Method for applying a treatment fluid to fabrics

• US 6,811,811 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2002
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: McWilliams, Linda Carol, Norris, Thomas Brian, Ullom, Michael Jason, Gerald France, Paul Amaat Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): PIANALTO, BERNARD D
• Application Number:
  US10/307,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20030091749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 427/425, 427/299, 427/348, 427/346, 427/170, 427/242, 427/240, 427/393.1, 427/393.2, 427/393.4
• US Class Current: 427/170
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/203 Laundry conditioning arrangements

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and/or systems for applying treatment fluid to a plurality of fabric articles in a fabric treatment apparatus. The present invention is also directed to an apparatus capable of carrying out such methods and/or systems.

Claims

1. A method for treating a plurality of fabric articles contained within a chamber of a fabric treatment apparatus comprising the step of applying a fabric treatment fluid in the form of a spray or mist to the plurality of fabric articles while the plurality of fabric articles are in rotational motion at less than about 1 G, wherein said motion includes a period of clockwise rotational motion, and a period of counterclockwise rotational motion, wherein a period of no motion occurs at the period of transition between the two periods of rotational motion, wherein said period of clockwise rotational motion lasts at least about 5 seconds, said period of counterclockwise rotational motion lasts at least about 5 seconds, and said period of no motion lasts at least about 1 second such that the plurality of fabric articles are treated.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein a gas assist nozzle and gas are used to convert said fabric treatment fluid into the form of a spray or mist.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein said gas assist nozzle is operated at a pressure from about 5 psi to about 80 psi.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein said gas assist nozzle operated at a pressure from about 20 psi to about 30 psi.

5. The method according to claim 2 wherein said gas is selected from the group consisting essentially of nitrogen, air, steam, and combinations thereof.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein a pressure atomizer is used to convert said fabric treatment fluid into the form of a spray or mist.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein said period of clockwise rotational motion lasts from about 5 seconds to about 20 seconds, said period of counterclockwise rotational motion lasts from about 5 seconds to about 20 seconds, and said period of no motion lasts from about 1 second to about 5 seconds.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the motion of the plurality of fabric articles results from motion of the fabric article-containing chamber.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein said step of contacting the plurality of fabric articles with the fabric treatment fluid is synchronized with the motion of the fabric-containing chamber such that the step of contacting the plurality of fabric articles with the fabric treatment fluid is automatically ceased when the fabric-containing chamber is in a state of no motion.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein said fabric treatment apparatus further comprises a fabric load size indicator in order to determine the load size of the plurality of fabric articles such that a total volume of said fabric treatment fluid to be applied to said plurality of fabric articles can be determined automatically.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein said fabric treatment fluid comprises a perfume.

12. The method according to claim 1 wherein said treatment fabric treatment fluid is applied from a fabric treatment fluid source into the fabric-containing chamber in a manner such that the fabric treatment fluid is retained within the fabric-containing chamber'"'"'s internal volume.

13. The method according to claim 1 wherein said fabric treatment fluid is in the form of a spray having a median droplet size of from about 5 microns to about 300 microns.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein said fabric treatment fluid has a median droplet size of from about 5 microns to about 50 microns.

15. The method according to claim 1 wherein said treatment fluid comprises a constituent selected from the group consisting of enzymes, bleaches, surfactants, emulsifiers, fabric softeners, antibacterial agents, antistatic agents, brighteners, dye fixatives, dye abrasion inhibitors, anti-crocking agents, wrinkle reduction agents, wrinkle resistance agents, soil release polymers, sunscreen agents, anti-fade agents, waterproofing agents, stainproofing agents, soil repellency agents, and mixtures thereof.