Anhydrous dry-cleaning compositions containing polysulfonic acid, and dry-cleaning kits for delicate fabrics

• US 6,036,727 A
• Filed: 09/29/1997
• Issued: 03/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Custom Cleaner, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Creative Products Resource, Inc. (Henkel AG & Co KGaA)
• Inventors: Smith, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAMOND, ALAN D
• Application Number:
  US08/939,712
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 8/142, 8/137, 510/285, 510/291, 510/292, 510/295, 510/297, 510/281, 510/282, 510/283, 510/284, 510/277, 510/405, 510/407, 510/409, 510/410, 510/411
• US Class Current: 8/142
• 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 3/3776 Heterocyclic compounds, e.g. lactam
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/378 (Co)polymerised monomers containing sulfur, e.g. sulfonate
• 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 1/04 combined with specific additives D06L1/06 takes precedence
• 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 442/20 Coated or impregnated woven, knit, or nonwoven fabric which is not [a] associated with another preformed layer or fiber layer or, [b] with respect to woven and knit, characterized, respectively, by a particular or differential weave or knit, wherein the coating or impregnation is neither a foamed material nor a free metal or alloy layer

Abstract

This invention relates to dry-cleaning systems which include anhydrous dry-cleaning compositions which contain polysulfonic acid, and a bag for the cleaning and containment of soiled fabric articles. In a first embodiment, the dry-cleaning compositions includes organic solvents, polysulfonic acid, and not more than about 10 wt % water. In a second embodiment, the dry-cleaning compositions includes organic solvents and polysulfonic acid, and not more than 1 about wt % water. The invention also relates to methods of using the dry-cleaning system and dry-cleaning composition.

Claims

1. A dry-cleaning system adapted for dry-cleaning or fabric-freshening a fabric article, comprising an effective amount of a dry-cleaning composition consisting essentially of

at least one water-miscible or partially water-miscible organic solvent;

polysulfonic acid present in an amount effective to stabilize the organic solvent and promote distribution of the the dry-cleaning composition onto the fabric article without leaving an undesirable residue; and

an effective amount of water to disperse the polysulfonic acid, where the amount of water does not exceed about 10 weight percent of the total dry-cleaning composition.

2. The dry-cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of glycol ethers, liquid polyethylene glycols, C₂ -C₄ polyols, and mixtures thereof.

3. The dry-cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the at least one organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of dipropylene glycol n-propyl ether, dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether, tripropylene glycol methyl ether, 3-methoxy-3-methyl-1-butanol and γ

-butyrolactone.

4. The dry-cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the dry-cleaning composition consists essentially of between about 85 and about 98.5 weight percent of the at least one organic solvent.

5. The dry-cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the dry-cleaning composition consists essentially of between about 0.5 and about 5 weight percent polysulfonic acid.

6. The dry-cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the dry-cleaning composition consists essentially of between about 1 and about 6 weight percent water.

7. The dry-cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the fabric article contains acetate, rayon, silk, or blends thereof.

8. The dry-cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the dry-cleaning composition further consists essentially of surfactants.

9. The dry-cleaning system of claim 8, wherein the surfactants are present in the dry-cleaning composition in an amount between about 0.01 and about 10 weight percent.

10. The dry-cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the dry-cleaning composition further consists essentially of gelling agents or viscosity modifiers.

11. The dry-cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the dry-cleaning composition further consists essentially of an agent selected from the group consisting of fabric-softening agents, anti-creasing agents, anti-soil agents, bacteriostatic agents, brightening agents, bodying agents, dyes, fiber emollients, finishing agents, fragrances, germicides, lubricants, mildew-proofing agents, moth-proofing agents, shrinkage controllers, sizing agents, and mixtures thereof.

12. The dry-cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the dry-cleaning composition further consists essentially of a compound having a vapor tension of less than or equal to 4 Pa at 25°

C., which is selected from the group consisting of C₁₀ -C₁₂ aliphatic alcohols, C₁₀ -C₁₃ aldehydes, C₁₃ -C₁₈ aliphatic ketones, aromatic ketones having a musk odor and up to 18 carbon atoms, C₈ -C₁₅ aliphatic esters, methyl anthranilate, methyl N-methylanthranilate, p-cresyl phenylacetate, amyl salicylate, coumarin, dihydrocoumarin, gammadecalactone, dodecalactone, undecalactone, eugenol, isoeugenol, diphenyl oxide, the methyl and ethyl ethers of naphthol, galaxolide, indole and its reaction products with hydroxycitronella, tridecene-2-nitrile, and 2-(2'"'"'-methyl-pent-2'"'"'-enyl)-5-methyl pyridine.

13. The dry-cleaning system of claim 12, wherein the amount of the compound present in the dry-cleaning composition is between about 0.2 to about 5 weight percent.

14. The dry-cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the dry-cleaning composition consists essentially of about 95% of the at least one organic solvent, about 2.5% of polysulfonic acid, and about 2.5% water.

15. The dry-cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the dry-cleaning composition is present on a substrate.

16. The dry-cleaning system of claim 15, wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of a sheet, a sponge, a dauber, a stick, granules and a cube.

17. The dry-cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the dry-cleaning composition is present in a spray or roll on solution.

18. The dry-cleaning system of claim 16, wherein the substrate is a sheet.

19. The dry-cleaning system of claim 1 which further includes a bag including an opening comprising a fastening system so that the bag can enclose the fabric article in an effective vapor impermeable manner.

20. The dry-cleaning system of claim 19, wherein the bag has an interior surface, and at least a portion of the interior surface has an effective amount of the dry-cleaning composition releasably absorbed thereinto, wherein the bag is formed of a flexible non-porous material which is not substantially damaged upon exposure to agitation and to a temperature effective to cause the release of the dry-cleaning composition from the interior surface.

21. A process for cleaning or freshening a soiled fabric article with a dry-cleaning composition, the process comprising:

(a) placing into a bag the soiled fabric article and an effective amount of a dry-cleaning composition comprising

at least one water-miscible or partially water-miscible organic solvent;

polysulfonic acid present in an amount effective to stabilize the organic solvent and promote distribution of the the dry-cleaning composition onto the fabric article without leaving an undesirable residue; and

an effective amount of water to disperse the polysulfonic acid, where the amount of water does not exceed about 10 weight percent of the total dry-cleaning composition,

wherein the bag includes an opening comprising a fastening system so that the bag can enclose the soiled fabric article in an effective vapor impermeable manner;

(b) closing the fastening system to form the bag into an effective closed system comprising the soiled fabric article and the dry-cleaning composition;

(c) tumbling the closed system in a rotary clothes dryer at an elevated temperature, so that the dry-cleaning composition contacts the soiled fabric article so as to effectively disperse the soil and

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

22. The process of claim 21, wherein the dry-cleaning composition is present on a substrate.

23. The process of claim 22, wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of a sheet, a sponge, a dauber, a stick, granules and a cube.

24. The process of claim 23, wherein the substrate is a sheet.

25. The process of claim 21, wherein the organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of glycol ethers, liquid polyethylene glycols, C₂ -C₄ polyols, and mixtures thereof.

26. The process of claim 21, wherein the at least one organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of dipropylene glycol n-propyl ether, dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether, tripropylene glycol methyl ether, 3-methoxy-3-methyl-1-butanol and γ

-butyrolactone.

27. The process of claim 21, wherein the dry-cleaning composition contains between about 85 and about 98.5 weight percent of the at least one organic solvent.

28. The process of claim 21, wherein the dry-cleaning composition contains between about 0.5 and about 5 weight percent polysulfonic acid.

29. The process of claim 21, wherein the dry-cleaning composition contains between about 1 and about 6 weight percent water.

30. The process of claim 21, wherein the fabric article contains acetate, rayon, silk, or blends thereof.

31. The process of claim 21, wherein the dry-cleaning composition further includes surfactants.

32. The process of claim 31, wherein the surfactants are present in the dry-cleaning composition in an amount between about 0.01 and about 10 weight percent.

33. The process of claim 21, wherein the dry-cleaning composition further includes gelling agents or viscosity modifiers.

34. The process of claim 21, wherein the dry-cleaning composition further includes an agent selected from the group consisting of fabric-softening agents, anti-creasing agents, anti-soil agents, bacteriostatic agents, brightening agents, bodying agents, dyes, fiber emollients, finishing agents, fragrances, germicides, lubricants, mildew-proofing agents, moth-proofing agents, shrinkage controllers, sizing agents, and mixtures thereof.

35. The process of claim 21, wherein the dry-cleaning composition further includes a compound having a vapor tension of less than or equal to 4 Pa at 25°

C., which is selected from the group consisting of C₁₀ -C₁₂ aliphatic alcohols, C₁₀ -C₁₃ aldehydes, C₁₃ -C₁₈ aliphatic ketones, aromatic ketones having a musk odor and up to 18 carbon atoms, C₈ -C₁₅ aliphatic esters, methyl anthranilate, methyl N-methylanthranilate, p-cresyl phenylacetate, amyl salicylate, coumarin, dihydrocoumarin, gammadecalactone, dodecalactone, undecalactone, eugenol, isoeugenol, diphenyl oxide, the methyl and ethyl ethers of naphthol, galaxolide, indole and its reaction products with hydroxycitronella, tridecene-2-nitrile, and 2-(2'"'"'-methyl-pent-2'"'"'-enyl)-5-methyl pyridine.

36. The process of claim 21, wherein the dry-cleaning composition consists essentially of about 95% of the at least one organic solvent, about 2.5% of polysulfonic acid, and about 2.5% water.

37. The process of claim 35, wherein the amount of the compound present in the dry-cleaning composition is between about 0.2% to about 5%.

38. The process of claim 21, wherein the dry-cleaning composition is present in a spray or roll on solution.

39. The process of claim 21, wherein the bag has an interior surface, and at least a portion of the interior surface has an effective amount of the dry-cleaning composition releasably absorbed thereinto, wherein the bag is formed of a flexible non-porous material which is not substantially damaged upon exposure to agitation and to a temperature effective to cause the release of the dry-cleaning composition from the interior surface.

40. A method for removing a stain from a soiled fabric article, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) placing into a bag the soiled fabric article and an effective amount of a dry-cleaning composition comprising

at least one water-miscible or partially water-miscible organic solvent

polysulfonic acid and

an effective amount of water to disperse the polysulfonic acid, where the amount of water does not exceed about 10 weight percent of the total dry-cleaning composition,

wherein the bag includes an opening comprising a fastening system so that the bag can enclose the soiled fabric article in an effective vapor impermeable manner

(b) closing the fastening system to form the bag into an effective closed system comprising the soiled fabric article and the dry-cleaning composition

(c) tumbling the closed system in a rotary clothes dryer at an elevated temperature, so that the dry-cleaning composition contacts the soiled fabric article so as to effectively disperse the stain and

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

41. The method of claim 40 wherein, prior to step (a), an amount of the dry-cleaning composition is applied to the soiled fabric article to loosen the stain.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the amount of dry-cleaning composition prior to step (a) is applied by rubbing or dabbing the soiled fabric article with the dry-cleaning composition so as to loosen and remove stain from the soiled fabric article.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the amount of dry-cleaning composition prior to step (a) is applied either by spraying, rolling on or dipping the soiled fabric article with the dry cleaning composition.

44. A kit for dry-cleaning or fabric-freshening a fabric article, comprising

(i) an effective amount of a dry-cleaning composition comprising

at least one water-miscible or partially water-miscible organic solvent

polysulfonic acid and

an effective amount of water to disperse the polysulfonic acid, where the amount of water does not exceed about 10 weight percent of the total dry-cleaning composition, and

(ii) a bag including an opening comprising a fastening system so that the bag can enclose the fabric article in an effective vapor impermeable manner.

45. A dry-cleaning system adapted for dry-cleaning or fabric-freshening a fabric article, comprising an effective amount of a dry-cleaning composition consists essentially of

polysulfonic acid present in an amount effective to stabilize organic solvent and promote distribution of the the dry-cleaning composition onto the fabric article without leaving an undesirable residue and

at least one organic solvent, which is capable of dispersing the polysulfonic acid in the absence of a sufficient amount of water,

wherein the dry-cleaning composition does not contain more than about 1 weight percent water.

46. The dry-cleaning system of claim 45, wherein the at least one organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of tripropylene glycol methyl ether and (2-(2-ethoxy)ethoxy)ethanol.

47. The dry-cleaning system of claim 45, wherein the dry-cleaning composition contains between about 90 and about 99.9 weight percent of the at least one organic solvent.

48. The dry-cleaning system of claim 45, wherein the dry-cleaning composition contains between about 0.1 and about 10 weight percent of polysulfonic acid.

49. The dry-cleaning system of claim 45, wherein the fabric article contains acetate, rayon, silk, or blends thereof.

50. The dry-cleaning system of claim 45, wherein the dry-cleaning composition further consists essentially of surfactants.

51. The dry-cleaning system of claim 45, wherein the dry-cleaning composition further consists essentially of gelling agents or viscosity modifiers.

52. The dry-cleaning system of claim 45, wherein the dry-cleaning composition further consists essentially of an agent selected from the group consisting of fabric-softening agents, anti-creasing agents, anti-soil agents, bacteriostatic agents, brightening agents, bodying agents, dyes, fiber emollients, finishing agents, fragrances, germicides, lubricants, mildew-proofing agents, moth-proofing agents, shrinkage controllers, sizing agents, and mixtures thereof.

53. The dry-cleaning system of claim 45, wherein the dry-cleaning composition further consists essentially of a compound having a vapor tension of less than or equal to 4 Pa at 25°

C., which is selected from the group consisting of C₁₀ -C₁₂ aliphatic alcohols, C₁₀ -C₁₃ aldehydes, C₁₃ -C₁₈ aliphatic ketones, aromatic ketones having a musk odor and up to 18 carbon atoms, C₈ -C₁₅ aliphatic esters, methyl anthranilate, methyl N-methylanthranilate, p-cresyl phenylacetate, amyl salicylate, coumarin, dihydrocoumarin, gammadecalactone, dodecalactone, undecalactone, eugenol, isoeugenol, diphenyl oxide, the methyl and ethyl ethers of naphthol, galaxolide, indole and its reaction products with hydroxycitronella, tridecene-2-nitrile, and 2- (2'"'"'-methyl-pent-2'"'"'-enyl) -5-methyl pyridine.

54. The dry-cleaning system of claim 45, wherein the dry-cleaning composition consists essentially of about 95% of the at least one organic solvent, and about 5% of the polysulfonic acid.

55. The dry-cleaning system of claim 53, wherein the dry-cleaning composition consists essentially of between about 0.2 and about 5 weight percent of the compound.

56. The dry-cleaning system of claim 45, wherein the dry-cleaning composition is present on a substrate.

57. The dry-cleaning system of claim 56, wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of a sheet, a sponge, a dauber, a stick, granules and a cube.

58. The dry-cleaning system of claim 45, wherein the dry-cleaning composition is present in a spray or roll on solution.

59. The dry-cleaning system of claim 57, wherein the substrate is a sheet.

60. The dry-cleaning system of claim 45 which further includes a bag including an opening comprising a fastening system so that the bag can enclose the fabric article in an effective vapor impermeable manner.

61. The dry-cleaning system of claim 60, wherein the bag has an interior surface, and at least a portion of the interior surface has an effective amount of the dry-cleaning composition releasably absorbed thereinto, wherein the bag is formed of a flexible non-porous material which is not substantially damaged upon exposure to agitation and to a temperature effective to cause the release of the dry-cleaning composition from the interior surface.

62. A process for cleaning or freshening a soiled fabric article with a dry-cleaning composition, the process comprising:

(a) placing into a bag the soiled fabric article and an effective amount of a dry-cleaning composition comprising

polysulfonic acid and

at least one organic solvent, which is capable of dispersing the polysulfonic acid in the absence of a sufficient amount of water,

wherein the dry-cleaning composition does not contain more than about 1 weight percent water,

wherein the bag includes an opening comprising a fastening system so that the bag can enclose the soiled fabric article in an effective vapor impermeable manner

(b) closing the fastening system to form the bag into an effective closed system comprising the soiled fabric article and the dry-cleaning composition

(c) tumbling the closed system in a rotary clothes dryer at an elevated temperature, so that the dry-cleaning composition contacts the soiled fabric article so as to effectively disperse the soil and

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

63. The process of claim 62, wherein the dry-cleaning composition is present on a substrate.

64. The process of claim 63, wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of a sheet, a sponge, a dauber, a stick, granules and a cube.

65. The process of claim 64, wherein the substrate is a sheet.

66. The process of claim 62, wherein the at least one organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of tripropylene glycol methyl ether and (2-(2-ethoxy)ethoxy)ethanol.

67. The process of claim 62, wherein the dry-cleaning composition contains between about 90 and about 99.9 weight percent of the at least one organic solvent.

68. The process of claim 62, wherein the dry-cleaning composition contains between about 0.1 and about 10 weight percent of the polysulfonic acid.

69. The process of claim 62, wherein the dry-cleaning composition consists essentially of about 95 weight percent organic solvent and about 5 weight percent polysulfonic acid.

70. The process of claim 62, wherein the dry-cleaning composition further includes gelling agents or viscosity modifiers.

71. The process of claim 62, wherein the dry-cleaning composition further includes an agent selected from the group consisting of fabric-softening agents, anti-creasing agents, anti-soil agents, bacteriostatic agents, brightening agents, bodying agents, dyes, fiber emollients, finishing agents, fragrances, germicides, lubricants, mildew-proofing agents, moth-proofing agents, shrinkage controllers, sizing agents, and mixtures thereof.

72. The process of claim 62, wherein the dry-cleaning composition further includes a compound having a vapor tension of less than or equal to 4 Pa at 25°

C., which is selected from the group consisting of C₁₀ -C₁₂ aliphatic alcohols, C₁₀ -C₁₃ aldehydes, C₁₃ -C₁₈ aliphatic ketones, aromatic ketones having a musk odor and up to 18 carbon atoms, C₈ -C₁₅ aliphatic esters, methyl anthranilate, methyl N-methylanthranilate, p-cresyl phenylacetate, amyl salicylate, coumarin, dihydrocoumarin, gammadecalactone, dodecalactone, undecalactone, eugenol, isoeugenol, diphenyl oxide, the methyl and ethyl ethers of naphthol, galaxolide, indole and its reaction products with hydroxycitronella, tridecene-2-nitrile, and 2-(2'"'"'-methyl-pent-2'"'"'-enyl)-5-methyl pyridine.

73. The process of claim 72, wherein the dry-cleaning composition contains about 0.2% to about 5% of the compound.

74. The process of claim 62, wherein the dry-cleaning composition is present in a spray or roll on solution.

75. The process of claim 62, wherein the bag has an interior surface, and at least a portion of the interior surface has an effective amount of the dry-cleaning composition releasably absorbed thereinto, wherein the bag is formed of a flexible non-porous material which is not substantially damaged upon exposure to agitation and to a temperature effective to cause the release of the dry-cleaning composition from the interior surface.

80. The process of claim 62, wherein the fabric article contains acetate, rayon, silk, or blends thereof.

76. A method for removing a stain from a soiled fabric article, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) placing into a bag the soiled fabric article and an effective amount of a dry-cleaning composition comprising

polysulfonic acid and

at least one organic solvent, which is capable of dispersing the polysulfonic acid in the absence of a sufficient amount of water,

wherein the dry-cleaning composition does not contain more than about 1 weight percent water,

wherein the bag includes an opening comprising a fastening system so that the bag can enclose the soiled fabric article in an effective vapor impermeable manner

(b) closing the fastening system to form the bag into an effective closed system comprising the soiled fabric article and the dry-cleaning composition

(c) tumbling the closed system in a rotary clothes dryer at an elevated temperature, so that the dry-cleaning composition contacts the soiled fabric article so as to effectively disperse the stain and

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

77. The method of claim 76 wherein, prior to step (a), an amount of the dry-cleaning composition is applied to the soiled fabric article to loosen the stain.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein the amount of dry-cleaning composition prior to step (a) is applied by rubbing or dabbing the soiled fabric article with the dry-cleaning composition so as to loosen and remove stain from the soiled fabric article.

79. The method of claim 77, wherein the amount of dry-cleaning composition prior to step (a) is applied either by spraying, rolling on or dipping the soiled fabric article with the dry cleaning composition.

81. A kit for dry-cleaning or fabric-freshening a fabric article, comprising

(i) an effective amount of a dry-cleaning composition comprising

polysulfonic acid and

at least one organic solvent, which is capable of dispersing the polysulfonic acid in the absence of a sufficient amount of water,

wherein the dry-cleaning composition does not contain more than about 1 weight percent water, and

(ii) a bag including an opening comprising a fastening system so that the bag can enclose the fabric article in an effective vapor impermeable manner.