Fabric softener article for an automatic washer and method using same
AssigneeThe Drackett Company
InventorsJoseph A. Bolan, Michael A. Grimmer
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Abstract
A fabric conditioning article having controlled release properties comprising a porous substrate impregnated with one or more portions of a fabric softening composition consisting essentially of a softening agent and a dispersing system for the release of effective amounts of the softening composition into the aqueous medium of an automatic washing machine during the rinse cycle. Also provided are methods of treating laundry with a fabric softening composition during the rinse cycle of an automatic washer and a method for making the article.
Claims23
A fabric conditioning article for a washing machine which comprises:
- (a) a block made of a substantially porous foam, felt, or layered cloth material having from about 10 to 100 pores per linear inch wherein the pores are at least partially open;
- (b) an effective amount of a fabric softening composition consisting essentially by weight of from about 50% to about 70% of a softening agent and from about 30% to about 50% of a dispersing system;
- wherein said dispersing system consists essentially of at least two nonionic surfactants;
- wherein the fabric softening composition is impregnated into the block, in the form of one or more impregnated portions in said block;
- wherein said impregnated portions extend into the block;
- and wherein a part of each impregnated portion is exposed on a surface of the block;
- and
- whereby release of substantial amounts of the fabric softening composition is delayed until some time after the beginning of the wash cycle of the washing machine.
A process of making a fabric conditioning article which comprises the steps of:
- (a) depressing one of the surfaces of a porous block with a hollow impregnating member;
- (b) pouring a liquid fabric softening composition through the hollow impregnating member while gradually releasing the compressive force on the surface of the porous block, thereby causing the fabric softening composition to impregnate a portion of the porous block;
- and
- (c) then allowing the fabric softener composition to solidify;
- wherein said fabric softening composition consists essentially by weight of from about 50% to about 70% of a softening agent, and from about 30% to about 50% of a dispersing system;
- wherein said dispersing system consists essentially of at least two nonionic surfactants.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.