Dry-cleaning bag with an interior surface containing a dry-cleaning composition

• US 5,997,586 A
• Filed: 01/13/1998
• Issued: 12/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Regenesis Group
• Original Assignee: Custom Cleaner, Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, James A., Kellett, George W.
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAMOND, ALAN D
• Application Number:
  US09/005,726
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 8/142, 510/293, 510/295, 510/297, 510/285, 510/291, 510/277, 383/42, 383/95, 383/96, 383/97, 383/78, 383/81, 383/63, 383/68, 383/116, 206/278, 206/286, 206/287, 220/200, 220/359, 442/164, 442/168, 442/170, 442/171, 264/500, 264/512, 264/515, 264/545, 264/546
• US Class Current: 8/142
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/02 Anionic compounds C11D1/002, C11D1/004, C11D1/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/38 Cationic compounds C11D1/002, C11D1/004, C11D1/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/66 Non-ionic compounds C11D1/002, C11D1/004, C11D1/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/003 Colloidal solutions, e.g. gels; Thixotropic solutions or pastes
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/047 Arrangements specially adapted for dry cleaning or laundry dryer related applications
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/001 Softening compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/222 Natural or synthetic polysaccharides, e.g. cellulose, starch, gum, alginic acid or cyclodextrin
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/43 Solvents
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/58 by applying, incorporating or activating chemical or thermoplastic bonding agents, e.g. adhesives in combination with needling D04H1/488
• CPC Class Codes: D06L 1/00 Dry-cleaning or washing fibres, filaments, threads, yarns, fabrics, feathers or made-up fibrous goods
• CPC Class Codes: D06L 1/02 using organic solvents
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 23/02 Processes in which the treating agent is releasably affixed or incorporated into a dispensing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2861 Coated or impregnated synthetic organic fiber fabric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2893 Coated or impregnated polyamide fiber fabric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/291 Coated or impregnated polyolefin fiber fabric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2918 Polypropylene fiber fabric

Abstract

A bag for the cleaning and containment of soiled fabric articles is provided which comprises a fastening system that, when fastened provides a vapor impermeable container and an interior surface releasably impregnated with an effective amount of a gelled liquid dry-cleaning composition.

Claims

1. A bag adapted for containment and cleaning of a soiled fabric article, said bag comprising:

a fastening system for closing an opening in said bag so that said bag can enclose a soiled fabric article, and

at least a portion of an interior surface of said bag having dry-cleaning or freshening composition releasably absorbed thereto, wherein said bag is formed of a thermally stable material which is not substantially damaged upon exposure to agitation or heat inside a rotary hot air dryer.

2. The bag of claim 1, wherein said bag is flexible.

3. The bag of claim 1, wherein said bag is formed of one or more layers of plastic film, and wherein the interior surface is formed of a film that is absorptive.

4. The bag of claim 3, wherein the film forming the interior surface is a member selected from the group consisting of a reticulated plastic foam, a solid granular or porous absorbent solid filled plastic film and a combination of both foamed and solids loaded plastic.

5. The bag of claim 1, wherein said dry-cleaning composition cleans said fabric article and said interior surface of said bag absorbs moisture and removed soil from the fabric article.

6. The bag of claim 1, wherein the dry-cleaning or freshening composition is absorbed directly to the interior surface of said bag.

7. The bag of claim 1, wherein said dry-cleaning or freshening composition comprises an organic gelling agent, water, at least one organic solvent, and at least one surfactant.

8. The bag of claim 7, wherein said dry-cleaning or freshening composition further comprises an alkali metal salt.

9. The bag of claim 8, wherein the alkali metal salt is present in the dry-cleaning or freshening composition in an amount from about 0.0025 to about 0.075 weight percent.

10. The bag of claim 7, wherein said dry-cleaning or freshening composition further comprises one or more members selected from the group consisting of a fragrance, a preservative, a deodorant, an insect repellant, a coloring agent, a finishing agent, a fumigant, a lubricant, a fungicide, and a sizing agent.

11. The bag of claim 7, wherein the organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of lower(alkoxy) or lower(alkoxy)lower(alkoxy)-ethers of ethanol or isopropanol, and mixtures thereof.

12. The bag of claim 7, wherein the organic solvent comprises at least one glycol ether.

13. The bag of claim 7, wherein the organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, 2-pyrrolidinone, and mixtures thereof.

14. The bag of claim 7, wherein the organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycols, ethanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, C_2-4 polyols, hydrocarbon solvents, and mixtures thereof.

15. The bag of claim 14, wherein the polyethylene glycol is polyethylene glycol-200, 300, 400 or 600, wherein the suffixed numbers indicate the approximate molecular weight of the glycol.

16. The bag of claim 14, wherein the C_2-4 polyols are selected from the group consisting of diols and triols.

17. The bag of claim 14, wherein the hydrocarbon solvent is isoparaffinic solvent.

18. The bag of claim 7, wherein the organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of carbon tetrachloride, methylene chloride, 1,1-dichloroethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1-trichloroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, tetrachloroethylene, pentachloroethane, monochlorocyclohexane, 1,4-dichlorocyclohexane, monochlorobenzene, and mixtures thereof.

19. The bag of claim 7, wherein the organic solvent is present in the dry-cleaning or freshening composition in an amount from about 2 to about 32 weight percent.

20. The bag of claim 7, wherein the surfactant is a nonionic or amphoteric surfactant, or mixtures thereof.

21. The bag of claim 7, wherein the surfactant is present in the dry-cleaning or freshening composition in an amount from about 1 to about 10 weight percent.

22. The bag of claim 7, wherein the organic gelling agent is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal salts of alginic acid, carrageenan, pectin, guar gum, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamides and polymeric organic waxes, fatty acids, and mixtures thereof.

23. The bag of claim 7, wherein the organic gelling agent is present in the dry-cleaning or freshening composition in an amount from about 0.25 to about 8 weight percent.

24. The bag of claim 7, wherein the water is present in the dry-cleaning or freshening composition in an amount from about 40 to about 95 weight percent.

25. The bag of claim 7, wherein the organic gelling agent is a polysaccharide gum.

26. The bag of claim 1, wherein said bag has dimensions of about 18"×

23" up to about 36"×

40".

27. The bag of claim 1, wherein a surface area of said interior surface of said bag having said dry-cleaning or freshening composition absorbed thereto is about 560 square inches to about 1020 square inches.

28. The bag of claim 1, wherein said bag is formed of a polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, or mixtures thereof.

29. The bag of claim 1, wherein said interior of said bag is suitable for dabbing said dry-cleaning or freshening composition onto said fabric article.

30. The bag of claim 1, wherein said bag is reusable.

31. The bag of claim 1, wherein said bag is disposable.

32. The bag of claim 1, wherein said fastening system consists of press studs, clips, a zipper, a VELCRO strip, a ZIP-LOCK, or opposed strips of resealable adhesive.

33. The bag of claim 1, wherein the dry-cleaning or freshening composition is releasably absorbed on an interior surface of the bag which comprises an adhered absorbent fibrous or foam sheet.

34. The bag of claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of the interior surface of the bag is formed of a non-woven fibrous material.

35. The bag of claim 34, wherein the non-woven fibrous material has a web structure, a corded fiber structure or comprises a fibrous mat in which the fibers are distributed haphazardly or in a random array.

36. The bag of claim 34, wherein the non-woven fibrous material is selected from the group consisting of wool, silk, jute, hemp, cotton, linen, sisal, ramie, rayon, cellulose ester, polyvinyl derivatives, polyolefins, polyamides and polyesters.

37. A packaged dry-cleaning or fabric freshening bag, comprising a bag adapted for containment and cleaning or freshening of a soiled fabric article, said bag comprising:

an opening and a fastening system so that said bag can enclose a soiled fabric article, and

at least a portion of an interior surface of said bag having dry-cleaning or freshening composition releasably absorbed thereto, wherein said bag is formed of a thermally stable material which is not substantially damaged upon exposure to agitation or heat inside a rotary hot air dryer, and

a moisture impermeable package, wherein said bag is packaged in said moisture impermeable package after manufacture of said bag and prior to said use thereof in dry-cleaning or fabric freshening.

38. The packaged dry-cleaning bag of claim 37, wherein said package is made out of foil, a foil-plastic film, or a foil-treated paper composite envelope.

39. The packaged dry-cleaning bag of claim 37, wherein the dry-cleaning or freshening composition comprises an organic gelling agent, water, at least one organic solvent and at least one surfactant.

40. The packaged dry-cleaning bag of claim 39, wherein the organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of lower(alkoxy) or lower(alkoxy)lower(alkoxy)-ethers of ethanol or isopropanol, and mixtures thereof.

41. The packaged dry-cleaning bag of claim 39, wherein the organic solvent comprises at least one glycol ether.

42. The packaged dry-cleaning bag of claim 39, wherein the organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, 2-pyrrolidinone, and mixtures thereof.

43. The packaged dry-cleaning bag of claim 39, wherein the organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycols, ethanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, C_2-4 polyols, hydrocarbon solvents, and mixtures thereof.

44. The packaged dry-cleaning bag of claim 43, wherein the polyethylene glycol is polyethylene glycol-200, 300, 400 or 600, wherein the suffixed numbers indicate the approximate molecular weight of the glycol.

45. The packaged dry-cleaning bag of claim 43, wherein the C_2-4 polyols are selected from the group consisting of diols and triols.

46. The packaged dry-cleaning bag of claim 43, wherein the hydrocarbon solvent is isoparaffinic solvent.

47. The packaged dry-cleaning bag of claim 39, wherein the organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of carbon tetrachloride, methylene chloride, 1,1-dichloroethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1-trichloroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, tetrachloroethylene, pentachloroethane, monochlorocyclohexane, 1,4-dichlorocyclohexane, monochlorobenzene, and mixtures thereof.

48. The packaged dry-cleaning bag of claim 39, wherein the organic solvent is present in the dry-cleaning or freshening composition in an amount from about 2 to about 32 weight percent.

49. The packaged dry-cleaning bag of claim 39, wherein the surfactant is a nonionic or amphoteric surfactant, or mixtures thereof.

50. The packaged dry-cleaning bag of claim 39, wherein the surfactant is present in the dry-cleaning or freshening composition in an amount from about 1 to about 10 weight percent.

51. The packaged dry-cleaning bag of claim 39, wherein the organic gelling agent is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal salts of alginic aid, carrageenan, pectin, guar gum, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamides and polymeric organic waxes, fatty acids, and mixtures thereof.

52. The packaged dry-cleaning bag of claim 39, wherein the organic gelling agent is present in the dry-cleaning or freshening composition in an amount from about 0.25 to about 8 weight percent.

53. The packaged dry-cleaning bag of claim 39, wherein the water is present in the dry-cleaning or freshening composition in an amount from about 40 to about 95 weight percent.

54. The packaged dry-cleaning bag of claim 39, wherein the dry-cleaning or freshening composition further comprises an alkali metal salt.

55. The packaged dry-cleaning bag of claim 54, wherein the alkali metal salt is present in the dry-cleaning or freshening composition in an amount from about 0.0025 to about 0.075 weight percent.

56. The packaged dry-cleaning bag of claim 39, wherein the organic gelling agent is a polysaccharide gum.

57. The packaged dry-cleaning bag of claim 39, wherein said fastening system consists of press studs, clips, a zipper, a VELCRO strip, a ZIP-LOCK, or opposed strips of resealable adhesive.

58. The packaged dry-cleaning bag of claim 37, wherein the dry-cleaning or freshening composition is releasably absorbed on an interior surface of the bag which comprises an adhered absorbent fibrous or foam sheet.

59. A method for making a dry-cleaning or fabric-freshening product comprising:

1) forming a bag having

a first outermost layer in the shape of a bag, said bag having an opening and a closing system;

said first outermost layer comprising a flexible thermally stable material that is essentially gas impermeable and is suitable for withstanding temperatures inside a hot rotary dryer, and

a second absorbent layer on at least a portion of an interior surface of said bag,

2) applying a dry-cleaning or freshening composition directly to said second absorbent layer; and

3) packaging said bag to prevent moisture loss from said dry-cleaning or freshening composition.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein said first outermost layer comprises polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide or mixtures thereof.

61. The method of claim 59, wherein said second absorbent layer is a member selected from the group consisting of wool, silk, jute, hemp, cotton, linen, sisal, ramie, rayon, cellulose ester, polyvinyl polyolefins, polyamides and polyesters.

62. The method of claim 59, wherein said second absorbent layer is a reticulated plastic film formed in situ.

63. The method of claim 59, wherein said second absorbent layer is a solid granular or porous absorbent solid filled plastic film.

64. The method of claim 59, wherein said second absorbent layer is a foamed and solids loaded plastic.

65. The method of claim 59, wherein said bag is formed by coextrusion of said first outermost layer and said second absorbent layer.

66. The method of claim 59, wherein said bag is formed by first forming said first outermost layer into said bag and then attaching said second absorbent layer to an inside surface of the bag.

67. A process for cleaning or freshening a soiled fabric article with a cleaning or freshening composition, said process comprising:

(a) placing said soiled fabric article into a bag having an opening, said bag comprising (i) an essentially gas impermeable film, (ii) a fastening system so that the bag can enclose said soiled fabric and (iii) at least a portion of an interior surface having an effective amount of a cleaning or freshening composition releasably absorbed thereinto;

(b) closing said fastening system to enclose said soiled fabric article;

(c) tumbling said closed bag in a rotary clothes dryer at an elevated temperature, so that the cleaning or freshening composition is released from said interior surface and contacts said soiled article so as to effectively disperse said soil; and

(d) opening said fastening system and removing the cleaned or freshened fabric article from the bag.

68. The process of claim 67 wherein, prior to step (a), an amount of the cleaning or freshening composition is applied to the soiled fabric article to loosen said soil.

69. The process of claim 68, wherein the amount of cleaning or freshening composition prior to step (a) is applied by rubbing or dabbing the soiled fabric article on said interior surface of the bag to loosen and remove soil from the soiled fabric article.

70. The process of claim 68, wherein the amount of cleaning or freshening composition prior to step (a) is applied either by spraying or dipping the article with the cleaning or freshening composition.

71. The process of claim 67, wherein the interior surface absorbs moisture and soil from the fabric article.

72. A method for removing a stain from a soiled fabric article with a cleaning or freshening composition, said process comprising:

(a) placing said soiled fabric article into a bag having an opening, said bag comprising (i) an essentially gas impermeable film, (ii) a fastening system so that the bag can enclose said soiled fabric and (iii) at least a portion of an interior surface having an effective amount of a cleaning or freshening composition releasably absorbed thereinto;

(b) closing said fastening system; and

(c) tumbling said sealed bag for a sufficient time and at a sufficient temperature in a rotary clothes dryer to release the cleaning or freshening composition from the interior surface and to contact an effective amount of the released cleaning or freshening composition with the soiled fabric article so as to effectively remove the stain.

73. The method of claim 72 wherein, prior to step (a), an amount of the cleaning or freshening composition is applied to the soiled fabric article to loosen the stain.

74. The method of claim 72 wherein the amount of cleaning or freshening composition prior to step (a) is applied by rubbing or dabbing the soiled fabric article on said inside surface of the bag to loosen and remove stain.

75. The method of claim 73 wherein the amount of cleaning or freshening composition prior to step (a) is applied by spraying or dipping the article with the composition.

76. A fabric-cleaning kit comprising, packaged in association:

(a) at least one bag having an opening, wherein the bag comprises (i) a fastening system so that the bag can enclose a soiled fabric article and (ii) an interior surface having an effective amount of a cleaning or freshening composition releasably absorbed thereinto, and

(b) a fabric-cleaning or fabric-freshening composition consisting essentially of water;

an organic solvent;

at least one surfactant; and

a gelling agent.

77. The fabric-cleaning kit of claim 76, wherein the fabric-cleaning or fabric-freshening composition in (b) is in the form of a spray, a dipping solution or a sponge impregnated therewith.

78. A method for forming a fabric-treatment bag comprising the steps of:

(a) simultaneously extruding one or more layers of plastic film and blowing the film into the shape of a bag; and

(b) impregnating the interior surface of the bag with a fabric-cleaning composition.

79. The method of claim 78, wherein said one or more layers include (a) an exterior layer of a vapor impermeable plastic film and (b) an interior layer of an absorptive plastic film.

80. The method of claim 78, wherein the plastic film is selected from the group consisting of a polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, or mixtures thereof.

81. The method of claim 78, wherein the interior surface of the bag is formed of a plastic film selected from the group consisting of a reticulated plastic foam, a solid granular plastic film, a porous absorbent solid filled plastic film, and mixtures thereof.