Fabric softener system and method for use in clothes dryer

Abstract

A fabric softening system comprises a liquid fabric softening composition retained in liquid form within a substrate which is introduced into a rotary clothes dryer with laundered, wet clothing, wherein the softening composition is released into the fabric of the wet articles of clothing to impart softness.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a system and method for softening fabrics, and, more particularly, to the combination of a liquid fabric softening composition and a substrate which is effective to absorb the composition, retain it in liquid form therein and release an effective amount of the composition into clothing within a clothes dryer in the course of a drying cycle to impart softness to the articles of clothing. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The treatment of fabric with certain types of chemical compounds to impart softness when washing articles of clothing has been commonly employed in households, commercial laundromats and in the textile industry. The term “softness” refers to a quality of the fabric in which its “hand” or feel to the touch is smooth, pliable and fluffy, as distinguished from coarse or scratchy. In addition to softening agents, chemical compounds used in washing clothing often include anti-static agents to reduce the static cling of the fabr...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

In one presently preferred embodiment, the liquid fabric softening composition is a liquid comprising a softening agent in the form of a cationic surfactant, an amount of a preservative effective to prevent biological degradation of the composition and the substrate, a fragrance, and a liquid carrier. The composition is introduced into a substrate which is preferably a sheet of absorbent nonwoven material, although other liquid absorbent materials may be utilized such as woven material, open cell foam, sponge and others. The nonwoven material preferably includes highly absorbent fibers capable of absorbing many times their weight in liquid, alone or a blend of absorbent and non-absorbent fibers. The composition is sprayed, dipped or otherwise applied to the nonwoven sheet so that it is retained in liquid form by the absorbent fibers thereof, and then the moist sheets are packaged in an air tight container. A moist, nonwoven sheet is placed into the interior of a rotary clothes dryer, with wet, laundered clothing, for the duration of a normal drying cycle wherein an effective amount of the liquid fabric softening composition is released into the fabric of the clothing to impart softness.

Other advantages of the present invention highlight the deficiencies of “dry” dryer sheets now being sold such as the Bounce® dry dryer sheets available from The Proctor & Gamble Company of Cincinnati, Ohio. It has been found that the liquid fabric softening composition applied to the nonwoven sheet according to the present invention is readily released into the fabric of clothing within a clothes dryer operated at ambient temperature, comparatively low heat settings or high heat settings. Unlike dry dryer sheets which are activated only at high temperatures, the liquid fabric softening composition of the present invention is effective to soften any type of fabric at ambient temperatures or lower heat settings thus reducing static cling, wrinkling and damage to the fabric. It is believed that the mechanism for imparting the liquid fabric softening composition of this invention involves a wicking action along the surfaces of the wet clothing in the dryer. As noted above, the liquid fabric softening composition is maintained in liquid form within the nonwoven sheet. The clothing placed in the dryer is wet with water from the rinse cycle of the washing machine. When the liquid fabric softening composition comes into contact with the wet clothing in the dryer, it is wicked or transferred along the surface of the clothing by the water in the clothing. The substrate or nonwoven sheet carrying the liquid fabric softening composition need not physically contact a substantial area of the surfaces of the clothing due to such wicking action, unlike dry dryer sheets, in order to impart an effective amount of softening agent to the fabric of the clothing. This increases the efficiency of the softening system of this invention, compared to dry dryer sheets and promotes even distribution of the liquid fabric softening composition throughout the clothing within the dryer.

Problems solved by technology

When the liquid fabric softening composition comes into contact with the wet clothing in the dryer, it is wicked or transferred along the surface of the clothing by the water in the clothing.