CA1094759A - Clothes dryer composition and method - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A method of treating clothing articles with an adjuvant material in a clothes dryer is disclosed, which comprises contact-ing the clothing articles with a foam containing said adjuvant material. Also, adjuvant-containing compositions are disclosed which provide a stable, substantially form-sustaining, easily dis-tributable foam when dispensed from an aerosol container, said compositions comprising by weight of the total composition (a) from about 1.0 to 30.0 percent of an adjuvant material, (b) from about 50.0 to 94.0 percent of a solubilizer, and (c) from about 5.0 to 25.0 percent of a propellant.

Description

10~4759 1 This invention relates to a method for treating clothing articles with adjuvant materials and to compositions therefor.
More specifically, it relates to a method for treating clothing articles while in a clothes dryer, i.e., in a tumbling, dry-heat, substantially anhydrous environment, and to aerosol compositions therefor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of various adjuvants in home laundry products has been a common practice for many years. Such products are often of the type particularly suitable for use in washing machines. Among the adjuvants included in detergents and as wash-cycle additives are fabric softeners, ironing aids, germicides, soil release agents, stain repellents and deodorizers. Only rarely has the employment of an adjuvant in a composition for use in a clothes dryer been contemplated even though such composition would be very advantageous, since residual detergents and water-rinsing cycles detract from the efficiency of the adjuvants applied. However, the use of dryer-employed composition has been discouraged because of the environ-mental conditions met within the dryer which have substantially prevented, heretofore, the effective distribution of such adjuvants within the dryer. ~bviously, if such adjuvants cannot be distri-buted widely and effectively, there can be no effective use of adjuvant-containing compositions in a dryer.
The problem, then, is to provide a method for use in a clothes dryer environment, i.e., a tumbling, dry-heat, anhydrous environment, which will insure adequate distribution of the ad-juvant material to the clothing. A second problem is to provide a composition suitable for use in the dryer environment.
It might be expected that adjuvant materials could be 1 easily applied and distributed uniformly to a load of clothing in a clothes dryer because of the heat and mechanical tumbling action of the dryer as well as the occluded water present in the clothing.
However, experience has shown that this is not the case. In fact, as stated above, exactly the contrary has proven to be the case.
None of the prior art methods have overcome satisfactorily the aforesaid distribution problems connected with the use of adjuvants in a clothes dryer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
________________________ It is a primary object of the subject invention to provide a method of treating articles of clothing with an adjuvant material by contacting said clothing with an easily distributable foam containing said adjuvant material in a clothes dryer.
., A second object of the subject invention is to provide a foamable composition containing an adjuvant material for use in a clothes dryer.
Another object of the invention is to provide said foam-able composition in a pressurized container.
According to the present invention, a method for treating articles of clothing with an adjuvant material comprises contact-ing at least a portion of said clothing articles with a foam con-taining said adjuvant material, and subjecting said foam-contacted clothing to a tumbling, dry-heat, anhydrous environment.
Also, according to the present invention a composition suitable to be dispensed from an aerosol container for use in a clothes dryer, comprises by weight of the total composition (a) from about 1.0 to 30.0 percent of an adjuvant material, (b) from about 50.0 to 94.0 percent of a so]ubilizer, (c) from about 5.0 to 25.0 percent of a propellant, and (d) from O to 30 percent by 10~47S9 1 weight of a foaming agent, said (a), ~b), (c) and (d) providing a substantially form-sustaining, substantially non-penetrating, sur-face adherent, easily distributable foam when dispensed from said aerosol container.
Another composition suitable for the same purpose as aforesaid employs a fabric softener as follows:
(a) from about 1.0 to 30.0 percent of a fabric softener, (b) from about 50.0 to 94.0 percent of a solubilizer, and (c) from about 5.G to 25.0 percent of a propellant, wherein the solubilizer includes water in an amount comprising at least 40 percent of the total composition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
_____________________________________ The foamable composition described broadly above and in all of its embodiments is a discretely balanced mixture of ingre-dients, each ingredient present contributing to the overall result.
In the practice of this invention, the mixture of ingredients is tailored to produce a foam having the desired characteristics of stability, substantial form-sustentation, substantial non-penetra-bility, surface adherency and distributability. The method of this invention, in its broadest form, comprises contacting at least a portion of the clothing articles in a clothes dryer with a foam containing an adjuvant material, and thereafter subjecting the clothing to the normal action of the dryer.
The adjuvant materials which may be employed in the present invention include fabric softeners such as dimethyl dihydro-genated tallow ammonium chloride and l-methyl-l-alkyl-amidoethyl-

2-alkylimidozolinium methosulfate and bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-alkyl-amine oxide.
It is to be understood that any suitable cationic fabric 1 softener may be used in the subject composition. Should nonfoam-able fabric softeners be employed, any suitable foaming agent can also be employed to impart the necessary foaming action.
Other adjuvants which may be employed include, but are not limited to deodorizers such as 2,~'-dihydroxy-5,5' dichloro-diphenyl-methane,2,2'-dihydroxy-3,5,6,3',5',6' hexachlorodiphenyl-methane, dihydroxytetrachlorodiphenyl thioether, tribromosalicyl-anilide, disinfectants such as cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide, benzalkonium chloride, sodium benzene sulfochloramide, and water repellants such as N-methylolstearamide.
The adjuvants useful in this invention may also include antistats such as alkyl polyethoxyamide, sodium salt of sulfate ester of an alkylphenoxypoly (ethyleneoxy) ethanol, wrinkle re-movers such as bis-(2-hydroxyethyl) alkyl-amine oxide, lint re-movers such as oleic imidazoline, cleaners such as sodium di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate, soil repellants such as potassium salt of peptide coco fatty acid condensate, color brighteners such as sulfated castor oil, glycerine, mineral oil, paraffin, propylene glycol, cetyl alcohol, isopropyl myristate, optical brighteners such as stilbene triazole, vinylene-bis-benzoxazole, DAS-triazine, disodium 4,4' bis (4-anilino, 6-morpholino-s-triazine-2yl amino)-2,2' stilbene disulfonate, sodium naphthotriazole-2-stilbene sulfonate and 2-styryl-naphth (1,2d) oxazole and emollients such as talc, isopropyl myristate, cetyl alcohol, etc.
Additional adjuvants useful in this invention may also include various color dyes such as sodium salt of o-toluene-azo-o-toluene-azo-B-naphthylamine-6-sulphonic acid (red), sodium salt of p-sulphobenzene-azo-B-naphthol (orange), sodium salt of amino-azobenzene disulphonic acid, togeth~r with some of the sodium salt of aminoazobenzene mono-sulphonic acid (yellow), sodium salt of .

1 dibenzyldiethyldiamino-triphenylcarbinol disulphonic acid anhydride (green), sodium salt of 1:5-diphenylamino-2:6-dihydroxyanthraquinone-

3:7-disulphonic acid (blue), and a mixture of the hydrochlorides of the more highly methylated pararosanilines, containing principally the tetra-, penta- and hexamethyl derivatives (violet).
The adjuvant materials may be employed in the compositions of the instant invention in amounts of from about 1.0 to 30.0 per-cent by weight of the total composition, and preferably between about 3 to 25 percent by weight of the total composition. The lower preferred limit can be reduced with the addition of foaming agents as later defined.
The solubilizers employed in the present invention include but are not limited to water, methanolr ethanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, isobutyl alcohol, n-butyl alcohol, secondary-butyl alcohol, amyl alcohol, cyclohexanol, n-hexanol benzene, toluene, xylene, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, n-butyl acetate, secondary-butyl acetate, methyl cellosolve acetate, amyl acetate, n-butyl propionate, cellosolve acetate, 2-methoxyethanol, 2-butoxy-ethanol, n-butyl ether methylene chloride, carbon tetrachloride, perchloroethylene, trichlorobenzene, isopropylbenzene, and mixtures thereof. The solubilizers are employed in amounts ranging from about 50.0 to 94.0 percent by weight of the total composition, and preferably between about 65 to 85 percent by weight of the total composition. However, it has been found that water should be present as at least paxt of the solubilizer in amounts of at least 40 percent by weight of the total composition. Best results are obtained when water is present in amounts of at least 65 percent by weight of the total composition. A particularly preferred foam is one having 5 percent active cationic, 10 percent propellant, 3.5 percent alcohol and the balance water. The alcohol content ~0947S9 1 of the solubilizer should not exceed 40 percent by weight of the total composition.
The propellants in the present invention include any of the well known hydrocarbon or fluorinated hydrocarbon propellants such as trichloromonofluoromethane, Freon-12*, (the trade mark for dichlorodifluoromethane, made by E.I. duPont deNemours and Co.), A i c . diahlorodifluoromcthane, dichloromonofluoromethane, chloro-difluoromethane, methylene chloride, dichlorotetrafluoroethane, octafluorocyclobutane, chloropentafluoroethane, propane, isobutane, n-butane, vinyl chloride, dimethyl ether, chlorodifluoroethane, ethyl chloride, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and/or mixtures of any or all of the above. Propellants are employed in a range of from about 5.0 to 25.0 percent by weight of the total composition. It should be noted that the propellant additionally can act as a solubilizer and can be used instead of another solu-bilizer to some extent. A particuarly preferred propellant for fabric softeners is a mixture of Freon 12* and Freon 114* in amounts of 55-57 and 43-45 percent respectively. Such mixture has been found to have particularly desirable vapor pressure properties.
Also, various inhibitors may be added to the composition depending on the nature of the aerosol container. These inhibitors include sodium nitrite, sodium benzoate and morpholine. These ingredients are generally present in amounts ranging from about 0 to 1.0 percent by weight of the total composition. If desired, additional adjuvants may be included in the fabric softener compositions of this invention. Such adjuvants could include deodorizers, germicides, emollients and the like. Perfumes and colorants are other additives that can be added.
The foaming agents which may be included in the present 3~ invention are, alkanolamides, alkyl sulfonates, sulfated and * Trade Mark 1 sulfonated amines and amides, betaine derivatives, diphenyl sulfonate derivatives, ethoxylated alcohols, ethoxylated alkyl phenols, ethoxylated amines and amides, ethoxylated fatty acids, imidazoline, isethionates, phosphate derivatives, protein deri-vatives, quaternary ammonium compounds, sarcosine derivatives, succinated, sulfo derivatives, alcohol sulfates, ethoxylated alcohol sulfates of ethoxylated alcohols, sulfonates of naphthalene and alkyl naphthalenes, sulfated ethoxylated alkyl phenols, sulfated fatty esters, sulfated and sulfonated oils and fatty acids, benzene, toluene and xylene sulfonates, dodecyl and tridecyl benzene sulfonates and free acids, petroleum sulfonates, taurates, tertiary amine oxides, thio and mercapto derivatives, salts of tallow fatty acids, salts of coco fatty acids, salts of stearic acid, and mixtures thereof. These materials are generally present in the instant invention in amounts of from 0 to about 30.0 by weight of the to~al composition.
In practice, the compositions of the present invention are conveniently sprayed from an aerosol container. In this regard, any aerosol containers of the type normally used for spraying compositions can be used, such as those of aluminum, tin plate, glass, etc. In like manner, any typical spray actuator can be used.
It should be emphasized that a critical feature of the present invention is the character of the foam which is the vehicle by which the adjuvant material is distributed to the clothing in the dryer. A foam is generally characterized as a coarse dispersion of a gas in a liquid in which the volume of the gas is considerably larger than that of the liquid. The nature of the foam formed is the consequence of many factors, the foaming nature of the adjuvant, or of the foam inducing additive (if the 1 adjuvant is of the type which does not foam of itself), and the critical proportions of the ingredients employed, including solu-bilizers, propellants, and the like. The desirable foam of this invention is one which is stable, substantially form~sustaining, substantially non-penetrating, surface adherent and easily dis-tributable. Typically, the characteristics of a foam may be assayed on a surface when the foamable solution is sprayed from an aerosol container at a distance of from about 12 to 24 inches from said surface at room temperature.
Stability and form sustentation of foam can be consi-dered together. In effect, foam stability has two aspects, foam drainage and persistance (sustentation). Thus, a foam may drain and become quite thin but may retain its structure. Foams also may collapse as a result of rupture of the foam structure. The foams of the instant invention have relatively slow drainage rates and retain their basic structure.
Foams useful in the present invention are non-penetrating;
they tend to stay on the surface to which they are applied. If they penetrate the clothing too quickly, good distribution is impossible.
On the other hand, the foam of the present invention must adhere to the surface with which it comes into contact. As the clothing is tumbled in the dryer, the foam, which was originally sprayed on only the top layer of clothing, comes into contact with other clothing surfaces and a thin layer adheres to these new surfaces.
In general, the qualities of the foam, as defined above, should persist on the clothing surfaces contacted for at least that time required for the physical acts of applying the coating of foam on the clothing surfaces, closing the dryer, turning the :
1 dryer on and effectuating the tumbling action therein. While this time period may vary somewhat according to the agility of the user, the manner of emplacement and type of dryer used, and the like, as a practical matter it is felt that the foam qualities outlined above should persist for at least about thirty seconds. The longer it takes for the surface applied foam to become unstable, lose its form, penetrate the clothing, the better will be the resulting distributability within the dryer.
To carry out the method of the present invention, the foamable compositions disclosed above are sprayed onto the top layer of clothing in the dryer. For best results, the stream of foam should be directed onto the clothing from a distance of between 12 and 24 inches therefrom. The foam layer is usually evenly applied over essentially the entire top surface of the clothing load. The tumbling action of the dryer then provides the mechanism by which the remaining clothing comes into contact with the foam which easily adheres to any material contacting it.
This invention is not to be limited to any particular method of preparing the above described aerosol composition. Any conventional means of uniformly mixing the components can be used.
However, it is preferred that the mixing of ingredients comprising the foamable composition of this invention be effected at an elevated temperature of the order between 160F and 212F.
The ingredients were formulated as indicated in the following examples, where all percentages are by weight of total composition, unless otherwise indicated.

At a temperature of about 175-210F, 43.0 parts water and 10.0 parts of a fabric softener of dimethyl dihydrogenated tallow ammonium chloride were mixed together. The mixture was 1 then allowed to cool to room temperature and 15.0 parts dichloro-methane and 7~0 parts isopropyl alcohol were then added. The resultant concentrate was then loaded into a container. After removal of air by evacuation or purging, the valve is crimped and 25.0 parts propellant (Freon 12*)(the trade mark of E.I. duPont de Nemours and Co.) was pressure loaded.
The composition was then sprayed on the top layer of a normal clothing load (approximately 8 pounds) in a conventional clothes dryer. The dryer cycle was then run and completed. When the clothing was removed, it was determined that significent s~ftening had occurred.
The following examples indicate additional compositions which were formulated and then applied in the clothes dryer.

EXAMPLE II
Fabric Softener %
Bis (2-hydroxyethyl)-alkyl-amine oxide 15.0 Dichloromethane 10.0 Water 45,0 Isopropyl Alcohol 9.0 Propellant (Freon 12-114* 55%/45%) (Freon 114* - DuPont - dichlorotetrafluoroethane) - 21.0 100.0 EXAMPLE III
Fabric Cleaner %
Sodium di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate 25.0 Water 62.0 Coconut monoethanolamide 3.0 Propellant (Freon 12*) 10.0 100 .0 * Trade Mark ~094759 Fabric Soil Repellant %
-Potassium salt of peptide coco fatty acid condensate 25.0 Water 55.0 Isopropyl Alcohol 10.0 Propellant (Freon 12*) 10.0 lOO.Q

EXAMPLE V
10 Fabric Soil Repellant %
-Ethylene oxide condensate of a nonyl phenol 25.0 Water . 55.0 Isopropyl Alcohol 10.0 Propellant (Freon 12*) 10.0 100.0 EXAMPLE VI
Fabrlc Lint Remover %
Oleic imidazoline 10.0 Water 70.0 Isopropyl Alcohol 5.0 Propellant (Freon 12*) 15.0 100.0 EXAMP_E VII
Fabric Color Brightener Lauric diethanolamide 10.0 Glycerine 20.0 Isopropyl Alcohol 10.0 Water 50.0 Propellant (Freon 12*) 10.0 100 .0 * Trade Mark Fabric Color Brightener %
Sodium alkyl sulfonate 10.0 Mineral Oil 20.0 Isopropyl Alcohol 10.0 Water 50.0 Propellant (Freon 12*) - 10.0 100 .0 EXAMPLE IX
Fabric Color Brightener %
Dimethylamine sulfonate 10.0 Paraffin 10.0 Isopropyl Alcohol 10.0 Water 50.0 Propellant (Freon 12*) 20.0 100 .0 EXAMPLE X
Fabric Color Brightener %
Acyl (coco fatty) amido ammonium sulfonic acid betaine 10.0 Propylene Glycol 20.0 Isopropyl Alcohol 10.0 Water 50.0 Propellant (Freon 12*~ 1`0`.0 100 . O

EXAMPLE XI
Fabric Color Brightener %
Potassium salt of monoethyl phenyl phenol 30 monosulfonate 10.0 * Trade Mark 1 Isopropyl Myristate 20.0 Isopropyl Alcohol 10.0 Water 50.0 Propellant (Freon 12*) 10.0 100.0 EXAMPIE XII
Fabric Color Brightener Sulfated castor oils 25.0 Water 62.0 Isopropyl Alcohol 3.0 Propellant (Freon 12*) 10.0 100 . O

EXAMPLE XIII
Fabric Optical Brightener %
Sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate 10.0 Stilbene triazole 1.0 Water 60.0 Isopropyl Alcohol 5.0 Propellant (Freon 12*) 24.0 100.0 EXAMPLE XIV
Fabric Optical Brightener Alkyl aryl sulfonate 5.0 Vinylene-bis-benzoxazole 1.0 Water 79.0 Isopropyl Alcohol 10.0 Propellant (Freon 12*) 5.0 100 .0 * Trade Mark .

~0947S9 Fabric Optical Brightener %
Ammonium salt of lauryl ether sulfate 10.0 DAS-Triazine 1.0 Water 69.0 Isopropyl Alcohol 15.0 Propellant (Freon 12*) 5.0 100.0 EXAMPLE XVI
Fabric Optical Brightener %
Polyoxyethylene palmitate 10.0 Disodium 4,4' bis (4-anilino, 6-morpholino-s-triazine-2yl amino)-2,2' stilbene disulfonate1.0 Water 69.0 Isopropyl Alcohol 15.0 Propellant (Freon 12*) - 5.0 100 .0 EXAMP$E XVII
Fabric Optical Brightener %
Ethoxylated stearic acid 10.0 Sodium naphthotriazole-2-stilbene sulfonate1.0 Water 69.0 Isopropyl Alcohol 15.0 Propellant (Freon 12*) 5.0 100.0 ExAMæLE XVIII
Fabric Optical Brightener %
Disodium N-octadecylsulfosuccinamate 10.0 2-styryl-naphth (1,2d) oxazole 1.0 * Trade Mark 10!~4759 -1 Water 69.0 Isopropyl Alcohol 15.0 Propellant (Freon 12*) 5.0 100 .0 EXAMPLE XIX
Fabric Antistat %
Alkyl polyethoxy amide 25.0 Dichloromethane 26.0 Isopropyl Alcohol 25.0 Propellant (Freon 12*) 24.0 100.0 EXAMPLE XX
Fabric Antistat %
Polyoxyethylene alkyl amine 20.0 Dichloromethane 55.0 Propellant (Freon 12*) 25.0 100.0 EXAMPLE XXI

Fabric Antistat .
Sodium salt of a sulfate ester of an alkylphenoxypoly (ethyleneoxy) ethanol 20.0 Dichloromethane 39.0 Water 6.0 Isopropyl Alcohol 9.0 Glycerine 6.0 Propellant (Freon 12*~ 20.0 100.0 * Trade Mark Fabric Deodorant %
Sodium salt of Tallow fatty acid 10.0 2,2'-dihydroxy-3,5,6,3',5',6' hexachloro-diphenylmethane 1.0 Water 59.0 Isopropyl Alcohol 10.0 Propellant (Freon 12*) 20.0 100.0 EXAMPLE XXIII
Fabric Deodorant %
Sodium salt of Tallow fatty acid 2.0 Sodium salt of stearic acid 8.0 2,2'-dihydroxy-5,5' dichlorodiphenyl-methane 1.0 Water 59-0 Isopropyl Alcohol 10.0 Propellant (Freon 114*) 20.0 100 .0 EXAMPLE XXIV

Fabric Deodorant %
Sodium salt of coco fatty acid 10.0 Tribromosalicylanilide 1.~
Water 59.0 Isopropyl Alcohol 10.0 Propellant (Freon 114*) 20.0 100 .0 EXAMPLE XXV
Fabric Color D~es %
_ 30 Coconut oil acid ester of sodium isethionate10.0 * Trade Mark 1 Red dye: sodium salt of o-toluene-azo-o-Toluene-azo-B-naphthylamine-6-sulphonic acid 1.0 Isopropyl Alcohol 10.0 Water 69.0 Propellant (Freon 114*) 10.0 100 .0 EXAMPLE XXVI
Fabric Color Dyes %
Sodium alkylnaphthalene sulfonate 10.0 10 Blue dye: sodium salt of 1:5-diphenylamino-2:6-dihydroxyanthraquinone-3:7-disulphonic acid 1.0 Isopropyl Alcohol 10.0 Water 69.0 Propellant (Freon 114*) 10.0 100 .0 EXAMPLE XXVII
Fabric Color Dyes %
Sodium lauryl sulfate 10.0 orange dye: sodium salt of p-sulphobenzene-azo-B-naphthol Isopropyl Alcohol 10.0 Water 69.0 Propellant (Freon 114*) 10.0 100 .0 EXAMPLE XXVIII
Fabric Color Dyes Disodium N-octadecylsulfosuccinamate 10.0 Yellow dye: sodium salt of aminoazobenzene disulphonic acid, together with some of the sodium salt of aminoazobenzene mono-sulphonic acid 1.0 Isopropyl Alcohol 10.0 * Trade Mark 1 Water 69.0 Propellant (Freon 114*) 10.0 100 .0 EXAMPLE XXIX
Fabric Color Dyes Dodecyl mercapto polyethylene glycol ether 10.0 Green dye: sodium salt of dibenzyldiethyl-diamino-triphenylcarbinol disulphonic acid --anhydride 1.0 Isopropyl Alcohol 10.0 Water 69.0 Propellant (Freon 114*) 10.0 100 .0 EX ~ LE XXX
Fabric Color Dyes %
Octylphenoxypoly (ethyleneoxy) ethanol 10.0 Violet dye: a mixture of the hydrochlorides of the more highly methylated pararosanilines, containing principally the tetra-, penta- and hexamethyl deriv~tives. 1.0 Isopropyl Alcohol 10.0 Water 69.0 Propellant (Freon 114*) 10.0 100 .0 Other additional compositions were formulated as indi-cated above to yield the compositions indicated in the following Table I, where all percentages are by weight of total composition unless otherwise indicated.
Example 2 contains bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-alkyl amine oxide as the fabric softener. All of the other examples contain dimethyl dihydrogenated tallow ammonium chloride. Example 2 * Trade Mark 1 contains a 55:45 weight percent mixture of Freon 12* - Freon 114*
respectively as the propellant. Examples 2-8, 17-23 contain Freon 12* and Examples 9-15 contain Freon 114*. Example 16 contains a 57:43 mixture of Freon 12* - 114*. Examples 19-23 do not come within the scope of this invention but are included for comparative purposes.

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/ u~ a ~: 3 H l¢ ~Ll f5~ _ 1 A series of tests was run to determine the distribution of the compositions of the foregoing examples in the dryer. To illustrate such distribution each of the test samples was treated as follows:
The composition to be tested was sprayed in a circle pattern on a piece of cloth which was then subjected to the drying cycle. The degree of ring distor~ion was thereupon examined and given a designation according to the degree of distortion effected.
This value, the ring distortion value is hereinafter referred to as the RDV.
An RDV of 3 indicates the presence of an obvious ring and hence essentially no distribution. An RDV of 2 indicates noticeable distribution of the ring but a definite ring pattern is still obvious; the degree of distribution therefore was limited.
An RDV of 1 indicates a slight trace of a ring pattern and hence a significant degree o distribution.
In the practice of this invention, an RDV of 1 represents the most desirable degree of distribution within the dryer deemed necessary for a commerically effective product. An RDV of 2 is less desirable but is still within the parameters of the subject invention since it is evidence of some meaningful distribution.
An RDV of 3 represents no distribution and hence compositions effecting this result do not come within the context of the subject invention.
All of the above examples produced ring distortion values of 1 or 2.
Table II contains a list of results of the compositions of Examples 1-23, including a brief statement concerning the nature of the foam when sprayed from an aerosol container at a distance of between 12 and 24 inches and the RDV obtained after foam-contacted 10~47~'j9 . ~

1 clothing articles were subjected to the dryer cycle. All of the compositions of this invention represented by Examples 1-18 produced foams which possessed the qualities desired and which persisted for at least 30 seconds duration. For example, the foam produced by Example 15 persisted even after several hours duration.

TABLE II
Example Nature of Foam 1 Rigid, stable foam 2 Stable foam 3 Firm foam

4 Firm foam Voluminous, firm foam 6 Shaving cream type foam 0 7 Voluminous stable foam 0 8 Foam like artificial snow 9 Firm foam Firm foam 11 Firm foam 12 Firm foam 13 Firm foam 14 Firm foam Firm low altitude foam 16 Firm foam 0 17 Low volume foam 2 18 High altitude foam 2 19 Creamy layer; fast breaking blisters 3 No foam; just wet spray 3 21 No foam; wet penetrating spray 3 22 Useless composition; clogged valve not ascertainable 23 No foam; penetrating spray 3 1 Although the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments and examples, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations and modi-fications of this invention can be made.

Claims (31)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A method of treating clothing articles with an adjuvant material which comprises contacting at least a portion of said clothing articles with a foam containing said adjuvant material, and subjecting said foam-contacted clothing to a tumbling, dry-heat anhydrous environment.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said environment is a clothes dryer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said foam is stable, substantially form-sustaining, substantially non-penetrating, surface adherent and easily distributable.

4. A method according to claims 1, 2 or 3 in which the adjuvant material is a fabric softener.

5. A method of treating clothing articles with an adjuvant material which comprises contacting at least a portion of said clothing articles with a foam containing said adjuvant material, said foam being stable, substantially form-sustaining, substantially non-penetrating, and surface adherent for at least about thirty seconds, and subjecting said foam-contacted clothing to a tumbling, dry-heat, anhydrous environment.
6. A method of treating clothing articles in a clothes dryer with an adjuvant material which comprises the steps of:
(A) contacting at least a portion of said clothing articles with a stable, substantially form-sustaining, sub-stantially non-penetrating, surface adherent, easily distributable foam, said foam comprising, by weight of the total composition, (a) from about 1.0 to 30.0 percent of said adjuvant material, (b) from about 50.0 to 94.0 percent of a solubilizer,

Claim 6 continued:
(c) from about 5.0 to 25.0 percent of a propellant, and (B) subjecting said clothing articles to a tumbling action in a dry heat, substantially anhydrous environment.

7. A method according to claim 5 in which the adjuvant material is a fabric softener.

8. A method according to claim 6 in which the adjuvant material includes 0 to 30.0 percent of a foaming agent.

9. A method according to claim 6 wherein said adjuvant material is a fabric softener, and wherein said solubilizer includes water in an amount comprising at least 40.0 percent of the total composition.

10. A method according to claim 8 wherein the foam comprises by weight of the total composition (a) from about 5.0 to 25.0 percent adjuvant, (b) from about 65 to 85 percent solubilizer, and (c) The balance propellant.

11. A method according to claim 9 wherein the foam comprises by weight of the total composition (a) from about 3.0 to 15.0 percent adjuvant, (b) from about 65.0 to 90.0 percent solubilizer, and (c) the balance propellant.

12. A method according to claim 7 wherein the foam comprises by weight of the total composition (a) from about 5.0 to 25.0 percent adjuvant, (b) from about 65 to 85 percent solubilizer, and (c) the balance propellant.

13. A method according to claim 9 wherein the solubilizer includes water in an amount comprising at least 65.0 percent of the total composition.

14. A method according to claim 6 wherein the propellant is a member selected from the group consisting of dichlorodifluoromethane and dichlorotetrafluoroethane and mixtures thereof.

15. A method according to claim 6 wherein the solubilizer comprises a member selected from the group consisting of water, isopropyl alcohol and dichloromethane and mixtures thereof.

16. A pressurized, self-propellant composition suitable to be dispensed from an aerosol container for use in a clothes dryer comprising, by weight of the total composition (a) from about 1.0 to 30.0 percent of an adjuvant material, (b) from about 50.0 to 94.0 percent of a solubilizer, and (c) from about 5.0 to 25.0 percent of a propellant.

17. A composition according to claim 16 including from 0 to 30.0 percent of a foaming agent said adjuvant material, solubilizer, propellant and foaming agent providing a stable, substantially form-sustaining, substantially non-penetrating, surface adherent, easily distributable foam when dispensed from said aerosol container.

18. A composition according to claim 16 wherein the adjuvant is a fabric softener and wherein the solubilizer includes water in an amount comprising at least 40.0 percent of the total composition.

19. A composition according to claim 17 wherein (a) comprises 5.0 to 25.0 percent adjuvant, (b) comprises 65 to 85 percent solubilizer and the balance of the composition is propellant.

20. A composition according to claim 18 wherein (a) comprises 3.0 to 15.0 percent adjuvant, (b) comprises 65 to 90.0 percent solubilizer and the balance of the composition is propellant.

21. A composition according to claim 19 wherein the solubilizer is a member selected from the group consisting of water, isopropyl alcohol and dichloromethane and mixtures thereof, and the propellant is a member selected from the group consisting of dichlorofluoromethane and dichlorofluoroethane and mixtures thereof.

22. A composition according to claim 21 wherein the adjuvant material is a fabric softener, the solubilizer is water comprising at least 65.0 percent by weight of the total composition.

23. A composition according to claims 17 or 18 wherein said foam is stable, substantially form-sustaining, substantially non-penetrating and surface adherent for at least thirty seconds.

24. A foamable composition for use in a clothes dryer suitable to be dispensed from a hand-pump actuated container comprising, by weight of the total composition, (a) from about 1.0 to 30.0 percent of an adjuvant, (b) from about 50.0 to 99.0 percent of a solubilizer,and (c) from 0 to about 30.0 percent of a foaming agent.

25. A composition according to claim 18, comprising 5.0 percent of a fabric softener, 81.5 percent water, 3.5 percent isopropyl alcohol and the balance a 57:43 mixture of dichloro-fluoromethane and dichlorotetrafluoroethane.

26. A method of treating fabrics comprising applying to said fabrics a foam composition consisting of a fabric conditioning agent, a foaming agent and a solubilizer, and subjecting said foam-contacted fabrics to a tumbling action in a laundry dryer.

27. A method according to claim 26 wherein the foam is stable, substantially form sustaining, substantially non-penetrating and easily distributable.

28. A method according to claims 26 and 27 wherein the foam composition is applied using a propellant.

29. A composition for conditioning fabrics which comprises a foaming agent, a fabric conditioner, a normally gaseous propellant and water, in emulsion form under pressure, which, upon release of pressure, forms a foam which is spreadable over fabric sur-faces during tumbling of the fabric, to condition it.

30. A composition according to claim 29 wherein the foaming agent is an anionic or nonionic surface active compound, the fabric conditioner is a softening and/or antistatic agent for improving the feel of the fabric, the propellant is a lipophilic liquefied gas and the pressure is sufficient to propel the composition from a pressurized container, in which it may be stored, upon opening an outlet therefrom, and to cause the produc-tion of a stable foam of such composition upon discharge from such container into a region at atmospheric pressure and onto a fabric to be conditioned.

31. An article for use in conditioning fabrics which com-prises a pressure tight container, including a discharge valve, containing under pressure, a composition for conditioning fabrics comprising a foaming agent, a fabric conditioner, a normally gaseous propellant and water, in emulsion form, which composition

Claim 31 continued ......

upon release of pressure forms a stable foam which is spreadable over fabric surfaces during tumbling of the fabrics to condition them.