US 2004/0063597 A1 · Fabric care compositions

Abstract

A non-liquid, liquid, liquid-gel or gelled fabric care composition and method of use comprising: (a) one or more fabric care enzymes, the fabric care enzymes effective for aiding in preventing pilling fuzzing, staining and other deterioration of fabric fibers during the wash process; (b) one or more UV protectants, the one or more UV protectants for brightening and preventing light caused photo fading or other damage to fabrics; (c) one or more surface active dispersing, emulsifying and/or solubilizing agent, the one or more surface active dispersing, emulsifying and/or solubilizing agent principally comprised of surfactants, co-surfactants, hydrotropes and solvents selected to solubilize or stabilize the composition; (d) one or more dye-transfer inhibitors, anti-redeposition agents or dye sequestrants, the one or more dye-transfer inhibitors, anti-redeposition agents or dye sequestrants to prevent re-deposition of dyes which have become transient from other fabrics; (e) one or more dye, pigment and fabric color fixative or finish protectant, the dye, pigment and fabric color fixative or finish protectant to lock-in dyes and pigments to prevent their loss in quantity or quality during soaking or washing; (f) optionally, one or more textile lubricant and/or textile softening agent, the lubricant and/or textile softening agent to coat the textiles and reduce inter-fiber and fiber surface friction; (g) one or more hardness and metal ion sequestrants and crystal growth inhibitors, the hardness and metal ion sequestrants and crystal growth inhibitors to bind free ions to prevent formation of insoluble precipitate compounds; (h) one or more chlorine and/or active oxygen scavengers or neutralizers which act to neutralize oxidizing agents, i.e., those species with oxidation potential; and (i) optionally, one or more from the following: handling, storage, processing agents to modify elastic and viscous phase properties, anti-foaming or frothing agents, anti-microbial, anti-bacterial or anti-fungal agents, pH buffer, adjustment, aesthetic dyes and/or fragrances.

Claims59

Dependent claims

A liquid, liquid-gel or gelled fabric care composition comprising:

(a) optionally, an enzymatically effective amount of one or more fabric care enzymes, the fabric care enzymes effective for aiding in preventing pilling and fuzzing of fabric fibers during the wash process;
(b) a UV protecting effective amount of one or more UV protectants, the one or more UV protectants for brightening and preventing light caused photo fading or other damage to fabrics, fabric dyes and fabric finishes, including fluorescent whiteners, and pigments;
(c) optionally, an active, dispersing, emulsifying and/or solubilizing effective amount of a surface active dispersing, emulsifying and/or solubilizing agent, the surface active dispersing, emulsifying and/or solubilizing agent principally comprised of surfactants, co-surfactants, hydrotropes and solvents selected to solubilize or stabilize the composition;
(d) a dye-transfer inhibiting and anti-redeposition effective amount of one or more dye-transfer inhibitors, anti-redeposition agents or dye sequestrants, the one or more dye-transfer inhibitors, anti-redeposition agents or dye sequestrants to prevent re-deposition of dyes which have become transient from other fabrics during the washing process;
(e) a color fixing or finish protecting effective amount of a dye, pigment and fabric color fixative or finish protectant, the dye, pigment and fabric color fixative or finish protectant to lock-in dyes and pigments to prevent their loss during soaking or washing;
(f) optionally, a lubricating or softening effective amount of a textile lubricant and/or softening agent, the textile lubricant and/or softening agent to coat the textiles and reduce inter-fiber and fiber surface friction;
(g) optionally, a sequestering and crystal growth inhibiting effective amount of hardness and metal ion sequestrants and crystal growth inhibitors and anti-encrustation agents, the hardness and metal ion sequestrants and crystal growth inhibitors to bind free ions to prevent formation of insoluble precipitate compounds;
(h) optionally, a chlorine and/or oxygen scavenging effective amount of one or more chlorine and/or active oxygen scavengers or neutralizers which act to neutralize oxidizing agents, i.e., those species with oxidation potential;
and
(i) optionally, one or more chemicals from the following:
handling, storage, processing agents to modify elastic and viscous phase properties, anti-foaming or frothing agents, anti-microbial, anti-bacterial or anti-fungal agents, pH buffer, adjustment and/or modification, as needed, aesthetic dyes and/or fragrances.

8 more elements

A liquid, liquid-gel or gelled composition for use in fabric care, the liquid, liquid-gel or gelled composition comprising the following:

(a) about 0.001% to about 5% by weight of one or more fabric care enzymes, the fabric care enzymes effective for aiding in preventing pilling fuzzing, staining and other deterioration of fabric fibers during the wash process;
(b) about 0.001% to about 20% by weight of one or more UV protectants, the one or more UV protectants for brightening and preventing light caused photo fading or other damage to fabrics;
(c) about 0.001% to about 60% by weight of one or more surface active dispersing, emulsifying and/or solubilizing agent, the one or more surface active dispersing, emulsifying and/or solubilizing agent principally comprised of surfactants, co-surfactants, hydrotropes and solvents selected to solubilize or stabilize the composition;
(d) about 0% to about 20% by weight of one or more dye-transfer inhibitors, anti-redeposition agents or dye sequestrants, the one or more dye-transfer inhibitors, anti-redeposition agents or dye sequestrants to prevent re-deposition of dyes which have become transient from other fabrics;
(e) about 0% to about 20% by weight of one or more dye, pigment and fabric color fixative or finish protectant, the dye, pigment and fabric color fixative or finish protectant to lock-in dyes and pigments to prevent their loss in quantity or quality during soaking or washing;
(f) about 0% to about 5% by weight of one or more textile lubricant and/or textile softening agent, the lubricant and/or textile softening agent to coat the textiles and reduce inter-fiber and fiber surface friction;
(g) about 0.001% to about 20% by weight of one or more hardness and metal ion sequestrants and crystal growth inhibitors and anti-encrustation agents, the hardness and metal ion sequestrants and crystal growth inhibitors and anti-encrustation agents to bind free ions to prevent formation of insoluble precipitate compounds;
(h) about 0.001% to about 6% by weight of one or more chlorine and/or active oxygen scavengers or neutralizers which act to neutralize oxidizing agents, i.e., those species with oxidation potential;
and
(i) about 0% to about 8% by weight one or more chemicals from the following:
handling, storage, processing agents to modify elastic and viscous phase properties, antifoaming or frothing agents, anti-microbial, anti-bacterial or anti-fungal agents, pH buffer, adjustment and/or modification, as needed, aesthetic dyes and/or fragrances;
and
(j) balance water or one or more other organic or other solvents.

10 more elements

A method for fabric care utilizing a fabric care liquid, liquid-gel or gelled composition comprising about 0.001% to about 5% by weight of one or more fabric care enzymes, the fabric care enzymes effective for aiding in preventing pilling fuzzing, staining and other deterioration of fabric fibers, about 0.001% to about 20% by weight of one or more UV protectants, the one or more UV protectants for brightening and preventing light caused photo fading or other damage to fabrics, about 0.001% to about 60% by weight of one or more surface active dispersing, emulsifying and/or solubilizing agent, the one or more surface active dispersing, emulsifying and/or solubilizing agent principally comprised of surfactants, co-surfactants, hydrotropes and solvents selected to solubilize or stabilize the composition, about 0.001% to about 20% by weight of one or more dye-transfer inhibitors, anti-redeposition agents or dye sequestrants, the one or more dye-transfer inhibitors, anti-redeposition agents or dye sequestrants to prevent re-deposition of dyes which have become transient from other fabrics, about 0.001% to about 20% by weight of a dye, pigment and fabric color fixative or finish protectant, the dye, pigment and fabric color fixative or finish protectant to lock-in dyes and pigments to prevent their loss in quantity or quality, about 0% to about 5% by weight of a textile lubricant and/or textile softening agent, the lubricant and/or textile softening agent to coat the textiles and reduce inter-fiber and fiber surface friction;

about 0.001% to about 20% by weight of hardness and metal ion sequestrants and crystal growth inhibitors, the hardness and metal ion sequestrants and crystal growth inhibitors to bind free ions to prevent formation of insoluble precipitate compounds;
about 0.001% to about 6% by weight of one or more chlorine and/or active oxygen scavengers or neutralizers which act to neutralize oxidizing agents, i.e., those species with oxidation potential;
and about 0% to about 8% by weight one or more chemicals from the following:
handling, storage, processing agents to modify elastic and viscous phase properties, anti-foaming or frothing agents, anti-microbial, anti-bacterial or anti-fungal agents, pH buffer, adjustment and/or modification, as needed, aesthetic dyes and/or fragrances, the method comprising the following step(s):
combining a predetermined volume of the fabric care composition, a larger predetermined volume of water and the fabric such that a dilute aqueous solution of the composition is allowed to soak into the fibers of the fabric, with chlorine and/or oxygen scavenger present, thereby rendering the fabric:
(1) free of pilling, fuzzing and/or staining;
(2) UV light protected;
(3) free of undesired dye transfer from the fabric or to the fabric;
(4) color fixed or finish protected, with reduced crystal growth or hardness present;
and (5) optionally softened or lubricated.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fabric care compositions

Life of this patent

Fabric care compositions

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims59