Solid Fabric Conditioner with Xanthan Gum Dilution

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for more concentrated fabric conditioner products that require less packaging and water, while maintaining consumer preferences for liquid laundry products and delivering consumer-acceptable viscosity and softening benefits.

Innovation Solution

A solid fabric conditioner composition comprising a fabric softening active and xanthan gum, which can be diluted with water to produce a liquid fabric conditioner composition with a consumer-acceptable viscosity, balancing concentration and packaging efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If fabric conditioner is concentrated to reduce packaging and water usage, then environmental impact is reduced, but consumer preference for liquid products with acceptable viscosity becomes difficult to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepackaging and water usageVSAvoidconsumer preference for liquid viscosity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state parameter from liquid to solid by incorporating xanthan gum as a thickening agent, enabling the product to be concentrated while maintaining viscosity control upon dilution. This allows the fabric conditioner to be shipped in concentrated form with reduced packaging and water, yet still provide consumer-acceptable liquid viscosity when prepared at home.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes phase transition between solid and liquid states. The solid fabric conditioner composition is diluted with water to produce a liquid fabric conditioner composition, allowing concentrated transport in solid form and delivery in liquid form that consumers prefer, thus resolving the contradiction between concentration and viscosity preference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

2Ease of operation

If solid fabric conditioner composition is diluted to produce liquid form, then consumer-acceptable viscosity is achieved, but the stability of the diluted composition becomes a concern

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid viscosityVSAvoidstability of diluted composition

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Xanthan gum acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between the solid fabric conditioner active and water. It forms a stable viscosified solution upon dilution, ensuring both consumer-acceptable viscosity and compositional stability of the diluted liquid fabric conditioner composition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution provides a concentrated, environmentally friendly fabric conditioner that reduces packaging and water usage while maintaining effective softening benefits, as demonstrated by the use of xanthan gum ensuring a stable and consumer-acceptable viscosity in the diluted liquid form.

Implementation Method 1

b. Xanthan gum

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectViscosifying agent:

Data Source

PatentUS20230127811A1Dilutable fabric conditioner composition

Publication Date: 2023.04.27 CONOPCO INC

AI summary

A solid fabric conditioner composition suitable for diluting with water to produce a liquid fabric conditioner composition, the solid fabric conditioner comprising: fabric softening active and xanthan gum.