panel includes an opening;

ii) a moveable closure member which covers the opening and can be moved to allow access to the opening;

iii) a rear panel; and

iv) a side panel wherein the side panel is connected to the front panel and the rear panel; and

c) a self-steaming benefit composition which produces at peak production at least about 2×

10<sup>−

5</sup> grams/minute of steam wherein the steam is delivered in the enclosure.

14. The enclosure of claim 13 wherein the material covering the continuous loop frame member has a moisture vapor transmission rate of less than about 200 grams/m²/day.

15. A self-expanding enclosure for treating fabrics, the self-expanding enclosure comprising:

a) a loop frame member which comprises;

i) a looped flexible front frame member and a looped flexible rear frame member wherein each frame member is capable of assuming two orientations including an open orientation and a collapsed orientation whereby when in a collapsed orientation each frame member is under tension and whereupon placing in an open orientation the tension is partially released from each frame member so as to allow each frame member to spring into the open orientation;

ii) at least two side support members located between the front frame member and the rear frame member wherein the side support members are located on opposing sides from one another;

iii) optional front rigid support member; and

iv) optional rear rigid support member;

b) a material covering the loop frame member comprising;

i) a front panel wherein the front panel includes an opening;

ii) a moveable closure member which covers the opening and can be moved to allow access to the opening;

iii) a rear panel;

iv) a side panel, wherein the side panel is connected to the front panel and the rear panel;

v) a front frame retaining sleeve for containing the looped flexible front frame member; and

vi) a rear frame retaining sleeve for containing the looped flexible rear frame member.

16. The self-expanding enclosure of claim 15 wherein the moveable closure member overlaps the side panel when it covers the front panel opening.

17. The self-expanding enclosure of claim 16 wherein a portion of the moveable closure member that overlaps the side panel is comprised of a stretchable material.

18. The self-expanding enclosure of claim 17 wherein the portion of the moveable closure member that overlaps the side panel further comprises an elastic band.

19. The self-expanding enclosure of claim 18 wherein the portion of the moveable closure member that overlaps the side panel further comprises a moveable closure retaining sleeve wherein the elastic band is contained within the moveable closure retaining sleeve.

20. The self-expanding enclosure of claim 15 further comprising a fan and a fan activation system.

21. The self-expanding enclosure of claim 15 further comprising a vent.

22. A kit for treating fabrics, said kit comprising:

a) an enclosure;

b) A self-steaming benefit composition having a steam generation rate of at least about 2×

10<sup>−

5</sup> grams/minute of steam;

c) an optional signal that communicates the status of the self-steaming process or condition of the system to a user; and

d) an optional fabric stretching system.

23. The kit of claim 22 wherein the enclosure is a bag, a cabinet, the core of a fabric roller, a washing machine, a fabric article drying appliance, or a combination thereof.

24. The kit of claim 22 wherein the enclosure is self-expanding.

25. A method for treating fabric, said method comprising:

a) providing an enclosure;

b) providing a self-steaming benefit composition within the enclosure; and

c) activating the self-steaming benefit composition so that the steam at peak production produces at least about 2×

10<sup>−

5</sup> grams/minute of steam.

26. A method for treating fabric, said method comprising:

a) providing an enclosure;

b) providing a source of a self-steaming benefit composition;

c) providing a conduit from the source of the self-steaming benefit composition to the interior of the enclosure; and

d) activating the self-steaming benefit composition so that the steam at peak production produces at least about 2×

10<sup>−

5</sup> grams/minute of steam.