US4098937A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Treatment of fabrics in machine dryers
Assignee: Joh A Benckiser GmbH
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Filing: 1976-07-12
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Granted: 1978-07-04
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Expires: 1996-07-12
Abstract
Abstract Fabrics are treated in machine drying apparatus to reduce static electricity carried by the fabrics, soften the fabrics and improve other fabric properties. A reusable dispenser of solid or semi-solid fabric-conditioning agent is placed in the dryer drum and tumbled with the fabrics in the dryer thereby causing some of the fabric-conditioning agent to be transferred to the fabric. When the dryer is heated, the heat of the dryer helps cause the fabric-conditioning agent to soften and assist in its distribution over the surface of fabric with which it is brought into tumbling contact.
Inventors
- 👤 William G. Mizuno
- 👤 Iris N. Henderson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 20:44
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06F; D06F58/00; D06F58/20; D06F58/203; D06M; D06M23/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/23; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31725; Y10T428/31739; Y10T428/31801; Y10T428/31804
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
An article for conditioning fabrics in a machine clothes dryer by contact of the fabrics with a fabric-conditioning agent supplied by said article, said article characterized by having: (a) fabric conditioning agent in a three-dimensional consolidated reusable mass that is solid at normal room temperature and softens at the elevated temperatures reached during normal operation of a machine clothes dryer; said mass having a softening range of at least 10 Centigrade degrees; (b) a dispenser body surrounding or enclosing the fabric conditioning agent; (c) said dispenser body including a permeable outer surface through which only a small amount of said enclosed fabric conditioning agent can pass when it is softened by heating of said article in a dryer, thereby allowing the enclosed fabric-conditioning agent to act as a long lasting reservoir for fabric conditioning agent which, after it passes through the permeable surface, is transferred to the fabric being treated by contact between the fabric and the permeable surface of the article; and (d) said article being capable of substantial reuse in conditioning different batches of fabric without replenishing the fabric conditioner of paragraph (a) hereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
An article for conditioning fabrics in a machine clothes dryer by contact of the fabrics with a fabric-conditioning agent supplied by said article, said article characterized by having: (a) fabric conditioning agent in a three-dimensional consolidated reusable mass that is solid at normal room temperature and softens at the elevated temperatures reached during normal operation of a machine clothes dryer; said mass having a softening range of at least 10 Centigrade degrees; (b) a dispenser body surrounding or enclosing the fabric conditioning agent; (c) said dispenser body including a permeable outer surface through which only a small amount of said enclosed fabric conditioning agent can pass when it is softened by heating of said article in a dryer, thereby allowing the enclosed fabric-conditioning agent to act as a long lasting reservoir for fabric conditioning agent which, after it passes through the permeable surface, is transferred to the fabric being treated by contact between the fabric and the permeable surface of the article; and (d) said article being capable of substantial reuse in conditioning different batches of fabric without replenishing the fabric conditioner of paragraph (a) hereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
An article of claim 1 wherein said permeable surface is made of cloth.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
An article of claim 2 wherein said cloth is a cotton/polyester cloth.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
An article of claim 3 wherein the dispenser body is a cloth bag or envelope.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
An article of claim 4 wherein the fabric conditioning agent comprises an anti-static agent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
An article of claim 4 wherein the agent contained in said bag comprises dimethyl di (hydrogenated tallow) ammonium chloride.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
An article of claim 4 wherein the agent contained in said bag is a mixture consisting essentially of stearyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride and dimethyl di (hydrogenated tallow) ammonium chloride in a weight ratio of about 2-4:1.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
An article of claim 4 wherein the cloth envelope or bag is enclosed within a mesh overwrap.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
An article of claim 4 wherein the mesh overwrap is nylon.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-07-03 | 1982-01-02 | 1982-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-07-03 | 1986-01-02 | 1986-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-07-03 | 1990-01-02 | 1990-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |