Methods and apparatus for removal of wrinkles from fabrics

• US 6,785,989 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2001
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Orr, Michael Joseph, Guzzi, Brian Daniel, Ouellette, Jacqueline Nicole, DuVal, Dean Larry, Rienzo, Paul Eugene
• Primary Examiner(s): Izaguirre, Ismael
• Application Number:
  US09/817,540
• Publication Number:
  US 20020000054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,261 Days
• Field of Search: 116/137.R, 116/137.A, 310/320, 310/321, 310/322, 310/324, 38/74, 38/771, 38/773, 38/775, 38/82, 38/94, 38/777, 38/778, 38/778.3, 219/209, 219/210, 219/227, 219/245, 219/254
• US Class Current: 38/77.1
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 75/00 Hand irons
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 75/08 Hand irons internally heated by electricity
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 75/22 with means for supplying liquid to the article being ironed D06F75/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 77/00 Arrangements for exerting pressure on, lifting, or guiding hand irons
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 10/02 ultrasonic or sonic; Corona discharge
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 10/04 Physical treatment combined with treatment with chemical compounds or elements graft polymerisation using wave energy or particle radiation D06M14/18 ; treatment with radioactive elements D06M10/008
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 2200/20 Treatment influencing the crease behaviour, the wrinkle resistance, the crease recovery or the ironing ease
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 23/02 Processes in which the treating agent is releasably affixed or incorporated into a dispensing means
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 23/10 Processes in which the treating agent is dissolved or dispersed in organic solvents; Processes for the recovery of organic solvents thereof

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to devices, methods and product for removing wrinkles and smoothing fabric, especially articles of clothing, linen and drapery, using ultrasonic energy and an ultrasonic transmission fluid.

Claims

1. A method for smoothing and de-wrinkling a discrete fabric item comprising the steps of applying to said discrete fabric item an effective amount of an ultrasonic transmission fluid and concurrent with or subsequent to said application of said ultrasonic transmission fluid, applying a source of ultrasonic energy to said ultrasonic transmission fluid, wherein said source of ultrasonic energy is applied in a manner which avoids fiber-damaging heat which could scorch, shine or flatten fabric, wherein the source of ultrasonic energy includes means to prevent the generation of heat said means selected from the group consisting of temperature means, and electronic means.

3. The method according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein said ultrasonic transmission fluid comprises an ultrasonic carrier and optionally, an ultrasonic adjuvant.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said ultrasonic carrier is selected from the group consisting of alcohol, water, and mixtures thereof.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein said ultrasonic adjuvant is selected from the group consisting of wetting agents, perfume, antibacterial agent, anti-oxidants, electrolytes, corrosion inhibitors, solvents, chelants, photobleaches, brighteners, hydrotropes, malodor control agents, and mixtures thereof.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of placing said discrete fabric item on a surface that does not adsorb or dissipate the ultrasonic energy.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said process is conducted on said discrete fabric item that is being worn by a human being.

8. A Discrete fabric that has been smoothed and dc-wrinkled according to the process of claim 1.

2. A method for smoothing and dc-wrinkling a discrete fabric item comprising at least the steps of applying to said discrete fabric item a quantity of an ultrasonic transmission fluid which is from about 1% to about 200% the dry weight of said discrete fabric item and concurrent with or subsequent to applying a source of ultrasonic energy to said ultrasonic transmission fluid, wherein said source of ultrasonic energy is applied in a manner which voids fiber-damaging heat which could scorch, shine or flatten fabric, wherein the source of ultrasonic energy includes means to prevent the generation of heat said means selected from the group consisting of temperature means.

9. A garment smoothing and dc-wrinkling product which smoothes and de-wrinkles garments without using fiber damaging heat which could scorch, shine or flatten garments comprising:

(a) ultrasonic transmission fluid, comprising an ultrasonic carrier and optionally, an ultrasonic adjuvant;

(b) an ultrasonic wave generating source for imparting ultrasonic waves onto wrinkles in said garments; and

(c) instructions for using said product comprising the steps of;

(i) applying an effective amount of said ultrasonic transmission fluid to said wrinkles; and

(ii) imparting ultrasonic waves to said wrinkles using said ultrasonic source in a manner that avoids fiber-damaging heat that could scorch, shine or flatten fabric, wherein means to avoid fiber-damaging heat is selected from the group consisting of temperature means, pressure means, and electronic means.

10. The garment smoothing and dc-wrinkling product of claim 9 wherein said ultrasonic transmission fluid and said ultrasonic soiree contained together in a device that permits controlled dispensing of said ultrasonic transmission fluid to the wrinkle while concurrently imparting ultrasonic waves thereto.

11. The garment smoothing and de-wrinkling product of claim 9, wherein said ultrasonic carrier is selected from the group consisting of alcohol, water, and mixtures thereof.

12. The garment smoothing and de-wrinkling product of claim 9, wherein said ultrasonic adjuvant is selected from the group consisting of selected from the group consisting of wetting agents, perfume, insect and moth repelling agents, antibacterial agent, anti-oxidants, electrolytes, polymeric dispersing agents, corrosion inhibitors, solvents, chelants, photobleaches, brighteners, hydrotropes, finishing agents, odor control agents, and mixtures thereof.

13. A process for restoring the appearance of fabrics by removing and/or restoring microfibrils to macrofibres of a fabric article comprising the steps of:

(a) applying an effective amount of an ultrasonic transmission fluid to said fabrics; and

(b) imparting sonic or ultrasonic waves to said fabrics in a manner which avoids fiber-damaging heat which could scorch, shine or flatten fabric, wherein the means in which fiber-damaging heat is avoided is means selected from the group consisting of temperature means, pressure means, and electronic means;

wherein said fabrics contains from about 1% to about 200% the dry weight of said fabrics of ultrasonic transmission fluid.

14. An ultrasonic de-wrinkling apparatus comprising:

a plate;

ultrasonic means attached to said plate for generating ultrasonic waves in said plate;

a housing attached to said plate having handle means for grasping said housing and moving said housing and said plate;

means to prevent the generation of heat in said plate by said moving of said plate on said fabric, wherein said means of preventing the generation of heat is selected from the group consisting of temperature means, pressure means, and electronic means;

at least one solution storage means associated with said de-wrinkling apparatus, said solution storage means being adapted to contain an ultrasonic transmission fluid; and

at least one dispensing means mounted in said hewing, said dispensing means being in fluid communication with said storage means and is adapted to dispense said ultrasonic transmission fluid from solution storage means to a fabric surface.

15. The ultrasonic de-wrinkling apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said wherein said solution storage means is adapted to be removably mounted to said housing.

16. The ultrasonic de-wrinkling apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said solution storage means is mounted in said housing.

17. A method for smoothing and de-wrinkling a discrete fabric item comprising the steps of applying to said discrete fabric item un effective amount of an ultrasonic transmission fluid and concurrent with or subsequent to said application of said ultrasonic transmission fluid, applying a source of ultrasonic energy to said ultrasonic transmission fluid, wherein said source of ultrasonic energy is an ultrasonic de-wrinkling apparatus according so claim 14 and is applied in a manner which avoids fiber-damaging heat which could scorch, shine or flatten fabric.

18. A discrete fabric that has been smoothed and dc-wrinkled according to the process of claim 17.

19. A garment smoothing and de-wrinkling product which smoothes and de-wrinkles garments without using fiber damaging heat which could scorch, shine or flatten garments comprising:

(a) ultrasonic transmission fluid, comprising an ultrasonic carrier and optionally, an ultrasonic adjuvant;

(b) an ultrasonic wave generating source for imparting ultrasonic waves onto wrinkles in said garments, wherein said ultrasonic wave generating source is an ultrasonic de-wrinkling apparatus according to claim 14; and

(c) instructions far using said product comprising the steps of;

(i) applying an effective amount of said ultrasonic transmission fluid to said wrinkles; and

(ii) imparting ultrasonic waves to said wrinkles using said ultrasonic source in a manner that avoids fiber-damaging heat that could scorch, shine or flatten fabric wherein the means in which fiber-damaging heal is avoided is a means selected from the group consisting of temperature means, pressure means, and electronic means.

20. A product for restoring the appearance of fabrics by removing and/or restoring microfibrils to macrofibres of a fabric article comprising:

(a) ultrasonic transmission fluid, comprising an ultrasonic carrier and, optionally, an ultrasonic adjuvant,

(b) an ultrasonic ways generating source for imparting ultrasonic waves onto the fabrics; and

(c) instructions for using the product comprising the steps of;

(i) applying an effective amount of an ultrasonic transmission fluid to the fabrics; and

(ii) imparting ultrasonic waves to the fabrics using the ultrasonic source in a manner that avoids fiber-damaging heat that could scorch, shine or flatten fabric, wherein the means in which fiber-damaging heat is avoided is means selected from the group consisting of temperature means, pressure means, and electronic means.