Fabric softener device for in-dryer use

Abstract

A system for the softening or other treatment of fabric articles is provided which comprises a vented bag comprising a fastening system and flexible sheet releasably impregnated with an effective amount of a liquid fabric-treatment composition.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A fabric-softening system adapted for containment and softening a fabric article, said device comprising a bag which comprises an opening incorporating a fastening system so that the bag can enclose a moistened fabric article and a flexible sheet having an effective amount of a liquid fabric-softener formulation releasably absorbed thereinto, wherein said bag is formed of a flexible, vented material which is not substantially damaged upon exposure to agitation and to a temperature effective to cause the release of said fabric-softening formulation from said non-woven sheet.  
     
     
         2 . The system of    claim 1    wherein the fabric-softener formulation consists essentially of about 30-50% water-miscible organic solvent, about 15-25% water; about 2.5-25% of one or more fabric softening agents; about 10-20% of a dispersing agent, and about 2-5% of a surfactant.  
     
     
         3 . The system of    claim 2    wherein the organic solvent comprises at least one glycol ether.  
     
     
         4 . The system of    claim 2    wherein the surfactant comprises a nonionic surfactant.  
     
     
         5 . The system of    claim 2    wherein the surfactant comprises an amphoteric surfactant.  
     
     
         6 . The system of    claim 2    wherein the dispersing agent comprises a fatty acid, a modified mineral clay, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The system of    claim 6    wherein the dispersing agent comprises an alkali metal salt of stearic acid or a modified mineral clay.  
     
     
         8 . The system of    claim 1    wherein said fastening system of said bag consists of press-studs, clips, a zipper, a Velcro® strip, a Ziplock® seal or opposed strips of resealable adhesive.  
     
     
         9 . The system of    claim 1    wherein said flexible vented material consists of polypropylene, polyethylene or polyamide.  
     
     
         10 . The system of    claim 1    wherein said sheet is a woven or non-woven textile sheet.  
     
     
         11 . A fabric-treatment system adapted for containment and treatment of a fabric article, said system comprising a bag which comprises an opening incorporating a fastening system so that the bag can enclose a moistened fabric article and a flexible sheet having an effective amount of a liquid fabric-treatment formulation releasably absorbed thereinto, wherein said bag is formed of a flexible vented material which is not substantially damaged upon exposure to agitation and to a temperature effective to cause the release of said fabric-treatment formulation from said flexible sheet.  
     
     
         12 . The system of    claim 11    wherein the fabric-treatment formulation consists essentially of about 30-50% water-miscible organic solvent, about 15-25% water; about 2.5-25% of one or more fabric-treatment agents; about 10-20% of a dispersing agent, and about 2-5% of a surfactant.  
     
     
         13 . The system of    claim 12    wherein the fabric-treatment agent is chosen from the group consisting of anti-creasing agents, anti-soil agents,  
       anti-static agents, bacteriostatic agents, brightening agents, bodying agents, dyes, fiber emollients, finishing agents, fragrances, germicides, lubricants, mildew-proofing or moth-proofing agents, shrinkage controllers, sizing agents and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         14 . The system of    claim 12    wherein the organic solvent comprises at least one glycol ether.  
     
     
         15 . The system of    claim 12    wherein the dispersing agent comprises an alkali metal salt of stearic acid or a modified mineral clay.  
     
     
         16 . The system of    claim 11    wherein said fastening system of said bag consists of press-studs, clips, a zipper, a Velcro® strip, a Ziplock® seal or opposed strips of resealable adhesive.  
     
     
         17 . The system of    claim 11    wherein said flexible vented material consists of polypropylene, polyethylene or polyamide.  
     
     
         18 . A process for softening or otherwise treating a fabric article with a fabric-treatment formulation, said process comprising: 
 (a) placing a moistened fabric article into a device, said device comprising a bag comprising an opening which incorporates a reversible fastening system so that the bag can enclose said fabric article, with a flexible sheet having an effective amount of a fabric-treatment composition releasably absorbed thereinto, said fabric-treatment composition consisting essentially of a liquid vehicle selected from the group consisting of water, a water-miscible organic solvent and mixtures thereof; an effective amount of a dispersing agent, and about 2.5-25% of a fabric-softening agent or other fabric treatment agent;    (b) closing said fastening system to form said bag into a closed system comprising said moistened fabric article and said flexible sheet;    (c) tumbling said closed system in a rotary clothes dryer at an elevated temperature, so that the fabric-treatment formulation is released from said non-woven sheet, and contacts said article so as to effectively soften or otherwise treat said article as it dries; and    (d) opening said fastening system and removing the softened and/or treated fabric article from the bag.    
     
     
         19 . The process of    claim 18    wherein the tumbling is carried out at about 40-95° C.  
     
     
         20 . The process of    claim 18    wherein the tumbling is carried out for about 15-45 minutes.  
     
     
         21 . The process of    claim 18    wherein said fabric article is an article of clothing.