Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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METHOD FOR LAUNDERING DELICATE
GARMENTS IN A WASHING MACHI1VE
10
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a product and process for laundering delicate
or dry-clean
only garments in a conventional home washing machine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
By 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 1860s. Typically, dry cleaning processes
are used with
delicate fabrics such as wool and silk which are subject to shrinkage in
aqueous laundering baths,
or which are judged to be too valuable or delicate to be subjected to aqueous
laundering
processes. Such garments usually have a tag affixed to them either identifying
the garment as
"dry clean only" or providing some other appropriate laundering tocsin. For
the last fifty years,
the most widely-used non-aqueous solvent of choice for commercial dry-cleaning
has been
perchloroethylene.
While perchloroethylene is superior to the non-aqueous solvents that it
replaced, it has
several disadvantages. In particular perchloroethylene has been identified as
a hazardous air
pollutant by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and has been long
associated with
nervous-system and kidney disorders among industrial workers. In 1995, the
Environmental
Protection Agency classified perchloroethylene as a "probable human
carcinogen."
Perchloroethylene's potential carcinogenic effects are not limited solely to
industrial workeeis or
those who operate perchloroethylene-based dry clean processes: a recent study
of commercial dry
cleaners in New York revealed that many of these cleaners used such high
amounts of
perchloroethylene to clean garments, that customers who wore freshly dry-
cleaned garments
could inhale enough perchloroethylene to incur a slightly increased risk of
cancer. As a
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consequence of the hazardous nature of perchloroethylene, dry cleaning
processes utilizing
perchloroethylene must be done at commercial establishments. Not only is this
both inconvenient
and expensive, but it can expose delicate and quite possibly expensive
garments to dry-cleaning
processes of inconsistent quality and garment care. Many consumers who have
taken their goods
to a commercial dry-cleaner have reported them being damaged either by
excessive shrinking,
discoloration or tearing. The use of perchloroethylene in commercial dry-
cleaning establishments
also tends to leave a "chemical" smell on clothing that consumers find
unsatisfactory.
Moreover, while solvent-based dry cleaning processes are quite effective for
removing
oily soils and stains, they are not optimal for removing particulates such as
clay soils or the water-
soluble stains such as the sugars commonly found in many fruit drinks and
carbonated beverages,
and may require special treatment conditions to remove proteinaceous stains.
Given the foregoing, there is a continuing need for a method or process that
provides
excellent cleaning benefits on a variety of stains and soiling conditions and
imparts a "fresh" and
"clean" scent to delicate or dry-clean only goods without the use of hazardous
or harmful
chemicals. Accordingly, it is a feature of the present invention to provide a
process for cleaning
delicate or dry-clean only garments that uses non-toxic and non-hazardous
chemicals to provide
superior cleaning benefits on a wide variety of soils and stains. Such a
method or process should
also be relatively convenient and inexpensive and be without the possible
garment damage and
adverse "chemical" scent that is sometimes the result of commercial dry-
cleaning.
Ideally, particulates and proteinaceous stains, as well as oily soils and
stains, are removed
from fabrics using detersive ingredients and under operating conditions which
are more akin to
aqueous laundering processes than to conventional dry cleaning. Such aqueous
laundry processes
also consistently impart a "freshness" or "clean" scent to fabric, rather than
the "chemical" smell
that is often found when perchloroethylene or other non-aqueous solvents are
used.
Perhaps the most widely practiced aqueous laundering process is that which the
consumer
performs when she or he immerses a garment into an aqueous laundry detergent
solution in a
conventional home washing machine. Such a process has long been shown to
provide excellent
performance for both stain removal and overall garment cleaning and can be
performed without
using hazardous or toxic chemicals. Moreover, the use of an aqueous laundering
process in a
conventional washing machine is considerably more convenient and inexpensive
than virtually
any other laundering method.
Nonetheless, such processes can produce unacceptable results when applied to a
broad
range of delicate or dry-clean only garments, such as those made from wool.
Wool, is made up of
a fibers which can interlock with one another by a series of "scales".
Generally, these
interlocking scales cannot move past one another and as a result wool is a
relatively strong textile.
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However, when wool becomes wet or moistened then the water provides
lubrication by which the
scales may move past one another in a preferential direction if sufficient
force is exerted in that
direction; such force may be provided by the agitation experienced in a
washing machine. When
the fibers move in this preferential direction, then the wool garment shrinks.
This shrinkage
cannot be undone because these "sc:ales" can only move past one another in a
preferred direction.
Sufficient force cannot be exerted to move them in the direction opposite to
the preferred
direction to undo the shrinkage. Thus when the wool garment is removed from
the aqueous
laundry process, shrinkage has occurred and the garment is irreversibly
damaged. Similarly
rayon, when saturated with water, becomes extremely weak and the subsequent
agitation and
abrasion that it experiences in a typical aqueous laundry process is likely
not only to cause severe
damage to the garment but also to leave it extremely wrinkled. Similarly,
delicate fabrics like silk
will not only be severely wrinkled but also may lose their desirable soft
feel.
Garments such as silks are ;also vulnerable not only to the mechanical
agitation of a
conventional washing machine but are also particularly vulnerable to the
typical laundry
detergents because such detergents may contain ingredients that are too harsh
for such delicate
fabrics. It is thus a further benefit of the present invention to provide an
aqueous laundering
process adapted for use in a conventional washing machine that is not harmful
to garments made
from fabrics such as wool, rayon, silk, acrylics, triacetates, fine cottons
and blends of these
aforementioned materials.
A system has been devised in the present invention to provide the traditional
cleaning,
brightening and freshening benefits of an aqueous laundering process without
the deleterious
consequences to delicate and dry-clean only fabrics described above. The
system uses a flexible,
polymer wrap container. When a garment is secured within this container, the
garment is
buffered and cushioned from the force and stress caused by the agitator. The
system also uses
liquid detergent compositions which are modified to be mild on delicate
garments. A first liquid
detergent composition is used to pre-treat stains, to enhance the cleaning
efficacy on the stains.
The system may provide an applicator (to distribute the pretreat compositions
over the surface of
the stain) and, optionally a special stain-absorbent pad which the consumer
may use to pretreat a
stain before it is placed in the washing machine. In addition, the present
invention also makes use
of a second detergent composition which is a combination of both a cleaning
composition and
conditioner to improve color fidelity, provide anti-wrinkling benefits and
reduce fabric abrasion
as well as providing other fabric care benefits.
When used according to the processes described herein, this system provides a
consumer
with a convenient, inexpensive, and efficacious way to clean delicate and dry-
clean only garments
in the home.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
By the present invention, a process and the kit for performing that process
have been
found by which delicate and dry-clean only garments can be cleaned and
freshened in an aqueous
laundering process without damaging the gannent. An aqueous laundry process
performed in a
conventional home washing machine is particularly envisioned. Accordingly, the
present
invention solves the long-standing need for an inexpensive and convenient
process of cleaning
dry-clean only and other delicate garments in a conventional home washing
machine. The
process of the present invention provides equal to superior overall cleaning
of garments when
compared to a commercial dry-cleaning establishment using perchloroethylene
but without the
use of hazardous chemicals or the deposition of chemical malodors on the
garment. An important
component of the present invention is a liquid combination
washing/conditioning composition
which comprises an anionic surfactant, a quaternary ammonium surfactant, a
silicone softening
agent and an optionally emulsifier; the~anionic surfactant to quaternary
ammonium surfactant
weight ratio is from about 2:1 to about 3:1. 'The composition should contain
no cellulase or
peroxidase enzymes. The kit also comes with a flexible wrap container and
instructions for using the
container to launder garments in a conventional home washing machine.
The flexible wrap container is designed to contain and protect delicate or dry-
clean only
clothes from being subjected to the agitation action of a washing machine. The
basic part of the
flexible wrap container is a flexible rectangular panel constructed of a woven
polyester or woven
nylon layer.
There is also provided a process for cleaning garments using the kit provided
with this
invention. This process encompasses placing the fabrics and textiles within
the flexible wrap
container described above and then placing the flexible wrap container
together with an effective
amount of a liquid combination washing/conditioning composition inside a
washing machine and
then operating the washing machine as prescribed by the manufacturer.
All percentages, ratios and proportions herein are by weight, unless otherwise
specified.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a side view illustrating the flexible wrap container 122.
Figure 1 A is a side view illustrating the flexible wrap container 122 and
showing two
attached flaps, a first flap 111 being folded out and a second flap 112 being
folded over the panel.
Figure 2 is a side view illustrating an enlarged flexible wrap container 125.
In this
embodiment, the two wraps can be attached to each other via connecting means
107 located
adjacent to the bottom edge of the panel 101 of each flexible wrap container
122 to form an
enlarged flexible wrap container 125.
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Figure 3 is a detail illustrating a pocket 110 attached to the panel 100 of
the flexible wrap
container which provides a storage area for the extra straps and fastening
devices when two
flexible wrap containers are attached to form an enlarged flexible wrap
container as in Figure 2.
Figure 3A is a sectional side view of the pocket 110 illustrating the storing
of straps and
fastening devices in the attached pockets when two flexible wrap containers
are attached to form
an enlarged flexible wrap container as in Figure 2
Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing a profile of the material
layers in a
preferred embodiment of the flexible wrap container 122.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a "kit" which contains the necessary materials
to enable a
consumer to clean delicate or dry-clean only garments in a conventional, home
washing machine
with superior cleaning performance but without significant damage or the
adverse effects
typically associated with aqueous garment cleaning. At a minimum, the kit
includes a liquid
cleaning composition specially formulated for treating and cleaning delicate
and dry-clean only
garments, a rinse cycle conditioner and a flexible wrap container.
The kit may also include: a wash pretreatment composition, one or more wash
pretreatment applicators, an apparatus for dispensing a rinse cycle
conditioner and multiple
absorbent stain receiver pads.
The flexible wrap container disclosed by the present invention provides
significant
benefits over similar devices in use today. In particular, it offers a
superior means for securing
and closing itself, thereby limiting the chance that garments will spill out
of it and be damaged
while being laundered in a washing machine. Additionally, the thickness of the
flexible wrap
container insulates and protects the garment or garments contained therein
from the stress and
abrasion that may be caused by the agitator and other internal parts of a
washing machine. The
flexible wrap container further offers an expandability and versatility that
is not seen in other such
devices: not only is the flexible wrap container larger than competing
devices, it has a series of
connecting means (e.g. snaps) which allow two identical flexible wrap
containers to be joined
together to provide an additional flexible wrap container of twice the
original capacity at no extra
cost to the consumer. This further enhances the size retention benefits of the
present invention.
The present invention further provides a wash pretreatment applicator intended
to be
affixed on a human finger, that is used to apply the wash pretreatment
composition to the stained
area of a garment. The wash pretreatment applicator is a highly useful tool by
which stain
removal agent may be applied to the stained area of a garment with enhanced
convenience and
efficacy.
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When these separate components are taken and used together, the result is an
innovative
process and a kit for performing that process by which delicate and dry-clean
only garments can
be cleaned and freshened in an aqueous laundering process without damaging the
garments. An
aqueous laundry process performed in a conventional home washing machine is
particularly
envisioned.
Definitions
By "aqueous compositions" herein is meant compositions which comprise a major
portion of water.
By "solution" herein is meant a liquid mixture of ingredients. As used herein
"solution"
does not convey or imply the existence of only a single liquid or solid phase.
Nor is it meant to
describe a homogenous solvent/solute system.
By "effective amount" herein is meant any amount capable of measurably
improving
stain removal from a localized area of a garment. in general, this amount may
vary quite widely.
By "cleaning" herein is meant the removal of soils and stains from fabrics.
By "contact with stained areas" with respect to the wash pretreatment
applicator is meant
contact which is afforded by the impingement of the soft bristles which
comprise the brush means
of the device with the one side of the stained area. By "contact with the
stained areas" with
respect to the absorbent stain receiver pad is meant that the side of the
stained area of the fabric
opposite the wash pretreatment applicator directly impinges on the receiver
and is in close
communication therewith.
The components of the devices of this invention and their method of use are
described in
more detail hereinafter.
THE WASH PRETREATMENT COMPOSITION AND THE
COMBINATION WASHING/CONDITIONING DETERGENT COMPOSITION
Some laundry detergent compositions are too harsh to treat delicate and dry-
clean only
garments. In particular, detergent ingredients such as certain surfactants,
enzymes and bleaches
can cause serious damage (garment discoloration in particular) to delicate and
dry-clean only
garments. Accordingly, the liquid cleaning compositions of the present
invention, should most
preferably be substantially free of bleaches and include an enzyme cocktail
that is less harsh than
the enzymes typically used in a laundry detergent composition. Stated
otherwise, the liquid
cleaning compositions herein should be formulated so as not to damage fabrics
by causing
discoloration, abrasion or other adverse effects.
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Consequently, while conventional laundry detergents are usually formulated to
provide
good cleaning on cotton and cotton/polyester blend fabrics, the compositions
here must be
formulated to also safely and effectively clean and refresh fabrics such as
wool, silk, rayon,
alpaca fleece, fine cotton and blends of the aforementioned fabrics. In
addition, the compositions
herein comprise ingredients which are specially selected and formulated to
minimize the
migration of fugitive dyes.
Accordingly, the present invention includes both a wash pretreatment
composition and a
combination washing/conditioning composition-the latter providing both
detersive-cleaning
benefits and conditioning and softening benefits in a single composition. The
wash pretreatment
composition is distributed over the surface of a stained area of the garment
by the use of an
applicator (described in greater detail herein) after which the stained area
of the garment is
optionally rinsed off with water.
The washing/conditioning composition is then subsequently mixed with water in
a
washing machine in the customary fashion to form an aqueous laundry detergent
solution suitable
for immersion cleaning of garments.
It has now been discovered that when the applicator, the washinglconditioning
composition and the wash pretreatment composition are used in the manner
described herein,
excellent spot and stain removal performance is obtained even though these
detergent
compositions are specially formulated to be mild and gentle. In addition to
the foregoing
considerations, the wash pretreatment composition used herein is preferably
formulated such that
it is easily dispensed and not so adhesive in nature that it renders the stain-
removal applicator
unwieldy or difficult to use. It is understood that the "active adjunct"
materials used will vary,
depending on the intended end-use of the final composition. The following are
intended only to
be nonlimiting illustrations of such active adjuncts, more examples of which
will readily come to
mind of the skilled formulator.
Part the First' The Wash Pretreatment Composition
The wash pretreatment composition as an optional component of the present
invention
and may be selected from the following suitable ingredients which will now be
discussed in
seritarn.
Detersive Surfactants- Surfactants are known to have potentially harsh effects
on fabrics.
Typically, the compositions herein will comprise from about 3 % to about 40 %,
more preferably
from about 10 % to about 25 %, most preferably from about 15 % to about 20 %,
by weight of
detersive surfactants.
Nonlimiting examples of surfactants useful herein include the unsaturated
sulfates such as
oleyl sulfate, the Clp-Clg alkyl alkoxy sulfates ("AEXS"; especially EO 1-7
ethoxy sulfates),
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C10-Clg alkyl alkoxy carboxylates (especially the EO 1-5 ethoxycarboxylates),
and primacy,
branched-chain and random C 10-C20 alkyl sulfates ("AS"), the C 10-C 1 g
secondary (2,3) alkyl
sulfates of the formula CH3(CH2)x(CHOS03 M+) CH3 and CH3 (CH2)y(CHOS03 M+)
CH2CH3 where x and (y + 1) are integers of at lest about 7, preferably at
least about 9, and M is
a water-solubilizing cation, especial ly sodium, the C l 0_ 1 g glycerol
ethers, the C 10-C 1 g alkyl
polyglycosides and their con esponding sulfated polyglycosides, and C 12-C 1 g
alpha-sulfonated
fatty acid esters. If desired, the conventional. nonionic and amphoteric
surfactants such as the
C 12-C l g alkyl ethoxylates ("AE") including the so-called narrow peaked
alkyl ethoxylates and
C6-C12 alkyl phenol alkoxylates (especially ethoxylates and mixed
ethoxy/propoxy), Cl2-C18
betaines and sulfobetaines ("sultaines"), C 10-C 1 g amine oxides, and the
like, can also be included
in the overall compositions. The C10-Clg N-alkyl polyhydroxy fatty acid amides
can also be
used. Typical examples include the C 12-C 1 g N-methylglucamides. See WO
92/06154. Other
sugar-derived surfactants include the N-alkoxy polyhydroxy fatty acid amides,
such as C10-C18
N-(3-methoxypropyl) glucamide. The N-propyl through N-hexyl C 12-C 1 g
glucamides can be
used for low sudsing. C10-C20 conventional soaps may also be used. If high
sudsing is desired,
the branched-chain C10-C16 soaps may be used. Mixtures of anionic and nonionic
surfactants
are especially useful and cationic and amphoteric surfactants may also be
used. Other
conventional useful surfactants are listed in standard texts.
Builders - The compositions of the present invention preferably comprise one
or more
detergent builders or builder systems. When present, the compositions will
typically comprise
from about 0.01% to about 35%, more preferably from about 1% to about 25%,
most preferably
from about 2% to about 8% by weight, of detergent builder.
Organic detergent builders suitable for the purposes of the present invention
include, but
are not restricted to, a wide variety of polycarboxylate compounds. As used
herein, "poly-
carboxylate" refers to compounds having a plurality of carboxylate groups,
preferably at least 3
carboxylates. Polycarboxylate builder can generally be added to the
composition in acid form,
but can also be added in the fonm of a neutralized salt. When utilized in salt
form, alkali metals,
such as sodium, potassium, and lithium, or alkanolammonium salts are
preferred.
Citrate builders, e.g., citric acid and soluble salts thereof (particularly
sodium salt), are
polycarboxylate builders of particular importance for the present detergent
formulations due to
their availability from renewable resources and their biodegradability.
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Fatty acids are also important carboxylate builders for the present invention.
The fatty
acids disclosed herein may contain from about 1 to about 10 ethylene oxide
units in the
hydrocarbon chain. Preferred are saturated fatty acids containing from about
12 to about 16
carbon atoms.
Suitable saturated fatty acids can be obtained from natural sources such as
plant or animal
esters (e.g., stripped palm kernel oil, stripped palm oil and coconut oil) or
synthetically prepared
(e.g., via the oxidation of petroleum or by hydrogenation of carbon monoxide
via the Fisher-
Tropsch process). Examples of suitable saturated fatty acids for use in the
compositions of this
invention include capric, lauric, myristic, coconut and palm kernel fatty
acid. Preferred are
saturated coconut fatty acids, from about S:1 to 1:1 (preferably about 3:1 )
weight ratio mixtures
of lauric and myristic acid, mixtures of the above with minor amounts
(e.g.,10%-30% of total
fatty acid) of oleic acid; and stripped palm kernel fatty acid.
Included among the polycarboxylate builders are a variety of categories of
useful
materials. One important category of polycarboxylate builders encompasses the
ether
polycarboxylates, including oxydisuccinate, as disclosed in U.S. 3,128,287
Berg, issued April
7,1964, and U.S. 3,635,830 Lamberti et al., issued January 18,1972. See also
"TMS/T'DS"
builders of U.S. 4,663,071 Bush et: al., issued May 5,1987. Suitable ether
polycarboxylates also
include cyclic compounds, particularly alicyclic compounds, such as those
described in U.S.
3,923,679 Rapko, issued December 2,1975; U.S. 4,158,635 Crutchfield et al.,
issued June
19,1979; U.S. 4,120,874 Crutchfield et al., issued October 17,1978; and U.S.
4,102,903
Crutchfield et al., issued July 25,1!78.
Other useful detergency builders include the ether hydroxypolycarboxylates,
copolymers
of malefic anhydride with ethylene or vinyl methyl ether, l, 3, 5-trihydroxy
benzene-2, 4, 6-
trisulphonic acid, and carboxymethyloxysuccinic acid, the various alkali
metal, ammonium and
substituted ammonium salts of polyacetic acids such as ethylenediamine
tetraacetic acid and
nitrilotriacetic acid, as well as polycarboxylates such as mellitic acid,
succinic acid, oxy-
disuccinic acid, polymaleic acid, benzene 1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid,
carboxymethyloxysuccinic
acid, and soluble salts thereof.
Other suitable polycarboxylates are disclosed in U.S. 4,144,226, Crutchfield
et al., issued
March 13,1979 and in U.S. 3,308,667, Diehl, issued March 7,1967. See also
Diehl U.S. Patent
3,723,322.
Enzymes- Enzymes can be included in the formulations herein for a wide variety
of fabric
laundering purposes, including removal of protein-based, carbohydrate-based,
or triglyceride-based
stains; for the prevention of fugitive dye transfer. Certain enzymes also
provide fabric restorative
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benefits by decomposing and degrading the loose and frayed fibers on the
surface of a textile article,
particularly textile articles made from silk or wool.
The enzymes to be incorporated include proteases, amylases, lipases, and
mannanases, as well
as mixtures thereof. Other types of enzymes may also be included. They may be
of any suitable
origin, such as vegetable, animal, bacterial, fungal and yeast origin.
However, their choice is governed
by several factors such as pH-activity and/or stability optima,
thermostabiliry, stability versus active
detergents, builders and so on. Protease is an acceptable enzyme because of
its well-known cleaning
benefits on a variety of organic-material stains. Enzymes such as cellulases
and peroxidases are less
desirable because of their potentially harsh effects on delicate garments and
in an optimal composition,
they are not present.
Enzymes are normally incorporated at levels sufficient to provide up to about
5 mg by weight,
more typically about 0.0I mg to about 3 mg, of active enzyme per gram of the
composition. Stated
otherwise, the compositions herein will typically comprise from about 0.001%
to about 5%, preferably
0.01 %-1.0% by weight of a commercial enzyme preparation. Protease enzymes are
usually present in
such commercial preparations at levels sufficient to provide from 0.005 to 0.1
Anson units (AU) of
activity per gram of composition.
Further examples of enzymes suitable for use in the present invention can be
found in
CA 2,380,328 entitled "Detergent Compositions Comprising Improved
Hydrotropes:'
Enzyme Stabilizing Svstem-The compositions of the present invention may
comprise
from about 0.001 % to about 10%, preferably from about 0.005% to about 8%,
most preferably
from about 0.01 % to about 6%, by weight of an enzyme stabilizing system. The
enzyme
stabilizing system can be any stabilizing system which is compatible with the
detersive enzyme.
Such a system may be inherently provided by other formulation actives, or be
added separately,
e.g., by the formulator or by a manufacturer of detergent-ready enzymes. Such
stabilizing
systems can, for example, comprise calcium ion, boric acid, propylene glycol,
short chain
carboxylic acids, boronic acids, and mixtures thereof, and are designed to
address different
stabilization problems depending on the type and physical form of the
detergent composition.
One possible stabilizing approach is by use of borate species. See Severson,
U.S. Pat.
No. 4,537,706. Borate stabilizers, when used, may be at levels of up to IO% or
more of the
composition though more typically, levels of up to about 3% by weight of boric
acid or other
borate compounds such as borax or orthoborate are suitable for liquid
detergent use. Substituted
boric acids such as phenylboronic acid, butaneboronic acid, p-
bromophenylboronic acid or the
CA 02346543 2004-05-21
like can be used in place of boric acid and reduced levels of total boron in
detergent compositions
may be possible though the use of such substituted boron derivatives.
Stabilizing systems of certain cleaning compositions may further comprise from
0% to
about 10%, preferably from about 0.01 % to about 6% by weight, of chlorine
bleach scavengers,
added to prevent chlorine bleach species present in many water supplies from
attacking and
inactivating the enzymes, especially under alkaline conditions. While chlorine
levels in water
may be small, typically in the range from about 0.5 ppm to about 1.75 ppm, the
available chlorine
in the total volume of water that comes in contact with the enzyme, for
example during fabric
washing, can be relatively large; accordingly, enzyme stability to chlorine in-
use is sometimes
problematic. Suitable chlorine scavenger anions are widely known and readily
available, and, if
used, can be salts containing ammonium cations with sulfite, bisulfate,
thiosulfite, thiosulfate,
iodide, etc. Antioxidants such as carbamate, ascorbate, etc., organic amines
such as
ethylenediaminetetracetic acid (EDTA) or alkali metal salt thereof,
monoethanolamine (MEA),
and mixtures thereof can likewise be used.
' The compositions of the present invention may contain any of the water-
soluble formates
described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,318,818, Letton et al, issued Mar. 9,1982.
Formate is present at a level of from about 0.05% to about 5%, preferably from
about
0.2% to about 2%, most preferably from about 0.4% to about 1.5%, by weight of
the composition.
Other suitable detergent ingredients that can be added are enzyme stabilizers
are the
enzyme oxidation scavengers which are described in Copending European Patent
application
92870018.6 filed on Jan. 31,1992. Examples of such enzyme oxidation scavengers
are
ethoxylated tetraethylene polyamines.
Further compounds and techniques suitable for enzyme stabilization and
chlorine
scavenging for use in the present invention can be found in CA 2,346,712.
Particulate Soil Removal/Anti-redeposition Agents-The compositions of the
present
invention can also optionally contain water-soluble ethoxylated amines having
particulate soil
removal and antiredeposition properties. Liquid detergent compositions
typically contain about
0.01 % to about S%.
The most preferred soil release and anti-redeposition agent is ethoxylated
tetraethylene-
Pentamine ("TEPA"). On average tetraethylene-pentamine is ethoxylated with IS-
18 moles of
ethylene oxide at each hydrogen site. Exemplary ethoxylated amines are further
described in U.S.
Pat. No. 4,597,898, VanderMeer, issued Ju1.1,1986. Another group of preferred
particulate soil
removal-antiredeposition agents are the cationic compounds disclosed in
European Patent
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Application 111,965, Oh and Gosselink, published Jun. 27,1984. Other
particulate soil
removal/antiredeposition agents which can be used include the ethoxylated
amine polymers
disclosed in European Patent Application 111,984, Gosselink, published Jun.
27,1984; the
zwitterionic polymers disclosed in European Patent Application 112,592,
Gosselink, published
Jul. 4,1984; and the amine oxides disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,548,744,
Connor, issued Oct. 22,
1985. Other particulate soil removal and/or anti redeposition agents known in
the art can also be
utilized in the compositions herein. Another type of preferred
antiredeposition agent includes the
carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) materials. These materials are well known in
the art.
Dve Transfer Inhibiting Agents-An important part of the present invention is
providing
color care for delicate garments and fabrics which are cleaned according to
the aqueous cleaning
processes described herein. Thus, the compositions of the present invention
may also include one
or more materials effective for inhibiting the transfer of dyes from one
fabric to another during the
cleaning process. Generally, such dye transfer inhibiting agents include
polyvinyl pyrrolidone
polymers, polyamine N-oxide poly°mers, copolymers of N-vinylpynrolidone
and N-vinylimidazole,
manganese phthalocyanine, peroxidases, and mixtures thereof. If used, these
agents typically
comprise from about 0.01% to about 10% by weight of the composition,
preferably from about
0.01 % to about 5%, and more preferably from about 0.05% to about 2%.
More specifically, the polyamine N-oxide polymers preferred for use herein
contain units
having the following structural formula: R-AX P; wherein P is a polymerizable
unit to which an
N-O group can be attached or the N-O group can form part of the polymerizable
unit or the N-O
group can be attached to both units; A is one of the following structures: -
NC(O)-, -C(O)O-, -S-, -
O-, -N=; x is 0 or l; and R is aliphatic, ethoxylated aliphatics, aromatics,
heterocyclic or alicyclic
groups or any combination thereof to which the nitrogen of the N-O group can
be attached or the
N-O group is part of these groups. Preferred polyamine N-oxides are those
wherein R is a
heterocyclic group such as pyridine, pyrrole, imidazole, pyrrolidine,
piperidine and derivatives
thereof.
The N-O group can be represented by the following general structures:
O O
I
~t )x ~ -~2)y~ =N-~R~ )x
(R3)z
wherein R1, R2, R3 are aliphatic, aromatic, heterocyclic or alicyclic groups
or combinations
thereof; x, y and z are 0 or 1; and the nitrogen of the N-O group can be
attached or form part of
CA 02346543 2004-05-21
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any of the aforementioned groups. The amine oxide unit of the polyamine N-
oxides has a pKa
<10, preferably pKa <7, more preferred pKa <6.
An example of a dye transfer inhibiting agent is poly(4-vinylpyridine-N-
oxide)which can
be referred to as "PVNO". Also suitable are copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone
and N-
vinylimidazole polymers (referred to as a class as "PVPVI") as well as
polyvinylpyn olidone
("PVP"). These are discussed in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,759,208, to
Zhen et al., issued
June 2, 1998.
Additional Color Care Agents-In addition to the dye transfer inhibitors, the
present
invention further comprises an additional agent to provide color care
benefits: 30
polyethyleneimine, PEI 600 E20, having the general formula:
E B
[E=NCH,CHZ]W [NCH,CHZ],; [NCHZCH~)Y NEZ
wherein B is a continuation by branching of the polyethyleneimine backbone. E
is an
ethyleneoxy unit having the formula:
-(CH,CH,O)mH
wherein m has an average value of about 20. What is meant herein by an average
value of 20 is
that sufficient ethylene oxide or other suitable reagent is reacted with the
polyethyleneimine
starting material to fully ethoxylate each N-H unit to a degree of 20
ethoxylations. However,
those skilled in the art will realize that some N-H unit hydrogen atoms will
be replaced by less
than 20 ethoxy units and some will be replaced by more than 20 ethoxy units,
therefore, the
average of the number of ethoxylations is 20.
The units which make up the polyalkyleneimine backbones are primary amine
units
having the formula:
HZN-CHZCH2]- and -NH2
which terminate the main backbone and any branching chains, secondary amine
units having the
formula:
H
-[N-CH,CHZ]-
and which, after modification, have their hydrogen atom substituted by an
average of 20
ethyleneoxy units, and tertiary amine units having the formula:
CA 02346543 2004-05-21
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B
-[N- CHZCHZJ-
which are the branching points of the main and secondary backbone chains, B
representing a
continuation of the chain structure by branching. The tertiary units have no
replaceable hydrogen
atom and are therefore not modified by substitution with ethyleneoxy units.
During the formation
of the polyamine backbones, cyclization may occur, therefore, an amount of
cyclic polyamine can
be present in the parent polyalkyleneimine backbone mixture. Each primary and
secondary
amine unit of the cyclic alkyleneimines undergoes modification by the addition
of alkyleneoxy
units in the same manner as linear and branched polyalkyleneimines.
The indices w, x, and y have values such that the average molecular weight of
the
polyethyleneimine backbone prior to modification is about 600 daltons. In
addition, those skilled
in the art will recognize that each branch chain must terminate in a primary
amine unit, therefore
the vague of the index w is y + 1 in the case where no cyclic amine backbones
are present. The
average molecular weight for each ethylene backbone unit, -NCH~CH,-, is
approximately 43
daltons.
The polyamines of the present invention can be prepared, for example, by
polymerizing
ethyleneimine in the presence of a catalyst such as carbon dioxide, sodium
bisulfate, sulfuric acid,
hydrogen peroxide, hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, ete. Specific methods for
preparing these
polyamine backbones are disclosed in U.S. Patent 2,182,306, Ulrich et al.,
issued December 5,
1939; U.S. Patent 3,033,746, Mayle et al., issued May 8,1962; U.S. Patent
2,208,095, Esselmann
et al., issued July 16,1940; U.S. Patent 2,806,839, Crowther, issued September
17,1957; and U.S.
Patent 2,553,696, Wilson, issued May 21,1951.
Suds Suppressors- Compounds for reducing or suppressing the formation of suds
can be
incorporated into the compositions of the present invention. Suds suppression
can be of particular
importance in the so-called "high concentration cleaning process" as described
in U.S. Patent
Nos. 4,489,455 and 4,489,574 and in front-loading European-style washing
machines.
A wide variety of materials may be used as suds suppressors, and suds
suppressors are
well known to those skilled in the art. See, for example, Kirk Othmer
Encyclopedia of Chemical
Technology, Third Edition, Volume 7, pages 430-447 (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,
1979). One
category of suds suppressor of particular interest encompasses monocarboxylic
fatty acid and
soluble salts therein. See U.S. Patent No. 2,954,347, issued September 27,
1960 to Wayne St.
John. The monocarboxylic fatty acids and salts thereof used as suds suppressor
typically have
hydrocarbyl chains of 10 to about 24 carbon atoms, preferably 12 to 18 carbon
atoms. Suitable
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salts include the alkali metal salts such as sodium, potassium, and lithium
salts, and ammonium
and alkanolammonium salts.
The detergent compositions herein may also contain non-surfactant suds
suppressors.
These include, for example: high molecular weight hydrocarbons such as
paraffin, fatty acid
esters (e.g., fatty acid triglycerides), fatty acid esters of.monovalent
alcohols, aliphatic Clg-C40
ketones (e.g., stearone), etc. Other suds inhibitors include N-alkylated amino
triazines such as tri-
to hexa-alkylmelamines or di- to tetra-alkyldiamine chlortriazines and
monostearyl phosphates
such as monostearyl alcohol phosphate ester and monostearyl di-alkali metal
(e.g., K, Na, and Li)
phosphates and phosphate esters. The hydrocarbons such as paraffin and
haloparaffin can be
utilized in liquid form. The liquid hydrocarbons will be liquid at room
temperature and
atmospheric pressure, and will have a pour point in the range of about -
15°C and about 50°C, and
a minimum boiling point not less than about 110°C (atmospheric
pressure). It is also known to
utilize waxy hydrocarbons, preferably having a melting point below about
100°C. The
hydrocarbons constitute a preferred category of suds suppressor for detergent
compositions.
Hydrocarbon suds suppressors are described, for example, in U.S. Patent No.
4,265,779, issued
May 5, I981 to Gandolfo et al. The hydrocarbons, thus, include aliphatic,
alicyclic, aromatic, and
heterocyclic saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbons having from about 12 to
about 70 carbon
atoms. The term "paraffin," as used in this suds suppressor discussion, is
intended to include
mixtures of true paraffins and cyclic hydrocarbons.
Another preferred category of non-surfactant suds suppressors comprises
silicone suds
suppressors. This category includes the use of polyorganosiloxane oils, such
as polydimethyl-
siloxane, dispersions or emulsions of polyorganosiloxane oils or resins, and
combinations of
polyorganosiloxane with silica particles wherein the polyorganosiloxane is
chemisorbed or fused
onto the silica. Silicone suds suppressors are well known in the art and are,
for example,
disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,265,779, issued May 5, 1981 to Gandolfo et al
and European
Patent Publication No. 354016, published February 7, 1990, by M. S. Starch.
Additional suds suppressers may be selected from those silicones discussed
below in this
application in the section on silicone softening agents and in U.S. Pat. No.
5,579,208, to Zhen et
al., issued June 2, 1998.
Other Components-Other optional ingredients for the compositions herein
include but
are not limited to hydrotropes, antibacterial agents, additional enzyme
stabilizers and perfumes.
Especially desirable are anti-shrinkage agents, anti-wrinkle agents, fabric
crisping agents and
other fabric color protection agents. The pH of the composition as disclosed
here will be between
5and9.
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Pan the Second: Combination Washin~g/Conditioning Composition
The present invention also relates to a washing/conditioning composition which
provides
not only detersive and cleaning benefits on dry-clean only garments but also
the through-the-wash
softening and conditioning. This greatly enhances the convenience of the
overall process to the
consumer because the conditioning agent is added at the beginning of the wash
cycle and does not
need.to be added subsequently during the rinse cycle. In addition to its
cleaning benefits, the
combination washing/conditioning solution provides a number of important
benefits: such as
improved color fidelity, improved abrasion resistance and excessive wrinkling
prevention. Fabric
softeners also help maintain fabric softness of garments such as silk, which
can have a rough feel
after being washed in an aqueous laundry detergent. Thus particularly
important for the present
combination washing/conditioning composition are additives which act as anti-
shrinkage agents,
anti-wrinkle agents, fabric crisping agents and other fabric color protection
agents.
Many of the ingredients for the washing/conditioning composition have been
described
above in the section on the wash pretreatment composition and will not be
duplicated here. In
addition to those ingredients, the following optional and essential
ingredients will be selected by
the skilled formulator for use in the washing/conditioning composition. Still
further ingredients
suitable for use in the present invention are further disclosed in U.S. Pat.
No. 5,460,736, Trinh et
al., issued Oct. 24,1995; U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,350, Baker et al., issued Aug.
13,1996; U.S. Pat. No.
5,562,849, Wahl et al., issued Oct. 8,1996.
uaternary Ammonium Surfactants-As an essential component, the combination
washing/conditioning compositions herein contain from about 1% to about 10%,
preferably from about
2% to about 7%, more preferably from about 3% to about 5% by weight of a
quaternary ammonium
surfactant of the formula:
R4\ / R1
a
/ \
R3 R2
wherein R1 and R2 are individually selected from the group consisting of C1-C4
alkyl, C1-C4 hydroxy
alkyl, benzyl, and -(C2H40)xH where x has a value from about 2 to about 5; X
is an anion; and ( 1 ) R3
and R4 are each a C6-C14 alkyl or (2) R3 is a C6-Clg alkyl, and R4 is selected
from the group
consisting of C1-C10 alkyl, C1-C10 hydroxyalkyl, benzyl, and -(C~H40)xH where
x has a value from
2to5.
Preferred quaternary ammonium surfactants are the chloride, bromide, and
methylsulfatc
salts. Examples of preferred mono-long chain alkyl quaternary ammonium
surfactants are those
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WO 00/24860 PCT/US99/24938
-17-
wherein R1, R2, and R4 are each methyl and R3 is a Cg-C 16 alkyl; or wherein
R3 is Cg_ 1 g alkyl
and R1, R2, and R4 are selected from methyl and hydroxyalkyl moieties. Lauryl
trimethyl
ammonium chloride, myristyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, palmityl trimethyl
ammonium
chloride, coconut trimethylammonium chloride, coconut trimethylammonium
methylsulfate,
coconut dimethyl-monohydroxy-ethylammonium chloride, coconut dimethyl-
monohydroxyethylammonium methylsulfate, steryal dimethyl-monohydroxy-
ethylammonium
chloride, steryal dimethyl-monohydroxyethylammonium methylsulfate, di- C 12-C
14 alkyl
dimethyl ammonium chloride, and mixtures thereof are particularly preferred.
Ratio of Anionic Surfactants to Ouaternarv Ammonium Surfactants-Anionic
surfactants
and quaternary ammonium surfactants are both essential components of the
present invention.
When they are present together within a certain weight ratio they form a mixed
micellar system
within the composition so that while the washing/conditioning composition is
sufficiently viscous
to suspend silicone softening agent: emulsions and other polymers, the
compositions are
simultaneously not so viscous and thick that they cannot be easily and
conveniently poured out of
a detergent bottle in which they are contained.
In order to achieve the optimum balance of phase stability/suspension benefits
and
product viscosity it is preferable that the weight ratio of anionic
surfactants to quaternary
ammonium surfactants be from about 2:1 to about 3:1, preferably from about
2.2:1 to about 2.8:1.
While U.S. Pat. No. 5,759,208 also discloses the combination of anionic and
quaternary
ammonium surfactants, the ratio of anionic to quaternary surfactant (over 5:1)
is significantly
higher than the ratios used in the present invention.
Enz r~-As discussed above, enzymes enhance cleaning and removal on a wide
variety of stains, including of protein-based, carbohydrate-based, or
triglyceride-based stains. In
the present combination washing/conditioning compositions, certain enzymes
also provide fabric
restorative benefits by decomposing and degrading the loose and frayed fibers
on the surface of a
textile article, particularly textile articles made from silk or wool.
Mannanase enzymes and
amylase enzymes are preferred for use in the washing/cleaning compositions
because of their
stain removal benefits. As mentioned above, enzymes such as cellulases and
peroxidases are less
desirable.
A particularly preferred amylase enzyme is NATALASE~ which can be specified as
an
a-amylase having a specific activity at least 25% higher than the specific
activity of Termamyla at
a temperature range of 25°C to 55°C and at a pH value in the
range of 8 to 10, measured by the
Phadebasa a-amylase activity assay.
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WO 00/24860 PCT/US99/24938
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Silicone SofteningAa~ents and Emulsions thereof-The present invention may also
include a
variety of silicone oils (preferably prepared in the form of an emulsion)
which have been discovered to
impart a significantly smoother feel to most types of fabrics and also
significantly reduce the amount of
wrinkle formation. The silicone soi~ening agent may or may not be present in
the form of an emulsion.
Silicone softening agents include polyalkyl or polyaryl siloxanes which
conform to the
following formula
R R R
R-Si-O ~i-O ~1-R
x
where R is aliphatic, preferably alkyl or alkenyl, or aryl, R can be
substituted or unsubstituted, and x is
an integer from 1 to about 8,000. Suitable unsubstituted R groups include
alkoxy, aryloxy, arylalkyl,
arylalkenyl, alkylamine, and ether-substituted, hydroxyl-substituted, and
halogen-substituted aliphatic
and aryl groups. Suitable R groups also include cationic amines and quaternary
ammonium groups.
The aliphatic or aryl groups substituted on the siloxane chain may have any
structure so long as
the resulting silicones remain fluid at room temperature, are hydrophobic, are
neither damaging or
otherwise harmful when applied to textile articles, are compatible with the
other components of the
1 S detergent composition, are chemically stable under normal use and storage
conditions and are capable
of being deposited on and conditioning textile articles according to the
methods outlined in the present
invention.
The two R groups on the silicon atom of each monomeric silicone unit may
represent the same
or different groups. Preferably, the two R groups represent the same group.
Preferred alkyl and alkenyl substituents are Cl-CS alkyls and alkenyls, more
preferably from
Cl-C4, most preferably from Cl-C2. The aliphatic portions of other alkyl-,
alkenyl-, or alkynyl-
containing groups (such as alkoxy, arylalkyl, and alkylamino) can be straight
or branched chains and
preferably have from one to five carbon atoms, more preferably from one to
four carbon atoms, even
more preferably from one to three carbon atoms, most preferably from one to
two carbon atoms.
Further suitable R groups include methyl, ethyl, propyl, phenyl, methylphenyl
and
phenylmethyl. The preferred silicones are polydimethylsiloxane,
polydiethylsiloxane, and
polymethylphenylsiloxane. Polydimethylsiloxane is especially preferred. Other
suitable R groups
include methyl, methoxy, ethoxy, polyethoxy, propoxy, and aryloxy. The three R
groups on the end
caps of the silicone may also represent the same or different groups.
Other preferred silicones include nonionic polyalkylene oxide-modified
polydimethylsiloxanes
which are especially effective at wrinkle reduction. Such silicone fluids are
available from the OSI
CA 02346543 2004-05-21
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Specialties Company under the name SILWETC~. SILWET~ L77, which is a mixture
of 84%
poiyalkyleneoxide modified heptamethyltrisiloxane and 16%
allyloxypolyethyleneglycol methyl ether,
is particularly preferred.
Further discussion and examples of silicone oils suitable for use in the
present invention may
be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,874,073, to Kaiser et al., issued on February 23,
1999.
It may be desirable to incorporate emulsifiers at concentrations effective for
emulsifying the silicone conditioning agents. (As used herein, "emulsifiers"
include suspending
agents.) Emulsifiers and suspending agents are discussed in further detail in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,874,073
and U.S. Pat. No. 5,759,208. Particularly preferred are
emulsifying surfactants disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,759,208, which added to
the silicone fluid to form
an emulsion
Cvclic amine Based Pol r~rr~er. Oligomer or Copolymer Materials-It is
preferred that the
combination washing/conditioning compositions of the present invention
comprises one or more cyclic
amine based polymer, oligomer or copolymer. Such materials have been found to
impart a number of
appearance benefits to fabrics and textiles laundered in aqueous washing
solutions formed from
detergent compositions which contain a mixture of cyclic amine based polymers,
oligomers or
copolymers and hydrophobically modified cellulosic based polymers or oligomers
fabric treatment
materials. Such fabric appearance benefits can include, for example, improved
overall appearance of
the laundered fabrics, reduction of the formation of pills and fuzz,
protection against color fading,
improved abrasion resistance, etc. The cyclic amine based fabric treatment
materials used in the
compositions and methods herein can provide such fabric appearance benefits
with acceptably little or
no loss in cleaning performance provided by the laundry detergent compositions
into which such
materials are incorporated.
The cyclic amine based polymer, oligomer or copolymer component of the
compositions
herein may comprise combinations of these cyclic amine based materials. For
example, a mixture
of piperidine and epihalohydrin condensates can be combined with a mixture of
morpholine and
epihalohydrin condensates to achieve the desired fabric treatment results.
Moreover, the
molecular weight of cyclic amine based fabric treatment materials can vary
within the mixture as
is illustrated in the Examples below.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, an oligomer is a molecule
consisting of only a
few monomer units while polymers comprise considerably more monomer units. For
the present
invention, oligomers are defined as molecules having an average molecular
weight below about
1,000 and polymers are molecules having an average molecular weight of greater
than about
1,000. Copolymers are polymers or oligomers wherein two or more dissimilar
monomers have
been simultaneously or sequentially polymerized. Copolymers of the present
invention can
CA 02346543 2004-05-21
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include, for example, polymers or oligomers polymerized from a mixture of a
primary cyclic
amine based monomer, e.g., piperidine, and a secondary cyclic amine monomer,
e.g., morpholine.
The mixture of cyclic amine based polymers, oligomers or copolymers and
hydrophobically modified cellulosic based polymers or oligomers of the
detergent compositions
herein will generally comprise from about 0.01% to about 5% by the weight of
the detergent
composition. More preferably, the mixture of cyclic amine based polymers,
oligomers or
copolymers and hydrophobically modified cellulosic based polymers or oligomers
will comprise
from about 0.1 % to about 4% by weight of the detergent compositions, most
preferably from
about 0.75% to about 3%. However, as discussed above, when used as a washing
solution
IO additive, i.e. when mixture of cyclic amine based polymers, oligomers or
copolymers and
hydrophobically modified cellulosic based polymers or oligomers are not
incorporated into a
detergent composition, the concentration of mixture of cyclic amine based
polymers, oligomers or
copolymers and hydrophobically modified cellulosic based polymers or oligomers
can comprise
from about 0.1 % to about 80% by weight of the additive material.
15 Preferred cyclic amine based polymer, oligomer or copolymer materials which
are
suitable for use in laundry operations and provide the desired fabric
appearance and integrity
benefits are described in further detail in CA 2,346,293.
Polymeric Soil Release Agent- Soil release agents may be used in the present
invention.
If so they will generally comprise from about 0.01 % to about 10.0%, by
weight, of the detergent
compositions herein, typically from about 0.1% to about S%, preferably from
about 0.2% to about
3.0%.
Any polymeric soil release agent known to those skilled in the art can
optionally be
employed in the compositions and processes of this invention. Polymeric soil
release agents are
characterized by having both hydrophilic segments, to hydrophilize the surface
of hydrophobic
fibers, such as polyester and its blends, and hydrophobic segments, to deposit
upon hydrophobic
fibers and remain adhered thereto through completion of washing and rinsing
cycles and thus,
serve as an anchor for the hydrophilic segments. This can enable stains
occurring subsequent to
treatment with the soil release agent to be more easily cleaned in later
washing procedures.
The polymeric soil release agents useful herein especially include those soil
release
agents having: (a) one or more nonionic hydrophile components consisting
essentially of (i)
' polyoxyethylene segments with a degree of polymerization of at least 2, or
(ii) oxypropylene or
CA 02346543 2004-05-21
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polyoxypropylene segments with a degree of polymerization of from 2 to 10,
wherein said
hydrophile segment does not encompass any oxypropylene unit unless it is
bonded to adjacent
moieties at each end by ether linkages, or (iii) a mixture of oxyalkylene
units comprising
oxyett~ylene and from 1 to about 30 oxypropylene units wherein said mixture
contains a sufficient
amount of oxyethylene units such that the hydrophile component has
hydrophilicity great enough
to increase the hydrophilicity of conventional polyester synthetic fiber
surfaces upon deposit of
the soil release agent on such surface, said hydrophile segments preferably
comprising at least
about 25% oxyethylene units and more preferably, especially for such
components having about
20 to 30 oxypropylene units, at least about SO% oxyethylene units; or (b) one
or more hydrophobe
components comprising (i) C3 oxyalkylene terephthalate segments, wherein, if
said hydrophobe
components also comprise oxyethylene terephthalate, the ratio of oxyethylene
terephthalate:C3
oxyalkylene terephthalate units is about 2:1 or lower, (ii) C4-C6 alkylene or
oxy C4-C~ alkylene
segments, or mixtures therein, (iii) poly (vinyl ester) segments, preferably
polyvinyl acetate),
having a degree of polymerization of at least 2, or (iv) C1-C4 alkyl ether or
C4 hydroxyalkyi
1 S ether substituents, or mixtures therein, wherein said substituents are
present in the form of C 1-C4
alkyl ether or C4 hydroxyalkyl ether cellulose derivatives, or mixtures
therein, and such cellulose
derivatives are amphiphilic, whereby they have a sufficient level of C1-C4
alkyl ether and/or C4
hydroxyaikyl ether units to deposit upon conventional polyester synthetic
fiber surfaces and retain
a sufficient level of hydroxyls, once adhered to such conventional synthetic
fiber surface, to
increase fiber surface hydrophilicity, or a combination of (a) and (b).
Other suitable polymeric soil release agents are disclosed in U.S. Patent No.
5,415,807,
issued May 16, 1995 to Gosselink.
Combinations of Fabric Care Components-While they may be effectively used
separately, it is preferred that cyclic amine based polymer/oligomer/copolymer
materials and dye
2S transfer inhibiting agents such as polyvinyl pyrrolidone polymers,
polyamine N-oxide polymers,
copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole, manganesephthalocyanine
and
peroxidases (described above in the section on wash pretreatment compositions)
be used in
combination to provide optimum suppression of dye-transfer between garments,
particularly in
mixed colored loads (i.e. mixed light and dark-colored fabrics).
THE FLEXIBLE WRAP CONTAINER
The action of the agitator in a clothes washer has long been lrnown to expose
delicate
fabrics to sufficient abrasion and stress that severe damage can occur as a
result. As a result, bags
have been developed which can be used in a washing machine to protect these
garments from
abrasion and stress. Nonetheless these have proved unsatisfactory for a
variety of reasons. First,
CA 02346543 2004-05-21
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they are generally too small to contain anything but one or two small garments-
and even then may
bunch-up the garments and exacerbate wrinkling and shape loss. Second, many of
these bags do
not have a reliable closure means, and so the bag often comes open during
washing, depriving the
garments of the protection the bag is supposed to provide and likely
increasing the abrasion and
wear on the garments. Third, these bags are often constructed to have an outer
shell made of a
grid-like netting which allows contact between the wash liquor and the garment
to provide
cleaning benefits; but this grid-like pattern can also leave an identical grid
impression on the
garments contained inside. Such a pattern may be virtually impossible to iron
out. Fourth, these
bags are generally too thin and do not provide enough cushion from the
abrasion and stress that a
delicate garment may experience in a laundry washing machine.
A preferred flexible wrap container ("wrap") made in accordance with the
present
invention which remedies many of these problems is shown in figures 1, 1 A and
2. The wrap 122
comprises a single, preferably rectangular, panel 100 made up of three layers
130, 131 and 132.
The dimensions of the panel 100 are such
that the width will be about 31 cm to about 91 cm and the length will be about
55 cm to about 1 17
cm; more preferred is a width of about 41 cm to about 81 cm and a length of
about 66 cm to about
107 cm and most preferred is a width of about 51 cm to about 71 cm and a
length of about 76 cm
to about 97 cm. In a rectangular embodiment as depicted in Figure 1, the
distance from the top
edge of the panel 102 to the bottom edge of the panel 101 is greater than the
distance from the
right edge of the panel 103 to the left edge of the panel 104.
The wrap further comprises one or more straps 108 which are attached adjacent
to the top
edge of the panel 102. At an end of each strap is a first fastening device 109
which is fixably and
permanently attached to each strap 108 so that its position on the strap does
not change. A second
fastening device 106 is preferably attached to each strap by passing the strap
through the
fastening device in such a way that changing its position on the strap, the
length of the strap 105
can be increased or decreased. The first and second fastening devices
cooperate to secure the
flexible wrap container in a roll-like shape during use. Additionally, two
pockets 110 are attached adjacent to the top edge of the panel in the manner
shown by Figures 1,
1 A, 2 and 3. The wrap container, along with its preferred embodiments, is
discussed in more
detail in CA 2,346,712.
THE WASH PRETREATMENT APPLICATOR
The wash pretreatment applicator to be used in the present invention can
essentially be
any non-abrasive tool with which one can apply an effective amount of a wash
pretreatment
composition to a stained area of a garment while simultaneously effectively
providing mechanical
action to assist in the stain removal. Thus an object as simple as a human
finger may serve as the
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wash pretreatment applicator. A preferred embodiment as the applicator is
disclosed in
CA 2,346,712.
ABSORBENT STAIN RECEIVER
The absorbent stain receiver which is used in the present invention includes
an absorbent
material_which imbibes the liquid composition. In preferred modes of
operation, the stain receiver
is designed specifically to "wick" or "draw" the liquid compositions away from
the stained area.
The absorbent stain receiver is necessarily white or non-printed to avoid dye
transfer from
receiver to garment. White or non-printed disposable paper towels, such as
BOUNTYT"~ brand
towels, clean rags, etc., can be used. A preferred receiver consists of a
nonwoven pad.
Additional materials which may be serve as an absorbent stain receiver are
disclosed in
CA 2,346,712.
PROCESS EMBODIMENTS
The use of the devices, compositions and processes of this invention are
described in
more detail hereinafter. Such disclosure is by way of illustration and not
limitation of the
invention herein.
Although not necessary or essential to the present invention, it is preferable
to use a
pretreatment procedure to improve the effectiveness of removing stains from a
stained area of the
garment. This pretreatment procedure comprises pouring a pretreatment
composition to the
stained area and then distributing and spreading the pretreatment composition
over the stained
area with the wash pretreatment applicator by applying a gentle brushing
motion to distribute the
pretreatment composition around the stained area of the garment. The
pretreatment composition
is then optionally rinsed off the stained area with water.
In more detail, the pretreatment process herein can be conducted in the
following manner.
Modifications of the process can be practiced without departing from the
spirit and scope of the
present invention.
Place the stained area of the garment over and in contact with an absorbent
stain receiver
such as a FAM absorbency pad or a paper towel (preferably a nonwoven pad that
is white
or non-printed-to avoid dye transfer from towel to garment) or any other stain
receiver as
described herein on any suitable surface such as a table top etc. Pour the
wash pretreatment
composition onto the stained area.
2. Use the wash pretreatment applicator to spread, in a gentle brushing
motion, the
pretreatment composition onto the stained area to saturate the localized
stained area without
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saturating the area surrounding it and then subsequently attempting to work
out the stain as
completely as possible.
3. Optionally, let the composition penetrate the stain for about 1 to 3
minutes.
4. Optionally, apply more of the pretreatment composition onto the stained
area.
Optionally, rinse the stained area that has been pre-treated with cold tap
water.
6. Follow this pretreatment process with the overall cleaning process
described below.
An overall process for treating an entire fabric surface area of a garment,
which includes
the pretreatment process described above, thus comprises the following steps
of:
(i) Optionally, conducting a pretreatment process, according to steps 1-6 of
the above
disclosure, on a stained area of a garment.
(ii) Placing the pretreated garment from step (i) inside the washing implement
in the
manner disclosed herein and securing the washing implement so that it will not
come open during laundering in the washing machine.
(iii) Placing the washing implement inside a washing machine together with a
measured amount of the combination washing/conditioning composition.
(iv) Operating the washing machine on its most gentle agitation cycle and
using cold
water both in the wash and rinse cycles for a period of at least about 6
minutes,
typically from about 4 minutes to about 12 minutes.
(v) Removing the flexible wrap container containing the clean garments from
the
washing machine, removing the garment or garments from the flexible wrap
container and either allowing them to air dry or first placing them in a
clothes
dryer set on air-fluff' (no heat) for silk garments or the lowest possible
dryer heat
setting for garments made from rayon and rayon blends. Heavy weight garments
should remain in the dryer for 8 to 10 minutes, while light weight garments
should
remain for 4 to 6 minutes. The garments should then be removed and allowed to
air dry. Wool garments shold not be placed in a clothes dryer.
With respect to step (ii), it is appreciated that for fabrics which tend to
wrinkle, it is
preferred not to overload the washing implement used herein.
In step (iii), the washing machine may have an agitator arranged on either a
substantially
horizontal or substantially vertical axis. Typically, such an amount of liquid
cleaning/conditioning composition will be added so that the concentration of
active ingredients in
the wash liquor is from about 300 ppm to 2500 ppm, more preferably from about
400 ppm to
about 2000 ppm, most preferably from about 500 ppm to about 1600 ppm. Step
(iv) can be
conducted for longer or shorter periods, depending on such factors as the
degree and type of
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soiling of the fabrics, the nature of the soils, the nature of the fabrics,
the fabric load and the like
according to the needs of the user.
EXAMPLE I
Examples of a (1) preferred wash pretreatment composition to be used in the
pretreatment
process; and (2) a washing/conditioning composition to be added during the
wash cycle. The
compositions are used in a manner described after the detailed formulations.
Wash Pretreatment Composition
INGREDIENT wt
Nonionic Surfactant 0.50
N-Cocoyl N-Methyl Glucamine 1.60
Anionic Surfactant 16.00
Amine Cosurfactant 0.40
Citric Acid 2.50
Fatiy Acids (12-16) 2.00
Ethanol 2.59
Monoethanol amine 0.75
Sodium Formate 0.062
Propanediol 5.08
Tolulene Sulfonate 0.36
Borax Premix 2.50
Sodium Hydroxide 2.62
Fabric Care Agents 2.70
Enzymes 0.15
Balance (water, antifoaming agent, perfume, color stabilizers) 61.67
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Washing /Conditionin~position
Component Weight
Anionic Surfactant' 14.40
Nonionic Surfactant' 4.00
Lauryl trimethyl ammonium5.33
chloride
Citric Acid 0.70
Ethanol 2.10
Monoethanol amine 0.75
Sodium Formate 0.06
Propanediol 3.67
Tolulene Sulfonate 0.36
Borax premix 2.50
NaOH 0.1
Ethoylated Tetraethylene0.90
Pentamine
PVNO 0.37
Cyclic Polymer3 0.55
Enzymes 0.50
Silicone softening 5.00
agent
Perfumes, Dyes and 0.50
other
minors
Water Balance
1: C 12-15 alkyl ethoxy sulfonate containing an average of 1.8 ethoxy groups.
2: Neodol~'~"'' 45-7
3: Imidazole-epi (condensation oligomer produced by condensation of imidazole
and epichloro-hydrin
in the ratio 1:4:1 ). The composition is about 94% oligomcr and 6% free
imidazole
4: The silicone softening agent may be either a blend of Dimethicone and
Ammonium alkyl sulfonate
containing an average of 3 ethoxy groups or may be the SILWET~ L77 surfactant
which is a mixture
of 84% polyallyleneoxide modified heptamethyltrisiloxane (the "active"
ingredient) and 16%
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allyloxypolyethyleneglycol methyl ether. The silicone softening agent may be
in the form of an
emulsion.
Sten l1. One or more garments to be cleaned and refreshed are selected. Stains
on a
garment from sources such as ink, lipstick, salad dressing, collar soil and
other similar sources are
then identified and selected for pretreatment. For pretreatment, localized
stained areas of the
garment are situated over a paper towel and are treated by directly applying
about 0.5 to 5 mls
(depending on the size of the stain) of the wash pretreatment product of
Example I, which is
gently worked into the garment using the wash pretreatment applicator. Excess
liquid product is
then washed off the stain with running cold tap water.
St_ ep 2. The flexible wrap container is laid flat on an even surface such as
a table or
clothes dryer. A first garment such as a jacket is placed on the wrap. The
sleeves and other
extensions of the garment should be folded-in if necessary and none of the
garment may lie
outside the perimeter of the wrap. After the first garment has been laid on
the wrap, the wrap's
flaps are folded over the garment so that the entire garment is enclosed by
the wrap. An
additional garment may then be placed over the folded flaps following the same
procedure
described above and being careful that none of the garment lies outside the
perimeter of the
flexible wrap container.
Step 3. The wrap is then rolled up as if one were rolling up a sleeping bag.
The wrap is
rolled in a direction parallel to the longest edge of the wrap, starting from
the edge with close
proximity to the connecting means. After the bag has been rolled up, it is
secured by means of
the straps and fasteners so that the straps holding the bag are pulled taut.
Step 4. The garment-containing wrap is then placed in a washing machine.
Preferably
two garment-containing wraps of approximately equal weight are placed in the
washing machine
simultaneously to insure a balanced load. The washing machine settings should
be set on:
medium water level (approximately 17 gallons), cold water and the most gentle
agitation setting.
Two capfuls of the combination washing/conditioning composition of Example I
(about 66 ml)
are poured into the washing machine; 66 ml of the liquid product of Example I
in 17 gallons of
water means that the total concentration of liquid cleaning composition in the
detergent/water
solution will be about 1090 ppm.
Step 5. When the washing machine has completed all of its cycles, the ganment-
containing wraps are removed from the washing machine and the garments inside
the wraps are
removed from the wrap. With the exception of men's ties and wool garments, one
may dry the
garments by placing them in a dryer and setting the dryer on air-fluff (no
heat) for silk garments
or the lowest possible dryer heat setting for garments made from rayon and
rayon blends. Heavy
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weight garments should remain in the dryer for 8 to 10 minutes, while light
weight garments
should remain for 4 to 6 minutes. One then removes the damp garment from the
dryer and may
then hang the garment or lay it flat to finish drying. For men's ties and
wools the dryer step is
inappropriate and air drying should begin immediately after they are removed
from the washing
machine.
Step 6. Press or steam the garments if necessary.
