Fabric Care Particles for Custom Wash-Cycle Dosing Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Consumers desire customizable, naturally sourced fabric care products that can be easily used in the wash cycle, providing benefits beyond traditional fully formulated compositions, and addressing the need for easy dosing and effective performance.

Innovation Solution

A fabric care composition comprising particles with a fabric care active agent, modified starch, sugar alcohol polyol, and optional plasticizer polyol, dispersed in a carrier system with an anti-caking agent, designed for dispensing during the wash cycle of a washing machine.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If fabric care compositions are provided in soluble unit dose pouches or liquid/powder forms with measuring cups, then the quantity of active agents is controlled, but consumer customization and ease of use are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequantity of active agentsVSAvoidconsumer customization

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The fabric care composition is divided into multiple individual particles, each containing a specific amount of active agent. Consumers can easily control the quantity by simply adding the desired number of particles to the wash, eliminating the need for measuring cups or pre-packaged pouches while maintaining precise dosage control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If fabric care additives are used to provide benefits beyond fully formulated compositions, then fabric care performance is enhanced, but product complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefabric care performanceVSAvoidproduct complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple fabric care active agents (perfume, fabric softener, cationic polymer, dye transfer inhibitor, malodor control agent) are combined into a single particle system with a unified carrier structure. This merging approach allows consumers to use one product for multiple fabric care benefits, enhancing performance while simplifying the overall product system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If naturally sourced ingredients are used to meet consumer demand, then product appeal is improved, but formulation stability and particle integrity may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenatural sourcingVSAvoidparticle stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The particle system uses a composite carrier structure combining modified starch (natural, renewable resource) with sugar alcohol polyol and plasticizer polyol. This composite material provides the stability and mechanical integrity needed for particle formation while maintaining a naturally sourced composition that meets consumer demands for natural ingredients.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

4Ease of operation

If particles are designed for easy dispensing and dissolution, then ease of use is improved, but particle stability during storage may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedispensing easeVSAvoidstorage stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The carrier system parameters are optimized to balance storage stability and dissolution performance. The modified starch with specific dextrose equivalent (4-15), combined with sugar alcohol polyol (15-40 wt%) and controlled water content (1-10 wt%), creates particles that remain stable during storage but dissolve effectively during the wash cycle, achieving both ease of use and storage stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables consumers to customize the amount of fabric care composition used, ensuring effective performance and stability of the particles, while allowing for easy dispensing and dissolution in the wash cycle.

Implementation Method 1

the fabric care active agent, the water, and the sugar alcohol polyol are dispersed in the modified starch

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDispersion: Dispersion (of waves)

Implementation Method 2

wherein the particles each have an exterior surface and an anti-caking agent is on the exterior surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAnti-caking:

Implementation Method 3

from 15% to 40% by weight sugar alcohol polyol selected from the group consisting of erythritol, xylitol, mannitol, isomalt, maltitol, lactitol, trehalose, lactose, tagatose, sucralose, and mixtures thereof; and modified starch having a dextrose equivalent from 4 to less than 15

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMatrix formation:

Data Source

PatentEP4349950B1Fabric care composition

Publication Date: 2026.03.25 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

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AI summary

A fabric care composition including a plurality of particles, wherein each of the particles include a fabric care agent, water, a sugar alcohol polyol, and a modified starch. The modified starch can have a dextrose equivalent from 4 to 20. The fabric care active agent, said water, and said sugar alcohol polyol are dispersed in the modified starch.