Article for softening fabrics in an automatic clothes dryer

Claim 1

A non-staining fabric softening article, especially adapted for use in an automatic clothes dryer, comprising: a. a fabric conditioning amount of a softener mixture being substantially free of unneutralized fatty acids, said mixture comprising a fabric softener component and a phase-modifying component wherein the presence of said phase-modifying component causes the formation in the dryer of a mesomorphic phase of the softener mixture, wherein: i. the fabric softener component is selected from the group consisting of sorbitan esters characterized by at least one free hydroxyl group and a melting point of at least about 38° C., and mixtures thereof; and ii. the phase-modifying component is selected from the group consisting of water-soluble fatty acid soaps, and mixtures thereof with water-soluble C 10 -C 20 neutralized alkyl sulfates, the weight ratio of said softener component to said phase-modifying component being in the range of from about 100:1 to about 1:1; said softener mixture being characterized by a melting point in the range of from about 38° C. to about 100° C., said mixture being in releasable combination with; b. means for dispensing the softener mixture when said softening article is tumbled with damp fabrics in the dryer under heat sufficient to melt the mixture.