IP Library Granted Patent US 7,786,069
Granted Patent B2
US 7,786,069 · App. 11/823,872 · Granted Aug 31, 2010

Multiple use solid fabric conditioning compositions and treatment in a dryer

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,786,069
App. No.
11/823,872
Granted
Aug 31, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fabric treatment composition is provided. The fabric treatment composition includes a fabric treatment agent and a carrier component for containing the fabric treatment agent in a solid form during operation conditions in a dryer. The fabric treatment composition is constructed for transferring the composition to wet fabric as a result of solubilizing the fabric treatment composition by contacting the fabric treatment composition with the wet fabric during a drying operation in a dryer. A method for treating fabric is provided.

Claims (31)

1. A fabric treatment composition comprising: (a) fabric treatment agent comprising a fabric softener component comprising a quaternary ammonium compound and silicone compound; and (b) carrier component for containing the fabric treatment agent in a solid form during operating conditions in a dryer, the carrier component comprising a fatty acid amide having a melting temperature between about 110 degrees C. and 170 degrees C.; wherein the fabric treatment composition transfers to wet fabric as a result of solubilizing the fabric treatment composition by contacting the fabric treatment composition with the wet fabric during a drying operation in a dryer, and wherein the composition is provided in the form of a block at room temperature wherein the block is constructed to provide release of an effective amount of the fabric treatment agent during at least 10 drying cycles in a dryer.

2. A fabric treatment composition according to claim 1 , wherein the fabric treatment agent further comprises at least one of anti-static agents, anti-wrinkling agents, dye transfer inhibition/color protection agents, odor removal/odor capturing agents, soil shielding/soil releasing agents, ultraviolet light protection agents, fragrances, sanitizing agents, disinfecting agents, water repellency agents, insect repellency agents, anti-pilling agents, souring agents, mildew removing agents, allergicide agents, and mixtures thereof.

3. A fabric treatment composition according to claim 1 , wherein the fabric softener component comprises at least one of methyl bis(tallow amidoethyl)-2-hydroxyethyl ammonium methyl sulfate, methyl bis(oleylamidoethyl)-2-hydroxyethyl ammonium methyl sulfate, methyl bis(hydrogenated tallow amidoethyl)-2-hydroxyethyl ammonium methyl sulfate and mixtures thereof.

4. A fabric treatment composition according to claim 1 , wherein the carrier component is comprised of an organic monomeric, dimeric, trimeric, tetrameric or polymeric compound or combinations thereof.

5. A fabric treatment composition according to claim 1 , wherein the carrier component is comprised of a natural grease, wax, distearyl ketone, or an ester wax or combinations thereof.

6. A fabric treatment composition according to claim 1 , wherein the carrier component is comprised of ethylene bisamide.

7. A fabric treatment composition according to claim 6 , wherein the ethylene bisamide has the formula:

wherein R 1 and R 2 can be the same or different and each are an alkyl group containing at least 6 carbon atoms.

8. A fabric treatment composition according to claim 1 , wherein the carrier component is comprised of a carboxylic acid, carboxylic ester, metal carboxylate, organic amide, organic diamide, polyolefin, or combinations thereof.

9. A fabric treatment composition according to claim 1 , wherein the carrier component comprises at least one of ethylene bis-stearamide, ethylene bispalmitamide, ethylenebisoleamide, ethylene bisbehenamide, and mixtures thereof.

10. A fabric treatment composition according to claim 1 , wherein the quaternary ammonium component is comprised of an amidoamine quaternary ammonium compound or an ester quaternary ammonium compound or mixtures thereof.

11. A fabric treatment composition according to claim 1 , wherein the quaternary ammonium component has a melting temperature 62 degrees C. or greater.

12. A fabric treatment composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition is in the form of block constructed for attachment to an inside surface of a dryer.

13. A fabric treatment composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition has a melting temperature above 90 degrees C.

14. A fabric treatment composition according to claim 1 , wherein cotton terry cloth towels, when subjected to at least 10 drying cycles in the presence of the fabric treatment composition, exhibit a whiteness retention of at least 90%.

15. A fabric treatment composition according to claim 1 , wherein fabric dried in the presence of the fabric treatment composition exhibit at least a 50% static reduction compared with the fabric dried outside of the presence of the fabric treatment composition.

16. A fabric treatment composition according to claim 1 , wherein the fabric treatment agent further comprises an anti-wrinkling agent comprising siloxane or silicone containing compounds.

17. A fabric treatment composition according to claim 1 , wherein the fabric treatment agent further comprises an odor-capturing agent.

18. A fabric treatment composition according to claim 1 , wherein the fabric treatment agent further comprises a color protection agent.

19. A fabric treatment composition according to claim 1 , wherein the fabric treatment agent further comprises a soil-releasing agent.

20. A fabric treatment composition according to claim 1 , wherein the fabric treatment agent further comprises an optical brightening agent comprising fluorescing compounds.

21. A fabric treatment composition according to claim 1 , wherein the fabric treatment agent further comprises a UV protection agent.

22. A fabric treatment composition according to claim 1 , wherein the fabric treatment agent further comprises an anti-pilling agent comprising a cellulase enzyme.

23. A fabric treatment composition according to claim 1 , wherein the fabric treatment agent further comprises a water repellency agent comprising perfluoroacrylate copolymers, hydrocarbon waxes, and polysiloxanes.

24. A fabric treatment composition according to claim 1 , wherein the fabric treatment agent further comprises a disinfecting and/or sanitizing agent, or a souring agent for neutralizing residual alkaline, or any combination thereof.

25. A fabric treatment composition according to claim 1 , wherein the silicone is comprised of an aminosilicone, curable aminosilicones, dialkyl polysiloxanes, aminoalkyl siloxane or any combination thereof.

26. A fabric treatment composition according to claim 1 , wherein the silicone is branched or linear.

27. A fabric treatment composition according to claim 1 , wherein the fabric treatment agent further comprises an insect repellent.

28. A fabric treatment composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one of plasticizers, fragrances, and dyes.

29. A fabric treatment composition according to claim 1 , wherein the solid composition does not exhibit cracks of 3 mm or greater when placed in a dryer for 10 cycles.

30. A fabric treatment composition according to claim 1 , wherein the solid composition does not exhibit cracking or crumbling when placed in a dryer for 10 cycles.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2021
From: ECOLAB, INC.
To: ECOLAB USA INC.
Reel/Frame 056988/0177 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2007
From: TINDEL-KOUKAL, MONICA P.; HEI, ROBERT D.
To: ECOLAB INC.
Reel/Frame 019841/0367 →