US4022938A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fabric treatment compositions
Assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
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Filing: 1975-01-23
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Granted: 1977-05-10
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Expires: 1995-01-23
Abstract
Abstract Anti-static fabric softening articles and methods which utilize a composition comprising a cationic fabric softener in combination with a "sorbitan ester" as a second fabric softener and release aid. The composition is releasably affixed or incorporated into a dispensing means and applied to fabrics in an automatic laundry dryer.
Inventors
- 👤 Wahib Nassif Zaki
- 👤 Alan Pearce Murphy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 03:27
CPC Classifications
C; C11; C11D; C11D17/00; C11D17/04; C11D17/041; C11D17/047; C11D1/00; C11D1/66; C11D1/835; D; D06; D06M; D06M13/00; D06M13/10; D06M13/224; D06M23/00; C11D1/38; C11D1/62; C11D1/667; C11D1/74; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/906; Y10S428/913; Y10S516/00; Y10S516/905; Y10S516/917; Y10S516/918; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24273; Y10T428/24298; Y10T428/24314; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/20; Y10T442/2352; Y10T442/2418
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
An article of manufacture adapted for providing fabric softening within an automatic laundry dryer, said article comprising: a. a fabric softening amount of a softening composition having a melting point above about 38° C and being flowable at dryer operating temperatures, said composition comprising: i. from about 50% to 92% by weight of the composition of a cationic fabric softener material; and ii. from about 8 up to 50% by weight of the composition of a fatty alkyl sorbitan ester component selected from the group consisting of C 10 to C 26 fatty esters of sorbitan and ethoxylates of said esters wherein one or more of the unesterified --OH groups in said esters contain from 1 to about 20 oxyethylene moieties; the weight ratio of cationic fabric softener material to sorbitan ester component being greater than 1:1; and b. a dispensing means which provides for release of said softening composition within an automatic laundry dryer at dryer operating temperatures, wherein when said dispensing means is a flexible substrate in sheet configuration the fabric softener is releasably affixed to said substrate to provide a weight ratio of softening composition to dry substrate ranging from about 10:1 to 0.5:1.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
An article of manufacture adapted for providing fabric softening within an automatic laundry dryer, said article comprising: a. a fabric softening amount of a softening composition having a melting point above about 38° C and being flowable at dryer operating temperatures, said composition comprising: i. from about 50% to 92% by weight of the composition of a cationic fabric softener material; and ii. from about 8 up to 50% by weight of the composition of a fatty alkyl sorbitan ester component selected from the group consisting of C 10 to C 26 fatty esters of sorbitan and ethoxylates of said esters wherein one or more of the unesterified --OH groups in said esters contain from 1 to about 20 oxyethylene moieties; the weight ratio of cationic fabric softener material to sorbitan ester component being greater than 1:1; and b. a dispensing means which provides for release of said softening composition within an automatic laundry dryer at dryer operating temperatures, wherein when said dispensing means is a flexible substrate in sheet configuration the fabric softener is releasably affixed to said substrate to provide a weight ratio of softening composition to dry substrate ranging from about 10:1 to 0.5:1.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
An article according to claim 1 wherein the cationic softener material is a quaternary ammonium fabric softener and is present in the softener composition in an amount of from about 65% to about 92% and wherein the sorbitan ester is present in an amount of from about 8% to about 35%.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
An article according to claim 2 wherein the quaternary ammonoim softener is in the methylsulfate form.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
An article according to claim 3 wherein the quaternary ammonium softener is selected from the group consisting of ditallowalkyldimethylammonium methylsulfate, distearydimethylammonium methylsulfate, dipalmityldimethylammonium methylsulfate and dibehenyldimethylammonium methylsulfate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
An article according to claim 4 wherein the sorbitan ester component is selected from the group consisting of the C 10 - C 26 alkyl sorbitan esters, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
An article according to claim 5 wherein the sorbitan ester component comprises a member selected from the group consisting of C 10 - C 26 alkyl sorbitan mono-esters and C 10 - C 26 alkyl sorbitan di-esters, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
An article according to claim 6 wherein the sorbitan ester component comprises a member selected from the group consisting of sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan monomyristate, sorbitan monopalmitate, sorbitan monostearate, sorbitan monobehenate, sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan dilaurate, sorbitan dimyristate, sorbitan dipalmitate, sorbitan distearate, sorbitan dibehenate, sorbitan dioleate, and mixtures thereof, and mixed coconutalkyl sorbitan mono- and di-esters and mixed tallowalkyl sorbitan mono- and di- esters.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
An article according to claim 6 wherein the dispensing means comprises a flexible substrate in sheet configuration and wherein the softening composition is impregnated in the substrate to provide a weight ratio of softening composition to dry substrate ranging from about 10:1 to about 0.5:1.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
An article according to claim 8 wherein the substrate has an absorbent capacity of from about 4 to about 12.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
73 words
An article according to claim 9 wherein the substrate comprises a non-woven cloth having an absorbent capacity of from about 5 to 7, wherein the weight ratio of softening composition to substrate on a dry weight basis ranges from about 5:1 to 1:1 and wherein the methylsulfate material comprises from about 65% to 92% by weight and the sorbitan ester material comprises from about 8% to 35% by weight of the softening composition.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
An article according to claim 10 wherein the non-woven cloth substrate comprises cellulosic fibers, said fibers having a length of from 3/16 inch to 2 inches and a denier of from 1.5 to 5 and wherein said substrate is adhesively bonded together with a binder resin.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
88 words
An article according to claim 11 wherein the softening composition comprises from about 65% to 75% by weight of the composition of ditallowalkyldimethylammonium methyl sulfate and from about 25% to 35% by weight of the composition of a sorbitan ester component selected from the group consisting of sobitan monolaurate, sorbitan monomyristate, sorbitan monopalmitate, sorbitan monostearate, sorbitan monobehenate, sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan dilaurate, sorbitan dimyristate, sorbitan dipalmitate, sorbitan distearate, sorbitan dibehenate, sorbitan dioleate, and mixtures thereof, and mixed coconutalkyl sorbitan mono- and di-esters and mixed tallowalkyl sorbitan mono- and di-esters.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
An article according to claim 12 wherein the flexible substrate has openings sufficient in size and number to reduce restriction by said article of the flow of air through an automatic dryer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
An article according to claim 13 wherein said openings comprise from about 0.5% to about 75% of the area of the article.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
An article according to claim 1 wherein the dispensing means comprises a flexible substrate in a sheet configuration having the softening composition releasably affixed thereto.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
An article according to claim 1 wherein the dispensing means is an aerosol spray device.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
156 words
A method for imparting a softening and anti-static effect to fabrics in an automatic laundry dryer comprising commingling pieces of damp fabrics by tumbling said fabrics under heat in an automatic clothes dryer with an effective amount of a fabric softening composition, said composition having a melting point greater than about 38° C and being flowable at dryer operating temperatures, said composition comprising: a. from about 50% to 99.9% by weight of the composition of a cationic fabric softener material; and b. from about 0.1% up to 50% by weight of the composition of a fatty alkyl sorbitan ester component selected from the group consisting of C 10 to C 26 fatty esters of sorbitan and ethoxylates of said esters wherein one or more of the unesterified -OH groups in said esters contain from 1 to about 20 oxyethylene moieties; the weight ratio of cationic fabric softener material to sorbitan ester component being greater than 1:1.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
156 words
A method for imparting a softening and anti-static effect to fabrics in an automatic laundry dryer comprising commingling pieces of damp fabrics by tumbling said fabrics under heat in an automatic clothes dryer with an effective amount of a fabric softening composition, said composition having a melting point greater than about 38° C and being flowable at dryer operating temperatures, said composition comprising: a. from about 50% to 99.9% by weight of the composition of a cationic fabric softener material; and b. from about 0.1% up to 50% by weight of the composition of a fatty alkyl sorbitan ester component selected from the group consisting of C 10 to C 26 fatty esters of sorbitan and ethoxylates of said esters wherein one or more of the unesterified -OH groups in said esters contain from 1 to about 20 oxyethylene moieties; the weight ratio of cationic fabric softener material to sorbitan ester component being greater than 1:1.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 17 wherein the cationic fabric softener material is a quaternary ammonium material comprising from about 65% to 92% by weight of the softening composition and wherein the sorbitan ester component comprises from about 8% to 35% by weight of the softening composition.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 17 wherein the softening composition is applied to the drum of the automatic clothes dryer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 17 wherein the softening composition is applied to the fabrics from a flexible substrate having an absorbent capacity of from about 4 to 12.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
75 words
A method according to claim 20 wherein the cationic fabric softener material is a quaternary ammonium compound and wherein the sorbitan ester component of the softening composition is selected from the group consisting of sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan monomyristate, sorbitan monopalmitate, sorbitan monostearate, sorbitan monobehenate, sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan dilaurate, sorbitan dimyristate, sorbitan diplamitate, sorbitan distearate, sorbitan dibehenate, sorbitan dioleate, and mixtures thereof, and mixed coconutalkyl sorbitan mono- and di-esters and mixed tallowalkyl sorbitan mono- and di-esters.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 21 wherein the cationic fabric softener material is ditallowalkyldimethylammoniummethylsulfate and the sorbitan ester component comprises a mixture of sorbitan monostearate and sorbitan monopalmitate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-05-09 | 1980-11-08 | 1981-05-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-09 | 1984-11-08 | 1985-05-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-09 | 1988-11-08 | 1989-05-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |