Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06M—TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
  • D06M13/00—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with non-macromolecular organic compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment
  • D06M13/10—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with non-macromolecular organic compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment with compounds containing oxygen
  • D06M13/144—Alcohols; Metal alcoholates
• • 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
  • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
  • C11D3/16—Organic compounds
  • C11D3/20—Organic compounds containing oxygen
  • C11D3/2003—Alcohols; Phenols
  • C11D3/2006—Monohydric alcohols
  • C11D3/201—Monohydric alcohols linear
  • C11D3/2013—Monohydric alcohols linear fatty or with at least 8 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain
• • 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
  • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
  • C11D3/16—Organic compounds
  • C11D3/20—Organic compounds containing oxygen
  • C11D3/2003—Alcohols; Phenols
  • C11D3/2006—Monohydric alcohols
  • C11D3/201—Monohydric alcohols linear
• • 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
  • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
  • C11D3/16—Organic compounds
  • C11D3/20—Organic compounds containing oxygen
  • C11D3/2003—Alcohols; Phenols
  • C11D3/2041—Dihydric alcohols
  • C11D3/2044—Dihydric alcohols linear
• • 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
  • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
  • C11D3/16—Organic compounds
  • C11D3/20—Organic compounds containing oxygen
  • C11D3/2003—Alcohols; Phenols
  • C11D3/2041—Dihydric alcohols
  • C11D3/2048—Dihydric alcohols branched
• • 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
  • D06L1/02—Dry-cleaning or washing fibres, filaments, threads, yarns, fabrics, feathers or made-up fibrous goods using organic solvents
• • 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
  • D06L1/02—Dry-cleaning or washing fibres, filaments, threads, yarns, fabrics, feathers or made-up fibrous goods using organic solvents
  • D06L1/04—Dry-cleaning or washing fibres, filaments, threads, yarns, fabrics, feathers or made-up fibrous goods using organic solvents combined with specific additives
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06M—TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
  • D06M13/00—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with non-macromolecular organic compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment
  • D06M13/10—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with non-macromolecular organic compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment with compounds containing oxygen
  • D06M13/144—Alcohols; Metal alcoholates
  • D06M13/148—Polyalcohols, e.g. glycerol or glucose
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06M—TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
  • D06M23/00—Treatment of fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, characterised by the process
  • D06M23/02—Processes in which the treating agent is releasably affixed or incorporated into a dispensing means

Definitions

• the present invention relates to compositions and articles containing these compositions that are designed to clean and refresh fabrics in a non-immersion cleaning process while minimizing shrinkage of the fabrics.
• One such in-home system for cleaning and refreshing garments comprises a substrate sheet containing various liquid or gelled cleaning agents, and a plastic bag. The garments are placed in the bag together with the sheet, and then tumbled in a conventional clothes dryer.
• multiple single-use flat sheets comprising a cleaning/refreshing agent and a single multi-use plastic bag are provided in a package.
• such in-home processes are sub-optimal with respect to fabric shrinkage. To be clear, these in-home, non-immersion processes are substantially superior to in- home, immersion processes with respect to minimizing fabric shrinkage.
• a composition for treating fabrics that comprises: a) a fabric shrinkage reducing composition selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, all isomers of propanediol, butanediol, pentanediol, hexanediol and mixtures thereof, and more preferably selected from the group consisting of neopentyl glycol, polyethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3 -butanediol, 1-octanol and mixtures thereof; and b) a liquid cleaning/refreshment composition.
• a fabric shrinkage reducing composition selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, all isomers of propanediol, butanediol, pentanediol, hexanediol and mixtures thereof, and more preferably selected from the group consisting of neopentyl glycol, polyethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3 -butan
• the fabric shrinkage reducing composition and the liquid cleaning/refreshment composition are preferably releasably absorbed in a substrate in a weight ratio of from about 1 :2 to about 1 :5, preferably from about 1 :2 to about 1 :4, more preferably from about 1 :3 to about 1 :4, and most preferably about 1 :3.6.
• the cleaning/refreshment composition preferably comprises water and a member selected from the group consisting of surfactants, perfumes, preservatives, bleaches, auxiliary cleaning agents, organic solvents and mixtures thereof.
• the preferred organic solvents are glycol ethers, specifically, methoxy propoxy propanol, ethoxy propoxy propanol, propoxy propoxy propanol, butoxy propoxy propanol, butoxy propanol and mixtures thereof.
• the surfactant is preferably a nonionic surfactant, such as an ethoxylated alcohol or ethoxylated alkyl phenol and is present at up to about 2%, by weight of the cleaning/refreshment composition.
• an overall non-immersion cleaning/refreshment process for treating a fabric comprising the overall steps of:
• releasably absorbed in the substrate is preferably:
• a fabric shrinkage reducing composition selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, all isomers of propanediol, butanediol, pentanediol, hexanediol and mixtures thereof, and more preferably selected from the group consisting of neopentyl glycol, polyethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1-octanol and mixtures thereof; and
• a liquid cleaning/refreshment composition (ii) a liquid cleaning/refreshment composition.
• the fabric shrinkage reducing composition and the liquid cleaning/refreshment composition are preferably present in a weight ratio of from about 1 :2 to about 1 :5, preferably from about 1 :2 to about 1 :4, more preferably from about 1 :3 to about 1 :4, and most preferably about 1 :3.6.
• vapors are vented from the bag during step (b).
• the fabric has a first side and a second side and the process further comprises the steps of:
• Step (b) concurrently or consecutively with Step (a), contacting the first side of the fabric adjacent the stained area with a treatment member;
• kit comprising:
• the separate portion of the spot cleaning composition is preferably provided in a container, and the treatment member is the distal tip of the container.
• a sheet which is specifically adapted to clean and/or refresh fabrics in a hot air clothes dryer comprising:
• a fabric shrinkage reducing composition selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, all isomers of propanediol, butanediol, pentanediol, hexanediol and mixtures thereof, and more preferably selected from the group consisting of neopentyl glycol, polyethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1-octanol and mixtures thereof releasably absorbed in the substrate.
• a fabric shrinkage reducing composition selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, all isomers of propanediol, butanediol, pentanediol, hexanediol and mixtures thereof, and more preferably selected from the group consisting of neopentyl glycol, polyethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1-octanol and mixtures thereof
• the sheet of this invention preferably further comprises a vapor permeable fibrous coversheet that encases the outer surfaces of the substrate, and that is permeable to the cleaning/refreshment composition and the fabric shrinkage reducing composition.
• the coversheet preferably has a minimum thickness of at least about 8 mils, and is bonded to the substrate in discrete areas.
• Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a fabric garment showing the measurements used to calculate the amount of shrinkage after each cycle of a fabric treatment process.
• the present invention comprises a composition that is a mixture of a fabric shrinkage reducing composition and a liquid cleaning/refreshment composition.
• the fabric shrinkage reducing composition and the liquid cleaning/refreshment composition are releasably absorbed in a substrate, which is preferably in the form of a sheet, and even more preferably, the substrate is encased in coversheet.
• a non-immersion cleaning/refreshment process for treating a fabric is also defined herein. This process comprises the steps of:
• the fabric can be spot treated at anytime in conjunction with the cleaning and refreshing process of this invention, preferably the spot treatment occurs before the cleaning and refreshing step.
• the spot treatment process typically comprises the steps of:
• Step (b) concurrently or consecutively with Step (a), contacting the first side of the fabric adjacent the stained area with a treatment member;
• cleaning herein is meant the removal of soils and stains from fabrics.
• spot cleaning is the localized cleaning on stained areas before or after the cleaning/refreshment step which is conducted in the bag.
• freshment herein is meant the removal of malodors and/or wrinkles from the overall fabrics, or the improvement of their overall appearance, other than primarily removing soils and stains, although some soil and stain removal can occur concurrently with refreshment.
• “Shrinkage” is defined herein as the reduction in one or more of four different measurements on a test garment as shown in Figure 1. Specifically, wool, wool/acrylic blends, cotton, ramie/cotton blends, and rayon/acrylic blend garments, such as sweaters were selected as test garments to determine the shrinkage resulting from various cleaning processes using various cleaning compositions.
• the test garments are referred to herein collectively as "long sleeve garments”. While different garments can be used to test shrinkage, long sleeve garments have numerous dimensions that can shrink independently of each other. Thus, long sleeve garments were selected as test garments for experimental reasons only because they provide numerous data points. It is understood that fabric shrinkage generally occurs irrespective of the specific garment form.
• the "overall length” is the distance from the bottom hem of the long sleeve garment to the shoulder hem
• the "arm length” is the distance between the hem on the bottom of one sleeve to the approximate mid-point of the hem joining the sleeve to the shirt
• “width 1” is the distance between the side hems near the bottom of the shirt
• “width 2” is the distance between the two side hems near the arm pits of the shirt.
• the shrinkage reducing composition of this invention is preferably selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, all isomers of propanediol, butanediol, pentanediol, hexanediol and mixtures thereof, and more preferably selected from the group consisting of neopentyl glycol, polyethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1-octanol and mixtures thereof.
• the shrinkage reducing composition is preferably neopentyl glycol or 1 ,2-propanediol, and is more preferably 1,2-propanediol.
• the ratio of shrinkage reducing composition to cleaning/refreshment composition is preferably from about 1 :2 to about 1:5, preferably from about 1 :2 to about 1 :4, more preferably from about 1 :3 to about 1 :4, and most preferably about 1:3.6.
• the mixture of a shrinkage reducing composition with a water based cleaning/refreshment composition as defined below when used in the non-immersion fabric treatment processes defined herein, substantially reduces shrinkage of the treated garments when compared to substantially identical garments treated in an identical process using only the cleaning/refreshment composition.
• using the shrinkage reducing compositions on one substrate and the cleaning/refreshment composition on a second substrate in the non-immersion processes of this invention does not provide the substantial shrinkage reduction observed when the two compositions are releasably absorbed onto the same substrate.
• the shrinkage reducing compositions of this invention help maintain the fibers of the treated fabrics in a relaxed state while the water based cleaning/refreshment composition treats the fabrics.
• the relaxed fibers are less prone to shrinkage.
• the reduced shrinkage is measured against a non-immersion process using only a cleaning/refreshment composition. It bears noting that a non-immersion process using only a cleaning/refreshment composition causes substantially less shrinkage than a conventional immersion laundering process.
• the compositions and processes taught herein are not only an improvement over known non- immersion processes, they are also a substantial improvement over conventional immersion laundering processes.
• the cleaning/refreshment composition preferably comprises water and a member selected from the group consisting of surfactants, perfumes, preservatives, bleaches, auxiliary cleaning agents, organic solvents and mixtures thereof.
• the preferred organic solvents are glycol ethers, specifically, methoxy propoxy propanol, ethoxy propoxy propanol, propoxy propoxy propanol, butoxy propoxy propanol, butoxy propanol and mixtures thereof.
• the surfactant is preferably a nonionic surfactant, such as an ethoxylated alcohol or ethoxylated alkyl phenol, and is present at up to about 2%, by weight of the cleaning/refreshment composition.
• Typical fabric cleaning refreshment/compositions herein can comprise at least about 80%, by weight, water, preferably at least about 90%, and more preferably at least about 95% water.
• the shrinkage reducing composition and the cleaning/refreshment composition are releasably absorbed used in combination with an absorbent substrate, herein after referred to as a "substrate".
• the substrate releasably contains the compositions.
• releasably contains means that the compositions are effectively released from the substrate onto the soiled fabrics as part of the non-immersion cleaning and fabric refreshment processes herein. This release occurs mainly by volatilization of the composition from the substrate through the vapor-permeable coversheet, or by a combination of vapor and liquid transfer, although bulk liquid transfer is desirably minimized by means of the coversheet herein.
• the substrate can be in any desired form, such as powders, flakes, shreds, and the like. However, it is highly preferred that the substrate be in the form of an integral pad or "sheet” that substantially maintains its structural integrity throughout the process.
• the substrates and sheets of this invention are sometimes referred to in the literature as “carriers” or “absorbent carrier sheets”; it is understood that all of these labels refer to liquid absorbing materials that can be used to conveniently transport liquids.
• carriers or "absorbent carrier sheets”; it is understood that all of these labels refer to liquid absorbing materials that can be used to conveniently transport liquids.
• Such substrates are described in detail in U.S. Patent No. 5,789,368, to You et al. which was incorporated herein by reference above.
• the manufacture of these sheets forms no part of this invention and is already disclosed in the literature. See, for example, U.S. Patents 5,009,747, Viazmensky, et al., April 23, 1991 and 5,292,581, Vi
• the substrate is intended to contain a sufficient amount of the shrinkage reducing composition and cleaning/refreshment compositions to be effective for their intended purpose.
• the capacity of the substrate for such compositions will vary according to the intended usage.
• the size of the substrate should not be so large as to be unhandy for the user.
• the dimensions of the substrate will be sufficient to provide a macroscopic surface area (both sides of the substrate) of at least about 360 cm preferably in the range from about 360 crn ⁇ to about 3000 cm2.
• a generally rectangular substrate may have the dimensions (X- direction) of from about 10 cm to about 35 cm, and (Y-direction) of from about 18 cm to about 45 cm.
• coversheets employed herein are distinguished from the substrate, inasmuch as the coversheets are relatively non-absorbent to the shrinkage reducing compositions and cleaning/refreshment compositions as compared with the substrate.
• the coversheets are constructed from hydrophobic fibers which tend not to absorb, "wick” or otherwise promote the transfer of fluids. While fluids can pass through the void spaces between the fibers of the coversheet, this occurs mainly when excessive pressure is applied to the article.
• the coversheet provides a physical barrier which keeps the absorbent substrate, which is damp from its load of shrinkage reducing composition and cleaning/refreshment composition, from coming into direct contact with the fabrics being treated.
• the coversheet does allow vapor transfer of the shrinkage reducing composition and cleaning/refreshment composition from the substrate through the coversheet and into the containment bag, and thus onto the fabrics being treated.
• the coversheet can be provided with macroscopic fenestrations through which the lint, fibers or particulate soils can pass, thereby further helping to entrap such foreign matter inside the article, itself.
• the sheets of this invention that is the substrate or the combination of a substrate and a coversheet
• the sheets are typically provided with enough shrinkage reducing composition and cleaning/refreshment composition for one use. If after the first use the sheet looks clean, the consumer may be inclined to reuse it. Reusing a sheet that contains an insufficient amount of shrinkage reducing composition and cleaning/refreshment composition will generally be ineffective.
• an indicator such as a dye that changes color, can be added to either of the substrate or the coversheet. The indicator will alert the consumer that the sheet has been used and should be discarded. Preferably, the indicator changes the sheet color to yellow, brown or gray.
• a tackiness agent is applied to the sheet.
• the tackiness agent attracts and collects loose fibers, hair, lint and other stray matter from the fabrics being treated. This not only serves to remove these undesirable items from the fabrics, it serves as an indicator as well.
• the stray material that becomes affixed to the sheet gives the sheet a "dirty" appearance, signaling the consumer to throw the sheet away.
• the present invention provides a non-immersion cleaning and refreshing process that is carried out in a containment bag.
• the process herein can be conducted in a sealed bag, but in a highly preferred mode, the process of the present invention employs a vapor-venting containment bag.
• the bag is preferably designed for multiple uses and reuses, and is especially adapted for use by the consumer in most conventional hot air clothes dryer apparatus, such as those found in the home.
• the bag is designed to vent water and other vapors (including malodorous materials) which emanate from within the bag when used in the manner described herein. The vapors released from the bag are then exhausted through the air vent of the dryer apparatus.
• the design of the venting ability of the bag achieves a proper balance of the above effects.
• a tightly-sealed, vapor impermeable "closed” bag will not purge malodors and will overly moisten the fabrics, resulting in wrinkling.
• An overly “open” bag design will not sufficiently moisten the fabrics or soils to mobilize heavier malodors or to remove pre-existing fabric wrinkles. Further, the bag must be “closed” enough to billow and create a void volume under water vapor pressure, wherein the fabrics can tumble freely within the bag and be exposed to the vapors.
• the preferred vapor-venting containment bags for use in this invention are designed to vent at least about 40%, preferably at least about 60%, up to about 90%, preferably no more than about 80%, by weight, of the total moisture introduced into the bag before the operating cycle of the clothes dryer, or other hot air apparatus, used in the processes herein.
• the percentage of vapor-venting can be determined from the Vapor-Venting Evaluation Test (WE) that is defined below, in Example IV.
• WE Vapor-Venting Evaluation Test
• the preferred containment bags are designed to achieve a degree of venting, or WE "score", of at least about 40% (40 WE), preferably at least about 60% (60 WE), up to about 90% (90 WE), even more preferably no more than about 80% (80 WE). Spot Cleaning Composition
• the user of the present process can be provided with various spot cleaning compositions to use in the optional pre-spotting procedure of this invention.
• These compositions are used to remove localized stains from the fabrics being treated, either before or after the cleaning and refreshing process defined herein.
• the spot cleaning composition must be compatible with the fabric being treated. That is, no meaningful amount of dye should be removed from the fabric during the spot treatment and the spot cleaning composition should leave no visible stains on the fabric. Therefore, in a preferred aspect of this invention there are provided spot cleaning compositions which are substantially free of materials that leave visible residues on the treated fabrics.
• compositions are formulated to contain the highest level of volatile materials possible, preferably water, typically about 95%, preferably about 97.7%, and surfactant at levels of about 0.1% to about 0.7%.
• a preferred spot cleaning composition will also contain a cleaning solvent such as butoxy propoxy propanol (BPP) at a low, but effective, level, typically about 1% to about 4%, preferably about 2%.
• BPP butoxy propoxy propanol
• spot cleaning compositions are exemplified below, and are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,789,368, to You et al. which was incorporated herein by reference above. Additionally, spot cleaning compositions are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,630,847, which issued on May 20, 1997, to Roetker. The entire disclosure of the Roetker patent is incorporated herein by reference.
• a treatment member is provided to assist in removing localized stains from fabrics.
• the spot cleaning composition is provided in a dispenser, such as a bottle, and the dispenser has a distal tip that can serve as the treatment member.
• the treatment member can comprise an absorbent base material which can be, for example, a natural or synthetic sponge, an absorbent cellulosic sheet or pad, or the like. In contact with and extending outward from this base material can be multiple protrusions. Specific examples of treatment members can be found in U.S. Patent No. 5,789,368, to You et al. which was incorporated herein by reference above.
• An absorbent stain receiving article can optionally be used in the optional pre-spotting operations herein.
• stain receivers can be any absorbent material which imbibes the liquid composition used in the pre-spotting operation.
• Disposable paper towels, cloth towels such as BOUNTYTM brand towels, clean rags, etc. can be used.
• the stain receiver is designed specifically to "wick” or "draw” the liquid compositions away from the stained area.
• One preferred type of stain receiver consists of a nonwoven pad, such as a thermally bonded air laid fabric (“TBAL").
• poly- HIPE polymerized water-in-oil emulsion
• the manufacture of polymeric foam is very extensively described in the patent literature; see, for example: U.S. Patent No. 5,260,345 to DesMarais, Stone, Thompson, Young, LaVon and Dyer, issued November 9, 1993; U.S. Patent No. 5,550,167 to DesMarais, issued August 27, 1996, and U.S. 5,650,222 to DesMarais et al., issued July 22, 1997, all incorporated herein by reference.
• Typical conditions for forming the polymeric foams of the present invention are described in co-pending U.S.
• the various stain receivers described herein, and described in the references incorporated herein by reference, preferably comprise a liquid impermeable backsheet.
• the backsheet can be made of, for example, a thin layer of polypropylene, polyethylene and the like.
• the backsheet provides protection for the surface that the stain receiver rests on from the spot cleaning composition.
• spot cleaning processes are typically performed on a hard surface, such as a table top.
• the stain receiver is placed on the table and the fabric to be treated in placed on the stain receiver.
• Spot cleaning composition is applied to the stained area of the fabric and then drawn into the stain receiver. But in the absence of a back sheet, the spot cleaning composition can leak onto the table top, possibly causing damage thereto.
• the backsheet preferably covers only one side of the absorbent stain receiver, leaving the opposite side exposed to receive the spot cleaning solution
• the back sheet may extend over the edges of the receiver to protect against leakage of the spot cleaning solution from the edges of the stain receiver. But extending the backsheet over the edges and onto the absorbing side of the receiver minimizes the surface area available for receiving the spot cleaning solution.
• One solution to this paradox is to have a portion of the back sheet extend beyond one or more of the edges of the stain receiver in the form of "wings". The wings provide additional protection by insuring that the spot cleaning composition is contained if it leaks from the edges of the stain receiver, while simultaneously maximizing the absorbent surface area of the stain receiver.
• the shrinkage reducing composition and the cleaning/refreshment composition are loaded on the substrate which is preferably encased in a coversheet, and the substrate is placed in a bag with the fabrics to be treated.
• the bag is closed and placed in a heated operating clothes dryer, or the like, to remove malodors from the fabrics.
• the warm, humid environment created inside the bag volatilizes malodor components in the manner of a "steam distillation" process, and moistens fabrics and the soils thereon. This moistening of fabrics can loosen pre-set wrinkles, without setting of new wrinkles during the drying stage toward the end of the dryer cycle.
• the cleaning and refreshment process is conveniently conducted in a tumbling apparatus, preferably in the presence of heat.
• the substrate containing the releasably absorbed shrinkage reducing composition and cleaning/refreshment composition is placed along with the fabrics to be treated in a nylon or other heat-resistant, and preferably vapor-venting bag.
• the bag is closed and placed in the drum of an automatic hot air clothes dryer at temperatures of 40°C-150°C.
• the drum is allowed to revolve, which imparts a tumbling action to the bag and agitation of its contents concurrently with the tumbling.
• the tumbling and heating are carried out for a period of at least about 10 minutes, typically from about 20 minutes to about 60 minutes. This step can be conducted for longer or shorter periods, depending on such factors as the degree and type of soiling of the fabrics, the nature of the soils, the nature of the fabrics, the fabric load, the amount of heat applied, and the like, according to the needs of the user.
• a pre-spotting process can be conducted in the following manner. Modifications of the process can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
• Treatment member such as the distal tip on the dispenser bottle to work the stain completely out. Contact can be maintained for a period of 1-60 seconds for lighter stains and 1-5 minutes, or longer, for heavier or more persistent stains.
• the fabric e.g., between paper towels, to remove excess composition.
• the treated area can be blotted with a dampened sponge or other absorbent medium to flush the fibers and remove excess composition.
• Fabric cleaning/refreshment compositions according to the present invention for use in a containment bag, are prepared as follows:
• compositions for use in the in-dryer cleaning/refreshment step of the process herein are as follows.
• Solvent e.g. BPP
• pH range from about 6 to about 8.
• compositions can contain enzymes to further enhance cleaning performance, as described in the Trinh et al. patent inco ⁇ orated herein above.
• a 10 1/4 in. x 14 1/4 in. (26 cm x 36 cm) substrate in the form of a sheet is prepared from HYDRASPUN® material, manufactured by the Dexter Co ⁇ .
• the substrate sheet is covered on both sides with a topsheet and a bottomsheet of 8 mil (0.2 mm) Reemay fabric coversheet material.
• the coversheet i.e., both topsheet and bottomsheet
• the coversheet are bonded to the substrate sheet by a Vertrod® or other standard heat sealer device, such as conventional sonic sealing devices, thereby bonding the laminate structure together around the entire periphery of the sheet.
• the edges of the sheet around its periphery are intercalated between the topsheet and bottomsheet by the bond.
• the width of the bond is kept to a minimum and is about 0.25 in. (6.4 mm).
• the bonded laminate sheet thus prepared is folded and placed in a pouch.
• Any plastic pouch which does not leak would be suitable.
• a foil laminated pouch of the type used in the food service industry can be employed.
• Such pouches are well-known in the industry and are made from materials which do not absorb food flavors.
• the formulator herein may wish to avoid abso ⁇ tion of the perfume used in the cleaning/refreshment composition by the pouch.
• Various pouches are useful herein and are commercially available on a routine basis.
• the folded substrate/coversheet sheet is placed in the pouch.
• the folds can be of any type, for example., an accordion-style fold or rolled and then the roll is folded in half. This size is not critical but is convenient for placement in a pouch.
• a spot cleaning composition for use for use in the present invention preferably with a dispenser as defined above, and with a TBAL or poly-HIPE foam stain receiver, is prepared as follows: INGREDIENT % (Wt.) (Nonionic) Range % (Wt.) Hydrogen peroxide 1.000 0-2
• H2O2- containing pre-spotting compositions comprise the anionic or nonionic surfactant in an amount (by weight of composition) which is less than the amount of H2O2.
• the weight ratio of surfactant:H2 ⁇ 2 is in the range of about 1 :10 to about 1 :1.5, most preferably about 1 :4 to about 1 :3.
• the wool, silk, and rayon materials are placed in a Whirlpool dryer (Model LEC7646DQO) for 10 minutes at high heat setting, with the heating cycle ranging from about 140°F-165°F to remove moisture picked up at ambient condition.
• a Whirlpool dryer Model LEC7646DQO
• Each fabric is weighed separately and the dry weights are recorded. Weights are also recorded for the dry substrate, the dry pouch containing the substrate, and the dry containment bag being evaluated.
• Each garment is placed in the bag being evaluated for vapor venting along with the water-containing substrate (removed from its pouch and unfolded).
• the bag is closed without expressing the air and placed in the Whirlpool Dryer for 30 minutes at the high heat setting, with tumbling per the standard mode of operation of the dryer. 5. At the end of 30 minutes the bag is removed from the dryer and each fabric, the substrate, the bag and the pouch are weighed for water weight gain relative to the dry state. (A possible minor loss in weight for the containment bag due to dryer heat is ignored in the calculations.)
• the weight gain of each garment is recorded as a percent of the total moisture applied to the substrate.

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• 1999
  • 1999-08-24 JP JP2000566390A patent/JP2002523560A/ja not_active Withdrawn
  • 1999-08-24 EP EP99942431A patent/EP1108004A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1999-08-24 CA CA002341223A patent/CA2341223A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-08-24 BR BR9913187-0A patent/BR9913187A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1999-08-24 WO PCT/US1999/019204 patent/WO2000011133A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1999-08-24 AU AU55811/99A patent/AU746512B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1999-08-24 CZ CZ2001536A patent/CZ2001536A3/cs unknown
  • 1999-08-24 CN CN99811310A patent/CN1319130A/zh active Pending
  • 1999-08-24 KR KR1020017002320A patent/KR20010072904A/ko active IP Right Grant

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