Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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METHOD OF ENHANCING A FABRIC ARTICLE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to method of enhancing a fabric article, and
more
specifically to a unique method of applying a benefit composition to a fabric
article in a fabric
article drying appliance for providing whiteness and/or brightness
enhancement, for example,
whitening and brightening benefits, to a fabric article.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Fabric article treating methods and/or apparatuses have been evolving over the
past
twenty years. For example, U.S. Patent No. 4,207,683 describes a conventional
automatic clothes
dryer that incorporates a spray dispenser capable of dispensing liquids into
the drum of the dryer.
U.S. Patent Nos. 4,642,908, 5,771,604 and 6,067,723 describe other variations
of conventional
clothes drying appliances.
There exists an ongoing need to develop a fabric article treating method
and/or apparatus,
especially an in-home fabric article treating method and/or apparatus, that
improves/enhances the
deposition of fabric article actives or benefit agents on the fabric articles
being treated as
compared to the currently existing deposition methods and/or apparatuses.
Most fabric articles tend to lose their brightness and/or whiteness over time
and in
addition can incur discoloring or staining. This discoloring, including the
yellowing of white
fabric articles, can eventually lead to "dingy" looking fabric articles. To
alleviate these problems,
wash and rinse products have been developed with blue to violet dyes and
brighteners. However,
since these compositions are usually applied during a wash/rinse cycle in a
fabric article washing
machine, compositions with high fabric substantivity are typically required
due to the washing
environment. As a result, dye or brightener build-up can occur on the fabric
article leading to
undesired effects, for example in fabric appearance and feel. The build-up of
dyes and
brighteners can require harsh chemicals for their removal, causing fabric
damage. Also, greater
concentrations of actives are typically required through the wash to produce
benefits due to poor
deposition efficiencies. Accordingly, further improvements in fabric article
treating methods are
desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed methods of enhancing fabric articles. More
particularly,
the invention is directed to methods of enhancing fabric articles in a fabric
article drying
appliance by applying a benefit composition having whiteness and/or brightness
enhancement
agents to the fabric article in the fabric article drying appliance. Dyes and
brighteners with
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limited wet-fastness can be applied in minute amounts to garments in the
dryer, producing one-
cycle benefits while allowing the agents to be readily washed off in
subsequent wash cycles.
One embodiment of the present invention is a method of enhancing a fabric
article. The
method comprises: drying the fabric article in a fabric article drying
appliance; and applying a
benefit composition as a spray to the fabric article in the fabric article
drying appliance, wherein
the benefit composition comprises an agent for enhancing the whiteness and/or
brightness of the
fabric article.
The present methods are advantageous for providing whitening and/or
brightening of
fabric article in a fabric article drying appliance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and
distinctly
claiming the invention, it is believed the same will be better understood from
the following
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary fabric article treating
device suitable for
use in a method according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary fabric article treating
device suitable for
use in a method according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary fabric article treating
device suitable for
use in a method according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary fabric article treating
device suitable for
use in a method according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 5 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary fabric article treating
device suitable for
use in a method according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 6 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary fabric article treating
device suitable for
use in a method according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 7 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary fabric article treating
system suitable for
use in a method according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention;
and
Fig. 8 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary fabric article treating
device suitable for
use in a method according to a eighth embodiment of the present invention.
The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative in nature and not
intended to be
limiting of the invention defined by the claims. Moreover, individual features
of the drawings
and the invention will be more fully apparent and understood in view of the
detailed description.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the invention,
examples
of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals
indicate similar
elements throughout the views.
The phrase "fabric article treating system" as used herein means a fabric
article drying
appliance, a non-limiting example of which includes a conventional clothes
dryer and/or
modifications thereof. The fabric article treating system also includes a
fabric article treating
apparatus which may be discrete in relation to the fabric article drying
appliance and/or it may be
integrated into the fabric article drying appliance. Furthermore, the fabric
article treating
apparatus may be integrated into a readily replaceable portion of the fabric
article drying
appliance, a non-limiting example of which includes a closure structure of the
drying appliance.
"Fabric article" or "fabric" as used herein means any article that is
customarily cleaned in
a conventional laundry process or in a dry cleaning process. The term
encompasses articles of
fabric including, but not limited to, clothing, linen, drapery, clothing
accessories, leather, floor
coverings, sheets, towels, rags, canvas, polymer structures, and the like. The
term also
encompasses other items made in whole or in part of fabric material, such as
tote bags, furniture
covers, tarpons, shoes, and the like.
As used herein, the terms "whiteness enhancement agent" or "agent for
enhancing
whiteness" or "brightness enhancement agent" or "agent for enhancing
brightness" refers to any
agent and/or composition which may alter the perceived spectral reflectance of
a fabric article.
As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the terms "whiteness
enhancing agent" and
"brightness enhancing agent" in some situations may be used interchangeably,
whereas in other
situations they may have encompass different compounds. In one embodiment of
the present
invention, the enhancement agent comprises brightener, dye, or mixtures
thereof. Non-limiting
examples of dyes and mixtures thereof which can comprise suitable enhancement
agents include
basic dye, acid dye, direct dye, azoic dye, vat dye, reactive dye, and
disperse dye, polymer dye
classes of the Color Index, and combinations thereof. Non-limiting examples of
brighteners and
mixtures thereof which can comprise suitable whiteness and/or brightness
enhancement agents
include: hydrophilic optical brighteners having the structural fornmla:
R~
N H H N-
N N C C O N--CO
rN H H N--C
S03M R~
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Formula 1
wherein R, is selected from anilino, N-2-bis-hydroxyethyl and NH-2-
hydroxyethyl; RZ is selected
from N-2-bis-hydroxyethyl, N-2-hydroxyethyl-N-methylamino, morphilino, chloro
and amino;
and M is a salt-forming cation such as sodium or potassium.
When in the above formula, R1 is anilino, Rz is N-2-bis-hydroxyethyl and M is
a cation
such as sodium, the brightener is 4,4'-bis[(4-anilino-6-(N-2-bis-hydroxyethyl)-
s-triazine-2-
yl)amino]-2,2'-stilbenedisulfonic acid disodium salt. This particular
brightener species is
commercially marketed under the tradename Tinopal-UNPA-GX~ by Ciba-Geigy
Corporation.
When in the above formula, Rl is anilino, RZ is N-2-hydroxyethyl-N-2-
methylamino and
M is a cation such as sodium, the brightener is 4,4'-bis[(4-anilino-6-(N-2-bis-
hydroxyethyl-N-
methylamino)-s-triazine-2-yl)amino]-2,2'-stilbenedisulfonic acid disodium
salt. This particular
brightener species is commercially marketed under the hadename Tinopal SBM-
GXOO by Ciba-
Geigy Corporation.
When in the above formula, Rl is anilino, RZ is morphilino and M is a cation
such as
sodium, the brightener is 4,4'-bis[(4-anilino-6-morphilino-s-triazine-2-
yl)amino]2,2'-
stilbenedisulfonic acid sodium salt. This particular brightener species is
commercially marketed
under the tradename Tinopal AMS-GX~ by Ciba-Geigy Corporation.
In one exemplary embodiment the whiteness and/or brightness enhancement agent
is an
anionic dye combination in water. The agent is a combination of dyes that are
sodium salts of
sulphonic acids and monoazo, disazo andlor trisazo derivatives. In another
exemplary
embodiment, the dyes are triaryhnethane derivatives and/or triphenyl methane
derivatives and/or
anthraquinone derivatives of sodium salt sulphonic acid leveling dyes. In yet
another exemplary
embodiment, the whiteness and/or brightness enhancement agent is a 1:3 ratio
of a triarylmethane
derivative of a sodium salt sulphonic acid dye with a water solution spectrum
7~-max 630 nm and
anthraquinone derivative of the same with a water solution spectrum 7~-max 550
nm respectively.
In an alternative embodiment, the whiteness and/or brightness agent is a 1:3
ratio of a first dye
with a water solution spectrum ~,-max 630 nm and a second dye with a water
solution spectrum ~,-
max 570 nm respectively. In one embodiment, exemplary dyes have absorbance
units (AU's) of
about 0.001 to about 2.0 at 10 ppm. In another exemplary embodiment, the %
removability of
the dye is about 60 to about 100%, alternatively from about 90 to about 100%.
Exemplary
embodiments may utilize one or both of the following dyes and/or their
derivatives, most
preferably these two dyes specifically in a 1:3 ratio of 0.05 ppm total dye:
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I
r,.~:~,yS '~
hl~,~
Formula 2
disodium bis[4-(N-ethyl-N-3-sulfonatophenylmethyl)aminophenyl]phenylmethylium;
Color Index name: Acid Blue 9 from Standard Dyes, Inc. (High Point, North
Carolina)
f~ua;,~~~ ~", ~CFi~
~ H.~~ 'i.
>'~~
Formula 3
sodium; 2-(4-hydroxy-9,10-dioxo-9, 10-dihyro-anthacen-1-ylamino)-5-methyl-
benzenesulfonate
Acid Violet 43 from Standard Dyes, Inc. (High Point, North Carolina)
Polymerized dyes are also applicable.
Other whiteness and/or brightness enhancement agents which can alter the
perceived
wavelength of fabric article are generally known to one skilled in the art and
are suitable for use
herein. In one exemplary embodiment, the whiteness and/or brightness
enhancement agent
comprises one or more conjugated bonds to enhance fabric substantivity.
In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the enhancement
agent
comprises a dye or combination of dyes having a reflecting wavelength of from
about 350 nm to
about 550 nm. Alternatively, the whiteness and/or brightness enhancement agent
comprises a dye
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having a maximum reflecting wavelength of from about 420 nm to about 500 nm.
Alternatively,
the whiteness and/or brightness enhancement agent comprises a dye having a
maximum reflecting
wavelength of from about 430 nm to about 4S0 nm.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the whiteness and/or
brightness
enhancement agent of the benefit composition is in a microencapsulated form.
In another
exemplary embodiment, the benefit composition comprises from about 1 X 10 g
weight percent
to about 0.5 weight percent color enhancement agent(s), alternatively from
about 5 X 10 -~ weight
percent to about 5 X 10 -3 weight percent.
As used herein, the term "benefit composition" refers to a composition used to
deliver a
benefit to a fabric article. Non-limiting examples of materials and mixtures
thereof which can
also be included in the benefit composition, in addition to the whiteness
and/or brightness
enhancement agent, include one or more of water, fabric softeners,
superwetting agents, water
absorbing agents, humectants, anti-static agents, perfumes, reflectance
agents, bleaches,
lubricants, anti-abrasion agents, wrinkle mitigating agents, preservatives,
buffering agents, pH
adjusting agents, emulsion stabilizing agents, malodor control agents,
silicones, oil dispersing
solvents, anti-foaming agents, salt, viscosity adjusting agents, chelating
agents, anti-oxidant,
radical scavenging agents, soil releasing agents, anti-soiling agents, anti-
bacterial agents, solvents,
perfumes, crispening agents, water/stain repellants, refreshing agents, anti-
microbial agents,
durable press additives and combinations thereof. The benefit composition may
comprise a
liquid, a powder, a luminescent dye, a pigment, a colloidal suspension, or
gaseous product, and/or
a combination of such. In one embodiment, the benefit composition includes a
preservative.
Various preservatives which help maintain one or more properties of the
benefit composition are
generally known in the art and are suitable for use herein. Exemplary
preservatives include
Dantoguard Plus TM (Dimethylol-5,5-Dimethylhydantoin) commercially available
from Lonza
(Fairfield, New Jersey, USA); Kathon TM (isothiazolinones) commercially
available from Rohm &
Haas; and Integra 44 TM (Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate) commercially available
from
International Specialty Products (ISP). In one embodiment of the present
invention, the benefit
composition comprises a liquid or gel.
In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the benefit composition
comprises solvent-soluble electricity conducting compounds and/or
compositions. Non-limiting
examples of materials and mixtures thereof include: polyanilines,
polypyrroles, polyacetylene,
polyphenylene and polythiophenes.
In one exemplary embodiment, the benefit composition comprises a whiteness
and/or
brightness enhancement agent having a water solution spectrum of ~,-max of
about 500 to about
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670 nm., alternatively having a 7~-max of about 550 nm to about 630 nm. (ASTM
Method
D5386). These exemplary agents reflect at about 400 nm to about 500 nm in the
visible spectrum
when deposited on desized CW-120 (100% cotton test fabric). In one embodiment,
the exemplary
agents will absorb yellow wavelengths, about 560 nm to about 605 nm, and with
a brightener in
the composition, reflection occurs in the shorter wavelengths of the visible
spectrum. In another
exemplary embodiment, the benefit composition provides a Whiteness Index
measurement
increase of 1.0 and/or a Yellowness Index decrease of 1.0 when a solution of
greater than 0.0005
ppm active is sprayed on white cotton fabric according to ASTM Method E 313.
To determine
dye wash-fastness and choose relevant dyes, tests were conducted using OE
measurements,
calculating the percent removed after a wash cycle using AATCC Evaluation
Procedure 7,
equivalent to ISO 105-AOS. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the benefit
composition is
adapted to have a Whiteness Index reversion (DE conversion) of at least ten
(10) percent when the
fabric article is washed subsequent to the benefit composition being applied
in the fabric article
drying appliance.
One embodiment of the present invention is an exemplary method of enhancing a
fabric
article. The method comprises: drying the fabric article in a fabric article
drying appliance; and
applying a benefit composition as a spray to the fabric article in the fabric
article drying
appliance, wherein the benefit composition comprises an agent for enhancing
the whiteness and/or
brightness of the fabric article. In one exemplary embodiment, the whiteness
and/or brightness
enhancement agent comprises one or more brighteners or dyes, or a mixture
thereof.
In one embodiment, the benefit composition is applied to the fabric article in
an amount
sufficient to provide whiteness and/or brightness enhancement. In another
embodiment of the
present invention, from about 0.1 ml to about 2,000 ml of the benefit
composition is applied to the
fabric article in the fabric article drying appliance. Alternatively, from
about 1 ml to about 1,000
ml of the benefit composition may be applied to the fabric article in the
fabric article drying
appliance. Alternatively, from about 10 ml to about 200 ml of the benefit
composition is applied
to the fabric article in the fabric article drying appliance.
The benefit composition is applied as a spray. In one aspect of the present
invention, the
spray of the benefit composition has a liquid droplet size of from about 10 ~m
to about 100 mm.
Alternatively, the spray of the benefit composition has a liquid droplet size
of from about 100 ~m
to about 1 mm. Alternatively, the spray of the benefit composition has a
liquid droplet size of
from about 200 ~m to about 700 elm. In further embodiments, the spray may
comprise solid
particles or a gaseous form.
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In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the method further
comprises
drying the fabric article without the addition of heat. In an alternative
embodiment of the present
invention, the fabric article is dried with air heated to a temperature of
from about 50 °F to about
300 °F. Alternatively, the fabric article is dried with air heated to a
temperature of from about 70
°F to about 200 °F. Alternatively, the fabric article is dried
with air heated at a temperature of
from about 100 °F to about 180 °F.
In yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the fabric
article is dried
in the fabric article drying appliance for a period of time from about 1
second to about 10 hours.
Alternatively, the fabric article is dried for a period of time from about 1
minute to about 1 hour.
Alternative, the fabric article is dried for a period of time from about 5
minutes to about 45
minutes.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the amount of fabric articles
dried in the
fabric article drying appliance ranges from about 0.1 lb to about 20 lbs.
Alternatively, the amount
of fabric articles dried is from about 1 lb to about 10 lbs. Alternatively,
the amount of fabric
articles dried is from about 2 lbs to about 8 lbs.
It will be understood that the present invention can be readily used in other
types of fabric
"treating" devices, and is not limited solely to clothes "dryers". In the
context of this patent
document, the terms "dryer" or "drying apparatus" or "fabric article drying
appliance" include
devices that may or may not perform a true drying function, but may involve
treating fabric
without attempting to literally dry the fabric itself. As noted above, the
ternls "dryer" or "drying
apparatus" or "fabric article drying appliance" may include a "dry cleaning"
process or apparatus,
which may or may not literally involve a step of drying. The term "fabric
article drying
appliance" as used herein, also refers to any fabric treating device that
utilizes moving air directed
upon one or more fabric articles, a non-limiting example of which includes a
clothes dryer, and
modifications thereof. Such devices include both domestic and commercial
drying units used in
dwellings, Laundromats, hotels, and/or industrial settings. In addition, it
should be noted that
some drying appliances include a drying chamber (or "drum") that does not
literally move or
rotate while the drying appliance is operating in the drying cycle. Some such
dryers use moving
air that passes through the drying chamber, and the chamber does not move
while the drying cycle
occurs. Such an example dryer has a door or other type of access cover that
allows a person to
insert the clothing to be dried into the chamber. In many cases, the person
hangs the clothes on
some type of upper rod within the drying chamber. Once that has been done, the
door (or access
cover) is closed, and the dryer can begin its drying function. Dispensing of a
benefit composition
can take place within such a unit, however, care should be taken to ensure
that the benefit
composition becomes well dispersed within the drying chamber, so that certain
fabric items do
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not receive a very large concentration of the benefit composition while other
fabric items receive
very little of the benefit composition.
Suitable delivery systems for applying the benefit composition as a spray to a
fabric
article in the fabric article drying appliance include, but are not limited
to, fabric article treating
devices and systems that spray or otherwise release a benefit composition into
a receiving volume
of the fabric article drying appliance. These fabric article devices and
systems would typically
comprise: an internal dispenser and a reservoir adapted for containing the
benefit composition.
Reference will now be made in detail to suitable exemplary embodiments of
fabric article
treatment devices and systems for delivering a benefit composition comprising
an agent for
enhancing the whiteness and/or brightness of a fabric article.
Fig. 1 illustrates an exemplary fabric article treating device 20 according to
one
embodiment of the present invention. The fabric article treating device 20
comprises an interior
dispenser 25 adapted for location inside of a fabric article drying appliance
and a reservoir 30.
The interior dispenser 25 and the reservoir 30 are adapted for fluid
communication with one
another, for example via fluid line 32. In one embodiment, the fluid
connection between the
interior dispenser 25 and the reservoir 30 comprises tubing configured to
allow the benefit
composition to be transported from the reservoir 30 to the interior dispenser
25. One exemplary
tubing comprises a polymeric tubing with one or more channels or conduits. In
one embodiment,
the tubing is configured to allow the closure structure on the fabric article
drying appliance to
maintain a closed position while still permitting dispensing of the benefit
composition. The
reservoir 30 is adapted to contain a benefit composition. In one exemplary
embodiment, the
reservoir 30 is removable. In another exemplary embodiment, the reservoir 30
comprises a sealed
pouch.
The reservoir 30 may be constructed of any material known in the art and at
least a
portion of the reservoir is formed of a material comprising an anti-microbial
agent. Non-limiting
examples of such materials include polymeric materials including but not
limited to
polypropylene, polyethylene, styrenics, polyesters, polyethylene terephthalate
(PET),
polycarbonates, PMMA, polyvinyls, Nylon, polyurethane, acrylic, epoxies,
acetates, acrylonitrile-
butadiene-styrene, fluoropolymers, latex, nitrite copolymers, nylons,
polychloroprene,
polyvinylchloride, Rayon, rubbers (natural and synthetic), silicone, and
combinations thereof.
Other exemplary materials of construction include a metal, for example
aluminum foil. In one
embodiment, the reservoir 30 comprises multiple layers of one or more
materials. In another
embodiment, the reservoir 30 comprises a single or multiple layer barrier
film.
In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the reservoir 30 is
adapted for
location on an interior portion of the fabric article drying appliance 20. For
example, the reservoir
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may be located in the chamber of the fabric article drying appliance.
Alternatively, the reservoir
may be located within the fabric article drying appliance, but not within the
chamber of the fabric
article drying appliance. Further, the reservoir may be adapted for location
on an exterior portion
of the fabric article drying appliance.
The interior dispenser 25 may comprise at least one nozzle for the purpose of
distributing
the benefit composition into the fabric article drying appliance.
Misting/atomizing of the benefit
composition can be achieved using any suitable spraying device such as a
hydraulic nozzle, sonic
nebulizer, pressure swirl atomizers, high pressure fog nozzle or the like to
deliver target particle
size. Non-limiting examples of suitable nozzles include nozzles commercially
available from
Spray Systems, Inc. of Pomona, California under the Model Nos. 850, 1050,
1250, 1450 and
1650. Another suitable example of a nozzle is a pressure swirl atomizing
nozzle made by
Seaquist Perfect Dispensing of Cary, Illinois under Model No. DU-3813.
In another exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the fabric article
treating
device 20 further comprises fitment 44, which is one of corresponding male and
female fitments,
and the reservoir 30, shown as a sealed pouch or carton, comprises the other
fitment 42 of the
corresponding male and female fitments, wherein the female fitment is
configured to receive the
male fitment to establish the fluid communication between the interior
dispenser 25 and the
reservoir 30. In the embodiment of Fig. 2, the fitment 42 on the reservoir 30
is the female
fitment, while the corresponding male fitment 44 is adapted for fluid
connection with the
dispenser 25, for example via a fluid handling system as described hereafter.
Various
corresponding male and female fitments which establish fluid communication are
generally
known in the art and are suitable for use herein. One exemplary fitment that
may be utilized is
available from IPN USA Corp. of Peachtree City, Georgia, available as Clean-
Clic RO pouch
fitments, model number SBS-4. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, any
fitment system can
be utilized in the present invention provided the fitments are configured to
maintain fluid
communication between the reservoir 30 and the interior dispenser 25.
In one exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the fabric article
treating device 20
further comprises a fluid handling system 55, a power source 50 and a
controller 60. In one
exemplary embodiment, the fluid handling system 55 is configured to transport
the benefit
composition from the reservoir 30 to the interior dispenser 25. The interior
dispenser 25 is
configured to deliver the benefit composition to one or more fabric articles
in the fabric article
drying appliance. The power source 50 is configured to provide electrical
power as needed by the
fluid article treating device, such as the controller 60, the fluid handling
system 55, sensors, and
any electrical needs of a user interface. The controller 60 is configured to
regulate the dispensing
of the benefit composition. For example, the controller 60 may determine the
optimum time to
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dispense the benefit composition, the quantity of benefit composition to be
dispensed and the rate
at which to dispense the benefit composition. In one embodiment, the fabric
article treating
device further comprises a communication link adapted to provide communication
between the
controller of the fabric article treating device and the fabric article drying
appliance. For example,
the controller may send and/or receive signals to/from the fabric article
drying appliance to
determine the optimum benefit composition dispensing conditions such as, time,
length, etc.
Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Fig.
4. In this
exemplary embodiment, the fabric article treating device 20 further comprises
a housing 65. The
housing 65 is adapted to receive various components of the fabric article
treating device,
optionally, the housing may substantially enclose and protect the components
in their assembled
form. For example, as shown in Fig. 4, the housing may receive the power
source S0, the fluid
handling system 55, the controller 60 and the reservoir 30. In another
embodiment, the housing
may comprise a tubing storage area adapted to contain a quantity of fluid line
32 to allow the user
to customize the installation of the fabric article treating device for the
user's particular fabric
article drying appliance. The housing 65 may be constructed with any materials
known to one
skilled in the art. Exemplary materials include, but are not limited to,
polymers, plastics,
ceramics, metals, fabric, wood, and the like. The housing 65 may be located on
the exterior or
interior of the fabric article drying appliance.
In one exemplary embodiment as illustrated in Fig. 5, the fluid handling
system 55
comprises a pump 70. The pump 70 is in communication with the reservoir 30 and
the interior
dispenser 25 via fluid lines 72 and 74, respectively. The pump 70 is
configured to transport
benefit composition from the reservoir 30 to the interior dispenser 25 for
dispensing of the benefit
composition. In one embodiment, the pump 70, comprises a piezo-electric pump.
In another
embodiment, the pump 70 may comprise a diaphragm pump. As one skilled in the
art will
appreciate any pump known to one skilled in the art may be utilized to
transport the benefit
composition from the exterior reservoir 30 to the interior dispenser 25. Other
exemplary pumps
include piston pumps, peristaltic pumps, and bellows-type pumps.
As noted above, one type of pump 70 that can be used in the present invention
is a piezo-
electric pump. While a piezo-electric pump has certain membranes or
laminations which may
vibrate in a reciprocating-type fashion, the piezo-electric pumps generally do
not have major
moving parts, such as rotating shaft and bearings used with a rotator member
to displace a fluid or
gaseous fluid, that experience wear over time. One commercially available
suitable piezo-electric
pump usable in the present invention is manufactured by PAR Technologies, LLC,
located in
Hampton, Virginia, and marketed as the "LPD-Series" laminated piezo-electric
fluid pumps.
Pumps which draw a relevantly low current are particularly suitable in certain
embodiments.
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In another embodiment, the reservoir 30 may be positioned in such a way to
provide
gravitation flow of the benefit composition to the interior dispenser 25. For
example, the
reservoir 30 may be mounted above the fabric article drying appliance to
create static head on the
benefit composition to allow dispensing of the benefit composition without the
utilization of a
pump.
Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Fig.
6. In this
embodiment, as in previously discussed embodiments, the fabric article
treating device 20
comprises an interior dispenser 25 adapted for location inside of a fabric
article drying appliance
and a reservoir 30 adapted to contain a benefit composition. The interior
dispenser 25 and the
reservoir 30 are adapted for fluid communication with one another. The device
further comprises
a controller 60 in electrical communication with a sensor 75. In one exemplary
embodiment, the
sensor comprises a temperature sensor. In another exemplary embodiment, the
sensor 75
comprises a light sensor. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the sensor 75
comprises a
motion sensor. The controller 60 is adapted to send and/or receive signals
from the sensor 75 and
to determine the dispensing conditions for dispensing the benefit composition.
Another embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in Fig. 7, is a
fabric article
treating system 80. The fabric article treating system 80 comprises a fabric
article drying
appliance 35 having a chamber 81 and a closure structure 85, for example, a
door. The closure
structure 85 has a closed position and at least one open position. The closure
structure 85 allows
access to the chamber 81 of the fabric article drying appliance 35. The fabric
article treating
system 80 further comprises a reservoir 30 for containing a benefit
composition; a dispenser 25 in
communication with the chamber 81; and a fluid handling system 55 that compels
the benefit
composition from the reservoir 30 toward the dispenser 25, thereby dispensing
the benefit
composition into the chamber 81. As discussed above, the reservoir 30 may be
removable. In
another embodiment, the reservoir 30 comprises a sealed pouch.
Another embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in Fig. 8, is a
fabric article
treating system 80. The fabric article treating system 80 comprises a fabric
article drying
appliance 35 having a chamber 81 and a closure structure 85. The closure
structure 85 has a
closed position and at least one open position, wherein the closure structure
85 allows access to
the chamber 81. The fabric article treating system 80 further comprises a
reservoir 30 for
containing a benefit composition and a dispenser 25 in communication with the
chamber 81; a
fluid handling system 55 that compels the benefit composition from the
reservoir 30 toward the
dispenser 25, thereby dispensing the benefit composition into the chamber 81;
a closure structure
sensor 88; and a controller 60 that initiates dispensing of the benefit
composition. The controller
60 is configured to prevent the benefit composition from being dispensed when
the closure
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13
structure sensor 88 indicates that the closure structure 85 is not in the
closed position. In another
embodiment, the fabric article treating system 80 further comprises one or
more additional
sensors 75 in the chamber in communication with the controller.
The reservoir 30 may be mounted on the exterior portion of the fabric article
drying
appliance 35, such as on the fabric article drying appliance closure structure
85, or a side wall, a
top wall, an outer surface of a top-opening lid, or the like, including a
stand, wall or other
household structure that is separate from the fabric article drying appliance.
Moreover, the
reservoir 30 may be mounted on any interior portion of the fabric article
drying appliance 35,
examples of which include, but are not limited to, the interior surface of the
closure structure 85,
the drum of the fabric article drying appliance, the back wall, the inner
surface of a top opening
lid, or the like.
Optionally, filters andlor filtering techniques can be used to filter the
benefit composition,
if desired, for example at a point between the reservoir 30 and the outlet of
the dispenser 25.
Non-limiting examples of this include: utilizing a filter in the interior
dispenser 25 prior to
dispensing of the benefit compositions. Alternatively, the benefit composition
may be filtered
prior to dispensing into the reservoir; or a combination of filtering
techniques may be employed.
The interior dispenser 25 and the reservoir 30 are adapted for fluid
communication with
one another. In one embodiment, the interior dispenser 25 and the reservoir 30
may be in
electrical connection with one another. Non-limiting examples of means for
connecting the
interior dispenser 25 and the reservoir 30 may include utilizing a flat cable
(also referred to as a
ribbon cable), a wire, a wire or group of wires enclosed in a stealth of woven
or nonwoven
material, a conduit (a non-limiting example of which is a conduit for the
benefit composition), or
combination thereof. The woven or nonwoven sheet may be used as a method of
attaching the
interior dispenser 25 and the reservoir 30. The interior dispenser 25 and the
reservoir 30 may be
used to provide a means of gravitational counterbalancing so as to reduce
unnecessary tension on
the wires andlor the connections.
The power source 50 may comprise chemical batteries, or any electrical power
source,
including standard household line voltage, or even solar power. Batteries may
be utilized, and are
particularly suitable when the fabric article treating device 20 is in the
form of an add-on device
for an existing fabric article drying appliance 35. However, any appropriate
power adapter can be
provided to convert an AC power source to the appropriate DC voltages used in
any electrical
components of the fabric article treating device 20, such as in the fluid
handling system 55, the
controller 60, and any sensors 75. The power source 50 may also comprise any
mechanical power
source used to store potential energy, such as springs, weights or compressed
gases.
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As noted, the fabric article treating device 20 can include optional sensors
75. Non-
limiting examples of optional sensors include a door (or lid sensor), a motion
sensor, a static
sensor, a humidity sensor, and/or a temperature sensor. One non-limiting
example of a door/lid
sensor is an optoelectronic device, such as an optocoupler or an optical input
sensor, e.g., a
phototransistor or photodiode. When the door/lid of the drying appliance is
open, the door sensor
will change state, and will output a different voltage or current level along
an electrical conductor
that leads from the door sensor back to the controller. This can be used as a
safety device to
immediately interrupt the dispensing of the benefit composition from the
interior dispenser 25.
The optional door sensor could be utilized even when a control system is
integrated into the
overall conventional control system of the drying appliance. For example, a
drying appliance
typically has its own door sensor which shuts off the rotating drum of the
dryer when the door
becomes open. In this instant, the optional door sensor can act as a backup or
second door sensor
to the dryer's internal original sensor that shuts off the rotating drum. One
example which could
be used as a door/lid sensor is an NPN Phototransistor, Part No. PNA1801L,
manufactured by
Panasonic, of Osaka, Japan. In another embodiment, a communication link could
be established
between the drying appliance and the controller, wherein the drying appliance
would send the
controller a signal relating to the operational state of the drying appliance
(e.g., door open/closed,
drying cycle, temperature, etc.).
Another type of optional sensor 75 that can be utilized by the fabric article
treating device
20 of the present invention is a motion sensor. For fabric article drying
appliances 35 which
utilize a moving interior, such as a rotating drum, the motion sensor can
detect if a fabric article
drying appliance is in use. One example of a motion sensor is a vibration and
movement sensing
switch manufactured by ASSEM Tech Europe Ltd., of Clifton, New Jersey,
available as Model
No. CW 1600-3. Another type of optional motion sensor that may be used in the
present invention
uses a light source to direct (infrared) light at a surface, and the relevant
motion of that surface
can be detected by the intensity and/or frequency of the returning light. Such
sensors can measure
the actual speed of rotation, if that information is desired.
Another optional sensor 75 that can be used in a fabric article treating
device 20 of the
present invention is a humidity sensor. The optional humidity sensor, together
with the controller,
may be used to control the amount of composition being dispensed by the
interior dispenser 25,
and also may be utilized to determine the proper environmental conditions
during an operational
cycle in which the dispensing event should take place. Additionally, this
humidity sensor may be
used to maintain a specific humidity by controlling the dispensing the benefit
composition such
that optimal de-wrinkling and/or other benefits are achieved. Many different
types of humidity
sensors could be used in conjunction with the present invention, including
variable conductivity
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sensors. One such sensor is manufactured by Honeywell, of Freeport, Illinois
under the Model
No. HIH-3610-001, although any of the HIH-3610 series, or other available
sensors may be used.
A further optional sensor 75 that can be useful in the fabric article treating
device 20 of
the present invention is a temperature sensor, such as one that outputs an
analog or digital signal
along the electrical conductor that leads back to the controller.
As noted above, the fabric article treating device 20 may comprise a
controller 60. In one
embodiment, the controller may be a microcontroller. A suitable
microcontroller is manufactured
by Microchip, of Chandler, Arizona under the Part No. PIC16LS876-04/P.
However, other
microcontrollers made by different manufacturers could also easily be used. In
one exemplary
embodiment, the microcontroller includes on-board random access memory (RAM),
on-board
read only memory (ROM), which comprises electrically programmable non-volatile
memory
elements, as well as on-board input and output lines for analog and digital
signals. The controller
may also be used with a crystal clock oscillator, although a RC circuit could
be used instead as a
clock circuit, if desired. The clock circuit provides the timing of the clock
as necessary to operate
the controller. In one embodiment, the controller comprises a port that can be
interfaced to an
optional programmable interface using a connnunication link, such as RS-232
communication
link. The port allows a user to alter the program information of the
controller, such as dispensing
options, etc.
One skilled in the art will appreciate that the controller can be any type of
microprocessor
or microcontroller circuit commercially available, either with or without on-
board RAM, RAM,
or digital and analog input/output (I/O). Moreover, a sequential processor may
be used to control
the fabric article treating device 20, or alternatively a parallel processor
architecture or a logic
state machine architecture could be used. Furthermore, the controller 60 may
be integrated into
an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) containing many other logic
elements that
could be used for various functions, as desired, such functions being optional
depending upon the
model of the fabric article treating device 20 that will be sold to a
consumer. To change model
features, the manufacturer need only program the ASIC or the on-board RAM of
the controller
according to the special parameters of that particular model, while using the
same hardware for
each of the units.
It will also be understood that discrete digital logic could be used instead
of any type of
microprocessor microcontroller unit, or analog control circuitry could be used
along with voltage
comparators and analog timers, to control the timing events and to make
decisions based on input
levels of the various sensors that are provided with the fabric article
treating device 20.
Exemplary fabric article treating devices and systems include those described
in co-
pending U.S. Application No. 10/697,735 filed on October 29, 2003; U.S.
Application No.
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16
10/697,685 filed on October 29, 2003; U.S. Application No. 10/697,734 filed on
October 29,
2003; U.S. Application No. 10/697,736 filed on October 29, 2003; and U.S.
Application No.
10/762,152 filed on 10/762,152.
All documents cited in the detailed description of the invention are, in
relevant part,
incorporated herein by reference; a citation of any document is not to be
construed as an
admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated
and
described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other
changes and
modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention. It is
therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and
modifications that are
within the scope of this invention.
