Ready-to-use fabric softener concentrate

Claim 2

A ready-to-use, aqueous, free-flowing fabric softener concentrate consisting essentially of: (a) about 30-70% by weight of at least one fabric softening cationic quaternary ammonium compound; (b) about 0.43 to 23.33% by weight of at least one C 8-20 fatty acid or alkali metal salt thereof; (c) glycerol solvent; (d) a compatible, water-miscible organic solvent which is at least one C 1-4 alkanol or C 1-6 alkylene diol; and (e) water solvent; wherein the ratio by weight of the sum of solvent components (c), (d), and (e) to fabric softening component (a) is about 1:0.5-6; all percentages by weight being based upon the total weight of said concentrate.

Claim 3

The fabric softener concentrate of claim 1 wherein the said ratio is 1:0.5-<1.

Claim 4

The fabric softener concentrate of claim 1 wherein: (b) said fatty acid or salt component is present in about 1 to 10% by weight; (c) said glycerol component is present in about 2 to 30% by weight; (d) said organic solvent component is present in about 5 to 30% by weight; (e) said water component is present in about 5 to 30% by weight; and wherein said concentrate also contains: (f) 0 to about 20% of a nonionic dispersant; and (g) at least one compatible acid in a quantity sufficient to adjust the pH of said concentrate to more acid than about 6.

Claim 5

The fabric softener concentrate of claim 3 wherein said ratio is 1:0.5<1.

Claim 6

The fabric softener concentrate of claim 1 wherein component (a) is a mixture of at least one quaternary ammonium compound derived from ammonia and at least one quaternary ammonium compound derived from imidazoline, wherein said quaternary ammonium compounds each contain two C 14-26 alkyl or alkenyl moieties.

Claim 7

The fabric softener concentrate of claim 3 wherein component (a) is a mixture of at least one quaternary ammonium compound derived from ammonia and at least one quaternary ammonium compound derived from imidazoline, wherein said quaternary ammonium compounds each contain two C 14-16 alkyl or alkenyl moieties.

Claim 8

The fabric softener concentrate of claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of component (a) to component (b) is about 5-20:1.

Claim 9

The fabric softener concentrate of claim 3 wherein the weight ratio of component (a) to component (b) is about 5-20:1.

Claim 10

The fabric softener concentrate of claim 1 wherein the sum of the quantities of components (b) and (c) are about 5 to 30% by weight of the total weight of said concentrate.

Claim 11

The fabric softener concentrate of claim 3 wherein the sum of the quantities of components (b) and (c) are about 5 to 30% by weight of the total weight of said concentrate.

Claim 12

The fabric softener concentrate of claim 1 wherein the pH of said concentrate is about 3 to 6.

Claim 13

The fabric softener concentrate of claim 3 wherein the pH of said concentrate is about 3 to 6.

Claim 14

The fabric softener concentrate of claim 1 wherein said compatible acid of component (g) is citric acid.

Claim 15

The fabric softener concentrate of claim 3 wherein said compatible acid of component (g) is citric acid.

Claim 16

The fabric softener concentrate of claim 3 wherein: component (a) is a mixture of at least one quaternary compound derived from ammonia and at least one quaternary ammonium compound derived from imidazoline, wherein said quaternary ammonium compounds each contain two C 14-26 alkyl or alkenyl moieties; the weight ratio of component (a) to component (b) is about 5-20:1; the sum of the quantities of components (b) and (c) are about 5 to 30% by weight of the total weight of said concentrate; the said ratio of the sum of components (c), (d) and (e) to component (a) is about 1:0.5<1; the pH of said concentrate is about 3 to 6; and the compatible acid of component (g) is citric acid.

Claim 17

An aqueous fabric softener solution containing about 0.2 to 1 g/l of the fabric softener concentrate of claim 1.

Claim 18

An aqueous fabric softener solution containing about 0.2 to 1 g/l of the fabric softener concentrate of claim 15.

Claim 19

The fabric softener concentrate of claim 3 wherein: component (a) is: (i) methyl-1-tallowalkyl-amidoethyl-2-tallowalkylimidazolinium methosulfate in a 75% by weight solution of equal parts of isopropylalcohol and water; (ii) distearyl dimethylammonium chloride in a 75% by weight solution of equal parts of isopropyl alcohol and water; or a mixture thereof; component (b) is: (i) the sodium salt of a mixture of 20% by weight of coconut oil fatty acid and 80% by weight of tallow fatty acid; (ii) the sodium salt of a mixture of 30% by weight of C 16 -fatty acid and 70% by weight of C 18 -fatty acid; or (iii) a mixture of 30% by weight of C 16 -fatty acid and 70% by weight of C 18 -fatty acid; component (c) is glycerol; component (d) is: (i) 1,2-propylene glycol; (ii) dipropylene glycol: (iii) isopropyl alcohol; or (iv) a mixture of dipropylene glycol and isopropyl alcohol; component (e) is water; component (f) is: (i) nonylphenol +9.5 mols of ethylene oxide; (ii) thin-flowing paraffin oil, DAB 7: or (iii) a mixture thereof; component (g) is: (i) citric acid; or (ii) formic acid; a further component (h) which is: (i) sodium chloride; or (ii) sodium acetate; may be present to increase density; a further component (j) which is a dye may be present; and a further component (k) which is a fragrance may be present.

Claim 20

The fabric concentrate of claim 18 wherein the following components are present in the following percentages by weight, all based upon the total weight of said concentrate: ______________________________________ Component % by weight ______________________________________ a (i) 52.5 b (i) 5. c 13. d (iii) 17.5 e q.s. to 100% g (i) 3.5 k 2. ______________________________________

Claim 21

The fabric concentrate of claim 18 wherein the following components are present in the following percentages by weight, all based upon the total weight of said concentrate: ______________________________________ Component % by weight ______________________________________ a (i) 52.5 b (ii) 5. c 8. d (iii) 17.5 e q.s. to 100% g (i) 3. k 2. ______________________________________

Claim 22

The fabric concentrate of claim 18 wherein the following components are present in the following percentages by weight, all based upon the total weight of said concentrate: ______________________________________ Component % by weight ______________________________________ a (i) 52.5 b (i) 5. c 13. d (iii) 17.5 e q.s. to 100% g (i) 3. j 0.0025 k 2. ______________________________________

Claim 23

The fabric concentrate of claim 18 wherein the following components are present in the following percentages by weight, all based upon the total weight of said concentrate: ______________________________________ Component % by weight ______________________________________ a (i) 45. a (ii) 5. b (ii) 5. c 10. d (iii) 16.7 e q.s. to 100% g (i) 3.5 h (i) 1.5 k 2. ______________________________________

Claim 24

The fabric concentrate of claim 18 wherein the following components are present in the following percentages by weight, all based upon the total weight of said concentrate: ______________________________________ Component % by weight ______________________________________ a (i) 52.5 a (ii) 5. b (i) 5. c 4. d (iii) 17.5 e q.s. to 100% f (i) 1. g (i) 3. j 0.0025 k 3. ______________________________________

Claim 25

The fabric concentrate of claim 18 wherein the following components are present in the following percentages by weight, all based upon the total weight of said concentrate: ______________________________________ Component % by weight ______________________________________ a (i) 52.5 b (i) 5. c 5. d (iii) 17.5 e q.s. to 100% g (i) 3. j 0.0035 k 2. ______________________________________

Claim 26

The fabric concentrate of claim 18 wherein the following components are present in the following percentages by weight, all based upon the total weight of said concentrate: ______________________________________ Component % by weight ______________________________________ a (i) 50. b (i) 4. c 9. d (i) 8. e q.s. to 100% f (i) 10. g (ii) 1.5 k 2. ______________________________________

Claim 27

The fabric concentrate of claim 18 wherein the following components are present in the following percentages by weight, all based upon the total weight of said concentrate: ______________________________________ Component % by weight ______________________________________ a (i) 40. b (ii) 5. c 15. d (ii) 10 e q.s. to 100% f (i) 6. g (ii) 2. k 2. ______________________________________

Claim 28

The fabric concentrate of claim 18 wherein the following components are present in the following percentages by weight, all based upon the total weight of said concentrate: ______________________________________ Component % by weight ______________________________________ a (i) 45. b (iii) 3. c 9. d (ii) 5. d (iii) 15. e q.s. to 100% f (i) 2. f (ii) 4. g (i) 2. h (i) 1.5 k 2.5 ______________________________________

Claim 29

The fabric concentrate of claim 18 wherein the following components are present in the following percentages by weight, all based upon the total weight of said concentrate: ______________________________________ Component % by weight ______________________________________ a (i) 45. b (iii) 3. c 11. d (ii) 5. d (iii) 15. e q.s. to 100% f (i) 2. g (i) 2. h (i) 1.5 k 2.5 ______________________________________