Patent ID: 6045861
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: C11D,D06F,D06M

Abstract:
A process for de-wrinkling and freshening and/or aromatizing clothing or linens comprising the steps of:(i) forming a substantially anhydrous, three-dimensional, expandable sponge article located in a three-dimensional space having a vertical z axis and horizontal x and y axes, consisting essentially of:(a) a substantially anhydrous, hydrophilic, expandable sponge substance having a volumetric expandability factor of from about 1.3 up to about 4.0, having a discrete geometric shape, a thickness along the z axis in the range of from about 0.05 inches up to about 2.0 inches, an average dimension along the x axis of from about 1 inch up to about 6 inches, an average dimension along the y axis of from about 1 inch up to about 6 inches, a surface area of from about 3 square inches up to about 150 square inches and sufficient porosity to retain from about 0.25 up to about 2.0 grams of perfume oil; and(b) contained within the interstices of said sponge substance and absorbed therein from about 0.25 up to about 2.0 grams of a substantially hydrous perfume oil intimately admixed with from about 0.25 up to about 2.0 grams of at least one substantially anhydrous fragrance substantivity-fabric relaxing agent selected from the group consisting of dialkyl dimethyl quaternary ammonium salts, imidazolinium quaternary salts, diamidoamine quaternary salts and monomethyl trialkyl quaternary ammonium salts;(ii) adding water to the sponge article in a weight ratio of water:article of from about 1:5 up to about 5:1 in order to form a hydrated article;(iii) providing an automatic clothes and linen dryer having a ""fluff"" cycle which operates at from about 20.degree. C. up to about 30.degree. C. at atmospheric pressure;(iv) placing the clothing and/or linens into said automatic clothes and linen dryer;(v) placing said hydrated article into said automatic clothes and linen dryer;(vi) setting the dryer to operate for a designated time period .DELTA..theta. solely on the ""fluff"" cycle;(vii) operating said dryer for the time set for the ""fluff"" cycle; and(viii) removing the clothing and/or linens from the dryer,wherein the time set for the ""fluff"" cycle is defined according to the algorithm: ##EQU5## wherein K.sub.1, K.sub.2 and K.sub.3 are constants depending on the sponge surface area, as well as the surface area of the clothes and/or linens to be treated, and the ratio of dry cloth in the clothes and/or linens to clothes and/or linens:void space; W.sub.2 is the water remaining in the sponge article and in the clothing and/or linens to be treated after the ""fluff"" cycle; and W.sub.1 is the initial water weight in the sponge article and the clothing and/or linens to be treated.