Floating Particulate Composition for Wash Cycle Scent Release

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current laundry scent additives do not provide a consistent and pleasurable scent experience throughout the laundry process, particularly during the wash cycle, as perfume microcapsules often fail to rupture and release fragrance effectively in the wash environment.

Innovation Solution

A packaged composition of particles with a carrier, perfume, and occlusions of gas, each having a density less than 0.95 g/cm³, a mass between 0.1 mg to 5 g, and a maximum dimension of less than 10 mm, which are designed to float in wash solutions and release perfume efficiently during the wash cycle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If perfume microcapsules are used to provide scent during laundry, then scent is released when articles are worn, but the scent experience does not extend during the wash cycle itself

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescent experience durationVSAvoidperfume release reliability during wash cycle
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the scent delivery system into two distinct particle types: fast-dissolving particles that release perfume immediately during the wash cycle, and slow-dissolving particles with microcapsules that release perfume during drying and wearing. This segmentation allows each particle type to optimize its function for its specific release phase, ensuring reliable scent delivery throughout the entire laundry process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fast-dissolving particles are designed to release perfume preliminarily during the wash cycle before the drying phase occurs. This preliminary scent release fills the laundry area with fragrance during the wash, extending the scent experience timeline to begin before the articles are even removed from the machine.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If particles have higher density for better deposition on articles, then scent transfer to articles improves, but particles sink instead of floating in wash solution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescent transfer to articlesVSAvoidparticle position in wash solution
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates particles with localized properties: fast-dissolving particles have low density (float) and high solubility for immediate perfume release in water, while slow-dissolving particles have higher density (sink) and are designed for adhesion to articles during the drying phase. Each particle type's density is optimized for its specific functional role in the scent delivery process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Duration of action of moving object

If perfume is released during wash cycle, then scent experience is extended, but perfume may not transfer effectively to articles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescent experience extensionVSAvoidperfume transfer to articles
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the perfume delivery function between two particle types: fast-dissolving particles handle perfume release into the wash environment for atmospheric scent, while slow-dissolving particles with adherent properties handle perfume transfer to articles during drying. This division ensures both scent extension and reliable article transfer are achieved through specialized particle populations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

The particles effectively release perfume into the air during the wash cycle, providing a pleasant scent experience and enhancing perfume bloom, ensuring a more enjoyable laundry process by allowing perfume to transfer directly to the air from the wash liquor, thus addressing the lack of scent extension across the entire laundry process.

Implementation Method 1

each having a density less than 0.95 g/cm³, which causes the particles to float in wash solutions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentEP3310894B1Packaged composition
Publication Date: 2020.10.07 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO
  • EP3310894B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3310894B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3310894B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A packaged particulate composition having a carrier, perfume, and occlusions of gas.