Reusable dryer products with end-of-life indicators and methods for fabriciating such reusable dryer products
AssigneeThe Dial Corporation
InventorsTasha Zander, Jeffrey Bankers
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Dryer products for imparting desired properties onto fabric during multiple drying cycles in laundry dryers and methods for fabricating dryer products are provided herein. In one embodiment, a dryer product is provided for use during multiple drying cycles in a laundry dryer and includes a solid body comprising a polymeric material. The dryer product further includes an active compound in and/or on the solid body. The dryer product is configured to release the active compound during a selected number of drying cycles at a temperature of from about 40° C. to about 100° C. The solid body is configured to fray after the selected number of drying cycles to indicate end-of-life.
Claims20
A dryer product for use during multiple drying cycles in a laundry dryer comprising:
- a solid body comprising a polymeric material;
- an active compound in and/or on the solid body;
- wherein the dryer product is configured to release the active compound during a selected number of drying cycles at a temperature of from about 40° C. to about 100° C.;
- and
- wherein the solid body is configured to physically deteriorate after the selected number of drying cycles to indicate end-of-life.
A dryer product that imparts antistatic properties to fabric comprising:
- a solid plastic body formed from a polymeric material, configured to be removably placed within a drum of a dryer for contacting the fabric during a drying cycle;
- and
- a compound within the solid plastic body, wherein the compound comprises an antistatic agent configured to impart antistatic properties to the fabric upon contact with the fabric during the drying cycle;
- wherein the solid plastic body contains a sufficient amount of the compound such that the dryer product can be used for more than one drying cycle while still imparting antistatic properties to the fabric being dried so that static electricity produced during each drying cycle is no more than 10 kilovolts;
- and
- wherein the solid plastic body is configured to fray after a selected number of drying cycles to indicate end-of-life.
A method for fabricating a reusable dryer product configured to impart a fragrance onto a fabric during a selected number of drying cycles, the method comprising the steps of:
- heating a polymeric material into a pliable form;
- adding the fragrance to the pliable form;
- and
- cooling the pliable form in a mold to form the reusable dryer product configured for removable placement within a drum of an automated dryer for contacting the fabric during the selected number of drying cycles, and configured to fray after the selected number of drying cycles to indicate end-of-life.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.