Home dryer dry cleaning and freshening system employing dispensing devices

• US 6,024,767 A
• Filed: 06/18/1996
• Issued: 02/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Reckitt Benckiser Incorporated (Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Reckitt & Colman Inc. (Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC)
• Inventors: Ryan, Tracy Ann, Paul, Walter Ronald, Buckenmayer, Robert Henry, Gandhi, Ashwinkumar C., Weller, Jeanne Marie, Telesca, Josephine, Lucia, Frank Anthony III
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAMOND, ALAN D
• Application Number:
  US08/665,470
• Time in Patent Office: 1,337 Days
• Field of Search: 8/137, 8/142, 510/281, 510/282, 510/283, 510/284, 510/285, 510/289, 510/291, 510/293, 510/295, 510/297
• US Class Current: 8/142
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/004 Surface-active compounds containing F
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/123 derived from carboxylic acids, e.g. sulfosuccinates
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/526 Carboxylic amides (R1-CO-NR2R3), where R1, R2 or R3 are polyalkoxylated
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/72 Ethers of polyoxyalkylene glycols
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/86 Mixtures of anionic, cationic, and non-ionic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/047 Arrangements specially adapted for dry cleaning or laundry dryer related applications
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/2068 Ethers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 43/00 Dry-cleaning apparatus or methods using volatile solvents D06F9/00 - D06F41/00 take precedence
• 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

Abstract

A dryer dry cleaning and freshening system is provided with a containment bag, a dispenser means impregnated with liquid cleaning composition, and a absorber capable of absorbing loose particles and excess cleaning composition A process for cleaning a garment is also provided. The system and process may be used in a home clothes dryer for dry cleaning.

Claims

1. A dryer dry cleaning and freshening system comprising:

a containment bag;

a compressible foam dispenser means in the form of a ball or cube, and which is impregnated with a liquid cleaning composition; and

an unimpregnated absorbing means capable of absorbing loose particles and excess liquid cleaning composition.

2. A dryer dry cleaning and freshening system according to claim 1, further comprising a fragrance composition mixed in with the liquid cleaning composition.

3. A dryer dry cleaning and freshening system according to claim 1, wherein said containment bag is vapor impermeable.

4. A dryer dry cleaning and freshening system according to claim 1, wherein said containment bag includes a fastener.

5. A dryer dry cleaning and freshening system according to claim 1, wherein said dispenser means and said absorbing means are foam.

6. A dryer dry cleaning and freshening system according to claim 1, wherein said dispenser means is a ball.

7. A dryer dry cleaning and freshening system according to claim 1, wherein said absorbing means is a ball.

8. A dryer dry cleaning and freshening system according to claim 1, wherein said dispenser means and said absorbing means are color-coded.

9. A dryer dry cleaning and freshening system according to claim 1, wherein said dispenser means and said absorbing means are vacuum-sealed for packaging.

10. A dryer dry cleaning and freshening system according to claim 1, wherein said dispenser means and said absorbing means are disposable.

11. A dryer dry cleaning and freshening system according to claim 1, wherein said dispenser means is impregnated with liquid cleaning composition before packaging.

12. A dryer dry cleaning and freshening system according to claim 1, wherein said dispenser means and said absorbing means are each separately sealed in a pouch with a non-permeable seal.

13. A dryer dry cleaning and freshening system according to claim 1, and further comprising a quantity of stain remover for direct application to a stain.

14. A dryer dry cleaning and freshening system according to claim 1, and further comprising an additional quantity of liquid cleaning composition to add into said containment bag.

15. A dryer dry cleaning and freshening system according to claim 1 wherein the containment bag comprises a non-woven textile.

16. A dryer dry cleaning and freshening system according to claim 1 wherein the containment bag comprises a woven textile material.

17. A dryer dry cleaning and freshening system according to claim 1 wherein the containment bag is of a multilayer construction comprising two or more layers of differing materials layered in register.

18. A dryer dry cleaning and freshening system according to claim 17 wherein the containment bag includes a non-woven material forming the innermost layers of the containment bag and a vapor impermeable polymer film layer which forms the outermost layers of the containment bag.

19. A dryer dry cleaning and freshening system according to claim 17, wherein the containment bag includes a non-woven fibrous material forming the innermost layers of the containment bag, wherein said non-woven material is bonded to a spun-bonded polymeric textile material.

20. A dryer dry cleaning and freshening system according to claim 19 wherein the containment bag further includes a third outermost layer of a non-woven, fibrous material bonded to the remaining side of the spun bonded polymeric textile material layer.

21. A dryer dry cleaning and freshening system according to claim 17 wherein the containment bag is formed of a bilayered material which includes a first polymeric film layer, bonded to a second layer of a polymeric spun bonded nonwoven textile material.

22. A process for cleaning a garment with a liquid cleaning composition comprising the steps of:

placing at least one garment, a compressible foam dispenser means in the form of a ball or cube, and which is impregnated with said liquid cleaning composition, and an unimpregnated absorber capable of absorbing loose particles and excess liquid cleaning composition in a containment bag;

fastening said containment bag;

tumbling said containment bag and contents in a clothes dryer; and

removing the cleaned garment from said clothes dryer and containment bag.

23. The process according to claim 22, further comprising disposing of said dispenser means and said absorber.

24. The process according to claim 23, further comprising removing said dispenser means from vacuum sealed packages before placement in said containment bag.

25. The process according to claim 22, further comprising applying stain remover to said garment before placement in said containment bag.

26. The process according to claim 22, further comprising adding liquid cleaning composition to said containment bag before fastening said bag and tumbling.

27. The process according to claim 22, further comprising tumbling for about 10 minutes.

28. The process according to claim 22, wherein said liquid cleaning composition includes a fragrance for freshening.

29. A process for freshening a garment with a fragrance composition comprising the steps of:

placing at least one garment, a compressible foam dispenser means in the form of a ball or cube, and which is impregnated with said fragrance composition, and a absorber capable of absorbing excess fragrance composition in a containment bag;

fastening said containment bag;

tumbling said containment bag and contents in a clothes dryer, and

removing the freshened garment from said clothes dryer and containment bag.