US4156592A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Expandable fabric softener-containing article and use thereof
Assignee: WR Grace and Co
•
Filing: 1978-07-24
•
Granted: 1979-05-29
•
Expires: 1998-07-24
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed herein is a fabric softener-containing article comprising a fabric softener impregnated into an open-celled reticulated urethane foam; said impregnated foam being compressed to form a sheet or wafer. The fabric softener also acts as a solid binder which maintains the reticulated urethane foam in compressed form. The compressed sheet-like compositions are especially advantageous in that they are only 1/5 to 1/15 the size of comparable materials containing equivalent loadings of fabric softener. During the laundry wash cycle the water-dispersible fabric softener is released allowing the foam to slowly rebound to substantially its original uncompressed shape.
Inventors
- 👤 Louis L. Wood
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 08:57
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06M; D06M13/00; D06M13/322; D06M13/46; C; C11; C11D; C11D17/00; C11D17/04; C11D17/041; C11D3/00; C11D3/0005; C11D3/001; D06M15/00; D06M15/19; D06M15/37; D06M15/564
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
46 words
An article comprising an expandable compressed reticulated urethane foam impregnated with and bound in its compressed state by a fabric softener, said softener having a softening point in excess of about 38° C. and being water-dispersible at temperatures of from about 20° to about 85° C.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
46 words
An article comprising an expandable compressed reticulated urethane foam impregnated with and bound in its compressed state by a fabric softener, said softener having a softening point in excess of about 38° C. and being water-dispersible at temperatures of from about 20° to about 85° C.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the urethane foam is hydrophilic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the fabric softener is a quaternary ammonium salt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the fabric softener is an amine oxide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the fabric softener is a quaternary imidazolinium salt.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
The process of conditioning fabrics in a wash or rinse cycle of an automatic washing machine which comprises adding to the water in said cycle an article comprising an expandable compressed reticulated urethane foam impregnated with and bound in its compressed state by a fabric softener, said softener having a softening point in excess of about 38° C. and being water-dispersable at temperatures of from about 20° to about 85° C.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
The process of conditioning fabrics in a wash or rinse cycle of an automatic washing machine which comprises adding to the water in said cycle an article comprising an expandable compressed reticulated urethane foam impregnated with and bound in its compressed state by a fabric softener, said softener having a softening point in excess of about 38° C. and being water-dispersable at temperatures of from about 20° to about 85° C.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process according to claim 6 wherein the urethane foam is hydrophilic.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process according to claim 6 wherein the fabric softener is a quaternary ammonium salt.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process according to claim 6 wherein the fabric softener is an amine oxide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process according to claim 6 wherein the fabric softener is a quaternary imidazolinium salt.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3306966A
Cited
US3390106A
Cited
US3325338A
Cited
US3369544A
Cited
US3686025A
Cited
US3903232A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-05-28 | 1982-11-27 | 1983-05-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-05-28 | 1986-11-27 | 1987-05-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-05-28 | 1990-11-27 | 1991-05-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |