CA2381454A1 - Multiple use softener/antistatic pouch for fabrics in clothes dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

A self-regenerating softener pack used for the reduction of static and the softening of garments. This pack comprises a non-woven spunbonded polyester pouch with a flaked/ solid softener/ antistatic compound. The pouch is placed in the dryer with the garments/ fabrics. The softener/ antistatic compound in the bag melt during the drying cycle and permeate through the non-woven spunbonded polyester pouch hence coating its outer layer. This layer enters into contact with the garments reducing static, imparting softness and smooth handle to the garment.

At the end of the cycle, the pouch is kept for future drying cycles. The same process reoccurs with each cycle until the total quantity of the softening/ antistatic ingredient is depleted. One pouch containing approximately 100 grams of active ingredient can last for up to 100 domestic size load cycles. This eliminates the need for change of softener sheets, softener addition during the rinse cycle in the washer and reduces waste.

The softener pouch can be complemented with various scents, which can be sprayed onto the pouch before drying cycle. The scent is transferred to garment during the cycle.

Description

DRAWING/ IMAGES:
Figures I to V : See explanation on the drawings.
Figure VI : Softener/ Antistatic pouch.
Figure VII : Sectional Picture of Softener/ Antistatic pouch.
Figure VIII : Picture of softener in flake farm.
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Claims (7)

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

A multiple-use fabric & textile softener for use in the dryer cycle comprising a dispensing pouch and a flake/ solid form softener. The softener has a softening point at temperatures close to the ones found in both domestic and industrial dryers (40 - 80 °C ).

The pouch is placed in the dryer with the fabric/ clothes to be dried and softened or treated for static. Following the drying/ softening/ antistatic cycle, the pouch is kept and reused with next loads. In the tests performed with the 100 grams pouches we succeeded in drying up to 100 loads with a single pouch.

The softeners that can be used with the dispensing pouch are Cationic Fatty Acid~
Amines, Non-ionic Fatty Acid Amines, Silicone based Fatty Acid Amines, Cationic Quaternary Ammonium Compounds, Immidazoline salts and other commonly found softeners and antistatic agents which can be produced in a flake or solid format.

These softeners should have a melting/ softening point close to the temperatures found in domestic and industrial dryers. The appropriate softener can be adapted to the equipment to be used (Dryer).

2 2. ~The pouch is comprised of a non-woven spunbonded polyester sheet with fibres, which are spaced in a way not to allow the flakes to pass through.

3.~The product (Softener/ Antistatic) is in a flake or solid shape, which is stored in the spunbonded polyester pouch.

4. ~Using a form-fill-and seal-packaging machine to produce the mufti-use pouch, we took care of designing a special hopper dispenser, which did not crush the flakes or solids (Note: the softener is easily crushed by regular filling machines which use screw feed hoppers to dispense product into filling machine).
Note: Crushing the flakes into a powdery product would create a dusty bag and potentially stain the fabrics to be treated/ softened.

5. ~The pouch can vary in size depending on the end use whether it is for domestic or industrial use.

6. ~The active ingredients (Softener/ Anti-static compound) can vary in weight depending on the size of the bag or number of repeat applications desired.
Note: Tests were performed using 100 grams of flaked softener with a pouch bag with an approximate size of 6.5" X 6.5".

7. ~The pouch can also be sprayed with various scents that will be transferred onto the garment during the cycle. (Care must be taken to ensure that the scents added are compatible with the softener used).