US4066394A — Reusable zeolite water softener for clothes washi…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 136 words

A method of washing soiled textiles comprising the step of agitating said soiled textiles in an aqueous washing solution at a temperature in the range of 80° F. to 200° F. in a washing machine in the presence of (A) a detersive proportion of a water-soluble nonionic or anionic surfactant and (B) a product comprising 20 to 300 parts by weight of particles of a water-insoluble, inorganic aluminosilicate having at least about one atom of aluminum for every three atoms of silicon, a cation selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, ammonium, lithium and hydrogen, and a particle size of less than ten microns incorporated in 100 parts by weight of a water-insoluble hydrophilic poly(urea/urethane) substrate having an open porous structure, said product being effective to remove calcium and magnesium ions from said washing solution.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 136 words

A method of washing soiled textiles comprising the step of agitating said soiled textiles in an aqueous washing solution at a temperature in the range of 80° F. to 200° F. in a washing machine in the presence of (A) a detersive proportion of a water-soluble nonionic or anionic surfactant and (B) a product comprising 20 to 300 parts by weight of particles of a water-insoluble, inorganic aluminosilicate having at least about one atom of aluminum for every three atoms of silicon, a cation selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, ammonium, lithium and hydrogen, and a particle size of less than ten microns incorporated in 100 parts by weight of a water-insoluble hydrophilic poly(urea/urethane) substrate having an open porous structure, said product being effective to remove calcium and magnesium ions from said washing solution.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 13 words

A product as in claim 1 in which said ratio is about 1:1.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 18 words

A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said surfactant is separately added to said aqueous washing solution.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 21 words

A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein all or a portion of said surfactant is a component of said product.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 19 words

A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said aqueous washing solution further includes a water-soluble detergent builder salt.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 127 words

A product for use in contact with the wash water in a clothes washing machine during the washing of soiled textiles which comprises 20 to 300 parts by weight of particles of amorphous or hydrated, water-insoluble inorganic aluminosilicate having at least one atom of aluminum for every three atoms of silicon, a cation selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, ammonium, lithium or hydrogen, and a particle size of less than 10 microns incorporated in 100 parts by weight of a water-insoluble substrate comprising a hydrophilic poly(urea/urethane) in the form of a sponge having about 30 to 100 pores per inch, said aluminosilicate being distributed on the pore walls and within the pores and said product being effective to remove calcium ions from said wash water.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 127 words

A product for use in contact with the wash water in a clothes washing machine during the washing of soiled textiles which comprises 20 to 300 parts by weight of particles of amorphous or hydrated, water-insoluble inorganic aluminosilicate having at least one atom of aluminum for every three atoms of silicon, a cation selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, ammonium, lithium or hydrogen, and a particle size of less than 10 microns incorporated in 100 parts by weight of a water-insoluble substrate comprising a hydrophilic poly(urea/urethane) in the form of a sponge having about 30 to 100 pores per inch, said aluminosilicate being distributed on the pore walls and within the pores and said product being effective to remove calcium ions from said wash water.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 19 words

A product as set forth in claim 6 wherein said aluminosilicate is a synthetic sodium zeolite of Type A.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 17 words

A product as in claim 6 in which said ratio of aluminum to silicon is about 1:1.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 29 words

A product as in claim 6 wherein said polymer is derived from a prepolymer produced by reaction of a polyoxyalkylene polyol with a stoichiometric excess of an organic polyisocyanate.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 24 words

A product as set forth in claim 6 which further includes about 2% to 10% by weight of a nonionic or an anionic surfactant.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1981-01-02	1981-07-04	1982-01-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1985-01-02	1985-07-04	1986-01-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1989-01-02	1989-07-04	1990-01-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Reusable zeolite water softener for clothes washing

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