Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-18
2002-05-07
Gupta, Yogendra N. (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
C510S276000, C510S292000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06384005
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a garment conditioning composition which can be applied directly on a garment in a wide variety of appliances such as a cabinet-type apparatus. The conditioning composition “conditions” garments in that they are cleaned, refreshed, de-wrinkled, deodorized, or softened as a result of being subjected to the conditioning composition. The conditioning composition of the invention is especially suitable for garments which require only dry cleaning and/or are susceptible to damage during conventional home laundering operations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
By classical definition, the term “dry cleaning” has been used to describe processes for cleaning textiles using non-aqueous solvents. Dry cleaning is an old art, with solvent cleaning first being recorded in the United Kingdom in the 1860's. Typically, dry cleaning processes are used with garments such as woolens which are subject to shrinkage in aqueous laundering baths, or which are judged to be too valuable or too delicate to subject to aqueous laundering processes. Various hydrocarbon and halocarbon solvents have traditionally been used in immersion dry cleaning processes, and the need to handle and reclaim such solvents has mainly restricted the practice of conventional dry cleaning to commercial establishments. In addition to the cleaning function, dry cleaning also provides important “refreshment” benefits. For example, dry cleaning removes undesirable odors and extraneous matter such as hair and lint from garments, which are then generally folded or pressed to remove wrinkles and restore their original shape.
One type of home dry cleaning system comprises a carrier sheet containing various cleaning agents, and a plastic bag. The bag can be either sealed such that it is substantially air tight or the bag can be vapor venting. The garments to be cleaned are sealed in the bag together with the sheet, and then tumbled in a conventional clothes dryer. In a commercial embodiment, multiple single-use flat sheets and a single multi-use plastic bag are provided in a package. However, the bag requires storage between uses and it can substantially increase the cost of the dry cleaning kit. Moreover, the bag restricts the number/volume of articles that can be dry cleaned and only partially assists in de-wrinkling the articles. Thus, there is a need for a dry cleaning/refreshing system which can be used in addition to, or as an alternative to, the aforementioned dry cleaning system, but which retains the convenience of achieving such dry cleaning in the user's home.
The art has suggested methods by which such goals can be accomplished. For example, the prior art discloses a method of finishing garments by hanging them in a sealed chamber, spraying a finishing agent which imparts refreshing and cleaning benefits, and thereafter or simultaneously therewith, fully applying steam to the garments. In a final step, hot air is blown through the sealed chamber to dry the garments. This system has the drawback of requiring the addition of “steam” to impart the desired benefits. The “full steaming” requirement of this process unnecessarily adds to the cost and time associated with refreshing and cleaning the garments. Thus, it would be desirable to have a composition which can be used to refresh, de-wrinkle and/or clean garments without requiring a steam application step.
Accordingly, despite the numerous disclosures in the prior art, there remains a need for a conditioning composition that can conveniently condition fine-washable garments in the consumer's home. There is also a need for such a composition that has improved cost and time effectiveness in that steam application is not required for effective conditioning of the garment.
BACKGROUND ART
Methods of finishing clothes is disclosed in: U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,305 issued Aug. 2, 1988 to Ochiai; U.S. Pat. No. 4,519,222, issued Mar. 28, 1985 to Kannegiesser et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,391,602, issued Jul. 5, 1983 to Stichnoth et al. Dry cleaning processes are disclosed in: U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,476 issued Aug. 20, 1996 to Siklosi & Roetker; U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,236 issued Jun. 7, 1997 to Roetker; U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,847 issued May. 20, 1997 to Roetker; U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,848 issued May 20, 1997 to Young, et al.; and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,780 issued May 27, 1997 to Siklosi.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The needs in the art identified above are met by the present invention which provides a conditioning composition for application to garments before or after conventional washing and drying operations. Most importantly, the composition is suitable for conditioning dry clean only garments. The composition is an aqueous mixture containing a garment conditioning agent wherein the mixture has a fluid viscosity of from about 1 cps to about 100 cps and a fluid surface tension of from about 20 dynes/cm to about 55 dynes/cm. The conditioning composition is in fog form to improve composition deposition on the garments.
As used herein, the term “conditioning” means cleaning, refreshing, de-wrinkling, deodorizing, softening and/or other fabric benefit which can be imparted to garments. As used herein, the phrase “fog form” means a mist, vapor, gas, atomized droplets, or the like which may contain fine particles. As used herein, the word “cabinet” means any apparatus in which a garment can be placed, wherein the apparatus does not necessarily have to be totally enclosed. As used herein, the term “steam” means water vapor typically at temperatures above 80° C. All percentages, ratios and proportions herein are by weight, unless otherwise specified. All documents cited are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In its broadest aspect, the invention is directed to a composition which includes a garment conditioning agent wherein the mixture has a fluid viscosity of from about 1 cps to about 100 cps and a fluid surface tension of from about 20 dynes/cm to about 55 dynes/cm. More preferably, the fluid surface tension is from about 20 dynes/cm to about 30 dynes/cm, and most preferably, from about 25 dynes/cm to about 30 dynes/cm. The lower surface tension of the conditioning composition improves effective distribution by improving surface absorption and spreading of the conditioning composition on the garment fabric. It has been found that compositions which have the aforementioned selected fluid surface tension unexpectedly results in more effective spreading of the composition on fabrics such as wool, nylon, acrylics and the like which are typically found in fine washable or dry clean only garments.
Furthermore, it is more preferable for the conditioning composition to have a fluid viscosity of from about 1 cps to about 50 cps, and most preferably, of from about 1 cps to about 20 cps as measured by a standard Brookfield viscometer. Unexpectedly, it has been found that the selection of fluid viscosity in combination with fluid surface tension within the aforementioned ranges result in a composition which can be effectively distributed on the garments to be conditioned. The selection of these two physical parameters of the composition described herein have the greatest effect on the even distribution of the composition onto the garments. In order to achieve the desired conditioning of the garments, even distribution of the composition is important.
A typical conditioning operation using the composition involves hanging dry clean only or laundered garments in a cabinet or similar apparatus in which air is circulating, and spraying an effective amount of a conditioning composition into the cabinet for distribution on the garments. The use of steam to condition the garment is not necessary. More effective distribution of the conditioning composition is achieved by selecting a fog form of the conditioning composition. More preferably, the mean particulate diameter size of the fog is optimally chosen. To that end, the mean particulate diameter size of the conditioning composition fog is prefer
Adams Donald Scott
Bush Stephen Gary
Cobb Daniel Scott
Duderstadt Jacqueline Marie
Woo Ricky Ah-man
Cook C. Brant
Gupta Yogendra N.
Miller Steve W.
Petruncio John M.
Procter & Gamble Company
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