Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – Specific organic component
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-25
2003-06-03
Hardee, John (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
Specific organic component
C510S475000, C510S476000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06573233
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to fabric care compositions and to a method for treating fabrics in order to improve various properties of fabrics, in particular, reduction or removal of unwanted wrinkles and malodour.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Wrinkles in 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, 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 to produce a good appearance through a simple, convenient application of a product.
It has now been found that the use of specific adhesive polymers fulfills such a need.
Accordingly, the present invention reduces wrinkles from fabrics, including clothing, dry cleanables, and draperies, without the need for ironing. The present invention can be used on damp or dry clothing to relax wrinkles and give clothes a ready to wear 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.
When ironing is desired however, the present invention can also act as an excellent ironing aid. The present invention makes the task of ironing easier and faster by creating less iron drag. When used as an ironing aid, the composition of the present invention produces a crisp, smooth appearance.
An additional benefit of the composition of the present invention is an improved garment shape, body and crispness.
A further additional benefit to invention composition is the variety of fabric that can be treated from the more resistant to the more delicate including fabric made of cotton, polycotton, polyester, viscose, rayon, silk, wool, etc . . .
It is also an object of the invention to provide malodour reducing compositions.
Accordingly, the formulator of fabric care composition is faced with the challenge of formulating a fabric care composition which provides on fabrics both a reduction of wrinkles and of malodour.
It has now been found that the combination of an adhesive polymer with an uncomplexed cyclodextrin fulfills such a need.
Compositions which provide a malodour reducing benefit on fabrics are known in the art. Hence, U.S. Pat. No. 5,670,475 describes the use of uncomplexed cyclodextrin for reducing the malodour on inanimate surfaces such as fabrics.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a wrinkle reducing composition, comprising:
A—a wrinkle reducing active, comprising an adhesive polymer having a weight average molecular weight from 5000 to 1,000,000, which has an organic polymeric backbone, said copolymer comprising monomers selected from the group consisting of A monomers, B monomers and mixtures thereof, wherein said copolymer is prepared by the polymerisation combination of the following relative weight percentages of said A monomers, and said B monomers:
a—from about 0% to about 100%, by weight of said copolymer, of a hydrophobic, A monomer, free radically copolymerizable with said B monomers;
b. from 0% to about 100%, by weight of said copolymer, of a hydrophilic reinforcing B monomer, copolymerizable with said A monomer, said B monomer being selected from the group consisting of polar monomers and macromers and mixtures thereof; and
B—an uncomplexed cyclodextrin.
In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of reducing the wrinkles and malodours on fabrics which comprises the steps of contacting the fabrics with a composition of the invention.
Still in a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a packaged composition comprising the composition of the invention in a spray dispenser.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A. Wrinkle Reducing Actives: Adhesive Polymer Comprising Monomers Selected from the Group Consisting of A Monomers, B Monomers and Mixtures Thereof
The wrinkle reducing active for use in the present invention is an adhesive polymer. This adhesive polymer is a polymer comprising monomers selected from the group consisting of A monomers, B monomers and mixtures thereof, and mixtures thereof.
By “adhesive” it is meant that when applied as a solution to a surface and dried, the polymer forms a film which attaches to the surface.
The term “hydrophobic” is used herein consistent with its standard meaning of lacking affinity for water, whereas “hydrophilic” is used herein consistent with its standard meaning of having affinity for water.
As used herein in relation to monomer units and polymeric materials, including the copolymers, “hydrophobic” means substantially water insoluble; “hydrophilic” means substantially water soluble. In this regard, “substantially water insoluble” shall refer to a material that is not soluble in distilled (or equivalent) water, at 25.degree. C., at a concentration of 0.2% by weight, and preferably not soluble at 0.1% by weight (calculated on a water plus monomer or polymer weight basis). “Substantially water soluble” shall refer to a material that is soluble in distilled (or equivalent) water, at 25.degree. C., at a concentration of 0.2% by weight, and are preferably soluble at 1.0% by weight. The terms “soluble”, “solubility” and the like, for purposes hereof, corresponds to the maximum concentration of monomer or polymer, as applicable, that can dissolve in water or other solvents to form a homogeneous solution, as is well understood to those skilled in the art.
The polymers must comprises at least one polymerisable hydrophobic monomer. The polymer can be homopolymers or copolymers of hydrophobic monomers, e.g. linear random or block polymers. Such polymers are derived from a variety of monomer units. Alternatively, the present polymers may be a copolymer of a hydrophilic monomer and a hydrophobic monomer, or mixtures thereof. Hence, the present polymers comprise from 0 to 100%, preferably from 50% to 100%, more preferably from 70% to about 100% of a polymerizable hydrophobic monomer (A, as defined herein after), or mixtures thereof, and from 0 to 100%, preferably from 0% to 50%, more preferably from 0% to about 30% of a polymerizable hydrophilic monomer B, as defined herein after) or mixtures thereof. Of course, if the polymer comprises both A monomer and B monomer, then the monomers must be copolymerizable with each other.
The term “copolymerizable” is used herein to describe a material which can be reacted with another material (e.g. the A monomers, and B monomers) in a polymerization reaction using one or more conventional synthetic techniques, such as ionic, emulsion, dispersion, Ziegler-Natta, free radical, group transfer or step growth polymerization. The preferred copolymerization synthetic technique is free radical polymerization.
The hydrophobic A monomer, which is free radically copolymerizable with B monomers, is selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid esters, methacrylic acid esters, vinyl compounds, vinylidene compounds, unsaturated hydrocarbons, C
1
-C
18
alcohol esters of organic acids and organic acid anhydrides, and mixtures thereof. Representative examples of hydrophobic A monomers are acrylic or methacrylic acid esters of C
1
-C
18
alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol, methoxy ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-methyl-I-propanol, 1-pentanol, 2-pentanol, 3-pentanol, 2-methyl-
Altmann Markus W.
Hubesch Bruno Albert Jean
Mermelstein Robert
Peffly Marjorie Mossman
Woo Ricky Ah-Man
Camp Jason J.
Hardee John
Miller Steven W.
The Procter & Gamble & Company
William Zerby Kim
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