Patent ID: 6033729
Filing Date: 2000-03-07
Classification: C11D,D06F,D06M

Abstract:
A process for de-wrinkling and freshening and/or aromatizing clothing or linens comprising the steps of:(i) providing at least one substantially anhydrous, three-dimensional water-activatable, expandable sponge article, which article is in a permanently compressed state in the absence of water, 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, water-activatable, expandable sponge substance having a volumetric expandability factor of from about 1.3 up to about 10.0, 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 hydrophobic 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 anhydrous hydrophobic 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 compounds defined according to the structures: ##STR5## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different C.sub.8 -C.sub.22 straight chain or branched chain alkyl or alkenyl; and wherein X.sub.1 is chloro or methyl sulfate; ##STR6## wherein R.sub.3 is C.sub.12 -C.sub.18 straight chain alkyl or alkenyl; ##STR7## wherein R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are the same or different C.sub.12 -C.sub.18 straight chain allyl or alkenyl; R.sub.6 equals 2-hydroxyethyl or 2-hydroxypropyl; and X.sub.2 is methyl sulfate or chloro; and ##STR8## wherein R.sub.7, R.sub.8 and R.sub.9 are the same or different C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 straight chain or branched chain allyl; and X.sub.3 is chloro, bromo, iodo or methyl sulfate, whereby the compressed sponge article expands to 1.3 up to 10 times the original volume thereof on adding water thereto in a weight ratio of 1:5 up to 5:1 weight water:weight compressed sponge article;(ii) adding water to at least one of said sponge articles 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 ""no-heat"" (""fluff"") cycle which operates at from about 20.degree. C. up to about 30.degree. C. at atmospheric pressure and a ""low-heat"" cycle operating at from about 30.degree. C. up to about 50.degree. C. at atmospheric pressure;(iv) placing the clothing and/or linens into said automatic clothes and linen dryer;(v) placing said hydrated article(s) into said automatic clothes and linen dryer,(vi) setting the dryer to operate for a designated time period .DELTA..theta. on the ""no-heat"" (""fluff"") cycle and/or the ""low-heat"" cycle;(vii) operating said dryer for a time period set for the ""no-heat"" (""fluff"") cycle (.DELTA..theta.).sub.1 ; and/or for a time period set for the ""low-heat"" cycle, (.DELTA..theta.).sub.2 ; and(viii) removing the clothing and/or linens from the dryer,wherein the time set for the ""no-heat"" (""fluff"") and/or the ""low-heat"" cycle is defined according to the algorithm: ##EQU4## 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 ""no-heat"" (""fluff"") cycle and/or ""low-heat"" cycle; and W.sub.1 is the initial water weight in the sponge article and the clothing and/or linens to be treated.