Process for softening or treating a fabric article
DCFirst Claim
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1. A method of treating at least one fabric article comprising:
- (a) placing a closeable bag into a dryer, said bag containing (i) at least one fabric article, and (ii) at least one moist sheet including at least one fabric-treatment agent, said bag having at least one vent which is covered with a flap;
(b) operating said dryer under conditions that the flap is open and vapor from the interior of said bag passes through said vent to the exterior of said bag in response to changes in vapor pressure inside said bag, and (c) removing the treated fabric article from the bag.
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Abstract
A system for the softening or other treatment of fabric articles is provided which comprises a vented bag comprising a fastening system and flexible sheet releasably impregnated with an effective amount of a liquid fabric-treatment composition.
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Citations
86 Claims
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1. A method of treating at least one fabric article comprising:
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(a) placing a closeable bag into a dryer, said bag containing (i) at least one fabric article, and (ii) at least one moist sheet including at least one fabric-treatment agent, said bag having at least one vent which is covered with a flap;
(b) operating said dryer under conditions that the flap is open and vapor from the interior of said bag passes through said vent to the exterior of said bag in response to changes in vapor pressure inside said bag, and (c) removing the treated fabric article from the bag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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44. The method of claim 42, wherein the quaternary amine has the formula
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45. The method of claim 42, wherein the quaternary amine has a formula
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46. The method of claim 42, wherein the quaternary amine is selected from the group consisting of monomethyl trialkyl quaternaries, imidazolinium quaternaries, dimethyl alkyl benzyl quaternaries, dialkyl dimethyl quaternaries, methyl dialkoxy alkyl quaternaries, diamido amine quaternaries and dialkyl methyl benzyl quaternaries.
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47. The method of claim 46, wherein the imidazolinium quaternary amine is selected from the group consisting of (methyl-1-tallow-amido)ethyl-2-tallow imidazolium methyl sulfate, (methyl-1-oleylamido)ethyl-2-oleyl-imidazolium methyl sulfate, tallow dimethylammonium methosulfate, tallow imidazolium methosulfate, and alkylimidazolinium methosulfate.
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48. The method of claim 42, wherein the quaternary amine is a stearyl amine salt.
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49. The method of claim 48, wherein the stearyl amine salt is selected from the group consisting of stearyl-dimethylamine hydrochloride, distearyl amine hydrochloride, decyl pyridinium bromide, pyridinium chloride derivative of acetylaminoethyl esters of lauric acid, lauryl trimethyl ammonium chloride, decylamide acetate and bis[(oleoyl)-(5,8)-ethanoloxy]-tallow(C14-18)aminehydrogen phosphate.
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50. The method of claim 1, wherein the sheet is formed of a woven or non-woven material.
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51. The method of claim 1, wherein the fabric-treatment agent is selected from the group consisting of corn starch, polyvinyl acetate, polyacrylic polyvinyl alcohol compositions, nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, cationic amine surfactants, aluminum oxide, stearates, alkyl dimethyl benzylammonium chloride, dodecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, sodium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide, sodium peroxide, sodium perborate, potassium permanganate, enzymes, disulfonated diaminostilbene compounds, triazole compounds, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, silicone fluids, halogenated salicylanilides, hexachlorophene, neomycin sulfate, benzalkonium quaternary compounds, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate, methyl oleate, dialkyl quaternary ammonium salts, caustic soda, water-soluble resinous precondensates, glyoxal, and mixtures thereof.
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52. The method of claim 1, wherein the sheet is formed of non-woven fibers that are adhesively bonded.
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53. The method of claim 1, wherein the sheet is formed of non-woven fibers that are thermally bonded.
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54. The method of claim 1, wherein the sheet has a web or corded fiber structure.
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55. The method of claim 1, wherein the sheet comprises a fibrous mat in which the fibers are distributed in a random array.
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56. The method of claim 1, wherein the sheet is formed of natural or synthetic fibers.
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57. The method of claim 56, wherein the natural fibers are selected from the group consisting of wool, silk, jute, hemp, cotton, linen, sisal, ramie and mixtures thereof.
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58. The method of claim 56, wherein the synthetic fibers are selected from the group consisting of rayon, cellulose, ester, polyvinyl derivatives, polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters, polypropylene and mixtures thereof.
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59. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to step (a) the sheet is removed from a moisture impermeable package.
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60. The method of claim 1, wherein the fabric-treatment agent is impregnated or coated onto the sheet.
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61. A method of treating at least one fabric article comprising:
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(a) placing a reusable, closeable bag into a dryer, said bag containing (i) at least one fabric article, and (ii) at least one moist, flexible woven or non-woven sheet coated or impregnated with a fabric-treatment composition comprising at least one liquid vehicle selected from the group consisting of water, organic solvent, and mixtures thereof, and at least one fragrance that is less than 2% by weight of the overall fabric-treatment composition. said bag being formed from polyamide, polyethylene, polypropylene, or mixtures and laminates thereof, and having at least one vent which is covered with a flap;
(b) operating the dry under conditions that the flap is open and heat and/or agitation in the dryer effects release of the fabric-treatment composition from the sheet to form vapor so that vapor pressure changes within the bag, resulting in vapor from the interior of said bag passing through said vent to the exterior of said bag, and (c) removing the treated fabric article from the bag. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63)
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64. A fabric-treatment system comprising:
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(a) a bag having at least one vent which is covered by a flap that is open during treatment and vapor from the interior of said bag passes through said vent to the exterior of said bag in response to changes in vapor pressure inside said bag, and (b) a moist sheet including at least one fabric-treatment agent. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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71. A fabric-treatment system comprising:
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(a) a reusable flexible heat resistant bag formed from polyethylene, polypropylene or polyamide, or mixtures and laminates thereof, said bag having a closeable opening for receiving a fabric article and having at least one vent which is covered with a flap that is open during treatment and vapor from the interior of said bag passes to the exterior of said bag in response to changes in vapor pressure inside said bag, and (b) at least one moist flexible sheet including at least one fabric treatment agent. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73, 74, 75)
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76. A fabric-treatment kit comprising, packaged in association:
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(a) a bag having at least one vent which is covered with a flap that is open during treatment and vapor from the interior of said bag passes to the exterior of said bag in response to changes in vapor pressure inside said bag, and (b) a moist sheet including at least one fabric treatment agent. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78, 79, 80, 81)
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82. A fabric-treatment kit comprising a package containing:
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(a) a reusable flexible heat resistant bag formed from polyethylene, polypropylene or polyamide, or mixtures and laminates thereof, said bag having a closeable opening for receiving a fabric article to be treated and having at least one vent covered with a flap that is open during treatment and vapor from the interior of said bag passes through said vent to the exterior of said bag in response to changes in vapor pressure inside said bag, (b) at least one moist flexible sheet contained in a moisture impermeable package and including at least one fabric treatment agent. - View Dependent Claims (83, 84, 85)
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86. A method of treating at least one fabric article comprising:
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(a) placing a closable bag into a dryer, wherein said bag is vented by at least one pore, hole or slit which is covered with a flap, said bag containing (i) at least one fabric article, and (ii) at least one moist sheet including at least one fabric-treatment agent;
(b) operating said dryer under conditions that the flap is open and vapor from the interior of said bag passes through said pore, hole or slit to the exterior of said bag in response to changes in vapor pressure inside said bag, and (c) removing the treated fabric article from the bag.
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Specification