# US 11,078,443 B2 · Fabric softener composition

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- Number: US 11,078,443 B2
- Document ID: US11078443B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/973,723
- Filed: 2018-05-08
- Published: 2018-11-22
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2017-05-18
- Assignees: The Procter & Gamble Company
- Applicants: The Procter & Gamble Company
- Inventors: Pieter Jan Maria Saveyn; Evelyne Johanna Lutgarde Vanhecke; Susana Fernandez Prieto; Johan Smets; Bruno Jean-Pierre Matthys
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078443B2

## CPC

- C11D 3/0015: {liquid}
- C11D 3/046: {Salts}
- C11D 3/222: {Natural or synthetic polysaccharides, e.g. cellulose, starch, gum, alginic acid or cyclodextrin}
- C11D 3/227: {with nitrogen-containing groups}
- C11D 3/30: Amines; Substituted amines {; Quaternized amines}
- C11D 3/361: {Phosphonates, phosphinates or phosphonites}
- C11D 3/505: {encapsulated or adsorbed on a carrier, e.g. zeolite or clay}
- C11D 2111/12: Soft surfaces, e.g. textile
- C11D: DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL

## Abstract

A liquid fabric softener composition and processes for making and using same. In particular a liquid fabric softener composition comprising a structurant providing the desired viscosity which remains stable over time.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A liquid fabric softener composition comprising, based on the weight of the liquid fabric softener composition:
a) from about 4% to 15% of fabric softening active, wherein the fabric softening active is an ester quaternary ammonium compound;
b) from about 0.01% to about 1% of chitosan;
c) from about 0.002% to about 2% of salt, wherein the salt is selected from the group consisting of CaCl2, NaCl, MgCl2, and combinations thereof; and
d) from about 0.1% to about 6% of dispersed perfume oil;
wherein the liquid fabric softener is free of a conventional structurant, and
wherein the liquid fabric softener is characterized by a viscosity loss of less than 50% in 1 month storage at 50° C.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The liquid fabric softener composition according to claim 1 the quaternary ammonium compound has the following formula:
{R2(4-m)—N+—[X—Y—R1]m}A−
wherein:
m is 1, 2 or 3 with proviso that the value of each m is identical;
each R1 is independently hydrocarbyl, or branched hydrocarbyl group;
each R2 is independently a C1-C3 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group;
each X is independently —(CH2)n—, —CH2—CH(CH3)— or —CH—(CH3)—CH2— and
each n is independently 1, 2, 3 or 4;
each Y is independently —O—(O)C— or —C(O)—O—;
A− is independently selected from the group consisting of chloride, methyl sulfate, and ethyl sulfate;
with the proviso that when Y is —O—(O)C—, the sum of carbons in each R1 is from about 13 to about 21.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The liquid fabric softener composition according to claim 1, wherein the chitosan has a molecular weight from about 10,000 g/mol to about 4,000,000 g/mol.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The liquid fabric softener composition according to claim 1, comprising, based on the weight of the liquid fabric softener composition, from about 0.005% to about 0.5% of said salt.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The liquid fabric softener composition according to claim 1, comprising, based on the weight of the liquid fabric softener composition, from about 0.02% to about 5%, of particles selected from the group consisting of beads, encapsulated benefit agent, pearlescent agents and combinations thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The liquid fabric softener composition according to claim 5, wherein the encapsulated benefit agent is a perfume composition.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The liquid fabric softener composition according to claim 6, wherein said perfume composition is encapsulated in capsules and said capsules comprise a capsule shell, the capsule shell comprising one or more wall materials comprising melamine, polyacrylate and combinations thereof.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The liquid fabric softener composition according to claim 5, further comprising about 0.001 to about 1% of a deposition aid, said deposition aid is selected from the group consisting of polyvinylformamide, partially hydroxylated polyvinylformamide, polyvinylamine, polyethylene imine, ethoxylated polyethylene imine, polyvinylalcohol, polyacrylates, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The liquid fabric softener composition according to claim 1, comprising, based on the weight of the liquid fabric softener composition, from about 0.01% to about 10% of a nonionic surfactant.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The liquid fabric softener composition according to claim 1, wherein the liquid fabric softener composition has a dynamic yield stress at about 20° C. from about 0.001 Pa to about 1.0 Pa.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The liquid fabric softener composition according to claim 1, having a viscosity at about 21° C. of from about 50 mPa·s to about 800 mPa·s as measured with a rotational viscometer, spindle 2 for viscosities between 50 mPa·s and about 400 mPa·s, spindle 3 for viscosities between 401 mPa·s and 800 mPa·s, at 60 rpm, at about 21° C.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The liquid fabric softener composition according to claim 1, wherein the salt comprises MgCl2.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The liquid fabric softener composition according to claim 1, wherein the salt comprises CaCl2.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The liquid fabric softener composition according to claim 1, wherein the salt comprises MgCl2 and CaCl2.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The liquid fabric softener composition according to claim 1, wherein the salt is present at a level of from about 0.01% to 0.3%, based on the weight of the liquid fabric softener composition.