Fabric treatment compositions containing polysulfonic acid and organic solvent

• US 6,179,880 B1
• Filed: 06/29/1999
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Custom Cleaner, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Custom Cleaner, Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAMOND, ALAN D
• Application Number:
  US09/342,521
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 813/7, 814/2, 510/285, 510/287, 510/289, 510/290, 510/291, 510/295, 510/297, 510/283, 442/59, 383/116, 383/42, 383/63, 383/95, 383/97
• 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 or fabric-freshening kit comprising, packaged in association:

(a) a composition comprising polysulfonic acid and at least one organic solvent; and

(b) a bag formed of an essentially gas-impermeable material and having sufficient thermal stability so that it is not substantially damaged upon exposure to conditions of heat and agitation in a hot-air dryer.

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

3. The kit 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 kit of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises water.

5. The kit of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises surfactants.

6. The kit of claim 1, wherein the composition is present on a substrate.

7. The kit of claim 1, wherein the bag is made of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, nylon, or mixtures thereof.

8. A method for cleaning or freshening a fabric article comprising

(a) placing into a bag a fabric article and a composition comprising polysulfonic acid and at least one organic solvent;

(b) tumbling the bag in a rotary clothes dryer; and

(c) removing the fabric article from the bag.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of glycol ethers, liquid polyethylene glycols, C₂-C₄ polyols, and mixtures thereof.

10. The method of claim 8, 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.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the composition further comprises water.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the composition further comprises surfactants.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the composition is present on a substrate.