# US 4,395,342 A · Granular fabric softening composition

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- Number: US 4,395,342 A
- Document ID: US4395342A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/265,757
- Filed: 1981-05-21
- Granted: 1983-07-26
- Earliest claimed: 1980-06-06
- Assignees: The Procter & Gamble Company
- Inventors: Daniel L. Strauss
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4395342A

## CPC

- C11D 3/001: {Softening compositions}
- C11D 1/62: Quaternary ammonium compounds
- D06M 13/46: Compounds containing quaternary nitrogen atoms (hydrazinium compounds D06M13/338; betaines, sulfo-betaines D06M13/342)
- D06M 23/00: Treatment of fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, characterised by the process
- C11D: DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
- D06M: TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS

## Abstract

A comelted, granular fabric softening composition which is water dispersible in the cold water rinse of a washing machine, comprising about 60% to about 85% of a di-(long chain) quaternary ammonium salt and about 15% to about 40% of a mono- (long chain) quaternary ammonium salt having from 10 to 14 carbon atoms in its single long chain. The fabric softening composition may also contain up to about 25% of optional ingredients. In one embodiment of the invention the fabric softening agent is adapted to be placed within a water-permeable envelope. The envelope can be inserted into a washing machine during a laundering operation to provide fabric softening benefits to the clothes being laundered.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A comelted, solid, granular fabric softening composition comprising:
A. 60% to 85% of a first compound having the formula: ##STR9## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are lower alkyl moieties, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are each higher alkyl or alkenyl moieties having from about 14 to about 22 carbon atoms, and X is an anion; and
B. 15% to 40% of a second compound having the formula: ##STR10## wherein R.sub.5, R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 are each lower alkyl moieties, R.sub.8 is an alkyl or alkenyl moiety having from about 10 to about 14 carbon atoms, and Y is an anion;
wherein the softening effect of said solid, granular composition is improved with, improved rinse water dispersibility.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1, wherein said R.sub.5, R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 moieties are separately selected from a group consisting of methyl, ethyl and propyl moieties.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The composition of claim 2, wherein said R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 moieties are separately selected from a group consisting of methyl, ethyl and propyl moieties.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The composition of claim 3, wherein said R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 moieties are alkyl moieties.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The composition of claim 4, wherein X and Y are anions separately selected from a group consisting of chloride, bromide, fluoride, iodide, acetate, phosphate, nitrite, methyl sulfate, ethyl sulfate and nitrate anions.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The composition of claim 5, wherein said R.sub.8 moiety is an alkyl moiety.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The composition of claim 6, wherein said R.sub.8 moiety is a myristyl moiety.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The composition of claim 7, wherein said R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.5, R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 moieties are each a methyl moiety.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The composition of claim 8, wherein X is a methyl sulfate anion and Y is a bromide anion.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1, further characterized as comprising about 70% to about 80% of said first compound and about 20% to about 30% of said second compound.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The composition of claim 10, further characterized as comprising about 75% of said first compound and about 25% of said second compound.