Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06L—DRY-CLEANING, WASHING OR BLEACHING FIBRES, FILAMENTS, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR MADE-UP FIBROUS GOODS; BLEACHING LEATHER OR FURS
  • D06L1/00—Dry-cleaning or washing fibres, filaments, threads, yarns, fabrics, feathers or made-up fibrous goods
  • D06L1/12—Dry-cleaning or washing fibres, filaments, threads, yarns, fabrics, feathers or made-up fibrous goods using aqueous solvents

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a garment conditioning composition which can be applied directly on a garment of in a wide variety of appliances such as a cabinet-type apparatus.
• the conditioning composition "conditions" garments in that they are cleaned, refreshed, de- wrinkled, deodorized, or softened as a result being subjected to the conditioning composition.
• the conditioning composition of the invention is especially suitable for garments which require only dry cleaning and/or are susceptible to damage during conventional home laundering operations.
• dry cleaning has been used to describe processes for cleaning textiles using non-aqueous solvents. Dry cleaning is an old art, with solvent cleaning first being recorded in the United Kingdom in the 1860's. Typically, dry cleaning processes are used with garments such as woolens which are subject to shrinkage in aqueous laundering baths, or which are judged to be too valuable or too delicate to subject to aqueous laundering processes. Various hydrocarbon and halocarbon solvents have traditionally been used in immersion dry cleaning processes, and the need to handle and reclaim such solvents has mainly restricted the practice of conventional dry cleaning to commercial establishments. In addition to the cleaning function, dry cleaning also provides important "refreshment" benefits. For example, dry cleaning removes undesirable odors and extraneous matter such as hair and lint from garments, which are then generally folded or pressed to remove wrinkles and restore their original shape.
• One type of home dry cleaning system comprises a carrier sheet containing various cleaning agents, and a plastic bag.
• the bag can be either sealed such that it is substantially air tight or the bag can be vapor venting.
• the garments to be cleaned are sealed in the bag together with the sheet, and then tumbled in a conventional clothes dryer.
• multiple single-use flat sheets and a single multi-use plastic bag are provided in a package.
• the bag requires storage between uses and it can substantially increase the cost of the dry cleaning kit.
• the bag restricts the number/volume of articles that can be dry cleaned and only partially assists in de-wrinkling the articles.
• a dry cleaning/refreshing system which can be used in addition to, or as an alternative to, the aforementioned dry cleaning system, but which retains the convenience of achieving such dry cleaning in the user's home.
• the prior art discloses a method of finishing garments by hanging them in a sealed chamber, spraying a finishing agent which imparts refreshing and cleaning benefits, and thereafter or simultaneously therewith, fully applying steam to the garments.
• a final step hot air is blown through the sealed chamber to dry the garments.
• This system has the drawback of requiring the addition of "steam” to impart the desired benefits.
• the "full steaming" requirement of this process unnecessarily adds to the cost and time associated with refreshing and cleaning the garments.
• the needs in the art identified above are met by the present invention which provides a conditioning composition for application to garments before or after conventional washing and drying operations.
• the composition is suitable for conditioning dry clean only garments.
• the composition is an aqueous mixture containing a garment conditioning agent wherein the mixture has a fluid viscosity of from about 1 cps to about 100 cps and a fluid surface tension of from about 20 dynes/cm to about 55 dynes/cm.
• the conditioning composition is in fog form to improve composition deposition on the garments.
• condition means cleaning, refreshing, de-wrinkling, deodorizing, softening and/or other fabric benefit which can be imparted to garments.
• fog form means a mist, vapor, gas, atomized droplets, or the like which may contain fine particles.
• cabinet means any apparatus in which a garment can be placed, wherein the apparatus does not necessarily have to be totally enclosed.
• steam means water vapor typically at temperatures above 80°C. All percentages, ratios and proportions herein are by weight, unless otherwise specified. All documents cited are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference.
• the invention is directed to a composition which includes a garment conditioning agent wherein the mixture has a fluid viscosity of from about 1 cps to about 100 cps and a fluid surface tension of from about 20 dynes/cm to about 55 dynes/cm. More preferably, the fluid surface tension is from about 20 dynes/cm to about 30 dynes/cm, and most preferably, from about 25 dynes/cm to about 30 dynes/cm.
• the lower surface tension of the conditioning composition improves effective distribution by improving surface absorption and spreading of the conditioning composition on the garment fabric. It has been found that compositions which have the aforementioned selected fluid surface tension unexpectedly results in more effective spreading of the composition on fabrics such as wool, nylon, acrylics and the like which are typically found in fine washable or dry clean only garments.
• the conditioning composition it is more preferable for the conditioning composition to have a fluid viscosity of from about 1 cps to about 50 cps, and most preferably, of from about 1 cps to about 20 cps as measured by a standard Brookfield viscometer.
• a fluid viscosity of from about 1 cps to about 50 cps, and most preferably, of from about 1 cps to about 20 cps as measured by a standard Brookfield viscometer.
• a typical conditioning operation using the composition involves hanging dry clean only or laundered garments in a cabinet or similar apparatus in which air is circulating, and spraying an effective amount of a conditioning composition into the cabinet for distribution on the garments.
• the use of steam to condition the garment is not necessary.
• More effective distribution of the conditioning composition is achieved by selecting a fog form of the conditioning composition.
• the mean particulate diameter size of the fog is optimally chosen.
• the mean particulate diameter size of the conditioning composition fog is preferably from about 3 microns to about 50 microns, more preferably from about 5 microns to about 30 microns, and most preferably from about 10 microns to about 20 microns.
• the particle diameter size prefferably has a narrow particle size distribution to enhance the distribution of the conditioning composition further. It has been found that a wide variety of other processing parameters as described in detail hereinafter can be optimally selected to ensure effective distribution and deposition of the conditioning composition on the garments as well as deliver other fabric benefits.
• the cabinet or other apparatus used in the conditioning operation can take a variety of forms, one of which is an enclosed apparatus having an interior region or space to which a door is hingedly attached.
• a rod or other hanger means e.g., one or more hooks
• the cabinet preferably has a lower housing in which a heater and fan are disposed for circulating air within the cabinet, and optionally, heating such circulating air.
• the conditioning composition of the invention can be effectively distributed on the garments in the cabinet by spraying the composition in fog form having the aforedescribed particle size into the circulating air in the cabinet. Preferably, this spraying step occurs in an unobstructed deceleration zone prior to contacting the garments in the cabinet.
• the conditioning composition vapor is allowed to circulate gently in the cabinet air such that it moves freely in, between and around the garments ultimately uniformly distributing itself on the garments.
• the cabinet it is preferable for the cabinet to have at least about 15 cm, preferably 25 cm or more of "dead" space at the top or front of the cabinet to serve as the unobstructed deceleration zone for the condition composition in the cabinet. This facilitates effective distribution of the conditioning composition on the garments.
• suitable spraying devices such as hydraulic nozzle, sonic nebulizer, high pressure fog nozzle, and the like can be used. However, it is preferably achieved by using a relatively low volume air atomization nozzle.
• spray nozzles commercially available from Spray Systems, Inc. (Model Nos. 850, 1050, 1250, 1450 and 1650) are most suitable for the process.
• the spraying step is conducted for a period of time of from about 5 minutes to about 30 minutes, more preferably from about 5 minutes to about 20 minutes. Spraying times will vary depending upon the various operating parameters selected as described herein.
• the liquid conditioning composition is fogged by combining it with an air stream under pressure and passed through the atomization nozzle in the cabinet. This can be accomplished by using an air stream having a pressure of from about 5 psi (0.35 kg»cm 2 ) to about 30 psi (2.1 kg » cnr).
• the temperature of the air stream and/or the conditioning composition can be raised to enhance distribution and deposition of the conditioning composition on the garments.
• the temperature of the air stream and/or the conditioning composition is preferably from about 40°C to about 80°C, more preferably from about 40°C to about 70°C, and more preferably, from about 45°C to about 50°C.
• the particular conditioning composition may include a variety of adjunct ingredients depending upon the particular benefit desired. However, in preferable modes of operation the conditioning composition will contain adjunct ingredients which can be effective across a variety of garment fabrics. For example, the conditioning composition will preferably be suitable for "dry-clean" only garments as well as pure cotton dress shirts which typically require a significant de-wrinkling operation subsequent to conventional laundering operations (i.e., home washing and drying cycles).
• one suitable composition which provides deodorizing, refreshing and de-wrinkling benefits comprises, by weight, from about 0.001% to about 10% of a copolymer of acrylic acid and t-butylacrylate; from about 0.001% to about 10% of a diethylene glycol; from about 0.01% to about 10% of a beta cylcodextrin; from about 0.001% to about 5% of a surfactant; from about 0% to about 2% of a preservative; and the balance water.
• a preferred level of the polymer is from about 0.1% to about 1%, more preferably from about 0.3%) to about 1.5%, by weight.
• Preferred levels of diethylene glycol include from about 0.1% to about 2%, and more preferably from about 0.1 % to about 1%. It should be understood that other humectants beyond diethylene glycol can be used without departing from the scope of the invention.
• preferred levels of cyclodextrin include from about 0.1% to about 4%, and more preferably, from about 0.5%) to about 2% by weight.
• Preferred cyclodextrins include those selected from the group consisting of beta-cyclodextrin, alpha-cyclodextrin, gamma- cyclodextrin, derivatives of said cyclodextrins, and mixtures thereof.
• the cyclodextrin derivatives are preferably selected from the group consisting of methyl substituted cyclodextrins, ethyl substituted cyclodextrins, hydroxyalkyl substituted cyclodextrins, branched cyclodextrins, cationic cyclodextrins, quaternary ammonium cyclodextrins, anionic cyclodextrins, amphoteric cyclodextrins, cyclodextrins wherein at least one glucopyranose unit has a 3-6-anhydro- cyclomalto structure, and mixtures thereof.
• Preferred levels of the surfactant include from about 0.1 % to about 2%, more preferably from about 0.1 % to about 0.5%), by weight.
• the preferred surfactant is polyalkylene oxide- modified polydimethylsiloxane, and can be purchased commercially from Witco Corporation under the tradename Silwet L-7600.
• a preferred optional ingredient is a preservative such as Kathon, commercially available from Rohm & Haas Company at a level of from about 0.0001% to about 0.001 ).
• Other optional ingredients include perfumes, pH control agents, and alcohol.
• the pH is from about 6.5 to about 10, most preferably at about 9.5. In some cases where polymers are not included in the composition, the pH can vary from about 4 to about 10.
• compositions of the invention may be used to treat three oxford 100% cotton dress shirts which are hung on a horizontal rod in a 60cm x 30cm x 120cm cabinet having a lower housing containing a fan and heater so that air can be continuously circulated throughout the cabinet.
• a Model No. 1050 air atomization spray nozzle from Spray Systems Inc. is used to convert the conditioning composition to fog form.
• the ingredients and relative proportions of the compositions are set forth below.
• Preservative 3 0.0003 0.0003 pH adjustment with HC1 or 9.5 4.0 NaOH
• Copolymer of acrylic acid and t-butylacrylate 2
• Polyalkylene oxide modified polydimethylsiloxane commercially available from Witco Corporation under the tradename Silwet L-7600.
• the above conditioning compositions are converted to fog form at ambient temperature with 20 psi (1.4 kg'cm 2 ) of air through the air atomization nozzle.
• the mean particulate diameter size of the fog is about 10.5 microns.
• Typical conditioning operations will last for 25 minutes, after which a drying operation may occur.
• the garments which have been exposed to the conditioning composition are deodorized, refreshed, and dewrinkled in an unexpectedly improved fashion as compared to compositions outside the scope of the invention, for example those compositions which are in liquid form.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Detergent Compositions (AREA)
• Treatments For Attaching Organic Compounds To Fibrous Goods (AREA)
• Professional, Industrial, Or Sporting Protective Garments (AREA)
• Details Of Garments (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (2)

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Cited By (4)

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• 1998
  • 1998-04-27 EP EP98918587A patent/EP1075503B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-04-27 AT AT98918587T patent/ATE310794T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1998-04-27 ES ES98918587T patent/ES2252833T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-04-27 WO PCT/US1998/008124 patent/WO1999055816A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1998-04-27 CA CA002330147A patent/CA2330147A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1998-04-27 AU AU71486/98A patent/AU7148698A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1998-04-27 DE DE69832531T patent/DE69832531T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-04-27 JP JP2000545963A patent/JP4118515B2/ja not_active Expired - Lifetime

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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