Method for delivering an active agent

• US 9,074,305 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2011
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Glenn, Robert Wayne Jr., Gordon, Gregory Charles, Sivik, Mark Robert, Richards, Mark Ryan, Heinzman, Stephen Wayne, James, Michael David, Reynolds, Geoffrey William, Trokhan, Paul Dennis, Hamad-Ebraminpour, Alyssandrea Hope, Denome, Frank William, Hodson, Stephen Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Douyon, Lorna M
• Application Number:
  US13/229,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20120053108A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,394 Days
• Field of Search: 510/296, 510/283, 510/439, 510/519, 510/220, 510/108, 813/7, 134/25.2, 134/42
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/0204 Specific forms not provided for by any of groups A61K8/0208 - A61K8/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/602 Type of release, e.g. controlled, sustained, slow
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/50 Materials characterised by their function or physical properties , e.g. injectable or lubricating compositions, shape-memory materials, surface modified materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/54 Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L27/227 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 5/00 Preparations for care of the hair
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/20 by using apparatus into or on to which containers, e.g. bottles, jars, cans are brought washing or rinsing crockery or tableware A47L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/042 Water soluble or water disintegrable containers or substrates containing cleaning compositions or additives for cleaning compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/047 Arrangements specially adapted for dry cleaning or laundry dryer related applications
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 1/10 Other agents for modifying properties
• CPC Class Codes: D06L 1/00 Dry-cleaning or washing fibres, filaments, threads, yarns, fabrics, feathers or made-up fibrous goods

Abstract

A method for delivering an active agent is provided.

Claims

1. A method for delivering one or more active agents to fabric articles or hard surfaces, the method comprising the steps:

a. providing a nonwoven web comprising a plurality of inter-entangled filaments, wherein at least one of the filaments exhibits a diameter of greater than 1 μ

m and comprises a filament-forming composition comprising one or more water-soluble filament-forming materials comprising a hydroxyl polymer and one or more active agents that are releasable from the filament when the filament is exposed to conditions of intended use, wherein the total level of the one or more filament-forming materials present in the filament is less than 40% by weight on a dry filament basis and the total level of the one or more active agents present in the filament is greater than 60% by weight on a dry filament basis;

wherein the one or more active agents are selected from the group consisting of fabric care active agents, dishwashing active agents, and hard surface active agents;

with the proviso that when the active agent comprises an enzyme, the enzyme is present in an amount from about 0.001% to 5% by weight on a dry filament basis; and

b. triggering the release of one or more of the active agents from the filament.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the triggering step comprises exposing the filament to moisture.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the triggering step comprises exposing the filament to a temperature of greater than 75°

F.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the triggering step comprises the step of applying a force to the filament.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the step of applying a force to the filament comprises stretching the filament.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the triggering step comprises exposing the filament to a chemical reaction.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the triggering step results in the filament losing its filament structure.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the filament loses its filament structure as a result of at least a part of the filament swelling.

9. The method according to claim 7 wherein the filament loses its filament structure as a result of at least a part of the filament shrinking.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the active agent is a fabric care active agent.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of triggering comprises one or more steps selected from the group consisting of:

a. pre-treating stains on a fabric article with the nonwoven web;

b. forming a wash liquor by contacting the nonwoven web with water;

c. tumbling the nonwoven web in a dryer;

d. heating the nonwoven web in a dryer; and

e. combinations thereof.

12. A method for delivering one or more active agents to fabric articles or hard surfaces, the method comprising the steps:

a. providing a nonwoven web comprising a plurality of inter-entangled filaments, wherein at least one of the filaments exhibits a diameter of greater than 1 μ

m and comprises a filament-forming composition comprising one or more water-soluble filament-forming materials comprising a hydroxyl polymer and one or more active agents that are releasable from the filament as the filament'"'"'s morphology changes, wherein the total level of the one or more filament-forming materials present in the filament is less than 40% by weight on a dry filament basis and the total level of the one or more active agents present in the filament is greater than 60% by weight on a dry filament basis;

wherein the one or more active agents are selected from the group consisting of fabric care active agents, dishwashing active agents, and hard surface active agents;

with the proviso that when the active agent comprises an enzyme, the enzyme is present in an amount from about 0.001% to 5% by weight on a dry filament basis; and

b. triggering the release of one or more of the active agents from the filament.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the triggering step comprises exposing the filament to moisture.

14. The method according to claim 12 wherein the triggering step comprises exposing the filament to a temperature of greater than 75°

F.

15. The method according to claim 12 wherein the triggering step comprises the step of applying a force to the filament.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the step of applying a force to the filament comprises stretching the filament.

17. The method according to claim 12 wherein the triggering step comprises exposing the filament to a chemical reaction.

18. The method according to claim 12 wherein the triggering step results in the filament losing its filament structure.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein the filament loses its filament structure as a result of at least a part of the filament swelling.

20. The method according to claim 18 wherein the filament loses its filament structure as a result of at least a part of the filament shrinking.

21. The method according to claim 12 wherein the active agent is a fabric care active agent.

22. The method according to claim 12 wherein the step of triggering comprises one or more steps selected from the group consisting of:

a. pre-treating stains on a fabric article with the nonwoven web;

b. forming a wash liquor by contacting the nonwoven web with water;

c. tumbling the nonwoven web in a dryer;

d. heating the nonwoven web in a dryer; and

e. combinations thereof.