Articles to aid the ironing of fabrics and methods of use

Details Articles to aid the ironing of fabrics and methods of use Articles to aid the ironing of fabrics and methods of use

2002-12-02

2003-11-25

Green, Anthony J. (Department: 1755)

Compositions

Compositions for enhancing the appearance of consumer...

C252S008610, C038S144000, C427S370000, C427S393200, C427S421100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06652766

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to polymer compositions having a specified pH to provide improved dispensing for wrinkle removal and/or reduction. The specified pH prevents staining of treated fabrics and methods for treating fabrics are provided in order to improve various properties of fabrics, in particular, reduction, removal, or prevention of unwanted wrinkles.
For preferred polymer compositions containing additional components it is particularly important to maintain the specified pH of the polymer compositions to maintain acceptable dispensing while also preventing precipitate formation during processing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Wrinkles in textile fabrics are caused by the bending and creasing of the textile material which places an external portion of a filament in a yarn under tension while the internal portion of that filament in the yarn is placed under compression. Particularly with cotton fabrics, the hydrogen bonding that occurs between the cellulose molecules contributes to keeping wrinkles in place. The wrinkling of fabric, in particular clothing and certain household fabrics, is therefore subject to the inherent tensional elastic deformation and recovery properties of the fibers which constitute the yarn and fabrics.
In the modern world, with the increase of hustle and bustle and travel, there is a demand for a quick fix which will help to diminish the labor involved in home laundering and/or the cost and time involved in dry cleaning or commercial laundering. This has brought additional pressure to bear on textile technologists to produce a product that will sufficiently reduce wrinkles in fabrics, especially clothing and household fabrics, and to produce a good appearance through a simple, convenient application of a product.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,695, issued Nov. 12, 1996 to E. F. Targosz discloses an aqueous wrinkle removal composition containing a vegetable oil based cationic quaternary ammonium surfactant, and an anionic fluorosurfactant. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,661,268, issued Apr. 28, 1987 to Jacobson et al. discloses a wrinkle removal spray comprising an aqueous alcoholic composition containing a dialkyl quaternary ammonium salt and a silicone surfactant and/or a fluoro surfactant. U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,566, issued Mar. 31, 1992 to Agbomeirele et al., discloses a method of reducing wrinkles in fabric by spraying the fabric with an aqueous alcoholic solution of an anionic siliconate alkali metal salt. U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,254, issued Feb. 21, 1989 to J. A. Church discloses fabric wrinkle removal aqueous alcoholic solution containing glycerine and a nonionic surfactant. U.S. Pat. No. 5,532,023, issued Jul. 2, 1996 to Vogel, Wahl, Cappel and Ward discloses aqueous wrinkle control compositions containing silicone and film forming polymer.
In the present invention, wrinkle control in fabrics, including clothing, dry cleanables, linens, bed clothes, draperies, window curtains, shower curtains, table linens, and the like, is acheived without the need for ironing. The present invention can be used on wet, damp, or dry clothing to relax wrinkles and give clothes a ready to wear or use look that is demanded by today's fast paced world. The present invention also essentially eliminates the need for touch up ironing usually associated with closet, drawer, and suitcase storage of garments.
An additional benefit of using polymer-based compositions in the present invention is that polymers provide improved benefits including any or all of the benefits named in the following list: garment shape, body, rewrinkle prevention, and/or crispness.
When ironing is desired however, preferred compositions of the present invention can also act as an excellent ironing aid. The present invention makes the task of ironing easier and faster by plasticizing fabric fibers and thus making it easier to work wrinkles out of the fabric. When used as an ironing aid, the compositions of the present invention help produce a crisp, smooth appearance, but also retaining a quality of softness.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to aqueous wrinkle reducing, removing and/or controlling compositions comprising polymer containing carboxylic acid moieties, that are preferably stable, well-dispersed opaque, translucent, or clear suspensions, dispersions, or solutions with the dispersed or solubilized polymer particulates being very small in particle size, that distribute evenly from dispensers to prevent staining. Specified pH solutions are acceptable if these have the low viscosity that is necessary to provide acceptable dispensing. The present invention also relates to preferred compositions containing, in addition to the essential carboxylic acid containing polymer and carrier, optional, but preferred ingredients, e.g. polyalkylene oxide polysiloxane, fabric care polysaccharides, odor control components, solvent, and minors such as perfume and preservative, adjusted to a specified pH to provide both good dispensing properties and improved stability to shear forces (e.g. stirring during processing or shaking that occurs during transit). The present invention further relates to methods of formulating such compositions, as well as fabric wrinkle control methods and articles of manufacture that comprise such fabric wrinkle controlling compositions. The fabric wrinkle control compositions typically comprise:
(A) an effective amount to control wrinkles in fabric of a polymer preferably selected from the group of polymers comprising carboxylic acid moieties that can be suspended, dispersed or solubilized at a specified pH range to produce a solution with a viscosity lower than the viscosity of that polymer composition at a pH above the specified pH range and with the viscosity of the solution preferably below about 20 centipoise (“cP”), more preferably below about 15 cP, even more preferably below about 12 cP, even more preferably below about 10 cP, still more preferably below about 7 cP and most preferably below about 3 cP, with the polymer incorporated at a level that is at least about 0.001%, preferably at least about 0.01%, and more preferably at least about 0.05%, and still more preferrably at least about 0.1% and even more preferably at least about 0.25% and most preferrably at least about 0.5% and at a level of no greater than about 25%, more preferably no greater than about 10%, even more preferably no greater than about 7%, and still more preferably no greater than about 5% by weight of the usage composition; mixtures of polymers are also acceptable in the present composition; and
(B) carrier, preferably water.
The preferred polymer compositions of the present invention can optionally further comprise:
(A) optionally, but preferably, silicone compounds and/or emulsions. Silicone compounds that impart lubricity and softness are highly preferred. Silicones that reduce surface tension are also highly preferred. A preferred class of silicone materials includes silicones modified with alkylene oxide moieties compounds; mixtures of silicones that provide desired benefits are also acceptable in the present composition;
(B) optionally, an effective amount of a supplemental wrinkle control agent selected from the group consisting of (1) adjunct polymer (2) fabric care polysaccharides, (3) lithium salts, (4) fiber fabric lubricants, and (5) mixtures thereof;
(C) optionally, an effective amount of a supplemental surface tension control agent;
(D) optionally, an effective amount to soften fibers and/or polymer of hydrophilic plasticizer wrinkle control agent;
(E) optionally, but preferably, at least an effective amount to absorb or reduce malodor, of odor control agent;
(F) optionally, but preferably, an effective amount to provide olfactory effects of perfume;
(G) optionally, an effective amount of solubilized, water-soluble, antimicrobial preservative, preferably from about 0.0001% to about 0.5%, more preferably from about 0.0002% to about 0.2%, most preferably from about 0.0003% to about 0.1%, by weight of the composition;
(H) optionally, an effective amount to

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