MULTIPLE USE SOFTENER/ANTISTATIC POUCH FOR FABRICS IN CLOTHES DRYER

POCHETTE ASSOUPLISSANTE/ANTISTATIQUE POLYVALENTE POUR TISSUS DANS SECHE-LINGE

English Abstract

A self-regenerating softener pack used for the reduction of static and the
softening
of garments. This pack comprises a non-woven spunbonded polyester pouch with a
flaked/ solid softener/ antistatic compound. The pouch is placed in the dryer
with the
garments/ fabrics. The softener/ antistatic compound in the bag melt during
the drying
cycle and permeate through the non-woven spunbonded polyester pouch hence
coating its
outer layer. This layer enters into contact with the garments reducing static,
imparting
softness and smooth handle to the garment.

At the end of the cycle, the pouch is kept for future drying cycles. The same
process
reoccurs with each cycle until the total quantity of the softening/ antistatic
ingredient is
depleted. One pouch containing approximately 100 grams of active ingredient
can last for
up to 100 domestic size load cycles. This eliminates the need for change of
softener
sheets, softener addition during the rinse cycle in the washer and reduces
waste.

The softener pouch can be complemented with various scents, which can be
sprayed onto
the pouch before drying cycle. The scent is transferred to garment during the
cycle.

Claims

Claims:
1. ~The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is
claimed are defined as follows:

A multiple-use fabric & textile softener for use in the dryer cycle comprising
a
dispensing pouch and a flake/ solid form softener. The softener has a
softening
point at temperatures close to the ones found in both domestic and industrial
dryers (40 - 80 °C ).

The pouch is placed in the dryer with the fabric/ clothes to be dried and
softened
or treated for static. Following the drying/ softening/ antistatic cycle, the
pouch is
kept and reused with next loads. In the tests performed with the 100 grams
pouches we succeeded in drying up to 100 loads with a single pouch.

The softeners that can be used with the dispensing pouch are Cationic Fatty
Acid~
Amines, Non-ionic Fatty Acid Amines, Silicone based Fatty Acid Amines,
Cationic Quaternary Ammonium Compounds, Immidazoline salts and other
commonly found softeners and antistatic agents which can be produced in a
flake
or solid format.

These softeners should have a melting/ softening point close to the
temperatures
found in domestic and industrial dryers. The appropriate softener can be
adapted
to the equipment to be used (Dryer).

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2. ~The pouch is comprised of a non-woven spunbonded polyester sheet with
fibres,
which are spaced in a way not to allow the flakes to pass through.

3.~The product (Softener/ Antistatic) is in a flake or solid shape, which is
stored in
the spunbonded polyester pouch.

4. ~Using a form-fill-and seal-packaging machine to produce the mufti-use
pouch, we
took care of designing a special hopper dispenser, which did not crush the
flakes
or solids (Note: the softener is easily crushed by regular filling machines
which
use screw feed hoppers to dispense product into filling machine).
Note: Crushing the flakes into a powdery product would create a dusty bag and
potentially stain the fabrics to be treated/ softened.

5. ~The pouch can vary in size depending on the end use whether it is for
domestic or
industrial use.

6. ~The active ingredients (Softener/ Anti-static compound) can vary in weight
depending on the size of the bag or number of repeat applications desired.
Note: Tests were performed using 100 grams of flaked softener with a pouch bag
with an approximate size of 6.5" X 6.5".

7. ~The pouch can also be sprayed with various scents that will be transferred
onto
the garment during the cycle. (Care must be taken to ensure that the scents
added
are compatible with the softener used).

Description

CA 02381454 2002-04-26
DRAWING/ IMAGES:
Figures I to V : See explanation on the drawings.
Figure VI : Softener/ Antistatic pouch.
Figure VII : Sectional Picture of Softener/ Antistatic pouch.
Figure VIII : Picture of softener in flake farm.
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