JP2003531311A - Wash cycle unit dose softener - Google Patents

Abstract

  (57) [Summary] A unit dose wash cycle fabric softening composition for softening or conditioning a fabric in a washing cycle of an automatic washing machine, the unit dose comprising: (a) a compressed granular fabric softener composition or (b) An encapsulating liquid and / or a granular fabric softener composition, wherein the amount of (a) or (b) forms a unit dose capable of providing effective softening or conditioning of the fabric in the washing cycle of the washing machine. A unit dose wash cycle fabric softening composition that is sufficient to:

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to wash cycle unit dose laundry compositions for softening or conditioning fabrics. More particularly, the present invention relates to unit dose fabric softening compositions that are compressed granular compositions or encapsulated liquids or granular compositions suitable for use in the washing cycle of automatic washing machines.

[0002] Detergent compositions manufactured in the form of compressed background detergent powder of the invention are well known in the art. For example, US Pat. No. 5,225,100 describes compressed powder tablets containing anionic detergent compounds that will be well dispersed in the wash water.

Detergent compositions in the form of compressed granular tablets of various shapes have received much attention in the patent literature, but using such tablets, without deteriorating the detergency in the wash cycle, and , It is not known to provide unit dose fabric softeners that soften or condition the fabric without otherwise compromising the cleaning benefits provided by the detergent composition.

Aside from the wash cycle, another possible option for providing a unit dose softener is to introduce the softening component directly into the rinse cycle. However, some practical requirements must be met for this type of product to be effective. First of all, the size and shape of the unit-dose container should ensure that it is easily introduced into the dispenser, depending on the geometry of the wide variety of rinse cycle dispensers designed for household washing machines. It must fit easily in shape. Moreover, as with the typical use of rinse cycle softeners, rinse dispensers should be regularly cleaned to avoid build-up of residue inside the dispenser or, at times, bacterial growth. You even need to prevent it from happening.

Still further, the unit dosage composition for the rinse cycle comprises a time corresponding to the residence time of the unit dosage in the dispenser, that is, the time that water enters and flows through the rinse cycle dispenser, water and It must be formulated so that it will easily expel the contents upon contact. So far, no commercial product has succeeded in meeting the above-mentioned practical requirements, and therefore:
There remains a need in the prior art for unit dose softeners that can be activated in the rinse cycle.

Laundry detergent compositions that further include a fabric softener to provide fabric softening or conditioning in the wash cycle of a laundry operation are well known in the art and are described in the patent literature. For example, U.S. Patent No. 4,605,506 to Wixon, U.S. Patent No. 4,818,421 to Boris et al. And Rama.
See chandran et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,569,773 (all assigned to Colgate-Palmolive Co.), and U.S. Pat. No. 4,851,138 (assigned to Akzo). US Patent No. 5, granted to Anderson,
972,870 describes a multi-layer laundry tablet for washing which may include a detergent in the outer layer and a fabric softener or water softener or fragrance in the inner layer.
However, products with many benefits of these types have common drawbacks. That is, provided by the above products as compared to using only a separate detergent composition for cleaning in the wash cycle and only a separate softening composition for softening in the rinse cycle. There is an inherent compromise between the cleaning benefits and the softening benefits made available to the user. In essence, the user of such detergent softener compositions independently adjusts the amount of detergent and softener added to the washing cycle of the washing machine, depending on the cleaning and softening requirements of the individual wash loads. You cannot do it.

In the prior art, several attempts have been made to develop wash cycle active fabric softeners, generally in powder form. However, these types of products have the same inherent inconveniences associated with the use of powdered detergents: handling problems, caking in containers or wash cycle dispensers, and the desired amount of active softener material in the wash water. Characterized by the need for a dosing device for delivery.

By using a unit dose wash cycle softener that avoids the common problems associated with pouring and handling granular or liquid detergent compositions, consumers are flexible and independent of detergent dose. It has now been found that very convenient laundry softening can be achieved in the wash cycle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a unit dose wash cycle fabric softening composition for softening or conditioning fabric in a wash cycle of an automatic washing machine, the unit dose comprising (a) compressed granules. Fabric softener composition or (b) encapsulating liquid and / or granular fabric softener composition, wherein the amount of (a) or (b) is an effective softening of the fabric in the washing cycle of the washing machine. Alternatively, a unit dose wash cycle fabric softening composition is provided that is sufficient to form a unit dose that can provide conditioning.

In a preferred embodiment, the unit dose fabric softening composition is in the form of a tablet and comprises an alkaline material to raise the pH of the wash water by dissolving the outer layer in the wash water. It is characterized in that it does not have a separate outer layer constructed and surrounding the fabric softener.

In another preferred embodiment, the unit dosage comprises a compressed granular softener composition that is essentially free of soap surfactant. The term "granular" as used herein in describing the fabric softener has relatively coarser granules varying in size from about 150 to 2,000 microns as well as sizes as small as 30-50 microns. It is intended to include smaller particles.

The term “fabric softener” is used herein for convenience to refer to a material that provides the fabric with softening and / or conditioning benefits in the wash cycle of a domestic or automated laundry machine.

The compressed granular fabric softener composition of the present invention preferably comprises a fabric softening clay, optionally in combination with an organic fat softening material. Particularly preferred fabric softeners include clay mineral softeners such as bentonite in combination with the pentaerythritol ester compounds described further herein. Useful combinations of such softeners include from about 80 to about 90% by weight clay and from about 10 to about 20 fat softening materials such as pentaerythritol compounds (often abbreviated herein as "PEC").
Vary up to% by weight.

The present encapsulated liquid or granular fabric softener compositions discussed herein for use are to avoid any reaction with anionic surfactants that may be present in the wash liquor. , Gelatin capsules containing nonionic softeners or clays. Useful liquid softening compositions include fatty alcohols, fatty acids,
Mention may be made of fatty esters, silicones (for example linear, grafted, crosslinked or ethoxylated), polyethylene waxes and fatty amides.

According to a method aspect of the present invention, a method for softening or conditioning laundry comprising contacting the laundry with an effective amount of a unit dose laundry composition as defined above. A method including is obtained.

Detailed Description of the Invention Clay, a useful ingredient of the invented products, is such that it cooperates with organic fat softener materials to provide enhanced softening of laundry. For such clay, (
It has swelling properties (in water) and has a smectite structure whereby it adheres to fibrous material surfaces, in particular cotton and cotton / synthetic blends such as cotton / polyester surfaces, and such fibers Examples include montmorillonite-containing clays that impart surface lubricity or softness to such fabrics. The best smectite clays for use in the present invention are bentonites, and the best bentonites are those which have a considerable swelling capacity in water, such as sodium bentonite and potassium bentonite. Such swellable bentonites are also known as Western or Wyoming bentonites, which are essentially sodium bentonites. Other bentonites, such as calcium bentonite, are usually non-swelling and are generally not themselves acceptable as fabric softeners. However, such non-swelling bentonites in combination with PEC have been found in the present softening compositions to contain sodium (whether it originates from sodium hydroxide added to the composition or a sodium salt such as a functional ingredient of the composition). (Which may result from builders and fillers, which may be) and in the presence of other sources of solubilizing ions, such as alkali metal, exhibit better fabric softening than does swellable bentonite. Was found. Among the preferred bentonites are the normally swellable sodium and potassium bentonites and the normally non-swellable calcium and magnesium bentonites. Of these, it is preferable to utilize calcium bentonite (when a source of sodium is present) and sodium bentonite. The bentonite used can be produced in the United States like Wyoming bentonite, but it can also be obtained as calcium bentonite from Europe including Italy and Spain, which may be converted to sodium bentonite by treatment with sodium carbonate. ,
Alternatively, it may be used as calcium bentonite. Also, the bentonite described herein may be replaced, in whole or in part, with another montmorillonite-containing smectite clay having similar properties to the described bentonite, with similar fabric softening results. Let's do it.

Swellable bentonites and similarly effective clays are in the micron range, eg, 0.
With a final particle size of 01-20 microns, US Sieve Series
And having an actual particle size in the range of 100-400 sieve, preferably 140-325 sieve. Bentonite and other such suitable swellable clays may also agglomerate to larger particle sizes such as the 60-120 sieve, but such agglomerates are preferred unless they also contain PEC. None (in any particulate product).

[0018] A major component of the invented compositions and articles of the present invention, used in combination with the fabric softening clay, is an organic fat softener. The organic softener, anionic, cationic or nonionic fatty chains (C ₁₀ -C _22, preferably C ₁₂ -C ₁₈₎ can be. Anionic softeners include fatty acid soaps. Preferred organic softeners are nonionics such as fatty ester, ethoxylated fatty ester, fatty alcohol and polyol polymers. The organic softener is most preferably a higher fatty acid ester of a pentaerythritol compound, which term is used herein to refer to a higher fatty acid ester of pentaerythritol, a higher fatty acid ester of a pentaerythritol oligomer, a lower alkylene oxide of pentaerythritol. The higher fatty acid ester of the derivative and the higher fatty acid ester of the lower alkylene oxide derivative of the pentaerythritol oligomer will be described. The pentaerythritol compound is often abbreviated herein as PEC, the description and abbreviations of which can be applied to any or all of pentaerythritol, its oligomers and its alkoxylated derivatives as is, or more preferably and more generally Can be applied to the ester as may be indicated by the context.

Oligomer of pentaerythritol is preferably one having 2 to 5, more preferably 2 or 3 pentaerythritol moieties, such moieties together being linked via an ether bond. To do. The lower alkylene oxide derivative preferably has ethylene oxide or propylene oxide monomers, dimers or polymers which are terminally hydroxyl and are attached to pentaerythritol or oligomers of pentaerythritol via ether linkages. Preferably 1-10, more preferably 2-6 alkylene oxide moieties will be present in each alkylene oxide chain described above, and 1-10 such groups will be present in the PEC, which will be oligomeric. Depends on At least one, preferably at least two, for example one or 2 to 4 of the OH groups of PEC.
Are esterified with higher fatty acids or other higher aliphatic acids which may have an odd number of carbon atoms.

The higher fatty acid ester of the pentaerythritol compound is preferably a partial ester. After esterification (with pentaerythritol, oligomeric or alkoxyalkane groups) this will more preferably have at least two free hydroxyls. Often, the number of such free hydroxyls is 2 or about 2.
But sometimes it is 1 as in pentaerythritol tristearate. The higher aliphatic or fatty acid that may be used as the esterified acid has a carbon atom content of 8 to 24, preferably 12 to 22, more preferably 12 to 18, and examples thereof include lauric acid and Myristic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid and behenic acid. Such may be a mixture of such fatty acids obtained from natural sources such as tallow or coconut oil, or from hydrogenated natural materials. Synthetic acids having an odd or even number of carbon atoms may also be used. Of the fatty acids, lauric acid and stearic acid are often preferred, and such choice can be determined by the pentaerythritol compound being esterified.

Examples of some esters (PEC) within the scope of the present invention follow: monopentaerythritol ester

[0022]

[Chemical 1] Monopentaerythritol dilaurate

[0023]

[Chemical 2] Monopentaerythritol monostearate

[0024]

[Chemical 3] Monopentaerythritol distearate

[0025]

[Chemical 4] Monopentaerythritol tristearate

[0026]

[Chemical 5] Monopentaerythritol monobehenate

[0027]

[Chemical 6] Monopentaerythritol dibehenate

[0028]

[Chemical 7] Dipentaerythritol ester

[0029]

[Chemical 8] Dipentaerythritol tetralaurate

[0030]

[Chemical 9] Dipentaerythritol tetrastearate

[0031]

[Chemical 10] Pentaerythritol 10 ethylene oxide ester

[0032]

[Chemical 11] Monopentaerythritol 10 ethylene oxide distearate

[0033]

[Chemical 12] Pentaerythritol 4-propylene oxide ester

[0034]

[Chemical 13] Monopentaerythritol 4 propylene oxide monostearate

[0035]

[Chemical 14] Monopentaerythritol 4 propylene oxide distearate

[0036]

[Chemical 15] While the formulas provided herein show some preferred pentaerythritol compounds useful in the practice of the present invention, a variety of other such pentaerythritol compounds within the scope to be described may also be used in the present invention, It will be appreciated that such includes, for example, pentaerythritol dihydrogenated taloate, pentaerythritol ditaloate, pentaerythritol dipalmitate, and dipentaerythritol tetrataloate.

In order to enhance the softening effect of the unit dosage compositions described herein,
If desired, small amounts of cationic softeners such as conventional quaternary ammonium softening compounds may be added.

The combination of bentonite and organic fat softening material generally comprises about 10 to about 99% bentonite and about 1 to about 90% fat softening material, preferably about 50 to about 95.
% Bentonite and about 5 to about 50% fat softening material, most preferably about 80.
~ 90% bentonite and about 10 to about 20% fat softening material.

Other useful ingredients for the unit dose compressed granular composition of the present invention include disintegrating materials for improving the disintegration of the unit dose in wash water. Examples of such a material include a foamable matrix such as citric acid combined with sodium bicarbonate, or
Materials such as VP polymers and cellulose are mentioned. Granulating agents such as polyethylene glycol, bactericides, fragrances, dyes, materials for protection against fading and dye transfer, anti-pilling materials and anti-shrink materials may be used. Cosmetic ingredients such as dyes, mica and wax (cosm) for the purpose of improving the aesthetic properties of the final composition.
The etic ingredient) may be used as a coating ingredient to improve the appearance and feel of the unit dose.

The encapsulation for liquid or granular softening or conditioning materials is preferably a gelatin shell that is readily soluble in the wash water and compatible with the detergent used in the wash cycle. The manufacture of such gelatin capsules utilizes techniques well known in the art and is described, for example, in the following publication, which is incorporated herein by reference: "Softgels: Manufa.
cturing Considerations ", Paul Wilkinson and Foo Song Hom, Drugs Pharmace
utical Science (1990), pps. 409-449, Mediventure Inc., Ann Arbor, MI, US
A; and "Coating of Gelatin Capsules", Ann Mari Hannula and Peter Speiser
, Acta Pharmaceutical Technology (1988), pps. 234-236.

Preferred liquid softeners of the present invention include: fatty alcohols such as oleyl alcohol; fatty acids such as oleyl carboxylic acid; fatty esters such as oleyl ester or vegetable fatty esters such as sunflower oil;
Silicones such as polydimethylsiloxane (linear or crosslinked, ethoxylated or non-ethoxylated, and optionally amide functi
a polyethylene wax having a molecular weight of 8,000 to 60,000; and formed by the reaction of diethylenetriamine with oleic acid, mainly having the following structure:

[0042]

[Chemical 16] [Wherein R ₁ represents an oleylalkyl carbon chain; R ₂ represents H or (EO) _x , and x varies from 0 to 6 (degree of ethoxylation). ] Fatty amides such as dioleyl amide having

While oleyl carbon chain lengths are most preferred for the purpose of providing softening effect and dispersion in wash water, other higher alkyl chain lengths may be used for the present invention. A typical unit dosage composition for use in the present invention is about 5 to 5 by weight.
It may vary from about 5 to about 10 ml, corresponding to about 10 grams (including capsule weight), and the number of doses per wash is 2. Otherwise, when using a single unit dose / wash, the corresponding volumes and weights are about 10 to about 20 ml and about 10 to about 20 grams (including capsule weight), respectively.

Example 1 A compressed granular unit dosage composition was prepared from the following ingredients:

[0045]

[Table 1] In this manufacturing method, all ingredients except for fragrance are mixed in a loedige-type mixer (Loedige-ty).
pe mixer). The resulting blend was dried in an oven and then the perfume was added to the dried powder. The powder was then compressed using an alternative or rotary press fitted with a suitable die. The spherical unit dose weighs 60 g, and such a unit dose is “white” at 40 ° C.
Introduced into the wash load at the beginning of the wash in a European Miele W832 front-loading washing machine set to No., and dispersed in water within 20 minutes.

The softness provided by the present unit dosage composition to terry towels, cotton tee shirts and cotton kitchen towels was evaluated after cumulative washing and compared to commercial liquid fabric softeners. 3 kg of wash ballast was used in the washing machine.
Softness was evaluated by a panel of 6 judges in 9 replicates. The results are as follows.

[0047]

[Table 2] Example 2 A gelatin encapsulation unit dose liquid softener composition was prepared containing the following ingredients.

[0048]

[Table 3] The softness provided by this unit dose composition was evaluated on cotton tees and towels in a European washing machine and compared to a commercial liquid fabric softener. The unit dose composition provided essentially equivalent softness.

[Procedure for Amendment] Submission for translation of Article 34 Amendment of Patent Cooperation Treaty

[Submission date] February 13, 2002 (2002.2.13)

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be amended] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Contents of correction]

[Claims]

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (31) Priority claim number 09 / 821,231 (32) Priority date March 29, 2001 (March 29, 2001) (33) Priority claiming countries United States (US) (81) Designated countries EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, I T, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE, TR), OA (BF , BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), AP (GH, G M, KE, LS, MW, MZ, SD, SL, SZ, TZ , UG, ZW), EA (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), AE, AG, AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, B Z, CA, CH, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE , DK, DM, DZ, EE, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, I S, JP, KE, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK , LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, MA, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MZ, NO, NZ, PL, P T, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL , TJ, TM, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, UZ, VN, YU, ZA, ZW (72) Inventor Khao, Hoai-Chow             Belgium B-4000 Liege, Av             New De Tyuule 2 F-term (reference) 4L031 AA02 AA18 AB31 BA19 BA24                 4L033 AB04 AC02 BA11 BA21 CA59

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. A unit dose wash cycle fabric softening composition for softening or conditioning fabric in a wash cycle of an automatic washing machine, the unit dose comprising: (a) a compressed granular fabric softener composition. Or (b) encapsulating liquid and / or granular fabric softener composition, the amount of (a) or (b) can provide effective softening or conditioning of the fabric in the washing cycle of the washing machine. A unit dose wash cycle fabric softening composition that is sufficient to form a unit dose. 2. It is in the form of a tablet and does not have a separate outer layer of alkaline material surrounding the fabric softener so as to dissolve in the wash water to raise the pH of the wash water. A unit dose softening composition according to claim 1 characterized. 3. The unit dose softening composition of claim 1 comprising a compressed granular fabric softener composition that is essentially free of soap surfactant. 4. The unit dose softening composition of claim 1, wherein the fabric softening composition comprises a softening clay. 5. The unit dose softening composition of claim 4, wherein the fabric softening composition comprises a softening clay in combination with an organic fat softening material. 6. The softening clay is a montmorillonite-containing clay, and the organic fat softening material is a higher aliphatic acid ester of pentaerythritol, an oligomer of pentaerythritol, a lower alkylene oxide derivative of an oligomer of pentaerythritol, and these. 6. The unit dose softening composition of claim 5, which is a pentaerythritol compound ("PEC") selected from the group consisting of the mixture of: 7. The unit dose softening composition of claim 5, wherein the softening clay is a montmorillonite containing clay and the organic fat softening material is an aliphatic alcohol. 8. The softening clay is at least partially coated with the organic fat softening material and serves as a carrier for such fat softening material,
A unit dose softening composition according to claim 5. 9. The unit dose softening composition of claim 5, wherein the softening clay is bentonite and the PEC is a higher aliphatic ester of pentaerythritol or a higher aliphatic ester of an oligomer of pentaerythritol. 10. The unit dose softening composition of claim 6, wherein the combination of clay and fat softening material comprises about 50 to about 95% by weight bentonite and about 5 to about 50% by weight of the PEC. object. 11. The combination of clay and fat softening material comprises from about 80 to about 90.
11. The unit dose softening composition of claim 10 comprising% bentonite and about 10 to about 20% of the PEC. 12. The unit dose softening composition of claim 1, wherein the fabric softener comprises a liquid fatty ester. 13. The unit dose softening composition of claim 12, wherein the fatty ester is sunflower oil. 14. The fabric softener composition comprises liquid silicone.
A unit-dose softening composition as described in. 15. The fabric softener composition comprises liquid oleyl alcohol.
A unit dose softening composition according to claim 1. 16. A method for softening or conditioning laundry, comprising contacting the laundry with an effective amount of the unit dose softening composition of claim 1. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the fabric softener composition comprises a softening clay in combination with an organic fat softening material. 18. The softening clay is bentonite, and the organic softening material is an aliphatic alcohol, or a higher aliphatic acid ester of pentaerythritol, an oligomer of pentaerythritol, or a lower alkylene oxide derivative of an oligomer of pentaerythritol. And a pentaerythritol compound (PEC) selected from the group consisting of :, and mixtures thereof. 19. The method of claim 16, wherein the fabric softener composition comprises a liquid fatty ester. 20. The method of claim 16, wherein the fatty ester is sunflower oil.