EP0249439B2 - Sachet product - Google Patents
Sachet product Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0249439B2 EP0249439B2 EP87305072A EP87305072A EP0249439B2 EP 0249439 B2 EP0249439 B2 EP 0249439B2 EP 87305072 A EP87305072 A EP 87305072A EP 87305072 A EP87305072 A EP 87305072A EP 0249439 B2 EP0249439 B2 EP 0249439B2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- sachet
- water
- treatment composition
- thickness
- sachets
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 33
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 claims description 18
- 238000005406 washing Methods 0.000 claims description 15
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 12
- 238000007654 immersion Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 5
- 239000011805 ball Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000003599 detergent Substances 0.000 description 4
- FRPJTGXMTIIFIT-UHFFFAOYSA-N tetraacetylethylenediamine Chemical compound CC(=O)C(N)(C(C)=O)C(N)(C(C)=O)C(C)=O FRPJTGXMTIIFIT-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 238000009736 wetting Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000012190 activator Substances 0.000 description 3
- KRKNYBCHXYNGOX-UHFFFAOYSA-N citric acid Chemical compound OC(=O)CC(O)(C(O)=O)CC(O)=O KRKNYBCHXYNGOX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 230000000052 comparative effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 3
- 229910019142 PO4 Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 238000004026 adhesive bonding Methods 0.000 description 2
- WNLRTRBMVRJNCN-UHFFFAOYSA-N adipic acid Chemical compound OC(=O)CCCCC(O)=O WNLRTRBMVRJNCN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- -1 bleaches Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000004061 bleaching Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000007844 bleaching agent Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000002979 fabric softener Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000008187 granular material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000002386 leaching Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000004745 nonwoven fabric Substances 0.000 description 2
- 235000021317 phosphate Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229960001922 sodium perborate Drugs 0.000 description 2
- YKLJGMBLPUQQOI-UHFFFAOYSA-M sodium;oxidooxy(oxo)borane Chemical compound [Na+].[O-]OB=O YKLJGMBLPUQQOI-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 2
- AWFYPPSBLUWMFQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 2-[5-[2-(2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-ylamino)pyrimidin-5-yl]-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl]-1-(1,4,6,7-tetrahydropyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl)ethanone Chemical compound C1C(CC2=CC=CC=C12)NC1=NC=C(C=N1)C1=NN=C(O1)CC(=O)N1CC2=C(CC1)NN=C2 AWFYPPSBLUWMFQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- XSVSPKKXQGNHMD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 5-bromo-3-methyl-1,2-thiazole Chemical compound CC=1C=C(Br)SN=1 XSVSPKKXQGNHMD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- KCXVZYZYPLLWCC-UHFFFAOYSA-N EDTA Chemical compound OC(=O)CN(CC(O)=O)CCN(CC(O)=O)CC(O)=O KCXVZYZYPLLWCC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000004952 Polyamide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004698 Polyethylene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920000297 Rayon Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920002472 Starch Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000002378 acidificating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000654 additive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000996 additive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000001361 adipic acid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000011037 adipic acid Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000011324 bead Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000013590 bulk material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920002678 cellulose Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000001913 cellulose Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004615 ingredient Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000004682 monohydrates Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 230000007935 neutral effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004806 packaging method and process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000123 paper Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002304 perfume Substances 0.000 description 1
- NBIIXXVUZAFLBC-UHFFFAOYSA-K phosphate Chemical compound [O-]P([O-])([O-])=O NBIIXXVUZAFLBC-UHFFFAOYSA-K 0.000 description 1
- 239000010452 phosphate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000003013 phosphoric acid derivatives Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920002647 polyamide Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000728 polyester Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000573 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000011148 porous material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000008107 starch Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000019698 starch Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008961 swelling Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000009182 swimming Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002759 woven fabric Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
- C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
- C11D17/00—Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties
- C11D17/04—Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties combined with or containing other objects
- C11D17/041—Compositions releasably affixed on a substrate or incorporated into a dispensing means
- C11D17/046—Insoluble free body dispenser
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
- C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
- C11D17/00—Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties
- C11D17/06—Powder; Flakes; Free-flowing mixtures; Sheets
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00
- D06F39/02—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
- D06F39/024—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents mounted on the agitator or the rotating drum; Free body dispensers
Definitions
- This invention relates to sachets containing materials for treating fabrics in a washing machine.
- Sachets containing detergents and other treatment materials are well known in the washing art, for example, from EP 11 5008 and EP 163 417A (Unilever). These sachets of flexible sheet material may be water-permeable and deliver their contents by leaching out, or they may be designed so as to open during the wash cycle.
- US-A-4259373 discloses a pouch for a fabric softener composition, which pouch is made from four layers of nonwoven material having a total thickness of 1.66 cm.
- EP-A-99197 discloses laundry additive products in which a composition is combined with a water-insoluble carrier which may take the form of a sheet or a pouch. It is stated that a sheet should not be so small in area as to become trapped in crevices of the washing machine or clothes being washed nor so large as to be awkward to package and dispense.
- posting can be eiiminated or at least substantially reduced by making sure that, throughout the entire wash cycle, at least part of the sachet is sufficiently large that it cannot pass through the gap between the drums.
- the present invention provides a sachet of flexible sheet material for a treatment composition, which sachet is a non-opening sachet consisting at least partially of water-permeable material characterised in that the sachet contains a water-insoluble ball so dimensioned that when the sachet is immersed in water in the absence of the treatment composition, the sachet has a thickness at at least one point which is at least 1 cm, whereby passage of the sachet between inner and outer drums of a drum-type automatic washing machine is prevented, or substantially reduced.
- the present invention provides a sachet of flexible sheet material for a treatment composition, which sachet is a non-opening sachet which in the dry state has a thickness smaller than 1 cm, consisting at least partially of water-permeable material characterised in that the sachet contains water-insoluble, water-swellable material which on immersion in water increases in bulk whereby the sachet then is so shaped and dimensioned that when immersed in water in the absence of the treatment composition the thickness of the sachet at at least one point is at least 1 cm, whereby passage of the sachet between inner and outer drums of a drum-type automatic washing machine is prevented, or substantially reduced.
- Sachets of the present invention fall into two classes: sachets which in the dry state and in the absence of the treatment composition have a thickness at at least one point of at least 1 cm (the first embodiment) and those which are thinner than 1 cm in the dry state in the absence of the treatment composition but acquire such a minimum dimension on immersion in water (the second embodiment).
- Sachets according to both embodiments are of the non-opening type, which deliver their contents by leaching out through a water-permeable wall.
- the insoluble ball prevents the sachet from being 'posted' by increasing its thickness.
- Sachets of the first embodiment although very satisfactory as non-posting sachets, do suffer from the minor disadvantage that they are somewhat more bulky than other sachets, leading to increased storage space requirements and packaging costs.
- This problem is avoided with the second embodiment of the invention according to which the sachet in the dry state has, in the absence of the treatment material, a thickness smaller than 1 cm but on immersion in water increases in bulk whereby the thickness of the wet sachet at at least one point is at least 1 cm.
- This is conveniently achieved by including in the sachet a water swellable material which increases in bulk whereby the sachet then has a thickness at at least one point of at least 1 cm after immersion in water.
- This material is conveniently in the form of a small object or "insert".
- the insert may simply be loose, while if the sachet is of the opening variety it will, of course, be necessary to secure the insert and the sachet together, for example, by glueing. If secured, the insert could if desired be on the outside of the sachet.
- a preferred insert is a small piece of the compressed sponge material sold under the Trade Mark 'Spontex'.
- This material is especially useful in that it can be compressed to a state in which, on wetting, it expands rapidly in one dimension to at least five times the compressed size while remaining substantially unchanged in the other two dimensions.
- a 2 cm square of this material having a thickness of 0.2 cm will expand rapidly on wetting to a thickness of 1.5-2 cm to give a cuboid of approximate dimensions 2 ⁇ 2 ⁇ (1.5-2) cm, i.e. the thickness increases dramatically while the other dimensions are unchanged.
- Such an insert can be packed flat in a sachet which is thus conveniently thin in the dry state, but will swell up quickly when the sachet encounters the water of the washing machine.
- the insert can be of any shape: square, rectangular, or especially triangular inserts are preferred as they may be cut from the bulk material with minimal wastage.
- water-swellable materials may, of course, also be used to impart water-swellability to the sachet.
- the material need not be a discrete insert but may take the form of balls, beads, granules or powder.
- Certain water-swellable polymers for example, the starch and cellulose derivatives used as "superabsorbents", may be suitable provided that the swelling is not too sensitive to temperature. It is preferred that the water-swellable material should swell before all the sachet contents have been delivered: in practice most sponge materials will swell almost instantarieously.
- the sachet walls which are of flexible sheet material, comprise paper, woven fabric, non-woven fabric, or plastics film, or laminates of these materials.
- the sachet walls must of course be compatible with the treatment composition to be contained in the sachet.
- the seams or seals of the sachet may be formed by any method, heat-sealing or glueing being preferred.
- the sachet is intended to contain any treatment composition useful for treating fabrics in the washing machine.
- treatment compositions include fully formulated detergents, bleaches, bleach activators, fabric conditioners, and other detergent ingredients or combinations thereof.
- the sachet may contain materials useful for treating the washing machine itself.
- An example of such a treatment would by the removal of a accumulated calcium- or phosphate-containing scale.
- the machine treatment material is neutral or alkaline, for example, a salt of EDTA, then the treatment may be carried out at the same time as the fabric washing.
- the machine treatment material is acidic, for example, citric acid or adipic acid, then it is preferred that the machine treatment be carried out as a separate operation.
- the sachet is intended as a bleach adjunct for use in conjunction with a detergent powder, and contains sodium perborate and an activator therefor: a closed sachet of this type is described and claimed in EP 163 417A (Unilever). It is especially preferred that the sodium perborate be in monohydrate form and that the activator be tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED).
- TAED tetraacetylethylenediamine
- the sachet may also be employed in other aqueous environments, for example in swimming pools.
- Sachet products in accordance with the invention were prepared from a porous nonwoven fabric, of average pore size 70 ⁇ m, consisting of 40% polyester fibres and 60% viscose fibres, coated on one side (the inside of the sachet) with a polyamide heat-seal finish. Each sachet was square and had dimensions of 10 cm ⁇ 10 cm.
- each sachet Three sides of the each sachet were sealed together by heat-sealing, and it was filled with the following bleaching composition: Sodium perborate monohydrate (ex Degussa, particle size substantially 100-700 ⁇ m) 9.7 g TAED granules (300-200 ⁇ m) (65.3% TAED, 32% phosphates, 2.7% water) 13.9 g Perfume 0.3 g Fluorescer (CBSX ex CIBA-Geigy) 0.12 g
- a sachet similar to that described in Example 1 was prepared by the same method. However, the sachet contained a piece of 'Spontex' 1.5 cm square which is capable of expanding to a height of 1.6 cm on wetting.
- Example 2 but containing a 'Spontex' insert of 1 ⁇ 2 cm.
- Example 2 but containing a 'Spontex' insert of 2 cm square, which was capable of expanding to a height of 2.1 cm on wetting.
- Example 5 As Example 5 but containing a drcular 'Spontex' insert of 2 cm diameter.
- Example 2 A similar sachet to that described in Example 1 was prepared by the same method.
- the sachet contained a cube of uncompressed sponge material having a 1.5 cm side instead of 'Spontex'.
- Example 2 A similar sachet to that described in Example 1 was prepared by the same method.
- the sachet contained a hollow polyethylene ball of 2 cm diameter instead of 'Spontex'.
- Example 2 A similar sachet to that described in Example 1 was prepared by the same method. The sachet did not contain an insert or an external protrusion.
- Example A (comparative) 30 4 - - - 200 104
- Example 1 36 0 9 0 32 0 14 0 - - Example 2 20 0 - - - Example 3 15 0 - - - - Example 4
- Example 5 36 0 9 0 32 0 14 0
- Example 6 - - - - 10 0
- Gap between inner and outer drums the difference in the gaps between the drums is due to manufacturing tolerances 5-13 mm* 8-11 mm 5-10 mm 5-12 mm * Trade Mark
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
- Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Textile Engineering (AREA)
- Detergent Compositions (AREA)
- Packages (AREA)
- Bag Frames (AREA)
- Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)
- Wrappers (AREA)
- Chemical Or Physical Treatment Of Fibers (AREA)
Description
- This invention relates to sachets containing materials for treating fabrics in a washing machine.
- Sachets containing detergents and other treatment materials are well known in the washing art, for example, from EP 11 5008 and EP 163 417A (Unilever). These sachets of flexible sheet material may be water-permeable and deliver their contents by leaching out, or they may be designed so as to open during the wash cycle.
- US-A-4259373 discloses a pouch for a fabric softener composition, which pouch is made from four layers of nonwoven material having a total thickness of 1.66 cm.
- EP-A-99197 discloses laundry additive products in which a composition is combined with a water-insoluble carrier which may take the form of a sheet or a pouch. It is stated that a sheet should not be so small in area as to become trapped in crevices of the washing machine or clothes being washed nor so large as to be awkward to package and dispense.
- It has been found that both opening and non-opening sachets used in drum-type washing machines can undergo 'posting', that is to say, the sachet passes between the inner, rotating drum and the outer, stationary drum of the machine. The 'posted' sachet can then disrupt the normal functioning of the machine by, for example, blocking the pump inlet. Furthermore, full delivery of the sachet contents will not take place if 'posting' occurs early in the wash cycle. It is an object of the invention to provide a sachet having a substantially reduced inddence of 'posting'.
- A study of the use of simple non-opening sacnets in washing machines revealed that only 1-2% of such sachets underwent 'posting'. Further study showed, however, that not all machines were equally liable to 'post' sachets. 'Posting' was not found in some makes of machine whereas in others 'posting' occurred in 50% of trials. Other small objects, such as socks, are rarely found to undergo 'posting', perhaps because of their flexibility.
- A study of the motion of a sachet in a front-loading automatic washing machine revealed that'posting' tends to occur when the sachet has moved to the front of the machine, comes into contact with the door-window, and slides down into the gap between the drums. 'Posting' is more frequent towards the end of the wash cycle than at the start because the sachet contents have been exhausted and the empty sachet tends to be very thin, but can also occur much earlier.
- It has now been found that posting can be eiiminated or at least substantially reduced by making sure that, throughout the entire wash cycle, at least part of the sachet is sufficiently large that it cannot pass through the gap between the drums.
- In a first embodiment, the present invention provides a sachet of flexible sheet material for a treatment composition, which sachet is a non-opening sachet consisting at least partially of water-permeable material characterised in that the sachet contains a water-insoluble ball so dimensioned that when the sachet is immersed in water in the absence of the treatment composition, the sachet has a thickness at at least one point which is at least 1 cm, whereby passage of the sachet between inner and outer drums of a drum-type automatic washing machine is prevented, or substantially reduced.
- In a second embodiment, the present invention provides a sachet of flexible sheet material for a treatment composition, which sachet is a non-opening sachet which in the dry state has a thickness smaller than 1 cm, consisting at least partially of water-permeable material characterised in that the sachet contains water-insoluble, water-swellable material which on immersion in water increases in bulk whereby the sachet then is so shaped and dimensioned that when immersed in water in the absence of the treatment composition the thickness of the sachet at at least one point is at least 1 cm, whereby passage of the sachet between inner and outer drums of a drum-type automatic washing machine is prevented, or substantially reduced.
- Sachets of the present invention fall into two classes: sachets which in the dry state and in the absence of the treatment composition have a thickness at at least one point of at least 1 cm (the first embodiment) and those which are thinner than 1 cm in the dry state in the absence of the treatment composition but acquire such a minimum dimension on immersion in water (the second embodiment). Sachets according to both embodiments are of the non-opening type, which deliver their contents by leaching out through a water-permeable wall.
- In the first embodiment of the invention the insoluble ball prevents the sachet from being 'posted' by increasing its thickness.
- Sachets of the first embodiment, although very satisfactory as non-posting sachets, do suffer from the minor disadvantage that they are somewhat more bulky than other sachets, leading to increased storage space requirements and packaging costs. This problem is avoided with the second embodiment of the invention according to which the sachet in the dry state has, in the absence of the treatment material, a thickness smaller than 1 cm but on immersion in water increases in bulk whereby the thickness of the wet sachet at at least one point is at least 1 cm. This is conveniently achieved by including in the sachet a water swellable material which increases in bulk whereby the sachet then has a thickness at at least one point of at least 1 cm after immersion in water. This material is conveniently in the form of a small object or "insert". In a non-opening sachet the insert may simply be loose, while if the sachet is of the opening variety it will, of course, be necessary to secure the insert and the sachet together, for example, by glueing. If secured, the insert could if desired be on the outside of the sachet.
- A preferred insert is a small piece of the compressed sponge material sold under the Trade Mark 'Spontex'. This material is especially useful in that it can be compressed to a state in which, on wetting, it expands rapidly in one dimension to at least five times the compressed size while remaining substantially unchanged in the other two dimensions. Thus a 2 cm square of this material having a thickness of 0.2 cm will expand rapidly on wetting to a thickness of 1.5-2 cm to give a cuboid of approximate dimensions 2 × 2 × (1.5-2) cm, i.e. the thickness increases dramatically while the other dimensions are unchanged. Such an insert can be packed flat in a sachet which is thus conveniently thin in the dry state, but will swell up quickly when the sachet encounters the water of the washing machine. The insert can be of any shape: square, rectangular, or especially triangular inserts are preferred as they may be cut from the bulk material with minimal wastage.
- Other materials may, of course, also be used to impart water-swellability to the sachet. In a closed sachet the material need not be a discrete insert but may take the form of balls, beads, granules or powder. Certain water-swellable polymers, for example, the starch and cellulose derivatives used as "superabsorbents", may be suitable provided that the swelling is not too sensitive to temperature. It is preferred that the water-swellable material should swell before all the sachet contents have been delivered: in practice most sponge materials will swell almost instantarieously.
- Preferably the sachet walls, which are of flexible sheet material, comprise paper, woven fabric, non-woven fabric, or plastics film, or laminates of these materials. The sachet walls must of course be compatible with the treatment composition to be contained in the sachet.
- The seams or seals of the sachet may be formed by any method, heat-sealing or glueing being preferred.
- The sachet is intended to contain any treatment composition useful for treating fabrics in the washing machine. Examples of such compositions include fully formulated detergents, bleaches, bleach activators, fabric conditioners, and other detergent ingredients or combinations thereof.
- Alternatively the sachet may contain materials useful for treating the washing machine itself. An example of such a treatment would by the removal of a accumulated calcium- or phosphate-containing scale. If the machine treatment material is neutral or alkaline, for example, a salt of EDTA, then the treatment may be carried out at the same time as the fabric washing. If the machine treatment material is acidic, for example, citric acid or adipic acid, then it is preferred that the machine treatment be carried out as a separate operation.
- According to one especially preferred embodiment of the invention, the sachet is intended as a bleach adjunct for use in conjunction with a detergent powder, and contains sodium perborate and an activator therefor: a closed sachet of this type is described and claimed in EP 163 417A (Unilever). It is especially preferred that the sodium perborate be in monohydrate form and that the activator be tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED).
- The sachet may also be employed in other aqueous environments, for example in swimming pools.
- The invention will be illustrated by reference to the following non-limiting Examples.
- Sachet products in accordance with the invention were prepared from a porous nonwoven fabric, of average pore size 70 µm, consisting of 40% polyester fibres and 60% viscose fibres, coated on one side (the inside of the sachet) with a polyamide heat-seal finish. Each sachet was square and had dimensions of 10 cm × 10 cm. Three sides of the each sachet were sealed together by heat-sealing, and it was filled with the following bleaching composition:
Sodium perborate monohydrate (ex Degussa, particle size substantially 100-700 µm) 9.7 g TAED granules (300-200 µm) (65.3% TAED, 32% phosphates, 2.7% water) 13.9 g Perfume 0.3 g Fluorescer (CBSX ex CIBA-Geigy) 0.12 g - A small square of compressed 'Spontex' (ex Spontex, 24 Rue de Jeuneurs, 75002 Paris) sponge material having dimensions of 2 cm × 2 cm and a thickness of 0.2 cm was placed flat inside each sachet with the bleaching composition, and the fourth side of the sachet was dosed by heat-sealing.
- A sachet similar to that described in Example 1 was prepared by the same method. However, the sachet contained a piece of 'Spontex' 1.5 cm square which is capable of expanding to a height of 1.6 cm on wetting.
- As Example 2 but containing a 'Spontex' insert of 1 × 2 cm.
- As Example 2 but containing a 'Spontex' insert of 2 cm square, which was capable of expanding to a height of 2.1 cm on wetting.
- As Example 5 but containing a drcular 'Spontex' insert of 2 cm diameter.
- A similar sachet to that described in Example 1 was prepared by the same method. The sachet, however, contained a cube of uncompressed sponge material having a 1.5 cm side instead of 'Spontex'.
- A similar sachet to that described in Example 1 was prepared by the same method. The sachet contained a hollow polyethylene ball of 2 cm diameter instead of 'Spontex'.
- A similar sachet to that described in Example 1 was prepared by the same method. The sachet did not contain an insert or an external protrusion.
- The sachets of Examples 1-7 and Comparative Example A were tested in a range of washing machines. A similar wash load and cycle were used for each test of a particular machine. The results are set out in the table.
- It is clear from the table that sachets of the invention did not undergo 'posting' whereas conventional sachets were prone to 'posting'; in one case in more the half the trials the conventional sachets tested underwent posting.
Table Miele* W753 Miele* W753 Laden* 585 Philips* 921 Zanussi* SL27T No. tested No. posted No. tested No. posted No. tested No. posted No. tested No. posted No. tested No. posted Example A (comparative) 30 4 - - - 200 104 Example 1 36 0 9 0 32 0 14 0 - - Example 2 20 0 - - - - Example 3 15 0 - - - - Example 4 36 0 9 0 32 0 14 0 - Example 5 36 0 9 0 32 0 14 0 Example 6 - - - - - 10 0 Example 7 - - - - 25 0 Gap between inner and outer drums: the difference in the gaps between the drums is due to manufacturing tolerances 5-13 mm* 8-11 mm 5-10 mm 5-12 mm * Trade Mark
Claims (3)
- A sachet of flexible sheet material for a treatment composition, which sachet is a non-opening sachet consisting at least partially of water-permeable material characterised in that the sachet contains a water-insoluble ball so dimensioned that when the sachet is immersed in water in the absence of the treatment composition, the sachet has a thickness at at least one point which is at least 1 cm, whereby passage of the sachet between inner and outer drums of a drum-type automatic washing machine is prevented, or substantially reduced.
- A sachet of flexible sheet material for a treatment composition, which sachet is a non-opening sachet which in the dry state has a thickness smaller than 1 cm, consisting at least partially of water-permeable material characterised in that the sachet contains water-insoluble, water-swellable material which on immersion in water increases in bulk whereby the sachet then is so shaped and dimensioned that when immersed in water in the absence of the treatment composition the thickness of the sachet at at least one point is at least 1 cm, whereby passage of the sachet between inner and outer drums of a drum-type automatic washing machine is prevented, or substantially reduced.
- A sachet as claimed in claim 2, wherein the water-swellable material is in the form of a piece of compressed sponge material.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB8614233 | 1986-06-11 | ||
GB868614233A GB8614233D0 (en) | 1986-06-11 | 1986-06-11 | Sachet product |
Publications (4)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0249439A2 EP0249439A2 (en) | 1987-12-16 |
EP0249439A3 EP0249439A3 (en) | 1988-07-06 |
EP0249439B1 EP0249439B1 (en) | 1990-06-20 |
EP0249439B2 true EP0249439B2 (en) | 1997-07-02 |
Family
ID=10599310
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP87305072A Expired - Lifetime EP0249439B2 (en) | 1986-06-11 | 1987-06-09 | Sachet product |
Country Status (8)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0249439B2 (en) |
JP (1) | JPS62299581A (en) |
AU (1) | AU587129B2 (en) |
DE (1) | DE3763320D1 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2016360T5 (en) |
FR (1) | FR2600075B1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB8614233D0 (en) |
ZA (1) | ZA874170B (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4886615A (en) * | 1985-08-05 | 1989-12-12 | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Hydroxy polycarboxylic acid built non-aqueous liquid cleaning composition and method for use, and package therefor |
GB8909777D0 (en) * | 1989-04-28 | 1989-06-14 | Procter & Gamble | Fabric-treatment sachets with reusable handling device |
ES2036448B1 (en) * | 1991-06-05 | 1994-03-01 | Bilore Sa | IMPROVEMENTS INTRODUCED IN SINGLE-DOSE DETERGENT CONTAINERS FOR WASHING. |
GB0609857D0 (en) * | 2006-05-18 | 2006-06-28 | Reckitt Benckiser Nv | Water softening product and process for its preparation and use thereof |
GB0621650D0 (en) * | 2006-10-31 | 2006-12-06 | Reckitt Benckiser Nv | Product and process |
Family Cites Families (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB302416A (en) * | 1927-09-22 | 1928-12-20 | James Beattie Copland | Improvements in and relating to domestic washing appliances |
US4105813A (en) * | 1974-11-25 | 1978-08-08 | Economics Laboratory, Inc. | Treatment of fabrics in machine dryers |
DE2635256A1 (en) * | 1976-08-05 | 1978-02-09 | Henkel Kgaa | FILM BAG |
US4082678A (en) * | 1976-11-10 | 1978-04-04 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Fabric conditioning articles and process |
JPS56101969A (en) * | 1980-01-17 | 1981-08-14 | Yoshio Doi | Antielectrostatic sponge |
NZ206331A (en) * | 1982-11-26 | 1986-05-09 | Unilever Plc | Liquid-permeable,flexible,sheet-like articles |
IT206091Z2 (en) * | 1983-09-20 | 1987-05-21 | Salem Novopac Snc | FLAT PACKAGES FOR INCONERENT PRODUCTS WITH ANTI-CRUSHING DEVICE. |
-
1986
- 1986-06-11 GB GB868614233A patent/GB8614233D0/en active Pending
-
1987
- 1987-06-05 FR FR878707928A patent/FR2600075B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1987-06-08 JP JP62143018A patent/JPS62299581A/en active Pending
- 1987-06-09 DE DE8787305072T patent/DE3763320D1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1987-06-09 ES ES87305072T patent/ES2016360T5/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1987-06-09 AU AU74061/87A patent/AU587129B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1987-06-09 EP EP87305072A patent/EP0249439B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1987-06-10 ZA ZA874170A patent/ZA874170B/en unknown
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
ZA874170B (en) | 1989-02-22 |
EP0249439A3 (en) | 1988-07-06 |
EP0249439B1 (en) | 1990-06-20 |
FR2600075A1 (en) | 1987-12-18 |
AU7406187A (en) | 1987-12-17 |
JPS62299581A (en) | 1987-12-26 |
ES2016360T5 (en) | 1997-10-16 |
AU587129B2 (en) | 1989-08-03 |
FR2600075B1 (en) | 1990-03-09 |
DE3763320D1 (en) | 1990-07-26 |
EP0249439A2 (en) | 1987-12-16 |
ES2016360B3 (en) | 1990-11-01 |
GB8614233D0 (en) | 1986-07-16 |
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