Process for softening or treating a fabric article

• US 6,238,736 B1
• Filed: 07/24/1998
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Custom Cleaner, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Custom Cleaner, Inc.
• Inventors: Kellett, George W., Smith, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Back, Shrive
• Assistant Examiner(s): MICHENER, JENNIFER KOLB
• Application Number:
  US09/121,942
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: 427/242, 427/11
• US Class Current: 427/242
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/041 Compositions releasably affixed on a substrate or incorporated into a dispensing means
• 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 3/43 Solvents
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/50 Perfumes
• 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: D06M 23/02 Processes in which the treating agent is releasably affixed or incorporated into a dispensing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1362 Textile, fabric, cloth, or pile containing [e.g., web, net, woven, knitted, mesh, nonwoven, matted, etc.]
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2033 Coating or impregnation formed in situ [e.g., by interfacial condensation, coagulation, precipitation, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2303 Coating or impregnation provides a fragrance or releases an odor intended to be perceptible to humans
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2352 Coating or impregnation functions to soften the feel of or improve the "hand" of the fabric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2402 Coating or impregnation specified as a size
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2418 Coating or impregnation increases electrical conductivity or anti-static quality
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2582 Coating or impregnation contains an optical bleach or brightener or functions as an optical bleach or brightener [e.g., it masks fabric yellowing, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2615 Coating or impregnation is resistant to penetration by solid implements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2861 Coated or impregnated synthetic organic fiber fabric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2918 Polypropylene fiber fabric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/607 Strand or fiber material is synthetic polymer

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.

Claims

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.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said fabric-treatment agent is in a composition which comprises at least one fabric-treatment agent, a surfactant and a liquid vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein said liquid vehicle is selected from the group consisting of water, a water-miscible organic solvent, and mixtures thereof.

4. The method according to claim 2 wherein the at least one fabric-treatment agent is a fragrance and the amount of fragrance is less than 2% by weight of the overall fabric treatment composition.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of amphoteric surfactants, non-ionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, and mixtures thereof.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the surfactant is present in an amount of about 2-5 weight percent.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the composition further includes a dispersing agent.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the dispersing agent is selected from the group consisting of modified starches, modified celluloses, fatty acids, fatty acid salts, fatty alcohols, polysaccharide gums, modified mineral clays, and mixtures thereof.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the dispersing agent is a polysaccharide gum selected from the group consisting of alkali metal salts of alginic acid, carrageenan pectin, guar gum, and mixtures thereof.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the dispersing agent is selected from the group consisting of polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamides and polymeric organic waxes.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the dispersing agent is selected from the group consisting of alkali earth metals, alkaline earth metals, and ammonium salts of naturally occurring or synthetic fatty acids.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the dispersing agent is present in an amount between about 10-20 weight percent.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the dispersing agent is a C₈-C₂₂ fatty acid which incorporates 0-3 double bonds per fatty acid molecule.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein the liquid vehicle is water, organic solvent, or a mixture thereof.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the liquid vehicle is water.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the liquid vehicle is organic solvent.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the liquid vehicle includes at least one glycol ether.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the glycol ether is a lower(alkoxy)- or lower(alkoxy)lower(alkoxy)-ether of ethanol or isopropanol.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycols, lower alkanols, ketones, C_2-4 polyols, hydrocarbon solvents, and mixtures thereof.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the organic solvent is polyethylene glycol-200, 300, 400 or 600, wherein the suffixed numbers indicate the approximate molecular weight of the glycol.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the organic solvent is water-miscible.

22. The method of claim 2, wherein the liquid vehicle includes organic solvent, which is present in an amount between about 2-75 weight percent.

23. The method of claim 2, wherein the liquid vehicle is water, which is present in an amount between about 10-55 weight percent.

24. The method of claim 2, wherein the liquid vehicle includes a diol or triol.

25. The method of claim 2, wherein the liquid vehicle is selected from the group consisting of ethylene, glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol or mixtures thereof.

26. The method of claim 2, wherein the composition further includes a dispersing agent that is an aqueous emulsion or dispersion.

27. The method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one fabric-treatment agent is a fragrance.

28. The method according to claim 1 wherein said fabric article is moist.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the dryer is operated at about 40-95°

C.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the dryer is operated for about 15-45 minutes.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein said fabric article is an article of clothing.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein the fabric article is moist prior to placing it into the bag.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein heat in the dryer effects release of the fabric-treatment agent from the sheet.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein the fabric-treatment agent is selected from the group consisting of fragrances, fabric-softening agents, anti-creasing agents, anti-soil agents, anti-static agents, bacteriostatic agents, brightening agents, bodying agents, dyes, fiber emollients, finishing agents, germicides, lubricants, mildew-proofing agents, moth-proofing agents, shrinkage controller agents, sizing agents, and mixtures thereof.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein the bag has dimensions of from about 18 inches×

23 inches to about 36 inches×

40 inches.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein the bag has a surface area in the range of about 1120 square inches to about 1560 square inches.

37. The method of claim 1, wherein the bag is reuseable.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein the bag is formed from a non-porous plastic film or a non-woven fabric.

39. The method of claim 1, wherein the bag is formed from polypropylene, polyethylene or polyamide, or a multiple or layered complex comprising such materials.

40. The method of claim 1, wherein the fabric-treatment agent is in a composition which comprises about 30-50 weight percent organic solvent, about 15-25 weight percent water, about 1.5-25 weight percent of one or more fabric-treatment agents, about 10-20 percent of a dispersing agent, and about 2-5 weight percent of a surfactant.

41. The method of claim 40, further including a quaternary amine present in an amount between about 2.5-25 weight percent.

42. The method of claim 1, wherein the fabric-treatment agent comprises a quaternary amine.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the quaternary amine has the formula

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the quaternary amine has the formula

45. The method of claim 42, wherein the quaternary amine has a formula

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.

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.

48. The method of claim 42, wherein the quaternary amine is a stearyl amine salt.

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(C_14-18)aminehydrogen phosphate.

50. The method of claim 1, wherein the sheet is formed of a woven or non-woven material.

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.

52. The method of claim 1, wherein the sheet is formed of non-woven fibers that are adhesively bonded.

53. The method of claim 1, wherein the sheet is formed of non-woven fibers that are thermally bonded.

54. The method of claim 1, wherein the sheet has a web or corded fiber structure.

55. The method of claim 1, wherein the sheet comprises a fibrous mat in which the fibers are distributed in a random array.

56. The method of claim 1, wherein the sheet is formed of natural or synthetic fibers.

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.

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.

59. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to step (a) the sheet is removed from a moisture impermeable package.

60. The method of claim 1, wherein the fabric-treatment agent is impregnated or coated onto the sheet.

61. A method of treating at least one fabric article comprising:

(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.

62. The method according to claim 61, wherein prior to step (a) the sheet is removed from a moisture impermeable package.

63. The method of according to claim 61, wherein said fabric article is moist.

64. A fabric-treatment system comprising:

(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.

65. The system of claim 64, wherein the bag is vented by at least one pore, hole or slit.

66. The system according to claim 64 wherein said fabric-treatment agent is in a composition which comprises at least one fabric-treatment agent, a surfactant, and a liquid vehicle.

67. The system according to claim 66 wherein said liquid vehicle is selected from the group consisting of water, an organic solvent, and mixtures thereof.

68. The system according to claim 66 wherein the at least one fabric-treatment agent is a fragrance and the amount of fragrance is less than 2% by weight of the overall fabric treatment composition.

69. The system according to claim 66 wherein said liquid vehicle is water.

70. The system according to claim 64 wherein the at least one fabric-treatment agent is a fragrance.

71. A fabric-treatment system comprising:

(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.

72. The fabric-treatment system according to claim 71 wherein said fabric-treatment agent is in a composition which comprises at least one fabric-treatment agent, a surfactant and a liquid vehicle.

73. The fabric-treatment system according to claim 72 wherein said liquid vehicle is selected from the group consisting of water, an organic solvent, and mixtures thereof.

74. The fabric-treatment system according to claim 72 wherein the at least one fabric-treatment agent is a fragrance and the amount of fragrance is less than 2% by weight of the overall fabric treatment composition.

75. The fabric-treatment system according to claim 71 wherein the at least one fabric-treatment agent is a fragrance.

76. A fabric-treatment kit comprising, packaged in association:

(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.

77. The fabric-treatment kit according to claim 76 wherein said fabric-treatment agent is in a composition which comprises at least one fabric-treatment agent, a surfactant and a liquid vehicle.

78. The fabric-treatment kit according to claim 77 wherein said liquid vehicle is selected from the group consisting of water, an organic solvent, and mixtures thereof.

79. The fabric-treatment kit according to claim 77 wherein the at least one fabric-treatment agent is a fragrance and the amount of fragrance is less than 2% by weight of the overall fabric treatment composition.

80. The fabric-treatment kit according to claim 76 wherein the at least one fabric-treatment agent is a fragrance.

81. The kit according to claim 76, wherein said bag is vented by at least one hole, pore or slit.

82. A fabric-treatment kit comprising a package containing:

(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.

83. The fabric-treatment kit according to claim 82 wherein said fabric-treatment agent is in a composition which comprises at least one fabric-treatment agent, a surfactant and a liquid vehicle.

84. The fabric-treatment kit according to claim 83 wherein said liquid vehicle is selected from the group consisting of water, an organic solvent, and mixtures thereof.

85. The fabric-treatment kit according to claim 82 wherein the at least one fabric-treatment agent is a fragrance.

86. A method of treating at least one fabric article comprising:

(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.