US4563186A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-functional laundry product and employment of same during fabric laundering
Assignee: Purex Corp
•
Filing: 1984-04-05
•
Granted: 1986-01-07
•
Expires: 2004-04-05
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates generally to products useful for home laundering, and more particularly to a product which incorporates a prespotter with a detergent and having one or more of the following separate functions: detergency, fabric softening, stain removal, bleaching, and bluing; with the advantage being that both the detergent and the prespotter are uniquely packaged together as one product, negating the need to purchase and store separate products for each end use function, and also, unavoidably providing presentation of the pre-spotter to the detergent user at the time of laundering. The invention also concerns methods of use of such products during laundering.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian P. Flynn
- 👤 Deborah S. Winetzky
- 👤 George D. Evans
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 12:46
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D81/00; B65D81/32; B65D51/00; B65D51/24; B65D51/28; C; C11; C11D; C11D17/00; C11D17/04; C11D17/041; C11D2111/00; C11D2111/10; C11D2111/12; C11D2111/40; C11D2111/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
In the method of laundering fabric, the steps that include: (a) providing a first volume of detergent a portion of which is to be added to fabric laundry wash water, (b) providing a second and smaller volume of a prespotter composition in close transported association with said first volume of detergent for presentation at the time of laundering, (c) and separating some of said prespotter composition from said close association with the detergent volume and applying same to a soiled portion or portions of fabric that is thereafter laundered in said wash water containing said added portion of detergent, (d) said first volume of detergent being provided in a relatively large container, provided with a neck, (e) said prespotter composition being provided in a fitment substantially smaller than said relatively large container, (f) said (b) step including locating the fitment in the relatively large container, via said neck, (g) and gaining access to the fitment in the large container and via said neck so that prespotter composition may be dispensed, and at the time of also gaining access to the detergent in the large container, via said neck prior to said step (c) application.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
194 words
In the method of laundering fabric, the steps that include: (a) providing a first volume of detergent a portion of which is to be added to fabric laundry wash water, (b) providing a second and smaller volume of a prespotter composition in close transported association with said first volume of detergent for presentation at the time of laundering, (c) and separating some of said prespotter composition from said close association with the detergent volume and applying same to a soiled portion or portions of fabric that is thereafter laundered in said wash water containing said added portion of detergent, (d) said first volume of detergent being provided in a relatively large container, provided with a neck, (e) said prespotter composition being provided in a fitment substantially smaller than said relatively large container, (f) said (b) step including locating the fitment in the relatively large container, via said neck, (g) and gaining access to the fitment in the large container and via said neck so that prespotter composition may be dispensed, and at the time of also gaining access to the detergent in the large container, via said neck prior to said step (c) application.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1 including: (i) providing said neck at the top of said relatively large container containing said first volume of detergent, (ii) providing a sub-container containing said smaller volume of prespotter composition, and (iii) mounting said sub-container on said neck in close transported association with said container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said (iii) step includes mounting the sub-container in transported relation to the container as defined in claim 1, for presentation to the user of the detergent at the time of laundering.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 1 including incorporating beads admixed with the detergent and useful in a fabric aqueous laundering process to impart to the fabric, when dried, at least one of the properties (i) softness, and (ii) antistatic effect, each bead comprising (a) a porous substrate, (b) and substance absorbed into said substrate to produce at least one of said (i) and (ii) properties in the fabric.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 4 including a barrier layer formed about said bead substrate and absorbed substance and characterized as dispensing in laundry wash water, and allowing said barrier layer to so disperse in the wash water.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the bead substrate is selected from the group that consists of puffed borax, dendritic salt, and clay.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 5 including a solubilizing or dispersion aid mixed with said substance and also absorbed into the the bead substrate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 5 including a hardener mixed with said substance and also absorbed into the bead substrate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 7 including a hardener mixed with said substance and aid, and also absorbed into the bead substrate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said substance is cationic.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said substance comprises a material selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium compounds and imidazolinimum compounds.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said solubilizing or dispersion aid is selected from the group consisting of (x 1 ) ampholytic surfactants which contain both anionic and cationic moieties, (x 2 ) Zwitterionic surfactants which also contain both anionic and cationic moieties, (x 3 ) fatty acid soap.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said barrier layer is water soluble and is selected from the group that includes amorphous silica, inorganic salts, starch and powdered dyes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 4 wherein between about 1% and 90% of the bead weight is defined by the substrate and between about 5.0% and 75% of the bead weight is defined by said substance.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of claim 9 wherein between 1% and 90% of the bead weight is defined by the substrate and between about 0.5% and 75% of the bead weight is defined by said substance, and said mix consists of from about 1% to 100% by weight of said substance, from about 1% to 100% by weight of said solubilizing or dispersion aid, and from about 0.1% to 100% by weight of said hardener.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 14 including from about 1% to about 30% by weight of a barrier layer in finely divided solid form extending about said substrate and absorbed substance and characterized as dispersing in laundry wash water.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 15 including from about 1% to about 30% by weight of a barrier layer in finely divided solid form extending about said substrate and absorbed substance and characterized as dispersing in laundry wash water.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
19 words
The method of any one of claims 4-17 wherein multiple beads as defined are admixed with dry laundry detergent.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 including providing said container with a transparent wall via which said fitment can be seen in the container neck from the exterior.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 including (d) adding said detergent portion and fabric to the wash water in a washing machine and initiating operation of said machine to launder the fabric, said (c) step carried out just prior to said addition of the fabric to the wash water.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1875325A
Cited
US59338A
Cited
US180132A
Cited
US360460A
Cited
US498875A
Cited
US611008A
Cited
US14688A
Cited
US814503A
Cited
US815883A
Cited
US856064A
Cited
US988031A
Cited
US937049A
Cited
US1007679A
Cited
US1002293A
Cited
US1127292A
Cited
US1255772A
Cited
US1337034A
Cited
US1280534A
Cited
US1427820A
Cited
US1466593A
Cited
US1609447A
Cited
US1489993A
Cited
US1583038A
Cited
US1657312A
Cited
US1686354A
Cited
US1742279A
Cited
US1780728A
Cited
US1918307A
Cited
US1918308A
Cited
US1922434A
Cited
US1913950A
Cited
US1993978A
Cited
US1912438A
Cited
US1904777A
Cited
US2011399A
Cited
US2086119A
Cited
US2048219A
Cited
US2031381A
Cited
US2072630A
Cited
US2310491A
Cited
US2276678A
Cited
US2334546A
Cited
US2302933A
Cited
US2352951A
Cited
US2321998A
Cited
US2362223A
Cited
US2493922A
Cited
US2491663A
Cited
US2619448A
Cited
GB996193A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-01-06 | 1989-07-08 | 1990-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-01-06 | 1993-07-08 | 1994-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-01-06 | 1997-07-08 | 1998-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |