Patent Grant
7371718
The present invention relates generally to a liquid fabric softening composition and more particularly, to a liquid fabric softening composition with improved physical characteristics.
Liquid fabric softeners of various formulations are well known. Many of these formulations have fabric texture or “feel” enhancing components such as silicone based compositions that are deposited onto fabrics during laundering, often during the rinse cycle.
In this regard, fabric softeners commonly include materials that, when deposited on fabric, impart a slick feel to the fabric. This is typically accomplished by the use of polysiloxanes. However, silicones, including polysiloxanes, by their very nature, are water-insoluble. Thus, when used in fabric softening formulations, polysiloxanes will attach to fabrics during a rinse cycle, but typically do not adequately detach (wash off) during subsequent laundering. Because the polysiloxanes do not detach, over time, build up on the fabric occurs. Due to such build up, over time, fabrics become duller or dingier because of the presence of the polysiloxanes components.
Therefore, what is needed is fabric softener that includes a texture enhancing component that will deposit onto fabrics when laundered, yet which detaches from the fabric when subsequently laundered.
This summary of the invention is intended to introduce the reader to various non-limiting, exemplary aspects of the invention. Particular aspects of the invention are pointed out in other sections hereinbelow, and the invention is set forth in the appended claims which alone define its scope.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a liquid fabric softener composition is provided which includes a texture enhancing component that is deposited on a fabric during laundering, the deposited enhancing component changing the “feel” of the fabric. Preferably, the deposited enhancing component substantially detaches from the fabric in subsequent laundering cycles. For example, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the liquid fabric softener composition comprises a cationic softener, water, and a long chain difatty acid enhancing component. In this embodiment, the long chain difatty acid component of the liquid fabric softener is preferably present in an amount of about 0.1% to about 40% by weight of the composition. The enhancing component, in this instance, a long chain difatty acid, is water-insoluble in an acidic pH, such as during the rinse cycle occurring after washing fabrics with a detergent, yet water soluble in an alkaline medium enabling the deposited enhancing component to be detached from fabric in subsequent “wash” cycles.
Additionally, in various embodiments, the fabric softener composition may further comprise additional components, such as, for example, cationic detergents and softeners, carriers, dyes, fragrances, salts, and the like.
The following descriptions are of exemplary embodiments of the invention only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description is intended to provide convenient illustrations for implementing various embodiments of the invention. As will become apparent, changes may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described in these embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a liquid fabric softener composition is provided having a texture enhancing component which is deposited on a fabric when laundered to change the feel of the fabric to a consumer/user, and preferably, the deposited enhancing component substantially detaches from the fabric during subsequent laundering cycles.
For example, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the liquid fabric softener composition comprises an anionic surfactant, a cationic softener and water. The anionic surfactant is water insoluble in an acidic environment and becomes soluble in an alkaline environment. For example, an exemplary enhancing component is a long chain difatty acid. Additionally, in preferred embodiments of the present invention, the fabric softening composition comprises very little or no silicone agents, such as polysiloxanes, or other water-insoluble components which are used for enhancing or otherwise changing the texture or feel of fabric.
Preferably, enhancing component is water-insoluble in an acidic pH, such as occurs during a rinse cycle occurring after washing fabrics with a detergent so that the then water insoluble enhancing component can deposit on the fabric. However, it is preferable that the previously deposited enhancing component be removed from the fabrics after subsequent normal laundering. Thus, preferably, the enhancing component is water soluble in an alkaline medium enabling the enhancing component to detach from fabric in a “wash” cycle (e.g., using a detergent) during a later, new laundering and thus helping to prevent a build up of the enhancing component on the fabrics.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the long chain difatty acid should have more than about 18 Carbon atoms. More preferably, the long chain difatty acid should have more than about 20 carbon atoms. For example, a preferred long chain difatty acid for use in the present invention is Meadwestvaco Diacid 1550, which is a liquid monocyclic C-21 dicarboxylic acid derived from tall oil fatty acids. Any difatty acid material that imparts a slick feel to the fabrics, is water insoluble in an acidic solution, and water soluble in an alkaline medium may be used. Examples of dicarboxylic acids include, but are not limited to, Meadwestvaco 1525, L-5 and L-1.
In one preferred embodiment of the present invention and as illustrated in Tables I and II below, the long chain difatty acid is present from about 0.1 to about 40% by weight of the liquid fabric softening composition. More preferably, the long chain difatty acid is present in the amount of about 0.25 to about 30% by weight of the liquid fabric softening composition. Optimally, the long chain difatty acid is present in an amount from about 0.50 to about 25% by weight of the liquid fabric softening composition.
As briefly noted above, a fabric softener formulation in accordance with the present invention comprises a cationic surfactant. For example, as illustrated in Tables I and II, in an exemplary embodiment, the cationic surfactant component of the liquid fabric softener is preferably present in an amount of from about 0% to about 30% by weight of the composition.
Similarly, in various embodiments of the present invention, the liquid fabric softener may comprise a cationic softener. The cationic softener has a positive charge that attracts to the fabrics in the wash and gives the clothes a “softer” feel. Preferably, there is a sufficient amount of cationic softener present in the liquid fabric softening composition to provide noticeable softening to the user. For example, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the cationic softener comprises a cationic nitrogen containing compound, such as, for example, quaternary ammonium compounds and certain alkylimidazolinium salts.
In embodiments of the present invention having quaternary ammonium compounds, the compounds are preferably those that contain at least one long chain alkyl group of 8 to 30 carbon atoms, preferably 8 to 22 carbon atoms, and, optionally, at least one lower alkyl or substituted lower alkyl group, for example, a methyl, ethyl, or 2-hydroxyethyl group. In this respect any one or more of the quaternary ammonium compounds conveniently used in fabric softeners may be used in the present invention.
Examples of quaternary ammonium compounds include, but are not limited to, ditallow dimethyl ammonium chloride; ditallow dimethyl ammonium methyl sulfate; dihexadecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride; di(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethyl ammonium chloride; dioctadecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride; dieicosyl dimethyl ammonium chloride; didocosyl dimethyl ammonium chloride; di(hydrogenated tallow) dimethyl ammonium methyl sulfate; dihexadecyl diethyl ammonium chloride; di(coconut alkyl)dimethyl ammonium chloride. Ditallow dimethyl ammonium chloride and di(coconut alkyl)dimethyl ammonium methosulfate are preferred. In addition, any other quaternary ammonium compound that imparts softness may be used in the present invention.
Examples of alkylimidazolinium salts that can be used in the present invention include, but are not limited to, 1-methyl-1-(tallowylamido-)ethyl-2-tallowyl-4,5 dihydro imidazolinium methosulfate and 1-methyl-1-(palmitoylamido)ethyl-2-octadecyl-4,5-dihydroimidazolinium chloride. Other useful imidazolinium materials are 2-heptadecyl-1-methyl-1-(2-stearylamido)-ethyl-imidazolinium chloride and 2-lauryl-1-hydroxyethyl-1-oleyl-imidazolinium chloride. Also suitable herein are imidazolinium fabric softening components now known or as yet unknown in the art. In addition, any other alkylimidazolinium salt that imparts softness may be used in the present invention.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cationic softener is present in the amount of from about 0 to about 30% by weight of the composition. More preferably, the softener comprises from about 5 to about 25% by weight of the composition. Optimally, the cationic softener comprises from about 10 to about 20% by weight of the composition.
In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, the liquid fabric softener also comprises a liquid carrier. The preferred liquid carrier for use in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is water, which can be distilled, deionized, or unrefined tap water.
Two exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be seen in Tables I and II.
Lastly, it should be appreciated that the present invention has been described above with reference to various exemplary embodiments and that various alternative embodiments and formulations may have additional or optional additives such as dyes, fragrances, salts, and the like and still fall within the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that changes and modifications may be made to these embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Such changes or modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as set forth herein.
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