US4070520A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fabric softener composition
Assignee: Foamex LP
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Filing: 1976-09-03
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Granted: 1978-01-24
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Expires: 1996-09-03
Abstract
Abstract Heat activated, fabric conditioning products comprising a thick, absorbent substrate impregnated with fabric-conditioner chemicals are suitable for use at elevated temperatures encountered in laundry dryers. Prior to being used, such products tend to be stiff and boardy because of the brittle, wax-like properties of the fabric conditioner chemicals at ambient temperature. The stiff, boardy properties are substantially eliminated by temporarily compressing the thick impregnated substrate to less than 70% of its original thickness.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Andrew Volz
- 👤 Robert Eugene Welsh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 16:38
CPC Classifications
C; C11; C11D; C11D17/00; C11D17/04; C11D17/041; C11D17/047; D; D06; D06M; D06M23/00; D06F; D06F58/00; D06F58/20; D06F58/203; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24479; Y10T428/24496; Y10T428/24504; Y10T428/24512
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
In the method of manufacturing a heat-activatable fabric conditioning product comprising impregnating an absorbent substrate having a thickness of at least 0.05 centimeters with at least 0.3 grams per cubic centimeter of a liquid fabric conditioning chemical followed by solidifying the fabric conditioning chemical on the substrate, the improvement which comprises; subjecting the absorbent substrate having the solidified fabric conditioning chemical impregnated therein to a compressive force of sufficient magnitude to reduce the thickness of the impregnated substrate to about 70% or less than 70% of its original thickness followed by relieving the compressive forces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
In the method of manufacturing a heat-activatable fabric conditioning product comprising impregnating an absorbent substrate having a thickness of at least 0.05 centimeters with at least 0.3 grams per cubic centimeter of a liquid fabric conditioning chemical followed by solidifying the fabric conditioning chemical on the substrate, the improvement which comprises; subjecting the absorbent substrate having the solidified fabric conditioning chemical impregnated therein to a compressive force of sufficient magnitude to reduce the thickness of the impregnated substrate to about 70% or less than 70% of its original thickness followed by relieving the compressive forces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the absorbent substrate is a flexible polyurethane foam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the absorbent substrate is a flexible, polyether-based polyurethane foam having a cellular size in the range of from 10 pores per inch to 100 pores per inch and having a void volume of at least about 80%.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the amount of fabric conditioning chemical impregnated into the absorbent substrate is from about 2 ounces per square yard of absorbent substrate to about 10 ounces per square yard.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The improved heat-activatable fabric conditioning product produced by the process of claim 1.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The improved heat-activatable fabric conditioning product produced by the process of claim 2.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The improved heat-activatable fabric conditioning product produced by the process of claim 3.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the compressive force is limited to a portion of the absorbent substrate to produce a heat-activatable fabric conditioning product having two distinct color tones.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the compressed portion comprises a printed pattern of predetermined regular shapes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the predetermined regular shapes are letters.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the noncompressed portion comprises a predetermined regular pattern and the compressed portion constitutes at least about 80% of the product.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the predetermined regular pattern is composed of letters.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The heat-activatable fabric softener product produced according to the method of claim 11.
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) | 1981-01-23 | 1981-07-25 | 1982-01-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-01-23 | 1985-07-25 | 1986-01-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-01-23 | 1989-07-25 | 1990-01-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |