Patent Application
20150233035
1. Technical Field
The present subject matter relates to textile product care and maintenance. More particularly, the present subject matter relates to apparatuses and methods for regeneration of aromatherapy textile products.
2. Description of Related Art
Aromatherapy textile products have been developed that emit pleasant scents. Such textile products may be infused with various extracts and emit the scents of the extracts over time. However, as aromatherapy textile products are worn and washed, they can lose their ability to emit scents. Accordingly, there is a desire to provide techniques for the regeneration of aromatherapy textile products.
Disclosed herein are apparatuses and methods for regeneration of aromatherapy textile products. According to an aspect, an apparatus includes an outer bag defining an interior and comprising a mouth that opens to the interior. Further, the apparatus includes an inner bag positioned within the interior of the outer bag and comprising a mouth that is attached to the mouth of the outer bag, the inner bag being infusible with an extract. Prior to use, the inner bag may be infused with an herbal extract and a textile product may be placed in the interior of the inner bag. Subsequently, the mouth of the outer bag may be sealed or otherwise closed. Further, the apparatus with the textile product inside may be heated and tumbled in a dryer for further infusion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
One side of the outer bag 100 may be made of any suitable type of opaque material such that print material (e.g., a label) may be attached to it. For example, one side of the outer bag may be made of biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BoPET) material (also, referred to as MYLAR®). The other or opposing side of the outer bag may be made of a clear plastic or other suitable transparent or semi-transparent material such that the contents may be viewed from the outside. The two sides may be suitably attached together for forming the interior 102 there between. A surface of the outer bag 100 that faces outward may be reflective.
The inner bag 106 may be made of a polyester material or any other suitable type of material. For example, the inner bag may be made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Further, for example, the inner bag 106 may be a perforated nonwoven material. The inner bag 106 may be infused with an herbal extract or any other suitable type of extract.
In accordance with embodiments, one or more herbs of the same or different type may be positioned within the interior 102 of the outer bag 100 and outside of the inner bag 106. The herbs 110 may serve for decorative purposes. Further, the herbs 110 may serve to identify the type of extract in the textile product, serving a visual recognition purpose for a consumer.
In accordance with embodiments, the mouths 104 and 108 of the outer bag 100 and the inner bag 106, respectively, may be sealed together. Further, for example, the mouth 104 of the outer bag 100 may be sealably-attached for sealing the interior 102 of the outer bag 100 from an outside of the outer bag 100. For example, the mouth 104 of the outer bag 100 may include components 112A and 112B of a reusable, re-sealable zipper for sealing and closing the mouth 104. For example, the components 112A and 112B may be the components of a ZIPLOC® brand type of reusable, re-sealable zipper or another type of sealing mechanism for sealing and closing the mouth 104 of the outer bag 100.
In accordance with embodiments, the apparatus may be used for regeneration of an aromatherapy textile product. For example, the apparatus shown in
According to embodiments, the inner bag 106 may be pulled out of the outer bag 100 and infused with the herbal extract prior to a dryer/heating cycle.
Example textile products include, but are not limited to, sleepwear, undershirts, lingerie, headbands, scarves, socks, handkerchiefs, and the like. The textile product 114 may be pre-treated with the herbal infusion and placed inside the inner bag 106. The textile product may be placed inside the inner bag 106 after each wash for herbal treatment in a suitable dryer. Typical home drying can transfer oil from the inner bag 106 for infusion of the textile product 114. The dryer may provide heat and agitation. Herbal infusion replenishment spritzers may be used for replenishing the inner bag 106.
A textile product may be recharged or regenerated many times. The textile product can stay fully infused while stored in the inner bag 106.
In an alternative embodiment, the outer bag 100 and inner bag 106 are not attached. In this embodiment the inner bag 106 may be completely removed from the interior of the outer bag 100. Further, any herbs between the two bags may be removed and replaced with other herbs. Further, an organza bag having a drawstring closure may be provided so that users can utilize it as a drawn freshener and the like.
Table 1 below shows a listing of herbs that may be utilized in the examples described herein.
Echinacea
Arnica
Eucalyptus or menthol
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the subject matter. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present subject matter has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the present subject matter in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present subject matter. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present subject matter and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the present subject matter for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present subject matter have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.
This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/942,169, filed Feb. 20, 2014 and titled APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR REGENERATION OF AROMATHERAPY TEXTILE PRODUCTS, the content of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61942169 | Feb 2014 | US |
