Fabric treatment composition

• US 6,998,380 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2003
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA (Unilever PLC)
• Original Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA (Unilever PLC)
• Inventors: Mohammadi, Mansur Sultan, Fry, Alan John
• Primary Examiner(s): Hardee, John R.
• Application Number:
  US10/413,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20030199417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 510/515, 510/519, 510/520
• US Class Current: 510/519
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/62 Quaternary ammonium compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/72 Ethers of polyoxyalkylene glycols
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/835 Mixtures of non-ionic with cationic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/047 Arrangements specially adapted for dry cleaning or laundry dryer related applications

Abstract

A heat activated fabric treatment composition comprises from 3 to 75 wt % of one or more fabric treatment active ingredients, from 5 to 60 wt % of a nonionic surfactant and from 10 to 50 wt % of water. The composition is provided in a dispensing device which, in use, is attached to the internal panel of a tumble dryer.

Claims

1. A method of conditioning fabrics in a tumble dryer comprising:

locating a package comprising a heat activated fabric treatment composition within a dispensing article on an internal panel of the door of a tumble dryer;

inserting fabrics into said tumble dryer; and

operating said dryer to cause at least a part of said composition to be dispensed from said device onto said fabrics being dried so as to condition the fabrics;

wherein said operation is carried out repeatedly;

wherein said heat activated fabric treatment composition comprises;

(a) from about 3 to about 75 wt % of one or more fabric treatment active ingredients;

(b) from about 15 to about 45 wt % of a nonionic surfactant comprising an ethoxylated alcohol having from about 12 to about 20 EO groups; and

(c) from about 10 to about 50 wt % of water; and

(d) a glycol based solvent; and

wherein, at a temperature below the heating cycle temperature of the tumble dryer, said heat activated fabric treatment composition remains substantially within said dispensing article and undergoes a transition during the heating cycle such that said composition can be dispensed from said dispensing article.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of fabric treatment active ingredient to nonionic surfactant is from about 3:

2 to about 1;

75.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of fabric treatment active ingredient to nonionic surfactant is within the range from about 1:

1 to about 1;

20.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of fabric treatment active ingredient to nonionic surfactant is within the range from about 2:

3 to about 1;

5.